I must apologize to those of you still checking in, but we will get on a schedule and I will post again! I'm still working on the videos from our drive across and our house is not yet ready for photos - well parts of it our, but I'll save it for a full post. I will give you an update though.
Tomorrow we will have been here two weeks! I don't know where to start...
When we arrived we met the landlord, seems nice enough, but the house smelled like cat pee, it wasn't clean, some things didn't work, the back deck looked scary and we were exhausted and now disappointed. It is a lot of rent money to pay to not be happy. The street we are on is super busy, we expected to hear the expressway on the other side, but not the busy street in front. I ran to Target and bought cleaning supplies and grabbed dinner at Trader Joes. Bob took the babe and pup for a walk after opening all the windows and turning off the AC. After we were settled enough to get Violet to sleep, we started cleaning best we could without our stuff and vacuum. The next morning the moving truck arrived, Violet and I headed out for more groceries while the truck was unloaded. She was so happy to see her toys arrive and was frantically riding her giraffe and running around between boxes. The smell was still there, but we were pretty sure it was in the basement so everything that didn't have a room to go into, went into the garage - which we weren't sure whether the car would fit into anyway. It had been over 2 weeks since we had slept in our own bed, even with the smell and the noise, we slept well that second night.
Since then we have been to a few playgrounds (thanks to the stops along our trip it is one of Violet's daily demands) I've been to a couple mom groups, we've been to The Strip (I'll take pictures next time) had dinner with a family we met at a playground, been to a splash pad, been to the library, been to a festival, met the neighbors on both sides, found a breakfast place and a pizza place and have been on two grueling bike rides. We even started a CSA every other week! When they say Pittsburgh has more hills than San Francisco, they are right. I didn't believe them at first.
The carpet has now been out 4 days. I think the smell is gone, but it looks terrible down there. The furnace is of course there so we are trying not to run the AC but at 80 with 80% humidity, us left coasters are melting. Side note: I think all kids here have curly hair it is so humid. Our car does indeed fit in the garage, but it is scary each time a pull in!
People here have been very friendly, dropping off scones, inviting us over or just chatting when the mail/packages are delivered.
The price of beer is ridiculous and you can only buy it in beer stores. Everyone hates the system and there is talk of it landing on the ballot soon - so be grateful Oregonians, it may not be as easy or cheap as in California, but at least it is accessible. I don't even know about wine, that is in another store.
I'm getting used to the non grid street system and can find my way certain places without directions, so hopefully I can take more pictures soon.
We are finding our way here. Bob's first day teaching is tomorrow and I have another mom group. But we miss home. We miss all of you, we miss our house and neighbors, I miss my job. We miss the climate and the ease of biking and driving places. Hugs.
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