Dreams Unlocked

Smiling kids, empty house. We arrived in Ithaca on April 2. Before leaving Ithaca, we signed an agreement with the moving company that our stuff would arrive anytime between April 1-10. A few days ago we were told to expect our items to arrive April 11 - 1 day late. We thought no big deal. Today the company called us to tell us that last night our driver fell off a ladder and broke his arm. They did not clarify why he was on a ladder and not behind the wheel. He underwent surgery today. His need for recovery means that all our stuff is sitting in the back of a moving van in Chicago Illinois, while his arm mends. So, the moving company requires another driver. The driver they found is in Florida - he must be very special, because Florida is neither close to either Ithaca or Chicago. We can now expect our stuff sometime between April 15-17. By then, we will have spent 2 weeks in this sparsely furnished house. We have a round church table, a few fold out church chairs and a c...

Heading to school this AM. We live on a hill with clear views of  Cauyga Lake and Cornell University. We pulled into our rental house 1 week ago today. I haven't been able to blog due to no internet hookup in our home. After several frustrating attempts with Time Warner, we finally have internet and cable (but no tv, as our stuff will not arrive until Thursday). It is hard to feel settled without any of our familiar belongings. We are living in a house quite a bit smaller from the large comfortable townhouse we had in Port Moody. But, we all seem to have adapted to the change. Our church was kind enough to furnish us with a table and some metal fold out chairs. We also have air mattresses so we don't need to sleep on the floor. Our kitchen was also FILLED with food. People have been dropping off food and other stuff since we've been here. Someone even dropped off a bunch of brand new toys for the kids. For the first week we have had to survive deprived of int...

Chicago's John Hancock building at night. Cleveland rocks. Actually - Cleveland freezes. It is soooo freaking cold here!!!! We rolled in quite late, and as has now become our norm, all jumped in the pool. We spent the morning shopping on Michigan Avenue in Chicago. I told Sophia that I would buy her a doll at American Girl, because I had heard that American Girl was popular - and since Sophia was soon to become a real American Girl, I thought it would be a good way to get her enculturated. Oh my - I didn't know what I was walking into. For those of you who are unaware, American Girl is a company that sells dolls - these dolls have names and life stories. There are other dolls that are supossed to be made to look like different types of girls - so no matter what you look like, there will be a doll that kind of looks like you - although it appears they have missed the mixed race Indo-Chinese market. I walked into the place with Sophia and felt like we had enter...