wow. what a amazing past few days. The movers came on Wed., and I had been told a number of things. I had been told that they were well versed in international moves, would handle all the stuff for customs requirements etc. had all this nonsense about having them pack everything so they could sign off on the inventory. When you move to Mexico, everything must be inventoried. there is a list of prohibited items that you can’t take under any circumstances, and then some items you can, but with restrictions. all your electronics must be listed with make model and serial number. this list must exactly corrolate with your boxes. so, on your list box number one must match your box number one exactly. contents and all. I was also told that they would need a couple of days to do everything. that they would come and pack on wed. and load on Tues. So that is what I prepared for.

They showed up Wed. morning, and didn’t have any idea about the requirements for international shipping. so I walked them through it. thank goodness I had researched the heck out of it, even though I got made fun of for asking so many questions. Then they let me know they were going to pack AND load the same day. I was shocked. I was not prepared for that. in the end it worked out, though I wanted to put more stuff on the truck. I ended up leaving more behind then I intended, plus a LOT more stuff to take in the car with me. and they packed a whole bunch of stuff I didn’t want to go. all these dishes I didn’t intend to go at all. oh well. the worse was that they packed my travel backpack, that had all kinds of things in it, including my psp and sunscreen. and didn’t inventory it at all. so I am a little worried about that. thought at this point I hope it just gets there ok. the good news is its going through Laredo, and they are less likely to inspect it too closely. because they are very buy, and its a moving company doing it. but we will see. I am just hoping its not too heavy, and I don’t end up having to pay any extra fees. So, by 4pm they were done, and I was exahusted. I had packed and sorted and packed and sorted as well. they did a pretty good job, and at least I didn’t have to load the truck. I could have tried to force myself to go that night..but that would have been a bad idea. I was SO tired. so, I did some things and tried to get some sleep. I started trying to load the car..and quickly discovered there was no way. i was going to have to rent a car. I also ended up being awake far longer than I wanted to, because of some other drama going on. *sigh* which always seems to happen. I had only 2 hours of sleep the night before as well. and then that night I wanted to sleep, but didn’t get much sleep because of the drama happening. i was going to go early in the morning, but was not sure because of my complete lack of sleep.

So I woke up Thursday with a massive heachache, and it was continuing to pour down rain. I continued to sort and run errands and stuff. and decided I would not leave Thursday either, because my head was so bad and I had so much to do. I rented a car instead and tried to get it completely loaded.  with the intention of leaving super early Friday morning. To make a longish story shorter, I eventually managed to get it together enough to leave a little before 1pm. was weird to leave, knowing that this was not a road trip that I was coming back from. that my car was not all loaded up and I was coming back. that anything I forgot..oh well. and so much stuff being left behind. I did end up working out a deal to mail some things to the Laredo UPS store, which will allow me to pick them up there and open a box. So, we finally get on the road..and are chugging along. I am looking for a rest stop, because i realize I didn’t add medicine to my purse, and it is past time to take some. so I drive for about an hour then pull over to take care of that…and can’t find it. I panic. I look in the suitcases and bags..can’t find it. I start thinking I left it on the floor of my house. I totally freak, call my neighbor, call his daughter..envisioning people coming in and clearing the stuff out, and me being totally screwed. so, after me telling my friend anything I left behind oh well….I turn around and race back. I run and run and run and get there, search the house..nothing. my neightbor had looked, but nothing. so we both look..nothing. I go back into the car, and the one bag I didn’t look in- I find it. and kick the hell out of myself. cause this meant going all the way back, wasting 3 hours and 1/4 tank of gas.

So, I get things situated again and go. and now I am in TN, a little past knoxville. I drove about 7 1/2 hours (really 9 1/2 with the extra time)  and called it a day. the dogs were over it, I was hurting a lot, and I just wanted to stop. I don’t really need to go crazy with things, since I can’t get my visa until Monday. the good news is they will be open on Monday and I can get it no problem. I am racing hurricane Gustave though. I have concerns about finding a hotel as I get closer to that area, and I am rushing to get past that. I am a little worried about the dogs and the stuff in the car. how to handle that. I am hoping the S.O. will be there in time to sit with the dogs so I can keep the car running and it doesn’t over heat. I will work it out somehow. but, I am really on my way now. so hard to believe, but it is really and truly happening. no going back at this point. no more nissan, no more house..on to my new life…finally.