blogging on the road again

Posted on December 28, 2007

Vicky (my other half) and I have spent the past week helping her son’s family prepare to move from Wichita, KS to Denver. Christmas morning saw the presents opened (mostly by the 7 and 10 year olds) and then about an hour later the Tree and ornaments were in a box.

The 26th the two rented trucks were picked up (two 26 footers) and a trailer for one car. The plan, up until a couple days before Christmas was to trailer the car and drive the SUV. That changed when they had a problem with the 9 year old, 150k miles, suv. They bought a slightly used ‘07 suv as a replacement but then found the repair was minor and rather than trade it for only $1000, they are keeping it. So now we are waiting to hit the road later today with 4 drivers, two suv’s, two trucks, two kids and two dogs for the roughly 500 mile trip.

They decided about a month ago to move back to Denver (job related) and just mentioned it to friends in Wichita. One friend said “We have a friend, a banker, moving from KC and needs a house and really likes your neighbohood - should I have him come see?”

The come see resulted in an offer of several thousand above the price they had paid 18 months ago when they moved from Utah. (They have said if they end up moving again within 5 years they are going to seek therapy - an average of about 18 months between moves during their 12 years of marriage).

We have been dodging the weather - snowed Christmas Eve and Christmas while we were packing indoors. The 26th it was supposed to be flurries until 10am - turned out to be flurries Starting at 10 am. But the two professional loaders had no trouble with it. They were very efficient and well worth the money. My back is very thankfull for them.

Last night an ice and snow storm hit here in Wichita and heavy snow in Denver. Fox news just reported about all the flight cancellations there. The weather forecasts accross Kansas and into Colorado all look good from about 10am on.

The closing is going on now, the new owners actually took a walk thru of the mini mansion (two stories, 4 bedrooms - what had originally was a 5th had been converted to a HUGE walk in closet in the Master BR).

The boys are with their grandma down at the motel’s swimming pool. As soon as their folks return we will head out. The boys each got a portable DVD player with headphones and have been squabbling about where they are going to ride - the big trucks got first dibs, but then riding with Grandma has its appeal too.

We will hopefully be no difficulties on the highway and be in the new neighborhood tonight. Tomorrow there are three unloaders scheduled to help empty the trucks and the plan is to maybe sleep there tomorrow night.

My next post will probably be from the Motel there tonight or tomorrow morning.

» Filed Under Christmas, Travelling