After trying all week to reach his "moving coordinator," Sweetie was told Friday that she had quit. The moving company says they think they can pick up his stuff on Tuesday but they're not 100% sure. They'll let him know on Monday.

Goodwill was supposed to pick up some furniture last week, the only charity that could pick up before September 16. When I called to find out where they were I was told their driver had quit and it would be "a couple of weeks" before they hired another one. I had a brainwave and called Habitat for Humanity (which now has a thrift shop), who said they would call me back within 24 hours to arrange a time for next Wednesday. They didn't. I shall call them Monday and I bet I'm not scheduled and it will be another week (another month, next year?) before they can pick up the stuff.

I couldn't get our scripts last week because the insurance company's computer hadn't informed the pharmacy's computer that we had indeed coughed up over 1600 bucks and were legit. It took me three days of phone calls and the pharmacist an hour to get the crap straightened out. I bought her a bunch of flowers; she damn well deserved it. The insurance company still hasn't paid the dental bill incurred in early May.

We are no longer disappointed or surprised when things don't work out as planned. (So far, the Charleston job is coming through.)

I've had several conversations with friends about the breakdown in the heretofore much-vaunted service economy of this country. It is no longer possible to plan even the simplest action without building in several contingency plans. More and more we find only the small businesses we deal with have any sort of efficiency and reliability left.

-- Anonymous, August 04, 2002

Answers

I forgot to mention the pickup has started to hurn a little oil after it's been sitting in traffic for a while. I suggested to Sweetie that if it quits on the way home, he should rent a van, reload his stuff and we'll donate the truck to whoever is picking up vehicles these days. No way we're going to try to deal with repairs in a foreign state!

-- Anonymous, August 04, 2002

It might be a good idea to go to pepboys or something and find out why it hurns oil. Could be a minor little thing like a loosened oil drain plug.

-- Anonymous, August 04, 2002

Maybe a seal melted in all this heat??

Sure know the frustration you are feeling!

-- Anonymous, August 04, 2002

Yes! You can't count on anything working in the service sector . . . I was ripping my hair last summer at this time, trying to settle my father's estate. The best I can tell you is that I re-read my journal entry of where I was (and what I was worrying over) last year at this time, I sighed, and then made myself a tall glass of ice tea and sank into the couch . . . today, compared to this day last year is 1000% easier! So, OG, this, too, shall pass. Hopefully, by this time next year, all snafus with moving will be just a bad memory!

-- Anonymous, August 04, 2002

Forgot to mention Sweetie took the pickup in for a checkup and they didn't seem too concerned about the puff of oil, said it was an old vehicle with lots of miles on it, like 'what do you expect?'

Moving is a recurring nightmare. Every time I've been involved in a move handled by commercial movers, there's been a problem of some kind and it's taken more time to sort it out. We knew that going in. There's another moving company lined up if this one falls through. We'll find out tomorrow, I guess.

-- Anonymous, August 04, 2002

Well...at least he is coming home. I will pray for a safe trip. And if Habitat doesn't pick up the stuff, just put it at the curb with a free sign on it. It will disappear in minutes.

Taz

-- Anonymous, August 04, 2002

If Sweetie breaks down anywhere in my half of the state, call me and I'll go get him or something. Email me if you need the number. We can at least put his stuff in the garage or something, and get him on the road again.

-- Anonymous, August 04, 2002

Wow, thanks, Helen! I'll tell him! I can't remember the route he took but it involved going through Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, and so on, then through OK and into CO.

As for the stuff for Habitat, we need that tax deduction! There's a large steel military type desk, a computer desk and a steel filing cabinet, plus misc. household stuff and books. That littie lot is worth about $125 as an itemized deduction. I'll have another lot to go in a couple of weeks, probably about another $150 there. And with the other stuff I plan to donate over the next few months, we should have a nice chunk knocked off the tax bill next year. Yeah, I know about the rules when you get over $500 and we have a good tax preparer who keeps us straight.

Sweetie has all his stuff packed--all he has to do is deflate his air bed and wash out his coffee maker; everything else is done. Fingers crossed y'all!

-- Anonymous, August 05, 2002

Here's hoping he'll be well, OG. I sacrificed several flying insects in his honor. (;

-- Anonymous, August 05, 2002

Just talked to Sweetie and he says he'll be about 200 miles north of Oklahoma, in Kansas. Oh. Well. What the hell do I know about the shortest distance between these here two points?

The United Van Lines driver has called him and says he'll be there TODAY between 3 and 5. We'll see. That means he can leave this afternoon/tonight and he'll be home on Friday, maybe Thurs night if the weather and truck gods are kind.

Looks as if the insects are working!

-- Anonymous, August 05, 2002

I'll keep him in mind as he returns to the woman who runs his life.

May he have a safe, pleasant, and fast journey back to your waiting loving arms.

-- Anonymous, August 05, 2002

If he is coming across the northern part of MO, that isn't too far from where we are in Southern Iowa. Email me and I will give you our phone number too.

-- Anonymous, August 05, 2002

Iffn he decided to come northerly through ohio...theres a hot cup of coffee in Cleveland if he needs help! mail me if you need my number.

-- Anonymous, August 05, 2002

Talked to him a little while ago and he was tickled to know we had a bit of a safety network going here! He drove 220 miles today which is pretty good considering he had a heavy day. I thibk he's taking 70 but I'm not sure. He was real tired and I'll get more sense out of him tomorrow morning. Maybe, lol.

-- Anonymous, August 05, 2002

If he gets lost and finds himself near us, give me a call. I could use a good laugh.

-- Anonymous, August 06, 2002

Aw, c'mon--he's not that absent-minded. I don't think so, anyway.

-- Anonymous, August 06, 2002

He's gotten a break in the weather, at least! (:

I'm not very close if he's coming through on I-70, but I am within 2 hrs of the OH-KY border if that helps.

If I were driving, I'd push today to take advantage of the cooler temps.

There is talk again about gas prices suddenly rising toward the end of the week (Thursday) -- I won't go into all the wild speculations -- but it's probably not a bad idea to put away two 5 gal containers or whatever you need to finish in case bad things happen in the middle of your move. I'm not taking these rumors **that** seriously, but they are coming from many directions, not just the inet, which has me concerned enough to post this suggestion.

-- Anonymous, August 06, 2002

As usual as of late, I'm coming into the discussion way after it began.

Old Git, I hope that sweetie has a very safe trip home, and that the roads are uncrowded so that he can return to you faster, but more safe and sound.

Moving is a bitch at times. It's just to bad that he's having to do it so soon. At least you aren't having to move as much.

Keep us updated. Oh yeah, and if we don't hear from you for a few days, I'll assume that he made it home and.... well.... nevermind! ;)

-- Anonymous, August 06, 2002

Update is on Brooks's how-long-are-we-up-for-this-time thread.

Sweetie reiterated how very appreciative he was to know that he could count on y'all for help along the way!

-- Anonymous, August 10, 2002

So glad he made it ... and Kansas isn't so far away that we couldn't help him there.

-- Anonymous, August 12, 2002