So here are my random thoughts on California and moving and life in general right now in no particular order. Remember....my mind is still a jumbled mess after everything that's happened so bear with me folks!
-Moving is hard. Really, really, REALLY hard. Especially when it's on short notice. And across the country. And when your beloved kitty unexpectedly dies in the middle of the whole situation. I knew moving was going to be hard. But I had no idea it was going to be THAT hard. I'm glad "pre-move me" didn't fully understand what she was in for!
-Moving is also exhausting. For the last two months we've been getting up early, staying up late and we've been busy, busy, busy all day long with no days off. It's been a test of our endurance and I think we passed with flying colors!
-We drove 36 hours, 2400 miles in 3 days. Yes. We did the drive from Florida to California in THREE days. With two dogs and two cats. They did amazingly well. But it was still quite an unforgettable experience and hopefully we'll still be talking about "that time we drove from Florida to California in three days" when we're in our eighties and sipping pina coladas on the beach!
-This is the first week in forever that I've had a little bit of time to myself. For weeks and weeks life was full of movers and repair guys and painters and workmen and boxes and trash bags and an endless stream of various people in the house. And they all had lots of questions - What is this? Where does this go? Which light needs to be fixed? The questions never stopped. But this week has been heaven - just me, the pets, the quilt shop and Col. Sew Fab. Life almost feels.....dare I say....NORMAL!
-Hopefully next week will be even more normal! I'll get back on my regular schedule that Col. Sew Fab made for me. I'll re-start marathon training after those plans had to be put on hold for the move. I'll start ordering new fabrics for the shop. And I'll start blogging about quilts and dollhouses and fabric and crafty stuff again! And puppies. Lots of blogging about puppies too!
-It's hot here. But I'm used to the heat. I lived in Florida for the last 13 years. What is really difficult for me is how dry it is. I'm not adapting quickly. I can't seem to drink enough water. I'm always thirsty. I thought dry heat was supposed to be easier to deal with than humid heat! And something about the dry heat is sneaky.....I don't realize how hot I am until I'm about to overheat and pass out....and it makes it impossible for me to decide if I'm thirsty, hungry or tired. It's very confusing......
-But there is a good side to the dry heat! In Florida, the humid summer heat makes it hot ALL. THE. TIME. It's not just hot in the afternoon. In Florida, it was unbearably hot late at night. It was hot in the early morning. It was hot in the shade. But here.....here we wake up to these fabulously crisp, cooler mornings even on the days when it's going to be over 100 degrees! So this little chickadee is going to have to become an early bird so I can fulfill my passion for running during the glorious morning weather.
-At 5:00 p.m. every day I realize that it's already cocktail hour back "home" in Florida.
-We have WAY too much stuff. You just don't realize how much stuff you have until you have to move it all! It's time to simplify, pare down, let go and get rid of all those things that I've realized just aren't as important as I thought they once were. I feel lighter and freer already!
-The movers packed a bag of trash. Yes, seriously. They packed a bag of trash.
- How long can I use the excuse "we just moved" for any sort of air-headed behavior?
-I love our new neighborhood. I've gone running through it a few times this week. It's quiet and serene and full of older, well maintained homes, lots of big trees, green lawns, flowers and there's some sort of huge orchard all along the edge of the neighborhood. I caught a teeny glimpse of something orange and round nestled in the branches of one of the trees the other day. Oh, I hope it's an orange grove! Wouldn't that be gorgeous once it's in full bloom?!
-Puppies are awesome. Really, really awesome. Puppies make the whole world seem like it's full of rainbows and chocolate rivers and cotton candy clouds.
-I haven't sewn anything in over two months. I haven't worked on my dollhouses in over two months. I haven't done anything crafty or fun or just for ME in two months. I miss fabric. I miss paint. I miss needles and thread. I'm hoping to change that sad state of affairs this weekend!
-My office/studio is a mess. A disaster area. I'm currently using the dining room table as my office. I unpacked and organized the kitchen first. Then the bathroom. Then my shop. Then the bedroom. And now I'm losing steam. I have to keep trying to find motivation in the fact that I'll be able to resume my crafty, creative life only after that room is under control.
-I need a Staycation. I really, REALLY need a Staycation. So don't be surprised when I start talking about my "much needed Staycation" in July. And maybe it will be an extra long one. And maybe I will call it "Pupternity Leave" instead. Doesn't everyone deserve a week off to bond with their new puppy?!
If you've made it to end of this post I'm really, really impressed. Unless you're my Mom. I know she's going to read the whole thing. Thanks Mom! But if you're someone else (including Col. Sew Fab who says he prefers my shorter posts) I applaud your dedication to reading this whole rambling, chaotic, stream of random thoughts! You rock!
Hugs from Cali,
Jenny
4 comments:
Welcome to California. Drink something with electrolites - especially on HOT days (90 plus) It helps keep the heat from sneaking up on you. And absolutely take a Staycation! But during that week make sure you drive out to those gorgeous Sierra Nevadas... And yes. Unpacking is the worst. I wish you luck and energy with that!
oh that's a good idea from Jacqueline!
And ha,ha,ha - I certainly read it all and I wish it were longer!
I am amazed at how you were always in good spirits whenever I saw you during all that chaos before you left for Cali.(I mean the packing and throwing time - I know you were grieving). And Good for you for plowing through a difficult time of very long and physically exhausting days.
now, you most definitely deserve a long staycation/new puppy time to recover.
Well I am glad you wrote a long one. I was wondering how the move was going and how California is comparitively. Florida girl here and I've been to California in June. People in stores actually apologized for it being so hot for our visit! I didn't mind the heat just the lack of humidity. Glad to hear you're getting settled. My sympathies about Daisy and congrats about the new puppy.
Welcome to the west coast. Sorry you got here in a heatwave, but it can only get cooler, right?!? I'm looking forward to you getting the store going again, but I completely understand. The pupternity time sounds much needed. I bet he would love going to a dog beach (with his dog siblings, of course) for a fun run. Enjoy settling in.
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