Hello, blog readers! This week has been a whirlwind of packing, parties, and potty-training breakthroughs. Get comfy, because it’s a long one!

First things first, the liquor. Oh, the liquor! As you know, we’re gearing up for our big move to Saba, and due to some pesky customs laws, my extensive (read: borderline obsessive) liquor collection couldn’t come with us. So, I decided to bestow my boozy bounty upon my wonderful mother-in-law, Kim. She’s a fantastic hostess, and I figured she could put it to good use. I even suggested she might want to share the wealth with my sister-in-law, Jillian.

I started packing on Wednesday, and let me tell you, four boxes later, I hadn’t even made a dent! I had to hit up my local liquor store for reinforcements. Kim probably has no idea what she’s in for. But hey, who doesn’t love free alcohol?

Amidst the chaos of packing, Albus and I had a major breakthrough. Remember how his potty training went a little… lax while I was laid up? Well, Dave’s soft spot for Albus’s puppy-dog eyes didn’t help. But I’m back on the case, and last night, Albus finally got the message! He barked to let me know he needed to go out, and then, the pièce de résistance: he pooped on command! I know, it sounds silly, but I was ecstatic. “Pick a spot,” I said, and he *immediately* delivered. Small victories, people, small victories!

Thursday was Dave’s last day at work, and his colleagues threw him a fantastic going-away party. They even put together a video montage of his years at town hall. It was heartwarming to see him appreciated, especially after all the headaches that job gave him.

Thursday night was dedicated to packing and loading it all into my pickup truck for transport to Kim’s. Let’s just say, it was a *lot* of alcohol. I sent Kim a picture of the fully loaded truck as a fair warning. Her response? A simple, yet eloquent, “Holy Moly.” I think she gets it now.

Friday morning, we hit the road to New Jersey for our official going-away party! We arrived around 1:15, traffic cooperated. After a bit of catching up, we swung by happy hour at the restaurant where my sister-in-law works. Yes, happy hour with a truckload of booze waiting. But it was more about the social aspect, I swear! We also checked out Dave’s brother’s new house, but I had to call it a night early. My ankles were screaming from the drive, and I needed to elevate those puppies.

Dave’s family knows how to throw a party, and this one was no exception. The decorations were amazing, the food and drinks were flowing, and, most importantly, we were surrounded by loved ones. It was an open-house style event, and people popped in and out all afternoon and evening. We also gifted the majority of the alcohol to our guests, which made for some very nice party favors…lol By midnight, I was half-asleep on the couch, but still buzzing from all the love and support. Seriously, it was such a great time.

Sunday, we headed home, exhausted but happy. As wonderful as the weekend was, it became clear that my stamina isn’t quite what it used to be. I was completely wiped out. So, I decided to treat us to takeout from a local brewhouse.

Enter the bartender drama. The same guy who forgot my drink last time was back, completely engrossed in flirting with a group of ladies. After waiting (and waiting), I finally flagged down the female bartender, who took my order and promised to bring my drink out. And she actually did! I told her about the previous incident, and she quipped, “So you tried the female this time and it got done right. Surprised?” “Nope!” I replied.

Dinner from the food truck was delicious, but my drink garnish was a culinary disaster. It was some sort of crunchy, shell-like thing that tasted like anise or black licorice. Vile! I actually spit it out. It looked pretty, but definitely needed a warning label.

Monday was back to work, and Dave spent the day cleaning and prepping the house for pictures. The house STILL isn’t listed, which is stressing me out to no end. But we’ve decided that my move date is firm, regardless of whether the house sells or not. That lowered my stress level a bit.

In good news, our Saban helper found us a one-bedroom house to rent through the end of the year, with the option to extend. It’s not our final destination, but it’s a huge relief to have housing secured. Now, if we can just sell this Connecticut house quickly, everything will fall into place!

Thanks for reading, everyone! Stay tuned for more updates on our crazy adventure.

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