BEWARE: LONG POST

Well Hello! I've been away from the blog for over a week and it seems like ages! Here is a run down of the last 10 days or so.

May 25th: My last day at work. I wrote about that already. Busted my watch, cleaned out my desk. Bid adieu.

May 26th: Should have been hard at work packing etc. but it was hot and I wasn't in the mood. I don't remember if I did anything memorable that day. Guess not - or I'd remember it, right?

May 27th: the waterworks started. I hadn't cried or anything yet but that Sunday in church - whoa. During the passing of the peace, I got a hug from a woman I've made two road trips with (with teen and preteen girls) and I began to tear up. Then two more women I've made two and three road trips with to do volunteer work in Applalachia (with teens) came up to me. That sent me over the edge. I was politely, quietly crying but still holding it together when the music started. It was Down Ampney, which I often cry to anyway, but I couldn't even make it through the first verse. I just sat down and wept quietly (I hope) while I listened to the choir. After that, although the regular announcements had already been made, Fr. Tim publicly wished me godspeed on my journey later in the week. That did it - I had my face buried in Kleenex, shoulders shaking, the whole enchilada. My girls came over to console me and I'm told others were crying as well. Whew!

Later that evening was a Memorial Day picnic at the rectory and it was a fine time. We lingered as long as seemed appropriate, just us, and two other families, including two kids that Rake and Polio have virtually grown up with. It was beautiful.

May 28th: OK. Working hard on the inventory. That night we had a women's night out as a last hoorah. It took time out of my preparations but was totally worth it. Piper, Jill, Sena, Gloria, Linda, Mary, Elaine, Susan, Lorraine, and Liesl - I LOVE YOU. I am so blessed to have such great friends!

I'm starting to get that sick to my stomach feeling that preceeds monumental events like defending your dissertation or getting married. Not bad things, just HUGE things. Anyway, several people have assured me that they will be there for Polio if needed and that makes a huge difference.

May 29th: Still at it. The kids are down to just a few days left of school. Up late, back sore.

May 30th: Well, I was supposed to be on the road tomorrow but it ain't happenin'. I'm just not ready. I want to have as complete an inventory as possible when I go, so as to avoid any hassle at customs. I'm really worked up about it. I call the attorney and he tells me not to lose sleep over that list. Too late. But I have yet to put in the values for everything and separate out the things I'm taking with me from the things to follow. We decide to put off my departure for one more day. Polio invites me to go see Shrek 3 with him as a mother-son thing. I'm feeling sick again. I'm going to miss him so much. The movie is good and we have the theatre virtually to ourselves. I shouldn't take the time out but what the hell. This is my boy.

May 31st: Happy Anniversary! The DH and I have been married 21 years. I don't feel old enough to be having a 21st anniversary but the license says 1986. We spend the day packing, counting, and finally eyeballing and estimating our junk. Rake's ex comes by to give me going away gift - very sweet. We're up late finishing the damn inventory and it's as complete as it's gonna get. Tomorrow's the big day. Oh shit.

June 1st: The DH has to go print out the list while I load the car and clean the fish bowls I'm taking. Yeah, I could have done that sooner, sue me. The kids only have school for one hour today (their last) and I'm waiting till they get home so we can say our goodbyes. Easel doesn't come straight home though so I'm kind of delayed. Shovel is getting off to a late start? What else is new? This part is awful. Sandbox and I are crying the most and I put it off as long as possible. But I finally hit the road at 11:15 am CST.

I make it as far as Freedonia, New York. This is good, as it's about a third of the way. About an hour and half into the trip I realized that I left one box at home - my jewelry and girlie personals. Crap. So I have to revise the list before I hit customs. I get offered a free room by some businessman that's leaving early and not going to use it but the room smells of his cologne and, more importantly, the TV doesn't work. So I pay for my own - no way I'm gonna sit in a silent room. I stay up till like 2:30 watching boring shit I can't even remember now, but I'm wired and can't get to sleep.

June 2nd: Up and away after loading up on the continental breakfast. It is bright and sunny in western up-state NY and HOT. I'm fighting to keep my eyes open, mostly because of the sun, and stop to rest in Rochester. I talk to Sandbox on the phone and he suggests I buy some sunglasses. Smart boy. I find some clip-ons that work with my stylish Prada frames and I'm off again. Ahh. Much better.

I'm making good time and realize I'll be in Maine by 7:30. I decide that I'd rather take the ferry tomorrow than spend the time driving. So I find a cheap motel in Portland, ME for the night. I have an adventure when I mention to my dad that I wish I knew where the bookstore was because the book I'm reading is too morose, and he Googles Borders for me and tells me how to get there. I get lost and call him up again. Good Ol' Google Maps and Good Ol' Dad get me there but they had just closed. Oh well.

Still up later than I should be. The people next door are thumping around at 2am. What the hell? Banging things, not each other.

June 3rd: I arrive at the International Marine Terminal by 6:45am and they show me where to line up for driving my car on board. We sit there for about 45 minutes or an hour and I take my first Dramamine. Then I drive on - it's like an all-metal parking garage and we're packed in like sardines. We get out and go upstairs to a very nice ship. There are tv lounges where you can watch various movies (seats like Amtrak's with lots of leg room, not dark like a theatre or anything), a casino area, and a cafe. I get some breakfast and eat leisurely. I revise my stupid inventory and fill out the declaration form you always have to do. Then I hear they're showing Casino Royale so I head over there and take my second Dramamine. I think I watched about ten minutes before I fell into a drooling sleep. Or maybe it was a stupor. I'm not sure. When the movie was over, I changed seats and went up front where I could watch the ocean. I wanted to see a whale but alas, I did not.

Starting to feel queasy after awhile, so I moved to the casino and dropped a few quarters in the slot machine. I'd never done it before. Boy, I could waste alot of money that way. Better move on. I bought a Coke and sat in the sports tv section (I didn't want to watch Rocky Balboa), but this was not a good move 'cause there were kids running around and one that kept singing Bah Bah Black Sheep OVER AND OVER AND OVER - mainly because she kept getting wild applause for it. I got nothing against cute kids singing cute songs - my kids were little and adorable too. But I wasn't feeling so good.

I took another Dramamine and headed over to the CNN lounge. Slept some more - drooled some more. I woke up because I heard my phone ringing. I didn't realize that we were close enough to shore to get a signal because my watch got bumped and the hands got moved to 11:20 (see timepiece drama in previous post). Must get that fixed. A couple of quick phone calls and it was time to disembark.

Customs went smoothly but slowly. I think I was there about an hour and a half. I'm not sure because of the watch thing. And the drooling stupor thing. Anyway, I was last to leave except for one woman whom they were detaining for some reason and whom I overheard sobbing and exclaiming "I just want to get back on the ferry and GO HOME!" It was very unnerving - and I'm used to listening to people cry. It's just that I kind of felt the same way, only I didn't know it till I heard her. I did my best to shake that off but driving out of Yarmouth was tough going. (seems weird that that was just yesterday)

I try to suck it up and get it together and all those catchy phrases. On the way to Halifax I can't get hold of my friends there or the person I'm staying with, so I don't know where exactly to go when I hit town. Oh God, I'm going to be alone in this new town, in a new country, with no where to stay. I just wanna get back on the ferry and go home! All right. I fight it off and I'm doing better. Oh, good, Footloose is coming on the radio - upbeat, I can sing along. But remember Rake dancing in Footloose two weeks ago? I can't even get through the chorus and I'm crying again.

My friend calls me back and then then the householder. Good. I find her house easily and she totally understands when I say I need to change clothes, call home, then have a good cry and go to bed. I do all those things and finally sleep well. White cotton sheets, and a warm blanket are blessings, are they not?

June 4th: Today. I feel mostly OK this morning and call in to find out where exactly I am to go. It's not far from here and I know how to get there. They have an office being cleared for me (should be ready Wednesday) and I can use someone else's in the meantime while she's on vacation. I get to start reading the orientation manual - good times. I'm starting to get a tad sleepy when the boss comes in and invites me to lunch and a hearing. Sounds great. We eat at a nice cafe then attend a hearing for a kid who was found not criminally responsible in a previous trial. They thought this meeting would be a piece of cake, but new info came to light and it was a lot more interesting. These things are way more fun when you're not the one being questioned, so I had a good time.

They let me go home a little early - I think I was looking bleary-eyed. I found my way to a bank to change my money, the drugstore, the grocery store, and back home. A good day.

It's been raining non-stop and cold (10 degrees Celsius). For a quick estimate of the Farenheit equivalent, the rule is "double it and add thirty" (thank you Larry Hubert).

If you've hung in there and read this whole thing - thank you for your attention and patience. Now do your part and leave me something in comments. I'm counting on not losing touch with my friends and I'm hoping this blog will play a role. The phone prices are too high to talk a lot on the phone - at least until I find a new plan or something. Of course you can email me too. Thanks for supporting me. I miss you.