Sunday Sound Out

From Orlando, where the devil goes to warm up, it's your host, the woman who single-handedly drove six kids across the country in two days and didn't even have the urge to kill anyone, Dawn Damalas Meehan!

I haven't updated for a while because I haven't had an Internet connection. I signed up for cable and Internet, but they won't be able to install it until the 20th. I tried to explain who I was and how important it was for me to have a link to all my readers, but the guy just looked at me like I was some sort of freak. Is it possible that random people in Florida don't know who I am?! I'll have to set them straight!

Picking up where I left off - we left our Chicago home last Tuesday and stayed in Tennessee Tuesday night. On Wednesday morning, we got up and started driving, originally planning to stay somewhere in Alabama for the night, and arrive in Florida on Thursday. As I started driving, however, I changed my mind and decided I could make it all the way on Wednesday. The kids were awesome for the entire, long, two day trip, traffic was light except in Atlanta which doesn't make any sense to me because the highway has 15 lanes there, and we drove through around 3:00 in the afternoon!

That day, we stopped at Chick-fil-A for lunch. The winner of a signed book for that stop is - Karen from Menopause Diaries!

Then we stopped at a gas station in Georgia where there was a jar of pickled eggs on the counter. That winner is - MommyMer

The last stop of the day was at a gas station in Florida. The winner of a signed book for that stop is - Queenie662!

And just because I love my readers (and because my trip was cut short by my need to make it to Florida in two days in order to save the cost of another hotel stay), I'll pick two more winners. They are - Shelomita and Korinthia

Congrats! Email me at Dawn@DawnMeehan.com with your mailing address so I can get your books out to you! :)

Now here are the answers to your questions from this week.

How do the kids like the house?

They love it! For most of us, it just feels like we're on vacation though. I'm not sure when it will sink in that we're here to stay.

Did you get everything unpacked?

Yes and no. I used U-Pack to move. Their prices were great and I had control over how everything got packed. The kids and I (with the help of my friend, Eric) packed the truck ourselves. ABF U-Pack drove it down to Florida and we unloaded it (more on that to come). So, the truck is empty, but I still have some boxes sitting around my house. Not too many though. I can't stand the house in disarray. It makes me crazy that things aren't all nice and neat yet. I know, I know, patience, young jedi.

Did I read that Eric moved with you?

No, Eric didn't move with us, but I did fly him down to help us unpack. It was cheaper than hiring movers to unload the truck, plus he was able to fix some things and help me out while he was here. AND, he left me his MiFi card so I could have Internet access until the guys come out to install it later this month! And we got to hang out which is always good. I took him to the airport today and the kids are saying that they already miss him. I think I may have to compile a fixit list and instead of hiring a handyman, have Eric come out for a visit now and then.

How did you move so far away from family and friends?

I'm not thinking about that part. It's too hard.

How are Clay and Brooklyn now?

They're fine! Well, they're fever-free. I'm not sure about fine though. Clay was just running around the house like a dinosaur, trying to bite people . . .

Have you made any friends yet?

Well, not yet, but I've pretty much been stuck in the house, unpacking and cleaning. I was going to be friends with the fridge delivery guys, but then they put a hole in my wall so I changed my mind. (They're fixing the wall this week.)

And that's it for this week's edition of SSO. Tune in tomorrow when Dawn answers the question of just who on earth would buy this decoration.