Starting to settle in.....

It's Saturday, June 29. Yesterday, I had a job interview at the district offices of the Live Oak School District. The job is at Cypress Charter High School, and the interview was so much fun! The committee consisted of Les Forster, the principal, a teacher, a parent and two students. It was great. They gave me the question in advance, when I arrived early, so I had time to think about them before going into the room. I was not nervous, just excited, and I talked a blue streak, I think, as I always do! I hope to hear some good news soon...I would absolutely love to work at this little school. There are only 150 students in grades 9-12, so it would be such a great community experience.

The really great news is that Harper Lee is back. She snuck out an open window our first night here and I was franticly searching for her from Wednesday to Friday. Last night, I can't explain it...I just felt her presence SO strongly. So I was outside calling her, like I had been all along, but this time, I took a flashlight and got down on my hands and knees to look under the hedgerow around the yard. Sure enough....I saw her bright green eyes shining back at me. She never made a peep. She just sat there until I climbed my way to her and picked her up and brought her inside. She is fine...hungry, but fine, thank G_d.

Today, we worked on cleaning up the house a bit before our landlord inspection tomorrow. Grayson had already done a lot of cleaning for us, which we are very grateful for. We got the work done early enough so that we felt we could afford some time off, so we went to the beach with Grayson and Bridgette and Caitlin (Bridgette's sister, who is here visiting). It was SO sunny, but windy, so it didn't feel hot at all, and we got good starts on our California tans. I met two girls riding horses on the beach and they told me the secret entrance to this beach, so I can bring Quincy there someday. He will need to be much more bombproof before he can go there...there are people, dogs, kits, frisbees, footballs, etc... all over the place, and he would probably freak out if I tried going there now.

Speaking of Quincy, he is doing well. He's been moved to a paddock that allows him to sniff the noses of other geldings that he will eventually be living with. We are integrating him into the herd a little at a time, which is good. He got started on switching to the California hay, which is totally different than New York hay....it's made from oats, and looks like straw, but he loves it! I'm mixing it now with the hay I brought with me for a few days. I took him for a walk around the property today so he could check things out. I won't ride him for a week, though. He's been through quite the ordeal, and I just want him to relax, put a little weight on and get used to things here.

Deven and Derek are having a blast here. They've been doing some serious shopping, hitting just about every surf shop there is in Santa Cruz. They should have lots of nice souvenirs to bring home with them from this trip. They have been amazingly helpful to us, even after we got here....taking the dogs out, cleaning, etc... I don't know what we would have done without them.

Abner rented a car yesterday to drive down to LA, where he has family. He'll visit with them for a couple of days before heading back home to his farm in Ithaca. He really misses his family: his beautiful wife Jodi, who is nearly 7 months pregnant, and precious Diego, his little boy. I'm sure that will be a very happy reunion when he gets home.

Chris is enjoying the sunshine, and already has a great tan! He took a nice nap on the beach today, which is exactly what retired dentists are supposed to do, right? I think so....

I hope you are all doing well. We miss everyone so much. Take good care of yourselves and each other, will you? And remember to email us or message me on Facebook.

Much love,
Judy

Chris' email: chrisdevenpeck@yahoo.com

Judy's email: 9monkeygirlz@gmail.com

Well, my friends....we have arrived. I'm very sorry for the break in writing, but we've been traveling for the last 5 days and it was impossible to write my blog during the trip. I thought I would be able to do it each night from the motels, but we were so exhausted and worn out when we finally arrived at each destination, that I just couldn't do it. I also could not do all that typing with just my thumbs on my phone from the road. So, I have a lot to fill you in on.

We left on Saturday, June 22nd. Our companions were Abner Argueta, the owner of the barn where Quincy lives, and  Derek Devenpeck and Deven Rose, our two nephews. Before I go any further, I have to say that this trip would NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE HELP OF THESE THREE WONDERFUL PEOPLE!

Abner suffered a concussion only one week before we left, so we were not sure he would be able to come with us, and he was going to be the one to help drive the truck and trailer. Well, fortunately, he recovered enough to be able to come, and I thank God for that. Abner drove the ENTIRE way. I thought I would be able to do some of the driving, but with the only very little bit of horse trucking experience I have, it would not have been safe for me to drive on Route 80. where everyone is going 80 mph and the tractor trailers are boxing you in on three sides. So, Abner shouldered the entire burden and he was amazing.

In the Ithaca is Gorges Car, Deven and Derek did 99% of the driving, because Chris had too much trouble staying awake on the road, so they just took it over, and again, I am so grateful!

The first day, we pushed it hard, driving to Princeton, IL, 90 miles west of Chicago. We did not arrive at the horse motel where Quincy was staying until nearly midnight, and we got a little lost trying to find it late at night. Finally, we got him there, and there was no one around...not even any other animals. So Quincy had to stay all alone in a strange place, which, as a herd animal, was pretty hard for him. In the morning, when we went to load him back up, he was so happy to see us and to be around his human herd, that he went onto the trailer pretty quickly.

The second day, we drove to Big Springs, NE, where the only big things are the cornfields. There was nothing but corn, for as far as the eye could see.

Quincy went to HQH Stables there, and stayed outside in a paddock near some other horses. There was incredible lightning all night long, and I barely slept, worrying about Q having to weather a storm out there in the middle of nowhere. Fortunately, it never materialized. He was not anxious to get on board in the morning, since there were other horses there. In the process of trying to get him on the trailer, he slipped out of his halter and took off at a dead gallop into the cornfields. Abner was saying, "Oh Judy, this is baaaaaddddd....." as we chased him around, with me thinking I would never see my beloved Quincy again. The only thing that saved him was his herd instinct, which brought him back out of the cornfields to sniff noses with a stallion in one of the paddocks. At that point, all I could imagine was a wild horse fight where Quincy would be the sorry loser. But, again, someone seemed to be watching over us when I was able to walk up to him and slip a rope around his neck while Abner gotk the halter back on him. Finally, after more attempts at loading, Abner said to him, "Maybe we will call the vet to come give you a little shot" and Quincy just gave up his resistance and walked onto the trailer perfectly. Phew! I asked for an adventure, but I did NOT mean this much!

After two days of intense driving and arriving at barns after dark, we decided that we would take it a little easier and add another day to our trip. So, the third day, we drove to Salt Lake City, UT, and arrived at the barn in daylight. We had a much less stressful time of it, and everyone was in better spirits, for sure. We even had time to shower and go out for a nice Chinese dinner at PF Changs, which was wonderful.

 Quincy had a nice barn to stay in and he loaded much better the next morning. We had a blast seeing the Great Salt Lake and the salt flats outside Salt Lake City....it is such a strange landscape. Deven and I had to lick the ground to see if it was truly salty, and yup...it sure was!

We wondered what they did with all that salt until we passed the Morton Factory! This day, we took it much easier and did more stopping along the road to take pictures and explore a little. It ended up being our most fun day, for sure. We ended up in Fallon, NV...a weird little town with nothing but casinos. We had dinner at the Stockman Casino and went to bed.

Chris and I didn't get to see each other much, since we were in different vehicles. But, we got to hug and kiss at every rest stop we took and we texted each other a lot in the car.

Yesterday was our last day, and it was probably the hardest. We only had 4.5 hours to go, according to GPS, but going through the mountains on windy, narrow roads, made it take much longer and be much more stressful. We got stopped by a Sheriff outside Reno, NV. He was really nice, and just wanted to check our paperwork on Quincy, so it was not scary at all....in fact, it was quite fun talking to him and telling him about our adventure. He asked me not to take his picture, but I didn't listen, and snapped a couple when he wasn't looking. He did allow me to take some of his car, though.

He even went into the trailer to look at Q and compare the picture of him on his papers to the real horse. I watched the whole process on my trailer cam, which he did not know I had.

After crossing into California, we stopped at the Agricultural station, to check in with those folks and to register Quincy in the state. That was also fun because the people were so nice. When I told the man I wanted a souvenir, he grabbed a piece of paper and stamped it with his official stamp and handed it to me. Perfect!

Lake Tahoe was Abner's favorite scenery so far, and it is gorgeous! I'd love to take a motorcycle trip up there someday soon!

We arrived at Linda Murrer's barn, where Quincy is living, at about 6:30. Abner had asked me not to cry, but I couldn't help it. Even though I wasn't doing the driving, my stomach felt the tension of it for all 3000 miles and the relief I felt when we got to our destination was overwhelming. Grayson arrived right away, on his Harley (actually, MY Harley...) It was so good to finally hug my boy, after all these months of planning this trip. It was his push that got us to do this move, and I am so grateful to him for that. I am thrilled to be living close to him again. Now, if I could only get Hayden to join us, I would be in heaven!

 Quincy got to go into the round pen, and he immediately rolled in the sand...his first roll in 5 days. Then, he trotted all around the pen, moving his muscles that had been working so hard balancing in the trailer for so long. He looked really, really happy.

He got hay, water and a delicious dinner of bran, grain and a little sweet feed, which he loved. He looks incredibly good, considering what he has gone through, having only lost a little weight. His temperature was good the whole way, he drank water at every stop, he munched a little bit of hay along the way and he peed every time I went into the trailer with him to take a pee break myself. You really bond in a whole new way when you start peeing with your horse, I 'll tell you!

Of course, there are a million details that I have left out, but the most important things for you to know are:

1. We are all safe...humans and animals alike
2. We had an amazing adventure
3. This is the most incredible, diverse, beautiful, awe-inspiring country imaginable
4. We love you all!

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there. I am so fortunate to have two amazing fathers in my life....Jeffrey, who has been so good to our beautiful children, Hayden and Grayson, and Chris, who's fathering style was what originally attracted me to him in the first place. I am blessed to have not only my birth children to show for it, but also my wonderful step children, Carla and Erik. I am one lucky mom, that's for sure!  Today, Chris and Jeffrey did what few men could do....they let me get them together to celebrate Father's Day with both of them together. It may sound weird to some of you, but it meant the world to me to be able to be with both of them today. There was a third father there, as well, at least in spirit....my OWN dad, Howard Cogan. He is in my heart and mind every day, but especially today, as I remember how he pushed me, inspired me and loved me for 48 years. I might not be a great wife, but I'm a good judge of fathers, and in my husbands, I have chosen two of the best. Thank you, Jeffrey and Chris, for humoring me today, and letting me take you out to breakfast together. I really appreciate it and I'll never forget it.

We delivered Jake and Bittles to their new home on Williams Glen Road in Ithaca. All I can say is, I hope we have made a good decision. It was not quite what I expected, and I should have checked things out better than I did, so I hope and pray that they will be happy. I will check in later today and again tomorrow, and if I'm not comfortable, I will bring them back and talk to the other two women who have emailed me about wanting to take them. Send good thoughts their way, please.

Now, back to packing. Enjoy your day and spend time with your fathers if you can....either in person or in spirit.

6 More Days

Only 6 days until we leave! We've been working so hard to get the packing done. Every morning, there are new aches and pains to remind us of each box or piece of furniture we lifted the day before. No need to go to a gym lately, that's for sure.

The POD is half full now, but what's left to put in there is not the kind of stuff that you can pack nice and neat like boxes. Now, it's mostly bigger stuff...rocking chairs, lamps, etc... We've been playing a giant game of Tetris so far, but now it will be even trickier to get everything in safely, so it stays put on the long trip to California.

Today, Jake and Bittles will be going to their new home. It's going to be very strange to live here without them. We're taking their blankets and baskets so they have familiar places to sleep. The woman who is taking them emailed me to ask what their favorite brand of food is, which I thought was really nice. I just have this terrible fear of them trying to find us after we leave them...like that book I read when I was little, The Incredible Journey. I hope they will just stay put and be happy. I hope they don't feel abandoned. After this woman came forward, two other women emailed me saying they wanted them. When it rains, it pours, as Chris said.

Yesterday was my last Link Crew banquet. I kept the tears at bay, but it wasn't easy. I think I have turned on some kind of emotional uber-control...my way of coping with all the sadness I'm feeling about leaving Ithaca and all my friends and students is just to turn off the emotions and not feel anything. (except I haven't figured out how to dial down the stress yet). Anyway, the kids gave me and Kelly, my co-coordinator of Link Crew, copies of The Giving Tree, saying that it was a good metaphor for how Link Crew is all about doing good things for people without expecting anything in return. Well, we DID get lots in return...we got joy and challenge and love and pride and a sense of accomplishment that might not ever be paralleled again in my career. Link Crew has been such a huge part of my life for the last 7 years, I almost can't imagine life without it! I just want to wish that same amount of joy to the new coordinators, Amalie Gorbold and Meggie New. They have a lot of work ahead of them, but they have a great group of students ready to help them, so I think it will be great.

We have everything we need for Quincy's big adventure. We bought a 50 gallon water tank to fit in the truck bed so he can drink familiar water on the way. I haven't started packing at the barn yet, but it's mostly already in big bins, so it won't take long. I'm not looking forward to this marathon of driving, especially with a horse. Tomorrow, the vet is coming to do his health certification...an exam to make sure that he is in good enough condition to make the trip. It is required by state laws to have this done. I hope he passes inspection. Then, the farrier is coming to get his feet taken care of. I just can't wait to get to his new home and turn him out in his new pasture. He might never want to step foot in the trailer again, after this ordeal. Can you imagine standing up, balancing, in a tiny moving box, going 60 mph, for 3000 miles? I'm glad I get to sit down...that's all I can say!

Are you on the edge of your seats?

Hey, friends,

I was just thinking...this blog sure is lacking the thrill factor! No cliffhangers here...but maybe that's a good thing, eh? I want to write interesting things, but packing is not the most exciting experience in the world.

Our departure date is 9 days away...it's hard to believe! Today, I had the first of many, many goodbyes to get through. I had to say goodbye to my friend, Gene, who works at Kinney Drugs. I imagine today will be the last time I see him. Although he works every day, I probably won't need to go there again before we leave. So, I gave him a big hug and told him the truth: that I'll miss him and that I have treasured our friendship. Who would ever think that the guy in the drugstore would become a good friend, but is't true, and I am grateful for knowing him. Goodbye, Gene! If any of you see him, tell him I say hey, and get to know him...he's a really nice person.

I've been TOO BUSY!

Hey, everybody,

I've been too busy to even write in this blog! I'm sorry...if any of you are really following, I hope I have not lost you or disappointed you.

So much is going on. We found a home for Jake and Bittles today! Yay! A girl I went to elementary school with...I guess I shouldn't call her a girl anymore....is going to take them. She has lots of land and she is happy to be getting some great hunters. It's very sad to have to leave them, but I feel so much better now that I know that she is taking them and I trust her to love and care for them. We were getting really nervous.

I've been on the job roller coaster so much lately. I currently have three applications in for great jobs, hoping to land an interview for at least one of them. I keep thinking that if I could only get an interview...then, I could win them over! I ought to be getting really good at writing cover letters. I'm getting lots of practice!

I spent today interviewing other people for an art opening at the high school, since my friend, Jocelyn, is leaving to move to Florida. It was exhausting interviewing 8 people in one day, but I have to say, it was really helpful to me. I learn so much by listening to other people answer those questions and thinking about how I would answer them. I ought to be really well prepared when it comes my turn!

Here's what the POD looks like now:

We have just about filled the first quarter of the space. We're ready to tie it off, to hold boxes in place, and start packing beyond that. We think we're gonna have plenty of space, so we canceled the 2 extra U-Boxes we had ordered a while back when we panicked about not being able to fit everything in. That's a relief, and it will save us a ton of money, which is always good, right?

These two guys wanted to come to California with us, but I had to say no. After I took their pictures, I captured them in a cup and put them outside.

They are very pretty, but I think they should stay in New York, with their families, don't you?

Later, taters!

Life is a roller coaster!

Hey, friends,
Here's an observation: I no longer know who I am. Maybe it would be more accurate to say I just do not recognize myself these days. When I saw a job posting online two nights ago that was PERFECT for me, I had heart palpitations, could not breathe, and had to get up and pace back and forth around the house until I calmed down enough to actually apply for the job. I did not know that I could experience that much anxiety anymore. Then, when I found out today, after staying up until 3am doing the very complex application, that the job posting is most likely just a legality and that they already have someone in mind, I was devastated. I used to be much more level-headed, I think. At least in the recent past, I was. I realize now that I am on a roller coaster ride of emotions and it is thrilling, exhausting, intriguing and confusing. I guess that's what I was after, though...a challenge, an adventure and a dramatic change. Well, I'm getting it!

We did a ton of packing today. Chris finished cleaning out the basement where he had his workshop. It's so clean and I am amazed that he could sort all that stuff and let go of so much! Big hugs to my husband....he has really grown and learned...stuff is just that....stuff. It does not make the man!

We have so much room in the POD that Chris said today, "We'd better go out and buy something!" Just kidding.....REALLY!

Well....today was my last day of classes at Ithaca High School. It still doesn't feel real. I tried really hard to be in the moment all day, to help me remember the whole experience. I hope it worked. We spent the   last hour having an indoor field day because it was rainy, so we couldn't be outside. I did face painting, like I do every year and it was really fun. Then, Chris and I went out to dinner with two of my special student friends, Maya and Michael, at the Glenwood Pines. So much fun! I can always count on spirited discussion with those two. Here are some pictures:

We're trying to talk them into taking a road trip to California! Attention all of my students: you have an open invitation to visit us out there, and we really hope you will!

More coming soon....

I hitched up the trailer all by myself today! Yay! Then, we took it to B & G Trailers to have it all checked over and they also installed our new trailer camera, so we''ll be able to keep an eye on Quincy all the way to California, even at night! It's got night vision! How cool is that?

Sunday will be my first trip with Quincy on board. I'm taking him to Stoneybrook Farm to watch some of my students in a horse show there and maybe I will ride him around the grounds a little bit just for fun and to show him off. Hannah and Maddie and I talk horses all the time in class...I figure it's time for them to meet my pride and joy.

Chris has been spending every day packing, sorting things out, getting rid of stuff and getting us ready to go. I can't believe how much he has let go! This kind of move really forces you to prioritize your junk. That's a good thing, for sure!

Until later.....love you all! We're sure gonna miss our beloveds!

Packing the POD is like playing Tetris! Every little space must be filled. It's a real puzzle, or maybe a crazy quilt....not sure which analogy is better, but it's a challenge, no matter how you look at it. Fun, though, too!

Tonight, I sold my motorcycle, Black Lightning! I'll miss him...he's been a great first bike for me, but I have a new one: a Harley Sportster Iron, waiting for me out in California. It's the bike I've been coveting for the last 5 years or so. Can't wait to ride it! The woman who bought Lightning is just learning, and I wish her lots of fun and safe riding! 

We also found a home for our cats, Jake and Bittles. They will be moving to New Hope (right down the road from the pancake factory!) to live on a dairy farm with 7 other cats, 2 horses, geese, cows and who knows what else. The next door neighbors have 9 (yes, 9!!!) little girls under the age of 10 who like to come over to play with the cats and dress them up in dolly clothes. Not sure how Jake and Bittles will feel about that....they are pretty tolerant, though, so maybe it will be a good thing. 

The next two weeks are all about more packing and spending time with family and friends as much as possible. My barn friends already had a party for me and Jeff hosted a really nice get together with our high school friends.

Tomorrow, I will take the horse trailer in to the dealer for a check up of brakes, lights, and camera, before we head out. The camera has night vision, so I'll even be able to watch Quincy in the dark! 

Then, on Sunday, I'll be taking Quincy for his first ride in it...over to Stoneybrook Farm, to watch some of my students in a show and to get some practice driving the trailer with a real, live horse in it. Wish me luck! Hang on, Q!!! I promise to go slower than I do in my car.

Until next time! We love you all!

Judy and Chris

These are two of the sweetest young men you could ever want to meet...Kevin and Sean Lewis (Kevin is in the blue shirt). They are former students of mine and friends of Grayson. We were getting boxes at Triphammer Wines and Spirits and ran into Kevin, who works there, and we got to talking about our move to California.Without being asked, Kevin offered to help with moving our furniture if we needed it, and today, we took him up on it! The guys came at 10:00 on a Sunday morning, which is pretty impressive, if you ask me! They carried down about 6 pieces of the biggest, heaviest furniture, making our lives SO much easier. Now, there is really nothing we can't carry ourselves left. We are so grateful! Thank you Kevin and Sean! You ROCK! They refused the money we offered them, so I was really happy that they were at least willing to take some of the furniture we need to get rid of, making this a win-win all the way around.

The POD is working out great. It is divided into four sections and right now, we have one of those sections about 1/2 way filled. Doesn't sound like much, but it's a lot of stuff gone from the inside of the house, so it is seeming much more possible than it did before to fit all of our belongings into this thing. We are literally filling every inch, from the floor to the ceiling and side to side. They say to tie things down, but it's so tight, I don't think ANYTHING will be able to shift!

I took Quincy for a nice trail ride this morning, before it got hot. We had a really nice time talking about our trip. I told him that it's going to be kind of hard getting to California, but that once we did, it would be fantastic. I explained that it doesn't get humid there, like it does in Ithaca and that we can ride almost every day of the year. I'm pretty stressed about the actual trip, but totally excited about our new lives out there.

Chris is working his tail off trying to sort out everything he has left...books, collections, etc... He sold so much of his Bakelite, but luckily, he was able to hang onto enough of it so that he can do some jewelry making once we get settled in our new house. He is going through boxes of books he's already packed, trying to thin them out even more. He has really mastered the art of letting go! It's incredible......

We've been having many great farewell parties with our friends. Tuesday night was a Purity party with my barn friends. Thursday, we got together with my high school circle, including Jeff, Rick, Ann Marie and Q, at Jeff's house. It has been so much fun seeing everyone, and of course, it makes us wonder why we don't make the time to do more of this kind of thing. Important lesson to learn!There are just 20 days left!

Will write more later......much love!

WOOHOOOOO!!! I know I already posted today, but I just had to add my big adventure. I just got back from my first solo drive with our horse trailer! I feel great. I drove it to Lilley's Tack and Feed in Dryden and bought some stuff Quincy will need on the trip, then drove it back to the farm and even successfully backed it into my parking spot. Of course, Abner (one of the owners of Healing Rein Farm) helped with the backing up by directing me, but MOSTLY, I did it myself! I'm building my confidence, little by little!

The next step is a trip with Quincy in the trailer. That will happen next weekend.

Until later,

Love you!