the suburbs & me
Hmm. Well, a lot has been going on the last four months. We live in the suburbs now. And you know what? I don’t just like it, I adore it. That surprises me, daily. It is quiet here, and we have mother cussing snakes in the mother cussing yard and well, that’s okay. We’re organic, they like our fresh grass.
And about the grass… everyone out here waters the grass. I haven’t seen so much emerald green since I was a child, and the neighbors were all working hard to keep up with the Joneses. Turns out you need to water… every day, pretty much, to have the Nice Grass that feels sooooooo good on the feet. First, I did not know how to use a sprinkler. Am City Girl.
Steve, doubtfully: “Did you figure out yet how the yellow tabs work? To adjust the flow one way or another?”
me: “DO NOT MOCK ME.”
I have a new trick, it’s called Water the Sidewalk and Hit the Trees on the Parking Strip, the Lawn and the Shrubs, All At Once, Woo-Hoooooo…
But before I give you a full update, here are a couple of blogs I’ve been enjoying lately:
Things that have remained the same:
We all still love books. Food. Playing. Hockey, hockey, hockey.
Things that are different:
Just about everything. I’ve applied for, and been accepted into, grad school. The kids will both start new schools in a few weeks. I have transferred (library work) to a new school, on the west side. In case you’re counting, that is four new schools for three people. Steve doesn’t get to go to school, but he gets to go to work and play table tennis with the guys and have snacks, so that’s something, I suppose.
We live in a different zip code area now, different city, different county. Lots of changes. I love our new house and want to show it off, but we’ve gone so far underground you can’t even find us anymore. We miss our friends; we don’t particularly miss a lot of b.s. from the old neighborhood and the old city. Too much drama. Also I shouldn’t say “b.s.” we say “cuss now.” Too much cuss in the old neighborhood.
We have more room to roam out here, and not just around the house. Lots of forests, greenspaces, parks, nature preserves. We see deer sometimes. (My Mia will say Hmmmph who cares?? to that. She has deer and they eat all of her beauteous flowers. But out here, it’s not that common to see deer wandering through your yard.)
Also, no one hangs out their laundry to dry, but that’s ridiculous. It saves a lot of money, and also prevents wear and tear on your clothing items. So Steve bought a clothesline for me, one of those twirly ones, and it looks just… like a clothesline. And a little tacky. But I hang out the laundry whenever I want and the sheets and towels smell like the fresh air and sunshine.
OK, that’s all for now, I’m tired. That’s another thing about the suburbs — you get a lot of exercise. All of that nonsense about driving everywhere? We walk a lot, ride bikes, and do about five or six sports. Thus, the laundry.
Happy Saturday, y’all. Off to finish watering the yard, without hitting the clothes that are drying on the line.
— wm
, 
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Our allergies have driven our laundry drying in doors but I miss that stiff sun dried feel. How are you feeling about grad school?! Do you have butterflies? A new lunch box?
August 14th, 2010 | #
Our allergies don’t seem to be as bad over this way, either! It was *really* industrial where we lived before, and that didn’t help. Lots of grime and dust. win-win-win, again.
i’m nervous, excited, and yes, butterflies every day and night. i almost bought a Hello Kitty lunchbox today ;)
August 14th, 2010 | #
I’m glad you’re enjoying the ‘burbs. Me too.
Good luck with your grad school. You’ll do great.
I’ll write you soon and update you on all the (non)stuff we’re (not) doing. =)
August 14th, 2010 | #
I can’t believe you’re watering your lawn. But I think you’re balancing it out by the laundry drying.
You know we city people scoff at your suburban lawns and shake our fists at you, right? ;)
August 15th, 2010 | #
I know, it’s sickening. Kind of like when we moved into the old place and found out we had a built-in sprinkler system, front and back! The only one on the block! Ha! Ha! And then promptly let the grass die for the next decade.
I am *not* balancing it out by hanging out the laundry, not one bit, don’t even bother teasing me. But cuss, it feels SO GOOD ON THE FEET. And you know we’re not using pesticides, still organic. OG forever!! So I’m thinking the weeds will take over about November and we’ll be screwed for next summer anyway ;)
there is no way these lawns stay fakey green without the vast influx of chemicals. I already have a secret plan for making it a jungle out there — it’s a terraced yard (we live on a slope) so we can do the raised vegetable beds below and go all crazy up above and… I need you, Lelo. Just come out with Winky and we’ll sketch it out. I’ll carry her doggy-self around and she can sniff the air and bliss out.
August 15th, 2010 | #
I saw a gorgeous rock garden and I though it was a good way to be lawn-less. Good for terraces! I’m so happy you are loving your new home, that is just awesome.
August 18th, 2010 | #
I am so jealous of your lawn and your space. I miss the suburbs!!!!! Maybe I will just get a sprinkler and water my rocks….just to make myself feel better.
August 19th, 2010 | #
Oh, it sounds like you guys are doing so excellent! Please keep us all posted. Congrats on both of your new schools, heck all four of them. And shorter commutes for everyone!
August 25th, 2010 | #