Long time no see.
Let me tell you why: We Moved.
Need I say more? Likely not, but I will anyway.
I have been busy.
You never know what you have until you move it. And the corollary is that you never know how dirty your house was until you move the furniture out. OMG! there were spare dogs under there!
For the past year, my Bride and I had been contemplating getting a bigger house. I guess we got spoiled by the monster we owned in Casa Grande. Our little Las Cruces house was supposed to be a temporary place while we waited for some assurance that we’d stay here. But “temporary” turned into three years and the close quarters were getting the best of us. When this new abode appeared on the market, and the price was lowered below the general value of its neighborhood, we decided to have a look. It had a number of features we liked. It had 4 bedrooms providing enough space for an office and grand-kid visits. It had a “sun room” (enclosed back porch) that could be set up as a studio for me and the yard was half-again larger. We inspected it and offered a low bid that was accepted. Now there was WORK to do!
The prior owner had about 5 dogs and those critters had ruined ALL the carpet. Four walls were painted blood red and there was a DIY corner built-in shelf that dated back to when TV’s were square. It had to go along with all the faux stone facade that covered it to match the fireplace. The sun room had a sloping floor with “stage” in it – no kidding – it was built like a bunker. The electrical wiring was a do-it-yourself mess and the ancient layers of floor coverings smelled like dead animals. I busted my butt ripping that stuff out and treating the concrete.
After the painters and carpeting guys were done, the movers came on Jun 7th – just for the big stuff. We didn’t finish moving until the 5th of July. Then it was 2 full days of vigorously cleaning the old place. Last Tuesday night we signed the listing paperwork and today, there’s a for sale sign standing at the old place.
Here at the new house, we’re faced with a garage packed with so much stuff light can’t reach the back wall. About half of that stuff belongs in my studio, but the old porch needs a level floor first. My handyman wants to pour concrete, but I’m thinking a wooden floor sounds much better and is easier on my feet and ankles. It’s just one item on a long list of stuff to fix, replace or install.
And right in the middle of this evolution, 8 days after moving in, we hosted our dear friend Eric Ramsey, songwriter extraordinaire, as he started his “Spring Soul-stice Tour”. He and I performed a housewarming concert. My daughter and granddaughters came over from AZ for the show and spent the weekend with us. The wonderful songwriter Jim Pipkin and his bride Alice came to town and we all had dinner together and a nice visit before they headed up to Ruidoso by way of the White Sands National Monument.
So now, you’re basically caught up with what’s been going on these past 2 months. One more thing – during this hectic month and a half I also wrote a humorous song about global warming that I really want to share with you. But remember the studio? It’s still in boxes. Maybe I could just do a cel-phone video. Or maybe it will just have to wait.
Darrell Elmer Rodgers' Weblog 
Congratulations on the move. It’s good to know all is well. Love you both.