First off, just to get it out of the way… Daylight savings time can bite me. I’m all for the ‘fall back’ part, but the ‘spring forward’? Messes me up royally. I’m completely zombie-tart today. Brains! (Grr. Arrgh.)

I should stop starting every entry with ‘long time, no update’, since it pretty much always is. From now on, consider it said.

Ready? Let’s begin.

THE MOVE

It’s over, it’s over. Glory be, it’s over. And I survived.

Sub item A – Packing.

Fortunately, in retrospect (at the time, it was annoying as hell) my folks* rode my ass about getting everything boxed up ahead of time. The Mom* even came over one Saturday and played foreman for me - which, with my problem starting on large projects such as relocating every stinkin’ thing I own, was essential. (I was spiking a major fever and the head cold from hell, but I think she sweated it out of me.) The great part of getting so much done ahead of time is that the last weeks before the move were free to panic about other stuff, like getting help moving the boxes I’d packed.

Sub item A Minus – Use and Abuse of your Nearest and Dearest

T’Auld Man*, The Mom* and Liz (one of the Aunts)* spent the week before the move lining cupboards and drawers, setting up a few kitchen things, and putting IKEA stuff together for me. Tiny little screws in tiny little holes using tiny little wrenches. Greater love…

Sub item B – Panic.

So, the help I mentioned in sub item A? Yeah. Since the Aunts and friends of the Aunts were lined up at the new place, it was mainly getting beef for the new place (hello, third floor pad and moving couches thereup…) and to get me out of the old place that was the issue. So, as is standard operating procedure for the Mormon type, I had someone line up the Elder’s Quorum to help me move. As I knew exactly two dudes in my ward due to the (ahem) hiatus, and only one well enough to ask this big of a favor, I handed it to contestant #2.

I figured I’d need around 6 dudes to make it as pain-free as possible, then called C#2 the Thursday before the move to confirm. The six dudes? Were two. The actual full-time missionaries assigned to the ward. That’s it. After physically restraining myself from curling up under the bed and whimpering, I called t’Auld Man*. Then, I called contestant #1, who hooked me up with the moving coordinator for the ward (did you know they had ‘em? I didn’t). Apparently, the problem was someone else had delayed their move a week, so the people who would’ve been available for me, but who had committed to the first move, were… well, committed to the first move. The moving coordinator promised his help and said he expected he could wrangle at least one more person – he’d call me Saturday morning to confirm stuff. Phew. Called t’Auld Man* back and he’d been on the phone with folks from my new ward – not only did he line up some dudes up there as well, he even found out what time Church starts. After further discussion, we figured two on the ‘exit’ end might work, and the few the Brier ward could line up should be OK. My hero*. I was once again able to breathe easily.

Sub item C – Relocation

Saturday morning dawned, and I was awake around 4am. Managed to drift off again until 6, fortunately. Got up, showered, bought doughnuts for the crew and -- it began. T’Auld Man* rolled in with the big-ol’ Uhaul a little after 8, The Mom* with the PimpDaddy truck shortly thereafter. The full-time lads showed up at 9am on the dot, and MAN those lads were animals. T’Auld Man* utilized his excellent spatial skills to pack the truck (the dude could fit an elephant in a Mini, given the time) while the Elmers and me ran boxes and furniture out. Believe it or not, the truck was loaded and t’Auld Man* on the way to the homestead to pick up what I’d stored there by 10:15 or so. I was amazed – the whole thing took so much less time that I thought it would. We sent the Elmers off with many doughnuts, some dough for lunch, and my sincere gratitude. (And a treadmill. They wanted it, I didn’t want to move it, it seemed like a fair exchange.)

By 11am or thereabouts, the secondary crew had set up at Basecamp Newjoint. The idea was to set up a relay-system so nobody had to climb all 3 flights of stairs. Well, that went out the window – we’re not a coordinated bunch, on the whole – but the group worked like a well-oiled machine.

Did I mention I have a whole bunch of crap? I mean, it doesn’t seem like much when you’re living amongst it, but when you actually have to shift it – whoa. Of course, the crew harangued me no end for the quantities of stuff I have – ‘gee, I was wondering where the new library was going in’, ‘hey, do you think you have enough stuff, there?’ I didn’t mind, I deserved it.

By a little after one, we had everything upstairs but the big and nasties – the two couches and the gajillion-pound dining room table I got at the Puyallup. Like a well-timed cavalry arrival, the Brier Boys showed up. Another 30 and it was done. By 3pm? Done? And now time for pizza? Wow. I still boggle.

Hate to be anticlimactic after all that, but – that was about it. I spent the next few days unpacking and settling and was pretty close to comfortably settled by Wednesday afternoon. There are a few odds and ends to take care of – the guest room storage needs finished up, the window treatments decided on, the new headboard and nightstand stained and put in, and I still need to figure what art to hang where… but I decided to wait on that until Mer shows up (she’s a decorating FIEND and lives for this stuff). Plus, everyone’s been telling me to get her help on that… I’m afraid people think I don’t have very good taste. (Moi?)

Speaking of Mer’s upcoming visit – FACETIME WITH THE LADS! I haven’t seen them since August – I’m thrilled beyond belief. I swear, I wouldn’t be surprised if Scooter would ask to borrow my car, Bink talk about the state of world affairs, and the Haggis complain about needing a shave.

Not to say that facetime with the sister isn’t a good time, of course. Heh.

Next issue – so, how does she like living alone?

CONFIDENTIAL TO DATA BUNNY – Hang in there, doll. Job-vibes heading your way… (as are the ‘rents!)

*The asterisk indicates people who have completely and totally saved my sorry ass during the last months. Thank you is nowhere near adequate.