Moving: The Saga

Prepare yourself, this is a long entry. I recently posted on my Facebook status that I hated moving companies and if anyone is preparing to use one for a large move s/he should seek my counsel on how not to get screwed. Here's the story behind it all.

(Note: All names have been concealed to avoid slander.)

Heather's employer generously offered us a moving allowance: a dollar amount we could use to pay for anything related to moving to Alaska (moving Co., travel costs, gas, food, hotels and even first month's rent in a place to live if the money would stretch that far).

During my initial discussion with N, the chief saleslady for Moving Company, I explained our plan to drive cross-country. She said it would take approximately 25 days to ship our things. The plan: we could have our stuff picked up (10/2) a week prior to our departure date (10/10) so that we and our stuff arrive in Anchorage at about the same time. Sounds good.

Also, part of the initial discussion was how much stuff we had. She asked how many pounds of household goods we had. Now let me stop here and ask: Does anybody, I mean anybody, have any earthly idea how much your combined household goods weigh? Answer: no. However, as moving companies bill by the pound they insist on procuring a rough estimate from the shipper (me). Somehow, I'm not really sure though, we landed on about 2,000 lbs of stuff. I was given a price rate based on about 2k pounds. Each additional 100 lbs would cost "x" amount of dollars. Okay, this is how moving companies do it, fine by me. The estimated cost would be about 1/3 of our total moving allowance giving us plenty to travel on.

Standard procedure for a move such as this is for the company to send someone out a week or so before the move to inventory our items and get a better idea of furniture, number of boxes and a more accurate estimate of the weight. However, this company had no one to send so they went with their second option, an over the phone inventory. Fine. I talked with L, chief N's assistant. L asked about all of our furniture, calculating cubic feet and weight. I walked through the house telling her about any items that wouldn't fit in a box. She then inquired as to how many boxes we'd be shipping. Again, having not yet packed, who the *#&% knows!?

I guessed, "Maybe around 45 or 5o boxes."

"Hmmm," she said, "probably not that many just for a 2-bedroom apartment. Usually it's more like 20-25."

Okay, she was the expert, so I deferred to her good judgment. We estimated about 25 boxes. Again, she confirmed that it sounded like it would be 2k pounds or just over. "Good, everything is still looking good," I thought to myself.

Moving Day: The truck driver calls that morning for directions. Upon arriving at our apartment he judges that he can't fit an 18-wheeler into our complex. He informs me he'll have to run and get a smaller truck to transfer our goods from our house out to his big-rig across the street in the grocery store parking lot. Not a problem, they must do this all the time. After all, I don't know many places like this you can actually fit a transfer truck. I'm informed that once our stuff is properly stowed he will hit up a weigh station and find out our exact weight.

The movers begin carrying boxes and wrapping up furniture. They finish up and our stuff begins it's journey to Alaska: the last frontier. For the next week, Heather and I sleep on the floor and say goodbye to our Asheville peeps. Oct. 10th we set out on the road. Day three of our journey, while standing underneath Mount Rushmore, I get a call from R, my contact who monitors our stuff while in transit. He informs me that our stuff has reached High Falls, Montana, where it will be transferred to another truck.

"Great," I replied, "hey, what was the official weight of our shipment?"

He pauses, and spits out, "Right at 5,000 pounds."

Holding back the freak out, I inquire, "So, how much does that change our projected invoice for this shipment?"

Doing some quick math he tells me the new price, which will be just over 9/10 of our entire moving allowance! Queue the freak out.

After a few days of freaking and wonderful traveling I drafted and sent an email to chief N requesting that our rate be adjusted to a rate more suitable for a 5k lb shipment. It seems the gods smiled on my email that day (or at least N did), and I was contacted by N who said she could reduce our invoice to about 7/10 our moving allotment. This was acceptable, but it drastically changed some of our financial plans. It would seem that we would be footing a significant portion of the moving costs.

After arriving in Anchorage I contacted R (transit monitor) letting him know we're here and asking how soon our things will arrive. He doesn't know, but reminds me that it typically takes 4-5 weeks for this kind of move. Funny, how I was initially told 25 days (3.5 weeks) and now suddenly the norm is 4-5 weeks. Grrr. Okay, no matter, because we didn't yet have apartment for our stuff to go into.

In the mean time, Moving Company had sent the primary invoice to me and to the hospital who was paying for the move. However, days later, I received a call from the hospital to inform me that they had received a second bill from Moving Co. for an additional $1200. This was news to me, because it was made clear that everything regarding billing would be sent to me and the hospital. This second invoice was itemized as follows:

1) Small truck for small apartment street: $700.00

2) Packing of 15 boxes $500.00

There are so many problems with this, I don't even know where to start. But here goes. First, we agreed that we would do all the packing, which we did. The movers didn't have to pack a single box of stuff. What they did pack were things like mattresses, box springs, large mirrors and a painting. However, packing of those such items is already included in our primary fee to Moving Co. Second, even if they did pack 15 of our boxes of stuff, where do you get off charging 500 friggin' dollars to pack 15 boxes!?! Next: yes they had to acquire a smaller truck for our apt., but I can go down the road to U-Haul and rent a truck for the day for only $50 bucks. Where do you get $700?

I told the hospital not to pay anything till this was resolved. I called Moving and couldn't get a hold of N. Left a message. No returned phone call. I called the next day. I sent an email: nothing. I called the next day and got R who sometimes helps with matters of billing when N is busy. Now, Moving Company subcontracted our move out to Second Moving Company. They are the actual company that picked up our stuff, because Moving Co. didn't have people in our area. Whatever. R informed me that they had received a second invoice from 2nd Moving Co. for the small truck and that they have to pass this bill along to us. That's where the second bill came from.

In this conversation I also mentioned that the $500 packing fee was bogus, that we'd already paid for that service. R's response was, "well we've got the movers saying they packed some boxes and you saying they didn't. It's your word against theirs. How do we know who to believe?" This infuriated me. However, after that conversation, a 3rd adjusted invoice was mysteriously sent. It was only for the $700 small truck fee. The $500 packing fee had magically disappeared, and no one on their side said a peep about it again.

I wanted to know how this $700 for a small truck was itemized, broken down. Richard didn't know. So, I called 2nd Moving Co. and started inquiring. The first lady was pleasant but couldn't answer, so she suggested I talk to their manager, D. (Note: Now I am talking with the subcontractor company, doing leg work that should be done by Moving Co.) When I spoke with D, I asked why it costs $700 for a small truck. His polite response, I kid you not was, "I don't know anything about $700 dollars, we invoiced Moving Co. for $552.20, that's all."

It is now clear to me that Moving Co. was trying to screw us royally. They somehow added a $150 markup to this already outrageous bill?! Nathan mad. Heather was literally ready to violently destroy somebody.

I tried to get a hold of N, because she seems to be the only one that can make things happen, but with no avail. Once again I spoke with R. I asked him how $552 turns into $700. He said, "Well, we've got to make some money somehow."

I responded politely. But what I was thinking was, "You're already making your profit in the large amount from the first invoice. This second markup is just ridiculous." It now felt like they were trying to scam us.

Not to mention, by this point it had been 5 weeks and we still had no word on our stuff getting delivered, and R had no idea where it was.

After several more days and attempts to talk with N, I drafted another lengthy email requesting that Moving Co. pay all or the majority of this $552.20 invoice. I was polite, firm and persuasive. Too long to post here, I simply spelled out how we had been misled, ignored and how the bills were bogus, over priced and much of it should be covered in our initial payment to Premier. The story concludes several days later when N, finally like a ray of warm sunshine, contacts me. She said nothing in direct response to my email; however, she said they could reduce this second invoice down to $176 dollars. By this point I was ready for it to be over. I can handle $176 for an extra truck rental and a bit more labor on their part. Whatever. We agreed and the final invoice was sent for the last time.

Somehow, through persistence and downright nagging, I managed to turn a bill for $1,200 into $176. Magic! This makes me wonder how many people just go ahead and pay whatever invoices get sent to them by this company. I imagine they get away with these rip off scams all the time. I'm just glad we were careful and smart enough to know what we were paying for.

As for our stuff, it was picked up on Oct. 2nd and delivered 6.5 weeks later on Nov. 16th. A far cry from their first estimate of 25 days.

Life in Alaska

My apologies for the prolonged blog hiatus. It seems there is an endless amount of busy-work to take care of when you move 5,000 miles away (changing address, banks, car ins, utilities, etc.). Most days while Heather's plugging away at her new job, I'm just as busy trying to get us set up in the great Northwest.

Anyway, here's a quick update on life in Alaska.

After our road trip of all road trips across two countries in two weeks, we arrived in Anchorage eagerly seeking a new place to reside. We found The Highlands, a "luxury" apartment complex surprisingly very similar to the non-luxury complex we lived in in Asheville. Our second level unit is nice: around 1100 square feet, we have two bedrooms, a big open area for the kitchen, dining and living rooms, a den/nook area, fireplace, two full baths, and our own private staircase inside the door. The ceilings are 9 feet high and the wall corners are rounded to give it that "luxury" feeling. But honestly, I wouldn't call this luxury living. Rent is astronomical (as we expected), but it is almost made up for by our balcony view.

The first pic (see above) was taken from our balcony in the early evening. Mountains, moon and blue sky are a wonderful thing to see from the couch.

Heather's job is going great, and she enjoys the people she's working with. In mid-Dec. she will finish her intern hours and be a fully licensed pharmacist in AK (making her licensed in 2 states!).

The puptons love laying down in front of the fireplace whenever it's on. When they curl up together, cuteness abounds. It's like they create a black hole of cuteness that we get sucked into. Add Heather to the mix and it's an explosion of adorableness!

They also enjoy sporting their cold weather gear when we go on walks.

About a week ago I stepped outside our front door with Dakota for a bathroom break, lifted my head and saw Bullwinkle across the street only a rock's throw away. He was feasting on the tree next to him and just moseying about our complex. It was totally cool! This makes our second moose sighting after seeing them outside Heather's hospital one day after work. Moose are great. They're not afraid of anything because they're as big or bigger than most cars.

We had a great Thanksgiving meal with a huge ham (I cooked it!), but we missed lots of folks from Asheville. That's what we've been up to for the last several weeks. Check back, and I'll try to post more regularly.

Adios!

1984, by George Orwell

My friend loaned me this book about a year ago. Finally, I have finished it.

George Orwell, writing in the 40s, shares his feelings about the social climate of his time with this striking futuristic satire. A political commentary, and a dark one at that, 1984 is about one man's experience of life living under governance of The Party ruled by Big Brother in Oceania, one of only three super-countries left in the world.

In this world, Oceania is constantly and forever at war with the other two super-countries: Eastasia and Eurasia. There are three classes of people in Oceania. Inner Party Members, the ruling class, run the party, enjoy more of life's comforts than most, and make up a tiny percentage of the population. Outer Party Members, to which Winston Smith, the protagonist, belongs, are lower level grunt workers who serve the Party but live on limited rationed food and daily goods. The Proles make up the poor masses. They are outside the party and seen as a nuisance which must be controlled while simultaneously ignored.

Somewhere between socialism and communism, life under the party is bleak. Thought Police monitor party members 24-hours a day. Arrests are made for impure and disloyal thoughts before any action is ever carried out. Privacy is non-existant (except among the Proles), and families are so disjointed that children who turn in their parents for thought-crime are rewarded and admonished.

The world that Orwell creates is terrifying indeed, and his run in with interrogation techniques is disheartening, intriguing and down right depressing. Not knowing enough about my mid-20th century British politics, I must confess I'm not quite clear on the greater point the author was trying to make to his original audience, but at the same time I am in awe of this social commentary and can appreciate that it packed a punch 50 years ago and still does today.

Freedom is a huge theme in the book; however, one of the most interesting concepts Orwell introduced was called Doublethink. Here's an excerpt which provides a description of doublethink:

To know and not know, to be conscious of complete truthfulness while telling carefully constructed lies, to hold simultaneously two opinions which cancelled out, knowing them to be contradictory and believing in both of them, to use logic against logic, to repudiate morality while laying claim to it, to believe that democracy was impossible and that the Party was the guardian of democracy, to forget whatever it was necessary to forget, then to draw it back into memory again at the moment when it was needed, and then promptly to forget it again, and above all, to apply the same process to the process itself--that was the ultimate subtlety: consciously to induce unconsciousness, and then, once again, to become unconscious of the act of hypnosis you had just performed. Even to understand the word "doublethink" involved the use of doublethink. (p. 35)

The writing is very good. Orwell can be a bit longwinded and over-descriptive at times. But, the absurdity of his somehow-believable fictitious future keeps you coming back to it. I would recommend this book to anyone (if, like me, you didn't read it in high school though it was assigned) wanting to be a well-rounded reader. It is a classic that people will most likely come up in book talks for many generations.

Why would someone with four cars walk to work?

Meet my buddy, Robert (on the right). He is a computer programmer for the distinguished Wake Forest University and lives in Winston-Salem, NC. I have known him for about 4 years now, and in that time he has owned a total of six cars (not at the same time). Robert introduced me to Dave Ramsey, a money guru who gives sound practical advice on managing personal finance. Together, Robert and I often talk about wise and not so wise money decisions when it comes to cars, apartments, jobs and paying off our wives' school debt.

You can view Robert's well-written blog here.

Now, the question that titles this blog is an intriguing one for sure. Why would someone with four cars walk to work? The answer to this question is in a sequence of events that coincidentally lined up as if nature was working against him that kept Robert from driving any of his cars to work. Robert, I won't divulge too much of your personal info on this one, but you have tarried too long in posting this funny story on your own blog.

Robert and his wife each have a car they use daily. However, Robert had recently purchased my car (car #3) with plans of selling his and making a few extra dollars; however, this car was still in Asheville for time being. At the same time, his wife had found what she's wanted for a long time, an old 1965 Chevy truck, and bought it cheap (#4).

One happy morning, these two wonderful people awoke and prepared each to go to work. Robert's wife, left first. But outside, she found that her car's lock was busted and wouldn't unlock. She couldn't get in. No matter, she borrowed Robert's regular car and headed off to the world of pharmacy for the day. Robert could drive the classic truck. But outside on a chilly morning, the truck wouldn't start. His last option, the car he'd bought from me, was some 130 miles away. So, he's standing outside next to a car that won't start, a car that won't open up with keys in his hand for a car that runs fine but is across the state.

When I heard about this, I sympathized, but I can't help but find this funny. And that's why someone with four cars would walk to work.

Surprise

As part of our adjustment to Alaska geography, we have been informed of our need for dog booties. Dakota and Lola are no strangers to the snow; however, for 5-6 months out of the year there is snow on the ground in Anchorage. And, if we're to take them on any long walks their paws will easily get cold, get ice in them and cause their entire bodies to lose warmth. Doggy booties are in order.

So, the search began. After having no luck in a number of Super Pets, Pet Co, Cabellas and REI stores we finally got a tip to try a local pet store in Anchorage called Alaska Mill and Feed Pet Supply (or something like that; it had a long name). A fellow dog owner gave us the tip to buy only fleece booties, because dogs that have never worn other kinds (there's lots of kinds for serious hiking and rugged type stuff) wouldn't like them.

So on Heather's first day of work I went on a mission to find dog shoes. I finally found the store (it's hard to get to), found the fleece booties and bought 8 of them. There was just enough time to put them on and pick Heather up from work. The plan: For her daughters to greet their mommy in the car wearing their fancy new shoes. (Heather loves surprises like that!)

I had it all planned out. The dogs were in the car wearing the boots, and I went in the hospital lobby to wait on Heather. When she was done, we walked out together toward the car. Now, when we leave her in the car, Dakota always climbs into the front seat and greets us when we open the doors. This will only add to the surprise. When we reached the car, like the gentleman that I am, I opened the door for Heather and: Surprise! Dakota had vomited all over Heather's seat and floor board! She was missing a cutie bootie and Lola was missing two. Happy first day of work, my sweet.

Not exactly the surprise I had in mind. But aren't they just adorable in those things?! They hate wearing them, but are slowly (SLOWLY) getting used to them. Right now, when I put them on, the dogs usually just stand in one place on three legs waiting for the bad dream to end (take these things off my paws!).

I'm sure they'll adjust in time.

Voyage of the Dawn Treader: by C. S. Lewis

In preparation for the third installment of the latest series of Chronicles of Narnia movies, Heather and I did what we've done before the previous two movies and read the book aloud with each other.

Edmond and Lucy Pevensie, along with their obnoxious cousin Eustace, are magically pulled into a picture on the wall and find themselves quickly aboard the Dawn Treader, a Narnian ship carrying King Caspian and a full crew, set out to find seven explorers sent east by Caspian's late father, Narnia's previous king. Their journey takes them beyond any cartographer's knowledge to the end of the world toward Aslan's home country.

Thus far, I have been generally pleased with the latest renditions of the classic children's books by Clive Staples Lewis, professor of medieval literature, philosopher, author and theologian. The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe movie was fantastic. Following the book almost to the letter, the only liberties the film makers took were to add a bit of flare and excitement to the popular novella's suspense and battle scenes. Movie two: Prince Caspian was good, yet Hollywood for some reason unnecessarily veered farther from the book's storyline. Adding a completely random (not in the book at all) castle besieging scene and changing the timeline, the movie was clearly from the book, but just not the same. In my opinion, the movie would have been just as great had it followed the book as closely as the first.

Having just finished Voyage of the Dawn Treader, I have some particular expectations for the movie. The book, to me, is the weakest of the first three, yet it still follows the same majestic and mysterious nature of Lewis' writing. The storyline follows the format of most adventure/quest novels. Readers are exposed to sight after sight of new and unpredictable obstacles and experiences through which the characters must stuggle.

The story starts a little slower than it's predecessors, but by the middle it kept Heather and I on edge daily waiting to read the next chapter before going to bed (our customary reading time). The writing is, expectedly, for kids and a little dated (as it was written some 5 decades ago), but one can't help being enchanted by the world Lewis has created with which most of us have grown up.

One of the greatest challenges the movie will have to overcome is only including two of the four original Pevensie children as High King Peter and Queen Susan have grown too old to return to Narnia. However, after a short bit of remorse over this fact in the first few chapters, I was distracted to their absence and caught up in the engaging adventure.

I believe the movie will be exciting, and I'm curious to see how the many fantastical and grandiose scenes are rendered on screen. I do hope the film makers stick close to the original story, but in the end, it will be difficult to produce a poor movie from such a wild and fun story. This book, in my book, (or should I say blog) is a recommended quick read for anyone.

Welcome to Alaska

Tell tail signs that we're not in Kansas anymore Frodo.

You know how some rules are made because it's just good sense and certain rules are made because someone once did something stupid? Well, during our drive south from Tok, to Anchorage, AK we saw an inconspicuous road sign that simply read, "No shooting from road." I wonder why this rule was made. Welcome to Alaska.

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It's common knowledge that alcoholism is like an epidemic in Alaska, especially during the winter season. Heather recently learned that to treat alcoholic patients suffering detox, it's not unusual for hospitals to use whiskey (as opposed to other more conventional medications) to ease the process. When Heather asked about it, turning her head and raising an eyebrow, another pharmacist looked back and simply said, "Welcome to Alaska."

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A number of years ago, an Anchorage news paper article covered a story of a man walking his dog in one of the city's many trailed parks. He happened across a moose, a dead moose, which had just been killed by a grizzly bear. The bear, worried the man was threatening his dinner, then attacked the man. Though he was only out for a stroll with his pup, he proceeded to pull out a large caliber gun and shoot the bear dead. WELCOME TO ALASKA.