August 7, I'm finally back online!

It has been an ongoing adventure.. all good! I will try to catch everyone up with the experience of moving to NC.... here goes.....



July 28/ the "packers" arrived at 8:30 a.m. and didn't finish packing until 5:30 p.m..... later I found out that they forgot to pack 3 closets! I had lots of good support throughout the day. Joanna, Sue, Anne, Nina all joined my on my neighbor Barbe's porch as I tried to stay out of the way. Ended the evening by visiting with Sue and then going out to dinner with Kymm Zak (who I taught in 6th grade! Slept on the couch that night because it was so hot.

July 29/ My last night at 15 Oak Place....
The moving van didn't arrive until noon... Barbe was my guardian angel throughout the day... she made me breakfast and kept me sane.... again so many friends joined me on Barbe's porch as I watched my "stuff" get loaded on the van... Mark W. stopped by as we were getting some dinner.... While enjoying a swim with Anne and my Victor Place family, my son, John who was scheduled to fly into Laguardia at 9 p.m. to drive to NC with me, called to say his flight was cancelled.... change of plans... the good news was that I slept in a bed at Barbe's instead of on an aerobed in my empty house!

July 30/ Goodbye Day
I thought it was going to be a very emotional morning and that I would finally break down BUT cat Lacey managed to find various hiding places in an empty basement for over 15 minutes until she was finally captured..... I was too exhausted to cry... Called my parents (who were moving the same day to Ohio to live with my brother... and that is another LONG story)... drove to Manahawkin to Bruce's... we picked up John in Philadelphia and enjoyed a great Korean BBQ dinner.

July 31/ Last night in NJ
John & Bruce went fishing... I drove to the Edward Forsythe Wildlife Drive and spent over 2 hours driving 8 miles on the trail... got some great pictures.. including a Glossy Ibis (which I will post!0... had a good NJ scallop dinner and went to bed early

August 1/ the drive to NC
John and I got up at 3:30 a.m. and were on the road by 4 with two cats in their crates.... Lacey never made a peep and Buddy never shut up... we made record time with only one stop and arrived in Wilmington at 12:32 p.m...... Meanwhile my parents arrived safely in Ohio! My sister, Trish, is in Ecuador on a church mission trip.... the Nolen Family keeps busy!

August 2/ my new home and I get acquainted
I was able to pick up the keys for my townhouse at 9 a.m..... I had a copy of the key made and proceeded to get it stuck in the lock ...... had to have the realtor rescue me, but finally got inside... I blew up my aerobed and set up my beach chair, unloaded the cats, bought some groceries and opened a bottle of wine... home, sweet, home! John arrived after work with some delicious beer (Devil's Milk) and a pot daisies (that's my boy!)... the AC wasn't working but I survived the night

August 3/ day 2 in my new home
got up at 6 a.m. for a walk on the beach... can you believe I can do this whenever I want!... the AC was repaired.. the driver of the van called to say he would be there at 7 p.m.... I called to say NO.... didn't think it was a good way to meet the neighbors my moving in at midnight.... got a library card.... and once again blew up my aerobed

August 4/ day 3 in my new home
the moving van arrived at 7:30 a.m. and the boxes and furniture was unloaded until 12:30... why did I pack so much!... but it did start to look like home... I thought I had gotten rid of so much but the boxes just kept stacking up... I was able to hook up my DVD player to my TV (all by myself) and slept in my own bed for the first time in 7 days!

August 5
got up at 5:30 a.m. to walk on the beach... too dark, a bit scary... guess I'll have to sleep in a little more... unpacked about 8 boxes and fixed the living room so that when I sit down all the boxes are BEHIND me and I can pretend they aren't there!... lots of phone calls and text messages from friends keep me from being lonely... opened a new bank account... big decision of the evening was whether to have a gin & tonic, moito, or bloody mary

August 6/ Joanna's birthday!
more unpacking... trying to get the kitchen organized... went to Kohl's and bought a new comforter set as a treat.... went to Costco for new dishes, towels, beach chairs.... I am doing my part to help the economy!.... John & Jess stopped in after work so I was able to "entertain" with drinks and appetizers for the first time... Jess asked if I would like to have lunch with her once in a while (and that is what it is all about!!!!!) :)

August 7
went back to the beach in the morning.. need to make sure I remember to get to mix more fun with the unpacking work!... bought some plants for my deck and hung my bird feeders.... it is like watching a giantic TV watching the birds from the sliding doors... the cats love to sit andwatch the birds... AND the Cable Guy showed up and I now have my TV and internet back.. John & Jess invited me for dinner but I had already eaten a pizza and had two glasses of wine (must be my senior citizen early bird mentality!).... and here I am... loving my new home... lots more to unpack... and hoping all of you come to visit!