Category: house

One Small Difference Between DC and CA

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By , December 12, 2010 5:10 pm

After a few weeks as California residents, we have already seen quite a few differences. I already wrote about the garbage/recycling/compost removal. Other differences include the harsh 60-degree California winter and the fact that everyone here will talk to you if you show a hint of interest in talking to them. All of these, however, were expected and well-advertised prior to moving here.

There is one difference that we didn’t expect… The number (and size) of the spiders! They are all over the place, with monster webs that stretch for yards connecting virtually any two things that don’t move much.

This nasty-looking orange spider was hanging out in a corner near our front door. It was about 2.5 inches including the legs and looked as though it could be poisonous (at least according to very very novice eyes).

I found this spider, perfectly silhouetted against the sunset, just dangling on it’s web between two trees that were about 10-feet apart. My best guess us that this one is 2 inches.

When looking at vacant houses prior to the move, I can’t tell you how many massive spiders in huge webs I almost walked into in their backyards… Eeewww!

California Trash

By , November 23, 2010 5:55 am

One of the simple things that makes me smile is the way California handles trash (at least relative to DC). First of all, there are three distinct bins compared to DC’s two. Second of all, we have a compost bin! Finally, of the three bins, the biggest (green) is the compost bin, the medium sized one (blue) is for recycling, and the smallest (black) is for garbage. That’s right, the smallest bin is for trash.

Go California!

California House

By , November 15, 2010 12:57 pm

It has been a bit since my last post, but obviously, things have been pretty busy over the last week. Thanks to Jenn for the reminder to update the log…

Since my last update, we have actually moved into our new house. Well, all of our stuff is there but we are sleeping in the hotel. We expect to get enough unpacking done tomorrow, however, to move in for good. Maya loves her new room too. The first time she saw the house, she ran upstairs to stake claim to the room that met her rigorous standards. Once determined, she jumped on the floor with glee, rolling around and giggling the whole time. Needless to say, a better reaction than we expected!

Finding a school is the next big hurdle. Andrea has seen quite a few already. We hope to have that solved in the next few days.

Empty House

By , November 7, 2010 11:18 pm

The house is now completely empty! It is a sad and exciting day, all in one. Obviously, it is sad that we are leaving our home (in DC), family, friends, etc. That said, I am really looking forward to completing the breakdown process and starting the rebuilding process on the other side. Over the last few weeks, we have spent so much time saying our good-byes, checking off items on our things-to-do-before-we-leave lists, packing up our belongings, etc., that we have really been focused on the negative emotions that go with moving across the country. I don’t expect those emotions to go away once we get there, but I am hoping that the positive emotions will take over – the emotions that come with new experiences, setting up a new house, meeting new people, etc.

So, we leave for California tomorrow morning. More posts once we are on the other side…

Moving Day 2

By , November 5, 2010 5:40 pm

Day 2 of moving is going pretty smoothly now… Well, now that the plan was revised. I am not a big fan of the plan, but if it gets done right and well (and quickly), the ends will justify the means. Here is the plan:

  1. Leave the big, 53-foot truck in Jessup, Maryland, 26-miles away from the house
  2. Rent a U-Haul
  3. Bring the U-Haul to the house and pack it up
  4. Once full, return to Jessup to transfer the stuff over to the large truck
  5. Return to the house with the U-Haul for another load

Certainly not the most elegant solution to the “truck is too big for the street” problem, but it seems to be working.

By day’s end, the house should be mostly packed and partially emptied. Tomorrow is the final loading day. Until then…

Moving Day 1

By , November 4, 2010 5:39 pm

Moving Truck

It is pretty disruptive having people in the house boxing up everything we own, but it is certainly preferable to having to do it ourselves! Today and tomorrow are for the packing and the loading of the truck will be on the third day. Thereafter, we are officially homeless… at least until we move into our new place in CA in about two weeks. Fun!

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