Catch Up

I will start with an apology for letting my blog become "stale" so early. It's been a little crazy with hunting for a new home and trying to execute a move in record time. Then add a few hiccups, and things get interesting (and not in the great way).
So I'll catch you up. I got the apartment. Decent place, not too big, not too small, in a building (which I like). Sounds like it's in a good area, from what "they" tell me. It's a new city that I've never lived in, so I have to go with the majority of people's opinions.
I work shift work, and it's a busy time of year for me; this means getting a few days off is pretty hard to come by. I managed to get a few days off in a row, which was supposed to work out perfectly. Originally, I was supposed to get the place for the 15th. This changed to the 20th, then to the 23rd. I was planning to move tomorrow (the 25th). Today I was told I cannot get into the place until Monday the 27th. Oh, and if I want to go in Monday - I have to work around the painter, because they haven't plastered or painted the place yet.
It's hard enough to find people to help you move - let alone people that can stand by to move you on an on call basis.
What to do now?
I was going to just shell out the money to hire movers. It's cheaper than paying for two places in one month. This way, you have a business relationship with the people moving you - and you don't have to beg for help. Problem solved right?
Then my roommate told me that was a stupid idea, and I should be more forceful about getting help from my friends. Even cheaper still. Here is my problem with that... can you really ask someone for help when you haven't picked up the phone to call them in over a month? (For the record it's not that I didn't want to.)
What to do? What to do?
Gotta figure it out soon. The clock is ticking.
I feel like time is moving, and I can't catch up.