packing up

This weekend I really entered packing mode.  It's not my favorite way to operate, and I generally detest this, but I know in the end the process will lead to greater sanity for me.  I haven't lived on my own since I was in Africa, which some people have ventured to say doesn't count.  Just for the record, if you have to arrange your own taxi rides with people who don't speak English, ward off school age children with glue strapped under their noses and at the end of the day come up with something to do from 3pm until the next morning with spotty internet connection, no similar age friends and only small geckos to keep you company, it totally counts.  Probably more so than here.  

Anyway, I am moving at the end of the month.  I am excited to announce that I will be in a place where I get to decorate and determine the level of cleanliness.  And it has a washer & drier, which is probably the most exciting thing (that and the balcony for which I bought a small patio set).  l am greatly looking forward to this next stage, but less looking forward to the actual process of moving.

I have thus determined that if I'm going to make this process as painless as possible, I need to pack at least 4 boxes every weekend from now until my move-in date.  I started with the kitchen, which is where everything has mixed together the most.  It's been really challenging, especially when it's 90 degrees and the basement is flooded so everything from the basement is now in the living spaces of the house.  Good thing we're down a roommate for a while.

In the purging, I've discovered that I have more spices than most people should ever be allowed to have.  I also discovered that I am out of cumin, which is exceedingly important for making Mexican food.  So much for limiting my spices!  Out I ventured to the local spice shop and bought a large spice rack.  Why, you ask, did I not purchase one at Bed, Bath & Beyond, like most people?  Biggest reason: they're not big enough!  I can only find ones there that hold 20 bottles.  I need something that holds in the realm of 30-40 bottles of spices.  Crazy, I know.

All this to say, I met my quota for packing this weekend.  Next adventure: ginger peach jam making after I go to the farmer's market next weekend and buy an extremely large box of peaches.  Look for the post!