22 days and counting

We have found our new/next home. We plan to have a big move day on October 27th and have just begun searching for movers. I'm mostly down with using UHAUL but hesitant because of the upstairs and needing to carry things up. Tomika leans not UHAUL because it'd be less work on our part. Our new place is also a 3 bedroom, though smaller than the current. Hardwood floor throughout. Sadly, the washer/dryer is outside in its own room instead of inside the house somewhere. There's a bit of fear in leaving my current landlord but I'm going with a big real estate company so hopefully things will be okay. I was honored when my landlord called to see if there was anything he could do to keep me-- lower my rent $200-$300? Yeah, I didn't think so. So again, I look to new beginning. Time will tell what the future holds.

last week, day 1 big pack

Friday was my last day at work. They made my last week a good one. I thought I'd be able to accomplish a number of things on my to do list, but they made sure I had a number of social engagements to attend instead.

Wednesday, my clients orchestrated a goodbye luncheon for me. That act holds the top spot in my heart. They've been so kind of grateful since I announced my resignation 2 weeks ago. I feel like I'm often overlooked by them. I'm usually not the one they come back to see. By leaving before they did, I got attention. I wasn't after that, but it was nice. Of course, the leaders were the same people that talked to me during normal times but I also got to better know a few of the clients I hadn't spent much time with.

Thursday, Mia (Employment Specialist) invited me and the nursing student out to lunch since it was our last day together. She didn't pay. lol. We ate at El Patron. It was okay. They're definitely not my favorite Mexican restaurant but they're a popular choice.

Friday, the agency had my going away breakfast. I wasn't sure I was going to have an agency-sponsored event. They didn't e-mail the invitation until Wednesday. They never sent a formal message about my resignation. The people that I worked and talked with the most all attended. Many of them attended the one on Wednesday too. I feel that I had a good farewell. Except Bobbie didn't sign any of my goodbye cards. I'll always wonder why not.

And now, today begins the count down of my big move. Technically, yesterday was the start but I didn't get much accomplished. Play day. Below, you'll see how my living room looked when I woke up this morning.


My packed boxes corner:

weekend fun

Sunday, I went on a date with Tammy. It was fun. We hadn't really hung out with each other since Monday and somehow that seemed like a really long time ago. After a lazy morning, we headed to Bellevue Baptist to see the Singing Christmas Tree.




It was sold out. They told us they release some tickets after the show starts so we hung around in hopes of something being freed up for us to buy. Even better, a lady walked up to Tammy and gave her two tickets in the very front of the theater. Our seats were amazing. The costumes were beautiful, special effects were nice, and the whole thing was well done. It wasn't my favorite story line but I'm impressed with what a bunch of amateurs, mostly children, were able to do. I think it can fairly be called professional quality. I didn't previously realize that the church's children choir and orchestra composed the majority of the cast. I was struck by how close in age Mary & Joseph were in this version of the story though.

After The Singing Christmas Tree, we bought Christmas presents for the teenage refugee The Stone has adopted through Catholic Charities' Gifts for God's Children Christmas giving program. We got her a rocking 5x optical zoom camera that I want for myself, a SD card, and a Target gift card. I hope she likes her presents. She opted not to list any ideas on the form Catholic Charities has them feel out. Finally, we ate at Abuelos. Yum, yum. Tammy had her first Mojito there. 5 stars. You ever had that moment when your heart swells for your s.o.? I had that weekend.

Saturday, I started cleaning out my car (in the rain!) so I can have room to haul things to Jackson when the time comes. Mostly, I played games at my cousin's Cheree's that evening. Family Feud, Catch Phrase, Taboo. It was a good night.

Other foci include planning to visit Jackson on Saturday-- where to go while I'm there? I've been doing a lot of Christmas shopping and wrapping-- well, lot as in it was my focus. Mostly, I guess I've been into the same-o, same-o. Things are going well.

Oh. VA is moving slowly. I finally figured out that it took me forever to get my vetpro papers because they failed to put my apartment number on my mail. I was supposed to have 30 days to complete the package but instead I had 11. I didn't use the first 8 and now I'm freaking out because the package is due on Wednesday and I don't even know HOW to answer the things I haven't yet answered. I called the guy in HR today, the same one that screwed up my address, but didn't get an answer. I'll call again in the morning and then try some people in my department if I still don't get him. This job cannot fall through because of this package. I would be crushed.