Let's Blow This Popsicle Stand

So technically, right about now, we were supposed to be a couple hours outside of Grand Rapids. Things however, have been getting stressful and Janson and I decided it would be best to leave on Sunday rather than Saturday. Suddenly we are more relaxed and feeling a lot better about moving 2325 miles. 

I should have updated a bit sooner, but yes, we are moving across the country to Seattle, Washington. I will quickly answer a few of the most common questions people have been asking me. 

WHY!?

Why not!?! Both Janson and I grew up in the Seattle a

rea and we are both attached to the, well, milder climate. I, especially, am just absolutely fed up with piles of snow from November to March (sometimes October to April), slushy mucky streets and dead looking trees with no leaves.) I miss seeing mountains and taking ferries and seeing evergreen trees being green all year long. Also, now that we are sort of grown up a bit, we are also attracted to the vibrant city life of Seattle. (Although there is a possibility we will end up in Portland). 

Do you have a job?

Janson will continue to work at Elevator Up via 

the wonderful world of instant online communications (Twitter, Skype, Email). I am transferring to another store out there so I can keep earning some money, but will also be looking for full-time employment. From what I understand the Tukwila store was looking for a customer service associate and is glad to have someone with experience transfer in rather than have to hire someone new. I would like to keep this part-time job when I do find something full-time to help pay off my loans sooner. 

Are you keeping the cats?

Are you kidding? Of course. If I had a choice between the cats and everything I have ever owned, I would take the cats. Hands down, no question. It is going to be an interesting trip though because neither of them like riding in 

their carriers. At all. And they hate the truck e

ven more. The vet prescribed Benadryl to ma

ke them drowsy, but as of yet we have not managed to get them to swallow it. (Although Dante foaming and drooling all over the house was quite interesting). Both are now rather suspicious of any treat we try giving them.  Here is a picture of Dante helping me pack.

Well, my break is over. More later. Possibly.  

By the way, here is the tentative route.

I hate coming up with titles.

I just heard a awful sound like a cat dying. And now the house is smelling like skunk. Yuck.

Getting ready for my trip to Canada. (leaving on July 3rd).

Also getting ready to move to Washington. (leaving on July 25th).

This Does Not Bode Well....

Ninety-plus year-old neighbor wanders out in his slippers to their stationary car (flat tire, plants growing around/into it). He peers inside and then begins shuffling back down the driveway. He wife appears at the door as he passes by. "Where are you going?" She demands. Her hair is standing out in several directions and she's tucked into her bathrobe despite the afternoon's eighty degree weather. "I'm going home!" He says in a voice only slightly less creaky than hers. "You ARE home!" And she ushers him inside. 

Oops.

I pulled into the driveway after having one of the best sandwiches of my life (more about that later). I thought, "I should back it up so it is really easy to pull out when I leave." So I began backing up, carefully watching out for the main hazard of the tool chest for the truck which sits on one edge of the driveway. Success! I managed to nicely avoid hitting the tool chest. So I let it roll back bit further and when it seemed to pretty much naturally come to a stop there was only the slightest hint of a bump. I quickly looked behind me to make sure I hadn't hit the fence. I was well away from the fence, so I figured that I had just rolled off the edge of the pavement onto the grass. I gathered my things and hopped out, only to then see that I had run over our little Weber grill. 

Oops!

Okay, as I promised before, here is my tale of the BEST sandwich I have ever had. Janson and Zach needed a ride from our house to downtown for a meeting. I offered to give them a ride... for a price. The price was a sandwich at the coffee shop where they were meeting. The sandwich I ordered was a Chipoltle PhillySteak sandwich (or something). Anyhow, names aren't important. What is important is that it was pure deliciousness. Tender, thin sliced steak with sweet red peppers and onions in a chipoltle sauce with pepperjack cheese on toasted sourdough bread. MMM.... I cannot recommend this enough. If you decide to go hunting for this little piece of heaven on earth you can find it at Coffee Cave (100 Grandville Ave, Grand Rapids, MI). (I think it was like $6-$7, not a cheap sandwich but IMHO (in my humble opinion), it is well worth it. 

My Legs Feel Like Jello

There is a bus that goes right by my house and right to work. When I can't use the truck I take the bike to the bus to work instead. This morning I did just that. I got out a little late from work and was looking at waiting 25 minutes for my bus to leave the mall. So I decided since the weather is beautiful to ride my bike for a bit and go to a bus stop further along the way. I ended up at the Burton and Breton stop and realized I still had a 20 minute wait. So I went a little further. I got to the next major street and then discovered I was almost halfway home. It  seemed silly to me to waste bus fare on a half a ride so I kept going all the way home (4.5 miles total). I haven't biked that far in a while and my legs feel a bit rubbery. Although, I am very happy to say that I beat the bus to the stop I get off on. 

I don't have any major plans for Memorial Day weekend. It is supposed to be nice weather and I am only working tomorrow night. Maybe Sunday or Monday Jans and I will do some grilling. 

In case you are wondering, the picture is off the Dirt Cake I made for my Birthday. Jen is with me in the picture because her birthday was that same week. Happy Birthday to both of us!