Welcome to Chad and introducing OLLIE!!!!

It took many many phone calls and phone messages, but I finally got into my room at Chad. Even though the housefellows could get in, I could not until they finally rekeyed the door this afternoon (otherwise the room key wouldn't open the door). That made my morning a bit more hectic because we had to get all of the move done after I went to work. After moving and lunch (left-over Rockys is still good!!) Matt and I headed to Sun Prairie for his interview. He's not excited by the job, but I think it's still good to get out there. Anyway, it was raining by this time and since he thought his interview would last about 45mins, I went to the Wal-Mart for some stuff. Low and behold, I found Matt standing out on the corner heading towards Wal-Mart in the rain. He'd been done for about 25 minutes and since I didn't feel my phone ringing (I had it on silent) I didn't know to go and get him. Ooooops. We picked up Mom and Carmen, went to West Towne for dinner, went to Wal-Mart again (Mom wanted water shoes for the waterpark on Sunday, Matt found exactly one shoe -a SHOE only, not a pair-that fit him and search though we did we couldn't find the other!!), and then to Woodmans. Mom's home now, extremely tired. Matt and Carmen are at their place, still unpacking. As for me, well I did quite a bit. I moved the bookshelf, the dresser, most of the boxes, the fridge and microwave, the storage containers, and the fish.

Yep, I got another fish that looks a lot like Galway Bay. Thinking of my other fishies (Oscar Osca "Q"-tie pie Lightening and Galway Bay) I knew that this fish had to have an original name....he is dubbed "Oliver Sushi Fishavan" from the funny musings of the family. Oliver is my idea, "Sushi" is Matt's, and "Fishavan" is Mom's....those two started putting "fish" onto every word they encountered while driving - businesses, billboards, and of course car brands ("Fishavan" comes from a green Dodge Caravan we were following for a couple of blocks). Already this fish is doing well, I just hope he can make it for a long time. I can't handle flushing another fish (and I may never be able to use the bathrooms on the first floor of Sullivan if I don't HAVE to). I wouldn't have gotten him so quickly but he was very active as Mom and I walked up and he lives in horrible conditions - the jar's kinda gross. Soon he will be moving into a gallon tank with a filter and little light should he need it. Oh, I'll be calling him "Ollie" for short. The whole name's kind of a mouthful!

Man, I hear EVERY ambulence - now 4 in total - that goes by. Whodathunk that you could hear it so well on the TOP of the building??!! How does Grainger do it? Hmmm...probably b/c they have air conditioning in there!! At least this room has its own sink - I got to wash my hands after I repotted the hibiscus (I think I'll name it "Harry Potter" b/c of it's pot....which actually has nothing to do with Harry Potter.....) without having to leave my room!! Amazing!

Well, I should get going on either heading to bed or showering. Hmmm...tough decision!
Lots of love, Christi and Ollie

RIP sweet fishy of mine

Well, Galway Bay the fish couldn't survive the move. He died sometime last night, probably of a broken heart because he wasn't in his nice cushy huge tank. We only have two more days here in Sullivan but I guess he just couldn't take it. I got him in May (just after I came back) so he's lasted 3 months. I just feel bad that it wasn't longer. Oh well, he's with God now, and will promptly be fed as much as he wants when he wants (which generally isn't any time before 8AM).

In other news, I quit my job. No, not the catering job (although it's funny to watch people's reactions) but the UW-Athletics cleaning job. I just physically can't do it, not with my bad back and all. The lady on the phone was really nice about it and said I could pick up my paycheck on Friday. Yay!!!

I'm working on my shopping list - so far it includes shower shoes, new socks, milk, a carpet, a pot and some dirt, and a fish. What do you think?

Lots of love, Christi (since my hibiscus plant can't talk, it can't say hello but it still looks pretty cute!!)

Greetings from Sullivan

Well, life's gotten shuffled around a lot today. Of course now that I'm finally here in Sullivan one of the first things I do is set up the computer (and shove things under beds)! My hands are still covered in paint, I seriously need a shower, and I gotta find my clothes for tomorrow but at least I have INTERNET!!! Sad, I know. Anyway, a VERY long day today - very stressful too. All is well, Linda's van was PACKED (we used bungee cords to shut the hatch!) and all of that moved to Chad (which can now be called a disaster area - stuff EVERYWHERE) and then two carloads to Sullivan (which will actually be about 1ish because there was always other stuff in there too). I'll get to move out of here on Friday - Matt and I'll probably do it because Mom's got a meeting. Woo hoo, car time in Madison!!!! Just kidding Mom, don't hyperventilate!!! GB, the poor fishy, is not liking his small jar that he'll be in until Friday. I've got so much to do - lists of things to go where, e-mails and phone calls, packing and unpacking - I hate moving. After graduate school I'm finding my dream house and buying it and never moving again. I think that's fair (and Mom would be really happy about it too). Well, I'm getting a bit tired now so I think I'll get this paint off of my hands and get a shower in too.

Lots of love, Christi and GB

Last posting from the Barbie Dreamhouse

Well, I'm 10 minutes to Monday, August 14th and therefore less than two days are left here in the Barbie Dreamhouse. A big shout-out to Molly, her mom, and her friend who came tonight to clean a lot of the downstairs. HOORAY!!!!!! There's very little reason why Tallard should not give us our money back - if we were to leave it as we found it there'd be chicken defrosting in the freezer as I write! The whole not-gonna-live-here-anymore feeling hasn't quite hit yet-probably a good thing too or I'd start crying when really I should be getting to bed so I can get up early and get boxes from work to start packing again. Got some kitchen stuff left to go through.

Well, lots of love from the Barbie Dreamhouse! Christi and GB

Moving Daze

Sooooo much to do, so little time. I've been offline for a little bit now because Heidi took the wireless and I didn't have a cord to hook-up to the box. Now I'm online and have about a half an hour before work starts. Yesterday I spent the day getting lost with Matt and Carmen on the East Side (got on the wrong bus) and getting cleaning supplies and paint to spend the night packing, painting, and cleaning the house. Today I spent the day helping Matt and Carmen move to their new apartment on the near East Side. Tonight I'll be working, early-morning packing, and moving tomorrow. Then tomorrow night I'll be doing as much cleaning as I can - so far only Heidi's room and the upstairs bathroom (I accidentally got bleach on my shirt yesterday as I cleaned off the mold on the ceiling - oops) are finished and about 1/2 of the living room. I haven't heard from Molly yet but I hope she gets here soon - cleaning by yourself is really boring and I don't know what she wants to keep and what needs to get tossed. The stuff's really piling up along the curbs - desks, couches, armchairs, overstuffed chairs, dressers, and shelves of all sizes and shapes not to mention all of the little things around. Don't leave stuff on the curb if you don't want it stolen!!


Well, lots to do so I should probably get to doing them! Lots of love, Christi