Likes and Dislikes

Since we have been here a little over a month in our FL home, I thought it would be a good time to sit down and make a little comparison as to my likes and dislikes...

Likes

• Sunshine
• lack of gloomy over cast days
• little to no allergies/ mid ohio valley crud
• the Gulf
• the change in the girls
• my new job and the one on the horizon
• watching Kar on the football field and her new discovered confidence
• Disney is only a hop away
• all the shopping opportunities
• the smell of the dirt in my back yard
• the family of squirrels in our yard- including the puny one "Bubba"
• the lizards
• the clouds

Dislikes:

• my incredible loneliness. I really miss my family and friends- someday are worse than others.
• the roaches (yikes!) but I will take them over the Wolf spiders back home.
• the hour drive I have to work and home
• since we are so active = I AM SO TIRED!
• I miss coaching and being involved in my community.

Bargain Hunting Superstars!

WOW- was that a move or what?! I am not going to go into all the gory details but I am looking towards our future as Florida residents. We took a day trip to Clearwater today and I will say that it was AMAZING!
The girls and I have been thrifting and making some great finds. We had to rebuy a lot of our things because we could not bring them from Ohio or they got damaged beyond repair in the move. I have been trying very hard to buy second hand as this move turned out to be way more expensive then what we had initially planned.

So here is a list of the the bounty...

2 couches (one with a sleeper sofa), 8 throw pillows, 2 love seats, a chair, coffee table and 2 end tables $350.00 - our living room furniture was molded after sitting in the uhaul for a week and we needed more then one set to fill up the family room.

a full size headboard, dresser with mirror, short dresser, full mattress and box spring, 4 lamps, 2 nice pots with lids, 25 glass tumblers, a serving set for 18 of vintage corelle dishes (made in the USA) a plastic hamper, 4 more throw pillows- $120.00 - this was out of a condo that was used for a snowbirding couple the bed still had plastic wrap on it.

a step 2 video rocker, a folding wood sand chair, a americana basket, a queen bedroom bedding set from bed bath and beyond including the pillows, shams, bedskirt, and curtains. Pier One wall hangings, a pottery barn bean bag chair (that Cooper has decided is his new bed), and 6 various planters for my lanai. $32.87

Now to convince Kevin that he likes to go with us! He is more of an "I don't want to look for it, just buy it kind of guy."

Big Wheels Keep on Rollin

Where do I even start to catch up? I worked my last week of work, it was very bittersweet saying my goodbyes to my work family who have helped me work through many of the skeletons in my closet. Seven years of psych will have you diagnosing yourself and all your friends.

We have been working at packing and cleaning out the house. I can not get myself organized. I have to sit down and make my lists out. HAVE TO!


We received some photos of the house. I had imagined things to be much worse than what the pictures are. The cottage has a lot of character. I am looking forward to getting my hands in there and fixing it up. I am actually excited learn how to do some of the things myself. Hopefully I make it out with all of my appendages.

What I have learned so far about our move:

1. We really need to "make it work, use it up, do without" I am just sick of all the stuff that we have that we really do not need.
   
   
2. Selling a home gym in today's economy is not going happen.
3. A 3000 square foot home is way to big for this family. We keep way to much stuff. For example I cleaned out our filing cabinet and got almost a half a trash bag of just random papers.
4. What I think is important to do and what everyone else thinks are often two different things.
5. It is impossible to pack on the weekends when you have decided to move over 14 hours away in less than a month.

Tomorrow's check list:

• finish kitchen
• finish laundry room
• go through totes packed and downsize again
• call insurance about transfer

YIPPEE!!

Finally! I am starting to see the pieces that were missing fall into place! I found a house, that is a total fixer-upper but no more being house poor! I am allowed to do what I want to it in regards to painting and possible remodel. There are some things that will for sure need fixed, but I am super super excited! I am sure it is going to be a challenge, but I am not afraid of getting dirty.

Schools are rated good and it is in a very small town. HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY!!

Anticipation

The logistics of this move is killer. Trying to coordinate all that needs to be done is like the most intricate dance I have ever done. I would feel better if we had a house. I have decided to let Kevin deal with some of that hunt. It is really stressing me out. Of course, he will not check the school districts or crime data, or sex offenders those are the things that are daunting me.

We are slowly getting things packed up. I will be happy when we are all done with that. I still have no clue how we are going to fit it all in a Uhaul, but the man says it will work - so I will let him have that to be in charge of.

I am going over a thousand different scenarios and variables in regards to our budget. I would like to find something cheap, and suffer it out for a year and work on rebuilding our credit. It is hard not knowing if there is going to be a meth lab next door, or Chester the molester- you have that everywhere though.

The budget for the move is right now around the 4000.00 range.
So far- 228.00 to the Fl board of nursing

30.00 to Nursys for license verification from Ohio to FL. Leaves us with around 3700.00 to work with.

Drifting away

Spent the day on the river with the the girls and friends, our weekends have become filled with wanting to spend time with the people we have learned to rely on and who have been our "village." I have given up on trying to get things accomplished during them. It was a great time, very relaxing.

We celebrated Karleigh's 14th birthday last night. I realized I am not as able to stay up until the wee hours of the morning. It was worth it to spend the evening with family and friends though.


Everything seems to be revolving around the move. Goodbyes are getting more real. Harder.

Decisions, Decisions

I seem to have resolved most of my reservations about this move although, I do not understand the point of views of some. I have been able to return to my initial feeling that this remains the best decision for our girls. I was shocked to learn some of the EPA reports on our valley. I knew it was bad, but I guess I had closed my ears to it since it was "home."

The school that the girls attend is in the top 1% of worst air quality in the nation. Since we live less than a mile away I am going to cast a guess that would include our home. Neighbor town was in the 1% also, numerous newspaper articles pointed to pollution from many area sources. We are getting a recycling center soon- which is great for the jobs it will bring, however, it will add to our area's problems.

Local news reported that we are in the top 5 of best shrinking cities. Seriously?!

I have heard that the hills may call me home. I have no doubt that they will.

We have been busy looking for houses. We made the tough decision to let two of our dogs be adopted by dear friends. We have Cooper left at home, and are planning to make the move with him in tow. The girls remain excited about this and no matter how hard going through things and giving away and saying goodbye is - when asked if they want to stay the answer is a resounding "No." I hope that continues.

I am still worrying. but I am worrying now with a lot more excitement added it.

Next on the list, housing.

Random thoughts

I have decided to blog my thoughts for a 2 minute period. Here goes...

1. why is the tv so loud
2. i am tired mentally and physically
3. my eyes hurt from crying, I haven't had that in a long time.
4. i still have a sick feeling in my stomach- ulcer?
5. i can't wait to finish purging all this crap we have accumulated
6. i miss gizzy already, how am I going to part with possibly 2 more
7. money
8. shopping
9. selfishness of some? possibly of myself?
10. love
11. doubts of success
12. excitement
13. sleep
14. i need a shower
15. i don't want to/want to go to work tomorrow

will this get easier? I am beginning to have doubts- well more doubts then before. Damnit, this is something that we want- why is it so complicated? I feel like I am 19 again being pulled in different directions. Difference is now I have 3 babies of my own to take into the equation. Do you try to go with your heart take a chance and try to make a difference, or do you stay with the known and the safe.

Independence

Today was full of ups and downs. Sometimes you find support in the places you would least expect it.

We did nothing here today that pertained to the move.Visiting family, swimming, mowing and a nap. My allergies are really acting up from being into every nook and cranny.

The girls are starting to have more mixed emotions about things, and that makes it hard. I try to find questions that help them talk about their fears and emotions. Talking about it sometimes backfires, there has been lots of hugs today.

Kev and I talked about what would happen if I needed to return due to an illness or other serious matters, we decided that we will just put enough back to have a plane ticket if needed. Hopefully Allegaint still does those nice non-stops for a while.

I did receive a very cool handmade candle holder from my Brother in law, can't wait to find a beach smelly candle to fill it up.

Tomorrow is the Fourth, hoping to draw some more buyers to the sale and start working on the garage. We are making a dent in junk I do believe- a form of independence in itself. I have to admit the purge is niiiiice. We have taken 2 loads to the dump, and sold about 200.00 worth of things that were no longer needed. I am hoping that we will make enough on sales to pay for the moving truck. So, fingers crossed...

Hot mess and waxing.

I spent the majority of the day yesterday with the girls and two of my friends packing up our lives. I did decide on a sale as this is the biggest weekend here in the LH.

I am not sure where the wrong turn went- but at about 4:00 pm, I hit the "wall." I swear I have never felt so torn about something in my whole LIFE. I spent the rest of the evening switching between being ok, to crying, to being sick to my stomach. Ended up having the mother of all panic attacks, YEEHAW!

Kevin does not handle tears well. It makes him nervous. I was trying to explain what was going on in my head and told him this: You know the scene in the 40 year old virgin where they are waxing the guys chest? That is kinda how I feel about this move-

RIP~ WE ARE MOVING, RIP! YOU HAVE TO QUIT YOUR JOB RRIIIIIIIPPPPP YOU HAVE TO LEAVE YOUR FRIENDS AND YOU LOVED ONES - RIPPPPP YOU HAVE TO SOOTHE THE FEARS OF 3 LITTLE GIRLS, RIP YOU HAVE TO FIND A PLACE TO LIVE FOR THE TIME BEING ON THE INTERNET, which is a nightmare with someone who has obsessing problems. RIP - well, you get the picture.

But in the end the outcome is a raw but clean surface.

Endings and New Beginnings

I am awake at 3:15 this morning, thanks to Kam who decided he needed a snack out of the trash. I am amazed at how much our animals know something is amiss.

We started really going through things last night, I am frantically trying to down size our "stuff." None of us like to part with things, it is sad and funny at the same time. With a start date of Aug 1 for him, this stuff has to FLY out the door.

I know that our friends are just stunned at our decision and that it is a sudden one, however we have been planning this for a long time. We have just never had the opportunity to have a chance at a successful move.

I can not say that I am not scared! I am terrified - especially after turning in my notice after 7 years of employment. I have to have faith that things will fall where they need to be. The cards look right.

We are not moving to FL because of love for Disney. That would be seriously a bad decision. If you think that is why we are going then you really don't know me very well. We know that living there and vacationing there are two different things. We know that the school system there is often over crowded. We know that there are a lot of different cultures there. We know that there are "scary" people there. We know that it is hot.

BUT...

I am not 45 minutes from the ocean here- sue me, after all I am a Pisces. Maybe I do have a piece of gypsy in my heart.

We also know that we do not what our kids to grow up here in the "valley" and feel like they have to stay here because it is "home." This area is becoming more depressed by the month. I know what you are going to say, don't tell me that it is like that every where. I am sure it is. We also share concerns about the pollution of this area that seems to be the elephant in the room.

Plus the little fact that there are no school buses for the first princess and our school systems in general are lacking.



We love the outdoors, fishing, golfing,and exploring. I am so happy that we enjoy the same types of things. So amazing how things have changed in the past few years.

We have a game plan of sorts, I am looking right now at a short term lease in Central FL, Kev's job said that we can choose what part, they have spots on location teams from Orlando area to Tampa. I have been researching the Lakeland area, but I am still unsure until I can get there and get my feet on the streets. Nursing jobs are being applied for, and I received a call back from a school nurse position, however I can't do anymore until I obtain my FL license.

Am I going to miss my family and friends? OF COURSE, I still am a little shocked that I am doing this. I have closet hopes that they will not be able to live without us and come visit A LOT or at least snowbird.

Anniversary

The first vacation we took as sober, truly the start of our marriage as we know it today, 3 years this June.

Times, they are a changin'

I had an interesting conversation with a friend the other day, about living here in chemical valley, where you can't even drink the water or you might end up with cancer, thyroid problems or growing a third arm spontaneously. Where our kids don't need fancy things like computers, sports or air conditioners. (Yes, this was said on our local news comment section by a parent)

Every year that we live here (longer), Kevin and I dream of living else where. Where we can be outside all year long, or most of it anyway. Where we are not having to go to the big box store for family entertainment. Good times, but not so good on the budget, because I can't just look. I have a clearance rack problem.

We have made the first step in making that dream a reality. Planted the seed in the girls head that within the next two years we will be making a HUGE move. So far they are excited, I am realistic that will change often over the course of this adventure.

There is nothing left here in the 'burg. I foresee a mass exodus due to lack of jobs, and lack of want to change. Driving though town, you see a lot of empty buildings, that lack repair and over all just a look of being run down and dirty.

Yes, I know that central Florida is not the greatest place to move for everyone. However, we LOVE it. The weather, the never ending list of things to do, the option of the Atlantic ocean, the Gulf coast, Nascar, baseball, football,fishing, golf, no allergies for me!, Disney (of course, have you met me?), and most importantly for me: sunshine.

I know the bad too- trust me, I have researched, obsessed, and obsessed some more.

Hardest for me, leaving those I love. I am not ready for a long distance relationship yet. In fact, I can't even think about leaving some with out tearing up.

So, mixed into our crazy everyday chaos- we will be doing our preparation.