Note*****This is sort of a hodge podge of randomness. Sorry for the length of the post and lack of pictures, but it's been a crazy week!
If you are from east Tennessee then you know about the blizzard of '93. The snowstorm that is sweeping our region tonight is being called "The Son of '93" and its starting to live up to its name. Nashville already has 6 inches and we have 2 1/2. If you are a blog stalker of mine then you know that my dad works for TDOT (Tennessee Department of Transportation) and has to salt the roads when it snows. I hate that he has to be out in this cold weather, but thank goodness he only has 2 years until he retires! Believe me we are counting down the days!
Anyway he hasn't been home for more than 3 hours in the last 3 days. I am clearly not happy about it. If you are one of my facebook friends then you saw that earlier on my status. I know that lots of you pray for a white Christmas, blizzards and building snowman with your children........but when I pray its for my dad's saftey. Not just his, but for anyone who has to be out in it. People don't realize what amount of work it takes to keep the interstate open. Preparation starts days in advance and isn't completed in one day.
This snowstorm couldn't have come at a worse time. Cassie and Josh moved into their new house this week. The process started 4 months ago, and because of her idiot mortgage company they just closed on Wednesday. Then at her closing on Wednesday at 3 p.m. she finds out that she has to be out of her apartment by Monday. Okay okay no biggie right? I mean thats 6 days right? Well 5 if you don't count Sunday, and then 3 if you factor in the pending snowstorm. I had been with her at the apartment a couple of hours Tuesday night and all day Wednesday packing. We had a box truck and another truck with a trailer, plus her car and my car. We would just load as much as possible and take at least 2 loads each. Sounds simple enough right? WRONGO! Turns out that the seller "accidentally" had the electricticity turned off.......on Wednesday! So at 4 p.m. Cassie and Josh go see if they can get it turned back on......nope everyone had went home. So we pretty much went into panic mode trying to get all the trucks loaded and not break anything. Finally, we made it to the house......at dark.....only to realize that their heat doesn't work without electricity! It was freezing in there! Honestly I could see my breath! Somehow Josh and his awesome cousin managed to get the washer and dryer in with only a flashlight.
Bright and early Thursday I headed to knoxville. We had our 2010 Relay for Life kickoff reception Thursday night, and I had my awesome cousin make us some desserts. Heather did an awesome job and everyone bragged about her neat little chocolate cups filled with mousse. Check out her website www.sprinklebakes.com for the details. Anyway after a quick trip to Toyota of Knoxville for an oil change, a chat with Heather and picking up the desserts, and stopping for a venti white chocolate mocha at Starbucks........I headed back for the reception.
This year our reception had the biggest turn out yet. It was so encouraging to see so many new faces all pumped about cancer research. This year is going to be the best Relay yet!
After the reception I headed to Cassie's apartment to help her pack....pack.....pack! With the snowstorm rapidly approaching we were all in full on work mode. I must have made 400 trips up and down her apartment stairs. Oh and let me take a minute to say that I will NEVER have stairs in my house. Back to the move........... Thankfully when we arrived at the new house the power was on and so was the heat!!!!! Thank you God! Since we were running short on time I stayed inside and organized boxes as they were brought in.......ya'll should see my muscles! Ha Ha!
Mom was super worried that Cassie and Josh would starve this weekend if they got snowed in. Sooooo being the awesome and thoughtful mom that she is, she headed to Wal-mart to stock their fridge. How sweet was that. I wish I had a picture of Cassie's face when she saw mom carrying in those bags. It was priceless. Imagine being totally stressed out, moving into your first home, not knowing where anything is because you yourself didn't bring it in, it's 11 o'clock at night, you and your husband have to work the next day, and then you realize that your brand new refrigerator is empty..........oh and add in a snowstorm!
Sooooooo at 1 a.m. this morning Mom and I finally rolled in our driveway. Around 2 a.m. I poured myself into bed feeling more tired than I have ever in my entire life.....but it was worth it. We managed to get everything out of the apartment, and into the new house. Now granted nothing is where it needs to be, but at least they are moved in and have food. That's all that matters.
I promise that pictures are on their way. My camera is at Cassie's. I thought she may want to capture her moving moments.
Please say a prayer for my daddy and all the others out working in this mess. Thanks in advance!
Yikes! This is the fourth snake we have killed this year. This sweet old man wanted to know if he could have the rattlers. I insisted that he take the whole thing! hahhahahahaha
