Let me just state for the record: I hate moving.
The movers are here. They mumble under their breath to each other in Eastern European accents. After walking through the house, their assessment:
"We will work like dogs, and still it will not be enough."
Update: 10.20am
Fag break.
Most boxes done, sofa successfully moved (with both front doors removed).
Apparently, I am unable to differentiate between Russian and Hebrew at low volume. Also, I have noticed we have too many computers (13), not counting non-functioning ones (1), handhelds (4) or ReplayTV (1).
I fell for the classic up-sell: 'I can get one more guy to help out for a small increase in price'. He's not here yet, but now we've started I can see that traffic on the stairs will be a bottleneck, so another body won't help so much.
Update: 12.36pm
Done
The movers have left. As has my wife, who objected when I insisted that the contents of The Closet Of No Return be emptied and moved upstairs, where there is No Equivalent Space, and therefore boxes that have been in storage for years lie randomly sprinkled all over the rest of the what were neatly organized piles in each room.
It is now eerily quiet.
Still, the wireless network seems to rise up through the floor strongly enough - I suppose I should at least write 'First Post!'.
I am now off to find some food, and my wayward wife.
Update: 3.29pm
Hungry.
She came back, and after a bare minimum of tears and a short stint in a dark cupboard, we're up and running. We decided to attack the kitchen to create an oasis in the midst of the mayhem, and most of the boxes are in here are unpacked and put away.
I'm updating this in the guise of 'checking my work email'.
The kitchen computer is up and running, with Groove Salad pumping out of the Creature speakers, but there is still Much To Do.
Update: 5:59pm
No Longer Hungry
We nipped out for a bite to eat, which included a pint to steady our nerves, and progress continues. I am now about to make The Great Internet Switch - by simply swapping posts 5 and 11 I should, according to the nice guy at SBC, be able to switch our phone and DSL service from downstairs to upstairs. This is good, because SBC no longer offers static IP, so if we had to get new service it would surely suck. And this way we get to keep our phone number too. Self service number portability!* Of course, when I located the junction box, there were no numbers in sight, and only 8 posts as far as I could count. However, with a bit of trial and error (and with only one wrong guess!) I think I've located the wires to switch. If you don't hear from me again, you'll know what happened. Otherwise, expect a pause while I drag all the gear up here and set it up. Here goes...
Update: 8:39pm
Hungry again. I hate phone wiring.
Well, the DSL switcheroo didn't work. I've put it all back together how it was at last. I've learned more than I wish to know about phone and DSL wiring. With the state of most of the wiring in the house, it's amazing any of it ever works. I think it didn't work because I have a filter at the NIDS outside, and insufficient wiring to bring the split phone and data inside.
In other news, we now have a bed to sleep in too - yay. So, I think that's about it for today. Time for dinner.
Hot on the heels of New York's decision to ban smoking, San Francisco mulls banning fog - presumably to stay ahead in the progressive stakes...
San Francisco Mulls Banning Fog- Indoors [WSJ]