On Our Own!

Last night I drove my mom to the airport and she flew back home to Boston. It was great having her here for the 10 days and she was such a huge help in getting us unpacked and settled in here. Since I came down here on the 12th of June we've had someone staying with us or we were waiting for our movers and didn't have our things. Last night was the first time it was just the 3 of us and we were in our new home. It was nice but definitely weird. Today my sister and brother took Ava to Bradley Palmer State Park to play in the wading pool and I so badly wish Allie and I were there to go with them. And for the 4th of July everyone's going up to the lake house for a cook-out and it's just Allie and I because Bill has to work. We may go to the beach but the weather right now says it's going to be 99 out so we will see if it's even safe for us to go. But the 3 of us went to the beach today and had a blast. The waves were huge and I must say, Allie is fearless. She lets those waves knock her down and wash over her and she just gets back up and smiles and goes back at it.

In other news, our laptop got a bad virus last week and after a few days of asking around and not being able to fix it, we went out and just bought a new one on a Best Buy credit card. Not the smartest move financially for us right now but in the long run it was a good idea. My laptop was 4.5 years old which is basically ancient and it was slowly dying. The desktop had no icons on it for some reason and the screen was cracking so bad we couldn't even close it anymore. So the salesman conned us into doing the credit card and we don't pay interest for 18 months so hopefully we can pay it off within that time. Who knows though. I did our finances yesterday and we are going to be tight every month. Bills check will cover just our bills so we will have to use savings for other things which I really wanted to avoid doing. But with his schedule being so scattered and his going to the academy for 12 weeks, I can't take a job other than a set 9-5 where I can have Allie in a good daycare and be sure to get her on time. It's just hard for me right now because we've always had two incomes and not paid rent, now we have one income and rent. Our credit card debt is building from the move and I called to dispute the charges today and they basically told me I have no case. Even though the movers breached contract 3 times, because I did still use their services (I had no choice but to), I have no case and they won't do the dispute for me. UGH! Not what I wanted to hear. Between that debt and our school loans, I'm fairly certain we will be paying things off until we're in our 50s unless we hit the lottery. But I have to keep reminding myself that we have our health and our happiness and money is just that; money. It's going to be hard for a while but we will be ok, and thank goodness we don't splurge or go out often and we have money in savings to help us out.

And on a final note, Bill had his first night of field training Sunday night. He went out with an officer and rode around their "precinct". It was a good night he said but he saw something very tragic. I can't go into detail what it was but I hope he never has to see something like that again because it will surely take a toll on someone. But he has work again tomorrow night and the tourists are starting to come into town heavily now so I'm sure he will be busy and have lots of interesting stories!

Adjusting to Southern Life!

Hi All! Well I've been down here in Myrtle Beach for about 2 weeks and so far things are going well. We FINALLY got our stuff on Sunday! I'm just happy to have all our things and only 2 pictures and a couple glasses got broken, and everything made it so we are thankful for that. My mom and I unpacked and decorated the whole place in two days and it looks great! I am so excited and really love it. I have to pay rent for the first time next week which is weird since I have never done it and we are on a strict budget right now but hopefully I will find a job soon. I have a second interview tomorrow so we will see how it goes. I love being home with Allie and feel really guilty having to put her back in daycare. At Julies she was there from about 8:15 - 4:30 but jobs here at like 8:30-5 or 9-6 so she will be going 9 or 10 hours a day now which I feel awful about, but I have to go back to work, we just cannot make it on one income. It's been weighing on my mind a lot lately but I just have to go to the interview and see what happens I guess.

My moms been here with us since last Friday and it's really great having her here. I am really going to be lost when she leaves and I'm on my own with Allie while Bill is at work and we are down here alone. My mom is going to come with me to church on Sunday so hopefully I will meet some people and maybe make some connections. I hope people come to visit a lot though, we love being hosts and I could use the company!

It's Hot Out! And I'm Frustrated!

Don't worry, this blog won't be as dramatic as the title. It's just really hot out here, it's 8:40 at night and still about 88 degrees. And we live near the beach, so I don't know how the people inland do it where it's about 10 degrees hotter! But the weather shows no sign of cooling off and I think the locals are praying for rain. We had a thunderstorm the other night which was really needed but with it being so hot, I think the help that provided is long gone. But anyway, I've been here for almost a week and it's going great. Even though the movers have still been a nightmare and we still don't have our things, I'm adjusting well and I think Allie is too. I had a job interview yesterday for a financial aid planner position at a college and I got a call back today for a 2nd interview so that's great. I didn't want to jump into a job so quickly but it can't hurt to go and see what happens or what the job is about.

The ride down here was great. Mike and I made it in about 16 hours and didn't hit any traffic or any real problems. Just some heavy rain and once we got past that, it was fine. It was great to finally get to the apartment and settle in and know that I was finally home. For the first few days I kept thinking I was on vacation and that I would be going back to Boston in a few days but I think it's finally sunk in that I'm here for good. Like I said, the only problem has been the movers. My stuff was contracted to be here by Thursday (yesterday) and now its Friday and the guy just called and said "he will do his best to get it here tomorrow". I have literally heard that everyday since Tuesday. From Tuesday until last night they kept telling me "the truck is being loaded today". I'm no expert but I'm damn sure it doesn't take 3 days to load a truck and get it on the road to make the 9 hr trip from NY to SC. And while I'm so frustrated that the whole debacle happened when I didn't get my pick up on Wed as promised, then again on Friday, but the horrible service I've gotten from both the actual moving company and the carrier they work with that's so frustrating. I have probably called at least 30 times and left messages a handful of times and maybe gotten a call back 3 out of the 10 messages. A bunch of times I have called, made my case, then just been put on hold and then been disconnected. And every time I call, I talk to someone different so I have to go through the whole thing about explaining my situation and how on Monday I was told my stuff would be here maybe Wednesday, but definitely by Thursday. Then yesterday morning (Thursday) it was early next week, which I said was unacceptable. Then last night he said maybe Friday but if not, on Saturday. Then today he said not today, but he assured me for Saturday. Now the guy just called and said he will try to get here tomorrow. I honestly think they just say these things to quiet me for the day and then figure they can deal with me the next day and tell me another lie.  This blog doesn't even do it justice, all the phone calls, and the hassle and how they've broken their contract 3 times but I'm expected to follow it and pay their outrageous fees and added on charges.  At this point, I just need to go to bed tonight and pray that they get here tomorrow and that I didn't upset the guy when I just talked to him and he won't spite me by not coming tomorrow...

We Have A Problem.

Where to begin?! This is going to be a long post because so much has happened. As I sit here, the moving company is FINALLY here and are wrapping and loading my stuff. It's taking a lot longer than I expected and hopefully I will be able to get home and say goodbye to my sister before she has to go to work. But at this point I just want my stuff on the truck and on the way to SC. Because it has been a BATTLE to get the movers here. This is the story...

We didn't think we were going to need a mover until Monday May 29, 2011 when we found out our other plans fell through. I immediately got on the phone and called one company, got a quote, and then called another, and got a quote from them. I went with the second company because they seemed to be more well known and I thought that would be better. Turns out, not so much. I spoke to a guy on Friday June 3 and was told that on Tuesday I would get a call about what time the movers would be here on Wednesday the 8th to do the pick up. Well Tuesday rolls around and I get no call. So I start calling and after about 3 or 4 calls and a few un-returned voicemails to my "quality assurance" rep, I finally get in touch with a Customer Service person who says "Oh, we have no carrier for you, we can't get you tomorrow!". WHAT?! At this point, it's 4 pm on Tuesday, and I am expecting someone to come the next day. They didn't even think to call me to let me know. Good thing I called them or I would have been sitting here all day like an idiot. So after I get over that because the woman says if I cancel my order by Thursday the 9th I will get my deposit back (of $1029.00) because I am still outside the window of my pick up which is now Friday or Saturday. But they can't tell me which day so I guess I just sit around for two days and hope. Not going to happen! So bright and early Wednesday morning I am able to get in touch with the first company and they agree to come move me on Friday and guarantee my stuff there Sunday. Awesome. I pay a $449.00 deposit with them and then call the second place to see about cancelling and getting my money back. I talk to about 4 people and they all say "Ok fine" we will get it going but I have to talk to so and so and it has to go through this and what not. Well finally I emailed some guy at the company the quote from the people who are now moving me and say they will be here on Friday. So on Thursday he calls me and says "Well, I can have someone there on Friday as well so you don't get your deposit back!" I'm sorry what?! I was told otherwise and I don't care that you can have someone here on Friday. I have a signed contract saying someone would be here on Wednesday the 8th which clearly didn't happen and no one would have even told me about.Well after spending a good portion of Thursday fighting with him, he won't budge and says I don't get my money back even though he has no valid reason as to why since my contract says the 8th and I must have said a million times I don't want to do business with you and I don't care that you can have someone here on Friday, that wasn't what I signed for. Well I lost that fight and said fine, I will go with you, lost my $449.00 deposit with the other people (better than $1029.00) and you be here on Friday. They can't guarantee it will be there on Sunday but will be by the 16th. Gee thanks. Well here comes Friday and they call and say they will be there between 2 and 4. 4:00 rolls around, no one. I call, they'll be there around 6-7. 5:30 comes around, I get a call, we're about 2-3 hours away. Can we come tomorrow?! Are you kidding me? I am so upset and frustrated at this point I can't even speak. I'm already formulating my next argument with them in my head. And the worst part is, they don't even care. They just keep giving me to CSRs and saying "We're sorry for this". No, you're not sorry, you don't care that I have plans to see family, or a job to finish up. It's all about the money that they don't deserve a damn cent of. I talked to someone at like 6 and she goes they can be there in 3 hours. Who moves at 9 pm? They wouldn't finish until after 2 am and it's pitch dark out. So here I sit on Saturday, they've been going for 3 hours already, the new "estimate" is about 2 grand more than originally quoted to me, and if my stuff makes it to SC, it will be a damn miracle. I can't believe all this but trust me, this fight is not over, it is only just beginning. I will get what is due to me...

Allie's Going Away Party!

Today began what will surely be a long line of "goodbyes" (hopefully more like "see you laters") that Allie and I will have to do over the next week before we move. Allie's wonderful daycare provider, Julie, had a "going away party/graduation party" for Allie and another little girl who goes there, Ema to celebrate us moving and Ema moving on to kindergarten next year. It was awesome! Julie got a cotton candy machine, and a bouncey house for the kids! She even got Allie and I a present which was so thoughtful! The party was such a sweet gesture and a great get together before we go. Now I don't normally like to get all mushy and sentimental but I'm going too so if you don't like that, stop reading.

Ok, you've been warned!

When I first had Allie and went on maternity leave, I knew I was going to go back to work. There was no doubt about it. I love working, I loved my job, and since it provided our apartment, I had no choice but to go back! Haha. But I kind of slacked on the whole daycare thing and didn't look while I was pregnant and didn't really think about it until I was about 4 weeks into my maternity leave and only had about 6 weeks left. Lucky for us, my friend Jess told us that her daughters daycare provider had an open spot and that we should give her a call because Haley really loved it there and it was in a nice home environment, which I wanted a lot more than a center. So I finally got off my butt and gave Julie a call. We met her a few weeks later and it was one of those moments where you know it just "fits". Allie wasn't able to go full time at first because Julie had too many kids but we liked her so much we knew we could find someone to watch Allie on off days and it would be fine, which it was. And I am so glad and thankful that we found Julie when we did. She has been nothing short of amazing. From the first day, when Allie was only 10 weeks old, I never worried about if she was in good hands or in a good home. She always had a good day and when she started smiling and really making herself known you could just tell she enjoyed being at Julies with the other kids (who adored her which made it that much better). As Allie has gotten bigger and does more developmentally, it's easy to see that she is at ease and truly happy with Julie. She goes to her no problem, and now that she says some words and waves, before we're even out of the car in the morning she's going "bye mama" and waves to me! I'm lucky if I can get a kiss from her once we're inside because she's already at the toys. Now that she's been going to Julies for just over a year, I can't believe how big Allies gotten and how influential Julie has been. I honestly thought Allie would be going there until it was time for Kindergarten because I didn't think we would be moving but everything happens for a reason I like to think. I can only hope and pray that we find someone as amazing as Julie down in Myrtle Beach.

Julie, I don't know if you will read this, but THANK YOU! You are truly one in a million and I can't put into words how much you have meant to Bill and I. Allie is our angel and knowing she has been in such good hands puts us both at ease while we have to work so we can give her everything she deserves. I don't know how you do what you do every day, from the painting and activities, to the meals, to the special surprises on holidays, you are wonderful and Allie adores and loves you. You are always welcome to come visit at any time! For a week with the family, or just for a weekend to get away because you deserve it! Thank you for taking care of our little girl the way you did, we are forever grateful.