It begins...

I finally started packing today. Since I'm no longer using my UAB shipment (that's unaccompanied air baggage. I can ship 250 lbs. of stuff in addition to anything I could take on a flight with me) I really didn't feel any rush. Scott and I will be driving to DC and then he will be making subsequent trips over the next six weeks so even if I forget something I can just have him bring it a week or so later.

I got through all the clothes in my room and was feeling really good about that accomplishment until I remembered all the clothes I also have in the spare room's closet. Oh man. I have a lot more to get through. Scott might be right, I may have too many clothes. I tried my best to get rid of things but I kept thinking, "who knows where we will be going!? This might be perfect there!" This is a dangerous attitude.

I am also starting to be sad about leaving Ashland. We visited one of our few friends today and I held her newborn daughter. She is so tiny and the next time I see her she will be...who knows? Will I be back to Ashland in a few months or is it possible I will never return to this area? It's a difficult position to be in. Some of the people we've met have been such great friends to us. But will they be lifelong friends? We won't know until we leave.

I have been fortunate enough to know more than a handful of people I can call lifelong friends. No matter how long we go without talking we pick up right where we left off. I feel so blessed to have so many people like that in my life. Unfortunately it has been hard to find the time and money to physically visit them as we are all spread so far apart. With my new job it will now be even harder but I do hope that I can put Ashland on the list of places in the world where my lifelong friends reside.

And now....Ashland Balloonfest pictures!

Papers and balloons

Today is my day off and I planned to get all kinds of things done like packing and planning and sorting and so on. Well, it did not quite go that way.

I slept through my alarm this morning, multiple times (read: I kept turning it off without looking at the time) so I was nearly late to both the groomers and the historic society. After we dropped the dogs off we made it to the historic society to help set up for a silent auction. Unfortunately, I also had to tell them about my new job.

I am so excited about working for the foreign service but my heart just breaks telling everyone around here about it. I was so proactive in trying to meet people and get involved and now after mere months I'm already dating goodbye. The director of the society had to break my heart even more by telling me she was going to have me do research for her next book. I almost told her I would do it anyway, all the way from D.C.

These women at the historic society, the people I work with at the Cheesebarn, and the friends we've made at church have made my short time here so enjoyable. I am truly sad to be leaving but I think that's a good thing. It's better for me to be sad than to hate this place and just want to get out. But I wanted to do that research. I might still find a way....

In FS (foreign service) news, I am not having a UAB shipment anymore. I was already not going to pack out the house at this time since Scott is not moving out yet. But I was informed today that the company doing the moving will not come all the way to Ashland for my little UAB shipment. So I will be taking everything in the car and learning about UABs in the future. Oh well, it's honestly one less thing to worry about now.

Only two and a half weeks left! So crazy. Time is flying by. I am trying to organize all my paperwork today so I know where everything is when I'm asked for it. The house is so hot that I've confined everything to the kitchen table, which is tough when all my scanned documents are on the computer upstairs. But it's like Mordor up there. I'm staying in the Shire.

This weekend is also Ashland's balloon festival! We are going to try to ride a hot air balloon tonight! Should be fun, unless it's crazy hot there too in which I may reconsider getting in a small basket next to a giant flame.

History Moment

Today has been a good day. In the past couple days the stress has started to get to me. There is still do much for me to do and I was also trying to get things with my current job figured out. I was getting overwhelmed. I was glad for today, a break from work and time for me to get things figured out.

After getting some calls and emails out in the morning I drove to the neighboring city of Wooster to visit a little store called Friendtique. It was a cute little place that probably sells one of everything. And in the basement I found great clothes for my new job. Instead of two suit jackets I now have four. At least I feel a little more prepared!

The last week it was pretty warm here. Actually, that's an understatement. It was sweltering here. A house with no AC makes it seem even hotter. Thankfully today is beautiful. The sun is out but a nice breeze chills the air; it feels like fall. I decided to take advantage of the weather and take a walk...to the cemetery.

My interest in cemeteries has led some people to believe I'm odd. I think I really upset a poor girl in Scotland when I insisted on taking a walk through the cemetery next to Stirling Castle. She wouldn't even come inside the gate. Lucky for me, my husband totally gets this crazy hobby of mine. He points out cemeteries when we are on drives and says things like, "ooo, look at that one. You'd love to go there."

I spent this afternoon in Ashland's cemetery. It's a very hilly cemetery, which is unusual for me since most of the cemeteries in Colorado are pretty flat. Even the ones in the mountains. One of my favorite cemeteries is the one in Como, Colorado. Why? Because its full of history. Really, all cemeteries are full of history but I just happen to know a lot about Como's. I'll have to write about that sometime. It's fascinating stuff.

The Ashland cemetery was really lovely and very peaceful. I think that might be another reason why I like them. It's always so peaceful to walk through a cemetery.

I look forward to walking through cemeteries in other countries. Seeing how different cultures remember their dead says a lot about their history and their society. China was interesting because their culture is steeped in ancestor worship. There were some of our neighbors who remembered their ancestors in their own homes and celebrated their memory in the street. I look forward to learning the practices of all different cultures.

Beautiful View of the Ashland Cemetery. 

This tombstone is partially obscured by this tree. I couldn't read it to guess how long it had been there before it had been overtaken. The tree itself was a little unusual. It creaked the entire time I stood there, as if it might split into two at any moment. Maybe it will someday.

As I was walking as I saw many tombstones with the names of a husband and wife with the date of death for only one member of the couple. This is not unusual I know. My grandparents have exactly this. But I wondered, is there one where the person clearly cannot still be alive but they have no date of death listed? And lo and behold in one of the oldest parts of the cemetery I found one. Elizabeth, born in 1818, is surely not still living. What became of her? Where did she go that she did not join her husband here? What kind of life did she have? If I thought I could find her in the public records I would. If I was going to be living in this city longer that is exactly what I would be doing. But since I am leaving soon her life will remain a mystery to us all. This is why I love cemeteries.

Travel Orders

My travel orders have arrived, which is just another step toward this new job feeling real. Of course, since I received them last Friday they have already been amended twice and now I am still waiting for the latest amendment. I have a feeling this a taste of my future life, one of constant change.

I was once told being in the foreign service is like living in a constant state of flux. At the time, I just listened and went on being really excited about this new opportunity. But as I get further into the process I see how that short phrase speaks volumes about what this life really entails. Right now we are trying to decide when Scott will join me in D.C. or if he will come there at all. This is what the people amending my travel orders want to know and this is probably the question I am asked most frequently after "what country will you be going to?" And the answer is always the same: it depends.

It depends on my first post assignment. It depends on how training goes in his job. It depends on how they react to his leaving the facility. It depends on whether or not Midwest ATC (overseas air traffic control contractors) has a presence in that country. It depends. I think this is the new phrase to describe my professional life. But the best part is, this all works for me. I have never been one that needed to have a firm plan for the future. I wanted to rearrange the furniture in our house every few months because I craved change. Now I get to decide what furniture stays and what furniture goes. Of course, it all depends....

Moving Sale!

Today is our first attempt to sell some items before I leave for D.C. in less than a month. We sat down a couple weeks ago and made 4 lists. There was a sell list, a storage list, a take-with-us list, and a Colorado list. The Colorado list is the shortest and contains the few things we cannot take overseas but would also not like to leave in a storage facility.

This being my first Saturday off since we found out about the Foreign Service I decided I would spend it trying to have a yard sale. I should have known this might not work because I have seen at least two of my neighbors have yard sales every weekend since spring began. If they are having sales that often they must not be selling anything. That only occurred to me now.

Now I've only been out here about 2 hours and we have made about 40+ dollars, but so far every single thing we've sold has been to the same crazy neighbor (and he is crazy, we will get to that another time). So far he has come three times and my guess is as the day goes on he will discover more things he needs.

And now the police just pulled up. But they might just be here to arrest our other neighbor again.

And crazy neighbor just came back. And left. Guess nothing appealed to him this time.

Now the cop who arrested my neighbor is listening to excuses from the guy's mother(?) as to why he committed the crime.

I am guessing I could live blog what is happening on my street today and it would be an interesting read. But I have yard sale-ing to get back to. And my new game on my phone is not going to play itself.

I love who we've become

The transition from living in Colorado to living in Ohio has made us very different people. I don't think this necessarily has anything to do with the states themselves but rather the lifestyle we have.

In Colorado, Scott was working 60+ hours a week, I worked full time and for the last two years was also in grad school and we were both involved in church and other activities. In Ohio, Scott works 40 hours a week, no more no less, and I work less than forty hours. We don't know many people so our activities outside of work are greatly diminished (with the foreign service on the horizon we are even less inclined to make new friends now). At first, we didn't know what to do with all this free time. But now we do. We have become book-reading, walking, P90X people.

Now, I was always a book lover but lately my wonderful husband has joined me and it has been amazing. Instead of zoning out to tv when we get home like we did in CO we sit on our porch and read. He read the Lord of the Rings trilogy and now that I finished the Hunger Games he has moved on to them.

And P90x! Well, that is much more him than I. Scott has been keeping up with the regimen faithfully and I just flit in and out as I see fit. tonight I agreed without knowing what I was in for. I was doing the warm up just fine but when the host started making incorrect comments about the geographical position of Belgium I decided I needed my headphones. I got pretty into my music and frequently broke into dance instead of doing pull ups (my playlist is that awesome). There may have been one moment that completely devolved into a dance party, with Scott's complete participation. At another point I was distracted by a world map (the north pole is very interesting...).

Needless to say I am no longer exercising and am instead writing this but no matter. I love the people we are here. Healthier, more active, and generally more excited about the future. We miss family, friends, and even the scenery of Colorado but we don't miss who we were there. Hopefully the new life we are about to embrace will lend itself to our new personas, and I have a good feeling that will be the case.

Now, I must go dance because Scott is making me feel bad for just sitting here while he continues to work out. I love it.

Greyhound

I had the opportunity to ride the greyhound bus today. My first time. It was...quite the experience.

It began in a terminal in a shady part of town, but really, when are bus stations ever in the best part of major cities?

The guys behind me in line contemplated stealing my pillow. Out loud. Of all the things I had, my pillow? Really? Anyway...

The man in front of me had serious dandruff and when a girl sat down next to him they proceeded to have a deep discussion about autism, intimacy, hugging styles (which they proceeded to demonstrate) and all kinds of other things I never needed to hear about.

In Toledo an Indian boy sat next to me, which by itself is nothing. And I understand how different cultures and personal space don't really go together (China cured me of a need for personal space) but when his un-shoed feet are touching me, his food covered hands are wiped on my seat, and he falls asleep drooling on my shoulder I am nearly at my limit.

Then the guy with Tourette's got on the bus and the headphones came on....

In actuality it wasn't that bad. I got a lot of reading in the Hunger Games done which was awesome. Those books thrill me. I was crying and smiling and I am enjoying the read so much. I am kind of excited for the bus ride home so I can finish the book series.

And the goal of all this, to get to Chicago! So far I have seen eight of my Oxford classmates and it has been wonderful. It's so good to catch up and hear about what everyone has been doing and about all the friends that couldn't join us.

And Chicago has been great. Good times already!

It's fifteen minutes after midnight...

literally. I am laying here wondering why I am not tired. I don't drink caffeine and haven't done anything unusual today.

Oh wait, my wonderful husband was making chocolate chip cookies from scratch when I came home. And I ate some of the batter. A lot of the batter. A lot of the batter and a cookie. We are both on a sugar high after midnight and we both have to work in the morning. We are so ridiculous. I am a little surprised the dogs are not going crazy in their kennel- they got in on the batter fun too.

Lightning bugs!

As I sit here scanning my FS paperwork I am thinking about the walk through our neighborhood we took tonight. It was the first time I've ever felt a little unsafe in the area since we first arrived (at that point places were just unfamiliar. I was equally afraid of the area and of getting lost). I may have just been freaking myself out but it was a scary feeling none the less.

However, there were little lightning bugs all over the place and I was reminded of visiting my grandparents in Indiana when I was a kid and being so excited to catch lightning bugs and put them in a mason jar for a night light. That was one of the highlights about coming to the east and I have literally been waiting since January for them to appear.

I caught one and it reminded me of being in my grandparents backyard in Indianapolis, the last place I was when I caught one. How different my life is from then to now. My grandmother is no longer of this earth and my family doesn't even own that house anymore. I am married and getting ready to embark on a totally new era of my life. Where will I be the next time I have an opportunity to catch a lightning bug?