A new Thanksgiving

Craig and I spent Thanksgiving with his family in Syracuse, and it was beautiful.  I love big groups of people talking all at once over mounds of food.  And, slowly I'm starting to feel more comfortable with speaking in the midst of the big group talking all at once.  Being a quiet extrovert is complicated.

This morning, I woke early due to my strict sleeping schedule thanks to my guinea-pig-ness for the Harvard medical sleep study.  When Craig awoke, the first thing I heard him say as he walked downstairs was "All RIGHT! HECK YES!!!".  I've never heard him so excited.  He picked up this magazine/catalog that his dad had on the coffee table, and keeps showing me pictures of mushrooms he wants to grow.

The rest of today will be full of leftovers, car repair (thanks to Craig's handy mechanic minded brother), family, and, of course, the IRON BOWL.  RTR.

Roll Tide :-)

Tomorrow I'll be watching the LSU game with fellow Alabama football fans at a sports bar in Boston!  

I wonder if it will be anything like my experience watching the Penn State game at a sports bar in Tuscaloosa. . . 

 

Probably unfair to compare.  

Also, we are going to go eat Italian at the North End after the game.  I probably can't compare that to Tuscaloosa's food choices either. . . 

Wok N' Roll!

We have a new biweekly tradition.  

and

I didn't realize how well chinese food and laundry go together.  

Yesterday, we had a whopping ten loads of laundry to do. 

We took up this entire row.  Plus one lonely machine on the opposite wall because we couldn't fit on this entire row.  I blame the move on the large amount of laundry we had.  We washed all our sheets and blankets  we used in the move.  I wonder how long I can use this move thing as an excuse.  (We don't usually have this much trash, we just moved. . . I'm sorry I'm late getting my car inspected, we just moved, etc. etc. etc.)

One good thing about Bubble-It is that the laundry actually gets folded and put away immediately.  Normally, when I do laundry, I let the clean clothes sit in the hamper forever.  Plus, we have a very legitimate excuse to walk next door to Wok N' Roll and eat spring rolls while waiting for the laundry to dry.  

Another potential plus?

Hmmm, I can't figure out how to flip this picture around. . .  Oh well.  

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.

10 days

10 days until I see Craig

11 more days of work

15 days until I am done with work

17 days until I leave for MA

19 days until Craig, Otto, Syra and I are united

20 days until we arrive at our new home.

I am so freakin excited I can't stand it.



I need to find a job.  I need to look for a job. I'm too excited to do that.  Mainly that is an excuse, though.

Labor Day Weekend

Spending the weekend with my family in Murfreesboro, TN.  So far it has been really fun.  Saturday we were lazy, visited Jessica on her last day at Paul Mitchel Cosmetology school, and had dinner at TGIFridays.  Today, I worked out with Jessica with her Jullian Michael's DVD, and the swam with Jennifer.  I am so out of shape.  Jennifer has learned how to swim pretty well (good thing because she is now a lifeguard. . . ).  Then, the family went out to this Vineyard about 20 miles from Murfreesboro.  We had a picnic lunch, played cards, and did a wine tasting.  Everyone had fun.

Now, I am exhausted.  I've spent time in-between activities today searching online for jobs and apartments.  I may have been successful on the apartment front (good thing, because Craig is currently living in a tent).  The job hunt is much more discouraging.

I am glad tomorrow is a holiday.  However, I am so tired and ready to be done with work.  It is an awesome job, but I want to be with Craig in Boston so badly.  I'm ready ready ready.  This long distance deal is hard.