I've got eight more days to finish packing up my apartment before moving. I'm almost done with my books--I've got 12 boxes full already, with about five more to go. Also filled up five boxes with just the multimedia (CDs, DVDs, and videotapes).

Later this week, I get to do the kitchen, which reminds me--I'd better pick up the sunday Trib this morning, so I'll have some paper to pack up the breakables with. If everything goes on schedule, I'll have it all ready to go before next Sunday's West Wing, except for a last-minute walkthrough with the broom after the movers are done taking everything out Monday morning.

I just hope we can get everything moved in under five hours (1 1/2 to load up from my technically-second floor apartment, 2 1/2 to fill up the third-floor apartment, and an hour to drive between them), but I'm budgeting for six.

t busts a gut

Hourly budgets for movers.

Bwa-ha-ha!

Kathy, it may be closer to the same amount of time for the load-out and load-in. One guy stays on the truck when they are packing to make the load safe for travel. Unloading goes faster because they all carry stuff. They probably will make the travel time as long as they can get away with.

I'm guessing you have an estimate for the whole house, Gus?

They're showing up 9:00 am on Monday, 5/1, so I figure they'll be done loading the truck by 11:00 latest (at least, I hope it doesn't take longer!). So, the Eisenhower and Tri-State shouldn't be that bad at that time--the tricky road will be Willow/Palatine, considering the construction that's going on there now. The guy taking the booking info at the moving company was grumbling a bit about the fact that they're not allowed to use the elevator at the Wheeling address to move furniture in, but I told him that they can move the truck around to the front and move in the boxes and bags that way if it'll be faster.

They'll stop for food somewhere along the way. Which reminds me... remember to have bottled water or some other drink available for them.

bottled water or some other drink available for them.

This is Buffista for "beer". Buffistas are wordy, in this way.

If you have been quoted a flat rate from a grumpy mover, go with it. They are not capable of saying they were wrong. Like programmers, it always takes less "clock time" than shows up on the clock. Even when it doesnt.

wooooooo! drunk post! very carefully typing. or rather, lots of back space. Went to BFF's work gala. black tie, looked fab, lot of cleavage. heh. OPEN BAR. then, went to see my rugby boys at the bar, managed to charm my way into staying after closing. I think that my cleavage did most of the talking. why are cabs so damn expensive? cant' wait to move into the city so I can cab cheaply. Hellloooooooooo Buffistas! love to you all t /durnk post

heh, left the drunk typo.

Rugby boys and open bars make for the best of times, Vortex! Glad you enjoyed yourself, yet managed to find your way home. Brava!

I had a couple of kravvers and a bar and much was shared, and I have a very boring life compared to them.

I need a bit of scandal, maybe, before we go out to bars again.

If anyone has any good suggestions, I'm open to hearing them.

Now to sleep, and to see if paintball is doable in the morning.