A Cold Start to Beantown

Our adventure finally begins! I am now writing from our corporate housing in Cambridge. After nearly three weeks apart Rory and I were finally reunited.  On Thursday I left my home of sunshine to travel to the land of chowda-heads.  My six hour flight went quickly thanks to a Glee-a-thon (don't judge).  We celebrated our first night together in true East Coast fashion, by walking to local seafood joint - Legal Seafood.

Clam Chowder at Legal Seafood

Rory enjoying his Chowda

Dinner

After a wonderful first night in Boston, I woke up Friday morning with a killer cold. Who comes down with a cold in summer?!? By the lack of cold medicine in CVS, not many people.  I was able to venture out for a few hours my first day before climbing back into bed.  On Saturday, after being sufficiently drugged with cold medication, we headed out to explore the city for the first time. Our first stop was the Boston Commons, which has been part of the city (in some form or another) since 1634.  The Boston Commons is a tree lined park populated with tourists, street performers, pickle stands, families and lots of homeless. 

After visiting Boston Commons we walked to a pub called the 21st Amendment.  On the way, we passed the Massachusetts State House which apparently aids its politicians engage in their favorite vice. 

Some say the sign actually refers to the statue of Joseph Hooker located on the grounds of the Massachusetts State House, but I think they are just using it as a diversion.  

Apparently I was too ambitious in my afternoon on the town, as my cold came rearing back the following day. I've been confined to our apartment since Saturday.  For the time being, my plans to explore Beantown have been derailed by a killer summer cold. 

A Beginning and an End

Even now it seems surreal that Rory is in England and just completed his second week of work at the Company. After his second day of work he professed that he now has a "real job."  So far he loves the work, the people, and Oxford. Although, living at a hotel does seem to be wearing on him.  


The beginning of Rory's new career marked the end of mine at the Firm.  His first week of work was my last week of work. In my final week at the Firm I took my last deposition, made my final Court appearance, and said goodbye to my co-workers.  While I may be physically gone from work, I have yet to mentally unwind from job as a litigator.  Every time I hang up from a phone call I still automatically think about "billing" for it.  I have been assured this odd behavior will pass. Now my UK job hunt begins.  At this point, I have no idea if I will be able to continue working as an attorney or if I will have to find a new career.  A few years ago this type of uncertainty would have been terribly unnerving, but today I am strangely comforted by the opportunity yet to be discovered in the unknown.

A Royal Move

I am now writing from my temporary home at casa de parents.  So how did I go from homeowner to roommates with my parents?  Well, when Rory started the interview process we agreed that if this move ever happened, we would keep our house in Orange County and rent it out (only because the lottery gods were not cooperating). Once we learned Rory would receive an offer, we started the arduous process of getting our home in show room condition.  We painted all the bedrooms, living room, and installed a closet in the third bedroom. (The former owner apparently thought it was okay to take the closet with him when he moved, effectively turning our 3rd bedroom into a den). We finished our front and rear landscaping, had new interior doors installed, the roof repaired, and the rear patio removed.

Patio - Before

Patio After

In a couple of weeks we managed to complete an entire years worth of projects.  Our hard work paid off because we had a tenant in less than one week after listing the property(also props to my real estate agent!).    

With our tenants moving in May 1st, the international movers scrambled to accommodate our quick exit. We started the process of dividing which belongings would go to the UK or stay in the US.  The selection process felt like junior high PE all over again. We each took turns selecting items for team UK. Rory selected the leather chairs (surprise) and the couch (a real surprise) he fought with me over purchasing.  I selected the night stands (boring, I know) and the kitchen table. Any items not selected for team UK, or that wasn't disposed of during the garage sale or Craigslist, was sent to storage.  (Sorry Cal King bed and flat screen. You literally won't fit in the UK. It isn't personal. I love you. I really do. Please wait for me!)

Our move was ultimately scheduled for the same day as the Royal Wedding.  I know, it was totally selfish of Kate and William to schedule their wedding on the same day as our move.  So what if our move date was only scheduled a week earlier and my cable had already been turned off.  I expected more from the Royal family.

The day of the move remains a blur in my mind.  It started with donuts and ended with pizza.  Somewhere in between three men came to my house and packed the whole thing up.  I mean, they literally packed everything. Even my opened bottles of shampoo/conditioner that I meant to keep the U.S.

Our house went from looking like this:

To this:

We spent the day after the move painting (it never ended) and scrubbing our home for our new tenants. After sharing one last beer with our neighbors (the great Hanover Club!), we drove away not knowing the next time we would see our first home.