I am in that seventh circle of Hell known as MOVING HOUSE, up to my eyeballs in half-filled boxes, too many books to count, dust bunnies, bubble wrap, tchotchkes, and the remaining assorted detritus of a life. Good grief, moving is just gutting, isn't it? All your earthly possessions reduced to a motley collection of cardboard boxes, crumpled newspaper, blanket-swaddled furniture?
Anyway, all of this is to say that I haven't dropped off the face of the earth, or been swallowed alive by some flesh-eating giant, or even fainted away in the sudden summer heat. It's just that while packing I've just been eating cereal or completely mediocre takeout for dinner instead of cooking lovely things (and finally the newspapers are full of good stuff again, too) to tell you about.
The good news is twofold: first of all, the move is this weekend. Second of all, while my new apartment may be smaller than the old one, my new kitchen is glorious and I cannot wait to get cooking in there. Maybe even Sunday night? That may be ambitious, but I promise you it will be soon. Ooh, ooh, there's a third thing, too! My camera is apparently on its way back to me, too, released from the dungeons of the Nikon repair service offices. Glory be, I can't even stand the suspense. Stay tuned, lovely readers.
Great good luck, I hope it will be a wonderful new start!
Posted by: The Blushing Hostess | July 30, 2009 at 07:11 PM
you go girl!
Posted by: thecatskillkiwi | July 30, 2009 at 07:11 PM
Congrats and good luck on the move! And yay for the camera! Everything will feel much better once you are settled and your trusty Nikon is back.
Posted by: maggie | July 30, 2009 at 07:35 PM
congrats:)
Posted by: Ulla | July 30, 2009 at 07:58 PM
Best of luck with the move! I'm terrible at purging, so the detritus of my life tends to follow me around....
Looking forward to seeing what you cook up in your new space!
Posted by: Tracy | July 30, 2009 at 08:00 PM
whewwww...have I been there.....alot...my last move was this time of year 2007 from Cambria..on the south Big Sur coast.... to San Luis Obispo,CA..and i'm still reeling...but that's life...everybody's been through it...and it will pass...just think of all the great fall/holiday cooking you'll enjoy in your new kitchen...
Best of Luck
Kary
Posted by: Kary Gonyer | July 30, 2009 at 08:40 PM
I've just endured the same. It was, as you mentioned, hell, but only for a bit. Now we've settled and everything is falling into place, except for the rain! Enjoy your new home and fabulous kitchen.
Cheers and best of luck,
*Heather*
Posted by: heather | July 30, 2009 at 08:56 PM
good luck. i myself am in the throws of a move, so i feel your pain...both packing and subpar takeout food. hang in there. there is a light at the end of the tunnel...at least that's what i am being told. lol
Posted by: christy | July 30, 2009 at 09:56 PM
what a week to move! nyc summer has finally decided to rear its ugly head. i myself will be moving next month and completely understand how tough it is. unpacking is so much easier and more fun than packing! eagerly awaiting your next post in your fabulous new kitchen. good luck with the move luisa!
Posted by: agatha | July 30, 2009 at 10:19 PM
hooray for glorious kitchens! much luck with the move, hope all goes well!!
Posted by: andrea | July 30, 2009 at 10:34 PM
Can't wait to see the new kitchen! Bet you'll enjoy the settling in and nesting once the boxes are moved and unpacked. Thanks again for the warmth and community you give each one of us!
Posted by: Suzy Quinn | July 30, 2009 at 10:49 PM
A nice fresh start...I cant wait to see what you cook first!!Figtreeapps
Posted by: Figtreeapps | July 30, 2009 at 11:17 PM
A hearty "woohoo", three times over. A move, a kitchen, and a camera. Cannot wait to see what your future holds. I am certain it'll all be wonderful. Enjoy it.
Posted by: tara | July 30, 2009 at 11:19 PM
Good luck with the move. We dread ever having to do it again - and the longer we stay, the more we accumulate. Bad combination!
Posted by: Bobbie | July 30, 2009 at 11:29 PM
I can't wait to see what you're up to next. Good luck with the move!
Posted by: deb | July 31, 2009 at 12:15 AM
I hate moving, but I love it too. It is a cleansing ritual for me. Keeping the most important belongings, redecorating, making a new place home. So many good things, but I do understand the frustration though.
Yay for the camera and fabulous kitchen :)
Posted by: Eralda | July 31, 2009 at 12:31 AM
Oh, don't worry. I'm staying tuned.
Posted by: The Leftoverist | July 31, 2009 at 01:25 AM
Go you! Although the lead-up to it pretty much makes you feel like you are going to die from the stress of it all, there is nothing--NOTHING--like the fresh start of a new place (after you get all your crap settled in, of course). The first meal cooked in a new home is like a rebirth, of sorts. Can't wait to hear all about it!
Posted by: Shauna from Piece of Cake | July 31, 2009 at 01:28 AM
we know exactly how you feel!! felt guilty for not posting for a week but we are packing for a move across the country in 2 weeks, going thru stuff to have a massive garage sale this weekend and not much cooking is going on here. good luck with your move and enjoy a new kitchen!
Posted by: the purcells | July 31, 2009 at 01:32 AM
You know what I love about you? You always tell it like it is, whether it's sad, bad, or glad. I hope the move goes smoothly!
Posted by: Myrnie | July 31, 2009 at 01:34 AM
Packing up to move house is the worst, if you ask me! But once you're in the new place, it's actually quite nice. And I especially love to unpack my kitchen utensils. All the best!
Posted by: Honeybee | July 31, 2009 at 02:38 AM
Thank goodness--I'm so glad I don't have to slay that flesh-eating giant! I've missed you!
Moving blows. However, a new space and a lovely kitchen are pretty good reasons to be on the planet, don't you think?
Sunday does seem ambitious...we won't hold you to it :) Glad you are moving on and we'll be here, waiting for your new adventures.
Posted by: TheKitchenWitch | July 31, 2009 at 03:00 AM
I equate moving house with being swallowed alive by a flesh-eating giant - it's arguably worse, actually. Good luck this weekend, and happy cooking in your new place!
Posted by: kathleen | July 31, 2009 at 03:35 AM
All good things! Sounds like an exciting weekend, good luck Luisa! Can't wait to see where you land :-)
Posted by: ann | July 31, 2009 at 07:50 AM
The worst is over; just keep thinking of that glorious kitchen you will soon be creating magnificent dishes in! Cooking on Sunday though? Instead, I would opt to toast your new surroundings with a nice chilled something...or...another, and order in; you deserve it!
Cheers,
Charmaine
Posted by: Charmaine | July 31, 2009 at 09:44 AM
Aaargh, good luck!
I'll be doing that in Sept-Oct and cannot be bothered. I'm already dreading it now. :)
Posted by: la ninja | July 31, 2009 at 10:10 AM
I just moved in the last month, so I know your pain -- but concentrate on the new kitchen! I know I've been enjoying mine. One of my improvements when I moved was to get some beautiful new spice racks to consolidate my collection from 3 parts of the kitchen into one. Good luck!
Posted by: Library Lisa | July 31, 2009 at 10:36 AM
good luck with your move! cannot wait for things to come out of the new kitchen!!
Posted by: radish | July 31, 2009 at 10:53 AM
hope the move goes well dear! see you on the other end, and can't wait to see what your create in your new kitchen!
Posted by: montague | July 31, 2009 at 12:14 PM
Your loyal readers miss you!
But are understanding and as you can see, wishing you the best.
No one writes about the journey of food and life like you do!
Posted by: evy | July 31, 2009 at 03:00 PM
Good luck with the moving! A new bigger kitchen is a great thing to look forward to... You'll need to get familiar with it, but I'm sure it's going to be lovely soon.
Posted by: Mélanie | July 31, 2009 at 04:51 PM
Downside: Packing and unpacking - ugh.
Upside: The anticipation. Purging the crap (literally and figuratively) from your old place. Moving into a fresh, empty, clean new place. Your first meal in said new place.
Congratulations!
Posted by: Dawn in CA | July 31, 2009 at 05:02 PM
Well, it is good to get rid of stuff you've accumulated that you want to get rid of anyway!
Good luck. I'll be thinking about you today.
What a lovely way to get ready for the next part of your journey.
Posted by: Victoria | August 01, 2009 at 08:26 AM
I always love the first meal cooked in a new kitchen. Good luck getting there... it will happen, though on the days of packing and packing and then unpacking and unpacking it doesn't always feel as if it will.
Bon courage, and thanks for keeping us posted.
Posted by: Monica | August 01, 2009 at 01:16 PM
I hope by now that you're all settled in. Good luck! May you have many happy meals in your new place.
Posted by: Christine | August 02, 2009 at 12:38 PM
Oh! A new place!!! And we want pictures of your new kitchen! Happy cooking/reading/writin/living in your new space!
Posted by: Carmen | August 02, 2009 at 10:41 PM
I've been following your blog for a while, and just wanted to say, I too recently moved, and can certainly empathize with all the work that it takes. Can't wait to see pics of your new kitchen!
Posted by: Michelle | August 02, 2009 at 11:27 PM
Been there, it is draining. But the whole redecoration thing got my mind of things, and my home really feels like "me" now. I hope you feel at home soon and good luck!
Posted by: kim | August 03, 2009 at 08:11 AM
I moved this weekend, too, and it is COMPLETELY exhausting. So far the only thing I've made in my new place is coffee, but my new kitchen is also wonderful and I can't wait to cook tonight....and then unpack some more books. Oof. Hope your move went smoothly!
Posted by: Adrienne | August 03, 2009 at 10:26 AM
I so know how you feel right now! I am doing exactly the same thing and it is never ending! Good luck and congratulations on your new place! Take deep breaths and take a bottle of wine for when you are surrounded by boxes in your new place xx
Posted by: Luisa | August 04, 2009 at 10:24 AM
Moving is the worst! I hope you've safely made it through the ordeal. Looking forward to hearing about your new kitchen.
Posted by: Julie | August 04, 2009 at 12:47 PM
HATE moving, and my husband says we never move again until he's dead!! (Funny, but he means it, I think!)
The new kitchen will be worth it, relax and enjoy!
Posted by: Upstairs Penny | August 05, 2009 at 11:15 AM
I am in the middle of moving now as well - from DC back to NYC. So I am actually going from a HUGE kitchen back to a teeeeeny tiny kitchen in NYC. But I learned to cook in a NYC kitchen, so I know I can do it again! Good luck!
Posted by: Teanna | August 05, 2009 at 01:09 PM
All the shiny new potential of a new apartment.......lucky you!!!! Happy cooking and sweet dreams!
Posted by: Merry | August 05, 2009 at 02:22 PM
Gah, hate moving. Best of luck!
Posted by: Emily | August 05, 2009 at 06:37 PM
Moving is the pits! Good luck! And btw, I ADORE your writing, not to mention all the yummy food :).
Posted by: Grace | August 05, 2009 at 09:59 PM
i'm a little late, and you've already moved but hope it all went well!! can't wait to see what comes out of that new glorious kitchen of yours!
Posted by: mimi | August 06, 2009 at 12:20 PM
I moved on Aug 3 and my kitchen was just finished with the last of the caulking last night at midnight...still cleaning....and the stress has me eating so much I probably won't even fit into my clothes if i ever find the boxes they're in
Posted by: Natalie Sztern | August 07, 2009 at 02:30 PM
they say moving house is up there in the 4 most stressful life events. i think the others are losing a loved one, starting a new job... can't remember the rest.
i say christen your new kitchen with a grilled cheese and call it a day. very comforting.
Posted by: Mouse from A Mouse Bouche | August 07, 2009 at 02:44 PM
Good luck with the move! Looking This time last year I was in kitchen renovation hell and I was so desperate to get cooking that I bought a toaster oven. Your writing always leaves a little smirk on my face- thanks!
Posted by: Anna | August 07, 2009 at 04:35 PM