Hey, Hey. So, we are busy trying to sort out this getting to Alaska business. My Mom and Step-dad are helping us work it out. In fact, a wise woman would not be blogging with this enormous move in the dang near immediate future, but I've spent many hours digging into the deep crevices of the internet...so here I sit.

So far...
We haven't sold the house. This throws a big kink into previously, well thought out plans. Chucko prepares to go on up ahead without us.

A couple of cold hard facts and a whole lot more questions....
We CANNOT afford two places at once so we are looking for alternative housing, and by alternative I mean somewhere between way, way cheap and free.

Do we...
Arrange to buy an old camper once there? Hope an old kind soul will have mercy on us and put him up at Fort Donnely somewhere until we sell this house? Find the apartment or house that has not made itself known to us yet, that will rent for cheap? Become a hobo? Upon arrival, dig an underground hole to curl up in?

Does he....
Drive his truck there?
Pros: We would only have to buy one truck upon arrival.
It is working.
It has good tires.
We own it.
Cons: It isn't exactly a truck you use to pull heavy loads.
It has high miles.
It does not have four wheel drive....Pro to the Con: We could get snow chains.

Instead does he...
Buy a 4x4 in Alabama to drive to Alaska?
Cons: We go into debt way before our paycheck arrives.
Trucks are expensive and I have only found similar trucks with similar mileage to our own with 4x4 that are priced around $10,000. Is four wheel drive worth $10,000.00?

Do we try to save money on moving expenses by selling many things I do not want to sell throughout the home? I answered that with a yes already. We've already let a lot of things go, but there is more. I am now trying to remind myself that stuff is only stuff but as I look at my Nanny's China Cabinet I can't help but think of her hands reaching in there for the sugar bowl. Can I conjure up that memory without the aide of the cabinet? Yes, I can.

So...will the things we need to keep fit in a 6X12 trailer (the biggest you can rent from U-Haul)? I probably won't be able to answer that until moving day.

How long will Tidbit and I have to live here without Chucko? How long will Chucko have to live without us? How can Tidbit and I get by without all of the things Chucko brings with him to Alaska? What will he do with all those things he brings with him to Alaska? Do we rent a storage unit? We do if we rent a U-Haul trailer. Is storage a moving expense that is reimbursable? Do we buy a trailer instead and sell it when we get there? Can we afford that?

Is your brain mushy? I thought so. Are you freaking out because we don't have the answers to these very important questions yet and Chucko needs to be heading up in about 15 days? Me too, in fact I am two seconds from a panic attack.

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Despite Turkey Burger's protests, Monday I strapped her in the station wagon and drove to Eagle Rock Thrift Store to unload what was left after the yard sale. Her protests were on account of all the stuffed animals we let go. These particular stuffed animals were some she had sorted out of the keep pile months ago. Somehow seeing them again rekindled the love and she decided she would give me a real hard time about giving them away. In the end, I probably let her keep 10 out of the load...which was way too many. I finally had the bright idea of a trade out program but it was too late. It only worked for the last three I let back into our lives.

Turkey Burger is having a hard time letting go and I am trying hard to teach her that things are only that...just things. Kinda hard to teach when I spend so much time researching various methods of getting all my goods transported to AK. Probably also a hard lesson to learn because her Daddy and I tend to bring every object she owns to life with various character voices. A couple of days ago she insisted I put her old toothbrush into the keepsake container. Of course, I obediently did so...he has a name you know! It's Toothbrush and he asks her every night if he can brush her teeth and talks to her throughout the process (this one is courtesy of Daddy). She only let Toothbrush go, to make room for the new dentist given princess model. That was a real treat 'cause Mama don't buy no princess toothbrushes 'round here.

In other Monday news...
We showed the house again! A realtor with a prospect was doing a slow drive by as Charley and I were heading outside to play. She stopped to ask if I wanted to show the house in like 3 minutes. Of course I said YES and dashed back in to pick up any dirty underwear lying around. Just for good measure, I picked up the clean underwear too. That was the first and only day I hadn't gotten the house show ready in the morning...wouldn't ya know it...but after making a mad dash and yelling instructions to Turkey Burger, it was clean enough.

Today news....oh what fun for my readers!
The places Turkey Burger and I have been today...
Beauty shop, car vacuum place, 2 gas stations, Aldi, post office, accountant's office, car lot, library, and to a friend's workplace to let her test drive the wagon (A.K.A. Simon, he really enjoys gasoline and oil when it is mealtime but is not an over eater, he's tried people food but thinks it is gross, while we are away he enjoys conversing with the other vehicles in the parking lot, and he acts as if he drove off the lot yesterday as he soaks in all the street smarts Turkey Burger can dish out).

I am pooped and am taking a blogging break while Turkey Burger gives her Lion a bath in some sort of container in her room. Yep. I think the water damage has been done, so running in there at this point won't help.

But.....

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Lots of progress has been made this weekend! We are several steps closer to Alaska now. Chucko and I had a big yard sale and got rid of some things we didn't need and even let a few things go we would have rather kept. My in-laws came over from Georgia for a visit before we shove off. They are always incredibly generous with their time and were willing to help out in any way they could.

We had lots of Kid care between my Mom and in-laws. I am so thankful they were willing to watch over AND entertain her. The Kid's little cousin comes with the package of in-law and care that makes the Kid VERY happy. She loves her little cousin.

Before his wife arrived, my bro-in-law played Mr. Mom and came along with me on a MOMS Club play date. This outing was a totally selfless on his part, designed so that the Kid and her little cousin could spend as much time together as possible before our departure.

During their visit, sis-in-law helped to pick up a car from the shop, make and post signs for the big "Moving to Alaska Sale" (yep, that is what we called it in the paper and on the signs), and meticulously clean two cars. Her efforts paid off big time, when we sold one of the two cars during the yard sale! I cannot WAIT to cancel that insurance on Monday.

I even spent some time with my teenage nephew when I forced him to help me lower boxes from the attic into his good daddy's truck and trailer. The in-laws very graciously offered to haul some of our baby things back to their basement for FREE STORAGE while we are gone. Maybe I should have just let the baby things go, but since we plan to have another and since I am super cheap, I decided to hang on for a while longer. Although, I did sell a highchair, baby bed, playpen (it wasn't mine but still counts), two bags of stuffed animals, and two don't-fall-off-the-bed-rails during the yard sale.

To sell some of the stuff, I had to do some heavy haggling, often calling out my bottom dollar to folks as they walked away. I'd catch them just as their leg lifted so to ease into the car seat but not one second after. I'd say, if their butt hits that seat before you lower the price, your chances of a sale decrease at least 50%.

All of the time spent with the in-laws is bitter sweet, since we likely won't see them again for a while. It was hard to say goodbye but we tried to make it as short and as emotionless as possible. This was easy with the sister-in-law and little cousin since they slipped away while we were eating lunch with some visiting from out of town friends. No tearful goodbyes for the two of them. The bro-in-law spoke of the possibility of another short visit before we head out, but my guess is that was just wishful thinking mostly fabricated to soften the blow of the inevitable goodbye.

Is saying you hate goodbyes a lot like saying you are afraid of snakes? Like, who isn't just a little bit afraid of snakes? Does anyone really like sad goodbyes? Well, either way, I HATE goodbyes and am so uncomfortable with them, I'd rather sneak out the back door and call from the road to apologize.

There are a few family members that I know, despite the hardships it will bring, will visit us in Alaska. The in-laws are a part of that few. Somehow they will eventually find there way up there for a visit...even though my brother-in-law is as cheap as me (we share the cheap trait, sweet ain't it?) and tickets are insanely expensive especially for a family of 4. They'll come anyway...somehow.

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Last week Piccadilly and I had another awesome experience at the Wee Folks Theater in Birmingham, Alabama. This time we got to watch "The Three Billy Goats Gruff". The productions at the Wee Folks Theater are really impressive. The actors speak in preschool language, gesture excitedly, sing, and dance. The theater is designed with carpeted risers so that you are no more than approximately 25' from the actors anywhere in the theatre. On this occasion, Piccadilly and I arrived early (a very rare occurrence) so we had the opportunity to sit about 1 foot from the action. It was great show.

To purchase tickets to upcoming shows use the link below.
http://www.bct123.org/index.html

Afterward, I was determined to see the Vulcan. The Vulcan is is the largest cast iron statue in the world and stands in Birmingham, AL. The city of Birmingham contains the raw materials for making iron and steel, so in the early 1900's the Vulcan was created to highlight the area's growing industrial abilities.

I tend to complain about how there isn't much to do in the way of family outdoor activities in my town and surrounding areas. While this isn't exactly the type of activity that I would put #1 on our list of adventurous family to do's, it was a good Piccadilly/Mama experience. We learned a lot and had fun.

Ok, if you are not Mama or Sister, the photos you are about to view will likely feel like WAY too many. If you continue to read my blog you will find that this is normal. I tend to take way too many photos and am unable to sort through and post only highlights because I think my kid is way too cute and funny to eliminate any. So...feel free to skip through if this is just too much of not-your-kid-photos to sort through.

This is going to seem like a weird follow up to those photos...but on an incredibly sad note: In the museum, I read that often, as punishment, men who had been convicted of petty crimes spent time working in the iron furnace. The conditions were horrible for just about everyone employed there. When one particular criminal fell due to exhaustion, he was accused of slacking. He was thrown into a vat of boiling water, where he died. I can't stop thinking of him.

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It snowed today! I'd estimate it snowed about 2-3 inches worth. It is beautiful. Honey Bunches, Beebop, Big Mama, and I got to romp, sled, and throw snowballs until near exhaustion. Honey Bunches got an old river intertube and we used that to slide down a giant hill...over and over and over. Our fun ended when Beebop began uncontrollably wailing as she was "freezing to death."
We aren't really equipped properly here in Alabama for the snow. She wore lots of layers and a warm coat, but the layers and gloves weren't waterproof and eventually all that wet snow got to her. I however, got to try out my NEW North Face pants! In preparation for Alaska, yesterday I went and dug through what was left of the cold weather clearance at Dick's Sporting Goods. I didn't find anything for the rest of the family, but I scored! Even on clearance the pants were still no where near cheap, but I felt good about having found some pants that will allow for a couple of under layers without puffing me up like the Pillsbury Doughboy.

My down coat however is a different story. I don't care how warm that thing is, it puffs me up like the little boy on "The Christmas Story" and I don't like it! I only spent $1.00 on it in L.A. and used it not only for warmth in Alabama but as packing material to ship the computer my generous brother in law gave me from California to Alabama. The coat has had a good life.

As I was removing my mopping shoes (hehe) my realtor called to cancel the appointment to show our house. That was sure disappointing. I had been working hard all morning to clean it up. They canceled because of the snow. While I understand...somewhat...it is frustrating when I see everyone hunkering down in shelter and survive mode every time snow falls. The roads aren't icy just yet. They aren't even snow covered. Oh well, maybe they will reschedule.

Some will be overjoyed to read that we have been rethinking the U-Haul lately. I found out that the back is air tight which means our previous plan to put the dog back there in a kennel with blankets are squashed. He can't fit in the cab with us unless we have a misery-wish. I also took a look inside a U-Haul and found that the middle seat is only equipped with a lap belt which means Charley would have to sit in the passenger seat to have a proper seat belt. I don't even like to have her in the front of a vehicle so to put her on the side, right by the door would just be too dangerous. Plus there's that part about having to cram myself in the middle half-a-seat portion of the truck. SO, we are looking at other options. Knowing that everything needs to be done RIGHT NOW, but yet not being able to really do much of anything until the house sells has left me feeling a bit overwhelmed today.

The good news is that we have another house showing tomorrow! I am just praying the snow doesn't scare them off.

Beebop is likely prune-ing up. I'm off to suds her up.

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Valentines' Day festivities are fun. Is there a better craft than one that involves glitter and glue? I think not.

In other news....
Yesterday, Lil' Jacobean and I made a thank you note for Dolly Parton. For those who don't have little kids and may not know, Dolly Parton created the Imagination Library "to foster a love of reading" among preschool age children. Any child under age 5 who signs up, will receive one book a month, totally free.

Lil' Jacobean and I love books and spend much time at the library. An added bonus is the fact that these books come in the mail and kids LOVE mail.

Things Lil' Jacobean said while making the thank you note and watching me get the address online.
"I like Dolly Parton."
"She sure is pretty."
"That's a nice name for a girl who looks like that."

I agree. Thanks Dolly!

To sign up click on the link below.
http://www.dollysimaginationlibrary.com/firsttime.php

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I've just finished watching a documentary called Food, Inc. and I am disgusted. I am disgusted at what our food industry has become. Greedy, stupid people are controlling the food industry with very little regard for the health of the people that consume their products. Greedy, stupid people are torturing animals like it is ok...like it is normal.

What can we do about it? Well it seems not much. The farming industry is controlled by a few money grubbing corporations. They've taken over. The few farmer's who still do things the right way, are in a position where they have to ask higher prices for the meat, eggs, and milk they sell. Understandably so. The meat, eggs, and milk they sell are better. Their foods aren't poisoned like the other stuff. Yes, the other stuff has real poison in it...but maybe we won't notice because there is just a touch; just a touch of poison mixed with a lot of torture. Or maybe, we'll get cancer or some other incurable disease from all that poisoned food. Just a dash of poison will cure that meat from the E. coli that kills healthy little children a few days after they've enjoyed their fast food prize and cheeseburger combo.

I want my own chickens. I want my own grass fed cow. I want my own pigs. This desire isn't new. But here's the deal, I am no farmer. The closest I ever got to farming is when I was a kid, and my sister and I collected eggs that the chickens that wandered around on our property laid. Having a few farm animals seems so out of reach but somehow having a few chickens running around and buying a calf seems more plausible than regularly paying the price for free range meat from a real farm. Sure the real farmer's stuff is worth the price, but if you don't have the money, you still gotta eat. I would absolutely love to ride down to Wright's Dairy Farm and buy milk at $4.50 a gallon, but since Aldi sells it for less than $2.00 a gallon, I'll have to keep buying it there. As hypocritical as it sounds, letting my kid go without ANY milk is not an option.

Greed is winning right this second and making it near impossible for those who believe most things are more important than money, to be healthy. Remember when not having money equaled being thin and hungry? Ever notice how now, not having money often equals being either overweight or at the very least unhealthy? Hello fast food $1.00 menu...goodbye 3.50 per lb. fruits and vegetables.

I've wanted to take my daughter to a farm since she was 1 year old. I haven't found one farm that we could tour. I mean I live in Alabama, for cryin' out loud. After watching Food, Inc. I know why we can't take a tour. The farmer's won't let you in, for fear they may loose their contracts with those big, greedy corporations who might as well own them. If they did let you take that tour, it would surely result in nightmares for the kiddos.

I highly recommend watching Food, Inc. Rent it through Netflix or order it through Amazon. Also, if you are able,

1. Buy organic or sustainable food.

2. Go without meat once a week.

3. Read labels—know where your food comes from.

4. Drink more water, fewer sugary beverages.

5. Support companies that treat workers, animals, and the environment with respect.
   (Actions 1-5 above taken from http://www.takepart.com/foodinc)
   

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My Dad fixed my tricycle today! Yes, I have a grown up tricycle. Some people call them trikes. I feel too cool saying it that way, so I am going to stick to calling it a "grown up tricycle".

What drew me to the tricycle in the first place, was the basket situated between the back two wheels. I immediately stuck my big 4 year old Tweedle Dee back there and we took off for a test drive through Academy. We were sold.

Tweedle Dee isn't old enough to ride for long distances on her trailer bike that hooks onto my regular bike, so the tricycle is great for when I would like to travel long distances for more exercise. Well, it's great except for the fact that sitting sideways in the basket caused the tricycle to be heavy on one side, therefore prone to flipping. Yeah, we had a small wreck once when I tried to take on a slanted grassy hill in the pouring rain. Since her weight was shifted to one side, the slant of the hill caused us to tip. I tried to save my baby from injury as we were falling by pushing the handle bars to control the speed at which she fell. It worked, but I twisted my body in such a way that I pushed the air out of my lungs with my ribs. I was fine after a minute or two. Tweedle Dee was unscathed.

After that mishap, I wanted to convert the basket to a proper, albiet rigged, backwards facing seat. I had been on the lookout for some type of light weight shell that would work as a child seat. When I mentioned the project to Dad, he went into his garage and came out with an an old high chair his wife picked up at a yard sale. I took it home and after many hours and a few cuss words, decided I did not have the skills to make it work. After a little convincing, Dad agreed to take it home and despite working 6 days this week, brought it back pieced together! He is a welder...and a really smart guy.

I don't have any photos of us on the new and improved tricycle, so I posted some photos of Tweedle Dee hanging out with her Paw Paw at his house.

Hmmm, as it turns out, the photos are mostly Tweedle Dee centered. Paw Paw doesn't love the camera like she does.

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For two weeks I have felt compelled to repeatedly sing ..."I'm leaving, on a jet plane, don't know when I'll be back again," which then strangely transitions into "I'm leavin'...on a midnight train to Georgia, leavin' on a midnight train..." Neither song shows any real resemblance to my actual situation...except the part about, "don't know when I'll be back again". Sniff, sniff, wahhhhhhh! Go on now...sing it...just that part...sing it aloud....real slow and soft. Sad huh?

I'll never forget sitting outside LaGuardia airport with Sister, preparing to head inside and fly back to Alabama after a short visit. She was there to see me off, as she was living in the city at the time. Sister and I sat there on a concrete bench in a rare moment of quite. She then began softly singing, "ohh I wish I was in Dixie, away, away." She sang just the one line. It was terribly sad. I can't even stand it now. She meant for it to be a bit of a joke but since we both knew there was a lot of truth to it, it was much more sad than funny. I got on that plane and cried and cried.

Leaving is going to be hard. My poor mom probably cries about it at least once a day, but somehow is my biggest supporter. She gets why we need to leave. Even as a relatively new mother, I realize that at times encouraging your kids to do what you believe is a good for them, can hurt. Sometimes what is good for them, directly contradicts what your heart wants for them.

It sickens me with worry to think of any of my family sickened with worry. It literally causes me to pain to think of putting them through the pain of missing us. I understand and anticipate their feelings, but I absolutely hate to be the one that burdens them with that. This is one big reason why I don't take chances, why I haven't run off yet. Heck, it's what kept me from enjoying even the shortest youth trips or band excursions.

I know nobody understands it fully...but this is something Chuck and I NEED. We have GOT to get out of this town. We have GOT to get somewhere where we can roam. Every time I say that, I feel heavy with guilt. I am afraid that somehow implies to those here that we have got to get away from them. Of course I know better. I hate to leave them. My heart literally hurts, it aches at the very idea of leaving Dad and Mom and my sister's frequent visits and Craig and Aunt Joann and Uncle Sonny Boy and Laura and all of 'em..but this guilt and fear of hurting and missing is what has held me here for so long now...but it's time.

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Is it totally insane to go ahead and plan for S.A.D.? Is it totally crazy to go ahead and purchase a light box (or grow lights) to combat the depression that often comes with the darkness that at times, hangs over the state that I SO want to be in? hmmmmm. Maybe understanding and trying to combat the chance of going all Jack Nicholson on my husband, must mean I REALLY want to go to Alaska. Or, does it mean that my husband is the truly the crazy one? He knows the chances that my already unstable and unexplained swinging moods could mix with just the right amount of darkness and Mama and Daddy missing to create one seriously bad scene. He knows and still wants to go. He must really love me...or the idea of Alaska. Either way, he is one brave dude.

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Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising which tempt you to believe that your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires ... courage.

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Some of you know that I serve as the Membership Vice-President for the Gadsden Area MOMS Club. I had to make a big announcement today in the newsletter....

Since it was my turn to write the letter from the board, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to share some big news with my MOMS Club friends. My family and I are moving to Alaska! My husband Chuck, recently accepted a job in a little town in interior Alaska called Delta Junction. Around 900 people call Delta Junction home. We are ready to join them and are preparing for an adventure that we think will suit our family well.

The MOMS Club has been such a blessing in mine and Charley’s life. I am very thankful to have met all of you and will miss you a lot! God willing, we will be heading out sometime in mid March. I will still get a chance to hang out with most of you during February.

Since I will be leaving just a couple of months shy of completing my term on the board, Angela has been elected to fill my position as Membership Vice-President. Thanks Angela for taking on this responsibility!

Thanks for giving me a chance to serve on the board!
Hayley

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Hiya everyone (this means you, ma and sister).

Well, we put our house on the market today! Of course ma and sister already know this..so here's to hoping somebody else is tuning in! Yes, it was a big day that mostly consisted of cleaning. Why do we have baseboards by the way? Are they not a magnet for dirt (being butted up to the floor and all)? I can totally see myself in a world without baseboards. Craig...do you disagree?

Lollipop (I am toying with blogging nicknames for the family so work with me here) stayed with Big Mama (nicknamed already established in real life) from about 1:30 till dark so that helped me do some really conscientious grocery shopping (at 3 different stores mind you). I also got a chance to have a grown up, serious business conversation with the realtor, Judy Hamil...who is really awesome by the way.

I have always been careful not to take advantage of the fact that my mother in law lives within about 2 miles. She keeps C. Bear once a month or so for about 6 hours at a time. But now that we are leaving....those days are SO over. I'm gonna be callin' Big Mama A LOT more often. She will thank me for it later...when we are in Alaska.

Non Alaskan business...
Today, I caught my sweet, gentle Labradoodle, My Friend, gnawing on a detached, entire leg of something, that at first, seemed not from this Alabama world. I am getting chills just thinking of it. From a distance it looked like a monkey leg. Yes, I said a monkey leg. But I quickly, and most gratefully discovered it was only the dark brown color that made it look monkey like. I put in a call to Honey Bunches of Oats (still working on nicknames here) and had to leave a message in regards to the mysterious body part/chew toy my sweet buddy was greedily consuming. Also, I got my "from a distance picker uppers" that probably have a simpler name, and retrieved the leg. I put it in a box for proper identification. The thigh and calf were pretty much bone by this time...I said PRETTY much. The foot was entirely intact. Entirely, disturbingly, intact. It had really long toes with long claw like nails. I pictured it being used for jumping....or for swimming. That's when my brain wheels started turning and I realized it must have been a beaver. But how, oh how could my sweet, yet incredibly challenged, Labradoodle have scored such a tasty treat? Did I mention that he almost died twice by drowning and ONLY survived because I jumped out of a canoe to save him? TWICE. He would have died. He was going under. He is the only dog I have ever met that cannot swim and this includes my sweet little, dearly departed, Maltese, Jimmi.

Honey Bunches of Oats arrived home and confirmed that the leg once belonged to a beaver and that My Friend must have found him already dead. Way to treasure hunt My Friend! You may not hunt, you may not swim, and you may miss steps like a clumsy human, but you can treasure hunt! Good boy.

A couple of hours later, as I was bending down to look at the hurt paw of our other buddy Roger, My Friend gave me a big 'ol sloopy check/ear dead beaver leg kiss. Thanks bud! You still ain't gettin' that body part back.

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