A short note, because I realized I haven't been blogging recently.
I move into my flat this weekend.
Sorry no photos thus far. I have taken a couple from my hotel room balcony.
The cats are doing ok. Some days are better than others. Today was not a good day. Hopefully from now on things will be better since I will be able to visit them at the same time each day.
Have a good day/night.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Friday, April 23, 2010
Arrival to Saipan
I arrived in Saipan pretty much on time. Let me tell you it was a long flight from Atlanta to Tokyo. I had gotten up several times to walk around the plane and I still ended up with swollen thighs and ankles.
My cats had been off-loaded before my suitcases had. Pepper was hiding in the back of the carrier and Olive was in the front being little Ms. Curious. Simba looked like a wet noodle.
I could not stay with them that first night, so I gave them some water and just hoped they were comfortable enough. Apparently, even though I had asked no one had watered them the whole trip. They had food though I'm not sure if they ate anything or not. I do know when I got back to the airport a bit later that same morning, both the water bowls were 1/2 empty.
I arrived at the hotel around 2:00 a.m. and got into bed around 2:30 a.m. I had a 6:30 a.m. wake up call so I could get back over to the airport for when they were transported to quarantine. I arrived at about 8:30 a.m. with the quarantine folks already there. While at the quarantine office, I was able to clean out carriers and make sure the "kids" were as comfortable as possible.
3 taxis later though I decided to rent a car. There is no public transportation on the island and after a while taxis would start adding up.
Even though the island isn't very big, I couldn't remember the turn off for the hotel when I was coming back from the airport. Of course, I went too far, so I asked for directions. On the way back, I had noticed our building where I will be working at. So, I turned around and went into the office to say hello. While I was there, I was told about a "wash 'n fold" which was inexpensive to have my cats bedding laundered.
I went to Ace Hardware and got them a couple of "fleece" blankets to have in their carriers and on the cement shelf their food is on. While traveling back to the quarantine place, I found the "island vet" and the realtor's office. I spent about 45 minutes with my cats later in the afternoon. They seemed as content as I suppose they could feel. I'm sure they are still somewhat confused about what it going on. I will go back everyday for a visit - though I won't be able to go at the same time each day.
After visiting the 'kids", I went back by the "island vet's" office and the realtor's. Since I have been communicating with both for the last 6 months or so it was nice to meet both of them face-to-face. Today I will be changing out rental vehicles. The realtor's office is into a couple of different areas, 1 of which is rental vehicles. They are giving me a monthly rate which is "less expensive" than me keeping an airport vehicle for 2 weeks.
The "island vet" office helped me set up getting some food for my cats. Even though they haven't eaten much the 1st day and probably won't for most of the 1st week, I still don't want to run out of food, so as a precaution I'm ordering more food which will be here by the end of next week, approximately.
I say "approximately" only because a couple of boxes that I sent the week I left have already arrived, where boxes that I sent out in early April or the week prior to departure have not yet arrived.
The sun comes up early (around 5:00 a.m.) and goes down early around 6:00 p.m. Each morning (so far anyway) seems to be over-cast and then the clouds blow off and the sun comes out. Sleep right now is so-so. But I do what I can to be up all day.
This morning, Saturday April 24, I will go out to the quarantine office to see the kids. I have their clean towels so I will put them in the big carrier. Even the staff will tend to them, I will tend to them as well.
I will come back to the hotel and get ready for the day of house hunting.
Wish me luck.
My cats had been off-loaded before my suitcases had. Pepper was hiding in the back of the carrier and Olive was in the front being little Ms. Curious. Simba looked like a wet noodle.
I could not stay with them that first night, so I gave them some water and just hoped they were comfortable enough. Apparently, even though I had asked no one had watered them the whole trip. They had food though I'm not sure if they ate anything or not. I do know when I got back to the airport a bit later that same morning, both the water bowls were 1/2 empty.
I arrived at the hotel around 2:00 a.m. and got into bed around 2:30 a.m. I had a 6:30 a.m. wake up call so I could get back over to the airport for when they were transported to quarantine. I arrived at about 8:30 a.m. with the quarantine folks already there. While at the quarantine office, I was able to clean out carriers and make sure the "kids" were as comfortable as possible.
3 taxis later though I decided to rent a car. There is no public transportation on the island and after a while taxis would start adding up.
Even though the island isn't very big, I couldn't remember the turn off for the hotel when I was coming back from the airport. Of course, I went too far, so I asked for directions. On the way back, I had noticed our building where I will be working at. So, I turned around and went into the office to say hello. While I was there, I was told about a "wash 'n fold" which was inexpensive to have my cats bedding laundered.
I went to Ace Hardware and got them a couple of "fleece" blankets to have in their carriers and on the cement shelf their food is on. While traveling back to the quarantine place, I found the "island vet" and the realtor's office. I spent about 45 minutes with my cats later in the afternoon. They seemed as content as I suppose they could feel. I'm sure they are still somewhat confused about what it going on. I will go back everyday for a visit - though I won't be able to go at the same time each day.
After visiting the 'kids", I went back by the "island vet's" office and the realtor's. Since I have been communicating with both for the last 6 months or so it was nice to meet both of them face-to-face. Today I will be changing out rental vehicles. The realtor's office is into a couple of different areas, 1 of which is rental vehicles. They are giving me a monthly rate which is "less expensive" than me keeping an airport vehicle for 2 weeks.
The "island vet" office helped me set up getting some food for my cats. Even though they haven't eaten much the 1st day and probably won't for most of the 1st week, I still don't want to run out of food, so as a precaution I'm ordering more food which will be here by the end of next week, approximately.
I say "approximately" only because a couple of boxes that I sent the week I left have already arrived, where boxes that I sent out in early April or the week prior to departure have not yet arrived.
The sun comes up early (around 5:00 a.m.) and goes down early around 6:00 p.m. Each morning (so far anyway) seems to be over-cast and then the clouds blow off and the sun comes out. Sleep right now is so-so. But I do what I can to be up all day.
This morning, Saturday April 24, I will go out to the quarantine office to see the kids. I have their clean towels so I will put them in the big carrier. Even the staff will tend to them, I will tend to them as well.
I will come back to the hotel and get ready for the day of house hunting.
Wish me luck.
Departure from Brunswick
I departed Brunswick Tuesday evening, April 20, 2010. Nana and I drove to Jacksonville early that evening.
Most hotel beds are on platforms but of course this wasn't the case. So the "loving children" had to stay in the bathroom because I didn't want to have to dig them out from underneath the bed the next morning. For the most part they did really well. Olive, the youngest, was the most focal though even she quieted down when the lights went out.
We got up at some "unhumanly" early hour. We arrived at the house airport with quite a bit of time which was good since it took us pretty much a hole hour to check in with the cats. I couldn't believe that both my suitcases weighed in under 50 lbs, so I did not have to pay any fees.
As I watched the kids go downstairs to their "holding spot" - Nana and I had breakfast before I got on the plane. There was a Massage place that opened up about 1 hour 30 minutes prior to me going through security so I got a real nice 15 minute Massage prior to getting on the plane.
That's it for my departure.
Most hotel beds are on platforms but of course this wasn't the case. So the "loving children" had to stay in the bathroom because I didn't want to have to dig them out from underneath the bed the next morning. For the most part they did really well. Olive, the youngest, was the most focal though even she quieted down when the lights went out.
We got up at some "unhumanly" early hour. We arrived at the house airport with quite a bit of time which was good since it took us pretty much a hole hour to check in with the cats. I couldn't believe that both my suitcases weighed in under 50 lbs, so I did not have to pay any fees.
As I watched the kids go downstairs to their "holding spot" - Nana and I had breakfast before I got on the plane. There was a Massage place that opened up about 1 hour 30 minutes prior to me going through security so I got a real nice 15 minute Massage prior to getting on the plane.
That's it for my departure.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Vacationing in Brunswick
Sunday, April 18, 2010.
Right now I'm vacationing in Brunswick, GA getting ready for my big plane trip to Saipan. There are still a few things that I need to get, but for the most part I do believe I'm ready. Besides my arms looking like I have the chicken pocks (sand gnats bites) the down time has been quite nice.
I will go down to Jacksonville FL Tuesday, April 20 so I don't have to get up at some ungodly hour on Wednesday, April 21 to fly out. Because my loving children are coming with me, I have to be at the airport 4 hours prior to departure.
More later.
Right now I'm vacationing in Brunswick, GA getting ready for my big plane trip to Saipan. There are still a few things that I need to get, but for the most part I do believe I'm ready. Besides my arms looking like I have the chicken pocks (sand gnats bites) the down time has been quite nice.
I will go down to Jacksonville FL Tuesday, April 20 so I don't have to get up at some ungodly hour on Wednesday, April 21 to fly out. Because my loving children are coming with me, I have to be at the airport 4 hours prior to departure.
More later.
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