Deep in packing hell

The good news is that with all the offloaded furniture, and my packing skillz, our move estimate is now officially under budget. So we can have professional movers, after all. The bad news is that I have to do all the packing. So I'm packing. And purging. And running to Sam's to buy more bubble wrap and tape. And packing some more.

Holy crap I hate moving

So you'd think I'd quit doing it so much, right? Sigh. Apparently I have gypsy blood. Apparently I'm doomed to never stay long in one place (or apartment).

I guess the good news is that even though I don't want to be, I am the Packing Master.

So, to sum up: DH's new company was supposed to pay to move all our crap cross-country and put us up in temporary housing for 60 days. Meaning all we had to do was get ourselves and our car (and 60 days' worth of necessities) to Massachusetts by September 13.

Sounds easy enough, right? Oh but no.

The pre-move estimate on Friday was about 50% over the company's relo budget. Which sent me into a complete tailspin. "There's NO WAY IN HELL we can move ourselves cross-country with ten days' notice," I told myself. "Especially since if one of us is driving the moving van, and the other is driving the car (with cats), we'll have to stop and stay in hotels every night and it will take a bare minimum of a week to get from Point A to Point B." Meaning that is essentially impossible to move on that budget in that timeframe.

So calls were made, and numbers were crunched, and more panicking (on my part) ensued. But since it was already Friday afternoon, it meant I would have to get through the weekend without an answer.

So, because I hate a limbo situation, I took matters into my own hands. I started packing.

Theoretically, at least, if we pack all our own stuff, that will reduce the cost estimate. Also they included a bunch of stuff in the estimate we were already planning to get rid of. So DH and I did a massive purge. And we packed.

Here's the takeaway:

• It's amazing how much stuff goes out the door in a good purge. Most of it wasn't even my stuff, and I already feel a little lighter and freer.
• I'm getting too old for this shit. My back is killing me.
• I have perfected a method of packing which utilizes every square centimeter of box space, to produce the bare minimum number of boxes, all packed to the gills so as to prevent any possible crushage. A happy box is a full box.
• I liquidated a good bit of my pantry by returning all the unopened nonperishables to Sam's. I feel so resourceful. Plus I have a credit there now.
• I still have a bunch of food in the freezer and refrigerator, which has to be eaten up pronto.
• My cats are suspicious.
• Did I mention I'm getting too old for this shit?

Guest post at Mom-in-a-Million!

Today I have a guest post over at Mom-in-a-Million! Pay no attention to that part where she claims we were all drunk at college and saw various people in their underwear. I certainly had no part in such shenanigans.


Of course, I'll never be able to run for public office, due to certain proofs from that era. But that's another blog post entirely.

We're moving to Boston!

Sorry for the slacker-ness in both posting and keeping people informed. This was all very hush-hush until a couple of days ago. My DH has accepted a new position at a company outside of Boston, which starts September 13. So now we're moving. To Boston. In two weeks.

The last couple of days have been a whirlwind, and I have no doubt it will be a while before the dust settles. His company is moving our stuff, and putting us up in temporary housing (read: Marriott-with-kitchen) for 60 days. But we still have to drive our car and cats cross-country, taking with us everything we might need in the next two months. And God knows what kind of crappy-ass Marriott pans I'll have to cook on for two months. It's still not certain whether we'll even get a room with an oven. How can I survive that long without an oven???

Also, we'll both have to build our winter wardrobes from scratch. So there's that.

ALSO, his company is moving to Providence, RI soon. So not only will we be living in temporary housing for a while, in the outer 'burbs of Boston, then we get to move (again) to wherever they settle in Rhode Island.

AND there's the custody issue with his son. As yet unresolved.

So, anyone who has any experience with living in Boston/Rhode Island/New England in general should write me immediately and tell me what to expect. (Other than the cold. I already know I'm going to want to kill myself by January.)

My current company has offices in Boston, but no open positions at the moment. So I guess I'll start temping right away, and see what happens. It's a great opportunity for my hubby, and I have no doubts that this will be good for both of us, Rhode Island notwithstanding.

Still. I'm freaking out a little bit right now.

Bacon chocolate

Order it here.

Lauren, tell all your friends. ;-)

I'm officially starting the Broke Foodie Cookbook

It'll essentially be a compilation of the blog, but more pulled together and with better stories. Probably it will be available for download off the blog, but for the people I like the best, you can have your very own paper copy. You know who you are--you're probably reading this right now. :-)

Also, everyone is getting my barbecue sauce for Christmas this year. I'm thinking of calling it Brokeass Barbecue Sauce. Thoughts?

I'm gonna be intentionally vague

Those of you who know what I'm talking about, will know what I'm talking about. The thing went really well--it looks like it could be a go. It also looks like things would have to happen very quickly, as in, practically right away.

If you have no idea what I'm talking about, never fear. All will be made clear soon.

For the rest of you, well, start prepping. :-)