Packing....Well.....Thinking About It

I came back to the in-laws tonight. I figured it was time to survey the damage I had done since John left, and took part of the spoils of war with him. He was a brave soldier and marched four big suitcases all the way from here to Dubai. He did this so I would only have to hump two....he's such a thoughtful gentleman, my husband.

Unfortunately, it appears that my rate of consumption increased after his departure and it seems that two suitcases are just not going to be enough. It would be lovely if three would hold all the loot.....but an in-depth examination of the contents of the shopping bags piled in my room, leads me to conclude that one more trip to the Bay is in order. I do believe they had Samsonite 60% off this week. Hmmm...better check the flier before I push everything off the bed and hit the hay. There might be a door-crasher!

I have no idea what I was thinking! I mean...it's Dubai I'm moving to, home of the "Shopping Festival" I would be awfully surprised if I couldn't by king size sheets there....or kitchen towels...and an apron....and some salad forks....how about notebooks? address books? green pepper savers? pots and pans? coffee mugs? quarter socks? purses and sandals? make-up? hairbands? sunhats? Sigh....I have easily 40 pounds of books.

Oh...wait....I remember now...we are going to Dubai in order to save money. I wasn't planning to spend anything when I got there. (You can quit laughing right now!)

On Sunday, Mom and I are driving to Fredericton to see Carolyn, Andrew, and the grand-puppy, Veda.


We've never really been to Fredericton but, even if they have stores, I won't be buying anything bigger than a pair of earrings. Since Carolyn will be turning 26 a week after I'm supposed to be gone, we'll celebrate her birthday while there. I should fill up a bag full of miscellaneous new household items and give them to her for a present. I know she'll be thrilled...there is nothing that says domestic bliss quite like new tea towels. And let me assure you, I have excellent taste in them. Nothing but the best for my girl...

In order to get away for one night, Mom has had to arrange for Patty to come up to her place to babysit the princess. No cat boarding for "Precious Purrs Brandi Girl Morning Glory Delight"**.


Today, Mom mentioned that she'd like to have another Royal Dalton for Christmas....and since neither Patty nor I are enamored of them, we're pretty sure she is building a nest egg for the care and feeding of the cat for the rest of it's natural life....or until it turns rogue like the others.

**I think this name was a passive aggressive way to make Patty take a cataplectic attack....try and say it without laughing...just not possible.

Eight Days to Find An Apartment

I swear...by the time I get to Dubai, there won't be one drop of oil left in the middle east! John has to make a trip to Indonesia next week and since he isn't going to be back until the 18th, we decided I might as well stay here longer. That will give me time to return the things to the Bay that won't fit into my suitcases. Luckily, I have discovered Facebook Scrabble...that should keep me out of the bars at night for while.

Today I feel like a helium balloon on a winter's day....

My Visa Is Here!!

John submitted it today, after chasing around a bit to get another stamp on our marriage certificate. We are definitely married for sure now! This means I am free to go anytime, but we've decided to keep it on the 14th. That gives me time to pack.... buy more suitcases if need be.....and to go see Carolyn in Fredericton next weekend.

John says he's sent for our things from Denmark and they'll be arriving at the end of the month. So...two weeks to find an apartment once I get there. I'd better practice my rope tricks if we're to get that done on time.

Now that I've managed to spread myself, and miscellaneous and sundry related objects, between here and Dartmouth, the time has come to take stock to see just what I've got, and what needs to come with me, now. I don't suppose I will be needing a suede jacket or any hoodies in Dubai, will I? My eleven pairs of flip flops will definitely have to fit....and I'm still on the prowl for another pair those Clark's one I bought a couple of months ago on sale at Sears. For some reason, all of the store owners in Halifax and surrounding area have decided that the beginning of summer (sad to say it was the 2nd week of August this year) was a good time to remove all of the flip flops in favor of leather boots. Bad retailers!

No one has wanted to hear about it, but I've been Christmas shopping (and wrapping all week). I'm quite proud of myself. I even have a box of Christmas cards sitting on Mom's dining room table waiting for me to address. I'll just write the Christmas letter while I'm away, print it and stuff it into the pre-addressed envelopes when I get here in December....and pop them off into the mailbox. The only complication will be if Mom stashes them somewhere out of the way after I'm gone, and then forgets where she put them.

Another semester began this week...two classes this time; one on the History of Communication Graphics, and the other on Design Communications which is essentially a comprehensive Dreamweaver course. I've been a little slow out of the starting gate, as usual...but I have been picking away at the first week's assignments here and there over the past few days. I can't believe that I of the "thousand notebooks and journals" has been caught at the start of school without an eight and half by eleven scribbler. I really need to make notes for this history class from the text since the format for evaluation is a weekly quiz based on a study guide. The instructor has also given us a 20 pound hardcover textbook that I have to lug to Dubai without John's help. Should be fun since the book for the other course is about the same size and weight. They are going to need their own seat on the plane...

This summer I completed Advanced Photoshop....kind of timely since I've been presented with a bunch of crinkly old photos in the past week that really need fixing up thanks to my grandmother's habit of keeping her pictures in an old purse.

Here are a couple of projects from that Photoshop class....I did redo a wrinkled old picture for one of them but I liked doing these a lot more. The first one was to design a book jacket...real or imaginary. I chose to make it all up.


The second one was to do a full size movie poster, same thing...make it up or use one already out there. Made it up again...thanks to Rob for "Whispers" or it would still be called "Title Goes Here".



And so it goes....I have a lot more to write about, not the least of which is meeting Jill and her family....last weekend for the first time and again yesterday. But, I need to some time to do that justice. Let me just say for now that it was great! Photographic evidence.....



And so ends another blog that begins in one direction and ends up completely in another.