Notes from the Mess

No pictures. Yep, before you ask, there are No Pictures. It's the same house, only with a bunch of boxes all over the place; you'll just have to wait! :-P

But in interest of updating you on our move, here are some Life Lessons we have recently learned or been reminded of:

Good Idea: Having wonderful friends willing to help you move everything you own
Bad Idea: Not checking the gate to the backyard after everyone leaves and before you let the dogs out . . . and having to chase your dogs throughout your entire new neighborhood

Good Idea: Leaving some stuff in the garage while you unpack and sort and make room in the house
Bad Idea: Closing the garage door on some of that stuff and bending the frame of the door, rendering it immobile (once you finally get it closed)

Good Idea: Digging out the sheets you took off your bed before moving and washing them so you can go to sleep on clean bedding
Bad Idea: Leaving your detergent bottle sitting on the washer before you've checked to see if it's still balanced after the move

Good Idea: Going to bed a little early and getting some sleep after a Very Long Day!
Bad Idea: Waking up at 4 a.m. in severe pain, worrying your husband and eventually heading to the E.R. (kidney stone--OW!!)

Good Idea: Filling the prescription your doctor gave you
Bad Idea: Not asking the pharmacy to call the doctor for an alternative with a generic and paying $70 for 6 pills (yes, that's with the co-pay!!)

Great Idea: Enjoying Ben & Pei's visit and dinner of Shabu and help with all sorts of stuff!
Another Great Idea: Belonging to a wonderful church family who has been taking care of us all week and bringing meals!

Good Idea: Figuring out how to get your mail from the apartment-like lock boxes down the street
Bad Idea: Not getting your stinking mailbox key from the previous owner

Me: "Hi! We need to find out about getting a key for our mailbox."
Post Office: "Okay . . . and did you call ahead to have the lock changed?"
Me: "Umm, no. We were just told to go the Post Office, so we're stopping by to ask."
Her: "Well, we'll have to change the lock. She won't get to it until Monday, so you can probably come back and pick up your key on Wednesday." (yes, they apparently need 2 days to bring the key in; also please note the "probably") "You'll need to bring in ID and proof that you own the house." (no, they don't need proof to have the lock changed . . . only to give out the new key and the bill--want to know a great way to annoy your neighbors?!?!?) "By the way, it will cost $50." (yes, that's right. It will cost us $50 to get our mail from a box we don't want in the first place)
Me: "Is there some reason we can't just have a mailbox?"
Her: "Yes." *STONY GLARE*
Me: ". . . " (really, really long awkward pause where she doesn't look at me and I wonder if I'm just supposed to walk away now)
Her: "We don't DO that in this part of town." *sarcastic grin*
Me: "Riiight. Okay. Could we please pick up our mail that hasn't had anywhere to go?"
Her: "If you live at that address, they'll leave the mail at that address--we won't hold it here. NEXT!" (anyone care to wager with me that there is a slip in that damn box right now saying our mail for the last WEEK doesn't fit and we need to go pick it up from the Crazy Post Office Lady?? Cuz I'd be willing to take that bet.) *sigh*

Good Idea: Venting to friends and family via a blog and enjoying a look back on the ridiculousness of the week
Bad Idea: Letting it ruin the week! ;-)

Love you all--more soon.
oxox

P.S. I just finished a great book written by Dick Purinton--check it out! Words On Water

Home Owners!

I'm afraid our whole Wisconsin trip is not going to get full coverage for a while. We had a splendid and very short week; I'll have to backtrack and share pics when we're moved and I've gotten them organized.

In the meantime, we own the house!! Our realtor called to say that everything was done and recorded and whatever . . . and we'll get keys a little later this afternoon!

Holy Cow.
O.O

Think of us as we're moving tomorrow!