The Fortune Cookie getting started
Moving Day had arrived. I had fretted a lot the previous night, and had a rather exhausted, and anxious nights sleep. I was hoping I remembered everything I needed to remember. I was also stressing a bit because I had requested help moving from my friend Azrayel, but after the moving date switched she couldn’t assist.
Her task was to aide me in packing all of my ‘smashables’ into her and my car, as I knew my car would not hold it all in one trip. As a side note Az is fantastic at being organized and level headed when I am being a frazzled, forgetful mess and I was relying on that. If anyone is hiring for the worlds best right hand, I recommend Az, seriously.
Argo originally helped me get all set up when Abel had delivered The Fortune Cookie to me. Knowing the steps I would have to go through to move the vardo, he offered to come help get her moved out and situated again. I was happy and a little relieved.
Argo’s friend (and adopted father figure) Mark was the one who was helping me tow The Fortune Cookie from her current location to the new one today. He had generously offered his time and vehicle to help move me for the cost of gas to do it. Mark had previously assisted after The Fortune Cookie was delivered originally. The rig that Abel and company drove could not get The Fortune Cookie up on the knoll that had been cleared for it (by Argo). Mark drove The Fortune Cookie up a few days later after the dirt had settled a bit more.
Argo arrived on Friday around 8:00 a.m. I had made myself some tea and boiled a bit extra as I knew he would be there soon. As I poked my head out the door, here comes Argo up the hill in the tractor. We waved to one another and smiled. Argo went straight to work.
Vardo on the way out.
He was using the tractor to level out and move a few things in the exit path of The Fortune Cookie, one of which was a gigantic hole where a stump had been the week before. While he was sorting things out outside, I was collecting the hoses and extension cords attached to The Cookie and removing them. I also packed up the last of my kitchen and realized I just did not have enough room in my car for everything.
After checking the time and a short discussion with Argo, I realized I had enough time to drive to the new location and drop off the first load and go back for a second before Mark arrived. After I dropped off my things and arrived back to The Fortune Cookie, Argo had successfully moved and leveled the area that we had to drive through. He had also lowered the jacks on The Fortune Cookie and had her in ‘go’ mode.
I finished packing my car full of the rest of the things I needed to put away. Mark arrived shortly thereafter, right on schedule. Once he pulled up to The Fortune Cookie we realized something, Mark had arranged to use the tow ball we had used to relocate my house before. However, the tow ball had gone missing from it’s designated area. We all laughed nervously and Argo ran to the nearby auto parts store to grab a tow ball.
We were now ready to roll! I did one final look through of the house and locked the front door. Mark and Argo checked the lights on the rig and The Fortune Cookie and everything was good to go. And we were off!
I was a bit nervous about some of the tight spots in the driveway leading up to my old place, but Mark pulled through them barely having to stop. By the time I got in my car to follow them, they were on the main road. I was following behind for the first stretch of dirt road, so I got a few pictures. I’m a little sad that when we hit the main stretch of Highway I was not behind them. The Fortune Cookie was drawing A LOT of attention. I figure next time I have to drive it somewhere I will slap a banner on her with my website on it.
On the main road.
The Fortune Cookie tows like a dream (Thanks Abel!). We managed to make it from point A to point B in about a half hour. We pull up to the house, I open the gates to let us in. Mark navigates her in really well. I had let them know that to get her into position it would require A LOT of jockeying. Which I was right.
In an effort to help them, I remember I was moving something and then… the funniest and most painful thing happened. I stepped on a rusty nail in a board. I managed to have some good momentum when stepping on this nail, so it went right through my foot. Realizing what I had done, I stopped and ripped the nail back out of my foot (which was harder getting out then going in I’ll tell ya).
What makes this kind of hilarious, is that when Kim and I had been organizing the wood pile around a week or so before, Eowyn and I had joked about how I should just get a tetanus shot. Mainly because Kass is fantastic at collecting things to … rebuild other things out of. Some of these things have questionable …. quality. Basically the joke was to be a member of their house, one should be up-to-date on their tetanus shot.
Long story short, I was not up-to-date on my tetanus shot. I think the last shot series I got was Hepatitis B, or maybe Tuberculosis. Either way, it had been over 10 years since I had received any shots. So, I was not horribly knowledgeable about what happens when you get tetanus. I just know that one should ‘immediately’ make their way to a hospital or urgent care to receive said shot.
Home Sweet Home!
I hobbled around for a bit while Argo and Mark were jockeying my house around in the backyard. Internally fretting about if I should drive to the hospital now, or wait. Seeing as no one present was too concerned but me, I did a quick Facebook poll with my friends. “When one steps on a rusty nail and is not up-to-date on a tetanus shot, how quickly should one go to the hospital?” After being advised of Lockjaw and a few other things, EVERYONE who responded agreed that I should leave for the hospital STAT.
Feeling guilty as hell, I directed Argo and Mark precicely where I wanted The Fortune Cookie to land. I advised that gas money was on the kitchen table in case I did not make it back in time. I then made my way to Saint Joseph’s Hospital (which is a FANTASTIC place to go if you need to go to the Emergency Room, good care and prompt service).
After being given a shot, some warnings, a little jesting and a prescription, I left St. Joes and got my prescription filled. I made it back to the house and Argo, Mark and Tammy (Mark’s wife) had left. I felt like a big jerk-face for having to cut out so soon.
Happily though, The Fortune Cookie is in it’s landing place. I love my new location, my neighbors are fantastic and Riley is quite happy here too. I appreciate the help I received from everyone on Moving Day!
~Kera
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