Back to Reality.

Summer is officially over. That is unfortunate. School starts tomorrow and then before I know it, it is going to be December. Which I guess isn't a terrible thing because I love the month of December, but still...where has this year gone!?? I had one last hurrah last week with Brandon in town. I was off work for almost a week and that was pretty amazing. I got to play and do fun summer things and take naps and sleep in and just hang out so it was perfect timing before getting back to the real world and full time work and school. Oh well.

Brandon came in town on Tuesday and we did all kinds of fun things - we went to San Antonio for the day, it would have been way better, but it was so dang hot that we were just sweating the whole time. We floated the river on Saturday with Keaton and his friends and Alyssa and Paul. We went out, we ate out, we went to the movies. It was a really good time. I think I could always not work and be okay with it. Hahahaha.

And then it was back to work and having to get things done. I worked Monday and then Monday night we went out for a girl I work with, Catherine, her birthday. It was really fun, but I was paranoid the whole time because I had to get up today at 6:3o to go babysit Addison for the day. I haven't woken up before 7am in so long. I wasn't really able to fall asleep because I am used to being on a night schedule, but I managed to survive the day. And I am exhausted tonight so I am sure I can fall asleep early. I am watching her again all day tomorrow. She is 9 months old and absolutely adorable. Starting next week, I will watch her every Friday. It was actually really nice to sort of be living my old lifestyle as a nanny for the day. It made me miss it. Wearing sweatpants to work, eating other people's food, watching daytime TV, taking naps....all while getting paid. It really is the perfect job.

It has been raining here for the past few days and its been really nice because it has made it in the 90 degree range as opposed to over 100. I am ready for summer weather to be over way more than actual summer itself. I don't really mind school, I just mind being too busy to really ever enjoy anything else. I am sure it will fly by though...it always does. I have a lot of fun things happening in September so that will make it more bearable as well. I need to start planning a trip home for the weekend - I feel like I haven't been back to Wichita Falls in a while or seen my parents in a long time. It is looking like it might be October before that happens though. That's too bad.

Porch Party!!

So, last night (well, many hours ago because I am working and therefore writing this at 4am) was our house party to show everyone the new place. I had set a date in order to trick myself into unpacking because I would have to before people showed up. I should have known that I know myself better than that and of course I was unpacking all day Friday and Saturday up until about 2 hours before anyone came over. Oh well, at least it got me motivated to get it done. I typically work better with a deadline anyway.

With all the boxes gone and things actually in their right place, I was amazed at how much even more I loved the house!! It looks so great and put together now. There are a few bits and pieces of furniture that I need to purchase or acquire somehow, but overall, it is getting there. So I was excited for people to be able to see it because only a few people have. People started arriving around 9 and we just kind of sat around and hung out, watched Michael Phelps win his millionth gold medal and then just hung out. People came and went and I was so thankful to my friends who came. It was a good time. I am going to have to have a dinner and have over Alyssa and Kathryn because they were both out of town, but that's okay. It was hard to pick a date where everyone would be around.

I think it was really good for Keaton too because I don't know how much he feels like Austin is where he lives now, but a lot of his new friends and co-workers came and hung out and kept talking about how awesome our house is and I think it made him proud to show it off. I am hoping this makes him a little more excited about living down here. He seemed to have a really good time and then had had the day off today so that was nice for him.

We have both been staying busy with work, we actually got to hang out a little bit on Saturday before the party and that was the first time I have sat down and chatted with him in quite some time. I feel like our paths just barely cross these days. I am old and he goes out and is social or I work the night shift and he works the day shift. Regardless, it was good to actually get to see him this weekend quite a bit and get to hang out with the kid.

I work overnight tonight - obviously - and then back again tomorrow night. I am actually hoping to get canceled tomorrow night because Brandon is coming in town at noon on Tuesday and I don't want to be all groggy and grouchy trying to pick him up from the airport. Plus, I will be a terrible host and not wanting to show him around Austin at all if I am functioning on only 4 hours of sleep. We only have 5 patients on the unit right now so it looks pretty promising.

So yeah, Brandon gets in on Tuesday and then I am off pretty much the rest of the week! I have an 8 hour shift on Wed and then we are just going to play and do fun Austin things all week while he is here. It is his first trip to Texas so I am going to hopefully send him back to Philly with a great first impression. Its always a lot of pressure to show someone around...especially when I don't even feel like I know Austin that well myself. Oh well, I am sure it is going to be great. Lots of pictures to come from the week I am sure. I didn't manage to take a single picture from the party last night - I am not sure how that happened and I am a little disappointed in myself. Highly unlike me.

A Loser No More!!

I finally got out of the house and was social this past week...take that Keaton!! Alas, he wasn't around to see that I was cool and have friends and could actually leave the couch and do more than read and work, but that's okay because I had a great time. Keaton was in WFalls till Tuesday afternoon so I had the house to myself all weekend. I am housesitting for Susan so I was kind of back and forth between her place and mine making sure all animals were fed and happy and taken care of. I have a hard time sleeping in a strange house, but I managed to stay over there till 3 or 4am most nights. Just to keep the animals company. And then I was reminded of why I have a strong dislike for cats. I am allergic to cats and so is my dad, or at least this was the excuse to why we could never have one growing up, and I was always pretty okay with that. I have never really cared for cats as a species so I didn't feel as though I was missing out. And after spending a few days with Cocoa...I realized that I was DEFINITELY not missing out. I wake up the first morning of my housesitting experience to find feathers...everywhere!! I was so confused until I realized that it was a BIRD!! The cat had brought in a bird and mauled it. It was probably the grossest and most horrific thing I have ever seen...definitely ever woken up to. I panicked and called Alyssa at work because she has a cat who does this and I knew she would know what to do. And thank goodness I did, she recommended vacuuming up the feathers which was brilliant because I was planning on sweeping them into a dust pan or something. I don't care that I am getting paid to do this...I am not getting paid enough to clean up dead birds. It was horrible. Luckily I made it through and got it all picked up. Gross. So gross. But don't start thinking that things got better...day 2 I searched around and everything was fine, but on day 3...ANOTHER BIRD!! What kind of crazy hunter cat is this!?? And why wasn't I forewarned about this?? So bad. Regardless, tonight is my last night of doing this and I am just praying for no dead animals to be waiting for me in the morning. Fingers crossed.

Onto more happier things...wow. On Friday night we decided that we were going to go out on the town and so we got all dressed up and ready to go out. It had been a while since we had gone out so I was pretty excited about getting out and dancing. Plus I had gotten my haircut that afternoon so it already looked awesome and that made me want to go out in public too. I cut about 6 inches off my hair so it was a bit of a change for me. Me and Robin, Alyssa, Kristen and Jayna all went out and it was a super fun night. So fun that Alyssa and I actually lasted past 1am we never do that!!

Then Saturday, I went to lunch with Alyssa and Kristen and Kathy!! Kathy is one of our patients who went and had a bone marrow transplant a few months ago and is finally allowed out in public...to a point. So we have been dying to see her and lunch was amazing. I felt bad for her because she almost didn't even get to eat with all the questions we were asking her. It was so great to see her and she looks amazing and is doing amazing and it really made my day to see her and spend time with her.

Sunday, Alyssa and I went to Barton Springs to lay out and swim and we had a great time. We almost got too lazy to go, but I had never been and have heard all about it and so I was glad that we finally got moving and went out there. It turned out to be amazing to lay outside and I had such a great time. A seriously great weekend all around - I rarely have that many days off work so I am happy with myself for taking advantage of them. Then I had to get home and nap because I worked overnight on Sunday. The night went by super fast and next thing I knew I was back in bed on Monday morning.

Then Monday, after sleeping most of the day, I met up with Alyssa and Paul at Alamo Drafthouse to see Pineapple Express. I had also never been to this amazing movie theater that served me fried cheese and a soda during my movie so I was pretty happy. The movie was amusing and the food was awesome. What a great way to spend my Monday afternoon.

So, overall, the week has been really great. I had to work yesterday and tonight and I am off tomorrow so I really need to get some things done. The house party is Saturday night and I still have so much unpacking and organizing to do before anyone can come over. Luckily I have the whole day off on Saturday too. Phew. Keaton is back so I will make him help too. Hahahaha. Gotta get to bed so I can get up early and get started on getting things done!!

And this is why...

I will always be single. Hahahahahaha. Lexi loves the new house mainly because she gets to sleep in my bed again. At my old apartment, the bed was upstairs and she couldn't get up them so she had to sleep in her crate. For being such a hyper dog, she is so lazy as soon as she gets on my bed. She gets under the covers and then in the mornings, I have to physically pick her up to take her outside. I think she would lay there all day if I let her. That is why I know she is definitely my dog.

I have finally begun the unpacking process. Its going to be a long one for sure. I got all of my clothes washed and organized and put away and I have begun on the kitchen. The bathroom is done and thats about it. I need to start putting away all the little knick knacks and books and whatnot. I am just dreading it.

Also, I have come to realize that I am a 26 year old with a 22 year old son. I have become my father in that when Keaton doesn't come home at night, I sit on the couch and "rest my eyes" waiting for him to come in the front door. I am a worrier by nature anyway and this is definitely not helping that at all. I try to parent him and he just grunts and walks away. I think I have officially lost my role as the cool older sister and have now becoming some nagging girl who lives in the same house he does. Every night he will ask what I am doing and I am usually working and then coming home and reading or something and I think he is disappointed in that. I am old and he doesn't realize that. I cannot stay out late every night and the nights that he is out past 4am are killing me!! I know he can take care of himself, but I seriously cannot relax till I know he is home. Not to mention that I find myself setting my alarm to check and make sure that he gets up for work. Yeah, being a parent isn't that great. I knew I only liked kids under the age of 5 for a reason.

I have Friday and Saturday off of work this week and I am going to try and finish unpacking while also trying to have a social life - maybe he won't think I am such a loser then. Although, he is going home to WFalls for the weekend so he won't even know. I have plans with Kathryn and Alyssa in the next few days and I am excited to hang out and relax and maybe even get to go to the pool or something. I am also starting to house sit for Susan for the next week while she and her family are in Colorado. I feel like its an easy way to make a little extra money because we all know I am poor. Plus she has an amazing bathtub!!!

Its been 8 years...

Since Keaton and I have lived in the same house. That is a long time. When I left home, he was 15 years old. A lot of people asked me if I thought we were going to have a hard time living together and it honestly was not something I was ever worried about. And it has been just fine. He and I get along really well, we always have, so I am actually really enjoying him being around. It is more of an adjustment for me to get used to not living alone than to living with my brother. My only complaint would be that he has never really had to pay bills so he doesn't understand the concept. I will go and buy groceries and he will eat them or I will come home at 1am to him sleeping and every single light in the house being on. He doesn't realize that toilet paper doesn't just magically appear and that you actually have to go and buy it. I am hoping that in due time, he figures these things out. Either way, we are having a good time and getting along just fine.

I am beginning the unpacking process tonight. No fun. I was supposed to work overnight, but I got canceled because we have hardly any patients on the unit and I guess it was my turn. That kind of stinks because I am so poor, but oh well. I have no excuse to not unpack now...plus it has been nice to have the entire day off. And I actually feel motivated to unpack and start getting organized. Yea!!

Lindsay came in town this weekend so I was able to hang out with her yesterday and grab lunch and then meet up with her again after I got off work last night. I was so glad to see her and we had a blast. I am planning to get up to Ft. Worth to see her for her birthday weekend in September, I am really looking forward to that.

Keaton started his job this weekend and seems to like it okay. Of course Keaton doesn't say much so I don't really know any details, but I am hoping that once he gets busy with work, he will meet other people and be busy and will start enjoying it a lot. At least he is not sitting at home every day now and he will be getting a paycheck which is big news.

Other than that, just trying to get settled...register for school, keep working and then we are having a house party on the 16th so I definitely have to be unpacked by then!!