Of course they are...

We finally had 1/2 of our new furniture order delivered today. It's been a saga of its own that I've spared you thus far. I don't have the energy to go into it now. Suffice it to say that we should have had these tables 3 weeks ago along with the entertainment center that is still on backorder and they're hoping will get here by Sept. 1. By the way, we ordered everything on July 9 in case anyone wants to keep score. Gotta be quick, there's lightning. So, here are the pics of the new tables. What you can't see is that 2 of them are damaged. Of course they are. But, we get to keep these until an "analyst" can determine if the damage is "severe" enough to warrant replacing our supposedly brand new tables. Either way they look good in the pics and I'm happy with our choices. Hopefully the entertainment center will look as good and have the added bonus of not being damaged. I promise more later after the lightning stops.

I am tasty AND a genius.

Yesterday, we spent the greater part of the morning loading all of my classroom materials into Andy's truck and unloading them into our new climate-controlled storage unit. I found out that I will not have a classroom at my new school, I'll be floating. That means I have nowhere for my 6 bookcases and 500+ books. I am absolutely convinced that if I leave the books in the storage shed in our backyard that they WILL (not might, but will) grow some rare type of toxic mold that would require tenting our entire house and setting off cannister fumigators. God forbid I take them to school before I realized the mold growth. Then we'd have to tent the whole school. Point of this imaginative walk down Devastation Lane? I'm not sure. Apparently rambling aimlessly is catching: thanks Scott. So, I'm storing the books and all my other classroom crap because I don't know what I'm going to have room for. I get a desk, computer and phone in another teacher's room to call my own until Christmas break. Then she's getting booted out of her room for rennovations so we'll both be homeless. I don't know if that means I'll get a room in Jan. but I'll have to share it with her or what. That would be fine by me. At least then I could start moving in some of my things. Anyway, back to my original posting idea...

While moving all the boxes yesterday, I discovered that I am delicious. Specifically, I am delicious to the brand of mosquito here in the Sunshine State. The current count of bites on my person is 27. I'm not laughing. The weird thing? 13 of the 27 bites are on my right thigh. I don't know if several of the darn things got caught in my shorts or what, but 13! On my right thigh only! Holy Benadryl stick, Batman!

Emma was a lot of fun while we were "storing" yesterday. And I mean that literally, she was fun. She helped us with the flat cart. She held open doors, she worked the elevator (pronounced, "alligator" in E language), she held the keys for the padlock. She was awesome. Apparently she used up all the goodwill she possessed while at the storage facility because last night around 6:15 she became about as fun as a 45 year old alcoholic on his 3rd day at rehab. In trying to talk her down from throwing the remote at Max and litter the living room with socks, I decided to discuss her finer points. Give her a compliment. No dice. So, it was bathtime. Baths seem to be the magic elixir for bratty Emmas these days. They are starting earlier and lasting longer than ever. As I've said before, baths don't bother me because at least she confined in a small area and content to stay there for more than 10 minutes. Her parting words to us last night before we threw her in the bathtub to calm her down were, "No, I NOT gorgeous, Mama. You a GENIUS!" Then she crossed her little arms and sat down in the bathtub with a mighty "schlump" like she had just called me a bitch. It was difficult not to laugh when the water sloshed up into her face making her squinch her eyes up and gasp. Exactly. She was pleasant by the time her hair was all wet. I AM a genius.

Going once, going twice, SOLD!

We finished the paperwork this morning so we officially own the house we've been living in for a week. Since yesterday was Emma's birthday, we told her we'd buy her a house. She was super excited about that. "Yeah! I want a house. Thanks Mama!" Today at the title office, she told us we needed to go "pay" for "her" house.

We are also having the refrigerator fixed today and our kitchen table is supposed to be delivered today. In fact, he just drove up. So, things are coming together. (You realize I've now cursed us.)

Emma's birthday was fun but pretty low-key. Since we had her party before we left Fayetteville, she had time with her friends before we moved away. Yesterday we took her to a local park. Then we came home, had lunch and made birthday cookies. After dinner, we went to get ice cream but she was pooped by then and only ate about 3 or 4 bites. She is super excited to be 3. Apparently being 3 puts you in charge because she told Andy and I several times yesterday, "Now I in charge, Mama." Really. We'll see about that. "Well, probally Mama I need to be in charge cuz I three." Well, 'probally' that's a bad idea. 3 year olds have never been known for their sound judgement and frugal planning. I'll let you all know how it works out.

We're going to have to get used to the hotness here. By 9:30 yesterday morning, it was already 90 degrees outside. We just can't hardly be outside between about 11:00 and 4:00. Thankfully our house faces east so we don't get the hot afternoon sun like we did in F'ville. Plus, we've got lots of trees in the backyard so Emma's swingset and most of the backyard is in the shade in the afternoon.

Now if we can just get used to the idea that we are really staying, that would be good.

Sale Pending

We are awaiting final paperwork to officially own the house we moved into last Thursday. That's been the reason for lack of posting - we've been furiously unpacking while grandparents were still here. It's amazing how much a almost-3-year old can slow down the packing/unpacking process. But, we're relatively back to normal. All of the beds are set up, we've done laundry, and the cats have successfully mastered the new pet door. Max does fit through the cat door but has definitely had his pride tarnished a bit as his belly flops over the side of the cat door and nearly sent him head over tail the first time he went down the steps into the garage. We are waiting on flood certification through our insurance company so we can sign the paperwork and get the title to the house - or hand the title over to the bank, as it were. Apparently a 1% chance of flooding requires insurance, particularly since the neighborhood pond is drying up and fish are dying on the ever-receding "shores" as we speak. Currently this area of FL is in a drought. The rainfall in this area has been almost 0 since April. It looks like perhaps this little pond could easily be 10 feet deep in places but right now it is beset upon by a flock of herons who are getting fat on the fist who are literally flopping in the shallow water. It is also a lovely breeding ground for humongous mosquitos. Needless to say, we've swapped out our sunscreen for OFF! since the towering pines and swamp oaks block out the sun but provide great cover for bugs and stifling humidity. We're supposed to close on the house Wed. Things still continue to go wrong even though we do at least have a home now. The refrigerator refuses to cool and the repairman (who came at 11:45 of the 8-12 window we were quoted over the phone) said the motor is busted and he'll have to order a part. Which will probably be here Thurs. so he'll be back on Fri. Obviously the internet is now working but it was a 2 day battle that included the cable company, the modem/router helpline and a man who told me his name was Patrick but he was clearly in Mumbai, India nearing his lunch break. Our new kitchen table is winging its way to our new home thanks to the extra $105 that target.com charges for its Special Delivery Zones (SDZ) of which Tallahassee is included. (Of course it is.) Did I mention that the original shipping fee for the table was only $90? So total, we payed $195 to have the table shipped. Ahh, but the chairs were free shipping, so we dodged a bullet on that one, right? No. You see, target.com has no record of us ordering any chairs even though I have the confirmation email. And, naturally, the free shipping offer has expired. So now, I will pay the original $50 shipping plus $105 for the SDZ to get my chairs which Nanette at target.com assures me were never ordered originally. Fabulous. But, I'm trying to be positive. I no longer feel sick ato my stomach immediately when I wake up. Our roof doesn't leak (b/c we're in a drought), the A/C works (I'm sure I just cursed us) and our furniture came through the move relatively unscathed. We are all healthy and maintaining a semblance of sanity. On a postive note, the fridge is still under warranty. So, there are blessings, we're just really having to look for them. One of the major blessings being our parents. The Mauks selflessly worked like dogs the entire time they were here helping us unpack and put up the swingset. My mother cleaned our entire house like it was a hospital. We have a great family and I guess that's what really matters.

Relocation Recommendation

Don't move. Don't. Do whatever you must do in order to stay in your current home and city to avoid it. Dress up as a taco if you have to, just don't move. I concur that moving, whether across the street or across the country, should require that courses be taken in the following areas:
How to Hire a Moving Company
How to Fire a Moving Company
How to Pack a Truck After Firing a Moving Company
How to Avoid Divorce: Not Blaming Your Spouse for Everything (see also other life-changing events i.e. Getting Married, Changing Jobs, Having Children)
How to Talk to Service People Without Using the Words "moron", "idiot", or "imbecile"
How to Read a Map and Follow Directions
How to Understand Money, Movers and Mortgages
How to Become the "Squeaky Wheel" in Order to Get the Grease
How to Drug Pets for Extended Travel
Don't get me wrong, I'm excited about FL. I realize it doesn't sound like it from this tirade but I am. I'm not excited about losing our original house, house-hunting in Let's-Make-a-Deal-style, fighting with the bank, shmoozing the termite guy or finding out that target.com considers Tallahasse to be its own private island and charging us the same price as the kitchen table itself to send it to us. (Beware of Special Delivery Zone shipping fees. Ouch.)
More than anything though, is I hate that this is the way my husband's new adventure has begun. When he decided to go back to school for his PhD, he was so excited. He seemed happier in the past few months leading up to our move than he had been in the entire past year. I just knew this was the right choice for our family. Now, he's stressed out and feeling guilty like this is all his fault. I hate that for him. I am choosing to believe that this was God's way of protecting us from a money-pit of a house. I am choosing to believe that our neighbors will be better. I am choosing to believe that Max will actually fit through the tiny cat door in the newest home choice. (MK has instructed me that if/when Max does in fact get stuck in the cat door, I am to take photos first and then help release him.) And finally, I am choosing to believe that the excitement about this new phase of our life will come back for my husband. I want so much for him to know that Emma and I support him and that because this is his dream, it's part of my dreams too. Yick. Too much sap. Must go purge by swearing at the kids playing basketball outside our hotel window. Later.

Housing update

We've found another house. It's about 6 houses down from our first try. It is the same floor plan but with better improvements (laminate floors, deck - even a cat door) and less for us (Andy) to do upon moving in. We've also found sympathetic sellers who are willing to take our price so they can close early and be rid of the house because it's been on the market for 6 months "For Sale by Owner". They just listed it last week. Apparently they've had quite a few offers already so we feel really lucky. No, Mom, I do not have any pictures. There was no time to take pictures considering the inspections, phone calls, reschedulings and praying to various dieties that we wouldn't have to live in a hotel for a month. Everything has been done, again. Now we're just waiting on the bank because, could this be easy? NO. We have to be approved - again - for our mortgage amount. Then the house has to be appraised- again - to make sure we're good for the loan. Then all the paperwork has to be processed - again - so that we can go back to the title office - again - and buy the house.The bright light in all of this is the sellers. They own the carpet cleaning company that we were going to use on the original house. So they know our situation. They are going to let us go ahead and move in because they know we are serious about buying and they are serious about selling. I will eventually take pics and post a few. Maybe I can even figure out how to post a slide show by then. However, keep in mind there will be lots of unpacking (and probably swearing) going on in the next week. Just pray that nothing goes wrong this time. We're thankful but still scared. God works mysteriously - I guess that other house wasn't for us. It's a weird way to provide protection but He knows what He's doing way better than I do. Later.

No, really - we're actually homeless.

So, do you see over in the "Countdowns" menu how is says that we're homeless. Originally that was just a joke. Now - it's true. We were supposed to close on our house yesterday morning at 9:00. Due to some late paperwork, the time for the close was first moved back to 11:00am. Then, at 10:00, we received a conference call from our realtor and the sellers' realtor to let us know that the sellers' couldn't come up with the money for their end of closing costs. Not only that, but then their realtor had the balls to ask us if WE had any ideas on how the sellers could come up with the $6000+ that they needed to close the deal. I'm serious. One hour before we were supposed to sign the papers, they decided to let us know they were strapped for cash and could we possibly do anything to help. ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME! But no, they weren't kidding. Then we get to the title company's office to "sit down and brainstorm" with the sellers, their realtor and our realtor. By the way, did I mention that their realtor is about 12 and I'm not sure he had permission to be out of the house for as long as we were at the title office. Also, junior showed up to the closing in cargo shorts and Adiddas sandals. Then, as Andy and I are trying to comprehend all that this means for us, Sparky begins to philosophize about how "even though this seems bad, (I mean, I've never been in a situation exactly like this but) remember that life goes on". EXCUSE THE *!@#$ OUT OF ME??! Look buddy, I realize it must have been hard to move out of your parents' house last week and now doing your own laundry really sucks but are you really trying to tell me to get over it? Are you patronizing me while you sit there with your shades hanging off your shirt? ARE YOU HOMELESS? Shut the hell up, dude. Which he did as the encouraged his buyers to "relax, go get some lunch. Don't worry about it. Get your oil changed for the drive to NC and we'll figure this out." Which his sellers promptly did, leaving us at the title company to figure it all out. We haven't heard from them since. Shocker. Now that we're halfway down this highway of hell... This raises several questions:
1) How do you not know that you're going to need some cash at closing?
2) When you haven't been paying your mortgage for several months (as we found out they had not been) how do you not know that's going to come back and bite you when you try to sell?
3) What kind of people wait until the final hour before the paperwork is supposed to be signed to let the buyers know that they might not be able to do it?
4) What kind of realtor knows this is happening and doesn't warn the other people? (Cam, the jerk, that's who.)
So now our stuff is still in the truck being stored in Georgia because ABF doesn't have a secure lot here in Tallahassee on which to keep the truck. We are having to pay for utilities in the empty house over the weekend because they already turned them on Friday morning while we were arguing with the people and their realtor. We had to call and cancel the movers and the carpet cleaners. Andy's parents made it to Memphis and then turned around and went back to Hot Springs because we have no idea when we'll have a home. We spent yesterday afternoon starting over looking for houses again. In a nutshell, yesterday was horrible. I don't even know what to pray for at this point. Everyone send good vibes our way. We really need some.

Traveling

We're on our way to FL! Staying in Birmingham, AL tonight. So, Happy Birthday, America. Sorry we didn't make it to any fireworks but Mimi took Emma to downtown LR to watch the fireworks so I'm sure her enthusiasm was enough to cover my absence.

A couple of updates. Jess and Ken are home today! That's awesome for them and sucks for us since we left today. Can't wait to see more pics of the little man. Congrats guys! What a trip. Jess, you know how I feel about planes so I'm glad it was you and not me who experienced test-pilot guy.

Cats are fine if a little wobbly from the drugs.

My friend Tammy sold her old house and is "completely" moved in to her new house, complete with computer. Awesome. It stinks that she and I just got back to normal after some awkwardness, mostly on my part. For all of my being a bad friend, she stuck with me. Can't wait to keep up with her better now that she'll be able to blog more often with the computer back in the house.

Don't know when our internet will be up and running in FL. Try to post soon. Wish us luck that all our furniture is intact and reasonably undamaged. Later.

In Transit

We're homeless. Currently, we're crashing with the Mauk's in Hot Springs. Yesterday we were here for about 3.4 minutes before Emma insisted on getting in the pool. Grandma wasn't even here but we were slathered in sublock, suited up and on our way into the water before you could say, "Hi, Grandpa, good to see you!"

We also spent a few days with my dad in LIttle Rock and had a lovely dinner with Uncle Matt and Aunt Leanne. Uncle Matt grills a mean chicken breast. I insist on getting some of those spices from his grandmother. The chicken was delicious! Emma even ate it without barbeque sauce or ketchup- that's amazing. Mom/Mimi was in Atlanta for a technology conference for her school so we only got to see her for a few minutes before we headed to Hot Springs yesterday.

We're homeless until July 6. Andy and I are leaving next Wed. to begin the 2 day drive with the cats to Tallahassee. By the way, cats on traquilizers = hilarious! I realize that sounds cruel but most of you know how much I adore my cats. I would never do anything purposefully cruel. It's just that glassy-eyed, mewling kitties who can't walk a straight line are just funny and that's all there is to it. I'll try to take photos on the way to Tallahassee.

I did tear up a little when leaving Fayetteville. I cried for 2 reasons: (1) We were leaving our home of the past 7 years. 12 years actually, since Andy and I both attended college there. (2) I'm realatively sure that at least half of my belongings will be damaged or broken when they arrive in Florida. The loaders did a really good job on the first 2/3 of the truck, the last 1/3 of the truck seemed to just be thrown in there. Our lawnmower is current perched precariously above my couches. I see grass stains, grease stains and gasoline stains pockmarking the couches in my nightmares.In addition to the potential couch disaster, the oversized chair will probably be ruined. In fact, I'm almost certain it will be broken. The put the chair in first, with our giant TV in the seat. They surrounded the TV with couch cushions so I feel like the TV will survive, much to Andy's dismay. Then they stacked the 150+ pound storage ottoman ON TOP of the TV. So, maybe the TV won't make it but I'm more worried about the bottom of the chair. THEN they stacked our outdoor (yep, OUTDOOR) patio table on top of the ottoman. I'll be shocked if the bottom of the chair isn't ripped out. They even had to push a few things back with they brought the door down. That's the only thing that's giving me hope about the rest of it surviving the trip. It's so packed in there, I will be shocked if it shifted very much. I guess we'll see. Ultimately, it's just stuff. If we have to replace or repair, that's what we'll do. Slip covers wouldn't be so awful anway. At least then we could wash out the sippy-cup spills and cheeto skids. Oh well, I guess we learned the hard way this time. I think it would definitely have been worth it to have professionals pack the truck instead of local movers so that our things would have been insured. Maybe next time. Yes, we saved about $1500 but we might be paying that out to repair what's screwed up when we get there. Keep your fingers crossed.

We'll be headed back to Little Rock on Sunday for a few days before we leave for FL for good.E's staying with Mimi & Papa while Andy and I travel down to the new house and close. E will be coming the following Wednesday. Hopefully we'll be able to get a lot of unpacking done before she shows up. We also have a cat-door to install (any tips, Scott?), bookcases to put together and a kitchen table to buy. Whew. Who's idea was this?

Oy!

I have inadvertently discovered something in the middle of the night: I am allergic to cardboard. The allergy part is obvious. There was the usual sneezing, watery eyes, excessive (and I mean excessive) running of the nose along with wheezing. Now, why (I hear you ask), did I disover this fact in the middle of the night? The answer to this question requires a two-pronged response. (1) our daughter was up for 2 hours from 2:30-4:30 (YES, A.M.) in the morning. I do not know what is causing this night-waking. Perhaps it's the impending 10 day vacation at the grandparents. One can just see the wheels turning in her angelic little head imagining all the things she'll get to do while at Grandma & Grandpa's or Mimi & Papa's that she is normally prohibited from doing. Or perhaps it has something to do with being newly potty-trained as Andy and I both have heard the words "pee-pee" and "poop" coming from her room in the middle of the night as part of her evening, in-sleep monologue. Either way, Emma was up for 2 hours so we were all up for 2 hours - including the cats who thought this the perfect opportunity to practice their circus act on the end of our bed while we were trying to lull said wide-awake 2 year old back to sleep. Reason (2) for my newfound allergy. Our house is now 7/10 cardboard, 2/10 house, 1/10 inhabitants. My child cannot even see me when I am reading her bedtime story because of the boxes piled high in the floor of her room. Moving is ridiculous. Again, I am seriously considering converting to a spartan existence involving burlap sacks and pots and pans for Emma's toys. I think she'll look charming with a bit of twine tied round her waist to keep the burlap sack in place for preschool.

Reality sets in.

Leaving friends sucks. That's all.

prospective buyer = amateur extortionists

Why do people try to take advantage of you just because they can? Apparently when you are trying to sell your house the term "seller" in the contracts must have extremely fine print that states that "said owners of house in question will serve as 'whipping boy' for the duration of all negotiations between parties". I'm starting to think that maybe this offer was too good to be true. According to our realtor, either we cough up for what they want or they walk away and we look like the jerks who wouldn't cooperate. Basically they want money and since we won't just fork it over, they've trumped up a list of things we "won't fix" - which again, in the hidden real estate water-mark means "we're not willing to bend over and take it". If anyone else would like to demand large sums of money in exchange for nothing legitimate, the line is forming on our front lawn.

Ahhh...electronic bureaucracy

Happy Birthday little brother!
Is it unreasonable of me to think that the odd jobs (and those of you that know about my work with 1-800-Wal-Mart understand just how ODD those jobs could be) I had during college have absolutely NO bearing on whether or not I should be hired to teach in Florida? I'm pretty sure that delivering Bloomin' Onions to overweight patrons or reassuring Granny too-much-time-on-her-hands that it is perfectly natural that the fish department in Wal-Mart has a funny smell shouldn't matter to a hiring principal. However, now that I think about it, both jobs may have prepared me for junior high students in ways I couldn't have imagined. And I mean every second. Thanks to computers being too smart sometimes, if I so much as neglected 2 weeks in the timeline, I was "redirected" to the top of the form to start over and try again to pinpoint my employment whereabouts circa Feb. of 1998. Oi! Suffice it to say that Florida is now aware of how I spent every second of my money-making time in the past 10 years whether it was educationally related or not. Sheesh.

Really...it's over already?

So, after 3 grueling, arduous days of having the house on the market, we have sold our house. No, that's not a typo - 3 days. If everything goes well with the inspection and financing, our house is sold. CRAZY!

One million and a half thank-yous to Jessica for all the patience with my phone calls, questions and basic home-owner/seller paranoia that I have wreaked upon her over the past 2 weeks. Not only is she a great friend and incredibly patient, but she is also a fellow-strongly-worded-letter writer. Keep her in your thoughts and prayers as she and Ken are still waiting on word about when they can go pick up their son, Beckett.

We really feel like this is another sign that we are supposed to go to Florida. Somehow, it's still not real to me. We moved a lot when I was younger so I should be used to this. It's just foreign to me to think about packing up, driving somewhere and never coming home. Fayetteville has been home for me and Andy for more than 10 years. We're going to miss it a lot but we know that God has good plans for our family and we're excited to see what is in store for us in Florida. Here's hoping no major appliance explodes between now and June!

Pant Rant & Post-Easter Purge

This title applies in two ways. I've eaten so much over this weekend, that I wish I could purge up the calories. (Damn the jar of M&M's at the shower, right Leanne?) Also, it's been so long since I've been able to post that I have a lot to say.

Pant Rant: What the heck is wrong with America's Children's retailers? All I wanted was a plain pair of khaki capris and a pair of denim capris. Is that so difficult? APPARENTLY IT IS. All of the denim I've seen has some type of embroidery or lacing. I don't want butterflies or flowers or shooting stars emblaizoned across my 2 year old's rear. Neither do I want to pay $40+ for a plain pair of pants that will be demolished by the dirt-pit that is E's daycare playground. (No, Mom, I haven't been to Kohl's!) Not to mention that toddlers are not preteens. There is no reason to have phrases like "tasty" or "more naughty than nice" logo-ed on T-shirts. They're growing up too fast as it is, why start the trashiness before the ripe old age of 5?

Also, why is it that when one decides to move, the move and not personal intrinsic motivation, is what motivates us to change/improve/clean our own homes they way they should be to begin with? My house looks fabulous - and we're not even completely finished preparing for having the house shown. Of course, something must break when you are preparing for a move. This afternoon, our stereo system made a loud popping noise and now it will not work at all, no matter what we're trying to do: radio, movie, CD. Brilliant. I guess we can go ahead and pack it up. By the time we get it fixed, it will be time to move. Keep your fingers crossed that that's the last major item that breaks on us.

We're moving along down the move-to-another-state path. The house goes on the market next week and I'm slowly but surely getting my resume finished and ready to send out. I told Emma we were moving today and she said. "OK, Mama. I will take a trip with you and Daddy." I guess that's as close as we're gonna get. Good luck to all of us.

Lie, Cheat and Steal!

OK, so the first two don't count but I'm definitely stealing my friend Jess's idea by creating a blog. I was (am - she' not dead!) so impressed with her blog about her and Ken's adventure in adopting their son, Beckett. She has inspired me to create a blog of my own so that family and friends can keep up with us Mauks during our new adventure! {Sorry, Jess, you were always the one with the great ideas anyway. Remember Memphis?! Or was that my idea? It went - not badly, just not as expected - so it could have been my idea.} But I digress...

In case you haven't already heard, we (Andy, Emma, the cats and I) are on our way to Sunny Florida! Andy has finally taken the leap and is headed back to school (yes, again!) for his PhD. He will be attending Florida State in the fall. As he is the perpetual student, this is the perfect next step in his life/career. I have, however, told him repeatedly and in no uncertain terms that THIS IS IT! No more school for him after this. He can sit in a library cubicle and research until he rots but we're done studying/paying/writing for degrees after this. I will not tolerate a double major or second doctorate.

Even though I am deadly serious about this being Andy's last trip into academia as a student, I am thrilled that he's doing this. He's been talking about it since he finished his Master's and I am so excited to see one of his dreams becoming a reachable goal.

In the coming months we will be selling our house, packing up all our belongings (as well as chucking out some things - boxes of old Sports Illustrateds anyone?), finding a new house, finding me a job (public school vs. private/ testing nightmare vs. snot-nosed elitists - what a choice - sheesh!), and becoming Floridians. Floridians...sounds like an exotic disease doesn't it? "It's a shame, really, to have contracted Floridians during the prime of her life" tsk tsk. To me, Florida just sounds incredibly hot as summer is approaching and we are currently 10+ degrees above normal here in F'ville much less 14+ hours southeast. But, I'm trying to be positive. We will be much closer to one of our favorite places in the world, Destin. We will also be closer to some dear friends, Dave and Emily Ward and their precious girl, Ella. Tallahassee is on the way to multiple gorgeous golfing destinations (Dad, Dennis!) and much closer to that Land of Childhood Glee and Parental Torture otherwise known as the Disney World complex. Whatever happens, we feel like God is leading us to Florida and will protect and provide for us on our way. So, check back in with us here to find out about all the developments in our Great Trek South. Pardon any ramblings or typos as I am continuing to contribute to my already astronomical "sleep debt".

Yes, I realize I have been parenthesis happy (parentheses??) but it's midnight for crying out loud!