The Waiting Game

Again, some of my readers may know but most of you won’t, I made it to North Dakota. I made it in plenty of time to receive my household goods from the movers but when they were two hours behind schedule the day they told me to be at the apartment, I decided to call. That call is what turned this whole experience into one of the funniest moments I think I’ve ever had to go through alone (well, after my parents and Duane left).

I found out that not only were my things late, but that they were still sitting in Lee’s Summit, MO. The moving company (which I probably should not name) had no clue when they would be getting them to me. To make a very long story short I went two weeks living in a very empty apartment waiting for everything and I believe I heard every excuse in the book.

Excuses: My shipment was too small, it should have been crated, they were out of crates, they do not have a driver, they have a driver but he will not commit, the road ends in North Dakota, I am not in their system, my shipment is not with them, Oh, you’re not married…

The waiting game led to many comical moments if I do say so myself.

Night One: Do you know what it is like for your whole apartment to smell like Ramen noodles and you have no reason why!? I do! And of course I had nothing with me to get this smell out, but I refused to buy anything because I knew the movers had stuff so why waste money. However, I did have candles! Because the movers cannot take them and I also had newspaper, so naturally I tried to lite a candle using newspaper and the stove. Epic fail! The newspaper burst into flames and I wasn’t quick enough to lite the candle. Three attempts later, I went to Wal-Mart and bought air freshener.

Day Three: At work, I am out on a video shoot with an Airmen and the Commander Chief Master Sergeant. This was my second day on the shoot.

Mind you, a vast majority of my clothes are still in Kansas City along with every pair of shoes I own besides my flip flops and tennis shoes, so before my parents left, my Mom and I went on an emergency shopping spree for dress clothes and a pair of shoes to get me through.

With that said, I am on this shoot, going from place to place (in heels) and all of the sudden the Chief turns to me and says “Ma’am, you really need to trade in those shoes for some boots.” I just laughed, but in the back of my head I was thinking, “No kidding!! I had no I idea I would be walking all over this base, in the middle of this field, or down this long gravel road!”

Night Four: It would be my luck that something would break in the apartment even when there is hardly anything in it. In the middle of a shower the drain decided not to work. After spending 30 minutes scooping out the water with a Sonic cup because I had no where else to take a shower, I learn that the drain eventually works but it takes several hours.  Knowing that the drain works, I continued to use the shower until maintenance could get there to fix it. However, there was a 100% chance that the corner of my towel would fall into the full tub while drying off which ultimately led to water getting flung everywhere every time!

 The maintenance guys came, very unprepared, and as I sat there waiting for them to unclog the bathtub one asks, “do you by chance have a wire hanger?” My response-included laughter followed by, “does it look like I have anything here?” Obviously he did not get the hint because he continued to try and sell me used furniture from previous renters.

Nights Five & Six/ Day Seven: The Internet wait here is almost a month out. Besides having and empty apartment, not having Internet has been extra boring. Luckily I called ahead of time so it is coming on Friday however, trying to take a summer school class with no Internet is next to impossible. It would also be my luck that I had a 12-page paper due last week and a final to complete so I had to find Internet somewhere. My first weekend in Minot was spent hanging out at McDonalds. Needless to say, I took a lot of heat for that one at work on Monday!

I believe that McDonalds should start its own webpage similar to Wal-Mart’s: “People of McDonalds.” Beyond learning what not to wear, I also learn tips on how not to raise my child or maybe just not to have children… It seems like McDonalds brings out ADD in every child as soon as they step foot in the door. I can’t remember ever being that excited to eat there. 

Oh, and a stranger did come talk to me… A guy wanted to know why “a beautiful girl is focusing so hard at the computer.” Again after I stopped laughing, I just said that I was writing a paper. I laughed for two reasons: One, who tries to hit on someone at McDonalds? Two: I was focusing so hard because I really needed to change my contacts and I could not see anything, but again… my contacts are with the movers!

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On the plus side, I finally received my things two weeks and three hours later. They are not kidding when they said that they unpack the boxes and put the stuff anywhere there is an open space. I know things haven’t quiet went as expected, but at least there have been some funny moments to lighten the mood a little.