Survivor: New House Island

Have finally – four days behind schedule – received the contents of our household, which are now sitting nicely in our new driveway in a big storage pod that we must painstakingly empty ourselves, having blown our moving budget and stock of personal favors on getting people to drag our shit out of the snow over the past week (including, but not limited to, making private arrangements to have our street – our old street – plowed so that the storage pod could finally be removed from its snowbank and transported, four days late, to our new house). Have also, finally, after three missed service calls – missed because of move hellishness and winter storm fuckage – got wireless internet service and cable connected and can now sit on one of our brand new (purchased in desperation) mattresses on our pretty new hardwood floor and catch up on everything that we have missed lo these interminable four days of camping out sans furniture and appliances and toothbrushes and everything else that we had packed in expectation of unpacking almost immediately.

(No, we couldn’t go stay at a hotel, because we had to be at the new house at all variety of odd hours to accommodate move-related service calls, most of which we missed because we had to spend so much time at the old house – an hour away – dealing with the endless loose ends that became badly unravelled when our original moving plans got messed up.)

It’s been hell, I’m exhausted, I’m crabby, and I need to sleep for, like, two weeks. Could somebody please tell Santa to bring me peace and quiet and somebody who could put my house in order? Thanks.

(I sound much pissier than I actually am. I am, as it goes, very happy to be in my new house, even though it’s mostly empty; my exhaustion and crabbiness don’t preclude moments of bliss as I look out our pretty picture windows at an expanse of snowy trees and pretty old Georgian houses covered in fairy lights and listen to the sweet, sweet sound of quiet. But now would not be the time to send me bad news. I’m just sayin’. Listening, gods?)

(PS: even though we finally have wireless service, our provider is messing with us and our old e-mail accounts aren’t working. I can only, for the time being, be reached at herbadmother at gmail dot com right now – so if you’ve sent me messages at my other account, I haven’t received them.)

(SIGH.)

46 Responses to “Survivor: New House Island”

  1. Maddy Says:

    I can see it’s the fighting spirit that’s seen you through!
    Best wishes and happy nesting.
    Cheers

    This is my calling card or link“Whittereronautism”until blogger comments get themselves sorted out.

  2. LSM Says:

    So sorry you had such a difficult time with the move. Wireless service makes everything better though!

  3. daysgoby Says:

    Your new house sounds very pretty.

    Quiet? Is it keeping you up at night?

  4. flutter Says:

    Ugh.

  5. b*babbler Says:

    Oh dear… Santa should be very very good to you…

    And I bet you won’t miss the Toronto snow shoveling issues.

  6. A. Beaverhausen Says:

    Dear Santa,

    HerBadMother is just a name. Really, she’s a wonderful mom and person who deserves every planet (even Pluto) to line up in her favor right now. Bring her a restful Christmas, if you can squeeze it down the chimney.

    A. Beaverhausen
    http://wordgirl5.typepad.com/apathy_lounge

  7. Lady M Says:

    Our house move was yesterday, and I’m also looking across a sea of boxes, happy to be in the new place. It was a lovely sunny day today, unlike the deluge of rain we had during the actual move yesterday – but so much easier than snow, so I can’t complain.

    Many good wishes for your new home!

  8. nomotherearth Says:

    I was worried about you moving in the snow. I hope you get to sleep soon. Will you send some my way too??

  9. Jezer Says:

    Know what? Even in the midst of all the crappage, the new place sounds like the exact perfect locale for a blissful Christmas.

    I admire your positive attitude. I’d probably be spewing expletives at this point.

  10. Christina Says:

    I don’t think any move goes smoothly. It’s against the rules or something.

    But you’re far happier than I would sound in that situation. Hope you get lots of sleep soon.

  11. motherbumper Says:

    yah yah yah… moving on to the important stuff: so when’s the housewarming party?

  12. something blue Says:

    I was thinking of you and the move all weekend, pitying the fool who moves in a snowstorm. Now when we wave to your old house it won’t be the same.

    Your new house sounds heavenly! I hope the unpacking fairies visit you while you sleep.

  13. Wright Says:

    I’ll put in a good word with Santa for you. Sorry that the move was so hellish!

    Wright

  14. Beck Says:

    I hope that the unpacking goes quickly – and it almost always does, really.

  15. Mrs. Chicky Says:

    you win for crappiest move ever. glad to hear there’s light at the end of the tunnel.

  16. metro mama Says:

    We moved into this house a few days before Christmas. It was hell. Sean was chagrined to have to pay $75 for the only trees left so close to christmas and we couldn’t buy lights for it anywhere.

    Hope you’re settled in soon!

  17. Jenifer Says:

    It really will all sort itself out and think there is way less to pick up and tidy up if it is all still packed!

    My laptop died yesterday so Santa had better have an ibook for me!

    Have a wonderful Christmas in your new house.

  18. Badness Jones Says:

    It’ll get better….this will all be funny in, oh, 3 years! Have a Merry Christmas in your new house with your beautiful Wonderbaby! And I hope Santa brings you all the peace and quiet you need.

  19. Badness Jones Says:

    It’ll get better….this will all be funny in, oh, 3 years! Have a Merry Christmas in your new house with your beautiful Wonderbaby! And I hope Santa brings you all the peace and quiet you need.

  20. Laural Dawn Says:

    It sounds lovely.
    And, hopefully Santa knows your new address.
    If it makes you feel better – when we moved last december the guy who bought our condo had his mortgage fall through, and we sat for 2 weeks in a house that wasn’t really ours.
    Ick.
    I’m glad the house is pretty. And, I hope things go okay moving your stuff in.

  21. Mimi Says:

    For the weird file? I just got an error message about an undeliverable email from your cable company account (initialsthenname) — um, okay, but I didn’t actually send you any emails to be not deliverable.

    Maybe you should look into that …

    In other news! I’m so glad you’re settling in and feeling the peace you were looking for from this move out of the big smoke. Woo.

  22. Redneck Mommy Says:

    You are a better woman than me, my love. I’d have murdered someone by now if I was in your position.

    Well done!

    Hope the new house brings you much joy and happy memories.

  23. Janet Says:

    This post makes that Destiny’s Child song run through my head:

    I’m a survivor (what),
    I’m not gonna give up (what),
    I’m not gon’ stop (what),
    I’m gonna work harder (what),
    I’m a survivor (what),
    I’m gonna make it (what),
    I will survive (what).

    Glad you’re (sort of) settled. If Keep on survivin’! And Merry Christmas.

  24. Janet Says:

    This post makes that Destiny’s Child song run through my head:

    I’m a survivor (what),
    I’m not gonna give up (what),
    I’m not gon’ stop (what),
    I’m gonna work harder (what),
    I’m a survivor (what),
    I’m gonna make it (what),
    I will survive (what).

    Glad you’re (sort of) settled. If Keep on survivin’! And Merry Christmas.

  25. Anonymous Says:

    oh catherine soon this moving hellishness will just be a distant memory,overshadowed by the joy of being in a new and beatiful house….hope you get some rest….LAVANDULA

  26. Kyla Says:

    I like that the majority of this post is parenthetical. Nice touch.

    Hang in there.

  27. Kelly Says:

    Ah, the joys of a new old house. I hear ya sister. Keep enjoying that view, and hopefully the rest will catch up.

  28. mamatulip Says:

    Oh, C. So sorry it was so stressful for you.

  29. mamatulip Says:

    Oh, C. So sorry it was so stressful for you.

  30. Animal Says:

    I agree with Beck IN PART: the unpacking goes quickly, inasmuch as you unpack the crap you really need right away. The other stuff? Yeah. Miss Tessmacher and I are STILL finding boxes in the basement that are marked “Bedroom” and wondering “What the *bleep!* is in there?!?”

    Hope you post some photos of your lovely new digs as soon as you unpack the camera. Be well, and enjoy the holidays now that you’re HOME.

  31. Dana J. Tuszke Says:

    I wish I could come over and help you unpack. That’s what I always wanted each time I moved — someone to just come over and unwrap stuff while I put it away…

  32. Karen MEG Says:

    Moves are always a bitch, never fun. I’d say you’re coping quite admirably, things will get better here on in. And your house sounds so pretty. At least you’re moved in before Christmas, it will be nice to spend the holidays in your new home!

  33. TammieBooth Says:

    I’ll be the voice of optimism and say that having moved into a pretty, pretty house when I was 8 months pregnant, and at the time thinking it was the most tiring thing ever, I was so, SO happy three months later that we were in said house, mostly unpacked and settled. Now is better than later.
    Hang in there, I can only imagine it’s a gillion times harder with a toddler, but you’ll be so glad you’re done with it in a month or two.

  34. TammieBooth Says:

    I’ll be the voice of optimism and say that having moved into a pretty, pretty house when I was 8 months pregnant, and at the time thinking it was the most tiring thing ever, I was so, SO happy three months later that we were in said house, mostly unpacked and settled. Now is better than later.
    Hang in there, I can only imagine it’s a gillion times harder with a toddler, but you’ll be so glad you’re done with it in a month or two.

  35. painted maypole Says:

    i hope santa can spare some elves to come put your house in order.

    oh, right. imaginary beings, that santa and his elves.

    crap.

    wish I could come and help.

  36. mama bird Says:

    oh, moving is so unsettling. Turns me into a crazy person (and that was pre kids) But it sound like you are over the horrible hump. Hang in there. Maybe those reindeer can unpack a few boxes when they swing through town. Just keep repeating the mantra, “It will all get done.”

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  38. Granny Says:

    Wishing you a relatively serene Christmas as well as joy in your new home.

    Ann

  39. Granny Says:

    Wishing you a relatively serene Christmas as well as joy in your new home.

    Ann

  40. kittenpie Says:

    Motherbumper told me how miserable everything had been so I am so happy it’s starting to come together, even if there is still a lot of work ahead.

    And? Because I didn’t get it mailed to your old house on time, I have a card for you sitting here. Will you send your new address along when you get a chance, so I can send you a late card?

  41. Daisy Says:

    Moving at its best is exhausting. At its worst? Well, you know. I wish you much rest and a few successful service calls for holiday gifts.

  42. daysgoby Says:

    Happy Christmas, darlin’. To you and yours.

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  44. Suzanne Says:

    Having had no electricity from 12/9 to 12/16 and no phone or Internet from 12/9 to 12-freaking-28!! due to winter ice storm fuckage on a declared-a-natural-disaster scale – I feel your pain.

    Small comfort that 618,000 other households in northeast Oklahoma were dealing with the same thing.

    No WalMart or McDonalds to go thaw out in.

    No gas for the car b/c no one could pump any OR I couldn’t pay for any w/ a debit card.

    No ATM machines.

    No staying in your home because it’s 41 degrees during the day INSIDE the house, and God only knows how cold at night.

    A little TOO MUCH family time staying with my sister and her family, who had no electricity, either, but does have a gas stove with which we thawed some of the snotcicles in our noses each morning.

    Don’t even get me started on the no Internet for 468 hours and 33 minutes…just the fact that I know those numbers should paint the entire picture. And the first 36 of those hours there was no Internet ANYWHERE within driving distance.

    Here’s to a) being at home and warm, b) having lights and juice to see and operate life and c) BEING BACK ONLINE where we belong!

  45. BOSSY Says:

    Bossy loves you into small bits. Wait, that sounded way more like a compliment when it was in Bossy’s brain. Anywho: Happy Merry.

  46. CresceNet Says:

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