Everything is confirmed for our closing on Thursday afternoon. I have scheduled almost all the utilities (everything but the water, the grumpy old lady I talked to wasn't havin' it). Plus I'm happy to report that Optimum Online is indeed available at our new address, despite what the website says. We're moving on Monday and we're also renting a U-haul van to take some precious cargo (cats, birds) across the great divide. I'm a little leery about driving a cargo van, but then it's not mine so who cares? The last time I moved we rented a truck and while trying to make a left-hand turn, my roommate managed to rip the bumper off a passing Lexus. We were white as sheets, the driver was understandably miffed, the cops thought it was hilarious. I waited for a call from truck company, demanding thousands of dollars to repair the car. The call never came. I actually called them at some point to ask about it and they said, "Well, there was no damage to the truck right? So you don't owe anything." It was true, there was only a slight white mark (car paint) on the side of the tire that had rolled over the car's bumper like Bigfoot. It's a wonder people don't rent trucks and damage cars all the time. You'd think the Black Label Bike Club would get on this and start clearing the way for Critical Mass every month.

There's still a lot of packing to do, a lot of throwing out of stuff too. There's a clothes drop box on the corner of Grand Ave and Putnam, just a couple blocks from my house. I dumped a bunch of old clothes the other night. I wish there was a similar box nearby for all the books I need to dump. I'd like to take them to Housing Works or something, but I'll probably put them out on the stoop for a couple days and toss what doesn't get picked up. Hurry now and pick up such exotics selections as the abridged Moby Dick or my collection of Calvin and Hobbes, which I am regretfully parting with at this late date. I am, however, keeping all the Bloom County.