we're moving!

One of our nephews at the Ontario Science Center on the weekend.

A while back I mentioned that something exciting was happening in our lives but that I couldn't talk about it yet. Well, it's official: Jeff and I are moving! Final address still to be determined, though it will still be in Toronto.

We just sold our condo, and the closing date is Feb. 1st. We'll be putting most of our stuff in storage and moving to a temporary living space in January (thanks, Ginny!) while we look for a house. I have no idea how long it will take.

Mini-grocery store at the KidPark.

Last month I mentioned that we were getting my office repainted. Well...it was somewhat more complicated than that, really. Those who have seen my small office know how cluttered it was, pretty much every flat surface covered with books and papers and musical instruments. Ironic, really...I originally started renting office space outside of home because my home office was too small. Yay, lots and lots of storage space!

Then the whole Inkspot thing happened, and I ended up moving to Philly and working in a corporate space for six months. Ok, I worked in a cubicle, but I didn't have to worry about storage space there either. Then back home; no wonder I've felt somewhat claustrophobic in that room since returning. Can't blame my real estate agent for turning a sickly shade of green when she peeked in the first time after we told her we wanted to sell. To her credit, she did not run screaming.

"This middle room might be a bit of a problem," she said carefully, obviously trying to be polite.

Jeff and a nephew near the end of our Science Center visit. Both were pretty tired. :-)

Anyway, we took her advice and cleared my office out. And I mean REALLY cleared it out...took down the shelves, the built-in desk, the filing cabinet, EVERYTHING. Jeff sanded and replastered, and we hired a painter, got the carpet stretched and cleaned. Several people have commented on how much bigger the room looks now. And you can see out the windows!

We put most of my office contents in a storage locker blocks away.

There's quite a lot of unspoken baggage loading down that simple sentence above. Like experiencing a setback in my tendinitis because of all the sorting, packing and cleaning despite the fact that Jeff did all the heavy work. Like the stress in not having an office anymore, though Jeff has been kind enough to let me share his home office space. Like other life stresses going on at the same time.

Anyway, more about the condo-selling experience in future Blatherings; I've been learning a LOT about the whole "fluffing" process. :-)

h Jeff's sister and brother.

Several friends and family members have asked what areas in Toronto we're interested in. Truth is, we're pretty flexible right now (in terms of types/personalities of neighbourhoods, though obviously there are areas we won't be able to afford), though I'm sure we'll narrow down the search quickly as we start looking. Meanwhile, if you have any interesting neighbourhoods in Toronto to recommend, please do let me know. We're looking for a 3-bedroom detached house in a fairly quiet area within 15-20 minutes' walk of a subway station, with non-street parking (parking pad is fine), two full bathrooms, preferably with a finished basement that I can turn into my office / music studio / workshop.

Wish us luck. :-)

Today's Blatherphotos are from the weekend, when Jeff and I spent time with his brother and sister and their families. Click on any photo to see a bigger version.

December 2004 comments: Read Blatherchat | Post in Blatherchat | Livejournal comments

letters to my brother

I took this photo yesterday morning.


Tomorrow (Friday), it will have been eleven years since my brother and his wife died in a car accident on the way to a camping trip. While browsing an old cottage guestbook, I found a short note written by Jim and Diane. I remember Jeff and I taking them to Adaskin's Bay, how we drifted in canoes and talked for a while.

Shortly after he and Diane died, I started writing letters to him on my computer. I knew he would never read them, but it was good therapy, or so I told myself at first. I cried a lot while I wrote them, and eventually realized that I found little comfort in the process. So I stopped.

I could write those letters now, I think, but I no longer need to. I don't think about Jim all the time but he's always with me, if that makes any sense. His life and death are both an inextricable part of my life now, have shaped me into the person I am...my tribute to my brother, and his gift to me.

August 2004 comments: Read Blatherchat | Post in Blatherchat | Livejournal comments