Ok. It's time to make a scene.

We are now going about living our lives in Duluth. I am, however, haunted by cardboard. I'm working my first full-time day job in more than a decade in the mailroom at St Scholastica. Everyone orders their textbooks on Amazon now, so all the books come through the inadequately small mail room. Ergo, my temp assignment, and lots of cardboard. There's also cardboard in the dining room. I'd like less cardboard, but otherwise, things are going well.

It's Renegade Weekend in Chicago, and this makes me a little sad. The first Renegade craft fair was where Adam and I rediscovered our craftiness and he picked up embroidery. It was always a kind of holiday weekend for us: we got to see all sorts of Etsy people we know mostly online (I'm looking at YOU Shawnimals, Frantic Meerkat, Mincing Mockingbird). And it's sci-Fiber Friday at SIFU Design studio....

but I'm done now just being sad. It's time to do something about all of this.

It's time to bring hip craft to Duluth. It's time to make a scene.

(Emily)

Assemblage

We're just starting to put our lives back together here in Duluth. Most of the boxes are unpacked, and in fact some magical person from Craigslist came by last night and picked up the empties. If I never see another cardboard box again, it will be too soon. Unfortunately, due to a snafu, we didn't get a big enough truck in Chicago and there's one more load down there, with the addition of the boxes we've been storing in Madison in my brother's garage. So though there are few boxes left here, there's still quite a lot out there in the darkness, waiting. 

This whole getting closer to friends thing is working out quite well also. I had lunch with two old friends last week, Mollie Stapleton and Erik Ostrom. It was wonderful to see them, and Erik may have solved our car problem for us. Erik's most likely my oldest friend- I've known him since before kindergarten. In fact, I think I've known him longer than my brother! He's proposed lending us a car that he isn't using. We'd take over the insurance. I am so grateful for all the support I've gotten from my friends over the years. It's overwhelming. I hope that someday soon I'll be able to start giving back.

And the generosity of the Olson-Kaiser family cannot be understated. These are stellar human beings and friends, and I am deeply grateful for all that they have done for us. I can't find words.

I've been having significant pain problems. I ran out of pain meds earlier this week and my old rheumatologist in Chicago wouldn't give me another prescription. I've got an appointment with a new primary next Friday, and am in process of getting an appointment with a new rheumatologist, but that can't happen until the end of September. I tried as hard as I could to suck it up and deal with the pain, and lasted about 4 days. Yesterday I finally gave in and went to the ER. I got enough pain meds to last me until the appointment on Friday. Thus, I am able to think enough to be able to write this update.

We're still having problems with insurance. I can't get an answer about the appeal, and I have no idea how long this is going to take. I talked with the billing department at Essentia, and it seems that we are eligible for some financial relief. And I simply can't last.

It's funny, but the most important thing in getting our lives to feel normal was to finally get our internet working again. It's quite impossible to find work without the internet- ads aren't in the newspaper anymore. Adam's had several interviews in the last week and has applied with an organization that sounds a lot like what he was doing in Chicago (working in-home with autistic children). Something is going to come through for him soon. I'm sure of it.

I've had a few queries about piano lessons, but I know that the closer I get to the school year, the more that will pick up. Now that I can think straight, I'll be spending a significant amount of time on the phone this week making contact with various people.

The internet thing was huge. It was amazing how much of a relief it was to simply turn on my Netflix queue and watch a few episodes of Buffy. It just felt so normal, and normal is an enormous relief. I can depend on Buffy to make me feel better, which sounds utterly ridiculous, I know.

And so we are beginning. Soon, I hope I'll be able to update about craft and art and music and not doctors and boxes. But this is my life right now, and I can't get to the craft/art/music until I've gotten through the rest of this.

(Emily)

Taking a Little Break from Boxes

We're wrapping things up here in Chicago (ha!). We've got the truck coming on Monday, and we're stuffing things in boxes as best as we can. We're currently out of boxes, and getting more suddenly got more complicated a few days ago.

The positive spin is that we cut another expense. The Yaris is no more. We're a carless family. It was a surprise, and yet another kick we didn't really want. I had called the bank the day before to keep them up to date like they tell you to do. We're behind in some payments, as we are behind in everything. After all, this is why we're moving. After the car disappeared, we called to find out what had happened and they said that since we don't have jobs lined up in Duluth (something we're working really hard on, and it's not like we don't have prospects!), they wouldn't let us have the car any more. So my little muffin is gone. The lesson: no matter what they say, tell them what they want to hear!

In the end, this is probably for the best. The slate is wiped clean. We'll get something "trusty but rusty" in Minnesota. It does make everything much more complicated for the moment-- no more quick trips to Home Despot. This takes planning. Fortunately, we're within 3 blocks of everything we need in Duluth, so that will buy us some time.

We were also denied coverage from the Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan because OF OUR TIME IN THE MILITARY. Oh for pete's sake. This is a little like being fired for taking too many smoke breaks. I've never smoked a cigarette in my life. Nor have either one of us been in the military. Obviously, we are appealing this decision. Unfortunately, this means that we continue to be without insurance. I'm having an increasingly difficult time staying upright with my extremely cut back meds. I'm doing my best.

Don't be under the impression that the government is denying this program to the military for some insidious reason. This program is supposed to be for people who have no other options. Our respected military has other options, therefore they don't need this one.

I'm deeply sentimental these days, forever tearing up over the smallest thing. I love this neighborhood, and I will miss it very much. I was looking forward to some student hugs, but it seems as if everyone is out of town. I love this street for the children who are usually everywhere - but there's no one to be found! Where did everybody go?

Still looking forward to building a life, rather than taking one apart....

(Emily)

Hoboism is exhausting

I haven't caught y'all up in a little while as I've been having trouble with my optimism settings. Everyone says that we need to project optimism, but there's been a week or so in here where that just feels quite a lot like delusion. I'm pulling myself out though, so I should be able to get a few words in here.

One of the larger setbacks was that I had what appears to be a gall bladder attack while I was in St Peter. What I know is this. I'm often asked about how I feel on the pain scale. I have always reserved a "10" for gun-shot wound. I figure, if I'm not actually dying, pain can get a lot worse. Whatever happened to my midsection in St Peter felt like a 9.75. At the time, I wasn't sure I hadn't blown a gasket and was headed to an early end. It lasted an hour and I spent an uninsured evening in the emergency room.

This was a real blow to my physical health, one that I haven't exactly recovered from. I'm still a bit weak around the edges. While other crap has been hurled at us with extraordinary rapidity, I don't really want to go into it. I really don't want to dwell on the negative. Honest.

Things are turning though. Without counting any chickens before they're hatched, I can confidently say that we will be moving into our new place next week. Adam has a gig on July 30 in Grand Marais. Following that, we'll be headed to Chicago to collect our things. We're cleared to move ino the new digs on August 1.

We got the apartment above Positively 3rd Street Bakery. It's adorable, clean, large (with many closets!) and has a view of the lake. It also smells like cookies. I'm not completely sure how the piano will make it in, but I'm confident in the abilities of professionals. 

I've had a few queries about piano lessons - not too many, but I know that things will pick up on that front as we get closer to school. That's just the way that works.

We've spent some wonderful time with Adam's family up here in Grand Marais. His neice Margot is the berries. The berries are also the berries, especially in pie form. We've feasted on Lake Trout. We've slept to the lullabies of owls.

But wow am I looking forward to a place of my own.

(Emily)

Adam and Emily Moe, v 2.0 Year 1 Chapter 2

I know I'm mixing my metaphors (or forms of technology) in my title. I'm kinda famous for the metaphor problem, so I'm going with it.

Adam and I have arrived in Duluth. We had our 16th wedding anniversary some time last week. I genuinely can't remember which day it was- it was the 1st, but I don't remember if that was Thursday or Friday. We decided that since we are starting absolutely from scratch, we ought to think of this as a kind of Year 1, so we figured 2.0 year 1, and since today is the first day of us actually in Duluth actually looking for our life, I figure chapter 2.

After two+ weeks of great food and incredibly relaxing time at the Moe Compound, we are without a doubt ready to get going. It's been frustrating to wait, and though we had great family and friend time, I am glad to be here trying to get going. I'm also terrified, but I think that's kind of a given.

I'm supposed to be looking for places to scope out tomorrow right now, but I wanted to take a breather and catch y'all up. Adam has been given the heads up that downtown Duluth is having SIDEWALK DAYZ and that they're looking for buskers, so he spent the afternoon there. He'll be down earlier in the morning tomorrow and hopefully he can make a fistful of dollars.

We are housesitting for friends of friends in a lovely little spot with a beautiful garden. Here, we're supposed to take care of the garden, the hummingbird feeders (5) and the dehumidifier. We were warned that the neighbor on the right kept to himself, but he already said Hi and complemented Mrs. Parker on her cuteness. We also had a fabulous dinner with the entire Kaiser family.

So far, so good.

(Emily)