A Franken-WHHAAAAA??

"I am not a Frankenstein. I'm a Fronkensteen." -Young Frankenstein

So not to alarm you and all, but apparently it's the end of times.  Those Mayans may have just had it right.  Never in my life did I think it possible for a hurricane to combine with a snow storm.  I mean, these are weather events that occur in two completely separate seasons.  But seasons, ha!  Who and I kidding?  Global warming is a bitch...

Normally I would not really care all that much that a 'Frankenstorm' was slowly making its way to NYC.  I would just join all the rest of the city on line (that's right, ON line) at Whole Foods and Trader Joe's to stock up on my artisian, organic, locally grown hurricane basics.  Some places run out of water, batteries, and bread when a big storm is predicted.  New Yorkers buy the stores out of tapenade, cheese, and wine.  Oh!  And do not forget the hummus!  So normally I would not care and I would pretend to get all worried about the potential destruction of this, the greatest city on Earth... and then just use the resulting mid-level rainstorm as a good excuse to do absolutely nothing for a day.

However...

Next week is the week that J and I pack up our apartment and send it along to London ahead of us.  Next week is the week that we are supposed to receive our new bedroom furniture exactly one day before the actual move.  And the actual move is happening on the last day of our lease.  Sooo... we REALLY don't have any room for error in this equation.  But it seems like there is a nasty little Halloween trick on its way north from the Caribbean to throw a kink in our plans.  

I would just like you to know, Sandy, that I do.not.have.the.patience.for.this.  I am not angry at you, no.  I am just disappointed.  Disappointed that you would have chosen THIS path in life.  We had such great hopes for you.  We thought you might settle down close to home.  But no, you had to start making eyes at that blizzard from out West.  Decided to go join him in that great big city up North.  I don't know where we went wrong with you Sandy.  Why are you hurting us like this?

Despite our apparent impending doom, things are in full swing transfer-wise.  We found a new tenant for our apartment and successfully transferred over our lease.  I informed work of the move and gave my notice.  We have been spending almost all of our free time with our NY friends, making the most of these last few weeks with them.  

This move has really brought home the fact that J and I are so lucky.  We have both lived in the city for between 9 and 10 years and have accumulated a truly fantastic set of friends and acquaintances.  We are going to miss them all dearly.

And as for you, 'Sandy Frankenstorm'... maybe rethink the path you're on.  Don't make us ground you... we all know what happens to hurricanes that get grounded.

Hurry Up... and Wait

"Hurry up and wait."  This is a phrase that I have heard often in the past few years.  It can apply to many a different situation, most often I see it applied to wedding planning.  I am not planning a wedding but I am beginning to get a comprehensive understanding of the phrase.  (Off topic: I will be amazing at planning a wedding when I do.  I will literally enjoy planning the wedding more than the actual reception itself.  Literally.)   Actually, 'beginning' is not the correct word.  I am in the midst of, deep in the muck and mire of, understanding the phrase.  The only problem is that I have not embraced it.  I am at war with it.

For anyone who knows me, I am an organizer and planner.  I get giddy about lists.  I make lists of lists.  I once made a list of 'What to Pack' for my little brother.  He was in third grade and we were going to Disney World.  I was in fifth grade.  It was approximately 2 weeks before we were to leave.  Little girls with that kind of personality have so many friends...

The Container Store is my church, Staples is my temple.  The more stressed/out of my comfort zone I am, the more organized I am.  Except... for the last 3 months.  Ever since J found out that he was definitely, most probably, "no I swear the offer is coming your way shortly", "London HR just needs to simply email NYC HR", being transferred to London; my planning skills have seemingly failed me.  Most of it is because while this is a huge life shift for us, we are not the ones in control of it.  A large multi-national bank is the one in control and they really do NOT seem to care that the person they are transferring across an ocean has a girlfriend with control issues.  I think it's a little insensitive of them, frankly.

What I am not good at, is waiting.

I would love for someone to say, "OK, X is happening on this date at this time-go, prepare!"  That is totally not what's happening.  Everything is much more fluid.  Dates change, things don't go as smoothly as you thought or things happen much more quickly than you thought.  You rush to prepare for one thing only to wait the next three weeks for it to be completed by others who clearly do not have the same sense of urgency as you do.  I've often felt frozen.  Feeling that there must be some way to take more control over the situation, and yet unable to figure out how.  People asking questions that I myself would love the answers to.  It's when 'PANIC AND RUN AWAY' overcomes 'STAY CALM AND CARRY ON'.  'Panic and Run Away' also results in either A.) Over consumption of wine; B.) Crying; or C.) The glorious combination of crying brought on by over consumption of wine.

I've been getting better at 'Stay Calm and Carry On', though.  I think that's one thing that this whole experience has taught me.  There are times that you just can't plan.  Or that planning actually works against you.  Sometimes you just need to rely on the fact that you will be able to handle whatever comes your way as it is happening.  Or that maybe you need to trust that those surrounding you will take care of the things that they say they will.  In giving up a bit of that control, maybe you gain something in return.  I don't know what that is.  Not yet.  But when I figure it out, I'll let you know.

Hey, House Hunters International: Pick Us!!

This post is my bid to be on one of the truly unifying shows of our time, House Hunters.  No matter where you are, what party you are at, someone is spewing some House Hunters love.  This show brings people together.  Completely divergent political views?  Can agree on love for HH.  Totally different religious views?  Can get together on addiction to HH.  HH should get the Nobel Peace Prize.  Want to divert some conflict?  House Hunters! 
Thank you HGTV for creating House Hunters and then realizing that you could only improve upon the formula by expanding it across the globe, thereby creating House Hunters International.  If you are one of the 3 people out there who has not already heard of or watched this show, the formula is genius in its simplicity.  Take a single adult, couple, or family and follow them as they visit three potential dwellings in a country different from the one they are currently residing in.  The 'hunters' are not always American, the main requirement is that they are moving from one county to another, be that from America or elsewhere.
House Hunters International is WAY, and I mean exponentially 'way', better than just plain House Hunters.  Here are the reasons why:
1.) You hardly ever hear the words "granite counter tops".  If I watch one more HH where the 22 year old buying her first property demands "granite counter tops", I swear to God I am going to smash something.  Most likely my TV or wine glass-whichever is closer.
2.) No double sinks-you don't often hear this request either, but I laugh and laugh when some misguided soul adds this to his/her wish list.  I don't understand why people need double sinks.  J and I have one sink.  It has never caused a problem.  I don't think that people who can't make one sink work should be together.  It should be like the litmus test of marriage.  Most of the world must think double sinks are rather absurd as well, as they are rarely mentioned and hardly ever an option.
3.) I feel validated in every housing choice that I have had to make while in NYC.  This is actually the best thing about having lived in Manhattan-I am prepared for almost any living space.  You will often find American expats on HHI complaining about the size of... well, everything!  This is because they are used to having a kitchen the size of my first 3 apartments combined.  Any New Yorker watches HHI and goes, "That looks great!"  Not saying that the apartments are bigger in Paris, but they are usually comparable.
4.) Exposure to different living styles.  If you watch this show enough, you will never again be the American who walks into a European bathroom and shrieks over the bidet.  You will not stare quizzically at the washing machine in the kitchen (or bathroom).  You will not lament over the lack of walk-in closets.  
5.) The total awe one feels in watching an episode where the 'hunter' has just up and quit his/her job and moved to a tropical island.  People actually do this.  Amazeballs.
So J and I are moving to London and we think we would be perfect for this show.  We are not all together hideous; his hair alone should get us some TV time.  We have amazing personalities.  Just ask us, we'll tell you.  We will not request granite counter tops OR double sinks, but I guarantee you that we will find something to disagree on in an entertaining way.  So what do you say HGTV?  Call me maybe?

Never Talk To Strangers

Never talk to strangers... a rule to live by.  One that we can recall from our earliest memories.  A concerned parent, leaning over to impart that all important piece of information, the thing that will keep you safe from all evil and danger from that point forward.  Never talk to strangers.  "OK," says wide eyed, five year old Colleen.
But I did.  I talked to a stranger.  A real, true, honest to goodness stranger.  On the street.  In front of a C-Town.  I was 28.  So there may be a difference here.  Developmentally appropriate, even.  But still, I talked to a stranger, and now I'm moving to London.
Maybe it wasn't quite so simple as that.  Maybe between the time I talked to that stranger and now (the moving to London part), there were a couple of dates.  Maybe there were more than a couple.  Like 3.5 years worth.  Maybe I fell in love which has clearly skewed my sense of all things reasonable.  Maybe this is reasonable!  Who knows anymore?  All I know is that I am leaving the city and country I love to start a new adventure. 
I am pretty much OK with this. 
New York is great.  It's the "city so nice, they named it twice".  The "Big Apple".  It's "the center of the universe", right?  But what if it isn't?  In fact, I've been chilling out on this planet long enough to know that it probably most definitely isn't.  And at age 31, maybe it's time to really get out there and explore some of ... well if not the universe, at least the planet.  Why not take advantage of circumstances beyond my control?  Learn a few things.  Step outside of my comfort zone, if you will.
So this is going to be what this blog is about.  The fun, the excitement, the trials, and tribulations of moving to and living in a new country (England).  In a new continent (Europe).  And my explorations of said country and continent.  Granted, it's not Zimbabwe.  I don't even need to learn a new language.  But for me, it's a big change that brings with it all kinds of new challenges. 
So if you have found yourself here and think you would like to spend a few minutes in my odd-ball goofy little world, please read on.  Enjoy the journey...