Captain's Log - Car Date 2009146

Time is really flying. I sit here thinking of the things that I need to do besides packing (vet, car to mechanic, post office, phone calls, etc) and realize that we have to keep moving. I think I said in a previous post, the hope is to have everything pretty much wrapped up with packing by the weekend, Saturday would be great. This would give us a couple days to sit back, rest and maybe do a couple of activities that we had hoped to fit in before leaving. First the weather got so hot that we stayed away from outside activities, and since then we have had rain, rain and more rain! I would love to get back to EPCOT, Magic Kingdom and Disney Hollywood Studios one last time, but that will not happen. We might be able to make it to Downtown Disney to get our last Disney fix! One thing is for sure, as much as we have loved Disney, we will not be vacationing here anytime soon! Disneyland in California maybe, but not Disney World. There is so much I want Tara to experience in the North East, I don't think we will have to travel to far! So, this morning I was up bright and early again, only I only had about 3 1/2 hours of sleep. I fed the animals, and walked the dogs all before 5:30! I spent some time on the computer and watched the news, and then I started sorting through boxes again. We pretty much have everything emptied out, and things in piles or boxes. I have a box of scrapbooking stuff, office/school supplies, a box for my bedroom, a box of those odds and ends of paperwork that you want to make sure you can put your hands on quickly if need be. I've also got a kitchen box, a Tara box, and just odds and ends box. When I find something that belongs in one of those categories, I just drop it in the box on my way by. Depending on what is in the boxes in the end, they may or may not have to be repacked. I am sure in the end there are going to be a box or two of STUFF that has no logic place in my organizational scheme. I had boxes like that when I moved to FL, they were the last boxes to be packed when I was just too tired to think about it. The way I am feeling this time, that STUFF might just become trash! Trash oy vey, this is a problem. No trash today because it is a holiday, and we will have no bulk pick up this week, where we can put out at the curb the equivilant of one small pick up track of "stuff". I am trying my best to keep my trash consolidated as much as I can. This is the 45 gal can I have in the house. This really saves on trash bags. It is brand new, clean, not smelly, but definitely one of the best things I decided to buy in the process. It's about filled to the top, so Thursday needs to come quickly. I have another just like it in the garage right now and it is packed to the top!
Carryover
1) Buy jeans. Do we want to take bets on what day I finally do this?

2) Hallway bathroom cabinets. Not yet completed, but one side is emptied. I still need to go through all the stuff, it is all small odds and ends of toys. I have also pulled a few things from the other side, so there is very little there still yet to do!

3)Goodwill today's load was a big one. I am totally impressed by this new Goodwill store and drop off center. The folks that work the donation area are so nice. I pull my vehicle up under the covered area, and within a moment or two, there is someone outside with a yellow bin to help me unload. Within 5 minutes I am done and on my way! I read today, when I was looking for a phone number to see if they were open today, that even if they can't use items, anything that they can recycled is recycled, and they get money back into the organization from that as well. That makes me feel better should I be donating anything that they can not use/sell. I am trying to only donate things that if I were going to a thrift store that I would want to buy (if they were not already my things!) This store is near the Univ of Central FL campus, so I suspect at some times of the year they get a good business from college students. Today's load included over 12 DOZEN hangers. 144 HANGERS - all the nice plastic kind. I didn't think we ever had 144 pieces of clothing between the two of us, but we had HANGERS. Mom has plenty of hangers back home. The black trash bag is full of hangers! Also donated games, lots of decorative stuff. I even gave up my Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls I got when I was in 7th grade (yes, a little old for dolls, but if I remember correctly, they were "popular" at that time. I had always held on to these as keepsakes, but Tara had gotten to them when she was little and the boxes were gone, and she really had not interest in them, so I SACRIFICED! I am sacrificing a great deal of sentimental items, I just need to let go!



4) I "freecycled" a Cartop Cargo carrier that we used when I moved to FL, and no longer needed, so I while I was outside waiting for the woman to arrive to pick it up, I started to work on the stuff in the garage a bit more. This area is almost done. It looks like there is still quite a bit of stuff, but amazingly, much of it is empty storage boxes. I might actually have EMPTY boxes when all this is over. I bought 10 new boxes, but had quite a few around the house, that are being utilized as well. I have two bikes that I want to see if I can get some $$$ for. My bike is almost like new, I'm just not a big bike rider. I would much prefer to walk. Tara has outgrown her bike. Other than that in the garage I have 4 completely full boxes of XMAS stuff, and one box of misc things that when added to some XMAS stuff in the house might yield two more boxes. My christmas tree, Tara's electric scooter, RIP Stick, and her saddle just about complete the major stuff out there to be moved. There is a bit that will be taken by the 1-800-GOT-JUNK truck.
Inside the house does not look I made too much progeees, but I really have. Hopefully tomorrow I will bea able to add boxes to the living room which is the "staging area" for the big move day!
5) Master Bedroom - go through my TWO boxes of stuff, and get all of Tara's books out to the main book box! I will leave this one uncompleted!
I even prepared a decent dinner, sloppy joes, mashed (very good instant potoates from Aldis) green beans, baked beans and corn.


I worked on the garage some more this evening and walked the dogs in the rain. That was about it for today. Tomorrow is a new day, with renewed energy!

I'm tired actually having trouble keeping my eyes open to type this! I probably forgot something!

Captain's Log - Car Date 2009145

Uncompleted tasks for Sunday and beyond:
1) Buy jeans (I have only two pair of jeans... one the zipper is broken, and the other pair are getting so thin I am afraid they will disintegrate if touched. I wear shorts around the house but not out in public.
2) Pantry closet - used for storage of crafts, games, cookbooks, etc. I finally tackled this MESS today. I think most of us have one of the places in our homes. This closet is about 4x4 wide, conveniently located in the center of the house near the kitchen & family room. With only two in the family, I did not buy large quantities of anything food related, so this was more of a "stuff" closet than a pantry! Cookbooks have been donated to friends. Tara has let go over over 1/2 of her games. Some have gone to Goodwill, and I put others up on Freecycle and think I may have a taker. I think we are down to 8 games, most of the more grown up than little kid games. I threw out SOOO many cell phone cords, USB cords from various cameras, etc.
Before

After two angles (not totally empty, some things are going to new homes, waiting for pick up, some things still need to be gone through.


3) Empty hallway bathroom cabinets. Linen closet already done. I did take TWO things out, and there really is not much there. I hope that most will be toss stuff!
5) Organize piles in master bedroom. Furniture donated last week, so there are piles and boxes from dresser, night tables, etc. Each time I go in there, I pick up a couple more things...
7) Go through boxes and drawers in guest room. This is basically done, last evening I got a 2nd wind, and went back to ask my mom something in that room. I wound up going through the boxes in the closet and consolidated from THREE to ONE!
Also completed on Sunday
8) Go to ceramic studio for Tara paint a piece she has been wanting to do for some time



9 Purchase new 45 gal trash can and it is now in my family room. Tired of filling trash bags! Will add photo!
10) Enjoy morning drive with Tara and an iced coffee while mom was in church. I love McDs Iced Coffee, and Tara likes the NF Iced Mocha with a shot of vanilla (yes, I let my 12 yo drink coffee - she DOESN'T ever drink soda)
I got gas at a Murphy station, and they have TV monitors on the pumps... not just commercials for their mini mart, but news, weather, sports, etc.



11 Put some stuff up on Freecycle Some one is picking up a car top carrier that has been sitting in my garage since I moved here from PA. Don't need it with the new car!
12 Several more boxes ready for Goodwill.... don't know if they are open on Memorial Day, we will find out! They are open, and I will be headed there a little later
My house is getting to the chaotic point. There are boxes everywhere. You know, those that are not quite full, and you know you will have more like stuff or things for that particular room. I have a box for my bedroom, things I want to be sure don't put in the wrong place. I go from room to room collecting things for the particular boxes.

I have come to the conclusion my child has TOO much STUFF. I am finally starting to just get rid of things that I would have asked her about three days ago! I will deal with the consequences if she ever asks for it.

I think we will be done by early next weekend which is the goal, so we will have a couple days to chill-lax before the packing of the truck and the drive home!

Captain's Log - Car Date 2009144

Uncompleted tasks for Saturday and beyond:
1) Buy jeans
2) Pantry closet - used for storage of crafts, games, cookbooks, etc. Games have been sorted and 1/3 donated to Goodwill. I have found homes for my WW cookbooks (I rarely cook from books anymore, I find recipes when needed on the internet!) This closet is SCARING ME, hence it keeps getting put off!
3) Empty hallway bathroom cabinets. Linen closet already done.
4) Wrap tchotchkes from around the house. This has not yet been completed but they are all in one central place, and have all been washed!
5) Organize piles in master bedroom. Furniture donated last week, so there are piles and boxes from dresser, night tables, etc. I did sort through some stuff, but have more to go.
6) Finish packing up toys in Tara's old room. Also sorted through my boxes of "stuff" stored in that closet.
7) Go through boxes and drawers in guest room.
(Neither 6 nor 7 involve much stuff, maybe 1 hour if that in each room) - I was wrong #6 took more like 1 1/2 hours, and there's still some stuff to be boxed.)
ADDED
8)Bottom kitchen cabinets This was not on today's list, but we segwayed into it after wrapping all the tchotchkes
9) Trip to Goodwill Cardboard boxes were things packed up yesterday other two boxes were things from kitchen today!


Saturday (and beyond list)
10) Trip to market
11) Cook yummy dinner. Steamed clams, baked salmon corn on cob, with shrimp cocktail and sliced tomatoes, avocado. Sliced strawberries and "shortcakes" for dessert.





11a) Also cooked sloppy joes to have on hand for lunches, etc
12) Sorted through two boxes in family room.
13) Missing my internet friends

Will do my best to complete the uncompleted on Sunday. Mom will go to church, and sometime Tara and I have to go to the ceramic studio. She has a piece that needs to be painted ASAP, so we can pick it up before we leave... we may have already missed the date.

Still want to get to the movies to see "Night at the Museum".

Tara had a tough day today. She is going to have to adjust to having TWO adults in the house when we move. My mom tries to stay out of it as best she can, but there are times I need REINFORCEMENT. I am so focused on getting packed, but still trying to pay attention to her. She's 12 and SHOULD understand. I want to work hard this week, so by next weekend, we are pretty much done and can relax until packing/driving day comes on Tuesday!

Captain's Log - Car Date 2009143

Carry over from Thursday list:
1) Buy Jeans
2) Pack up pantry closet (I think this is about the worst spot left - crafts, game, cookbooks, misc stuff)
3) Empty Hallway bathroom cabinets (this has been a gathering place for Tara's stuff)
4) Bubble wrap all the little tchotchkes I have been gathering around the house (this is a good one for mom)
Additional Friday
5) Work in garage - go through holiday boxes. Took advantage of the "cooler" weather due to the rain to work in the garage
6) Back to U-Haul for cardboard boxes to take donations to Goodwill
7 Sort lines (sheets, towels) for keep and donate
8 Another trip to Goodwill
Here are some pics from the day.
This is Tara and her Webkinz. That is a jumbo bag that is holding 130150 (give or take a couple) Webkinz, before vacuumed and after! Yes, my daughter is OVER induldged with Webkinz, but right now they are here "thing". She have internet friends through Webkinz World and YouTube. She is becoming quite the little film maker with her Flip!
All of THESE,

in a JUMBO bag

AFTER vacuumed!

I'm loving Space Saver bags. Those three empty boxes, used to be full with the stuffed animals that are now in the two (1 jumbo and 1 large) Space Saver bag



My mom helping in the garage!

This was the load that went to Goodwill today. One box of misc stuff and another of Christmas
.
This is how much I downsized Christmas (that's not saying that I don't still have another two small boxes - we LOVE Christmas, and my mom had just as much in PA). Two BIG boxes to two smaller boxes.


Uncompleted tasks - Carry over to Saturday, and beyond:
1) Buy jeans
2) Pantry closet - used for storage of crafts, games, cookbooks, etc. Games have been sorted and 1/3 donated to Goodwill. I have found homes for my WW cookbooks (I rarely cook from books anymore, I find recipes when needed on the internet!) This closet is SCARING ME, hence it keeps getting put off!
3) Empty hallway bathroom cabinets. Linen closet already done.
4) Wrap tchotchkes from around the house. This has not yet been completed but they are all in one central place, and have all been washed!
5) Organize piles in master bedroom. Furniture donated last week, so there are piles and boxes from dresser, night tables, etc. I did sort through some stuff, but have more to go.
6) Finish packing up toys in Tara's old room.
7) Go through boxes and drawers in guest room.
(Neither 6 nor 7 involve much stuff, maybe 1 hour if that in each room)

Captain's Log - Car Date 2009142

List for Thursday (and I am sure some carry over to Friday):
1) Get nails done I got a nice new set of pink and white french nails and a much needed eyebrow waxing, and Tara got a complimentary toe polish. Bonnie is the BEST, and Tara loves it when she does her nails. We will miss her! I need a pedicure, but will have to wait until all the packing is done!

2) Buy Jeans
3) Cook - I have chicken thighs and ground turkey breast thawed - Turkey chili simmering and chicken thighs marinating in Hawaiian marinade. Will serve with stir fry veggies and couscous
Here are Tara and my mom sitting at the table for the chicken dinner I prepared, first we had to find room on the table. It was full of stuff!

4) Pack up pantry closet (I think this is about the worst spot left - crafts, game, cookbooks, misc stuff) - This is partially done, the games and a couple other things are out. Found homes for several cookbooks!
5) Empty Hallway bathroom cabinets (this has been a gathering place for Tara's stuff) - Not done
6) Bubble wrap all the little tchotchkes I have been gathering around the house (this is a good one for mom) - Not done, but they are washed and all ready to be bubble wrapped
7) Back to Uhaul - need bubble wrap "bags" for pictures and decorative plates
8) Finish laundry
9) Sort three boxes of toys for keep/toss/donate This took some time!
10) Drain water from pool The "lake" in my side yard has receded for now

This was today's load to Goodwill. That Loving Family house was something I have been trying to get Tara to give up for TWO years!



By 7:30, I had switched loads of laundry, schlepped more trash to the curb, prepared a pot of chili, started chicken marinating, pulled games from pantry closet, drained 2'' water from pool, washed odds and ends of dishes in the sink. Now I am waiting for my pot of coffee to finish brewing and I'm going to go searching for a ATWT photo for this week!

I slipped on a wet spot on the floor in the morning (okay, if you must know DOG PEE) and scored a perfect 10 doing a split! I pulled something and this had me slowed down a bit.

Captain's Log - Car Date 2009141

So here is the list I had posted for things I hoped to get done, and except TWO that were about ME, I got them all done, and added a couple more. All in all not a bad day! I must do those two things today. I have a nail that is about to come off (acrylics) and it hurts when I bend it. I desperately need jeans. One pair is falling apart
For Wednesday I would like to do:
1) Get bubble wrap at U-Haul
2) Buy new jeans
3) Best Buy for one return and the purchase of a new keyboard for the desktop PC. (Note to self - buying a cheap keyboard is not worth it) Decided to check this off the list. Will keep the printer I was going to return, and Tara figured out what was wrong with the keyboard.
4) Get nails done (I have one that is lifting and it hurts every time I bend it the wrong way, so this is a necessity!) - It was raining so hard when we were out that we just decided to come home.
5) Go to Goodwill
6) Clean up guest room - Mom comes today! That is where I have been putting laundry the past few days!
7) Pack up my old office, that became Tara's bedroom for a short time
8) Pick Mom up at airport approx 8:30!!! Amazingly her flight was on time even though there was a terrible line of storms going through.
9) Schlep all the trash to the curb. Besides the bags in the picture above there are at least two big bags by the back of the house... I need a wagon! I got the stuff by the curb between rain and lightenting. Still have a couple bags out back, but too much standing water in yard, and too many scary things come out with the rain (snakes, etc)
Added tasks:
Ask questions about renting truck. Did you know that you can "rent" men to help you load a rental truck? www.movinghelp.com. I did not know this type of service was available, and it really takes the pressure off. I can load boxes, but the big stuff I need some help. Neighbors all work and I don't like asking for help! $82 for two guys, for two hours! Works for me!
10) Stop at vet to pick up records for Emmie and Cassie
11) Laundry I just realized I had never done a load of wet pool stuff from last week (pee yew)It wound up being four loads, with some blankets, towels etc. First two done and folded, third in dryer, fourth waiting in line!
12) Make plane reservation of Jason
Jason is my friend who is driving my "stuff" to PA. He is the son of my sister's good friend, and he happens to live in Orlando too. Jason Trivia - he used to be Tigger at Disney World during his College Program! Anyway, he is not working, and has not been home for a while, so I figured win-win situation. He drives the truck, I pay his expenses and return plane fare, and I don't have to hire a regular mover and pay WAY more to move!

Small pile for Goodwill

Living room starting to fill with boxes

Backside of trash. There is more in front of the can. Will try to get another picture if I can get the other bags out this morning.


List for Thursday (and I am sure some carry over to Friday):
1) Get nails done
2) Buy Jeans
3) Cook - I have chicken thighs and ground turkey breast thawed - Turkey chili simmering and chicken thighs marinating in Hawaiian marinade. Will serve with stir fry veggies and couscous
4) Pack up pantry closet (I think this is about the worst spot left - crafts, game, cookbooks, misc stuff)
5) Empty Hallway bathroom cabinets (this has been a gathering place for Tara's stuff)
6) Bubble wrap all the little tchotchkes I have been gathering around the house (this is a good one for mom)
7) Back to Uhaul - need bubble wrap "bags" for pictures and decorative plates
8) Finish laundry
9) Sort three boxes of toys for keep/toss/donate
10) Drain water from pool The "lake" in my side yard has receded for now

Captain's Log - Car Date 2009140

Tuesday was another rainy (yeah) day, and the rain continues to bring cooler temperatures. Also, with the rain there was little desire to be out and about. We so needed the rain, but we did not need it in the amounts that it has been raining, and there have been pockets of severe weather. This is what the side yard looked like.

and this is what the pool looked like. Keep in mind that on Saturday the water level was down about 4".


Now on to the progress. I had not planned on working on the kitchen, but that is where I wound up. Can I tell you, I think the kitchen has more "stuff" than the rest of the house. I guess it is because there is so many different types of things. I have the upper cabinets packed as much as I can. We do still need to eat and cook (unfortunatley)for the next 13 days, so I could not pack everything.
I have one full set of dishes and quite a few coffee mug, cups, etc to go to Goodwill on Wednesday, among other things. I was hoping to get a load there today, but with the rain, I just wanted to stay inside!
Here are three cabinets. What is left is dishes we need to eat from and some storage containers. The one totally empty cabinet was all kids of wine glasses, sundae cups, etc. See the kitty in the middle picture on top of the cabinets next to the palnt? That's Daphne.



I have also gone through the cabinet with the canned goods, spices, etc and have the bare minimum left there.
Here is the trash (unfortunately) I created today and the stuff that needs to go to Goodwill. I have another box for Goodwill in the house with games and some other kitchen gadgets. They will go Wednesday rain or shine. Goodwill has a little drive thru area that is covered and they come right out to the car with a cart to take the stuff inside, so no excuse not to go.


I also consolidated a couple boxes from the garage, and Tara and I sorted through a big container of books. We got that down to about 1/2 to donate, 1/2 keep, which I was happy with!

I ran out of bubble wrap/packing material so that is a must do errand on Wednesday. I don't have any newspaper in the house either, so the packing came to a halt.

For Wednesday I would like to do:
1) Get bubble wrap
2) Buy new jeans
3) Best Buy for one return and the purchase of a new keyboard for the desktop PC. (Note to self - buying a cheap keyboard is not worth it)
4) Get nails done (I have one that is lifting and it hurts every time I bend it the wrong way, so this is a necessity!)
5) Go to Goodwill
6) Clean up guest room - Mom comes today! That is where I have been putting laundry the past few days!
7) Pack up my old office, not much in there, a shelf with tchotchke that need to be wrapped and stuffed animals (Build a Bear collection) that are mostly already in boxes.
8) Pick Mom up at airport approx 8:30!!!
9) Schlep all the trash to the curb. Besides the bags in the picture above there are at least two big bags by the back of the house... I need a wagon!

We will see how far I get. It's 7:50am, I can get started on #6 and do some of #7.