111 Days

111 days until 15 Sh'vat 5772 (February 7, 2012).

Tu B'Shevat is the 'new year for the trees' and is when Jews celebrate nature. Generally a minor holiday and one not observed by many will see the Lipsky's make a donation to the JNF and plant some trees in Israel.

It is the very least we can do as evidenced by the amount of paper products involved in the moving of our home from 60044 to 98136. Really had no idea that it took a small forest to pack and move our pantry. Yes I would have been upset if our botttle of bay leaves had broken along the way but at what cost. I'm glad we brought our unopened box of Uncle Bens (white rice, I don't like the taste or texture of brown rice, btw) with us but did that need to be wrapped separately? Are movers told to use as much paper as possible? I could point to the guy who packed our kitchen and accuse him of being an overwrapper but you should see how they did the boy's room (it was a different guy). You need to wrap up his books? Yes, would have been upset if Dirk had been broken during shipping but did he need to be wrapped in 30 pieces of packing paper?

Don't worry, Dirk wasn't harmed. Go Mavs!

It was an absolute luxury having a moving company come and pack and move our house so I hope I'm not coming off as being bratty or unapreciative but there is just so much paper. And I'm not even talking all of the boxes (and there are so many of those). Call it unpackers guilt.

We're about 40 - 70% (yes, big range, it's a deceptive process) unpacked and it has been pretty challenging. Going from a space with 3600 sq. ft of living space (plus additional storage space) to 3000 sq. ft has made for a tough move (or at least unpack). I've found it's become a bit spiritual also. Sort of.  As you pack (yes, I realize we didn't pack this time but I have packed before (by my count I've moved 17 times)) there is an initial purge where you get rid of things you won't be bringing along but mostly it's "get this stuff in a box and get it on the truck and we'll figure out where it goes when we get there." So now we're there and we're figuring out where things go. How do things from our old house/old life (trying to be spiritual here) fit into our new house. Of course I'm packing up our Heady Bullseyes' 2002 championship (viva!) plaque but I got no f'ing idea where it's going in the new house. Not enough room (gasp!) for all of our concert posters. Which make the cut? Which will remain (triple boxed) in storage? What things get to be a part of our new home and what don't? And what did the movers do with my guitar?

But more importantly we ate our first homecooked meal last night. Turkey pasta and broccoli. It was great. Just the four of us and me and boy not having to wear pants. Heaven. And I was able to add some oregano and red pepper to the sauce (Newman's Marinara) because neither of those spices were damaged during the move thanks to them being individually wrapped.

Well, there's another 30 - 60% (yes, big range, it's a decpetive process) left to unpack so let's get back at it.

And if you have a couple of coins in the piggy bank and you don't know what to do with them, go to http://www.jnf.org/support/tree-planting-center/ and plant a tree.

For more on Tu B'Shevat: http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/3264/jewish/Tu-BShevat.htm

Speak soon

- JLips

PS - Yes, 17 moves (not counting school-related housing)
Santa Monica
Brentwood
Beverly Hills - Toppington
Beverly Hills - Hillcrest
Ft. Worth
Dallas - Moss Creek Ct.
Dallas - Flintshire
Dallas - Covehaven
Paradise Valley
Scottsdale - McDonald
Scottsdale - 105th
Chicago - Menomonee
Chicago - Webster
Chicago - Clybourn
Chicago - Cortland
Lake Bluff
Seattle