We bought a couch this weekend. I know what you are thinking...we already had two couches and no room for more but this one is a beauty and the deal too good to pass up. We've been eyeing this couch for a while. Besides...we are doing our part for the economy!
Well the trouble started right away. We knew that the large piece wouldn't fit into the truck but we thought that we could fit the smaller piece in with no problems...wrong! OK...minor set back. We would rent a U-Haul the next day and pick up both pieces at once. Did I mention that they offered movers for $130 but we can do this on our own... So we pick up the U-Haul and we're off. No problems. We get it loaded and unloaded A-OK. We take the truck back and start to develop a plan on how to get it into the house.
Now you all know L.A. well enough to know that EVERYTHING gets measured and measured and measured again. We've got a plan and we're going to bring it in through the front door (which is actually on the side of the house up a steep flight of stairs). OK...keep in mind that this couch is SOLID and 107" long. We struggle up the steps and make it to the top. YEA! But we couldn't make the turn to get it through the door. The couch gets wedged...my hand gets stuck...we can't move. We are able to maneuver it loose and have no choice but to bring it back down. At this point I'm at the bottom. We make it down a few steps and L.A. slips...jams the couch into my head/neck and the couch falls on him...we're dead...I know it. But amazingly we recover and make it to the bottom where we drop the couch and fall down. We gather enough energy to get the couch back into the garage for the night. At this point...setting up a game room in the garage is looking REALLY good!
We retire for the night...back to square one on THE plan. After a good sleep we decide the best option is to get a dolly. So we trek out to Sam's and purchase one. Our spirits renewed we set to task. This time we take the feet off...giving us an additional 4" of clearance. (This in itself is a chore. The screws are over torqued and anti-back out. We actually have to just beat on foot loose.) Natalie has the bright idea to start with the love seat to see if it will actually fit through the door (actually suggested this last night but was ignored). Oh I forgot to say this time we are going to go through the basement door and up the interior stairs. Problem is the door is only a 30" clearance. So we pop the door off the hinges, hook up the dolly and are good to go. NOPE. The balance is off and the dolly falls. Readjust...still doesn't work...must do by hand.
We get the love seat inside and upstairs and in place...feeling VICTORIOUS! Now we've got to deal with the monster again. And for this we must move the 250 gallon aquarium (at least it is empty) and the dolly FINALLY comes in handy! We get the couch in....yea! it's in the house...and start it up the stairs...STUCK. We twisted and we turned and we marked up the walls but the couch wasn't making the corner. By now it is WAR. We rip up the banister at the base of the stairs...we rip up the banister at the top of the stairs (the hand rail was removed earlier for the love seat). After completely disassembling the house we try again. It works! We're on the stairs. Up, up, up the stairs we go...boink...there's a wall...can't stand the couch up. After some maneuvering I'm able to bring the couch into the kitchen but there is now an island in the way. We switch sides again...get the couch over the island and flat on the floor. I grab some blankets. We're gonna pull this baby the rest of the way. Hallelujah the couch is in the room! Get the feet back on...go to place it....it doesn't fit...can't open the door! We are now playing musical chairs to rearrange the room. FINALLY, FINALLY FINALLY we get everything in place and pass out on the couch.
The house is still torn up but we've got a beautiful new couch...and are alive to tell about it. Next time...we'll pay the $130 for the movers!
This is the dolly...still hooked up to the aquarium...still sitting in the middle of our basement.
Here are the banisters. The blue towel at the bottom of the picture is covering the exposed nails from where we removed the banister.
Here is the hole where the top banister once resided.
And the couch in the room!! Isn't nice! It's really comfy too!!
Here's a picture of the whole couch from the catalog. We
actually just intended on buying the "couch" but the sectional was such a good deal...we'll just be paying for it forever...sorry kids...no college...but hey...look at our nice couch!
This is a new addition...a cheetah.
A pretty little gazelle.
Zebra...we got to get up close and personal...but not touch because they bite.
Maned Wolf
Elephant...of course
Peccary
Golden Lion Tamarin...they usually have a family that lives loose in the park during the summer. Unfortunately this summer they are doing construction in the area where they live.
I'm glad these don't live in my house!
Attack of the killer bee!
Here's L.A.'s attempt at catching the bumble bee...I just noticed that they are the same type of flowers.
I have to be sneaky to get his picture...he wasn't happy...said that's why he keeps the camera. :-)
Here are the tiger babies...almost all grown up. This is the boy. They have to keep them separated now.
This is one of the girls.
The girls fighting over the ball.
She gave up on the ball...this is right after she took a flying leap into the deep end of the moat to get the ball...she wasn't successful.
He really doesn't look like he's having fun does he???!?!!??
Fishing cat
Sloth bear
This was a little robin bathing in a puddle.
This was a doe and fawn right by the entrance to the zoo...just wandering around grazing...so cute!
