We've made it!

I have officially been in Oklahoma for one week. We pulled in last Friday to a hail of carpet and lanolium pieces. The trip here was fairly uneventful...although we did decide to alter the route about four hours into the drive. Amy spent a significant amount of time on her cell phone trying to find a hotel in the western part of Tennessee that allowed animals (since we were traveling with two dogs, two cats, and four fish). She managed to negotiate a hell of a rate (using what tactics I don't want to know) and we stayed the first night in Dickson, TN. We spent the next day (thirteen hours) driving to Oklahoma City. The one thing I clearly remember at this point (and it has all become a blur) is that the further west we traveled the warmer it became. When we pulled out of Virginia at 10:30 in the morning it was a wonderful 79 degrees and when we pulled into Oklahoma City two days later at 10:00pm it was 95 degrees. If only I had known....

When we arrived at the house I should have known there was going to be a hiccup (everything had gone way to smoothly up and until this point). I pulled up to the house and noticed that there were two work trucks outside. When I walked in the house all of the sub flooring was visable and two guys were standing around discussing where they should start. Mind you, all of this was supposed to be done BEFORE I pulled in to Lawton. The temperature outside was quickly rising (by this point it was 100 degrees) and the dogs, cats, and fish were all in the car. At this point I gave my self full license to have a "Chris Straub" moment and lose my cool. I called the maintenance foreman and calmly (at least I thought it was calm) explained to him that there were MEN inside the house and NO carpet and to top things off there was a refridgerator sitting in the middle of the driveway. And, what exactly did we pay all the money for him to do??? (I think that was the point where I lost my cool). He said he would be right over....

Meanwhile I left the dogs/cats/fish in the car with the air conditioning running and called Susan in New Mexico (which involved her leaving class). She had the task of finding a hotel room (that allowed pets) in a city smaller than the size of Roanoke (for my Virginia peeps) during the ONE weekend that Tim McGraw was in concert and it was the 4th of July. To say the least we ended up promising our first born for the hotel room (the last one in town that allowed pets). The movers ended up showing up on time (the one blessing in all this craziness) and ended up working through 105 degree heat without a complaint (except for the one mover who had Torret's and kept shouting "FUCK"..and frankly I don't blame him).

At this point we are settled (somewhat) in the house. I am very grateful for everyone that has come together to make this move possible. It is an advance for Susan (Dr. Professor Susan Harvey) and a chance for me to return to school to pursue a doctorate. We have spent much of the last week making the house livable (seriously...hot water to the refridgerator and a frozen water hose to the washer). I am blessed to have this place to live (thanks to my mother) except that I look at Susan at least once a day and say "but I've never lived like this before...you don't understand...I am spoiled!!). On our way home from Wichita Falls yesterday I made Susan stop in Burkburnett, Texas to look at townhomes that are for rent. We aren't moving (at least anytime soon)...but it is nice to dream!

We will have internet installed in the house at some point tomorrow (so help me AT&T) so hopefully I can update my blog more often. Susan has already started teaching (and she loves being Dr. Professor Susan Harvey) and I am slowly unpacking the house (even though I SWORE I was going to the Hilton until the house was unpacked...but that would involve having to find a Hilton in Lawton, OK).