All My Sons Rated #1 Raleigh Mover

All My Sons moving company, based in the Triangle and Triad of North Carolina, gets the highest rating that it's possible to give!

In the past 30 years I have moved eight times (I used to be taller), and I used to own a company that built and assembled sets for the TV industry --many of which took eight 40' vans all by themselves -- so I know a lot about packing, moving, unpacking.... and attitude.

First, everyone from Jim, their estimator, to each and every guy on the moving team was as professional and courteous -- and funny -- as could be. Working with each and every one of them was a pleasure.

They packed everything as carefully as if it were their own. Truly. (While I'm sorry it took so much paper and bubblewrap to secure each item, please be assured that every box, piece of paper and sheet of bubble is being repurposed to others who are moving and to small businesses that bubblewrap what they sell/send).

I had been, uh, rather anal about pre-marking my boxes (I did about 2/3 of the packing myself) and the crew fully understood and respected my markings. For example, one blue stripe of tape on the box meant the item was to be brought into the house, not the garage, because I knew I'd need it quickly. Two blue stripes meant the items inside were VERY fragile. And so on. They handled it all to my complete satisfaction.

If, as they were bringing items into the new place, I realized there just wouldn't be room for it where I'd marked it, and asked them instead to place it somewhere else, they were cheerful. A lot of other movers would've grumbled at best, especially since some of those items were mighty heavy.

They observed a pecking order -- the final authority came from the lead man, and they respected that, so nobody went off on his own and ran the risk of doing something wrong. And their lead man knew that I was his final authority, and he respected that fact.

Last but certainly not least, they were on time, they were on budget, and -- I haven't finished unpacking yet, so I can't say 100% but -- it appears that every item arrived unscathed, without breaks or damage of any kind. (I did NOT have a good experience with the last mover I used in this area.)

I should also mention that, at least to my face, they never made fun of my one semester of high school Spanish. I think that demonstrates self-control, tact, and a great opportunity to have a few good-natured laughs later on! I have no doubt that, at some point, I asked someone to pour gravy over a tractor...

All My Sons ROCKS!
S. Kennedy Greensboro, NC

The most talked about and looked forward to event of the year takes place on the 1st of February 2009. Super Bowl XLIII is going to be played between the Arizona Cardinals and the team I picked to win the Super Bowl when the season started, the Pittsburgh Steelers. So, the big question is, Who's Gonna Win it all?

According to the official EA Sports simulation of Super Bowl XLIII (By Madden NFL 09) the Steelers will reign supreme once again. According to the award-winning video game, the Pittsburgh Steelers will win an unprecedented sixth Super Bowl title in a tightly contested game against the Arizona Cardinals, by a final score of 28-24. Holding off a fourth quarter comeback by the Cardinals, the Steelers bring the Vince Lombardi trophy back to the Steel City for the second time in the past four years and for a sixth time in franchise history, setting an NFL record. EA SPORTS matched the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals in a simulation of Super Bowl XLIII. Ben Roethlisberger threw for 3 touchdowns and was named the Super Bowl MVP; joining teammate Hines Ward who was the Super Bowl XL MVP. Steelers coach, Mike Tomlin, became the youngest coach in NFL history to win a Super Bowl, at the age of 36.

Of course, there are many different ways to go about making your prediction for who will win a certain game, but there is only one absolute truth…no one knows for sure who will win until the game is actually played. The reason everyone knows the definition of the word upset is because they happen with such great frequency. Given that upsets happen all the time, there are still things you can look at to help predict who will probably win the game. Here are some of these factors that might influence the Super Bowl and which team has the advantage in each.

1. Running game? In the regular season neither team was in the Top 20 in the NFL in rushing with Arizona finishing dead last, so a slight advantage to Pittsburgh there. In the postseason Pittsburgh’s rushing yards per game has increased by less than 3, whereas Arizona has an increase of almost 40 yards per game. Pittsburgh’s star running back, Willie Parker, was hurt for part of the regular season, so you would expect to see an increase in their rushing total with him back, but you don’t. Arizona’s running backs seem to have fresh legs, since they were used so infrequently during the regular season.

Advantage: Arizona.

2. Defense? Statistically, the Pittsburgh Steelers have a much better defense when compared to the Arizona Cardinals, but you can’t just compare the defenses to each other because they don’t play each other. You need to compare the defense vs. the offense it is facing as well. During the regular season Arizona’s offense averaged 365.8 yards per game and scored 427 points while Pittsburgh’s offense averaged 311.9 yards per game and scored 347 points. Quite the difference. Defensively, Arizona gave up 331.5 yards per game and 426 total points while Pittsburgh only gave up 237.2 yards per game and 223 total points. In the postseason, Arizona has improved its defense, while Pittsburgh has remained as stout as ever. Basically what it comes down to is this: One of the best offenses (Arizona) vs. the best defense (Pittsburgh) and a not so good offense vs. a fairly poor defense that is getting better.

Advantage: Pittsburgh.

3. Passing game? Arizona’s: Kurt Warner has thrown eight touchdowns and two interceptions during a dominant playoff run. He does struggle with turnovers when under duress, but the line protects him well. Warner's quick release and intelligence are blitz-killers and he won't be fazed by the moment. Pittsburgh’s: Ben Roethlisberger's up-and-down statistical season mirrors his career. But he thrives when it counts. His career yards-per-attempt average is seventh in NFL history, he throws an awesome deep ball and sheds tacklers. He takes a lot of sacks, but he delivers.

Advantage: Pittsburgh (Barely)

4. Special Teams: Steelers: Jeff Reed is an excellent kicker, but punter Mitch Berger is one of the league's worst. Pittsburgh's coverage teams aren't bad, but their returns struggled during the regular season. Santonio Holmes has given them a big boost in the playoffs. Cardinals: Neil R ackers is an up-and-down kicker, and he's the highlight of Arizona's special teams. Their coverage units didn't excel all season. Like the rest of the Cardinals, they are playing better in the playoffs. J.J. Arrington and Steve Breaston are average on returns.

Advantage: Steelers

5. Intangibles: Pittsburgh: The Steelers' confidence is sky high; few defenses have played better over a full season. That has translated into a great record in close games. Ben Roethlisberger plays his best in the biggest moments, and the team is almost fully healthy. A decent amount of the Steelers’ players were on the Super Bowl winning team a few years ago, so they know what it is like to be under this microscope. However, that could actually come back to bite them. That Super Bowl was played in Detroit, so they didn’t really have much of an option but to concentrate on the game. This Super Bowl is being played in Florida, so there is a lot more temptation to go to a few parties, hang out at the beach, and generally not prepare as much for this Super Bowl as they did for that Super Bowl. Arizona: The Cardinals have the underdog factor working: No one believed in them! They will hear for two weeks about Pittsburgh's historic defense, but no one has played better playoff football than Arizona. That should help them play loose and confident. Not to mention, Kurt Warner has played in two previous Sup er Bowls, and Edgerrin James played with a lot of good Indianapolis teams, so he is used to pressure filled games, too. And of course Ken Whisenhunt was the offensive coordinator for the Steelers back in Super Bowl XL. I’m not going to do anymore research, but odds are there are some other players for the Cardinals that have played in a Super Bowl, too. Even if Warner is the only player for the Cardinals to play in a Super Bowl, he knows what it takes to win a Super Bowl, so he will get his team prepared. Also, the Arizona Cardinals are from Arizona, so the warm weather won’t mean as much to them.

Advantage: Pittsburgh.

Here's my prediction on the game.

Quarter 1: Game starts out slow. A couple of three and outs by both teams, one good drive for both team, and some mistakes on both sides of the ball. Arizona will score on a run by Edgerrin James. When the first quarter is over, the score is Arizona 7 Pittsburgh 3.

Quarter 2: Things get heated up. Both teams are able to move the ball, but Pittsburgh does a little better than the Cardinals. Pittsburgh scores on two passes by Ben Roethlisberger, to Hines Ward. Time for Halftime. The score is Pittsburgh 17 Arizona 7.

Quarter 3: Pittsburgh seems to take control of the game. Willie Parker scores a touchdown, and Troy Polamalu makes an interception at the end of a big Arizona drive. It seems that Pittsburgh has taken control of the game. They play conservative as the third quarter ends. Pittsburgh leads 24-13

Quarter 4: The quarter gets going with about 13 or 12 minutes left as Arizona scores on a Larry Fitzgerald touchdown. The score is now 24-20. People will be questioning if Whisenhunt should have went for two to make the lead only 3. Pittsburgh runs clock a little and scores on another run by Parker to put the game away. Arizona goes for it on fourth down and doesn't get it. The Pittsburgh Steelers win Super Bowl XLIII 31-20, and Willie Parker is named MVP.

Here are a couple of videos for your enjoyment: Steelers Vs. Cardinals Preview, Stopping Pittsburgh, Cardinals Defense, Building the Cardinals, Roethlisberger.

Tell us what you think…. What’s your prediction?

Well I know I am a little late getting this out but here is the calendar with some up and coming events for the Triangle and Triad area. Keep in mind to check back to this blog often as I will be updating it with helpful tips and information in regards to moving and special events happening in the surrounding area. If you can think of anything that you would like me to include please post a comment and will try my best to include what you want.

Raleigh, North Carolina

April 18th: Spamalot
Winner of the 2005 Tony Award for Best Musical, Monty Python's Spamalot is the outrageous new musical comedy lovingly ripped off from the film classic "Monty Python and The Holy Grail." Directed by Tony Award-winner Mike Nichols, with a book by Eric Idle a

April 19th: Bass Tournament
Have a reel good time with the City of Raleigh Parks and Recreation annual Bass Tournament. No more than 20 teams will be allowed to register. Awards include 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place and largest bass. The fee is just $60. For information please contact

April 19th: Planet Earth Celebration
RAIN OR SHINE Burt’s Bees presents the 1st Annual Planet Earth Celebration, a fun-filled, interactive experience that will bring together our community to celebrate our planet.

April 19th: Angels in America Part Two

April 20th: Junior Olympic Competition
The US Junior Olympic Skills competition is a free program for youth ages 8-13 years old. Participants will compete in 3 different events-50 meter dash, standing long jump and the ultimate shot put. This is a free event.

April 21st: Mr. Al Live in Concert

April 26th: N.C. Regional Lacers Lace Day
A celebrating of lace and other needle arts will be held on the N.C. State campus at the Gregg Museum of Art and Design, Talley Center. Contact Kristin Conrad for more information: ks_conrad@hotmail.com

April 26th: World Beer Festival
First Session (12 noon-4 pm); Second Session (6 pm-10 pm) Join All About Beer Magazine on April 26th at Moore Square.

April 29th: Riverdance

Durham, North Carolina

April 19th: Earth Day 2008
Durham Parks and Recreation and Keep Durham Beautiful, Inc., will host the largest Earth Day Festival in the Triangle from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Durham Central Park, 502 Foster St. The Festival will feature music, food, and an opportunity to learn about current environmental issues. For information, call 560-4355 or visit www.durhamearthday.org.

April 25th: Durham County Special Olympic Games
The annual Durham County Special Olympic Games will be held at the Durham Academy Upper School on April 25 at 10 a.m. Schools from all over Durham County will be represented at this event. There will be a torch ceremony with the Durham Police Department taking part. Athletes will be competing in a wide variety of sporting events. A rain date of April 28 has been set.

Cary, North Carolina

April 26th: Spring Daze Arts & Crafts Festival 2008 - FREE
Enjoy the arts in the park with the 15th annual Spring Daze Arts & Crafts Festival! Featuring over 150 local artists, entertainment on four stages throughout the festival, Children’s Village, concessionaires with your favorite festival foods, and the beautiful, serene setting of Bond Park, this festival promises to be the best yet! The Town of Cary Earth Day Celebration will be held in conjunction with Spring Daze 2008. Free and open to the public. Call (919) 469-4061 for more information.Location: Fred G. Bond Metro Park

April 27th: Triangle Sacred Harp Singers - FREE
Join the Triangle Sacred Harp Singers and experience Shape Note music from the Original Sacred Harp! on the fourth Sunday of the month from 2-4 p.m. For information, call (919) 233-4630 or (919) 460-4963.Location: Page-Walker Arts & History Center

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

April 26th: Earth Action Day
A free event for the whole family, Earth Day on the Plaza will provide a fun-filled afternoon of learning more about our planet and the human relationship with the environment through demonstrations, performances, and activities by and for all ages.

Wake Forest, North Carolina

April 18th - 27th: Herb Fest
Introduced in April 1999, the first HerbFest was a one-day herb sale held in the municipal parking lot along South White Street in downtown Wake Forest. In later years, the festival grew to three days, while the location remained the same. This year, new and exciting changes are on the way. Not only is HerbFest expanding to 10 days, but the event is moving. The ninth annual HerbFest will be April 18-27 at Festival Park, 527 S. White Street, a two-acre outdoor tract in historic downtown Wake Forest that includes a 20,000-square-foot warehouse. Herbs available for sale at this year’s HerbFest have been raised using Ball Horticulture Company’s “Circle of Life” sustainable horticulture program which promotes eco-friendly gardening. As an example, most of the herb plants will be sold in pots made from bio-degradable rice hulls. After planting, the empty pots can be tossed into the compost pile to decompose along with other lawn and garden waste effectively eliminating those unsightly plastic pots that clutter up the garden shed and reducing the amount of waste thrown in local landfills. And all of the plants are grown locally, so they are sure to perform well for Wake Forest-area gardeners. HerbFest will also feature herbs and other perennials that thrive in low-water environments and showcase various water-saving techniques and products, such as rain barrels. This year’s festival also promises to deliver all of the signature attractions that make HerbFest such a popular area event, including the duck parade and duck pen. Several new offerings are also in store this year with a special emphasis on local entertainment. For more information, visit www.herbfest.net.

April 19th: “Band on the Run” - Wake Forest-Rolesville High School's Inaugural 5K Road Race
“Band on the Run” is an event for the whole family to help raise funds for the WFRHS Band Programs. Early registration cost for this event is $15 per runner. If you wait until after April 12, registration increases to $20 per runner. All registrants will receive a T-shirt. Find out more by visiting www.wfrband.com. Look for the 5K Road Race link. If you have any questions, please contact wfrband_fundraising@yahoo.com.

April 20th: Six Sundays in Spring featuring Zydecopious
This is the 16th season for the series sponsored by the Wake Forest Cultural Arts Association. The free concerts, which continue each Sunday through May 25, begin at 5 p.m. and last until 7 p.m. Area residents are encouraged to pack picnic baskets, blankets, chairs, dogs and children into their cars and come out to enjoy the music. Parking is available on the street. Local artists are invited to display their work, civic clubs sell hot dogs, snacks and drinks and various community groups display information and sale booths. Visiting with friends and neighbors, flying a kite, kicking a soccer ball and whirling a frisbee are strongly encouraged. For more information about the band Zydecopious, visit www.zydecopious.com. For more information about the Six Sundays in Spring concert series, visit http://wakeforestculturalarts.org/sixsundays/.

April 23rd: Public Blood Drive
The Town of Wake Forest is hosting a public blood drive on Wednesday, April 23 from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. To make an appointment, call Tricia Lanning at (919) 554-6181. Please be sure to bring a picture ID. All donors will receive two free tickets to Raleighwood Theater.

April 26th: Pregnancy Support Services of Wake Forest's Annual Walk for Life
Registration begins at 8 a.m. and the Walk begins at 9 a.m. Come join us for a 2.5 non-competitive walk through downtown Wake Forest as we celebrate life and healing! This will be a fun event lasting until noon with family-friendly activities. Come join us for the Walk even if you have not pre-registered. For more information, call (919) 554-8093.

April 26th: Steps for Schools 5K Road Race
The race will raise funds for a vocational school in Kaihura, Uganda and will be used to spread awareness of the relief efforts needed in Uganda. For more information, contact Austin Shaw at atshaw@nc.rr.com or visit http://www.embraceuganda.org/home.html to download a race brochure.

April 29th: Wake Forest Boys & Girls Club's 8th Annual Steak & Steak Dinner
The Wake Forest Boys & Girls Club's 8th Annual Steak & Steak Dinner will be held Tuesday, April 29th 6 p.m. in the Club's gymnasium 325 S. Wingate St. Tickets $25 per couple or $15 individual. Call to reserve tickets 556-7266 or purchase at the door. Proceeds from this event support programs and services provided by the local Club. Club members will be featured along with a silent auction.

Greensboro, North Carolina

April 19th: Gate City Open Wrestling Tournament

April 20th: 9th Annual Triad Area Spring Pottery Festival

April 25th: Greensboro Children’s Theatre presents Tar Heel Tales

April 27th: Down Through the Years - A Musical Celebration of Warnersville

April 28th: Concert by the Spiritual Renaissance Singers of Greensboro

Once again, Thank you for choosing All My Sons Moving & Storage.

• Improve the professionalism of industry employees.
• Furnish a means of distinguishing consumer-oriented companies.
• Assist companies in enforcing get-tough quality control policies.
• Be an impetus to improve internal industry training programs.
• Aid in recruiting better employees and contractors.
• Ensure just and reasonable practices and rates.
• Reduce claims and legal expenses.
• Help to avoid unnecessary government regulatory burdens.
• Provide a valuable marketing tool for participants.
• Encourage growth in AMSA membership.

The Certified Mover and Van Line Program helps to protect the public by providing an identifiable measure of quality while, at the same time, enhancing the moving industry by encouraging and recognizing high professional achievement. Under the voluntary program, movers are required to observe a professional code of conduct and to provide service to their private transferee (C.O.D.) and, as an option, their corporate customers, in a manner that promotes confidence in the interstate household goods moving and storage industry. A certificate and a special seal that may be used in their advertisements identifies certified movers and certified van lines. Participants in the program are also listed on the industry's consumer web site: http://www.moving.org/.

Listed below are several questions you should answer prior to committing to a moving company. If you answer “NO” to any of these questions, your mover is not in compliance with Federal Regulations.

1) Are they licensed and insured?
2) Do they have their tariff filed and available to be viewed in their main office upon your request?
3) Do they have an Arbitration Program available?
4) Did they provide you with a copy of OCE-100 Your Rights and Responsibilities booklet?
5) Did they provide you with a copy of their household goods dispute settlement program?
6) Did they provide you with a copy of their complaint and inquiry handling procedure?
7) Did they provide you with a high value and valuation information sheet?
8) Did they provide you with a Ready to Move brochure?

By choosing an AMSA Certified mover you are guaranteeing yourself a successful move and should something go wrong the mover is most likely going to take extra care of you ao that they can keep their certification. I am proud to say that All My Sons Moving and Storage is the ONLY member of the American Moving and Storage Association (AMSA) Certified Mover and Van Line Program and has the ONLY Certified Moving Consultant (CMC) through the AMSA on staff in the entire Triangle and Triad area!!! Besides the information I provide on this blog you can also get additional information in regards to moving by visiting the Department of Transportation, the American Moving and Storage Association, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the North Carolina Utilities Commission.