Ok, so I'm running a bit late.  I meant to leave out of here at 3.  That's evidently not happening.  I'm almost finished and I'll be out the door.  Updates will be sporadic until Tuesday. 

Bring on the bonding!

DJ must have gotten his days confused.  Either that or else he saw the packed suitcase in my room.  Only ONE packed suitcase in my room. 

He woke me up around 3:30am and told me it was time to go to Michigan.

I've packed all my clothes (I think).  Ok, not true.  I still have a pair of sweats I'm washing, then I'm going to wash my "delicates" tomorrow.  Then I'll be fully packed.  Some of DJ's clothes are piled on my bed, the rest in his closet.  I need to work on that.  I have lists.  I'm good at making lists.  Just not so good at checking them off.

Full day at work tomorrow.  Then packing up the SUV.  Hopefully a nap after.

Crap, I need to wrap presents too.  My girl is pregnant.  And I went majorly crazy shopping the past couple months.  You'd think this was my kid. 

I would call in sick tomorrow but guess who left her cell phone in work? 

I woke up early Sunday to get this move started.  FMM was all gung ho and was trying to contact his buddy who said he would help.  After he was unable to reach him on his cell, FMM drove over his house.  Noone was home.

Luckily, I got ahold of Budget and they not only had a truck, but it was in my price range (cheap!) and it was one block away from my storage space!  Sounds like a winner to me.  FMM was on his way to pick up his cousin from work and was going to meet me at the rental office.  While he was busy doing that, Mommy Dearest was calling to tell me if I wasn't at her house within the hour she was leaving to do her errands.  We got into it a bit on the phone since this was my ONLY weekend to move my stuff since I was going to be away on and off for the next three weeks.  She goes to settlement on the 10th of June.  I'll be in DC then. 

I really don't understand why she has to make my life difficult EVERY SINGLE TIME I DEAL WITH HER.  I just realized, I don't have to deal with her anymore!  This was it!  No more stress.  Except of course, when she takes my dad to court and tries to take everything he has (which affects DJ 100%).  But I'm not going to think about that right now. 

Tomorrow, I'm leaving all this behind and I'm headed to Michigan!!!  I can't wait!

No.  I moved absolutely nothing today.  I picked up FMM and we drove to the location - 12 miles away.  They are not renting UHauls today.  You have got to be kidding me.  I called UHaul who told me to call their regional center.  You have to love their customer service.  I called their regional center.  Did they apologize?  No.  They did tell me they would call me back with another location.

We waited 20 minutes.  FMM called his buddy who works at my complex.  I know him pretty well, especially since I used to date FMM.  He is picking me up tomorrow in his truck and then we are getting FMM and going to pick up my crap from the house. 

I called UHaul a 4th time today to cancel my reservation.  I told them I better not have ANY charges on my credit card from them because this was completely unacceptable.  They were noting my account.  If they charge my credit card, I will be calling up my credit card company and dispute the charges. 

I am one pissed off chick right now.  The settlement date on my parents' house is June 10th.  Since I'm not going to be around Philly for the next 3 weeks, I need to move my shit out now!  So, FMM agreed to help me move everything tomorrow into storage.  I called and tried to reserve a U Haul (I'm not even linking those thieving bastards) last week for this Saturday at 8 AM.  I only need the truck for about 3 hours - if that.  At the end of the call, the rep told me someone would call me tomorrow.  Well tomorrow came and no call.

The day after that I called back, basically got the run around.  I was told the next day and the next day.  This is just a call to confirm my reservation.  FMM told me I should have used Ryder who is more expensive but has better service.  Thanks, FMM, couldn't you have told me sooner!?  They are booked.
  
This morning I call, yet again, and I'm told someone will be confirming my reservation by 5pm.  I called them back at 5:15 and they finally tell my my pickup location.  No, it's not the one I picked.  It's one approximately 12 miles from my house.  You know they charge BY THE MILE?????  I'm furious now.  Why couldn't they have told me this the 5-6 other times I called?  Oh, because they don't confirm location until ONE day before the rental.  What the hell kind of business are you running?

Of course I can cancel my reservation, but there is a $50 charge because I didn't cancel 24 hours before my pickup time.  Hmmmmm, maybe if you had told me this the 5-6 OTHER TIMES I CALLED, I would have cancelled.  Nope, you don't tell me about the change in location until 5:30pm. 

Next I speak with a supervisor who informs me that possibly something can be worked out tomorrow.  He won't know until early AM (when I'm moving basically) if the other 24, yes 24, closer rental places to my house will have the small truck I want.  He (oopsie) told me that the trucks are delivered to the facilities the night before.  Well, tell the one who's going to be driving my truck to bring it to MY location.  He had no answer for that one.  Looks like someone fucked up and told me something they shouldn't have. 

I can't wait to call tomorrow morning.  They have the wrong person.

Photos of Saddam in his underwear have surfaced.  Please read the story.  This is my favorite part:

President Bush was briefed by senior aides Friday morning about the photos' existence and "strongly supports the aggressive and thorough investigation that is already underway" that seeks to find who took them, White House spokesman Trent Duffy said.

I'm taking bets to see who is found first:  the dastardly culprit or Osama (remember him?)

Since I don't have enough challenges in my life, next week I am driving 11+ hours to Michigan to see my girls.  Yes, DJ will be a passenger in this vehicle.  Will I survive the journey?  Only time will tell. 

DJ is psyched because we are leaving in THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT!  I am also handing over my laptop to him for his enjoyment on the very long drive.  I figure it will be great bonding time for us.  Not to mention, it will kill all the cravings for having another child. 

Today I had to leave work.  My whatchamacallit, "aunt", yea that's it, my aunt came to visit whlie I was wearing WHITE PANTS.  Damn, damn, damn.

As I've griped about previously, my dental insurance is a joke.  Along with my vision insurance as well.  And I've definitely griped about DJ's problems with dentists.  C called me the other night.  C is the mother of one of DJ's friends.  I have often mouthed off about lack of dental care for DJ.  She found an absolute wonderful dentist and wanted to share her with me. 

This sounds way too good to be true.  I called today for an appointment.  Once I had mentioned DJ being on the spectrum, they decided to switch everything around.  They want him to come in for the last appointment of the day when there are no other children there in hopes that will ease DJ a bit.  The feel it will be less hectic and much easier for DJ to handle.  Instead of jumping right into a cleaning (and the subsequent problem teeth), DJ and I will meet with the dentist so DJ can get to know her and the other office staff.  They actually want to make this as PAINLESS as possible for my son.  Who'd have thunk it?

If the visit goes well and if DJ's up for it, they will proceed to clean his teeth after he has met everyone and taken a tour of the facility.  If not, that will be rescheduled for another day.  The dentist wants to talk with DJ and try to find out some of his fears regarding the work getting done on his teeth and try to alleviate them. 

They do not use straight jackets.  They actually use a weighted blanket in hopes that will calm the child.  If that does not work, they will try sedation.  If that does not work, then the dentist will perform the work in a hospital while DJ is under anesthesia.  But first things first, they want to make sure they concur with the first dentist's opinion of even having the tooth pulled. 

You know there has to be a catch, right?  They are not a member of my private insurance.  But at this point, I DON'T CARE!!  I'll pay anything you want, honey.  Here, take my car! 

But, no need.  Their prices are just as sweet.  I don't even think I need to throw them on a credit card!  I'm just so damned excited right now!  I think I forgot to mention, we don't even have a month's wait for this.  He's being seen on June 3rd.  Two weeks!