You know when people say "if i had only known then what i would go thru…" that's how i feel. August 29th – my personal d-day – not only was it the day of my move after 15 years in a small apt crammed to the gills – but it was also the day Katrina destroyed New Orleans and the Gulf Coast were i grew up and had family living there. I had no idea that three months later I would still be reeling from those two events as well as a surgery that had been very scary for me (not a life threatening event). I had never had surgery – and this one involved one of my senses that is dear to me as a musician. The good news is that now – months later – the operation was a success and the outcome is very good!

i wish i could say the same for my unpacking! slowly i trudge along – part of the hold up has been the construction of much needed storage in this very storage-challenged apt. I knew it about the apt when i made the decision to move there were other reasons to take the apt – but what i didnt realize was that it would be months before i would get all the work done and still be unpacking. however, the other good news is that i found a FABULOUS carpenter and he has continued to come back (!) and we have created some really good solutions to the challenges. NOW i just need to finish unpacking!

Its not all bad – the Kitchen and Bathroom have been done [in fact were the first to be finished] except for some minor things like some touchup painting in the bathroom; the kitchen needs some electrical work – taking down a florescent light fixture and putting in a ceiling light/fan (10 foot ceilings) and restain/paint the kitchen floor.

The Music room – one of the main reasons i took this apt (its the front room and faces the front porch and street) – is unpacked and set up – EXCEPT for the clothes on the piano and in boxes -which i am in the midst of sorting thru and give away/store/keep to wear.

The Study/office – just finished adding more shelves to a built in closet last week and now i can order a few more bookcases (more shelves!) and magazine boxes (for all those knitting, gardening and music magazines) and sort out all my magazines (for reference), sewing fabrics and supplies (cant wait to be able to sew again!) and organize my yarn and knitting supplies.

This will be fun to organize – i have a closet with doors that i can arrange as much yarn as i can fit in and the rest can go in the basement storage area (yet to be organized… on the last run to Home Depot, we picked up cinder blocks so I can create shelves for books and yarn, etc. A good weekend project during the cold winter.)

What I am still coming to terms with is that it IS taking this long to unpack and organize – but i am having to give up feeling guilty about it – after all its not the end of the world – and ill get it done as fast as i can. especially now that i am back working. and when i am feeling better, i will start practicing the piano. boy, its been a long time since i have had the time, space and a decent piano to do that – in fact this is the FIRST Music Room and decent piano I have ever had! I cant wait to get going. and yet here today, i am home with a full blown cold – after struggling into work for mon and tue – i am in the constant sneezing/coughing mode today. i have spent the whole day at the computer logged into my work's computer system working from home. sigh.

Its also interesting to get used to a whole new commute and schedule – i live up the Hudson River now and take Metro-North to Grand Central now and then hike up Madison Ave to my firm's offices. The good news is that even with the train fare, my total monthly expense for apt and train is still less than i paid for the tiny apt alone in brooklyn. its been a little frustrating but i think i have finally figured out the trains i will be taking and the exits and which one is the best for me to take to leave and which is the best one to take to enter the station (GCT is pretty big!)

and so now that i am getting into a regular schedule (and that of course is the hard part of moving and also of something like surgery) i want to start knitting again. in fact both days this week as i walked to the train in the morning, i regretted not having something to knit. my commute is not that long – about 40 mins on the train but its enough to get a bit done and as i have NOT KNIT since before the move (yikes) i am desperately behind in presents. and now have my two nephews living near – one is one mile away and the other is in manhattan! so if i get myself organized, i should be able to churn out sweaters – maybe not to the level of Wendy's production – but more than nothing (which is the status now).

actually i need to start a present for dear mom – her combined bday/christmas present. i'll see if i have the right yarn, if not ill order it from ELANN (the best internet yarn website , non?)

and it will be fun to rediscover my yarn and knitting – i have missed it!