If I Were a Kid, This Would Be Cool

Can you believe that it is already the end of March? Like a week away or less. When I was in school, the distance between Christmas break and Summer break was amazingly long, infinitely long, a product of quantum physics long, tectonically slow even. But here it is, the official start of spring is either here or about to happen--good ole' Punxsutawney Phil (way to look the other way)--and I'm still wondering when I'll get to the rest of my Christmas presents.

Did we even have a February this year?

The end of March also means the beginning of April, and while that may not surprise even a few of you, it's a definite surprise for me as it pushes me even closer and closer to a life altering relocation. I booked an appointment for the movers to come in and grab an "urgent" shipment: stuff that's supposed to hold me over until Lilah gets there with the bulk of our household goods. That also means that I need to buckle down and start unloading everything we don't plan on taking or storing.

Does anyone want a cat?

The "gravity" is setting in. The weight of knowing that I'm not only leaving Washington--just a mere car ride away from anywhere in America (except Hawaii of course... unless you were to sit in your car on the barge in which case that might count), but actually leaving the country. I imagine that this is how a baseball must feel going over the wall at Shea stadium, although I've never been to Shea Stadium and truthfully the ball might be happy to get away from the prospect of another attack by the bat of a roid raging bazillionaire. I digress.

Did I mention the cats? Two for the price of one, and the first one is free!

I wonder if there will be any surprise going away parties. Just in case, I like Margaritas and German Chocolate cake... though not necessarily at the same time.

It's a Boy!

So, it's been forever since last we posted about anything concerning the family. Well, we have a new addition! This is Chase. Technically and officially, his name is Snowtaire's Oliver with a Twist, but that's kind of a mouthfull, and he seems happy enough to go by Chase.

Thomas and Chase are fast buddies. No really, Chase and Thomas get along great. Never a single growl or hiss or anything from the day they met. Of course, Thomas might have thought he'd been hitting the kat knipp a wee bit too hard the first night Chase came home. Upon study, it's easy to tell the difference between the two, but at first glance even the best of us would think we were seeing double.

Chase and Calla took a little longer warming up to each other. Chase didn't take long establishing his dominance, even though it was a very polite establishment, there's no doubt that he's calling the shots. And things are good. The two of them share a kennel during the day and a crate at night and it's been a very good time for all.

So, Chase is a late addition to the Troxel family. And, of course by now most of you know we're heading to Japan. Getting Chase and Calla there is a bit of a shindigg. In order to get them into the country we have to have them micro-chipped with a special Euro-chip, vaccinated for Rabies again, and then the big step is to keep them in the country of departure (that's the US) for 6 months before they can can leave for Japan. In order to accomplish this, Lilah will be trailing behind me by about 4 to 5 months. If that sounds crummy, you're right: it is. But, it does give us an opportunity for me to get us a house and a car in Japan so that by the time Lilah and the Furry Fam get there it will be a turn key transition.

Speaking of Japan, I just got back. SO if you're wondering why I haven't blogged or called or stopped by to say hi, it's because I wasn't here. Jet lag has really taken its toll on me this go around, but other than that, a pretty enjoyable trip. And at least I didn't get sick this time!

Okay, here's some more pictures.

I am SO "Pro-Race track"

Of course that doesn't mean much in bureaucratic... uh I mean beautiful Washington State. Add this notch to the bed post along with "We don't want a tunnel under our waterfront, we like a double decker road inbetween us and the view of our ocean" and the ever popular "Monorail? We don't need no (non)stinkin' Monorail! Give us diesel powered light rail instead... it's much more (non)environmental."

In fact, the more you look at the decisions of Washington State and its residents the more the anti-race track mentality doesn't make sense. I mean, given the opportunity to increase ferry capacity by adding more boats, the residents of Kitsap resoundingly stated with their votes that "no, in fact, we would prefer that you drive your car around the Puget Sound... in fact, make that car an SUV and if your family could, please take seperate vehicles."

Maybe if we could somehow classify the race cars as native salmon we could steal the land from the rightful owners and declare the track a right of way.

Vroom!