At a time when I should be looking forward (new job! new house!) I find myself looking to the past. To last year, to six months ago. Partially because I took other's advice when it went against what I wanted to do, but maybe partially because I am scared. What if things don't work out? What if I'm not any happier? I also know that if I didn't do these things, I'd forever wonder, "What if I had?"

I need to learn to live more in the now.

Last night, I couldn't fall/stay asleep, all "What have I done?" and "I don't work for Cool Boss anymore!" (Sidenote: Both former employees and clients of my new boss have spoken very highly of him.)

This morning, I was reading the paper, and came across this quote from Soren Kierkegaard:

Life must be understood backwards; but... it must be lived forward.

My first day went well. It was the usual orientation stuff, but I am thinking I am going to like it there. (Actually, I was told I would.) I may even have a career path. And there is engineering involved! That's about all I'll say on it though.

I had a lesson tonight. (One more thing: New job is 15-20 minutes from the barn. Yay!) I rode Bruno, and have decided I'm going to work on him for the next few weeks. If I can get him to move forward consistently, he's a good looking horse. I think I may do better in the dressage ring on him.

Y'all know how I do that thing where I take on more than I can really comfortably do? Well, not only did I start a new job this week, but I have Adopt a Highway on Saturday, HOBY all next weekend, and am moving in ~2 weeks. So tonight I find out that the volleyball league I signed up for (the team must have a certain number of females to play) starts next Wednesday.

I am never getting my house packed up.

• I've decided to institute goals for packing. Because I like goals. Mostly, I don't like not meeting goals. Tonight, I finish my bedroom and move on to the linen closets.

• Note that I am no longer posting from work. All Internet activity is monitored, and well, I like this job.

• Except the bathroom is too far away.

• Jasper is mad at me because I am spending most of my time at home packing, so he's ignoring me. For not paying attention to him.

• Orion is just using the plants as litterboxes. And sleeping with his head on the router.

• I sold books, CDs, and DVDs today for $46. They didn't take all of them. Leftovers go to Goodwill.

• I can't find the TV bench I want. Correction- I can find it, but it's at IKEA. Our nearest IKEA? Springfield VA.
  

I'm feeling kind of bummed today. Just one of those days. But I do need to write some letters.

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Dear Drivers on I-440,

If you feel the need to cut me off, do not slow down after doing so. Keep up with the flow of traffic in your new lane.

Also, when passing semis, it is helpful if you drive faster than they are.

You're lucky RPG launchers are not an option on Sentras,

Watergirl

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Dear Orion,

Please stop jumping on the Printer/copier/scanner. Or, at least the buttons that turn it on. I don't need any more copies of blank paper.

Love,

The lady who sleeps in your bed

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Dear Jasper,

If you are downstairs and you have lost both Orion and me, it's likely we are upstairs. No need to stand in the living room and cry.

Love,

Seriously, it's a 1050 sq. ft. house.

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Dear annoying neighbor who talks to me all the time,

Stop. Also, if I stop my car in the road to let you cross, cross. Don't turn and start walking toward my car. Dangerous for you.

And your little dog too,

Watergirl

So, we had our second Adopt-a-Highway today. (Did I tell y'all I am the project char? I'm the project chair.) We had to use unauthorized bags, because the DOT warehouse is operating under their summer hours. 0700-1530. Which is not posted anywhere. Which means that I can't stop on my way home from work, I have to stop on my way to work. And I did not find out their hours until Friday. At work. Way to run a program, DOT!

Anyway, trash picked up. Strangest thing found? The thing that beat pieces of measuring tape (111-152" and 214-232"), an bag for a toilet bulb (because you need to open that in your car) and Funshine Bear? A pack of birth-control pills, with most of the pills still in the pack. We had fun imagining the scenarios under which they ended up on the side of the road.

I came home and packed up the linen closets. Bedroom is also done. (It would be helpful if I would stop finding books around the house. Hello, I have too many books. (Moving team: Yay.))

Tonight, Pride and Prejudice at the NC Museum of Art.

Last night, I was heading home after Pride and Prejudice. (Excellent, except no Colin Firth. It's hard to live up to his Mr. Darcy. But movies outdoors? Love. Last night was cool and not buggy, so perfect.) My cell phone rang. (Note: It's usually impossible to get me in the car. I don't hear the phone. Also, I don't really like to talk while driving.) It was one of the girls I'd seen the movie with. For many reasons, we'll call her JC.

JC: Where are you?
WG: Heading home. Why?
JC: Well, I was going down Wade Ave. and the deer just jumped out in front of me. I couldn't stop. The deer is dead. The cops don't know when they'll get out here, and I don't want to sit by myself. I'll call someone closer.
(I live about 2 miles from where she was. Not too many people closer, really.)
WG: I'll come. I'm not that far. Where are you?
JC: I don't know. I'm after the ramp, but not on I-40. I was trying to get on 40 East to go home.
WG: OK, I'll be there.

I drove back toward the museum, and got on Wade Avenue heading East, the way I would go to get to 40 East. No car, no deer.

(phone rings)
JC: Yes?
WG: Where are you?
JC: Across from the RBC center.
WG: So you were heading west?
JC: I don't know. I'm not that good with directions.
WG: OK. I know where you are. But you are heading west.

I find her, go to pull up behind her car, and nearly hit the deer myself. We check out the damage, and then go sit in my car. (Side note: We have the same car. Different model years (no design changes) different colors.)

JC: The cops said they didn't know how long they would take.
WG: Yea, the problem is this isn't high priority for them. It is for you, but not them.
JC: Oh, I understand that. I don't know if I need a police report for my insurance company.
WG: You could call the 800 number on the back of your card.
JC: I don't have my insurance card. But I could get their number from directory assistance!
WG: That you could.
JC: Calls directory assistance, gets number, begins dialing.
WG: Oh, the cop's here.
JC: Are you sure?
WG: The blue and white flashing lights say yes.
Officer: I almost hit that deer!
JC: (points to me) She did too!

The cop takes a look at her car, gets her info and gets back into the cruiser to write the report. We get back in my car to wait.

WG: Damn girl, you need to hit deer more often!
JC: I know, right?

I have to make a trip to the Charlotte office tomorrow. I'll be driving 6 hours round trip in Alberto, plus working 8 hours. Then, on Thursday I report to NC state at 1730 for the weekend. My point? Have a great weekend- I'll see y'all Monday.

This weekend was tiring. I'm not even sure that it was good but tiring at this point. I had fun while I was there, but am frustrated now. Which again, could be because of the tired.

And also, the moving. On Saturday. So much to do. Cdub helped pack the kitchen today.

Did I mention I'm tired?

At least for a while, anyway. Oh, no, things are fine here. I just am so busy, with the move and the non-boring job and the move, that I don't have time to post. And then, once I move, I'll have no internet at home for like 4 days. Which is crazy, because no internet? How can there be no internet? It's crazy! So anyway, once there is internet, I will have to talk to y'all. And show you pictures.

Don't worry. I will. Soon.

Yesterday I went online to transfer my cable service. All went well (not keeping cable phone), until I went to select a time for them to come out. I picked Tuesday evening, which was stupid, because I had rescheduled next week's riding lesson for then. I tried to go back and change it immediately, but this cannot be done. Because, well, who would make that kind of mistake? (Answer: me.) So then I called them. No evidence of the work order, and after talking to 2 people, it was decided that I should call back today.

I called back today and was told the work order didn't go through, because Jbabe had not yet cancelled her service. I called Jbabe. She called and cancelled her service. I called to transfer my service. This time, I was told that the transfer of service was only free if I transferred all services (which, Wha? I'll still be a customer, dumbasses.), so I had to transfer the digital cable, cable internet, and cable phone. And then immediately cancel the phone (I say again, Wha?). They couldn't come out until next Friday morning. So I scheduled that and wondered how one lives without the internet for nearly a week. You know, when one is not on vacation.

Not an hour later I got an e-mail confirming the Tuesday appointment. I am not going to try and change it, because Lord knows I don't need three appointments. Moral of the story: I may have internet Tuesday. Or maybe Friday.

I called to confirm the truck rental today. The guy told me a charge that was twice what I expected. I asked about it, and I was told that it was in the system for 2 days, not one day. I said, "Ah. Gave me a heart attack. Thanks!" He said, earnestly, "You're welcome. Have a good day!"

And finally, it occurs to me that I would like to go out on a date. Mind you, I don't want to go through the whole meeting someone to date thing. I just want some guy to show up at my door, all "We're going to dinner. And then maybe a movie." That could happen, right?

Ah, the move. The move went well, overall. TR girl and I picked up the truck at 0730. We then went back to the old place, packed up the boys, and moved them to the new place. I had litter. I had litter pans. I had blankets for them to sleep on. I had Jasper’s pot. I had their water dish. I had their food dish. I did not, however, have their food.

We headed back to the house. TR girl called Randy; he told her Little Matty was there as well. By the time we got back, they had loaded the washer and dryer in. TR girl stayed outside to direct the loading. (Seriously, if you are moving, hire her. Girl can pack a truck.) Cdub showed up, and we started loading electronics in her van. More friends showed up; one was sent to feed the cats (she knew where the new house is.) We loaded up the truck, Cdub’s van, a pickup, and the cars and headed over. Then unloading. All of this was done by 1230. I fed them lunch; Randy and SG decided beer was necessary, so they went and picked up two 12 packs. (I still have beer. Come on over.)

TR girl and I dropped off the truck, ran to Lowe’s, and went back to the old place to empty out the fridge. (Actually, before all that she unpacked my kitchen. Thanks TR girl! I just found my measuring cups!) Randy napped. We came home, cleaned up, and head over to The Cap’n and 2.0’s for dinner. (They were all, “You are moving today. Come have dinner with us. Then, you don’t have to worry about it.” (They live about 3 blocks away.) It seems like not a big deal, but not having to worry about dinner was an enormous help.) While we were at dinner, Jbabe came over to clean out her freezer (Jbabe is now my landlord.).

We got back, let the cats out of the room I’d locked them in, and were doing some unpacking when Randy said, “Why is the back door wide open?” (There is a door from the kitchen to the laundry room. This door has a cat door in it. There is also a door from the laundry room to outside. This door does not have a cat door in it.) I figured Jbabe must have left it open when she came over.

About a half and hour later, I realized no Jasper. Could not find him anywhere. TR girl and I looked outside. I called him. Nothing. We searched the house again; it was getting late and we all were exhausted. TR girl was all, “Well, maybe he’s just hiding in the house somewhere.” We went to bed.

That night, I heard Ri making lots of noise. I went out into the dining room, and he was chasing a mouse. The mouse gave me a look that said, “Help?” I told him, “Not my problem.” However, at this point I realized Jaz was outside- he wouldn’t have missed the mouse action.

Sunday morning I got up and went outside. I found Jaz’s collar on the patio. (Both TR girl and I are certain it was not there the night before.) No Jaz. I was very upset. Randy was the next one up, and I told him I’d found the collar, and then I started crying. I calmed down, and he headed out to the kitchen. I told him I’d made coffee, he said, “OK.” I realized he’d been gone way too long to make coffee- he’d actually gone outside to look. Randy is not a cat person.

Figuring Jaz was lost, and feeling there was not much that could be done, we headed out to breakfast. Driving back, we saw The Cap’n coming in from his run. I stopped and told him what had happened and asked them to keep an eye out.

When I got home, I called Jbabe. She didn’t answer, and I was not in any state to leave a message (it would not have been a nice message) so I called Mom. I said, “Hi.” She said, “What’s the matter?” I told her the story, and she said, “He hates outside. He didn’t go far. He’s probably just hiding under a bush.” With her on the phone, I went outside to look. Jbabe called back, and I hung up from Mom to talk to her. As I was telling her the story, I heard “Mew?” from a bush. It was Jaz. I hung up the phone, went in, and pulled him out.

Then Jasper faced a dilemma. He was scared from being outside, but he hates to be held. He decided to fight me the entire way back to the house. Am scratched up. The relief of finding him far outweighed a few scratches.

On Monday, my boss asked how the move went.

WG: The moving went well, but I lost a cat the first night.
Boss: Did you get a cat back?
WG: Yes, thankfully.
Boss: The same cat?