Missing...

• Thunderstorms
• Heat and humidity
• 72 degree winter days
• Family
• My salon and stylist
• Friendly smiling faces
• Food
• Southern charm
• Familiarity
• Tiny airports without lines
• Green grass 
• Flowers in bloom in December
• PJs coffee
• Seafood gumbo
  

A 3 day taste of NOLA, not a single picture, and a heavy heart.

Grey

• Freddie's stuffy.  His sleep is restless.  My sleep is minimal.
• Being a mom to a toddler in the winter sucks.  Do you know how long it takes us both to get dressed in the morning and out the door?  Too damn long.  And changing diapers outside after uncovering the diaper beneath all those clothes sucks too.  It's not even winter yet.
• It's been raining for days and days here.  It's cold and wet.  We walk everywhere.  Any time we try to leave the house we get rained on.
• Puddles are unavoidable.  Freddie's pants legs are wet.  His feet are wet.  His lip is quivering.  And then he needs his diaper changed.
• Wet pants, muddy jacket, pee pee rags...and no washing machine.  
• Having a pants-less boy means he has bizarre things dangling from his penis and hienie making their way into every single room.  Today it was cheerios.
• Exercising  = treadmill after Freddie's bedtime.  Yeah, right.  Do you know how exhausting it is being cooped up in this little apartment all day?  
• I'm so tired of being in this apartment I find myself daydreaming there was Chuck E. Cheese and a daiquiri machine in the basement of the building.  A little something for everyone.

Day of Rest

Moving in on Friday was a fiasco, and that's putting it mildly.  I'll spare you the details but being that I'm used to the "Big Easy Factor" in doing business in NOLA I was surprised by how shocked I was by the experience we had.

But it's over.  We paid the hefty fee, sweat and cursed, and all the boxes and furniture from our POD made it into the apartment by 2pm on Friday.

I had my doubts about it all fitting, and it was pretty jammed in.

Thankfully, help was on the way.  Jessica arrived at 6pm, and immediately cracked open a Miller High Life for each of us, rolled up her sleeves, gave Charlie and me some orders, and started opening boxes.

Since there is not much space, moving things around to just unpack and see what was in boxes was tricky.  Finding places for everything after thinking "what in the hell did I pack this for?" proved difficult as well.  But everything has a spot.  That is pretty amazing.  Not only are the dishes in the cabinets but there are pictures on the walls.

Jessica worked wonders.  And for all of her hard work she got to see the bus and subway to and from LaGuardia, Target in Brooklyn, and Costco in Queens.  We did eat Hebrew Nationals at Costco though.  So she got a little of the NY experience.  I actually think that those three outings did provide her a healthy dose of the city.  Everything is an experience here.

Hanging around in our pjs after everything is all done

We are in search of a dresser or two to complete the moving in, and then nothing else is allowed to come into this apartment.  There is not an inch of space that is unaccounted for.  Pictures to come soon.  Promise.

Present

Sorry for the lack of posts.  I know what you're thinking...I should have lots to write about.  And I do.  The problem is that I am having a hard time wrapping my head around everything.  I am not sure I can put to words my feelings much less the experience just yet.

I haven't even been taking any pictures, if you can believe it.  It's been difficult for me to absorb everything and the camera can sometimes impede that as well.  So I have just be wandering, aimlessly, physically and mentally.  Just ask Charlie, my map reading, destination bound husband.

Speaking of Dr. C, he's doing well, but getting a dose of the same shock.  I hate to speak for him, but I am pretty sure this is a bit overwhelming for him as well.  He's been over to work to take care of paperwork, insurance, and the like.  Tomorrow though is his first day in the lab with his new boss, as the wind and rain from Hurricane Earl make their way up the east coast.  I should have got him some cute rain boots, monogrammed with his PhD credentials.  

We've just got the internet and the furniture arrives tomorrow, so hopefully in the next few days I'll make my way to the desk and peck out a few posts.  Stay tuned.

This and That

• We went to Target in Brooklyn on our first day here.  Craziness.
• Someone in the building has a late dinner.  They cook curry.  Our bedroom smells like curry thanks to the vent.  Living in an apartment building is going to be interesting.
• The movers and POD come on Friday.  $650 for movers, $60/hour for POD driver to wait for the POD to be unloaded.  You'd think the POD driver could do a little something other than sit in the truck at $60/hour.  NYC costs.
• Freddie threw himself on the floor when we left the childcare center in our building yesterday.  He is dying to be with the other kids.  We're on the wait list.  Even with the hospital employee sliding scale I'll need a high paying job to make it worthwhile.
• I thought New Orleans was diverse.  This little island we're living on has too many nationalities represented to even count.  There are also a wide range of socioeconomic classes represented.  All this on a 2 mile stretch of land in the East River.
• The island is teeming with kids.  Our building has so many young children.  There is a playground across the street, complete with fountains to play in.
• The island is also teeming with amputees.  I'm telling you, this place is diverse in every way.  There is a man without legs on a hospital gurney outside the metro station morning and afternoon.  No idea how he's getting there, but working on figuring this out.  Yep, I am going to talk to him.   Eventually.
• Freddie is sleeping great.  Goes to his crib, tosses in his tigey and sip cup, and waves goodbye.  Right to sleep.  Thank goodness for that.  Evidently transition is easier on kids than adults.
• Made it to the NYC Department of Motor Vehicles.  Just like home.  The computers were down for 2 hours.  Someone needed a nap so back on the train we got.  We'll try again on Thursday.
• I had my first breakdown yesterday at the playground.  It was minor compared to what I had expected at this point.  We've both commented how this doesn't yet feel like we're here for the long haul.  It's starting to sink in though.

Home is where the Saints' jersey hangs

Bye bye puppies

I was pretty overwhelmed with emotion when I left the pups.  As much grump as they injected into my day dealing with dog hair, scratched doors, and barking during nap time, I am having a hard time imagining life without them.  I was always cautious with Freddie being with the dogs, as they are dogs, but they were well on their way to developing that boy and his dog relationship.  Muppey was, anyway...The Boo will probably be very thankful to not always have to be looking over his shoulder for someone coming up to grab his tail.

New Digs

Click floor plan to enlarge

Well, we've got an address. We'll be living in hospital housing on Roosevelt Island.

Roosevelt Island is a tiny strip of land, two miles long, in the East River between Manhattan and Queens. You're unable to walk off, from what I understand. I've never been there. There's one train stop, one stop away from the Upper East Side, and a tram (think gondola) over the river into Manhattan. The bridge takes you to Queens.

From what I've read it's limited in commercial activity, but has green space, a public pool, tennis courts, and low crime. It's kinda peaceful, with a view of the fabulous Manhattan skyline. But, even with Freddie, I'm still not yet feeling the pull of the burbs. Living in NOLA, we wanted to live in NOLA. In the same vein, if we were going to move, we wanted to live in NYC. We're city folks.

I loved our Bordeaux Street home because of the diversity of our neighbors, racially, ethnically, and socioeconomically. I loved walking to the park, playgrounds, the grocery, the drug store, the ice cream parlor, restaurants. We lived in a seriously walkable neighborhood. It was a real neighborhood. We were right in the middle of things and I could go weeks without getting in my car, and the furthest either of us would typically go was to Charlie's work and that was accessible by bike.

So, needless to say we were a bit disappointed with the assignment on RI (which gets a high walkability score but I am not sure if those points in Queens really count as walkable). Yes, I know what you're thinking, we're one train stop from UES. Right, I know. Just would much prefer to walk to where I need to go rather than navigate the train with Freddie and the stroller.

But, after some careful weighing of pros and cons, I sucked it up and decided we should just accept the apartment and move forward. That moving forward thing is what really did it. Living in a temporary place, in limbo, while I tackled the apartment market in Manhattan wasn't exactly something to look forward to. It was complicated.

But I am looking forward to a large apartment with two bathrooms, elevators in the building, a gym in the building, the hospital childcare center in the building, large windows with a spectacular view, and laundry in the building. We'll be living in the same building as other families working at the hospital, so perhaps joining that community will be helpful.

With this decision I was able to arrange for cable, internet, and electricity as well as reroute our mail. Love taking care of business.

We'll be sleeping in our new home in just 18 days.

Here's the plan

I am a planner.  I write things down.  I make lists.  I keep a calender.  I do things in advance.

Yes, the last few months have been a challenge for me. 

We have a (tentative) plan for the next month, so that makes me feel so much better.  Seriously.  I cannot even begin to explain how good settling these few things with Charlie makes me feel.

• Charlie's parents will drive his truck from Denver to NOLA, loaded with the majority of the things I've been using here, i.e. tricylce, jog stroller, toys.
• Freddie and I will fly to NOLA on or around August 24th.
• A final trip to the POD will be made on or around August 25th to toss in all items we won't need until settling in NYC.  I've created a spreadsheet detailing all possessions not packed away already, noting where they need to get to.  Yes, I have had some time on my hands while in Denver.
• The truck will be sold on or around August 25th in NOLA.  Unless someone out there is interested in buying it (2004 Chevy Silverado Extended Cab, about 70K miles) we'll take it to a used car lot and get what we can.  This won't yield the highest return but appears to be the easiest route considering the given circumstances.  I just hope we're able to get enough to not cause this part of the plan to be sticky.
• The POD leaves NOLA for NYC on August 26th.
• Freddie will go for his 18 month well visit at 7.45am on August 26th.  No, this doesn't really pertain to the overall plan, but I am a bit paranoid about forgetting it.
• Charlie will defend his dissertation on August 26th at 11am.  This is big, folks.
• Later that evening, we will celebrate with an early dinner, lots of beers, and an early bedtime.
• August 27th, 4am, will be our departure in the Honda packed with a week's worth of clothes and supplies, as well as the TV, printer, computers, and other items not packed for the POD, unless his committee decides the dissertation needs serious work. In that case, we need to come up with plan B, but it is doubtful that plan will have to go into effect.
• Make the 20 hour drive to NYC in the Honda, as a family of three.
• Arrive in NYC on or around August 29th.
• Upon arrival to NYC, find a garage and parking contract the Honda for 1 month. This way we can use the car to make trips out of the city to stock the pantry, refrigerator, and transport odds and ends.  (I know I need lamps.  Trying to remember why we sold all of the lamps.) The Honda will be sold in New Jersey after we've gotten everything transported to the new apartment.
• Meet with hospital housing department or new landlord on or around August 30th or 31st.
• Charlie's first day of work as a PhD is September 1st.
• The POD arrives in NYC on September 2nd.
• Move in on September 3rd or 4th.  This is the part of the plan where things get fuzzy again because we're not 100% settled on an apartment so I can't get POD delivery and movers arranged quite yet.  I also think there are some regulations about days, times, etc for moving into apartments in the city which I have yet to figure out.

So there you have it.  A plan.  Feeling pretty good about it too.

Cracking

I hate to do it, but perhaps some whining will help me feel better...

• Freddie averages 6 poops a day lately. 1 before breakfast, 1 after breakfast, 1 after our walk, 1 after lunch, 1 after dinner, 1 before bath. Yuck. Who are these kids that don't poop for days? I got two slices of cheese down him today. Let's hope this gives me a diaper changing reprieve.
• We're trying to transition back into cloth diapers. This always takes a toll on his bottom. Having 6 yucky diapers a day ain't helping either.
• I am dealing with the US Post Office. Our requests that our mail be forwarded are "not in the system." I don't think much detail is needed here. You all know what I'm up against.
• I dyed my hair. I dyed my hair by myself. I dyed my hair by myself using some box of Clairol. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.
• Gammie's house has lots and lots of cabinets with lots and lots of interesting stuff in them. Just about all of the cabinet contents are now on top of the counter. Wondering what the cleaning lady will think when she sees it.
• Freddie has discovered the bar and the bar glasses. Every time I turn around he looks like he's doing a shot.
• I miss my Charlie. Morning snuggles just aren't the same with just Freddie and me.

I'll stop there. And to be fair, there is a bright side:

• I haven't broken a sweat since crossing the Colorado state line even though we're experiencing temperatures in the 90s.
• I say "March!" and Freddie follows me around the house with his knees popping high in the air and arms waving at his side.
• Freddie is back to going to bed on his own, in his own room.
• I haven't cooked anything. That means hardly any dishes!
• Freddie and the dogs enjoy being out in the yard all day. Freddie's filthy at the end of the day. He plays hard.
• The beer in the refrigerator isn't disappearing when I'm not looking.

Transition

On the Road

Skipped a step.  Sorry about that.  I forget about my readers sometimes, those who don't know me in real life and get the gaps filled in outside of the blog.

We sold our house.  It was under contract after just over a week on the market.  We were very surprised and very thankful.  Big relief.  Charlie isn't set to begin his job in NYC until the fall.  Big problem.  Ok, not a big problem.  I know there are few really big problems in our life.  This was just a major inconvenience that caused a lot of stress.

So, Freddie and I and the dogs are in Denver, at Charlie's parents' house.  Charlie is in NOLA, living at the lab.  This is the way things will be until we move to NYC in the fall.

Enough stuff to fill a tiny NYC apartment was loaded into a POD and that left Bordeaux Street last Friday. It will show up in Manhattan when we get there.  Furniture and other things we could not part with (Jazzfest chairs, Mardi Gras ladder, costume box, power tools, and large pieces of furniture) but will have no room for in NYC were moved into a storage unit in NOLA.  Living essentials for the next 10-12 weeks were packed in suitcases and a few boxes.

We looked for a furnished short term lease that allowed big bad dogs, and while there were some available they were pricey.  We had friends and family offer up their guest rooms, kids' rooms, offices to accommodate us, but we really couldn't see ourselves descending on anyone's space with our dogs and kid.  We've lived in tight quarters, double bunked, over our Katrina evacuation.  Not something we want to do or subject those we love to again.

So Charlie made the drive with us and the dogs to Denver and flew back to NOLA on Monday.  Charlie's folks are out of town for most of the summer, so it is just me and Freddie and the dogs.  It's probably working out best for the dogs, having me here with them helping them transition into life here for the next several weeks.  This will be home for them for quite some time.

I'm ok for right now.  I haven't done anything yet, and quite frankly I kinda like that.  I am trying to get into a routine, break some bad habits that Freddie has picked up amidst the moving craziness, rest, and just generally regroup.  I'm feeling sad, missing NOLA, and need the time to just be. 

I know in a few days I'll feel restless, and be searching for things to add to our routine. Something other than sitting outside wondering if I should save any watermelon for Freddie.  I've got a few books and a few projects, but I'll need some other things to do.

Things are in limbo.  I know we'll be in NYC in the fall, but I don't know when.  I don't know what building we'll live in, but I have 4 potential addresses.  I know we'll be travelling to the city, but I don't know how we'll get there.


So that's it.  That's our summer. 

Making myself happy

Charlie's message to me the first night he was gone was "do things that make you happy."

So today I ate the entire watermelon. And yes, I smiled with every bite and am pretty darn content. I wonder if I'll feel differently when I am up all night having to pee.

Shrug.

Anyway, I've been trying to come up with some things that make me happy, that are not NOLA dependent.

• Sitting in the sunshine
• Reading in bed
• Long walks
• Baking
• Painted toenails
• Sliding with the Buggers
• Microwaved popcorn and bad TV
• Sending mail
• Blog reading (get posting folks or leave me some new links)
• Dance party with the Bug (and the Jackson 5)

Any suggestions?

The move, thus far

Getting ready for customers!

1 POD with room to spare!
43 Craigslist sales
5 hours of garage sale costumers
$3000 made off 75% of our home's contents
$1400 for a the first of three years of storage
$3100 for POD moving and storage
1 10x10x15 storage unit
12 boxes to my Daddy's
1 crawfish pot to Ford's for useful storage
2 boxes of of china stored at Charlie's parents
30 minutes at closing
1 packed truck, trailer attached (cue Sanford and Son theme song)
 2 barking dogs in kennels
1280 Miles driven
24 hours in the truck
2 Disney DVDs
2 of 3 in Denver
1 flight to NOLA
1 of 3 in NOLA
1 long summer

Room to spare!

Around the bend

There's something about turning this bend in the park that I like. It's something about it aligning with a bend in the river and the breeze coming from the riverbend that changes the air here. There's a similar bend a bit further down the river along the levee as well.

I'm taking notes this week.

I am so thankful for this life and really try to be present for all of it each and every day. But change has its way making me pause and notice things a little more. I've been trying not to think of it as our last Sunday morning at the bakery or my last walk to the park really because there will certainly be more. Things won't be the same. But I know same-ness isn't a prerequisite to contentedness.

Still filling up

Don't ask about my weight.  I'm working all week, 10 hour days, so exercise ain't happeing.  Lots of yummy dinners are.

We had some oysters.  I think it'll be a long time before any of us are getting good gulf oysters.

Getting my fill

Crawfish!

The best south Louisiana meals are those served on newspaper with iced cold Abita Amber.

I am one happy girl.

This and That

Clowning around on one of our last few walks from Bordeaux Street

• Closing is 12 days away.
• I am working the 7 week days prior to closing.
• I'm not sleeping.
• Can I just throw away all of the spices?
• I hate how much trash we're making without recycling, eating off paper plates, and throwing away so much junk.
• I think I threw away our stamps.
• I still need to pack my closet.
• I'm getting rid of more shoes than I am keeping.
• My daddy is storing all of our infant supplies.
  
• Our dogs have a home with Charlie's parents in Denver.
• One POD isn't going to be enough.
• Damn, moving is expensive.
  
• Charlie should do a blog on Craigslist shoppers.
• Oh my god, this is really happening!
  

Gratitude

Sitting among boxes and disarray I'm taking inventory.

I am thankful for:

• A devoted, caring, patient husband. Yes, patient. He's got it when it matters most.
• A smiley babe, who I am beginning to think is bossy
  
• Offers of help, if only I knew what would make everything easier
• Validations of my feelings of sadness, fear, and frustration
• A pantry that continues to allow me to come up with filling, although not so conventional, meals served on paper plates
• Strong legs to take me on long stress relieving walks
• An opportunity for a new chapter in our lives
• Tylenol PM
  
• The insight to understand that this too will pass, the end is in sight, and everything will be ok
  

Movers

I know I'll want this information at a later date, and archiving it here is easier than finding it in the file cabinet. And that mega cabinet of ours may have to undergo some major downsizing in our new itty bitty pad.

Anyway, it was nearly impossible for me to get much information on the cost of moving with professional movers outside the city. Online sites pretty much collect your information and then call you with the hard sell. Perhaps someone finding themselves here will be able to use the information.

Both United and Allied movers wanted to send someone out to give an estimate, which I understand, but I really wanted just some ballpark figures to help me proceed. After I twisted some arms, refused to make an appointment, and let them know I wouldn't be doing anything without first getting some basic information they both gave it.

United estimates the furnishings of a 2 bedroom apartment (the amount of stuff we plan on moving) to weigh 5000 lbs. I asked if this was a generous or conservative estimate and he really wouldn't say either way....that's why we need to see your stuff, lady. To load, transport it 1300 miles, and then unload 5000 lbs three days later was going to cost $3400-3700.

Allied just said they thought a 2 bedroom apartment would cost anywhere from $2000-3500 to load, transport 1300 miles, and unload.

PODS will drop off a storage container, 8x8x16ft. She said that each container fits about 4 rooms. After the container is loaded, it will be picked up and delivered 1300 miles away. Since we are looking for delivery in Manhattan, the driver must remain with the truck so there is an extra charge included ($60 per hour with a four hour minimum) in the $2640 estimate we received. (If we need two containers the cost increases to $4822.) We'll need to hire/find help to load and unload some large items so there will be some other costs to add in. The loading, transporting, and unloading must happen within a month or there will be additional charges. ($199 a month if it remains on your property, I think.)

We're going with PODS. Once they remove the unit from our house in June it will be taken to Long Island and they will store it (climate controlled) until August when we arrive. The storage will cost an additional $250 a month beyond June. I was surprised to learn that we can have access to our storage container at anytime without any additional fees...if we are in Long Island. I suppose I should look into having them store it in Louisiana during the months we are still here in case we need access and then transporting it the week before we leave.

So there it is. Moving is damn expensive. I estimate that when all is said and done we are looking at nearly $5000 to get us relocated to NYC.

Let me ask you a question, he says

On the phone setting up our POD, the man on the other end of the line, a Floridian I believe, says he's got to ask something.

"How do you like living there? I mean I have had a few friends that went for a visit and they just stayed. I mean, they didn't want to leave. They love it, even after all that's happened there. Is it really that great?"

At 11.55 am Meltdown #18 of the day is now in full effect.

"Wow. I guess I really need to get there."

Yes. Yes you do.