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February 11, 2004
Hi!! *waving*
Apparently my login info had changed and the e-mail account that I used to use, I no longer have... so long story short, I was locked out of my diary!! I'm going to even try to get a picture of Alyssa up on the main page and change my intro...
Anyway! It's good to be back! Alyssa is now 27 months old. She still sleeps like a log (we're having blood work done to rule out any problems with that) and she is talking really well. She cracks us up a lot of times with the things she comes up with. She loves butterflies, Hello Kitty, and balloons. She's just starting to use crayons and I hid all her markers LOL She loves to eat fruits and veggies and crackers and just about anything except chicken nuggets. She's now into a size 24 month/2T although she can still wear 18 months if they are two piece outfits. She's wearing a size 6 shoe. As far as potty training, Alyssa discusses it with us, but has yet to go ON the potty. I think we are getting closer though.
On the inn front, we're still trying to get open. The drywallers are here right now. They will be putting the texture on the walls tomorrow. After that the To-Do list contains - trim for the windows and doors, paint, fixtures, tile, and carpet. Then putting all of the furniture and accessories IN each cottage and hanging pictures. We have all that stuff, just can't do anything WITH it. It's been one thing after another. We've heard "it's going to be just four more weeks" about three times. Our "eight week project" has taken A YEAR! We will never use this contractor again. I don't even want to CONSIDER how much revenue has been lost. And don't ask how difficult the county has made things.
All of that brings us to the point that we've lived in Willits now for almost a year. We have yet to make any friends. I've attended a local playgroup and met a couple of people, but haven't really made FRIENDS. We love this property but the "culture" here is something we are not comfortable with. I know a few of you are scratching your heads and asking "Culture?? What could she possibly mean?" And I'm going to explain it, lest I be taken wrong! Mendocino County has legalized marijuana. You can grow it, smoke it, whatever (but I don't think you're supposed to sell it, unless it's for a PRESCRIPTION!) Supposedly this is the local "culture" and we have to just accept it as fine and normal and ACCEPTABLE. I'm sorry, but I don't think that drug use is a "fine, normal, and acceptable" past-time. So there is my rant on Willits. It seems I am not tolerant enough.
The past two years have been the hardest of my entire life. Not because I became a mother - that has made my life more rich and helped me hang on when I feel like I want to lose it. But between selling the inn that I had poured my heart into for five years, leaving our friends and church in Stone Mountain, moving across the country, going through all the issues with opening the new inn, worrying about money, dealing with a husband who has been in a deep depression and not having any social outlets - I'm worn out. I've also gained almost 40 lbs. I weight more now than when I gave birth!
Now that I've gotten all of that off my chest - I am very hopeful that we will be open soon. My mom is coming to visit the first part of March. My friend (and seamstress) from Atlanta is coming out around the same time. It is almost SPRING! The weather is beautiful. I've got lots to do in the yard. I am still certain that God sent us here and that He is going to work everything out. I think the business will do well (we've turned away reservations for Valentine's Day). And I think we've finally found a church. YAY!
But we are already considering what to do long-term. We love and miss the South. We don't want to raise a family in Willits. The taxes and penalties on businesses in California are unbelievable. We're trying to think about where we'd want to go. What we'd want in a property, etc. It's a few years off, but something for us to consider.
Until next time,
Christy & Alyssa Brooke
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