First things first: I have NO idea why images aren’t loading into my posts – they’re not even in my media file any more! I have tried a few fixes so fingers crossed, but I decided not to go back and add the old photos now. Just hope the new ones will go in.
Anyway, four months to go! I can’t tell you how exciting it is to say this and see time starting to speed by.
Although fall is my favorite season, May is my favorite month of the year. Not only is it prime springtime, but my birthday falls this month and so does Mother’s Day, when I hope to once again enjoy a full Day of Doing Nothing (my favorite gift). YaYu’s graduation also happens this month, and Brett and I will be flying up to Philadelphia to attend that along with spending time with our daughters and SILs (our son and DIL are unable to attend). We’ll be boarding Tilly and Kaipo with their groomer for five days, our first long time away from them, so we’re a bit nervous about that. All in all though it should be a great month getting us closer to our early September departure.
And, I got a job! A Japanese family moved into the apartment complex and are friends with our daughter-in-law. The family’s daughter will be entering the sixth grade in August, and I have been hired to bring her English up to speed as much as possible before then. We will meet twice a week until school finishes the third week of this month, and then three times each week during the summer. TK’s English proficiency right now less than minimal, so I have my work cut out for me, but the parents are paying me very well and I’m motivated! I’m grateful too for having something to do this summer – not just the lessons, but the prep before each lesson as well.
Here’s how we did with our goals in April:
- Celebrate Brett’s 76th birthday. The kids gave Brett a big YETI cooler (which was what I had been thinking of giving him LOL). He was surprised but thrilled to get it as we plan to start camping again when we’re in Oregon. Our son took him out to brunch while he was in town, and I got him two pairs of new shorts he wanted and took him out for ice cream on his special day.
- Keep food spending at $300. We spent around $360 on groceries and have decided $300 is no longer realistic.
- Get some new glasses. I got a stronger pair of progressive readers (online at Look Optical), the same frames as my older pair but tortoiseshell this time.
- Read two or three more books. I read one Lucy Foley, two Louise Penney books, and also reread Conclave, by Robert Harris, about the election of a Pope (and now want to watch the movie again).
We also:
- Purchased our airline tickets to Portland
- Reserved transport for our car to Oregon.
- Reserved a car in Portland to use until our car arrives
- Reserved an Airbnb in Portland to stay in while we search for a place to live (and used $450 in Airbnb gift cards we had on hand)
- Reserved a car for our final few days in Tennessee
- Started walking again and am up to a mile a day
- Got Kaipo’s annual health checkup done
Our goals for May:
- Get my hair cut (short again) and also get a manicure and pedicure. I want to look presentable at YaYu’s graduation
- Purchase Yalu’s graduation present (at the beginning of the month)
- Read Careless Love, a book about the start of Elvis Presley’s career that we got for our anniversary. It’s a big book with tiny print so I’m thinking it may be all I’ll be able to finish this month.
- Book our moving service to Oregon.
- Try a new healthy recipe
We have switched up what we are eating in May. I took off some of the high-carb meals and added in salads and other healthier choices to our weekly menus (like switching out rice for sweet potatoes). We decided to increase our monthly food spend to $400 and hope that will be enough:
- Chili pork sauce w/sweet potatoes
- Niçoise salads
- Cobb salads
- Turkey lettuce wraps
- Teriyaki chicken & zaru soba
- Masala lentils w/sweet potatoes
- Beef hot dogs and 3-bean or potato salad (Brett’s request)
We continue to do good job of using up what we have on hand, and still have many of the items needed for May already in our pantry or freezer. The stockpile will be pretty much gone though by the end of the month.
Curious as to what car service you are using because we used Ship Your Car Now which was excellent and what moving company. It is so stressful moving but kind of exciting.
We are using Navi Auto Transit: great reviews and recommendations as well as a great price. The only thing extra we paid for was top mounting on the truck. Now we just have to find a moving company. With diesel prices climbing we know it’s not going to be low cost.
So far we’re not experiencing any stress over this, although the cost of the movers may give us palpitations. I think we’re just too excited to finally be getting out of here to feel any stress.
The photo of Brett is visible so it looks like your media file is working now. I use WordPress at work and it can be so frustrating.
I can’t believe you only have four months to go! I know you didn’t like living there too much but it does seem like you made the most of your time there and visited a lot of sights. And I’m sure it was nice spending time with your grandchildren. Congrats to YaYu! Does she plan to stay in the Philadelphia area? As far as finding a place in Portland, are you working with a realtor? It might help since they usually know about apartments that might not be online.
I’ve had to increase my food budget as well. I guess everyone has. I’ve also cut back on how often I drive anywhere. I’m still working and work from home most of the time, thank goodness.
Your summer job sounds perfect! Enjoy.
It’s the photo I usually add under the title that seems to be getting dumped. I’ve never had a problem before, and have tried all the recommended fixes, but it still disappears.
YaYu will be staying in Philadelphia. She has a nice living situation, knows the area well now, and all her friends are there as well. Apparently she has some other exciting news to give us when we’re there, but it’s still a mystery for now.
The increase in $ for food has made a difference in a good way – I’m glad we did it. We still don’t drive very much – Brett keeps track of our no-drive days and I think we’re already over the minimal amount we strive for every year!
Had my first teaching session this past week – it was fun but I wish I had a white board or some other way to stay organized! I brought extra paper to write on, show examples, etc. but it kept getting mixed up with the worksheets. Definitely not my style so I’ll have to do better.
That sounds like a perfect job for the rest of your stay! And your plans are moving right along. We are planning a trip within the US for fall and purchased airline tickets. I am wondering how this worldwide fuel crisis is going to affect travel as time goes on. But we also want to move along with our lives. ☺️
I am so happy to be teaching again, even for just one. She is very low level too, which is what I taught for so many years, so lesson planning is like riding a bicycle – you don’t forget. The extra I earn will probably cover the increased fuel costs for our move LOL.
I keep checking our flight to Portland and it is already filling up. It’s an Alaska flight and they are apparently in good financial shape but we’re keeping our fingers crossed things stay that way. Portland is a big market for them too (by the way, if you ever fly Alaska, preorder the cheese and fruit plate – it’s soooooo good!).
Three and half months to go!