Getting Settled

Yesterday was a pretty exciting day- we finally managed to reclaim our furniture from the movers, although the battle is far from over. Research shows us that there are a hundred things wrong with the contract we signed, that is, apparently signed unwittingly, and that in fact the actual terms of the contract violate state laws. So this being the case, we're pursuing a lawsuit against the movers on the grounds that the contract was never legal, therefore not admissible in court. Add to this damages to goods, some of which cannot be replaced, and it looks like the hammer will fall.
I hate being so negative, but will say avoid this company at all costs, and do your research! If a company offers rates lower than that of other competitiors, this is not because they have more business and can offer a lower bid. It's because that low price you are quoted will not be binding, and they will turn around and charge you more (in our case, double) what the original estimate was. This will almost invariably happen after they've rushed you through signing an incomplete or inaccurate bill of lading and then have your goods in storage. Your stuff is then held hostage (lacking a better term) until such time as you pay the remaining balance. Any complaints, we found, meet with a stone wall or lack of response. When we finally got to talk to someone, we got the "signed contract" waved in our face as apparent proof that the movers could do pretty much whatever they wanted.
Well, the terms of the contract may be binding, but they fact is that there are laws to protect consumers out there. Moving companies are legally required to abide by these laws, and if they do not, therein lies the problem. There are just too few investigators around to cover all the movers, so they tend to slip through the cracks. So perhaps your best bet is to pursue the movers independently, and hire an attorney. Or, take them to court yourself, there are tons of books and online legal resources out there to make this easy.
On a more positive note, it's good to be back in business, so to speak! I managed to set up a corner for meditation, although the rest of the room is dominated by an enormous pile of books that as of yet have no shelves, or anywhere to go. Everything else is coming together pretty well, and the house is beginning to resemble nothing so much as a home. I also have the Tarot decks I use, which is good- prior to this I had to rely on Tabatha's deck, which is an Herbal Tarot. Interesting and fully functional, although like driving your own car, you're more familiar with the decks you use regularly. I put an ad out on Craigslist as well, offering free Tarot readings. The reason being, I can clear away some of the cobwebs, and hopefully help out a few people with some insight. I don't tell fortunes, however, neither does any Tarot reader worth the stock their cards are made from. Fortune telling, at least as the term is commonly understood, is a way to tell people what they want to hear. The Tarot merely reflects the pattern of the world around, much as a small section of the population can be used to measure the tendencies of the whole. I'll have to see how it turns out, and in the meanwhile, time to go tackle the big stack of boxes looming in the other room.