Adjusting to Middlesex, NJ

We've been in NJ a week now, and finally feel that we're adjusted to the time difference. It's strange to be thinking that if I want to call my friends in CO, that I have to wait 2 hours, or I might call too early.

We are in a strange part of NJ; close to where I grew up, Middlesex is nothing like Morris County at all, which is a good thing. It's more rural out here, and takes careful navigation to get anywhere. Even my dad, who is a navigational guru, asked for and received a gps for Christmas, saying that it's complicated to get where you're going or to find which roads connect to where you want to go.

Let's see, what's happened of interest? M&D have a hot tub, the kids treat it as a swimming pool, we've had to fill it to normal water levels once already. We've ordered portugese food, very yummy. I've made a cheesecake for my brother, have yet to eat it (it's aging nicely). I'm trying to get my nephew to warm up to me and miss Cookie terribly in the process. My nephew tends to take one look at me and run for his mom or dad - not very encouraging! I feel the time pressure - one month, less with our planned trip to Ohio - yikes!

Today we hope to go to the library, our home away from home. I'm looking forward to it!

Yesterday my aunt, who lives in WI, stopped by as she's on the east coast for a couple of days. Along with her were two of my cousins; one I would have recognized, the other - oh my word!! The last time I saw him was at my wedding, when he was, like, nine years old. I must say, that my mom's side of the family produces some very good looking men, my brothers included...

Okay, enough wandering, for now...

One Week Left

Like the flowers they gave me at work?
Yesterday was the "fine dining" experience for selected students. The food service company set up the library as a fancy restaurant, complete with tablecloths, china and silverware, and floral decorations. They served a four course meal, and the aromas of their meal made all our mouths water! I hope the kids I selected enjoyed themselves. Anyway, these were the flowers used as the centerpieces on the tables, and Principal Barton gave them to me afterwards - dunno where the vase came from, it's absolutely beautiful!

Okay, time is quickly running out, going way too fast for comfort! This whole shipping business is complicated. We have to list the measurements, weight, and contents of all boxes, we have to load the truck when it comes, we have complex paperwork to fill out, and labels for all the boxes. The shipping company hires a local company to pick up our stuff, and there's no guarantee that they can get someone to come out before Thursday - there's a better chance of it if we haul our stuff to a local business, eg. our church. So we load a pickup,(neighbor says she has a nice blue one that we can use - thanks, neighbor!) haul everything over there, unload it and reload it on a truck. Then hopefully it will reappear in Argentina, but the trick is getting there before our stuff does! I'm waking up in the morning (and during the night) with my mind full of details that I've forgotten during the day. The end is in sight, I'm glad we elected to ship from here, otherwise, I'd be driving myself crazy in New Jersey over Christmas!

Ahh, the good life...

Look what's waiting for us in Buenos Aires...

Less than 7 weeks left!