34°C ...

... and totally tolerable. I've experienced 34°C back home. It drags you down, makes it hard to breathe at times, and you feel as though you're dragging a cinderblock behind you everywhere you go. Humidity is a wonderful thing ... NOT! Twice today, I've met people who remarked about the humidity here. I chuckle and tell them this isn't humidity, that they should come to Montreal to learn about humidity. 34C here is warm, to be sure, but it's easy to go about your business without being affected at all. Life is good.

We went about a lot of business here today. Julia had to check in with the school, as per the conditions of her student visa. Then off to the admissions office to get her student number, where she made the poor, young man behind the counter blush. After we were done with the college, we headed off to shop. We loaded up on hangers, food for the pets, a new collar for TimBit (the old guy managed to bust his collar on the trip here), and scads of other things we needed.

After a quick stop to the supermarket, I made spaghetti sauce. Julia requested a side of sautéd kale (with 'shrooms, garlic and onions) and we feasted like queens. After some TV, we called it a night ... busy day tomorrow!

The Final Countdown ...

I think this is what they call the homestretch. It's Tuesday morning and we plan to leave next Tuesday morning. I've still got SO much to do, none of which is getting done given that I put my back out on Sunday and it's STILL hurting like a sunnunabitch! I'm stressed about what still needs doing, I'm stressed about what won't get done, I'm stressed about the road trip, and I'm stressed about all this stressing. I typically internalize a lot but there's so much of it this time that it's overflowing.

Recently, I was telling K about the last time I moved away from Canada. The company was there to take care of ALL the paperwork (visas, customs stuff, etc) and I did nothing related to the actual move but pack clothing and make coffee for the movers (on both sides of the pond). Then there was the transition company, who facilitated everything here in Quebec and were also in Switzerland to anticipate and alleviate every possible bump in the road and then smooth over the ones that managed to make their way into our lives. This time ... there is me. Not that I don't think that I'm up to the task, just that there is so much to do! But like K keep telling me, don't sweat the small stuff and just get here!

A lot of it is simple math. The contents of the home that I have now (3 storeys, 4 bedrooms, 3 washrooms, a basement, garage, backyard shed) will never fit into the home I'm headed to (condo with 3 bedrooms, 2 washrooms). Nor should it. This is a new life and not everything from the old life should be dragged along with me. As I look around, there isn't one stick of furniture to which I feel an emotional tie, nothing that I feel the need to bring to California. There is some art, some tchotchke, some books and dish ware. In the end, some of the things I hold most dear to my heart will be in the car with me - my daughter Julia, and my animals. And in the end, two of the things I hold most dear to my heart will remain behind - my sons, Kevin and Jordan.

The road trip ...

There is A LOT of white to cover between the two red spots!

From Here To There ...