Moving to this House I Call Mamie
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After the move to Mamie, a series of mishaps has occurred to poor 103-year-old Mamie.
After the paint guys power-washed the siding, Kendra said she was walking around outside to put the crawl space covers on. And she discovered the mortar missing in between some areas of the brick.
So she called a guy who does this type of thing, and he told her he’d work on it before they paint. Kendra said Mamie looked held together with dirt. He surveyed the siding and said it was in pretty bad shape.
He has begun working on the problem.
So I’d recognize him if he was working outside, Kendra said: he’s an older guy, missing some teeth, and drives an old Suburban. That could probably be an 1/8 of this city!
Boxes Galore:
So I’ve moved in now. Boxes are everywhere. I’m not happy with the movers this time around. Kasi and I went back to the apartment today, and they left things in the kitchen, living room, and both bathrooms—things they were supposed to pack.
When they walked in the door, they said, “Leave it to us —we’ll take over, and things will go smoothly.”
I don’t know what they were thinking. I was paying them to finish what I couldn’t. And it turned out the only way I was sure things were packed was to be right there in the room with them.
Much of the time, I had to recline in my chair with my ankle above my heart to ease the pain. So I couldn’t always be right there watching during the 6 hours it took to both pack and load the truck.
I trusted them to pack the things I couldn’t. That was the whole point: that I could ease off and they’d take over. I paid a final bill nearly twice what I paid them in January 2022.
Boxes Mislabeled:
None of their boxes is labeled correctly. I looked in a box labeled dishes and found my portable air conditioner!
They scuffed up my mattress and my couch, and now they have dirt smudges. Both were wrapped in clear plastic, but obviously, they missed some areas. And those places got dragged on the floor and subsequently became dirty.
They were nice guys. But I wasn’t paying them to be nice guys. The manager called me several times during the move to see if I was satisfied, but I didn’t find out all these things till they were long gone.
Then John texted me last night and said that one of my patio doors was unlocked. They were supposed to take care of that. My chair had been put on the truck, and I was sitting in the car with Ivy.
By last night, I was done in, and there was no way I could drive back over there and lock the door and walk back to the parking lot.
The Stuff That Happened With Mamie:
Kendra was about to pull her hair out. The guys who brought the piece of granite (solid white) had a problem. I will take photos once things are unboxed. Anyway, they were way off on the sinkhole’s spacing. So they had to take it back to their shop and cut a new piece.
They brought the new piece back on Friday morning. Kendra said it was so heavy, being one big piece of granite, that it damaged the lower cabinets. It pulled the cabinets away from the wall, and now the doors and hinges are off. At that point, she was exasperated and furious, but the damage was done.
She’s used this granite guy for 10 years. She will look for ways to fix it. But it’s not like we can lift that heavy piece of granite, replace the cabinets, and put it back on!
Poor Mamie!
Plumbing Woes:
This altered the new dishwasher. The plumber was here last night until 7:30 trying to help Kendra fix all these problems. The dishwasher leaked due to a problem with the granite. Nothing fit like it did before. There was subsequently a gap between the dishwasher and the countertop.
They finally were able to slide the refrigerator in, after sawing away the bottom baseboard. Kendra told me to dump out the first few batches of ice. The first few batches of ice can contain impurities from new plumbing connections, such as PVC pipes and fittings.
But the door won’t open enough to slide it out. So I’ve been drawing ice from the door and dumping it out that way. Sometimes you have to find a workaround. Or scream.
My Lovely Daughters:
Kasi and Kendra have been the most wonderful help. I couldn’t have done this without them.
Last night, I couldn’t find the box with my ice packs to freeze for my ankle. I ice my ankle at least once or twice a day.
Of course, about as soon as I ordered an overnight delivery of ice packs from Amazon, I came across them. But the refrigerator had just been plugged in, and it would have taken a while for them to freeze.
You know how it is when you move. It’s chaos. And there’s really no way around that. There are too many variables and coordination of things that must be scheduled back-to-back.
Kendra, Riley, and Marley helped out Friday night until about 8 p.m. Riley had come home from college to vote.
The movers left without putting my round white dining table together, inflating my bed, or getting my chair plugged in and working correctly. Marley and Riley did all that while Kendra worked on the kitchen problems. I didn’t notice what they left unfinished until the movers were gone.
But the move is behind me, thank goodness. And I don’t think I’ll ever move again.
With childbirth, you forget the pain (somewhat), and you are willing to conceive and deliver another child. But a move can be a horror show. And you want it to stay in the rear-view mirror forever!
All these things that seem overwhelming will dim in my memory as time goes by. Just as everything always does.
Ivy:
Ivy was in a crate from 8 a.m. until about 4 p.m. when we drove over here. I let her out and put her in the laundry room because no one would be going in there once I closed the door. She stayed behind the washing machine the rest of the day.
Finally, about an hour after everyone was gone, the doors were locked, and I was in my bedroom reading, she came out. She’d pop up beside my bed now and again and look at me curiously. As if to say: What on earth have you done to us?
She spent the time while I was sleeping prowling the house. She’d jump up on the bed every few hours and paw me so I would pet her. Then she’d jump down and go check out the place again.
When I got up this morning, she was nowhere to be found. After Kasi left and Teri arrived, she finally came out, sniffed, and looked at everything. She’s settling down. Teri put a bench under the living room window with Ivy’s quilt on it so she could look outside.
Teri and I then focused on the living room furniture arrangement. When I looked at photos before moving, I’d think how small the space looked. But with my furniture in it, it seemed vast. Funny how that happens.
The Blessing That Is Teri:
But I think we’ve come across a winner of a solution in the living room between the two of us, with Teri doing most of the physical work. You’ll be seeing it soon. I need to order a rug to balance the furniture on the hardwood floors.
And I did ask Greg, as one of you suggested, about the possibility of a hazard involving me and an area rug. He said my four-wheel walker is much safer than the other kind. And to make sure each side of the carpet is held down by furniture.
So Teri and I are trying to figure it all out. But the living room is shaping up, and I’m happy with the changes we made (she made, actually) today. I like the progress, balance, and symmetry.
One room to start with, then we’ll move on to the others. Thank goodness for Teri, who is a calming influence on both me and Ivy. When I start to panic, she talks me down from the ledge.
First Loads Of Laundry:
I’ve been doing the washing and drying in the laundry room. As I was typing this, the washer became unbalanced, and I couldn’t get it balanced again. I took what was inside out and rearranged it. Over and over again. And it kept being unbalanced.
So I carried the waterlogged mattress pads out to the little back deck and draped them over the railing.
Then the dryer decided to stop working. I pulled it out, but the wiring looked a little suspect, so I shoved it back in. So I may be shopping for that now if I can’t figure out how to fix it.
However, Ivy is sleeping peacefully on the couch. She has calmed down and is getting accustomed to living here in the warm arms of Mamie.
So now I’ll take a deep breath because things are going to be okay.
I tried several days in a row on my phone to post here, but just as I was about finished, the screen moved back to something else, and my post would be lost.
For several years, the balls of my feet and toes would “scream” at night in pain, and it would take me several hours for the pain to settle down so I could go to sleep. Long story short, my husband mentioned it to our daughter. She said her podiatrist had her begin using Canodyne CBD gel roll-on. We bought some, and it takes a few minutes for the pain to settle down, but it has worked better than anything else I have tried. It does not contain any of the TSH (I think it’s called) which gets you high from marijuana. This product comes from somewhere near Chicago, but it took only a few days to be delivered to our home in North Texas. I think the cost is somewhere around $69.00. I believe you’ve tried many different things, but maybe this would help.
Brenda, I got a bad case of anxiety just reading about this move. I’ve been in my manufactured home for four years now and things are still going wrong. I never want to move again either, but I do wish I could have afforded a stick built home instead of a manufactured home. Nothing is normal or up to code in a 1985 MFH. I know you and Mamie are making memories that will join many others in those walls. I pray they are all good memories (even the bad ones) and that you and Ivy will live with Mamie happily ever after. Blessing to you Brenda.
Sandra
Oh, Brenda…my anxiety spiked just reading this email! I am so sorry for all the things that have gone wrong, especially with the movers (grrr…I hope you will leave bad online reviews so that others don’t use them) and the granite mishaps.
But…thank goodness for your daughters and Teri. You certainly are lucky to have them in your life. I hope that things will be looking up soon and you and Ivy will be able to settle in.
So sorry for all the mishaps with the move, Brenda. Thank goodness it’s behind you and the issues will get resolved. Glad Ivy is settling in so nicely. You must be exhausted. There’s plenty of time to unpack and organize. Please do pace yourself.
Congratulations on the move! First let me say everyone needs a Teri in their life. She is a dear friend. Take your time moving in and in due time you will be settled in. I am sorry to hear about the movers. I can attest it is hard to find good movers. I would ask the company for a partial refund for the items left behind and the pieces they should have put together. If they agree I would shake hands w the owner, end the conversation there, and move on. The countertop company is responsible for the damage unless the stumble was caused by cramped space and/or items being in his way causing him to stumble. It will all be fine in the end and I wish you and Ivy much happiness there.
As to movers…our last move which was about the same time as when you moved into the apts you are just leaving, was horrific!! Sounds a lot like what the other Elizabeth describes, also happened to us. We ended up having to pay about 30K to move out of a 2 bedroom apt, across country. A cousin of mine who is wealthy, paid the same to move at that time all his 3 bedroom house, garage etc stuff from CA to TX for the same amount. Nothing lost, nothing broken. All our boxes did not arrive, but at least most of the important stuff did. They moved with Bekins which must be a top notch company. Our move was quick due to Hubby’s health issues and when our son could come get us from NC too…so we got the fly by night gang. Due to a lot of things we have not yet recovered financially from that move. I wish we had moved with Bekins!!
I’m glad that you are finally moved in. Sorry it didn’t go smoothly for you.
Please let the owner of the moving company know how his employees performed. If I was the owner I would want to know if the people representing my company are making me look good or bad.
Thank goodness for friends like Teri.
Good grief! What a horrible move! It seems if there was anything that could go wrong, did go wrong! The movers sound terrible, I would contact the manager and let them know what a terrible job they did. I hope things all get resolved soon so you can relax.
I’m happy to hear about the update. Didn’t really go as planned, however, you have wonderful family to help you. Unfortunate about the cabinet dings! Crazy about the misaligned sink, but glad they took it back and recut. I think I’d call on the moving service for sure. Overall though Ivy seems good. It didn’t take her long to come out! Hoping the wiring gets fixed on the dryer and the washer just may not sit level yet. When the feet aren’t level it keeps being unbalanced. So you can’t open the fridge door all the way? Could you slide it out towards you a bit. It may stick out more, but maybe it’ll open as needed? Truth be told, I have one without encombrances and the darn thing they made NOT to open all the way. I can hardly get the drawers out. So stupid. Anyway, relax a bit. You are home.
Good morning, I have been thinking about you and your move. Glad it is over. Now one day at a time. Enjoy the process of getting settled. Hopefully one day you all will look back and laugh at the memories..
sorry your move was so awful
but at least you are out of the place you did not like
and soon with all your help it will be
home sweet home
I agree with whomever wrote that you should contact the moving company! And promptly! Also write an online review of their services and make it perfectly clear how poorly they did their job. And the countertop guy should be held accountable for the damage he caused. If you were renting from a third party, you would-I hope- demand that things be made right. It’s no different just because your daughter owns the house. Please stand up for yourself and do not settle for anything cobbled together or mediocre. You deserve better!! Thank you for giving an update because I’d been thinking about you and Ivy.
But there was a counter top that her landlord daughter provided. Brenda wanted a new one. Just being honest, the changes she wanted were on her not her daughter!
I agree. But the man should still be held accountable for the damage he caused.
Hope things get better…so over whelming…hope you get money back from those movers…at least you are there…why can’t things just go smoothly…💕
Oh my gosh, Brenda… wow!
First off, I was so happy to see your post tonight! I know you said you wouldn’t have Internet for a few days, so I figured a might be a minute before we heard from you. I’ve been thinking about you so much the last few days! Sounds like Murphy was out to get you! (Murphy Law). What can go wrong, will go wrong, and at the worst possible time! I’m so sorry all that happened. I’m surprised you had such a bad experience with the movers this go round, after having a good experience with them last time. I definitely think you should call the manager back and explain everything that went wrong. Take pictures as evidence! I have every confidence that Kendra will take care of the mishaps to the house. She’s pretty amazing! And the rest of your family(and Teri) are so sweet to all pitch in and help you out. Hang in there! It’ll all work out, eventually, and this will be a funny story you’ll tell people about some day. I’m glad you’re finally moved in, and I can’t wait to see lots of pictures!
I don’t know why the countertops needed to be replaced before (or after) you moved in because you didn’t like the color. I expected a post like this to happen. Be happy you have a place to live.
Sarah, internet trolls are not welcome in this positive place. Please go away and find another place to spew your negativity.
Sarah isn’t a troll. Brenda had similar issues in every place she’s lived for years including when she rented from her daughter before. There was a gofundme so brenda could buy a little blue house because her followers didn’t want her renting.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/vg36h4
No one is a troll here. Brenda has a history of problems where she lives. I hope Mamie is a more positive move for her.
It’s pretty hard to get a washer to stay balanced when washing really heavy items (like a quilt or a mattress pad). That happens to me sometimes with a heavy load of laundry and I just listen to it rumble around but it’s down in the basement so it’s not a very loud sound, thank goodness. I’ve putzed with the washer over the years by adjusting the little screws on the “feet” to try and “level” it but that hasn’t solved the problem, so I have cut down on the size of the laundry loads. It still gets unbalanced every now and then, especially in the “laundry area” in the basement because the concrete floor is sloped toward a drain that a tube from the furnace/AC unit runs to, and of course it’s there also if there is overflow from the washer. Sure sounds like the guys who installed the new countertop totally goofed up. The vendor should pay to have the cabinets repaired, but it doesn’t sound like they’re likely to be easily repaired. I expect your daughter will get tough with them. As for the movers who didn’t do what they were supposed to do – you should (firmly) ask for a refund for the parts of the job (the packing, putting together the dining table, etc.) they did not do. Put together a list of the things they were paid to do (since you paid the bill in full) but did not do and get on the phone with that manager. The main thing is that you are now in your new home and things will calm down. They will get done, one project at a time. I hope you will remember that your ankle can’t take impatience and you’ll end up suffering for it if you push too hard and try to get it all done as soon as possible. You have time to get the rest of the packing and what not done at the apartment since you paid the rent through the end of the year. If I were you, I would be take photographs of EVERY room in the apartment as you clean it out and date the photos, to show how you leave the apartment when all the moving and cleaning up is finished. I wouldn’t trust that management company any farther than I can throw them.
Oh boy! I’ve been thinking about you and Ivy and hoping things were going ok. Sorry about all the problems. I think it would be good to let the moving company know about what happened…they should adjust the cost.
Thank goodness for your family and Teri! All will be ok.
Mary
Yes.
I agree with Mary.
There’s so many emotions to deal with in reading this post.
Golly Brenda, I have no words.
So, what Mary said, seems to wrap up my feelings.
We all hope to read good news soon.
So good to hear from you although it wasn’t as happy as I had hoped. One thing about the washer, i think there are feet underneath that often need adjusting. Maybe that could be looked at. I can’t help with the dryer though 😱
Your grandchildren were real troopers and your daughters are amazing. I’m sure Kendra will get it all
fix in due time. Sounds like Ivy is adjusting quickly! Just rest and it will all come together soon.
Glad to hear you made it through your move. Moving is hard, even when we’re younger! Now you can take your time and just breath a bit. It’ll all get done in your own time. Looking forward to seeing all you do!
Rest first, then decorate!
Mercy Brenda…that is a few too many problems isn’t it? It is so much harder to take such things in stride when we get older (and health issues do not help either). Sure wish you all the best and that things get easier from here on out!! Rest all you can!!
So happy to hear from you. The moving company needs an email letting them know what happened. They need to be more considerate when they move seniors. Glad Teri is there for you and Ivy. Before you know Mamie will be the perfect cottage of your dreams. You’re blessed to have such wonderful girls they are real gems.
Brenda, I am so happy that you are moved!
Our last move was a nightmare, the movers showed up with too small a truck on Memorial Day weekend. Then they had to rent a truck and it was too small. Needless to say my husband and I were up at 4 am taking stuff to the goodwill that would not fit on the truck. Thankfully that is behind us but what a pain.
I am sorry that the house is having some issues, I feel confidant that they will all get worked out.
Thankfully you have 2 wonderful daughters and grandchildren as well as Teri to help you!
Take care and don’t overwork yourself, you have time.
It is good to hear from you. I was hoping you had not hurt yourself with the move. So many things have happened with your move. I hope things are better today.
Thanks for sharing! I didn’t expect a post from you till maybe Monday. I’m sorry so many things went wrong with your move . Sending prayers that everything else goes smoothly. 🙏🙏🙏