Friday, September 08, 2006

Packing Up

All of our belongings that we had here in Cairo are now packed up and on their way. We managed to acquire 2,000 lb more stuff while we were here (to be fair, some of that weight is packing material and cardboard boxes!)

Of all our cats, Lily proved to the the most adaptable to the new environment.

This was the first night. Eventually Pokey did come out and join her sister and they had a great time chasing each other all over the boxes, much to my sweetie's chagrin (he was sure one of them was going to fall in a crevice or knock a box over and be horribly crushed).

Habibi had the hardest time with this. Jam him in a cage and stick needles in him, he's a-okay, but disturb his environment and he's all out of sorts. Both he and Howler cried in the middle of the night.

The level of filth we discovered was disturbing. Who knew that much sand/dust had accumulated under the slipcovers? And everywhere else... Yick.

Anyway, that's all over and done with. I'm now sitting in an echoey apartment working at the laptop (which I hate). We'll stay here for the next two weeks. We still have the embassy furniture, plus they provide a "welcome kit" with basic necessities. I'd much rather be at a hotel, but this is how it's done. Oh how I miss my tv and the stereo... It's awfully quiet.

24 comments:

Hedgehog said...

Congratulations!! I know how much work it takes! I love the pics of the cats with their new jungle gym. Hope you can listen to some music or online radio and/or watch some dvds on that laptop!

Unknown said...

Oh Tonya - I hope the next two weeks whizzes round for you and you're on your way before you know it - thanks for all your help with Mavericks - it's good to be officially on board!

Sweet P said...

Good luck on the move. It's good a least a couple of the cats like the different environment. How tough though to be without some of the ncessities for a few weeks. I hope the next two weeks goes by fast for you.

quiltpixie said...

its hard to be in your "home" when its not "home", but its a good chance to say goodbye one last time to hte neighbors and the neighborhood...

Saska said...

Looks like work if you ask me! Hope the transition goes smooth.

Sassenach said...

EEK! The sight of all those boxes is giving me flashbacks!

How will you fill your time over the next two weeks?

Clare said...

Hi Tonya,

Hope that the next 2 weeks whizz by. I am sure you will have kept one or two quilts and your sewing kit aside to idle away the days.

Love the photos of the cats - cats and cardboard boxes go together like a horse and carriage (lol). Magic and Podge have a "thing" about the washing baskets and can be carried around in them, with paws poking through the holes, for ages.

Paris is waiting for you!

Hugs

Melzie said...

Bless your heart no that does not look like much fun :( I hope the 2 wks fly by for you guys! xoxo melzie

Unknown said...

Hope your time in the no-man's-land of the moving process goes quickly. I assume you saved out some sewing of some kind to keep your little hands occupied?

Nancy said...

Oh how my babies would LOVE that playground! Mine also do not like their environment changed in any way. I hope yours settle down and aren't too much trouble when you leave. Good luck with the move.

Lois R. said...

Boy do I know about the filth! I was shocked at what I found in my house when we packed up and I am appalled at what the sellers left in our new house! Yick is right!!!

Our cats LOVED the boxes, I'm sure your boys will be loving the box world soon. Just wait 'til they get a load of the piles of packing paper when you start to unpack! My girls were uncontrollable when it came to the paper.

So sorry to hear about the two weeks in the packed up apartment. You're way more patient than I would be! It's tough entertaining oneself without one's stuff, huh? Take my word for it, it will be all over before you know it!

Finn said...

Hey Ton, welcome back in blogland..missed ya!!! Great explorers those fur friends of yours...LOL
Seriously tho, it's a good job done. It will be hard for that few weeks I'm sure. Actually any transition is hard, much less such a big one.
Even done in stages it sucks!
Any friends left you can go and hang out with to escape the quiet?? Lunch out maybe?
And if you're desperate you can stop over and read my "rant" today..I got my soupbox out of storage and showed the beginning of how grumpy this old bear can get!!!
Hugs for happy transition, Finn

Angie said...

It's wonderful to see a post from you. You were missed!! :D So glad you've gotten the actual move behind you.

Fiona said...

It must feel like you are sitting in a warehouse! Good luck with the rest of the move. I have to say that I am selfishly looking forward to reading your posts from Paris - one of my favourite cities. Hope you enjoy your time out in the States and that the next two weeks isn't too wearisome.

Granny said...

Tonya, I've been thinking about you and wondering how it was going. Thanks for the update. How long will you be in the U.S. before leaving again?

Judy L.

Judy said...

Hey you didn't pack up! You made a kitty condo village!!

Boy don't they just love having all the steps and ramps so they can play king of the castle top!

2 weeks with no tv? I'd go nuts. One day during the storm with no lights and I was nuts! Yeesh! Hope it goes fast!

Ann said...

What a cute picture. Looks like the "kids" will enjoy the next 2 weeks much more than you will. I hope the time flies by for you and that you and hubby have safe journeys.

Tazzie said...

I hope everything goes well with the rest of the move Tonya, I've been thinking of you often, and wishing I could help out even if just a little. Hopefully that's the hardest stuff all done now.
*hugs*
Tazzie
:-)

Susan said...

Wow, it seems it's been talked about forever, but now it's real! I work on my laptop all the time, but it's an iBook and the keyboard is very user friendly, which Paul's PC is not particularly. I'm sure you are in a countdown of days - last times for each thing.

Cher said...

wonderful photos Ton-even with stuff to do to pass the time, it's got to feel mighty strange to have all your stuff packed away. even the internet can lose it's appeal when that's all the outside entertainment you have! I am sure each day is feeling way too long being stuck in between mode as you are currently.
good to hear from you.

Joyce said...

Looks like you have had a packing nightmare but it's done so that's good. I hope you remebered to keep out some hand quilting. Good luck on the two weeks in limbo.

sewprimitive karen said...

Boy I'd hate to know how much all of my possessions weigh. Better to be in ignorance. Wish I could have seen Pokey and Lily playing. Hope all goes smoothly, Tonya, maybe you could sing to yourself to make up for the stereo being gone :-).

ForestJane said...

I could do without the tv as long as I had the computer... my sewing machine I'd miss, though!

Did you keep at least one charm there to keep the evil eyes at bay?

Lily Mulholland said...

Wow - it's all happening. And kittykat heaven for the girls. Wussy boy pussycats!

Good luck with everything Tonya. It will feel a bit strange to be back in the States, I'll bet.