And the award goes too.....

Today I am going to start processing our claim for the damage in our HHG (house hold goods) shipment.

 I can say this pack job has been officially awarded "WORST EVER".

We  I have gotten everything put away.... Eric typically checks out around this time and then checks back in  when the claim has been filed and payment awarded.  He really likes to help enjoy the payment we receive and seems to get over his discernment of the unpack by this time.  It is quite amazing!

Just kidding....well, kind of. He really does not enjoy the unpacking process and never has.  Over the years he has become more of the box remover, constructor of the beds, and the awesome nail hanger.  See how well we compromise?

As I first unpack, it is almost like Christmas....Wow, I forgot I had packed that, it will look really good over there, etc.

I also try to humor myself and turn it into a race....  How fast can I get this room unpacked and organized? Maybe I can be done with this room today?

Wait, where is Eric? hmmmm....

For the kids, it is the best time ever! It IS like Christmas to them, opening boxes marked as:

*Old boy
*Kid
*Girl

So primitive, yet efficient.  You have NO idea what you are opening. Sometimes, you open a box of your sisters things and vice versa, the fun never ends!  But the kids have always loved shipment day, they come home from to school to nicely arranged boxes in their rooms for their opening enjoyment.

Afterwards, packing strewn everywhere!  And to me, it seems like Christmas because I am picking it all up, just like Christmas morning! (As a side note, I realize that we may have been missing the mark and it might be smart to plan our next move strategically over Christmas, and save ourselves some cash on extra gifts)

However, when everyone has ripped open their boxes, there is always complaints and work to be done.  In other words, DAMAGE.

When Eric and I first came in the Army, you were paid a depreciated value for your items by the Military Claims office who then charged the moving company.  This basically breaks down into Civilian terms,  they screwed you over ....

An example of this would be a solid marble table that we bought while we were stationed in Italy.  We traveled to Carrara, Italy and handpicked the table that had been mined in Carrara.  It was unique in itself, a beautiful pinkish marble..... I will admit, possibly a little on the tacky side....

But, hey! We all remember the pastels of the mid 90's, I know you all do and you ALL participated!

From Cali to Colorado, the table broke in half.  We were given a depreciated value of $90.00, for a priceless marble table from Italy. Maybe, just maybe I would of liked to pawn give it to one of my kids as adults. Or, better yet, had lovely pastry boards made for them as a wedding gift, or some kind of massive paper weight?

The point is, they broke it! It was ruined, and to top it off, the poor trash men at Ft. Carson couldn't even pick it up from the curb, it was so heavy, possibly causing them pain and suffering!  See the trickle down effect?

The military claims office got away with only paying a small percentage of its actual worth.... This may lead back to Eric's dislike of unpacking and the feeling of being screwed over. I will give him a pass for not helping unpack more because of the grief it has caused him and realize it is not his fault:)

Fast forward to 2009, and suddenly the Military listened to the Service Members complaints.  This depreciated value scheme was benefiting the moving companies, not the Service Members.  So they changed the policy, the Military got out of the Claims business and decided to let the Moving Company be solely responsible for damage.  Now, the moving companies are much more willing to pack your items right, because if they do not, it cost them FULL REPLACEMENT VALUE.

It is their responsibility to hire good people, train them in packing and to know the rules of Government moves, especially overseas moves. However, the moving company in Atlanta missed the memo on this.

The damage to our HHG is worthy of its own post, and is somewhat comical.

But until then, I have the mind boggling job pleasure of working on filing the claim.....