:: Brinna's ::

:: Wednesday, January 18, 2006 ::
:: one week later... ::

I can't believe it's only been a week since I posted. That last night with Andrew was great. Wonderful. It had been an ok parting before, but it was like we had a second honeymoon. We got Pizza Hut (my favorite...not the great Korean toppings (not joking), but the normal American pinneapple), and while they were making the pizza I agonized over what sort of alcohol to bring up to the room. I picked some pinot grigio and rose wine. Maybe I'm girly but I like them way better than the cabernet I've tried. The 'jacuzzi' was disappointing. Very disappointing. Instead of it being, basically, well...a jacuzzi, or hot tub, it was a large-ish bathtub with jets. Kinda nice, but not like the great tub we had in Lynchburg at the Super 8. However, the room made up for it...it was huge and very nicely decorated. It had nice tvs in both the 'living room' and bedroom. And the dining area had free high-speed internet.

Andrew and I drank wine and talked for a really long time, then we watched 'The Notebook', which is a REALLY good movie. It even made Andrew cry. (Sorry, I told...) Just about everytime I watch it, I feel sad. My grandad has Alzheimers, and I love him a lot. I was one of his favorites...he always called me 'Bones'. Him and my grandma used to be what I wished my marriage would be like someday. And, in a way, I still do. It's really hard for Grandma to deal with her husband slipping away like that, I can't imagine how hard. They fight a lot, because he forgets a lot of stuff, and she tries to help him, but it doesn't work. I wish Andrew could have known them the way I remember them. But he told me that he knows how they were, he can see how much they love each other, even though they fight. They'll get real mad at each other, but Grandma says that each night before they go to sleep Grandad will hug her and tell her how much he loves her. It breaks my heart.

The next day Alice and I flew away home. The plane ride was nowhere near as bad coming back...for one thing, I didn't feel like I was going insane. The first time it was 13-14 hours long, and I tried to sleep but couldn't. No source of entertainment, because I couldn't look out the window, and I couldn't read, much less knit or crochet, while holding Alice. And she woke up when I tried to lay her in the provided bassinet (which blocked the food tray). Fortunately on the way back, the plane was newer, and everyone had their own flat screen tv. (So that's where all the money goes...) It had 6 movies to choose from, a couple tv channels, about 8 music stations, and a few games. The games were mostly strategy type games (one was like connect four, only flat), and a couple card games, including poker, blackjack, and solitaire.

When I got off the plane that took me from San Fransisco (my 'port of landing') to Denver, Kristi and Katie picked me up in my car, which had a very damaged left rear fender, due to a hit and run in a park and ride. So much for my virtually damage-less car...I finally get a clear driving record and my car tells a different story. The damage estimate was worth more than the car itself...and I only have liability insurance. Ah well, what's done is done.

My first day home, I wake up 3 hours after I go to sleep, because I agreed to go snowboarding with the family, the first day of lessons everybody's going to with the local homeschoolers (for a discount). It was tons of fun. I fell down so often. But, I now know how to link turns! On my first day too. Now if I could only get off the lift without biffing it...

Not much has happened since, really...well, I got my Christmas present for myself. My mom-in-law went by the bank yesterday and deposited some money for Christmas. So I got what I'd been wanting for awhile, a portable dvd player. It's made by Samsung. I like Samsung. So far I'm really pleased. It cost under $200, and it doesn't feel near as cheap as most of the models I've seen. For anyone who didn't read any the posts on my blog, so didn't see the pics of my room, I'm living with my parents now, in a 10'x12' room, that has a twin-size bed, a crib, an armoire, a changing table/dresser, and 2 sets of plastic storage drawers lining my room, not including my electric guitar, snowboard and boots, baby bouncer, diaper pail, trash can, and more. It's a bit cramped. I don't have room for full-size entertainment equipment. And with 5 siblings aged 10 and under, movies are completely out unless they're PG, if I don't want to wait until at least 9:30 to start watching them. It's a big hassle. It's really nice to be able to listen to music and watch a movie after Alice has gone to sleep, or during the day.

My other gift from my in-laws is a parallel Bible. Assuming they got the one I saw when I was visiting them (it's coming in the mail), I think it has KJV, NIV, NAS, and NLT. My mom said she would get me one if they didn't get me one, and when I found out they did get me one, she acted all hurt. Parents... : ) I guess it's because she finally knew what I wanted, as opposed to wondering what in the heck her 21 year old daughter could want that she doesn't have. (Andrew and I are the type, and are well-off enough, that if we want something, we go out and get it. Did I mention my gift to him was letting him buy a Canon Rebel, a digital SLR camera? Not as if I was opposed to having one, but he does really enjoy taking pictures with it.)

Hmm, what else...(is it me, or do I say that phrase, or a similar one, every post?) Alice had her 6 mo. checkup today, she's basically in the 50th percentile physically, and a bit ahead mentally. She can hug me!! Is that a bit early? She'll reach out to me and wrap her arms around me. It's so sweet. Sometimes she opens her mouth and puts it on my face, which may be a kiss. I can only hope.

:: Brinna 6:00 PM [+] ::
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