Third and final part of the move was going to be the trickiest. I had to move my queen size bed, one bookcase and a sectional sofa that Jennifer had bequeathed to me. I could have rented a truck, but I didn't really want to deal with moving it myself so I hired movers. I went with a respectable outfit, Starving Students.
I made all the arrangements on the phone. It was going to be 75 bucks and hour. Even with the so-called California mandated double drive time, it shouldn't take more than 2 hours to get my stuff from Jen's apartment in Walnut Creek, drive 30 minutes to Alameda and move everything up three floors to my new place. These guys are used to moving entire houses filled with furniture, so this job should be a cakewalk for them.
When I arranged the move, they gave me a window between 8-10 when the movers would show up. I wanted it closer to 8 so I could get it out of the way and go to work. They didn't show up until 9:20. By that time I had Jennifer's cats locked in the bathroom and mine squirreled away in my car.
I know movers have this reputation for slowing things down because they get paid by the hour, but I was going to do everything I could to keep these guys honest. I helped out, moving the cushions from the couch and the bed frame. Even so, I was shocked at how poorly organized these two guys, Mike and Eric were. It should have taken 3 trips together for the mattress, the box spring and the bookcase. Then they could each take part of the couch and be done in a few more trips. I expected them to be in unison, moving together, they were a team, right? Obviously their priorities are not the same as mine. Eric is moving like a fucking turtle and taking as little as possible on each trip. If I wasn't there, this move would have taken them hours. What should have taken 15 minutes took 30, but we were still on schedule so I wasn't worried. We hit the road for Alameda.
I get in my car, which is stuffed with more of my junk and two anxious kittens who don't like driving much. I had thought that being in the car for 30 minutes or so before we took off would have calmed them down, but I couldn't have been more wrong. Even Fil, usually taciturn and resolute was giving me her death cry most of the way to Alameda. On the way there, I had to calm them down and I had to make sure Mike and Eric in the truck were able to follow me at a decent speed, which was a chore.
We arrived at Alameda, and guess what, the elevator is busted. Even worse, I can't get into my building because the key I was given, which works on elevator doesn't work on any of the doors. I grab one of the maintenance guys to let us in the building, show Mike and Eric the route to my apartment and head off to the main office to sort out the key issue.
At the office, they are less than apologetic about the problem. I guess, "I'm so sorry for the inconvenience, Mr. Hecht, let me find the right key and get you squared away", was too much to ask for. Instead they made me feel like it was not only my fault but that I was too stupid to know whether I was using the key correctly. I was assured that someone was going to find me a working key and get it to me. They were busy trying to sort some parking problem of their own making, which was interesting since someone was parked in my spot. While I was there I also asked about the intercom problem. If you were coming to see me and hit 308 on the intercom, you get somebody, but you don't get me. I asked them to fix this. They wanted my home number. I don't have a home number, only a cell phone. Instead of saying, we'll figure something out, don't worry. They just said it won't work. The front office is not scoring a lot of points with this new tenant.
I make my way back to the building to find Mike and Eric lollygagging. Mike is chatting away on the phone about another job and Eric is taking the lightest loads possible up to my place. Before I can say anything I get a call from the cable guy. He just arrived and can't find my building. I direct him to the building and let him in my place.
I go downstairs to help the movers and run into a maintained guy who tells me that the elevator is flooded, but they are pumping out the water and it should be operational "shortly." Shortly to me means it will be working in less than 10 minutes. But this dude must have been using a different time frame because the damn thing was still out of commission when I came home after work.
I'm feeling bad for my cats, still locked in the car, so at a time when I feel like the movers should be finishing up with the bed, I grab them and bring them upstairs. Only, they are not done, so I can't keep them in the bedroom. I have to put them in the bathroom. But the bathroom door will close, but it won't latch. I don't realize this until I see Mak running around the corridor outside my place. I grab him and stick him back in the bathroom and place something heavy against the door, or so I think, but the cats force the door open and both escape. I hunt them down, this time, I put them in the tub and close the shower door. When I try to leave the apartment to find out why the movers haven't brought up the rest of the bed, I see Fil's little head pop out of the bathroom door. She has jumped over the shower door to try to make her escape. I had no choice but to wait until the movers show up with the rest of the bed.
When the finally do, I look the cats in the bedroom. The cable guy has looked at my outlet and needs to find the box to flip the switch so he goes off to the office. The movers finish up and give me a bill which lists their hourly at 90 bucks (I was quoted 75 over the phone), but I'm not going to say anything. I just want these guys gone. I can call the main office later to complain. I head back to the office to get my key. They don't have it yet. I ask them if they can let the cable guy into my place, they say they are shorthanded, but are too busy. This is sort of fucked because I called them the day before to see if they could do just that and they said, that's what they are there for. I get a call from the cable guy saying he at my door. I tell him I'm on my way, leaving the office still without a new key, but thinking I can get in the door we propped open for the move. I can't. I head back to the office. On the way there, I get a call from the cable guy asking me where I am. I tell him I can't get into the building. Can he come down and let me in? He comes down to let me in. He's down in less than a minute. Very professional.
I make sure the cats have food and water. Make sure they know where the litter box is and let them explore the whole place. Then and only then can I finally head off to work.
I went shopping in the city last night with my buddy Brian and his wife Becky. First stop, Macy's.
