Three Days Before the Move.

Ok. Its real. Things are happening. My mom and dad came down to Charleston last night, actually stayed in a hotel, and we made a jaunt up to Champaign this morning to do a little shop-a-loppin'. I realized I wouldn't see my parents until Christmas-ish, which I think is the longest I have ever gone without seeing them?

Upon my return to Charleston, I'm hustling all around trying to get things all packed and situated, *and* I'm trying to prepare the last meal that Trip and I will cook together in Illinois; beef short back ribs from the farmer's market, organically grown and raised. They are pictured here, upon our current (and possibly future) dinner table, which is a tote. They were ok. We'll do better next time.

Amongst all the excitement, the animals have more fun in mind. As I walk out the door of the cluttered apartment, I find Goose at least 12 feet up a tree. WTF, Goose? I think she just realized she could climb things, so we weren't so sure she could make it down. However, she less-than-gracefully ended up back on the earth. Here is her looking like she regrets the decision a little bit. Also, at PetSmart today, I bought Woodford a bone that still has meat on it, but is wrapped in plastic. While Trip and I were eating, he scouted it out within TWO shopping bags, literally ate the plastic wrap off it, and starting nommin' the bone.

There's nothing really new in the process, but I did find this picture of Woodford from last week when he was "assisting" us with making the moving sale signs.

Five days prior to relocation.

For the past week, Trip and I have no furniture, no table, and limited supplies. We cook meals and sit on buckets on the front porch to eat them. Neighborhood children crowd around our apartment, yelling, and playing with Woodford and Goose (Trip's kitten, with photographic evidence to your right). When we retire to the indoors, they peek in side the windows and make crude speculation as to what we could be doing. I won't miss them. Maybe the one with a mohawk. He flashes me the "rock on" sign when I drive past.

The formerly crowded apartment is starting to breathe a little as things are getting packed up and put away. Some big changes are about to be made...