Home Sweet Home

Well we're here!! In our house!! Again, we are renting, but it really feels like it's ours!

We could not have done it without all the help we had! 4 of hubby's students, a fellow staffer, and a friend of mine all came to help us load and unload and it went so smoothly!! And one of my coworkers took the dog for the day so he wouldn't be too worked up. The cats stayed in their crates most of the day but seem to be adjusting quite well now that they are free. I still can't believe how smooth it all went!

I will post pics of the interior as soon as we are done setting everything up!

All you need is faith, trust, and a little bit of pixie dust

It's funny how things change sometimes. I was getting ready to do a new post and went through some of my old posts and found a draft that I never published entitled, "I HATE Pennsylvania". I opened up and this is what I found:

I hate it here. I try to tell myself I don't but then I realize that I do again.

I'm pretty sure I'm never going to find a job in theatre here and while I actually do like working at Hallmark, it's not exactly what I want to do every day for my career.

I spend every day doing dishes and emptying the litter box and cleaning up after Rosco when he spills his full water dish all over the floor (Approx. 3-5 times a day).

I have no real friends yet, and I know that will take time but I haven't even found a place to really make friends. I joined a book club and it never seems to meet. We are supposed to meet next week but I haven't heard anything more about it. I joined an aerobics class, for the exercise but also to meet people. There are 6 people in class and I'm the only one under 30 with the exception of the teacher.

Now this was written in November 2009. I had forgotten all about it and I'm glad I did, because in the course of the last few months I have grown to kind of like it here. It's not quite home, but getting to feel a bit more like it could be. My book club still doesn't meet, but it did lead me to new friends, which was the whole point really. I have a full time job now, though still at Hallmark, and I enjoy it for the most part and have high hopes that I will get back to theatre and my passion for it.

I still do dishes and clean the litter box every day, but I no longer feel like that is ALL I do. And we got rid of the water bottle that Rosco spills, so that helps!

And the best thing to happen recently- we found a house! We have been living in a smaller town outside of the city and any time we want to do something we have to decide if it is worth the drive into town. Now we will be in the heart of it all! Hopefully this will make us feel a bit more like we are a part of it all. We will still be renting, but that's fine with me- I like it here, but am not committed to buying a home here yet!!

It has 3 bedrooms, a detached garage, all hardwood floors, and a yard!! I have never had a yard before! I am looking forward to planting flowers and herbs and making it our home. The owners want us to treat it as though it is our home and if we want to do any improvements, they will work with us to take it out of our rent. They even told me they would show up with a dump truck full of mulch if I want to re-do all the flower beds and start a garden!! I'm psyched!

Of course, I have never planted anything in my life, so this will be quite an adventure!

The title of this post is a quote from Disney's Peter Pan. I love that show and I have a particular connection with Tinkerbell and this quote just seems to speak to me. All things will work out eventually, sometime you just need that faith and trust, and a little pixie dust!

On the Move

I'm sitting at my in laws in Cincinnati tonight. We did the first leg of the trip yesterday and will finish the trek tomorrow. We expect to be in Bellefonte, PA by 5pm.

We originally reserved a 16 foot Penske truck. After my hubby did some measuring and tetris-like arranging on his computer screen (in scale) we realized that would hold our furniture and none of our boxes. We promptly called and switched to the 22 foot truck! And it was a good thing we did because it is packed full!! I'm SOOOOO glad I went to the vet with the kitties to get them drugs for the ride. I don't really like the idea of drugging my animals, but it was definitely the right thing to do in this situation. They were so calm and slept for most of the ride here. You can see pictures of them in there stupor on my facebook page. Poor things! They were like Cheech and Chong! Tomorrow they will get another dose and hopefully they will sleep again and wake up in their new home!

We had a bit of a vacation day in Ohio today. We went to the National Air Force Museum (pics to come on the Facebook) and to Young's Jersey Dairy- they make all of their own ice cream with cream from the cows right there on the farm! It was very cool and very yummy, but we had WAY too much! Then we went to our nephews football practice (he's 6) and to dinner with the fam. It was a good day, but I am beat now!! The good news is that I will sleep well again before our early start tomorrow!

Success!

The yard sale is over!! HOORAY!!!!

And I think it was quite successful! We sold quite a lot and what didn't sell went straight to goodwill. I am very proud of the amount of clothes that I sold or gave away. Everything I've been keeping for 3-5 years thinking I would one day fit into again I just got rid of. Downsizing was the goal and we certainly did that. There are fewer things in the house to box up and I am glad for that!

It would not have been so successful had it not been for the help of our good friends who donated quite a lot to the sale to help us gain funds for the move. It is so wonderful to know that we have friends out there that want to help! I will certainly miss being close to them when I'm up in Pennsylvania. I know we will make new friends, but it will be weird to not have them just down the street for a shopping trip or a movie.

So now it's time to continue packing. I'm going to start boxing up clothes today and try to leave only what I will need for Vegas and the work week out. Tonight is my last night of work at the hotel (thank goodness) and I will be home every evening packing away! I've made a list of what needs to be done- changing address (done), canceling utilities, canceling the internet, reserve the moving truck (done), and re-connecting everything at the new place. There's more on the list and I am sure the list will keep growing. For now it's one step at a time!!

Overwhelming

There is so much to do and so little time!! I'm not even sure where to start! I've reserved our Penske truck for the move and I've tagged most of the yard sale stuff. I am hoping that after the sale on Saturday I'll be able to get a better grasp on what needs to be boxed up for the move! I'm also in the process of trying to get my cats more comfortable with the idea of being in the car. Cleo actually went for a ride the other day and did pretty well. She was vocal, but she was ok. Rosco however is scared to even go outside much less get in the car! We have an appointment with the vet next week to get them some calming meds for the trip. I hate to drug them but I would hate even more for them to be completely miserable!

It's weird because we leave on Sept. 1st so it seems like I have some time to get things done but when I looked at my calendar I actually only have about 3 days. I'm going to Vegas with friends next weekend and I am working full time all the way through Thursday, not to mention my part time job at the Fairfield Inn (there go my evenings!)...

So, I am feeling like I don't know how to get it all done. I need a checklist and more hours in the day would be great! The hubby has been working late for the last couple of weeks but he'll have a bit more time now to help which will also be a big help. It's easier to stay motivated when you have someone to keep you going!!

The good news is that we found a really cute townhouse in Pennsylvania!! It's 2 bedrooms and the kitchen looks REALLY nice!! So now it's time to get us there and get settled! Wish us luck!! The adventure continues!

I wanted an adventure...

And it looks like I'm getting one!

In three weeks my husband and I will be on our way to Pennsylvania with a Budget Truck and two very unhappy kitties. The husband got a WONDERFUL new job at Penn State! We are so excited but that means LOTS to do in just three weeks!

First step is to de-clutter!

Moving that far means cleaning out stuff that is unnecessary and having a yard sale. There's enough to move with just the necessities so I'm going to try VERY hard to not be a pack rat. Anyone who knows me knows I save a lot of junk. I can't help it that I want to save every party cup I ever painted in college!!

Step 2- Find an apartment IN PENNSYLVANIA!!

Not an easy task when you're in Tennessee and don't actually know anyone where you're moving! And it's a college town which means every apartment complex I've found is already fully rented for the year. Ugh. The good news is that I got in touch with a realtor today and they are going to see how they can help us find a place. Fingers crossed!

Next I figure out the best way to get my two sweet kitty cats to Pennsylvania without scarring them for life.

I am not above drugging them a little if it will make 14 hours in the car easier on their sensitive tummies and moods! I'm hoping to start taking them for little car rides here and there this week to help them adjust a little. Wish me luck!

And of course, find a job for me!

I'm hoping that my working part time at a hotel here will transfer nicely to a hotel there. That will at least give me something until I find my true calling!!

So here we go! I'm collecting boxes and I've already started packing things up for the big move. Everyone keeps warning me about the snow and I'm not sure how to prepare for a winter like I've never known but hopefully I'll have some time to ease into it. I'm excited about fall in Pennsylvania. Surely the leaves change there and I will really experience autumn like I never have before. This is all very exciting for us! And get this, it's illegal to NOT recycle there!! I kind of love that!! We're excited about moving somewhere that really cares about their town and the area. It will definitely be a change from Memphis!!

So stay tuned to see how this Southern girl survives up north!!