Nitty Gritty: New Beginnings...

Moving 1300 miles can be stressful... to put it lightly. It can make you dead dog tired and cranky and hungry for the most unhealthiest of foods. We tried so hard to eat well... but there are some things that only fried food can help you through... like LA. We set out on September 1st in a 16 foot Budget truck with a tow dolly towing our car, two cats in kennels, and a dog eager to hit the road. What an adventure... oy.

Amazingly, though, the move wasn't nearly as bad as we thought it would be. I think having an open path of communication between Hubs and I was the saving grace. Also, our cats - the ones that were locked up in kennels between our chairs in the car - did amazing! They meowed a little, but after a while they "relaxed" and let fate take Her course. We were so impressed.

Izzie was fantastic which was to no surprise. She is a pretty amazing pup and loves the car. All in all, I think the pets were just happy to know that they were coming with us.

The changing landscape was beautiful and we both exhaled a deep sigh of relief once we had survived Los Angeles and the Grapevine... we celebrated with Jack in the Box. We stayed the night in Stockton and set out the next day for our new home, only 8 hours away. The last bit of the trip was rather anxiety filled as it required many up and down hill treks with the 16 wheelers as our guides. Slow and steady wins the race, right?!

Eventually we made it to Grants Pass, OR where the following conversation ensued:

Me: "No honey, they pump the gas for you."

Hubs: "Why? I can just do it myself."

Me: "No honey, that is illegal. We are in Oregon now."

Hubs: "Illegal?!!? Well why the heck for?!"

Me: "It gives jobs honey, think about it. 3-5 gas station attendants per gas station across Oregon. That's thousands of people working. Plus it comes in handy when it is pouring rain or blizzarding snow and all you have to do is crack your window, hand over your money, and ask 'fill with unleaded, please.'"

Hubs: "Well I suppose you make a point. Wait... now what are they doing?!"

Me: "They are washing our windshield. It is ok. This is a good thing..."

And so on. He still isn't convinced... but come Winter, he may change his mind.

After Grants Pass, it was only a hop, skip, and a jump away to our new home in Oakland, Oregon. Once we arrived we knew it was just where we were supposed to be... but that is for another blog post.

We picked up our truck and loaded the babes in.

Leaving Phoenix.

Arizona landscape...

She is a trooper in the car. The cats were too.

We survived LA!

Coming down from the Grapevine...

She's pooped.

Hills! I love my husband so much...
he loaded up the truck mostly by himself, drove us the whole way,
and survived my "honey, slow down... honey, slow down!!!"