SOMETHING TO KEEP YOU OCCUPIED

I've been pretty busy looking for houses and all, so until I have time to post something real again, here is a fun maze game I found on the interweb for you all to try. It's pretty hard. I can't get past the 4th level of it, but maybe you can. Try to stay between the blue area. Hold down the mouse button and don't let go until you reach the red square at the end or you'll have to start from the beginning again. It's best with the sound on. Have fun, and let me know how you do.

MAZE GAME <<< Click on this link to play.

DOWN WITH THE COUCH BURNERS!

It turns out the guy next door to our apartment is a die-hard West Virginia University fan. Both of his license plates are WVU related, and I just saw his doormat has the WVU emblem on it. Now it's official. We're going to have to get a USF doormat, just so he'll have to walk by it everyday and sulk.

For those of you that don't know, USF beat WVU last year, knocking them out of contention for a national championship run, while at the same time, boosting USF to the #2 spot in the nation! It was definitely one of the best, if not THE best games I've ever been to live. The atmosphere was so full of energy and the place was SOOO loud, ending with the fans storming the field. Just thinking of it makes me miss not being in Tampa to go to all the games this year.

BUT, we are planning on attending the WVU - USF game in Morgantown, WV this year! It looks like a few friends are going to come up for the big game. I'm so excited. A good time will be had by all, except all the WVU fans, of course. Those couch-burning idiots can wallow in their misery at home after the game. But don't feel too bad for them. I'm sure their sisters will be there to give them plenty of comfort, if you know what I mean.

(Oh, and the WVU guy got a ticket on his car for parking in a handicapped spot last night. Haha)

GO BULLS!!!!!

A LITTLE BIRDIE TOLD ME...

A little birdie told me that he "might like to come into our apartment" this morning, as I heard him tapping his tiny beak on the glass on our second floor porch. I informed him that "no, he probably wouldn't, as there are 4 very hungry cats that would like nothing more than to have a bright green snack." (Luckily they were sleeping in the other room at the time). He promptly flew away.

WE MADE IT!

Hello everyone! We finally made it. The 14 hour trek from Tampa D.C. was long, and tiresome, but we're here. I've gotta tell you, I was really worried about driving the distance with the four cats in the back, but they turned out to be unbelievably good!! A couple of them meowed a little bit for the first half hour or so, but after that, they were so quiet, we were actually worried about them. Every time we stopped for gas, food, etc., we would check on them and find them just chilling out in their carriers. WOW! What a relief.

So we're all getting settled in to our new apartment. The cats are busy exploring the new environment. Roscoe immediately found his new spot in a basket that Grandma Price bought for him. And Iddle and Mouse are equally happy no matter what spot they're in. But I was really worried about George, because he has never been good with moves. Usually when we move he spends the first 2-3 months hiding in a bathroom, or under a cabinet somewhere, or in the case of our last apartment, up in the loft for a year and a half. But I'm thrilled to say that I haven't found him hiding once yet!! (Here he is hanging out above the fireplace). I think it has something to do with our vet's recommendation that we get an air plug-in that has a chemical called Feliway in it. It contains a pheromone that soothes cats' anxiety. I gotta tell you, it's a miracle product. We sprayed some in their cat carriers before we left, and I attribute that to their behavior in the car too.

I've spent the past 3 days unpacking and looking for work. It's been a chore, but I'm almost done. Luckily for us, we are planning on moving into a house or townhouse in the next 6 months, so about half of the stuff is being left in boxes in the spare bedroom, which we're using as a storage unit. That's not to say if anyone of you wants to come visit, you won't have a place to stay. We bought an air mattress for the move, and it's about the most comfortable one I've ever seen. We were taking it down because the movers set up our bed, and Lori remarks, "I kinda wanted to sleep on the air mattress again. It was fun." So don't be afraid to come visit, please.

When I was unpacking one of the bathrooms, everything in the mover's boxes was individually wrapped in packing paper. To save time as I unwrapped each item, instead of putting each piece of paper in a trashbag I would throw them into the bathtub. Well let me tell you, the cats thought they had found heaven as they dove head first into the crinkly paper. They looked like little kids playing in the plastic balls as Burger King. I started laughing and had to take a second from unpacking to run get the camera.

Anyways, just wanted to take a moment and let you all know we made it safely. By the way, I like it here already. We just have to get Lori to have at least an open mind about Virginia enough to enjoy it. So far, she hasn't taken to it all that well, but I'm sure she'll come around.

Would love to hear from you all. Even those of you who I've never met, and who just read this site for fun. I'll post more as things arise. Take care.

- Matt

IT'S A SIGN :(

Is it an omen when two days before you move out of your apartment, there is a giant man-eating moth hanging out right above your door? Seriously, this is the biggest one I've ever seen! Or maybe it's a locust. I don't know, I've never actually seen one. Either way, he's been there for the past 2 days, and it's starting to get kinda creepy! If any of you have ever studied ancient prophesy/omens please let me know. In the meantime, I'll try to fend him off with a broom and and a can of paint.

IT'S FINALLY HITTING ME

The movers are here packing all of our stuff up as I sit here typing this. By the way, it's very awkward to sit here and type while someone is packing all your shiznit into cardboard boxes. Yeah, it's finally hitting me like a two-ton heavy thing, that this is for real. After living in Florida for over 23 years now, we're actually moving to Virginia, which now seems so far away. Really? We're actually doing this? What, are we crazy or something? No, I keep telling myself it's a good thing, right? It's exciting and scary and sad all at the same time.

I realized the other day that I've never lived more than 45 minutes away from my parents. It's been just far away enough that I knew if I ever needed anything, I could just drive a short distance and things would be ok. I love them dearly, and I'm going to miss them terribly. Since moving out of the house right after high school, we have grown very close. I can never repay them for all that they've done for me over the years. They are the best. It's going to be very difficult to say goodbye.

My brother Adam and I used to fight ALL the time in high school, but ever since he left for college, he and I have been best of friends. Since moving to St. Pete a couple of years ago, we live literally 3 or 4 miles apart now. We hang out every weekend with friends, and I can't imagine life without going to Courtside Grille for Friday happy hour, and then dinner afterwards. This has been a great bonding time for us. I'm so lucky to have a big brother like him in my life. He is truly a blessing, and I will miss him more than I can say.

A part of me doesn't want to leave. Not the part that's been bitching about wanting to move out of Florida for God knows how long now. Not the part that wants to see the changes of the seasons. Not the part that wants to experience new adventures and a change of pace. Not even the crazy part of me that wants to live in snow again. No, it's the part where my heart is.

It's funny that I've always considered Minnesota to be my home. After all, it's where I was born and raised until I was 12. But looking back on it, I guess Florida is really my home. I've been here about 2/3 of my life. It's where I did all my "growing up", made lifelong friends, and most importantly, met my wife. If it weren't for her going up to Virginia with me, I don't know if I could do it. But she is my rock, and I know together we'll be fine. Yeah, my heart is in Florida. I can admit it. But they say that "Virginia is for Lovers" Rnnt Rreww!! (Kinda looking forward to seeing if that's true).

So, even though I know we'll be happy and everything will work out fine, it is with a heavy heart that I say goodbye to Florida and hello to my new life in VA. No, I take that back. Lets not say goodbye, lets just say "till we meet again". Love you all.

SERIOUSLY?!?

What is going on here? If I have to save one more cat that's caught behind a dresser today, I'm gonna scream. Yeah, you heard me. Let me explain.

Salvation Army is coming tomorrow morning to pick up our old furniture and one of the pieces is a tall stand-up dresser positioned in the corner of the bedroom which we have a huge television on top of. Well, in my process of cleaning the dresser out for the move, I took the television off of it. The critter crew apparently saw this as their chance to take advantage of a new place to climb.

It all started when I heard a pretty loud thud coming from the bedroom. Well, being as I had several boxes stacked up in the bedroom, along with the fact that they knock stuff over all the time, I wasn't real concerned with it. I'll get to it later, I thought. Well later came around and when I went in there, I couldn't find anything out of place. I thought, well that's strange. This is when I heard a faint "meww" coming from under the dresser. I looked behind it and saw a large grey tail peeking out. Somehow the 19 lb. Mouse had managed to crawl underneath the dresser and had gotten himself stuck! I tilted it forward so he could crawl out and then moved it sideways as he ran from the back of it. Now mind you, this whole time, his brother Iddle is watching off to the side.

Not an hour later, I walk into the bedroom to another "meww". I immediately peek over the dresser to find Iddle looking up at me like "oops". After a short talk about "didn't you learn anything from your brother's mistake?" I let him out as well. Now you'd think this would be the end of it, but no. As I'm walking in to the bedroom even later I come to see how they are managing to get stuck behind the dresser. I turn the corner into the bedroom just in time to see Roscoe take a leap onto the dresser, slide across the top, hit the wall, and go straight down. I almost peed my pants laughing. That was some funny shnatt! Earlier that day, I had polished the wood on the dressers because they were pretty dusty. My bad!

Good lord!! You're not going to believe this, but as I was typing this, Iddle managed to do it again! Seriously?!? Really? Unbelievable. Here we go again. Catman to the rescue!!