Day: I have no idea

Hopefully this is the last day of our road trip. The drive up the 101 to the 1 on Wednesday, though beautiful, was very time consuming. Miles of winding roads up and down the cliffs afforded us amazing views, so amazing, we had to stop and stare more than once! We were lucky enough to see seven elephant seals fight for territory and pet fat and baby squirrrels!

Yesterday we left from Patterson, Ca and made it all the way to Albany, Oregon. There wasn't much to see as we were on the 5 the entire time.

Aside from having to tell a Wendy's manager how to do her job and taking pictures of Jason jump starting an old man's car, the day was pretty ho hum. (Honestly, how hard is it to open another register when all you are doing is walking back and forth trying to look busy? The Ashland Wendy's should be expecting a comment card from me anytime soon!)

By the time we get to a hotel, I am far too tired to download photos or write. I will make up for this while I am in Scotland, enjoying some lazy days with my husband. I hope we make it to Victoria tonight. I am beside myself when I am away from my children. I can't wait to see them and hold them. I will dive head first into some serious Bindi belly, hold my Irwin and let him wrap his arms around my neck and give me a big hug and then wrestle a snuggle from my little wiggle-worm, Golgi! Once my little family is together, I will relax... a little!

Day 6

Day 4 was a rough day.

As we were about to leave for the airport, the kids having already been wrestled into their carriers, I misplaced my passport. I was beside myself with anger and frustration. Then my best friend, Liz, called to report that her ride's tire had just blown! I put her on the phone with my mom as I was unable to cope with all that was happening.

We made the decision that I would fly up to Seattle and see them all off on the ferry to Canada. The Alaska ticket was bought through Orbitz and operated through American. To get my new boarding pass I would have to trek to the other terminal. Really? Really.

While mom and Liz passed through security, I, loaded with three cats in carriers, requested my special screening. The screener took me to a locked room where I could remove each of the cats and she could clear the carriers and give them a little pat down!

Irwin was happy to be out and wanted to explore the private room. Bindi cooperated completely. Golgi was not so easy! He is my little wiggle worm! After he was cleared, he was eager to return to his carrier. Reloaded with three cats, I met up with the ladies.

I am tired right now. It has been a long week. I will revisit this entry after I relax a little. Busy day today!

Sabbatical: Day 3

Very tired.

Last minute errands.

Last minute goodbyes.

G'night.

Sabbatical: Day 2

I woke up early this morning. Sleeping seems like such a waste of time!

We have the guest room ready for my mom. It is not quite as nice as we used to keep it. The nice double bed has been replaced with an air mattress and all the furniture, except for one broken dresser, has been removed. There are no more of the family photos on the walls, all the trinkets on the shelves are nestled in their shipping containers.






Day one was pretty awesome!
I started the day with a zombie movie, Pontypool.
See it!

After that I did some menial paperwork that makes little to no sense. Jason was able to leave work early. He took me to DZ Aikens for lunch. I hit the bakery once we were done with our meals. Yummy doily cookies! Jason meant to surprise me with a drink at the bar where we met eight years ago. Sadly, it has closed. We were able to look inside and see the floorspace where we met! I got a few pictures on my camera phone. I see it as another sign that it is time for us to leave California.

Jason's boss and his wife picked us up and took us out to dinner downtown at The Yardhouse. It wasn't as loud as usual, so we were able to hear each other as we walked down memory lane. Since Jason and Brian have worked together Brian has had two sons, Jason and I met and then married. The four of us shared all those events together. We will see them again since they both like to travel!

My fridge is perfectly full of leftovers and baked confections! All I need is some orange juice to mellow out the caffeine of all the coffee I have consumed this morning.

I still have to clean the bathroom before my mom arrives in an hour. I needed a break from the natural disaster that is moving!

Sabbatical: Day 1

I woke up early this morning.

Irwin was draped across Jason's legs while Bindi was happily nestled in the small of his back. Jason was covered in cats... a common occurance in our house.

Golgi bounced up on to the bed and announced his presence with a rolling chirp, "I'm here! Entertain me! Please me! While you're at it, FEED me!"

I am now an unemployed person. I've worked since I was 16. My identity has been wrapped in my job for half my life, I am full of butterflies and vultures! It will be good to separate the two. My friend asked me if I hoped to reinvent myself when I move away. I told her I want to be more of myself. I've been stifled by my sense of responsibility to my work. Being free of that, I hope, will help me figure out myself a little better.

While on a self reassuring rant last night in the truck, I reminded myself that I have a pretty good skillset to fall back on! Just because I'm not working for a while doesn't mean I'll never be able to. I can always find some middle management job in many fields, but I'd rather not!

I've always wanted to be a stay at home mom for our children. Truthfully, I would be HORRIBLE! Not in a mean way! Just in a complete-lack-of-skills way! I'll be a loving, attentive and nurturing mom, but the kids will eat the same thing over and over! I hope to take this time to develop some home-ec skills! Cooking? Only in a microwave, right? Sewing? Uh, maybe a pillow form! Cleaning skills? Uh, no.

So, here are my plans for Canada to keep myself busy as I practice becoming a homemaker! Sewing classes for skills, vocal lessons to help me on my path back to the theatre, volunteering at the Royal Jubilee Hospital where my sis-in-law works, and exploring my new home.

Oh, I'll also spend some time catching up on movies! Perhaps my inner movie critic will emerge. I may even start reading again. I'm not the best reader, or even a good one, so, maybe I'll throw down two books during my sabbatical!

I really want to explore my craftiness. Since I was in high school at B-CC I have been very crafty with sculpture and embroidery. I've pretty much abandoned the embroidery, but I've had my spark reignited by looking at Princess Lasertron. http://www.princesslasertron.com/

I figure if I have a set goal then I will be able to avoid the pitfalls of inevitable boredom. There will be a Holiday Craft Show in Oak Bay. I'd like to try to sell some of my pieces at craft shows. Depending on how that goes, I'd like to see how I do on Etsy. I'll focus on craft shows first. I've only done two before! I have much to learn.

We will be living across the street from Jason's mom's houe. She has a nice little garden. I'm looking forward to learning some skills from her. Jason's dad is quite the chef. I hope to learn some cooking skills from him! Jason's step-mom volunteers at a museum very close to where I live. Maybe I'll look into museum volunteering!

Today I have to work on packing away my little nest of crafts. I am not looking forward to this!

I have to have it done soon! My mom arrives tomorrow afternoon. I'd like to have everything done in the house so that we can just play while she's here!

We leave for Canada on Friday with the kids, Irwin, Bindi and Golgi. I will be able to relax once they are safe in our new apartment, but not until then!