Relocating for the Weekend

We are so very truly grateful for our friends that have welcomed us into their home while we navigate the process of getting into a temporary home.  We have been welcomed into a very spacious home that provided us a private space for us to sleep and collect the belongings that we need to get by from day to day. It's quite amazing how much and how quickly that happens.

The host family has a college kid and he was looking forward to coming home, with friends, for the long weekend.  So we packed up our clutter of stuff into new totes.  Our lives reduced to a collection of totes rather than rooms, and me being the fanatic about organization and that I hate digging through things unnecessarily, I created themes for the bins.  We have a pantry, an office, a linen closet (not really for linens, but toiletries) and a catch all bin.  The items that coworkers have generously given us are also being organized into totes of their own, in attempt to contain our clutter.

Armed with organized totes and our individual suitcases of clothes packed for a long weekend we moved ourselves to another wonderful host home of a family that also has a lovely large home with kids away at college.  The stress of having to move really crept up on me.  As much as I completely understood why and was comforted of having a place to go, I felt my Thursday crumble and my ability to focus at work disappear.  I ended up leaving work early to get ourselves organized.

Thursday wasn't all bad.  We got confirmation of our rental being approved and set up the delivery of our rental furniture for next week.  Sadly the townhouse we'll be moving into won't allow cats at all.  It was a challenging decision to make, but dragging out our placement any more.  It appears that rental properties that meet the relationship standards of our insurance company in our area are hard to come by.  We're happy about the location.  It's on Tom's route to work and not far from a direct route for me to get to work easily either.

The weekend involved a lot of relaxing.  Catching up with our friends hosting for the weekend and a few errands on Saturday and then... where else do you go when you need to rebuild a house? The Home and Remodeling Show.  We spent over four hours looking at kitchen ideas, cabinet colors, flooring, being tempted by steamers, window washing tools and painters a tape dispenser.  We found most of those items online, for future purchases, cheaper and also learned that every time we thing about a purchase we ask for the veteran's discount.

Monday a snow and ice storm moved in, which just makes me think about all the exposed parts of the house.  Not that there is anything else we want to recover, we think, but you just never know.  Luckily I didn't have to work, but that didn't keep me off the streets.  I picked up some soup and salad from the Fresh Thyme and had a lovely lunch with a dear friend.

I feel ready to tackle the new week.  Lots of stuff to do at work to get back on track of where I should be.  The end of the month is looming, so data entry needs to be tackled.  We've got appointments to make with contractors and move on to the next phase.  Moving into the rental and planning the rebuild.

Songs and Smells

They say that your strongest memories are tied to smells.  I hope the memory of smoke doesn't stick with me.  Instead I will savor the smell of the roses I got from Tom for Valentine's Day and the comforting smell of a warm cup of chai tea I'm enjoying from the Kurig at our host family's home.

Trying to decide if an item that we've cleaned a number times is rid of the smell of smoke is almost becoming humorous.  "Here, smell this.  Does it smell like smoke?"  it's almost like asking if the milk is sour.

Many of my strong memories are tied to songs too.  I have to be honest music is played louder this past week, especially when it's a song I really love.  This morning it was Peter Gabriel's Solsbury Hill.  That song always dug at my heart strings.  I think it's much more about the melody than the lyrics.  My heart does go "boom, boom, boom for the eagle's flying over the route I drive to work.  A couple of days ago it was Van Halen's Right Now.

Work was tough today. So many distractions.  I struggled to stay focused.  It's probably from poor sleep; some nights are better than others.  I thought I slept well last night.  Falling asleep during my massage, for the car accident, indicated otherwise.  After that I caved to the day, picked up food for dinner and some storage bins to organize the belongings we are accumulating due to the immense generosity of friends and co-workers.

The article published in the Farmington Independent.  The journalist said nice things, but it was very poorly written, sadly.  I was so glad that she did share the support we are getting from our communities.

We'll be staying at another friend's home for the weekend to make room for the college son of our host family.  Having boys his age, I completely understand his desire to come home and bring friends.  It will be nice to be with other friends and have a pretty full agenda for the weekend.  It's Home and Garden Show weekend!  Where else would we want to spend a Sunday.  We've got to start thinking about what we want done to our home when it gets rebuilt.

Tonight's entry is such a mind jumble.  Hopefully I can be a bit more focused again.

Boxes and Bins

Tom and I started the day at our respective work places trying to get as much done as one can in a few hours and with many distractions (in our heads and around us).  At noon we met with the first contractor that will be submitting a bid on the rebuild.

It's still cold.  Like shaking muscles cold.  I'm sure a lot of that has to do with stress, but it's super weird when you thigh muscles just shake violently.  Thankfully I have a long coat, so maybe only I know what is going on.  It was actually warmer outside than inside the shell of our house.  I will be so grateful for the warmer day ahead on Wednesday.

The rebuild sends my head spinning.  The contractor talked about what we'd be interested in doing to the floor plan, very briefly.  So much depends on whether the firehose water damaged the foundation.  At this point all I know is that I really want to put the kitchen where the living room was and the living room where the kitchen was.  Why in the world anyone would design a house so you had to walk through the living room to put groceries away, not to mention going up half a flight of stairs.  I also know I really want a bathtub in my master bath.  We had the tiniest bathroom.  Those things are dreams and I hope they can happen.  The priority though would be much better windows, so we don't feel the wind coming through the casings as it whips across the farm field behind us.

I'm a bit overwhelmed with the thought of making choices about stuff.  I'm not very good when given too many options.  I couldn't even choose baby food when Blake was an infant.  I stood there looking at all those jars and felt anxious.  To me it was so much easier to just buy fresh food steam it and make my own.  How in the world will I be able to pick wall colors, flooring, cabinetry...  Hopefully whoever builds the house will narrow down the choices because of budget.

We weren't at the house very long.  There really wasn't much for the contractor to do until he gets more info from the adjuster like if every wall will be torn down.  I'm guessing yes.

After a wonderful lunch at Bourbon Butcher we headed to the storage unit.  They had a larger one available for us to move into so we can actually go through stuff.  This was amazing!  I got to really see what we pulled out.  There were so many totes with photos, negatives and memorabilia.  Even a cardboard box with photos that I got from when my grandmother passed away.  They may all stink like smoke but I have them.  Everyone!!! store your stuff in totes!  Transparent ones are great to be able to have a quick look at what they contain.  They wouldn't survive flames or direct heat, but they survived the water and direct smoke.

Of course we had to stop at a store; I needed more underwear.  Four pair just won't cut it.

After a chicken dinner from Cub we returned a call to the Farmington Independent.  The lady was super gracious and sympathetic.  Hopefully the article, if it is written, is kind.  I mentioned how amazing our support groups are and how much everyone is helping. I hope she recognizes that.  I don't think this would be bearable if it weren't for the wonderful people that have reached out with support.

newspaper interview

The weekend - finally

Saturday morning we headed out to see a possible rental that our insurance found.  We really like it.  Sadly the owner of the town homes won't allow cats at all.  Big dogs are OK, but not cats.  I don't get it, but it's his property, so his rules.  We told the placement person that we'd like her to keep looking for another day before we commit to not having a cat in our lives for possibly a full year.

Then Tom dropped me off at the Zoo so I could get back in the groove of volunteering at the Zoo.  It's my happy place, my therapy and where I find solace.  I knew I wouldn't be able to last long with not sleeping well for a week, but I stuck it out for about 4 1/2 hours.  It was refreshing to see the bustling of the Zoo and feel the warmth of the Tropics Trail.  

Kyle escaped to visit with friends for the night and Tom and I picked up some soup for dinner.  Our host family were busy doing their own things, which allowed us to have a quiet evening to ourselves with a late errand to pick up a few things at Target.  We spend a lot of time running to the store.  It's exhausting.  That and telling the story.  That is exhausting.  I know it is important to do it though.  Telling your story helps you get a grip around it.  It helps you compartmentalize the emotions around it and helps you let the junk go.

I made a registry to share with my work family listing some things that will help us rebuild the personal items we lost to be able to make a house run, like sheets, glasses, plates etc.  I love that there is a registry like the one recommended to me that allows you to list things and that they can be second hand.  It's not tied to a store.  Stuff in people's closets, garages and storage spaces.  Do you have an extra set of Full sized sheets?  Well I put it on there.  I had so much of that kind of stuff.  I wish I'd been able to give it to someone rather than it burning up or stinking of smoke.  The registry is hosted at SoKindRegistry.org, in case you ever want to use it for yourself or to recommend it.

I woke up early again on Sunday.  This poor sleeping is crap.  I need 8 hours.  I'm a baby about it.  Waking up between 3:30 and 4:30 for the day is awful.  I didn't have to go anywhere at any particular time, so I was able to hang our in my pjs for a while and eat a leisurely breakfast.  I can't thank our host family enough for taking us in.  Staying in a hotel would be miserable.  Being able to make my own food, a cup of coffee when I want and just lounging in a living room is so wonderful.

Of course we had to go to the stores again in the afternoon.  This time we spent Kohl's cash!  That was wonderful.  Tom and Kyle needed more stuff.  I thankfully have been the recipient of some amazing clothes from coworkers and my dear, dear LuLa Roe friend and a huge number of her customers.  Putting on some cute clothes to go out shopping with the guys was wonderful.  I even teased Kyle that I may reinvent my style.  Maybe go Bohemian, haha!  Hey, when you are starting from scratch, why not.

I also got to go to Joann's to replace my yarn for the temperature scarf I was crocheting.  I hadn't crocheted since middle school and thought the project would be a fun diversion from my phone or tablet.  It was.  Thanks to a fellow crafter that understands the need and desire to craft I replaced my yarn and started the first few rows over, again.  This time I'm really focused on keeping my stitches looser.  I won't have Izzy to help, but I will remember him fondly as I crochet.

We finished Sunday night with the five us enjoying a hearty meal and then a board game and LPs on the record player.  Sequence is a super fun gamer.  I plan on adding it to our collection when we get settled in a home of our own.

Thank goodness for the weekend.  It really charged me up for a busy week ahead.

Day 5 - Friday - It just seems a normal day (Supertramp)

Friday couldn't have been more normal if it tried, thankfully.  Granted I didn't get enough sleep the night before.  4:30 is not a welcome hour to wake up, unless of course it's your normal time, like probably most of the keepers I know and Tom.  So I can't complain.

I was able to get a full day at work.  I didn't produce a full day of work, but I plugged away at it.  Periodically thru the day I'd get texts from Tom about appointments with contractors for next week and check ins from wonderful friends.

The end of the day wrapped up with Adult Night at the Zoo with some dear friends and another couple.  We ended up all going out for a yummy meal and a cocktail.  Just enough to send my exhaustion into bed as soon as we got back to our host house.

Normal can be unremarkable, but so very welcome.

Day 4 Thursday - Digging In

I got to go to work today for a few hours of normalcy. I also got to engage with some more amazing friends and coworkers. But first, let me just say how amazing it was to put on a put of jeans given to me and they fit!

It is crazy and hard to wrap our heads around the generosity that is coming our way. The loaning of tools, the gifting of a coffee pot, bean grinder, mugs and coffee and then there was the bag of items from a fellow staff member that experienced a flood recently. A file folder for receipts, pens, notepad and some kitchen stuff. We will put our lives together in spite of the fire with the support of all the people we know.

I got to lunch with my fellow Thursday volunteers and that was so refreshing and comforting. They had a potluck, so that was comforting too. Can you beat homemade corn chowder!?!

Tom spent the day at the house with his best friend. They dug through insulation debris to find jewelry, tools, personal treasures and found many of them. They also prepped spaces for a team of folks that showed up at 3 pm layered upwith, with flashlights on their heads, and arms at the ready to take anything out of the house they could. Not furniture, but all my storage bins in closets and pans and anything that wasn't too terribly smoke damaged or pourous. The pourous stuff absorbed the smoke smell... So much for all the Pampered Chef stones. They were pretty dingy anyway, right?

At least 15 people were there. Most were Tom's coworkers that came straight from work  and there were neighbors too. We never could have collected the stuff if it weren't for my online community of Farmington housewives that provided boxes, totes and newspapers to wrap things in and absorb the smell.

The neighborhood! Oh, my goodness! They collected goodies for a most amazing gift basket that will keep us in a glorious sugar high for quite some time. There was a lovely giant card signed by so many families made from poster board. I look so forward to getting back on our street to celebrate with all of them. I know this happened directly to us, but I see how so many people are taking this and it breaks my heart. I can't imagine watching the house burn as a neighbor, how helpless they must have felt. I can't even word this correctly.

The night wrapped up with a yummy meal and movie at the host house.

Day 4 - Wednesday.... Back to Work

I finally felt I was in a place to get back to work after my morning chiropractor appointment.  Remember... I had a car accident in December.  For those that don't remember I was rear ended by a drunk driver.  The car that was sandwiched between the drunk and me had a bunch more damage than my beast of a Yukon did.

Getting to work was exhausting.  I probably told my story half a dozen times before I even turned my computer on.  I'm not complaining at all.  I understand the importance in sharing the story for both the processing on my side and for those that are feeling the anguish because they are close to me and our family.  I am so touched by the emotions that are shared and all the support.  I'm absolutely sure this would be unbearable if I didn't have such an extensive support of coworkers, fellow volunteers and zoo friends.

While I was at the Zoo Tom did a few errands in the morning to get a few things for Kyle and then he also headed into work for a meeting.  It was probably just as therapeutic for Tom and it was for me to do something that was part of our normal lives.  Kyle will also get back to a shift at the pool this weekend.

Late in the afternoon we headed to the Microsoft store to replace our Surface.  You can only do so much on a cell phone.  I guarantee I'd have given up on this blog if I had to peck it out on a cell keyboard.

I closed out the evening at a gathering of fellow Essential Oils folks.  Just breathing in the smells and healing powers of the oils was fantastic.  I plan to get a better nights sleep.