The move

Sometimes it is darkest right before dawn.  That is my life right now.  I hope.

This move has been anything but easy.  In reality I should have known it would not be easy -- I don't have that kind of luck.

On Sunday morning I got a call from my new landlord.  He needed to let me know that he had finished all the plumbing in the upstairs bathroom.  That was good.  Then the plumber came out to inspect the work.  And a leak was discovered.  That was bad.  They eventually found the leak.  That was good.  It required them to rip open the dining room wall.  That was bad.  He promised to fix it.  That was good.  And even replace the wall now missing wallpaper because he has some upstairs in the attic. That is bad -- I hate wall paper.

Then on Sunday evening I got a call from U-haul.  I missed the call because I was packing.  Shocker!  But a message was left.  They were calling to let me know that the 17 foot truck I had reserved never arrived at the store.  It was not available.  Panic!  But they did have a 20 foot truck for me.  Breathe!  Which turned out to be a good thing because there would not have been an extra inch of room in the 17 footer when packed.

My friend, her husband, my dad, and my step mom came to help unpack the truck. It took 2 hours.  Which was good.  The boys I hired to pack it took an hour.  I fell once.  I gashed my knuckle.  Which is now infected because I could not find a band-aid.  I have a beautiful purple bruise the size of a quarter on my forearm.  And every inch of my body aches.  I am exhausted beyond belief. 

And every other minute I wonder... what have I done?  To my life?  To my child?  To my career?

And when I am not panicking, I can't wait until I have fully settled in, make friends, find a routine, and reconnect to those I love.

I just may need some serious meds to make it through this.

Mean Mama

Done

Kind of.

I have arrived.  Truck is unpacked.  Most of the boxes are unpacked.

New life has started.

This will work.

But tonight I will crawl in bed and cry a little.

Mean Mama

Random thoughts of the day

Random thing #1:

I started the day out with a plan.  I have 7 days until the moving truck is packed.  I have 7 rooms in my apartment.  One room a day and we are done. 

Monday: Ladybug's bathroom.
Tuesday: Downstairs bathroom.
Wednesday: My bedroom.
Thursday: Ladybug's bedroom.
Friday: My bathroom.
Saturday: Living room.
Sunday: Kitchen.

Easy enough.

And then I got home today with a note on my door.  Exterminator is coming through tomorrow.  Really???  But my house is a disaster.  I mean disgusting disaster.  The only thing not wrong with it is bugs. 

So Ladybug's bathroom and the downstairs bathroom are now cleaned and packed.  The dishes are done.  And I hope to fold, put away clothes, and vacuum the living room.  Fun times.  But at least I am officially a day ahead of schedule now.

But I do have to ask... how did my 4 foot tall 7 year old manage to splatter tooth paste on the wall at least 6 feet tall?  I have been spoiled with not having to share a bathroom with her.


Random thing #2:

I packed my files and papers about 2 weeks ago.  It was an easy pack.  And I threw away a bunch of things I no longer needed.  One of the things I threw away was the bill of sale for my car.  I mean -- it is paid off.  Why would I need those papers?  And then I looked threw the DMV website for my new state.  If the car was purchased less than 3 years ago (I purchased in 2010) then I must prove sales tax paid -- or the new state will charge me their sales tax.  Oh so that is why I need that bill of sale!

So I popped into the car dealership today to see if they had a copy.  I told them who I was and that I purchased a car in 2010 and I needed a copy of my bill of sale.  They copied it and handed it to me.  No ID.  No questions.  Hmmmm.  That seems wrong.  But at least I have what I need now.


Random thing #3:

Ladybug has daily behavioral contracts at school.  Her day is split into 9 sections and she gets checks or x's.  She got 1 X today.  For spilling her drink at lunch.  Really?  She accidentally spilled her drink in the cafeteria?  And this is somehow a behavioral issue?  I mean I know she spills things.  She is 7.  And it was in the cafeteria.  Blah!


Random thing #4:

I think she is freaking out about the move.  She won't admit it.  She is not "nervous".  She is not "scared".  I know because I asked.  She also told me I am scared because "adults don't get scared".  Good to know.  But she is clingy.  She holds my hand.  She wants lots of cuddle time.  She needs lots of hugs.  And that is before we even make it out of the afterschool program.

And tonight she asked for dinner.  And then was upset it was hamburgers instead of pancakes.  Say what?  She loves hamburgers.  And she hates having breakfast for dinner.  So she refused to eat.  Power struggle?  I assumed.

But then she asked if she could take "a long, hot bath".  Say what?  She hates taking a bath.  But she asking.  So who am I to deny her.  So up to her nice clean bathroom for a bath.  She stops at the toilet and pukes.  Over and over and over.  I am pretty sure she is running on empty.  Maybe it wasn't a power struggle.

Bath.  Bubbles.  Barbies.  Happy girl.  Compliant girl.  Off to bed and asleep before even asking for a story.

hmmmmm.

Okay I think that is all for tonight.  I need to make this place look a little less embarrassing.  For the exterminator.

Mean Mama

It is not really neglect

I am not really being neglectful of my blog.  I know it appears that way.  But I am not.  It is that I am living in survival mode.

I am moving.  In 9 days!  9 days!  The truck will be here and packed.  And with any luck I will be half way to my new home.

I went to my new town and found a place to live.  I swear I didn't eat for 4 days during that process.  I am an emotional eater.  When I get freaked I eat.  But I went soaring past that point to the point that food was no longer desired.  I have never turned down ice cream before but I turned it down several times. 

But I knew I would calm down once I secured a place to live.

I saw 1, 2, 3, ...8 places.  In one day.  The town I am moving to is a small town.  No apartment complexes.  All the apartments were in houses.  Some were nice.  Some were... well I would have been embarrassed to ask money from people to live there.  After 8 places thought, I was able to make a decision.  I forked over all kinds of personal information and a bunch of money and I secured the place.

And I felt so much better.

Well, not really.

The second day I went back to the town to talk with the school.  I needed to get her in school.  But I couldn't.  Because I didn't have an official address yet.  Right now, in my current town, school starts at 9:15 am.  I drop her off at 8:45 am and then I drive to work across town and start work at 9:00 am.  In the new town, school starts at 7:50 am.  I can drop her off at the school as early as 7:30 am.  Which is good because I need to be at work at 7:45 am.  Yikes!  I am not even out of bed at 7:45 most days now.

But then the panic set in again.  I need after school care.  When Ladybug first came home I researched day care centers in my town.  There were just over 300 centers in my town.  300!  I have finally found the resource in my new town.  Took several phone calls and hours online.  There are 5 day care centers (which also do after school care) in my new town.  5!  Oh yeah, life is about to change.

This week I have stolen a few minutes at work to start calling those places.  The good news is that they all have space.  The bad news is I can't get her enrolled until I am up there.  I will have 2 days between moving in and starting my new job.  I hope that is enough time.

I have arranged the packers (not of the boxes, just the truck).  I have arranged for the truck (and managed to talk them down $185 off the price). 

I need to shut off utilities.  I need to hook up utilities.  I need to register my car.  I need to get a new license.  I need new tires on my car.  I need to change car insurance information.  I need new health insurance.  I need to pack.  I need to clean.  I need to withdraw Ladybug from school.

I hired my replacement at my current job.  She starts 2 days before I quit.  So I must train her during my last 2 days.

And now I am worried.  What if I suck at my new job?

Mean Mama

late monthly update

1.  Lose weight.  Last year I set a goal and failed.   This year I am going to not set a number and just hope it is less than what I started at. This includes good eating habits and exercising.  I was down this month.  But no idea how much.  I have been traveling and just got home today.  No way am I not down.
2.  Read at least 1 book a month.  I liked this one from last year and have decided to keep it.  Big old failure.  Not even sure I read a kid's book fully this month.
3.  Get at least 8 hours of sleep at least 4 times per week.  I liked this one from last year and I think it is wise that I keep it this year. HAHAHAHAHA!  Stress is preventing me from sleeping.
4.  Blog at least 12 times per month.  I am lowering the number but keeping the goal.  Done!  But don't count on it for April.
5.  Refinish the new kitchen table.  Really.  Yeah.  Whatever.  Not March.  And don't bother checking for April either.
6.  Start a 529 account.  HAHAHAHAH!
7.  Start a savings account. HAHAHAHAHA!
8.  Eat out no more then 2 times per month.  I think it is important to keep this one from last year.  At least I was successful at this.
9.  Learn how to use the video feature of the camera and learn how to use Photoshop.  Nope
10. Pay all bills on time. I think this is an important one to keep.  Bills??? 
11. Make a decision about going to graduate school.  If going then start the process of making it happen.  Not going to grad school this year.  Will re-evaluate next year.
12.  The secret.  Not ready to say it out loud but need to make a decision and make it happen.  See above. 

Goals for last year were to find a new job and move.  I removed them for this year.  Pessimist that I am.  Got a new job.  Just rented a new apartment.  Moving in 2 weeks.  Freaking out!

Mean Mama