Update

NoH8

I don't think I'll be back by fri the 18th. I stopped by my place saturday and I have doubts that the place will be done by next friday. I am so frustrated. This is just crazy- I can't believe how long the work is taking., My neighbor said they were working on the house every day, i guess they had to so some of the work on the outside before they could fix the wall on the inside. No toilet yet but there's another pipe looking thing and the floor in the bathroom is done. The wall is just about done on the inside. The floor on the 2nd story and all the paint still needs to be done. it's so hard to be patient....

Anonymous

Well they have to fix all the structural things first.  I would imagine the floor joists and the wall studs, ceiling beams possibly.  These things take time depending on the extent of the damage. I find it amazing that they were able to get a contractor so quick to start work so soon.  Where I am, it takes the contractor a few weeks to work you into their schedule.  But we are in the middle of a housing boom here inspite of the mortgage crisis the rest of the country is facing.  Crazy, huh?  I hope you  will be home soon.

NoH8

thanks AH. The owners of the building are contractors, so they didn't need to hire anyone. The one wall, mostly on the inside but partly on the outside needed to be redone, part of the roof, the steps had to be redone and also the things hooked to the house that support the steps, whatever they are. I guess I have not a clue about what all the work entails, because it really looked to me like the work would only take a few days. of course, i had envisioned the most efficient people working and a crew of 10 instead of two guys that probably couldn't get a job anywhere else LOL.

Anonymous

Plus, they will have to comply with any new building codes since the structure was originally built.  They will need to get things inspected by building inspectors several steps along the way.  Its a big pain in the fanny to repair fire/structural damage.  You will be back soon but not as soon as you would like.

snowyday

Oh Amy, I cried for you when you told me about your reaction to the cats, I'd be the same way. I am nuts about my cats thats why I've taught them hot, and hot means come to momma, you can always start, cats are so smart. And I'm so happy that you and birdy are back together again. I'm so glad you have tenants insurance that's one thing I have as well, I was a firefighter for seven years and saw so many people losed everything.  I'm just so pleased that your okay, and I know it will be hard to start over even with insurance, it's all the little things that end up being gone.  I lived in a small community when I was firefighter and it always seemed the hardest thing was the pictures so we would ask the community to send us any photos for the families and put together a photo album that was always the best gift we could give and it was fun as well.  So ask your friends and family for photo's if you don't want to I will for you Amy.  Big hugs!  Oh yeah and the next smoke detector make sure it has battery backup and every clock change do a battery change, I know it's the landlords responsibility, but why put your life in someone elses hands. 

NoH8

Snowy, my apartment had an electric smoke alarm that goes through the store downstairs and the 2 apartments upstairs. I was always nervous about it, but my landlord said I don't need an additional one. The fire marshall said we need a different electrical one and I saw the wires out for it to be redone when I was there on saturday. I think my photos survived and if they didn't I have them online. They were in a trunk that didn't sustain fire or water damage. I gave the trunk to my friend to take home with him until I move back in, I didn't even check them because it was the day after the fire and I was a bit like a zombie.

I bet it was hard being a fire fighter. Fire is so scary for me. I smoked for 2 years before I got over my fear of lighting matches, only smoking when someone else would light it for me. I wouldn't go to bon fires in high school because of my fear. I couldn't believe how calm and level headed I was exiting my house, even though I was shaking. I guess you never know how you'll react in an acute crisis until it happens.

NoH8

I'M GOING HOME NEXT TUESDAY NIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can't wait to be home in my own bed--- well it won't be my own bed, it'll be a new bed since mine was unslavagable, but it'll be in my place. i can't wait....

sccruiser

Hurray!! I'm so happy for you Amy. Yes, and I bet your fur babies will be just as happy as you are, and maybe even more! Won't it be like moving into a "new" place? I've always wondered about moving into a new abode that no one has lived in before--what that would be like.

Are you doing a ceremony before you move in? We always go from room to room w/sage wand (it's smoking--so perhaps you don't want to do that!!) and bless each room with a silent meditation. It's supposed to ride the home of any not so nice feelings left behind by previous tenants or owners. We invite our friends and family members to come and participate, and then we have a picnic on the living room floor. Lots of fun! Have even done it on moving in day.

Good luck in settling in to your own place.

Hugs, 

NoH8

LOL-- a ceremony? I'm going to be so stressed and overwhelmed figuring out how to get my electronics from one company, clothes from another and the rest of my stuff from yet another place and from getting my 4 cats into their carriers for the longest 2 miles i've ever driven (or been given a ride to LOL), buying a bed, getting cable installed and everything else i'm trying to orchestrate. I'll be happy just to have all  that taken care of. I'm super stressed, I have so much i have to buy, like all new groceries, soap, cleaning supplies etc... I won't have the settlement check from the insurance company so I'm not sure what I'll do to pay for the new bed in the meantime.... I have an awful lot on my plate so my ceremony will have to be not puking on the floor from all the anxiety LOL.

Anonymous

Horray! Nice to hear good news around here! Enjoy your new bed!

Anonymous

Amy:  I am so happy for you.  So next Tuesday is the big day.  We should have a house warming for you.  Such hard times you have been through - but at least your going back home.  Sending lots of hugs your way.

Nicki

NoH8

Thanks Nicki., I got a bed today, so i won't be sleeping on the floor. The apartment looks even better today. The floors have been sanded and the hard wood is gorgeous.There were 4 guys working today, the most I've seen. I really need my insurance check becauseI can't buy anything else until it comes. They're still waiting on some prices for the electronics.... the new bed is sooo comfortable. I love a hard matress. The guy at the store said the mattress is just a little softer than the floor. I looooved the tempurpetic ones, i think it would have done wonders for my fibro but that's totally unrealistic financially.

I'm going to the beach tomorrow to see my cousin who's in from Australia, the timing is rough but I probably need a break from all the seriousness of the past 6 weeks.

sccruiser

Oh, Amy, you do have an awful lot on your plate. Still, you do need to stop and take a few deep breaths at some point. I hope you have help with the gathering of all your belongings in so many different places.

I just love when I can buy and sleep on a new bed. It's heavenly. I used to love the hard mattresses, but now I want to be cushioned--so I'm in heaven with a feather bed under me, and a down comforter over me, and about 6 down pillows around the top of my body. Funny thing, my granddaughter (15 months in a week) loves my bed. I mean she just rolls and jumps onto the pillows--it's heavenly for her also!

Well, I wish I could be there to help you, but I will be with you in spirit--sending positive moving day waves. Hope it all goes smoothly.

Hugs, 

NoH8

There's almost nothing I hate more than moving. I think it's one of life's greatest stressors. I'm having my electronics delivered today, the bed tomorrow and cable being set up tomorrow. Then tomorrow night my neighbor is helping me move my stuff from the hotel back home. Wednesday I'm getting my stuff delivered except for the clothes and the clothes are coming friday, I set it up this way so not to overwhelm me and I hope that works.

I do have to take a step back and breathe and I hope to do that friday afternoon. I just have things to do first.

I had a great time at the beach but it was exhausting, I was flat on my back for most of yesterday. I have to leave in a little bit to go wait for the electronics.

I sure wish you were here to help me too. I'm terrible at setting things up in an organized way.

NoH8

Anything that can go wrong has been going wrong. The past 2 days have been a nightmare of messed up logistics. Everything has gone awry from the apartment not being ready to things not being delivered. They're polyeurathaning (sp?) the floors today so I can't get back in tonight unless I sleep in the kitchen or bathtub. The mattress was delivered to the wrong place so I have to get a different one. The cable guy couldn't do the work because of the fire damage and now he needs to block off part of the street and can't come back until Thursday. The insurance won't extend my stay another day or two until they get a fax from the fire marshall. The agent recognizes that it's not my fault that I would have been back home a month ago if I could have been but she's not budging. It's like she's has to pay for the room out of her own pocket or something. My nerves are so shot. 

Anonymous

Sorry to hear about this messed up turn of events, Amy. Hang in there!!

NoH8

The clock is ticking....My landlord did send the fax over to the insurance agent but apparently it's not quite that simple. The fax goes to a HUGE department of people in charge of faxes, then gets scanned into the computer and then my claims agent is notified, so having the fax sent at 2:30 pm yesterday when the fax team works 8-4 means not having the fax yet is not unusual.

I met a great couple across the hall in the hotel who also had a fire, theirs was 2 weeks ago, and she's helping me take things over to my apartment this morning, so whether I move back or stay I have a bunch of stuff I'm not using out of the hotel room.  I have to call my agent back at 10 to see if she goit the fax, check out time is 11-- nothing like waiting until the last minute.

wishiwere

{{Amy}}, it's so nutty when a fax is there and not in the hands you need! Dang it!  JUST DO IT!  Why is it, that things are so complicated when technology was SUPPOSED to make things easier, quicker and more efficient!  HA!

Hoping you get good news today and the extension is approved and even better that the floors are done and you can get back in there!  Geepers, it will be so nice for all 5 of you to get settled once more.  Even without the extras, you'll all be so much calmer I'm sure to be back with familar things.

{{hugs}} and petting to hold you all over till you can GET in there permanently!  Good Luck today!

sccruiser

Hi Amy,

So sorry you are having so many problems getting back into your home! What a bummer. And to have the insurance company lady treat you like you are an object instead of a person. Sometimes I think people employed by a company or working in a service related industry need to stop for a moment and try to feel what it might be like if she/he was in your shoes! I think helping people has somehow gotten lost in this country--and if it's there it is rare. I can't tell you how many times I surprise someone helping me when I tell them at the end I hope they have a wonderful day! It's like, wow, this person is being nice to me. I hope they pass it on.

Was kind of wondering if you were having some difficulties returning to your home as I hadn't seen you recently on the Obama thread.

I think of you often, and hope you get all the bumps out of your final move. And then get a chance to relax and enjoy your "new" apt. I bet the kitties will just love it!!

See you on the board, 

NoH8

Wish, the fax thing blew my mind. I never heard of anything like that before. 

Ok here's the update. I am HOME.

I got extended at the hotel literally as I was getting the cats in their carriers to check out. I had 2 in the carriers 2 more to go. I got the approval at 11:30 am and check out time was 11:00 but I was told I could stay until noon. At that point I thought screw it, I'm not going through this stress again. Unfortunately, I lost out on help because of the timing of the move because my friend that was going to help me thursday (unpack) had to help me Wednesday get out of the hotel. If I had been able to stay until later I could have had my neighbor help me after work.

Of course, we desperately needed rain so it poured buckets most of the day and night. My friend got caught in a hail storm going home from my place. the bed did come wednesday night, at 9:15 pm which is better than not coming. I was laying on a beach towel with my pillow until that time. the bed is soooo comfortable. I love a hard mattress and this one was the hardest in the store.

The apartment is uncomfortable because the firefighters broke the screens in three of my windows so I can't open the windows too far. My tiny window unit isn't the same as the hotel's central air. There is a hole in the ceiling where the ceiling fan was so I'm hotter than hell. It's really humid arount here. I had a storm door on the front so I could get cross ventilation, but that burnt and I don't have the new one yet,  There's still work to be done here.

Thursday all of my stuff (except for the clothes, bedding, shoes and fabric things) were delivered.  There were about 75-100 boxes piled taller than me. It took 2 days to get to the kitchen sink behind boxes. Then the clothes came friday and that was just as hard, though less boxes. My whole body hurts more than it ever has, on my worst fibro day. I wanted to hire my neighbor's kids to help me, but she wouldn';t let them because they didn't do their chores-- while I understand her reasoning I feel like I'm being punished. I really need help.

My friend is coming tomorrow and he's (hopefully) bringing his 12 yo granddaughter to help/work for pay. I'm taking it easy this morning because I just can't move. I got a lap top after the fire (with some help from my friends..) and that has been my saving grace.

My cats are happy, although I think even they miss the central air too.

I could really use a massage or 10.

NoH8

Life is definitely improving. I had help unpacking and hanging yesterday. I can walk in the kitchen and the microwave is plugged in. The bathroom is decent and the other rooms look less overwhelming. The landlord put in the AC and I'm no longer sweating. I hate to see the electric bill, but at least I'm less uncomfortable. I definitely feel like the worst is over.

AnnNYC

Good news, Amy -- I'm glad to hear things are on the upswing!

Anonymous

Amy, so glad to hear you are finally back home.  One step at a time.

NoH8

Thanks for the well wishes.

It's so weird. I had no food-- and still have little food. I mean no spices, no sugar, no ketchup, no anything. It's going to take me a long time to get back to some semblence of a kitchen. I bought salt and pepper today. Every time I've moved since I left home I moved food with me. I haven't had to buy much food since the fire and WOW the prices went up. I can only walk to one store so I haven't been able to price check. It's right across the street and I bring a cart home with me. I could probably walk to another one but going home is up a hill, and it's hard to push the cart LOL.  I still have to figure out transportation on a more permanent basis but I want to be settled here first.

OneBadBoob

bunp

NoH8

I got the bathroom done and the kitchen should be done later today. there are no boxes on the 2nd floor-- I haven't done anything upstairs in the loft, there are still about 15 boxes upstairs. I'm seeing a light at the end of the tunnel and my apartment is starting to feel more like home.

BTW, my apt is in an old farm house that's been converted to a store on the first floor and 2 apartments that have the front and back of the 2nd and 3rd floors.