The Notebook

So this is it. Command Central Station. This little notebook sits on the corner of the desk beckoning me everyday with an insane amount of tasks to be done, lists to be made, projects to be checked, and no detail to be left unconsidered.

Plan an overseas move with only 4 months notice?
"You can do it!" pretty green notebook tells me.
"This will be great!" pretty green reminds.
"Look, its all right here. Let me keep track of it, you get it done and before you know it you'll be stopping for some sugar cane juice on your way to the park with your third culture kids," she says.


Some of the things on the lists: dentist appointments, vaccinations, fix the kid desks and chairs before we try to sell them, consolidate recipes and digitize, open bank account with easy international transferring, and on and on.

Right now the plan (ever in flux) is to make it over with just the 8 suitcases we can take on our flight, store some things here in the US, and find new homes for the rest. Craigslist, amazon.com and an upcoming Mom2Mom sale are helping out with that. There was one week in the middle of March where I felt like I was married to Mr. Craig himself. But emptying out my closet the other day was liberating. No sweaters, wool, or longsleeves please.

The notebook says the plan is to pack up our sweet life in Michigan in June, head to Utah for a family trip, Washington for my sister's wedding, then the boys and I will stay with my parents for about a month while Dave goes to Singapore. He'll be back for a conference in August, pick us up and then we're off to Singapore...after spending some quality family time buckled into our seats for a good 19 hour flight.

Pretty green notebook is chock full of questions too: sell the car in MI and fly out west or drive and sell the car in WA? Bring the sewing machine? Stock up on that fabulous 'baby mauve' lip gloss? how do we bring a guitar?

Meanwhile life moves on....there's a dissertation to complete, graduation to walk, and cute kids to bathe after a morning stomp in one of the best mud puddles I've seen.