I survived a huricane.,,YAY!

So much has gone on since the last time I blogged so I figured I could say more in a vlog!  I talk a LOT :-D

Irene starting to show her ugly face

Birdie taking a break

No power

Driving through Irene

Aftermath

8/29 Aftermath update

We officially have our stuff!!!!

YUP... IT'S TRUE!! The movers came today and we have our stuff.  There are a few things that are broken, so we can file a claim to see if we can get reimbursed.  I really hope we can, but who knows.

The house is full of boxes now.  The livingroom is almost done cause there wasn't much to be done in there besides setting up the electronics.  That was actually the first task I took on...lol  :-D

Here are a few pics of what the house looks like at the moment.

Day 1: Kitchen stopping point

Livingroom

Patio

Jose's room

My room

My room again

How the kitchen started

Hallway

Mover date

So we have been waiting for our furniture for 11 days now! We've had 3 different dates scheduled and NOTHING!!  This morning I called twice and finally got an answer.  The lady who has been handling our stuff sounded surprised when I told her we still don't have our stuff and no date.  If she's handling our account why would she be surprised?

Now we have another date... tomorrow morning!  Hopefully it happens for us because we are getting tired of sleeping on the air mattress!

Jose's here!

So Jose finally got here yesterday evening and saw the house in person for the first time.  He really likes the neighborhood.  We went exploring on Ft. Lee and found the building where he will be working.  It is really big and nice.  He didn't allow me to take a pic of it.  Not sure if I am supposed to anyway.  

This morning I went to VSU and took the Praxis II: Music Content test.  This test is necessary for my Virginia teaching certification.  It was tougher in some areas than the GACE(Georgia certification test), but didn't have a written portion which was a bit of a relief for me.  I don't know how I did, but I hope I passed..... really really hope I passed! 

Today Jose and I are planning on exploring the surrounding area some more and do some laundry.  I will have to go on another rant about the whole moving company later, but I am being summoned.

Laundry List (after move):

• Paint
• Comcast (internet) appointment 
• DirecTv (satellite) appointment
• Find a lawn mower
• Buy new bedroom furniture
• Decide where all furniture will be placed
• Household goods appointment (WHO KNOWS WHEN?!!?)
• Buy groceries
• Decorate
• GET A JOB!!!!

Another day in the new house

Well I thought Comcast and DirecTv were coming today, but then I looked at my notes and realized they aren't coming until tomorrow!!!  BOOOOO!!  I am so bored at the house with no tv and internet!  I'm on my fourth redbox movie in the past 2 days...lol

One def thing on my "wish list" is patio furniture. I went outside the other night and looked up and saw so many stars.  I mean, I've seen stars before, but I guess with the city lights it takes away from seeing them.  The sky is lit up!!!  

S/N I found out that the movers will be here on Thursday and Jose will be home on Friday night!  

Laundry List (after move):

• Paint
• Comcast (internet) appointment (Waiting)
• DirecTv (satellite) appointment
• Find a lawn mower
• Buy new bedroom furniture
• Decide where all furniture will be placed
• Household goods appointment (Thursday)
• Buy groceries
• Decorate
• GET A JOB!!!!!

Finally here

Well the pups and I stayed the night in the house fir the first night. They did really well! Zeus has an issue with the stairs (he doesn't like going down). We worked on it last night and again this morning so it's getting better :-)

This morning we got a late start, but it's understandable cause we were tired! I let Te boys out and they stayed out side chilling in the grass for about 30 minutes or so before Papaer began to bark. I went outside and saw the fence contractor. He said he was just going to measure the yard and he'd let me know when he left. I brought the boys in and distracted them by running up the stairs and playing with them.

Today I'm going to put the rest of the stuff I brought with me away and get a few groceries. We put a request for our household goods to be delivered by the 19. We will see what happens!

House tour

Craziness continues

So yesterday I drove up to Virginia to pick up the house keys and to take some of the things that the movers would not take.  Originally I was supposed to stay up there, but after seeing how much stuff was left for us to move (cleaning supplies, electronics, instruments, food) we realized we would have to make 2 trips.  So after driving 6.5 hours I spent an hour unpacking what I took then headed back to Savannah.  


Around 2am I was stopped by a police officer who said that I was swerving on the road.  It could have been because I was trying to find a faster route on my phone.  Thankfully, he just gave me a verbal warning.  


I made it back to Savannah at 2:30 and knocked out.  I was happy to see my 4-legged babies and of course Jose :-D


Today's agenda is to take some things to the recycling center, clean the house (Jose already started), and get some rest.  Tomorrow the dogs and I will be leaving Savannah for the last time.  Jose will join us next week.


To Date Laundry List (before move):

• Clean house
• Post-vacancy appointment

Laundry List (after move):

• Paint
• Comcast (internet) appointment
• DirecTv (satellite) appointment
• Find a lawn mower
• Buy new bedroom furniture
• Decide where all furniture will be placed
• Household goods appointment
• Buy groceries
• Decorate
• GET A JOB!!!!!

Moving issues!!!!!! GRRRRRRRRRR >:-O

So I have been crazy busy with all this moving "Shhhhh....tuff" to prep for today, Moving Day.  Our appointment was scheduled for 8am.  At 8:05am Jose was called saying that someone was rescheduled so they would not have a moving team for us at 8 and would have to have a group drive in from Atlanta (4 hours away)!!!  This group was SUPPOSED to be here by noon.  At 12:30 Jose called the company.  After transferring him 5 time, yes I counted, they finally told him that they could not get a hold of the team and that they should be here by 2.  WTH?!!?!?

It is now 2 and still nothing!!!! I thought moving ourselves was stressful, but this has to be worse!!!

I am VERY worried about them moving our household good to the new house because they have yet to tell us a date that they will unpack us!  All we know is that it will be "by the 20th"  UGH!!! If we didn't have to use this company we def wouldn't!!!!

And that's my vent!!!

***UPDATE***
At 2:45pm my husband called me saying that the movers called him saying they could not find HAAF.  He gave them directions from where they were, but they were still unable to find it.  I had to drive off post and meet them at the Kmart so they cold follow me back to the house.

3:00pm rolled by and I had 4 movers in the house.

5:50 pm furniture is outside and box are still being packed..... nothing in the truck yet it is all on the porch

6:05pm It begins to rain so they begin to load furniture into the truck

7:30pm possible furniture claim- after seeing a mover dragging a bookshelf down the hallway I hear a big crash; was too afraid to find out what happened

8:05pm things have seemed to slow down.  Boxes are still being put together and most of the furniture is in the truck.... Most not all

10:30pm Finally done with movers still no idea when things will be delivered to the house.  We were told by the 20th but still have not received a call to confirm.

To Date Laundry List (before move):

• Take everything off the walls (movers will not do this)
• Pre- vacancy appointment
• Pack items that I will be moving to the house
• Mover company appointment (WAITING)
• Post-vacancy appointment

Laundry List (after move):

• Comcast (internet) appointment
• DirecTv (satellite) appointment
• Find a lawn mower
• Buy new bedroom furniture
• Decide where all furniture will be placed
• Buy groceries
• Decorate
• GET A JOB!!!!!

Back to business

Besides moving I have been busy with Savannah Winds community band.  On July 3rd I performed my last concert with the band where I got to play bari sax!  We played a piece in which I created a slideshow for which was a lot of fun.  After the concert one of my fellow music friends threw my husband and I a going away party.  I was really happy to be able to spend some time with everyone!  

After the party Jose decided to let me know he wanted to have a cookout for the people in his shop (16 guys + spouses).  I had about 4 days to put this party together so I was kinda freaked out.  Jose, my husband, has been crazy busy at work so everything was all on me.  Check out the pics!

The Spread minus hamburgers and hotdogs

My Red Velvet cupcakes

There were more drinks and desserts,  but i failed to get a pic

Now that all the partying is done it's back to work on the move.  We, meaning I, are going to clear one room out to put all the things we are going to move ourselves into.  We hope this will help get rid of any confusion when the movers come in and pack us on Thursday.

I can't believe I'm less than a week away from moving!!!!!!!

Slowing Down

Well it looks like things are slowing down since I got so much done in the past weeks.  I took things off the walls the other day, but it was really depressing in the house so I put everything back up again.  :-D


Also, my husband decided he wanted to have a cookout with "his guys" this weekend.  That means cleaning!!! YAY :-P


To Date Laundry List (before move):

• Take everything off the walls (movers will not do this)
• Pre- vacancy appointment
• Pack items that I will be moving to the house
• Mover company appointment
• Post-vacancy appointment

Laundry List (after move):

• Comcast (internet) appointment
• DirecTv (satellite) appointment
• Find a lawn mower
• Buy new bedroom furniture
• Decide where all furniture will be placed
• Buy groceries
• Decorate
• GET A JOB!!!!!

Progress is being made :-)

So I've been updating and editing the List of things to do since I posted it on Tuesday.  If you go and look at it you can see all the things that I have already completed in the past two days.  I'VE BEEN BUSSSSSSY!! lol

Jose has been CRAZY busy at work and hasn't been getting home until after 6 or 7.  Since I'm not working right now, I don't want him to worry about taking care of all this stuff so it's up to me to complete this "mission." 

To Date Laundry List (before move):
 

• Take everything off the walls (movers will not do this)
• Pre-moving appointment
• Pre- vacancy appointment
• Pack items that I will be moving to the house
• Mover company appointment
• Post-vacancy appointment

Laundry List (after move):

• Comcast (internet) appointment
• DirecTv (satellite) appointment
• Find a lawn mower
• Buy new bedroom furniture
• Decide where all furniture will be placed
• Buy groceries
• Decorate
• GET A JOB!!!!!

Another milestone

Things seem to be moving along everyday.  Decisions are being made and the laundry list is getting smaller!
I have officially put in our Intent to Vacate papers with the housing office and have scheduled the pre-vacancy and post- vacancy appointments.

Jose and I have decided that the dogs and I will move on the 15th so I can wait for our household goods to be delivered (sometime between the 15th and 20th).  He will be joining me a week later.  It'll suck staying in an empty house not knowing when they will deliver our stuff, but it'll be ok!  I have 4 seasons of Big Bang Theory and 2 seasons of Modern Family on my computer! :-D  Plus this will give me an excuse to get out and do some more exploring.


To Date Laundry List (before move):

• Call DirecTV about transferring satellite to new house
• Pick an internet provider 
• Decide on a house phone (considering Vonage)
• Make reservations for Jose to stay in lodging at HAAF while he finishes out-processing
• Decide how to pay for house cleaners (pre-pay or pay out of BAH reimbursement)
• Take everything off the walls (movers will not do this)
• Sign-up for Praxis II
• Pre-moving appointment
• Pre- vacancy appointment
• Pack items that I will be moving to the house
• Mover company appointment
• Post-vacancy appointment
• Transfer utilities to our name for the house

Laundry List (after move):

• Comcast (internet) appointment
• DirecTv (satellite) appointment
• Find a lawn mower
• Buy new bedroom furniture
• Decide where all furniture will be placed
• Buy groceries
• Decorate
• GET A JOB!!!!!

First Blog!

Well, the whole purpose for this blog is to allow my family and friends who are not on Facebook to see what is going on in the life of the Lozano's.  As you all know, we are in the mist of moving from Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, GA to Fort Lee, Virginia.

I have to admit, when we first moved to Savannah I would not allow myself to become comfortable.  Fortunately, I met some AMAZING people in the past 5 years that just wouldn't let that be.  Thanks to them this move is going to be HARD!!!!

Now that I had my "mushy moment" let's get back to the mission at hand... THE MOVE.

Ever since we found out we were PCSing (moving) we have had a laundry list of decisions to make: live on-post or off-post( which comes with it's own laundry list), DITY move (we pack) or military move(they pack), etc.  Since we are so far from home, we decided we would let the military pack and move us.  This is the first time we are going to do this type of move so i'm both happy and nervous about it cause let's face it no one is going to take care of your stuff like you will.   I have been in inventory mode for a while.  I cleaned and purged things from my office, my closest, and storage room.  I refuse to take all the clutter with me!

Last week we found a house on AHRN (Automated Housing Refferal Network for military).  This house is really cute and in our BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing) range so I called and scheduled an appointment to see it on Tuesday.  When Monday morning rolled around the Ft. Lee housing called us saying they had a 2 bedroom 2.5 bath house for us to move in on Aug. 1.  We had until Wednesday to accept or deny the housing.  What sucked it that they would not let me tour the house before hand.

Jose and I made a priority list of stuff we wanted from a house and which places we prefer to live.  That being said, the house I had an appointment for was at the top of our list.  Tuesday I drove up to Virginia and met the tenant at the house and the landlord.  The house is 3 bedroom 2 bath.  It seemed a little small, but it's just us and the pups.  Also, it's larger than 997sq ft which is what the on-post housing would be.  I totally fell in love with the house and the neighborhood.... OH and the backyard!!  There are some drawbacks to the house though.  The cell phone reception isn't that great because of the area and it's a little secluded.  Those aren't that big of a deal because we can get a house phone and maybe it'll keep us from going out to eat!

I loved it and called Jose that night to talk it over.  We both agreed that we want to live there. The next day I met with the landlord and signed the lease!!  This makes the whole move a bit more real!  It is even more exciting knowing that we will move without so many unknowns.

Front: 3/4 acre

Back: Picket fence, small patio, insulated shed 10 x 12 ft

Downstairs restroom
The doors on the left contain the washer and dryer

Upstairs restroom

View of the neighborhood

Master Bedroom

one angle of upstairs bedroom (both upstairs rooms look the same)

Another angle of upstairs bedroom

Kitchen with all new cabinets

Livingroom


UPDATE:
I took some more pics of the house after picking up the keys

 There are no pics of the upstairs bedrooms because the lady living there was in the packing process so there were boxes everywhere.