Month: December 2007

I heard all the warnings. I knew it was supposed to snow today, but I was still overcome with excitement when I looked out the window and saw the snow. 3-6 inches were predicted and I would say we got at least that.

The roads aren’t too bad, Wade and I did venture out to pick up the new TV, but Wade came home form work early. I also determined Madison does not like the snow. She walked out in the dog park, quickly did her business, and then walked right back to the door. Poor Madison has no idea what she is in for.

Wade and I had planned to live fairly basic while we were in the apartment in Milwaukee. I packed minimal kitchen items, we borrowed furniture, and we didn’t pack a TV. I knew Wade was getting a new TiVo for Christmas, but I didn’t have room in my car and didn’t want to raise his suspicions by adding one to the pile. After Wade got the new HD TiVo, we decided to use the Christmas money from Dad and Laura on a new TV. Wade did his research, found the cheapest price, and located one that would be delivered tomorrow to a store. We drove to Circuit City, placed the order, and convinced them to use the 10% off coupon we received in the mail today – we ended up getting the TV about $600 cheaper than the list price. The new TV of choice is a Samsung 46″ LCD HD TV. The only slight concern I have is whether the TV will fit in our entertainment center at home.

I haven’t talked too much about what presents were given or received, but I have to talk about my favorite present. While opening presents at Wade’s parents’ house in Memphis, I received a small handmade model of the arcade game Area 51. I have always loved this game and played it whenever I found one. It is getting harder to find so I have had the game on my want list for years – never thinking I would get it. Well Wade gave it to me this year. He found a coin-op place that had a restored unit and was happy to hold it until we were ready to pick it up. I can’t wait to play and I don’t even have to worry about quarters! This will go great with my pinball machine.

I have had enough of Milwaukee and am leaving (not really, but I am heading back to Paducah). Madison and I were going to drive to Paducah, return the trailer, and help my mom get ready for Christmas. The trailer has been at Wade’s work for the last few days and we suddenly realized the logistics of getting my car hooked up would mean an early morning. I had never hooked up the trailer and at least wanted Wade available if needed. However, he was headed to Chicago for the day at 7:30. That meant we needed to get up at 6 am (there goes my idea of leaving when I woke up). I set the alarm for 6 and we got up and got ready. Wade was putting his shoes on in front of his computer and says, “Holly, my computer and phone both say it is 4:30 am.” Oops. Evidently when I was setting the alarm time I messed up the clock time. We went back to bed for an hour and then started the whole process again.

I made it to Paducah without any problems. My gas mileage has suffered greatly from the trailer so it will be nice to get rid of it!

I received a few holiday photos through email and wanted to share. First we have Kate and her family – Scott, Taylor, and Anna:

Second is Michelle and Nathan’s new baby Bryson:

Wade did a great job in finding us an apartment. Short term leases that allow dogs are next to impossible to find. This building is converting its apartments to condos and just happened to have one with an opening of three months before being converted to a condo. The building is called Landmark on the Lake and caters to dog owners which I have never seen before. There is a fenced in dog run so Madison can actually run without a leash.

The building also has a very nice work out room, an indoor pool and hot tub, and a car wash (lots of nasty salt on all the cars). The views out our window are incredible. However, Madison is evidently scared of heights. She refuses to go anywhere near the window – even with the promise of food.

Now Wade and I have plenty of time to sell our house and find the perfect one here.

Nothing is ever easy. We left Paducah at 6 am, stopped by my mom’s house, and started north for Milwaukee. Wade was driving my car with the trailer attached. I was driving his car with Madison beside me. We knew there had been some snow and ice, but we didn’t anticipate the interstates being in such bad shape. Unfortunately, we had the freight elevator at our apartment place reserved from 1-4 and had only that window to unload. We were doing pretty well, but had to stop quickly for gas (my car was getting 8 mpg) towing the trailer. We then stopped a second time when I realized my phone was dying and the charger was in my car. That’s when it got worse. We got back on the interstate and immediately saw one car and one semi in the median turned the wrong way (they hadn’t collided). About that time, I continued accelerating and felt the car slide. By the time I looked around I was also in the median.

Nobody was hurt, but I couldn’t get the car out. I called Wade and we decided he should continue on. I called AAA and was told it would be at least a 2 hour wait. Thank goodness Wade had loaded Madison bag with her leash, my boots, and my laptop bag in his car. I entertained myself with a book and introduced Madison to snow (which she doesn’t seem to like). I also watched another 5 cars and 1 semi end up in the median. The semi was coming straight for me and I was about to get out of the car and run when his front end caught and he jack-knifed. At this point the truckers must have been talking to one another because they slowed traffic down and started using their hazard lights.
This isn’t quite what happened, but close enough:

I ended up out of the ditch and on my way to Milwaukee. Madison and I arrived just as the unloading was finished. I never want to end up in the median again, but it did get me out of unloading the car.

Today was a crazy day. I kept thinking of last minute items that needed to be stuffed into my car, which was already overloaded. I was at work till noon and got set up as a contractor so I can help out as needed. I didn’t think my work laptop was going to fit in the car when they told me I needed one. I swung by home to check the mail and load Madison in the car. Then we began our 8 hour drive. Here is a picture of the car when we stopped for gas. Notice that Madison is sharing the passenger seat with a tree in the floorboard.

Now for a funny story about the boxes on top of my car. When Wade and I were loading the car last weekend we quickly realized it wasn’t all going to fit. Not to mention one of Wade’s presents hadn’t yet arrived. We decided to put the truck boxes on top of the car to save space. We went ahead and packed them full and Wade tied them down with our handy tie-downs. I asked him if I needed to worry and he said no. There wasn’t a strap around the front but they only might come off if I slammed on the brakes. I drove with the boxes up all week with no problems. On Thursday I was driving through Anderson to run an errand. I was going about 50 when I saw a light in front of me turn yellow. I thought I had plenty of room and stopped (I braked hard, but did not “slam” on the brakes). I stopped and then watched the boxes go sailing over me and then slide all the way through the intersection. Amazingly, they avoided all cars and people. Everyone got out of their cars and helped me load the boxes back inside my car. Most of us were laughing at this point. My windshield and hood are scratched, but the boxes stayed upright and didn’t crack. I had two guys at work, William and Jim, help me tie them back down. There are now four tie-downs and no way the boxes are coming off!

Today was my official goodbye day at work. Debra arranged a drop in dessert buffet outside our cubicles and people came all day. It was a great way to see lots of people and get a small amount of work done in between. Marvin, a sweet man who delivers mail and packages, baked a cake. Debra and her daughter made some goodies and bought a cake. Philip sits across the wall from me and has to listen to Debra and I talk all day (he occasionally joins in). He brought a Mexican dip.

A couple people asked if I would consider delaying my departure for a couple weeks and then having another dessert drop in. A few others didn’t want to eat in the hopes that I couldn’t leave until all the food was gone. I have loved this job and will miss it and the people very much.

A lot has happened recently in our housing arrangements. Wade and I talked seriously and decided not to put an offer in on the house we were considering.

It was by far our favorite but at the top of our price range. Because the house was for sale by owner and we had talked with Larry quite a bit, Wade sent him an email to explain our situation. The response we received back was not what we expected. Larry was willing to work with us quite a bit and also willing to rent the house to us until we sold our house as long as we but in an offer with a closing date of late April. If our house didn’t sell, we could continue to rent until he sold his. We thought this sounded like a great deal and we worked out the details.

Our realtor had written up the agreement and we had been over everything for a final time when we decided not to go with this deal. I wasn’t entirely comfortable with the price of the house and Wade wasn’t sure why he was uncomfortable. We decided the perfect house is out there somewhere, but we haven’t found it yet. Wade is currently trying to find us an apartment.

I realized we have quite a few things we don’t want to take to Milwaukee, but seem too good to throw away. Some of them I have tried to sell on Craig’s list and some I have sold on eBay. I think I made $300 this week – go me. I have sold the IKEA cabinet, the old hinges from our kitchen cabinets, the old pulls from our kitchen drawers, my old VHS tapes, and the pedestal sink we removed from the bathroom. I knew the pedestal sink was in perfect condition and original to the house, but I had no idea where to sell it. Some lady saw it on Craig’s list and was very excited. She is restoring house and looking for one exactly like mine. She came to get it tonight and paid in cash!

Wade and I got to sleep a little later this morning, but we had to be in Greenville for church at 10. We love our church and will hate to leave, but everyone wished us well and we were even mentioned a few times by the preacher. We then picked up lunch and drove to Nate and Michelle’s. We spent some time eating and I loved seeing Bryson. He’ll be so much bigger next time I see him. Below is a picture of him in an outfit my mom sent.

Because of the open house, Wade and I had to spend the day in Greenville. We bought our last few Christmas presents and then took another short nap before Boiler Room. There were lots of new faces and we hated to say goodbye. But after dinner we drove back to Anderson and began packing my car. I’m trying to bring the necessities for a few months of renting without needing a trailer. Madison watched us while we packed and made our piles. She’s definitely been confused about what’s going on.

In the end, we have a few things on top and Wade took two large suitcases on the plane, but the rest should fit in my car. Thanks to my dad and Grandmother donating some furniture for a few months from Paducah.

Our house is still for sale. We’ve had quite a few people look and two open houses, but no offers. Our realtor emailed us this today and said it will be in the paper this weekend and there will be anther open house on Sunday – fun fun.

Apparently there is a Holly Burch Fan Club at TTi. It’s meeting for lunch tomorrow at 11:45 if anyone wants to come. I walked in to the building this morning to find these signs all over the engineering department. I work with fun people.

If you are in the Holly Burch Fan-club,
we are taking her to lunch tomorrow (Thursday)
to the Mexican joint of her choice.
Please forward to other fans.
Leaving at 11:45.

I think it is safe to say Wade is enjoying Milwaukee. They got some snow this weekend and even more today. This picture was waiting for me when I checked my email tonight.