Wow. Exactly one week from today--right now, in fact--I’ll be in my new home. It almost seems surreal at this point. I’m looking around my apartment, which is only half packed, and wondering how things are going to fall out over the next few days. There are things I know for sure. I know I’ll be picking up the truck on Thursday morning. I know that there are four stops to make throughout the day, to pick up various pieces of furniture and shit that’s in storage. I know that I have to complete that and get the apartment cleaned, so I can turn my keys in by 5pm. Knowing all this, I know I have to be completely packed no later than Wednesday night.

Then there are the variables. This is my last weekend in Phoenix. There are those who believe I should make the most of it, but exactly what that entails is still a little fuzzy. I’m assuming it means hitting favorite haunts and spending time with people I won’t be seeing for a while, if ever again. Whether that happens or not remains to be seen. I’m not in a very social mood and would really like to slip out of town without causing too much of a fuss. There are, however, a few people I’d like to spend time with before I do go. Haven’t seen Scotty in a couple weeks. Or James. Donny says Seth wants to hang out before I go and Shanna has expressed interest, too.

I’ve already said my goodbyes to my son, who won’t be back from China until the 17th. I promised Deb and Jesse one last naked romp before our visits become fewer and further between. And, let’s not forget the boyfriend, who I won’t be seeing for a couple months. Those are the hardest situations to deal with. Even so, I can’t wait to have this whole move done and over with. That’s what keeps me moving forward. That’s what urges me to wrap shit up and put it in boxes. I’ll know it’s real when the paintings come down off the wall. Until that happens, though, it still seems like a dream, slowly unfolding. One dream among many. Or, as Poe said, “a dream within a dream.”

Oh, and how cool is it that today is 080808? Love that. Moving on…