Orville and Buck

Friday morning we left Albany and finished our trek across the states of New York and Massachusetts. And please note, if you ever drive around the East Coast, be aware of expensive tolls. I think we probably spent about $40 on tolls, mostly crossing New York and Massachusetts. Dad pointed out these states have large snow removal costs, and I can't complain — the roads are in good shape with lots of clean food/gas plazas (unlike 1-70 through Pennsylvania).

(I like how the sign is slightly different than the standard state sign: "Massachusetts welcomes you" as if the whole state is happy you are there.)

We stopped at one of these plazas before heading into the city of Boston. We hadn't heard the accent until we made this stop. It didn't really hit me until that moment, how different our new home is from our old one. And I confess, we did eat McDonald's. But it was cheap. You can't do healthy and cheap very well while traveling, and with no income yet, cheap wins.

We got to the apartment just a bit after lunchtime, and Micki and Grandma Judy arrived almost at the same time. They said everyone was very helpful as they navigated public transportation from the airport to our doorstep. Caleb, fellow Kansan and grad student at BU, also came to help us move. And Caleb, I can't tell you how much that helped. Without you, we would still have been moving boxes the next day.

After all of our possessions were out of the truck and in our new home, we crossed the back parking lot to a pizza place to order out some dinner. Exhausted but full, Caleb headed home and we got settled as much as possible. This involved an unsuccessful attempt to find the shower curtain hooks, baths, and beds. I, however, couldn't retire until I got out the KitchenAid from Grandma. It patiently waited 1.83 years for this day. I didn't want it to wait any longer.

The KitchenAid and I are both happy it's home.

Saturday we took the Penske, dropped off Grandma Judy and Micki to get groceries, and headed to IKEA for our missing furniture (sofa, bookshelves, lighting for the living room which has no fixture, etc.). We went in with a list and a $1000. I felt like we were on an HGTV show, coming in just under budget. We love our new furniture, despite the difficulties in getting it up to the third floor. The sofa required two attempts — Micki and Ian finally got it. I'll post photos of everything once it's all presentable (not perfect, just not obscured by boxes).

Sunday was our exploring day. Grandma Judy had never been to Boston and we wanted to show her around. So we started with the office. They have a beautiful view of the Charles River, and the building, an old paper mill, is very interesting. After Fox gave us the Sasaki tour, we went to his favorite restaurant in Watertown — The Upper Crust.

They serve fantastic pizza by the slice!

After lunch, Fox headed back to the office and we took the bus to Hahvahd. When we got off the bus, a nice man named Orville helped me get Charlie Cards and figure out our best options, as new residents. A memorable name for a memorable man. It's very nice to find someone so friendly and helpful!

After a stop at The COOP, Ian led us around campus. I think the ivy isn't QUITE as big as Cornell's (Dad) but it is a beautiful school.

We also managed to accidentally wander in the student dining center. I snapped a photo before a staff person very politely asked us to leave. It looks like Hogwarts.

We next headed to the Holocaust Memorial. On the way, Grandma Judy met a guy.

I don't think it will get very serious though. He's not much of a communicator.

The New England Holocaust Memorial is a very moving experience. Six towers of glass representing the six main Nazi death camps funnel steam, evoking the images of the crematories. Covering every inch of the glass towers are numbers, just like the tattooed numbers of holocaust victims. Although filled with visitors, it is peaceful, allowing visitors to reflect on the quotes and images of the memorial. Small stones resting on top of the entrance markers are placed by visitors — I was told its Jewish tradition to leave stones to remember things (like in the Old Testament).

After spending some time at the memorial, we took a trolley tour of the city — our feet were tired and it's nice to hear extra info about the places you're seeing. Buck, our tour guide was great — lots of fun stories and interesting facts. I'd definitely recommend Old Town Trolley Tours.

We finished up the day with dinner at The Barking Crab, where Fox met us. Great food, but the portions are huge. If we do it again, we'll definitely be sharing more.

Yesterday, we enjoyed our final moments with Grandma Judy and Micki before accompanying them to the airport and seeing them off. It was strange saying goodbye. After being with family since July, it's different now that it's just the two of us, asking "what now?" But we're excited to find out!

Niagara Falls

"Slowly I turn. Step by step and inch by inch..." Every time I hear "Niagara Falls" I think of the Three Stooges bit. When I was younger, we checked out a lot of videos from the library (no cable, no regrets), mainly of the old movie variety. Think Cleopatra. Also included was a Three Stooges collection, and Nathan and Caleb reenacted this particular skit countless times.

Ian and planned our Niagara Falls pit stop as soon as we knew we were moving. I introduced him to the skit, and he found Flickr photos of when the falls froze. We were excited, and we were not let down.

Yesterday morning we loaded up, then drove the Penske around Ohio State's campus. Ian will be working on the campus master plan, and Fox specifically requested photos of certain areas on campus. It's not easy to drive a moving truck around a campus during classes. To get the requested photos, I hopped out of the van with the camera, walked the full length of 17th Street snapping photos as Ian drove around, then jumped back in at the other end of the street. Despite it looking like I was casing the joint, I only got a few funny looks. Armed with photos, we headed back to interstate and on to Buffalo, New York.

We passed through Pennsylvania, and through a miscommunication, barely got the state's welcome sign.

We continued on I-90 along Lake Erie and the state of New York welcomed us as well.

We drove on to Buffalo and crossed two scary toll bridges to Niagara Falls, New York. It's not exactly a picturesque town, and it was a challenge to navigate past all the tourist traps and "official welcome centers" for the falls. Peering through the drizzle we managed to avoid crossing the Canadian border in the truck (we have passports, but didn't want to deal with customs coming back in a moving truck). We parked (free, as we got there later in the day) and went in to the state park (i.e. official) welcome center. The nice people at the desk told us we were just in time to go up to the observation tower before it closed. And what a view!

It started to get dark (earlier than we're used to) and we left the observation deck. We took the Penske around to the other side of American Falls. It was getting very dark by that time, but it made for some great photos.

After filling up with gas, we headed back over the toll bridges and back on I-90. We originally planned to stay in Syracuse, but Ian was wide awake and decided to continue driving. As we reached Albany, we saw the interstate ahead of us was closed, and I noticed a news van. Forced to pull over, we found a motel at the exit and checked in.

This morning, Ian flipped on the news as we got ready, and we were surprised with a video of our Penske on interstate. Apparently a trooper pulled over a car and the driver ran for it. I found the story and the footage online. You'll have to wait for the 10-second ad to run, but after that you'll see the news story. Our Penske is the third vehicle to pass.

Now it's onward to Boston!

greetings from Columbus, OH

also known as the move to Boston so far.

This move is perhaps our easiest to date, as most of our things were already packed up. It also is the most drawn out, as we had our things in three locations and needed to coordinate the schedules of three different families (mine, his, and Britni and Joe) to get everything back together.

We started last Wednesday. Micki and Pfluff helped us pack.

Finished there, we spent a few days with my family. I sorted through my old things and we loaded up everything from both homes into the van. While there, we got to see Caleb in fall play for his senior year. They did Twelve Angry Jurors and performed wonderfully — I'm so glad we didn't miss it. We also got to see Nathan and Grandma at home, since they came to see the play as well. After the Saturday performance, we took some fun family photos.

Sunday, I said goodbye to my first car. It was an emotional moment.

After the goodbye, all of us (Grandma and Nathan included) formed a caravan to get us and our things to Britni and Joe's house. For the first time since we got married, all of our things were in one place. It was a good feeling. The family headed back that afternoon, to get Caleb back Monday for school and the second fall play performance.

The next two days we spent seeing friends and family. I'm so glad we got to see all of you before we left — you mean so much to us. Nathan, in an act of great-brotherness, surprised us with several Jones Sodas to review on our way, just like we did on the way to Philadelphia (the pie-flavored Jones Soda was a Christmas present from him). Don't worry, the reviews are coming! We also had some great help loading up the Penske, and had fun hanging out with Britni and Joe. We appreciate so much everything they have done for us.

This morning, we left at 6:30 a.m. After fourteen hours of travel and five states, we're getting much needed rest at a motel here in Columbus.

Missouri.

Illinois.

Indiana.

Ohio.

Tomorrow we'll explore Ohio State's campus, see Niagara Falls (a first for both of us) and hopefully make it to Buffalo, New York.

And for those interested, the frogs are doing swimmingly — they enjoy a good road trip. But as fun as the trip is, we all (frogs included) are very excited to get to Boston and see our new home.

thankful in the midst of big changes

one loving husband who takes such good care of me
two amazing families who agree to crazy schedules in order to help us move
three incredible brothers — I wish I had more time with you
six months Britni and Joe let us store our things in their new house
twelve angry jurors — we didn't miss Caleb's final fall play
twenty-four hours in a Penske truck with Ian — we love road trips together, and plan to see Niagara Falls together (a first for both of us)
thirty points Bethel scored to win their final game of the season
countless friends — the ones here we can look forward to seeing in the next few days and whenever we come "home," the ones in Boston waiting for us, and the rest, scattered across the globe, whom we think of often.
infinite God, who guides our every step and in whom we can trust with everything and worry about nothing

items found in old room

Below are samplings of items I found while cleaning out my old room, so my mom can turn it into a nice guest room that isn't banana yellow and purple with yellow stars. I can't imagine why she thinks it needs an update...

• notes written from Britni and other friends while in class (in high school)
• recruiting info and applications from ivy league universities (had to keep those to brag, right?)
• Mickey and Minnie Mouse coloring book pages
• my sticker collection
• pumpkin carol lyrics
• turkey carol lyrics
• Britni and I's duets from forensics
• N'Sync fan fiction Britni and I wrote in middle school
• ACT results
• my gumwrapper chain that was a last measure 109 feet and 10 inches long
• hello kitty items from family in the Philippines
• a sweet quilted red with tiny white hearts mik mik billfold
• my postcard collection
• scraps from all of my sewing projects
• an unfinished quilt from Grandma made by my great-grandma (leaving in Oakley so maybe my family can take it to the person who quilts here, to finish it)
• Lord of the Rings collectibles
• the rough draft of a poem I wrote in 6th grade that made the "Anthology of Poetry by Young Americans" — I was such a great poet. (see below. and I also discovered Caleb has a poem in the 2006 edition — runs in the family!)

Footprint
*note, this is typed up from my rough draft copy and not the anthology book...
I walk along, and as I go,
I see a pool, a hole.
I wonder, I ponder, I stop to think.

What was it?
Was it a giant T-Rex chasing it's prey?
Or a giant dinosaur just walking this way?
A flying dinosaur, starting to land?
Or a tiny one, that would fit in your hand?

What happened?
Was it a giant flood, that made them drown,
a climate change that turned the world around?
Did a meteor hit the earth so hard?
Did a great freeze kill them off?

Where did they go?
Did they simply disappear, into thin air?
Or are they still alive somewhere?
Were they funneled into another land some way?
Are they under the ground we walk on today?

I walk along, and as I go,
I wonder, I ponder — how much we do not know.

Thing 1, RIP

Thing 1, a mystery snail, came home from PetCo with Ian and Anna in June 2009. Thing lived in the aquarium with Butter and Jelly, where he worked hard vacuuming the tank and enjoying algae and food debris until his passing in November 2009. Thing is preceded in death by Thing 2 and Thing 3, who passed in July 2009. Thing is survived by tankmates Butter and Jelly, friend Pfluff, and owners Ian and Anna.

Thing was a good, friendly, and ambitious snail and janitor and will be missed.

Tankside services were held November 9, 2009 at 4 p.m. in the round room with Ian officiating. Burial was in the upstairs bathroom toilet.

Memorials may be made in Thing's name to the Ian and Anna Moving Fund.

how to move to Boston

In 40 easy steps. We've completed items in bold, and will continue to update as we accomplish items.

1. Wait 2.5 months after family vacation for phone call with good job offer.
2. Walk around for a week with a huge smile on face.
3. Commence apartment hunting.
4. Get frustrated at realtors who don't call back.
5. Trust third realtor, who is very helpful in finding you a place to live.
6. Have friend in Boston look at apartments with trusted realtor.
7. Thank friend in Boston.
8. Sign for chosen apartment.
9. Change address via the post office form and fill out address changes for all subscriptions, financial institutions, etc.
10. Plan complicated moving schedule, i.e. coordinate hectic schedules of two families to get scattered belongings to one centralized location: Britni and Joe's house.
11. Realize you can't squeeze in everything before leaving.
12. Feel sad about the things you are missing (bachelorette party, final football game, etc.).
13. Pay bills so they don't become late because you lose them during the big move.
14. Buy plane tickets to come back for holidays plus wedding.
15. Watch bible study video sessions you will miss because of the move.
16. Pack up belongings at house of family number one.
17. Travel to house of family number two and sort/pack belongings there.
18. With family number two, meet family number one for dinner to make up for missing Thanksgiving due to the move.
19. Watch brother, a senior, in the high school fall play while staying with family number two.
20. Travel to Britni and Joe's.
21. See as many friends as humanly possible.
22. Recruit some of previously mentioned friends to help load moving truck. Bribe with doughnuts if necessary.
23. Buy new and interesting Jones Soda to make tasting review videos.
24. Leave for Boston in rented moving truck.
25. See new places.
26. Document states via state sign photos.
27. Try not to get a flat tire overnight while staying in Terre Haute, Indiana.
28. Eat lots of junk fast food.
29. Avoid creepy hotels.
30. Get keys to apartment you have seen only on the internet.
31. Unpack.
32. Obtain needed furniture.
33. Find a new bank.
34. Get new Massachusetts driver's licenses.
35. Laugh at how goofy new driver's license photos are.
36. Register to vote.
37. Contact State Farm to switch over renter's insurance to Massachusetts from Kansas.
38. Go to first day of work/start looking for work.
39. Obtain and load two Charlie cards, one of which is taken care of by employer.
40. Design new blog look to go with new location.