It has been a long time since I last posted....

That is due to the fact that we are fully engaged in the move preparation. Our packout for Djibouti starts in seven days and that has become all consuming.

As I wrote in my previous post, I have been working on consumables. Some people go to the big warehouse shopping clubs and do their consumables in one sweep or you are able to go to the commissary and shop for your consumables and have them picked up at the commissary. I haven't ever done it that way (the whole two times I have shopped for consumables). I have been picking up things all along, since we had a hint that we would be moving - so when holiday paper goods went on sale after the holiday I picked them up for our move.

We have been inventoring what we have so far as we pack it. Due to our last experience with the rats, we have made a decision to pack our consumables in the utility style black foot lockers that the military guys use - here is what it looks like so far... and this is just a sampling, about one third of what we have packed.

The packing may seem a little random, but we are trying to fit as much as we can in to these sturdy containers.

I am doing one more run for consumables this week and then have decided that I will do one substantial net grocer order or pack my own boxes of our absolute favorite things right before we leave with the hope that it will be waiting for us when we get there.

Black Trunk #1
11 cans black beans
4 cans cranberry sauce
10 cans mandarin oranges
5 cans pumpkin
6 cans rotel with lime juice and cilantro
3 cans crushed pineapple
1 can dal mahkni
1 can saffron cream sauce
6 cans sliced jalapenos
4 cans tomato paste
2 boxes of proactive skin care
3 boxes of tampons
2 boxes of pantyliners
1 box of q-tips (750 count)
1 box of basmati rice
2 boxes of gallon size freezer bags (46 total)
2 popsicle mold trays
2 boxes of gallon size storage bags (12 total)
2 boxes of quart size storage bags (16 total)
4 rolls waxed paper
3 rolls reynolds wrap aluminum foil
2 tubes full size – aquafresh
2 travel tubes –aquafresh
2 travel tubes crest
1 full size tube crest
1 box (100 count) snack size zip lock bags
1 box (100 count) sandwich bags
1 tube prevident toothpaste
3 packages of bath puffs (2 each – 6 total)

Red Trunk
6 cans blueberries
9 cans refried beans
10 cans kidney beans
6 cans French onion soup
6 cans double noodle soup
2 cans cream of chicken soup
10 cans summer crisp corn
4 mosquito nets
Spare umbrella canopy
Mosquito netting for umbrella
2 packages of 16 mandarin orange cups
12 boxes annie’s mac and cheese
1 white twin sheet set
12 red, white and blue kitchen towels
6 scrubber dishcloths
8 black and white kitchen towels
2 individual size water coolers

Blue Tote A
4 packages of 14 patriotic paper plates
4 pkgs. of 20 patriotic cocktail napkins
3 pkgs. of 14 luau plates
3 pkgs. of 20 luau cocktail napkins
3 boxes of disposable cupcake carriers
1 package of individual popcorn servers
2 pkgs. of 20 9-inch Halloween plates
1 pkg. of 25 8-inch Halloween plates
2 pkgs. of 12 halloween dessert plates
3 pkgs. of 24 Halloween beverage napkins
4 packages of 8 birthday dessert plates (cupcake theme)
36 outside plastic beverage cups
1 package of bamboo skewers
1 pkg. of 48 plastic forks
2 pkgs. of 36 plastic forks
2 pkgs. of 10 snowman dessert plates
2 pkgs. of 12 snowman cups
2 pkgs. of 15 8-inch snowman plates
3 pkgs. of 20 snowman cocktail napkins
20 medium size Christmas gift bags
10 small Christmas gift bags
32 Christmas cards
2 small Christmas wreaths
1 package of Easter raffia
1 package of plastic Easter eggs