Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Punk is in California
Punk is now making his home in Hemet. As you can see, he's settling in pretty well. He was a trooper on the flight, too.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Embassy Housing!
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Meet a zonkey!
Andrew went hiking today about 30 minutes outside Pretoria. I was shocked he actually went (I could never get him to go hiking in California), but then I couldn't promise running across a zonkey either. I think he also enjoyed the pulley across the river.
Anyway, he says the landscape does remind him of California...mountainous and arid. So that should make me feel more at home!
Next week he'll get a tour of embassy housing so hopefully we'll have a better idea of what our place will look like.
Anyway, he says the landscape does remind him of California...mountainous and arid. So that should make me feel more at home!
Next week he'll get a tour of embassy housing so hopefully we'll have a better idea of what our place will look like.
Monday, August 1, 2011
The Schedule
For those of you trying to keep track of where we are and where we'll be, here it is****:
Now through August 12: Andrew is in South Africa.
August 13-20: We are both in Chicago!!!
August 21-24: Andrew is in Atlanta
August 25-31: We are both in California
September: 3-16: Andrew is in South Africa
September 23-25: One of these days we leave Chicago to move back to LA. Not exactly sure of the date.
****LEGAL DISCLOSURE: Dates are subject to change!! :-)
October and beyond, things get fuzzy. So I won't confuse anyone with those details just yet.
Now through August 12: Andrew is in South Africa.
August 13-20: We are both in Chicago!!!
August 21-24: Andrew is in Atlanta
August 25-31: We are both in California
September: 3-16: Andrew is in South Africa
September 23-25: One of these days we leave Chicago to move back to LA. Not exactly sure of the date.
****LEGAL DISCLOSURE: Dates are subject to change!! :-)
October and beyond, things get fuzzy. So I won't confuse anyone with those details just yet.
No Netflix from South Africa!
I guess we'll be getting rid of Netflix when we leave Chicago. Andrew says that streaming movies from there isn't possible. Oh well, that will save us $16/month! :-)
Otherwise, so far his trip is going well. He's staying at the Sheraton Pretoria. His room overlooks parliament building with its famous Jacaranda trees and gardens.
Today was his first official day though. More on that later.
Otherwise, so far his trip is going well. He's staying at the Sheraton Pretoria. His room overlooks parliament building with its famous Jacaranda trees and gardens.
Today was his first official day though. More on that later.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Andrew's first trip to South Africa
Andrew left Chicago yesterday at about 1 pm and just arrived in Johannesburg at 5 pm local time there (10 am here in Chicago). We haven't yet spoken, but I've received a few text messages. He's excited and now that he is there, the reality of our move to South Africa is sinking in.
I'll have more details on his first trip later as well as a schedule of our comings and goings in the next few posts!
I'll have more details on his first trip later as well as a schedule of our comings and goings in the next few posts!
Friday, July 22, 2011
Where has the time gone already?
I thought I would have had more updates over the last month, but I didn't. Maybe there isn't much to report?
Let's see where we are.
Packing: It has begun...mainly books and picture frames at this point. I am trying to do one or two boxes per day so things are starting to pile up in the apartment. Alongside the packing, we have also made decisions about what is getting sold, etc. We have ads up on Craigslist for our futon couch/frame, a bookcase and a kitchen table and chairs. We've given countless of things away already including the oversized sofa chair, which Punk was in the process of destroying. 1800GotJunk took that away.
As part of the packing process, I got delayed with two related projects: getting all of our music into iTunes and scanning old pictures for posterity. It's extremely time consuming. The pictures are mostly scanned, but the CDs are only partially complete. I have to wait for Andrew to take a look at his CD books and let me know what he wants imported.
The calendar: Andrew has been in Atlanta for the past two weeks. He returns to Chicago on July 27, but then he leaves for South Africa for his first short-term assignment on July 29. He gets back on August 12 and is home for a day or two before returning to Atlanta for a week or so. Then he comes back on August 23 and we leave for LA on August 25. The schedule makes me dizzy just thinking about it.
CDC paperwork: I think we're caught up at least for now. We both had our physicals. Punk gets his in August before we fly with him to LA. I continue to work on the home inventory as I pack up boxes.
Punk: Of course, we really want our boy to come with us to South Africa. But I also want to do what's best for him. My parents have offered to keep him for a little while which is sounding like a better option for him....and us. The thought of flying him (Lufthansa allows pets in the cabin. I will NOT check him with cargo) for 10.5 hours from LA to Frankfurt and then another 10.5 hours from Frankfurt to Johannesburg just sounds like cruel punishment. Plus since we plan to do a lot of traveling while there, we will need reliable pet sitting services. But I'm torn. He's my boy and I know we will miss him terribly if he doesn't come with us. But I think he'll be happier in California. Right now, he's sitting/sleeping on my desk right next to my laptop. He just loves to be right in the middle of everything.
The move back to CA: We've set the date. We're leaving Chicago on September 23 so that we can be at my parents before they leave for Florida at the end of the month.
I guess that about sums up things for now. I have a list of other things like getting the car serviced, arranging the moving truck, etc. But all in due time.
Let's see where we are.
Packing: It has begun...mainly books and picture frames at this point. I am trying to do one or two boxes per day so things are starting to pile up in the apartment. Alongside the packing, we have also made decisions about what is getting sold, etc. We have ads up on Craigslist for our futon couch/frame, a bookcase and a kitchen table and chairs. We've given countless of things away already including the oversized sofa chair, which Punk was in the process of destroying. 1800GotJunk took that away.
As part of the packing process, I got delayed with two related projects: getting all of our music into iTunes and scanning old pictures for posterity. It's extremely time consuming. The pictures are mostly scanned, but the CDs are only partially complete. I have to wait for Andrew to take a look at his CD books and let me know what he wants imported.
The calendar: Andrew has been in Atlanta for the past two weeks. He returns to Chicago on July 27, but then he leaves for South Africa for his first short-term assignment on July 29. He gets back on August 12 and is home for a day or two before returning to Atlanta for a week or so. Then he comes back on August 23 and we leave for LA on August 25. The schedule makes me dizzy just thinking about it.
CDC paperwork: I think we're caught up at least for now. We both had our physicals. Punk gets his in August before we fly with him to LA. I continue to work on the home inventory as I pack up boxes.
Punk: Of course, we really want our boy to come with us to South Africa. But I also want to do what's best for him. My parents have offered to keep him for a little while which is sounding like a better option for him....and us. The thought of flying him (Lufthansa allows pets in the cabin. I will NOT check him with cargo) for 10.5 hours from LA to Frankfurt and then another 10.5 hours from Frankfurt to Johannesburg just sounds like cruel punishment. Plus since we plan to do a lot of traveling while there, we will need reliable pet sitting services. But I'm torn. He's my boy and I know we will miss him terribly if he doesn't come with us. But I think he'll be happier in California. Right now, he's sitting/sleeping on my desk right next to my laptop. He just loves to be right in the middle of everything.
The move back to CA: We've set the date. We're leaving Chicago on September 23 so that we can be at my parents before they leave for Florida at the end of the month.
I guess that about sums up things for now. I have a list of other things like getting the car serviced, arranging the moving truck, etc. But all in due time.
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