Five Questions That I Really Need Answered

QUESTION ONE
Does anyone have any experience setting up a PayPal account for donations? The details I’m looking for here are on setup and fees. I can kind of figure it out when I am on the PayPal website, but I’m not sure how much I would owe PayPal for donations made by others from credit and debit cards. I realize there is an entire page dedicated to Fees, I JUST CAN’T READ IT. Not with all that mathy lingo they have on there. (Percentages? Transactions? USD? I am just not very good with a calculator, is all.) Also, just so you’re not suspicious, this question has absolutely nothing to do with the website you’re currently reading.

QUESTION TWO
Where is the best place for me to locate some free cardboard boxes? Will grocery stores give them to me if I ask? Please tell me there is a way to avoid BUYING BOXES, because I just can’t justify paying for something when I can probably find it somewhere else disguised as TRASH. These don’t have to be enormous refrigerator boxes; I’m packing up books and other things that we’ll be putting into storage. EVEN THOUGH I AM NOT PREGNANT.

QUESTION THREE
Was it poor form for me to let my dog out while the FiOS installationy people were on lunch break and allow him to kind of… well, pee directly into the mass-grave-sized hole they’d just finished digging? Oh, and then on top of the mound of dirt FROM the hole? Initially I felt bad about this but then I realized that they were all wearing gloves, so maybe this is the kind of thing they anticipate on the job site? Or maybe I am just the world’s biggest jerk.

QUESTION FOUR
Do you think it would be weird if I stopped into a self-storage facility and asked to tour some of the spaces? Dave insists that you don’t “shop” for a storage unit, you just GET ONE. But I’m really bad at visualizing how big 5x5 or 5x10 really is, which is why when I moved myself back here from Atlanta, I completely overestimated how much stuff I had and rented a moving truck that was so big that we had to LAY ALL MY STUFF DOWN so it wouldn’t slide everywhere during the trip. EVERYTHING. Like, my bookcases and my headboard and my FRAMED ART. Because I could have moved a four-bedroom house with that truck, and all I had was one sad little bedroom set and a kitchen table. I’m pretty sure I’ll do the same thing with a storage unit, which I think is what the self-storage people want you to do anyway. Except that this time, I refuse.

QUESTION FIVE
Is it really worse to eat the chocolate bunny in just one sitting? Because, really, then the chocolate bunny is gone and there’s no chance you’ll eat any more of it. Which can’t be all THAT MUCH different than stretching out the chocolate bunny for three or four days or even a week. Right? RIGHT? Don’t tell me I’m the only one who “accidentally” ate the whole thing already. Please.

BONUS QUESTION SIX
Did you want to see a picture of us at Easter? Well you have to. I was having a good hair day.

Comments

[katie]

for boxes, go to petsmart (or your local pet store) . . . the boxes that dog food (the canned kind) comes in are REALLY sturdy!! Pet stores are the best places for boxes.

as far as your other questions . . . i dunno . . . i have a toothache at the moment so no choc easter bunny for me . . . but one sitting sounds good. besides, this way - your body can go to work immediately on digesting all of it, instead of having to deal with chocolate in little pieces (I'm GREAT at justifying!!)

[Shanna]

Okay here we go:
#1 No clue
#2 I agree with Katie, but also try office supply stores for the boxes that paper comes in or appliance stores but a lot of large retailers compact them daily so it might not hurt to ask them when they do that and if you could come in and pick some up
#3 Dog peeing where people have to work, could be jerky but I'm sure it's not the first nor last time that it happened. Plus all that dirt would absorb it right?
#4 Definately tour the storage place. You don't want to be wasting money, you could put that cash to good use at your local Target! Plus, if they make a big deal about it that would be a good indicator that they might not be very straighforward. You don't want them to be shady about other things too.
#5 Easter Bunny in one sitting is totally normal and expected. If you draw it out then your body will get used to the extra calories and not try to burn them off. If you eat it all at once that will be an extra shock to your system so your body will work extra hard to get rid of it. (You believe that don't you?? It's true, I swear!)
#6 Super cute Easter pic, I forgot our camera at home so no Easter pics at all this year. I almost feel like dressing everybody in pastels this weekend just to get the picture. Ten years from now we won't remember that it wasn't really on Easter!

[Melani]

We're moving soon (I hope---please, somebody buy my house!) and I have found that I can get all kinds of boxes by going to Wal-Mart first thing in the morning. That's when they stock the shelves and just have the used boxes sitting there. They're always happy to let me take what I want.

I would definitely tour the storage space--I don't think that's weird at all. I have a hard time figuring out space too.

Love the Easter picture.

[corey]

For boxes head to your local ABC store (or liquor store or whatever you guys call it). They get shipments all the time and the size of the boxes is perfect for books.

[Monica]

PayPal fees - basically you will need a premier account if you expect more than 5 people to donate, and you will end up paying an average of 3.5% per transaction. It might end up being a little less, in which case consider yourself pleasantly surprised.

Here's a great local self-storage place we used for 2 years, and yes they will show you various units before you have to commit -
http://www.mclearenselfstorage.com/

Costco sells really cheap boxes. I know you don't want to pay for them, but the nice heavy duty filing boxes are only about $1 each which is totally worth it. Then your storage area will be so nice and organized and all your boxes will match. What? I'm the only weirdo that cares about that? More importantly, your heavy books wont crash through the bottom of some cheap box you got out of the Safeway dumpster.

[TamiW]

I loved the family picture. You all 3 look adorable!

[Karyn]

#1 - Not sure, but I set up a donation buttom for a non-profit I work with through www.justgive.org

#2 - Liquor stores - they have LOADS of super sturdy boxes, often with dividers. Not too large either.

#3 - they were digging in dirt right? otherwise known as worm poop and thousands of other animals decomposing... you're fine. they're probably just glad they didn't find a body or anything.

#4 - totally ok to ask to see a space. it's they're job to sell it to you...you just want to see what you are 'buying'.

#5 - nothing wrong with the whole bunny in one sitting, especially if it was dark chocolate and you had milk. as long as you don't go buy ANOTHER bunny, you're fine. ;)

#6 - Fabulous. =)

[-R-]

Yes, all kinds of stores will give you free boxes. Grocery stores, Target, liquor stores, etc.

Eating a whole chocolate bunny at once is way better than spreading it out over a few days.

Your hair does look very nice!

[BRash]

I've worked at a grocery store and a bookstore, and at both places we'd give boxes to people who came in and asked for them. We even had people call up and ask us to set aside a certain # of boxes. It depends on whether you get a nice person on the other side of the phone whether they'll do that kind of thing for you - or what kind of store. This was Publix - well known for doing anything and everything to make a customer happy.

[chirky]

The best places to get boxes, HANDS DOWN, are corporate offices. Right after they have several reams of paper delivered. Maybe Dave can go up to his company's mail room or supply room (that's where we used to keep them) and get some. They are a perfect size, have lids (no weird folding or taping!), and are ultra-heavy duty (because of all that paper, remember).

[Sarah]

Check Freecycle and Craigslist for boxes - people are always trying to find them or get rid of them there after moving...

[Jennie]

Try Craig's List or Freecycle for free boxes. Also, grocery stores.

We toured the self-storage spaces before choosing a size. But it's still hard to tell, honestly. The ceilings in those spaces are high, so if you stack things you can actually fit quite a bit in a small space.

As for the bunny, better for your teeth to eat it all at once, and I think you can certainly interpret that to mean HEALTHIER!

Oh, and I read your Parents.com post. We bought a train table with drawers underneath from Costco (KidCraft), and it has been the BEST purchase for our playroom. Our son has used it since way before he was old enough to play with trains. It's the perfect height for cruising around, it has a little raised lip around the edges so toys don't roll off, and the drawers offer tons of storage for large toys that don't fit nicely into bins.

[Megan]

Chirky's right - have Dave ask the person who orders supplies to set aside some boxes for you. I moved all of my books, CDs, movies, etc., in those big paper boxes. They're super strong.

For number four - can you sell some of this stuff instead? If it's nothing you're sentimentally attached to (eg, heirlooms), you might be better off just selling it instead of hauling it to a storage place and hauling it back out in a few years.

[BethanyWD]

THAT, my friend, is an AWESOME family photo. And not just because of the good hair.

[Jen]

Yes, you can absolutely tour the storage facility first. I did. Also, a 5X5 is too small. I have one and it is a waste of money. I should have gone with at least 5X10.

Don't dentists say that it is better for you to eat the whole bunny at once rather than stretch it out? Better for the teeth.

[JP]

The paper boxes are the best. Looks like everyone else has already made tons of suggestions. People love to give away boxes. Just ask nicely and smile.

I say tour storage facilties. If they want your business, they'll take you on a 5 minute tour. If they laugh, punch them in the face.

Your photo is beautiful! Asher looks a lot like Dave!

Oh, I like your logic RE: candy consumption.

[Moose]

Thank you so much for asking the box question. Actual item on today's to-do list: Figure out where to get free boxes. Now I know!

Re: Chocolate bunny. I ate mine in one sitting. Furthermore, that particular sitting lasted approximately six minutes.

[Ann]

1. Sorry, no.
2. You should be able to pick them up at your local grocery store for free, if they don't have them out already then just ask.
3. Yes. But it made me LOL.
4. Yes, it is a tad odd. But go for it. I'm sure you've done weirder things than go looking round storage spaces.
5. Who cares? It's chocolate. It's easter. The thing's meant to be eaten.
6. Cute. And your hair does look great.

[ashley]

FREECYCLE.COM, baby.

For all your cardboard box needs.

Asher looks ADORABLE. And also quite little boy-ish.

[Jen]

First- 'mathy lingo' is my new favorite phrase.

Second- I absolutely love you for your help in rationalizing eating the chocolate bunny. Awesome.

Third- you guys are an adorable family :)

[Maureen]

1. No idea.
2. Liquor stores was my suggestion. I can also get tons of boxes from the lab, but Dave doesn't work in a lab. Does he? The paper boxes are also a good idea.
3. I think the dirt probably absorbed it, but I also think I'd have been pissed if I were the FiOS people. And also - YOU CAN GET FiOS? ANDREW AND I ARE CRAZY JEALOUS.
4. Yes, see it, but if you're anything like me, that will not help because you'll still have absolutely no idea what will fit in there. Don't forget you can stack things though; things you don't normally stack, like tables.
5. Only if it's also OK to eat an entire bag of jelly beans in two days despite the fact you don't even LIKE jelly beans any more because they are too sweet.
6. You are all adorable.

[beth]

craigslist for the boxes under the free section, I always check it hoping to score some fabulous find, but all it EVER has are stupid boxes :)

[jonniker]

For boxes, go to Barnes & Noble, baby. We got a shitload for our recent move, and duh, the size is perfect for boxes! Hoo-rah!

Awesome photo and yes, you're having a great hair day.

[Taylor]

What a cute family you are!

As per #2, I always get my movin' boxes from liquor stores. They are sturdy and excellent sizes. Also, I've had good luck going to clothing and shoe stores and asking if they have any boxes. I always got good ones from The Gap for some reason.

[holly]

Q2 - I always liked apple boxes from the grocery store. Sturdy enough for books, came with a lid, and they had handles. Just ask. They'll give them away.