Two nights' rest with the Alzamoras was a welcome break from time in the car. We celebrated a birthday, enjoyed some scrumptious meals, watched skillful knife throwing demos (yup, you read that correctly), and even played a game of Catan that was SO involved that we ran out of development cards. Now we are in the final push, overnighting in Salt Lake City with the goal of eating dinner with Megan tomorrow in Davis. Today's scorching, record-setting triple digit temperatures were somewhat bearable with the lack of humidity and when sticking to the shade. We ended the day in downtown Salt Lake, roaming Temple Square, enjoying the architecture and gardens, seeking shade under the lovely tree canopy, and dining al fresco on Main Street with dogs at our feet (salads for humans and meatballs and chicken for hounds). Final push across Nevada comes tomorrow :)
Saturday, June 29, 2013
Back on the Road
Saturday - June 29, 2013
Two nights' rest with the Alzamoras was a welcome break from time in the car. We celebrated a birthday, enjoyed some scrumptious meals, watched skillful knife throwing demos (yup, you read that correctly), and even played a game of Catan that was SO involved that we ran out of development cards. Now we are in the final push, overnighting in Salt Lake City with the goal of eating dinner with Megan tomorrow in Davis. Today's scorching, record-setting triple digit temperatures were somewhat bearable with the lack of humidity and when sticking to the shade. We ended the day in downtown Salt Lake, roaming Temple Square, enjoying the architecture and gardens, seeking shade under the lovely tree canopy, and dining al fresco on Main Street with dogs at our feet (salads for humans and meatballs and chicken for hounds). Final push across Nevada comes tomorrow :)
Two nights' rest with the Alzamoras was a welcome break from time in the car. We celebrated a birthday, enjoyed some scrumptious meals, watched skillful knife throwing demos (yup, you read that correctly), and even played a game of Catan that was SO involved that we ran out of development cards. Now we are in the final push, overnighting in Salt Lake City with the goal of eating dinner with Megan tomorrow in Davis. Today's scorching, record-setting triple digit temperatures were somewhat bearable with the lack of humidity and when sticking to the shade. We ended the day in downtown Salt Lake, roaming Temple Square, enjoying the architecture and gardens, seeking shade under the lovely tree canopy, and dining al fresco on Main Street with dogs at our feet (salads for humans and meatballs and chicken for hounds). Final push across Nevada comes tomorrow :)
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Smooth Sailing
Wednesday - June 26, 2013
Two days on the road and while we have not yet hit the halfway point, we have officially crossed from east to west in traversing the Mississippi at St. Louis. I am totally geeking out on so many history touchstones. Today saw more river highlights as we enjoyed glimpses of the Ohio, Mississippi, Missouri, and Kansas rivers. Tonight humans and hounds are all resting up and hiding from triple digit temperatures in Lawrence, Kansas - site of Free State disputes, Big 12 athletics and academics, a Civil War raid, and a stop on the Oregon Trail (which of course resonates beyond my love of history to my memories of listening to Megan play a favorite early educational CD). Travel continues to be wonderfully smooth. I-95 traffic makes everything a cakewalk in comparison :)
Two days on the road and while we have not yet hit the halfway point, we have officially crossed from east to west in traversing the Mississippi at St. Louis. I am totally geeking out on so many history touchstones. Today saw more river highlights as we enjoyed glimpses of the Ohio, Mississippi, Missouri, and Kansas rivers. Tonight humans and hounds are all resting up and hiding from triple digit temperatures in Lawrence, Kansas - site of Free State disputes, Big 12 athletics and academics, a Civil War raid, and a stop on the Oregon Trail (which of course resonates beyond my love of history to my memories of listening to Megan play a favorite early educational CD). Travel continues to be wonderfully smooth. I-95 traffic makes everything a cakewalk in comparison :)Tuesday, June 25, 2013
And Off We Go!
 |
| Barking at movers has its limits (a few good hours later) |
Farewell to Williamsburg! Yesterday the house was finally emptied but only after another eventful day of packing, furniture tumbles, hound panic, and personnel confusion. Sadie added to the general sense of the surreal by NOT chowing down her dinner for the first time ever. I attributed this aberration to stress and disruption, gave her extra cuddles and reassurance, and then discovered that our stealth food addict had absconded with a new bag of treats and gulped them all down in the back yard. Joe discovered the empty-bag, corner-gnawed evidence. Hmmmm.... Arriving last night in our Temporary Quarters, we promptly oriented the dogs inside then left them while we unpacked the car - OOPS! Guess who haven't locked a door in 4 years? Who would have thought that doors could lock behind us? Thank you, security personnel who hurried over to let us back in before the hounds went crazy! Time to adjust to life outside of the safety of a military base :)
Our "NO Lollygagging Tour 2013" Day 1 brings us to Jeffersonville, Indiana across the Ohio River from Louisville, Kentucky. 625 miles through Virginia, West Virginia, and Kentucky was an absolute pleasure for those of us accustomed to the harried hordes of traffic in the I-95 NorthEast corridor. Where was the traffic? Where were the bumper to bumper trucks? The aggressive drivers weaving ahead for a wee time advantage? Were these wide open spans of highway the norm? The hounds zonked out cold in their backseat beds until we all disembarked along the banks of the Ohio. History geek that I am, I was incredibly excited to enjoy a long mosey along the Indiana bank letting the dogs sniff away while Joe and I read the historic placards and stretched our legs. A highlight was the newly repurposed pedestrian Big Four Bridge. We were also reminded that our intrepid hounds are quite discomfited by elevators. Our fourth floor room has a view of Louisville, the Ohio, and its bridges (some lit up purple in the night).
AND, UCSF called! I finally have an appointment for July 11. Funny how the clerk mentioned Carolyn's phone call and not those from my oncology RN or my oncologist. Carolyn gets things done. One month and 2 days after receiving my paperwork, UCSF has opened the door. Phew. Now we can really relax :)
Monday, June 24, 2013
Celebrating a Full Deck
Monday - June 24, 2013
Somehow events came together in the chaos of pack-out and move to create a lull - a relaxing oasis with family that happened to coincide with my birthday and (as it happened) a super moon. Five days away from our half-inhabited house and the mountains of boxes. A very, very soothing interlude ... and a fabulous juxtaposition with last year's mid-chemo commemoration of my 51st birthday when I was hairless, incredibly debilitated, and letting the chemo do its magic.
This year's birthday marked a "full deck" at 52, an opportunity to breathe and celebrate renewed health and precious connections. Time with Megan who was back east for a wedding. Time with Jonathan who came north for the annual Ammirati reunion. Time with my cousin who has been a strong internet presence and virtual support during this long lymphoma challenge. Time with family who gathered once more with Joe's mom to exchange updates and share memories. The green and the coolness of the Delaware River Valley was restorative; a welcome respite from transition hiccups and uncertainty.
Relief in the form of an answering machine message upon our return to Williamsburg. UCSF finally called me back on Friday (my birthday!). Apparently a phone call from my VCU oncologist kicked up some response or it is simply a lovely coincidence. I hope to find a moment of calm in today's final iteration of "pack-out and load" to call back and secure an appointment. Now that is a birthday present that it truly an answer to prayers :)
*******************************************
Another cheery birthday coincidence! FINALLY, on Friday Virginia cashed my check for a revised Teaching License with ESL Endorsement. Another gnawing to-do is getting closer to resolution :)
Somehow events came together in the chaos of pack-out and move to create a lull - a relaxing oasis with family that happened to coincide with my birthday and (as it happened) a super moon. Five days away from our half-inhabited house and the mountains of boxes. A very, very soothing interlude ... and a fabulous juxtaposition with last year's mid-chemo commemoration of my 51st birthday when I was hairless, incredibly debilitated, and letting the chemo do its magic. 
This year's birthday marked a "full deck" at 52, an opportunity to breathe and celebrate renewed health and precious connections. Time with Megan who was back east for a wedding. Time with Jonathan who came north for the annual Ammirati reunion. Time with my cousin who has been a strong internet presence and virtual support during this long lymphoma challenge. Time with family who gathered once more with Joe's mom to exchange updates and share memories. The green and the coolness of the Delaware River Valley was restorative; a welcome respite from transition hiccups and uncertainty.Relief in the form of an answering machine message upon our return to Williamsburg. UCSF finally called me back on Friday (my birthday!). Apparently a phone call from my VCU oncologist kicked up some response or it is simply a lovely coincidence. I hope to find a moment of calm in today's final iteration of "pack-out and load" to call back and secure an appointment. Now that is a birthday present that it truly an answer to prayers :)
*******************************************
Another cheery birthday coincidence! FINALLY, on Friday Virginia cashed my check for a revised Teaching License with ESL Endorsement. Another gnawing to-do is getting closer to resolution :)
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
All Those Details
Tuesday - June 18, 2013
I write at the time we had originally intended for me to rendezvous with Megan at the Philadelphia Airport but the details have changed, the days have shifted, and all is well. First came the July / June drop-down menu mix-up on the part of our packers and then American Airlines canceled Megan's flight and rebooked her for tomorrow evening. So ... found time. Our plans for this week are pushed back for by the great hand of chance. A good opportunity to try to rest and regroup before our drive and visit north. A needed respite from the onslaught of moving obligations, the preparation for next Monday's final pack-out of our California shipment, and our Tuesday departure for our 3000 mile drive to Sausalito.
The pack-out of the storage was as smooth as can be hoped. Massive preparations and sorts helped delineate the storage / shipment split and it is also clear (at least to me) that we have lessened the load in the last 4 years even with all of my classroom materials and teacher resources. The dogs have now collapsed in exhaustion after a day of relentless attention guarding us from the four movers and their endless supply of boxes (!) and the screeches of their packing tape. We created a bit of a dog oasis / gated sanctuary in the kitchen and dining room and the hounds hunkered down together seeking comfort. In a family first, the trauma of all of this action prompted Sadie and Baxter to seek refuge together in the refuge of their Cozy Cave; Joe and I whipped out our cameras to capture the moment :)
On the health front, I have not yet heard back from UCSF. Somehow the old adage of "you only have one chance to make a first impression" comes to mind as I wait and wait for someone to call me back from this highly-regarded hospital. Let's remember that even my oncologist's office has phoned with little real result. I need to meet with a physician soon. I need to schedule the next round of MRI and PET scans for mid-August. These details need to be hammered out as soon as possible. Carolyn called to wrestle out an answer and got the same reassurance as I heard last week: an oncologist is reviewing my case and I will hear soon. Hmmm.... UCSF is the fourth major medical hospital with which I have had contact and I am stunned at the snail's pace. Johns Hopkins called me back within a few hours. Now that's customer service!
I write at the time we had originally intended for me to rendezvous with Megan at the Philadelphia Airport but the details have changed, the days have shifted, and all is well. First came the July / June drop-down menu mix-up on the part of our packers and then American Airlines canceled Megan's flight and rebooked her for tomorrow evening. So ... found time. Our plans for this week are pushed back for by the great hand of chance. A good opportunity to try to rest and regroup before our drive and visit north. A needed respite from the onslaught of moving obligations, the preparation for next Monday's final pack-out of our California shipment, and our Tuesday departure for our 3000 mile drive to Sausalito. | |
| Safe - but alert! - snuggling together inside their fleece cave |
On the health front, I have not yet heard back from UCSF. Somehow the old adage of "you only have one chance to make a first impression" comes to mind as I wait and wait for someone to call me back from this highly-regarded hospital. Let's remember that even my oncologist's office has phoned with little real result. I need to meet with a physician soon. I need to schedule the next round of MRI and PET scans for mid-August. These details need to be hammered out as soon as possible. Carolyn called to wrestle out an answer and got the same reassurance as I heard last week: an oncologist is reviewing my case and I will hear soon. Hmmm.... UCSF is the fourth major medical hospital with which I have had contact and I am stunned at the snail's pace. Johns Hopkins called me back within a few hours. Now that's customer service!
Monday, June 17, 2013
Storage vs Shipment - Delayed
Monday - June 17, 2013
Well, today is TRULY a real life example of "hurry up and wait." It's been weeks of prep and a dedicated weekend of intense sorting and dividing our household goods into "storage / can't fit into our charming but small Sausalito flat" and "shipment / bare essentials for trimmed down California living." After all, for this move, I cannot recreate the epic fail of my 2009 last car trip from Arlington when the Yuzawas came to the rescue and we hauled a full carload of extra stuff over to their basement to await a subsequent trip south (Yes, I was off by a factor of 2 in estimating how much was left to fit in the Jetta and YES, the Yuzawas are amazing friends!)
This time, we face the challenge of downsizing AND setting aside items for storage. Closets are taped off and barricaded, a dog sanctuary is readied behind doors and gates where I will work and provide calm during pack-out, laundry is done, dishes are finished, car is crammed with more Goodwill donations, and we await the arrival of the first crew of packers. And we wait. And we call. And we wait, and call, and wait some more. And then MANY hours after the packers are scheduled to arrive, we get the explanatory call: a typo had us scheduled for pack-out on JULY 17 (not JUNE 17) with truck loading on JUNE 18. Pretty hard to load a truck when it won't be packed for another full month, yes? Yikes! Perhaps I didn't say "yikes" when I heard what was going on. Perhaps I might have used more colorful "traffic language" (even though I was not driving a car while talking to the moving company). When explaining that I was scheduled to be in Philadelphia tomorrow at 6 p.m. to pick Megan up at the airport, perhaps I might have expressed some ... let's say "disappointment" before I moved into problem solving mode. But now I am here in the zen of problem solving mode, thinking that a huge crew of movers might arrive at the crack of dawn tomorrow to get the storage (just the storage) packed and loaded. Problem solving mode is pretty calming. Maybe I can even take a nap since I got up at 5 a.m. and am wired as tight as Baxter at the sight of a box and a suitcase. A nap cuddled up with the dogs would be so lovely. But first let me call the shipping company to confirm some details ....
WAIT! HOLD ON! All of a sudden, my landline phone can't get a dialtone. I can't problem solve without a phone! Ahhhh .... my new iPhone, how I love you.
Isn't moving fun?
***********************************
Just off the phone with the movers who are planning to be here in force tomorrow and plan to do the full pack and load of storage in one (long) day. I am immensely relieved to have gotten a reality check from my contact who reassured me that while I was shocked (and indeed salty) I was not personal and never directed my wave of frustration at her. Good to know that even in a verbal amigdala response, my Positive Parenting and Responsive Classroom instincts kicked in and that I expressed frustration with the situation and not the person. Consider that one test I do not wish to repeat :) And in an example of good Customer Relations, in recognition that their error means that we cannot liaise with Megan in Philadelphia, they will reimburse us for Megan's shuttle from the airport to her grandmother's house.
This time, we face the challenge of downsizing AND setting aside items for storage. Closets are taped off and barricaded, a dog sanctuary is readied behind doors and gates where I will work and provide calm during pack-out, laundry is done, dishes are finished, car is crammed with more Goodwill donations, and we await the arrival of the first crew of packers. And we wait. And we call. And we wait, and call, and wait some more. And then MANY hours after the packers are scheduled to arrive, we get the explanatory call: a typo had us scheduled for pack-out on JULY 17 (not JUNE 17) with truck loading on JUNE 18. Pretty hard to load a truck when it won't be packed for another full month, yes? Yikes! Perhaps I didn't say "yikes" when I heard what was going on. Perhaps I might have used more colorful "traffic language" (even though I was not driving a car while talking to the moving company). When explaining that I was scheduled to be in Philadelphia tomorrow at 6 p.m. to pick Megan up at the airport, perhaps I might have expressed some ... let's say "disappointment" before I moved into problem solving mode. But now I am here in the zen of problem solving mode, thinking that a huge crew of movers might arrive at the crack of dawn tomorrow to get the storage (just the storage) packed and loaded. Problem solving mode is pretty calming. Maybe I can even take a nap since I got up at 5 a.m. and am wired as tight as Baxter at the sight of a box and a suitcase. A nap cuddled up with the dogs would be so lovely. But first let me call the shipping company to confirm some details ....
WAIT! HOLD ON! All of a sudden, my landline phone can't get a dialtone. I can't problem solve without a phone! Ahhhh .... my new iPhone, how I love you.
Isn't moving fun?
***********************************
Just off the phone with the movers who are planning to be here in force tomorrow and plan to do the full pack and load of storage in one (long) day. I am immensely relieved to have gotten a reality check from my contact who reassured me that while I was shocked (and indeed salty) I was not personal and never directed my wave of frustration at her. Good to know that even in a verbal amigdala response, my Positive Parenting and Responsive Classroom instincts kicked in and that I expressed frustration with the situation and not the person. Consider that one test I do not wish to repeat :) And in an example of good Customer Relations, in recognition that their error means that we cannot liaise with Megan in Philadelphia, they will reimburse us for Megan's shuttle from the airport to her grandmother's house.
Friday, June 14, 2013
A Derecho and A Decision
A wall of wind and horizontal rain slammed into our relatively flimsy military-issue house yesterday afternoon shaking the walls, rattling the windows, bending the surrounding loblolly pines to an abrupt and disturbing angle, and cutting off the power with a certain sense of finality. Joe came home and pronounced that he thought it was going to take a while to get back on line. While he was indeed right, we are now back enjoying electricity a mere 29 hours after the mini-derecho (?) rather than the 3 day outage after Aug. 2011's Hurricane Irene. We'll take it. After all, we need to finish up our preparations for pack out. A day without ready access to communications, electronics, NPR, and general diversions :) Just a quiet venue for prepping for our transition, for mulling over decisions and choices, for feeling fortunate and healthy.... Somehow I felt suspended in time.
GOOD news! I finally got a return call from UCSF Cancer Center today. Yesterday, I called in the "big guns" and persuaded my VCU oncologist's RN to phone the UCSF New Patient Coordinator phone line to try to dislodge some sort of response to my many unanswered voice mails. I called again this morning, left another message, noted that I needed to schedule scans for mid-August, and pleaded for any update on how I could get into their system. This 1-2 punch effected a result: my records have been forwarded to an oncologist and I should get a call next week with next steps.
TECH news! We used our electricity disconnect as an excuse / final straw to get a smartphone. In considering our upcoming transcontinental drive (with hounds!), the smartphone decision seemed like a wise option. How ironic that given the wretched cell coverage here on base - exacerbated by the widespread power outage that seems to have impacted our closest cell tower - we STILL couldn't hook up to the internet even with our new iPhone. We ended up lurking outside amid mosquitoes and with overexcited hounds to check email this evening.
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Memory Lane
Wednesday - June 12, 2013
Our last Wednesday in Williamsburg... Tick tock, pack-out approaches.... With some sense of comfort that most of the preparations are in hand (or at least within reach) for Monday's pack-out of our storage items, I treated myself to a lovely lunch with a friend followed by an after-school visit to the comforting halls of Matoaka. I feel overwhelmed with gratitude whenever I go back. Could I have fallen ill in a more supportive environment? No. I already had built up a comfort level and familiarity from my student teaching year at Matoaka and I felt fully supported by that wonderful Matoaka community after I returned from winter break in a pathetic state of illness. EVERYone was kind and so very adept at putting me at ease. Matoaka has set a standard for collegial school culture that will be difficult to match.
Speaking of which ... school climate is certainly an issue in contemplating my California job options and I am truly excited by the possibilities. The job search continues on its double-pronged path. I am completely and utterly conflicted. Two amazing choices with equal energy, commitment, and vision. Two phenomenal opportunities: one in a long-established school, one in a school that has yet to launch. Two divergent locations and states of development. I am giving myself whiplash considering the options. A good problem, for sure, but my internal (and external!) debate is never-ending and I am tying myself up in knots. Thanks to everyone who has listened to me parse the options and who has weighed in. More interviews and discussions with one school yesterday. More interviews and discussions with another school tomorrow....
Speaking of which ... school climate is certainly an issue in contemplating my California job options and I am truly excited by the possibilities. The job search continues on its double-pronged path. I am completely and utterly conflicted. Two amazing choices with equal energy, commitment, and vision. Two phenomenal opportunities: one in a long-established school, one in a school that has yet to launch. Two divergent locations and states of development. I am giving myself whiplash considering the options. A good problem, for sure, but my internal (and external!) debate is never-ending and I am tying myself up in knots. Thanks to everyone who has listened to me parse the options and who has weighed in. More interviews and discussions with one school yesterday. More interviews and discussions with another school tomorrow....
Friday, June 7, 2013
Moving Forward (and getting ready to move OUT!)
Friday - June 7, 2013
Moving forward with the job process! Heartening
news: my references are being contacted by both schools. Discomfiting news: "Are you
at liberty to disclose the nature of her illness?" has been asked by a teacher (who I met in my California interviews) who is helping to vet my references for her school. In reflection, I realize that she was not in the room when I mentioned that I had been on (and am now OFF) medical leave. So I choose to believe that she was just surprised when my reference mentioned my medical leave and the question just popped out. Ah well .... Happily, the educator who was asked this
question knew it was illegal and replied "No, I am not at liberty to
share that." Whatever will be, will be ....
Hmmm .... Again, it is NOT in my nature to be anything but open so I WANT TO DISCLOSE, share, lay it all on the table. Yet I also want my cancer to be immaterial in hiring decisions and I am well aware of realities. So ... I am not being specific when I say "medical leave." "Cancer" might just slam shut an otherwise open and welcoming door. I will spill the beans ... later.
Moving forward with the countdown! Jonathan's home for the weekend! It's possibly (probably?) his last trip to the Williamsburg house. That's a wake-up call! Yet I look around and see that the children's instruments are off to new homes, furniture is being sold to neighbors, and boxes of belongings are being hauled away by the carload to Goodwill. Our final pack-out date has been confirmed for June 24. Seventeen days and counting!
Hmmm .... Again, it is NOT in my nature to be anything but open so I WANT TO DISCLOSE, share, lay it all on the table. Yet I also want my cancer to be immaterial in hiring decisions and I am well aware of realities. So ... I am not being specific when I say "medical leave." "Cancer" might just slam shut an otherwise open and welcoming door. I will spill the beans ... later.
Moving forward with the countdown! Jonathan's home for the weekend! It's possibly (probably?) his last trip to the Williamsburg house. That's a wake-up call! Yet I look around and see that the children's instruments are off to new homes, furniture is being sold to neighbors, and boxes of belongings are being hauled away by the carload to Goodwill. Our final pack-out date has been confirmed for June 24. Seventeen days and counting!
Thursday, June 6, 2013
And So Our Balance Begins to Shift....
Thursday - June 6, 2013... to California!
Who would have thought a week ago that a California trip was in the picture? Well, twice in recent weeks when I reached the critical "lesson demo" / 3rd interview of an application cycle, my Virginia location stopped everything in its tracks. So on Friday when I reached this same stage in another interview process with a very well-established child-centered independent school, I said "when can we get together next week?" Joe worked some magic, booked some red eyes, and out I went to meet everyone in person and to present a lesson. With bi-coastal master fashion advice from Sharon and Betsy, I was ready to go! I structured my lesson around my greatest asset - a read aloud to children in a classroom setting. New-to-me "Levi Strauss Gets A Bright Idea" was a terrific platform to discuss tall tales.... I almost zone out when I lead these interactive read aloud: the adults evaporate and it's just me and the children. A beautiful experience with laughter and, yes, instructional content. That session was worth the trip in and of itself. The staff provided an engaging introduction to the school, everyone was extremely warm and knowledgeable, the curriculum fit was very good, and the professional collaboration and comfort of the school was palpable. I can envision making a strong contribution in this community and being very very happy here.
But as it turned out, I was also called in for another round of interviews for a school that is about to launch in the city. Keens and khakis for this meeting (and my "nun's sweater" as termed by Betsy) .... It was a completely laid back, long, and thought-provoking conversation. The internet entrepreneur who is backing this fabulously exciting idea is a new dad, passionate about child-directed learning and committed to forging a new path in education. I am completely and utterly intrigued and absolutely energized. My mind is racing....
Last but not least - our VIEW! Our Sausalito nest! UNBELIEVABLE! Joe and I are going to be very content :) I confess that the flat was probably even better than Joe's description and photos hinted. The air, the breeze, the light - all amazing! The drive up? Well, we will certainly go through a few clutches!
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