Friday, April 23, 2010

Bye-bye, Stuff...

Why do some find it so hard to let go of things? Well, I'm one of those people. No, I'm not one of those you would find on the show "Hoarders" or "Clean House." But, I do have my share of ridiculous things that have sat in a closet and/or drawer for years and years.

This week we are having a garage sale to clear out things we don't want to store. I'm quite proud of myself. I've actually parted with some things that I thought I would have a hard time with. But, it's no miracle. I still have things I know I will never use or pass down since we are having a son. Still I cling to them.

The one thing that sticks out most in my mind is a pail. I received this pail for my 12th birthday. It has balloons on the side and my name on the top of the lid. I don't remember who gave it to me or what was in it, but to this day I still have it. In my defense, I have always put it to use. It holds other tidbits, neatly in the top of our guest closet. Still I know Container Store has something that would be larger and more useful for closet storage. But, it wouldn't be as cute.

Cards... this could possibly be the hardest for me to part with. There are several reasons I like cards. For one, I like old cards and I hope that the ones I choose to keep will one day be some that someone stumbles upon in some junk store and falls in love with. Just like some of the old vintage ones I've stumbled across and purchased.
The second reason is that sometimes it's nice to have something like the handwriting of someone that is no longer with us. I'm glad I kept those. And every ten years or so, when analyzing my box of cards, it's a warm feeling to run across those, maybe a little sad... Either way, it's a step back and a way to remember a loved one or close friend.
Third, I like to keep most of the ones from my mother, they always contain an encouraging word, support and love.
Last, I keep most of the ones that Scott gives me. Why? Because he will always write the things he won't usually say. I like to revisit those the most.

It's been a long emotional week for me. I'm sure most of it is hormones. Plus, I'm extremely tired. However, sorting through everything you own and remembering where and when you acquired most things can a little stirring. Maybe I'll feel a little differently tomorrow with all that green in my hand. Time to start new memories...
Just as long as they don't need to be dusted.

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Things Are Moving... and I Guess That Includes Us

Thanks to my husband, Scott. It's definitely not his company or me.
Let's see, we now have an appointment this week to take our fingerprints and retina scan. After this appointment, we mail our passports to the consulate in NY where they issue a work visa. This normally is several week long process, but again... we're dealing with HR people at Scott's office. These will now have a rush put on them. Not at our expense. We should have our visas back by the time we leave.
Oh... and his company is telling him not to book a flight until we have our visas in hand. Which means we might have to book the day before we leave (hopefully not)! But, hey... it's not our money (see a pattern?). At least that's my attitude since they seem to have no sense of urgency.

We have the movers scheduled to come two different days. One day will be for air and boat shipments. The other day will be the majority of our "stuff" that will remain here in storage.

We kind of have a date for the dogs to leave. This will be about one or two days after we leave. We think we are going to board them at the vet. This way they will receive their last rabies shot prior to leaving. The pet relocation will pick them up from that location and we should see them the day after we arrive.

I have my last appointment with my doctor the Tuesday before we leave. Here, I have to get all my records in order and have with me so that I can meet with a "consult" and be assigned to a midwife as soon as we get there. Yes, a midwife.
Oh, and since I have to have something to stress about every week, this one is my new obsession. I'll save all that for another blog.

And here it is.
The thing everyone has been asking....
The question we keep shrugging off.
When are you leaving????


Well, the answer to that question (assuming we get our visas back in hand by the beginning of next week) will be May 1. Yes, that's right. May Day. Scott also likes to mention that we will be taking advantage of British Bank Holidays right off the bat, he'll not have to go into work until Tuesday. Guess that means I will be familiarizing myself with a map of London that day or BBC-tv.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Two Weeks Out...

I don't have much to report this week, as far as the move is concerned. Even though we are only two weeks out (maybe not even that far), we still have none of the following:
-plane tickets
-moving date set
-work visas
-a moving date for the dogs
-a date for a garage sale
I feel certain that things will fall into place. I mean, they have to, right? We have pressure to be out of our house by May 1st. That is the day our tenant moves in. I doubt they want to bunk with us, so it could be that we are staying a couple days with my mother.
Speaking of mothers. I can't express enough gratitude to my mother for the job(s) she is undertaking while we are gone. She and Mark have, without hesitation, offered to manage our house. Meaning that the tenant calls them for everything, taking care of repairs, driving by occasionally to check things, responsible for collecting rent, getting the check to the bank and also we are having our mail forwarded to them. Oh, and during all of this... Mother and Mark have sold their house and are in the process of buying a new one. Obviously my mother can handle stress. Where do I get the lack of that???

Just so you know, my list above is being attended to. Oh, and it's not entirely an oversight on our part. We have started discussions with the moving company. They were out over a month ago to assess our storage needs. Submitted a quote to Scott's company and got approval. However, it seems that Scott's company signed off on some things that are our responsibility. We had no idea of this, since we were never sent the quote. So... here, two weeks out, they (Scott's company) finally decide to look it over and let us know our responsibilities.
I've discovered that when we need information from Scott's company or HR department, there is NO RUSH. However, when they need something from us - they need it in five minutes. It took them five months to create an expense code for our pet transportation. Meaning that we were finally allowed to talk with the pet movers a few weeks ago for the first time. Good thing we kind of already knew some of the things the dogs should have been to the vet for or we would have to find a place for Pip and Vegas to stay for SIX MONTHS. I told Scott that I'm glad it's not me talking with them, because I would have "shown my ass" months ago. I'm trying not to be that way. Really, I'm not. Despite what some of you may think.


Shut up, Caine.


Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Practice Run

Scott and I decided it would be a great idea to take a quick vacation before our move. We haven't had a REAL vacation in three years. In fact, it was the last time we went to London. I don't know why we let so many years slip by before taking one. One reason was that my job didn't allow me to travel during the really affordable travel times. Another reason is that I tend to stress. Have I mentioned that?? Please, don't roll your eyes at me. I can't help it... maybe I can seek therapy for this. However, it does affect on our destination decisions. Honestly, I don't care where on earth we go, but there is a catch (and this is what causes the stress)... we must get there on a direct flight. That's the main thing. In fact, it's the only thing I ask for. This is probably why we've been to Cabo so many times, and why we chose to go there.... again. A quick two point five hour flight, easy to drive around, great resorts, and an even quicker flight home. Easy breezy.
I did have one other request this year. I wanted a room with our own private pool. This meant going to a different resort than we usually go. Scott had always wanted to stay at the One & Only Palmilla, so after checking to see if they had such a room with a pool, we booked it.
All I have to say is (and I'm putting my gay face on for this one) FABULOUSSSSSSSSSS! Because of Scott's job, we've had the opportunity to stay at some GREAT places at reasonable rates, but this place was by far the best. In fact, it was so great, we only left to eat lunch or dinner. We were just feet from the ocean, where we saw gray whales and dolphins swim by, massive waves crashing against rocks, sailboats, seabirds and a beach wedding. Plus, I've never experienced such personal service at any hotel or resort. My only complaint was that we didn't stay longer.
I also considered this my practice run for our next flight which will be the big one. Though I've traveled overseas a few times and countless times to Mexico, I never take notes. This time was a little different. The main thing we've decided is that Wednesday seems to be the day to fly. Both airports were very slow and our flight back might have had thirty people on it. The second thing is that I am checking into Global Entry (globalentry.gov). I can't wait to walk past some of these long lines (and wave at the suckas!) at check-in, entry and customs. I'll let you know the fee and if it's worth it. The last thing is that I will be asking my doctor if he can give me something to sleep while in my "condition." If the couple in front of me want to make the Mile High Club, I want to say good for them! I'll take my pill and go to sleep versus sitting there and making faces at them the entire time while they proceed to bounce around in their chairs bumping my expanding belly with my drink tray.