Well, it's done. It was kind of weird, looking into a 24-foot semi (borrowed courtesy of Tracy Sodders) and realize that all of my worldly possessions, minus the car, were inside. We were truly blessed by the amount of people who showed up to help us move. It was done in under 40 minutes - my incredible wife had been diligent in packing everything up (I helped a slight amount) and we had taken apart all of our stuff. So people came, loaded, and we were done. We left Charlottesville a little after 10, and we know there were at least 2 people who showed up after that to try and help (sorry guys, but thanks for the effort!)
The trip to Richmond was quick and pain free. When we got here, Ryan showed up almost right away. Our fireman in training unloaded half of the truck himself. We unloaded in just under an hour - the only problem was the box spring on our bed. It did not want to go up the stairs. But Ryan and Tracy weren't about to leave it there - with the removal of our front door, the removal of the plastic things, and the removal of some paint and a tab bit of ceiling through their pushing, the two beasts got it up. Way to go, guys!! There was at least one guy from the ward who showed up to help, but unfortunately didn't have our number and had the wrong time, so we were inside and done before he showed so we didn't get to see him (I was sure to thank him on Sunday, though).
So we're here. And we're tired - the first few days have been long. The place was surprisingly dirty when we showed up, and we didn't realize how bad it was until everything was already moved in. Abby's little tootsies were black within an hour. So we went out today and got some floor cleaner and polish, and we are going through, room by room, cleaning and polishing. We did our room today - what a nightmare, moving all the furniture back out into the hallway, bathroom, and Abby's room to get at everything. But it helped a lot. Jodi cleaned the stairs real well, but no polish - don't want to slip down. So we'll need to attack Abby's room, the downstairs, and the hallway upstairs. We;ll get it all done this week so we don't have to worry about it once Jodi has started work. For now, we're all walking around inside in sandals except where stuff has been cleaned.
Now, I have never had gas appliances before, so I don't know how they are supposed to work. And the ones here are new, so maybe this is normal. But whenever we run the stove, we both feel like a gas smell permeates the place. We called maintenance, and they showed up and they said they couldn't smell any. We ran a burner for a few minutes, and I smelled it, but they didn't. I mentioned maybe I was more sensitive to it and that was it, and one of them claimed that he had a nose for it - that if there was a leak, he would have smelled it when he walked through the door. He said "I don't smell gas - I smell heat, but no gas." Ummm...excuse me? I didn't feel right making a wise guy comment, so I just stared at him and said, "You smell heat?" He said that the stove was working properly and there was nothing else they could do. They tried to make it look like maybe I had run a burner without it being lit, and that was why I smelled gas. They seriously took a few minutes to explain how to work it, making me out to be some kind of moron. Whatever. When I made mac and cheese later, Jodi, who was upstairs, called down and asked if I was using the stove because she smelled gas. We're going to go out and buy a gas detector, I think. Maybe it's just the heat that I'm smelling.
Enough ranting for now. Want to hear some perks? Rent here is actually cheaper than what we were paying. We have an attic storage place (which is much needed!!) that can actually fit quite a bit of our crap. The hardwood floor in our room actually looks pretty good after our treatment, and we have high hopes for the rest of the place. One of the coolest things here is our neighbors. Not the two legged ones (of whom we've met very few) bur the little woodland dwellers - there is a small colony of rabbits living in the bushes in the surrounding areas, and we see them frequently - they come to graze on the clovers. Right out our back door. Seriously, I've got a couple of pics taken from our stairs, the rabbit being no more than 10 feet away. Abby loves them. We went out to get some rabbit food and will see if we can make friends - they look so squishable and cuddly, I can't wait to try.
We had our dryer delivered today!! We need to wait on the washer, something about some storms somewhere holding something up. So although the setup is a bit strange (you have to see it to understand), we will be able to do laundry in our own place. That is so awesome to me.
We already love Richmond - we live about a half mile from where Jodi is working, but still live in a very residential, nice area. And about 3 minutes away is the main road in town, with everything you could want - Target, grocery stores, restaurants, you name it. We went out and went to Target, Kroger, Home Depot, and Petsmart all in about an hour. A trip like that in Charlottesville would have been a few hours at least. Everything is so convenient, it's amazing. We picked the perfect location. Plus, we saw a rainbow today.
I think that's enough for now - Sorry for the long post and no pics. Our desktop is not yet set up (not sure if we'll have the space for it) and it has the software and everything for the camera. We'll get stuff going soon, just give us a bit of time. For now we're working hard to make this place feel like home. Our first night here, Abby was upset going to bed (understandably) and Jodi was trying to calm her down. Abby said "Abby's sad. Abby wants to go home!" :( What do you say to that? How do you explain these things to a three year old? Not to worry, she seems to be adjusting well, and is being really great about the whole sandals thing. I guess we can't ask for anything more than that.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Last Days!
Well today is Robby's Last Day of Work! Woo Who! Our house is a boxed mess. And we only have three more days in Charlottesville! I can't help but be excited. I mean we're going to have a place with a washer and dryer! Well I'm excited that Robby doesn't have to slaughter mice anymore and I get to practice nursing. Richmond is going to be so much fun for us and it's almost time!
Sunday, June 8, 2008
A little heat, anyone?
6 days to go.
I can't believe that it's so close - we only have a few days left before starting the next big chapter in our lives. We have boxes everywhere, a few dismantled pieces of furniture, and a few more...mantled pieces of furniture that need to be taken apart. And I've come to learn again that moving sucks. Not going to a new place, getting a new residence, or doing new things, but the actual act of moving - it sucks. Luckily I have a wife that is incredibly good at packing and getting ready early, so that at D-day minus 6 we have basically only the essentials unpacked. There is still a little bit to do, but well over half is done. Our place looks pretty jumbled at times, and it drives Jodi nuts. Poor Jodi, being married to me who can live in a jumbley place for a bit and be fine. All I can say for the packing part is I'm glad that I work where I do - I've been able to get all of the boxes we need from the loading dock there. Just sneak in when nobody is looking at swipe what I need - nothing to it. What are they going to do if I'm caught - fire me?
Jodi got a wonderful surprise the other day - beautiful flowers from "the Rowlett girls"
She wanted to be sure that those involved were thanked publicly - if this can be considered publicly. So to the 3 people that read this, Jodi says thank you if you helped send the flowers.
Over the weekend, we were fortunate enough to go and see a house burn. Over and over. It was awesome.
Ryan is finishing up with his firefighter course, and on Friday night they simulated a house burning so that they could show off to their friends and family what they have been learning for the past few months. The main thing they learned? If a house is on fire, run in (with protection, of course!) If I see a house on fire, I stay away, unless someone is inside. They have learned to run on in, and many of them are excited to. What? That doesn't make much sense. But it's what they do.
That's Ryan in the middle, looking out at Devan taking pictures. It was a lot of fun to watch; even Abby was enjoying the last one, when it was dark and you could see the huge flames shooting out of the windows and car they burned. She was really tired by then, but sat there watching and saying, "Put the fire out! Good job, uncle Rah-rah!"
It was a mild 90 degrees with about 1000% humidity. Not too bad. I was drenched within about 10 minutes, but it was nothing compared to Ryan and his classmates, who didn't complain nearly as much as me. I could at least wear shorts and a t-shirt and didn't have to lug around a hundred pounds worth of stuff. To see some much better pics and explanations of everything, see their blog, link over there ->
Today was our last Sunday here. It's a weird feeling. The other day, a couple in our ward pointed out that of the "non-permanent" members of the ward (i.e., students) we were the senior-most family. 6 years we've been here. That was pretty weird to hear, and made us almost more anxious to leave. Then they pointed out that we would be passing on that "honor" to them - they came a year after us, and have outlasted the other students that came that year. While we are really excited for what lies ahead, there are tons of people that we will really miss. We've felt such an outpouring of love some several people, sometimes from unexpected places, but always welcomed and appreciated. Jodi has been a teacher in Relief Society for several months, a daunting task for anyone, but especially so for her with nursing school and everything. And I have been lucky enough to be Deacon's Quorum adviser for the past 5 years. People sometimes thought I would only come for Sacrament, then leave. But our young men are great, and several expressed a desire to come help on Saturday morning, despite the fact that they would probably rather be sleeping. Maybe the offer of free donuts helped, I'm not sure. :)
This afternoon, we went to a party for my work that they were throwing for all of the departing people. We originally weren't planning on going, but decided kind of late that maybe it could be fun. There were tons of people there, and the food was awesome. When they got up to say a few words, I wasn't sure what really to expect, maybe a toast for good health and luck or something. Instead, my boss gets up there and talks about me a bit, says what I'm doping and where I'm going, then says they have some parting gifts for me. I was shocked, and a little embarrassed. I didn't know what to say. They had me open them right there. The first on was a joke gift, a play doctor's kit kind of thing. But the second one was an incredibly nice stethoscope. I was speechless. It was so nice and unexpected. I have been so fortunate to work for the guy that I work for these past 2 years. There are many people in our few labs that are totally awesome and who will really be missed.
Luckily, that "joke gift" was not so much of a joke for Abby - she knew immediately that it was for her.
She starts by checking Mommy's heart....
then takes her BP,
checks reflexes,
and temp.
She then finds the problem - a little spot which needs a band-aid.
What a cute little doctor!
So we're getting excited for the move. This Saturday doesn't look like it'll be nearly as bad as this weekend was, so hopefully nobody keels over from dehydration while going down the stairs with our dressers. I wouldn't want anything broken, we're trying to save money. So this time next week, I'll have to remove that little "almost" from our title. There is a Rowlett's bicycle shop in Richmond. Think they'll give family discounts? I'm sure we're related somewhere along the lines.
I can't believe that it's so close - we only have a few days left before starting the next big chapter in our lives. We have boxes everywhere, a few dismantled pieces of furniture, and a few more...mantled pieces of furniture that need to be taken apart. And I've come to learn again that moving sucks. Not going to a new place, getting a new residence, or doing new things, but the actual act of moving - it sucks. Luckily I have a wife that is incredibly good at packing and getting ready early, so that at D-day minus 6 we have basically only the essentials unpacked. There is still a little bit to do, but well over half is done. Our place looks pretty jumbled at times, and it drives Jodi nuts. Poor Jodi, being married to me who can live in a jumbley place for a bit and be fine. All I can say for the packing part is I'm glad that I work where I do - I've been able to get all of the boxes we need from the loading dock there. Just sneak in when nobody is looking at swipe what I need - nothing to it. What are they going to do if I'm caught - fire me?
Jodi got a wonderful surprise the other day - beautiful flowers from "the Rowlett girls"
She wanted to be sure that those involved were thanked publicly - if this can be considered publicly. So to the 3 people that read this, Jodi says thank you if you helped send the flowers.
Over the weekend, we were fortunate enough to go and see a house burn. Over and over. It was awesome.
Ryan is finishing up with his firefighter course, and on Friday night they simulated a house burning so that they could show off to their friends and family what they have been learning for the past few months. The main thing they learned? If a house is on fire, run in (with protection, of course!) If I see a house on fire, I stay away, unless someone is inside. They have learned to run on in, and many of them are excited to. What? That doesn't make much sense. But it's what they do.
That's Ryan in the middle, looking out at Devan taking pictures. It was a lot of fun to watch; even Abby was enjoying the last one, when it was dark and you could see the huge flames shooting out of the windows and car they burned. She was really tired by then, but sat there watching and saying, "Put the fire out! Good job, uncle Rah-rah!"
It was a mild 90 degrees with about 1000% humidity. Not too bad. I was drenched within about 10 minutes, but it was nothing compared to Ryan and his classmates, who didn't complain nearly as much as me. I could at least wear shorts and a t-shirt and didn't have to lug around a hundred pounds worth of stuff. To see some much better pics and explanations of everything, see their blog, link over there ->
Today was our last Sunday here. It's a weird feeling. The other day, a couple in our ward pointed out that of the "non-permanent" members of the ward (i.e., students) we were the senior-most family. 6 years we've been here. That was pretty weird to hear, and made us almost more anxious to leave. Then they pointed out that we would be passing on that "honor" to them - they came a year after us, and have outlasted the other students that came that year. While we are really excited for what lies ahead, there are tons of people that we will really miss. We've felt such an outpouring of love some several people, sometimes from unexpected places, but always welcomed and appreciated. Jodi has been a teacher in Relief Society for several months, a daunting task for anyone, but especially so for her with nursing school and everything. And I have been lucky enough to be Deacon's Quorum adviser for the past 5 years. People sometimes thought I would only come for Sacrament, then leave. But our young men are great, and several expressed a desire to come help on Saturday morning, despite the fact that they would probably rather be sleeping. Maybe the offer of free donuts helped, I'm not sure. :)
This afternoon, we went to a party for my work that they were throwing for all of the departing people. We originally weren't planning on going, but decided kind of late that maybe it could be fun. There were tons of people there, and the food was awesome. When they got up to say a few words, I wasn't sure what really to expect, maybe a toast for good health and luck or something. Instead, my boss gets up there and talks about me a bit, says what I'm doping and where I'm going, then says they have some parting gifts for me. I was shocked, and a little embarrassed. I didn't know what to say. They had me open them right there. The first on was a joke gift, a play doctor's kit kind of thing. But the second one was an incredibly nice stethoscope. I was speechless. It was so nice and unexpected. I have been so fortunate to work for the guy that I work for these past 2 years. There are many people in our few labs that are totally awesome and who will really be missed.
Luckily, that "joke gift" was not so much of a joke for Abby - she knew immediately that it was for her.
She starts by checking Mommy's heart....
then takes her BP,
checks reflexes,
and temp.
She then finds the problem - a little spot which needs a band-aid.
What a cute little doctor!
So we're getting excited for the move. This Saturday doesn't look like it'll be nearly as bad as this weekend was, so hopefully nobody keels over from dehydration while going down the stairs with our dressers. I wouldn't want anything broken, we're trying to save money. So this time next week, I'll have to remove that little "almost" from our title. There is a Rowlett's bicycle shop in Richmond. Think they'll give family discounts? I'm sure we're related somewhere along the lines.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
I PASSED!
Well to all those who have been keeping up with our adventure of me in nursing school for the past 18months I have more news. I graduated with my ADN degree in applied science in May and was waiting on the boards. This past Thursday I was released to setup a time to take them and my time was this past Sunday at 2:00 in Vienna. I crammed for three days. I stayed up until 2 am the night before and even felt like studying the day of and I did. And it has to be said that my Dad who's a Dentist was there with me for it all!!! It was such a comfort! He even took me to the test and walked me to the elevator! After 1 hour and 35 minutes and 86 questions later...the test shut off. I came home. At 12:55 on Monday a phone call to the State board of Nursing and I'm a NURSE! WE DID IT! So it's on to Richmond to invent a Doctor! (And to finish BSN degree for me and a NP graduate degree after that!). HURRAY!!!!
We are at a great high in our success but we know that we stand on the shoulders of giants-that being all who support and love us.
-Jodi
We are at a great high in our success but we know that we stand on the shoulders of giants-that being all who support and love us.
-Jodi
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