10 Hours of Sleep Later...

I feel so much better.

We got the truck unloaded yesterday. I did the near impossible and got that 16 foot truck maneuvered up to the porch and then got it out again.

The casualties: a front yard covered with tire tracks, two bent young trees, and a length of PVC pipe that marked a curve in the drive knocked down. The truck itself came through it all without a scratch. It was worth all the effort and collateral damage to be able to set the unloading ramp onto the porch! That saved SO much work.

Getting my monster of a TV and the entertainment center to hold it up the stairs to the second floor was quite a job. The TV is a 27" tube style. We had to roll it up the stairs, because it was too heavy to carry!

We got the entertainment center up the stairs successfully also, but with damage. Southern Belle says the damage is fixable, but it's a pain in the butt to have to do so.

The rest of my worldly belongings are stacked up waiting to be unpacked. The unpacking will happen slowly. We have to integrate my stuff into hers.

The Cylon head is banned from the living room, though. She made that very clear.

Today the order of the day is turning over the rental truck and going to the Social Security office. After that, we are going to go out to dinner. We may or may not start opening boxes, it depends on how we feel.

First Entry From Georgia

Here I am. What I've worked so long and hard for is finally a reality.

I'm not saying leaving Illinois was easy. I have very deep roots and friends I've known for 20+ years, plus loving and supportive family. That's no small thing to move away from. What I've learned, though, is that you have to be willing to step outside your comfort zone to reach your dreams. Southern Belle is the woman of my dreams. I'm with her at last and I know I am home.

Today is the Day!

This Yankee is going to Georgia! Yeehaw!

The Day Before.

Loquacious left not too long ago. She helped me clean up, and then a bit later her and "the Dude" dropped in to say goodbye. Not only did loquacious help me out by cleaning, she also took a bunch of stuff away... much to the Dude's good natured annoyance. Enjoy the VHS tapes and player! And hangars, and cleaning supplies, and pie safe, and silverware, etc.

So the cleaning is done, except for the vacuuming. Can't do that until all the stuff is on the truck. At this point, loading the truck is pretty much what's left to do. I had borrowed Susan's son's car after my car went kaput and I got rid of it. I return that tonight. This, of course, means that I have to do the shopping I need to do before then. Gotta get snacks for the road. So much done, and still more to do.

I ran into a bit of a snag as two people who had committed to helping me out had to cancel. Fortunately I grabbed two other people to replace them. Loquacious and the Dude volunteered their son for some hard manual labor. He'll love that, I'm sure.

This week drove home the fact that you don't really know the effect you have on others. I got going away gifts, cards, lots of hugs, and some tears. Three going away parties. Three! I guess people like me. They tell me they'll miss me and I know they are telling the truth. I will miss them, for sure.

Still, the most important person in my life is my Southern Belle. I will be in her arms very soon. That will be heaven on Earth.

It is done.

The packing, that is. I've got a bunch of odds and ends to toss into a box, and I haven't torn down my computer yet (obviously), but that doesn't count as packing.

My bed is already gone, and the space it used to occupy is full of packed boxes. The closets are empty, the cupboards are cleared out, and I have no idea how many boxes I have packed up. Somewhere between 15 and 20, I'd say.

Today is cleaning day. Tomorrow is moving day.

It's been a process, let me tell you.

I Think the Countown Motif is Played

...especially since I've moved up my departure day from Sunday to Saturday.

The living room is done. The bedroom will be done tomorrow. That leaves the kitchen and bathroom, neither of which will take long at all. I'm very close now to being finished packing. Another day or two of work and it will be finished.

I've talked about being scared, afraid of change, etc. Forget all that. All I care about now is getting to Southern Belle.

T -7 Days and Counting

It's down to the final week before I move. I am mostly ready. I've still got a few details left to attend to. A few boxes left to pack. Furniture to get rid of. I will be finished when it comes time to load up the truck in six days.

My week is planned out.

Today: Go to church, go to family party for me, go to bible study, then work on small things.

Tomorrow: Visit the Social Security office, mail out change of address cards, call Habitat for Humanity to come pick up the furniture that isn't already spoken for, and continue packing (maybe finish).

Tuesday: Work at volunteer job in the afternoon, continue working on apartment in the evening.

Wednesday: Another going away party, this time held in the community room of my apartment complex. Relax in the afternoon and go to my last game session in the evening.

Thursday: Another going away party, this time at the office I do volunteer work for. Work my last day at the office. By Thursday night everything should be finished, but if not then finish up.

Friday: Cleaning day.

Saturday: Loading day.

Sunday: Moving day.

T -9 Days and Counting

There are so freaking many details to this business of moving. I've been knocking them down as fast as I can and I believe I'm near the end of packing. Not much to report at this point, other than I'm starting to get a bit melancholy. I love the new life I'm starting, but I will miss the old life I'm leaving behind. A new start in a new place. I've never done that before.

T -11 Days and Counting

I'm getting tired of packing and such. I want this to be over with and I want to be there already. Southern Belle has come down sick with the flu, and all I want is to be with her right now. She needs someone to take care of her. She needs me and I'm not there yet. This sucks.

T -13 Days and Counting

I've been remiss at keeping my non-existent audience updated.

My library is packed now. 4 large plastic storage tubs full of books. Each storage tub weighs a metaphorical ton. Thank God for a two wheel cart.

Address change forms are secured from the post office and everything that could be done by phone and online has been taken care of.

Many old clothes are gone, and more are to follow. I've gotten rid of dishware I don't intend to take, and I have boxes and packing material to pack up the rest.

I've reserved the moving truck.

This is really going to happen. In two weeks I will be in Southern Belle's arms.

T -18 Days and Counting

I got rid of my car today, and canceled the insurance on it. I will get a nice refund of installments already paid. No housework got done today, and no packing either, but I did get a few loose ends tied up. That was good. More loose ends to tie up tomorrow. I'm hoping to get some work in tomorrow night. Wish me luck!

T -19 Days and Counting

So much for posting every day.

I've been away for three days visiting a friend in a nearby city. It was good to get away for a few days. After I got back today I reviewed what is left to do, and it really isn't that much. I've drastically reduced what I have, and I'm taking very little furniture. It shouldn't take me long to finish up. I hope.

T -23 Days and Counting

RIP, 1994 Buick Lesabre.

The car is not beyond repair, but it will cost almost as much to repair as the car is worth. Not one brake line is bad, but FOUR are bad. Argh. So much for that. I told my step-daughter (from my first marriage) that if she wanted to foot the bill for the repair I'd sign the car over to her. She was delighted with the deal. I want nothing more to do with that car. It's a money sink and I'd be worried the whole trip to Georgia about what else would break. Stick a fork in it, it's done.

I haven't made any progress on packing today. I've been making phone calls and doing calculations. I have one last trip to my weight loss surgeon in Indianapolis, but I will just rent a car for the day.

Maybe tonight I will get something done.

T -24 Days and Counting

I've called some relatives I've had only intermittent contact with over the years. My father's side of the family, for the most part, are people I really want nothing to do with. There are a few exceptions, and today I called some of them. It really drove home to me how remiss I've been by not keeping in better touch. But, they were extremely happy for me and thrilled with the positive developments in my life. They won't be able to make it to the wedding, unfortunately.

I also took my car to the garage today. A brake line blew. The repair will likely be in the $100 range. I didn't need the expense, but it's manageable. Better for the brake line to blow out now than somewhere in the mountains, that's for sure! All I need is for the darned thing to get me to Georgia. After that, it can fall apart if it wants. Just last long enough to get me to my Southern Belle!

Finally the packing and tossing. A little packing today and a lot of tossing. Another bag of trash out and another box full of junk gone. I'm staring at a mound of papers that I have to sort through, and trying to avoid thinking about it...

T -25 Days and Counting

I'm getting it into gear, baby! Packing, throwing out stuff, giving away furniture... I'm all OVER this!

Well, sorta. I'm finally realizing just how under the gun I really am with time, so I really am getting motivated. I've done a lot today. I've got much more to do, but I'll get it done. Southern Belle says that I am at my best when facing a deadline. Heh. It's true.

I'll try to post every day from this point until I leave. You have to keep me honest out there!