Hello out there in Think Tank Land…. Been a LONG time since I posted anything.  What can I say… it’s been crazy.  You will know and understand how crazy when I say I haven’t taken one photo since I’ve been here.  Not one.  Yes, I snapped a couple with my phone, but otherwise… nada.

We’ve had a time of it… moving is hard business.  Ask anyone who’s moved.  Add to that Karen breaking her ankle, frustrations with some things after we got here, helping the kids settle in, etc., etc.  It’s been exhausting.

A good thing…  Thomas, Karen’s son, was here for a week.  He stayed with the kids and we went over every day, once in the morning to take him coffee and then again in the evening for dinner every night.  It was wonderful spending time with him, getting to know him a bit better, just hanging out with him.  It’s a big deal.  And no, I didn’t take any photos.  I know… what was I thinking.  Maybe just that we were in it and I didn’t want to be an observer…   Thomas is a lovely man.  Really.  Sweet, thoughtful, fun to have conversation with, and excited about his upcoming stint at the Yokohama International Student House (where he will live) and the intensive language program in Yokohama.  I’m so glad we got to have this time with him, that Karen got to sit there every night and have dinner with her two children, her son in law, and her grandson.  That I got to be in that with her.  Wonderful.

There have been ups and downs on this journey, that’s still not complete… we have purchased some furniture, but it won’t be here for a couple of weeks so for the time being we are using a futon the kids bought when they first got here.  We will return it to them when our couch and two new chairs arrive.  We need to paint a couple of rooms, buy some rugs, still do some major unpacking (our clothes, put the office together, the storage room together, and deal with the garage).  Yesterday we got the upstairs kitchen all situated.  We even barbecued (our first real cooking here at the house) last night and then ate while watching a movie on our spectacular new 55″ TV.  It’s going to be cool down there in the media room… but yes, it’s still lacking the two recliners (I know… recliners… I can’t believe it myself… LOL) and the sofa/lounger that should all be coming this week some time.

We’re getting there….

The pups are doing better every day.  It’s been rough on them.  All the moving from place to place before we left, then the traveling here (they were total champs by the way), then the new house, going over to Mary and Martin’s and meeting and getting to know their two fur heads Wicket and Ziggy, and just being here, in a new place.  It’s a major adjustment for the little rug rats, but they are sweet and are actually beginning to love their new backyard, and we think their new house.  Weston is laying on the chaise as I type.  He loves it out here.

The weather has been a major adjustment.  The humidity factor, which we knew would be a problem for us has definitely been that.  We went out and bought another fan and have them all going, the ceiling fans going, and the air conditioning set at 70.  We walk outside and it’s like being it by a wall of damp heaviness.  Though today… lovely.  Feels like crisp Oregon weather today.  We’re heading toward fall now, so we should have more crisp than heavy.  At least, that’s what we’re hoping.  We keep saying it’s an adjustment… though everyone we meet here keeps saying you never really adjust, you just live with it.  We combat it yesterday with another stop at Jarlings Custard Cup.  Yum yum!  Nothing says cool down in the summer like a cup of strawberry custard covered in cold fudge and almonds.  Helps to heal what ails ya…. LOL

Now we’re going to head out and get some breakfast at the Cafe Kopi in downtown Champaign.  Kev and I had coffee there when we came out in June with Jennie, the nice woman who knows Mary and Martin and put them up for a couple of nights when they first got here.  It’s a funky place.  A place you’d find in Portland.  I know the coffee is good… we’re going to see if the food is good.

I promise to take some photos (as soon as I can locate my camera bag… I know it’s in the house… where in the house is the question) soon.  It’s a cute house… has a good feel.  And it’s feeling better and better, more like us, all the time.  We’re trying to make it a home… I think we are.

And Mom… we found the cylindrical red gong.  It’s hanging on our front porch… It looks and feels like home.

And that’s the short version of all that’s transpired.  It seems like so much more… and has been.  Who can actually encapsulate everything in a blog post.  Not I…

Pictures will follow…

All kinds of love to everyone out there in blog land…