After a weekend full of extended family enjoying Barry's 75th birthday and meeting David's fiance, Kiryn, we sent Michael & Xan off in Mogli (our new-to-us van).
Michael had that van packed. Every inch was full of things that he and Xan will need for their summer of renovating. On the roof (as you can see) there were bicycles and ladders. In the rear was packed two 8' long antique butcher blocks (to be used for counters in one upstairs kitchen and one downstairs kitchen), 8 or so antique doors (the van was looking a little weighty by then), one very large double cast iron sink (the van was looking like it was ready to give birth any moment), tools and table saw, clothes, bedding, kitchen supplies, a cot, and Xan's goldfish. (the van was about to rub it's butt all the way to Kentucky). Even the front of the cab was packed.
Michael didn't realize until the night before he left that he would be traveling through the Appalachian Mountains. (It seems that everyone had that one figured out but him) The poor guy spent two hours online trying to figure the best way to drive through them. He was trying to find the pass with the lowest elevation because the van was so loaded. The Cumberland Gap it was and he did just fine. I took the train home from our extended family's place. Xan called to tell me when they were entering the mountain range. "Just wanted you to know that we are goin' in, Mom. I'll call you on the other side." she gleefully yelled into the phone. About 4 hours later she called to say that they arrived safely on the other end. Michael told her to tell me that I would not have liked the shear drops off of the edge of the road. He's probably right.
So, they are there. They have moved into their room in Anita's house. Anita made them dinner on their first night (I love her already!). They have been to every official office in city hall, unpacked the van, met with the electric company, and have met with our contractor Duanne. Pronounced Dew-Ain-Uh (and take your time sayin' it).
I am here in Saratoga packing, packing ,packing. If you need any good shit come by my way because I have got a load of it that I am giving away. I could have kissed the feet of the woman that took that old junky kiln off of my back porch. Thank the gods for the recycling email group here! I post it and people email me that they want. And they will come and take it away. Oh how I love that group right now.
I've decided that this is my last move where I am packing up stuff all by myself. Every move that I have made with my husband (and there are many) I am the packer. From apartment to apartment in NYC, from NYC to Albany, NY, from Albany to Tucson, AZ, from Tucson to Lopez Island, WA, from Lopez to Saratoga Springs, NY, and from Saratoga Springs to Paducah, KY.
The next move (if we ever get our asses back to Lopez full time) I'm paying the well muscled professionals.
