Sunday, May 26, 2019

Discombobulated

I bet a lot of us never heard that word. I doubt it's been around a long time, but probably was reluctantly added to the lexicon back in the seventies. I remember my parents and aunt and uncle throwing it into the conversation on those warm afternoons at cards.

Discombobulated is working for me right now. Our chaotic management is assembling the process that gets a unit occupied in such a shambolic way! I believe it's down to a one week lead time, but "It could be two, Honey." I choose to remain unfazed and unflustered.

I've arranged to be moved by a company that has a management person living right here in the park. In fact, when word got around, as it does, he dropped by with his business card and listened to my tale of park stupidity.

The next day a scheduling clerk called me with a quote of two men and three hours to load me up and unload me about a hundred feet away, as the crow flies. Sadly, that's not the way the road goes.

I putt along at packing. I'm an old camper, and can live on one pan and a mess kit indefinitely. I'm pretty much down to my room to finish packing. I moved in with a minimum, and am moving out the same, plus the studio. And that was a lot of fiddly packing.


Mr. Cat is not pleased, either. Discombobulated is his middle name right now. Laura is gone, and he seems to know she's not coming back. Well, even a cat can figure out something's up.


My great grandmother's doorstop stays placidly on guard. He is conveying to the cat, Keep cool. This moving business happens over and over and over, and the most it has cost me is some paint chips.



45 comments:

  1. I'm very impressed with how you have already packed up! I feel for Mr. Cat. Cats really dislike being moved and it will be awhile before he is happy again. I like your attitude of choosing to be unfazed and unflustered. This is the best way to get through things. All the best with the move.

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  2. Hari om
    May not feel like it, but you are on the downhill run now, Joanne! Good to have a neighbour working the move... some accountability for those paint chips. Hopefully!!! YAM xx

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  3. The word sounds 19th century to me - even Dickensian. Well your move doesn't sound too far, but any move is always discombobulating.

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  4. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other and you'll get there.

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  5. Both of my parents used that word.
    I am sorry it describes your current state (and that of Mr Cat) but would agree, you ARE on the downhill run.
    Which is lovely.

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  6. That word gets used on a regular basis in our house :)

    It hardly seems to matter whether a person is moving one house away, across town, or across the country, everything still needs to be packed and unpacked and moved out and then in. You're doing a great job. Keep tabs on Mr. Cat as the day arrives - cats somehow know exactly when to disappear, which is always just before you want to cage them :)

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    1. He will go to kitty day care, or even two day care, for moving day. He was shut up in his laundry room for Laura leaving, and howled and attempted to squeeze under the door.

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    2. Awww . . . day care is a great idea. That must have been very distracting to Laura!

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  7. I do know that word! It certainly describes well the current state you are in, but thankfully there will be an end to it all and hopefully so very soon! And then on to this new exciting adventure of living by yourself again with only the cat :)

    betty

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  8. Well here you go:
    ORIGIN OF DISCOMBOBULATE
    1825–35, Americanism; fanciful alteration of discompose or discomfort

    You seem to be very calm about all of this disruption and rolling with the flow of it. Management seems quite cavalier in their attitude but luckily you did find a good mover.

    Best of luck to you and Cat.

    XO
    WWW

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  9. I am imagining your pain! (Not feeling it, but imagining it.) It IS discombobulating to pack up, move, and then unpack. I would be closing my eyes tightly and muttering over and over, "this too shall pass...this too shall pass." And it will and you and your kitty will settle in and find peace again.

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  10. "Discombobulated" is a great word that I use too, mainly because it's just so darn fun to say it. Although I must say, I like your "shambolic" too and will have to add it to my repertoire.

    I hope everything works out for Laura, living with her mother. She's almost an adult now, though, so her life will soon be her own.

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  11. Cats get discombobulated by change, even having furniture moved is disturbing. I send you best wishes on a smooth move.

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  12. I've been discombobulated for a long time. I've never seen "shambolic" before. That's a good word. I hope Laura visits.

    Love,
    Janie

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  13. Good luck with the move. It can be a very stressful time.

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  14. I've known "discombobulated" for years. I first heard it as a teenager and I've heard it several times since then, even using it myself a time or two.
    I hope the move goes smoothly and quickly for you and Toby. It will be nice to be finally (permanently?) settled again.

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  15. I wish you all will go well.

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  16. Discombobulated.
    A wonderful word which I first came across years ago, when reading a book written by Shirley McLaine. I decided it was an American word as it was rarely used here.
    It describes exactly how I feel about my life in the past week and not in a wonderful way...
    You look to be well organised with the packing and preparation for the move.
    Alphie

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  17. It is it is a huge job to pack everything and move even if it is a few hundred feet away. You are almost done by the sound of it! Hope you can settled into your new place soon, Joanne..

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  18. I love that word as it describes so well the way we feel at too many times. You have gone through so much these past few years that I know that you will get through this move easily.

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  19. As frustrating as moving is, you seem to have it all calmly in hand. Hopefully the new place will be ready soon and the unpacking will go quickly.

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  20. I know that word well.
    You do seem very Zen about this whole move. Perhaps your cat is holding all of your angst about it for you. Or perhaps you are just one of those people who appear calm throughout all.
    Whatever- I admire you tremendously for taking this all in stride. You're pretty amazing, woman.

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    1. Toby seems to be channeling the angst and despair, then he sleeps, wakes and considers whether to carry on or sleep some more. I second the sleep part, too.

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  21. I prefer to move the way we moved to the country house...over a period of about a year, one piece of furniture at a time per weekend and a few boxes as they got packed. at least it worked well then as we were spending about equal amounts of time at each house. well, Laura is gone back to her mother's and you have your freedom back.

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  22. wow, you are quick! I love things in boxes, and empty surfaces, I rather like being in the middle of change, you are doing it so well. You are a great camper!

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  23. I love the word because it sounds like what it means. I probably should move, but have accumulated way too much "stuff." I admire your economy and efficiency.

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  24. Discombobulated was a staple at our house growing up and it is still in use. Poor cat. His nose will be 'out of joint' for a while until the new normal sets in. Hope the move goes smoothly.

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  25. It's a good word but pales in comparison to "shambolic," which is a word that I believe I have just come across in the past year or so.

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    1. The perfect definition of our current administration!

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  26. I have moved so many times in my life. I hate the confusion of it. Hope it is over soon for you.

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  27. We moved every few years with our young family until they were teens and we settled in our house of 27 years.
    Leaving that one was a definitely discombobulated or just plain crazy. Best of luck!

    And the loom?

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  28. Well, it will be VERY good when you are in and settled! Good luck with it all.

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  29. I'll be moving at some point before summer's end. I dislike moving.

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  30. May your discombobulation be brief!

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  31. well packed and ready!
    Discombobulated...describes a cat when you brush their hair the wrong way....

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  32. "a shambolic way" - reminds me of the Three Dog Night song, Shambala. Good luck on the road to Shambala.

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  33. There is nothing worse than petty bureaucracy in action (unless it's our federal government - that IS worse). I would be pulling my hair out at this point. It makes you wonder how these people get their jobs - names pulled out of their hat? Someplace lower? Honestly.

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  34. Cats don't take to change well... so it may take a while for Toby to settle. As for yourself, you seem to be in a good state of mind despite everything. You will do fine. I really hope your new place brings you comfort and peace.

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  35. All sounds good to me. Just moving.

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  36. Jenny and I use the word discombobulated quite a lot. A very onomatopoeic word, it sounds exactly like I feel! Glad to hear things are progressing little by little and the packing is almost complete.

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  37. I like that word a lot.
    We found a neighborhood we liked, and we priced 2 bedroom trailers. We can afford them....but it is 3 grand a month for the land. ah. well. At this place it is very hard to get to know your neighbors. I was looking forward to more social contact.

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  38. I love that word. Who can not smile at it! Anyway, I hope your move will go well. Hang in there!

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  39. I think your situation unfortunately allows you to use both discombobulated and shambolic accurately...You are very neat for someone who is packing up.

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  40. I still use the word discombobulated. I actually use it often since it's often the state of my mind.

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