June is gone and I missed it. Well except for week one. I definitely didn’t miss that part of the month. Week one I was on vacation, which was totally groovy. As many of you know I visited the Western Caribbean with my sweetie (in some circles known as the cabana boy) and had an awesome time.
Upon arrival back in the good old U. S. of A. it was nothing but hard labor for the rest of the month. The Hubs and I have been house shopping and finally found a place that we can call home again. Not that we’ve been homeless mind you, but rather a place to call OUR home. We’ve been living in someone else’s house.
Here’s the history in a nutshell:
Several years go we moved into my parents’ house to help care for my mother who was suffering from a long bout with her second form of cancer. Following her death, we stayed around to help my dad come to terms with living without his companion of 50 years. We have never felt completely at home in Dad’s house. He eventually healed (as much as a person can heal after that) and is moving forward.
And so, it is time for all of us to move on to a new chapter in our lives. Dad sold his house; we bought our own house; he’s buying a smaller house close to where we are going to be living.
As always when one moves an entire house full of furniture, clothing, dishes, appliances, knick-knacks, lawn and garden tools, etc., quite a bit of work goes into packing and physically transporting the stuff from one place to another. A logical person and one with a larger budget than we have, would hire professional folks to do this. We are apparently not logical and we’re cheap because we packed and moved ourselves. With the exception of my oversized grand piano that not only requires professional movers but an entire room all to itself upon arrival at its new home.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012 – moving day. Funny the things you learn about people that you thought you knew but apparently don’t know quite as well as you thought you did. Most of my “friends,” I’ve discovered, have bad backs, bum knees, arthritic hands, swollen ankles, and various other ailments that preclude them from lifting, bending, climbing stairs, or pretty much any form of labor intensive work. Who knew? They all appear to be healthy when we enjoy dinner together, or a movie, or a theater show. They themselves have moved and some are very involved in various sports activities, but apparently the sports they are involved in are not as taxing as moving boxes and furniture. (Shut up Patricia, not your business.)
In any event we did manage to convince a few, apparently still healthy and strong, people to help us make the move and things went smoothly. They even brought their own truck! Bonus!! It’s times likes these when you do discover who your true friends are. Now, let the unpacking begin!
And as a bonus to this month’s blog, I’m responding to Ms. Serena Dracis’s kindness in awarding me the Kreativ Blogger Award. Thank you Serena!(http://serenadracis.wordpress.com/2012/06/17/weird-weekend-kreativ-blogging-in-the-zombie-apocalypse/)
The “rules” for spreading the blogging love are as follows: You must thank your nominator and link back to his/her page, tell your readers seven things about yourself, then nominate seven other bloggers.
Thing #1 – I have a phobia of having my head under water. (I’m working on getting over it. Louise Biel will be so proud!)
Thing #2 – I’ve worn glasses (and/or contacts) since I was 8 years old.
Thing #3 – I’m afraid I have a lot of my father’s tendencies and not necessarily in a good way.
Thing #4 – I know I have a lot of my mother’s tendencies; some of those are no so good either.
Thing #5 – If you wrong me, I will hold a grudge.
Thing #6 – I love baby anythings!
Thing #7 – I love being the center of attention.
I can’t think of 7 nominees who haven’t already received this award and spread the blog love so I’m only going to nominate 1 and she is – Keli Gwyn!
Word of the Day: Hornswoggle
Fun fact about me: Well I just gave you 7 fun facts, do you need more?
Congrats on the award! Your facts are very interesting… baby anything? Me too! Sounds like you had a productive June even though it slid past you too fast. What a good daughter you are to help out your dad. I’m sorry about the loss of your mom, that’s never easy. I hope you and your husband find peace in your new home. If I’d been around, even with my frankenfoot, bum shoulder, and sketchy back, I would’ve helped you move. 😉
Happy July!
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Ah, thanks for offering to help us move. Nice to know there’s cyber friends out there who would help if needed.
Thanks for visiting and the kind words. The new house is going to be very nice once we’re all settled in and get used to the noises that come from the woods at night. Stay tuned for possible blog post about that.
Patricia
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Congrats and condolences on the BIG MOVE! UGH! Moving is an ordeal no matter how you accomplish it. Enjoy your new home and get back to writing ASAP!
I too have a lot of both my parents’ tendencies, and not necessarily their good ones. 😛 Oh well… can’t control that dip in the gene pool. All things considered, I think we both came out pretty darn AWESOME!
AC
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Right back atcha my friend! And you are so right – we are both pretty darn AWESOME!
Thanks for taking the time of stop by today. Alwasy nice to see the “Roses.”
Patricia
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Wow! You’ve been busy. I look forward to your post-vacation post with pics as well as a scary-sounds-at-night-from-the-woods post. Congrats on your new home.
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Well hello, Pat! The vacation pictures may take a while since I packed the camera and all equipment for storage right after we got home. It’ll be a month or two before I re-visit that box.
As far as the scary sounds from the woods, I’m not sure what living creature makes the noises I’m hearing, but I’m going to go exploring one of these nights. It might be raccoons, but I don’t think so. It doesn’t really sound like a mountain lion or a bear, but we’re told there are both lurking in the area. This is more like a barking noise, like a hoarse dog. And there’s lots of crashing around in the woods.
I’ll certainly let everyone know when we identify the culprit. Unless I’m not here to tell about it, in which case, it was lovely knowing you.
Oooh – just had a thought – maybe it’s Big Foot! (Note to self: get night vision goggles.)
Patricia
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I can’t imagine moving! I’ve lived in the same house for almost 20 years, and I’m in no hurry to leave. But you had a good reason – glad to hear your dad is doing well!
My husband is a big guy who can lift a lot and has a truck, so he’s *everyone’s* friend when they move! The past few years, he’s learned when to not answer his phone. 🙂 Hope your move goes well and you love your new place!
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Hi Jennette. Thanks for stopping by.
My husband is a big guy too and he has a truck as well, but he can’t move a refrigerator by himself no matter how hard he tries. And, believe me, I am no help with moving refrigerators.
Once I’m all settled, I’ll take some pictures and post them so everyone can see how we’re settling in.
Stay tuned.
Patricia
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Baby anythings! Yeah! Moving is never, never fun. If/when I ever have to do so again, I’ll be hiring someone. Warm wishes that this new house and new chapter in your life brings you blessings.
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Thanks, Serena. We’re very excited to have our name on a Deed again. Of course property ownership comes with its own set of headaches, but at least it’s ours.
Baby anythings – yeah. Even the ugly creatures are cute when they’re babies. I’ll bet you’ve seen some really cute exotic babies in your days at the zoo.
Patricia
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Wow, that’s a LOT to pack into June, no pun intended. And too bad we don’t live close because I could have been your go-to lifter, puller, shover, schlepper, dragger. 🙂
We’ve moved numerous times and have never had the money to pay for movers. I recall during our last move, over a decade ago now, that my brother-in-law said that was the last time he’s going to move my shoes. So I guess we have to stay here now for the duration.
Finally, hugs to your dad. Such a rough transition. I’m sure he’s so grateful for your support and love.
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Awww- thanks for the love and volunteering. I’ve gotta say, I did plenty of squats and stair climbing that day. Both old and new houses have 2 levels. I didn’t even need to use the bathroom wall!
And moving my shoes was a chore indeed. I filled every suitcase we own with just shoes and I still had to have a box for the sandals. It doesn’t help that I have 5 pair of cowboy boots, but they all have to find new homes in the new house. I’m not downsizing the shoes. Period. End of discussion.
Dad is coping. Thanks for the good thoughts.
Thanks for stopping by. I missed Writer’s Butt Wednesday this week due to the holiday, but I’ll by there next week.
Patricia
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Congrats on your award! I also love baby anything–put a photo of a baby panda bear on a package and I could easily be hornswoggled out of some money. I think. Assuming I googled the right definition! 🙂
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You looked it up? Yay!!! It’s a fun word and yes, you used it correctly! Bonus points for, Colleen.
Thanks for stopping by.
Patricia
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A Caribbean vacation sounds marvelous. You probably needed that before making the big move! I tell my DH I’m never moving ourselves again…we’re hiring a moving company. Hopefully that won’t be for many years. So do we get to see pictures of the Caribbean or the new house next month?
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Well, Suzanne, you’ll just have to stop by and take a look to see what pictures I’ll be posting.
Actually, the vacation pictures are packed with the camera somewhere, probably in storage. Those won’t be for awhile.
I’m not super proficient on wordpress yet so I haven’t figured out how to get my own pictures on to the site. The last time I did that it was trial and error. Hopefully I’ll remember how to do it.
Thanks for stopping by my friend.
Patricia
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Your vacation sounds fabulous. Moving is a nightmare. Sheesh, we had to move, downsized from a 5 bedroom house to an apartment. Nice sized but still not big enough for all our stuff. I moved into the new place in Jan. while hubby kept working at his job until we could turn over the keys to the house and find new homes for 2 of our 4 dogs. We can only have 2 here. We’re lucky we can have any. Hubby moved in here in March. I’m babysitting grandbaby FT, so I don’t get much done when I get home. Just try to squeeze in some social media and writing stuff here and there. So we’re still living with a lot of early American cardboard decor all throughout the place. Have hardly hung anything on the walls (and I like lots of stuff on my walls so more clutter till I hang it). We have so much junk that we had to rent a 26 foot truck twice! Good thing our son and two sons-in-law helped. And me, work horse, that I am, did what I could! We’re still holding a bed and some boxes for our son and his wife, which they’ll take as soon as they buy a house. I wonder how many years it will take. They’ve been looking for a year now!
Congrats to you and your hubby on your new home. That makes all the hard work of moving worth it. I think it’s wonderful that your mother had you to move in and care for her and then your father had you, too, until he was better. And that’s great that he’s moving to a house near you. Sounds like things are working out beautifully for you guys.
I say we have a race to see who gets all their stuff unpacked first. NOT! I guarantee that you’ll win! Haha! Take care and enjoy your new digs!
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Lynn, I love the “early American cardboard decor!” That’s awesome! That is exactly what I have in my house right now too. Most of our stuff is in storge still. I am not looking forward to moving everything in except it will fill up the house. Right now we’ve got the echo effect because there no floor coverings, window coverings or anything to absorb the sound. Oh well. It’ll fill up soon enough.
Thanks for taking the time to stop by. Sounds like you’ve got your hands full babysitting a little one. How fun for you though to get to spend that quality time with your grandchild.
Patricia
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What a month you had in June. I’m sorry to hear about your mother. Losing a family member is never easy. What you did for your father was really wonderful. You’re right, moving does show you who your friends really are. I’ve been in that position. I would have been there for you. Hey, it’s great exercise! Glad you managed to get it covered. Glad your dad has a new home and that you’re relatively close by. Hope to see you soon so I can give you a real big hug. 🙂
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Aw – that’s sweet! Thanks for stopping by, Debra. I hope to see you real soon too. I’ve met so many wonderful folks through the WANA workshops and FB community that I feel like I’ve acquird a new family. Wish we could all have a reunion of sorts – in person – to put faces with names and blogs. That would be a hoot!
Patricia
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Congrats on the new digs!
I’ll admit it, hubby and I are afflicted with those same types of injuries when friends or family are moving. We attribute them to sudden onset of moving muscular degeneration. LOL!
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I know your type. That’s when you head over to your camp in the woods and hide out. I’ll bet you take your fundies along though. (Tee hee)
Patricia
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