Making plans

(warning - long rambling post ahead!)

You know what happens when you start making plans don't you? They never work out exactly like you think. So goes my plan to be better about blogging once I wasn't working anymore. Of course with the holidays and such, I still haven't made it to the point where I post even every other day - much less daily (which is what I want).

I hate to make a post without a picture. I had no idea what picture to post with this, so I'm posting this one of the hubby.

In a round-about way, this post is really about him. I'm not going to tell you he is perfect - there are times when (as my grandmother would say) I would like to 'pinch his head off' but I love him anyway. (of course we all know I am perfect and he never feels that way about me) He has always been willing to work as hard as he has to to provide for his family. When the kids were little he always worked at least two jobs (sometimes three) so that I didn't have to work and could stay home to raise the boys. That is time you can not buy back for any amount of money.

Sometimes life takes you in directions you never thought you would go. I (we) thought he would be a firefighter/paramedic until he retired and we would stay right here in the same town where he was born and where I have lived for over 30 years. 5 years ago, he was given an opportunity that allowed him to retire from the fire service (after 21 years) and work full time in EMS. You may remember back in the fall when he promoted to an office job. No more uniforms, no more shift work (I would say an 8-5 job, but that would just be funny). He has really enjoyed this position but we really had no idea that it would only be temporary - well, this temporary - we knew eventually there would be something else but not this quickly. He has received another promotion. It is a good promotion and one he is very excited about. (and no matter what this may sound like before I finish - I'm excited for him) We have known for about a week and it was made official on Tuesday.

Here is the but. . .there is always a but. . . we have to move. Yes, we have to sell the house we have spent 23 years getting 'just right'. We have done all the major stuff and it is almost exactly like I want it. (I do love my front porch!) If you have been visiting here long, you have seen pictures of some of the work we have done, but the majority of the real work was done before I started blogging and before I had a digital camera. Trust me, when I say a lot of work, I mean a lot of blood, sweat and tears. At this moment I can't tell you where we are moving to - basically because I don't know! The new job is in Pasadena (Texas) so all I know at the moment is that we will be living somewhere in the Houston area. We will be spending a few months in an apartment while trying to sell this house and trying to figure out where we want to live. The next couple of weeks we (mostly me - 'we' only on weekends) will be speny getting the house as ready as we can to put on the market and I'm sure that even after that we will be spending weekends here for awhile. Thankfully, we don't have to leave the house empty while it is on the market as the boys will stay here to take care of it until it sells. (and take care of the dog so we don't have to keep her in an apartment) This helps a great deal - considering my current stress level, I'm not sure I could take anymore!

I know moving is nothing to some people, but we haven't moved in 23 years and that was just across town! There is so much to do and I have a really hard time breaking it down into manageable pieces - I tend to see the big picture and get overwhelmed. We are also in the process of clearing out MIL's house as she has sold it. (she is living with hubby's sister - several hours away) Hopefully we will be finished there after next weekend so we can start concentrating on things that must be done here.

If all that isn't enough - yesterday, while I was out doing a few of the long (and getting longer) list of errands that must be done, my van blew up. (see - I was planning to make this post yesterday - no more planning!) I need a new transmission. Now we have to decide if we want to invest in that or give her up. I honestly don't think I have enough brain power left at the moment for car shopping. We are waiting on estimates before we decide.

So - there goes my plan for being a better blogger in 2009. Since I will be living between here and Houston for the next, well, I don't know how long - and I don't even know where my computer will be, it will be impossible for me to post daily. I am still hoping to get at least a couple of posts a week - and who knows, I might get two days in a row and surprise even myself. I'm still trying to read blogs but my commenting will be minimal for a bit. Bear with me - don't abandon me if I miss long stretches without posts or responding to comments!

Hey - I warned you way back at the beginning this was going to be long and rambling!

I think I hear empty boxes calling my name.