Wednesday, February 21, 2007

The Big Move

I figured I’d better post an update just to let everyone know that we are alive and survived the move, well, er… more or less.  At any rate we are in the new house.  One of the drawbacks of not posting for such a long time is that so much happens and one doesn’t know where to start to bring everyone up to speed on what’s been going on.  I’m going to give it shot, though.

 

When I posted last, it was the week before Christmas and the great housing search of 2007 had just begun.  We looked at so many houses, my head began to hurt.  We found and bargained for more than one where we were assured we had a deal only to be let down when it was time for pens to meet paper.  After slap wearing out two different agents, we finally found a place on our own and struck a deal we were happy with.

 

During the great search, Paulette changed jobs, the family desktop computer died a ghastly death and Paulette’s car bit the dust and our kitty, Emmie, became sick.  It was getting her a new car that became top priority, I couldn’t do without my truck and transportation became critical because Paulette has to do a great deal of driving for the new job.  With the kind help of one of my customers at the marina, we were given a deal on a good car that met her needs and did not totally bankrupt us.

 

Due tothe tightened money situation, our only way of keeping costs down for the move was to pack the household ourselves and to have me take a week off and move all the boxes and loose stuff in a least a million trips with my little pickup truck.  We had professionals move the furniture, but moving everything else by me saved a few hundred dollars.  It did not save my back, though, and I am keeping the Ben Gay Company in business by generously applying their ointment nightly to the offended area.

 

All that is left to be done at the old place is to remove the screened gazebo that I constructed, have the carpets cleaned and blow the leaves out of the eaves one final time.  Only one or two more trips over there and I am done with it.

 

We took Emmie to the Veterinarian twice.  The first time was the week before the move.  The Vet found a place on one of her pads that had cracked and did a repair to it and thought she might have a sprain, as well.  He told us to keep an eye on her and let him know in a week if she did not get better.  She seemed better for a day, but became lethargic and seemed to be getting more crippled each day after that.  We knew that we would have to take her in again, but had to get through the big moving days of last weekend first. 

 

Monday saw Sandy and myself taking Emmie in to see the Vet again and this time her temperature was more elevated than on the last visit.  He gave her a cortisone injection in her left hind quarter and gave me some antibiotics to mix with her food twice a day.  I’ve been getting the medicine down her successfully and she has improved dramatically over the last two days and seemed her old self as I left for work this morning.  What a relief!

 

I was able to purchase a computer on Sunday at Best Buy using the generous gift card my sister had sent me for Christmas, thanks Jan!  I chipped in some of my other savings as well.  It is a basic computer on the budget minded end of the spectrum, but will suffice.  I think it will be just fine after I upgrade the Ram memory in a few weeks.  It turned out that the Cable connection for our high speed broadband service did not work in the room where we set the office up.  Figures!  The guy finally came and fixed it at 5 pm on Tuesday and I unpacked the new beast and put it together. 

 

I was very happy with the Windows XP operating system and all of my software is for Windows XP.  Almost all new computers now come with the Windows Vista operating system and most of the software programs I needed to install, (McAffee Security, Drivers for my printer, etc…), would produce a warning that said that the program had known compatibility issues with Windows Vista and warned not to proceed. 

 

The saving grace is that with a high speed internet connection Windows Vista makes it very easy to go to each software manufacturer’s website for the Window Vistas Fix download for their respective programs.  Whew, time consuming, a bit scary, but a life saver and successful, so far.  It took over three and a half hours last night just to get the computer online, protected, and successfully connected to a working printer.

 

To say that I am emotionally, financially, and physically exhausted right now would be an understatement.  I’ll survive, though!  There is light at the end of the tunnel and good living is once again within my grasp by the end of another week.  I received a new camera for Christmas and I am looking forward to telling you about it and sharing some of the shots I took before this whole moving thing took over my life.

 

To those who have been coming to this site from time to time to check for any new posts and were disappointed, I am sorry for the long wait.  I promise that I will post again by Tuesday night of next week and will try to, at the very least, get back on my weekly posting schedule.  In the meantime, I hope you are all well and wish you all the best for 2007.

 

 

 

34 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well I'm glad to hear you're alive and well.  Post pics of the new house!  

Anonymous said...

Good grief Sam....it's a wonder you are in one piece.  I hope things settle down soon and I sure hope that your physical ailments improve.  Keep Bengay handy, now you know why Al Hurt (ouch, that was an old one!)   If it gets any worse use capsaian cream (pepper cream) but be very careful after you use it. Use it sparingly and be sure to wash your hands throughly.  Doc got it in his eyes once and after the went to the bathroom.........oh well, you get idea.  BUT, he is the first to admit it works bettter than anything.   Anne

Anonymous said...

Thanks for letting us know what has been going on.

Anonymous said...

I'm glad you got the move completed Sam, I've been wondering how you were doing. Poor old Emmie, we do worry about our pets don't we? I'm happy she's responding to you TLC now! I've heard about Windows Vista, not very good reports on compatibility but you seem to have got it sorted now! I'm looking forward to seeing new pics taken with your camera! Jeannette xx  http://journals.aol.co.uk/jlocorriere05/Welcometomytravels/  

Anonymous said...

Holy Moly Sam!  It's good to hear your voice and know that you have survived the move, Emmie is on the mend and a new car is in the driveway.  Phew. All of 'that' in about six weeks time.  You MUST be exhausted.

Looking forward to pictures from the new camera and a whole lot more story telling.

Congrats on the new house!

Anonymous said...

So glad to read your update.  I figured that the move was what was going on, but have missed you.  I'll look forward to your weekly posts.  Love ya!  Lynn

Anonymous said...

I feel your pain...we go thru this every couple years thanks to the USAF!   :)  Only good thing is the military picks up the tab...hang in there and soon you will be unpacked and relaxing.

Robin

Anonymous said...

Am very happy to hear from you!  Glad you found a house and are moved in, too :)  Sorry about the back... back pain is one of the worst!  And with your job, I'm hoping you are taking it as easy as possible! (That's why you hired the young bucks~for the heavy work ;)

Losing the car and the computer stinks!  Happy that they're taken care of now, but no one needs that kind of headache in the middle of a move....

Good that Emmie is feeling better!  Can't have sick kitties now, can we?

Don't strain your back anymore, Love...  give it time :)

Looking forward to reading you again, soon!

Cat

Anonymous said...

YEAH!!  Nice to see ya :)~  Maybe weekly instead of every two months, eh?  Would be nice....... looking forward to the pictures.
hugs
d

Anonymous said...

GREAT to have you back again! Did you move anywhere near Paula Deen?(the cook show hostess that lives in Savanah near the water) I love her show! Barb

Anonymous said...

Great to hear from you again.  ah...moving is such a pain and something I will be doing as soon as I sell my house.  I'm hoping to sell most of everything in it too...downsize!
Hope you enjoy your new digs and you don't have to depend on Ben Gay too much longer...

Sam 2

Anonymous said...

Whew....I'm worn out just from hearing about your last few months.  I'm glad that you are getting settled and are getting things back to normal.  I know you are ready to sit back and bask in your new abode and put all the stress behind you.  If you are looking for any wall art to hang in your new home, let me know.

Greg

Anonymous said...

I remember our move last Spring <shudder>... glad to hear that we will soon be hearing more from you.
http://journals.aol.com/astaryth/AdventuresofanEclecticMind/
http://adventuresofaneclecticmind.blogspot.com/

Anonymous said...

Wow Sam!  You've been busy! Welcome back and congrats on the new home, the new PC and the new aches and pains....LOL!!  Just kidding on the aches and pains.  WB to J-land--Missed you!!
Hugs,
Gina

Anonymous said...

Thank you for sharing and updating us on all we've missed!  So much has been happening with you!  Sounds like the knots and kinks have been worked through, and that's great to hear!

Take care,
Michelle

Anonymous said...

Wow!  You've certainly had a busy and stressful time.  I'm glad you've made it through so well, and expect things will start to settle down a bit soon.  Hang in there! - K.

Anonymous said...

You have been busy haven't you. Hope you will be very happy in your new home.
Love
Debbie
http://journals.aol.co.uk/drb1064/whatever

Anonymous said...

Oh Sam thankgood ness the move is behind you ! we moved in 2005 the memory lingers on ,I hope you will be happy in your new home ,that Paulette is happy in her new job and that Emmy continues to improve ,and that you back soon feels better ...love Jan xx

Anonymous said...

Didn't realise that you had THAT much going on, Sam. House, car, computer, cat - it all comes at once, doesn't it. Anyway, take your time settling in, and we'll hear from you when you're done. Windows Vista? That's a prospect I'm not relishing.

Anonymous said...

WOW! You and Paulette have really had a lot going on. I am glad that your kitty is better. Glad that you and Paulette have found a house and have gotton moved. A new computer plus a new camera huh! Looking forward to seeing some of those pictures and while you are at it maybe take a pic of your new home. Hope that back feels better soon and you try to take it a bit easier, things are not going anywhere and can be straightened out later. Helen

Anonymous said...

Sam I'm so glad that you're well, even if you have a sore back and that you found a home! I'll keep you all in my prayers and look forward to picture updates! My husband just got my computer back up and going, after the hard drive crashed LAST April, while he was deployed! I'd  bought him a laptop while he was home so I thankfully had that to get on! :)

God Bless
Christy

Anonymous said...

Ok.... you're excused for the lack of posts...lol.  Glad to see you back, I've missed your posts!  ~Sie

Anonymous said...

I knew you would be back! I cannot wait to see new pictures! that vet should have prescribed meds the first time. I think I would look into another vet. Good job on the computer. Glad your sis gave you that card! Great news on the house. Need new address! LOL I sure hope we can make it that way this year (bike needs worked on though)
What news on the kids?

Anonymous said...

Glad to have you back friend. You were missed! Tammy

Anonymous said...

Dear Sam,
Congratulations on your new home! I didnot understand why you moved but I hope it is because you found ahouse you could not live without!
Sam I am so sorry that you have hurt your back! are there any good accupuncturists there? that would definately hlep if you can go 7times.
sorry that your dog is having problems! I hope that they can resolve it soon! glad you got a new computer through Jan!
hugs,nat

Anonymous said...

Glad you have done an update for us Sam ~ and happy you survived the move nearly intact ~ sorry about the back :o( ~ Hope you ~ Paulette and Sandy will be happy in your New home ~ Glad Emmie is getting better pity the Vet didn't put her on antibiotics on the first visit ~ The new computer sounds good ~ sounds a bit scary puting it all together but pleased for you it was successful ~ Look forward to seeing some more of your pictures and hearing about your new camera ~ take care ~ Ally

Anonymous said...

I feel for you.  We are sort of moving, too now that the house is finally almost done after the hurricane!  Now we move furniture and clean flood crud off of it on our days off!  I'm not complaining, but I do sympathize.  We, too, had to get a new computer.  Managed to find the last one at Best Buy that had Windows XP still--I know, I'm a wimp, but I just couldn't face trying to acquire all the new stuff for Vista at this oparticular point!  Welcome back!!

Anonymous said...

Hello Sam, what a busy time you`ve had lately. I know what a nightmare it is moving house and I`m not looking forward to the time we move on either.  I`m glad you managed to get a new computer, what would we do without them!  I`m so pleased to hear that Emmie is much better now, it`s such a worry when they are unwell and can`t tell us about how they are feeling.  Take care. :o)

Sandra xx

Anonymous said...

Boy, when they say that life isn't easy, they aren't kidding! One thing leads to another, and all we can do is wait it out until we get a few minutes to catch our breath.
I'm glad things seem to have settled down for the time being on the home front. I hope you get to spend some time enjoying the new home and the new computer. Good luck with everything!

Jimmy

Anonymous said...

I am ever so pleased that you are now moved and that all is going well.  We moved just over 12 months ago and, like you, we transported much of the small stuff ourselves.

Isn't it strange that everything happens at the same time!  

I do hope the cat is back to its old self now and that your computer is 'up to speed.'  By the way, I have only just started to get to know about Vista.

By for now and thank your for your kind comments about my blog.

John.

Anonymous said...

Hi Sam,
You certainly have my sympathy. Having had to move for most of my life I know how frustrating it can be, as well as hurting one's back. Hope you're feeling some better- and your wife too. I'm looking forward to seeing pictures of your place and hearing what you two love the most about your new home. Good news! Johnny and I are not separating, but have worked things out. That means I get to stay here, in a place I love. Prayer, counseling, support from wonderful friends and family all contributed to our new happiness. You take care.
(((SAM)))
Barb- http://journals.aol.com/barbpinion/THERESTOFTHESTORY

Anonymous said...

Welcome back.   All of the things that have happened are done and over.  A new start for you and Paulette will be refreshing.  Looking forward to reading you again.  :)
http://journals.aol.com/mrsm711/LatteDah/   Tracy

Anonymous said...

I'm glad that you checked in and don't be sorry. You were busy to say the least!
Congrats on the new house :)

Gretchen
http://journals.aol.com/ksgal3133/LivinginSavannah2

Anonymous said...

I haven't moved in almost thirty years.  Can you imagine what that would be like?  Sounds like you guys had it all under control.

Mrs. L