The Uimate in Clown Car Technology
4/30/07
As most of you know, we closed on our house in the end of March. I've been living with my folks for the last month tying up the last loose strings from the sale/move and honoring my commitment to a month's notice at 3M. Thanks Mom and Don! When we moved out of the como House there were about a dozen boxes of stuff that the movers wouldn't take, like any full caning jars or beer bottles with beer in them. Their reason was that these items might break in transit and stain other items. Which makes me nervous about how well they are going to care for our other items. So, I had to figure out how to get those boxes to NY myself. I looked in to renting a van or an SUV since any smaller vehicle would be too small and there wasn't enough to justify renting a moving truck. Apparently I waited too long before trying to rent a van because by the time I had they were sold out at all of the rental companies. The economics of renting an SUV was frightening. The rental fee is $120-150 per day and they estimated the fuel efficency at 19MPG. That adds up to ~$200 in gas! Luckily Lynn's parents were able to save the day. They will be driving out to NY in June to ring our bikes and they said that they have room for the boxes too. Thanks Sue and Steve! So I'm driving my car then.
It was a bright sunny morning this morning. A nice day for a drive. I started packing my car at 8:30 am. Even with the boxes gone there was still a lot to pack. I have a 19" CRT, a fire box with our important documents, two suitcases of clothes, Javabird and Folly, my D&D books, about a dozen reference books from work, a box of toys and pictures that I used to decorate my office with, a box of oil and vinegar (mover's wouldn't take), a bucket of tools, Emo in his carrying cage, his litter box and his food. Oh, and some slothes and toiletries for the road so I don't show up at our new place looking like a cave man. Thank goodness I apprenticed with a packing master. She impressed me so much I married her. :) here was so much stuffed in that little car that I was reminded of one of those clown cars from the circus. I told my mom That the Honda Insight was the ultimate in clown car technology. The packing wasn't done until 10:45.
All packed up and I'm off. It was bitersweet leaving and I did choke up a little bit as I drove past 3M. I have always wanted to work there and I have been working with a great bunch of people. I'll miss you guys. Keep in touch! The weather cooperated all day with only light showers, just enough to clean my windshield off. Emo was great, he cried a little bit at first. After that he only cried when I tried to sing along with a CD or the radio. Everybodys a critic. At 1:11 this afternoon my car hit 77,777 miles on the odometer. I considered that a good omen for the day. Traffic was light for most of the day, except for around Chicago as usual. I took the 290/294 route to I 80. It added at least another hour to my trip. Lynn's dad had suggested an alternate route taking I 39 around Chicago but I deceided to follow the rout in my triptic. If you ever come this way I suggest you take the I 39 way. Now I'm snuggled in my room at the Holiday Inn in La Porte Indiana. Not bad time and on a single tank of gas!
Write you again tomorrow,
B
As most of you know, we closed on our house in the end of March. I've been living with my folks for the last month tying up the last loose strings from the sale/move and honoring my commitment to a month's notice at 3M. Thanks Mom and Don! When we moved out of the como House there were about a dozen boxes of stuff that the movers wouldn't take, like any full caning jars or beer bottles with beer in them. Their reason was that these items might break in transit and stain other items. Which makes me nervous about how well they are going to care for our other items. So, I had to figure out how to get those boxes to NY myself. I looked in to renting a van or an SUV since any smaller vehicle would be too small and there wasn't enough to justify renting a moving truck. Apparently I waited too long before trying to rent a van because by the time I had they were sold out at all of the rental companies. The economics of renting an SUV was frightening. The rental fee is $120-150 per day and they estimated the fuel efficency at 19MPG. That adds up to ~$200 in gas! Luckily Lynn's parents were able to save the day. They will be driving out to NY in June to ring our bikes and they said that they have room for the boxes too. Thanks Sue and Steve! So I'm driving my car then.
It was a bright sunny morning this morning. A nice day for a drive. I started packing my car at 8:30 am. Even with the boxes gone there was still a lot to pack. I have a 19" CRT, a fire box with our important documents, two suitcases of clothes, Javabird and Folly, my D&D books, about a dozen reference books from work, a box of toys and pictures that I used to decorate my office with, a box of oil and vinegar (mover's wouldn't take), a bucket of tools, Emo in his carrying cage, his litter box and his food. Oh, and some slothes and toiletries for the road so I don't show up at our new place looking like a cave man. Thank goodness I apprenticed with a packing master. She impressed me so much I married her. :) here was so much stuffed in that little car that I was reminded of one of those clown cars from the circus. I told my mom That the Honda Insight was the ultimate in clown car technology. The packing wasn't done until 10:45.
All packed up and I'm off. It was bitersweet leaving and I did choke up a little bit as I drove past 3M. I have always wanted to work there and I have been working with a great bunch of people. I'll miss you guys. Keep in touch! The weather cooperated all day with only light showers, just enough to clean my windshield off. Emo was great, he cried a little bit at first. After that he only cried when I tried to sing along with a CD or the radio. Everybodys a critic. At 1:11 this afternoon my car hit 77,777 miles on the odometer. I considered that a good omen for the day. Traffic was light for most of the day, except for around Chicago as usual. I took the 290/294 route to I 80. It added at least another hour to my trip. Lynn's dad had suggested an alternate route taking I 39 around Chicago but I deceided to follow the rout in my triptic. If you ever come this way I suggest you take the I 39 way. Now I'm snuggled in my room at the Holiday Inn in La Porte Indiana. Not bad time and on a single tank of gas!
Write you again tomorrow,
B