Too many books blues

It's official I have too many books. Even with two new bookshelves there were still too many books and more boxes of them just keep turning up. So I spent today shifting and weeding, things I thought I wouldn't do after I left the library....I forgot about my own library. There were duplicates, there were books that were Armin's, there were some pretty ratty old romance novels, and hidden there were lots of old friends. I know people don't understand why I keep so many books but they are like friends, only better in some ways. They never let you down, they never dissapoint and they take you places you only imagined. So how can I let them go. I'm also a dedicated rereader if I like a book it'll be read at least once a year. Some of my favorites have been read 100s of times, I never seem to get tired of going back to them. My e-reader means my collection might not be growing too much more but it can't reproduce the awesome old book smell...it's one of my fave scents. It's actually a lot like a drug to me, that smell seems to calm me down, relax me and helps me feel at peace.

Unpacking is going really well slowly things are finding their homes. The living room, kitchen and bathroom are completely done. The bedroom is close I just need to finish putting clothes away and getting them hung up. Then I have permission to work on my craft room...yep I need to bribe myself to do the unpacking. After that I also need to work on hanging pictures on the walls...but that'll take a little longer because some of the stuff I need to put into frames.

I had a good cry today too, I found the hoodies of Armin's I'd kept for myself and they still smell slightly of him. I hugged them close and cried but felt peace. I'm sure I've made the right choice I know it's been hard for my friends and family to watch me move so far away but so far it's good. A lot of heaviness and day to day baggage was lifted when I moved. It's nice to be someplace that's just mine and nice to not be haunted by memories but instead be able to embrace them when I choose. I can better honor his memory this way instead of feeling tied down by it. This is a good thing a very good thing.

Fresh Start

Well it wasn't the easiest move I've ever made but I did it and now I'm beginning the process of settling in. It was a busy week, Wednesday I went out to the Red Piano with my friends for a good bye celebration. Then Thursday I finished all my packing and that evening we loaded up the Uhaul, I spent the night at my sister's place. Friday my brother in law drove the uhaul, I drove my car with the cats and my mom and sister drove mom's car and we caravanned to Regina. It took us a little over 8 hours the cats meowed and whined for 6 of those hours. Thankfully we easily found parking for the van near my apartment. My other sister flew out to join us that night. Thankfully some friends happened to be in Regina this weekend for a graduation so they helped us unload the truck...we even put their small children to work carrying little boxes and things as well as helping push the elevator buttons. I had hired some people to help unfortunately they were sketchy so we kept them downstairs and under supervision, they did get most of the stuff off the truck but my friends and family did a lot of the real work.

Saturday night Mom took us out for dinner to celebrate having finished. I was able to spend that night in my own bed. All things considered it went pretty smoothly and now the cats are slowly settling in. I've been tackling unpacking one room at a time and so far have a useable bedroom, bathroom, living room and I'm working on the kitchen today. I was excited when the sasktel guy came today and quickly got my phone, internet and tv up and running! It really is beginning to feel like home. I have a lot of unpacking yet to do but progress is being made, the cats are enjoying sitting in the windows looking out at the traffic. I'm already finding my way around town, it's pretty easy to find things.

So far I'm feeling really good about this move. I know I'm a long way from home but I really needed this fresh start. I feel a lot lighter being free from the house. Well there are more boxes to unpack and I need to move my car into my new parking stall so I'll post pictures of my new place next time.

Movin' right along

Well packing for moving is well underway I keep telling myself it'll get better but right now it's just chaos around here. The cats are skittish and upset which means they leave presents for me all over. People are coming to pick up things that are going to new homes and I'm finding the back of closets and cupboards I haven't seen since we moved in. I think things are under control but I feel like I don't quite have a handle on everything. Those who have braved the chaos say it looks like I have it all under control so I'll trust that it'll come together on Moving Day.

I had computer problems but they are all fixed now and after a week without it I have my laptop back and I'm so glad. You don't realize how dependent you are on something till you have to make do without it for a while. My whole life is on my laptop, address book, email, books, tv, music, photos, etc.

I did the insane by driving out to Regina and back all in one day just to get my keys to my apartment and scout out the route. I like driving but 16 hours driving in an 18 hour trip taxed even my endurance. I made it safely there and back and only suffered a sun burn. I forgot that with the top down, even on a cloudy day, you don't feel hot but the sun still touches you :D. Oh well it's already healing and only my nose is peeling so far.

My new apartment wasn't quite as nice as I had hoped but it's big and has lots of storage so I can live with the touches of the 70s and the nasty old carpet. It's close to the university and shopping areas so that's positive. It also has a giant balcony which will be nice. I think once I get my furniture in and stuff arranged around it won't feel quite so horrifically dated. I have some rugs to put down to cover the bad carpet, I can put vinyl over the fake wood sliding closet doors and then you won't notice the lovely brass light fixtures. When there's nothing else there that's all you see. The good things are there's lots of natural light, there's an air conditioning unit in the living room, it comes with blinds on all the windows, the storage space is insane, the building and parking areas are very very secure and the building manager is very nice. Those are things you can't really change and well the other stuff you can live with or make small changes to cover or hide them.