hesdeadjim001's Journal: So here I am...

I want to vent. I am angry. Even though far worse has happened to many more people than me, I am still PO'ed.

I hired a mover. A reputable one... "Best in Manhattan" is what they boast. I called multiple times to confirm. Be there at 9:30. Restriction on moving in to the new place. We must be there before 4:30.

Nine thirty:I receive a call from the moving company. They are running late. I remind them of my move in deadline.

Ten:I call again. Not to worry. They will be there soon.

And so on.

Fast forward to two thirty in the afternoon, after my having called every half hour, frantic. Reminding the company that I needed to be at my destination before four thirty.

Five:We arrive at my new home. The management company tells me that the super will decide whether I can move in. The super tells me that it is up to the management company. Twenty minutes later, after having been told alternatively that I can move in and that I cannot, a woman, carrying her briefcase as she leaves her office to go to her (furnished) home, informs me that "it's too bad... there is no way I can move in tonight."

Devastated, and on the verge of tears, I call the moving company. They will come back in the morning. But what about tonight? Where am I supposed to sleep? The dispatcher asks, "Don't you have a friend you can stay with?"

All I can think at that point is that I want to go to the moving company's office and throttle this guy. How dare he? What if I had moved from Philadelphia? I need a space. A room. A hotel. Something.

Good friends

I call a male friend. Friend. Period. Sure, we've "slipped up" a couple of times. He is an attractive guy. Going through a nasty divorce. My mother was dying. We clung to each other. Twice. Now, many months later, we are friends. Period. I tell him my story. Initally, he tells me that he has "plans." Can't help, but let him know if things work out. Five minutes later. He calls back. Of course I can stay at his place. He told his girlfriend not to come over. After all, I am his buddy.

Almost immediately, a few others (including my cousin) return my messages, so I opt to stay with someone who does not have plans.

The next day, I move in. Had to cancel work for that day. Unexpected events.

I claim my space. My little box in the sky. My furniture. My clothes. Just me.

My sister is looking to buy a home. She wants her own space. As a joke, a friend of my mother's offers her shed as an option. Ten feet by fourteen feet. Enough room for a car. Or an entire family from China, El Salvador, Pakistan. When did we start needing all of this space?

So here I am...

[gmhowell]

Surrounded by Indians. With only one shot left...

So I drank it.

Sorry. Guy I teach with (named Guy, hah!) says that at least once a weekend.

Sorry to hear it

[ryanr]

That sucks.

As you point out, it could be worse. I thought this was going to be another one of those horror stories about missing stuff, or having your items held hostage for twice the fee or something. That would really suck.

Ah, that explains it.

[rdewald]

Another friend of mine who lives downtown was moving. I went down to help him out, he had called *two* moving companies, scheduled them both to arrive at the same time, one was 3 hours late, the other one called six hours later and said they were on the way (yes, *nine* hours after they said they would arrive).

I thought that was overkill, it sounds like it's not.

Funny, when I moved from Brooklyn, I called one of these cheap, definitely not reputable, "four Israelis with a truck" moving companies, would onl

friends with trucks

[sparky4]

you really should work on that list before your next move. The promise of a good dinner at the end of the day is usually all it takes for them to sign on the dotted line. The meal does not have to be home cooking, just hot.

Re:friends with trucks

[hesdeadjim001]

I hit the jackpot in the friends department. I'm the luckiest person alive when it comes to my being surrounded by incredible people. There were more than a few folks who offered moving help before the fact. I hired professionals to obviate the need for the pizza and beer buddy moving crew.

How was I to know that the "pros," while skilled movers, would fail so thoroughly in terms of reliability?

In my best New York Yiddish voice...

[Ethelred Unraed]

...you think you got problems.

I got problems. [slashdot.org] Oy vey.

(Hey, misery loves company, right?)

Cheers,

Ethelred