A night out with co-workers, a send off to Wisconsin. Someone brought a cheesehead, literally.
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It doesn't interest anyone else, but I'm a list person and an "achiever", so I feel better (literally physically better) when I can mark things off my to-do list:
Yesterday and today were "Technology" and "Tune Up" days respectively. I picked up a cheap-o cell phone for the road trip in case of emergency. Don't everyone get all excited that they'll now be able to reach me on my cell phone! I'll be lucky if the little piece of plastic lasts through the road trip. Though I will have to have a Blackberry for the new job, so my time of living Cell Phone Free is certainly coming to an end.
I also finally pulled the trigger on a Garmin Nuvi navigation system. I am IN LOVE. This little device with the pleasant voice and confident directions was MADE for people like me. In just two days, I've already tooled around more of Portland than I have in the past four years. I'm a confident driver, but unless the destination is off a flat, corn-lined highway, I can't find my way out of a paperbag. What was I waiting for, why didn't I get one of these gadgets sooner?
The little Jetta made it through her 50k tune up this morning, fairing much better than I feared. A new oil pan, tire rotation, the usual adjustments, a new headlight, and a repaired Cruise Control—and now I'm road ready. For an upgrade from the previous ghetto look, I also opted to replace the missing hubcap. So sexy. For being a good girl, I treated her to a wash on the way home.
The car insurance is up to date, I've updated my AAA membership and downloaded a list of must-stop roadside eateries from RoadFood. I am good to go!
Tomorrow is "Dealing with the City" (moving truck parking permits) and
"Awkwardly Saying Goodbye to Co-workers I'm Not Going to Miss" Day. Tick! Tick! -
I got my snow boots today. They are hideous, so of course they are warm, supportive and incredibly comfortable.
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I'm planning out the road trip, and it's going to be a strange one…heading down to LA first to see Tom , and my friends Kristan and Steve…then across to Nebraska to visit Grandma Eileen and Grandpa Bunny, which takes me through Colorado, so I think I'll stop in Boulder. Then through the plains and up to Milwaukee.
Any stops I should make along the way, let me know! -
I finally got an apartment!!! Woo-hoo!
As it turns out, it's the very first apartment I liked, in the building that Aunt Suzanne and I randomly happened to drive by when I was in Milwaukee for the interview. I recognized it from the craigslist ad, it had stuck out as a building similiar to the one I'm currently in (and adore)–Russian prison on the outside, little hidden gem on the inside. Why is it you always end up back at the first thing you saw? If it turns out I should have married my highschool sweetheart, the universe is perversely cruel.
It's been a rough ride, trying to find a place. Milwaukee is behind the curve in dog-acceptance in rental apartments, and garage parking is at a premium. Poor Suzanne has toured every goofy midcentury apartment complex in town. This one was originally above my budget, but I negotiated a better rate. I've never negotiated before–I must say, I'm very proud of myself. It was hard, but as my brother Tom advised, you have to be prepared to walk away. I walked when they wouldn't come down enough, and then a day later–the price I wanted!
I can't explain how exciting that is–I've always just "paid what they ask", no matter the item or circumstance.
So, let the packing commence!
p.s. Um, and it's not actually 'in' Milwaukee. I'm going to be living in the village (yes, 'village') of Shorewood. It's not as peri-menapausal as it sounds. -
Funny things happen when two thoughts collide….I was thinking about moving back to Wisconsin, had added a new appropriately titled blog category, "Once a Cheesehead…". I was also taking inventory of my belongings, deciding what to sell, what to toss, and what to take on moving day.
It then seemed natural (and not at all the activity of a bored and lonely person) to take inventory of my cheese drawer:
-plain Chevre
-honey Chevre
-crumbled Blue
–Roquefort Blue
–Oregon Smokey Blue
-parmesean in block form
-parmesean pre-shredded
–Gruyere
-cream cheese
-Farmer's Cheese
–Mimolette Vieux
-Feta
I think I might have a problem. -
I can't move everything with me across country (again), so here is installment one of "You Can't Take It With You". Bidding is now open, more items to come. Items in the "smaller than a bread box" category will be posted in a few weeks as packing commences. Email me at katemikkelsen@aol.com if you want something, first come first serve!
-Twin Bed–mattress, low profile boxspring and metal hollywood frame. (mattress pad and two sets of sheets included)
-Glass Lamp with mocha-colored silk shade, three way 12" d, 24" h
-Kitchen Butcher Block Cart 24" w, 20" d, 35" h
-Kitchen Table 42' d, 30" h white laminated wood top, aluminum base with leveling feet
-Outdoor Chairs set of two, stackable in weather proof woven vinyl
-Stone-topped Spot Table 13" d, 20" h
-Bookshelves 54" w, 12" d, 85" h dark brown rift oak, disassembles -
-get new job. Check.
-quit current job. Check.
-upgrade AAA membership. Check.
-give 30 day notice to landlord. Check.
-do walk through with landlord. Check.
-find new apartment!
-get snow tires.
-get oil change and 50k mile tune up.
-get dog tuned up.
-get quotes for moving containers/transport. Check.
-get DOT street permits for moving containers. Check.
-get rid of half the shit I own.
-clean out storage space.
-cancel/move electric, cable, phone.
-completely freak out at overwhelming list of things to do! -
Dad sent me four pre-paid B&W photo development envelopes from A&I for Christmas this year, very thoughtful.
I have a dozen rolls of film in my kitchen junk drawer–rolls I have transported from home to home and state to state (and even abroad!) for years and years. They languished next to twist ties, duct tape and Ikea allen wrenches, forgotten and undeveloped. Back in December, I sent off four rolls I thought might be from five or six years ago.
The very same week that I returned from the World's Longest Interview in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, two of the developed rolls arrived in the mail.
Both were all shots of Wisconsin! Pictures of barns, rows of corn, cows, the lake…all taken more than 10 years ago when I went on a 'farewell' tour of my favorite places in Wisconsin, including Door County (where I stayed at the Valmy Hotel).
