Well folks, we are ensconced in our new home, in West Alexandria. Our condo purchase closing went off without a hitch, our financial broker helped us for a smooth closing by ensuring that the money required from us for the closing costs was wired into the title company’s bank on time. We then simply had to meet with the closing agent, sign a million times on the plethora of closing documents and then receive the keys and access fobs to our new home.
Our real estate agent, Alanda was fantastic in her efforts to ensure that we had all the t’s crossed and the i’s dotted. She is a true credit to her profession in the Real Estate Industry. So, now we own two homes, but one is on the market, and we do have an offer and supposedly a ratified contract.
So, on with the new condo home, and the moving company delivery of our worldly belongings. We have now seen a confirmation that when one moves from a large three bedroom house into a smaller, high rise condo there will be a chaotic scene of boxes, boxes everywhere and the furniture placements are frustratingly complicated by all of those boxes. The super problematic situation comes from when you need something that you packed, but now can’t find that particular box and panic ensues. Power cords for the tv, computers, printers, bulbs for the lamps and power strips for providing power for our mobile phones, my hearing aids and so forth and so on, oh my GOD!!!
The evening of our closing activity, moving company unload and STUFF, we both agreed that this was IT, no more moves, and we are going to reside in this apartment until the time comes to spread our ashes over the waters of the Chesapeake Bay.
Tuesday, April 4, 2023 – It has been a few hectic days since we closed on the condo and I opened this blog entry. So, having a few minutes before another task has to start, thought I would drop a few notes about where we are in the settle-in status.
First and most wonderful, we got the Newport News house sold and closing on that contract completed. Now to convince some of the utility companies that we no longer own or live in that house. Seems that Verizon has decided to send me a bill for FIOS service and we have been out of that house, with the service disconnect order in place for almost a month! But there you have it, another multi-billion dollar company that can’t find it’s butt with two hands and a flashlight. Funny thing? I tried yesterday to connect with them, first the chat/online service that they PREFER, and that stupid computer system kept going in circles, enter this information, now that info, oh enter the first again, now that, lets go around again G****** it all!
Oh by the way, ever try to call Verizon FIOS? Good luck with that. Couldn’t find a freaking phone number but will try that again today. Not going to pay the Fios bill for the people who bought my Newport News house, no freaking way. It is their house and their cable system, no longer mine!
So also on the hurdle overcome agenda for today, a trip to the recycle drop place AND to the COVANT trash drop to get rid of many cardboard boxes (recycle), the remains of our TV cabinet that the movers broke during the move up here, and several broken plastic tubs (again that the movers broke during the move), plus a couple of metal things left from the previous condo owner. Spoke to a very nice person at that facility and was assured that all of our junk/trash was acceptable and there would be no charge since we were Alexandria residents. YEA US.
So, after finishing my late start breakfast (had to make a quick trip to Panera Bread), I will gather the address and head out for the two stops to empty the Blue Baby, of the recycle and trash we put into her cargo space this weekend. Then back to attack more of the hurdles involved with our relocation from Newport News back to Alexandria. I do so hope that we will be at least marginally settled into this new home before my 82nd birthday on May 1. Would be nice to have some semblance of order rather than the current chaotic environment!
Thursday, April 6, 2023 -Well another couple of days have passed and we are only a smattering of progress of the settle in process. We still have a couple of major tasks that must be accomplished in the next day or so. First, I have an appointment with my Primary Care Physician for a PreOP checkup. I am scheduled for surgery on the 19th and the docs want to make sure that this old body can take the procedures that they are going to perform. See, the old man had a touch of bladder cancer a few weeks ago, while we were still living in Newport News. The urology surgeon found a small tumor that was determined to be malignant and during a surgery procedure, he was able to remove the tumor completely, they think.
The next important task is to change our address at the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles for our car and for our individual driver’s license. Then a check with the City of Alexandria to ensure that the change of address was transmitted to them. The DMV is supposed to notify/update the local government entity of any vehicles or individuals who register their address into the area of the local government.
Third task? Contact the mobile veterinarian to schedule an appointment for our remaining fur baby, Ms Penny. It has been quite a while since she has been seen by a vet to check out her health condition. We just lost one of our furry girls in January who had been with us for over 16 years, just like Ms. Penny. House cats do live a much longer life than their outdoor counterparts, but at 16+ our girls are approaching that point where the Rainbow Bridge gets closer each year.
Now I have to divert my attention from this blog and have a Come To Jesus meeting with xFinity, our internet provider. Their service for internet, wifi and the television is, to be kind, sucks to high heaven. So I have to make a list of all of the complaints for my time in the Chat application for this internet provider. Wish there was alternatives, but as I understand, they have an exclusive agreement with the City of Alexandria. DRAT!
Monday, May 1, 2023 – Well quite some time has passed, my apologies for the delays. But in reality I would think that readers of my little blog are few and far between. I have seen a few stats of folks who have viewed the blog, but there is no entry on any of the items as for as comments go. Guess it is just as I had envisioned when I restarted the blog after our sale of the Misty Lady, our 54 foot motor yacht. There was some encouragement to continue to post blog entries so I have done so. I do admit that the majority of time, I write simply to put my thoughts and our actions into words.
Anyway, here we are, on the day of my 82nd birthday, settling into a comfy chair, keyboard in hand, mouse close by, and ready to relate our latest information of our relocation, settling in and activity of late.
My daughter, my son, and my daughter-in-law treated us to a birthday lunch yesterday at a restaurant called Coopers Hawk. It is a wine themed play, Coopers Hawk has various wines in their own label and the restaurant has a membership function that my daughter belongs to. The service was very nice, food was excellent and it was really great being able to join my kids for this type of gathering, without the travel of 200 miles. More like a 20-30 mile drive outside the beltway into the Virginia countryside.
Charlotte is settling into her new position with this company and she is pleased with the company, her direct reporting management and with the staff who are assigned to the payroll department. She is still able to work from home with a requirement for occasional trips into the office for meetings and other tasks.
Charlotte was asked by the American Payroll Association (APA) to be a presenter at their upcoming Congress. She will be presenting in two seminar activities. She is due to travel to that APA Conference in a few days, leaving on the 14th and returning on the 20th. As a speaker/presenter her costs and tuition fees are waived so her costs are covered by the APA and her new company’s education benefit. She continues to impress me with how much she has grown into her profession and how the payroll industry recognizes her experience, expertise and knowledge evidenced by a continuing call for her to share her knowledge by way of seminars, presentations, classroom and other means of payroll profession educational presentations.
Next up, the surgery on April 19 was successful, they found no more tumors in the bladder, trimmed the prostate and declared the operation a success. However, the after surgery instruction was to lift nothing heavier than 10 pounds for at least three weeks, I would experience some ongoing pain but it should subside in a couple of weeks. Oh also, the urology surgeon informed me on a phone conversation that there has been some traces of cancer cells in the prostate samples. He feels we can keep a close watch on this situation, and take any action necessary. Okay,,, but what does that mean exactly? Well, I will probably find out when I have the post operation appointment in a couple of days with that urology department. Hope springs eternal.
We are beginning to gain on the plethora of boxes, still have a ton of them laying about, but we plan on putting the majority in a storage facility and winnow them down over time, all the while having a cleared bedroom and other spaces.
Misty Lady Thought and Comment 