Seriously, I ask this because I may be interested in hiring some "packers." I know that "movers" exist but I'm looking for someone to pack my belongings prior to someone else moving them. I say this because I hate to pack! Anyone who knows me, knows I abhor packing. I don't know think I ever really knew how much I hated packing until I lived out of a suitcase for a year. I actually only traveled all over the US for nine months, visiting different universities. But every week I had to figure out how I was going to fit my new purchases in the same two suitcases that each already weighed 50 lbs prior to arriving in that particular city. So since then, I've despised packing. I don't even like to pack my bags to go away for a weekend. It may have something to do with the fact that I'm an over-packer. I always have at least three bags for an overnight stay. I don't see how anyone can not have at least three separate bags... one for your toiletries, one for shoes, and one for clothing. It bothers me that Russell packs his dirty shoes in the same bag as his clean clothes!
So, if you've kept up with my blog at all, you have learned that Russell and I are moving to Memphis soon. Like, two weeks soon. Yes, I only have two weekends to move out of our house. Where are we going to live you ask? That's just it, we don't know. Before we moved into our home, the home we've only lived in for four short months, the home we just sold, I swore I would never move again. Russell told me then not to complain because I had just returned from our honeymoon in Italy for two weeks and I was moving into a nice new home. This time, there's no incentive to pack. I haven't just returned from Italy (although it was only four months ago, it seems like forever) and there's no nice new home to move into, yet. I'm a sucker for incentives, or some people may call them gifts, vacations, rewards, etc. Call them what you may. I just think I need one. So, I guess my question is do you know of any "packers," preferably at a decent rate???
So, where do I begin? This morning started off like any ordinary morning with Bailey. Her usual routine includes going to the bathroom in the backyard and then enjoying a treat while I fix her breakfast. Within thirty minutes we're taking a walk together out front to get the newspaper and then we play fetch to run some of that morning energy out. The weather these past couple of weeks has been wonderful so I've gotten in the habit of leaving the front door open for Bailey to wander in and out on her own while I'm working from my home office. She knows exactly where her home is so she never wanders outside of our acre lot. However, the lots to the left and right of us are just now being cleared and prepped for concrete. Periodically, I check on her to make sure she's not getting into something she's not supposed to. Well, today she did just that. I walk out front to yell to the construction crew next door to send Bailey my way if she's bothering them. They yell back that she's no problem at all but I might want to wash her off. At this point, I'm thinking to myself that she's probably gotten in all of that red clay mud again. No surprise. But just as they say this, I see Bailey running full speed ahead towards me as frisky as ever. No, she wasn't covered in the red mud but instead in CONCRETE! At this time, the construction crew are laughing and calmly saying "you might want to wash her off soon or that concrete will harden on her legs. The concrete contains chemicals and it might burn her legs off." WHAT?!?! My first born (not technically mine) baby's legs might burn off??? I'm freaking out by this point. I immediately rush her inside to the tub to wash the concrete off. She was actually really good about her bath. I still worry that it might have been burning or hardening already and that's why she was so good. Anyway, I successfully clean Bailey off and run straight to the phone to tell her Daddy, Russell, what his Bailey Girl did. Note- she's never mine when she acts this way. Anyhow, I explain in detail what just happened and Russell immediately asks "you didn't wash the concrete off down the tub, did you?" Ugh, yeah. Hello, why wouldn't I? Supposedly water is what makes concrete harden. How am I suppose to know that? I retract back "why didn't they tell me that before I did it?!?!" He says "Who?" I say "the construction crew!" Russell then proceeds to explain to me that they probably didn't think I was dumb enough to wash the concrete down the pipes. Oh well, I guess I've learned my lesson this time. Luckily, everything's draining properly even though we might have a higher water bill this month. In the meantime, I've called Bailey's vet and they said that the most the chemicals would do is irritate the pads of her feet and to use over the counter Cortisone cream. Bailey on the other hand has had no reaction what-so-ever and has milked this little incident for all it's worth. I felt so guilty over my negligence that I ended up buying her special treats and a new toy at Wal-Mart! See my Bailey Girl below, taken shortly after her concrete adventure...
