What A Weekend!

There are way too many details. If I told the whole story, we'd be here all day! So let me sum up.

After weeks of packing, the day finally came. I know that I said on Friday that after I went to the apartment at lunch I was worried it was too small. Now that our furniture is in place, I think it's perfect. So far, I love the complex. It's very pretty, the parking is covered and free, there is curbside trash pickup, which I have never had before, the ceilings are tall, the blinds are wooden, the view of the creek is GORGEOUS and I hear that the shower head is tall enough that Brett doesn't hit his head on it. A first in YEARS for him! We had a couple of minor issues on Friday/Saturday - there were a few things that needed fixing and we thought it could have been done in a more timely manor. And actually, some of them still need fixing. Two light bulbs are out that are way too high for us to reach. And we need those lights! I gotsta see the inside of our closet! But as far as the move goes, it could not have been better. We had wonderful helpers, the perfect sized U-Haul and PERFECT weather! Nothing broke, and the pizza we ordered for lunch for ourselves and the movers was tasty! Two bonuses!

We've had a couple of mishaps. Little adventures, if you will. While he was putting his desk together in the study on Saturday night, I started to assemble the new bookcase that we had bought. I like to assemble furniture. I like feeling handy. It's something that I have always enjoyed. But honestly, I have to admit... I am kind of notorious for messing up a step somewhere in the process. And it's pretty much the same problem every time. I don't know how - I read the directions VERY carefully - but somehow, something always ends up upside down. You can't tell when you look at it, but when it is time to screw in a connecting piece, and the pre-drilled holes are on the wrong side... yeah. No good. I have done it on Jenna's old desk, my current desk, my current tv stand... the list probably goes on, but that is all I can recall. Oh, and our new bookcase, of course. (I also glued my finger to the entertainment center that I assembled in our dorm room my junior year. That hurt pretty bad... but the skin grew back, eventually.)

I was almost to the final step. It was time to attach the top and I asked Brett to help me stand it up. We spent at least 20 minutes, it could have been 30, trying to push the two middle sets of holes into the top shelf. I didn't understand how they could have under-drilled the hole by so much! And then suddenly it hit me. It was upside down. The connectors at the bottom were totally wrong for the kind of screw that was holding them in place. We had to lay it back down, unscrew the middle two boards, flip them around, and re-insert the screws. Then it took ANOTHER 20-30 minutes to get all 8 connectors lined up perfectly to drop into all 8 holes.

Brett was SO great though. He didn't even come close to getting upset with me. Or laughing at me. He got frustrated with the furniture! But not with me. I was so thankful.

Listen, if they would give written instructions along with the pictures, it would be easier for me to follow. Maybe. haha. Anyway, the bookcase is in place and lookin' fine!

Mishap number 2 happened this evening around 8:00. I took today off to get some wedding things done, but there were some apartment things that needed doing as well. Actually there are millions of apartment things that need doing. Lots of unpacking left to do! But the only apartment thing that I had written in stone that I was definitely going to do was be there from 8 to noon and wait for the Direct TV guy to come.

Brett hasn't had cable in over 3 years. He gave it up when he needed to make adjustments while he was job searching, and he never reordered because it was an unnecessary expense. There were/are plenty of things to entertain Brett in his apartment without cable. He did miss it though. And I, on the other hand, like to have cable. I will rework my budget to pay the $40 a month for basic cable. I know that I don't "need" my HGTV, but sometimes it sure feels that way! A girl needs to be able to wind down now and then!

So last week, I called Direct TV and opened an account. Brett had shown me the package he thought was right for us several days earlier, but he never had time to make the call while he was preparing for the move. So I called. I opened an account and chose the package he mentioned - or so I thought. Boy was I wrong! I ordered the Choice Package. I was supposed to order the package, not one, but TWO steps up from that, the Plus DVR package. The thing is, we weren't talking about "packages" that day, he just showed me the site and the option that he thought had everything that we needed. I just remembered wrong when I revisited the site. I didn't realize that the package I ordered didn't have DVR, and it was also missing 2 of his favorite channels. I have had my favorite channels at home for 2 years now. He has been without his for a LONG time! So I felt really bad. We could upgrade to the package one step up from ours, which includes his missing channels for only an additional $5 a month, so we did that. But the promotion with the discounted DVR only applies to new customers. We had been customers for 6 hours when we realized my mistake, so we no longer qualified for the discount. Once we accepted the equipment, we were stuck with it.

We are going to pay the money to upgrade to DVR, but we won't be able to do it right away. I suggested we both save for a couple of weeks and split the cost for a mutual Valentine's gift.

Again, Brett was wonderful. He was disappointed that we didn't have what we intended to have, but he didn't get upset with me even for a second, even though it was totally my fault! what a man =-)

So I took off today to get Direct TV set up, and to get some things done for the wedding. The DTV guy was scheduled to come between 8 and noon (I think I already said that) but at 9:00 he called to let me know that his first installation was going to take much longer than expected, and he probably would not arrive until 1 or 1:30. That cut into my "wedding errands" time, but it gave me time to get lots done in the apartment. I unpacked tons of boxes! There are probably 30-40 left to unpack, but you can now walk freely around the apartment, and all of the dishes are washed and in place. 

I didn't do everything that I had hoped to wedding wise, but the most important wedding errand today was to rent chairs for the ceremony, and that got done. I am VERY pleased with how that worked out. The chairs are incredibly reasonably priced. We used At Once Party Rental in Irving. The City of Irving recommended them when we reserved the park. They also rent table linens, which I need, but they were more expensive than I expected! So I need to get on top of finding linens. I also found and purchased Madilyn's flower girl dress. She LOVED it when she tried it on in the store. The top is white and the bottom is the color of our bridesmaid dresses. The store that we went to was rumored to have inexpensive veils as well, but they were nowhere to be found.

I need to do the invitations this week. It is hard to be away from the apartment... I love our new home and I want to be in it with my husband. But, alas, he will not be my husband, and it will not technically be my home, for another 60 days. And the invitations MUST GET DONE this week!

I CAN'T BELIEVE the wedding is that close! We are still experiencing some drama from some outside sources. It is actually at an all time high. But I am going to attempt to put an end to that tomorrow night, peacefully, I hope! Pray for me.

Okay, it is past my bedtime. I am still a little sore from the move - I hurt my left shoulder and my left foot - but mostly I am tired. So tired. Could sleep for 24 hours tired. So goodnight.