AAAAAAAUUUUGH

I don’t like NJ. I’ve never been a fan of NJ, even when I lived there. Or maybe ESPECIALLY when I lived there. By far, the WORST things about New Jersey are all related to driving - the DMV, the interstates, the traffic, the auto insurance rates, etc. But OH MY GOD, this has to beat all.

Tuesday, I went to the Indiana BMV to get my drivers license and to register to vote. Well, primarily, to register to vote, since Indiana is a decision state and I’m excited about casting my vote here where it will really matter. So, anyway… after waiting in line, I had to take a written test since I’m coming from another state. 50 questions. Pretty quick but then I had to wait for the same person who was helping me before (instead of getting back in line). SIX people were helped while I waited for her to help some jerk with 18 forms to fill out. Finally, she’s free. 49 answers right. Everything looks good. Oh. Wait. The State of NJ says I can’t have my license. NEW JERSEY? I haven’t lived there for almost two decades! They tell me to wait. They’ll call. Oh, too bad, NJ is closed now. They gave me the number for the DMV (now renamed the MVC?) in Trenton.

Wednesday, I called Trenton. They wouldn’t tell me anything unless I could tell them the address that was on my license when I left NJ. Hmmm… ten minutes later after searching my paper files, Google Desktop saved me. I gave the lady my old address. She told me I have an unpaid parking ticket in Hoboken from 1989. OK, no problem. I’ll pay it. Nope! All this fabulous technology, but can I give her a credit card number and take care of it? Ohhh nooooo, of course not! I have to call the Hoboken Court for the details, mail Hoboken a check, get the receipt (by mail), MAIL the receipt BACK to Trenton with a $100 reinstatement fee, and then they will MAIL something to me that I can take to the BMV in Indiana to get my license. This whole process will take weeks. Meanwhile, I never had any idea this ticket existed AND I’ve had licenses in three other states since 1989 without it ever coming up.

Oh, and when I called Hoboken… she said the parking ticket would cost $14.

Here’s hoping I can register to vote.

I received a welcome and gratifying email today. Kayla (the doggy formerly known as Kaos) has been with Rick and Colleen for over a year now. They sent photos, a video and a note saying that she’s happy and healthy and they couldn’t be happier that she is part of their family.

Stuff like that makes it all worth it.

I don’t know how long it’s been since I wasted time online playing a game or doing something silly. Over a year… maybe more than a few years! Today, I remedied that. This is the den of my apartment in YoVille. When I was done with my interior design, I went to the nightclub and had a Cosmo. LOL

A few of you know I’ve been working on a new website recently. Well… ta da! It’s here.
nycgadgetgirl.com isn’t going anywhere. I still plan to use this site for my freelancing. All the archives will remain online and I will probably blog occasional personal and geeky things here.

All the dog stuff is moving over to the new site though! Please visit Jenna & Snickers and let me know what you think by commenting on the first post.

OMG, these are the cutest squirrels you can imagine. Unfortunately Snickers thinks they look incredibly tasty. If I am not VERY careful he is going to break one of my fingers and/or get away from me when he sees one of these cuties dashing across the park.

Debbie clicked this photo with her phone when we were walking. Click through to see the next one!

My last few days in NYC were busy and stressful and difficult, but also amazing and illuminating. I spent several days feeling loved, appreciated and valued.

• Wednesday, the 23rd, my boss took me and some coworkers out to dinner.. FOR ME. Since I expect Japanese food to be something I will desperately miss, we went to one of the top sushi spots in town: BONDST (Bond Street). Sooooooo delicious! It was a unique happening and made me feel super appreciated.
• Thursday, the 24th, was my last day at work and, of course, I worked till 2am trying to finish everything. Wonderful things happened that day too though.
  • My boss gave me a "half year bonus!" Who gives you a bonus when you’re leaving? (I almost cried.)
  • I got lots of hugs and special words from coworkers one by one as they left for the day.
• Friday, the 25th, was mine and Snick’s last visit to the Gillen Brewer School. (I’ve been stuck at this part of the entry for over a week.) These kids are just amazing. When we started visiting them a few months back, several of them were really afraid of dogs, but when we saw them on the 25th, they were hugging and kissing Snickers goodbye. They made a wonderful card for us (mostly for Snickers. LOL) to say goodbye. This was also when Snickers realized something big was happening, because he could feel the energy from the kids. I am going to miss our school visits very, VERY much.
• The rest of Friday I packed. Or at least I tried to.
• Saturday, the 26th… mine and Snick’s last time to enjoy our regular weekend routine. We dropped off laundry, picked up coffee, went to the dog run and hung out on our bench. We went to the Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market to hang with our friend Judy for a bit and then off to the neighborhood pet store for TREATS. This routine has been a shared favorite part of the week for a long time.
• Saturday afternoon was our last meetup with the NYC Shiba Inus and their Human Companions. For anyone who may not know, Snick and I founded this meetup group in June 2006 and it’s grown to 240+ members and had 50 meetups. NYCSR was founded by a group of Shiba-owned humans how met in the meetup group and the group continues to support NYCSR in many ways. Some of my BEST BESTEST friends are people I met through this group and I owe a lot of happy times to them, the group, and NYCSR. About 40 people and 25 Shibas showed up for our last meetup at Animal Haven and Snickers had SO MUCH FUN. What I was NOT expecting though was for most of the Board of Directors and key volunteers of NYCSR to be there and have gifts for us. They gave me one of those digital photo frames and they had preloaded it with a slide show of ALL the NYCSR rescue dogs so far. It was incredible. They brought a treasure chest of treats and toys for Snick also and he loved all of it. All of it really touched me and showed me that Snick’s impact on people’s (and Shibas’) lives extends way beyond just me.
• For the rest of Saturday, I packed. And packed. And PACKED.
• Sunday, the 27th. Moving Day. After about 3 hours sleep, Snick and I dashed to the dog run and back and then I was off to pick up the U-Haul. My bestest buddy Zennia and her fiance, Scott, met me at the U-Haul place in Chelsea so Scott could help park the truck back at my apartment. Long story short… we got back to the apartment around 9:45 AM and my other peeps started showing up around 10am to help. Besides Z and Scott (and 2 paid helper guys), I had my good buddy Brian, my wonderful friend Mary, another wonderful friend lulu and her main man Joseph, my good neighborhood friend Drew (the human “dad” of Snick’s buddies Benno and Lily), and last but but never least, my best friend - who I’m "maybe just a little bit in love with" - Jack. Having so many friends come over to help me finish packing and move (out of a FIFTH floor WALKUP) really meant a lot to me. I love all you guys. THANK YOU so much for being there.

So, those were my last few days in NYC. They were filled with friends and love and good things and I’m very grateful for that.

PS I know I haven’t been blogging much since I moved. My life/world is just sooo different now and I miss my friends desperately. I will probably set up a new blog for inspiration. When the words return, I’ll blog. I promise.

Happily, I apparently get to keep my identity as a New Yorker, at least for now. Snickers and I were taking the garbage to the street tonight and we met some neighbors (a mother, toddler, baby and granddad) out for a stroll. As they approached, the granddad asked “Are you the one from New York?” lol That made me smile.

We chatted for a few minutes about why I moved here and about the town in general. They had fabulous things to say about the school system and said that people move here specifically for the schools, which also made me smile. THEN, just to demonstrate things happen in threes, I mentioned that my daughter would be starting high school this year and the mother said “high school?!? You look so young!” It doesn’t get much better than that. <g>

Sorry guys. I’ve tried several times since I got here to write a “now I’m here” kind of post, but my heart just isn’t in it. I will post later, but for now, yes, we’re here safe and sound and trying to settle in.

• 11:24 PM July 28, 2008 Destination TinyLittleTown achieved at approx 630pm. Talking w/my sis ever since. Sorry I stopped twittering in Ohio… my bb battery died!
• @zbarahona same time zone. possibly a different planet though.
• @primitivedog didn’t hit any traffic on the whole trip, thankfully!
• @mollydigger I hope you gave him some modern money. Not sure if the deli will take shekels.
• 08:32 AM July 29, 2008 First lesson about living in the country: Don’t walk in grass on the morning walk! (Even my socks are wet.)
• 03:06 PM July 29, 2008 just unpacking. a lot.

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• 12:04 AM July 28, 2008 aahhhhh… checked into the hotel, fed and walked Snickers, ordered breakfast, snacking and then I’ll be sinking into the king size bed.
• @zbarahona STILL???? UGH
• @mollydigger it waited to start raining today until I was getting in the U-Haul to drive away. What does that mean? NYC likes me, I hope.
• @primitivedog Snickers mostly rode in the floor between the seats. His bed fits perfectly there.
• @zbarahona GO HOME
• @zbarahona oy Tell your asst editor that I’m very sorry you spent so much of your day with me!
• 10:19 AM July 28, 2008 Four Points not as nice as regular Sheraton, but breakfast was delicious and cheap. Walked Snick. Checking mail then heading out!
• WV welcomes me
• Oh! Ohio!
• 12:49 PM July 28, 2008 People out here probably can’t fathom why 8mm ppl live on top of each other to be in NYC.
• @mollydigger of course!
• @jmauro for diversity, culture, ethnic takeout, music, shoes, museums, and what @mollydigger said
• @tollers ha ha ha… what GPS? Have GPS and Google Maps on my BB but don’t think it does trip time.
• @tollers however, my brain estimates I will pass thru Columbus around 1430
• PS to all, yes I twitter and drive. Don’t tell the po po.
• @zbarahona Zeeeeeeeeeee! I misses u.
• 02:27 PM July 28, 2008 Just hit east edge of Columbus, OH.
• Real buildings!
• @tollers who needs GPS?
• 3:00 PM@Snick_the_Dog Snick! I’m driving!
• Rest stop. Walked Snick. Got Diet Coke for me, water for him. And we’re off!
• @tollers my data is incomplete but I’m guestimating 7pm arrival
• 03:46 PM July 28, 2008 Just saw a huge billboard that said JESUS IS REAL. We’re not in NYC anymore Snickers!

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• 7:30 AM Hour late waking up. Head is throbbing.
• Walking Snick. No time to enjoy it tho.
• Snickers FREAKED OUT when I left for u-haul… screaming and howling at the door. He knows it is Sunday. I am not supposed to leave.
• In the cab to u-haul and hoping that (1) the scheduling works out right today and (2) I’m not making a huge mistake! We’ll see!
• Will probably turn on TwitterTools before I leave, so it will blog my tweets while I move.
• 10:00 AM Things are looking up! Got the u-haul. Just waiting to be able to park it outside my building.
• 3:20 PM Heading into the Lincoln. Bye NY
• JUST SPENT $99 ON GAS!!!
• PA welcomes me!
• Just shared a cheeseburger with Snickers. He’s a great travel companion.
• 6:59 PM On the road again.

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• @tollers 17 boxes so far. I keep thinking I’m making progress and then turn around and realize I’ve only done 1/3 of the apartment.
• I seem to have hit an “I don’t know what to do now” place in my packing. Urgh.
• @tollers I can’t get random yet. I haven’t done my fragile stuff.
• overwhelmed and unhappy
• @tollers ok. fragile stuff, wrapped in newspaper and padded with clothes, coming up.
• @tollers except the kitchen. I can’t pack the kitchen. not enough paper to wrap stuff in. leaving it for a friendly volunteer to pack 2moro
• @tollers I have 5 friends & 2 paid guys coming 2moro. My u-haul reservation is f’d up tho, so I’m not sure I’ll even be here wn they arrive!
• Snickers must be reliving the meetup in his sleep. He’s barking and running… very excited.
• @tollers calling and whimpering only put me on standby behind 5 other people with 9am reservations. I have to just go and hope for the best
• I’m tired. Gonna go walk Snickers and see if it helps restart my energy.
• Snick and I are taking our last bedtime walk around the city. <sigh>
• I’d rather be sleeping.
• Totally stressed that I won’t be back with the u-haul when all my peeps show up tomorrow. And still packing.
• achy tired and have a headache. so much packing left to do. and then I have to CLEAN the place.
• I give up. Nowhere near done, but I MUST get some sleep. Going to bed now… will get a four hour nap.

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