WoW. This post has been a long time coming. The past 2 1/2 weeks have seemed like a complete blur. Over the course of those 2 1/2 weeks, we’ve packed up all of our valuables, loaded a moving truck, made a 16 hour interstate drive from Northern California to Tacoma, Washington, unpacked all of our valuables, and set up a law firm (more on that a little further on in this post). All of our family and friends in California will be sorely missed.
We made the move on June 5th (a Saturday), leaving around 9 a.m. In the week prior to the move, I had worked seven days straight trying to make as much money as possible before the big move. Missy (my wife) also put in a ton of hours at the library trying to make every dime possible before we moved.
For those of you who haven’t experienced an interstate move (this was our third), it’s ridiculously expensive. The truck alone was $750 through Penske (a good value considering most other companies were asking for around $850). We also had to come up with a deposit for our new apartment and first month’s rent. Then you have to factor in hotels (we stayed in Portland on Saturday night), gas, food for the trip, and other amenities. As you can see, the moving bill was pretty brutal. That doesn’t include all of things you need to buy once you move into the apartment (bathroom & kitchen supplies, groceries, etcetera).
An Apocalyptic Event of Epic Proportions
Anywho, you know how something terrible always seems to happen before a big day that makes you want to self-combust in the middle of a beautiful field of daisies that an old grandma is admiring simply so that you can make someone else feel your misery and pain?
Well, initially my brother was going to help us with the move. I did not feel comfortable towing our Highlander across the mountain pass, which lies between California and Oregon. I was afraid the extra weight would kill the truck’s breaks (which, after making the move, I realize it certainly would have).
So my brother was suppose to drive the Highlander and then help me move the heavy furniture into the new apartment. However, he decided he didn’t want to make the move anymore. Instead of simply asking to be taken off the Team Sutherland Express, he decided to have emergency surgery to remove his gal bladder. Can you believe that? He didn’t have the guts to step up like a man and say “Look bro, I’m really sorry but I just don’t feel like making this move.” Instead, he goes and has an organ removed. Whatever.
Luke The Saint
So now we’re down a mover and someone to drive the Highlander. What do I do?! Have no fear, my best friend Luke is here. He heard what happened and didn’t even think twice. Notwithstanding the fact he had finals beginning on Tuesday (he’s pursuing his MBA), he immediately called work, took Sunday off, and made himself available to make the move with us. Now THAT is a true friend. He completely bailed us out!
Pre-Move Week
With that figured out, I worked until Tuesday so that I could have a few days to finish packing and to square away all of the last minute details that go into moving. On Friday, we received the moving truck (they actually delivered it to us, which was pretty cool), and I loaded up most of the boxes. Later that evening, a few of my friends and family helped us load up the truck with goodies in our storage unit, which was pretty exciting because we had been without most of the things in storage for entire year. We had a 16 foot moving truck and literally filled it to the brim. Everything was so tightly packed, almost nothing shifted for the entire 16 hour drive!
Moving Day!
We stayed up late cleaning and tending to the animals (we have two cats and two rabbits). On the day of the move, we put the cats in a carrier and placed them in the moving truck with me. We kept the bunnies inside their cage and put them in the backseat of the Highlander. It was a beautiful sunny day. We headed out around 9 a.m., grabbed lunch in Redding, Ca. and hit the mountainous pass around 1 p.m. That is when things got harry.
There are a number of very steep grades within the pass. In a 16 foot moving truck loaded to the brim in heavy valuables, that can present quite a challenge. As I proceeded down these steep grades, I was having difficulty maintain a speed as high as 45 MPH. The truck wanted to go faster! It wanted more power! This truck had serious testerone issues. I was doing everything I could to keep the speed down as I made the various turns within the pass, but as I continued to descend down the pass, the truck began to shake violently. The brakes were overheating! I could smell the thick scent of burnt rubber as it permeated into the air.
With every new turn the truck shook even more (and I didn’t even have to insert 50 cents). I was making turns at 45 MPH with a trembling 16 foot truck! Talk about nerve racking. Well somehow I made it through without killing the breaks. When we finally stopped to get gas, Luke got out and said “Dude, why were you going so slow back there?” “Uh, did you know see the truck shaking?” I said. With a blank look, Luke responded “no.” Great, clearly I was the only one who got to experience the terrifying spectacle of a vibrating 16 foot moving truck. Oh well.
Of course, no move is complete without a car accident of some kind. About an hour outside of Portland there was an accident that completely stopped traffic for an hour and a half. We ended up arriving in Portland at 10:30 p.m. It sucked. You can quote me on that.
The Arrival (no, not the movie, although that it was a pretty awesome movie, you should check it out sometime. I think my wife may be an alien….)
On Sunday morning it was pouring. This was unpleasant for numerous reasons, not including the fact that our car was several dozen feet from our hotel room, which meant carrying the animals to the car in the rain. We set out the next morning, again around 9 a.m., and hit heavy rainfall almost the entire way up to Tacoma. Have you ever passed a diesel truck with a moving truck on a narrow highway? It’s not fun. Its even more unpleasant in heavy rain.
We finally arrived in Tacoma around 12 p.m., signed the lease, and were completely moved in by 3 p.m. Pretty impressive if you ask me. Granted, our apartment looked like the Box monster crapped out a whole ton of boxes all over our apartment, but that’s okay, we were moved in!
We grabbed lunch, drove Luke to the airport for his 6:45 p.m. flight and headed back to pass out in our new gig. Of course, no move is complete without a delayed flight. Luke didn’t leave until 9:00 p.m. But no worries, the following text message exchange was recorded as he awaited his flight:
Me: “Dude, I’m so sorry want us to bring anything out to you?
Luke: “Nah, I had two double captain and cokes. I’m good. 
Me: “Lol, only you my friend.”
Luke: “What can I say. I’m easily amused. Plus two college coeds just showed up so I’m just gonna sit here and be quite entertained.”
The Law Offices of Tim Sutherland
Pretty much since the day after we moved in, my wife and I have been working on getting my practice up. I have a few potential clients but I need to get my business license first before I can begin representation. So far, We have about half the content for my website completed, business cards done, Email taken care of (tim@timsutherlandlaw.com), a PO Box, billing software, signed up with the Pierce Co. Bar Association, and this weekend I am going to get my business phone line set up. Everything should be done by the end of next week, so if you’re interested, please check out TimSutherlandLaw.com when its up and running!
Disclaimer so that I don’t end up on the couch tonight: My wife has been instrumental in the setting up of my practice. She’s designing the site, logo, business cards, and providing ample moral support. I don’t know if I’d be able to do this without her!
By the way, here are a few pictures from our back balcony!
Your wife is most definitely an alien. But a cool alien. Just sayin’.
You noticed that too huh?