A Journey from Here to There

NEW FLASH!!!

2008-09-09T17:53:00.000-07:00

We WILL NOT going North for a visit in October!!! I repeat we WILL NOT be visiting in October. We've moved it to NOVEMBER.

that is all

Its been way too long

2008-08-16T10:17:00.000-07:00

I think an update is in order. I have tons of good news!

First I got hired by the company I was temping for. That was back around July 25th. At the same time my husband got hired by them too. He's working out in the heat doing quality control, I am working in the office doing payroll/hr.

My boss is great and the owner is really great too. I have of course run into some personality issues with some people, but I'm working through all that. I just got a raise this week! And I am getting ready to put out an ad for an assistant for me and my boss. I'm very comfortable working here, and I love the work. My boss calls me her mini-me, and we get along fantastically. I couldn't have asked for a better job!

Yesterday we faxed in my from for health insurance, so for the first time in almost three years I'll have health insurance!!!!

We really have been blessed in moving out here!

We're starting looking for a second vehicle today. We're leaning toward buying a truck (that's what will be best for Ed's job). It'll be a couple of months before we buy, but we're starting the looking process now.

Our cat is going stir crazy. I think he really needs a friend. So that may be something we're looking into soon. But we'll see.

My mom came to visit in July. It was a lot of fun and I'll put some pictures up soon. I get homesick sometimes, especially when I'm alone at work.

But we are going to be in the Chicago area in October as we stop over on our way to Ohio! Maybe we have a little get together the night we get in (the next morning we'll be heading to Ohio). Let me know if you want to get together!

Love ya all,

Me

Shots from our apartment.

2008-07-21T10:00:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures I took from our apartment complex. None of them are of the actual apartment yet. I'll get those taken sometime this week, now that I think we have most everything where we want it.

These are clouds.

This is the mountain you can kind of see from our patio. I took this picture from the edge of the property. I love the mountains. And they are even better with sunsets.

Pretty clouds.
The moon from the pool.
The fireplace at the pool.
Our apartments have a "resort style" pool. There is a fireplace, spa, 2 grills, and the pool is large and pretty. We spend a lot of time here.
The grills.
That's all I've done so far. We noticed hummingbirds at the pool the other day. So we put up a hummingbird feeder. I've been writing all this from my patio, and one little guy keeps coming over to check it out. But he hasn't drank any yet.

Did I mention I love it here?

A Few weeks in a Hotel...

2008-07-20T06:45:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures we took while at the resorts. It was nice getting to be on a sort of vacation for a while after getting here. But by the end I was eager to get moved in and stop living out of suitcases.

Ed took this one of a flower by the Scottsdale Villa Mirage. Of the 4 places we stayed I liked this one the best.

There were quail all over the place. Literally. I almost ran over a family of them crossing the road.
This was our kitchen. I loved it. I kept telling my husband that we should just get the resort to let us move in there.
The living room with fireplace.
Bedroom. Comfy bed.
Sideways bathtub! Yay! I wonder how that happened. I'm sure I flipped all theses pictures. Oh well. You get the idea.
More quail!
And again!
The view from our 2nd resort. I didn't like this place as much. It's only benefit was the view.
Sunset.

When we first arrived in Phoenix we stayed at a hotel in the Scottsdale Air park. Then we spent a week at the first hotel. Then a night at the Fire Sky resort. That place was really nice. And they were really pet friendly. There were dogs everywhere. After that we were in our 2nd resort. And then finally we moved into our apartment. And I am certainly glad that is all over with.

Guess where I took this...

2008-07-19T09:07:00.000-07:00

Go ahead. Guess. I dare ya :)

New Mexico and Beyond!

2008-07-11T17:30:00.000-07:00

Continuing on our trip. This is...somewhere in New Mexico. I like pictures of mountain-y things. Enjoy.

Love the colors in this photo.

Big Rocks. We saw lots of them.

Home!

I love this shot. It will someday go on my wall.
Then we saw this. Its a fire rainbow. Which is pretty cool. When my husband and I started our relationship it was a complicated decision for us. We took comfort in the fact that when we decided to date, there was a rainbow that day. Now as we are entering our new life in a land we aren't used to. It was nothing but good signs to see this. And it was stinkin' cool.

We would have slept here! If it were night time. Or we were tired. Alas it was the middle ofthe day.

Love patriotism. Love Old Glory.
The cat. In a very weird position.
This was the beggining of my heart attack. I forgot about this part of the drive. It was not fun in a 16ft truck towing a Wrangler. Not fun at all. The husband was driving. I was dying. (In case you haven't drivin it, this is the route from Flagstaff to Phoenix. You drop a few thousand feet along the way. Boo!)
My doom! Our truck could not handle these mountains.

Conversation after seeing the first of these:
A: Look a cactus!

E: Ooooo

A: Does this mean we can go back now?

E: Yep. I've seen what I came for, let's go home.

OH MY GOSH this was SCARY! All the sudden we were assaulted by hundreds of...BEES! I want to know who the heck threw BEES at us?
Not 1 minute before we had seen a sign "Big Bug Creek" about 2 minutes after we saw "Dry Beaver Creek" What next? Hundreds of beavers?!?!?!

Frickin BEES!

(that's BEE guts all over our windshield)

The sun.
Dust!
And that's about it for pictures of our trip. Next will be some pics from our hotels. And then some of our apartment complex.

New Mexico! Hurrah!

2008-07-10T19:30:00.000-07:00

This is post 1 of 2 due to technical problems the other night. Its time to finish up with the pictures of our trip. So enjoy. Or don't. Whatever..I don't care :)

Don't my mom. But this is my attempt at taking a picture of the New Mexico sign while driving, at about 1 AM after reaching such a point of exhaustion I couldn't keep my eyes open. Considering we didn't die in my attempt, I think this picture turned out great!

We slept at the rest area just over the state line. I climbed into the back of the truck and slept on the big red couch while the husband slept in the cab. I woke up as more and more trucks were heading out. And it was just in time to see a gorgeous sun rise. Behind us.
I was driving. Husband was manning the camera. Not too shabby.
Stopped for breakfast. Its been a long time since I was up this early. And it might be the last.
Ummm rock-y things. I like land pictures. I don't care if its not interesting to you.
Those are horses. Believe it or not. Oh and that's grass. Haven't seen much of that landscape lately.

Those are cows. I like cows.
A friendly bird at a rest stop. Somewhere in New Mexico.
There was a sign about this bridge. I was pretty far gone at this point from all the driving. So I have no memory of what it was all about.
More rock-y landscape! Yay for me!

Alright that's all you get for now. Part 2 will be coming shortly.

PS There is grass here. Its not the same though. Different.

NEWS! ALERT! READ!

2008-07-08T23:15:00.000-07:00

Now that I have your attention!

I have written a blog with pictures. Unfortunately blogger wigged out on me along the way. So I have part 2 of a two part blog written about our trip down here. Unfortunately this does nothing for you. As I will not post part 2 before part 1. But the good news is as soon as Blogger starts letting me load my last few pics both part 1 and 2 will be up. I'm hoping for tomorrow!

I have even more good news. While I was fighting to load my pics I went through and picked out all the ones of our hotels and apartment that I want to post. So by the end of the week there may (or may not) be 4 new posts WITH PICTURES!

Aren't you all just pleased as punch.

Now I am off to bed. It's 11:21 and that's 21 minutes after my bedtime.

G'Night. God Bless. And leave me a comment :) Even you Allstaters who view but don't leave comments! I know you're reading!

9 minutes to write this

2008-07-06T13:35:00.000-07:00

I have 9 minutes until my cupcakes are done and then we are off to the pool. So here is an update on life in general. The husband is still looking for a job. I am on a temp assignment that I love and it looks like I'll get hired pretty soon. My supervisor on Thursday said "bring in your resume on Monday so I can have the big boss look at it and tell him how very I want to hire you". So hopefully he is not put off by compolete lack of payroll experience and will go based on the fact that I am the most awesomest at learning new things.

We are just about done unpacking. Just a few more boxes and then its just getting everything decorated the way we like. It's nice having the pool. There's grills at the pool so we swam and grilled last night and it was very fun. We're probably gonna do the same tonight.

On Independence Day we went our friends place. They grilled, we talked, and then swam admist very windy and somewhat lighten-ey conditions. Their kids are great fun. My husband and his friend are going job hunting this week. Let's hope they are both succesful.

I had a huge stress relief off my back yesterday after I had realized I entered one of our biggest bills twice into our budget. Thus freeing up a lot of money I thought we didn't have. Whew!

We're used to the heat now. And I have a nice little tan going. My mom is visiting in 2 weeks which will be fun. So who's coming to visit me next? Huh?

Okay I have 1.5 minutes left. A good bye for now, I shall go work on my tan and swimming-ness.

Has it really been 8 days?

2008-06-28T14:30:00.000-07:00

I think an update is in order.

I'm eating spaghetti-O's. How's that for an update?

Alright, alright. Here's a real update. Wednesday I started working a a company that instals the internet/cable/tv our here. It appears that I am mainly doing payroll stuff. But who knows. It's a temp job that has the possibilty of becoming permanent. I really like the lady I'm working for. She has that southern hospitality you can only get from being from Georgia. I miss Georgia. It used to be really far away (10 plus hours?) but now. Sheesh! It's forever away! There's a lot I'm missing about the midwest. And it's mainly being so close to the south.

We bought a new computer desk, and we are staining the coffee table to match the colors or our living room better. Oh and the coffee table is now the TV stand. It makes sense.

I've been on the computer all day re-working our budget and finding a flight to my sis's wedding in October. So I'm rather sick of the computer right now. But the good news is all of our pictures are now on our home computer, so I'll be much more likely to finish putting up pictures of our trip.

That's about it for now. I'll try to do more tomorrow.

HI!

2008-06-20T15:01:00.001-07:00

We have an apartment!

We signed the lease this morning. And currently we have moved in our cat...and some bottled water. We're gonna move the furniture in tomorrow.

I'd love to tell you all about our new place. Would you like to hear?

Its a 1 bedroom. The bathroom is large. The bedroom is medium. And the living room is long. Our kitchen is small on walking space, but huge on cabinets and counters. We have vinyl hardwood floors in the dining room, living room, hallway, kitchen, and bathroom. And carpeting in the bedroom. All the appliances are brand new as of the previous renter (so we're the second people to use them). We are 1 minute from the mall. There is a HUGE pool with a fireplace, and a hot tub. There is also wifi in the clubhouse and by the pool area. (that's why I am on the internet even though our service won't get hooked up until Tuesday). There's a patio and we're on the first floor. There is even a ceiling fan on the patio. Oh and there's a fitness center with cool machines that haveTV's built in them.

I'll take some pics of the property and whatnot and load them in a few days. Along with all the other pics I've been promising.

For now the husband wants to get on the computer so I'll say bye. Hopefully after Tuesday we'll be a 2 computer couple again and these horrible fights over who gets the lappy will stop! (hahaha)

So I don't have readily available inter-webz right now.

2008-06-17T12:40:00.000-07:00

I bet you're all missing me and dying to hear about the latest. No? Well I'm going to tell you anyway. The new place we're staying at doesn't have wireless/Internet/any communication to the outside world at all! So we have to trek to the mall for some free Wifi. Hence the lack of blogging, that will continue until we change locations.

In other news. We found apartments we like, and put in our application. We're waiting to hear form them. But if all goes well we'll be moving in on Friday. I LOVE LOVE LOVE these apartments. And if we get this place I'll tell you all about why. But until then I don't want to write about it because if we don't get it then it would be pointless.

On the job front. My "assignment" ended last week. On Friday. Yes that's right. The day after I started. They had no clue what they wanted to do with the position, so they decided to end it for now. But I do have a temp job that either starts tomorrow or next week. It makes kick but money, with a lot of overtime, for 6 weeks. To sum it up, in the next 6 weeks I'll make enough to pay our rent for 6 months.

I did have an interview today with the county. I really like this position and our prayers are that they like me and hire me. They are doing the interviews for it until Thursday so I'm expecting they'll make their decision by the middle of next week.

Okay on with the fun stuff. Yesterday was our 1 year anniversary. In honor of it we saw a movie, ate out and took it easy for the day. Ed bought me a bunch of lotions I'd been wanting (hey we can't spend a ton right now we don't have a place to live...or jobs...plus now I smell good!). Friday night we stayed at this place called the Firesky Resort in Scottsdale. Loved it! They allow pets so their were dogs EVERYWHERE. A huge pool. Beautifully landscaped. I highly enjoyed our relaxing night. It was super super good.

I think that catches you all up. Don't expect anymore blogging from me until the end of the week. When we will hopefully be blogging from our own apartment.

Love you all!

sorry again!

2008-06-11T20:05:00.000-07:00

Okay quick update.

1. I have a job. It's a temp position as an admin and they are trying it out for possible permanent. It's in downtown Scottsdale. And right across the street from the mall. So we all know where my paycheck will be going...

2. We're looking for apartments in Tempe/Mesa now. Scottsdale is real nice, and if we end up staying in the phoenix area its where we'll head. but for now those areas seem better for us.

3. i lied about putting pics up today. the pool is calling to me. and I've been running all over looking for apartments all day. so i want to relax. if I can con the husband into it, maybe he'll load the pics for me tomorrow and i can just label them when i get off work.

4. i start work tomorrow. hence my urgency to spend my last bit of free time at the pool.

5. i also have an interview with the county for a data enrty job on tuesday. it would have benefits so that would be superb.

6. i really just want to buy a house at this point. maybe things will work in my favor.

love ya all.

What did I tell ya?

2008-06-10T21:06:00.000-07:00

I told you I get distracted easily.

New post tomorrow. I promise. There will be pictures of the rest of our trip. Plus pics of the resort. Plus an update on the job hunt.

If I don't post tomorrow feel free to bomb me with a ton of e-mails.

I'm kidding. No bombing me please.

But you can be upset and let me know it!

So you want to see the pictures?

2008-06-07T10:02:00.000-07:00

Presently I am sitting on the deck by the pool (but away from the water) and my husband is beside me doodling. I have much to tell. The resort we're at doesn't have free wireless in the rooms, but that's okay becuase in the shade its GORGEOUS outside. We stayed at a hotel for 4 nights in a king suite and then checked into this place on friday. We're here until next friday and then we go to a different resort. We dropped the cat off at a boarding place yesterday so he won't have to be moved around anymore until we find an apartment. As of right now we're looking to stay in the northern Pheonix/Scottsdale area. Its where we've stayed all week and I really like the place. The husband's testing went well on Thursday so now we wait for his results to see if he's on the list for the job. I applied with Borders today. I want to find a job in retail. I'm tired of working in an office. So we'll see what happens. I'm still going to see about office work because it pays more, but really, I'm tired of it and would like some different work. At least for a while.

Okay this place has fast inter-webz so I was able to get a bunch on pictures up. This should get us through Texas. Tomorrow I'll try to post from New Mexico on.

First some cat pictures

Chopper being pissed
Chopper still being pissed and glare-y

Chopper finally getting curious. 5.6 seconds later he was back in his tent being pissed...

Rain while crossing into Oklahoma
If you can't tell that is a motorcylist driving in front of us in horrible down pour that involved hail at times. And ZERO visibility.

At the gas station in OK
Crossing into Texas
The landscape
A gas station and motel combo in Texas
I like when people get artsy it makes the trip more interesting

hahaha. I love Texas
Seriously, is there any greater state? I think not. God Bless Texas.
The Texas sunset

Me at the Sunset
The husband at the sunset
Yes. That is a grill. Did I mention I love Texas? This was at the rest area.
Stars!
Little star, big star
At night they light up the place!

Okay. So my next post shouldn't be too far off. But I do get distracted easily so don't be surprised if I disappear for days on end.

Leave me comments. I miss everyone!

This resort is AMAZING!

2008-06-06T18:28:00.001-07:00

More later... I'm having too much fun!

Good news!

2008-06-04T20:58:00.000-07:00

I was worried I wouldn't be able to put any pictures up for a while because the internet connection here is weak. But I just tested it and it looks like I'll be able to put them up so long as I don't try to do too many at a time. So *fingers crossed* I will have a new post up tomorrow full of pics and details of our adventure to the west!

But don't look for it too early tomorrow. Husband has his test, and I'm planning on exploring while he's gone.

Night all

A very brief update

2008-06-04T14:48:00.000-07:00

Just a brief update. I've been sick since we got here, so I've been spending most of my downtime sleeping. We got the truck unpacked last night and returned today. My husband has his test tomorrow. Keep him in your prayers it'd be great if he got the job. I have a ton of pictures to go through and when I do I'll start posting some. For now I'm going to rest. I am so tired.

PS. My husband is already starting to tan...the dumb jerk!

Finally

2008-06-02T22:14:00.000-07:00

We're here.

Here being Scottsdale. Staying near the airport. I am tired. There will be much blogging commenced tomorrow.

But for now there is sleep...

Texas rest area and 800 miles to go...

2008-06-01T19:24:00.000-07:00

Yay...I found WiFi...enjoy...but nopictures...cuz the interwebz are slow here! So you may read now. And I'll add some purty later. So check back....LATER!

We are presently sitting at a Texas rest area. The sun is going down fast over the hills. And it is beautiful out here. There is supposed to be Wifi so if I can get a connection before we leave I’ll post this now. Otherwise I’ll post it at a later time without editing. Ed has run off to on top of the building to try to capture the sun going down over the hills. This place is gorgeous. Remind me why I've lived in IL my whole life? I have a bunch of pictures to post, which I’ll attach once we can get on the Internet.

We hit some more storms today. But they didn't last long. And then it got HOT. Now is breezy and beautiful. I can say I am really truly happy. We still have 800 miles to Phoenix. So ta for now. Post to you later.

Day 1 - Not even out of the midwest yet...

2008-06-01T06:25:00.000-07:00

We made it to Lebanon MO last night. Our journey started uneventfully except for Chicago construction (boo!) and having to replace the fuse to the lighter for the GPS. We had breakfast at the Egg Factory with our parents and my husbands brother/sister-in-law/nephew. The nephew is getting BIG and cuter by the day. He wouldn't give me kisses but he did wave hi by the middle of breakfast.

We said bye to my husbands parents and then practiced slamming on the breaks and swerving at the church parking lot. Neither of us has driven a 16 foot truck before. Nor a 16 foot truck towing a Wrangler. Scary. My mom went to work. And we got going about 1:45.

We made it to St. Louis in 6 hours. It was uneventful. Here see how uneventful...

Me NOT driving

The husband driving

Clouds

More clouds (they actually got purtier later, but I was driving by then)

Me driving.

The tale of what was to come

And Abe sitting on "the World's largest covered Wagon"

That's right. We stopped for this. Aren't we just full of excitement!

After St. Louis the weather got bad. My brother wanted to meet us in Joplin MO for a late night snack. But by 11:30 we had only reached the Lake of the Ozarks and we were now going 30 MPH through heavy rain and hail. So we cancelled that and made it to Lebanon before staying at the Best Western overnight. They have free Wifi so I took advantage of that to write to you all!

We're gonna drive...16 hours today. I hope. We're getting started by 9. So we should be in Phoenix sometime tomorrow.

I'll try and update later with more exciting pictures!

Some pics

2008-05-29T20:33:00.000-07:00

A few of my favorite pictures from my last trip to my grandparents. I hope they convey why I love this place and why it will always be home. If not, at least I know. This is my home...

a view from the front porch

cows down the road

abandoned house

the neighbors

My sis. My best friend. and my niece. The first time I got to meet my niece. I wish they didn't live so far away.

A late night update

2008-05-29T20:17:00.000-07:00

Everything is packed up. Well for the most part. We still need to pack into suitcases the stuff we'll actually be using for the next few weeks. Unfortunately we've run out of space in the truck but we haven't loaded our bikes yet. Just another mess we need to clean up.

Today was my last day at work. I was hard to leave everyone. I really liked it there. I'm definitely going to miss a lot of people, more than I thought I would. Hopefully I'll see some of them again...sometime. One person even made me brownies. The hardest part was packing up my desk. It made me sad. But I know that to get what I want I'm going to have to make some changes. Mostly geographical. Somehow I don't think I'll ever be able to get my ranch in IL. It seems impractical.

Tomorrow we clean. Then Saturday we leave. I can't say I'm looking forward to it. If I were I wouldn't be up this late typing.

Someone burnt pizza and set off the fire alarm while we were loading the truck tonight. Which meant we had to stop what we were doing for a half hour for the fire department to get here and tell us it was okay to go back in. It was surprising. These apartments are the easiest I've lived in. No crime. This is the first time in a year the fire department had to come out. The cops come by twice a day just to check on things. But I haven't heard of any break-ins or anything. Its a really nice place to live. A bit out of the way. But for the management to be so easy to work with, and for the lack of crime it was well worth it. If you're looking for an apartment in Mundelein, Il go with Heritage Green. It's well worth it.

Okay, sleep time now. I'll try to update frequently on our trip and packing and unpacking and everything else. And post pictures. Lots of pictures. So bear with me as we go along.

the heart ache

2008-05-16T06:51:00.000-07:00

There is a certain kind of life I want to have. I can picture it perfectly in my mind. I can feel it. I can see myself doing all the things that go along with it. But every time I think about it my heart aches. It aches because I have no friggin clue how to get it. I want it. I want it real bad. But how do I get it? Who do I even talk to to start figuring it out. There is so much involved. I mean the simplest way would be to acquire a large amount of money and buy it off someone. Which I don't want to do. I want to earn this. Blood sweat and tears. Even if I did buy it I still wouldn't have the know how to handle everything. I could guess. And I am pretty resourceful. But I'd probably end up just ruining everything. This isn't the sort of thing you can go to college for. No schooling would ever equal what hands on learning would do. I need a place to learn, to understand, and to get really dirty doing it. I think that's part of the reason I have no fears about moving. I know I can never get what my heart desires here. And the only hope I ever have of getting it, is to get there, and figure it out one day at a time.

I believe God doesn't give us desires for them to be ignored. This is something I've dreamed of since I was a little girl. Why has it taken me this long to go for it? So we are packing up, moving out, and starting a new life. I just hope that my heart can stop aching some day, someday soon.

deciding

2008-05-14T10:46:00.000-07:00

up until recently I've held in the back of my mind that if my job (or any for that matter) would offer me full time work with benefits, that I would gladly put our move on hold. really, we could always move in a few years, and maybe have some more money saved up before and be able to start off really great.

but the more I think about it the less willing I am to wait. if we keep putting it off, when will we go? next year, 3 years, 10 years? no, its not something that can wait. so we throw caution to the wind and move. whether we are ready for not. if you wait for the "right" time to do something, you will never do it. never. there is never going to be a "right" time.

so we move. we have 17 days left in Illinois. and I am desperate to get out. NOW! its so friggin cold. in may. my how I hate it here. I checked the weather in phoenix. its been 90 for most of the week. sweet sweet hot weather, how I long to get to you!

nothing could possibly change my decision now. nothing. I am ready. now is as "right" a time as there ever will be!

the kind of life I want

2008-05-14T09:10:00.000-07:00

I suck at posting regularly. But I figured that would happen when I started this. I just don't think I have the heart to write anymore. Life over the past few years has sucked all my creative energy out of me. I used to write all the time poetry, stories, nonsense crap. But now. No.

Bbeing cut off for a minimum of 8 hours a day from the thing I love most in the world hasn't helped. Outside. Air. Trees. Grass. Birds. As great as I am with numbers, I was never made to work in an office. Sometimes I feel like a caged animal, that just wants to run.

For now I am looking for office jobs in AZ. But if all goes as planned I hope to quickly quit and just work at Lowes or something, in the garden department. I'm tired of sitting at a desk all day. Maybe I can find a job on a ranch. You know one where they hire you based on your desires not your experience. Because I have none. But everyday I'm not on one I cry a little, inside.

Long term, I want a ranch. A big one. With horses and cows and dirty, dirty messes. Thankfully, my husband does too. He also wants a graphic design business, we'll figure out how to merge the two somehow. So we will work to realize our dream. However long it takes. I'm hoping not too long. I can't stand the stuffiness.

If you want to know what kind of life I've dreamed of since I was a little girl go read The Pioneer Woman. I've been reading nothing but her blog for the past three days. She has my life down to every dirty detail. Now I need to find a way to make that life mine.

Any suggestions on where to start?

Oh and I'd like to have it yesterday. Please. Thanks. Buh Bye.

I think I'm going insane

2008-05-01T08:04:00.000-07:00

Last night we gave our apartment manager notice that we will not be renewing our lease. It was symbolically a big step. It feels like there is no going back now. If something changes we're stuck finding a new apartment here, which would suck. But we had no choice. It was time to get things going. There is so much to do still and we only have 30 days to get it all done.

Packing
Find a home for the bird
Get rid of unwanted things
Good-Bye Party
Apply for jobs
Look for apartments
2 trips to S. Il
Painting/cleaning the apartment

It doesn't look like a lot. But it is. Especially the packing part. And getting rid of crap. I think I may go insane with this process.

Well I was in a blogging mood. But I just lost my mojo, so I'm going to end this now. I should have more interesting thoughts later. We'll see....

Realizing we will eventually have to say "Good-bye"

2008-04-28T11:23:00.000-07:00

On Friday my husband and I headed down to St. Louis for the weekend. We had some business stuff to do, and while we were there we went to the zoo.

The trip started off as they all do, wrong. We got a flat tire about 2 hours from our destination. And after much fighting with the spare to get it out of the trunk, we discovered that we were unable to get the lug nuts off. So we called for a tow guy to come out and change out tire. Pathetic. I know. But we had no choice. It was cold, and windy, and THE LUG NUTS WOULD NOT BUDGE! We finally got to our place at 3:30 AM, this being after leaving home at 5:45 PM. Suck. I know.

So we skipped the first part of our business stuff for SLEEP. I got up around 11:30 and found out that the schedule had been changed and we needed to get ready to go quickly. The events that night were long but rewarding. I love being around those people. Sometimes these events are the only bright thing in a very dark month.

2 people close to us found out this weekend that we are moving in May. And were quite shocked that it was coming up that soon. It means we'll only see each of them 1 or 2 more times, and then we have no clue how long it will be. It's going to be hard. I'm used to seeing them at least once a month. It is still going to be hard not to have that fixture of complete joy in my life.

It was like clock-work. Once a month we'd travel to some location to be around like minded people who lifted us up and gave us hope. They let us know we were not alone, and that there are people out there like us. I'm sure we will find a similar situation in AZ, but I don't know if it will be the same. But I won't let go of the happiness. It's something everyone needs.

On Sunday we slept in a bit, played cards, and then headed to the zoo. 3 hours of walking around in the rain and I was in complete bliss with my hubby. All the stresses were melted away, and I came home truly relaxed.

Now I am working, my husband is packing, and we are counting down the days to our new lives in a land far away.

We knew it was coming...

2008-04-25T08:55:00.001-07:00

My husband got the call last night letting him know that his assignment was over.

I expected it, but deep down I had hopped he'd get extended for an additional 3 weeks. We could have used the extra money.

So now he is without a job until we move. Unless the temp agency comes up with something for him. But we're not worried about him trying to find another job right now. He is going to be focusing on getting everything packed, sold, and cleaned.

Its good in a way, because it will take some of the stress off me. But I look at the financial side of things more than anything else. And any extra cash is always good to have. We are saving every dollar we can because we don't yet have jobs in AZ. I hope (and pray) that we find them quickly. Otherwise we might be making the long trip back to IL (that would stink).

Things are quickly falling into place. We have the truck rented. A hotel booked for our first week there. We've both been putting out our resumes like crazy. And these next few weeks should go fast.

This weekend we go to St. Louis for a business seminar. Next weekend is our nephew's first birthday, which I will have to miss to attend my Aunt's wedding in S. IL. The weekend after that we will be home. Then the weekend after that it's back to S. IL to see my CTBS (Closer Than Blood Sister) and her baby for the first time. Then it's Memorial Day weekend, and our goodbye party. And the weekend after that we load up the truck and head out west. Literally.

Whew. I'm tired just thinking about all the travel.

I think the hardest part is not knowing what will happen after June 1st. I mean yeah we have a hotel and I've looked at several apartments online. But we still don't have anything solid there. It's like everything leading up to moving is in a brightly lit tunnel, but after June 1st the tunnel is pitch black. Waiting for someone to turn the lights on. Or to at least walk by and alert the sensor.

I guess that someone will have to be me...

About my job...

2008-04-23T12:15:00.000-07:00

For the most part I enjoy my job. I will in some ways be sad to have to leave it, but in other ways very happy.

Today I was reminded of why I'll be sad.

I don't make close friends easily. And I am horrible at keeping in touch with people. So I'm pretty sure that when I leave here I will manage to never speak to anyone here ever again. It's just how I've always been. It would take a lot of work on their par tot keep in touch. I think it partly has to do with me not feeling significant enough to be part of anyone's life. But that's another story.

Today one of my co-workers stopped by and offered to go buy me hot chocolate. That made me smile. People here are nice. Will I find another job where the people are this nice. You always hear horror stories of jobs. I count myself lucky to only have a few issues over the past 4 years.

I will be sad to leave. A lot of people have made this job enjoyable, and I wish there were someway for me to express my thanks, before I go.

Thoughts that constantly float around in my head

2008-04-22T16:22:00.000-07:00

I've gone though a lot of emotions with this process. We found out in Mid-March that our best option would be to to move to AZ. This decision came about only 3 days after we had decided to wait at least another year before moving. But life throws you curve balls. And as the time has passed I feel more and more like this is the best time to move.

Of course there are times when I feel like we are making a huge mistake, but I assume that's natural. It's not like moving 1800 miles is an easy thing to do. Neither of us has family out west. And I think that's my biggest concern. I've always been near to family. When I was growing up we'd visit my grandparents almost monthly even though they lived 6 hours away. And I guess it's just really hard knowing that I wont be able to see them anytime I want. Now its going to take major planning to visit.

I know this is hard for my husband too, but he doesn't seem to have as many fears as I do.

Even so, I love the thought of moving there. I've lived in Illinois all my life (except my very early baby years when I was in Kentucky). And I am so very tired of snow. This past winter was really hard on me. Depression set in like I have never seen before, and I couldn't handle it. The longer winter held out the worse it got. It's sad to say but I had several nights of suicidal thoughts. So it's probably better that we leave before the next winter, I might not be able to make it through the next one. I'll be happy when snow is a choice not a lifestyle.

I live in the northern suburbs of Chicago, and I am not a city person. Give me some open land and I'll be pleased as punch all day long, lock me up in a city and it wont be long before I'm tearing my hair out. I'm hoping to be able to slow down once we get there. I'm tired of trying to keep up with everyone I've ever known.

I know it's going to be really tough leaving everyone and everything I know, but I really believe its for the best.

The Beginning

2008-04-20T20:57:00.000-07:00

My husband and I are preparing to move from Illinois to Arizona at the end of May.

This blog is for me. I need a place to get my thoughts and feelings out as we journey from the Midwest to the West.

You're welcome to join me on this adventure.