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January 03, 2007

We're In!

With everything scheduled so neatly and carefully for this day, all of it was bound to go horribly wrong. The elevator was booked from 1pm to 5pm, and the moving truck from Toronto, the Sleepy’s bed delivery, the Crate & Barrel furniture delivery, the Sound by Singer speaker delivery, and the Bloom & Krup washer/dryer delivery would all squeeze into this four hour window.

I awoke, restless, around 5am.

At about 8:15am, I was in a taxi with a trunk full of most of our things from the apartment up on 55th Street. The phone rang. “This is Jim, the moving truck driver. We can’t find the address.” First, you’re about five hours early. Second, you’re about five hours early. I’ll call you back.

I arrived at the building. They had torn the front door off. The one with the address on it. They were building a plywood lean-to so that the front entrance could be renovated. After 6 trips from the curb with our things from the cab (no help from the driver, despite a hefty tip), I asked Brigitte, the concierge, if the moving truck could start now. “Sure”. I called Jim back.

At 10;45am, the phone rang. “This is Crate & Barrel, we’ll be there within the half hour.” No problem.

At 11:15am, the phone rang. This time it was Jose, the building manager. He had just had a tooth pulled, and was livid that the movers were using the elevator. They’re like five hours early, and the construction guys are complaining about it. I was in no mood. I said they were about 20 minutes from finishing, and he was welcome to call me back with a solution, but no problems. I hung up.

At 11:45am, I hopped in the truck with the movers and headed over to our self-store locker. We tucked the remaining bits into the locker, and I sent them on their way. I descended into the basement to our second locker, and retrieved a load to take back to the apartment.

At 12:20pm, the phone rang. “This is Sleepy’s. We’re here with your bed”. You’re two hours early. I’ll be there in 10 minutes. I hopped in a cab and off I went. Five minutes later, the phone rang. “This is Jose. Sleepy’s is here.” I’ll be there is 5 minutes. While I was on the phone, Brigitte left me a message saying that Sleepy’s is here. Yah, I know.

At 12:40pm, it suddenly donned on me that the washer/dryer I ordered is 110V, and the wall receptacle is 220V. I called Bloom & Krup and postponed the order.

At 12:45pm, Sound by Singer called to say they would deliver the speakers after 2pm. Whew! This means I have an hour to myself. I went to Home Depot. I was in the checkout line, and the phone rang. It was the speaker guys. “We’re here”. Bugger! I ran out the door, setting of the alarm with my new cordless drill, and finally made it to the apartment. The guys were very understanding, having been up to the apartment on 55th Street, where the doorman suggested they deliver the speakers to our new address.

By 2pm, it was all done. Well, at least everything was in the apartment. I went to Whole Foods, picked up some vino at the Chelsea Wine Cellar, and got back to the apartment around 4:30. Now, the real work begins.

By about 6pm, I was done. Completely busted. Not a drop of energy left. And nowhere to sit and relax. I unwrapped a chair, made some tea, and sat for the first time today. I meditated, did some deep breathing exercises, and found a second wind coming on. The forced meditation drifted into lists of things we needed. A couple more errands, set up the bed, hung up some clothes, and made dinner. By 11pm, there was nothing left in me.

Nighty—night!

Posted by dave at January 3, 2007 03:18 PM

Comments

Posted by: toby at January 12, 2007 11:13 AM