February GBOMB

Good

Sinus. I had an appointment with otolaryngology at the U on Feb 3. It was a much longer appointment than I expected, mostly because the drive up and back from the U is a haul. But I was prescribed a nasal spray I hadn't been given before, and it basically INSTANTLY helped. I used it on February 4 at work and barely had to blow my nose all day. It has not improved my postnasal drip that I cough up all day. But to have the front end be significantly better so quickly was so encouraging. I obviously don't want to use nose spray for the rest of my life, but knowing this exists for things like exercise or intimacy or even sleep, when I don't want to deal with mucus--is such a relief. 

Closing early. We were able to close on our home on February 20. It worked out for the best because I didn't realize the waiting period between signing and getting keys was so long. Signed Friday, funded Monday, "keys" late Wednesday night. We were able to get our storage emptied on Feb 27 and avoid March charges. I'm grateful for Matthew's cousin Jim's help and his brother Ethan helped too. I'm grateful we can take things over all week before March 7 to make the move easier--mostly furniture. 

Storage space. The new house has one large shed, two smaller sheds, and what looks like a chicken coop. I'm grateful we could empty our storage and easily fit stuff into just one shed at the new house. If we can't have a garage, we do have the next best thing. 

AJ. He is so stinking smart and funny. He's pretty good at self-entertaining. While we've been back and forth between houses he's just so good at playing with toys, running around, and being busy. I mean, he slams child gates and doesn't answer when we call, and also is a challenging toddler at times. But I'm grateful for the little boy he is and how easy he can be for us when it matters. 

Bad

Neck pain. I ended January and started February with some significant neck pain, like a pinched nerve. It limited mobility and was really consuming for me mentally. On top of all the other stress of February--gathering needed items for the loan, etc. it just made everything feel more overwhelming. I was almost in tears at the gym, when waking up in the morning, and at work. It lasted all the way to February 18, and then it just switched to a different kind of discomfort which lasted a few more days. Then I woke up with neck pain again on Feb 25. It's like I can't escape it. I don't know how people live with chronic pain, honestly. 

Phone. I wiped out my iPhone due to iPhone system storage taking up HALF of my measly 60GB storage. It was a huge ordeal. It wouldn't restore my text messages and said I'd have to delete them to move forward. Thankfully it all worked out. 

Taxes. We owe on taxes this year due to payroll at Matthew's work doing things incorrectly. I'm very frustrated as we really needed a return this year. 

Smokers. I can't escape them. We had a smoker below us at the condo for a time. We had smokers below us in our rental this past 10 months, and the swamp cooler sucked their smoke into our house. And now we have smokers next door at the new house. I HATE cigarette smoke. I hate it. I cannot escape it. It is 2026. Why does anyone still smoke? 

Road rage. Does anyone else feel the insanity of the other drivers around them? I am a 5mph over the speed limit kinda girl. And if that isn't fast enough, or if my car doesn't accelerate fast enough, I have people riding my tail or zipping around me like wannabe race car drivers. The road rage is INSANE. On a 30mph street (where I go 30mph), I often pull over to let people go around me because I won't go faster and they're on me at an unsafe distance. I'm just so tired of the anxiety I feel while driving, and it is only getting worse. I'm considerate. I signal. I stay to the right if I'm slower than traffic. But man, it doesn't seem like anyone else is very courteous. 

On My Brain

Change. This move brings a lot of change. I have lived in the same few square miles from Midvale to Sandy for 14 years. I am going to be farther away from Cinemark, Megaplex (specifically Jordan Commons), and Trader Joe's. My grocery store will be different. My commute will be different. AJ's daycare will be different. It's just a lot of change. I know it'll be an adjustment for me. 

Fertility. We still aren't pregnant. Surgery is the next step. I really hope that helps. Just have to get on the phone and schedule surgery. 

New home. I don't have a desire to FILL SPACE. But, we do need a couch and barstools upstairs. And I want a new dining table. I want new bookshelves for downstairs. I need rugs. I need new vanities in the bathrooms because the ones they installed are way too small. I don't want to keep the house blue/light purple. It looks nice, but I just don't really prefer it. It would've been easier to paint while it was empty, but that's just not an option. And really I'm not good at home projects; I feel easily overwhelmed by them. So I'm just deciding what things are urgent and what things I can live with. It's a beautiful home, and I feel like the stuff I have just won't look good inside of it. I'm eager to have my home look nice. Plus, no truck or trailer makes it hard to pick up book cases and dining tables I find on KSL or Facebook. Just feels daunting how much there is to do and how much it all will cost. 

Finances. Knowing we will be house poor, and that we will have insane utility bills is really daunting to me. It's making it hard to feel excited about the new house. I keep wondering if I made the right choice and if it'll be worth it. I'm thinking about it constantly. 

Moving. Moving feels like so much hurry up and wait. You can pack away some things you don't use regularly. But everything you use can't be packed up until the last minute--food, dishes, etc. It's stressful because I don't like to procrastinate. And I don't want to not have access to the things I need as I live between two spaces. Plus I'm daunted by the clean up I'm going to have to do on Sunday at the old place, followed by clean up at the new place. Sigh. 

Personal Training. My CEUs are due in May, along with a renewed CPR certification. It just feels like a lot is going on right now. I am grateful I found a cost effective way to renew (rather than paying hundreds or thousands of dollars for another class or certification). It still takes time.