Special Request from NorthBayEric (St. Joseph, Jackson: new house, to live, restaurants)

[Lake Junkie]

Yep...know it well.

Between packing...and cleaning...and finding more boxes...and sending out for pizza 'cause you don't have time to cook...besides somebody packed the spatulas...and more cleaning...and doing the laundry so's you can pack that stuff...and finding more boxes...and getting the change of address forms...and unpacking boxes that somebody forgot to label...and finding the spatulas...and cleaning...and trying to keep up on the usual like taking the kids to school and going to work and paying the bills and walking the dog and getting at least a little shut-eye...and cancelling the cable company...and the electric company...and the water company...and the garbage company...and the Homeowner Association paperwork...and the internet provider...and more cleaning...and finding more boxes...and more pizza...and deciding between cable & dish in the new house...and hooking up the electric...and the water...and the garbage...and FILLING OUT the change of address forms...and finding MORE boxes? You've used all those already???

It cuts into your time online.

Yep.


Eric, just give the StJoe fam a big cheer from this bunch...and remind 'em how great it will be when it's done!

[northbayeric]

Originally Posted by Lake Junkie

Yep...know it well.

Between packing...and cleaning...and finding more boxes...and sending out for pizza 'cause you don't have time to cook...besides somebody packed the spatulas...and more cleaning...and doing the laundry so's you can pack that stuff...and finding more boxes...and getting the change of address forms...and unpacking boxes that somebody forgot to label...and finding the spatulas...and cleaning...and trying to keep up on the usual like taking the kids to school and going to work and paying the bills and walking the dog and getting at least a little shut-eye...and cancelling the cable company...and the electric company...and the water company...and the garbage company...and the Homeowner Association paperwork...and the internet provider...and more cleaning...and finding more boxes...and more pizza...and deciding between cable & dish in the new house...and hooking up the electric...and the water...and the garbage...and FILLING OUT the change of address forms...and finding MORE boxes? You've used all those already???

It cuts into your time online.

Yep.


Eric, just give the StJoe fam a big cheer from this bunch...and remind 'em how great it will be when it's done!

At least StJoeFanatic doesn't have to futz with any homeowner's associations--at least with the old place. And you're sure right, trying to find the spatulas after they've already been packed is a real booger. I'm hoping to avoid this very problem when it comes time for me to do all of the stuff you mentioned.

Sent her a PM two days ago, but haven't heard a peep from her just yet! All this stuff definitely crowds out your online time. For all I know, her computer could very well be in one of those boxes about now! That's probably where the spatulas will wind up--or at least the tongs.

[da jammer]

Originally Posted by Lake Junkie

Yep...know it well.

Between packing...and cleaning...and finding more boxes...and sending out for pizza 'cause you don't have time to cook...besides somebody packed the spatulas...and more cleaning...and doing the laundry so's you can pack that stuff...and finding more boxes...and getting the change of address forms...and unpacking boxes that somebody forgot to label...and finding the spatulas...and cleaning...and trying to keep up on the usual like taking the kids to school and going to work and paying the bills and walking the dog and getting at least a little shut-eye...and cancelling the cable company...and the electric company...and the water company...and the garbage company...and the Homeowner Association paperwork...and the internet provider...and more cleaning...and finding more boxes...and more pizza...and deciding between cable & dish in the new house...and hooking up the electric...and the water...and the garbage...and FILLING OUT the change of address forms...and finding MORE boxes? You've used all those already???

It cuts into your time online.

Yep.


Eric, just give the StJoe fam a big cheer from this bunch...and remind 'em how great it will be when it's done!

awesome!

[StJoeFanatic]

Sorry I have been so delayed in responding to all of you wonderful people! As fate would have it..you can never have anything good happen, without a bunch of bad right along side (or so it seems around here!)

We are on our way to finalizing the plans on selling this house & buying the new one. We close on this house the end of September, and a few days later in the beginning of October, we close on our new house. The folks buying our house will not be physically moving in until January 2008, so we will "rent" a few weeks in our existing home to help make the transition a smoother and more easy one for us.

As for the "bad things' that have kept me from responding for so long...
Well, as you all remember, we took last Friday off of work to do all the sprucing up around the house before the BIG weekend showing...well, one of my chores was to clear out some overgrown flower beds, which I have already done about 5 times this spring and summer...well, much to my dismay, there was posion oak lurking in those beds and I did not see it. And, it was about 98 degrees that day, so I was REALLY sweating. Needless to say, I got some poison on my forearm, brushed my forehead with my arm, transferred the poision oils to my forehead, and the sweat pouring off me, carried those oils ALL OVER MY FACE, NECK, BACK and SHOULDERS. On Saturday, I only noticed a few spots on my forehead...by Sunday, my chin and cheeks were getting blotchy. My Monday morning, I was covered! Went to the Dr, who gave me a shot and some prednisone pills. By Tuesday morning, my entire head had grown to the size of a football (I am NOT exagerating!) my eyes were swelled almost shut and I was sent ASAP to a dermotologist. He got quite a kick out of my appearance...so much so, he took photos of me to use for medical research and to use in the classes he teaches at medical school! He said he had never seen a reaction quite that severe...and the fact that I have NONE at all on my hands or arms is quite stunning, since I was not wearing gloves or long sleeves! Needless to say, I was instructed to remain at home for the week (away from work) give an ENORMOUS amount of prednisone and steriods to take. (By the way, I still have some swelling, but my head is now back down to almost original size...I am now starting that annoying peeling phase!!)

Next thing is that our pick-up truck has started randomly dying. We have had them work on the problem before, but there is no known complete fix for it...it is just a defect in the particular model we have. So, my hubby decided it is time to trade it in...which he is trying to do in a hurry, as I have a newly refinished & reupholstered dining room set in a town about 1.5 hours away that is waiting for us to pick it up, but we don't want to chance it with the old truck.....

And then, to top it all off, last night my hubby was out and about looking through car lots for a truck, and had taken the car and had it parked in a lot next to a dealers lot. When he went to leave, it was very dark, and he did not see the concrete light post that he had parked next to (the light wasn't on, obviously) and he smashed the passenger side of the car door into the concrete pillar. Knocked it in pretty good! So now, we have to get an estimate for repair and see if we have to submit a claim, or pay out of pocket!

All the while, I am starting to do some packing, dealing with getting change of address cards, getting utility estimates on the new house and all the other stuff, all the while, dreaming of the new house (that we were only in briefly 2 times, once before it was completed, and once for 45 minutes the day we bought it!) and looking at photos I took and imaging how wonderful our life will be once we are there!

So, I hope after you read all this long-winded story, you will forgive my transgression of not replying in a more timely manner. I really do care for all of you and will try to check in a bit more frequently as time allows!

[bentaxlecrew]

No appology necessary.. We all get busy. I cant wait till its us on the move. I have been thinking about a way to stay in touch during the road trip. I liked reading about everyone else's adventure. I can just imagin what kind of trouble we'll get into. :O

[northbayeric]

My goodness, things are just never easy sometimes. As the saying goes, "this too shall pass." But it is sure no fun while it lasts. Please don't feel guilty over not having given us a house update earlier. I'm just glad and relieved you felt up to writing us a post earlier today. Please give your husband my very best too, and I'll just keep right on with the prayers and good thoughts that you'll find the right truck that's in great shape, isn't too expensive, and runs like a top. Having the service records would be a real plus too.

Meanwhile, would it be feasible for the two of you to maybe rent a pickup for one day so you can bring back that dining room set? There's probably a Penske truck rental place in town; same with U-Haul that might have some full-size pickups for rent if you simply can't find an ideal truck to buy quickly enough. Maybe the folks who have sold you the dining room set will be understanding if you tell them you've been temporarily set back with the whole poison oak deal--what a freaky thing to happen!

Your car--this is probably all stuff the two of you know already. I just wonder if it might be worth paying out of pocket, depending upon what your insurance deductible is, and how much the insurance company might jack up your rates for the next, I think it's three years if you do submit a claim. We'll all pray and hope for a favorable resolution to this, too.

The thing that gets me the most antsy about everything you've told us is you having to take prednisone to get rid of all the inflammation from the poison oak. My mom developed severe COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) near the end of her life, and had to go on prednisone basically to make her lungs halfway function. So I have some pretty close familiarity with this strong corticosteroid. At least in her case, she wasn't able to take this medication and then abruptly stop taking it. She'd suffer from severe shortness of breath, have to be taken to the hospital (sometimes in an ambulance), and then have to increase her prednisone dosages. I don't know if you'll be able to stop all at once, or if you have to gradually get off of it like my mom tried to. Also, prednisone will wreak total havoc on your blood sugar levels if you're a diabetic--like my mom was. Please, dear, just make sure that the prednisone doesn't start causing any other side effects like very high blood sugar, greatly increased appetite, and/or increased irritability. I so hope you won't have to be on it long enough for any of these things to manifest themselves.

Hopefully when I come to St. Joseph in about 3 1/2 more weeks, I'll be able to hook up with you and your hubby, but if you're not feeling up to it, don't worry about it. Personally, I'd love to see the two of you whether your head is in the shape of a football, volleyball, ostrich egg or badminton bird. Whatever happens, I'll let you know how everything goes with looking for employment there.

So your new house is just that? A brand-spankin' new house? That is going to be so nice! Just try to ride out this current storm, and we'll continue to back you up with good thoughts, crossed fingers and clasped hands in prayer. You know it's going to get better. Write to us here if you can, but just take care of yourself first, and do what you need to do in the meantime, OK?

[da jammer]

sent a little note to SJF as you covered it all so well Eric!!

[Northwoods Voyager]

SJF: Can't even begin to imagine the pain and discomfort you are going through. Well, I can, but not on the same level. Poison Ivy is not as bad as Poison Oak, I don't imagine. You must have been so worried that you would get it all over. Then truck, then car problems???? Well, things happen in threes don't they?

So, I think you're okay now. You have had your three (and then some). Pray that the 'rest of the story' as you move, will be much better. Wish you so much good (better) luck and bless you.

Of course northbayeric has said it so much better.

[northbayeric]

Nope, as long as you're writing from the heart, I know it will be music to StJoeFanatic's ears! And not the thuh-thump thuh-thump stuff coming out of some young guy's car subwoofer that's turned up way too loud either!

Thanks to you and da jammer so much for keeping our friend and sister in your prayers and thoughts. Good-sounding words are pretty empty if you don't have real love and compassion behind them, so you're doing great all around--I mean that!

[Ozark Nana]

Oh goodness girlfriendyou have had one heck of a week now haven't you! One step forward and two steps back.I am sending waves of cyber ((((HUGS)))) to you along with prayers a plenty!!

Please take care of yourself.....the best is yet to comeWe too are in the throes of packing (someone earlier mentioned losing a spatula in a box, well, I lost the dog for a while)......she got into a box she shouldn't of and I didn't see her, left the den and then heard her crying about 10 minutes later....she was still in the box and afraid to jump out (little whimp).....

So, you just take care, take it easy and we'll handle the prayers on our end!!

O.Nana