Thursday I found out that the No Name Car has arrived in the US. I shipped it on 21 June, and it arrived 26 July.
Yesterday, after dropping P off at her place of confinement (school), I was on the road, headed to Charleston, SC (2.5 hours) to pick up NNC. After turning in the rental car (the company charged me $1 a mile, plus the rental cost~it's a good thing that I'll be reimbursed!) and taking a taxi to the pick up point, there he sat, fresh off the boat. Once I signed all the needed documents, and inspected the vehicle, I was headed back to Fayvetteville.
Once I made it back, I realized that one of the employees at the pick up point did not put the maintenance manual in the car. Do you know how important a maintenance manual is to a new car under warranty? It's important, believe me. Monday, I'll call and hopefully they'll find it and mail it to me.
Just one more hurdle...my furniture, which is supposed to arrive on or about 30 August.
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Yesterday evening, P had an announcement:
Me: How was your day today? What did you learn?
P: It was good, and I learned that I am my teacher's favorite kid.
Me: Oh really, how do you know that?
P: She asked me to take a note to the office and give it to the President, and she let me go all by myself.
Me: The President? Are you sure?
P: Yes, I'm sure, and I did it all by my self.
Me: Don't you mean Principal and not President?
P: Oh, that's right, she's only the Principal.
Seven days into the school year, and P is already the teacher's pet. It's going to be a long year!
Posted by Margaret
4:18 PM
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Today, I received my bi-weekly email letting me know that my pay statement was available for my viewing pleasure (pay day is next week). Imagine my surprise when I logged in and noticed that my pay was
It seems that SOMEONE who shall remain nameless can put a man on the moon, but CAN NOT seem to transfer one dedicated cotton picker from one payroll office to the next without wreaking havoc with the dinero.
To make a long story short, when I was leaving Germany I was advised to handcarry at least a month's worth of pay statements for the new HR department so they could see what needed to be transfered (401K, annual leave, sick leave, etc). When I inprocessed here, I informed the Head Inprocessor that I had the Very Important Documents. She in turn informed me that she didn't need the VID and everything will transfer correctly. She was wrong!! Not only did nothing transfer correctly, NOTHING TRANSFERRED AT ALL!!!!
Sidestory: In 2003, just the opposite happened. I transferred from one agency to the agency I currently work for, and I was paid twice in one pay period. After informing the old agency of the error, I was told that I could't return the money, I had to wait on them to audit their payroll ledgers. It took 8 months for them to 'realize' the error.
I'm convinced that if the HI had the VID as a reference, there would be no pay issues this time around.
Honestly, I'm not too upset about the situation because I said to myselfDiane (I call myself Diane), none this time means twice as much next time.
This morning I will talk to the HI and my first question to her will be "Do YOU believe Uncle LeRoy put a man on the moon?"
Her answer to my question will set the pace for the entire meeting.
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Update on Casa Nueva~
I upgraded all the kitchen appliances to stainless steel. I think they will look nice with the cabinet tops that I selected (with P's help, of course).
Friday I will pick out the light fixtures.
I also need to purchase a washer and dryer, but there are a couple of questions before I spend the cashola (that I DIDN'T get paid):
What do you recommend/suggest?
Posted by Margaret
1:47 AM
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I am pleased to announce that the contract that was submitted on my behalf for the house was accepted (along with the wad of cashola). That means that technically, the house is ours. The closing date is 15 September. We will move in soon thereafter. Anyone willing to help unpack will be welcomed.
The only downside is that P and I will be living in a hotel until then. At least someone makes my bed everyday.
Yesterday, I picked out all the flooring, kitchen cabinets, and counter tops. Next week, I will pick out the appliances and the lighting fixtures. I have already decided that I will upgrade all the kitchen appliances to stainless steel.
Now I must decide on the color schemes for the rooms (P wants a beach theme for her room). It's good that I have a few weeks, because I have NO idea as to what to do with the rest of the house. As before, I welcome any suggestions.
Posted by Margaret
5:54 AM
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After looking near and far, to and for, and here and there, I FINALLY found a house (I looked at about 12).
Yesterday afternoon, the realtor drew up the contract, and it will be delivered this morning (along with a gigante wad of cashola). My fingers are crossed.
Once the offer is accepted (I'll find out by close of business today), I will pick out the paint colors, light fixtures, and kitchen cabinets.
The house is expected to be finished by the end of August, which is ok, because it gives me plenty of time to make decisions concerning other stuff, like what kind of cable, which internet provider will not gouge my pocket, and if I should put up a screen around the covered patio. As usual, I am open to all suggestions.
Oh, I forgot to mention, I went with Cingular for a cell phone, mainly because they have roll over minutes. Thanks for everyone's suggestion.
Posted by Margaret
11:57 AM
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I forgot to mention that during our last week in Germany, P lost 2 more teeth, so now, she's got a set of 'stand alones' at the bottom front. Also, one of her top front teeth is loose. Wiggly loose, but not wobbly loose, so it'll be at least a month before it's ready to come out.
P and the stand alones:
While attempting to convince P that Crazy Dog would be better off with a family in Germany, I told P that she could have a crab for a pet once we arrive here in NC. Little did I know that there would be a kiosk in the mall here selling hermit crabs.
To make a long story short...there are 3 new nameless family members.
This is one of the 3:
P, the stand alones and the nameless crab:
Posted by Margaret
4:09 AM
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We have arrived here in sunny, humid, busy Fayetteville. We had to drive from Charlotte last night because we missed our connecting flight (thanks Frankfurt baggage system), and would have had to wait until this morning for the next flight.
As usual, P was great during our travels, except that she thought it would be funny to repeatedly scare me while I was attempting to sleep on the plane. After threatening to lock her in the bathroom on the plane, she only scared me another 8768 times.
After changing rental cars last night, we checked into the hotel at 1am this morning. We had officially been awake since 6am Germany time (midnight NY time) Friday morning. P took cat naps all day, and was up bright and early at 4am announcing to the hotel room that she was tooooo hungry and didn't think she could survive.
This afternoon, we met up with P's friend J (who was my temporary tenant in Germany), and she decided to spend the night at her house tonight. I'm not really complaining because I'm expected to go pick cotton (at least inprocess) tomorrow morning. Plus, J has a new baby sister, and there is no way that I can compete with that.
Tomorrow after picking cotton, I'll meet with the realtor and she will take me to look at a few houses, which officially startsOperation Casa Nueva
Oh, I have a question for you blog readers...
I need to get a cell phone, but I have NO idea what to get. Which cell phone service do you have, and why? Would you recommend it to a Broke Single Parent such as myself?
Posted by Margaret
10:31 PM
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We have about 24 hours left here in Germany, my home for the last 7 years. I'm not going to go and get all nostalgic on you, so don't worry. Diane (I call myself Diane), how can Uncle LeRoy put a man on the moon, yet he can't seem to get wireless internet in the hotel on the World's Biggest Air Base?
Last week, all my household belongings drove off in the back of a truck, not to be seen again until about 30 August. We moved into a hotel on base, where I had to as myself a question:
Maybe the whole 'man on the moon' episode was really done on a soundstage.
We leave Saturday morning (tomorrow) headed for NC with one less family member. No, I didn't decide to leave P behind (who would I claim on my taxes??). I've decided to leave Crazy Dog here, with a family that could spend more time with him. This decision was made after realized a few things:
I'm off to the rental car company to turn in the car and pack 7 years of my life into 3 suitcases.
Take care all, and the next post will be from your side of the pond.
Auf Wiedersehen, Deutchland!!
Posted by Margaret
11:20 AM
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