The Aftermath...Giraffe RIP

Once again I want to thank you for your wonderful support. I'm humbled by all the kindness from my 365 friends. I'm sorry I can't thank each of you individually, but please know that I have read and treasured each of your comments and warm wishes.

My metaphor for the day today is best represented by loss. Some of you may remember the lower photo, posted originally in April. Danbo bringing snacks to the class Giraffe was teaching. Danbo is still missing. As you can see from the top photo, Giraffe is no longer with us. Much sadness today.
This morning, I went back to the house (appointments with contractors) to discover standing water in the lowest level (the lower unit in the building), wet insulation on top of our oriental wool rugs, our books in wet bookcases, and no one from the content removal service on site (see photo in extras - http://365project.org/taffy/the-also-ran-ph/2014-11-14 - for the big picture).
Each contractor I interviewed expressed concern that no one was there, no fans were going, and that the amount of standing water with no ventilation could breed mold.

Fire Saga Report
Good things first:
1. We had a wonderful evening with Bill and one of our former students in town for tomorrow's leadership retreat.
2. We are comfortably set up in Bill and Junko's guest room.
3. We have hired a general contractor who came very highly recommended from a very trusted source and who was impressive in action as he galvanized his team at 3:00 this afternoon and already has made a dent on removing standing water. His team will be there over the weekend as well.
4. We are getting organized with phone service, cable TV, and other creature comforts and necessities at the new house.
5. I started change-of-address stuff that is unbelievably overwhelming for some reason.
6. Our move in date of Monday has been confirmed for our temporary home.
7. My former student fixed my cell phone setting that was causing text messages to not come in. A simple setting I should have been able to figure out!
The less good...
1. Why would a content removal company take the day off with so much work left to be done and with water standing in the lowest level? Confidence in said company is dwindling significantly. MUCH MUCH time spent today on phone with company, insurance adjustors, contractors, other condo owner, more insurance adjustors, more contractors, telephone company, internet company, bank. Have used up all my cell phone minutes and all my text minutes.
2. It looks like most of our furniture has been deemed not salvageable.
3. Our area rugs appear to have been neglected and may not be recoverable but I wonder what would have happened if they had gotten them out immediately to begin the restoration process. Why are they still in the house 4 days after the fire and start of clean up process?
4. Comcast is the worst company I have ever dealt with (current landline phone) - requiring us to maintain and pay for all current internet and phone service, no way to put on hold even though not useable, or threat that we will lose our phone number. Will be switching companies.
The VERY WORRISOME
1. We have left the hotel without knowing where Danbo is. Was he looking for Giraffe? What has happened to him? Is he okay?

[Annie D]

oh Taffy - I so love those beautiful ornamental friends - especially Giraffe - well mostly as I can rarely choose a favourite animal - but I have a small collection of giraffes and I never miss seeing them when I go to the zoo - I am so sad for them and Danbo - I hope you find him. It is made all the harder when others who should be doing their job properly make things more difficult - my thoughts are with you

[Sally Ings]

How horrible to be seeing what has been damaged and not salvageable. I hope that your contractors don't delay proceedings any further.

[Kane Arlow]

It looks like that was a pretty serious fire. I am so glad you are ok. It must be very hard seeing all of your favourite things destroyed. I have seen this type of scene many times, it is always stressful, and I am so happy to hear you had insurance. I hope things get better very soon for you.

[Newbank Lass]

So sorry Taffy to hear the frustrations of the day. I imagine the initial rush of adrenaline must be waning and harder to find energy to process and be patient as you sort things out. We'd all wobble at some point. We are only human, I'm not surprised you found something in this process tough. The needing to change addresses must really home what in many ways must seem so surreal and dreamlike. Wishing you strength and energy for today.

[April]

So sorry for your losses. It's always the little things that bring such pleasure, and with the overwhelming losses to lose them too is all the more difficult. I do hope Danbo comes out of hiding.

[Lisa]

I'm so sorry for your loss :(

[Nicole]

What a hectic day you had Taffy, not fun to go through at all! Poor giraffe and poor Danbo! At least you got a great contractor that seems to have everything under control and is really willing to help! Keep focused on the positive and don't get sucked down by the negative!

[Babs]

So sorry that I haven't been able to catch up for a couple of days, but I was in hospital yesterday for day surgery. I have been reading about all your troubles and what a terrible time you have had. So glad that you can keep relatively sane and positive though in the midst of such turmoil. My thoughts are with you and hope your life can get back on track sooner rather than later.
One thing we have to remember though is that possessions are just possessions and you are all safe and well. Take care, my thoughts are with you.

[Danny G.]

RIP, Giraffe. You are in my thoughts. The good thing is that as long as you have your health, all else is replaceable. These are the times that test all humans, keep a positive attitude and you will get through this. With all new furniture! I'm pulling for you!!! Hope you find Danbo.

[Kate]

Your resilience is amazing. Sending hugs and prayers your way. Thank you for keeping us posted. Kate

[sally agnew]

How stressful for you dealing with a far from competent company when dealing with this aftermath. Take care, thinking of you :)

[Pam Knowler]

Another difficult day for you Taffy and no wonder you wobbled!! To send out new address cards brings it all home as you have to explain to everyone what has happened - over and over again. You will soon be in your new abode and hopefully you can put some of this heartache behind you. I do hope Danbo turns up. So sad about the giraffe - I loved him!! Take care- stay safe!!

[👑 AnaZad]

It's heart breaking to read all this. I wish I would be closer to offer a hand. Sending hugs, Taffy.

[Kerri]

Oh my goodness. So sorry you are going through this

[Janiskay]

What a terrible mess you are having to sort through. I know you have the strength to get through this. Soon this will all be behind you and you will be waking up smiling!

[Rosie Kerr]

So sad to read all of this and about the lost giraffe and the missing Danbo; I hope he turns up. I hope you know we are all pulling for you as you navigate through this distressing and long journey.

[carol white]

Poor giraffe!! Sounds like a lot of stress, hope the company get their act together, and get the work done.

[Bob Zwolinsky]

I'm lost for word, all I can do is send you my best wishes.

[Joan Robillard]

Must seem overwhelming. I can only hope that your contractor will prove to be top draw. I have been lucky to use my bosses contractors from his home building to do my house projects. And they were not from a tragedy just a need to update. The fact that yours dug right into the job sounds encouraging.

[Sarah Munnings]

oh my.....poor giraffe..........I think Big Danbo may have taken him to the vets........I hope they turn up soon.

[Margaret Obey]

Poor giraffe. Glad your contractor has made a good start.

[Stephomy]

Just like Comcast to make a bad situation worse...

Sorry to hear you've suffered such great loss. I wish you the best of luck in recovering and rebuilding.

[Kathie]

Glad to hear you have a good contractor, worth his weight in gold. Everything is what I call a PIA - Pain in the Ass. Stay strong

[Sue Wilde]

You can do this. So pleased that you've found a good contractor. He'll make your life liveable

[Rachel]

Oh Taffy, I cannot believe the content removal team were so hopeless. At least you are safe! I guess this will be a frustrating process, and I am sending you good vibes. Hopefully Danbo will turn up soon.

[Marnie]

This is just plain heart-breaking stuff. You're doing a good job of looking on the bright side, but the devastation, damage and downright incompetence and/or lack of sympathy of the people who should be helping fix the mess is unforgivable.

[Lisa Villella]

You positives outnumber your negatives. That's something! Sorry to hear about Giraffe and I hope Dando is OK!

[Gena Pegg]

Still so much to do and clean up. I don't envy you the process...or the loss. Giraffe will be missed by his friends and hopefully Danbo will return soon from his quest. Love your sense of spirit about all of this! I am sure you will be glad when this journey comes to an end.

[Annie D]

Thinking of you

[Taffy]

I usually avoid a group reply and instead comment on your photos and post instead, but I can't get my photos to upload tonight for some reason. So, instead and I'm getting all kinds of pop-ups so am going to close out til I figure out what is going on. But, I did want to say thank you for thinking of me and for your kind words. Today was SO much better. Our new contractor is a wizard. I hope by tomorrow to be able to get the files to upload as it's unbelievable how clean they have gotten the house, boarded up the holes, barred the balcony areas where the railings had snapped off, mopped up all the water, have huge dehumidifiers going, all our remaining stuff stacked toward the back of our house neatly. It is incredible. It really shows what the other company was NOT doing. The original company project manager called me three times today to ask if I were sure that they were not doing the construction. So odd. But, we are now in good hands and I am more confident than I have been in awhile. We also have the keys to our temporary house and went to see it tonight. It was beautiful at night and will be fun to photograph. We move in on Monday. So, thank you again and know that all your positive thoughts have reached here to provide us with a change in direction and some more positive look to the future!
@annied @eyesmile @golftragic @888rachel @swilde @ceilidh @joansmor @bob65 @carolmw @rosiekerr @janiskay @kerristephens @anazad511 @pamknowler @hermann @kt8ird @soboy5 @onewing @nicoleterheide @lisatown @aecasey @newbank @karlow75 @salza @annied @eyeamlisa

[Annie D]

Am so pleased things are improved

[Elyse Klemchuk]

((((HUGS))) I am so glad you're okay! I'm glad your new contractor has it together!

[Osia Strasner]

I am glad that things are getting better, or I was planning on coming out there to whip them into shape for you!! I cannot believe those jokers from the original company. Were they demolition contractors who were only supposed to clean up and salvage things, or were they hoping to get the job for the renovation? If so they failed miserably, and the worst part is that they did not even realize how and why. I was going to say they left you "high and dry", but that was obviously not the case!! I am so very sorry for all the destruction, but most importantly about losing all your cherished animals, and especially Danbo. I certainly hope he resurfaces....:-(( Hang in there.....thinking of you....a lot!!

[carol white]

So pleased that things are looking up for you.I know it's a long road,but at least you're seeing some action at last:-)

[Ukandie!]

Taffy you could try bypassing customer service at Comcast and making a corporate complaint, tell them your predicament and see if that gets you what you need. Just a suggestion not sure it will work and obviously not an added thing you need to do right now.

[Ann H. LeFevre]

I wish I could send Jeff (hubby) out to you with a few of his contractor friends. You would be in your home in half the time! But I know you have sorted some of this out by now as I reading things backwards and mixed up.

I hate to say this, but Big Danbo may have a new home. Sometimes hotel employees have, shall we say, "sticky fingers". My son lost a World Cup Jersey that way- something we did not discover until we got home.

I think some of the things you can't figure out, but should have been able to figure out, are due to the shock of it all. Don't be too hard on yourself!

[Islandgirl]

So glad your moving into your temporary home tomorrow Taffy and you have a new contractor.
Things are heading in the right direction.............keep up the positive attitude, it will get you through these difficult time.

[Darlene]

Wow, what a mess. I did not think about standing water as they always start drying things out pretty fast due to mold. Have known people with just water damage for various reasons and huge fans are brought in quickly. Sounds like a big mess though what do you do at this point in time. You can only do what you can do. I feel so badly for you and wish I could help you somehow. I will agree that Comcast stinks, being nice here. Hope you get as much resolved as you can. Just read what you wrote above and so glad you are in much better hands than you were before. Things will get better though have changed forever. Glad the two of you are ok. Take care and hugs to you.

[Denise (lyndemc)]

These images bring home the depth of your losses. These aren't just figurines, they're little friends and you've lost a precious one in Giraffe. And Danbo. I'm so sorry, Taffy.

[Jessica]

I hate comcast! I just had to say it! Wow, this picture is worth 1000 words. Glad you are documenting it, it's a nice way to get out some of the frustration.

[Lois]

You've had so much loss and frustration- thank you for taking time to let us know how you're doing. Glad to hear you're in good hands!