Monthly Archives: July 2008
21 days
WARNING: I’m talking about The Move. Again. Packing/planning/sorting/cleaning/missing Jon (had to throw that one in) is rather all encompassing at the moment. In about three weeks we will begin a 24 hour road trip in a small car with my essential possessions, a chatty eleven year old boy who’s been away for two months and a neurotic cat. I’m sure that will yield all SORTS of entertaining stories. For you. Not to mention the subsequent attempt to merge three boys, two cats and two hard headed independent adults into a semi-cohesive family unit in what is a completely new environment for three of the seven (counting the cats of course). It’s going to be all manner of fun and adventure. In the meantime you’re stuck with reading about my packing/planning/cleaning. Or feel free to click that little x up there in the right hand corner. Yep. That one.
I’m a list maker and a planner. I want to have a schedule and know EXACTLY what to do weeks in advance. Moves are fairly controllable situations so my stress level stays manageable. But I do have a packing schedule set in my head. Today I finished cleaning out my bedroom and closet. I have a few more things to post on Craig’s list and a few to repost. Tomorrow I will clean out/sort the two storage closets in the front room and the towel closet. Tuesday I will secure a storage room and will begin moving boxes & such to it during the next week. Next Saturday will be spent sorting my kitchen into three piles “take with”, “Goodwill”, and “storage”. Next Sunday will be trips to the storage unit, Goodwill and cleaning out the bathroom (Do I really need to take 4 different scents of lotion that I’ve only used once apiece?) . That leaves me with almost two full weeks to practice packing the car to maximize how much I can fit and pare down my selections if necessary. Two full weeks to traumatize my cat into submission by driving her around town in her carrier. Two full weeks to visit friends and favorite places and take many pictures of both. Two full weeks to clean and pace and generally chew my fingernails to nubs trying to plan what to do on arrival.
Just kidding.
I don’t chew my fingernails.
Photo Friday: The Office
I just discovered the Photo Friday challenge and am excited to participate for my first time. This week’s post is “The Office”. Here is the view from one of my office windows:
risk
“If you don’t risk anything, you risk even more.” Erica Jong (1942 – ) Novelist and poet
There have been a lot of comments since The Move became public knowledge. Most consist of something along the lines of “That’s crazy” with tones ranging from awe to caution. And of course there are the questions. What if it doesn’t work? It’s so fast! Are you insane? What possessed you to make such a risky move?
But how is being “cautious” any less risky than the adventure we’re about to undertake? We fit. We know each other as intimately as possible for two separate beings. We live and breathe for the welfare of the other. We know what we want and have built our relationship as solidly as we possibly can. We have approached life together with candor and realism. We’ve discussed difficult issues. We both have a past; pasts that have been disclosed fully. Those pasts come complete with what a lot of people would see as baggage. Personally I see it as what has molded us and therefore made this relationship possible. We know there are going to be difficult situations and times. We threw out our rose colored glasses a long time ago. We’re not living in a fairy tale here. Besides have you ever really paid attention to fairy tales? Those stories are twisted dude! Sure they have happy endings but what’s the quote – Happy endings are stories that aren’t finished yet.
Our story is just getting started. Yeah, we’re still in that “honeymoon” stage. Why the hell would we want to spend this phase 1,800 miles apart? We’ll have bad days at work, rebellious kids, and bills to put a strain on us. What kind of sense does it make to deny our relationship the giddiness of the new beginning because of things we’re going to experience whether we’re together or not? Trying to maintain two households separated by an entire country is much more stressful than maintaining our bond while facing the trials of life together. We can’t fully experience the joyful moments of life physically separated either. Webcam and phone calls don’t replace the tactile experience of holding hands while walking with the kids or playing in the yard or cuddling while watching a movie or sitting down to a family dinner together.
From the outside looking in this is crazy. And trust me, we’ve looked at each other and asked “are we completely insane” more than once. But from inside this craziness there is a certainty that the real risk is in doubting the strength and completeness of our relationship. We’re not together by accident. And we’re not looking for a happy ending. I’d rather see this story continue indefinitely.
Conversation with a coworker
“So. This move of yours…how’s the packing going? I guess you’ll be renting a moving van.”
“No. Here’s the really crazy part…”
“Yeah, cause none of the rest of this situation is crazy at all.”
It’s official
Turned in today:
Please accept this letter as my resignation, effective July 31, 2008.
I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at XYZ Corporation. Thank you for the opportunities to further my education and knowledge of the business and the wonderful experiences I have had with the XYZ family.
Sincerely,
“Renee Daniels”
To Do List Recap
On Thursday I made my “to do” list. And though I didn’t get everything done, I did alot of it and some not actually on there.
- Clean everything out of the kid’s room Done!
- Clean my room Done. I even cleaned out my closet.
- Clean off the patio & weed eat around it Done!
- Pack up books, candle holders, pictures, other non-essentials Done!
- Recreate resume – not yet.
- Give myself a manicure/pedicure – did a manicure then promptly broke half my nails while packing
- Start inputting recipes into a database – not so much
- Take magazines to recycling Done!
- Photo-escapade to the zoo & gardens – decided against the expense
- Plan workouts/diet for the month – menu = whatever is in the house, workouts will probably be packing. I’m sore enough to feel like I’ve been in the gym!
- Finish ripping CDs – Done!
- Do some actual writing – Does brainstorming & making notes count?
- Finish the book I’m reading/start a new one – finished it. Haven’t started the new one yet.
Not too bad for a three day weekend. I also put stuff up on Craigslist and filled my trunk with stuff for Goodwill. I have quite a list planned for this week but it’s more of the same: pack/sort/clean/plan
No Weekly Winners
The only pictures I’ve taken so far this week are pretty much below documenting what little progress I’ve made in packing. Jon says to take a break and take my camera for a field trip to the zoos/gardens. So I think I will…as soon I clean off & week eat around the patio. I also need to take pictures of half my stuff to put on Craigslist. See, I’m packing the bare essentials into the car along with me, TheKid, the cat and Jon and we’re driving across country. Everything else? It goes in storage for now. Or to Goodwill. Or gets sold. Or tossed. I’m already starting to mentally sort. What can I fit? What HAS to fit? What can I ship in a price-effective manner?
Books and photo frames and candle holders will be stored. Holiday decorations will be stored (sob). Probably my futon. And bookshelves. Everything else? Can be, and probably will be, replaced before we make it back to pick it up. Although I won’t be able to stand NOT decorating for holidays so will probably end up replacing alot of that stuff too. Essentially I’m taking my clothes, my computer & printer, some kitchen items & my dvds. And my camera. Of course. But that’s a given pretty much on level with TheKid. Or at least the cat.
