In awe, you decide.

First Movers

How exactly will Obama get all his stuff into the White House?



A moving van is parked outside the White HouseAfter Barack Obama is sworn in on Jan. 20, he and his family will move into the White House. But how exactly will the president-elect get all his belongings into his new home?

Once the incoming president's stuff is on White House grounds, the residence staff takes custody of his possessions. The chief usher, who coordinates move-in day, provides the staff with White House floor plans and photos that indicate where each item goes.* (The first time Obama visited the White House post-election, he and the chief usher discussed furniture arrangements, food preferences, and other logistical issues.)

The Inauguration Day move-in takes about six hours. It starts at 10:30 a.m., when the sitting president and the first lady have a traditional tea with the president-elect before heading over to Capitol Hill for the swearing-in. Once they leave, the 93-person staff shifts into high gear. (They don't hire outside help for security reasons as well as privacy.) The operations personnel does the heavy lifting while a housekeeping detail helps prepare the bedrooms, curators make sure the furnishings and décor are just so, florists worry about bouquet arrangements, and the chefs prepare the post-inauguration dinner. At the same time, the staff moves the ex-president out. Items get loaded into boxes, which get loaded into vans and then military cargo planes that carry everything to the former president's new residence. With only two elevators, it's organized chaos.

Henderson Movers


A team of husband and wife (aka the curators,housekeepers,florists,chefs and the operations coordinator) start about 2 months before the move searching for a new place to live. Upon the discovery of their next home, they sit and plan exactly where everything will go and think of ways to maximize space and minimize clutter. 3 weeks prior to move in day they start prepping the new home's look. First on the list is remove the disgusting wallpaper in the boys' room and bathroom. (Victorian black and purple, throwing up in the mouth just thinking of it) Realizing that it is going to be a bigger task than expected they call on the help of the Senior Henderson Movers. They do an amazing job and creating the new look suitable to Henderson Juniors.

1 week later after collecting boxes and spending countless hours into the wee hours of the night painting, the move starts. They drive to pick up their rental moving truck (which charges per mile used, plus a one day fee oh and it better have it back that same day or else, there goes another fee, oh and don't use the dolley or the furniture pads, there's a charge for them too) Henderson movers recruits a high school varsity basketball team to help w/the heavy stuff...fee=pizza and drinks.

Almost 1 week later.....Henderson Movers still have unopened boxes in the living room, the bedrooms, the kitchen, dining and bathrooms. Large rubbermaid containers everywhere, laundry everywhere. Tons of frames waiting to be put up and tons of boxes and items at their previous residence. Not to mention the bills adding up from going out to eat and take-out because we just can't seem to have time to prepare our post move dinner. Oh did I mention toys all over the place from the kids getting into them. Oh and on top of that our satellite won't be up until 12 days after initial move in day.

I am in awe...wait wait...it could be jealousy.

I dream of the day when our new house is fully moved into.

Is it bad that I am jealous of our new president? Are we the only ones that go through this when we move?

AGH!