August 4, 2007
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The Chinese Curse finale……
Tara finally got a call from the landlord that her lease was ready so she ran over, signed it and gave him his check for first month’s rent and the last months (which is her security money until the end of the lease or when she renews it after a year.
The house she rented is a nice, big three bedroom, two bath with a family and utility room. It has a two car carpot (we don’t get anything you could really call snow here since the little we do get doesn’t stick around. It’s located just two blocks from a beach and park but I believe I mentioned that before this. It’s located on a *hill* and the treed hill behind them is also owned by her landlord so he told her to let the kids feel free to explore and play there. Theres a great street with a nice incline that her sons imagined sliding down during the winter so they were a bit disappointed to find out that we didn’t get the kind of snowfall that would allow that to happen. However, the kidea that they wouldn’t have to wear six layers of clothes in the winter delighted them.
Moving day finally came and Tara rushed around to pay her deposits for electric, trash and whatever else she had to take care of so they would be able to stay in their own place that day. Luckily, all of the utility companies share the same building so it made everything simple.
Tara and her boys had spent two days repacking our utility trailer. She had bought plastic crates for the boys clothes so they could go directly into their rooms. We loaded some of her furniture that had gone into our garage when she turned in the moving van and off went the Beast, my sister *C* and Tara and the older boys. The two little ones had been deposited at day care so the move could go more quickly….we hoped. I stayed home to start cleaning up and putting any of Tara’s or the kids stuff into containers left here for that purpose. I was no help in lifting so it was the best place to be as far as *I* was concerned.
The Beast and *C* returned after about an hour and a half, grabbed a bite to eat and then loaded the rest of Tara’s stuff from the garage into the (now) empty utility trailer. Once everything was in her new house, then it was time to go pick up the fridge and the dryer as well as this one clearance couch she had bought to put in the play room (the family room to the rest of us). She got it cheap because the legs on it had been broken off but she thought it perfect for her kids since it is lower than a normal couch. It allowed the 3 year old to sit on it without help….LOL
The only bad (maybe) thing about picking up that couch is that it allowed my hubby to find some leather furniture that enticed him. I ended up having to go meet him at the furniture store so he could show me. I had measured the area where we had the couch (and it’s the only wall that it COULD go on) and deducted the room needed for our end table.
We ended up buying (at a truly GREAT price) both a couch and a recliner that also rocks. The couch is the kind that has two recliners built-in at both ends. Tara didn’t know it at the time but she was about to inherit a couch and chair with an ottoman that had been in our living room … LOLThe Beast had never been crazy about the rattan set we had originally bought for our east coast home. It had a great room that it was perfect for and the only time anyone ever used it was once when the Beast took some family pictures when our kids were there one holiday. I liked it but knew it would eventually be replaced. I just hadn’t expected it this early. We still have the rattan coffee table and two end tables but those we will replace at our leisure and Tara will end up with the whole set until she can get what she really wants for her house. It was an expensive set when we bought it so it should do her for a while.
So the last trip over to Tara’s was the food that required a working refrigerator (by the late afternoon, the electric was on and the fridge running) I literally emptied my fridge of all leftovers (spaggetti, for example) and some fried chicken as well as cole slaw, potato salad, hot dogs…and 18 extra large eggs ….LOL Oh there was much more because I gave her some chili mac I had frozen and some beef stew. I figured it would help her out for a couple days while she was getting organized. She even got lunchmeat and about a half dozen cans of tuna plus all kinds of condiments. Since we were leaving for Florida a couple days after she moved out, it helped me out too since I wouldn’t have to worry about throwing good food away. It just cuts me to the quick to do that.
It only took me one day and a couple loads of wash to get my house reorganized and cleaned up….and that included getting the travel trailer ready to close up, too. I did, however, wait until this morning to clean the glass on our screen doors since I knew Tara would be back to pick up a couple things that were left here. She will be coming over in a bit to say goodbye to us and get the last of the things that were here that belong to her….mostly DVD’s and some mail. If I had realized they were coming over, I would have waited to clean the glass since the three year old likes to open the screen door for himself and his hands are all over the glass on the lower part of the door …. LOL I will just clean up after they leave and not worry about it after that.
They are settled in and loving it now. I sent over some pillows they needed and some rags for cleaning. I didn’t realize she didn’t have a lot of blankets so I will send over a few today when she comes since the kids DO get cold at night with the AC running (don’t we all?) I certainly have blankets to spare…LOL
So now I am packing our suitcases so the hubby can put them in the utility trailer. I have seperate overnight bags for our stop at the motel tomorrow evening. I went out and got ice for our ice chest and a few things to throw in there like gatorade, water and my Sprite Zero. I picked up snacking things the other day so we are pretty much set. We will totally empty the Gulf house then go over to the East coast. I will stay with my sister *C* and the Beast will be busy for about a week doing some consulting work and making a few extra bucks…LOL I will also get a chance to not only see but to babysit with my great-granddaughter at the same time. I will enjoy that. We will then head back to the Gulf house, pick up the utility trailer and head back home. I don’t want to leave here again for months and months….LOL Well, we MAY spend a weekend in NC when the weather gets unbearable. The Beast has an aunt with a *cabin* we can stay with for a bit….LOL
Well, have a great couple of weeks. I may be able to log a couple of entries while at my sister’s place and let you know the saga of the great-granddaughter. Keep your fingers crossed…LOL
Love you all and stay happy.
