Where Did Time Go?

It's been quite some time since we've checked in here. I'm not sure if anyone else is still bothering to visit, but just in case, let me get you caught up.

The big story of the last 7+ months is probably Steve's Dad. He had open heart (well, really open chest, not heart) surgery again in August. A cancerous tumor was found, but it was completely cleared out. After receiving radiation treatments, we are hopeful all is clear for quite some time.

Andrea enjoys her job. And that's about all we can say about the job.

Steve started a new weather blog in an attempt to get back to his roots, so to speak.

Budd and Snowflake are doing just fine in D.C. They've been able to make trips to Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and Michigan with us, which is fun for everyone.

We've had many visits from family and friends and been able to show off the nation's capital.

About the nation's capital... there are many things to see and do. There are also many people. Traffic is as nightmarish as you can imagine. A sharp contrast to the wide open spaces of Lubbock.

Well, that's the quick update. Hopefully we'll check back in soon as the holidays approach.

In The Valley of the Sun

Just a reminder that I'm heading out to Phoenix, AZ today. If you want to follow the wacky adventures of yours truly, please check in here during the next 8 days or so. If you realize that my wackiness is generally not that wacky, then you are an intelligent human being and I congratulate you on winning in life.

Oh, To Be Standing on a Corner in Goodyear, AZ

I posted this on my other blog, but thought it was worth copying over here...

This was the scene this morning at the mall in Washington, DC. In total, I would estimate we received about 4 inches here, which is about 35 miles west of DC. It's really difficult to tell given the howling winds we've had for the last 24 hours, but the NWS has indicated 4-5 inches in the area just east of us, so I think it's a good guess. DC itself probably received around 7 inches.

Temperatures are expected to drop into the single digits tonight with wind chill values below zero. I can't be sure, but I suspect this will be the coldest night/morning of the winter season in the DC area. Don't fret, though, the weekend forecast calls for temps in the mid-50s to low-60s with sunshine. Just in time for me to leave for AZ. (One week from today!)

The Dark Days of February

It's been a while since our last update and I apologize for that. Here's some quick hits on what's been going on in our lives.

~ My dad had a heart attack on January 25. He was exercising on my parent's elliptical machine when it hit. Exercise = bad. Either that, or that week's episode of "24" was too much to take. Jack Bauer can have that effect.

I went home for two weeks from Jan. 26 through his follow-up doctor's appointment on Feb. 9. It was good to be home and I was happy to help out around the house with shoveling snow, carrying firewood, and packing the Suburban with stuff to take back to VA.

Dad is fine, as you've probably figured out by now. He is 100% healthy and has no restrictions from his cardiologist. He was in the hospital a couple days and most of it was precautionary. As soon as they got the stents in on the night of the 25th, he felt fine. He's not working as much now, but he seems like the same old Ken.

~ Andrea's job is going well. Her schedule is all over the place, so it's not always clear when she'll be home during the day and when she'll be away. There's been more time at home recently, which is nice.

~ I'm still looking for a job.

~ We're still moving in. Those two weeks away really hurt the unpacking and sorting objectives.

~ Budd and Snowflake took separate trips - Budd to Pittsburgh for the Super Bowl and Snowflake to Cleveland for emotional support. They both did great.

~ It's a lot darker in Virginia than it was in Lubbock. The temperature reached 70 on Feb. 11 and it's been about 45 and cloudy every day since. Fear not, I played golf on Feb. 11. Then again, it is February, it's supposed to be cold and dreary here for a little while longer.

Yes, Virginia, We Made It

Well, 8 days and 1,823 miles later, we made it to our place in Aldie (or Stone Ridge), VA. The townhouse is lovely and quite spacious. Andrea has no idea what we'll put in some of these rooms, but something tells me she'll figure that out rather quickly. Please allow us time to empty some boxes and organize this crap before we put up some pictures.

The dogs managed to survive the 13 days at the vet despite a cut on one of Snowflake's front paws. (It was small and healed quickly. This is why they stayed at a vet.) They were quite confused in their new surroundings. Stairs were a new adventure that they managed to tackle pretty quickly. Snowflake didn't care for going down the stairs at first, but meaty treats helped with that. Now she flies up and down the stairs and stops at the top or bottom to wait for you. She seems rather proud to beat you up or down the stairs. Clearly she doesn't understand the advantage to having four legs. As for Budd... well, nothing really bothers him as long as he's fed and gets to sleep 20 hours a day.

The moving truck was one day late in arriving, meaning Andrea and I spent a total of 6 nights in the new house on an air mattress with only the Internet to entertain us. Luckily, the Internet is an unending stream of entertainment. We managed to get caught up on The Office, which entailed a re-watching of the season 3 finale, all of season four, and the first 10 or so episodes of the current season. Now all we have to do is remember to watch it in real time.

I have yet to get in an accident, which I consider quite the accomplishment given the way people drive around here and the confusion of this road network. Of course, when you come from a near-perfect gridded system in Lubbock, any road network will seem confusing. Fear not, I purchased a Garmin GPS navigation device today and should have no problems. Of course, I didn't listen to it on the way home and managed to get lost. I guess I need to get me one of dem pee h dees.

Speaking of which... Andrea has started her job as an IBMer. Hopefully you caught the commercials during the NFL playoff games this past weekend (or maybe somewhere else). It sheds some more light on what they do, which appears to be everything.

Well, that's all for now. I'm celebrating our anniversary by staying awake and blogging while Andrea and the dogs sleep in our new house. Ahh... memories.

Goodbye, Lubbock

Well, it's been real, Texas. Tomorrow morning, I'll take off with what little remains in our house and begin driving home to Cleveland. I'm actually meeting my dad in Oklahoma City and allowing him to drive the rest of the way.

We've had some great times here and I'm sure there's things we'll miss. (I can tell you right now that the lack of traffic jams in Lubbock will be one of them.) I'm sure we'll get around to changing the title of the blog at some point and we will of course keep you updated on the move in. (Yes, we have a place to live.)

If you're interested, I started the bowl preview. You can find the link under the General Nerdness blog on the right side.

OK, I'm going to bed. Peace out, Lubbock. Merry Christmas & Happy New Year.

(Oh man, I probably can't say that as freely in and around DC.)

Update on Move

If you're curious... (and if you're not, I understand)

Andrea will fly to Fairfax on Sunday, December 14 and spend the week in orientation at IBM. That is a one-way ticket; she won't be returning to Lubbock. That's right... Andrea only has one week left in Lubbock. I asked her if she got to see and do everything she ever wanted and, surprisingly, she has not. We'll need to stop at Bigham's Smokehouse at some point since she's never had it and always wanted to. This will not be a problem for me.

I'm also leaving on the 14th with the two dogs in an automobile. I'll drive Andrea's car up to Virginia, getting there sometime in the afternoon of 12/16 (Tuesday). The dogs will be dropped off at a kennel and off our hands through Christmas. Then, I'll fly back on Wednesday and be at the house Thursday and Friday while the movers pack up the house (Thursday) and then the truck (Friday).

My dad will fly in on Friday (12/19) and we'll take turns driving the Suburban to Cleveland. We should be home by Sunday, at the latest, and then we can all enjoy a nice Christmas.

We don't have a place to live in Virginia just yet, but Laura (my sister) will be scouting them out for us today and we hope to nail something down during that week of the 15th.

The bunnies will not make the trip to the east coast with us. Instead, they'll be staying in a third grade classroom in Wolfforth, TX just outside Lubbock. It was nice while we had them and they certainly had their moments, but once we got the dogs, the writing was on the wall. Most of the attention went to Budd and Snowflake instead of Betty and Judy. (No, we never really called them that, but they are "sisters".) I'm sure they'll have a lot fun with the third graders and I think we'll be able to move on.

Well, I think that covers it for updates. Andrea's parents and aunt will be in town on Tuesday for graduation, which is Friday. We're having a party that evening from 8-10, so if you happen to be in Lubbock on that day, please stop by!