This is it

The week we've been anticipating, is almost here! The moving company came by yesterday and placed the "No Parking" signs on our street, and Wednesday morning they will "invade" to pack up everything that has taken me most of our tour to "find a home for".  What makes this move a bit more challenging is the fact we are not going to a new post right away- as I've written Rich will go one way; I'll go another and we will come together for a "furnished post" in New Zealand. That gives us FOUR different shipments from Bern! One for Afghanistan, one for NH, one to remain in storage and the other to take on to NZ...how much do you want to bet that everything will make it where it's suppose to be? I've been busy all week packing up some of the boxes going into storage and on to NH. Rich and I will be doing most of the shopping in NH for things going to Afghanistan and I'm not even going to worry about NZ until next year! On top of everything else we have this big beautiful home to clean...hopefully we will be able to hire a cleaning team. Rich is outside while I write this Power washing the balcony, driveway and patio.
On a good note; we have made all the arrangements to help get settled in our NH Apartment. Most of which will be done on the 4th. Our rent is paid, utilities have been put in our name, cable/internet- furniture delivery and drinking water machine will all be delivered before 5pm on the 4th. That being said I have to tell you that this is the very first time I have picked out a "home", Chose furniture and signed a lease all on-line without seeing it in person; so I am a bit excited, nervous and I've been wondering OMG what have I done!! Sure hope I like the apartment AND Manchester {I've never been there} Although we do love NH and we have always talked about buying a four season Lake House...what better time to begin our search! Well..back to packing.

The Afghanistan Information

Yesterday- Richard received some information form the guy he's replacing. He had some good recommendations for Rich, I can tell you about a few of them.
Rich was told who his contacts are over there along with a few thing's he needs to do before leaving the US. We also found that the PX "Post Exchange" is Extremely small and never stocked..when they do get a shipment it sells out very fast. They receive mail on average of 2-3 times a week. We also have his address and phone number that we will be giving out privately. Some of the thing's we already knew: toiletries, bedding, two weeks of clothing "because of the time it takes for laundry turn around",  and sturdy waterproof boots.
Also on the list were Crocks instead of flip-flops for the showers, Gastric medication, Baby wipes "for when the latrines are closed" and his choice of Anti-Malaria Medication! {this was a surprise for us} We also found out that they have the highest rated DFAC "Mess-Hall" in the country so he'll have good meals but snacks will go on the list because of the unavailability at the PX. The Base has an MWR for Movies,Sports, Pool Tables, Gym and two Pools. Temps will reach 130! He is going to take over a great Team and Morale is High!! I also have a list of thing's Chris and Marissa gave us to make his CHU "living environment" more comfortable during his deployment. We have some thing's that we will ship from here- but when we get State Side we will have some "serious" shopping to do.

Moving

Coming up on "HOME" number 30! At this point I'm not even sure why we deal with packers! They could just drop off the appropriate materials and I would have everything well packed and inventoried in one weekend. Everything on this end is going along smoothly as it is on the other end. We have the Apartment just waiting on our arrival, utilities in our name, cable and furniture delivery appointments all set up. Travel to our destination "confirmed".
Now all we have to do is focus on the up-coming weeks; Rich and I are both getting "STA" {short timers attitude} so our excitement level for leaving Switzerland has us both wishing it was tomorrow! Just standing around in the starting gate when your all set to run is annoying and frustrating..so much to do- yet so little time before the "UN-Accompanied" Tour to Afghanistan begins.

May-Day

I remember when I was a little girl, May-Day was a big event. The week before my friends and I would keep busy decorating "strawberry baskets, cut down milk cartons, even using tubes from the toilet paper-cut in half", anything that we could decorate using crate paper, pipe cleaners, flowers etc... We used our imagination to create the most "Beautiful Basket" without spending any money; things were always on hand at the house,,even buttons! Anyway, when our baskets were complete we would fill it up with Penny Candy..."yes, I could buy a whole little bag of candy for 5 cents" Then my brother and I would run around town hanging "May Baskets". The way it worked: you would run up to a friends door..yell MAY BASKET and run. Your friend would have to chase you until you were caught- then you would walk back and share a piece of candy. In a way it was like Halloween in May. But it used to be so exciting and fun.
SO HAPPY MAY-DAY EVERYONE! Today I challenge you to get creative and make a Beautiful May-basket with your children or grandchildren, tell them the story's of what you used to do and I'll bet you'll be surprised what the kids come up with!!
As for moving..thing's are going well. Chris and Linda came up last weekend "for the last time" and they took a few thing's home with them....."I tried to get her to take Rich...but she refused"!! Anyway we are short a living room, Television,Lamps and a bookcase. We still have a few items to get rid of but the house is already beginning to sound empty. Our car was shipped out yesterday and all seems to be moving along smoothly at this point. Two weeks until pack-out!

Preparation

Today was very productive, we have arranged for check-in of our apartment, our internet/cable to be connected and have picked out furniture that will be delivered all within the first three days of our arrival in NH! I find myself still going over our inventory for various shipments but hopefully by Thursday I'll have firm knowledge on what will go where. NH will be the most difficult with only 450 lbs "airfreight". Just a few of our things to make the apartment feel like home...then [of course] I'll have to do some shopping for a few things but hopefully I'll be able to take my kitchen essentials. All of our electrical appliances are 220 so they will go straight into NZ.  I know my big cookbooks are out because of the weight but I'll be able to put a few small ones in my suitcase. Now I haven't been in the States for a couple of years however I've been looking at the Jenny Craig web site. I'm thinking of ordering their three meals a day plus desserts. I mean I'll still cook some things, however with just being me it makes sense to eat healthy and loose some weight in the process. between that and using the gym everyday I should be down to 124 before October! To be honest, I'm really looking forward to making a difficult time productive- in good ways. This is me keeping my chin up!!!

Goodness

Very busy week ahead!! Catching up on the housework tomorrow 'after taking the weekend off ' to begin some arranging for our move. We had to decide what will go into storage, what goes to New Zealand and what will go to NH.."only allowed 425lbs to go there". Mikey goes to the Dr on Tuesday to prepare for travel back to the US and someone is coming to look at the house in the afternoon. The car gets serviced Wednesday morning and a new windshield in the afternoon... We took a rock hit taking Betti to the airport- We haven't had very good luck with our car windows over here! It's also Rich's Birthday. Thursday is our Pre-move inspection, Friday is a Hail and Farewell at the Marine House and Linda and Chris are coming for the weekend both to visit and to take some thing's that we aren't going to ship.... 30 Day's until pack-out!!!

Time And Change

Alright then everyone, a couple of our moving date's have been changed. We will be State-Side bound in just 43 Day's!!!! We fly on 1 June; we're very excited to get to Manchester and see our new Apartment. Our car will be shipped straight there so we'll only have to rent a car for a couple of days perhaps...unless they loose ours again! Rich and I are more relaxed about having the extra time to get acclimated and learn where everything is located. We will still be going to Maine except we will now drive instead of fly. Our "Pre-Inspection" is up next so we must go through the rooms and decide what items will be sent to New Zealand, the rest will either be sold or go into storage. Guess I know what we'll be doing this weekend!!! Anyone interested in helping?