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So much has happened in the past few weeks, I don’t know where to start. Well, I was pretty darn sick for two of them, including driving halfway across the country where my husband lost me and the dog in the dark and luckily smart gal Dee drove as close to Lake Michigan as I could and hoped my phone had a few seconds left on it to tell him I was between the Discovery Center and Art Museum/Calatrava.

We’re in a tiny place but making the best of it. I’m off the kitchen counter as of this morning and have my laptop, 24″ monitor and cordless keyboard set up on a $24 foldable plastic desk with a padded folding chair my husband picked up for me last night. The plan is to buy another one, keep it in storage, and use it if we have a big dinner in our new place. Throw a tablecloth on it, set it nicely and voila, we can seat 10-12!

The windows are open, the high today was supposed to be 67 and it’s perfect! Even though we’re on the 17th floor with seagulls wafting by, with an open window and glass corner that’s dog Zoe’s favorite spot today, so I moved her bed and pillow over there.

There are a bunch of dogs in these towers and we meet people every day at “dog time.” I haven’t met any non dog-owners yet and hope to meet some of husband Jim’s cohorts at a hockey game tomorrow evening. They have a private box and have invited staff/spouses to attend. Hopefully I’ll find something to wear and luckily I’ve been informed that all 60 of us will have name tags (easier on the newbies!)

I still fight my battles day by day, trying to keep it down to one or two. Today I couldn’t put a bag of trash down the chute because someone on one of 19 other floors failed to properly close it. That was easy. The cable company was more difficult as the first person I spoke with told me that my agreement with the building was set in stone and I couldn’t order or pay for any more channels. I asked “Are you telling me that your company is in the business of making money and I’m offering money and you refuse it?” She said yes. Sad.

Yesterday I called and just asked to upgrade my service and it took over an hour and four different agents from two companies but at least we now have basic cable, including NatGeo and Military because Jim likes to check those out on the weekends.

That beats five hours with our bank of over 15 years to change account addresses. Moving across country is not for the faint of heart.

I’ve been helped by friends as far back as the fifth grade. I guess we Great Lakes folks stick together. I’ve spoken to high school, college and post-college friends who all lend moral support.

Our next big thing is our friend’s burial with full military honors at Annapolis, where he will be interred. That’s four weeks out and we need airline tickets soon. He was a Captain in the US Navy (ret.) and married us nearly ten years ago. He and his wife were like family and while I haven’t seen him for a few years, I miss him nonetheless.

Other next thing is finding a place to live, and bringing the furniture we’ve bought and brought during this marriage up here from Texas where it’s been in air-conditioned storage for three years! I think we’ll get a two-bedroom place and have one as an office. Guests will stay in a hotel, or if it’s my brother-in-law and nephew they’ll bring cub scout gear and stay on the floor somewhere. Sorry J&J! Cheers and hope your weather was as nice as ours today, Dee