so today was the big move. my darling wife and I had been slowly gathering our stuff together in anticipation of the big day. piles of clothing laid next to piles of household items which all then had to be split into two for HHE - slow shipping, and UAB, fast (still takes at least 6 weeks even though it is going on a plane) shipping. I really was naive to think that in our dinky one bedroom apartment, well dinky by US standards, which fortunately or unfortunately I am becoming far too accustomed to, we really did not have that much stuff. however i should have realized that my 13 pairs of shoes, not counting trainers (sneakers) and outrageous boots, were giving me an indication of the extent of my wardrobe, which although essentially multi layered, i feel that could still have more depth, i am really lacking in the suit department and intend to get some made in Brazil where I have heard the tailors are rather good. there were the numerous shirts which i love, but have failed to wear since i have been here in DC since the weather has been so god darn hot, and i have really not been to that many occasions that need me to at least appear smooth and slightly debonair. ahh well, i am hoping that Brazil will pose more fashion challenges for me. and just want to say that shopping at Saks - Off 5th avenue has been a pleasure. really, some of the bargains were incredible. Nordstrom Rack, not so good, and TJ Maxx is great if you have time to look for the bargains. maybe it was a good thing i was not working here.
anyway, the movers arrived late morning, and left at about 6:30. which seems to me like 5 minutes ago. they took everything that we had not already packed. my remaining 11 pairs of shoes, yeah i do regret it already, i have to live with only two pairs of shoes for six weeks, the bed, a really big bed, the sofa, the tv, the half eaten pack of oreos, which i am sure will be great for the mice, a half used jar of nutella, the vacuum cleaner, the two trash cans we have, and yes and i do say trash can now, though i still say rubbish, the shower curtain, which we dont need since we will have one of those stand up shower jobs with glass doors. Amazing really, in films, you never see the silhouette of someone with a pot belly when there is a shower scene. always someone sleek and slender. ahh well, something to change. i also thought that it would be really great to launch a magazine which just said no to airbrushing. we just do not know what is real any more. and as much as i love my fantasies, i really admire authenticity. i honestly do believe that it is our flaws that make us beautiful. so yeah, everything has gone. and now we are staying at the Hilton Garden Inn - my thanks go out to the US government for making my last couple of days in DC a very relaxing one. the thing with all the packing though was that we did not that much. they, the packers, who were lovely people, we had pizza with them, joked around, one of them was from congo, so we kinda bonded but not very much. they did all the packing, but by the end of the day i was knackered. really shattered. maybe the tiredness creep into me through osmosis. watching them work though i felt the utmost respect for them and what they do. spending the whole day in someone's house, packing up their shit is not really my ideal job. especially when they are moving to exotic places like Brazil. so i just wanted to holla at Cliff, Andre and Joann who did a stellar job, whilst i took time out to watch a re-run of the Villa-Arsenal game.
so here we are. about to head of to Brazil, my second cross hemisphere move in 4 months and am still excited. i have managed to get my sony camera working so in a couple of days i shall be posting some pictures of our first days in the capital of the world's most colourful nation. over the next couple of days my hardest decision to make will be whether we go to the cinema once or twice, my darling wife and i will also be heading off to get a pedicure - yes pedicure i said it. and you know what, i absolutely love them. mainly for the aesthetic value, but also cos it feels nice. if you have never had one, do so.
Does anyone happen to know where i can get good prints of art from the painter Robert Delaunay? Finally found an artist that we both like and it would be great to have one of his pieces up at home. I prefer Kandinsky, but Delaunay has some resonance with me.
can anyone make a sentence for me with the word "Temperance"? i know what it means just finding it hard to make a phrase that does not make me look like i am trying to hard.
two days till we fly, three till we touch Brazilian soil. the thing i am looking forward to most is the music. and the food. and the smell and well everything. i really want to go there and soak up everything, feel and live each moment. i want to be able to take the time to enjoy my experiences out there to really understand what it is to live in such a place. and i really want to look good in my wedding suit.
