Moving it up a Week!

Now for something completely different. 
We got a message from the people handling our Visa's saying I must be in China before July 28th.  Why they didn't mention this several months ago when I sent in all my medical information is any one's guess.  I'm voting for incompetence, I could be wrong but......
At the beginning of this process they said get stuff done we need these papers filled out as soon as you can. Thus the frenzy to get physicals, x-rays and shots.  However, the Chinese government wants your physical dated within 6 months of your arrival.  That means since I had my physical in January I have to get there before it expires.  Moving it up a week!!  The only person making this easy is the guy in charge of the cats.  Everything is no problem.  I give him a 10 out of 10! 
We are now planning to leave on the 26th of July.  The cats will get picked up on the 25th (Mikes birthday) and we all fly on the 26th.  China has a one pet, one passport rule and they have to arrive the same day.  They also recommend you do not arrive on a weekend as the quarantine facility may not be able to accommodate your pets. 
On a better note, we have sold both the cars.  A very big worry removed from me as I didn't want to be stuck trying to deal with a car at the last minute before we headed off.
Of course this all means we will get there before Mike has the house so we will live in the hotel for a week.  Who knows, it might be easier.  I won't have to clean things and someone else will be in charge of changing my sheets!!  There certainly won't be anything to unpack as our stuff would only be there if a miracle were to occur.  It takes a while to get an import permit and only once the permit is granted can your stuff be shipped from the states.  The rules go on and on.  As Mike says, "It's because they can."
Today is our 20th anniversary!  Off to celebrate:)
Enough babble,
Xià cì zài hé nǐ tán

Where have I been

nǐhǎo!

It has been a long time since I said anything here. Not much continues to be going on. Really, is that a sensible sentence? Our paperwork is turned in and we are just waiting till closer to "the time" for more things to do. In the important paper area. A bunch of things we need to live in China we cannot get until we live in China....What if they say no?

We sold the Civic! Yahoo! Mike offered it at work just casually a month ago and several people looked but nobody bit. He put a little sign on his office door and it sold that day. If anyone is interested in an Altima 6 speed V-6 let us know:)

We are purging, if we don't, we have to pack it and cart it to the attic only to face it all again in three to five years. We have filled the huge trashcan the past three weeks running. That doesn't include all the ones we did over the winter and all the stuff going to find 'new homes'. It is amazing how much stuff we have even though we have moved so much and how much of it we really do not need! So much still to do. For those familiar with my sewing room....haven't even been in there yet and when I don't know where to put something it goes in there...uggh!

On a more fun note I went and bought a new sewing machine!! This one will run on universal power, ie. it is different in China and the old one would need a converter which really isn't good for it. So, a new one. I have not actually used it since I packed it up at the store as I really must do all the other stuff first...play later. Although I did dye fabric last week, that was fun. Olivia got some white pants specifically to dye and I had been waiting for the weather to be warm enough...the dyes work better when it is very warm out. They came out great considering it was guess work to get the color she desired.


Enough babble,
zàijiàn!