Wanderlust

I’m writing this from the airplane on my way to D.C. Isn’t technology great?

It’s nice to finally be on my way to my new home. Even though we moved out of our apartment and left Colorado a week ago, being in Kansas hasn’t felt like moving. We spent lots of time in Kansas while we lived in the Springs. It seemed like more of an extended vacation.

Currently my brother, the two cats and I are 35,000 feet in the air. All things considered, the airport went pretty smoothly.

Hobbes is not happy, but the people around me think she’s cute (they’re right).

Going through security, we did have to take the cats out of their carrier so it could be x-rayed. They could probably have a better procedure. Me standing there in the open with a very freaked out Hobbes (and Andrew with Molly) isn’t ideal. Despite their resistance to go in the carrier this morning, they were very happy to be out back in their safe place.

Additionally, this is the first time my brother has flown. It’s been fun to be reminded of all the things you take for granted that people just know. He will definitely have stories in the future about his first plane ride toting around a cat.

Anthony got to D.C. Wednesday after leaving Sunday. He did spend a day in St. Louis visiting some friends.

I realize I’ve been an adult for awhile now, but this is the moment in my life where I think I really feel like I’m fully grown-up.

It’s time to blaze a new trail.

I’m homeless and unemployed. 

I’m also long overdue for an update about the moving process so far. 

It didn’t always seem like it at the time, but I would almost dare to say the packing part was pretty easy (Anthony will tell you this is because I wasn’t there to help. It’s only half true). 

The nice part about a military move is a company is contracted to come pack your things, load the on the truck, and haul them across the country for you. You can do it yourself if you want, but it’s typically not worth it. 

This time last week we were sorting and organizing. Tossing garbage, making sure all the laundry was done, eating off paper plates, and piecing together the few items we were taking with us, either by car or plane. 

The movers showed up mid-morning on Wednesday. 

Providing them with a dozen donuts and some soda and water is really a very simple way to ensure you are packed efficiently and they take extra care with your valuables. 

I made good friends with the packers, one in particular- Buddha. We visited about his daughter. He asked me about my plans for D.C. and what I liked about Colorado. We both had colds and discussed how bad our congestion was and what may be the cause.

Everything was wrapped up by about 4 Wednesday afternoon and we spent the next two nights with Vince (hi friend!). 

Thursday night we had dinner with a big chunk of our friends from the Springs. Up to that point, I hadn’t really been sad but that was the moment  of clarity when everything felt real. 

But while Thursday night was sad, it was fleeting. The whole thing still seems like a bit of a fog to me. 

This is the part of moving that’s kind of boring. The stuck in the middle part. The living out of a suitcase part.

Anthony is currently in transit east and I am doing a grand tour of my favorite people and places in Kansas, which I will share in more detail. It’s been a heavy trip. My heart is tired. 

The last 6 days. 

Up until yesterday it all felt a little like a dream. 

And then I had to say goodbye to my supervisor at work and it all came down really heavy on my chest. 

No one likes goodbyes but I am inherently bad at them. I ugly cry. I get all mushy and sentimental. If I were living a musical, I’d sing a ballad. 

So yesterday I said my first goodbye. And there are more to come tonight. 

The moving company is also coming today to take a look at what we have to move and determine if they need one or two days to pack it all up. They come on Wednesday to start carrying it all away. 

This weekend will consist of taking the last few things to Goodwill, getting rid of trash, separating the few items we don’t want them to pack, and getting the last few supplies we need for the move (a soft sided cat carrier, 5 gallon bags, some carpet cleaner). 

I just keep reminding myself to keep breathing. 

I’ve had every intention of turning this blog into something but I think I’ve finally sorted out what is should be. 

It’s really surreal to think that it’s been 14 months since we heard we’d be moving and now we have less than 10 days left in Colorado. 

I hope that through this page and by sharing it with you, even though we’re leaving many of you behind for awhile, you can share in our adventure and hear the details of our journey and the process of settling in. 

For Anthony, moving is old hat. He is not worked up in the least. 

I, on the other hand, haven’t evermoved. Sure, I filled up my car and went to Winfield for four years and then I filled it up and came out here, and yes, those were pretty major milestones in my life but it’s not moving like THIS is moving. Catch my drift?

For now, I’d just like to address a few questions people have been asking us about the move. The coming weeks there will be more exciting stuff to share. 

How are you getting your pets to D.C.? The topic of getting everyone to D.C. was something we discussed at length for a long time. Originally the plan was for all of us (Anthony, Zoey, Hobbes, Molly and myself) to pile in the Equinox and drive cross country, probably pulling a small Uhaul. 

I finally came around to the realization that that was a pretty stupid idea. 

The final plan is this- We leave Colorado the 29th and will go to Kansas and stay with my mom. Anthony will leave the 31st with Zoey and Drive across the country. I’m going to spend that week traveling around Kansas to see family and friends. Then on April 5, my brother and I are flying out of Denver with the cats to meet up with Anthony. All the pets will go straight into boarding until we find a place to live. Which brings me to….

Have you found where you’re going to live? Simply, no. When we moved to Colorado, we pretty much picked our apartment sight unseen and it worked out well for us. However, we won’t be doing that in D.C. 

Our plan is to live within D.C. proper. Yes, yes, I know it’s expensive, apartments are tiny, it’s crowded and busy and dangerous.

However, we are two young 20-somethings with no kids and few obligations. Why would we not want to live where everything is happening? When will we have this chance again? 

If it doesn’t work out, we can always move to suburbia after a year. 

So- about those living quarters. We’ve been doing a lot of research about neighborhoods and apartments and have compiled a list of places we want to look. Anthony gets about 10 days off work for house hunting after I get there so that should be plenty of time. 

And yes, we’ll be living in a hotel until we get an apartment to move into. 

Have you found a job yet? Not yet, but I’m looking. Every job that looks like I might be qualified, I apply for it. I’m trying to stick to journalism or public affairs type jobs. I imagine the process will get easier once I have a local address, though I may have to waitress or something for a few months just so I have something to do. 

So that’s that. 

I hope you’ll come on this crazy journey with me and bear with me while I work out the kinks for how I want this blog to run. 

I got a new laptop. I love my new MacBook Air. 

Adios Dell!

I remember one of my college English professors saying in class one day, “If you want to BE something, you have to DO something.”

This was said in a moment of frustration, angry that we, as creative writing students, spent so little time actually writing. It’s really too bad that by the time you appreciate whatever the hell it is you’re doing in college… it’s all over.

I have had a hard time with the blog because I want it to be too many things. Fill it with too many photographs and talk too much about how inferior I feel.

I want to share recipes and talk about long walks and encourage you to read these books and find all the right words to express how much I love everything.

But this blog should be something. It should have a common thread. Flashes of gold that keep it all tied together and my brain just doesn’t work that way.

I want to pour my heart out late at night pouring my heart onto the keyboard and filling my soul with coffee.

And at the same time I don’t really feel like I can share like that. I don’t feel like I can be that honest, even with an audience of no one.

I struggle with an overwhelming shyness sometimes.

My friends argue with me about this all the time, claiming that I am anything but. My argument is- think back to when we first met. My levels of shyness vary at times but when first meeting people I’m usually a quiet observer until I determine what kind of person they are.

One of my goals for 2012 has been to put myself out there more and to make more friends.

Especially female friends. It’s been hard leaving college and not having new friends around every corner.

A week ago, through meetup.com I joined several meet up groups.

I’ve already been part of a group for 20 and 30 year olds for several months but I’ve only been to one gathering. It was kind of overwhelming really.

The two new groups I joined were Lively Laidback Ladies of Colorado Springs and Good Reads Over Coffee. Then I looked through the calendar for both groups and RSPV’d “Yes” to at least 2 activities from each.

First up is this coming Thursday for Good Reads Over Coffee.

The book-

84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff

I picked it up from the bookstore Friday night and read it in a little over an hour once I got home.

The book is a collection of letters from Helene Hanff, a free-lance writer living in NYC post WWII, to a bookstore in London- located at 84, Charing Cross Road.

Through letters, Helene builds a deep friendship with the employees at the book store in London.

There’s so much more that I’d like to bring up, but I’m afraid it would ruin the story for those who are interested.

I believe that it is a book that any book lover should devote and hour to reading, although, I recommend getting it from a library or buying a used copy and not spending the full $13.

I am interested to hear the discussions that are brought up Thursday night.