Oh, hello there! It’s been a whole week, though I’m not sure how that’s even possible? Oh, wait… that’s right… I’ve been in an internet-less, sleep-deprived haze.
So, here, in a single swoop, is the last week:
It started a week ago today with a series of disasters. We had Monday timed to the minute. Drop the rental car off at 7:30, drive across town to pick up the U-Haul at 8, head back to the house and start staging our stuff for the movers to arrive at 9, load the truck, leave by 12, drive 10 hours (plus stops) to a hotel on the TN/KY border, then get up at 6 and drive the last 5 hours (plus stops) to meet the movers in IN by 1. Phew!
But none of that happened.
We were a bit late dropping the car, so we got to U-Haul at a few minutes past 8… but they weren’t open yet. They were supposed to be, but no one was there. We waited and waited and waited. Finally, we called the 800-number who put us on hold to call the store manager. Couldn’t get in touch with that person who was, by now, nearly 40 minutes late. They moved our reservation all the way across town… Meanwhile, the movers booked to arrive at 9 had moved their arrival to 9:30. I drove John across town and dropped him at the other location. Got home to move all the dogs into the empty bedroom in anticipation of the movers’ arrival. John got stuck at the other U-Haul because the truck he needed was in the back of the lot, but by the time he got back to the house, the movers called to say they would be another 25 minutes. Which, ultimately, turned into another hour.
So, instead of loading the truck from 9 to 12, we loaded the truck from 11 to 2:30ish. Then we vacuumed up all the dog fur that materialized as stuff was being carried outside, loaded up the four dogs into my car and Newt in her carrier in the U-Haul with John and hit the road… at 3:30. With 10 hours of driving ahead of us.
Three hours into the drive, Molly threw up. We pulled into a rest area, walked everyone, fed them, and then loaded the car and truck with one change – we switched Molly and Newt. Apparently, the U-Haul was not a smooth ride, and Newt was panicking in her carrier. So, we set up a bed for Molly in the truck’s cab, and I brought Newt’s carrier in with the boys. We rode that way – with stops for gas, bathroom breaks, and dog-walking breaks – through a horrific three-hour-long super intense thunderstorm that completely obliterated any hope for speed – all the way into Tennessee. The late start, plus the stops, plus the terrible storm meant we arrived at our hotel, bleary-eyed and exhausted, at 4 am. We checked into our rooms – John with Emmett, Cooper, and Newt in one, me with Lucas and Molly in the other.
I thought Lucas would freak out, but since he can. not. sleep. in cars, as soon as he saw a bed! he jumped right in and fell asleep.
We had two hours to sleep. Of the two hours, Molly cried, paced, whined, panted, and yipped for about an hour and 53 minutes. So of the two hours, I slept for zero of them. By the time we hit the road, I was in a horrible mood! I seriously wanted to cry. But the boys were such troopers. They ate their breakfast, climbed in the back, and settled in to ride the last remaining five hours.
Thankfully, that morning’s drive was uneventful. We had beautiful weather and made great time. We arrived home at noon – plenty of time to get everyone settled in the backyard before the movers arrived to unload the truck. And! They were right on time.
So, we got the house unloaded… and discovered during that process that Molly fits underneath our fence. Sigh. One thing at a time, I suppose.
We spent the day ferrying boxes to and fro and unpacking essential items. That night, though, I was completely asleep just after 9 and didn’t wake up until 9 the next morning!
Since then we’ve been unpacking, walking dogs around their old park, visiting with friends and neighbors, and striving to get settled. We still have a few boxes to sort and haven’t hung any pictures or decor yet. Plus, AT&T comes tomorrow, and that will be the final piece of the moving-in puzzle!
While it was an exhausting, frustrating experience, I’m relieved to be home! My goal for this week is to catch up on the rest of my life… work, the blog, paying bills, etc. Coming up I have a few giveaways that I got behind on, plus a DIY that really helped us in the pinched couple weeks leading up to the move.
I hope you had a great week! So, so glad to be back!
This post gave me flashbacks to our LOCAL move and made me want to cry. You are seriously a warrior! Glad you are safe, somewhat sound and hopefully the worst of it is behind you. The photo of all the dogs in the back and one with a cone made me laugh. That is such a great depiction of life with dogs!
HAH! I didn’t think of it like that, but you are SO right! 🙂
While we’ve missed you online, we were pretty sure you’d all arrived safely as Indiana now seems to be a much happier place.
Seriously though, I feel for you. I absolutely hate moving, let alone from one state to another. Hope everyone recovers quickly.
Thanks, Debra!! We are much happier being here already. A few million more things to get done – insurance, license plates, switching vets, and on and on and on and on – and THEN I’ll feel settled! 🙂 But we’re here, and that’s what matters!
Oh my!! We’ve all been there, I am sure!! I know I have and hopefully last year was our last move. Not a thing I want to do again in the next 10 years! Glad to hear you are settling in!!
I agree! I would LOVE to be settled in one place! Hopefully John can turn this into a permanent job, and we won’t have to do this again in two years!!!
I grew up in Indiana and went to IU. As much as I miss it, you just reminded me of why I can’t go home again.
I didn’t realize that, Jan! What a small world!
Oh, you are so brave. I’m glad it turned out well in the end.
My plan for whenever we need to move involves driving Silas to stay with my mother, and then leaving him there until we are completely unpacked in the new place.
That is a really good plan!! I think if we had an option like that… someone willing to take on 4 dogs and a cat… that would’ve saved a tremendous amount of stress! But, as you said, it all turned out well in the end!
Oh wow! What a nightmare! The thing that keeps us from moving is exactly what you detailed above, but add 7 more cats to the mix. Ugh. Glad you made it safely and are settling in!
I can’t even imagine adding 7 more cats… That would keep me from moving, too!
Amazing! You guys are pros. I can’t even imagine. Welcome to your new home! So exciting. Moving is so tremendously stressful, even without a bunch of animals, but I hope you all settle in quickly and smoothly.
Thanks, Abby! It’s so funny… since we moved back into our house, we already know where everything goes, which is speeding up the process! I think we’ll be totally set really soon! Thank you!!
And I thought moving with two dogs was bad! Glad you finally made it safe and sound 🙂
Thanks! 🙂 I’m just glad the actual moving part is behind us!! Now, to get all settled in…
What an ordeal! So glad you guys made it safe and are getting settled in!
Thanks, Rebekah!!
The problem with making plans that involve other people is other people.
HAHA!! YEP!
All I can say is you are a strong woman, because I would have cried! I’m just glad you got home safely and are getting settled in, even though it wasn’t easy.
Oh, Jan. I was awfully close. If it hadn’t been for that giant coffee at that exact second, I would’ve probably been sobbing! 🙂
Wow, you guys are hardcore! So glad you made it home safe (sorry about the t-storm.) I’m getting nervous about a 3 hour drive we’ll be making with Bella in September and cannot even imagine 4 dogs and a cat on a 15 hour drive!
How does Bella usually do in the car?
Welcome home!! The last time I moved was 18 years ago. We moved across the street. We literally carried all our stuff across the road on our backs LOL! The dogs and cats just walked over with us 🙂 My significant other is not one for moving, so I figure we will likely never leave here.
What a story! You’ll be able to tell it for years. Your dogs and cat are great travelers!
That sounds like the ideal move to me, Kathy! 🙂 I would love to stay here long-term, but we’ll see how John’s job shakes out…
Holy cow Maggie. What an adventure! I’m glad you made it though, and are starting to get back to normal.
Thanks, Mary! We’re nearly settled… I think all will be back to normal(ish) by next Monday!
Whew! We got stressed just reading about it! Glad you are home. How long were you gone?
Your Pals,
Murphy & Stanley
Thanks, guys!! We were in Louisiana for 13 months. John wasn’t sure if it would turn into a long-term job, but then our landlord sold our house, so we didn’t have the luxury of time to find out! Hopefully THIS one turns into a long-term job so we don’t have to move again! 😀
Whatever happened to the little stray cat you rescued? Last post I read she was moving with you. Obviously, I have missed something.
Glad you all made it and are still speaking to one another, that is, you and John. 😉
Last time I moved I had THIRTEEN cats & no dogs, Now, I have two doga & one in-n-out cat. I think the last time would be a piece of cake compared with this crew.
Looking forward to your regular scheduled posts in the near future. Best wishes to all of you especially, Emmett.
I can’t even imagine all that, Leslie! Whew! You were heroic!
The little kitty, Petey, was adopted by one of John’s coworkers right before we left town! He had recently lost his long-time feline companion and was ready to welcome a little one into his home. It worked out perfectly, and he’s been keeping us posted a bit on how she’s settling in via Facebook! Couldn’t have asked for a better home for the little sweetie!