"The Tub": A Trip Down Memory Lane

Well, today I did the thing I've been dreading for weeks...... Going through "the tub" (18 gallon plastic container) of stuff (for some it may be "the bag", "the closet", "the junk drawer"--- for me it was "the tub").  My tub is full of CD's, floppy disk, old photographs and their negatives, and VHS tapes.  

It all started in 1998 when I was in a hurry to head off to college. Then again in 2003 when I was in a hurry to move back to Fort Worth to start my first teaching job. After that I got plain lazy when I moved!!  In my haste to pack each time I added things to "the tub" instead of going through it. 

I decided this would be the move I would go through "the stuff" and this is what I found......

Billions of little itty bitty wallet sized photos from high school......

Birthday celebrations with friends (yes those candles say 17).....

Prom pictures.....

Who knows what this was???.... Eeks....

Polaroid pictures of my best friend in her prom dress......

Other crazy pictures of my friends.....

An 8x10 of me from 8th grade.... Would you take a look at those braces!! 

No idea what we were doing, but we turned it into a calendar..... Classy!

Picture of my dad and I back packing (where I have no idea).....

High School slumber parties.....

VHS tapes Kortnye would send me while I was away at college.....

Cards from ex-boyfriends. They were actually quite sweet......

Floppy disk!! I have no idea how to see what is on these things!!! Crazy!

A billion + 1 CDs with pictures, music, and data. Who has the time to go through these?? Can you hire someone to put all of this on an external hard drive?

So..... "The tub" is still full, but now I at least know what was/is in it! Maybe the next move I'll actually do something about the items in "the tub"! And just maybe, I'll be adding more to it!

Xoxo,

C

The Mess

Although I don't leave the states until July, I'm moving out of my apartment in April (a few short weeks). Where will I live you ask? Well, I have amazing friends who have offered me beds, couches, even their childrens room. Yes, I have AMAZING friends. 

Moving doesn't come without a million of different emotions. I am soooooo excited about my new life in Colombia, but crushed to leave friends, family, students and my precious puppy dog behind. 

I mean seriously, how cute is this precious face?? Scout will be living with a retired couple in Pipe Creek, Tx (near Bandera). She will have 2 acres of fenced in land to run on, plus lots of puppy dog attention from great people (parents of a dear friend).

Best friends since 5th grade..... 

Besties you meet along the way.....

 

Students who become grown ups.....

And family......

My once comfortable and tranquil home has become a wreck! Closets that once held clothes are now storage for garage sale items.

Walls once decorated with photos of friends and places I've traveled are now empty.

I am selling pieces of my home piece by piece. They may just be "things", but they were/are "things" that became memories. The TV table bought at Goodwill and refinished with my Courtney, the drawers I bought and hung as a book shelf, and the mantle I stole (not literally, got an amazing deal) from my most favorite antique mall (Benbrook) are just a few items I will miss.

Deciding what to take in 5 suitcases has also been a challenge. It's like playing Sophie's Choice with my clothes, coffee maker, and Scentsy! Well, things got a bit more difficult yesterday when I learned the word "Embargo". A term used to describe a time of year when passengers are limited on the number of bags, so that the plane can carry more cargo. After all, cargo provides more income! I learned about 5pm yesterday that I will not be allowed 5 bags, but instead only 2 bags. Shipping? Unpredictable and VERY expensive! However, I found a "guy" through my connections who can ship personal items for about $80 for a 12" x 16" box of clothing. 

This afternoon provided me additional challenges as I navigate the international world and acquire a Visa. Let's remember my Espanol is extremely poor and when you move to a foreign country paper work is in Spanish. I'm scared that I am going to make a mistake with the paperwork and Colombia will call me and tell me I can't move!

So, for those that wanted an update- there you go!!! As of tomorrow morning at 7:30am I will be just under the 4 month mark! Time flies by (especially when it's STAAR season!!!).

Thank you to all my friends and family who have put up with my crazy the last few months! I couldn't have started this adventure without your encouragement. I am going to miss you all dearly!

Xoxo,

Carrie