Service Transfer and Moving Preperations
Posted by: Dan on May 21, 2008
For the past week or more it’s been time to get packing and to get ready to move. Last Saturday I made some pretty good progress at getting at least half of my packing done. I had planned to go through my storage area here at the apartment on Sunday but a call of distress from Brooke Saturday night had me over at her place to help pack instead. Which was pretty cool because I didn’t really get to see her that much the previous week. Plus I got to do my laundry over there.
Anyway the packing has been going well and I think I should get the rest done by early next week. This weekend however will be spent moving Brooke and Bettina out of their place. Assuming my fat-butt doesn’t pass out from too much exercise. Honestly though I think it’ll go fine.
I called a few places today to set up the transfer of services to the new apartment. I knew better this time and started with WE Energies since they’ll help make other service transfers as well. They helped with Time Warner Cable including the addition of digital phone and a DVR. However, I still had to call TDS Metrocom so that I could keep my same phone number.
I hate TDS – get ready, I’m going on a rant here. When I first signed up with them as asked for the lowest service that still included caller ID they put me on a plan that was way more than I needed. Only recently did I find out I was getting hosed. Anyway I was paying almost $40 a month through them for only a few calls a month. When I say few I mean the most phone calls I placed from my home phone in one month was 23. I’m allowed 500. On average I make 6 calls.
Anyway when I called to make sure I could keep my same number I was informed my TDS billing address would need to match my new apartment address which means they have to transfer service over to the new apartment. The cost… $50! And that’s not including the monthly fee. So in all it’ll be like $90 – unless they pro-rate the service for the few days. But I don’t know if they’ll do that because the lady never said – she didn’t even tell me there was a moving fee until I asked her. In hindsight I should have skipped asking and then complained about the fee saying I wasn’t told about it and wouldn’t have done it if I had known. Oh well. better to be honest and screwed over than save some money I guess.
So today’s little tip goes to people moving, rather than couples getting ready to get married. Call and set up the transfer dates for your services way ahead of your move date. Otherwise you could end up paying more.
Time for Some Tunes
Posted by: Dan on May 15, 2008
Tonight Brooke and I met with Shawn to go over some of the music for the wedding. I do believe things went rather well and we have some music selections to make. There are also few “think about it” items that we’ll have to ponder as well. Otherwise the music for the reception looks like it’s in very capable hands.
I wish I had more to put in here to help other couples out with selecting the music for their reception. However, Brooke’s known Shawn for a while, he does great work and we knew we’d be using him pretty much from the start.
I don’t have the information about Shawn with me but once I do have it I’ll make sure to post it. That way any couples in Wisconsin (Milwaukee/Waukesha) area will have someone to look into.
Getting Ready To Move
Posted by: Dan on May 13, 2008
As if the stress of finishing the plans for the wedding weren’t enough Brooke and I will be moving at the end of this month. Brooke found out that we can move into the new place on the 30th. That leaves me two days to move all my junk. Not only that but to find some time to hire some people to come and clean the carpet in the apartment (nope I’m not allowed to do it myself).
I’m currently trying to rally the troops to help get as much done on the 31st as I can. Hopefully by the 30th though I’ll have this place pretty well cleaned out of all the things I won’t need.
Ordered Some Goodies
Posted by: Dan on May 13, 2008
Earlier in the week Brooke picked up a dry-erase two month calendar for us to write all the up coming wedding tasks on. We’re both people who really work better when there’s a list involved so this will work out perfect.
We spent some time Saturday night putting everything we could think of on there. Dates when payments are due. Times we have to meet with people. Things we need to buy/order and by what day. And so on.
While filling out the calendar we noticed there were things that we needed to order. Toasting glasses, gift for the attendants, and probably like a million more things. And that’s what we did tonight. We shuffled through a catalog found what we needed and went to town (a very expensive town apparently).
Which brings me to a quick tip – actually more like something to keep in mind. When you’re planning your budget don’t forget how quickly the little things add up. Sure you may look at something that costs only $3 and think, “What a great deal!” But when you need 75 of that same item it adds up fast. So make sure to keep that in mind.
Otherwise things are moving right along… a bit too quickly though. Can someone freeze time for a few days so I can get caught up?!
To Do List
Posted by: Dan on May 07, 2008
Time is getting closer and thanks to my freak out the other night I came up with a list of things to do that I can chip away at. I just seem to work better when there’s a list that I can see things being crossed off of.
- Make and print table numbers
- Talk with DJ and come up with song list
- Meet with the pastor
- Get church readings – send my Uncle Tom his copy
- Wedding favors – mini cards and “other” (need to decide what “other” actually is)
- Get fabric sample to baker (for cake)
- Purchase gifts for bridesmaids, groomsmen, etc.
- Purchase unity candle
- Finalize menu for caterer
- Do the seating chart
- Make and print seating chart list
- Scout out locations near reception for pictures – secure permit if needed
- Create list of “have to have” photos for the photographer
- Order cake knife and server
- Purchase toasting glasses
- Get marriage license
- Tuxedo – just have to pick it up when it’s ready
Yup there’s a lot there but I think it’s doable … actually it has to be doable.
I did manage to get a list of some pictures that I know I want the photographer to take. So that’s good. And I also went through the menu from the caterer and picked out the choices I like. I even listed my alternate choices so if Brooke doesn’t like something I picked I can just say, “Okay here’s the second item on my list for that”.
Also I may be (read: probably am) missing things on the list. But they can be added as I realized I missed something.