Can you say Customer Service?

I worked really hard today. I mean REALLY hard to get my notes done and see everyone that needed to be seen today. No lunch break, just worked straight through. I was excited because I had this brilliant plan to come home and work like a white tornado through this new house, unpacking, sorting and sifitng, hanging pictures and all. What is it they say about the best laid plans?

I got home around 4:30 this afternoon. We've been trying to sell, move out, or dump lots of stuff and fortunately I had gotten a call from a little old man that wanted to buy one of our older television sets. He lives in Gorman Towers in Fort Smith and would need us to deliver it to him. I wouldn't ordinarily do that, but for a little old man in an assisted living facility, I thought we could. We made the delivery and so far, all was well.

Remember we had trouble with our DVR over the holiday, with Greg on the phone to Cox Cable and all. It was determined that our DVR was bad and we would need to exchange it. That being said, Steve and I did NOT know there was a Cox in Van Buren. So, while we were out making the goodwill delivery to the little old fellow, we drove out to exchange that. It was now about 6:00 so we decided to grab a bite to eat before heading home.

I was still optimistic that I would get home and start a flurry around me. I should have known better. I really should have.

I know everyone is tired of hearing my song about the move and the unpacking and all. But honestly, it just never ends! I KNOW people do this often and some more than others. We haven't moved in 17 years and it shows. There's junk that likely should have been trashed the day we got married! I have not put up a single Christmas decoration yet. A new record of lateness for me. It's hard to have a vision when there's still boxes everywhere and no place for them to go.

I am SO excited to finally have a fireplace. Bad part is you have to be a gymnast to light the thing. No joke. You just about have to lie down on the floor to light it. And you have to hold one button in for a couple of minutes, so you can't leave your position quickly.

We started trying to figure out what to start on first as Steve hooked up the new DVR. Guess what? Same problem. We checked the wiring over and over and everything was right. Checked the tv settings and they were right. And then the tv sound stopped too! And THEN the CLICKING started. A real popping, clicking noise. That's right people. Our NEW SONY HUGE TV WAS POPPING!!

I had already called Cox and they backed out of the problem quickly. And by the way, is it a requirement that you do not speak clear English to work in customer service? Next I called Best Buy. This is no exaggeration: First time I called I was on hold for 20 minutes. Next time I called and was on hold for about 25 minutes. I finally got someone and then he put me on hold to see if he could figure out the problem. He DID tell me to please unplug the tv because it could be a fire hazard. Oh good. Just what we needed.

And then my cell phone died. Yes it did. I ran in to get the landline phone that we haven't used yet and it wouldn't let me dial him back. I finally used Steve's cell phone to call him back!

I called back a third time and ask for management. I got a really nice young guy who must have drawn the short straw at the counter in order to take my call. Yes, by this time I was irritated. He stated that the set would need to be replaced and would arrange that and call me back in ten minutes. And call he did. They can't deliver the new tv until next Monday.

I suppose that's better than a house fire. I filled the whirlpool tub, soaked for a long time and now I'm off to bed. I wonder why I'm so tired?

Settling in and Suddenly it's Thanksgiving!

On Wednesday night, as we were getting some more boxes cleared out and waiting on the arrival of Greg, Mary Beth and Jon. Mary Beth arrived here first, jumping in to help with the clearing and cleaning. We were finalizing the menu for dinner on Thursday when Steve announced that Jon had arrived outside. However, not in his car but in the IPC VAN!!! I could simply not imagine what he was doing in that van, but soon found out. There was a piece of artwork that we had been seriously considering for the dining room, as well as a sideboard that was narrow enough to allow room for the chairs....all available at IO Metro. Well, apparently I had underestimated my daughter because she had arranged to check out the two pieces and have Jon deliver them to our door for us to see in the house.

Here is the sideboard that holds lots of dishes and other "stuff" (I know, I know....I haven't gotten rid of EVERYTHING!)

Steve and Greg relaxing after he arrived and the new sectional was delivered. Notice anything? That's right...it's the very same one that we had at the lakehouse. We LOVED that one and the neutral color was perfect...so we found it again and ordered another one. I like it because by changing up the throw pillows, it could go anywhere. And lots of room for lounging around by lots of folks. Heavens...don't look at all the clutter around it though!!!

And when you have a big sectional, you just never know who will show up to watch movies or play video games.

Steve caught me in the kitchen, where we spent most of the morning getting the food ready for the "feast". It was nice actually cooking a meal in the new kitchen, although we found ourselves constantly asking "Have you seen the ____?"

We decided to have ham instead of turkey this year. Steve got very excited about slicing it!

New roll recipe that is supposed to be like the rolls at Golden Corral. I'm not sure if they were exactly like those or not but they were absolutely DELICIOUS! I just needed to have doubled the recipe! Mary Beth took them out of the oven and buttered them, so she posed for this photo to show grandmother (like she made them herself!)

Greg takes time to sort through tubs and boxes of his that have been in storage. Sort and purge. He likes sentimental things almost as much as I do. He teased me by bringing in his little teddy bear from when he was little and asking if he had to save that or not. Then he started laughing and I knew he just wanted to see my reaction!

Here's the artwork of the "senorita" and the four coca bollas that are actually sconces for candles. We've thought about naming her, but no ideas yet.

One little corner that is tidy and done. Yay!!! Steve had to hang the artwork by himself since Chris wasn't here this time. When we bought it just before the wedding, Steve and Chris spent a great deal of time hanging this, getting it straight and all (they are both perfectionists about this!).

Thanksgiving was a nice break from the hustle and bustle of work, a time to reflect on what blessings we have in our life and to spend some quality time with our loved ones. There was just an empty spot for those not here, but knowing that Christmas is around the corner helps with any sadness!! It looks like everyone will be here for Christmas and we couldn't be happier about that.

I've had a lot of frustrations and difficult times recently but it looks like things may be settling down and there are better times ahead. And that's all really that anyone can ask for.

Some people just never get "IT"

As for the vast crowd of readers that I have for my blog, you may not all be aware of it (if you live on Mars) but we MOVED almost three weeks ago. The move was a very difficult and rather traumatic one for me....in case you missed that as well! After living and collecting things for the 17 years that we have been married and lived in the Free Ferry house. And I really mean COLLECTING THINGS. I've told many folks that we are almost like some of the hoarders on the TLC shows, but we are at least "organized" hoarders/collectors. We typically save things in tubs and boxes with neat labels. However, when you move, it really does not matter. There are the boxes and tubs to be moved.

This is all to say that my life has basically been upside down for a number of weeks. Putting the house on the market was a lot of work because we had to clear out and "stage" it all. When it sold, we had to rapidly put everything into four storage units and move into a hotel for six weeks with only the most basic of necessities. Moving day came and we found ourselves emptying out the four storage units plus what was in the hotel room and trying to find a home for it all in our new house. Needless to say, it just doesn't fit. It's just as if someone took all of our boxes and tubs and shuffled them all up and them dropped them from the sky. There are STILL tons of boxes everywhere and things missing. (ex. my CAMERA!)

In my naive little view of the world and their understanding and compassion towards others, I sometimes fail to realize that not everyone "gets it"....and that was cleared up for me this afternoon. In my job, there is paperwork that has to be done each week and if it is not done then I don't get paid for that work. That's as clear as it can get....no paperwork in=no pay. I totally get it. For the most part I have been keeping up with it, but during the time at the hotel and now in the house with everything upside down, I have not been keeping up. I was definitely planning to get caught up over the next few days between cooking dinner on Thanksgiving and unpacking.

The people on my short list of those that don't get "it" and have a real lack of professionalism has found someone who was already on the list and now has a star by their name. Wow. What do you say when someone has a problem with four employees not getting their paperwork in on time and sending out an email to EVERYONE that works for the company, including the owners, to gripe them out and list their failures. Wow. What DO you say? If I had another job lined up I can tell you what I would say!!!

Unlike my typical self, I did not immediately respond and have yet to say anything to anyone up the food chain about this email situation. There were many things I thought about saying and doing, but I get "it"....I love my job and I can only hope that I can put this incident behind me, get the paperwork done starting at about 3am tomorrow and get it in. I've done it before and I can do it again. I can do it even without people that don't get "it" reminding me of why the two best words in my business are "I UNDERSTAND."

Some thoughts on a Monday

There are some things that I am learning to be true since we have made the move to our new house:

• it takes a degree in computer science to set up a programmable thermostat that keeps returning to 70 degrees every time we leave the room
• You CAN exist with the same pair of black slacks worn repeatedly until you find your boxes of clothes
• When you reach ultimate frustration over the loss of something in the move...it is time to belly up and buy another....as in camera
• it is wonderful to finally have room to park your car in the garage again...ahhhh.
• you really CAN fill up a room with boxes full of crap that you haven't used in years and then try to decide what to do with them to get everything into one closet
• there is an advantage to moving in the fall after the grass is dead because there would be absolutely no time for yard work
• speaking of time...there is no way for two people to work full time and get unpacked in a reasonable amount of time
• when you move, make plans to host a party/luncheon or something to give yourself a goal for getting the house ready by that date (or not!)
• its okay to miss your old place every now and then....it was familiar and even with it's faults, you knew it well....so it is okay to miss it every now and then.

A work in progress

Since we moved in our new home, we have been working every available minute (when we are NOT at the jobs that PAY us!) to unpack boxes and try to sort through the multitudes of tubs and boxes. We are making a little headway. We can now do the laundry and cook some meals. I found a few more of my clothes and we have the pets neatly settled in to their new homes.

My parents came to see our new house last Sunday. They loved it but had to part the sea of boxes to find their way through it!

Steve and I have been trying to share a ride on some days, leaving his bike in my office and he rides to and from there. This means I leave home about an hour or so earlier than I normally would. The THEORY has been that I would get to work much earlier and be able to work on paperwork. Well, I'm still waiting on that to happen! It seems that I get busy but with everything except the paperwork! I told Steve that something is wrong when we see the sun coming UP at 6:45am and don't come home until the sun is going DOWN!!

Friday was delivery day from IO Metro Furniture. Mary Beth has helped us select some great new additions to our house. I had such a great day off from work and the added bonus of having the new stuff arrive!

The huge round table with marble top was a real test of the movers. It just barely fit through the door!

Here's a picture of the base by itself.
Rolling the table top through the door with only a hair to spare!

The finished project with red amaryllis for the centerpiece.

Here's a closeup of the marble inlay.

A contender for artwork over the fireplace. Love the colors!

Little elves working on the new entertainment center.

Our kitchen is beginning to look like a kitchen!

The beginnings of a guest room. Mary Beth picked out these linens! Haven't gotten the headboard yet....coming together!!

Cool window coverings!

This will be Rachel's room once we take all of Christmas out of there and put up her bed! Oh, and this is just a PART of the boxes for Christmas!

Fun things we found half price from Hobby Lobby.

You have to love the den without the sectional. Right now we have the ancient hide a bed with a sheet over it because we still haven't found the slipcover in the boxes. And yes, Steve and I are BOTH watching "Dancing with the Stars"!! Rachel may disown us both now!

Our new little chest for the entry. Still have to work on what goes on the wall above it.

Office / Den / Greg's room....don't you love it?

So, if you aren't' busy this weekend, just come on down! I think we can find something for you to do!!!! We may even be able to send some things home with you!!!

Will we have it ready by Christmas????

Where oh where is my camera???

When was the last time you had that nagging feeling that something is lost and you will never see it again? Two years ago I ordered a Pentax digital camera just before going on a cruise to the Bahamas with my sister-in-law. It was (is) a great little camera. Not always quick on the draw, but after a while you learn to plan ahead of the shot a bit.

Recently, I have become slightly....ever so slightly...jealous of Greg and Rachel's new cameras that are much more sophisticated than my little Pentax. They can shoot numerous photos in rapid succession without doing anything but holding down the button. Cool. The quality of their photos is awesome too. I'll admit it....I had started thinking about getting one too.

During the move, I think little Pentax heard the word that it might be possibly on it's way to the shelf of long lost "toys"....along with my 35mm cameras and supplies that sit there waiting to be called back up for active duty. Somewhere on the "big day" of moving I remember having the intention of putting the camera in my purse so that I could take photos of the craziness that has been my life recently. All of that, along with inside shots of our new house that I didn't have needed to be photographed! Didn't happen.

You know what happens next. You start thinking that it MUST be in that other vehicle, other purse, other box, etc. When you check those "other" places, it isn't there. And then you get so involved with the "thing" that you forget that you wanted your camera to take photos. I have to admit, in my 53 years, I have rarely not "wanted" my camera. You can ask my poor children and friends. I taunted them at every event throughout their entire life. Actually, I should have written that in present tense because it never ended until last weekend. I've embarrassed them and sometimes my friends and certainly my husband. But everyone has always known that if it came down to it, they knew they could find photos that they wanted in my camera. (they all love it really, I think) My Dad started me out with my first Kodak Instamatic when I was in third grade and I have been hooked since then.

On Sunday, I just KNEW we would find it. We didn't. With each box or tub we would go through, I just knew it wouldshow up. I've been lost without it. Truly. Could be a record for me for not taking photos. Thank goodness I had just emptied the card onto my computer so there are no "lost" pictures out there!

If you see my little Pentax, please tell it to come home. I miss it. And I promise not to put it on the shelf anytime soon.

It is finished...

The last few days have been a blur that I hope I never have to live over again. Thursday evening Steve and I raced home from work to the "hotel" and then off to rent the UHaul truck. Even though it was cold and raining, we were brave and started the loading up of the storage buildings...five of them. That's right. We were so proud of ourselves for emptying out one that night completely and having it ready to drive to the closing on Friday morning.
Interesting people that one comes in contact with. Right down to the finish, there was a great debate over $100. Now the problem was that somewhere along the way someone had turned their grill on too close to that vinyl siding and it warped...a bit. Not anything huge, but slightly noticeable because of its location. The owner had mentioned it the first night we were there stating that it must have been the previous owners. The home inspector noted it in his report. We had a guy that had worked for us on the Free Ferry Lane house to go over and give an estimate to repair it....which was $100. Since they had signed a thing that they would be responsible for repairs up to $500, then they would have to pay it. They felt it was strictly cosmetic and "we can't even see what you're talking about." This statement was silly since SHE was the one that had brought it up!! He was furious about it and apparently got his wife equally stirred up. Things got heated up the night before closing when we went over to inspect the repairs he had done himself to the roof and attic. Their realtor must have been quite a nutcase as well...she was furious. You would think we were talking about thousands of dollars! They actually walked away with a check for a bit over $100,000 from the sale of the house, so I was confused what the fuss was all about!
Things were hairy, but close on the house we did indeed. We continued at top speed all day Friday. The storage units were about 20 miles from the house, so even the drive back and forth took a lot of time. Three boys from the high school where I work came to help with heavy stuff on Friday night and then returned on Sunday afternoon. We would still be moving if not for them.
We went to the game on Saturday in Fayetteville. This was one of those moments in life where you are doing something you know you shouldn't do. I was SO exhausted and my body was screaming in pain from the lifting that I was NOT supposed to be doing...and I was miserable.
Sunday we started again, determined to get all of it moved. We finished around 10:30pm and returned the truck. We stopped for a LATE nutritious dinner at Sonic and headed home.
Last night we slept on our mattress and box springs on the floor...for the first time in 6 weeks. We were both asleep before we even said good night.
It looks like the Clampetts have moved in right now. I hope we can get the boxes unloaded soon. One box at a time, right?