Ok I started this blog to keep track of my move and then the move just did me in – lol.  I am amazed at the packing and sorting that is involved!  I can’t imagine how much worse it would have been if I hadn’t been such a neat freak.  But now I am sitting with boxes all around and counting every second until the chaos is over.  The tickets are bought the movers from Maybey’s have come and given me an estimate – they figure I have over 3,000 pounds – but that is IMPOSSIBLE.  I am not moving any bedroom stuff – except for the mattresses, no appliances, no work desks, no dishes – blah, blah… The good thing is that is just an estimate and these guys are the most honest folks in town.  I used them on my last move and they were just fantastic.  Once everything is loaded on the truck my goodies are taken to an official NYS weigh station and then I will know exactly what the true damage is!!  YIKES!!  Thankfully I won’t be making too many more moves in my lifetime. 

My dogs are are doing well to, for now – they went to their vet check to get cleared to fly (in cabin – NOT CARGO) and the only glitch was the medication we tried on my nervous little guy Buster it gave him 2 seizures – it was horrible – thank goodness there was no permanent damage.  China is a much calmer little girl so she can fly without any help.  For now we are looking into something a bit safer for Buster.  China is rescued Peek and during her check-up we found that she will need to have a tooth extracted – Peeks have terrible overbites and tooth alignment – and apparently I was missing brushing that tooth – poor little girl – at least it will all be resolved before I leave. 

Aside from packing I have been attempting to update my mom’s address with all the various organizations – whew, what a job THAT is.  First I had to call Social Security, then her Bank, then Medicare, her doctor, her pharmacy – what a chore.   I have to run over and pick up her medical records this week so I can bring them to her new doctor in Murrieta – and at the same time I will request that my dog’s records get sent to their new vet too!   Paperwork!  At least the post office makes it easy – they allow you to change your address online – it costs a dollar for each address change though.  

The hardest thing about doing all of this is the WAITING – every single place puts you on hold for at least  5 minutes and that is AFTER you have been through all the automated stuff – finally you reach a real person – and then the fun begins – lol. 

The last few weeks have flown by in a flurry of activity – I have been trying to finish up bead orders, as well as pack.  Then mom, who in the last 8 years or so has not had one cold – got one!  I was so nervous – kept thinking it would turn to something worse.  Fortunately, after giving her extra zinc, Vitamin C and Mucinex – as well as a bunch of other boosters, it appears that the cough is resolved, but it gave me a scare. 

In the midst of all this chaos I am trying to remain calm – NOT HAPPENING – lol.  My nerves are frazzled to the point of being on fire.  Just when I am sure I have gotten one situation under control there is another one that pops up.  Just getting my brother’s paperwork in order has taken hours and hours.  Today I realized that he has been gone for over 3 months – that doesn’t seem possible.  I can’t believe that Doug isn’t a phone call away anymore – that he isn’t on this earth anymore.  I had two brothers Don and Doug and now they are gone – just leaving the two sisters – Carol and I.  It doesn’t seem possible.  In the last few years death has taken it’s toll on our family.  My sister lost her grandson, Jason – her daughter Kelly’s oldest boy, then our dad, then our step-mother, Peg – then Doug.   Our family has changed so very much. 

I suppose moving has spurred a ton of memories – just unpacking old photos and looking at cards from Joey (my son) when he was a little boy – where did the time go.  Now Joey is Joe – and daddy to 2 beautiful little girls – and his wife Marcy is a mom – my goodness – I can still remember her as a little school girl.  Now she is a talented young mother.  At least Joe is still in the his twenty’s but only for a few short years – my goodness an almost 30 son – lol.  How did that happen????

I think the hardest part of this move is not seeing Joe and Marcy’s little girls on at least a weekly basis – thank goodness for the internet – but it’s not the same.  I am hoping that I can stay a good part of their life.  At least in the “virtual” sense.  Of course my sister is leaving her grandson, Jordan too – and that is going to be hard for her – she has been his companion for over 10 years now.  

The great thing is we will have Grace – Tracy and Nigel’s little girl – she is wonderful, sweet and talented and she will fill a huge void in all of our lives.  I am looking forward to going to her events.  And since she is also a dog and computer lover – like her auntie – we will have tons of things in common.  I have found Grace to be a very artistic and loving little girl and I am excited to be a part of her life.  Of course I am going to have to fight over her with my sister lol – SHE is the Nanny – and she has reminded me of that on several occassions – lol. 

Well I am off to clean what can be cleaned and then lug some of Doug’s CD’s upstairs for a guy to look at  – boxes of opera – I wish I could bring them with me – but at over a dollar a pound it would cost me too much to do it!  Hopefully this guy will like the CD’s.  I still have over 13 boxes of hardcovered books I am trying to find a home for – did you know that libraries don’t take donations anymore?  What the heck is that about??

See you all soon!! 

DeMarie

Moving has proven to be such a stressful event!!  Most of it is emotional baggage of some sort – tell me exactly why a purple plastic cup that has sat in my cupboard for 10 years is now important – lol.  I threw it out, but want it back – go figure!!  I think the hardest part for me is I like NEAT – and moving isn’t neat at all. 

I did get a wonderful gift though, my daugher-in-law came by and organized my entire kitchen – again, tell me just how the heck did I manage to have FIVE – yes Five containers of salt – not salt shakers – but those round containers of salt!!  I organize my cupboards all the time and never saw them – yikes!!  I was so grateful that Marcy came and did the kitchen – because she threw out things I never used, but would try to keep! Let me tell you it was a major test of will not to run to the garbage can and go through all the bags – but so far so good, the garbage man comes on Thursday and I haven’t done any dumpster diving yet…..

I had a bunch of custom glass orders to finish this week – and it looks like I have been able to get most of it completed.  Tomorrow I will take mom to her final Doctors appointment in NY.   Doctor Coletti has been so wonderful over the years, it’s a bit scary to have to learn to trust a new doctor with my mom’s health.   Fortunately Tracy (my neice) is already paving the way for her with her doctor.  It really is nice to be able to share a bit of the responsibility with family, and especially Tracy who pays attention to detail – that makes all the difference.

On another note – I ordered a POD – from www.pods.com  .  I have used this company before and let me tell you they are fantastic to work with.  Check them out if you need to move or even store your items.  What makes them a cut above the rest is the customer service.  You can chat online with them or call direct – and you get to speak to REAL people with the nicest attitudes.  I had a problem with my online order, I kept typing things in wrong – and when I called I felt like I was speaking to a family member.  Remember those days?  The days when you could call a store and reach people who thought you were worth speaking to? 

I will take a pic of my lovely POD on Friday when it arrives so you can see the new love of my life. 

Oh and I have my airplane reservations!!  I used Northwest Airlines – VERY pet friendly – of course my two fur babies are coming with me and mom – and since I have empty nest syndrome they are my kids now.  I ordered the airline carriers from www.sherpa.com – here is the weird thing about that – if you go to the Sherpa website and you click products it redirects you to another site – now that site wants 10.00 more than the Sherpa site advertises, but when you click checkout you get the 10.00 off.  However, if you order directly from the other site you pay the 10.00!!  Strange but true – so my advice is go to the Sherpa site and let them redirect you. 

So now you know why I have neglected the blog in the last few days – but I promise I will share all as it progresses!  Hopefully I will be able to provide a quick list for folks that are moving from state to state once I get to California. 

Hope you all are enjoying the journey!!

So…I get up this morning and I find this lovely comment from Marcia in CA – she even called me Aunt Denise!  How awesome is that – and what a fantastic way to start the day.  Now I am sure that not EVERYONE in California is nice.  But,  I have to tell you that my experience has been just fantastic.  Even at Trader Joe’s – my new favorite store – the clerks actually talked to me – now that may not be impressive to some, but considering the fact that I have been going to the same Price Chopper here in NY for over 11 years and no one even recognizes me – well….it is a bit amazing.  I am so very excited to be starting a new life in California, and to know that I already feel part of the community is such a blessing for me!  Well, I am off to make some beads – if I get a chance I will share some of my new designs in pictures.  California (and Tracy) really inspired me to create!!

OK – tell me what does a gal do when her dreams come true?  Presently I am living in NY and making my glass art while caring for my mom – she is 92 years young – with Alzheimers Disease – but SOON – in 8 weeks to be exact…I will be leaving my home of 11 years in NY and moving to my new home in California! 

This is the best thing that has ever happened to me – I will be near family – actually my sis is sharing our new Murrieta digs – and my neice and hubby and their lovely daughter Grace (the folks that made this move possible) will be living just minutes away.  I am so very excited – I recently returned from a visit to Murrieta and I am in awe of the weather and the house.  The best thing is that my mom actually “woke up” in California – she talked and painted bisque ware and the best part – she laughed.  Anyone who has ever dealt with Alzhiemers Disease will understand just how thrilling that was for me.  It gives me such peace that my mom will be spending her last years in the company of her family. 

So why did I start this blog?  Well…my head is full of plans and stuff to do, so I thought I would unload here and share a bit of the journey with you.  I will tell you what it takes to move, who is good to me, and who is not and hopefully I can help you and myself at the same time.

For now I have to get back to work – if you want to see what I do for a living check here Glitzy Glass Studio

 California living!  From Snow to Sun!!

This is the first of many posts that I will be sharing with any one who cares to follow my journey from NY to California.  I hope to share with all of you my dreams, frustrations and tips as the journey begins!