Taking the Scenic Route

Moving Day

Packing was a challenge because there was no room for boxes or organizing things.  We got a bunch of boxes that were misprints for $.80/each.  The suckers were rated to hold 450lbs each.  lol.  I think we will be storing those suckers for the next move.

Zane’s main ST came to help him through the move.  She is a gem.

Our “moving van”.  Mom and Dad brought a friend and his son from church to help with moving the big stuff.  They were a delight to work with.  I couldn’t beleive the son was old enough to help move…he was the age of my kids the last I remembered.  I guess I blinked.

When Zane found the pile of nails hidden behind a box, he promptly ran back to his room, found his toy hammer, and found holes in his wall to put the nails back in.  Mom and I were packing up the kitchen and heard the pounding and came to find him.  It was very sweet.

Back in the kitchen he was putting his head in the soup pot and talking, hearing his voice change. 

The guys outside digging out the satalite dish.  Dad was surprised how deeply Robert had buried it. (He helped me out this summer when Zach was at NASA)  That sucker wasn’t going anywhere, even in the Kansas wind.

Something about this shot just makes my heart happy

We still have a LOT of unpacking to do, and there are a few things still at the old place, but we are past the peak of the move now.  Robert and Zach went over to the old place tonight and got a van load of stuff.  There is a bit more, but it is dwindling down.  Hopefully, we will get it in the next 48 hours or so and be done with that place.

I can’t remember feeling so utterly rotten during a move.  Zach was sick enough we almost went to a dr. for his swollen lymph nodes and general icky feeling.  He felt better today, so we ended up not going.  I am not sure if we are going to do anything other than a quick vacuum and wipe down of the old place.  Between our flagging energy levels and our lack of faith that we will ever see our deposit without a court battle, we are thinking our energies are better spent elsewhere.

Zane did pretty well through the move.  I have stories, but I am too tired to relay them right now.  My back is throbbing and I want to get to bed. I am so happy to be getting things together in our new place. It is so much nicer.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day. We are feeling mighty green today, and not in a good way.  Zora’s crankyness escalated to pulling hair, fever and crying inconsolably, so off to the doctor we went.  Ear infection.  It isn’t a horrible one, and only one ear, but we started her on antibiotics.  That was yesterday.  She is finally able to sleep more than 10 minutes at a time, so that is good.

Zach and I are both getting bad colds.  We are behind in packing. 

Zora just woke up.  Gotta go.

Zane is playing a game on the computer where he has to add fractions to do some sort of race thing.  He is getting them right (mulitiple choice answers).  Like 2/14 + 5/14 and he is getting the right answer.  He is getting about half of them right when the denominator is different, but seems to be getting them all right when the denominator is the same.  How the heck has he figured that out? 

He is FIVE people. How the heck is he doing this?

Our car has developed a rather interesting quirk.  For no apparent reason, and at no predictable time, the horn honks.  Just a beep, but it is a bit disconcerting.  Our car has the horn farts.  lol.  That combined with the fact that there is enough breeze in the car (need new door seals) that it blows my hair with the windows closed, makes for increasingly interesting trips.

Zach post.

http://www.xanga.com/zac_zac/576918998/item.html

I am trying to read the IEP stuff.  It scares me.  I don’t know why I am having such a mental block trying to learn this stuff.  Maybe because it is so important…I don’t know.  I just hope I am able to pull it together because I need to use my “Matlock” skills for something far more important that keeping people from illegally charging us rent. 

I was reading some threads in special needs boards about IEP meetings and it sounds like such a battleground, with such high stakes.  I know I have a support system and a team of people I can go to for help, but it is so intimidating.  I know in a few short years it will be old hat, but right now it is going to take a lot of strength just to make the phone calls and walk in that room and talk to people. 

I need to just go to bed.  I hope my mind quiets down so I can get some rest.

Yeah, I don’t normally do this, but here are my favorite American Idols (please forgive my horrible spelling):  LaKesha (not sure of the spelling, but the plus size gal who wore the white dress tonight), the 17 yo…*something* Sparks…really like her, and Blake, even though he wasn’t spectacular tonight.  I also think the one who reminds me of Motown Bette Middler has a good voice, just not my style. 

Sanjay really needs to go home.  I like the kid, but he just does not belong there.  And who the heck is styling this guy?  His hair somehow manages to look more and more feminine every week and it isn’t good.  I am so glad Antonella went home last week because she just made me want to grab the back of her head and shake really hard…just reminds me of every snobby horrid “mean girl” I have ever known.

Well, all my debate skills came in handy.  I called the apartment manager, and she started arguing with me.  I started quoting statutes.  For a few seconds it sounded like she was arguing that we had to stay in the apartment until the 31st or we would be breaking our lease.  I pointed out that we had paid the rent in full already, and questioned whether we actually had to reside here.  She sounded like she was going to say yes, but put me on hold to ask somebody.  (and likely pull out our records to make sure we had paid)  She kept arguing with me that we signed the lease and it said we had to give 60 days notice, and that although we didn’t break the lease, we did give improper notice.  I pointed out that because we were not at-will, and statute (whatever) states that we are not required to give notice if there is a termination date on the contract.  I also understood that they do have recourse if we stay past that date, but legally, we are expected to vacate at that date, so notice is not required.  She kept arguing that we signed the contract, I said that statute (whatever) states that any provisions in violation of the laws is unenforceable and that a judge would recognize that.  After some more, heightening legal tiffs, she said she would get back with me. 

She called back a few minutes later, saying they contacted their attorney (I’m not saying anything, but that was an awful fast call to talk to both her manager AND an attorney) and that their lease would hold up in court (oh…it was hard not to interrupt at that point, but I had a feeling she was making a contrition, just had to give some bravado first), but that her manager and she agreed that as long as we turned in all of our keys and had the carpets professionally cleaned, with receipts, that they would not fight it further.  I told her getting all the keys to her by the first would not be a problem, in fact, it is likely it will be earlier, but I would have to get back to her on the carpet cleaning.  She informed me that according to the lease, we had to have them professionally cleaned (must be hidden in the fine print…will have to be sure it is actually there), or they will take $40 out of the security deposit.  Now, considering I know NOBODY that has gotten their security deposit after vacating (and know several that have perfectly clean and non-damaged apartments who are being charged more than their security deposit), I am not terribly concerned about the security deposit.  I know these people are jerks and will find a way to eat up the deposit.  We are going to have to be meticulous about photographing and documenting the condition of the apartment in case we have to go to court over that.

Basically, in layman’s terms, They got caught with their pants down, tried to claim they were wearing armor undies, but we can still see their butts.  These people never back down, so I think it is pretty safe to assume that they knew there was a better chance than not we would not only win a court case, but could make a bit of a stink on the way there.

That was sort of fun.  Maybe I should go to law school.  lol.

We have moving help!  Yeah!  A guy from my folk’s church and his high school age son are going to help us move.  I know the Dad from when I was growing up (although I didn’t really know him as a Dad because he isn’t a whole lot older than I am), but I remember the son as a little kid.  When did he grow up?  lol.  The son works as a farm hand for another guy at church who has kids about my brother’s age and a bit younger.

One of Zane’s therapist is going to come to help him, unless the place she works for says she can’t do that, so he will be able to participate in the move, which will really help him cope with the move I think.  Zora is going to go over to my cousin’s house, who have a girl 2 months older and several older brothers. 

Zach is on the phone as we speak calling places to change services, and we are probably going to go get some boxes today.  Hopefully, we get the keys on Wednesday.  (they aren’t promised to us until Sunday, when our lease kicks in, but she said she would try and get them to us early). 

On our way.  Lots of work ahead of us, but everything seemed to fall into place, so that is great.