Poor Joe and Lucky Bud

Well, this will be the first pictureless post in a LONG time (thanks Bethy). "Summer in Canada" is over and we are back in good old Glenside. We were warmly greeted-actually, more like swelteringly hot greeted. Temps have been in the high 90s all week with some solid humidity factoring in as well. We tried to brave it out without the air-conditioning...we did live in Cambodia after all, what is a little heat? But finally on Wednesday night I said "Bud, I quit! Let's turn the air on!" After a few hours of cool air, I was ready to take on the world again.

Kezzie adjusted so easily that I'm not sure we can even call it an adjustment. We arrived at around 9:30 pm on Saturday and by 10 o'clock she had pretty much spread out and explored every missed toy in the place. I think it was a bit like Christmas combined with Toys 'R Us for her. So many toys to play with, so little time.

When we pulled in that night, we met our new neighbor Joe. Didn't even realize the people under us were going to move out, but trust me, no crying upstairs over that! Joe is MUCH quieter. However, I do feel a little sorry for Joe. We introduced ourselves and everything was lovely and wonderful until Joe peered through all our earthly belongings jammed into the back of the car to discover, oh dear, there was a little human being back there!

"Oh (slightly distraught), I see you have a little one...hmmm." Joe clearly was not impressed with this, so I did some reassuring.

"Yep, she's going to be two on Tuesday, but don't worry, she's pretty quiet."

And WHY did I think she was quiet? What would possess me to say such a thing to the poor man? Here he was all excited that at least the child may not be noticeable, only to be rudely disappointed the next day. For some reason I was under the firm conviction that Kezzie really is pretty quiet. But I guess all summer when we were surrounded by so much space and outdoor air, she seemed pretty quiet. (I know, I know, some of you are thinking "Al, your idea of quiet may be a little different than the rest of the world's." But trust me, that's CERTAINLY not the case!) Anyhow, the next morning Kezzie seemed unbelievably verbose. She was talking non-stop and it seemed so LOUD in our little living space. Between the stomping around, singing at the top of her lungs (Joe certainly knows the Belly Button song by now), and general "Mommy LOOK!" dialogue, I'm pretty sure Joe has chalked me up as a complete liar.

He still smiled at us a few days later, but I don't think he will be Kezzie's biggest fan, even after the cute little wave and "Hi Mr. Joe!" she greeted him with.

Of course, last night when the other new neighbor's moved in across the hall, I was reassured. They have three kids and one more on the way. He is also a PhD student at Westminster.

Positive aspect: We won't be the loudest ones in the building!
Negative aspect: He golfs.

And apparently he is pretty good.

Bud spends a lot of time reading and writing; he doesn't really "hang out" too much with other guys...unless of course he is talking about old dead theologians. This morning he VERY nonchalantly said (almost yawning) "So, do you think I should see if maybe Mark wants to golf today?"

I'm pretty sure Joe heard my laughter. To put this in perspective, this little comment was basically Bud jumping up and down on the couch with excitement. Not only does he has a golf partner (who, by the way, is very energetic and seems to know pretty much EVERYONE in the neighborhood...he lived here for 7 years and is now moving back), but the guy lives right next door.

So I pretty much have resigned myself to the fact that I may be raising Kezzie by myself this semester:)

My biggest decision will be if I should support Bud's idea to join the nearest country club (it's only 349 bucks for unlimited golf for 2 years) or have him pay for each round....which could very well be over 349 dollars at the rate things are going!