Hurry Up and Wait to Hurry Up Some More!

Oh the waiting! It's almost July, and there is a little over a month remaining until Lisa flies off to Tokyo for her JET orientation. She has been assigned to Ito's Board of Education, and will be hopping around to the various schools in Ito. We have been in contact with the JET teacher whom Lisa will replace. It seems she has a few items of furniture lined up for us to buy when we arrive. The apartment is a cozy 4 room with a double bed (I think that means kitchen, bath, bed, and living rooms--wonder if there's a closet in there somewhere?). Anyone visiting will be on floor patrol, or perhaps staying in one of the fine resort hotels of Ito, which is known for its hot springs. The rent is looking like it will be much less expensive that we had expected. At any rate, it's still very daunting from where we stand.
We have yet to sell our house and a number of other things. We still have debt to be paid off, and I am pretty much in panic mode right now. We tend to alternate between panic and calm, and luckily, we've never both been in panic mode at the same time. Right now, Lisa is calmly painting base-boards and doors while I freak out and gush into the blog. My worries surround all the little details of getting there. I will have to fly out after Lisa, but the question is, "How much later?" It all hinges around the money we need to get off the ground. We've spent the past few weeks putting some final remodel jobs in on the house, which you can see below in all their glory (it's kind of like playing photo hunt at the bar, only there isn't a naked woman in the picture unless you look really hard!). We still haven't gotten our visas or my plane ticket. I still have no prospects on a job once I get there (although the JET people have assured us that jobs abound for native English speakers willing to work). We still have to sell a car, cancel DirecTV, cancel internet, insurance of all kinds, etc. etc. ETC.! Suffice it to say that it feels as though a giant has hurled me straight up into the air, and I am trying desperately to make my landing look smooth. Those of you who know me also know that I find it difficult to do such a thing calmly. I think I haven't been this stressed in planning since Lisa and I planned our wedding almost two years ago. I keep forcing myself to remember that all will work out for the best, and taking things one day at a time, but sometimes it really hammers me like it's doing now. I know what I need. SCOTCH. Signing out for now to run downstairs and grab a Dewars 'n' water. TTFN

Before & After