Control Issues

I am a planner. I like to be in control and master the logistics.  For this move I have had everything planned out to the smallest detail for months.  My change of address cards were ordered, addressed, and stamped a month ago. 

So the hiccups and the cough basically destroyed any sense of control I had over this move and that made me want to punch someone.  As of this morning there were 3 things completely out of my control:
1) If there was power at the AH, and if not where was I going to stay on Wed night
2) If there was street access to the AH, and if not how was I going to move all my stuff out on Thursday
3) If Cindy's movers were going to be able to get her out of my house on Wednesday per our contract

I can not control the power company, the police department, or Cindy's movers (or Cindy who is proving to be much too laid back for my tastes). 

So here is what I have done so far to address these issues:
1)  There most certainly is not and will not be power at the AH.  We will be staying with Bestie whose power was restored yesterday.  We will leave the kids here at Molly's Parents House and they will drive to Dream House with the kids on Thursday.
2)  There are two entrances to the AH complex, both off of the road that is closed.  However one of them (the back entrance) is right by a drug store.  If someone can get to the drug store, they can get to AH.  I called the drug store, and it rang!  I got a recording but they said they are OPEN (implying people can drive there) and they are running on a generator.  If people can drive there, they can drive to AH.  Problem solved.
3)  I called our movers and asked them not to show up until noon on Thursday.  They put in the request and that's all I can do.  I'm not going to change it to Friday.... I need to get in that house.  If we are moving in while they are moving out that is going to suck, but it is what it is.  Cindy still seems convinced we are coming on Thursday morning (per an email this morning) but indicated she may not be there by giving me the garage code.  Baby steps.  This is the one thing I really can't control so I'm trying to just be positive that I solved the other 2 problems. JCRL will have to pay us at least $100 for us not getting possession on the correct date, unless Cindy is out of there Wed night.

I don't know why I feel so much aggression over this whole thing.  I think I need to go to a kick boxing class.

Oh Yeah

I forgot to mention the other option that RL gave us for getting rid of the hiccups.  We could have the Stepford Police Department come by on Wednesday night and forcibly remove Jim, Cindy, Brenda, and Brandon from our house.  That seems like it would really win over the new neighbors. I think RL was joking, but it would be within our rights to do this.

Though Cindy is very well-intended, she kind of ticked me off with her latest email to me where she said:
"I am bummed about the mix up with the closing date.  I was hoping to be out of the house and have it cleaned up for your arrival.  My mover really feels that he will need until about noon on Thursday to finish, so we will just have to work around each other.  He was unable to move his arrival up a day.  In addition I had to schedule the pick up of the POD in the driveway for Thursday.  I asked that they come in the morning, but there is no guarantee.  Luckily, it only takes a few minutes to pick it up.
See you Thursday!  I can give you all the keys/remotes/info then."

I SO BADLY want to reply:
"Yes, Cindy, I am also 'bummed' that your realtor caused you to accidentally break the contract.  Either you or she better throw some money at those movers to get them to be out of there by Wednesday.  You have totally ruined my plans for acclimating my kids to the new house and unveiling it to my parents.  You have also caused me heartburn, insomnia, and at least $200.  What a 'bummer'!  See you Thursday!"

Don't worry Mr. Molly, I won't actually reply with this.  You forget that I took an entire 2-day class on "How To Communicate with Tact and Diplomacy."

A Hiccup and then A COUGH

First the Hiccup:

While we were at the closing RL got a call from Jim and Cindy's RL (JCRL).  All I heard her say was, "Well yes, that IS a problem" and then my pen was poised in the air for the next 15 minutes.  Turns out that JCRL told Jim and Cindy that the time of possession was July 5th (thurs) at 3pm.  Well, it's a problem because JCRL read the contract wrong.  The contract says that possession is July 4th (wed) at 3pm.  This would not be a problem except for that Jim and Cindy's movers say they need from Monday morning til Thurs at noon to pack and move them.  Well, my movers are showing up at 8am on Thursday morning.

Much like a hiccup, everyone scrambled around to try to find a solution.  Jim and Cindy's movers could not start any earlier than Monday and would not commit to finishing on Wed. Basically, we were stuck.  We could have just not signed the papers.  However, at the same time we heard through the grapevine that Jim doesn't really like his new job out West and they may not actually be moving.  Hence, it would be no skin off their back if the deal fell through. 

So we signed the papers and here is where we are at right now:

• Maybe Jim and Cindy's movers can finish on Wednesday.  If this is the case... hiccups cured!
• Maybe we can change our move date to Friday.  This would be us bending over backwards and would make Molly sad. 
• The way it stands right now, if their movers take till noon on Thursday the hiccups may need surgery because it will be a total mess.  They will be going out one door while we go in the other, everyone will be pissed, and JCRL will owe us $300.

But that was just the hiccup.  Wait till you hear about the cough. 

As we were signing the papers, a huge storm with hurricane gust winds came through and killed the power at the Title Company.  Mr. Molly had to sign the last paper using his flashlight app.  We thought that was the worst thing, but it wasn't.  When we tried to go back to the AH we ran into this:

Photo Credit

Yes, that is the street that provides the only entrance to the AH.  Sufficed to say, we have no power at the AH and it is not estimated to come back until 7/7 or 7/8.  Also, we can not drive up to the AH because of the scene above. 

So the cough can be summed up as this:  no power, no street access, 90+ degree weather, and possibility of not getting into Dream House until Thursday the 5th.  All of that added up to the temporary cure.... get the hell outta dodge. 

We headed to Molly's Parents house for some prescribed R&R..  We will be hanging here until Wednesday.  Stay tuned to see if our cough gets cured, or turns into emphysema.

Close

This morning Mr. Molly took the liberty of adjusting the countdown on our AH refrigerator.  I came downstairs and noticed it was adjusted and was shocked.  I think the countdown started at 46 days and every single day I have been the one to change it. 

Today it went form 13 to 12 (days till we get the keys) and all of the sudden Mr. Molly took an interest.  I asked him why and he said "well, I'm excited."  I said, "you ARE?!?" because a conservative Texan doesn't show excitement the same way a liberal Italian does.  And he said "Yes, because it's getting close now."  Apparently to him 12 days is officially "close."

We can also tell it's getting "close" because all of the sudden RL and MG have started emailing and calling us after a month of silent waiting.  RL has the walk through and the closing all scheduled.  MG has a couple of last minute documentation items he needs (of course).  The point is, we are back on their radar screens.

I need to find out what time on July 4th we get possession.  According to the contract it is 3pm.  But I know that's just a time and not the real time.  If I can get in earlier, I might see if I can get the carpets cleaned.  Jim and Cindy have a big dog and I'm not sure what the state of the carpets is as a result of that.  It can't be too bad b/c we didn't even notice they had a dog until we did the inspection.  Jim and Cindy are smart.

This weekend we are doing two Dream House related things.  Tonight we are going to the Parade of Homes to check out what cool ideas the designers have come up with that we may want to copy.  If I see anything cool I will take a pic and share it here.  Either Sat. or Sun. we are going to an Art Festival at a local mall.  We have a lot of spots in the Dream House that will require artwork and at this point we are just going to get ideas and maybe find a local artist that we like.  Either way, it's fun to dream.