On the Road, getting here.

It has been awhile.  Craig and I are officially Massachusettsians.  I am registered to vote here, I have MA license plates, a MA driver's license, and an Ayer library card.  Doesn't get more official than that :-)

Craig was in Atlanta for a conference the first week of October.  On Wednesday, October 6, I finished work.  I stayed late, finishing things, saying goodbye to my office, etc.

After getting everything finished up there, I packed up my things and said goodbye to Michael, Laura, and Michaelito.

Have I mentioned that the Amsters can cook?  Seriously.  Here is their chicken with tzatziki sauce dish.  yummy.

Thursday morning, I finished packing and drove through Birmingham, saying goodbye to my mom and my sister Jessica.  I arrived as she was finishing her interferon treatment for the day.  It was interesting to see how the process worked.  I am soo glad my mom is now done with this treatment, though.  She experienced practically all of the possible side effects:  nausea, depression, flu-like symptoms.  We didn't expect it to be so intense.

After her treatment, we went to lunch at Panera.  This is when it hit me that I am leaving my family -- it was really hard.

The family, minus brother :-( , taken labor day weekend at the Arrington Vineyards in TN.  

Got on the road, in time to make it to Atlanta to drop off Otto at the vet for boarding overnight.  Then, on to see Craig!

He was at a conference in Atlanta for the VA, and staying at the J.W. Marriott.  It was very nice.  Thursday night, we went out for dinner at a steakhouse type place down the road, and were very surprised/happy to see a family friend at the same restaurant!  (Who happened to be with another VA conference at a different hotel down the road).  

On Friday, while Craig finished the conference, I got my oil changed, did some other errands, and picked up Otto from the vet.  After a quick lunch of Chick-Fil-A (last chance for my only favorite fast food?!) and dessert at Yogurberry. (The Taro root flavor is amazing), we headed out.  

We drove separate cars, because my parents graciously gave us Jessica's old car about a week before we headed up here.  No more loud Mazda for Craig!  (He got pulled over once in MA because they thought he didn't have a muffler and he was violating the noise rules).  Unfortunately, that meant driving separately, though.  Most of the trip was spent listening to some books on CD I checked out from the Tuscaloosa library (note to self -- mail back ASAP).

We stayed the night in Winchester, VA.  Although we didn't realize while booking, I thought it fitting that my last night in the south in the foreseeable future was spent at the Best Western's "Lee-Jackson" Inn.  It was complete with pictures, statues, and all kinds of civil war memorabilia.  

Saturday morning we rose early, ate breakfast at Chick-Fil-A (my actual chance for my favorite fast food), and hit the road.  We made it to Navarino, NY before dark.  

The drive was beautiful.  Pennsylvania was especially nice.  

Once at Craig's part of the country, we had a crazy quick visit with everyone.  

Garrett, Abby, Craig, Morgan, and little Scarlet :-)

The Great Apple Festival.  Beautiful weather, too.

Gorgeous weather.  And leaves.  

Little Scarlet :-)

After lunch, he was being so shy! 

So, after a whirlwind 24+/- visit, Craig and I headed out Sunday afternoon to our new home in Ayer, MA.

And that deserves an entry all to itself :-)

The limbo game comes to a close. . .

Physically and emotionally draining week.  I said goodbye to most of my family this past weekend.  I said goodbye to Enterprise.  I said goodbye (briefly) to Craig for this week.  In Tuscaloosa, I desperately tried to get everything done that I planned on doing before I left.  I succeeded in finishing about half, despite the rush and long hours.  Today I said goodbye to my office and work.

Last week they replaced the sign out front.  It used to have my full name and "attorney at law" underneath Chris' info.  They replaced my name with the new associate's name.  I am totally fine with that, but it caught me by surprise.  I planned on taking a picture of it :-(

Oh well, life goes on.  Fortunately I took a picture when they put the sign up last year. . . now I just have to find that picture. . . I swear one day I will actually start and complete that scrapbook.  It'll be huge.

My mom is having a rough time right now.  She is getting interferon treatment for her melanoma.  Although they removed the tumor and didn't find any more spots on her organs or lymph nodes, this treatment is supposed to diminish the chances of it returning (since the nodule on her skin was so large it has a high risk of returning).  She is currently staying at the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge, and receiving the interferon medication five days a week.  The side effects are nausea, weakness, flu-like symptoms, depression, fever, etc. etc.  We knew those were side effects, but I guess we didn't expect them to be so severe and sudden.  It isn't normal to see my mom down and out and not trying to make the best of the situation.  I hope these next few weeks go by quickly for her.

And to end on a positive note, one of my cases settled today before I left, I do not have to go to work tomorrow, I see Craig tomorrow, and I can FINALLY start this new phase of life.  Very soon, no more limbo.  Starting to go forwards.