Saturday, December 28, 2013

And We're Off!



Holy shit, we are crammed in this gorgeous beast, and let me tell you, it was like playing real life Tetris getting it all in there. Needless to say it was a very strategic process but we managed to get almost everything that needed to go with us in the car and only had to leave behind the non-essentials! Woo hoo!!! And damn, doesn't the Flex look sexy with that Thule on top!

We officially took to the road on Monday afternoon and headed directly to Kanab for a quit pit stop to catch up with an old friend before heading off to Phoenix. And catch up we did, I saw 2am in the morning, I can't remember the last time I was up that late! So thanks Ladd for the laughs and fun; it was a perfect start to our epic adventure!

Friday, December 27, 2013

Beach Clarity


There is just something about the salt air and the sand between your toes that brings so much clarity and allows one to think so clearly. So with that we came back from Mexico and officially hit the road and will just deal with the dice as they roll.

As of right now the house is back up on the market and we figure we will wait and see what happens. If need be one of us can fly back and deal with selling off the furniture or utilizing all of our amazing friends and family that have volunteered to help, but in the mean time we figure why stress over things we have no control. Pictures have been taken of the furniture so we do have a plan and truly feel so blessed to have as many people offer to help us out; we really do have some kick ass people in our lives!

But as for now, The Compagno's are officially road bound, and enjoying the journey so far!

Friday, December 13, 2013

Square One


So what do you do when you get all the way to the closing table, sign docs and then funds never come? You pour yourself a very large glass, let’s say bottle size glass of wine, and you sit down and repeatedly say, “Well fuck, this really sucks!”  Then as you get to the end of that bottle you seem to have gained some strength, a little composure and you start to use other words in your vocabulary other than foul obscenities.  An hour after you’re done with the bottle, you’re no longer angry; of course we aren’t counting the random turret bursts of fuck still flying from my mouth as anger, these are just coping mechanisms and helping me build a new plan, a non angry plan, a constructive plan, one that doesn’t involve me keying somebody’s car plan. So yeah, the Compagno’s are back to the drawing board on the house.

But  all my awesome drunk and non angry planning worked like a charm and it goes back up on the market as of today and for the sake of my sanity, let’s hope it sells to people with more than Monopoly money!  

The real issue and the make a plan part that I am struggling with is the furniture, the previous buyers had planned on buying most of it with their “funny money” and it is still in the house and the kicker, we leave for Mexico tonight, so we’re really restricted on time to get it resolved. We get back from Mexico on the 21st and were supposed to hit the road on the 22nd, but right now I am not sure what that is going to look like since the most rational one I can think of is to come home and have an estate sale and get it sold over that week. Some part wants to leave the furniture here and keep the house staged but then eventually we will have to make accommodations to come back and take care of it, or list the furniture online and find a middle man to take the money and meet them for pick up; but I worry about random people in the house, moving furniture and banging up walls (if somebody volunteers to be our middle man and make sure nothing gets ruined, I promise to pay a sellers fee). Or there is always order another POD, have it delivered on the 23rd and load everything up, but I am just cringing at the idea of paying double the money a month to store stuff. So lots of ideas, just struggling to commit to one, although the practical side of me says delay the trip for a week, and get the furniture sold.

So here is hoping that a week on the beach will clear my head and come up with a strategy that will be best for us in the long run and make the journey a little easier.

So and constructive recommendations and ideas would be helpful and appreciated. Anybody ever have to deal with something similar to this?

Sunday, December 1, 2013

CIAO!

"What is that feeling when you're driving away from people and they recede on the plain till you see their specks dispersing? -it's the too-huge world vaulting us, and its good-bye. But we lean forward to the next crazy venture beneath the skies." Jack Kerouac

This last week has been crazy and the reality of actually leaving Utah and the people that have been so influential in our lives has started to sink in. Saying good-bye is hard, ciao is much easier; it gives the hope and promise that we will so those we love again and soon.

Things that I thought would be easy, like giving up work, really took me for a whirlwind this last week. I have taught and trained at Daybreak for over two years now, and I officially taught my last class on Wednesday; I was overwhelmed by the emotion I felt leaving there. I know I only see them once a week, but you'd be surprised how much I care about the lives of my regulars, especially when you have seen them every week before the sun is even up, they're ready with smiles, and wanting the worst torture I can dish out. You learn a lot about people in two years; you see their weaknesses, you watch them progress, get stronger, you hear their stories and you want only success for them. I am going to miss you my Daybreak peeps, you have truly enriched my life! Thank you for everything!!! 

We also had the opportunity to say ciao to our friends and family this week as well; spending Thanksgiving with both Tom's and my family and then a big farewell open house yesterday. The open house and Thanksgiving holiday worked out perfect, giving us opportunity to spend time chatting and visiting with those dear to us, including some that we have not seen in quite a while. So thank you to everyone that came out, you truly made our day. Plus, we totally expect to see each and every one of you at some point along our crazy journey! 

Less than two weeks and two more places of employment (or should I say fun,) to say arriverderci to before we are out of Utah and officially road bound! We are trying to relax and enjoy the journey, but let's face it, packing sucks!!!