What a couple of days.

Friday, after shutting everything down, I worked to finish packing things up before the movers came. I wasn’t successful. As it turns out, there was a lot left to do… but not that it mattered at all. The truck required by Vanguard Towers (no more than 2 tons) turned out to be only big enough to fit my furniture, and no boxes or anything else. And not even all of my furniture–I had to throw out two pieces, one of which I really wanted to keep… but after seeing how the place here filled up, I suppose it made sense to get rid of it. Pity–it was a beautiful, pristine work desk, better even than the smaller one of similar style that I was already determined to throw out.

I spent most of the day stressing, and fairly badly, for me (I don’t stress all that easily). When I realized that only the furniture would fit and saw that I had a small room full of packed boxes, I began to thing that I would not be able to get it all here before my apartment closed down to me. I called the rental place and they could not substitute a larger van, sorry. So I put in a reservation for another van, same size as the first… and later stressed about how that might not be big enough.

Still, I took full advantage of the movers, more than I deserved to for ¥68,000 yen, I suppose. I kept begging them to fit more stuff in the truck, and in the end had to decide between a low shelf dresser and getting my bike shipped (the alternative being that I would instead ride it all the way in, a massive effort which I did once before and do not wish to repeat). But I also got them to throw out all my large sodai-gomi–including the two big desks, the double bed frame, two full-sized cabinets, a similarly-size metal shelf cabinet, the low drawers, a computer desk, and a large TV cabinet. They overloaded the sodai-gomi space, and I had to keep apologizing as I found yet another thing for them to throw out.

Ever wonder how much dust and crap can accumulate under and behind furniture that you don’t move for seven years? I don’t have to wonder any more, and that’s all I’m going to say about that.

They seemed unhappy that I was driving my scooter back to Ikebukuro via normal roads, apparently thinking that I’d come really late as they were taking the expressway. As it was, I even stopped by work to pick up some stuff… and still arrived ahead of them by half an hour. They must have hit traffic jams. At about 9:00 pm, all was finished and I had an apartment full of furniture… but nothing else, as they would not take any of my boxes, which had all of my underwear, pajamas, bathroom and kitchen goods… everything that wasn’t furniture or large electronic devices. Even though I cajoled them into taking one pillow and the bed sheets (no blankets), I could not see myself sleeping there that night.

Fortunately, I didn’t have to stay there; Sachi did not move until Saturday, so her place was still up and running. I went there and we supped on some McDonald’s and conbini drinks. I took a shower, and we slept, me in pajamas Sachi still had out, plus a fresh change of clothes ready for the next day.

Which is another story. More about today tomorrow. At some point I’ll catch up… but right now I’m way too tired….