One of the Great Truths

Wine a bit, originally uploaded by coffeejitters.

I could go for some wine right now.

Timmy is moving to Seattle too!

After the fiasco of transporting Mom's stuff to Seattle from Alaska via the ill-maintained U-Haul (see this post for the back story - we're still fighting U-Haul on getting a refund), my brother Tim decided to hang around for a couple days and see if there are any good job opportunities for him around the Seattle area. Wouldn't you know it, House of Harley needed a parts guy and my brother happens to be a Harley Davidson parts guy. Match made in heaven.

The new job starts on April 21, so Timmy has three weeks to give notice at his old job and pack up his house and drive his truck, his Harley, and the rest of his junk back down the Alcan. I'm hoping this time he wont go with U-Haul again. Is there any other option out there?

Slowly but surely my whole family is making their way to the Seattle area. Of course this is good news.

spectacles

002, originally uploaded by coffeejitters.

My new glasses. I'm still getting used to walking around with glasses. I've really been pretty lucky with my vision.

In Like a Lamb, Out Like a Lion

014, originally uploaded by coffeejitters.

The late March snowstorm caught our attention today. Snow is rare for Seattle, even in the winter. We took these shots around Wallingford and the U-district.

Time Management

My dad had a theory, he called it the "Schwartz theory of gasseous expansion," which stated the material in a room will always expand to fill the available space. No matter how big your room is, it will eventually feel cramped because there's too much stuff in it.

I was thinking about that theory and how it could also be applied to time as I was out and about running errands with Mom. Now that I dont have a regular 9-5 job, I theoretically have more available time. I've been in this position before and I remember noting the same occurrance - when you have more free time, your chores expand to fill your available time. It took ALL DAY yesterday to get the phone, cable and internet set up for mom.

There is no such thing as free time.

Alex and Timmy's Not-So-Excellent Adventure

My brothers, Alex and Tim, are stranded somewhere in the middle of nowhere Canada.

They left Alaska Thursday morning in a U-Haul vacuum packed with my Mother's possessions and headed South to the Seattle area. The trip can be made in three days if you have two drivers and don't stop to sleep. That is also provided you are driving a vehicle that has been maintained a little better than a U-Haul.

This little adventure has netted the boys so far (on separate occasions): brake lights out, engine light on, lost power, fuel line failure, lost second gear, RPMs won't go over 200. Responses from U-Haul have included repeatedly hanging up on the boys and one assistant manager stating that U-Haul doesnt pay him enough to drive out there with a new rig to swap them out. They did finally send a tow truck so now I'm hoping they'll get moving in the right direction.

Apparently we're not the only one to have trouble with U-Haul. A quick google search came up with a list of sites like this:

http://www.uhaul-sucks.com/
http://www.uhaulstory.org/
http://uhaulisbad.com/
http://www.ejovi.net/2005/08/25/uhaul-is-the-worst/




Update: the boys arrived safely a little before midnight Wednesday night.

The First Day of the Rest of My Life

Every morning I get a "leadership tip of the day" in my work email. Today's quote was particularly apropos as it's my last day at the office before I go back to school.

It is never too late to become what you might have been.

George Eliot