Da Goddess

Hey It's Good To Be Back Home Again

0745
I'm attempting to wake Little Dude from his hard slumber for the better part of an hour. He's still febrile and he needs his sleep, but he has to get up before his dad arrives. Finally get him up and get him settled on the sofa while I pack a few more things.

0800
The ex shows up to get Little Dude. They head out and I begin to load my car.

0815
I can hear the moving truck up the hill. I get to a spot between buildings and wave them down to the condo.

0915
I run to the bank to get cash for the movers and a bank check for the new landlord. Computer, lease, pictures I couldn't fit in boxes are loaded.

0930
Back at Chez Goddess and grab a Dr. Pepper. I'm thirsty and sleepy. Caffeine!!!!

1000
They're pretty much done with loading the truck. There's still a lot of stuff in the garage, but it's all stuff I can move with my friend's truck. He'll be over later to help me set up the computer and we'll run up and grab as much from the garage as possible. Tomorrow we'll finish whatever's left and I'll either clean then or on Sunday.

1200
My first phone call in the new place is from Mr. Z. He pretends to be the weather bureau for the greater Chicago area. I laugh when he tells me it's a balmy 48 º there.

"Z, I'm wearing shorts and a t-shirt," I say and laugh even harder.

"And that compares to 48º?"

"It trumps it, dude."

1215
The movers finish up with the assembly of Little Dude's bed. Before I let Z off the phone I tell him I need help arranging furniture and that it would be nice to have his help. I'd already called Mrs. Smash and left her a message...and I'm supposed to be getting some other help tonight possibly.

The current layout for the living room leaves me wanting. It's not exactly what I want. Yet. It will be soon, though. Believe me when I tell you that I can play interior designer so much better for someone else than I can for myself.

Anyhow, I say goodbye to Z and pay the movers. $520 and 15 minutes later, I'm sitting in front of the computer. I get it all hooked up (sans cable) and begin this entry.

1245
I've hooked up the washer and dryer. I've brought more boxes in from the patio. I've rearranged things a bit.

1315
I realize I'm really tired and that I need five minutes to sit and veg.

1400
Long five minutes. What can I say?

I still have to move the dresser in my bedroom. Well, both of them. I wanted the one dresser against the other wall and the one in the closet needs to be at the other end. I say, "screw it. I'll wait until I have help. This stuff is too heavy for one person." And it is. I'm already achy, I'm not going to strain anything else at this point.

1410
Realize that I need to run back up to the other place and grab lamps. And soap. I forgot soap. I also need to grab cleaning supplies because this place still needs a good scrubbing. It's not bad...but it's not great and I want great. Right? Sheesh. I'm picky. I also need a hammer and nails, picture hooks and the step ladder. I can't find it anywhere.

1415
The mental list grows as I realize that all the stuff on the patio needs to be put in the garage. Grrr. It figures. Oh well. There's a nice loft in there for storage. I'm just hoping that my helpers tonight will be willing to schlepp the crap up there for me. I mean, they're friends, not Sherpas. Anyawy, it never hurts to ask.

Okay, off to the old place for supplies.

1615
Home again. Got Little Dude's bathroom cleaned and his room mostly cleared out. There are toys lingering in his closet yet. Need some empty boxes for those. Got the master bath cleaned while I was there as well.

Vacuumed the dining room and took all the nails out of the walls.

Grabbed drinks, cleaning supplies, lamps, hammer, nails, and a few more things.

It feels good to be back here now.

It's odd. Other than when I lived in Colorado and moved myself and my daughter from one crappy condo to a nicer one, this is the first time I've handled the moving stuff all on my own - even if I did have to hire movers. I have a lot more stuff this time around. I have real furniture, lots more of it. Other than friends coming later to help with the residual stuff, I managed to get it all done. Sure, I still have more to do, but basically...I'm done. Except for the unpacking. We won't discuss that now.

I could use a serious massage right about now. I'm going to have to think about who I can talk into that one.

The last couple of months have been kind of rough. There have been many changes. Some were painful at first but have proven to be for the best. I still have so much to take care of. The thing is, right now I feel pretty damn good. I feel like there are a lot of great things still to come. And they will. I have faith that they will. Every day is a step in the right direction.

It feels good.

There's a certain sense of satisfaction that comes with independence. The idea that you've made it through some really tough times and you've done it with a little bit of grace means that you're capable of handling just about anything, right? It's the knowing that you can do it on your own. Like solving a 1,000 piece all white jigsaw puzzle by yourself over the course of a couple of hours. Yeah. That's it. That's what I'm feeling. I can do it on my own. And that's why it feels so good.

1630
Time to go finish unloading the car. I've reflected enough for now.

1700
Met three of the neighborhood kids already. One is just the right age for Little Dude. Another is a couple of years older. And the last one is the same age as my daughter.

Untangled the mess of cables and wires that go to the TV, VCR, and DVD player. HUGE accomplishment. Now it's time to wait for the cable guy to come get me plugged back in to my lifeline the internet.

1715
I have no will to unpack anything other than the linens for the bedroom. I need a shower but can't take one quite yet - one friend and cable guy on their way.

Isn't this exciting? Contain yourselves. I know, it's boring as hell for you. It's a great big adventure for me! My biggest question - I wonder what regular breathing will be like again. As long as I don't open the fridge, I may find out soon. The fridge...yikes! It's not that it smells awful, it just doesn't smell great. There's a definite strange aroma wafting forth when the door's opened. Maybe I'll finally have a use for the 500 lbs. of baking soda I got from Price Club. Maybe I should just buy new stuff.

Okay, I'm already bored with waiting. I want everything done. Now. I want my internet. Now. I want to take my shower. Now. I want the unpacking fairies to arrive. Now.

I swear, I'm worse than a little kid at Christmas.

1720
Cable guy's here. Woo hoo! INTERNET!

1745
My friend and I move the stuff from the patio to the garage and then I run upstairs to shower. We're going to dinner with the Smashes.

1930
Dinner and drinks. Great conversation and lots of laughter.

2100
Home again. Really, truly home.

Sigh.

Posted by DaGoddess at March 19, 2004 10:49 PM