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flewellynI'm writing this from work on my lunch break, enjoying the sensation of a full stomach, a nice bit of mid-day goofing off before back to work, and...
A completed move.
That's right, it's OVER. WHEW!
Been a busy week, as you might guess. Tuesday was the big day, not just for the elections (which I am also happy about, yay!), but for my moving stuff. The movers came at 9 AM, and got everything moved over to my new place by 10. I didn't have a lot of stuff to move, actually: a couple of tables, some bookshelves, a big chest, and some boxes. So they were able to do it very quickly. Plus, I didn't have to pay them! They billed the county for their services.
After that, I went over to Clay County Social Services to talk to my social worker. See, I need furniture. My old bed was a futon that got water damaged, and was old and junky anyway. And you don't want to sleep on a futon forever, they suck. My sister's old bed, which I had entertained thoughts of using, was a waterbed. Unfortunately, it leaked, and the wood got all moldy. So that was no good. And finally, my old couch was my family's old couch from Syracuse, 15 years old and well worn past its days of usefulness. So, obviously, I need furniture.
What does this have to do with social services, you might ask? Well, like I said, I got access to the moving fund from the SILS program, and one of the authorized items for use of the funds is "home furnishings". So I got a letter from Mindi, my social worker, which informed the store that they were going to pay for up to $1000 worth of furniture. I went to a place in West Fargo called Furniture For Less, which sells quality furniture at warehouse prices, as they say in their ads. And really, it's true. Where else could I get a nice new bed with mattress and boxspring, wooden frame and headboard with bookshelf for $400? Not to mention two recliners for $500. Really, very good deal all around. Though the "cheap as free" aspect of having the county pay for it was a huge bonus in any event. I may have said so before, but I've never been happier to pay my taxes.
At any rate, after I arranged the purchase and delivery (on Saturday) of the new furnishings, my next order of business was to arrange for cable, electric, and mail to be transferred to my new place. That took surprisingly little time, after which I voted (of course), and then got to the really HARD part. That's right: moving the cats to the new place.
Three felines in one cat carrier, particularly when one is old, one is neurotic, and one is a tubby bitchlet, is not a fun proposition. Even less fun is trying to get them in there, particularly when one of them is extremely smart and can see an attempt to trap him a mile away. Nevertheless, after much wailing and gnashing of teeth, I was able to, in order, stuff Miette into the carrier while avoiding the claws from her growling and thrashing, push Bella inside without her panicking too much (and keeping Miette from escaping), and then coax Yitzak into coming over so that I could get him inside. The last bit was the hardest: as I have said, he is a very smart cat, and so I ended up having to lie, and tell him I was taking them to the vet. He calmed down enough then so that I could grab him, stuff him into the carrier, and narrowly avert Miette's attempted escape.
Once confined, I transported the carrier of annoyed and puzzles felines to the car, then drove them from my old hellhole to my new place. This resulted in a great deal of yaaowling, especially from Miette, who hates anything to do with cat carriers, but also from Yitzak, who gets carsick, and a bit from Bella, who is nervous about any change.
When I got them into the new apartment, I observed three things, those things being, of course, my cats, and what they did. First, Miette barged out and then began walking in confused circles, puzzled by the fact that this new place didn't smell right, and she hardly recognized anything. Second, Yitzak came out and went over to the water dish that I had set up beforehand to take a drink and wash the foam off of his whiskers (carsick, remember?). Thirdly, Bella looked out, saw she was not in her place at all, and stayed utterly. Completely. Still. She refused to move for several minutes, until I came over and petted her a bit.
Shortly after, the felines ran off and found hiding places. Miette clambered up onto the kitchen counter and then jumped (with some difficulty) up onto the fridge, where she stayed for several hours. Yitzak went and found a bookshelf and hid under that. And Bella went and found the smallest, tightest space she could squeeze into, a small gap between the bathroom sink and the wall, and stayed there. I worried a bit, especially since they rowred mournfully and looked around with huge, anxious eyes. But, alas, I had to go to work, so they would have to deal.
After work, I met with my aid worker, Andrew, back at my old place. We got some more boxes, packed things up, and began transporting them over to my new place. We each took one carload of stuff: books, DVDs, tapes, CDs, clothes, computer equipment, and such. I left a lot of things behind that night, to be gathered up the next night. And, of course, we stopped to examine how the kitties were doing. Andrew saw Bella for the first time, and got to pet her; she was so freaked out by being in a strange place that she forgot to be freaked out by a strange person. The others were still hiding in their spots, but were doing some better. After Andrew and I finished our hauls for the night, I went over to the social club to talk to Lynn (who, by the way, is Andrew's aunt; that was a fun coincidence), and I borrowed her futon mattress to sleep on until my bed arrives Saturday.
When I came home, the cats got over their hideyness very quickly and went into full-on explore mode, poking around and sniffing at everything, and of course mewing for attention. Lots of pettings ensued, and then I kerflopped for the night.
Wednedsay was the last haul. I worked a normal shift, then met Andrew back at the old place for the last time. We boxed up or hauled out everything else I was taking with me. I left behind a number of old things I didn't want, though. Any garbage, anything broken or water damaged, anything that was junky and beat up, I left. This is not my usual "moving-out-of-apartment" behavior; I usually try to leave a place at least somewhat clean. But this building is being condemned, due to malfeasance and inaction by the landlord, and forcing me to move. I do not move easily, happily, or well. While this move will, I think, end up being a blessing in disguise (I already like my new place better), I am still not inclined to feel at all charitable toward the old landlord. So I left him a present, in the form of the old catbox, still full of ammonia-drenched litter and cat feces. And, of course, the moldy, water-damaged futon and waterbed, and the ripped up old couch, and the refridgerator full of spoiled food. I wish I could be there to see his face...but oh well. Given that the building's being condemned anyway, I get my deposit back no matter what.
So, with the last haul hauled, I turned in the old keys, and got the hell out of dodge. The new place, as I said before, is hugely better. I am already enjoying having my own garage. The cats are already adapting, and like burrowing into my blankets or snuggling up on the wide windowsill. My neighbors are very quiet and don't bother me. I feel safe in the place. My new landlords are two very cute and friendly young women. And best of all, it's OVER. The move is DONE. I still have some organizing and setting up to do, but the hard part is done with.
What's nicest, really, is that I have pared down the stuff I had. I no longer have large amounts of detritus and debris left over from a former life. I no longer have things which I don't need and don't want and don't even remember where I got, but which I kept because either my sister got them, or else my father did, or whatever. I have disposed of masses of crap that were of no use to me. Everything I have now, I have because I want to have it. And I will know where it is. "Simplify, simplify," Thoreau said, and I have, and it's great.
Now if I just had my furniture...
A completed move.
That's right, it's OVER. WHEW!
Been a busy week, as you might guess. Tuesday was the big day, not just for the elections (which I am also happy about, yay!), but for my moving stuff. The movers came at 9 AM, and got everything moved over to my new place by 10. I didn't have a lot of stuff to move, actually: a couple of tables, some bookshelves, a big chest, and some boxes. So they were able to do it very quickly. Plus, I didn't have to pay them! They billed the county for their services.
After that, I went over to Clay County Social Services to talk to my social worker. See, I need furniture. My old bed was a futon that got water damaged, and was old and junky anyway. And you don't want to sleep on a futon forever, they suck. My sister's old bed, which I had entertained thoughts of using, was a waterbed. Unfortunately, it leaked, and the wood got all moldy. So that was no good. And finally, my old couch was my family's old couch from Syracuse, 15 years old and well worn past its days of usefulness. So, obviously, I need furniture.
What does this have to do with social services, you might ask? Well, like I said, I got access to the moving fund from the SILS program, and one of the authorized items for use of the funds is "home furnishings". So I got a letter from Mindi, my social worker, which informed the store that they were going to pay for up to $1000 worth of furniture. I went to a place in West Fargo called Furniture For Less, which sells quality furniture at warehouse prices, as they say in their ads. And really, it's true. Where else could I get a nice new bed with mattress and boxspring, wooden frame and headboard with bookshelf for $400? Not to mention two recliners for $500. Really, very good deal all around. Though the "cheap as free" aspect of having the county pay for it was a huge bonus in any event. I may have said so before, but I've never been happier to pay my taxes.
At any rate, after I arranged the purchase and delivery (on Saturday) of the new furnishings, my next order of business was to arrange for cable, electric, and mail to be transferred to my new place. That took surprisingly little time, after which I voted (of course), and then got to the really HARD part. That's right: moving the cats to the new place.
Three felines in one cat carrier, particularly when one is old, one is neurotic, and one is a tubby bitchlet, is not a fun proposition. Even less fun is trying to get them in there, particularly when one of them is extremely smart and can see an attempt to trap him a mile away. Nevertheless, after much wailing and gnashing of teeth, I was able to, in order, stuff Miette into the carrier while avoiding the claws from her growling and thrashing, push Bella inside without her panicking too much (and keeping Miette from escaping), and then coax Yitzak into coming over so that I could get him inside. The last bit was the hardest: as I have said, he is a very smart cat, and so I ended up having to lie, and tell him I was taking them to the vet. He calmed down enough then so that I could grab him, stuff him into the carrier, and narrowly avert Miette's attempted escape.
Once confined, I transported the carrier of annoyed and puzzles felines to the car, then drove them from my old hellhole to my new place. This resulted in a great deal of yaaowling, especially from Miette, who hates anything to do with cat carriers, but also from Yitzak, who gets carsick, and a bit from Bella, who is nervous about any change.
When I got them into the new apartment, I observed three things, those things being, of course, my cats, and what they did. First, Miette barged out and then began walking in confused circles, puzzled by the fact that this new place didn't smell right, and she hardly recognized anything. Second, Yitzak came out and went over to the water dish that I had set up beforehand to take a drink and wash the foam off of his whiskers (carsick, remember?). Thirdly, Bella looked out, saw she was not in her place at all, and stayed utterly. Completely. Still. She refused to move for several minutes, until I came over and petted her a bit.
Shortly after, the felines ran off and found hiding places. Miette clambered up onto the kitchen counter and then jumped (with some difficulty) up onto the fridge, where she stayed for several hours. Yitzak went and found a bookshelf and hid under that. And Bella went and found the smallest, tightest space she could squeeze into, a small gap between the bathroom sink and the wall, and stayed there. I worried a bit, especially since they rowred mournfully and looked around with huge, anxious eyes. But, alas, I had to go to work, so they would have to deal.
After work, I met with my aid worker, Andrew, back at my old place. We got some more boxes, packed things up, and began transporting them over to my new place. We each took one carload of stuff: books, DVDs, tapes, CDs, clothes, computer equipment, and such. I left a lot of things behind that night, to be gathered up the next night. And, of course, we stopped to examine how the kitties were doing. Andrew saw Bella for the first time, and got to pet her; she was so freaked out by being in a strange place that she forgot to be freaked out by a strange person. The others were still hiding in their spots, but were doing some better. After Andrew and I finished our hauls for the night, I went over to the social club to talk to Lynn (who, by the way, is Andrew's aunt; that was a fun coincidence), and I borrowed her futon mattress to sleep on until my bed arrives Saturday.
When I came home, the cats got over their hideyness very quickly and went into full-on explore mode, poking around and sniffing at everything, and of course mewing for attention. Lots of pettings ensued, and then I kerflopped for the night.
Wednedsay was the last haul. I worked a normal shift, then met Andrew back at the old place for the last time. We boxed up or hauled out everything else I was taking with me. I left behind a number of old things I didn't want, though. Any garbage, anything broken or water damaged, anything that was junky and beat up, I left. This is not my usual "moving-out-of-apartment" behavior; I usually try to leave a place at least somewhat clean. But this building is being condemned, due to malfeasance and inaction by the landlord, and forcing me to move. I do not move easily, happily, or well. While this move will, I think, end up being a blessing in disguise (I already like my new place better), I am still not inclined to feel at all charitable toward the old landlord. So I left him a present, in the form of the old catbox, still full of ammonia-drenched litter and cat feces. And, of course, the moldy, water-damaged futon and waterbed, and the ripped up old couch, and the refridgerator full of spoiled food. I wish I could be there to see his face...but oh well. Given that the building's being condemned anyway, I get my deposit back no matter what.
So, with the last haul hauled, I turned in the old keys, and got the hell out of dodge. The new place, as I said before, is hugely better. I am already enjoying having my own garage. The cats are already adapting, and like burrowing into my blankets or snuggling up on the wide windowsill. My neighbors are very quiet and don't bother me. I feel safe in the place. My new landlords are two very cute and friendly young women. And best of all, it's OVER. The move is DONE. I still have some organizing and setting up to do, but the hard part is done with.
What's nicest, really, is that I have pared down the stuff I had. I no longer have large amounts of detritus and debris left over from a former life. I no longer have things which I don't need and don't want and don't even remember where I got, but which I kept because either my sister got them, or else my father did, or whatever. I have disposed of masses of crap that were of no use to me. Everything I have now, I have because I want to have it. And I will know where it is. "Simplify, simplify," Thoreau said, and I have, and it's great.
Now if I just had my furniture...
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Date: 2006-11-10 08:47 pm (UTC)