This Monday has a case of the Mondays

I made this epic to-do list yesterday. You would not believe the amount of stuff there is to do in the next 2 weeks. It's painful. But, I was excited to wake up this morning and get to work on crossing off those to-do's - which I submit, there is nothing better than crossing those off!

And then...I remembered a doctor appointment I had in the morning. Ok, no biggie, Mark agreed to watch Hen while I went and then I'd take him to work.

So we get in the car and...the car won't start. Yes, our new(ish) VW was just not going to start. The same car that we are selling on Friday to someone who has already put money down on it. The same car that has never given us any trouble and FOUR DAYS FROM OUR GOODBYE, IT DIES. Really. Thankfully, it did start eventually, but I made a mental note that I'd go to the shop later in the day, after I crossed off some of those things from the list.

So we went to the DMV to get some paperwork for selling our car...and the DMV is closed. Really. The ineffective department of motor vehicles that always has a line out the door is also only open Tuesday - Friday. I shouldn't be surprised.

I decided to take Henry to the park, because we both needed a break. We stayed for a while, then got back in the car aaaaaaaand...the car won't start. For real this time. I call Mark and he agrees to come get the car while I take Henry home, and basically cry and get depressed because I'm not crossing anything off this epic to-do list and I have like 2 seconds before we move and I'm dying here.

Henry naps, and I post nearly everything we own on Craigslist. I get a few interested buyers. We decide to meet our friends at the pool. I bike over there with Henry because a stupid old broken car won't keep me from friends and pooltime. We have a great time with friends and enjoy the sun and amazing views and cool water. Then Henry takes a huge poop in his swim diaper. Thankfully it was contained, but oooooo if that wasn't the most disgusting adventure I've ever had - changing a poopy swim diaper.

Anyway, this day has royally sucked and I want a redo.

But on the bright side, our car is fixed (it was just a dead battery, of all things), I sold some of our furniture, and I got a workout on the bike and some time with friends - all things on my list! Oh, and I even cancelled our cable. So productive of me, I know.

Things I didn't know before this week

If you want the best Fair food and people watching, look no further than Minnesota State Fair.

Henry loves a good waterpark.

I can do crossfit, but it will take me at least 4 days (and counting) to recover.

I love crabmeat but busting them open with a mallet makes me feel like a murderer every time.

You can play the saxophone in Sacrament meeting. Who knew?

Somehow I'm busier than ever without a day job

How is this possible! I thought I'd spend these days of unemployment on leisurely walks to the playground, trips to the pool, visits with family and friends. But somehow all this moving garbage has really snuck up on us, not to mention random events that are coinciding with this big move, including:
my brother-in-law and his family moving from ABQ to Charlottesville, VA
throwing a sweet friend a baby shower
trip to Minnesota to see Laura and the kids
performing an instrumental duet in church with Mark (woot!)
family reunion in MD
trip to NYC (fingers crossed)

Ok, granted, I would maybe not be squeezing so much in if we weren't leaving so soon, but the pressure is on to see and do everything I never did all these years of DC/VA living. And so, yes, we will ride our bikes for a night time monuments tour, and yes we will drive out to that really dumb restaurant to eat those stupid pork salads I can't get enough of, and shoot I will do my best to visit every awesome playground we always pushed aside for another day. The months have whittled into weeks, and now we are t-minus 19 days until take-off, and my emotions have completely taken over. Everything we do makes me sentimental. Everything we don't do makes me sentimental. I'm getting all sappy and weepy just thinking about it, until I think of where we will be in a few months, once we've settled and the fog clears, and the reality sets in for our new life. It's just so much to take in.

One of these days, I'll sit down with a good book, drift off for an afternoon nap, and really have a day off. But I'm afraid that won't likely happen until we're under the gray London skies. And well, then we'll be in London and who has time to sleep when there is so much to explore!?

Some big news

Ready for the worst kept secret in the world?

We are moving to London!

We move in about 4 weeks. We are totally up to our necks in the to-do list and visa paperwork and all the craziness that comes with a big move. Our emotions are all over the place. I can't remember the last time my mind could settle down a bit. I've been holding onto this news for awhile and I didn't want it to get out before I quit my job and we told our families, but I know it slipped out quite a bit and most of our friends already know since I have a problem talking about anything else these days. :)

Mark got a promotion a while ago and the bosses asked him to please move to HQ. After a lot of deliberation, we decided that we are in a pretty good place right now to move overseas - we don't own a house, we don't have any kids in school, everything just sort of lined up, so off we go. It will be hard to leave behind our family and DC friends, and I know I can suffer from homesickness something fierce, but I hope we will be able to have visitors and come home to visit a lot.

There are still a lot of unknowns to figure out - where exactly we are going to live, what we're bringing with us and leaving behind, where I will work, if I will be able to survive in a place without bagels or pizza, but I am so excited for the adventure (and luckily Mark's job will help with a lot of the details, thank goodness).

I crave the thrill of a new place - to settle in and find my new places that speak to me. To make somewhere else all my own. I've done that so many times in my past, but never with a husband and child. I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to finding our new home in London.

4 years go by...like that.

Today is my last day at my job. I wrote about my job here last year. I've been through a lot at this job - grown professionally and personally, and I also got married, had a baby, and learned how to be a working parent. I cherish the memories I have of this place and feel lucky to have started my career at such a wonderful organization with truly kind people who care about making a difference. Of course I will miss the work, but I'll also miss the people - as crazy as they make me, they are what made this place have heart. And it's hard to leave behind such excellent and caring colleagues! Here's hoping I get as lucky next time.

I have next steps sort of lined up. Things are in the works. I'll be sharing more here next week. Stay tuned.