The PODS left yesterday afternoon, loaded to the gills and with 16 sets of ratchet straps to hold everything inside in place for... however long. The "kids" watched the process since we told them it would be interesting. Turns out it was even more so for us who saw the empty one arrive.
When it was delivered we were emphatically told that picking it up, being much more heavy then, would put the decorative brick lining on either side of the driveway (which kept it from being the full 12 feet wide they requested - oops) in serious danger of getting crushed as the big wheels rolled over them.
Turns out there is a solution for that. The cradle-thingie that backs up around the PODS container to move it , also known as Podzilla, was widened a bit more this time so it rolled over the yard instead of the decorative border. Then each time one set of post/wheels needed to get closer to the container, the operator lifted it up and over before setting it down again. It was after that when the fun- the kind that impressed all of us - began. Once the long sides were close to the container, chains were pulled out from the sides at the container's bottom, hooked around horizontal bars in the Podzilla, and once all were in place, the container was lifted straight up. No movement forward, yet. It swung. It was lifted higher and higher and higher, until the truck maneuvered in the street to back up under the container and well between the framework sides of the cradle doing the work. Podzilla didn't need to move while hoisting it, so no brick damage.
The driver got out, looked around a bit, made sure it was perfectly over his flatbed, and carefully lowered it onto it. Chains were released, then fastened to the underside of his truck to hold the container in place while it traveled. Now lightened of its load, the Podzilla was maneuvered back to fit on to the truck around our container, even with the wheels turned so not be wider than the truck was.
Off they went.
We're dealing with the absence of ... nearly everything, and yet seemingly way too much to fit into the car. Cleaning has commenced, and the first thing I discovered is that the old broom and dustpan got loaded.
Dang!
Well, at least we still have the little vacuum I picked up about a week ago. It will never fit in the car with all we'll be packing in it, but my friend who will be coming over Thursday night to clear out the fridge contents that would otherwise spoil has agreed to take that too. Plus about a dozen bottles and sprayers of cleaning supplies. I'm leaving a few as a greeting to the new owners (including a few TP rolls for the bathrooms for all of us) but much of the rest will go home with her. It's not like we stocked up ahead of time on dishwashing liquid or dishwasher powder, or extra toilet bowl cleaner, or rubbing alcohol when covid started, or... Anyway, none of that, generically labeled "chemicals" can go in the PODS or on the plane back north with the kids. Most of it needs a new home.
Oh well, she's been a great friend, and welcomes whatever we throw her way that's useful. Her cost of living has gone up this year more than her income, so not having to stretch the budget for things you can't eat is received with gratitude.
What we can eat, once the kids are gone and there's no more help cleaning out staples, will get packed into the car. So will changes of clothes, last minute tools, even the kitchen microwave. Of the three we've had since moving down here, Steve and I like this one the best. It was inexpensive, but reliable and easy to use compared to others. The car will also get the bunches of citrus we've been blessed with to take north and share. "fresh off the tree". A couple other presents will get in there, a pillow, some clean rags, a newly opened pack of napkins, bottles of water and Steve's favorite beverage, Brisk. etc. I'm still unreasonably hopeful of having some kind of rear view while driving. Oh, did I forget the folding camping chair I'm sitting in?
The walls and floors are looking pretty bare. Tonight big boxes full of recycling go out, the dumpster will be getting a start on being filled - 12 cubic yards worth - and some last minute pieces of furniture will go onto the driveway to be picked up Friday, once we're done sleeping on them. Rich's friend has promised to pick up all his junk metal to haul off, presumably both because he has the truck for it and gets paid for what can be used or melted down again. The dumpster for us will be delivered today, between 5 AM and 5 PM. They didn't make the 5AM end. Missed 8 AM too so far .It goes away Friday between 5 AM and 5 PM. The way they "roll" it'll be dropped late and picked up early.
As soon as it leaves, so do we. Anything left we can't get into the car or persuade somebody else to take will be put in any of a dozen Hefty bags and left for Monday morning's garbage pickup. Friday night we'll be somewhere down the road. It will depend on whether the dumpster people arrive nearer the AM or PM part of their time slot, so no reservations have been made.
Yet.
The wi-fi box will be dropped off on our way down the road. We drive right past it. I just hope they're still open if it's more the PM side of the day. Meanwhile I still have it for posting these and researching possible destinations to make reservations at, depending on time we leave. It might be only as far as Kingman.
But it WILL HAVE BEDS!
No comments:
Post a Comment