...and pack some more!

The house is full of boxes. Well, the dining room anyway. My closet is finally empty.

There is no way 2 PODS will be enough - but we've figured that problem out. A synergy of plans was needed when the piano plan fell apart...

If you don't know our piano, it's a concert grand, over one hundred years old - inherited from Jennifer's grandmother - a precious heirloom to us. It's big. The company that moved it before doubled their prices from 4 years ago with exorbitant storage fees - so we picked another company, but they do not have climate controlled storage. They would move it inexpensively (relatively) and store it, but when we asked them to move it to another, climate controlled facility, their moving prices went up, and they refused to rent us the piano board which would allow us to leave it on its side for a few months. Ugh.

The solution to both problems is a larger storage shed. The boxes that won't fit into the PODS will go into the big shed with the piano - which will be set up - and that will allow us to not need the piano board, not need another POD, and only cost a little more than the original smaller shed we'd need for the piano - and much less than a 3rd POD. Drama.

All this means we won't be 100% moved out on Saturday. We need to wait for the piano to get moved, next week, then move all that won't fit into the PODS after it. Happily, the storage site we selected provides a moving truck for free, and I will move only boxes that I can handle myself - we'll focus on getting furniture into the PODS. Plus, that gives us the added benefit of accessing boxes easily - think kids toys and winter clothes when this project hits Fall... kidding! Gulp.

PODS arrive tomorrow between 7 and 10am; picking up moving truck at 9am - moving Jen and the kids to Mimi's by noon... Into the PODS on Saturday at 9am... so it begins.

Pack, pack, pack

More progress. Grammy tackled the kitchen today, and did a great job. Dinner on Styrofoam plates tonight (fajitas - happy cinco-de-Mayo). I moved my clothes upstairs and emptied my closet. I have a lot of clothes, especially the kind I never wear...

On track to be fully packed by Saturday. Convinced that two PODS will not be enough, well, mostly convinced...

No news from the County or Senator Warner's office - expecting something from both this week. That's all I can think of. I'll write again tomorrow.

Packing Status...

Well, those mis-believers who don't think we'll be all packed on Saturday should be happy to know much progress was made today (mostly by Grammy, aka Mom). :-)

The 3rd floor is done 'cept for toys to Mimi's on Friday; there isn't a picture hanging in the house. The guest room is all boxed, as is Will's room and about 50% of the master bedroom and 75% of Abby's room. The china in the dining room is packed and off to Nana's and Pop-Pop's. Four more boxes of boxes arrived from UsedCardboardBoxes.com (a cool site).

Tomorrow the kitchen, rest of dining, and living rooms; master bedroom closets. Thursday, the family room, and random things we missed. Friday, day off work and moving furniture to Mimi's; Pod delivery; moving of remaining items to 3rd floor. Saturday the big move...

Overall, I think we're on track for the big move. I am having some misgivings that two Pods will be enough, but we'll deal with that when we need to.

Look for another packing status tomorrow... until then!

Slow Toxic Drywall Day

Not much new today... made some more arrangements for piano moving, but nothing finalized (other than I'm not moving it). Worked on some selections with a local design firm - will lead to pricing and planning, so it's important. May lead to some additional framing work in the kitchen - a new pantry - along with moving the electrical for the fridge. (if you know our house, the fridge moves right 3.5 ft, replaces the little useless counter there, and a new additional pantry where the fridge is now). Might as well take advantage of the demolition for some new space right? That work will have to be inserted between ventilation and drywall... probably only a day or two though. Guess that's all. Sorry for the boring blog tonight...

P

Careful with that!

So, I took apart the exercise bike to make room on the third floor for a chest of drawers... Grammy takes the bike seat down to the garage - I ask: "Mom, have you got that OK?" - she says "It's not heavy, but so awkward I'm afraid I might mar the walls"...

ba-dum-bum.

Answers

The boss said 20 minutes, not 10, and No.

T-minus one week and counting

Last Saturday in the house with it intact for a while... So, what's new since the last message...

1) Went to store for lawn fertilizer (decided not to let the lawn go entirely) - on way, noticed the external temperature was 90-degrees F. Shudder. One hour later, noticed I was sun-burned. Ugh. Has the look of a hot summer...

2) Had garage sale - relatively successful. Made more than twice (almost 3x) as much as last year; delivered 4 boxes to Goodwill afterward. Less to move. $ to buy beer for David (well, a dent at least).

3) Virginia Delegate Glenn Oder called us last night to discuss House Bill 46. Nice since it was 9PM and he's not even my delegate; he's the bill's sponsor. He clarified that the bill is signed by the Governor (yay), that it is intended as a grant not a loan (yay yay), and that it is unfunded (booooo). He also said that it would not cover reimbursements to people performing self-remediation (me) as written (boo boo), but said he would introduce an amendment to the bill to fix that oversight. I should have suggested that it be called "the Patrick amendment", but didn't think of it in time. We'll watch for the amendment, and hope the federal government funds the account. I'll post a link to the bill status on the blog.

4) Found a cigar store on this side of the water - about 10 minutes from house. Serendipitous find. Closes at 8pm though, so didn't get inside for a look. A good find for winding down after 20 hours of drywall removal on the weekends... I bet we still can't smoke in the house even though we're removing the walls... We'll have to check with the boss on that one.

Will drop a line again tomorrow. A big pack-planning day planned (say that 3 times fast). Grammy arriving.

- P