The Great Move

I know it's been awhile, but we've been dealing with the insanity that is moving. Thankfully, we are all moved in to the new place-including having a fair number of boxes unpacked. It actually feels like home! We've also been dealing with getting the old house officially done, and on the market-which happened and now we are going through the selling process (a whole other blog post). It feels like we've been constantly doing doing doing, and haven't had a chance to catch our breath and enjoy our new location. While that's mostly true, it isn't entirely. But let me tell you about the move first.

We were able to schedule things when we had a three day weekend. David took the whole week off to deal with packing and scheduling of various services (and cancelling various services). We had done a fair amount of the packing before the guys came to pack us up. The day of the move, we loaded up my car with all it could hold-including the precious cargo that is our cat. The weeks leading up to the move were pretty stressful for her. Things kept disappearing, there were boxes everywhere. She knew something was up and she was not happy. That morning, as we stuffed her into her kitty carrier and put her in the car she let us know what was happening was not acceptable, under any terms. I left with the cat before the movers got there. I stopped quickly for gas and then hit the road. Just as I was heading down the ramp to merge onto I-5 David called me. He was hoping I was still getting gas because in my haste to get on the road I had forgotten to pack her food and water bowls. It was too late, I was going to have to figure something else out. She meowed the first 5-10 minutes but then stopped and resorted to hanging out in the far back corner of her carrier and glaring at me with all her might.

The drive was uneventful and we made it to the new place in good time. I was able to pull into the garage so I could unload what I brought up-starting with anger bag of course. I took her up to the second floor and set her carrier in a spot I knew she would keep cool (it was a really hot day). I left her in the carrier while she settled down, and so I could unload without worrying where she may have run off to, and so she wouldn't get out of the new home. The unloading went quick, and once I knew I was going to be there for a bit (still had to figure out food and water bowls) I opened the door to her carrier so she could come out on her own terms. I texted a few people who lived nearby to see if anyone could hook me up with some bowls for the cat. My friend Angela was able to help me out, and would head over and be the cat's hero for the day. Meanwhile, the cat is still in the back corner of her carrier and freaked out. Since I was about to add more stress to the mix, I decided to take her up and put her in our bedroom-she was going to be put in our bathroom when the movers arrived so it seemed like a good idea. I carried her potty and a blanket up and put them in the bathroom. I closed the bedroom door so she couldn't explore too much and opened her carrier door once again. She came right out, let out a huge meow and promptly went into our closet where she stood and meowed for five minutes. I went over and picked her up, she let me carry her around the third floor while I took her into each room and had her sniff things. After that, I put her in the bathroom and closed the door, since Angela would arrive soon. We'd be able to come up with food and water for her and hopefully she would be set while the moving insanity took place.

Angela arrived and saved the day. I got to give Angela a quick tour, and then we took food and water up for Riley. When I opened the bathroom door, there was no cat to be seen, and her blanket it had moved from one corner to in front of her potty. I gently touched the blanket and it made a little "mew" sound. I lifted up a corner and there was my terrified kitty, who in turn tried to burrow back under the blanket. I carefully moved the blanket back, and she scuttled back under it. I put down her food and water and tried to talk soothingly to her. Angela and I let her alone because she was clearly not interested in any comfort from us, and there were still things to be done.

Scared kitty

I had to move my car out of the garage, because we were going to be unloading the moving truck into the garage and then moving things into the house. I was able to find a parking spot and as I was getting out I had a missed calls from David. I called him back, they were on their way, could I stop at the bank for more tip money (we had last minute added a second moving truck because all our stuff wouldn't fit in one, we were going to have to schedule another day or figure something else out but then at the last minute a second truck freed up and we took advantage of it), and some lunch. I was unsure of the area, and a little nervous about losing the parking spot so Angela drove me around (thankfully it was all pretty close) and we got the quick errands done. When we pulled in David was there waiting for the first truck to arrive. The crazy was really about to begin.

Did I mention we did this on one of the first hottest days of the summer? The next many many hours were spent with David trying to direct the movers where to put things. Then, the poor lads, had to run up and down the stairs with objects varying in weight. Of course a big chunk of the really heavy stuff was going up to the third floor. These guys hustled up and down those stairs. The once empty new house became a maze of boxes-daunting to look at let alone thinking about where to start with the unpacking. It took a few hours to unload the first truck, then the second truck backed in and it took a few hours to unload that one. At the end of the day, everything we were moving to the new house was there-including some things we thought we'd have to move ourselves. And we didn't have to haul the heavy items up and down the stairs ourselves. Best. Money. Spent. Ever.

Everyone left, and we found ourselves finally in our new home completely overwhelmed with where to start. Then Angela saved the day (again) by suggesting we meet up for dinner. We got cleaned up and met her, her hubby and daughter at The Cedar Hills McMenamins and had a fantastic dinner! It was the perfect way to spend our first evening in our now town and our new home.

A much happier kitty

Currently.

Doing:  Lunch break at work-trying to find my motivation/sanity.

Thinking about:  The weekend. I know I'm always thinking about the weekend, but weekends right now are a big deal. Last weekend we moved, now we get to learn our area and set up our new home. We also have to take care of the old home and getting it on the market. Yeah, lots going on!

Watching:  So You Think You Can Dance. We are also re-watching The Sopranos because some times you just need to go there.

Looking forward to:  The time when we are all unpacked and settled in at the new home, and the old home is sold.

Reading:  I have read so many books that I need to blog about.  I'm currently re-reading The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.

Loving:  My husband.

Sorry I haven't been bloggy lately. I will get back into posting and sharing, just have been way to busy and tired. Just know we are still around, we are well, and life is insane as always!

Yup. My Monkeys, My Circus!

I've been meaning to blog an update about all the crazy things going on but every time I start something else comes up, or the last thing I want to do is sit at a computer and type.  This means I'm really behind on book reviews and general sharing of things with those of you who take the time to come here and check.  It will get better, or I will go insane.

As some of you may already know I started a new job last week.  For those of you who didn't know, after working at my previous job for 6 years I decided (with love and support from David) that it was time for a change.  We decided it was time for a whole boatload of changes actually.  We talked about it for a while; I was having a  hard time imagining things different.  I don't deal the best with big changes.  But after realizing I was unhappy and bored at my current employment and seeing how it was affecting me (and David) I realized it was time to listen to him and be willing to make some changes.  I spent some time getting things organized, and wrote a guide for my prior job.  Then, with some amazing help, I created a resume and cover letter and began the process of applying for a new job.  A few days after sending out a handful of applications I got a call that resulted in an interview a few days later, which resulted in a job offer a few hours later, which I accepted the following morning after discussing it with David.  Accepting this job meant some really big changes.  I put in my notice, and two weeks later I started my new job.

The new job also meant relocating.  While I was making a job change, it seemed like a location change was a good idea as well.  We've been wanting to move out of the town we were in and get closer to family and friends, better shopping, and more activities.  So after I gave notice, we started the incredibly stressful process of house hunting.  Let me tell you, the job interview was easy compared to house hunting.  We would find a place we wanted to see, and even before we would have a chance it would be off the market-sometimes only hours after being listed.  Hopefully we'll be so lucky when it comes to selling our current home.  After lots of frustration about missing out on what looked like some really cute places, and seeing some not so great places, we found a place in an area we wanted to be in.  David did a guest post about this here.  It's really perfect for us-and I'm still afraid to call it ours until we have closed and we have keys in hand.  The process of buying a home has to be one of the seven levels of hell-shared with buying a car and selling a house.

So, here we are.  We are in the process of buying the new place, which David has been taking care of and I couldn't be more thankful because it has been crazy.  I'm commuting back and forth to my new job- I'm not complaining, I'm lucky to have found a job so quick and it's easy to get to and from (from current home and future home) so it's not a big deal for a longer drive short term.  Gives me time to sing, unwind, and think about all the fun places we will be able to go after we have moved.  It's still going to be a crazy couple of months (hopefully we will be able to sell the soon to be former home quickly), but I know we are making the right choice for us.  As long as we stick together and support each other (one of the things we are best at) we are going to come though this just fine.

Lucky and Thankful

You've all heard the news that Emily has found a new job in a new place a fair distance from home, and that we're planning to relocate. What's new is that we've found a house and are in the process of purchasing it. This happened yesterday; much sooner than we'd anticipated and quite contrary to our expectations given the state of the real estate market here in northern Oregon.

It's a lovely place--truly a dream home--in a very nice, new development in Beaverton, OR (I will learn to stop giggling about that... maybe). I call it a townhouse, because it reminds me of some of the old brownstone communities in NY and NJ, but the house is fully-detached, meaning we're responsible for all of it, but the only land we own is that which forms the footprint/foundation of the new home. We're giving up a yard (and the maintenance thereof... fist pump) and maybe a bit of privacy, although not much. But what we're gaining is a thriving area chockablock full of variety and culture, something sadly missing in our current area. We'll be closer to (weird in wonderful ways) Portland and Emily's family. And we'll be closer to being able to live the kind of lives we'd always wanted to lead.

Here are some pictures.

These pictures are accurate, but the actual home we purchased is in a different location on the property. Otherwise, if you can imagine it sans furnishings, it's nearly identical to what we're in the process of buying.

I'm feeling lucky and thankful for all kinds of reasons, but today, it's because I have a great partner in my wife and best friend, Emily, who is always willing to share (or, as in this case, initiating) these adventures; I have a really good job, which let's me do crazy things like purchase a new home when I still own my current home (we'll be getting it ready to go on the market in the coming months); and I have some wonderful friends and family who embrace our crazy and share in our passions.

We're having a gathering at our home in Salem this coming Memorial Day weekend, a fitting day to host the last hurrah in our current home. It's an appropriate holiday to say goodbye to the past, to express our gratitude for a truly good life, some of which was borne on the backs of those who have come and gone before us, and to usher in a bright future in a new place, full of promise and adventure.

I am lucky (it wasn't always so) and I am thankful for all that I have and for what the future will bring.

~David

Changes, They Really Are Coming!

It's been awhile since I've posted anything that isn't a cryptic Taking Stock, a book review or even a music recommendation.  That's because there were some things being discussed and some decisions being made, and it was better to get things set into motion before making them public knowledge. Things have started moving forward and now I feel like it's okay to share what's going on.

The short version, we are moving.

The longer version, seriously, we are moving!  For those of you who know me this probably comes as a big surprise.  Me, changing something?  Yup!  This has been a long time coming.  While there are things we like about the area we are living in now, there are lots of things we don't like.  Lately, the things we don't like column has been growing.  Realizing that, and seeing that it didn't look like that was going to change meant it was time for us to make a change.  It wasn't an easy decision.  I do not do well with change, and it's because of me that we've remained here as long as we have.  But even I could see we needed to do this.

The decision was made, then there was a process to follow.  For practical reasons, I would need to find a new job and have that lined up before we even looked for a new place.  Having a job lined up would be security moving forward, and it would also give us a starting area to hunt for a new place to hang our (viking) hats.  We would also begin getting our current house ready to put up on the market.

Well, the new job has been obtained.  That was a crazy experience I am sure I will blog about at another time.  It happened a little faster than I think either of us anticipated, but it worked out.  I'll be commuting for a while while we start looking for a place now.  That's going to take some time, but one thing I've learned about my husband is he knows a lot of stuff, including how to do all this.  Moving is going to be daunting, the whole process of hunting and getting our home ready to sell.  There is also the whole having to go through and get rid of 15 years worth of stuff.  I have a tendency to hold on to stuff, and I'm going to have to let some of that go.  It will be good for us to downsize some.  The cat is going to have to learn to live her life a little bit closer to us.  It's going to be nice to be closer to family, friends, food (as in better grocery shopping), restaurants (as in not just crappy chain restaurants), and other things that are important to use.

I know this hasn't been easy on David.  I've been freaking out at pretty epic levels.  He has been incredibly patient and kind.  He is my rock.  I need to pull my crap together and make sure I'm his rock too.  There is a lot of pressure on him as things continue to move forward, and I appreciate everything he is doing/stressing about/planning/scheduling to make this happen.  I know once everything is done, and we are relaxing in our new place, eating some amazing food because we will have such a better grocery shopping selection, it will all have been worth it.  More to come as things progress!

Taking Stock.

Making:  Plans.

Cooking:  I made tacos a few nights ago, but other than that it's all been the magic of David.  Have I mentioned how much I love his cooking?

Drinking:  Coffee in the mornings, always.  David recreated these lovely cucumber gimlets we had at Tidal Raves when we were at the coast last, and we've been enjoying those.  They are a great warmer weather drink.  (Recipe here)

Reading:  I finally started The Strain by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan.  This is the first book in the trilogy.  I don't know why, because I always complain when I read a book and watch the TV show it is based upon.

Looking:  Forward to the weekend, as always.  I'm also looking forward to the road ahead, while it's going to be a bit stressful I think we are making some changes for the better.

Playing: Not much of anything, I've been a bit stressed.

Wasting:  Energy on things that don't deserve it-but I am working on that.

Sewing:  Nothing right now.  I really need to talk to my mom about the fall leaf pattern I want to turn into quilt squares.

Wishing:  Change wasn't so hard, of that I dealt with it better.

Enjoying:  The comfort my relationship with my husband gives me.  No matter what, we approach things as a team.  I know he has my back, just like he knows I have his.

Waiting:  To see how the pieces come together

Liking:  Booze.  Seriously, best part of being an adult.

Wondering:  When the pieces will come together.

Loving:  My husband, always, and my Sisters.

Hoping:  UNSURE

Marveling:  At the sounds of nature outside.  The weather has been warmer, not warm enough for air conditioning, but warm enough to have the windows open.  At night I love listening to the frogs as I fall asleep.  I wish the birds didn't get up so early in the morning, but I still love them too.

Needing:  To remember to inhale and exhale.

Smelling:  The heavenly aroma of dinner-chicken with hints of lemon and rosemary, and potatoes

Wearing:  Pajamas-because I'm done with pants.  I am home and the work day is over and I'm not leaving the couch.

Following:  Some texts with family and friends.

Noticing:  That while I'm still stressed and anxious, I'm feeling a little better about some things.  So I have hope that everything else is going to work out-I know it's not going to be that easy.  But I do have an excellent partner and with him I know we can make it.

Feeling:  Optimistic.

Opening:  A new chapter in our life.  It's time.  This is a good thing-even though right now it's a crazy stressful thing.

Thankful

I am always thankful for my husband and the relationship we have.  He makes me feel loved and appreciated, and I do my best to make him feel the same.  Sometimes I fall short, and then I get a reminder about how lucky I am and I can't help but want to smoother him with my joy and relief that we have what we have together.

Today is one of those days.  Everything about being an adult is hard.  I'm not saying I want to be a kid again, because that had a whole other set of problems I don't miss.  And to be honest, I really like wine and booze.  David makes the best drinks, he's been making us some really lovely cucumber gimlets-to die for.  I digress.  Being an adult is hard.  Sharing every aspect of your life with another person can be hard.  But if you find the right person, it's not as hard, and it's worth the work.  Yes, there is work involved.  No one has the perfect relationship; no one is perfect.  I think it comes down to talking, listening, and not keeping secrets.  I know I can tell David anything, and I mean anything.  And he knows he can do the same.  We don't lie to each other and we don't keep secrets.

I'm not perfect, I freak out sometimes about really dumb stuff.  I get mad at irrational things.  Just because I get a little insane, irrational, and mad doesn't mean I ever stop loving David.  We are different people, we react to things differently.  It's the respect, and the love we have for one another that is our foundation.  We know how to talk through things.  We know how to give each other space and then listen when we come back together and work things out.  I should apologize more.  I should listen better.  I'm not perfect but I know David loves me and will be there for me.

I am so thankful for this relationship.  I know we can get through anything because we have each other.  Thank you David for being my partner in all things.  I'll stop there before I get too mushy.