I know that based on past experiences I should never expect things to go smoothly, and yet I do. Furthermore, I find myself surprised when things don’t go as planned. I moved this weekend, and like most things, it was an adventure. Nothing went majorly wrong, but nothing went as planned either.
First off for whatever reason, my being prepared skills were lacking. Instead of following the plan I had put together of packing ahead of time, I spent my time sitting on the couch doing nothing. The move started simply enough, I went and picked up my keys, no issues there, picked up V who was coming in from out of town to help, no issues there. We went to Moe’s for dinner, YUM, but there was a hair in my Nacho’s. Boo! Thursday morning comes and we run a few loads over to the new place and are debating if we have enough time to run another load. I figure, why not call the moving company and check in if they have a more narrowed time frame then between 10 and 1. I dial the number and hear the message that the phone is out of service. Maybe I dialed the wrong number, so I look it up again, try again. Still with the message phone is out of service. Feeling a little confused, and the first dredges of panic, I try a different Two Men and a Truck location. Dustin answers. Dustin informs me that I am the 4th caller today that has stated the Chamberland office is not available; he then tells me that they have not shown up to some jobs today. I feel the panic starting, but feel that maybe it is not what it seems. For what it seems is that the movers have closed and bailed on me. Dustin proceeds to tell me that he can move me today, but I would have to repay the deposit. Now I am feeling a little more panic, I don’t have extra money to pay another deposit. He kindly explains that they are all individually operated, and therefore he can’t get the money from them. I would have to take it up with them.
Dustin and I determine that my best option is to drive over to the Chamberland Lane office to see if they are open, then I can decide if I want their office to move me. OK, so off V and I go. Luckily they are open, but just experiencing phone issues. Why they didn’t think to call their customers I don’t know. They tell me the movers are on their way to my house. So V and I rush back to the apartment, and wait for them. When they get there, they tell me that they are counting that they left their office at 12:04, which is when they start billing me, it was now 12:40. It took at most 10 min to get from their office to my apartment. So they start loading. I think things are going ok, but I noticed they seem to be S L O W. The first guy tells me that they have to wait for a manager to come and bring tools, as apparently they didn’t bring any to unhook the washer or take apart the bed.
Finally after 3 ½ hours they are packed up. Now keep in mind, I have a two bedroom apartment, and am moving into a one bedroom, so an abundance of furniture and belongs I do not have. So we leave the apartment, they pull out ahead of us. We stop at a gas station, head to the new place and manage to unload the majority of my car before the movers show up. I was quoted 5 hours at maximum for the move. They have about 50 minutes left before they go over my estimate. I’m not thrilled. They ask if I want them to organize the furniture, I stated, no, just bring it. At this point they are basically running to get things off the truck, and haphazardly putting it in the apartment. Finally the last thing they do is to put the couch legs back on the couch. And off they go. V and I cannot even walk through the apartment based on how they put stuff in it. They didn’t stack or even put things up against the wall, they just shoved it wherever they could. They billed me for exactly 5 hours, and took off 45 min for breaks to bring it down to the 5 hours. Last time I moved and I used Two Men and a Truck (though a different location) it took 4 ½ hours but we had to stop at a storage unit, and the drive was longer. I was not thrilled, but at this point, I’m feeling some panic because the move is taking longer, plus I had them leave things that we could carry and fit in my car (save on time/money for the movers). V and I head back for a load, walk in and I look down and see one of my couch legs sitting on the floor. They didn’t even bother to tell me that when they put the legs on, they were missing one. Without the leg, we could have broken the couch; I am not impressed or thrilled with Two Men and a Truck.
We head back to the new place, and V and I are both going it seems really warm in here, but we thought maybe it was just because we had the doors open all day. Then some additional friends came over to help organize and see the new place, D took it upon himself to be manly and call maintenance since it was obvious at this point the AC was not working. When they called back the maintenance guy suggested I strongly push (i.e.: hit) they furnace, as the safety switch most likely got turned off. It appears resolving maintenance issues at the new place means hitting things.
Friday V and I are showering and we both think gee it seems like the water is pretty tepid, but whatever, we got places to go (such as IKEA (love it!)). V gets attacked at IKEA by a shelf, which leaves a huge gash in her arm. It ended up taking us twice as long to drive back, due to horrid traffic. But we made it with some really awesome finds. I love IKEA, I want to do all my shopping there. I think they need to build one in Louisville!
Saturday comes and after doing some more work V and I decide to treat ourselves to Pedicures. First, the place closed at 8, and it was 7:30, but they took us anyway. Usually a pedicure takes maybe an hour, usually less. We didn’t leave there until right before 9:30, longest pedicure ever. At this point we are starving, so we go to a local sports bar. The hostess greets us, and states, just the two of you. We respond yes, she suddenly looks worried and goes, hold on just a moment, and walks away to stare out the window for around 3 minutes. Then she comes back goes “that was weird” V and I were both thinking “yes, yes it was” she then asks “just the two of you?” Luckily V and I had our filters on as we both had snarky comments to make, but we didn’t. Highlight of the dinner, V was served a PBR in a can, with a brown paper bag around it. Super Classy!
On Sunday V goes to leave, as she is getting ready, she once again comments on how the water seems rather tepid. I think it’s odd, and am worried that maybe the gas company didn’t turn on the gas like they were supposed to. But suddenly I feel the urge to check the water heater, and realize that they have the heat setting turned all the way to low. No wonder it was tepid. I also went t do some laundry and realized that the water wasn’t running, so I had to find the water switch for that. The water switch for the dishwasher was harder to find and I had to breakdown and call maintenance. As the maintenance guy stated “he will soon have me trained to do his job.”
I went to Wal-Mart TWICE to get a key made, neither key worked. The first key at least fit in the lock. The second one didn’t, upon closer look; it wasn’t even the same type of key. Um, Wal-Mart shouldn’t you have known that and got me the right type of key?
At this point, I am all moved in. I have turned the old keys in. Taking inventory, I have managed to survive the move with only a swollen wrist and hand, some bites, hives briefly and a possible concussion. Next time I decide to move, someone just tell me no. Or sedate me till the feeling goes away.
Monday, August 20, 2012
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Naked Zombies
Jumping right in on my random thoughts…
Why is it that zombies are never naked? Am I expected to believe that everyone is fully dressed when they get attacked? That just doesn’t seem likely. People are going to end up being attacked while they are in all states of dress; bathrobes, boxers, tops only, bottoms only, socks only. I also think it’s unlikely that everyone is going to have shoes on. I know for myself I rarely wear shoes unless I know I’m going somewhere it is required. Odds are I’m going to be barefoot and in my pajama’s when the zombie apocalypse happens. I think this random state of dress needs to be better reflected in the movies and shows.
A friend and I were talking about dating, and I’ve decided that we should put together a book on all our weird dating stories. I don’t just mean the awkward ‘he talked about his mom the entire time’ but the really weird ‘then he asked me to pee on him’ situations. In addition all the stories of the morning after, when you wake up and wonder where you put your pants, and what state you are in. The guy who doesn’t take no for an answer and finds the lamest reasons to hang around. Not to mention there will have to be a section dedicated to dick picks… the fact that guys need to send pictures of their dicks, you don’t have to ask, you don’t even have to seem like you are interested in seeing it. Apparently in guy language ‘Hi’ equals ‘Please send me a picture of your penis.’ (for you guys out there, do not send a picture unless you have been asked to do so, it will be better for you in the long run, rarely does a non-requested dick picture go over well.)(if you have a crazy dating story, post a comment, I would love to hear it.)
It’s shark week, which makes me happy. It is amazing to me that with all our knowledge we still no very little about why they do the things they do, and where they give birth. Every year though we learn more. I also am appreciating the fact that Finding Nemo is coming out in 3D. But it raises a question, how come there are not more 3D horror movies? Wouldn’t it be great if Ghostbusters came out in 3D? There would be some awesome scenes. Dear Hollywood, you need to get on that!
I move in 2 days, I’m excited and stressed. This is going to be another new start for me. Not only am I glad to get out of my scary apartment (one day there was a used condom on the back steps, a week later there was a pregnancy test in the bushes . . . coincidence?) but it will also be a place that is just mine. No memories, no regrets. It’s a new chapter in my life, and I am beyond ready for it. I know some will say I move too much, what can I say I have a wanderlust, and bad luck in picking places to live. Each time I move I sincerely hope this will be the last one.
I have for awhile now felt the need to either run and/or hide. I won’t, because I don’t know how to give up or give in. Of course that isn’t always good, I hold on longer then I should. I damage myself in the process. And ultimately I can’t run and/or hide from myself. I will be wherever I go. The things that haunt me, they won’t disappear with a new location. Any more then they disappear when I close my eyes. Stephen King said “Monsters are real. Ghosts are real too. They live inside us. And sometimes, they win.” He’s very right. Yet it doesn’t change the fact that sometimes I want to build a pillow fort and hide from the world. A place that is safe. One of my dearest hopes is that someday I won’t find that need, because my world will be my pillow fort. And the people in it will be the people that protect me, versus the ones that hurt me.
Speaking of being hurt, there have been so many shootings lately. I have so much to say, but nothing to say at all. All I can think is it would be nice if people would stop shooting others. While I do not dispute that there are some people who deserve to be shot I know without doubt they are not a bunch of random people who are at temple, or school or a movie. If violence is the answer, you are not asking the right question. I wish we would learn better. Whatever it is in our society that is creating this ‘solution’ to people’s problems needs to be changed, and I sincerely hope we figure out how.
This year has been tough, yet at the same time, I have found my smile in the oddest places. And I deeply thank everyone who has been there, who has seen the tears and not turned away. Who has ridden the crazy train and continued to purchase tickets so that I wouldn’t be alone. I can not express how much it has meant to me to have you in my life, you remind me that as bad as it may seem, it really isn’t all that bad. I’m not good at being mushy, even though I am an incredible sap on the inside. I hope each of you know who you are, those that have made me smile when I felt like there was no smiles left. You are near and dear in my heart. I love you to pieces!
And on a final note, I have gotten a twitter account, which in itself is not exciting, but if you are on there, I highly recommend following @CatFoodBreath. Words do not express the awesomeness.
Oops one more thing. Way to go Nerds and NASA, The Curiosity Rover is amazing, and I love the updates. And I love the fact that once again the nation loves NASA as much as I do, and that is a whole damn lot. Keep doing what you guys are doing!
Why is it that zombies are never naked? Am I expected to believe that everyone is fully dressed when they get attacked? That just doesn’t seem likely. People are going to end up being attacked while they are in all states of dress; bathrobes, boxers, tops only, bottoms only, socks only. I also think it’s unlikely that everyone is going to have shoes on. I know for myself I rarely wear shoes unless I know I’m going somewhere it is required. Odds are I’m going to be barefoot and in my pajama’s when the zombie apocalypse happens. I think this random state of dress needs to be better reflected in the movies and shows.
A friend and I were talking about dating, and I’ve decided that we should put together a book on all our weird dating stories. I don’t just mean the awkward ‘he talked about his mom the entire time’ but the really weird ‘then he asked me to pee on him’ situations. In addition all the stories of the morning after, when you wake up and wonder where you put your pants, and what state you are in. The guy who doesn’t take no for an answer and finds the lamest reasons to hang around. Not to mention there will have to be a section dedicated to dick picks… the fact that guys need to send pictures of their dicks, you don’t have to ask, you don’t even have to seem like you are interested in seeing it. Apparently in guy language ‘Hi’ equals ‘Please send me a picture of your penis.’ (for you guys out there, do not send a picture unless you have been asked to do so, it will be better for you in the long run, rarely does a non-requested dick picture go over well.)(if you have a crazy dating story, post a comment, I would love to hear it.)
It’s shark week, which makes me happy. It is amazing to me that with all our knowledge we still no very little about why they do the things they do, and where they give birth. Every year though we learn more. I also am appreciating the fact that Finding Nemo is coming out in 3D. But it raises a question, how come there are not more 3D horror movies? Wouldn’t it be great if Ghostbusters came out in 3D? There would be some awesome scenes. Dear Hollywood, you need to get on that!
I move in 2 days, I’m excited and stressed. This is going to be another new start for me. Not only am I glad to get out of my scary apartment (one day there was a used condom on the back steps, a week later there was a pregnancy test in the bushes . . . coincidence?) but it will also be a place that is just mine. No memories, no regrets. It’s a new chapter in my life, and I am beyond ready for it. I know some will say I move too much, what can I say I have a wanderlust, and bad luck in picking places to live. Each time I move I sincerely hope this will be the last one.
I have for awhile now felt the need to either run and/or hide. I won’t, because I don’t know how to give up or give in. Of course that isn’t always good, I hold on longer then I should. I damage myself in the process. And ultimately I can’t run and/or hide from myself. I will be wherever I go. The things that haunt me, they won’t disappear with a new location. Any more then they disappear when I close my eyes. Stephen King said “Monsters are real. Ghosts are real too. They live inside us. And sometimes, they win.” He’s very right. Yet it doesn’t change the fact that sometimes I want to build a pillow fort and hide from the world. A place that is safe. One of my dearest hopes is that someday I won’t find that need, because my world will be my pillow fort. And the people in it will be the people that protect me, versus the ones that hurt me.
Speaking of being hurt, there have been so many shootings lately. I have so much to say, but nothing to say at all. All I can think is it would be nice if people would stop shooting others. While I do not dispute that there are some people who deserve to be shot I know without doubt they are not a bunch of random people who are at temple, or school or a movie. If violence is the answer, you are not asking the right question. I wish we would learn better. Whatever it is in our society that is creating this ‘solution’ to people’s problems needs to be changed, and I sincerely hope we figure out how.
This year has been tough, yet at the same time, I have found my smile in the oddest places. And I deeply thank everyone who has been there, who has seen the tears and not turned away. Who has ridden the crazy train and continued to purchase tickets so that I wouldn’t be alone. I can not express how much it has meant to me to have you in my life, you remind me that as bad as it may seem, it really isn’t all that bad. I’m not good at being mushy, even though I am an incredible sap on the inside. I hope each of you know who you are, those that have made me smile when I felt like there was no smiles left. You are near and dear in my heart. I love you to pieces!
And on a final note, I have gotten a twitter account, which in itself is not exciting, but if you are on there, I highly recommend following @CatFoodBreath. Words do not express the awesomeness.
Oops one more thing. Way to go Nerds and NASA, The Curiosity Rover is amazing, and I love the updates. And I love the fact that once again the nation loves NASA as much as I do, and that is a whole damn lot. Keep doing what you guys are doing!
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