You pack; We haul.

In March 2010 we drove and ferried more than 6,000 miles (it was at least 6,017 miles but that doesn’t include all the running around at each stop). It was probably close to 6,500 when all was said and done. I would like to note that we did take THE LONG WAY!

 

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[...]

Oregon Move Day 6: The Last Leg

http://shotinthedarkcoffee.com/

We woke up in Twin Falls and did the same thing we did every morning. Once loaded into the car it was off to find coffee and breakfast. Everything (ie not fast food) was more in the downtown area- the opposite direction of the interstate. Maybe a mile down the road I saw a coffee sign and flipped a U-ey. A Shot in the Dark Coffee House. A cute place that reminded me a lot of the coffee shops back in Alaska. You know the kind that feel like you’re in someone’s living room. Lisa, the owner, was working the counter. She’s cheerful and easy to talk to. We ordered our coffees and breakfast. She has a menu of to go meals. She explains the breakfast sandwiches are 2 eggs, your choice of meat, veggies, and a variety of sauces. Doesn’t matter what you want it’s all the same price. It takes her about 15 minutes to make them both and they are huge! More importantly they are amazingly delicious! The coffee is local and also delicious. If you are ever in the Twin Falls area please stop by and enjoy what the shop has to offer we highly recommend them. [...]

Move to Oregon Day 5

Caution: Rattlesnakes May Be Present

Let’s see, we woke up from the first decent night of sleep in a while- Little Baby Tom Tom was actually quiet for most of the night for once. Of course, we still had to move the bed to get at him when it was kennel time. Double-dosed The Luce Goose, but apparently she has been building a tolerance. A few days ago, it would have knocked her out completely for a few hours at least. Coffee and the biggest donuts from a drive-up coffee shop-- shop local—then back on the I-80 where we’ve been since, well, since we left Chicago.

The rest of Wyoming was just as pretty, but very remote. The occasional ranch, plant (we passed a big power plant that was working so hard the building was nearly invisible from its own white smoke which trailed off and looked a lot like a white version of the smoke monster in Lost), or rest stop/ weigh station there was not much to speak of. There were a few stretches that warned of high winds and quite a few wind turbines and long stretches of power lines. We did stop at one rest stop and were quite amused to see this sign:

We had Taco Time (anytime is a good time for tacos) in Rock Springs and we made one last stop in Evenston, Wyo for fuel before crossing into Utah. Matt’s Dad- generous man that he is- gave us a credit card for Shell and he’s picking up the tab. He also gave us a gift card that is paying for the hotels and some food. Thanks, Jerry! There was no Shell here and come to find out no Shell gas between Rawlins, Wyo (208 miles behind us) until 12 miles from Twin Falls, ID (223 miles down the road) along the I-80 and 84. What’s up Shell?! This is no bueno. [...]

Wyoming sunset

Day 4 Oregon Move, Cornhuskers and Cowboys, January 8, 2012

Woke up in west Des Moines. So, this is what Iowa looks like in the light. Flat. We went back to Panera again, this time for breakfast. Sadly, we learned that there were some good brew pubs in Des Moines a little too late. Wish we had that info the night before. Anyway, drugged the cats and went to get some breakfast and coffee. Bagel sandwiches and hazelnut coffee at Panera and some high cats and we were off, heading West on I-80. 

Blew through the rest of Iowa and into Nebraska. This was the first time either of us had been in the Cornhusker State. Hit Omaha (somewhere in Middle America) right across the border. Saw Rosenblatt Stadium on the East end of town. Someday we will come back and see the College World Series when Georgia Tech can avoid choking in regional or super-regional round of the NCAA Baseball Tournament. Omaha was a much bigger city that I anticipated. Then again, so was Des Moines. I kept picturing college town-size cities for these plains states. I was wrong. A little further to Lincoln, which actually is a college town. The city was well off the freeway, so we only saw it in the distance. For anyone who has never driven through Nebraska, it is big. More than 400 miles from Iowa to Wyoming.  At some point in mid-day, we crossed through Brady, NE. This is relevant, because it is the halfway point of our trip. 1400 miles from Oakton, VA. 1400 miles to Hillsboro, OR. [...]

Move to Oregon Days 1-3

OK, may go back and update these with some more detail later. But, I am tired and watching the playoff game in a Motel 6 is Des Moines, Iowa while Sam is already down for the count (as is Lucy). Just pumped out a quick update of the first few days to get something up. The book on tape for the first part of the drive has been "Lisey's Story" by Stephen King.

ME

Day 1:  False Start, Thursday, January 5, 2012

Well, our original intention was to leave sometime this afternoon…

The moving truck came on Monday. It was a success loading that thing. Our driver, Keith, was a big help. We had a lot more stuff that the space would allow if we had packed the thing. Our expert truck driver made sure we got everything in place, though. We are the first load being picked up and the last one to be dropped off. Stuff should arrive the weekend of January 14^th.

We had been staying at Dad’s place in Mansassas the past few days after cleaning out the Oakton apartment. I have to admit that I will miss our old apartment. It was Sam and my first place as a married couple and the first place we picked out together. I won’t miss the commute or the ridiculous rent in the area, but there is some nostalgia in that unit.

Took the car in to Dad’s trusted mechanic, Kevin, so we could have the lights looked at and to check on a noise the wheels had been making. Turned out that the past few mechanics to look at the Subaru didn’t really care to take care of it. The back light console had been broken off and part of the under carriage was hanging on with a zip tie. The noise in the wheels turned out to be some bad ball bearings. Kevin was great enough to get some new ones ordered and put in the same day. Anyone in Northern VA, we can’t recommend Complete Auto Care in Manassas enough.

Even after the car issues, we are still feeling good. We locked down a new place to live in Hillsboro! Got a nice price on a 2 bedroom townhouse with an attached garage. It is just a couple miles from work and walking distance to the light rail. We are excited. No rush now that we aren’t trying to find a place before our stuff gets there.

We are taking it easy and leaving tomorrow. Pack the car tonight for a good early start in the morning. [...]

April 29, 2011

Our wedding!

our guests rented out the hotel, the ceremony was in the courtyard/ bar area, reception was poolside. 

[...]

all i hear are excuses!

it's been too long and i have so many things ive wanted to post. for now an apology and brief updates.

garden: the garden started off well and i was really excited to run out to the deck every day to see how much growth had occurred. then the aphids showed up and despite winning a few battles against them the totally overtook the sweet peas. in fact i cut them all back down to the soil today. there must have been a couple hundred on just 24 plants. INSANE. defeat is never easy to swallow. [...]

Homemade Laundry Detergent and Other Handy Recipies

I am tired of buying more plastic bottle of detergent, so I invested a few bucks and made our own. Poured it into the now empty Tide bottle and the rest stays in a 2 gallon bucket. It smells great, works great, and saves money. 

You can pretty much clean anything in your house with just a few ingredients: baking soda, washing soda, vinegar, borax, and basic soap.
[...]

hooray spring!!

the weather has picked up this week reaching nearly 80 degrees at one point- although it was cloudy and didnt really feel like it. it was sunny enough to sit out in shorts though! i took a break from the dark room with no windows (aka the office) to go outside and sit in the sun and listen to the birds chirping. and the frequent jets- hey i work near a major airport.

Engaged!

behold!

525,600 minutes

Five Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand
Six Hundred Minutes
How Do You Measure -
Measure A Year?
In Daylights - In Sunsets
In Midnights - In Cups Of Coffee
In Inches - In Miles
In Laughter - In Strife
In - Five Hundred
Twenty-Five Thousand
Six Hundred Minutes
How Do You Measure
A Year In The Life?

You know what today is? A year ago today we started our move. We were staying at Morgan and Anna's

the last week. We went to Snow City Cafe and Side Street for coffee (George gave us free cups!) for our
monthly anniversary date (the 8th) and as a good-bye to the city. Then we packed the car. That part was
frustrating as we realized how much we had to stuff in there- including the cats.  It had snowed nearly 2
feet a few days prior too. Then we headed north- to 'Palin country'- and drove all the way to Tok where
we were greeted with below zero temps- fun! I remember after we were north of Mat-Su the roads were
clear but still very icy. Matt was driving and at one point almost lost control of the car. From then on it
was 30 mph for us. I'm not sure why but for some time now I've been very skiddish and anxious about
speed in the car. This certainly didn't help and I probably drive him nuts telling him to slow down all the
time even when he isn't speeding. But we made it all in one piece- every leg of the trip!

We're making salmon tonight to celebrate the day. Real Alaskan salmon that I caught on my trip to see
Erica and Dan in Cordova last August. Delish!

Thanks to the Lord for this very large and yummy catch!

in between seasons

kittens rejoice!
one of the warm days sandwiched in between winter days a few weekends ago.
it's a good thing i was busy tending to plants and compost to sit considering i didnt have a chair!

living in the south again brings back the reality of unpredictable weather. warm one day and cold the next. i noticed the trees had buds starting a few weeks ago... in february! it isn't even spring breakup season in alaska and i am blessed with tree buds!

snowpocolypse

on january 27th we were blessed with snow. LOTS of snow. we live in DC where if people even hear of a report of snowflakes they take the day off because they don't have the proper driving skills or equipment to clear the roads. you may remember last year this area had "snowmagedden" and whole central eastern seaboard didn't move for a week. this wasn't quite that bad, but pretty close. i love snow... and so does my suby. 

absentee

well, i've been away for nearly a month and a half. let me fill you in on what's been keeping me so busy. the short version is there was wine to be drunk, traveling to be done, cleaning to be accomplished, wedding planning to persevere, tv to watch, and gardening to prepare. the long version is...