Moved and mostly settled...

For the record, it is entirely possible for a 17-year-old boy and his 35-year-old mother to move an entire house on their own. Including a large corner desk (that comes apart but is a HUGE pain) and the piano. We did have some help that day, however.

January 16th we went to look at a house that was being vacated that weekend. Monday I agreed to clean it in exchange for part of the deposit. I explained my situation: House sold, closing date was the 29th, I was unable to rehome my pets and could not fathom putting them out in the cold and worst of all, no money.

This landlord, oh my. He let me clean in exchange for part of the deposit, as I said. He is also keeping the water in his name until I can get the $100 deposit to switch it over into my name (and, of course, I will reimburse them the billing in the meantime). And when I had to tell them the closing has been pushed off, they were fine with it (he and his wife) since I paid the full February rent.

So we started off just coming in daily and cleaning and leaving a few boxes. Then we moved in air mattresses and such on the 25th, leaving the cats at the old house. We originally planned on renting a UHaul on that day, but the weather was nasty cold so we pushed it off to the 27th. THEN I got an email from the Realtor saying that financing is being tricky due to the repairs needed, could we please push closing to February 19th. Ummm...rent is $500, house payment is $300, I make $603 net. That ain't going to happen! I told him at the LATEST the 12th, preferably the 5th. As of today, we still have not closed and we may not. The appraisal, done on the 2nd, shows that with the repairs, it will appraise at $30,000. The buyer needs roughly $5000 more than that to complete the repairs. So if he can't come up with a "gift" of $5,000 or the bank can't come up with another financing option, the sale is off. Almost a full week after closing. Nice, yes? I *might* be okay as I filed my taxes and hopefully that return will hit on Friday...we'll see. Not holding my breath, though.

Anyway...because I knew closing wouldn't happen until the 5th at the earliest, I pushed off the Uhaul again to the 30th. But it was going to be out-of-state and even though they offered me a 26-foot at the same rate as the 17-foot I had requested, I ended up rescheduling and moving it all on the 28th. What a pickle that turned into!! (BTW, the 17-foot truck barely barely fit, no way a 26-footer would have!!)

So, I excused my son again from school and we picked the truck up at 730. I have to admit, I loved driving it. I really think I might become a truck driver after my son graduates! lol We got down there and there was just no way I could get the truck backed up to the front door without it getting stuck. (Did I mention we got a lot of snow in all this as well!) So I backed it up to the back door. And we tried to move the piano. Not happening. The right rear caster is seized which makes it harder yet to move. And I just could not justify hurting ourselves to go down 3 steps. I became distraught thinking that, after 25 years, I was going to have to give it up. I sent out a text to my friends and one who lives in another state managed to pull off a miracle. She called a friend with a tractor who agreed to see if he could come after dinner to clear out the driveway for me. (He and his family were moving cattle that day, so no promises but I was grateful even for the thought!!) Well, turns out he couldn't so he called up a friend who came and did it! My son and I still had to push it across some ice on the front porch which naturally crushed under the weight, but we got that piano loaded!!

We loaded up the rest of the truck, get to the new house, and lo I can't get a good approach to the front door for the piano. Cue wonderful #2. I called my boss who had offered up her son's help and he was nice enough to come over and help. We had to take it across the ramp, make a 45-degree turn and go up one stair to get it in. He not only helped (and it took all 3 of us!!) with the piano, he helped with everything else as well!! I am feeling very blessed right now.

In all this, I lost 8 pounds as of Friday (official weigh-in is tomorrow). I'm wearing jeans I didn't think I'd be in. I'm 26 pounds away from skydiving!! And I've undergone a serious mental shift about myself.

The previous tenants here left some clothes behind in the basement. Leopard print satin caught my eye and it turns out there were 3 nightgowns in my size...a leopardprint one, a black one and an amethyst one. After following some methods for ensuring no "critters" were attached (sealed in plastic, left to freeze for a few nights, then washed in hot water), I tried them on. Not only do they fit, they look WONDERFUL on me!! I caught myself thinking I looked good a couple of times in those. But I also feel a lot more...well, I'm VERY proud of what my son and I have accomplished with moving. And that I have come almost all the way through this rough patch. I also tend to think more positively than I used to. Yes, things are rough yet with the sale of the house, but they'll work out. So far something has worked out for me whenever I've needed it.

I'm smiling a lot more. I'm even making eye contact with strangers (read: handsome gentlemen) more than usual. One of the nicest things about my new home is that I can walk 3-1/2 blocks to work, 4 blocks to the post office and home again - almost a mile and a half every day! I plan on getting a pair of rain boots to wear as well. I have a rain coat and I might get an umbrella. Mine has gotten lost somewhere.

While people have been telling me for a long time now that I am attractive, smart, strong and that I will get through this...it is now sinking in and taking effect. THAT is the profound mental change that I've made these past few weeks - I do believe my high school inner cocky ass bitch is here to stay.