The Drama

So I can't seem to get through a normal every day event without a drama.

When I last wrote I was awaiting the arrival of the movers. They had called and said they would be there by 2:30pm. I was so happy. I really feared the call would come at 6pm so 2:30 seemed terrific. At 2:45pm they called to say they were lost -- which can easily happen in my town. I use to laugh at my mom when I would visit because if we went further then 6 blocks from home we would get lost. And then I moved here and realized why. There is no logic to the layout of this town. And then whatever road you really need to be on is under construction so you must find an alternative. And since the town is not set out on any kind of grid you easily get lost. So after more then 5 years in the town -- I believe they were really lost.

The movers showed up at just past 3pm. And to my delight I find it is the same crew of movers that moved me into the apartment 9 months ago. I was happy about this because I knew they were nice, efficient, and thorough. They start working. And they work like dogs. At some point I realize that we are going to be hitting rush hour traffic. This is not good. I am lucky enough to always be going against rush hour traffic in my normal commute. But this time I am going to be right in the thick of it. I realize that there is no way we are going to get to my new place, unload, and get back to Ladybug's daycare before they close. No way!

So I call a co-worker and ask if she can help. Sit with the movers while they unpack or pick up Ladybug. She is more then willing. At almost 5pm we are finishing packing the truck when we notice that the air above us is swarming with helicopters. How did we miss this earlier? And they appear to be news helicopters. Every news station. One of the neighbors comes out and says it is a bomb threat. Of course!! Because we have those daily? Not!

But my computer and TV are packed. How do I find out what is really going on? SO I call work and ask them to look it up. Now I am not really being a gossip. I need to know if this affects me. Because I am already going to be battling rush hour. I need to know if there is something more. So my co-worker gets on the news website. And there is a ... wait for it... bomb threat. Of course! It is on the major highway. You know, the one that rush hour traffic is on. A 4 lane highway. And they have closed the highway down. They have diverted all traffic from this bumper to bumper rush hour 4 lane highway (4 lanes each direction) to the secondary 1 lane (each direction) road. The road just outside of my apartment complex. The one I must get on. No choice.

But we made it onto the road. And it took us 1 hour to go 1/2 mile up the road. No joke. No exaggeration. And another hour to go another mile. Luckily I had thought to call my co-worker and she picked up Ladybug. She took her to dinner. She took her out for ice cream. She took her to the park. And she still beat us to the new place. We finally arrive at the new place and we unpacked the truck in under 1 hour. They worked so hard. And as they are checking out the ring leader looks at me and says they are giving me a discount of 1/2 hour because of the traffic. Because they get paid by the hour. And they total it up. He tells me he forgot to look at the clock but believes they starting working at just after 4pm. I tell him I thought it was just after 3pm. He just looks at me and says, "Ma'am, I am sure we did not start working until after 4pm." Just shut up Mean Mama -- he is cutting you an unofficial break.

My co-worker decides to help me put together beds. Thank you! Besides I have a little bit of time to kill. The cable/internet guy is suppose to be there between 7pm-9pm. Finally at 9:30pm I realize he is not coming. But I need to pack up Ladybug and go back to the old apartment and finish cleaning. And as I am trying to do this -- the cable guy shows up. So co-worker decides to stay with Ladybug and manage the cable guy. I race back to the old place -- which, by now, there is no traffic, but it still takes 1/2 hour to get to. Luckily I had cleaned during the day. So all that was left was the kitchen floor and to steam clean the living and dining room carpets. And then I race back to the new place.

My co-worker saved my butt. The movers were fantastic. The day was done. And I had to go to bed because I had to work in the morning. The next day my body hurt in places that I didn't even know I had. But the new place is completely unpacked now. I need to get the boxes out of the kitchen. I need to vacuum. But I don't have loud or annoying neighbors. And I have a functioning washer and dryer again. Life is good.

Mean Mama