Panic Update, Part II

So, his last day in Corporate America being August 11th, Tom had a two day weekend vacation (yee-haw), and began his new job - as IT (Information Technology) Administrator for the local reservation - on August 14th! The first day of the rest of his life! He took an over-50% pay-cut for this job, but, if he cared about it in a career-wise sense (which he doesn't), it's a promotion. Most importantly, though, it's a LIFE promotion! For the first time in the 6 years since we've been "living" up here, he'll finally be here - 24/7. What a novel idea, huh?! I mean, consider the fact that he never really has lived up here because of his work travels! And, get this: Tom's new commute (vs. the 300 miles, one way, to the Big Shitty) is 16.5 miles from the new house . . . and, except for less than 1/2 a mile on the highway, that's all lovely backroads! So, that is really our hugest, most exciting news!

But then, nearly equivalent to the above, is:

3. We accepted an offer on this house - our little Hastings-on-the-Lake - and we close in, GULP, 17 days! We have to be out September 15th. Tom just started packing his office and workshop last night, but I haven't had time to even throw things into one box. Hell, I can't even get the dishes done!

So, what shape is the new house in, you ask? Well, let's just say that we will be "luxuriously camping" when we move in. We'll have walls around us and a roof over our heads. Will we have heat? Maybe. At the very least, the wood cookstove in the kitchen should be hooked up by then. We can huddle around that on the cool nights. Will we have water? Maybe. At the very least, the hand pump has been installed on the well outside the side door. Will we have plumbing? Maybe. At the very least, we still have the "open-air" (no walls) biffy behind the garage that overlooks the valley. Will we have electricity? Yes! We still have the single kitchen outlet that has about a million extension cords running from it.

I don't know how to accurately convey the frantic pace at which we've been going. We're just gasping to keep our heads above water. Well, actually, maybe we're below the proverbial water line now, but I think we've learned how to function (if it be called that) underwater.

All I know is this: we just have to get through September 15th. Then I'm going to collapse.