h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I am all nerves.

Two of the tenants in my house contacted me last night to tell me that they had moved out but "left some stuff there, do you mind if we come back on Sunday?" They also need to return the key.

This is after I told them:
1. When they moved in (arriving earlier than expected) that I hadn't a chance to duplicate the key, I was giving them my only key, and they had to remember not to leave without giving it back.
2. When they complained to me about not having enough keys, that I gave them my only key and they should duplicate it and deduct the amount from their rent, and make a copy for me too.
3. When I repaired the doorknob, that I had to do it when they were around because I gave them by only key, and by the way had they duplicated it yet? If not they could take it off the rent and they should make me a copy too.
4. Last week when I e-mailed them, reminding them to call me before they left so they could give me the key, which was my only key.
5. When they called me to ask about their security deposits, that they could call before they leave me at my office which is only a few blocks away or at home and I would pick up the key, because it was my only key and I needed it to move in on Thursday.

They didn't call because they "wanted to leave fast."

Fortunately, there are two other tenants moving out soon from whom I can still extract the keys, but they have not returned my calls. I am afraid I will have the opposite problem with them, and I will show up with all my belongings to find that they have not even started to pack. One has already asked me if he could stay another month (the answer was "no"). Both have asked if they could leave some items in the basement until October 1 (the answer was "yes, if it is out of the way").

Back in my apartment I have gotten to the point in packing things up when I realize that I really could be a much cleaner person. I am shocked that the toaster oven did not burst into flames due to the large amount of crumbs coating the bottom. There were cobwebs underneath. And its been quite a while since I crawled into the cabinets to reach the things in the far back corner.

/* cough, cough, sneeze */

I am running out of boxes. I have odd-shaped items that do not fit in anything. I keep finding little, important items that I completely forgot that I need to take with me (the spigot adapter for the portable washer, for instance). I am still finding more books.

I have asked my neighbor, Lou, if I can park my truck in his parking spot tomorrow, since it is closer to the door and his van would be in the way if I cannot. He told me I could park in my space because I was still living here until tomorrow, and the parking is included in the rent. I explained to him that I wanted to trade spaces for a day. He told me I do not have a truck. I explained I will be renting a truck tomorrow, and I would like to park it near the door while I move. He looked at me blankly. I asked if he would mind if I parked the truck that I will rent tomorrow in his space while I moved, and he could park in my space, just until I loaded the truck. Finally, understanding. I have very little faith that he will remember tomorrow.

I seem to have reached a point where I cannot, or I am unwilling, to do more.

There are still some odds and ends to pack, small things that I missed before. But there are so many boxes all over the place that I can barely move, and I do not want to start packing another box. I want to move some of the ones that are here out to the truck, and I won't have that until tomorrow morning.

I have the bed to take apart, but I need it here one more night. I have not emptied my drawers (they will serve as boxes for clothes), and my closet is still full. I think I needed just one room that had some semblance of order in it, and the bedroom was a good choice. What I have packed from the bedroom is moved out to the living room with the other boxes.

I have a bottle of whiskey that somehow got missed. I have a couple of paintings still hanging, but they are safest on the walls. I have yet to pack the laundry detergent. My toiletries are still were they always were (much of this I will use one more time).

I think all I can do at this point is take out more trash, and push boxes aside so I can walk around.