Update on everything...Finally!

Let's see, let's see...where to begin....

THE MOVE

The move couldn't have gone better.  Everything was perfect, no incidents, no issues, no problems.  My Dad and Uncle Pat arrived at my house in So. Cal on Monday, March 19th around 6pm.  We loaded my Dad's truck right away with all my worldly belongings (with the help of my lovely roomies) within about 20-30mins.  And then we were gone immediately - Bro. Nichols and Uncle Pat don't mess around.  We stopped that night somewhere - who knows where - in Nor. Cal around midnight and got a hotel, slept for about 4 hrs and got back on the road.  As soon as we hit Oregon it started pouring rain and continued to pour rain the entire drive thru Oregon.  We hit Portland about 5pm which was bad timing because we sat in some traffic - still raining of course - but saw our first signs for Seattle. 

Ironically, as soon as we crossed the Washington state line (hip hip hooray, we're gonna dance and sing all day!) it completely stopped raining - sunshine and butterflies!  OK, I didn't see any butterflies but let me tell you what I did see...tons of wild daffodils growing on the side of the freeways, they were everywhere!  And to top that off, the rock walls to the side of the rode (where they cut thru to put the road down) had a bunch of little mini waterfalls from all the run off.  So as soon as we crossed the state line into Washington there were literally daffodils and waterfalls there to welcome us. 

Of course the last 30-45mins were the worse because of being on the road so long and anticipation - LET'S JUST GET THERE ALREADY!  Uncle Pat was a trooper and drove the truck the whole way and Bro. Nichols and I drove my car (Bro. Nichols did most of the driving).  Those guys took really good care of me.  We got to my condo about 8-9pm and immediately unloaded.  I live on the 3rd floor so it was a little tedious and we were exhausted from the drive but my new Seattle friends Melody and Matt (I'll tell you about them later) showed up right away and helped us - which was a huge help!  So the unload only took about 30 mins as well.  That night we stayed with Melody and Matt, they fed us, gave us showers and comfy beds to rest our traveling heads - which again, huge help!  Next morning (Weds. March 21st) Bro. Nichols, Uncle Pat, Matt and I all went to breakfast at Maltby Cafe (voted best breakfast in Seattle 2011).  They have cinnamon rolls as big as your face - for real.  After that, Bro. Nichols and Uncle Pat were on the road back to St. George.  Those dudes are tough, I wonder how they would do on a crab boat?  Hmmm, 20 yrs ago no prob but now not so much, let's just say they have done their time.  Those two work really hard and do tons for a lot of people and have lots of blessings coming their way.   

THE SITUATING

After my Pops and Uncle Pat left (Weds. March 21st) I had some time to start unpacking boxes and getting situated.  No probs unpacking - I didn't bring much - most was kitchen stuff.  I made lists all day of stuff I would need (all so very organized).  Got my Euro bed inflated to have a place to rest my head, that was the most important.  The next day (Thursday, March 22nd) was the big shopping day.  I hit the big three - Target, Ikea & grocery store.  Needless to say, I did some pretty good damage and was exhausted by the end of the day.  

THE PLAYING

The next morning, (Fri., March 23nd) I got my first guests.  Wendy and Sharon flew in from So. Cal. to come play with me in my new home.  We went straight downtown from the airport and hit Pike Place Market, the gum wall, street performers, flying fish and market vendors.  Had some lunch at my fav sandwich place called Sisters in Post Alley.  Then we headed down to the boat harbor cruise and Aquarium.  After that we headed back to my casa and they helped me hang curtain rods and shelves (exciting stuff) and I offered them some lovely inflatable mattresses to sleep on.  Next day (Saturday) we went to look for the Fremont Troll - which was a huge ordeal with me getting lost and throwing a temper-tantrum cause I was so frustrated at not knowing my way around.  It wasn't pretty but Wendy and Sharon hung in there with me as this was not their first time to see me act like a 2 yr old not getting my way.  Once we made it to the Troll I had calmed down and all was well.  On Sunday, we did the museums - Music Experience Project, Pacific Science Museum (were Wendy got molested by a butterfly) and the Space Needle - then we had dinner at the Crab Cracker in Kirkland (my new fav restaurant in my new home town).  Monday we drove to Gig Harbor for lunch at Tides Tavern on the water with all the boats and walked the harbor for the sites.  Alas all the fun had to end when I returned my guests to the airport on Monday afternoon around 3pm. 

THE JOB

I started work on Weds. March 28th.  Everyone I work with is SUPER nice and helpful and I really think I am going to like this place.  They really seems to have their stuff together and no one seems to be walking around stressed out or looking frazzled, which is a good sign.  That being said, work is going to be a big adjustment for me with just the environment alone.  It's very big city living, just like in the movies portray.  One way streets downtown with lost of people walking around with trench coats and shoulder bags and bike messengers.  I park in a parking structure 1 block from my high rise building, I take an elevator down to ground level, I walk across the street with packs of people, enter the convention center, go thru the lobby of the convention center, take 2 escalators up, walk across a connecting walk way into my building (rotating twirly doors, security desk and full time piano player in the lobby), wait in the elevator lobby #1 with 8 elevators for floors 1-30 (elevator lobby #2 has an additional 8 for floors 30-60), then pile in the elevator with 10 other people to go to floor 10 (my company occupies floors 8-12).  The lobby of my building has the following:  Starbucks (of course), Peets Coffee, a florist, gift shop, 2 deli's with fresh salad bars, a tunnel that goes under 6th Ave that has entrances to beauty salons, 2 banks and a Golds Gym.  It's all just very overwhelming.  I like it and I'm sure I will love it soon enough, it's just a BIG adjustment from what I am use to with So. Cal living.  The icing on everything is that I'm trying my best to blend in and not look like a stupid tourist.  I'm trying to keep it cool but inside I'm going "what, what, WHAT?!".  The good news is, by my 2nd and 3rd day (this last Friday) a lot of my anxiety had gone away and things are becoming more familiar.  It's just an adjustment and I have to keep reminding myself - RELAX, it's only been three days! 

MY PLACE

I love my place.  2 bedroom condo, great location, all the amenities I could want, I just need to furnish it!  I have been living on a Euro blow up mattress, a night stand and 3 plastic folding chairs from Ikea. I feel super unsettled without real furniture.  I think it will make all the difference in the world when I have a bed or couch to come home and plop down on.  I bought a bed I really like and they are delivering it today.  So I will sleep on my very own bed tonight - YEAH!  Last night I finalized the purchase of my couch, ottoman and kitchen table.  The table will be delivered next Saturday (4/7) and the couch on the Saturday after that.  So by April 14th I should have everything.  I bought a dresser, vanity (that's right, I said vanity!) and a book self at Ikea last night and will be putting those together today.  So today is assemble furniture day.  I'm going to feel sooo much better when everything is all done. 

OVERALL

Things are going really well, I truly can't complain about anything.  I have a lot of things I have to get use to (work, traffic, weather).  I'm just anxious to get all settled and that only comes with time.  I'll also get hooked up with church stuff soon so I'm sure there will be some good reporting on that as well.  Lots more to come - I promise future postings won't be as long as this one.