Moving Update 7/12

On finishing up the finishing-up;

*Opened the key for the house cleaning crew.

*Brought a ladder, two armchairs, two folding tables and a recliner for outside use to my husband's co-worker who is also from Japan.

*Returned the keys to our wonderful landlord.

*Sold the car to Carmax.  Didn't know we can keep the license plates.  I was almost in tears looking at them.  It's like a farewell present from the car.

*Sold child seat to my friend.  That makes $77.20 to be donated to March of Dimes.  I feel a little bad about NOT donating all the proceeds from selling the car, but it is a college fund for our daughter.  We'll add some money to the donation check for sure, though.

A horrible mistake;

*My purse I used last time we went to Japan is not with me.  That means (or so I seriously hope) it is somewhere in the packed boxes and gone by ocean (more likely than by air), which means I won't get it back until late August or early September.

 I am really glad my husband didn't get mad to hear this news. He just assured me that it's OK because he has his Japanese bank card with him (and got a little nervous and got up to check it - I woke him up at 3:30 in the morning), and laughed a laugh that means "but I am never going to forget it- and I'll make a joke of it forever!"  ... Well, I think I really deserve it.

Not so horrible;

*Several things we didn't intend to take to Japan was neatly packed and shipped.  A pack of tennis balls, broiler pan which was in the oven when we moved in, a wall pocket in the pantry.  I am sure we'll find out some more when we receive the package.

To be ready for the trip;

*Asked a fellow Raveler (is it the right word? I need to find out.) for the tips on sightseeing in Toronto.  

One and a half day in Texas

12 days in America

Moving Update 7/11

What we did on these three days;

*... don't remember well.  Everything went very fast.

*Ate too much.  For sure.

*Brought a slide and a toy car to KidtoKid, got declined the car (three balls were in a new one, all gone), the slide made $15.20.

*Took our daughter to a check-up.  She got 4 shots for immunization.  She did very well at a vision screening and measuring (35 pounds, 39 inches) but didn't respond at hearing screening.  It might be just that she didn't understand the concept (very common in the children who just turned to 4), might be that she really has a problem in hearing.  She doesn't have any trouble in language or musical development, or so it looks like, that it's likely to be the former case.

*Drove to the airport, rent a car.  Turned out George Bush International has one of the best rent-a-car centers you can imagine.  My husband is looking forward to next business trip to his former office already.

*Emptied the fridge.  To me, who was raised by Japanese parents born before the WWII, throwing away the foods is a sin.  I am a sinner.  I even threw away a half-pint container half of ice cream.

*Tried to empty the pantry.  My former English teacher helped me, encouraging me to pass even an open box of rice to her.  She was raised by a father who went through the Depression, has the same idea about throwing away the food.  She saved me.

*And she bought our TV at $20.

*Brought the broken appliances to the recycle center.

*Packed some stuff.  Not a lot.

*Took pictures with my daughter and her teachers at the preschool. 

*What else...?  Oh, shipped everything at home.  The boxes finally counted more than 220 (including the 100 boxes shipped already on 6/20).

*Sold the fridge to one of the movers came today at $40.  He is the one whom we are the most thankful to other than close friends.  He took care of our stuff when we moved to the USA, to the house we have been living these two years, and today.  We can't think of a better person to pass our beloved refrigerator to.

*Returned a modem and a digital box to Comcast.

*Brought some appliances and the toy car which was rejected at KidtoKid to a Goodwill Donation Center.  I wanted to bring them to The Salvation Army, but Goodwill was the nearest and time was pressing.

Things I didn't do these three days;

*Knitting.

*Spinning.

There still are some things to be done here.   

2 days (and several hours) in Texas

13 days in America

Moving Update 7/8

What I did yesterday and today;

*Bought "little something for everybody in the family."

*Brought our car to Carmax and got an appraisal.

*Cancelled water service.

*Met my former English teacher at a gelato stand.  We talked,  ate gelato.  She got a kitten (toy) for my daughter as a birthday gift and a nice earthenware water jug for me as a farewell gift. 

*Invited to my husband's co-worker's house, who is also from Japan, is also going back to Japan at the end of this month and my husband's golf mate/mentor.  His wife is visiting here to help the moving and to go to a trip to Canada.  She is a good cook.  We had a very good time.

*Cancelled my cell phone contract.  It was to be expired this month anyway.

*Called to insurance company for the cancellation.  They are going to send me an e-mail and the reply to that e-mail will complete the process, according to the lady who helped me.  It looks too easy for me, but naturally, I don't have any complaint for that.

*Called to a friend to ask for her awesome Maple Fudge recipe.  She is actually the wife of my husband's boss, and we had met each other only once or twice.  She had given me her phone number when we first met, and I was keeping that like a charm.  (I asked her husband when we met last week for the number again, indirectly, by mentioning I wished I had asked her for the  Maple Fudge recipe.) Knowing for sure that I could call someone I know when I got in trouble is priceless.  Fortunately, we didn't get in any big trouble that I didn't call her until today.  But I wish I had talked with her more often.  I cried when I hung up.

*Brought clothes and books and some hardwares to Goodwill Donation Center.  The Salvation Army Donation Center has much cheerer atmosphere, but Goodwill was closer.

*Went to Kids to Kids to ask if I could bring in a slide (I was afraid it might be too big.)

*Talked to my daughter that I am going to bring the slide to a store tomorrow, that we have to say bye-bye to it.

*Bought light bulbs, but forgot about garbage bags.

*Still waiting for the mail from remodel company in Japan.  

I have to speed up selling/donating/throwing process for sure.  And I definitely have to start packing suitcases to bring to the trip.

3 days to the final shipment
6 days in Texas
16 days in America

Moving Update 7/6

During this long weekend, packing didn't make a lot of progress.  We spent these three days meeting friends, buying birthday present for our daughter and just enjoying family time.  Our 4-year old girl needs Mama, and I am saying a lot (maybe too much) of  "Not right now."s these days.  On her request, I stayed right by her side while she watches Handy Manny today, instead of sending e-mails or picking up bits and pieces.

Still, there are some things I have done over this weekend;

*Sent an e-mail to the remodel company in Japan.  Their paper (order form) should be here days ago, but is not.  We are a little bit concerned.  (Got an e-mail response, saying they sent the same paper in priority mail again to make sure it is delivered before we leave here.  Good.)

*Tried to open utilities via online at our new house.  Turned out electricity order doesn't work from my computer (probably because I am not using Internet Explorer), gas order needs valid telephone number in Japan,  telephone order (sort of re-connecting to be exact) can't be done online.  Later turned out that electricity order needs valid Japanese phone number, too.

*Keeping on the effort to empty the pantry throwing away as little food as possible.  Means our diet is getting heavy on carbohydrates.

*Keeping on the effort to empty refrigerator, throwing away as little food as possible.  But for about 10 scary fossil-like jars I found far deep in there, I didn't hesitate to put them in the garbage bag.

*Asked GTA Fiberfaces board on Ravelry about LYS and yarn suggestion in Toronto.

It's about time to make a serious to-do list.

*Buy chimney starter (for my brother), oven mitts (for mother-in-law) and several silly T-shirts (for nieces and nephews).

*Go to CarMax to get an appraisal on our car.

*Bring broken appliances to local recycle center.

*Bring toys and so on to The Salvation Army.

*Complete cancellation process of water, insurance and cell phone contract.

*Buy more garbage bags.

*Buy 60W light bulb.  (Pantry light burnt out.)

*Wash blankets and pillows before packing.

But for today, I'll take a hot bath and go to bed.

5 days to the final shipment
8 days in Texas
18 days in America

Moving Update 7/3

What I & my husband did today;

*Decided how to do about our bedding.  Because the shipment takes weeks, we just can't peel the sheets off the bed and pack them (hint; weeks of humid and very warm condition combined with used sheets. Gonna be filthy.)  We are not going to take them with us all the way from L.A to Toronto to New York, where we travel before going back to Japan.  We really don't have any choice than to throw them away, except to wake up early on the moving day and wash & dry them before packing. Our decision is throwing them away.  I have a few new sets for each already packed and shipped.  But I know some part of my heart tells me "Hey, just a thin single layer cotton fabric or two.  It doesn't take long to dry up!"

*Learned that I can't make online application on Change of Address at USPS.com.,  because we need  our mails to be forwarded to my husband's office, which means family address changed to business address.  I am not so sure what they are worried about, but they just don't accept it.

*Learned that all I have to do to let mail forwarding done is (or so it looks like is) to go to the nearby post office and get a form (which comes with Lowe's coupon and everything), fill it and post it.  I don't think it makes sense.

*Went to post office anyway and got the form.

*Got a copy of medical record from the doctor's office (my husband).

*Made an appointment for my daughter's check-up.

*Packed and sealed one box.

*Packed several more boxes but not sealed.

*Bagged several garbage bags. But garbage truck doesn't come on regular schedule (Friday) this week because of the holiday.  Really hope they come on Saturday.  Really.

Although every day I feel I could scream/sob/giggle all day, sock knitting is keeping me from breakdown.  My project right now is Back to Basic from knitty.  It would be easier to knit on 2 circs, but I only have DPNs on hand.  Not really a big problem, but a little fiddly.  

Next is going to be Ambrosia Socks from Knitting Daily, if not a lacy scarf I am daydreaming frequently.  Like Leaf Lace Scarf by Janet.  

Happy 4th of July!

8 days to the final shipment
11 days in Texas
21 days in America

Moving Update 7/2

What I did today;
*Made online application for the turn-off of electricity. On the course of that, I realized I didn't remember the spelling of "electricity". Now I know it.
*Made online application for the shut-off of gas.
*Made a phone call asking the cancellation of the phone service. I had my sock knitting while waiting for them to get an attendant. While I was admiring my own cleverness to do so, I got an attendant and got upset because it was so quick.
*Saw one of my English teacher to tell her I'm leaving.
*Went to cable TV (& internet service) office and made cancellation.
*Got Handy Manny Tool Box Toy for my daughter (as a birthday present from me.)

*Baked Shoo-Fly Pie. (Confession; with store-bought pie sheet. Used Tyler Florence's recipe for filling.)

*Remembered that I have to make an appointment for my daughter's check-up.

9 days to the final shipment
12 days in Texas
22 days in America

Monogamy

My daughter's birthday party went good.  We all had a good time.  Now, it's time to come back to real world, but today is my day off.  Sort of.

These days, I am knitting one project at a time.  

It started with BSJ Newcastle.  I wanted to concentrate to it, because it was my first try on the famous pattern, because it is a very special gift knitting to a very special friend.

And finished this pair. Actually, I had started it before BSJ but I set it aside while I was on BSJ.

Pattern; plain toe-up short-row heel K2P2 all-over.  Basically, I use Universal Toe-up Sock Recipe from Knitty or Toe-to-Top Crew Socks from Simple Socks Plain & Fancy by Priscilla A. Gibson-Roberts.

Yarn; South West Trading Company TOFUtsies, colorway 787  ~0.6 skein

Needle; Brittany 5 in DPN, US 1 1/2

I love this needle.  The length is just right for smaller sock (like mine or my daughter's), I love its unfinished surface.  

Next, came this.

Pattern; Jaywalker by Grumperina

Yarn; ONline Supersocke 100 Holiday Color, colorway 999

Needle; KnitPicks Harmony US 0 DPNs

I had to frog the swatch to complete a pair.  The Recipient wears US women 10, and this pattern eats a lot of yarn.  I like this colorway, but looks like it's gone.  I can't find any online store to carry it. 

And next, came this.

Pattern; my own stranded design from the bottom to cuff, toe-up the rest, and grafted together where stranded part and ankle rib meets

Yarn; KnitPicks Essential Navy (22g, insufficient) and Ash (40g, made 10g leftover. uggh.)

Needle;  KnitPicks Harmony DPN and Brittany 5 in DPN, US 0 and 1 1/2

If I had enough yarn, I would have knit them toe-up all the way.  I wasn't sure for the amount of  Navy yarn.  I ended up unmatched heels (one in almost Navy, one in half-and-half of Navy and Ash).  Thinking of the way I wear them, toes and heels are always in the shoes and nobody wouldn't notice.  I can live with them.  I just wanted to make sure the stranded pattern part is perfectly as I planned.  And it is.  I am happy.

I am knit-wisely in a state of travelling already, thus, this series of sock knitting.  "Small" means "socks" for me but I am getting just a little sick of it and browsing a lot of scarf patterns online.   Maybe... in Toronto.... some Maple leaf-ish yarn (I have no idea what that is, though) for a simple lace pattern like Omo Scarf.

The stories I hear in Ravelry about confiscation of knitting needles at the airport was scary that I decided to send most of my needles away in the 1st shipment.  I now have only short (no longer than 7 in) DPNs, KnitPicks Harmony, Brittany, and bamboo needles in Japanese standards in my knitting bag.   I am going to check-in my Harmony and Brittany needles when we fly, only carrying bamboo DPNs (which in worst case scenario, I can buy new sets after we arrive at Japan ) with me.  Harmony and Brittany sets I have is just for fingering weight sock knitting, up to US 3, but my  bamboo DPN goes up to JP size 7 (compatible with US 6).  Lacy scarf... here I come...

I could cast on three sock projects at the same time right now even if I had to use the same size of needles for all of them, and more if I could use different sizes, but something in my mind tells me to try keeping on knitting one at a time.  Traveling makes me think to live on minimum.  It is good for me.

10 days to the final shipment
13 days in Texas
23 days in America