Last week was, to say the least, busy.
To start things off, Ben got way, way sicker than I did and was knocked off his feet for almost a week. To give you an idea of how bad this virus was that hit us, the coworker who got it from Ben is now laid up in the hospital.
Strangely, on the day that Ben was at his lowest point, he got two emails: one from an online mixed martial arts site Cage Potato and the other from none other than Sports Illustrated. Both publications had read Ben’s stuff and were looking to get in on the goods before someone else did. Within the week, Ben 1) accepted a full time job as editor of Cage Potato 2) accepted a steady freelancing gig with Sports Illustrated (non-sports fans: this is huge) and 3) slowly, slowly recovered from the superbug that was eating him alive.
What does that mean for us? Since both Cage Potato and Sports Illustrated don’t give a damn where Ben writes from as long as he writes for them, and since my freelance business is chugging along more smoothly than I could have ever expected, we are planning to return to Montana in the next few months. Yes, Montana - where you can get an entire burger for a buck and where you can actually see the stars at night.
As you might guess, I’m stupendously excited. Aside from the 24-hour takeout options, New York City and I never quite got along. I know I should have realized this going in, but the capital of the world is loud, crowded, dirty, and depressing. And with spring coming, I can only think about the fun I could be having if only we had a backyard, a grill, and a whiffle ball set. And did I mention Ben is going to write for Sports Illustrated?
The tentative plan involves selling most of our crap, buying a truck, and leaving by mid- June or July — right around the time that the garbage on the sidewalks of the city starts rotting in the heat. This plan also involves buying a house in our much-loved and much-missed Missoula and perhaps even adopting a puppy. Although I think we have a handle on the puppy-buying process, we’re a bit lost when it comes to purchasing a house. I bet we’ll figure it out, though.
I’m looking forward to all of it - the money we’re making will go so, so much farther in Montana (the basic conversion is that the cost of one beer in New York is equal to the cost of one pitcher in Missoula) and seeing the mountains again sounds like just what I need.
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April 11, 2008 at 1:01 pm
April
There’s nothing sadder than a dog taking a crap on the hot, city sidewalk and I know because I walked them for a living in Chicago.
Having a dog and a beautiful trail in the woods to walk with her through keeps me sane and I’m so glad you guys will have those options in Montana.
Congrats, you guys!
April 11, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Duffman
I have been reading your Blog for awhile and I am excited for your big move and wish you luck.
April 11, 2008 at 1:19 pm
Amanda
Congrats! I’m really jealous. Missoula is fabulous!
April 11, 2008 at 2:45 pm
Nora Rocket
WaHOOOOOOOOO!!
April 11, 2008 at 3:03 pm
Emily
Missoula!! Hubby and I visited some friends there way back in 2001. It was fantabulous.
April 11, 2008 at 3:14 pm
emily
Sarah! that is so awesome for you because I could tell from your comment on my blog that you were not the person to ask about the joys of New York City! (But I do appreciate your honesty, as I may feel the same way after this weekend…we’ll see.)
And congrats to Ben - that is one heck of a gig!
April 11, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Anonymous
OMG— ALL of that is so exciting!If you want to adopt a friend instead of a puppy, well just give me a yell
April 11, 2008 at 5:33 pm
Jess
That’s so fantastic!!! Congrats to you and Ben on all of the above! It’s great that you get to take advantage of the buyer’s market right now, too. Let me know if you want to chat about home-buying…it’s scary but I can’t stress enough how much fun it is to have your own house. Even when you have to shovel. And spackle. And sand the spackle, and then get spackle dust caked in your nasal passages…
April 11, 2008 at 6:47 pm
Faith
YES! Congratulations to Ben on what sounds like an AMAZING gig, and to you on doing some work you want to do…
Back to the country…we just moved back to North Carolina from London, people here think we’re crazy, but let me tell you, it makes a hell of a big difference when people smile at you on the sidewalk.
April 11, 2008 at 6:47 pm
Kitty
Congratulations to both of you. Not bad for a week of sick.
I’m looking forward to some amazing Montana trail stories (hope there aren’t any cougars).
April 11, 2008 at 7:48 pm
Julia
Congrats! Makes up for the sick, maybe?
April 11, 2008 at 7:51 pm
onesouthernmomma
Wow! Congratulations! Hope you’re both feeling well now.
April 11, 2008 at 8:59 pm
dmw
Lots of people are very proud of you both and so happy that life is going your way. Hang on and enjoy the ride!
April 12, 2008 at 12:03 am
Grinnell Emily!
I’ve loved your blog for about as long as it’s existed, but posts like this, and the trajectory your life has taken in the past couple months make me especially happy. As a senior with almost no plans for the future, it gives me a lot of hope for real-world-future-life, even if it’s a few years down the road. And of course it’s amazing for you. What I mean is–I’m so glad you keep changing your life for the better, and that you keep finding yourself even happier and more fulfilled than you thought you would be! Congratulations.
April 12, 2008 at 8:31 am
Alison
I totally thought the big news was you are pregnant.
April 13, 2008 at 8:33 am
MomLove
Sarah, I have been a huge fan ever since Nathan and Leanne introduced you and your writing to me — WAAAYYY the heck back in 2003!! Oh, I know that seems like forever to your contemporaries and younger disciples, but for me that is a blink of a single eyelash.
Congratulations to you and your beloved Ben, who I hope to meet one day, and please know that you both have fans here in small-town Iowa. Keep up the great work and best wishes for every path you walk together.
I still believe Mom Love is way better than Plans Love !!
April 14, 2008 at 7:51 am
Kemo
Congratulations to Ben: The SI assignment is major. I know Ben will impress their readers and editors with his writing style and insight into MMA . On the other hand,
Cage Potato is seriously in need of an injection of class and intellect that I know Ben can deliver. Just how many jobs do you have now?
Congratulations to Ripley: two years in a cramped, two-window, roach infested, NY, mini-apartment as the CEO who grew the company to it’s current successful state…your reward…a new “doggie”! Got out voted 2 to 1, huh?
Congratulations to Sarah: Doing it all; independent freelancer, nurse, homemaker, cat-box engineer, (sometime;-) blogger, and newbie wife.
But all your hard work has paid off. Your prize… Sarah, Ben & Ripley together with new jobs, in a new home back in Big Sky country - Missoula MT. Go Grizz!
April 14, 2008 at 8:09 pm
jl
Why is it that you always whine? Always complaining about NYC?
April 14, 2008 at 9:11 pm
sarah
thanks, guys! we’re really excited too - although it doesn’t seem quite real to us yet, especially since we don’t have a concrete departure date. more details to come, surely.
jess - yes, i’ll probably be calling you soon about house stuff - we really don’t know much about the process.
alison - not so much. let’s stick with puppies for now. (i also owe you a call - i saw ming on top chef this week, btw)
jl - if you don’t like complaining, i might recommend to you any other blog on earth that is not entitled BROOD - and just going on your comment, you sound like the more negative one around here. i always complain about new york because i am unhappy here. i understand that others like yourself might like it here, just like many people would probably hate the mountains - different places suit different people.
April 15, 2008 at 9:26 am
Liana
Wow! Congratulations!!! YAY!!!