After a ten-day stay in the San Francisco area, Daniel and I are back in Minnesota. We're exhausted, but we had a great time. I met all of Daniel's family and everyone was sincerely welcoming. We first stayed with Daniel's aunt and uncle Becki and Peretz in San Francisco (for my family, Becki is Steve's sister). While in SF we got to walk around Golden Gate Park, go to the Flower Conservatory (I think I wrote about this before), and have some really good sushi. After that, we stayed with Bernie and Manana and got to see a bit of Alameda before heading off to Castro Valley to see Nancy and her kids Amanda and Veronica (Bernie is Steve's brother, Nancy is Barbara's sister). Then we stayed with Grandpa Wolf, who showed us around Walnut Creek. Theeeen back to SF with Becki and Peretz. While in SF we got to spend some time with the wonderful Leora, who we watched Game 2 of the World Series with and also gave us a tour of The Mission (included: breakfast and later ice cream).
On our second to last day, we got to have a car and we went to Muir Woods to see the Redwoods. It was beautiful. The drive up was gorgeous too, and I got to drive a Prius for the first time - what a great car! Then we went wine tasting, which for me was the highlight of our trip. We went to three different vineyards (Bartholomew Park, Ravenwood, and Buena Vista) and tasted lots of wine and even sampled a cheese to go with. I should definitely become a wine-o.
So that's the quick summary of that trip. We're back in the Twin Cities now, staying with everyone in Dan's family. First Jen and Ben, then Amy and Jason, then Steve and Barbara.
Daniel is working everyday to finish up some papers he wants to submit. I'm getting little things done and really just getting psyched up for our move. I'm definitely nervous but also really excited. Who knows what grocery shopping will be like...
The next post will be about the shipping fiasco of 2010, that is almost to a close - we should be receiving our shipment to Sweden at our new apartment on November 10th!
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Friday, October 22, 2010
I am definitely -100%- positive there is a cat in this room.
Hello from the West Coast!
I am in the San Francisco area, visiting Dan's many family members and doing some sight-seeing on the side.
We arrived late Thursday night and were taken back to Dan's aunt Becky and uncle Peretz's home in San Francisco. A great neighborhood in a great city! The first night, we were instructed to keep our bedroom door closed as extra protection against kitty invaders. As told, we kept the door closed and shortly went to bed. While lying there, I heard the scratch-scratch of a cat briefly itching itself. I was in that in-between state of consciousness and sleep, but I told Dan I thought there might be a cat in here. He didn't really think so. I tried to fall back asleep... In about 15 minutes I heard the itching sound again, and told Dan "I am definitely 100% positive there in a cat in this room!" I jumped up and turned out a light and there was a kitty, sitting and staring at me from the other side of the room! She must've been there the whole time.
On our first day, Dan and I walked about the "inner sunset" neighborhood where Becky and Peretz live. We strolled around Golden Gate Park, then went to the Flower Conservatory. To me it seems strange to have blooms so late in the year, but everything was gorgeous. We also got to see an interesting special exhibit on carnivorous plants, including the Venus Fly Trap.
That night was a big Shabbat dinner at Grandpa Wolf's house, where I met the entire Wolf side of the family. I felt incredibly welcomed and had a great time, with delicious food and plenty of wine. We went back to SF exhausted and ready for another day.
On Saturday, we got up a little early and went on the Lands' End walk, which is along the ocean - it was beautiful! It was cloudy but not raining yet, with gorgeous views of the Golden Gate bridge and ocean waves. We had lunch, then took off to Alameda to spend time with Bernie, Manana, and Philip (Dan's uncle and aunt).
Today, Sunday, the plan is to perhaps go see Berkeley, although the weather is blustery and rainy, but later we'll go visit Dan's aunt Nancy.
Less than a week left now before we're back in St. Paul for the final leg of our trip!
I am in the San Francisco area, visiting Dan's many family members and doing some sight-seeing on the side.
We arrived late Thursday night and were taken back to Dan's aunt Becky and uncle Peretz's home in San Francisco. A great neighborhood in a great city! The first night, we were instructed to keep our bedroom door closed as extra protection against kitty invaders. As told, we kept the door closed and shortly went to bed. While lying there, I heard the scratch-scratch of a cat briefly itching itself. I was in that in-between state of consciousness and sleep, but I told Dan I thought there might be a cat in here. He didn't really think so. I tried to fall back asleep... In about 15 minutes I heard the itching sound again, and told Dan "I am definitely 100% positive there in a cat in this room!" I jumped up and turned out a light and there was a kitty, sitting and staring at me from the other side of the room! She must've been there the whole time.
On our first day, Dan and I walked about the "inner sunset" neighborhood where Becky and Peretz live. We strolled around Golden Gate Park, then went to the Flower Conservatory. To me it seems strange to have blooms so late in the year, but everything was gorgeous. We also got to see an interesting special exhibit on carnivorous plants, including the Venus Fly Trap.
That night was a big Shabbat dinner at Grandpa Wolf's house, where I met the entire Wolf side of the family. I felt incredibly welcomed and had a great time, with delicious food and plenty of wine. We went back to SF exhausted and ready for another day.
On Saturday, we got up a little early and went on the Lands' End walk, which is along the ocean - it was beautiful! It was cloudy but not raining yet, with gorgeous views of the Golden Gate bridge and ocean waves. We had lunch, then took off to Alameda to spend time with Bernie, Manana, and Philip (Dan's uncle and aunt).
Today, Sunday, the plan is to perhaps go see Berkeley, although the weather is blustery and rainy, but later we'll go visit Dan's aunt Nancy.
Less than a week left now before we're back in St. Paul for the final leg of our trip!
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Conclusion to the Great Move of 2010
Dan and I somehow made it out of the Twin Cities on Thursday evening, as planned. It really didn't look like it would happen, but with a few energetic bursts and a couple of hours of help from my friend Rachel, we were on the road in a jam-packed U-Haul and my broke-down car.
We ended up putting a few things on the curb, and within 30 minutes of a Craigslist "Free Stuff" posting, a guy was jamming our stinky couch into the back of a Ford Explorer all on his own. He didn't even want any help! There were also countless Goodwill bags, the very full U-Haul I mentioned, and Dan and I each have two bags of luggage, although 2 suitcases await us in St. Paul for our final leg of the trip which will bring us to Sweden. I'm glad to be done with all the stuff!
Now Dan and I are in Madison, staying in my parents house, which feels like pure luxury to me. A giant television with TiVo? Free groceries? A kitty? A little heater in the bathroom? Heck yeah! I'm glad to just lounge around all day. At the end of this week we'll stay with Tim, Jessica, and Landon for a while. After that of course, we will fly to California for a great family bonanza... Rumor has it that I'll be meeting 3/4ths of the family within 24 hours of arrival.
I'm starting to get excited for Sweden. We touched base with our future landlord to confirm that we could just pay on arrival. The shipping agent also let us know that we should be able to receive our shipment on November 10th, just the day after we arrive in Sweden. Things seem to be progressing in an orderly fashion.
We ended up putting a few things on the curb, and within 30 minutes of a Craigslist "Free Stuff" posting, a guy was jamming our stinky couch into the back of a Ford Explorer all on his own. He didn't even want any help! There were also countless Goodwill bags, the very full U-Haul I mentioned, and Dan and I each have two bags of luggage, although 2 suitcases await us in St. Paul for our final leg of the trip which will bring us to Sweden. I'm glad to be done with all the stuff!
Now Dan and I are in Madison, staying in my parents house, which feels like pure luxury to me. A giant television with TiVo? Free groceries? A kitty? A little heater in the bathroom? Heck yeah! I'm glad to just lounge around all day. At the end of this week we'll stay with Tim, Jessica, and Landon for a while. After that of course, we will fly to California for a great family bonanza... Rumor has it that I'll be meeting 3/4ths of the family within 24 hours of arrival.
I'm starting to get excited for Sweden. We touched base with our future landlord to confirm that we could just pay on arrival. The shipping agent also let us know that we should be able to receive our shipment on November 10th, just the day after we arrive in Sweden. Things seem to be progressing in an orderly fashion.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
The Beginning
Bright and early this morning two men from the shipping company showed up at our apartment, ready to take a jam-packed 95 cubic feet of our apartment away. We didn't think all of our belongings (camping gear, 3 bikes, 2 snowboards, clothes, pictures...) would fit but somehow they did. Of course after they left I found at least 5 items I wished they had taken.
It felt good to have that task done. I've been overwhelmed, to be honest. The logistics of this move are unlike anything I've undertaken in my life. Move to college? Sure! Study in Kenya? No problem! But this has multiple layers of details and I'm getting tired.
Of course as soon as the shippers left, my mind was flooded with the other things we had to do. Get more boxes, pack, find bubble wrap, pick up the U-Haul, deliver furnituregotoGoodwillcleanoutthepantrydolaundrycalllandlord OH MY GOD.
Today is Tuesday. Hopefully, if all goes as planned, on Thursday we'll head out of Minneapolis and arrive in Madison with time to say hi to my Dad, who is going on a fishing trip beginning Friday morning. And hopefully we can de-stress and take a mini-vacation at that point.
Until then... I am remembering that at some point recently I was really excited about moving, about a new locale, the opportunity to learn a new language, an adventure with my fiance... I'll touch base once we're in Madison.
It felt good to have that task done. I've been overwhelmed, to be honest. The logistics of this move are unlike anything I've undertaken in my life. Move to college? Sure! Study in Kenya? No problem! But this has multiple layers of details and I'm getting tired.
Of course as soon as the shippers left, my mind was flooded with the other things we had to do. Get more boxes, pack, find bubble wrap, pick up the U-Haul, deliver furnituregotoGoodwillcleanoutthepantrydolaundrycalllandlord OH MY GOD.
Today is Tuesday. Hopefully, if all goes as planned, on Thursday we'll head out of Minneapolis and arrive in Madison with time to say hi to my Dad, who is going on a fishing trip beginning Friday morning. And hopefully we can de-stress and take a mini-vacation at that point.
Until then... I am remembering that at some point recently I was really excited about moving, about a new locale, the opportunity to learn a new language, an adventure with my fiance... I'll touch base once we're in Madison.
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