June 10, 2007 · filed under dc, domestic

30
comments

dwell

All weekend Andrew has been telling me, “Keep your expectations low.”

All weekend I’ve been telling friends and family, “We’re not getting our hopes up yet.”

I can tell you: It’s a big, fat lie. My hopes are up. My expectations are high. I really, really want Andrew to get this job. He’s going to kill me for saying it on the blog, but it’s the truth.

I’ve blocked out the potential negatives to the job, such as not moving back to Colorado anytime soon, or the fact that I won’t have a househusband who cleans the house and cooks dinner while I’m at work. The fact that I’m sure he’ll work weekends and sometimes pull all-nighters, leaving me home alone.

Because, frankly, I’ve got my whole life planned out if he gets this job. We’ll buy a nice little condo in an up and coming neighborhood and he’ll ride his bike one mile to work and I’ll have a garden terrace to plant some herbs and tomatoes and we’ll use the second bedroom as a home office and splurge on making everything wireless. I’ll have you over for donuts and iced coffee on Saturday mornings and we’ll sit out on the terrace except if it’s afternoon, in which case we’ll be drinking mojitos and talking about what color to paint the accent wall in the living room. I’m thinking terra cotta.

Later on when the boys come back from golf, we’ll pop in a DVD and cozy up on the suede sectional to watch it on the flat screen I promised to buy Andrew when he said I could decorate the house the way I wanted. We’ll grill kebabs on the gas grill on our rooftop deck with the view of the Capitol and the Washington Monument.

After dinner we’ll take a walk around the neighborhood with our little dog Javier, who will no doubt become a favorite among the neighbors. On Sundays we’ll walk to the farmers market down the street to buy groceries for the week. Our dining room table will actually be a dining room table, and not a coffee table in front of a sofa. We’ll host eight for dinner, or 12 for appetizers.

My dad will fly to Washington to help us build built-in bookshelves for the office. Mom will help pick out new curtains, hopefully luxurious ones that puddle just a little bit when they hit the floor. We’ll finally make use of all our nice wedding gifts. My best friend will be our feng shui consultant, ensuring happiness and harmony throughout our abode.

I’ll test out the Dyson on our eco-guilt-free bamboo floors and cherish the big windows and their cross breeze that is impossible to create in our current below-ground dwelling. I’ll pore over decisions like brushed nickel or satin chrome?

I’ll finally buy stationery with our address printed on them. We’ll frame and hang wedding photos. We’ll splurge on a Christmas tree so tall it brushes the ceiling.

**********

My plans for a newer, more permanent life here are coming together. I just need this one (teeny, tiny, little) thing to happen this week to set it all in motion.

30 Comments

  1. Nic
    June 10, 2007 11:59 pm

    My fingers are officially crossed for you!

  2. Janssen
    June 11, 2007 12:13 am

    Oh, I would love to come to your house for donuts, appetizers, or dinner. Too bad I don’t actually know you and don’t actually live on the same side of the US as you. Details. . .

    Good luck!

  3. alyndabear
    June 11, 2007 1:24 am

    Yarrr.. it’s so hard NOT to get your hopes up high when these things are so important to you, you’ll be definitely in my thoughts over the next few days. xo

    (And are international visitors welcome in your new abode?) ;)

  4. Maya
    June 11, 2007 1:53 am

    Ok well now I’m totally rooting for Andrew – I want to fly out to DC, see the sights and drink some mojitos with you!

  5. E :)
    June 11, 2007 5:32 am

    I’m sending you and Andrew my best job-getting vibes…

  6. Liz
    June 11, 2007 8:37 am

    I think this deserves !!! not !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    You are not crazy at all for being 10 steps ahead of the game!

  7. Melissa
    June 11, 2007 9:40 am

    Now that sounds like a great plan. I hope everything works out for you two! :)

  8. Operation Pink Herring
    June 11, 2007 9:42 am

    Good luck, Andrew!! I have a lot of the same fantasies. Fingers crossed for you guys!

  9. Laurel
    June 11, 2007 10:00 am

    I’m hopeful for you guys, too! (If only because then I can try to finagle and invitation to Janet’s House of Hospitality next time I am in DC.)

    AS gets a little nervous sometimes about how Perfect I seem to think life will be when we finally begin cohabitating… but I think it’s natural to be excited about nesting. Right?

  10. Shesabigstar
    June 11, 2007 10:05 am

    Keeping my fingers crossed for you…this is very exciting!!

    And yes, you can count on me for donuts or mojitos ANYTIME!!

  11. RA
    June 11, 2007 10:32 am

    Ooh, how exciting! It would be so depressing to always look at the realistic, gloomy side of things – I say that as a frequent realist – but your vision of a terra cotta living room and Javier is too fun to push away for now.

    Good luck!

  12. alison
    June 11, 2007 10:35 am

    Sounds glorious. All except the not moving back to Colorado anytime soon part. If you stay, I PROMISE to finally come visit. Me and baby! (Hope that second bedroom has think walls). :)

  13. elise
    June 11, 2007 10:47 am

    Ahh! Now I’ve got yet another reason I love to read this blog so much….you just described maybe my most perfect idyllic life EVER.

    So good luck to you, Andrew! And Janet, can I come over and play with Javier soon?

    P.S. My living room is terra cotta! See?

  14. Isabel
    June 11, 2007 12:11 pm

    And you can throw awesome (blogger) parties at the new place when I come to visit.

    Good luck to Andrew. I’m crossing my fingers for him (and you)!

  15. Audrey
    June 11, 2007 12:27 pm

    Good luck Andrew!

  16. heidikins
    June 11, 2007 12:37 pm

    Good luck and fingers and toes crossed going out to Andrew!!

    And just by the way, your house sounds fab! :o )

    xox

  18. Lauren
    June 11, 2007 1:16 pm

    That sounds like such a dreamy life. Whether or not it is this particular job that makes it happen, know that things will happen how they are are supposed to!!!

  19. Julie
    June 11, 2007 1:16 pm

    Donuts! On the Terrace!
    I am so there.

    ::Crossing Fingers:: for you and Andrew!!

  20. Lindsey
    June 11, 2007 7:49 pm

    My fingers are so totally crossed for you guys! Also, I’m so coming for donuts and staying for mojitos!

  21. cady
    June 12, 2007 8:37 am

    man, i know how hard it is *not* to get your hopes up about that kind of thing. i’ve been there many times before. good luck! i also am crossing my fingers for you and hoping everything works out!!

  22. Aimee
    June 12, 2007 11:31 am

    Sending good luck wishes!! (and keep fingers crossed).

    Boy, the white picket fence dream has come so far! hee.

  23. Lana
    June 12, 2007 3:27 pm

    it was so great meeting you in person! does the mention of a sunday market mean you’re thinking of my ‘hood?

  24. mr. cheetos
    June 13, 2007 9:43 am

    Hey I lost my phone with your numbers. Could you call Michelle and give it to her? Also I am in town for 1 more week if you would like to talk before I have to go back.

  25. princess banter
    June 13, 2007 11:10 am

    Good luck :) When’s the housewarming party gonna be? ;)

  26. Lextoase
    June 13, 2007 2:24 pm

    I’ll make the coffee, mojitos, whatever! Can this be done by August? :)

  27. Janet
    June 13, 2007 2:46 pm

    FIngers crossed in California!

  28. Zandria
    June 14, 2007 11:28 am

    I think that sounds like an absolutely wonderful plan. I also think that you and I are slacking on the blog writing. At least our excuse is that we have other stuff in our lives that’s taking up our time. :)

  29. Maya
    June 14, 2007 3:50 pm

    Hiya!

    Just had to shout out to you and say, I’m right below you in the Whoorl Good Hair Square!

  30. angela
    June 14, 2007 10:00 pm

    Wow, no one will ever accuse you of not thinking it through enough and planning ahead very well! Good luck — I really hope this works out.