A night of good music.

I had the privilege to go to a live Josh Groban performance last night. I did not expect to enjoy it as much as I did! He is so much "more" than I expected. I guess I haven't really heard him talk much, so just expected him to be the quiet and deep musician type. Did he surprize me! He is alive, and funny! And he rocks on the drums! Who knew?

The audience could text questions to him to answer on stage. He got over 300 texts! Answered about 4. One lady asked if he would do a duet with her. He asked if she was serious, she said yes. He then got down from the stage, went all the way over to her seat and dragged her to center stage to do a duet. I thought that was a pretty awesome (and unexpected) thing for him to do. They sang Happy Birthday to a girl that texted that going to see him live was the most awesome 17th birthday present she could have received.

The opening act was also quite extraordinary. It was a guy called Elew, an amazing pianist. As Josh said later: the things he does with a piano are probably illegal :) He seems to have 6 hands when he plays. I can't help wonder how long a piano lasts when he gets to it...

Once again I wish I had taken a proper camera, but didn't want the schlep. *sigh*

I always wonder how something like this started.....

This tree is along the way going up Stone Mountain, Atlanta. Near the top there are a few huge boulders with the alley in between them covered with gum. We named it Bubblegum Alley (yeah I know, very creative). It would be interesting to know who started it...and how long ago? My son (like any 11 year old I'm sure) could not resist leaving his mark in the alley :) I had mentioned it before the time, and he made sure to take some gum up there with him to do so.

First glimpse of Florida

Just two pics from a very quick and basically unplanned roadtrip over Memorial weekend.

Wednesday afternoon stroll along the Chattahoochee river

Seven weeks and counting...

Actually its a few days more than that. Gosh so much has happened. Feels like we've been floating.... Yesterday our container arrived, and while they were unloading it, it felt like Christmas! Not that there were many things in there that I really wanted, but having stuff in your house (oh how I missed a chair!) makes quite a difference actually :)

Now I'm unpacking, and finding places for everything. I LOVE the unpacking part of a move. That whole "oh yeah, I forgot about you!" thing :) And no one should dare tell me where to put anything. Sure, make a suggestion. But I make the decision. Yes I'm bossy that way.

We went to a Bon Jovi concert on Saturday night. Oh wow how awesome! One of those little things you don't expect to get the opportunity to do when you live in other parts of the world. We bought our tickets months ago....before we even moved here. It was really great. The man has so much personality. And energy! Gosh.

I didn't have a really good camera with me. Just a little thing we got while travelling 10 years ago (I didn't want to lug a big camera around). Didn't really expect much, but got a few OK snapshots. Only pain was, the battery died 20 minutes into the show!!!

Sunrise this morning

Well we have past our 1 month anniversary in the States, and it has been really hectic. If we hadn't been through this kind of move before I'd probably have gone mad by now. So many hassles and complicatons. But we're happy and settling in slowly but surely. We found a lovely house, and looking forward to our container arriving. The thing I miss most is a chair!

This was amung the first pics I took at the new house. The tree was in full bloom when we moved in. A nice welcome.

Wow things happen so fast here. Yesterday afternoon we went back to meet with our new landlord to pay the deposit, etc., and he even gave us a key already! We're moving in on Thursday! *phew* So this week consists of shopping, cos our container will not arrive till next month sometime!


Oh and a little side note: Even though I'm running around like a chicken without a head, this damn hotel food is making me fat! Ugh.

click....

OK so looks like we'll be moving out of this hotel sooner than we thought! Awesome, since the rooms are starting to become rather small sharing with 3 kids. We found a house today...actually quite by accident (seems to be the way things happen for us). Viewed it, and made the deal right on the spot. Amazing spot and great house. Things are falling into place.

I LOVE house hunting. I love viewing a possible home and seeing all the possibilities. When we bought our last house 4 years ago it all happened by accident, and I almost felt cheated that I didn't get to go through the whole "hunting" process. Houses (and neighbourhoods) here are so different to what we're used to. Even with all the frustrations that go along with it (especially since we're aliens with no credit score), I'm having a ball!

It begins.

Gosh, jeglag. At 2am this morning we are all staring at the ceiling. The little (well not so little anymore) one says: "I'm bored, what can I do?". What the hell do you do in a hotel at 2am?

At 5am we gave up and got up. There was a nice thunderstorm outside. Its still raining now. We haven't done much since then except jump tv channels and eat chocolate. I guess now we can all shower, go have breakfast, and get ready for the day. First thing will be going to collect our rental car. Gosh this is really happening!

We were collected from the airport by 2 friends in 2 separate cars. It was such a beautiful spring morning in Atlanta driving out of the airport - quite chilly, foggy, and blooms everywhere. I felt at peace for the first time in a while.

phew

It was a crazy hectic trip, but we finally made it. We're all in one piece, even if only barely sane. I can't believe how many things can go wrong on such a trip! That seems to be our theme lately anyway. A delayed flight which causes a little concern, then another delay which would mean missing the connecting international flight, then having to try and organize another flight earlier so we can make the connection, being on standby for like forever and then not getting it, and having to throw a tantrum to get on another flight. Arriving only just in time for the connection flight, but having to run from the domestic to international terminal...with loads for luggage and 3 kids. And in between trying to exchange our local money to usd, but not being able because we do not have an utility bill with us as proof of residence. What the hell!? Who carries a utility bill with them? And that's not even the half of it.

Now the rollercoaster ride begins! But first a shower!!!

The dogs went into kenneling today. They'll stay at the kennels until we find a house on the other side. It was quite an emotional moment for me when they were collected and closed up in their travel cages...and they were both so confused and upset. They annoy me often (Max chewing sticks and making a mess on the carpet, or Emily pulling something from the trash), but feels like something is missing without them around. Hope they'll be OK.

It will be a miracle if I'm still sane by the time we get on that plane!

Can't believe its almost time......

The final level

We're reaching the advanced stages of the game....and we're playing it hard. The shipping container is packed and waiting at the harbour for paperwork to be finalized and then it'll be shipped. I am exhausted. I can honestly say this has been the worst packing up experience I've had....ever (and I have quite a lot of experience in this game).


I'm really striving towards a simpler life....less "stuff". We got rid of a lot, but we still filled a container. *sigh* Its really annoying though to find things that was left behind, but worse than that is realizing how many things slipped in that I planned on leaving behind! Grr...

30 is too far...

So we had our little mini reunion this past weekend. And what a blast! Our 10 year reunion was definitely not this much fun, at all. I guess back then we were still too young and holding on to issues. This time round was just plain awesome.


Way too much wine, and lots of laughter and reminiscing sent me home lightheaded. Can't wait for next time..... The 30 year mark is just way too far!

20 years

What is it about old school friends that make them so special? Even after life has changed for us all, we've all got new friends, and we have little in common anymore. Maybe its just me, but there is just something about these people. I guess its because those friendships formed when we were still young and ...innocent? ...stupid?

I finished school 20 years ago this year. Not sure how it happened, but I got the job of arranging a reunion...and its happening tomorrow! Everybody can't attend (as they're spread out all over the place), but we are a good sized group getting together. Its really exciting. Can't wait!

Gosh, what the hell am I going to wear?

Counting down...

Wow I can't believe how busy I am! I am so busy I can't slow down and can't get to bed at night....I don't even get tired anymore! And this really causes me to get frustrated with everyone else that is not as productive and on the go as I am at the moment...

Apart from the sorting and packing, I am still selling lots of stuff (and have lots left to still sell), I'm painting the house (OK not all on my own, but now my handyman is ill and I'm on my own for now), still arranging and finalizing the move arrangements, trying to keep the kids out of my hair, arranging an 11th birthday party.....and on top of that organizing a 20year school reunion (not even sure how I got that job)!! And then of course normal day-to-day life still goes on...there are still meals to prepare, dirty dishes that pile up, and laundry.

I hate being behind schedule. By now everything should have been done and ready so that we could have time to visit with friends and family. So many people I want to see before we leave....

I've now finally taken the last child out of school. So while I now have less driving around to do (which is good since we have one less vehicle) I now have one more under foot.

I can't believe how fast time has flown by though. Its almost time....mere weeks left. *phew*

End of an era....

Many things are coming to an end as our time here is rapidly running out.

Juané had to return her clarinet this week, and I got a few minutes to "play" a bit. Not sure why I hadn't thought of this before! Hopefully this isn't an end, and she'll be able to pick it up again where we end up.

Then last week's cricket match might have been the little one's last one.He's quite fond of the game, and we even got him a new bat for his bday yesterday. I sure hope this was not the end of that for him. Maybe he'll just have to be content to play baseball from now on, and casual cricket games with the family in the park (wonder how I always end up doing fieldwork!!).

Then I've also sold my beloved car, a whole lot of other favourite items (yes I have a lot of favourite things), and today a whole bunch of children's books that the children are too old for now, but have special memories. It truly feels like the end of an era.

On a roll

We've been sorting through the house, dividing everything into: what goes with, what gets sold, and what gets given away. Basically all appliances will be sold, and some given away, since the voltage in the US is 110V, and here (like most countries) its 220V.

I've never thought of myself as being a salesperson. Ever. And have not been looking forward to selling the stuff at all. But I started last week, and am having a ball! I'm almost addicted to it now, and get so excited by even the smallest sale. I now read listings of Wanted stuff, just to see if I don't have what people want, and I'm amazed how much I have sold that way. I've even sold stuff I would have just given away because I would not have imagined anyone looking for it...

Today I sold a bunch of toys, might have sold the gas stove, confirmed the sale of the refrigerator, bar stools, and a few others....and I got 2 cash offers for my car.

The car is a sore spot though... *sigh*