Good evening darlings.
We have arrived safely in IL.
This is home again, and I wish I could say I’m excited to be back (and I am a little bit), but there’s still so much to do.
It was hard to look for a place while in Minnesota, so we will be staying at a hotel for a few days or so until that’s figured out and we can possibly meet with landlords, and start being able to get around.
While my car is still in the shop, I plan to try to rent a car and get around that way – until my own car is done next week.
Yes! I’m having it fixed, and hopefully – this will be the end of the problems. The shop was told to fully inspect it and fix everything!!!
So, my evening went like this:
The hotel has coffee set up right by the front door when you walk in, and I grabbed some before going to the pool area with my little dude.
I took that first sip because I needed it after the week and night last night that we’ve had, and it was iced coffee. 👀 I didn’t complain because the girl at the front is working alone, so – why make her night harder?
Although I do think that guests should be able to enjoy hot coffee whenever. (I promise not to be a Karen!). 🤣
He had a blast! My daughter joined a bit later and they played volleyball in the pool – with a beach ball.
We ordered something to eat and when the guy dropped our food off, the kids dried off, we went upstairs, ate and settled in for the night.
Let me tell you……it has been a long week!
We were busy packing and cleaning all week.
I rented a U-Haul and they didn’t have the size I wanted, so I had to settle for a smaller size – which also meant I had to make two trips to storage to take everything we were leaving behind for now – while we looked for a place in IL.
The storage place:
If you want to laugh – I freaked out a bit when my older son and I went to the storage unit to check it out and drop some things off there.
The first thing we noticed was huge Daddy Long Leg spiders crawling around.
We asked for an indoor unit to avoid that, and I was a bit disappointed when that’s what we ran into – walking around (not only on the inside of the facility) but inside of our unit as well.
There were only three in our unit, but they were still there and one of my biggest fears and (icks) – is spiders.
I called the number on the building to the facility manager / owner, and he sounded a bit humored by it when I told him the facility had spiders all over and there were some in our unit.
He told me, “Yeah! That’s common. You’re in the country!”.
In all fairness, we did get a storage rental in the middle of nowhere – near woods and a whole lot of nothing.
I stood there with my son as we debated on what to do.
I called another storage facility closer to the area I thought I was getting a unit in when I called this one, and I told him the issue. He laughed about it and said he was closed right now, but if I wanted to go online and rent a unit, I could.
He guaranteed me the spiders thing – doesn’t happen at his facility.
I was so tempted, but it would have cost a lot more, and we had already hauled everything to this unit, so – I made sure everything was stacked high – right in the middle and away from the edges where it seemed the spiders liked to hang out.
I decided that when I come back for everything or have movers bring everything to me in IL. – we’d just have to go through everything to make sure we don’t invite any Daddy Long Legs to live with us.
I was talking to a good friend of mine (Ashley), and she laughed at me and told me Daddy Long Legs are the best kind of spiders because they don’t bite, they don’t infest, they eat all the other bugs someone doesn’t want around, and that they’re the “good spiders”. 🫤
She told me it was common and not a big deal.
My son was talking to his friend and his friend said the same thing.
I’m sorry but – there’s just something about spiders around all of my belongings – that just doesn’t sit well with me, but I wasn’t going to move all of my things back to the truck, load it and take it across town to the fancy, expensive storage when I was already at this one.
So, we dealt with it.
We made the two trips, took the U-Haul back, and cleaned up the apartment.
We dealt with many headaches, irritating situations and new problems this week, but we got through them.
Our next problem was trying to get rid of our furniture.
I wanted to start fresh when we got into our new place, so I planned to sell everything we had. I wanted a new color theme, new items, etc. and the thought of renting another truck to drive everything back right now was not something I wanted to deal with, especially with my car needing many repairs and having to deal with the expense of picking it up and bringing it back to IL.
I put everything online for sale, but didn’t really get many responses. However – the minute I put everything for FREE – my messages were going crazy and I had so many people contacting me.
I was blessed that the woman who lived across the hall from me – took my treadmill.
I was blessed that another couple and their friend came and took my couch, some dressers and the kitchen table I loved so much and just got last year – but again – I didn’t want to drag it all with me.
I was blessed that everything was out and I was able to clean the rest of the apartment as best as I could, leave the keys on the counter yesterday, and to say one final (goodbye) to Minnesota. To that apartment. To the memories I’ll cherish forever. ❤️ It was bittersweet to leave both the apartment and Minnesota, but I’ll be back in a week or so to pick up my car once it’s done.
After all, the car breaking down – is the biggest reason we left Minnesota right now, because where we lived – it was absolutely a nightmare getting around without the car, so I decided we needed to be closer to family, friends and everything we can walk to, or to at least being back to where we have transportation right on an app.
I guess I have to be grateful the car broke down, otherwise – we would have stayed in Minnesota until next year, and let’s be honest…….
We are so happy to be home. 😊
Our week has been insane, and the drive back here with my brother last night was long, but I am also grateful to him for coming to get us, being my calm in the middle of my stress, and for him telling me that I’ve gotten through worse before, and this is just another setback to my (happily ever after).
I sure hope so!
So, we’re back in IL. and our new beginnings start now.
It’s late. It’s time to unwind and watch some T.V. and – I can say how much I LOVED watching the Chicago news – knowing I can do that every night now instead of just looking it up and reading about it. 😁
My daughter hung out with all of her friends last night for the last time, and they were all so sad she was leaving, but we promised to go back and visit …..and you know I’m mom to all of them, so I’m definitely going to keep checking on my babies.
They know no matter where life takes them or if they need anything, I’m one call….one message….one text away and I’ll always treat them like they were one of my own kids!
My loves…..
It’s time for bed.
Have a great night!
❤️Shel❤️