Trip to Vermont

So we decided to get away from Portland, Maine for a while and head over to Burlington,Vermont to see what that was like.  It was a nice get away, but a very long drive.  The hotel "Anchorage Inn" on Dorset Street wasn't that bad of a hotel.  Something simple nothing too fancy.

Before we left for Vermont there were things we needed to do such as getting him his passport photos, and going to the DMV to get his identification card.  Sad that he fell at the DMV and scraped his knee.  Manager was very nice to help out.  

It was only a couple of days we stayed in Vermont, which wasn't enough time to really know the place.  Why did we go there?  Well we are still undecided what to do with our moving situation.  Since it was a long drive the day we arrived I was so exhausted I didn't really want to do anything, so we just went next door to a Japanese restaurant called Hana.  Nice food there.

 

The next day we ended up buying an updated GPS, which turned out to be an easy to read one.  Afterwards we gone to Denny's for breakfast and then headed over to the Waterfront for a few hours.  We had to pay $8.00 to get in to the Waterfront Park, but that was fine.

It was just as well we brought his wheelchair for long days like that day because he wouldn't have the energy for his legs as he still has problems falling.

We noticed there was a very small beach where people could hang out and catch some sun.  There was a path along the Bay where people could walk and cycle.  I couldn't believe how hot it was that day.  Pity that he couldn't hold the camera up too well because of his wrists to take pictures so I had to stop so often to take a few pictures.  

It was such a peaceful area.  I would recommend this place if those who wish to visit Vermont and to check out the Waterfront.  I could had stayed there all day, but because I was getting dehydrated we didn't think about bringing bottle water, so we had to leave.  I could see myself returning back to Vermont.  As for relocating, I am still not sure as my heart is still on Ireland.  So it has been a big decision.

The next morning was going home.  Another long drive to return.  This time we took it straight through which was the scenic route.  It was nice to see the scenic route.  The drive took longer but it was the shortest way.  

We went through Littleton, New Hampshire and had to take a quick stop.  Not only going to the bathroom but my body was getting stiff from the drive so it was nice to take a walk around.  Craig thought he was able to walk over to the bathroom but had fell along the pathway.  That's when I thought he needed his walker to get to the bathroom.  He did scrape himself, just as well I brought first aid kit, which I am going to start bringing with me for now on everywhere we go.

Craig took several shots of me and each time he took it turned out blurred due to his hands.  He couldn't hold it up properly, so there was only one way to do this and set the camera on timer.  I was kind of getting frustrated because each time (anytime) he takes a picture turns out blurred so i thought screw it.    

It was nice to get back home.  We ended up doing a couple of things before returning the vehicle because the vehicle had to be returned the next day but we brought it back a day early to discover that we were ripped off.  It wasn't approximately $200 for everything, which she said was a good deal, instead it was almost $500 for the week.  So Craig thought he would never go through that company again meaning the one downtown rather the one by the airport.

To be honest enterprise on Marginal Way really did look trashy.  And the vehicle didn't look clean inside because there was a stain in the back seat of the car.  I smelled urine during the whole time we had the vehicle.  Never again we will go to that Enterprise.

Pet nightmare

I had a nightmare last night that we had given away Bella our cat, we stopped by the person's house to see how Bella does in the environment and was comfortable right up to when Craig and I were leaving. When we left the house she ran at the window watching us leave putting her paw on the window meowing

Bella relaxing on her favorite rug

Bell is always up to something

I fear that we may have to give away our three furry kids.  They all have been with us since kitten-hood.  They are very expensive to take overseas with us.  I really do not know what we are going to do with them all.  Its too heartbroken to give them away.

Buster & Augustina

Frustrations continues

We both have been very frustrated these days.  I think part of the reason is that we are going to be moving soon back to Ireland.  We are trying all areas to be able to keep the cats, but they seem to be in the way with expenses.  I am not sure I am ready to give them away. Either Craig.  We had planned on leaving November and may have to wait until next year to have enough money saved up.  I don't know.  We don't even make much money.  So it kind of puts us in an awkward position on our moving situation.

Getting stronger

Its good to see Craig's legs are getting stronger from his exercises.  He has came a long way with his therapy but sadly that his insurance couldn't cover his therapy anymore as it reached to its max.  All he needs to do now is to continue exercising daily with his legs and arms.  I still cannot understand and why his hands are curved under his wrists and how that happened.  Eventhough he doesn't use the walker in the house I am still concerned that he may fall forward and would break his wrists altogether with the impact to the floor.

We have been going out for walks a couple of times a day every other day.  Just seems that he gets tired after those two walks on that one day, and its only around the block which is like a half a mile.  This takes about 30 to 40 minute walk because of his walker.  Great to see the walker have wheels it makes things move a bit faster for him.

Researching continues

Lately we have been pretty stressed out not only with his condition with his hands trying to straighten them out as he cannot straighten them.  No muscle tissues on his top arms.  Also stressed out with the moving decisions.  We have been working our butts off with researching to relocate to Northern Ireland

We were in decision making either Ireland or Connecticut.  We had checked out Connecticut, and yes it would be nice to live down there and be closer to the Nieces and nephews but after our experience down there hearing mom's negativity it was getting in our space.  I was talking with Craig about this whole thing and we were thinking, do we really want to hear my mother's negativity day after day when she comes visit.  So we decided to push at Ireland.

I couldn't believe how much work we need to do between furniture to be sold, get the cats situated as well as us as well, process on getting there, and wondering if we need a VISA.  I had lived there before back in the 90s for 9 years and it was an experience.  It was different back then because it was just me and my clothes now its taking more responsibilities.

We are pushing to relocate this November and i am hoping we could be able to do this and make this big move.  I am very nervous about the whole thing.

Moving decisions

So we have been doing alot of researching to relocate to Ireland, all the research we could possibly can get so we could live comfortably there without any gaps.  Mom thinks that I am going to get arrested because she thinks I gave up my nationality as American.  She has no idea how much research we have been doing.  She knows how to use the computer but always jumped into conclusions.  The way I see it, if i did gave up my American citizenship, I wouldn't had gotten jobs here when I returned 2000 (see my experience while live in Ireland) "ALSO" I wouldn't had gotten my Social Security Disability.  I remember the time I lived there I was soo happy and felt safe there.  I don't think I ever was happy in the United States and how it has become.

During our time there we were looking through the town of Ridgefield, Connecticut to see what it is like there.  It was a nice small town.  Could I see myself living there?  Possibly.  Could Craig?  maybe because he needed to get services there such as certain clinics and doctors due to his condition.

So now we are on the decision on either Ireland or Connecticut.  But then again it would be nice to be closer to the children.  Also I hadn't seen my brother in years.

If I had the money I would take us to Ireland for sure, but I am not sure if I do have enough money saved up for Ireland, that could be a problem.

Getting away

Its been a while since we treated ourselves something. We really didn't do anything since we got to Maine 4 years ago since we don’t own a vehicle. Seeing all the Somalians are really depressing me and its not healthy for me and its not healthy for him either. He’s been housebound for two summers and he doesn't want to make a third. So what we did was that we decided to leave Maine state for a few days and head down to Connecticut to see family. I had a weird feeling about leaving the cats alone and the house abandon, and I don’t trust the Somalians and I never will, so I asked the maintenance guy and his wife to check in on the house making sure its okay and children aren't hanging around there. We were going to stay for 3 days but ended up staying an extra two days. It was a good time down there. I had dread going back to Maine and seeing the bullshit again.  I would like to go away again.

it was really nice for us to get away from area.  Also gives us time to spend more time with the family in Connecticut.  We do plan on going there again.  But I knew mom was going to talk something negative and continue doing that and it was sort of weird and tiring too on the matter that I had to remove myself from the conversation and I left him there with my mother and sister discussing about us relocating to Ireland.

So I don't know what's going to happen.