How Sore?

That's the question. Just how sore will I be tomorrow. Today was very busy. Brother was late. He arrived probably around 1pm. We went to the home improvement store and bought wood, drywall... wait. No. I bought those things. So where was I? Ok, got boards, drywall, joint compound (to put where the drywall board meet)... we then got crazy. We went ahead and picked up the 6ft x 8ft (1.8m x 2.4m) french-style doors for the sunroom addition entrance. Well, picked up became literal but first there was a forklift in the way and we needed someone to do that. And we knew we had to rent their truck because the minivan doesn't have that kind of cargo space.

First we went to get the truck. Brother had his license and proof of insurance but his credit card was declined. He knew it was maxed out. Anyway, I provided a card and he got the key and we went back to the doors & windows department. It took awhile but we got someone who could move the forklift to do so. Well, it got moved about a meter and they scattered like mad. These doors, with frame, hinges, etc. already made of wood, aluminum, glass and brass. They are heavy. It was quickly clear we needed another cart so I went out to the parking lot for one because that style, where you can stand up large items, always seem to collect outdoors and never anywhere convenient. There are little plastic handles to help people move these doors already attached to the frame. So how were we going to get the door onto the cart with the forklift just barely moved? So I decided, I'd take point on this and ended up "skateboarding" on the cart. There were moments where I expected life to flash before my eyes.

I'm very less than impressed with the help we got. Anyway, when you rent their truck they're supposed to load your items for you! Oh, anyway, we managed to get our way to checkout. It was after 3pm. So I had hardly eaten at all today, perhaps a good thing considering. I had the last of my blueberry cake. So when it came time to check out I was slide the wrong card so I asked if that could be undone since I knew that account didn't have enough funds. Fine, so I slid a credit card through. And them I'm like... why am I doing that, I have the money in the bank. And since somehow that couldn't be undone--I don't know why--I just put it on the card so she didn't have to void the transaction and start over. It doesn't matter, there's no interest on the card but I have to pay the balance in full so it's almost like doing the debit route. But not. So when that bill comes I'll have to take a deep breath. Should see it next week or so. Anyway we got out of there and headed for the truck. Brother had left the rental paperwork back in the windows & doors area where we got the french doors and went back to get it. Anyway I stood at the truck and looked puzzled when two of the store workers happened by and asked if I needed help loading. I said, "Sure if I can get it." Anyway they loaded the door and dry wall. So in the end they did what as supposed to be part of the truck rental. So finally we got on the road.

Brother backed the truck into the driveway. So we offloaded the materials and got down to just the wallboard and doors. The wallboard wasn't hard to move. It ended up in the house. So what about getting the door set off the truck? I'm thinking, let's grab something and use a ramp. Anyway, brother wanted to try just doing it by hand. We tried but he quickly realized that wasn't going to happen. So then it was time to try my plan. He moved the truck a bit to give us more room and we put two old, unused closet doors along the back as ramps. We then moved the door enough so it would tip and catch the ramps and then guided it down. Piece of cake. Well then we had to put it in the garage for the time being. So we carry it in and then I notice we went backwards, the foot plate was going to be on the side we wanted to lean against. Back out of the garage, turn around and I go in first with the door this time. We put it down and we're good. I only needed one break of a few seconds to give my arm a rest.

Fine. That stuff is inside. Oh, and then I find out Brother is taking a dresser out to the nephew infants birth parents! So I'm like... oh. But first we take the truck back and pick up the minivan. Instead of saying something to me about not having the cash to pay the truck rental he just has it put on my card. Not a problem but I'd have liked to have had a choice since I had the cash on hand. Anyway, I had gone so I could take back the tape measure we didn't need. Brother had grabbed a tape measure in case we needed one while shopping and I didn't even take notice as I was unloading the stuff at checkout. So that was $5 saved. Still, it was some $400 something. Over $500 with the truck rental. There was a moment brother wanted to load up on 'big items' since "we" were renting their truck. I thought about it and I'm like uh... no... I don't want to spend too much out of my pocket right now since I have the mortgage and my bills to keep up and so forth. Besides, we can get those other things any time and if we can't use the van, there's always rental. It would've been $65 to have the french door set delivered vs. $20 for the truck rental. That was a no-brainer. Still, if Brother had his (Mother's) truck working we could've probably used that and saved me $20. Well I say me but it's me who is "loaning" this to the estate which means I'm loaning myself money since it'll end up with me being paid back by the estate which means it's coming out of inheritance. It's all pretty cracked! I keep imagining shifting deck chairs on Titanic.

Where am I? Ok, we found the van and left. Brother forgot where we had parked but I didn't. We made it back to the house. We ended up cutting some of the lumber and putting it in the old window area where we're going to wallboard. We only got part way. By then it was after 7pm and Brother still had to deliver that dresser. So I clean up a bit and we unload the dresser in Mother's bedroom. Actually, this one was Father's dresser and been idle for years. I picked that one because it is smaller and knew it would fit in the van. Mother's still has some things in it and would be *much* harder to move being quite a bit bigger. I got a dolly cart from the garage and wheeled it out. The cat did well, she was under Mother's bed the whole time. I had warned her a couple of times. I think she almost understands some English. Good kitty, that one!

Anyway, out to the van, into the van, he came back in to grab a few things and away he went. I got the clean up the mess. Wasn't a big deal because it's typical of how he leaves the scene. I understood it was well after 7pm. I also let him take that dolly cart (hand truck) with him since he'd be going up stairs. Supposedly the SIL has filed for tax extensions for Mother. Today is the deadline. Why SIL didn't do it a week ago (or more) when she knew she'd be to filing for an extension I don't really know. I should've used the accountant that Mother had used and none of us ever really liked or trusted. At least things would be done, right? Oh well. Just says Mother was right to want me in charge of all this mess. It's almost too bad that didn't get into writing. No, it is too bad.

So it's now 9:40pm. I have eaten a bit and my muscles are starting to stiffen up. I'm tired but not quite ready for bed. Last night I didn't sleep well. My dream was a replay of Mother's last day or so. Today was 2 months. Incredible. I still wish she was here so she could pay for things and be entertained with the destruction and stuff.

Kitty is meowing. It's too early to turn in. I should have something else to eat. Nothing too substantial though. Maybe one of those breakfast milk shakes or something. Or cereal! I'm addicted to cereal. Or getting there.

I have some notion about what to do this coming week. I have replacement bath fans so I'll install those. I'll cut more lumber and maybe--and I mean maybe--try to do the wallboard. Putting up the board might be too unwieldy for one person and I'd hate to ask the neighbor. I need to see how he's doing. Maybe go over Monday evening. Tomorrow being Easter I don't want to intrude. I might leave a card though since Brother didn't take the cards I got for the nepheices. I hadn't filled them out yet.

There are some other things but I'm tired and this entry is long. I will try to remember them and write later.