I'd been saying I couldn't wait for a thunderstorm. Well, we got one last night. It was very cool. Lots of lightning, thunder, wind and rain. The kids were wholly unimpressed and disappointed when we had to head indoors (it was bedtime anyway). Dad and I went on a covert kitten recovery mission under the dark of night. Mama Cat had her kittens under a trailer behind the machine shed on Monday and we had rigged some shade for her, but the storm could've flooded her nest. Dad rigged a temporary roof but as the wind built up we decided that we would have to risk the skin on our arms against Mama Cat's will and take the kittens and mother inside the shed. Mama has been frighteningly protective at times and we didn't know what we'd be up against. We ran out with a box and a flashlight and checked on them. Dad bravely grabbed three kittens and Mama just watched. He got the last one then I got Mama. She didn't fuss a bit. I couldn't believe it. When we got her into the shed she started fussing and ran
out of my arms but we had her in the same safe dry room with the babies and we were happy. This morning we found her nursing her babies dryly and happily.

Oh, yeah. If you haven't noticed, I'm still trapped in Missouri. My hat is off to all of the women here with the wearwithall to maintain big hair despite the humidity. Martin, if you don't come rescue me soon, I just might have to get a perm!

Still in Missouri. You know that the sale of the house is dragging on. I don't think the kids know that we've been here nearly a week. Our daily schedule is something like this: eat, play, snack, play, eat, play, snack, play, eat, play, snack, bath, bed. There have been a few lizard sightings -- both live and dead -- and an armadillo, well, pieces thereof. All in all we're still relaxing, yet anxiously awaiting Martin and our worldly posessions and a nice two hour drive to KC.

I'm begrudgingly adjusting to dial-up connection mode. I miss checking my email at the click of a button. Here it takes a good five minutes to get things rolling. Sorry if I'm supposed to be keeping in touch with you. Too much time and effort involved -- plus, the computer is in my parents' bedroom. It's just not a place I can hang in for long periods of time while pages load.

Tomorrow I get to spend another birthday with my parents. i guess spending the first 18 with them wasn't enough.

Things I have seen in the last 2 days that I have not seen in a long, long time:
A Busch Light billboard
Fireflies
A bullsnake (I picked it up -- it was so pretty!)
Cattle grazing only a mile from an airport runway
Gas for $1.43 / gallon
My parents
No television for a whole day
Cattle grazing only 50 yards from my bedroom window

The kids are having a really good time. My parents have a swingset in the backyard and can't get enough of the outdoors. The weather is still tolerable -- 87 degrees for a high. The humidity is, well, humidity. But life's pace has taken a dive and we are all benefitting.

I really feel for Martin having to tie up so many loose ends in Pasadena right now. With each passing day it seems more people who are being paid to keep this transaction moving are dropping the ball left and right. I'm not surprised. Just bummed.

I'm continually reminding myself that I'm not on vacation. Not that it's bad to be on vacation, but I must keep in mind that my home is not in California anymore. It's a very difficult concept to wrap my head around. When all is done and Martin arrives with our possessions and we are unpacking our house I'm sure things will set in. Until then I will feel like a visitor in a strange land. Which is exactly what I am.

Whew! I can't believe how time has passed and all of the sudden and out of the blue I'm down to my last 30 hours as a Californian.

Last night we had the final shindig at Casa Sereno. An Empty-House-Open-House. The house should've been emptier but closing hasn't gone as scheduled and the house is still ours until at least Wednesday (the kids and I have a flight out tomorrow - Martin will stay to pack out) I had really looked forward to having friends over one last time. We've so enjoyed our home and playing host at get-togethers here. (Five years in a two bedroom apartment can really bring out the party-thrower in you) Gathering the nicest people in all of L.A. county and throwing them into the kitchen (it's all about the food, you know) is always a good time. The kids had a blast in the jumper we'd rented -- I'm not sure the giant inflatable jumper sensation has made its way inland to KC -- we'll find out soon enough. A few hours into the open house I sadly realized that this was our last time together. A few people trickled out and I had to practice my stoic goodbye. More came in and I enjoyed myself a bit more. But when it was all said and done, tears were shed (as they well in my eyes right now) and I accepted the fact that it will be no less than six months until I see most of these dear folks again.

You can sit from somewhere else in this country and think that Los Angeles is a crazy place (I'll give you that one), a dangerous place (just don't go to that part of town -- duh!), a big place (I'll give you that one too), or a place where everyone is too busy to enjoy life. Yes, folks out here are typically busy. But being that busy keeps one from having the time to pass judgement on others. They worry about their own problems and most will help you if you need it, but few take the time to question your decisions that don't directly affect themselves.

I will miss Los Angeles. I will miss my big blue house. But so much more than those things, I will miss my friends terribly. I never thought I would feel at home here. I didn't move here seven years ago expecting to become a part of a family (you know who you are -- we love and will miss you so much), I will be surprised if I ever make such amazing friends again. I hope I do. I hope that I cry like a baby when I move away from Kansas City because people have meant so much to my life and my existence. I hope Kansas City changes me into a better person like I believe Los Angeles has. Yes, it's a crazy place and not everyone belongs here, but if you want to belong here, I know a couple of folks who will make you feel more welcome than you could ever imagine.

Selling a home (I say "home" and not "house" for a reason) is very emotional. For someone to come into the place where you live and dream and watch your children learn and love (not to mention be born) and have them nose around and criticize and point out flaws is more heart-wrenching than I had anticipated. We've just come off of a week of dealing with an over-zealous city inspector who wrote violations against the house for problems which we've now learned are not violations. But to go through days looking for city codes and talking to electricians and contractors thinking that our buyers might back out and we might be responsible for repairs which we never thought necessary has been exhausting. The inspection was a week ago and just last night all was resolved with the buyer who really just wants this house. It's good to know someone will love my house. It makes it a little easier as I lay in bed realizing that I've only got a handful of sleepless nights left here.

And leaving Los Angeles in general is proving to be a more emotional ride than I'd expected too. Most of the time I'm excitedly packing and preparing for a slower paced simpler life in another lovely city where I'll be much closer to my family. Then I visit with or get a phone call from a friend out here and I'm riding a roller coaster. When we left Lawrence (Kansas) nearly seven years ago, I left town without so much as a tear. Martin had spent most of the prior six months out here and I was ready to reunite my family and move on to the next place in our lives. Although I know the move to KC is the right move at the right time, it's still hard to say goodbye to the amazing friends who have made this insane city such a warm place. Thank goodness for blogs, email and cheap fares to Burbank.