Monday, August 29


francis and pageanne on a freakin' hot, hot day in austin. Posted by Picasa

Sunday, August 28


with francis in austin Posted by Picasa

Mom and Sally working late hours to get the place decorated and feeling like home. Posted by Picasa

Saturday, August 27


Fastforward to don's first day in Austin, we put him to work setting up the crib. Posted by Picasa

Friday, August 26

Safe and Sound and HOT in Austin

fire up, buttercup

I can't type much because we're on the run... so I'll let you know the basics... The stuff arrived on schedule yesterday and the two movers were pleased as punch to take everything UPSTAIRS. those sweet boys did work their butts off for me. Mom and I worked OUR butts off unpacking and then my friend Sarah came over to help us further. We're on our way back this morning where we'll meet my ol' favorite, favorite student council sponsor, leslie mac, who drove up from liberty last night just to help me unpack today! It is wonderful being surrounded by my mom's cousins and great friends.

What's not so great is the FREAKIN' hEAT! Can you say 104??

Don has been driving ever so diligently with the dogs who have caused trouble. Hankster threw up on everything. Purdy has been a nervous wreck. I'm not sure they will make it to Austin without being thrown overboard. That would truly be a shame, for I did love those dogs.

True internet, tv, phone connection won't happen until after Sept 6. so my postings from here on out might be sparse. You can always catch me on my cell. If you know it. ;-)

Baby update: everything went well at the checkup and the doc is real nice. she wants to do another ultrasound next wednesday, so if the picture is any good and RJ smiles, I'll post it. I'm not hopeful.

visitor update: Sally & Francis are coming tonight! YAY!!!! and my sister and two kids are coming on Saturday. So you kids in Boston need to get your act together and get down here asap. ;-)
LOVE YOU!!

did I mention how truly beautiful it is out here in the country??
I really do love it and feel I can really breathe.

kbr OUT


Thursday, August 25


Meet Bruce the Mayflower driver from WA. Posted by Picasa

Meet Mikey from CA. He was one of my all-time stellar movers. Posted by Picasa

Tuesday, August 23

Entering Phase II: Get Yerself to Austin

Mom and I are launching in the general direction of Austin, Tejas today. I feel excited about getting one step closer to what will be our new home. Friends keep asking me how I feel and generally I don't really know what to tell them. I think I'm feeling pretty numb about all the changes. It has been terribly hot outside so I've stayed indoors but I have been feeling Rosa Jane going out for walks every now and then.

I brought some of my "cleaning out all closets" instincts with me to my parents home and found my mom's old -- 1958 old -- counselor in training notebook from camp. Whew-doggies!! And she threw it away. I guess I know where I get my pack-rattiness. Stop blaming me. I found hundreds of old letters from what I thought were cute boys in my fan club. It was fun to re-read them. I couldn't part with some of them. And I saved lots of the notes and letters from my Best Friends Forever: Ellis and Laurie. We were BOY CRAZZZZY!! Laurie and I will be reunited in Austin. She's pretty nearby and has a boy, Sam, turning 2 next week. Ellis just got engaged and has set a date for an August 2006 wedding. I'm so happy for her!

And now look at me, will ya? I miss cutie reindeer donr. Last night he mentioned he's thinking of tackling the 26 hr trip in just two days. What a maniac! But he's been sleeping on the floor and sitting in stupid camp chairs for the past 4.5 days, so I imagine he's feeling pretty krunked up.

Stay tuned...


Friday, August 19


this was our beantown bedroom. Posted by Picasa

This is how I left Don... nothing but flooring and old musty drapes. Posted by Picasa

Thursday, August 18

Last one to Texas is a Rotten EGG!!!

All Gone

Well, everything is moved out now. Out of sight, out of mind... Let's all hope Bruce makes it safely to Austin next week. It seems everyone is moving to Austin, three families alone will be on the same truck with us. I can't wait to get there, but first there's a celebration for my friend, Z. And a few last goodbye's tomorrow.


My last night in Beantown the Office celebrated Z's birthday.  Posted by Picasa

Cutest couple in beantown Posted by Picasa

Wednesday, August 17

fish in a fishbowl

fire up, buttercup

so THIS is what it feels like to be in a fishbowl, when you have no space to go in any one direction very far. I keep running into boxes with my big ol' belly. I'm thinking I'm ready to move on.

Graduates, Turn Ya Tassles!

fire up, buttercup

We completed our 5 week series on childbirth classes last night and they gave us certificates of completion. No fancy ceremonies or anything, but they did send us off with a slide show from images of childbirth and if there was a dry eye in the room, I sure as heck didn't know about it.

It was good just to lie there on the red mat and relax. To concentrate on deep breaths and actually think about Rosa Jane. It's been easy to get caught up in all our things getting packed up in boxes and not being able to keep track of *everything*. This week has been hectic. I can't believe it's already Wednesday and I'm leaving in just two days. Next week will be another rollercoaster. Among the obSTACKles (as George Clooney would say in O Brother) are being away from Don and a sweet homecoming. There has even been a shower planned for the first Sunday I'm back in my hometown. I am looking forward to being with everyone, though I'm sure I'll be a gigantic tearball.

Note to self: don't forget the kleenex.

It's been such a nice support to have there in the background of all these sad feelings of leaving. There is so much I will miss, but especially my friendships and kind souls at New England School of Photography. A very special thanks to kdoggy for the pictures you see below. What a star she is!

I still can't believe my dream of going back to Texas is coming true. When I really stop to think about what all that means, I get giddy with excitement. I know this will be good for all of us.

Rosa Jane can only benefit from being a native Texan.

That's just the way it is.

Maybe we will all get to come back for the signing when the condo deal closes. We can always hope, can't we?

Tuesday, August 16


at Sorelle's Posted by Picasa

post photosession with kdogg, we ate a grilled tuna melt at Sorelles Posted by Picasa

The beautiful and talented k-dogg Posted by Picasa

At the time we scheduled the sitting, we didn't realize it would be dog hour at the park. There were some 25 dogs there making our little pups very frustrated that they couldn't run and play and get dirty. Posted by Picasa

tired, sad, happy, confused, trying-to-ignore-the-crazed-dogs monkeys. Posted by Picasa

the boys Posted by Picasa

the girls Posted by Picasa

us, 34.7 weeks pregnant Posted by Picasa

walking the pups Posted by Picasa

love in the park Posted by Picasa

donr the reindeer, purdy wurdy, hankster the prankster and kbR Posted by Picasa

Saturday, August 13

A Bunch of Boxers

fire up, buttercup

Another day, another trip to Goodwill.

We've morphed from purgers to boxers. It's a little overwhelming as we continue to look around at all the loose stuff left, but I think overall we're making good progress. We made quite the maze throughout our condo and the dogs don't know what to think.

Thursday, August 11

They Make'em Meaner Than Mean Here in BeanTown

fire up, buttercup

I just got back from Boston City Hall to get my moving parking permit. The lady at the "switchboard" was so mean, it made me feel relieved I won't have to be dealing with so many of these "friendly" faces oh-so-soon.

Of course this was after a morning of crying about leaving my friends. Sandwiched between another unfriendly service rep at the flooring installer's office.

Two people today told me that I looked ready to have the baby any moment.

And in all fairness and gratefulness, I did have some men hook me up with some free stuff. So I guess the lesson is, sure, endure some harsh comments now and again and ever so quietly, you'll find a kind soul among them all.

Wednesday, August 10

Oh, Holy Cow!

fire up, buttercup

The moving scheduler called today to see if picking up on the 18th, rather than the 22nd, would be okay for us. My first thought was pretty comical: Wait, if you take my bed the day before my ticket leaves, I'll have no place to sleep. I'm very pregnant, you see."

But the more I thought of it, the better it sounded because then we'd have time to help Don clean the years of grime. And the move-in date is more like the 25th-27th rather than as late as the 30th.

Three hours later, the new date makes me realize that if mom gets here at 4ish on Wednesday, we'll only have that night to get everything ready for the next day pick up. OH, HOLY COW! It's gonna take a miracle to get it all together. But it looks like the floor installation is going to happen on the 22nd. And that's very good news.

See, it really is all coming together. Patience, baby steps and packing tape.


Tuesday, August 9


tiny feet Posted by Picasa

My Favorite FauxToe of the Day. Posted by Picasa

Ah, the peace of mind that comes with an address.

fire up, buttercup

We got the house! We're so excited. All is going to work out just fine and dandy.

To do:
1. Mover's parking permits
2. Clean out locker at NESOP
3. Coordinate floor installation
4. FauxToes: 2 sittings & 2 orders to process
5. File Change of Address forms
6. Donate heavy coats and outerwear
7. Scoop all the rest of it into boxes
8. Completely inhale the harbor views/smells before heading to landlocked country.

Our new home? Posted by Picasa

picture our new home

house pictures


We're still waiting a confirmation on this one, but this could be it... a beautiful new home near Austin with a community playground just on the other side of the backyard fence... can we say, kid magnet? can we also say, FauxToes haven? let's all cross our fingers and keep good thoughts. i'm getting very, very excited.

Monday, August 8

What are the odds?

fire up, buttercup

This morning, I took the dogs out for a quick pee break in our favorite peeing spot, the Training Field. What are the odds that a teeny tiny bee would fly between my foot and my flip-flop AND sting me right in the middle of my foot? I mean the odds have to be quite slim. I've lived 31.5 years and never been stung by a bee. But now I can't say that any more.

I'm taking it as a sign of good fortune. Stay tuned...

Sunday, August 7


Sophia Posted by Picasa