MOVING DAY!

We're excited...can you tell? ;) We are mid-moving process - had our walk through the new flat this morning to check that everything was in working order. I'm not sure how it works in Chicago since I never officially rented a place, but the walk through was extremely thorough, which was comforting to us. Only a couple things that require attention - nothing too major thankfully. But the walk through took an hour and a half by the time we got through everything. There was an agent from the lettings office and an independent guy who was our representative (i.e. to make sure we didn't get screwed). The agent walked us through the place and then "our" guy walked through with a recorder noting EVERYTHING. Together, they make a extensive list of the inventory and state of the flat to ensure it's all the same when we move out. Crazy. Enough about that.

So our moving van (basically a big white GMC-type van) arrives in about an hour so we'll start the sad, long process of carrying all our stuff down the hall to the elevator, then outside to the curb, then load it into the van, ride in said van to Islington (our new neighborhood), take everything back out of van and carry up 1.5 flights of stairs. Whew. My back already hurts just thinking about it. But after this, NO MOVING FOR 18 MONTHS!!!!!!!!! We have moved more in the past 13 months than any human ever should. But no complaints because it all brought us to this point. We finally get to start to create our new home in London.

After we dump our stuff and manage a shower, we're heading out with the London gang tonight (if you haven't figured it out yet, London gang = Mike, Sandy, Nick and Brock) in Islington (we'll most likely be able to walk home, gasp!). Tomorrow, we're heading back to Bodean's to watch the Bills/Packers game because Mike and Sandy are Buffalo fans and Brock is a Packers fan...no one's perfect though, right? ;) They are showing the Bears game elsewhere, but we'll manage a week without seeing the game.

Oh and it sounds like we should have internet up and running by Sep 27 or so. I'm hoping to blog again from a coffee shop with wifi, but no promises. Hope you can all hold out until then.

Enjoy your weekends! And a very HAPPY HAPPY 25TH BIRTHDAY to my favorite brother BJ on Sunday!! Wish we could be there to celebrate!!

Cheers!