The Bourne Identity and HoJo

Our clan has grown by seven now.

Things are still happening at lightening speed. A day doesn't go by that I don't scratch down some blog post ideas and then, before I know it, two days have gone by and I have a scratch pad full of unwritten posts.

So, I'm up north staying at a HoJo while I muster through my first week on the new job. Just finished Day One of Orientation and glad it's over. You know how boring orientation seminars can be. All the plan changes and uncontrollable events lately have taken their toll on me in different ways.

For starters, when I got to my destination up here in the high country, I happily pulled into my "resort" for an expected comforting night of sleep. I thought I was being smart trading our timeshare week in Sedona for a place near my work while we wait for our move-in date (coming this weekend). After a cheerful greeting from the night desk clerk, I found to my dismay that I had booked this week...next year.

Yep. 2014. I suddenly found myself in need of a hotel at midnight on a Sunday night. With a trailer full of household crap waiting to be put into storage, I now had to figure out where I was going to sleep for the next week while I started my new job. Luckily, the helpful desk clerk called the HoJo down the street and negotiated me a nice price ($50/night). After calling the timeshare exchange company and requesting my booking fee refunded (I tried to charm my way into a stay at the same resort, didn't work), I will only be out about $50 when it's all over so not too bad...I guess.

Tired momma...

So, obviously, I was focused on something else when I reserved my room for this week. Nevertheless, it's working out so far.

CPS conducted their home visit at my house today. Our church stepped up and became involved. A friend of Wifey's stayed by her side for the visit. According to Wifey, they asked basic questions, quickly glanced into each bedroom and interviewed each child (including the 4 year old). Sounds to me like Wifey went into a bedroom and all six girls stayed together for the interrogation in the livingroom (nice move, honey!). I like that much more than little ones being interrogated alone with CPS. The whole thing was less than half an hour or so.

That chapter should be closed now and we can focus on moving. We will be requesting copies of all documentation from both CPS and the school. For the rest of the week, I guess Wifey and the girls will just focus on packing clothes to wear for the first week up north until we get everything unpacked.

I didn't get to blog about Sister's Sweet 16 birthday nor The Queen's 13th birthday but let the record show that they both had a great time and as parents, we didn't let current events prevent us from helping the girls enjoy their birthdays. Oh, and our German Shepherd had seven puppies Saturday night too. That was the first time Wifey and I experienced animal birth up close. And of course, I video taped the whole thing :-)

So I'm going to kick back and celebrate my first day in Management by watching the Bourne Trilogy in the local Howard Johnson's hotel. If I get bored, maybe I'll go hunt down a good 'ol Sonic rootbeer float.

~OJD