So as I was saying . . .

[maystone]

My renewed work visa came through last Tuesday or Wednesday (a memory is a terrible thing to lose, kiddles); after I did my Dance of Squee I zoomed out to Kitchener and renewed my provinical health insurance and Canadian version of social security (known in these here parts as the SIN card.) Then I began the arduous task of figuring out how the hell I was going to get my stuff out of storage in MA and back up here. U-Haul trucks are the most obvious solution because they're everywhere and you can drive them one-way. However, they're also deathtraps on wheels. Ontario is moving to close them down in this province after an investigation turned up not one truck that could pass the provincial safety inspection. That was all I needed to put the kabosh on that one. Well, that and my past dealings with U-Haul; you know, where you reserve a moving truck - with money down - and show up to find no fucking truck. Yeah, I'm one of millions who had that happen.

In any case, I continue my search for some truck rental place that will let me pick up in MA and drop off in Ontario. No, no, no. Then I start working the numbers for just renting a truck in MA or locally in ON and doing a round-trip; the cheapest I could get away with was $1,300. No, no, no, no, NO.

I'd thought I'd come up with the perfect solution last month when I had a trailer hitch installed on the Jeep: I'd rent a big trailer for a one-way trip and that'd be that. Until I started doing some research and came across all the scary stories of trailers going wonky and dragging the cars across lanes of highway or pushing them into stopped cars and whatnot. Now some of that was no doubt driver's error, but still . . . I finally decided to cut my losses and simply rent a small trailer and leave some of my big furniture behind. That works for me. I've been asking around if anyone wants the stuff, and I'll do another post later with some pictures. If anyone would like to take it away, just show up in Acton on Wednesday morning and it's all yours. If not, I plan to donate it to the Household Goods Recycling Ministry where the stuff will go to good use as well.

That being decided, I called the Acton U-Haul to reserve my little one-way trailer. No problem, I'm assured. I tell the guy straight out that I've been stiffed by U-Haul before, and he assures me again that there will definitely be a trailer for me on Wed. Just maybe not in Acton. I may have to drive 30-40 minutes to get to where it is. ::sigh:: What.Ever. So Tuesday I'll be spending part of the day tracking down the freakin' trailer so I can get an early start on Wednesday.

Oh, a question for you younguns, please. And don't laugh at me too much, OK? On all the cop shows on TV I keep hearing about these "cheap prepaid cell phones" that perps use and throw away. Anyone know if those nefarious phones really exist? I mean no plan, no sign up, buy a phone with some time on it and throw it away when it's done? Because my cell won't work in the States, and I'd like to have a working phone on me. OK, commence with the giggling :)

Comments

[raynedanser.livejournal.com]

RE Prepaid Phones:
They are usually TracFones. I know there are other services, but that's the one that's most common and the one I used to have. You buy the phone (under $100 US), then there's a prepaid card specifically for the phone that you buy. It has a pre-set amount of minutes to it and is good for the US and Canada (to make the calls TO). Unfortunately, their service doesn't work in Canada, as far as I know. You also need to buy a card every so often and renew it just to show that the number hasn't expired or whatever - like either every other month or once a quarter, I can't remember which. I never had any sort of problems when I had them.

[maystone.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Den. I have a Virgin Mobile phone, so I do the pay-as-you-go thing; I wanted something that isn't that expensive up front, and it looks as if the Tracfone is the deal. Yay!

[raynedanser.livejournal.com]

The thing with the TracFones is that I believe you have to be in the US to renew it, even for the website. A friend in Fredericton had one for a time, so I'd have to check with her and be sure. If you don't renew it every so often like I said before, the phone and number will "expire" and you'll have to get a new number all over again.

[hawkmoth.livejournal.com]

The cheapest Tracfones are really cheap now at Wal-Mart, and a 60 minute (unit) card is under 20 bucks there, too. The only problem (as Bud will attest) is getting the phone activated if your computer/browser can't make nice with their website. But I know from experience that there's fairly reliable service across NY and Mass. (In fact it's probably improves since we last drove across New England.)

And my TracFone (and Michelle's) actually worked in Niagara Falls(ONT), but we figure that's because we were in reach of the nearest US tower across the river.

[maystone.livejournal.com]

That's just what I'm looking for. I won't have my computer with me, so hopefully I can activate it from a pay phone.

[hawkmoth.livejournal.com]

Hmm, I don't know about that. Maybe. Good luck.

And remember you've always got an emergency stopover here!

[raynedanser.livejournal.com]

Sorry to jump in...

US Payphones, yes. Canadian no. As far as I know, none of the services work on that side. ;-)

[sparky77.livejournal.com]

You're going to be in Boston when I'm in New York! So close yet so far awy!

[maystone.livejournal.com]

I know! I'm guessing you'll be having more fun than I will :)

[(Anonymous)]

You can always comes down and visit me :)

[sparky77.livejournal.com]

Why do I always forget to log in?

[zosh.livejournal.com]

Are you going to need help while you're in MA? I can see about taking time from work, and J and I have a pickup truck.

[maystone.livejournal.com]

That would be wonderful! I'm really in need of some way to haul the furniture I'm donating over to the donation place; it's probably only a mile a way, but I'm hesitant to try to get the trailer back through the driveways to where the warehouse is. If you could help it would be fantastic. Plus, you know, seeing you again. Which I hope to do before asking you to help.

I'll send you some email tonight, OK?

[zosh.livejournal.com]

OK!