Captain's Log - Car Date 2009153

Wow, only two more nights to sleep in this house! At one point I thought the day would never get here, and then last week, I did not think I would survive the preparations, and now, as the big day draws near, I am READY, and for the most part rested and unstressed.

I got off to a good start this morning. I awoke at 5:30am on my own, after a good nights sleep. Gosh, I love Maia our Yorkie, but looking back, I think she was part of the reason I did not sleep well. I made the mistake of not having her in a crate at night, and she was cat like in the sense that she wandered, and was in tune to every little noise outside. She also liked being up around 4:30 many mornings! I miss her silly, over excitable personality, but the house is much calmer. I think Princess might have barked once all day today!

Anyway, once I was up, I was able to spend some tweeting and blogging time. I got the trash to the curb, cleaned the guinea pig cage (he's being downsized too, at least for the trip) and went through a couple small boxes of odds and ends.

Around 9:30am, I decided to head out to Goodwill (yes, again) and UHAUL, while I waited for CARMAX to call to tell me they FINALLY had the right part for my sunroof. Goodwill must have had a a big weekend/early Monday morning, being it was the 1st of the month, as they had no yellow carts to get the stuff from my car to the building, so today I just had to stack it outside. Here is what I took today!


Then it was a stop at UHAUL. I needed a box and to put in my reservation for the truck on Wednesday. That is all taken care of, and I get to pick the truck up around 7am on Wednesday. 1800GOTJUNK is scheduled between 8:30-10:30, and the moving helpers are due between 9:00 - 9:30. Jason, who will be driving the truck to PA, will be over to help load as well! He is excited about the trip! I'm glad, as he is really helping me out.

While I was making these stops, Tara and Princess were watching the "Ugly Dachsund". I don't know why, but I really like driving and listening to movies, especially if they are movies that I know, so I can picture what is going on in my head! I think everyone will be very comfortable for the drive!

We then headed to pick up a ceramic piece that Tara painted last weekend, you can go HERE, to see the before picture. Here is the after, it turned out great. This was another sad moment, saying good bye to our friends at Painted by Hue, we had lots of fun over the past couple of years there, and we have lots of ceramic pieces to show for it!

It was then time to come home. I called CARMAX when got home, and my part was in, so I was to head there around 1:30. We grabbed some lunch, I went through another box of "stuff" from my desk, and then it was time to go. My part was installed promptly, and we were headed out when I remembered that the carpet under the floor mat had been wet on the passenger side. I had meant to tell them about it, although it had dried out on Sunday after I lifted the mat. They diagnosed the issue right away (an AC drain line that was clogged), but knew that it would not be completed by closing time, and they know they I am under a time crunch, and offered me a loaner vehicle. After a few minutes of waiting for the car and the paper work to be completed, we were on our way home in a Kia mini van (I forget the model). I do not like it as much as my mini van, but it is only for a day.


We finally got home, the wind out of my sails! I relaxed for a few, and the made dinner (chicken, couscous and fresh tomatoes), and then got back to packing. Except for the things around the house that we are using and some kitchen stuff we are DONE!

I thought I had made my last trip to Goodwill, but I found a few more things today, so there will be another trip there tomorrow.

I also have to go to COMCAST (all the way on the other side of "town"), and will have to go back and pick up my car. I still have things to mail (the last thing from my list of tasks), so hopefully I will have a chance to get to the PO after I pick up my car.

Dinner tomorrow night will be take out/delivery/or eating out, as we have just about used up everything we need to in the fridge.

I can't wait to have this part of the "journey" completed, so I can start sharing fun stuff on the road trip and once we get back home! There is so much there I can't wait to see again after FOUR years!

Captain's Log - Car Date 2009152

It really is happening, we are almost there. We have been wanting this for two years now, and it is just three days away. We will be on our way to PA! Back to family and friends we have missed so much over the past 6 years. Yes, there were visits, phone calls, and emails, but their is nothing like being close enough to go grab a cup of coffee, or for a hug, or to celebrate all of the special occasions we've been missing out on!

Sunday was productive, yet not stressful. I am to the point of just the little stuff.
Mom headed to church, and Princess rode along. I think she is enjoying being an "only" dog. I do miss Maia and Daphne, but the house is much calmer. We tried to go to UHAUL to buy a box for Tara's Cinderella Castle that still needs to be packed, but everyone in East Orlando must have moved over the weekend, we could not get near the place. I'm glad we are moving mid-week!

Next we headed to the car wash, there was bird "poop" on Tara's window. I like the little car washes that you drive into, but the car just sits there and the machine moves. It does not touch your car. It might not get 100% of the dirt, but it is good for those quick interim washes. I am not sure if Princess liked it or not!


After the carwash, I stopped for my morning energy. This time at Dunkin' Donuts

We stopped home, and dropped off Princess, and then soon it was time to go pick Mom up at church.
Once home, we set to the task of more gathering and packing of the little stuff. Consolidating more boxes, getting rid of more stuff when given a second glance. Most of the day was spent doing this, with some breaks for a few quick games of Bejeweled Blitz, etc.
Tara played in the pool a bit, and saw this in the sky. She made sure she told me it was there so I could take a picture!

Speaking up UP. We took a much needed relaxation break and went to see UP 3D last night. It was a great movie, but a little sad to realize it will most likely be our last movie at that theater. We have seen so many movies there over the past 6 years! Lots of fun times and good memories!


By the end of the day, this is what the "staging area" looked like!

Can you believe this is mostly stuffed animals? Build-A-Bears, etc, plus there are two boxes of Webkinz in the other pile! We got rid of lots of stuffed animals too! The wooden bench goes (it was my grandmother's) but not the palm!

That is almost all my worldly possesions in one room of the house! There are probably 10 more boxes (clothes, kitchens, odds and ends), a bike, Christmas tree, TV, big desk, dresser daybed and mattress, and computer yet to be added to the "pile"!

Monday I should be able to tie up the loose ends. It is trash day, so more stuff to the curb, another load to Goodwill (I think will be the last). I also need to go reserve a truck!

I would love to head to Downtown Disney for our last Disney experience, but I have a feeling that might be pushing things a bit!

Captain's Log - Car Date 2009151

Wow, my list has really gotten SHORT! I only had two "carry over" tasks, and one will probably be carried over until the very last minute.

1) Go to Farmers Market take earring for repair. There is a wonderful vendor that sells jewelery made from the dried acrylic from her paint palette. She has an Etsy shop too Art Parts by Sandy. I bought a pair of earrings for myself for Mother's Day, and the hook had come off. Now I knew I could probably fix it, but I wanted to make sure it was done right, so I brought it back to Sandy! She was great, apologized for my trouble, fixed the earring, and gave me a handpainted pouch! This picture is from Sandy's Etsy store, and look very much like my earrings. I love the colors, and in particular that they have amethyst (my birthstone). If you like unique jewelery, or need a unique gift of jewelery, check her out!

Tara got a fork bracelet today, I found this photo on line,but not made by the same guy, and my mom got an angel pin made from the design ends off the silverware. I will have to take a picture of that. Tara has wanted this bracelet since the 1st week we went to the Farmer's Market, but we had already spent too much. The vendor is Argyle Gifts. She also got her favorite hand made bath fizzies from Coconut Clean, she was given a 3 pack as a parting gift! That was so very nice of him.

It was so hot and sticky by 10:30 this morning, we decided to head home, but not after a quick trip to, you guessed it Goodwill.
2) Trip to Goodwill. I was thinking it might be my last one, but I found some things I forgot, and have already added to them.


The rest of the day was spent "puttering" around, collecting odds and ends of things around the house. I went through one more box of Tara's stuff collected from my bedroom. It is just a matter now of getting all the little things around the house put into boxes, or if insignificant, trashed.

I will need one more trip to Goodwill with some things I forgot, but we are really almost ready!!!

I need to go reserve a truck (they make you pay for FIVE days for a trip of our distance, even if you don't need it that long. I think at the most I will need it four. I hope to get packed by early afternoon Tuesday, (all the boxes are gathered in one area, so grabbing two or three at a time on a hand truck will be easy, and I don't see us having more than 30 boxes), and we have only 5 pieces of furniture that I can't load, thus the "rent-a-movers" I have hired! I'd love to get 8 or 9 (or more) hours of driving in on Wednesday, and then complete the trip on Thursday, arriving home a day earlier!

I have to say, I miss Maia and Daphne, but the house is so much calmer! Maia is a ball of energy, and some days a bit much. I think Princess is loving being an only dog. I have to hope that they found great homes already this weekend. I don't have the "strength" to go check on them.....

Captain's Log - Car Date 2009150

Today was a hard day for me, but I made it through, and know that there was no other way!
Here are some other details of the day.

1) Back to Carmax (three mornings in a row, out of the house by 7:30), good thing is I can get my ICED coffee I was there by 8am, by 8:30 I had SPILLED my ice coffee on the floor, and by 9am they were telling me they could not make the repair as they were sent the wrong part! Now I have to go back on Monday (we hope)!


2) Trip to Goodwill with "fake" plants, and any other misc stuff! Waiting for a full load, by tomorrow maybe!

3) Bike Store He does not buy previously owned bikes at all. I am now rethinking taking it with me. It is a great bike, and MAYBE I can ride it to the fitness center in our new complex!


4) Jeans shopping FINALLY, 2 pair jeans, shirt, flip flops, watch, necklace and jammies!

5) Post office - Should do while I am out too.

6) Stop by pet rescue at Petsmart. Two options for "surrendering pets" have fallen through. I hope this rescue who we have known and dealt with on several occasions will be able to take Maia and Daphne. This is done, and Daphne and Maia are with the rescue. It was one of the HARDEST things I have ever done. They were both part of our famiy since May 2005.

7) Finish up odds and ends of packing, things we are not currently using.
I am sure there are more.... just not coming up with any. If all moving tasks are done, then there are plenty other things still to be done! I am moving right along with this. I think by Saturday afternoon I should be DONE. I cleaned out desk today, and packed p the Wii, RockBand, Gamecube.

8) Finally brought the ladder in and emptied these shelves
This, now looks like this



9) Went to dinner at Outback. Tara's choice not mine.

We are coming to the home stretch, and I am happy with where we are. In the end I think we will have 30 boxes or left. All my wordly belongings in 30 boxes. I think that is pretty darned good (well, except for the computers, TV, and some furniture)

Captain's Log - Car Date 2009149

Today was another very busy day with more errand running than actual packing. Again, I didn't pull my camera out. I forgot to photograph the pile of trash, and the additional car load of donations to Goodwill, and a box of office/craft supplies we donated to the church my mom attends when she is here.

Trash was two FULL 45 gal trash cans (see photo a couple days back), and I believe two bags.
Donation was 2 rather EX large storage containers, a "BOOMBOX" from the mid-90s (still works, just BIG), and one other box. I am totally annoyed with myself that I forgot photos. I am just so tired, and just trying to get from point A to point B!

Thursday's list:
1) Buy jeans (I tried again, the errand I ran before required an additonal stop and I needed to get hom)
2) Finish packing the various boxes throughout the house The boxes I was mentioning in this task have at last been FILLED, and now have the lids on them and are ready to be moved to the "staging area" (aka living room).
This was the family room earlier this evening,

Now all those boxes have bee moved to the living room. Last we visited the "staging area, it looked like this:

Tonight it looks like this (notice love seat is gone - 1800GOTJUNK!)

4) Repack Tara's books - I think they will have to be in two boxes, or it will be too heavy! For a kid that doesn't really like to read she has a lot of "favorite" books.
5) Deposit checks in my purse in the bank -Didnt go by the bank today,
7) Stop at bike store to see if he will buy back my bike I did take a picture and was going to stop buy today. the same errand that impacted #1, impacted this task as well.
8) Go to "pawn shop" to see if they will buy two TVs Done, they will buy them, but one will be going with us. It is bigger and newer than the TV my mom has, so she will take the one. Need to decide now if I should just take both of them.
9) del>Finish removing paritally packed/sorted items from Tara's room This will be done as soon as I am done posting this. I didn't want to FALL asleep again tonight with out posting.
10) Go to Post office - four packages to be mailed. I have all item together in a box, with all four addresses. That's a step in the right direction. I HATE the post office.
11) Trip to Goodwill. I took another BIG load, but TOTALLY forgot to take pictures, also took one box to church
12) Daphne, Kovu and Maia to vet. Maia was groomed as well!
13) Trash & recycling to the curb

14) Took sleeping bag, blanket and pillow to laundromat My mom did this while I went to Goodwill and pet store.

I keep thinking today is FRIDAY. Thank goodness it is not. We basically have two rooms emptied.
One bedroom has just a bookshelf that will go with us, the other has TV, bookshelf and dressers to go, and an old desk and bedframe for 1-800-GOTJUNK.
Living Room/Dining Room are being used for packing, so there is no "stuff" from that room specifically.
Guest Room - This basically has all of our clothes and linens in boxes, and the stuff we are wearing in baskets. My mom is doing a great job of keeping this under control! There is a bed, and a small piece of furntiture to be moved in that room. Drawers emptied and only thing in the closet are mom's current clothes.
Family Room/Kitchen - This is where the majority of "stuff" is left. Odds and ends of things, plus things in different stages of packing. It is hard to pack up everything, we are still LIVING and eating here. I now in the end stuff will just be thrown in boxes with no rhyme or reason, but the majority of the stuff is pretty organized!

Friday
1) Back to Carmax (three mornings in a row, out of the house by 7:30), good thing is I can get my ICED coffee!
2) Trip to Goodwill with "fake" plants, and any other misc stuff!
3) Bike Store
4) Jeans shopping
3 & 4 WILL be done after Carmax, while I am out alone!
5) Post office - Should do while I am out too.
6) Stop by pet rescue at Petsmart. Two options for "surrendering pets" have fallen through. I hope this rescue who we have known and dealt with on several occasions will be able to take Maia and Daphne.
7) Finish up odds and ends of packing, things we are not currently using.
I am sure there are more.... just not coming up with any. If all moving tasks are done, then there are plenty other things still to be done!

Captain's Log - Car Date 2009148

Still here! Yesterday was a crazy busy day. I felt like I did SO much, but never pulled the camera out. Exhaustion is setting in, and there was some "tween" drama. She is BORED, and is "jealous" that I am spending so much time packing. We went out last evening for a couple hours, took a drive and went to the mall. Didn't buy ANYTHING.

Here is Wednesday's list:
1) Buy jeans (I tried again, but talked to my neighbor too long at the market)
2) Car to Carmax Issue diagnosed, have to return on Friday.
3) Finish packing the various boxes throughout the house - This is not done, but we keep consolidating boxes from around the house, we are getting closer!
4) Repack Tara's books - I think they will have to be in two boxes, or it will be too heavy! For a kid that doesn't really like to read she has a lot of "favorite" books.
5) Go to market - need food for dinner. Fridge and pantry getting low (which is a good thing in this case) Made Rice-A-Roni with Chicken thighs, broccoli & asparagus
6) Deposit checks in my purse in the bank - TOTALLY forgot about this one until I put the visor down in the car today!
7) Stop at bike store to see if he will buy back my bike
8) Go to "pawn shop" to see if they will buy two TVs
15) Have Tara go through My Little Pony collection - She got rid of a few, but very reluctantly. I think she is feeling PRESSURED to get rid of her stuff. I suspect that once the dust settles in PA, we can "revisit"!
16) Finish removing paritally packed/sorted items from Tara's room - Not totally finished, but I went through two boxes that were my stuff - papers, etc.
17) Go to Post office - four packages to be mailed. I have all item together in a box, with all four addresses. That's a step in the right direction. I HATE the post office.
18) Trip to Goodwill. I took another BIG load, but TOTALLY forgot to take pictures. The exhaustion is setting in.

Captain's Log - Car Date 2009147

Tuesday was a REALLY good day, but I did slow down late in the afternoon again. Some days there is just not enough steam. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, though and I think all is on track to be 99% completed by early weekend.
1) Buy jeans (I am pretty certain this will not happen again today)
2) Finish packing the various boxes throughout the house - This is not done, but we keep consolidating boxes from around the house, we are getting closer!
3) Repack Tara's books - I think they will have to be in two boxes, or it will be too heavy! For a kid that doesn't really like to read she has a lot of "favorite" books.
4) "Revisit" the stuffed animal population, it is overwhelming even in storage bags! Tara did great with this, we got rid of another whole trash bag of stuffed toys! I have promised her TWO new Webkinz when they come out for getting rid of 45 other stuffed todays!
5) Make another trip to Goodwill. I am fairly certain it won't take long to fill the car


6) Go to market - need food for dinner. Fridge and pantry getting low (which is a good thing in this case) - Nope, ordered Chinese! MUST go on Wednesday!
7) RETURN BOLT DVD to the Redbox. We have had it way too long.
8) Deposit checks in my purse in the bank - nope, all the ATM envelopes were soaked. Bank was not yet open when I was there.
9) Call 1-800-GOTJUNK One pick up completed, and the other for the furniture we still need schedule for 6/3. This was the BEST thing I could have done. It got rid of all the big stuff that I no longer need or want. My house was not really as cluttered as this truck load might seem. This was several pieces of furniture, patio furniture, garage stuff, etc.

This is what the garage is looking like! Lots of EMPTY boxes

10) Call Moving helpers to reschedule Changed to 6/3
11) Call Vet for Maia and Daphne Maia, Daphne and Kovu all go to the vet on Thursday morning! Should be quite a scene!
12) Drop off Disney trains to Little's
13) Stop at bike store to see if he will buy back my bike
14) Go to "pawn shop" to see if they will buy two TVs
(This is the list that has so many NO packing, but necessary things to do!)
15) Have Tara go through My Little Pony collection - too many of these as well. - She had agreed to give them all up, but as I was giving the box to the Goodwill, she changed her mind. She needs to keep only her favorite FIVE!
16) Finish removing paritally packed/sorted items from Tara's room
17) Go to Post office - Did change of address on line, but I have four packages to be mailed.
18) Returned Primo water bottles to Winn Dixie