So the adventure begins

Day one – November 25

Today’s trip started out from my parent’s house around 7 a.m.

States covered: Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee.

Thirty-eight different state license plates, and two Canadian provinces.

Smelled three dead skunks.

Saw three major accidents.

Got stuck in traffic several times (one because of a major road closure in Knoxville).

Total miles covered yesterday 725. We have 1600 more to cover to be broken up into three shorter segments.

Yes, this is really happening...

My apoligies for the long break in between posts. Needless to say we have been super busy trying to cover all the details and make this move happen.   It's incredible how much work we've done, and how things have come together for us.  The biggest part of this was "downsizing" the amount of stuff we had, so we could cram it all into our new apartment.  I'm thrilled to be able to say that we sold enough stuff that we PAID FOR THE MOVE ENTIRELY.  I would have never thought we had that much stuff.  Here's a little sample of some of the stuff we sold:

Solid Wood Bedroom Set
Couch and Chair Set
Dining room set
Twin trundle bed
Grandfather Clock
90% of my sports memorabilia
Toys/Stuffed Animals/Purses
CD's and DVD's
Tube TV and Stand.
Chair and Ottoman
Cups, Glasses and Dishes
My Car

The list could go on, but I will spare you. We are leaving on Saturday November 26, arriving in Phoenix on November 30.   We successfully leased an apartment in the Paradise Valley suburb of Phoenix, and will be putting our house on the market to sell in the next couple of weeks. We've packed up just about everything we don't use everyday and spent many hours prepping the house for what we hope is a very quick sale.   The truck is reserved, Carey's car is getting shipped, so we're just about done.   All we need to do is load up and go.  My new co-workers seem to be excited for my arrival and I am ready for the challenge.

Next up is the 4 day drive across this country.  I'm really excited to see whats out there.    Thanks to everyone who has helped us, and supported us this far...we can't wait for the next chapter of our life to get started.   Carey has taken to calling this our big adventure...and I agree.  

Lastly...for those who want to come visit, January will be a bad month.  The new boss is not approving any time off in January.  Apparently it's "Welcome Season" for people to re-enroll in their benefits and our phones will be going nuts.  Plan your trips for February or March(Spring Training anyone?)

I will do a better job of keeping this up to date.    I'm sure there will be PLENTY of stories to share. 

Scott

Things are starting to move...

I found out this morning that my boss is interviewing a Windows System admin on Tuesday next week.  Hopefully this guy will get the job and I can start getting him trained asap.  We don't have any candidates for the telecom position, but hopefully that won't keep me from being able to transition to my new team on 9/18 as planned.  We shall see.

This weekend is a big weekend for our move.  We are having our second yard sale, and we hope to finish the projects that need to get done so the house will pass the inspection for the rental permit.  The stuff that is left is mostly small, smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, cleaning, etc.  The last big project is installing a railing going down the basement steps.  I'm going to see if I can get some help doing this myself.  I'm not very sure of my skills, but I'll give it a shot. We also are going to try to re-paint/stain/coat our tiny little deck.  It's not a safety issue, but it will make the place look better. A good looking place will rent faster...we hope. :-)

I wish you a happy and safe Labor day weekend, and will update you again as I go along. 

s

YARD SALE!!!

We took part in our very 1st yard sale this past weekend.  We got up early, drove through the rain, and set up in Catonsville.  I was amazed at how many people came out, even with the threat for rain being so high.   We made almost $300 selling stuff that was collecting dust in our basement.  Unbelievable.  We decided that we are going to ride this horse till it bucks us, so we set up another sale, this weekend.  This time in our front yard.  I cant wait to see how it turns out.

The house is coming together, we fixed some small issues with our ceilings, finished off some crown molding and chair rail, and had the gutters cleaned.   We decided we are going to re-coat the deck with the awful red paint that's already there, and we need to get the shingles on the porch roof straightened out.  The next step is to apply for the rental permit and get it inspected.    Things are moving along, and we are getting close.  

Until next time.

The hole, it's dissapearing...

I have good news on the hand, the hole appears to be closed now,  so I won't have to wear a bandage like the one pictured past today.  I've managed to keep infection away,  which makes me very happy.   I'm hoping that by the end of the weekend I'll be ready to go for hockey playoffs.   It's quite amazing how fast your hands heal.

On the move front, we cleaned out our dressers and night tables yesterday.  We have a couple of old dressers that we will be able to use in the mean time, and the mattress and box spring will sit on the floor.  It's not the prettiest of setups, but it works for the short term.  There is a small mutiny going on at work.  The best helpdesk guy we have put in his notice on Friday, and another one will be doing the same this week it looks like.  We did have a new helpdesk guy start today, but it will take him a while to get up to speed.  The next few weeks ought to be interesting.  I'll keep you posted.

s

SOLD!!!

I've been stressing about getting stuck with our bedroom set.  It's a huge solid wood set that we bought when we moved in the house.  I figured I'd need a couple months to get it sold, so I listed it on Craigslist last night.  I got a call at 9:30 this morning and by 10:30 it was sold,  unreal.   My buyer is driving up from Richmond to get it on Tuesday.  I'm still in shock.  I know it will be weird sleeping in a bedroom with no furniture, but hey, that set will pay for a large portion of our move, so I'm not complaining.   

My new boss announced my transition to the rest of the team I'm going to be working with yesterday. I found out that they already have my cube set aside for me.  I guess they're excited to have me.  They made me feel so welcome, I just hope I can go out there and produce for them.

Lastly,  I had an embarassing moment this morning. Apparently I never closed my fly when I left the house for work.  Sadly it was 10:30 before I went to the bathroom and realized this.  *DOH*  

Until next time

Stood Up

I guess I should have known my run of luck on Craigslist would end eventually.  I was supposed to sell my 50 gallon fish tank to a Craigslister on Sunday and he stood me up.  I should call his mom.  It's back to the drawing board on that one.  Tonight I'll be cleaning out my fancy sports memorabilia curio cabinet, it's next on the chopping block.  One piece at a  time, my furniture is vanishing.  We're gonna have a yard sale in early September as well, so we'll see whats left by then. 

Tomorrow is another big day in the progression of the move.  My new team will find out tomorrow that I'm coming, officially.  It's been kinda strange, the whole world here in Rockville has known for 2 weeks, but very few people in Scottsdale know.  I have a feeling that will change tomorrow.  It should make for a fun afternoon. 

Until next time!

s

We have a date...sort of.

September 17 2011, if things go according to plan will be my last day working for TheraCom. September 18th will be my first full day as a member of the CVS/Caremark telecom team.  The move wont happen for some time after that date, but at least I have one.  My new boss and I still have to work out the details of exactly where I'll be working from, and the date for my "find a place to live" trip to Arizona.  All this could change if the development team here drags there feet hiring someone or someones to replace me. Honestly,  I don't see that happening, because the sooner they get someone in here, the sooner they start making more money on a new contractor.  I'll be sure to keep you guys in the loop.

Answers...finally.

It looks like I will have to be moved to Arizona by the end of November at the latest.  The company wants me to stay here to train my replacements.  Yup, they are hiring two people to cover the role I currently handle on my own, with a little corp. help.  I'm looking a 2-3 weeks to get someone hired, then 2 weeks to train, then I make the official transition.  I know it sounds like a long time, but it's not...it will be over before I know it.   I'm very fortunate that my new manager in Arizona likes me enough to hold the job for me.  I hope I can meet the expectation. 

Part of me still cant believe I'm going to do this.   I have so much to do...and so little time.  Here we go....

A place for your stuff...

George Carlin once said that your house is just a place for your stuff.   I always enjoyed that routine, always thinking "I don't have that much stuff."  Well that all changes when you decide to move across the country and downsize to an apartment.   We decided that we are going to sell/get rid of as much stuff as we can.   Originally it was a really easy thought to wrap my brain around.  "I'm not emotionally attached to most of this stuff, hell...it's just stuff."  Uh huh...yeah, right.  I sold my grandfather clock this weekend, and actually had to call my parents after it was gone to help deal with the guilt.  My father said it best "Scott, it's a piece of furniture, not a family heirloom" and he's right, but it didn't make the feeling suck any less.   I experienced a similar feeling as I disassembled my 55 gallon fish tank. Hell, I hadn't cleaned the thing in a month, I shouldn't be attached to it...ugh.  I never expected to feel this way about "stuff", but I do.  I'm still getting rid of it, but I didn't expect to feel any attachment.  Live and learn I guess.

I still haven't heard anything about my transfer.  I feel like I'm walking a fine line between being proactive and being annoying.  I know this for sure, patience is hard...and being in limbo sucks.  The silver lining...I still have a job, so it's not all bad. 

We're Moving!!

Phoenix, Arizona here be come.  I've finally decided to take a full time Avaya Telecom position with my company(CVS for those who don't remember) in Scottsdale, Arizona.  It's taken me almost three years of on and off talks about going out there, and it's finally coming to fruition.   I've never lived anywhere except the Baltimore/DC area, so this is both extremely exciting and petrifying all at the same time.  I don't have a time line for the move of yet, because my little divison on CVS decided that they want to put up a fight.   My first lesson in this move process appears to be patience.  I will need it as "the suits" are deciding my fate.  I must say, it's not the most comfortable feeling in the world to have someone else deciding your career path, and you get little to no input.  I really wan't this job, so I'm willing to be patient and wait them out.   Hopefully I'll get some kind of information in the next day or so.  Going to work everyday in limbo is not fun at all.

Obviously, the direction of the blog now will be "move-centric".  I'll be sharing my experiences, feelings, ups and downs as we go along.    Thanks for coming back and reading, and I hope you enjoy the ride!

S