You are at netAirspace : Forum : The Combustion Chamber - Off-Topics : General Off-Topics

ShyFlyer wrote:Should be interesting. As should lunch with "X-2."

Glutton for punishment. Me personally, I would not give her the time of day.

I wouldn't give her any hint that my quick visit to the toilet while waiting for the bill was actually a dash for my car, either.

I don't know if I would not give her the time of day but...I wouldn't be meeting her for lunch.

She'd have to come crawling back for me to get all stupid.

And trust me...I'm stupid.





Wait...


Focus on the accommodation hunting.

Day One of GDMALAS: Apartment Hunt went ok. The property that had been at the top of my list is still a contender, but I'm having second thoughts on it. Property looks a bit tired. The property across the street (also on my list) moved up a notch, but it's more expensive. I have two more on my list

I'll put the "X-2" stuff in the appropriate thread.

Day Two of GDMALAS: Apartment Hunt was kind of a bust. First property on the roster was a bust. Property manager or whatever she was said that since I'm a student with no dependents I couldn't qualify for this particular property and others like it. It was one of those tax-credit properties where rent is based on income.

The next and final property of the GDMALAS was a very nice property. It's new, having been opened in January. Sign on the leasing office door said no longer accepting applications. Earlier this month, I had found a news article about the property alluding to the fact that it was "Section 8" housing. Drove around the property and it didn't look like what you'd normally expect from Section 8.

I have an appointment with the owner of one of the properties from yesterday's visits. The property is the one that was at the top of my list pre-visit, but has dropped to number two. My third choice (literally across the street) rose to number one, but it's much more in rent but in line with typical DEN prices.

I hit up the Wings Over The Rockies Museum this afternoon, so the day wasn't a total wash. It's smaller than I expected, but still a nice place.

GDMALAS: Apartment Hunt Update - Day 3:

The only item on the agenda today was to meet with the owner of one of the properties from Thursdays visits. Did not meet with the owner, but rather another property manger person...something. I was, however, able to see the apartment that will available soon. Good news: it's actually bigger than I had pictured. Bad news: the apartment looks really "tired" and poorly lit. The included in-unit washer and dryer looks like they came from the early 80s and washing clothes in them might make them dirtier. We shall see.

I was able to visit the 16th Street Mall and I'm pleased to say that I can navigate Downtown Denver both on foot and on wheels.

Topped off the trip by stopping by to see the old Stapleton International Airport control tower (virtually all that's left of Stapleton) and engaged my inner avgeek by venturing out to Denver International for some photography.

I feel good about this trip.

I have a unit being held for me in Englewood, just down the road from APA. They'll be sending me the lease documents as soon as the documents I provide them regarding my loan and school info are approved.

The countdown to move-in has begun.

I'm "fully approved" to move in 01 NOV. Operation GDMALAS complete. I have a home in Denver.

Congratulations. It can be nerve racking.

ShyFlyer wrote:I'm "fully approved" to move in 01 NOV. Operation GDMALAS complete. I have a home in Denver.

Truck reserved. Penske. Should be fun. It will be the largest vehicle I've driven so far.

ShyFlyer wrote:Truck reserved. Penske. Should be fun. It will be the largest vehicle I've driven so far.

When I moved from Anchorage to Glennallen in 2007, I had a beast from U-Haul (25 footer) and drove it over this road, in February.



Good luck with the drive.

ShyFlyer wrote:Truck reserved. Penske. Should be fun. It will be the largest vehicle I've driven so far.

Twenty-six footer? Just swing a little wider.

You mirrors are your best friend. Have someone walk around the truck a few times while you are in the driver's seat. Adjust the blind-spot mirrors accordingly and you'll be fine. It will burn more fuel than you are expecting.

Our 16' did better than we thought it would on gas moving back to BIL from LGB.





Basically, Shy, we're all full of BS and everything we tell you is a lie.

Shenanigans.

ShyFlyer wrote:Should be fun. It will be the largest vehicle I've driven so far.

Great fun. You're big enough that you can out-douchebag the douchebags. I could tell stories... Suffice to say that there are few forms of automotive revenge quite as satisfying as grinning down at someone through his sunroof as his newly-terrified SO kicks off at him.

Sounds obvious, but the way that sucker drives from their lot to your place isn't going to be the way it drives the rest of the trip. I nearly came a cropper when I got sloppy 4 hours into helping Woman's BFF move her crap and started leaving empty-van braking distances.

Also obvious, load the thing properly. The girls wanted to leave the heavy stuff till last because it was hard, which would have meant having it all stacked roof-high in one corner at the back.

If I have to do it again, I'll probably welly the brakes as soon as I can after setting out. Gets everything nicely slid to the front and bedded in, and gives me a better idea of how it'll stop when (not if) some arsehole makes it necessary. Also stops that annoying rattle - because something WILL rattle.

ORFflyer wrote:It will burn more fuel than you are expecting.

Especially when you realise that you left your wallet in a gas station an hour ago.

ANCFlyer wrote:...drove it over this road, in February.

Damn.

ORFflyer wrote:Twenty-six footer?

16 Foot with car hauler.

ORFflyer wrote:You mirrors are your best friend.

I've towed trailers before, but not behind a box truck. I'm most concerned by Denver traffic. While I don't have to venture to far into the metro area since I'll be living just north of the E-470, it can still get "interesting."

The real challenge will be reconnecting the trailer before departure.

ShanwickOceanic wrote:Sounds obvious, but the way that sucker drives from their lot to your place isn't going to be the way it drives the rest of the trip.

Shouldn't be too much of a problem. I have to drive into ABQ (I'm staying at my Mom's place 75miles away) to get the truck. I'll load up my Mazda at the rental place and drive it all back. That should be plenty of practice.

ShanwickOceanic wrote:load the thing properly

Yep. Heavy stuff gets loaded first, front and center. I don't have a lot of heavy stuff, the heaviest being the set of airliner seats. Should be easy to strap down, at least easier than a motorcycle.

You probably don't need it but...in Denver traffic....pick a lane and stay there...no matter what.

We had a 16' truck to move back here (had too much shit...had to leave some down there (in LGB). Ended up giving my sister our fridge (wife still isn't happy about it :D )...drove up to BUR from LGB early afternoon with fridge in the back. Took us two hours to move her old one out, down the stairs...storage unit...all that jazz...and put ours in her place.

Drove back to LGB on the leading edges of rush hour. Got on the 710 with a bunch of truck traffic. That 16' truck empty was being tossed every which way by the trucks and cars zooming by.

I needed a drink after that drive.

So yeah...pick a lane and stay there...and try to time coming into Denver before or after rush.

I'll probably exit I-25 as soon as I get to the metro area, probably the exit before the E-470.

GQfluffy wrote:and try to time coming into Denver before or after rush.

It's always rush hour there.

ShyFlyer wrote:

ANCFlyer wrote:...drove it over this road, in February.

Damn.

Queso knows the place . . . . Mile 94, Glenn Highway. Eastbound. Long Lake Hill. It's curvy but straight enough if you get behind a douchebag, you can still pass . . . . but not in a U-Haul . . . I've done 65mph plus up that hill in the BAFDT. No guard rails either.

Truck and trailer acquired and was able to get a little practice driving in on the "short" trip back to my Mom's house. Turns out this thing is a lot easier to maneuver than I anticipated. Great care still has to be exercised while turning, but it's got great convex mirrors so I can easily see where my trailer tires are during the turn.

Backing up turns out to be a lot easier as well. Parked the whole rig on the street last night, but this morning was able to get the trailer parked in the narrow space on the side of the house.

The only snag so far has been the location that I selected during the reservation. When I got there, there was a sign on the door saying that no rentals were being made "until further notice." I was able to get my truck and trailer from another location (which turns out to be the district HQ) without difficulty.

Folks there said that location was new and wasn't ready to begin until after the first of the year and shouldn't be available via the website. Curious, as I've seen that location operating as a Penske site for many years. The more I think about it, it may have only rented commercial trucks rather than civilian.

Regardless, I gots what I needs, so on to the grand adventure!

Well...I've made it. Almost. After 11 hours of traveling (didn't think it would take that long), I'm in a hotel, two miles from my new home.

The cargo handled the trip surprisingly well. I thought I would have to at least reposition boxes, tighten straps, etc. Everything looks the same as when I left.

The truck did better on gas that I was expecting.

The move-in process is mostly complete. Unloading the truck on the 1st went smoothly. I completed the process ahead of schedule and was able to return the truck early. A friend of mine came up on a whim (long story) and was able to give me a much needed head start on unpacking and organizing. It was good to get out and explore the city a little bit as well with her.

As it stands now, I've got nearly everything in position. Still, there's a "hollow" feeling to the place, mostly because the floors in the living room, hall, and bathroom are hardwood. There's a lot of echo happening.

Overall, this move hasn't been as bad as I had feared. I feel good about the place I've chosen. The complex lived up to the photos online and is clean and well maintained. The proximity to APA is a very nice positive as well. Hopefully when it's time to renew my lease, I can qualify to stay.

Congrats Shy! Although the adventure is just beginning, getting the move over with is a huge relief.

vikkyvik wrote:Congrats Shy! Although the adventure is just beginning, getting the move over with is a huge relief.

Thanks. I can't seem to get over how much room I have.