Monday, July 14th:
So after an amazing weekend farewell in Brentwood (Cornfest Style), I picked up the truck with Grace around the corner from my folks place. The whole family then went down to the storage unit for some great 'team' effort to muck out, pack up and just get rid of stuff. It was soooo hot, but everyone worked so hard to be as efficient as possible. 2-3 hours later, the first layer of stuff was in the truck and all robed in (thanks to Daddio!). So after an hour or so for lunch and shower at the folks place, Grace and I loaded in the bright yellow penske and said farewell to Mom, Dad and Camille and headed for the city.
We pulled in the city to have Ken, Tony and Melanie join us to start loading in the boxes and most importantly - the scoot! Tony was the task master and got 80% of the truck packed, strapped down and ready to go before he had to run. Then the back up troops came with little to do, so we finished loading and took off for some grub and drinks at the Hukilau (the last supper....). There was such a great turn out!!! (Marissa, Pops, MCB, Erik, Erica, Jason, Wendy, Christina, Tony, Jiri, Sherri, Matt and Andy) It rocked and I felt so loved!! A few headed back to the apartment, packed up the last odds n' ends and secured it all for the big move. The farewells were getting harder and harder...Tuesday, July 15th (aka D-Day as in Departure Day):
Grace and I woke up (on the floor - thanks Ton for the pad!) and began fulfilling our check list of things to do (including Goodwill, Post Office, final pack up, Lo Cubano, and just driving the truck around the city...). We were productive and were on the road by late morning, I think. We drove (I actually drove the whole way!) until we ate lunch then drove some more... Let's just say the Lo Cubano action did some fun stuff for Grace and me (I know, I know - TMI!), but it was funny! The drive to Bend was not so bad and we pulled in the 8 o'clock hour just in time for yummy BBQed chicken for dinner with Auntie Barbara and Aunt Cathy. Then early to bed (I picked the room with the second most comfortable bed in the world - after mine of course!)
Wednesday, July 16th:
Grace and I had a lazy morning, but when we made it downstairs Cathy prepared us made to order pancakes. (Let's just say, this is the best B & B in the world. If you ever get a chance, you should check it out and the price is just right!) Grace and I then headed into town to have some lunch with her friend Jess, which was cool and did a Costco walk-thru where Grace bought me a super fantastic moving gift.... the complete collection of Pixar films!!! Totally rocked! Then back to the house for some chilling. The theme of Bend was Sleep, Eat, Play Games, Eat, Sleep, Run into Town, do some planning, etc. It was a tough life. We learned to play Pegs and Jokers this day... It was awesome! (Barbara and Cathy - yes, I would like one for Xmas. please?) :) We had another delicious meal and BBQed up some Brentwood Corn and had Suncrest peaches and ice cream (oh my!)Thursday, July 17th:
This was the day we were supposed to head north and stay in Seattle, but since there was not work permit, well... plans changed. Once. Twice. Three times. And then some. Grace was a great sport about it all. So we played more games (including Mexican Train), played the Wii, and tried to help as much as we could around the house. We also got to go to Redmond for dinner at Barbara and Cathy's friends' restaurant - oh so good!!! Like yum. Seriously yum! Also the IronMaidens were having a meeting (which is pretty much a bunch of awesome women in the Bend area who drive supped up sweet old cars and make your heart jump when you see them. They rocked!) Also on this day I learned that Canada does not allow people to import second hand or used mattresses unless they are cleaned and fumigated. Bleck! So I was trying to think how to get around this (because, well let's just say I had three things I needed/wanted to come with me 1. the Scoot; 2. My bed; 3. The wine collection). And so far I was pushing it with the other two, now my mattress was not allowed too!
Friday, July 18th:
"Heidi. Heidi. Time to get up." "what? uh? 7:30am? I miss sleeping in..." "Heidi - I have found a someone to clean your mattress. You have to confirm by 8am" "What?! You What!? You rock! I am up. Let's do this!" "Oh you will come to the house, okay. See you at 1:3opm. This was another day we were going to head north (I had a check in call at noon...) So we ran errands around town and made it back just in time for the cleaning. To no surprise to any of us, the 12noon check in proved to be unsuccessful. Still no permit. So another night in Bend it was! (oh twist my arm, our life there was so horrible - HA! Let's just say, we were spoiled!) So we got the mattress cleaned, played more mexican train, ate more delicious food and I finally had my first glass of wine in this crazy ordeal (and boy did I enjoy it. One glass after another after another) :) Also that night we booked Grace a flight out of Seattle on Sunday, since there was no way we were making it into Vancouver by Monday afternoon to get her on her original flight.
Saturday, July 19th:
Mid morning, we load up the truck and finally start heading north again. This time our end goal is Tacoma, Washington to hang out with Camille's good friend (and practically another Hartman sister) Kelly and her husband Jesse. We had a beautiful drive up past Mt. Hood and down to the Gorge. On our way down we called the Pat's to see if they would want to meet us at McMinniman's for lunch. They were busy loading up Matt with 'wonderful things' to move to Texas. So we eat lunch, then drive a half a block to meet them all at the storage unit. We see the Pat's with their G
reat Race car, Matt with his bright yellow Penske, and Matt's friend Harrison who is helping with the move. It was random, crazy, fast and so perfect. A great sign that all was working out the way it should. After the quick stop, we continued heading to Tacoma. We arrived in time for Margaritas and BBQed salmon. Yum! We also were able to meet Jesse's parent's who were in from Minnesota (their flight left later that night). It was good times! Then in the later hours we introduced Kelly to the Wii.... Let's just say, it was all down hill from there!
Sunday, July 20th:
Kelly was incredibly generous and helped drop Grace off at the airport in the morning (now that was a hard goodbye!) and then she took me in to Seattle to explore. We hit up Pikes Place, did some shopping, learned about the 'Bite of Seattle Festival' so we headed to the 'pointy thing in Seattle that I can't remember it's name' where the festival was taking place. Oh yeah, the Space Needle (or something?) I also gave a little text to Lisa Susan who I knew was hanging out in Seattle that weekend so
she and Russian host student met up with us and adventured around. The festival was cool (who can complain about fair food and funnel cakes!?) Then eventually we parted ways and Kelly took me by her Coast Guard boat - it Rocked! I saw where she works, the little boats she drives, her bunk where she stays when they are deployed... It was awesome! Then back to the house for some dinner, more Wii time and some movie time.Monday, July 21st:
This was day I was to get my permit. I knew it. I was sure. But I was wrong. Kelly and Jesse left at 5am putting Java (the coolest, cutest chocolate lab ever) and Cody (? - a rockingly cool cat) in the room to cuddle with me (which was awesome). I now totally want to get a pet. Kelly after hanging with me you want a Wii and a Scooter... Well now I want a pet. We will see what kind of apartment I get. So I woke up, packed up and waited for the call... that didn't come... that didn't come... that didn't come. So I called. No permit. I had hit my limit. I was tired of being on the road. My truck was due in Bellingham, WA the next day. I was tired. I was ready to be there. But it was not time. So I did what any sane pe
rson would do. I cried for a moment to get out the frustration then on to next steps planning. Kelly happened to come home in the middle of this and was incredibly patient and was so helpful in thinking of solutions. If one thing is true - I am so blessed with being surrounded by amazing, generous, thoughtful people. So we resolved that would book a storage unit in Bellingham for Tuesday and that I would drive up there, unload all my stuff, drop off the truck and bus over the border as a tourist. Great. Done. Coordinated it all and then back to playing the Wii with Kelly. (oh yeah, she gave me this delicious chocolate covered marshmallow that seemed to melt all my worries away. so random and so cool!) later that evening we actually ventured out to have dinner on the town and I drank a margarita the size of my head and boy was it delicious!Tuesday, July 22nd:
So Jesse and Kelly put the pup and kitty in the room at 5am. I give them big hugs goodbye and to say thanks. I sleep in some, load up the truck and hit the road by 10:30am. The drive is smooth and easy. I am counting down the exit signs... 9 away from the storage unit and the phone rings. "Heidi, guess what?" "What?" "We have your permit" So I pull into a parking lot in Bellingham and find a Postal store that has everything... mail, fax, internet, printer... all I need to get all the paperwork in order. 2 angels (Tari at Hollyhock and the lady at this Postal store) and 2 hours later, I am ready to hit the border. I am more nervous than I have ever been. I try to eat, but I nearly vomit it all back up. So I go for it. I am expecting 2-6 hours there with extreme interrogation about my work, my stuff, etc. People have said the Canadian officials are just plan ruthless. So 15 minutes later after pulling into the border patrol, I am leaving with a work permit
in hand and all my stuff. I was called up, gave them my papers, they reviewed them (told me to wait til they called my name), they called my name and said "we need you to pay $150 Canadian for your permit", I paid it, they gave me my permit and said to follow the other cars out, "don't you want to check out my truck", "will you take it all with you when you go back?", "yes", "well then, no. Go on and be sure to follow the other cars out that way." And that was it. I turned the truck around (all by myself) and went on. Meanwhile, I had called Ian about this chance of me crossing the border and asked for help in finding a storage unit. He found one that would be open later so we could unload that night, paid for it and arranged all the details. I picked him up and we hustled to be done by 8pm when the elevators would stop working, but we were just too slow (like 2 minutes too slow). So we waited for the manager to come and she let us stay longer. We got it all unloaded, went ate some delicious sushi and then headed to the sublet near Main and Broadway. We unloaded, got me all set up and then he took the bus home. With all that... I finally made it and I finally had a great nights sleep.Wednesday, July 23rd:
This day was originally to be my first day at work, but... well... So now was the day to return the truck back south of the border in Bellingham. You know how fast the border was the day before, well this was 2 hours of traffic day to head south of the border. Eventually I made it to the truck rental, took a cab to the airport (another helpful person) and call to get Quick Shuttle to pick me up. Too late to catch the 3:10 bus (since it was 3:45pm) and too late to book the 6:10 bus (I would have to ride stand by if available). But the nice lady on the phone pushed the rules and booked me on the 6:10pm bus and gave me a confirmation code. Literally 15 seconds after I got off the phone with Quick Shuttle, a bus showed up. Is it headed south? North? It was head north! Do you have an extra seat. Yes!? Uh, okay. You mean I won't have to sit at this little airport for 3+ hours?! Let's do this! Next thing I know I am headed north and crossing the border for the 3rd time in two days. Back to Vancouver for my first solo dinner and drink in my new city and early to bed for the first day of work the next day....
