Life back to Normal...

Wow - as long as two months seems, when you look back on it, it's definitely not as long as it felt while it was happening! We've come a long way in 29 days! Robby and I both found jobs and started this week. The pay's not what either of us are used to, but neither is the cost of everything else, so perhaps there will be balance.

We have the tickets for the boys and I SO can't wait until they get here... I miss my dudes!

The weather has really changed this week! Last weekend, it was 80 and sun - this week, snow storm, two feet of snow and 25. Blech! Oh well, but next week it will be 60 again. Maybe then I can finish getting all the leaves picked up.

We're getting settled in, and enjoying our home so much! Tonight we sat in the hot tub, surrounded by mounds of snow, while little snowflakes fell on our heads. It was so romantic (and then was cold!)

Well - I'm going to sign off and post photos because I know that's what people really want to see (MOM!)

xo
Heather

Has it really been 10 days since my last post?

Where does the time go? I can't believe we've been here for a month - exactly, today. Things are going pretty well, the house is all put together - little projects here and there, but I think we're more moved in here than we've ever been anywhere else. Today we got the hot tub set up and the garage is so amazingly organized! I laughed and laughed when Robby finally got it all sorted out and he has like 100 screwdrivers, 5 hammers, 3 voltage meters, etc. When stuff is so jumbled up and it's too hard to dig through it to find what you need so you go buy a new one, you sure end up with a lot of the same thing. But he's got everything up on peg board and we can park our cars in the garage for the first time since the movers came. It's a good thing.

It's starting to cool off - I think it's supposed to freeze tonight. We went out and sat in the hot tub tonight - lit the tiki torches and looked up at the stars. It was romantic and relaxing. I needed some relaxing.

I'm stressing about the job thing. It feels like it's been SOOOO slow, but then I look back at the calendar I realize it's only been about 3 weeks since my first interview at a placement agency. I've now had 5 placement agency interviews and one actual firm interview that didn't turn out. I guess that's okay, it was a receptionist job essentially. I'd take it now though...... I really am going nuts without work. And not to mention that it's very discouraging to be turned down for jobs that you are totally over-qualified for and not even contacted for jobs that I would be perfect for. I guess the right one will come along, but I'd even take the wrong one at this point.

I guess the upside is we're getting time to focus on Sebastian's potty training, get the house organized, and realize how badly we need/want to work. Totally answers the question on whether I could be a stay at home mom. Well, I still think I could if we had millions of dollars to where I didn't feel guilty/scared when I bought something small or necessary like food.

Hopefully within the next week, I'll have something positive to report on the job front.

Heather

Football!!

Today, nachos and football. I think there's like three games. I probably will finish laundry and whatever else because I can't sit and watch 15 hours of football, but it makes interesting background noise.

Last night, we put Sebastian to bed at his normal bedtime. He was wearing his fullbody, zip up the front, footy jammies. He did not want to go to bed obviously because he was up there crying for hours. So finally, I went up to check on him and he was standing there bare assed! He's NEVER taken his clothes off himself. In fact, we've been trying to teach him to do it in preparation for potty training, but he just won't. Well, now we know he CAN! Little turkey!

I have got to find some way to exercise. Maybe I'll have to start running or something. I'm feeling very unhealthy right now and I don't like it. At least when the band was playing I was engaging in something that made me sweat for 4 hours at a time, 3 days a week. Ugh. I feel like poo poo. I know it's bad because today I tried to pick up Sebastian to put him on the potty and pulled something in my back and now I can hardly move. I'm turning into a big pile of mush and it sucks.

Anyway, back to football. Maybe I'll run to the grocery store to get the stuff for nachos. Maybe I'll just eat lettuce all day.

I'll let you know how that all works out.
H.

Blog Comments

I think I fixed the setting that was stopping people from commenting on the blog... Let me know if it's still a problem.

xo
Me

Life Update

Twinkle gets here tomorrow... We are very excited to see her as are Sage and Colt who seem to think that something's going to happen to her like what happened to Black Jack. They were so distraught when I told them that they cried and cried. Very hard loss.

I've been out on 4 interviews, a couple of very promising feeling ones today. Hoping a good one comes along soon, like Monday.

Our things still haven't arrived, although we were told they would be here this week and they took the money out of the account for it. Now they're saying maybe next week... I really would like to see our stuff. Especially the music gear - we need to get playing!

Tony and Tracy had their closing today, so went over and did a little housebreaking with them this evening. It's such a cute place, perfect for them!

Tomorrow we're going to go for a fall colors drive, then pick up Twinkie at the airport in the early evening. Our practice run at the airport for picking up Meme next weekend.

Other than that, not a whole lot going on. Have TV and internet finally, so we're not bored totally to tears, although things would be a lot better IF WE HAD OUR STUFF!

Pretty late now and Robby wants to get up for an early start tomorrow, so signing off for bed. I'll try to get some newer pics on soon. A lot easier to do now with super fast internet (well ANY internet!)

Good night,
Heather

Seabass at the Zoo!

A few days after we got here, we had to go check out the Denver zoo. Sebastian loved it. Here are the pictures from that day.

Internet YAY!

Got our internet on Tuesday, and after some gentle reminding from mom, I think I posted some new pictures.

Getting Settled In.

We got into Colorado Monday, and after unpacking at Mikey's house, we went and hung out with Tony and Tracy - I would say we caught up, but since Tracy and I text each other once every 2.5 seconds, there was pretty much just hanging out and wine drinking to be done. The moon that night was SO red from the smoke from the California fires.



The next day, we woke up and started househunting. We probably looked at about 9 houses or so, but as we were looking, a lady that I had emailed before we left Alaska emailed me and said that their house was still available if we wanted to take a look - so we headed over to it and checked out the back yard and immediately fell in love!

We called her back and set up a time to look at the inside and then continued driving all over the entire town - we put 150 miles on the truck that day.


Once we got into the house, we knew it was the one for us. It has everything - the perfect gardening yard, the perfect party yard, the perfect deck, the perfect fire pit, the perfect amount of rooms and three living spaces - a kitchen we can all fit in, the right number of bathrooms in the right locations, a place to brew our beer, right next to a school with a playground and a baseball field, a swimming pool a couple blocks away... The only thing the house doesn't have is the master bathroom that I wanted with the big garden tub, or the granite and stainless in the kitchen - but the yard... oh the yard...

So, we filled out an application and crossed our fingers since we don't have jobs yet. And amazingly after a couple of days and some negotiating, they said "YES"! I guess they liked us (or actually, it was probably Sebastian and Lamb that won them over).

Next weekend we get to move in - they even offered to loan us a couple pieces of furniture (like beds) until we get ours. They are such nice people.

I have an interview on Thursday with a legal placement firm, so hopefully a job is not far behind. Meme will be here soon, and I asked the movers to deliver our things sooner rather than later - it all is falling into place.

So today, since we didn't have to look at houses, we spent the morning job hunting and then took Sebastian to the zoo.

Just relaxing tonight after a FANTASTIC dinner at Red Lobster - my first time there. It was everything I hoped it would be and more. Then I got to drive home (my only driving experience except for going up the road right here by where we're staying to get my haircut).

Well, signing off now to post photos.

Heather

Colorado!

We made it!! And how beautiful it is! So many different landscapes - and the red rocks are so unique (well, in that they totally remind me of the red dirt in Hawaii)...

Our B&B is wonderful and we've already started making plans to come back here. The room is cozy and romantic (even with a baby pretending to sleep in his crib in the corner - not really, he's standing in there saying hi mommy, hi daddy) The grounds are phenomenal, and how cool when you walk out your door onto your porch and there's a mommy deer with her baby eating apples from the apple tree.

We found a doggy day care in Glenwood Springs to take Lamb to tomorrow so that we can scope out the pretty little town and maybe take a dip in the hot springs. Hey, maybe we might even stay an extra night - it's THAT good!

As soon as the photos get done downloading, I will post the days photos. There are A LOT.

Photos from the beautiful Glenwood Springs tomorrow.

Heather

Hello Utah...

What a ... drive? Not a whole lot between Boise and Salt Lake City today. It seemed pretty boring, but when I just downloaded the photos from the day and there were only 57, I thought - well, I'm surprised I took THAT many.

Our hotel tonight is pretty nice - it's a suite with a separate bedroom and a kitchenette that is really a full kitchen without an oven. It's got a dishwasher and a garbage disposal AND free laundry downstairs. Can't beat that after 4 days of three people making dirty clothes. There's no pool and they charged us $50 extra for lamb, but the laundry and the fact that we could cook our own dinner made it worth it.

Tomorrow we arrive in Colorado - Sebastian is so excited to get to Colorado - "Colorado? See Tracy? See Tony?" He can't WAIT! A couple of relaxing days in Glenwood Springs before we take the last little leg into Denver and have to figure out what the heck we're doing then! I'm really enjoying this un"real life" living we're doing right now - wouldn't mind doing this for another several months.

I guess Robby and I will have to figure out how to retire and live in an RV.

Posted our very boring (except for the photos of Sebastian) photos from today... Hoping tomorrow brings some scenery - and maybe even a live animal that is not a cow or a horse. We haven't even seen much road kill.

Well more tomorrow after we get to our cabin by the crick.

Heather

Heading into Boise, Idaho

Maybe we'll just stay here! I mean, hey - it's 11:18 at night and the temperature is still 76 degrees! We had an awesome day - a nice short drive, and ended up in a hotel that we LOVED. I mean, it might just be a roadside stop, but it has a pool and a playground and shuffleboard - not to mention the upgraded king room! Score!

We went to a great little sushi restaurant downtown, Happy Sushi - it was really good, made us happy, and Sebastian loved it (well, until he got some wasabi on accident and then he was ready to be done).

It was a great day!

Tomorrow we head toward Salt Lake City - the land of 3:2 beer. Yes, there will be a stop prior to crossing the border!

It will be our longest day of driving yet - 317 miles.

Until tomorrow -
G'nite
Heather

Leg No. 2 - Into Pendleton, Oregon

277 miles today. Got the tow-dolly all hookered up. I was SO happy that it was easier than Robby anticipated. No transmission fluid gushing out all over the place.

But it kept giving Robby a start when he looked in the rearview mirror and saw this!

We had a gorgeous drive - an absolutely stunning day. The hottest we saw was 92 degrees... Somehow I got a sunburn even though the only time I was in the sun was when I had to go from the truck into WalMart. A SUPER Walmart mind you! I almost got lost in there!

Even though the hotel we are staying at, a Super 8, is pretty poor and the customer service level at the front desk is a big fat zero, we have a bed, wireless internet, and this gorgeous sunset...

Instead of blathering on about how gorgeous the drive was, I'll just post a link to our photo album so you can see for yourself.

Besides, I'm tired and we have a 218 mile drive to Boise, Idaho tomorrow.

More later!

Heather

Our first leg - into Seattle...

Wow, 3:30 a.m. comes early... We did it though - with the help of my folks and a cab driver that was exactly on time, we trundled off with our huge pile of luggage to the airport. It was so early that it was DARK outside. What?

And so began our big adventure.

Sebastian was such a big boy on the airplane. He colored, he ate, he snacked, he looked at pictures of Sagey-Colt on his (my) iPhone. Just a complete angel. Lamb was very good too - unfortunately, she had to stay in her kennel the whole time because the flight attendant had her eye on Robby to make sure he complied with the airlines "health regulations."

It was a quick flight though, no bumps - great landing, got off quickly. Our luggage was the first luggage out and all together. It took us two of those cart things ($4.00 EACH?! When did that happen?) We got on the shuttle and headed to the warehouse to get our cars. Although the shuttle dropped us off at the corporate office instead of the warehouse, the AFF folks were kind enough to give me a ride to the warehouse so I could get one car - drive back get Robby and all of our stuff - and drive back to the warehouse to get the other truck. A little more time-consuming, but it all worked out and we headed for our hotel.

It wasn't a bad place - La Quinta at the airport. Lamb just pranced right in like she owned the place. And Sebastian got to enjoy the facilities.

This morning we woke up at 6:30 a.m. after Robby's alarm clock started going off in his suitcase, then his iPhone reminded him that his alarm was supposed to go off in 30 minutes. By the time his alarm actually started going off, we were pretty much packed in the car. Had a yummy continental breakfast and then headed off on our second leg......

Homeless and unemployed

Movers came and went - Now just have to wait until Monday to find out how much our life weighs. This is nearly it - add couch, loveseat and piano and that's the whole deal.

Still, when they pull up in a truck that's bigger than our house it makes you go, WHOA! Check this out! The guy just backed it right into our driveway like it was no big thing - Ryan, they didn't even ask us to move your car... !

Although I am totally stressing about how much our stuff weighs (by weighs, I mean costs!), it sure didn't look like much when they got it into the back of this truck! I don't even think we were the first load!

Today we're just hangin' with the family - one last hurrah, then off to our show tonight. The last one in Alaska and the last one until who knows when.

We're both done working and we're living out of suitcases. Let the games begin. As Sebastian says, "Big Adventure, Big Adventure!!" It has begun! Weeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

FREAK OUT... !

You know how it is when you are backed into a corner and don't see any way out and you're starting to totally geek out and then all of a sudden the corner you thought you were in opens up and you turn around and go whew! made it out of that one... Sometimes I get SO freaked out because things aren't working the way I thought they would and out of nowhere a new and better way/opportunity comes along.

I'm just so thankful that life is like that. Time and time again I'm reminded why freaking out is not necessary. Knowing, of course, does not stop me from freaking out, but at least when I'm not totally consumed by freakoutedness I can see that it will all be okay - things will work out.

Anywho... Got the cats all figured out! Thank you Kay. I would never have thought to even ask you. Saved us SO much money that we don't have right now and STRESS. That's almost like money falling out of the sky. I'm still going to try to figure out how you do that money fairy thing though...

I keep getting this weird sinking feeling this afternoon like, "OH MY GOD, I AM UNEMPLOYED!" And then I catch my breath and think wow, I don't have to go to work tomorrow! And then OH! and then oh... I SO need to get on the road... Scary, but EXCITING-scary... Like a roller coaster or some other thrill ride like bungee jumping.

Tomorrow the movers come. Then it's on like Donkey Kong. 4 more days! Wow. :-)

Kitties and money...

Well, we're down to 6 days (5 if you don't count today which is nearly over)... Things are falling into place. The only things not working the way I'd hoped are that we're struggling with kitty arrangements and money is not falling out of the sky. There's still time for both of those things to happen. Right?

We're nearly done packing, just our last minute things left. Got the call from the movers this morning to schedule the weigh-in and then the truck comes and takes it all away. Might not see our stuff for a couple of months. I sure hope we have a place to put it when it gets there. You can only plan so much and then you've just got to have faith.

One more day of work and then I will be officially unemployed for only the second time since I was a teenager. I'm wondering if that will make me feel lost? Maybe I will love it? Hopefully not TOO much.

Not getting too scared yet (except when I think about money so I am trying not to think about it). Still very excited. Still sleeping, so that's a good sign. I'm just ready to get on the road already!

Well, I guess I better go to sleep now so there will officially only be FIVE DAYS! G'Nite.

Almost there....

Moving... It's never easy, is it? But for us, it should be - we've moved every year since we've been together. But much to Robby's chagrin, the last move was not the last. And this one is the BIG ONE. After 20 years of wanting it, I am leaving Alaska. 35 years here have been enough for me (and I know it's the right time to go because I'm already feeling that creeping sadness I feel every year when the summer is almost over).

So, for our own enjoyment, the memories, and as a means for our friends to keep up with what we're doing and where we're at, I thought I'd blog our move, our road trip from Seattle to Denver, and our set up on the other end.

Our current home is quickly emptying. We've sold, given away, thrown away almost everything and pretty much all that's left is what you see here... Can't believe this is our whole life.

We're down to 9 days now until we fly out... Pretty exciting!