Baby Stepping New Year

It's nearly 2007 and I'm all ready to baby step my way through it. I admit, I've not been doing the missions, but as we just moved most of the way across the US, I'm still emptying boxes. The move went well, and only one thing was damaged. Easily replaced. The house is TWICE the size of our last one. You would think this would put disorganized little old me into a panic.

Nope. I've been thinking about a control journal and what will need to go in it. So far, I've been doing the laundry every day in my brand new washer and dryer, and keeping the sink shined. My biggest goal is to keep the counters free of EVERYTHING except the new microwave and my coffeepot. That's it, nothing else. This house has cabinets galore and putting the crockpots, toaster and mixer away once I'm done using it, isn't a problem. That's good for me. The hardest part is "teaching" the family that's how it's going to be.

The worst part of this house is the carpet. It has WHITE carpet. It also rains here, so consequently, I get mud. Already, I've put my FeatherLite Dirt Devil carpet shampooer to work. It does work great, except we have stairs with white carpet. That's harder to clean. I'll have to figure out the best way to do them.

One big plus with this house is that it has a trash compactor. I never knew how GREAT a trash compactor is until I was able to put a whole weeks worth of trash into one bag. That's a family of five who generate a LOT of trash. Great invention.

Hubby and I now have a bed we both can sleep in. YAY. We spent the last year and a half sleeping separately because he has a bad back and couldn't sleep on the waterbed. Now we get to share like a real couple. A lady in one of my groups was complaining that her hubby rassles with her kids on her bed and pulls the sheets off and wondered how to keep them on.
I am a neat bed freak. The sheets have to be wrinkle free and the blankets on straight and proper. Hubby is a kick the covers off the bed type. Every day, I have to remake the bed from scratch but I'm just glad we can sleep together. Since my situation is so diametrically different than her 'gripe', I just don't get it. Maybe I'll feel that way after six months. Who knows.

I mentioned I'm going to be doing a control journal. Yes. I'm going to try again. I need to be able to keep the house clean and write my books and work on my crafts. I am hopeing that with a control journal I can do all these things and not neglect my family to do them.

I'll keep you posted on my progress.

HAPPY 2007.
I'm hoping mine will be better.

Brenda

We're here

Things got busy the last week, but the house was clean when we left. We've made it to Alabama, and staying in a nice hotel while the rental house is completed. They are putting in new counters and linoleum. That'll be nice. So, here we are with maid service and I can't wait to get into the house and start the FLYing right from the start.

Brenda

7 Days Left

We'll be outta here come Saturday the 18th.

Today, I'm preparing for the movers to come and pack us up on Tuesday. Well, to be honest, I'll be preparing for the rest of the weekend and on Monday. It'll be easier that way. I'm also doing a final separation of what I'm taking and what I'm shipping.

Things are going fairly smoothly, so the Flylady thing is working. I only have to do the change of address and the utilities and scrub the house down. THATS IT.

I'm well on track, doing good, relatively stressless, and heck... I can't wait to get into the new house so I can start fresh. Flying is going to be easy-breazy there. I've filter through my stuff, will have a clean house to start with, and, as long as I do the Flying, I'll have a house people can visit in.

Brenda

Final Countdown : < 10 days

Yes, folks. I'm under ten days to move.

This next week is going to be slightly insane for me, so don't count on too much posting, if any. Heck, my internet is going to be shipped so I won't have access till I'm actually in Alabama. I'll let you know how it went once I'm there.

This week is actual move day. Well, next Saturday we'll be on the road. The packers will be here and taking our stuff. The cars will be picked up and shipped, and the van will be packed. The house will be cleaned (by me, not including the carpets (WHEW), because the owner is going to replace the 30 year old things.) and We'll be outta here.

I've taken care of everything but the shut off dates of my utilities, and I'll do that Monday.

I'm excited and nervous, but like the lady in the testimonial from today (Woohoo! I did it) I'm going to make Flying my goal for the new house.

Brenda

Final Countdown: 15 Days

Yesterday, I did paperwork that, yes, I've been procrastinating on. It's done now, and I don't have to think about it again. I also took my oldest and let her do her first, get aquainted with the automobile drive. She needs a lot of practice, but I think she'll be driving soon. WATCH OUT!

Other than battling a headache, that's what I did yesterday.

Today, I've been cleaning up my laptop. I still have some things to do around the house, and I'll get them done. LOL

Answers are coming in at a rapid rate now. Our temporary housing has been confirmed (we'll be in a nice hotel until Dec 1) and the vehicle transporters will hold onto our cars until the first as well.

Hm. The movers will be here the 14th and 15th to pack our stuff and EVERYTHING including the cars) will get loaded up and shipped on the 16th.

I have to admit, this is going much smoother than if I had to do everything myself. Hopefully, things will go smoother. LOL. I have been trying to stay on top of everything, but my house... You know those paths between the chaos people talk about... I'm acquiring them. sigh. Well, the packers and movers will take care of that. :)

I can't wait to get going. Next week, I have to talk to the counselors at the school to begin the transfer of my two high schoolers. The school they are going to go to has a different way of doing things. They go to three classes a semester for a couple hours each, each day. Then the second semester they take three DIFFERENT classes. It's more like a college setting, which will be good, but right now it's going to cause PAIN. I have two teens, 6 classes half completed. How they are going to transfer that, I don't know, which is why I have to get them started now.

One thing I haven't started is Novembers goal. GRR. Next month I'm hoping to start that menu planning goal. It would be nice to not have to think about what's for dinner. LOL

Brenda

Final Countdown: 17 Days

It's the First of November. Busy month for me ahead.

Today, I've started off my day with the usual getting up and getting dressed to the shoes. Hair too. Ok, so I'm ready to do the day.

I dealt with a bit of moving business, and business with my editor, and now, since the oldest is still asleep (she partied a little past her normal bedtime last night... she didn't get home till 11. LOL) I'm working on my WIP (work in progress), trying to get the story done before we leave this house. I only have about 10 thousand words to go, and that's not much. I can do it, but I have to schedule time out of my day to do it. That's all right. sigh

So, here we are. Soon the daughter will wake up and I'll have to leave my comfy chair for some hard work. We have to UNPACK the book boxes. I figured out a scheme though. I'll take my yarn boxes and open them as well, take out half the books until it weighs about 30 pounds, then fill the rest of the box with yarn. That way, I've got two boxes still, but they weigh the 35 max allowed.

How's that sound? I think it's a good idea in theory. I'll let you know if it actually works. :)

That's the goal for today. Have a great day, all.

Brenda

Final Countdown: 18 Days

We will be leaving this house in So Cal on the 18th. That's the day we return the keys to the owner. YAY.

We'll probably spend the night at the in-laws and leave the morning of the 19th.

I'm ready.

We've been in contact with the moving company, the company who will move our vehicles, the real estate agent setting up our rental housing, and um.... I'm still trying to get the trailer registered. Waiting for a Bill of Sale from the BIL. sigh

Otherwise, I think we are in good shape. The packing, well, I'm going to have to unpack and repack my books (a 35 lb rule). I think I can get away with just unpacking them, and letting them pack them. HEHE.

Oldest and I spackled the walls yesterday and did the Monday morning routine of getting rid of the weekend clutter. Yes, even in what seems to be total confusion, I still make sure I do my routines.

Today is shopping/bill paying day. Also have errands to run for the hubby. I'm going to try to get my oil changed on the van as well. Don't want that date to sneak up on me without having gotten the oil change.

Catch you tomorrow and I'll update you.

Brenda