Mondays...

Mondays mean normal life again. Today I'm working at the library, this evening I'll be home for my new washer and dryer delivery. Woohoo!!!

Tomorrow is another day of work followed by a meeting with my insurance agent, Spencer, at Chuck Square. I love the name Spencer. It screams adorable southern nerd. Spencer even has the sweet Southern accent of a Savannah native - the best of all the Southern accents in my opinion. And his manners are adorable. He says "yes ma'am" the way only a sweet southern boy could say. Maybe I'm obsessing a bit because I'm just so happy to actually hear from anyone about our renters claim. It's been a month and this is the first word we've had from them, despite numerous and increasingly irate phone calls from yours truly.

Wednesday, more work, and the first night of my summer classes. Let the insanity begin. Again.

Thursday, more work, and an evening of packing. Dear Lord I am sick of packing and unpacking. But at least I have things to pack! And I'm packing up to go see Derek this weekend!!

Still, I counted - and in the past month I've slept in 7 different locations and only 3 of them had beds. So this weekend will make 8... with no bed again. Someday I will make it a month with nothing crazy happening. At least I haven't been hit by a car again lately. Or pinned upside-down underwater in a kayak. Or attacked by a dog. Or chased home by a road-rage maniac. Or in a flood. Or dislocated anything. Or had a head injury.

As you can see, I've lived a very lively life so far. Heaven bless my mother.

Life Lately...

...has been strange. But we're getting back to normal. Derek left for North Carolina last weekend to work for Outward Bound for the summer. We got to speak on Monday before he went off into the woods, but I won't get to talk to him again until June 11th. Even more than before the tornado, I didn't want him to go - didn't want him out of my sight. But it is good to be moving forward with life, and his work there for the summer is a part of that.

I finally found us a new place to live - we've been staying in temporary housing at one of the UA dorms. It has been wonderful to have that as a safe haven but I'm glad we'll have someplace to really call "home" again. Derek said that home was wherever we were together, and that's true. But there is something to be said for being able to unpack your stuff from a suitcase. I feel for the families who are still in shelters. I know what they are going through is much more difficult. At least I have a suitcase with stuff!

Everything that has happened has shown Derek and I have very blessed we are - with what didn't happen to us, with the family and friends that have surrounded us, with the lives that have prepared us to deal with something like this. I'd like to start writing out the experience to share everything that happened. I don't want to stew in it forever, but I to want to capture the events.

But now, it's time for me to go back my things and get ready for the big move :)

Chelsea's Story

Cross posting from the Hog: http://healthblog.ua.edu/2011/05/chelseas-story/

Before and After

Most of you know by now that Derek and I are damn lucky to be alive. We were home last week when the tornado went through Tuscaloosa. I wanted to post some before and after pictures of what used to be our home. It was a humbling, terrifying experience I will never forget.

Charleston Square Apartments Before

Charleston Square Apartments AfterBefore:

After (also after a few days of clean-up!):


The Path: A red arrow is pointing to our unit in the apartment complex.