East Bound and Down

Dave made it back from Boston safely and the girls and I survived a week of single parenting. So far, so good. 

For now, Dave is working from home. Monday, he actually got up, took a shower and got dressed like a real, working human being. That has deteriorated to yesterday, where he worked all day in is pajamas and never even showered. This would be a great place for a picture of his greasy head if I had thought to take one. Oh well … use your imagination. 

He gets to stay home with us until the Sunday after Thanksgiving, then it is time for the real test – he will be off to New Jersey for a week. Although he likes the job, we can’t make a final decision until we check out the area. So he’ll go first, and if he isn’t totally disgusted, then the next time he goes, I will go with him. We’re already looking at schools and apartments, so hopefully he will be able to get some solid information while he is out there that will help us make the best decision for our family.

 

The girls are helping us gather information as well. Here they are reading a book called “Hidden New Jersey” that we found at the Danville Public Library. Pretty cute, huh J

And So It Begins

Well, Dave’s last day at NexLAN was last Friday, and he left Sunday for Boston (jerk poor guy).Today is his third day on the job. It’s been hard on him, going to Cheer’s last night and to a Celtics game tonight, but he’s suffering through it. Due to some difficulties in communicating with the NJ office (thank you Sandy - Hurricane, not Lawlyes), we are still lacking in details on the rest of the travel schedule, but hopefully we will have that nailed down soon.

Meanwhile, here in the real world, I have been playing single parent all week. It hasn’t been too bad. No one has missed an appointment/freaked out/gone to school naked/gotten a beating, so for now I am calling this week a success. Of course Dave is mortified that our trash cans are still sitting at the curb 2 days after pick-up, but he’ll survive.

So when we move to New Jersey, I am going to be a housewife. Not “Real Housewife” with capital letters, but a real housewife. It won't be forever, but it will be for at least until the end of the year so I can help the girls with the adjustment. It should be interesting. It will be up to me to learn how to feed us/clothe us/pay our bills with one income in an area with a higher cost of living. I’ve been Pinning ways to keep us organized (we will probably be downsizing) and frugal, but it is not going to be easy. I am definitely a woman of convenience. If I can pay someone to do something for me instead of doing it myself, then that is what I do. I mean, why would I make my own laundry detergent when Tide has always done such a great job? It just doesn’t make any sense to me. But I guess I’ll soon be going for “cents” over “sense.”

Less Corny for Shore

Quick! Tell me everything you know about New Jersey!!

Nothing? Yeah, me either. But I guess I’m going to learn. That’s right, my friends (I said in my best Dick Cheney voice). The Pettigrews are moving to New Jersey.

Crazy, I know. The two people who you probably thought would die in Vermilion County are picking up their family and moving to the Shore (that’s what we New Jerseians … Jersyites … Jersey folks … whatever … call the beach). That’s just one of the many things I have learned about New Jersey over the past few weeks of research. I have also learned that:

1.       We don’t say Joisee … we say Jurzee

2.       We say yo and f**k ...  a lot (I’ll fit right in)

3.       It doesn’t stink, except in the industrial areas surrounding NYC and Philly

4.       There is a lot of road rage (Dave will fit right in)

 

Before I get too much more ahead of myself, I better explain. For many months now, there has been some uncertainty regarding Dave’s company. We talked about it and decided that he should start looking for a new job. So he started filling out applications, sending resumes and going on interviews. Long story short, after about 3 months, he accepted a job in Wall Township, NJ.

Our relocation is going to be a slow process. He has 90 days to “try out” the job before we officially start to relocate. During that time he will be traveling and working from home in Danville. Once the 90 days are up, if all goes as planned, the job will become permanent and we will solidify our timeline. For now, our best guess is that Dave will head east sometime in the spring and the girls and I will follow after Sarah finishes school in June.

We are terrified super excited to be starting out on this adventure together. I told Dave that he better make sure that he REALLY likes me. Not just loves me, but likes me. It’s going to be tough and for a while, we will only have each other. But really, what else do we need?

So I am starting this blog so that all of you can go on this adventure with us. For now you can watch as we prepare, and eventually you can watch as we rock New Jersey, VC style.