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!