I'm almost to the point where I can relax, visit with family and friends (including those on the internet - my Google Reader is bursting with unread entries), and wait patiently (okay, not really all that patiently) for my visa to arrive.
I've spent the past week working and sweating (oh, and crying a little, too). On Tuesday the international movers came and picked up 2,400 pounds of my stuff to ship to the UK. Our quote was decent but, of course, wrong. I had more than double the poundage they'd expected but it still ended up costing about what we expected so that worked out okay. Even choosing a moving company, though, was really stressful. The internet is full of nightmare stories that make you feel like you have to wave sadly at your things as they are carted away and then spend the next eight weeks with your fingers crossed. We went with Allied and have been pretty happy with how things have gone so far. My fingers are still crossed, though.
Then we got ready for the garage sale I had at my granny's house. I tell you what, I don't know what I would have done without my parents this week - they've helped me more than I'd thought I'd actually needed. The garage sale - my first - went really well. I sold stuff for ridiculously cheap prices but it had to go and I made a few hundred dollars in two days so I'm happy. Once I had priced things, it was really easy to let it all go - I only had two nostalgic moments which was surprising because I'm sentimental pack rat.
The best part was spending two days with Granny. The first night there I had a fried bologna sandwich - something I hadn't had since I was a kid but love. The next day for lunch we had soup beans. And of course there were Fig Newtons. I know it sounds like the best part of it was the food I ate at Granny's but being able to sit with her and talk for two days was precious. I used to love staying with her and Papaw when I was little. Anyway, by the end of the second day I let me emotions and the fact that I was hot and tired get the best of me and I cried a lot (and am right now) when I left. I know I won't get to spend that kind of time with her again and it, to put it simply, makes me sad.
The apartment still needs to be cleaned out and my suitcase packed but today has been wonderfully loungy. It's almost one and I'm still in my pajamas - hooray! I spent most of the morning sitting on the deck, reading You Suck by Christopher Moore (Kim, I think I'm going to take your advice and download Lamb as an audiobook for my flight) and the Michael Jackson issue of People I couldn't resist picking up yesterday. We're going to donate the last of my garage sale stuff, then to China Cottage for lunch, stopping off at my apartment to feed the girls and then going downtown to the CityFolk festival for some food and music. Tomorrow I'll worry about cleaning the apartment and packing the last of my things - today I just want to relax and not think about all the little things I still have left to wrap up before I move.
I'm going to give up Dainty Kitty when I move and start a new blog (with - oo la la - a co.uk address) called Viking Tea Party (explanation to come). I hope to blog a lot more since I'll have a lot more to talk about. They've finally started a knitting group in Salisbury - I think tomorrow is the first get together) and I'm looking forward to that. It'll be the perfect way to meet new people. Without knitting and Ravelry, I wouldn't have had my maid of honor or my photographer. :) Also, as a wedding gift to ourselves, Matt and I bought a Sony Webbie camcorder so I might even do a little video blogging - we'll see.
Anyway, I should jump in the shower and get ready to continue with the much needed Day od Relaxation. Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend!
P.S. Sorry, Chris, I shipped the crewel picture. Along with another one I found at the Xenia Goodwill which is evidence that there are more out there! :)
Hooray for "Lamb"!
Even bigger HOORAY for relaxation!!
(I will miss you SO much. . . )
Posted by: Kim | 07/06/2009 at 07:16 PM