Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Balconville

In Montreal, when people stay at home for vacation, we don't call it a "Stay-cation", we call it going to "Balconville" (going to Balcony Town). Given that I moved in just over a week ago, I decided on Balconville for part of my vacation this summer. I'll have the chance to paint the place the way I want and hopefully get a little more settled before going back to work.

Once I'm done the painting I'll put up some before and after pictures for you. Then you can ooh and ahh about how great my place is and you'll want to come and stay!

Stay tuned.

Friday, June 26, 2009

The End

Last night I dropped off the last set of keys to my old place and closed the door behind me. Didn't even look back.

Goodbye Lofts Hogan. It's been swell.

The End.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

It's all so quiet

I know there are other people living in this building but I haven't heard a peep from the people living above, below or beside me. Wow!

However, I certainly hear the drunks on the street at 3am. Same old story, different location.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

All In!

That's it. I'm ALL moved in (minus the stove) ! I can't even begin to tell you how great it feels. Last night as I put away some things, unpacked my suitcases, etc. I kept marvelling at how much space I have now. Not that I ever felt cramped at the old place. I never had that feeling. But now all of a sudden, I almost feel like I won the lottery, you know, and this place can't possibly be mine. But it is!

Monday, June 22, 2009

Moving Day, Part 3

Final Moving Chapter (aren't you excited?!)

This is it! Today I move into my new condo!

Naturally, I'm up before my alarm. Going to do a quick load of laundry (sheets & towels) and then pack the last of the dishes.

Yesterday I took a few more boxes and things over (to the new place) and got those unpacked and pretty much spent the rest of the day organizing the final things at home (old place). Hope this goes well.

Next time I write it'll be from my new condo!

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Moving Day, Part 2

Here's a recap of yesterday:

Got half the van (borrowed from Mom’s work!) packed before Eric showed up. Then with his help we were able to get my locker emptied in a few short minutes and pack the rest of the van and Eric’s car. We were on our way to the new place by 9:45am. All the while hoping madly that the first delivery hadn’t shown up yet. Turned out fine – they hadn’t come by yet. Phew. Eric and I hadn’t been there more than 5 or 10 minutes when Marc and Valery showed up. And not long after that did the delivery of my bed (!), washer/dryer and dishwasher show up. My stove did come too but there was a small problem.

I was told there was gas at the condo so that’s why I bought a gas stove. Well … something got lost in translation between the owner and my agent to me. There is gas, but there is NO line to hook up to unless I get the plumber in to do the whole cut hole in the wall, install valves, etc. So, I decided (given that I know now what a plumber costs per hour) to leave the stove in the delivery truck and called customer service. They’ll take it back, no problem. On Monday though I’ll need to call my sales rep and let him know what happened and get a new electric stove ordered pronto. Surprisingly, I wasn’t too freaked out about this. Don’t know how, but I just shrugged it off.

Eric left shortly after that (thank you!). Marc was going to start on my dishwasher and the washer/dryer hook-ups but he also needed his tools and to stop at a hardware store to get a bunch of things. So off he went to get what he needed to get me set up. I was left on my own to start unpacking the kitchen. While he was gone my fridge got delivered. Marc was back by 1:30 and we worked until 5pm getting stuff sorted out. Took a long time but my dishwasher works! My washer and dryer work! My fridge is stable! And my bed is put together! Can’t wait to sleep on that. (Marc, for all this help, I owe you BIG time.)

I tidied up the boxes and bits and pieces lying around before leaving at 5:30.

Have decided that I will definitely be painting the living room and bedroom. I hadn’t quite decided but now I know for sure. The colour is too much on the yellow side for my liking. I will leave the office the way it is for now (light green) and hopefully be able to paint it before September. The bathroom has to be painted. The storage room is the same colour as the bathroom (pale blue). I'll leave that for now but it will be getting painted eventually.

My agent stopped by in the afternoon just to explain the million keys that were left and also how to set the alarm at night when I’m home. He also gave me a bottle of wine! Can’t wait to drink that!

All in all, turned out to be a pretty darn good day. Can't wait to finish up here (at the old place) and get all settled (in the new place). Not long now!

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Moving Day, Part 1

My agent dropped off the keys at 8am today. Phew. Now to pack the van, get a brother to wait at the new place for the big deliveries (between 9am-12pm for the bed, stove, dishwasher, washer and dryer and for fun between 12-6pm for the fridge).

Could be a long day ... but it's finally here!

Friday, June 19, 2009

Last Day!

Thanks to all of you who must've done a little "get your ass out" dance on my behalf because I just found out that the last of the stuff is out of MY condo and my agent will be dropping by tonight with the keys.

I was so worried. Have been awake since 4am stressing about this. As soon as my agent told me it was all good, I started shaking like a leaf from the sheer relief of knowing it would finally all work in my favour.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Last 2 Days

Seriously, if I find out tomorrow that I can't start moving things in this weekend, I will be beyond freaked out. Beyond stressed. Beyond out of control. Get the picture?

Having trouble breathing.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Heart Attack

Found out that I may not be able to move in this weekend. Will have to wait until Friday morning to find out if it's a go or not. Way to give me a heart attack.

Here's the story - The owner has a bunch of computer stuff in the condo and will have his work move it. He's hoping to get that done on Friday. If it doesn't happen, then I can't move in because of some kind of security risk with the computer equipment. It's not the end of the world, but it certainly doesn't make matters any easier right now. Add to that the appliances I have scheduled for delivery on Saturday afternoon, anytime between 12 and 6pm. Great.

Teeny-tiny little bit Very stressed out.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

4 Days to go (6 days "officially")

Officially or not, I don't have too many days left in my first condo. I feel a lot of things right now. Loved living here. Loved the sense of pride at owning my own place for the first time. Loved the neighbourhood (prostitutes, crack houses and all!). That said - I can't wait to have a separate bedroom! I can't wait to take a bath in a proper bathtub! I can't wait to have a balcony!

My 50 bazillion lists are multiplying exponentially on a daily basis. It will be great to get moved in, decide once and for all on paint colours, unpack and decide where to place or hang all the things that have been packed away for more than a year now.

A few more days, a few more headaches to work through but very soon it will all be worth it.

Monday, June 15, 2009

2 Condos

Nothing like buying a condo before selling your old one to start your week off on the anxiety and panic stricken foot. But that's what I did this morning. By 9:30am I was the proud owner of two condos! Now provided there are no problems or hiccoughs this coming week, by next Monday afternoon I should have sold my old condo and only have one place to worry about.

Until then it'll be a week of panic attacks and shortness of breath (without any exercise involved).

Friday, June 12, 2009

#60

#60 on my 100 Things to do before I go list, in case you've forgotten, was "Cater a party". It only took me a week to realize that I can now cross this off my list.

Last Saturday my dragon boat team hosted an intro to dragon boating day (ok, not a party, per se, but feeding 200 people is a big job so I will say it's pretty much the same thing). And hello, I was the caterer. I decided the menus, I made the grocery lists, I delegated tasks, I made sure it all came together, I worked from 6:30am to 6:30pm to see that about 200 people got their lunch and/or buffet dinner. True I did not actually have to cook any food myself, but that's just because of the type of food we were having. I cut my share of bagels, showed my team mates exactly how to make a wrap, washed and cut endless fruit, packed over 100 lunch bags, prepared nearly 20 platters of food and scurried back and forth from our makeshift kitchen to the tables endless times.

Consider it done.

Happy Birthday!

My youngest brother, Marc, turns 32 today. How did that happen?

Happy Birthday!

Thursday, June 11, 2009

10 Years Since I Last

Imagine, it's been 10 years since I last leaned over a toilet and puked my guts out. Nice imagery, huh?

That panic that I so glibly thought was gone - back in full force last night! Think maybe it was a combination of factors. Panic, stress, tired, run down, and a couple of practice races at training last night had me jumping off the boat and running (and stopping to bend over and gag) before finally making it to the toilets where my 10 years "sans" barfing record ended.

Oh well. I felt somewhat better after that though, so here's hoping the next 10 years will be vomit free.

Tuesday, June 09, 2009

Last two weeks

A week yesterday until I sign at the notary for my new condo. Two weeks yesterday until the movers show up. One competition down and one to go. One fundraiser down. 70-something boxes packed. I've lost count of the number of boxes and bags I've given away.

The panic I was feeling a few weeks ago has subsided. That or I've just gotten so used to it that I hardly notice anymore. Ha.

There will be the last minute things to take care of but I can deal with that. Now I'm just excited to move and paint and unpack and revel in all that lovely new space for ME.

Feeling good. Tired. Very tired. But still good.