Texas Coastal Nightmare

We're back from our mini-vacay after less than 24 hours. 21 hours to be exact and that includes a 9 hour roundtrip drive. I am sure had I been a) an adult who had been liquored up for the past 48 hours or b) under age 10, I would have been completely happy with my accommodations. Unfortunately, I was neither a or b. I'm c) 33 and knocked up (read: SOBER).

I really can't blame anyone for the 'room' Reagan and I ended up in. I use the word 'room' very loosely. We were the last to arrive and we had brought a dog. I, also, think that the decision to use this 'room' was spur of the moment and brought on by booze and a need to find another place for someone to sleep. At any rate, this is where Reagan and I were to lay our heads for our relaxing vacation:

I'm not quite sure that this really fits the definition of a bedroom. Maybe it's just me being high maintenance. This really qualifies more as a laundry/storage room. But, I can see where people could get confused as there was a (sad, little) foldout couch against the back wall.

Notice the glowing red light. It's glowing that bright in daylight. Imagine it's cheery glow in the middle of the night. The gray box that the red light sat atop also made a constant humming noise and not a pleasant white noise sound either.

Notice the dip in the bed at the end in the center. The springs here were completely defunct which caused the bed to sag at all times. Not pictured is the fact that the mattress was so old and thin, that there was no cushion left and you could feel the metal frame when you laid down. Needless to say I was miserable and got absolutely no sleep.


How did Reagan feel about all of this? After consuming a bottle of Ballantines with our brother-in-law Hyung, Reagan was feeling no pain and promptly passed out after stumbling to bed. Oh, how I wished I could have chugged a couple of bottles of wine and been numb to the whole situation! Seriously, I would have found the whole thing funny had I been tipsy. Also, I don't know if you realized from the description and the pictures, but a toilet was missing from this whole experience. I had to go outside and up a flight of stairs and into the main house to use the bathroom. Not very ideal for a pregnant person.

Obviously, I survived and was able to enjoy a few hours at the beach before heading home.

Bungy was a little weary of the sleeping arrangements, too, and appeared to be very grateful to get to run and play on the beach. He was a little apprehensive about getting into the water at first. But after a little encouragement from Reagan, he had a blast chasing the birds and the waves. Hopefully he's learned his lesson about drinking saltwater, though!

All in all we were able to salvage our weekend and everyone enjoyed the solitude of the beach. I can't wait to share these experiences with Baby Chunn and can only hope that he/she likes the water as much as Reagan and I do.

Baby, it's cold outside.

We had our first catastrophe as new homeowners. 'Catastrophe' sounds a bit dramatic and it really isn't anything that can't be fixed fairly easy and inexpensive. It just happened at THE worst time: our heater went out on Thursday. The Thursday before the coldest week forcasted. The Chunns are currently living in an igloo. Luckily the people we bought the house from threw in a home warranty plan that covers all of the appliances in the house to include plumbing and heating/ac units. The unfortunate part is that it is going to take at least a week to get the part in. I keep telling myself that even if we were renting we would still have to wait for the part--someone else would just be paying for it. So, yah, we're currently freezing.

In Bungy news, the neighbor's dog is a big bully and when Bungy goes to the fence to sniff and say 'what up, dawg?', the other dog keeps scratching/biting the tip of his nose. I'm hoping this morning he's finally learned his lesson, but I'm not sure. At any rate, since all of us could use a mini-vacay (Reagan and I from the igloo and Bungy from the bully) and Reagan's mom rented a condo for the week at the coast as a present to everyone, we are heading out for a couple of days where it is sure to be warmer. Hopefully Bungy will like the beach, too.

The Makings of an Oasis

I remembered to take a photo of the beginning of our backyard retreat:

It doesn't look like much now, but when we are finished, no one is going to want to leave our yard! Ignore the dilapidated shed--it's the first to go when the weather gets warmer and Oasis Construction 2008 gets under way.

As I was drifting off to sleep last night, I remembered a few funny things that happened on Christmas Eve. The funniest being how Mr. Hanky the Christmas Poo almost came to visit. But, alas, a few bottles of Liquid Plumber later the plumbing seemed to be back to normal. Nobody really wants to be seen buying Liquid Plumber and a plunger at Wal-Mart on Christmas Eve. At least I didn't.

I think the growing pains I was experiencing yesterday did result in a larger belly today. I'm dreading the weigh in at the doctor next week. I'll have to coach Baby Chunn on sucking it in while we are on the scale :)

Lastly, here's a picture of Bungy with Mr. Orange. Although we are trying to teach him how to fetch with it, he mostly gets his kicks walking around with it in his mouth while biting it so it squeaks. Dogs are so weird.

Christmas Hangover

I am so glad Christmas is finally over. Reagan is convinced I am just becoming a giant Scrooge. But really why does there have to be just one day where everyone feels obligated to buy someone else a gift? What about random acts of kindness throughout the year???

At any rate, Reagan and I made out pretty well. I got him a hammock big enough for two and he got me a chiminea. We also got each other an assortment of art books and a decking station and speakers for the iPod so that I can listen to music while I cook. I am most excited about the hammock and the chiminea and have already used the hammock a couple of times. It also makes Bungy happy to have us outside with him and he prances around the yard to prove it.

Today wasn't a very good day for the belly. Besides still being tired (this burst of energy in the 2nd trimester has eluded me), I am suffering from what I can only describe as growing pains. My belly hurts!

In Bungy news, on our walk this morning we were followed (read: stalked) by a pack of 5 or 6 deer the whole way. It was creepy. And a little bit surreal. I guess Bungy doesn't pose too big of a threat in the world of deer. All that kept going through my head was what people would say when they found Bungy and I dead on the ground after being mauled by Bambi and her posse.

Pictures of the ever expanding belly will come as soon as I start to look pregnant and not like I gained a spare tire over Christmas break :)

Is this thing on?

So, I finally gave in. After much prodding, I have joined the ever popular trend of starting a blog for my expanding family. After 10 years of a blissful existence of just Reagan and I, we decide to expand our horizons and our family in a BIG way--we adopted a Blue Heeler named Bungy at the beginning of December and Baby Chunn will join the world in late May/early June 2008. Stay tuned. This could get interesting.

Merry Christmas!