Iowa - Week One

The Boy and I have moved to Iowa. The Commander still has a few more weeks at the Police Department before he will be able to join us. He is going to be making trips up on the weekends to bring the rest of our junk important household belongings.

We stayed at my parents’ house Tuesday and Wednesday night. When we arrived at their house, my Mom had supper ready for us. For me actually. Chicken, dressing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn and made from scratch banana pudding. I told her I should move more often!

We left about 7:30am on Thursday and headed off to Iowa. I packed peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, Pringles and Gogurts so we wouldn’t have to stop to eat, only to get gas and let the dogs potty. We arrived at our new house at 5:30pm. Then I curled up in a ball and died. (Not really.)

Friday, June 6th, Day One

We got up and went to the library for the summer reading program. The theme is Bugs! The Boy wanted me to stay since he didn’t know anyone so I took a chair to the side and tried to blend. The Boy had a pretty good time. After they split the kids into younger and older (there were about 50+ kids!), each group had three books read to them and then they gathered in one section and a lady did a presentation about the Madagascar Hissing Cockroach. The Boy got to hold it repeatedly and was grinning from ear to ear. They did a craft, got a snack and then we headed out the door.

We went to the bank and handed over the check for the proceeds from the house we sold. We decreased the new house loan amount by 2/3!

We went to the newspaper office and to change our mailing address, the post office to pick up our mail and let them know we are officially here and the cable office to sign up for cable and DSL. Guess which two out of three happened? I’ll give you a hint. I had to dig out the VHS tapes because we have run out of DVDs to watch.

The cable office is closed in the mornings and when I went back that afternoon, no one was there still. I called the number and got an office in another town that was handling his calls because he had a trouble call to go on. The lady I talked to didn’t know the exact services and prices for our town. She actually told me, “I reserve the right to be wrong.” If I make it through the weekend, I’ll go back to the office on Monday.

The Commander showed up later Friday evening with a load of stuff. After we unloaded, we went into Minnesota for Jake’s Pizza and a Sprawlmart run for groceries.

Saturday, June 7th, Day Two

The Commander’s Mom and Sisters came down from Minneapolis today. We visited for a bit and went to the diner for lunch (dinner). They left right after. Then the excitement began.
Unpack, mow, unpack, mow, unpack, rototill, plant tomato plants using kitchen spoon as trowel and slice open palm of hand in three places, wash clothes, wash clothes, wash clothes.

When I sent out an email with my new address, I said it was in case anyone wanted to send me a Christmas card. Guess what was in the mail today? A Christmas card. Kathy, you so funny. Thank you so much. Keeping in the spirit, we watched A Charlie Brown Christmas tonight.

Sunday, June 8th, Day Three

The Commander got up and headed back to Oklahoma bright and early this morning. I had a nasty case of the sleepies. I could not get out of bed and function. Finally, I managed to get up and showered about noon. We ate lunch and headed back up to Minnesota. (We are only 9 miles from the border. 20 miles to a town large enough to have real stores.) We spent quality time and money in ShopKo (Four new DVDs!) Including Godzilla. We are watching it now.) and headed back home. I unpacked three more boxes and made supper.

My goals for this week:
GET CABLE AND DSL!
Get someone to install a fence for the dogs.
Unpack at least 10 boxes.

I’ll try to take the computer with me to Minnesota tomorrow. There is a Starblechs up there that will hopefully have wi-fi.

This is harder than I thought it would be. We don’t really know anyone and The Boy is very sad about not having anyone around to play with. I keep telling him he will meet people, but it will take time. I’m having problems keeping him entertained, the dogs corralled and trying to get organized. I need my husband!

Monday, June 9th, Day Four

Unpacked 2 1/2 boxes. Woo! Slow going I know, but this house has a lot less storage than the one we just left. I’ve got most of my kitchen stuff unpacked and we all know that is the most important, right?

The dogs are driving me crazy. Scotch, aka Sir Chomps-A-Lot, managed to drag the middle cushion off of the couch in the den and chew chunks out of both sides of it. It is still useable, but we may have to get a slipcover for the couch.

Cooper, aka Houdini, has managed to bend the chain link in the corner and get out of the 10 X 10 dog kennel we have been keeping the dogs in when they are outside.

Makes me want to ship both of them off to boarding school.

I am meeting with a guy tomorrow night to get an estimate on the fence. Couldn’t happen soon enough.

Finally got in touch with the cable guy and he is going to hook us up with cable, DSL and phone tomorrow. I certainly hope so. We have watched three or four National Geographic videos and are currently watching The Music Man. We have also played Trouble, Snap and the Playstation. And scooped poop.

Trash day is tomorrow so there’s that.

Did I mention I need my husband?

On the bright side, The Boy met a friend at the park! He is in the same grade, in Scouts and his birthday is two weeks after The Boy’s. I hope it works out. He came over to the house for a bit and seems nice.

The neighbor kitty corner from us brought over a fresh out of the oven Rhubarb Crisp.

The Commander’s Aunt and Uncle came over and brought fresh out of the oven Apple Pie and Ice Cream.

I guess I’m going to have to wait a bit to start losing weight…

Tuesday, June 10th, Day Five

We have phone, internet and cable!