Today there was an open house in our neighborhood of a $500,000 house. My girlfriend wanted to go see the house. After we had done our due diligence of unpacking more boxes and sorting and tossing, I changed out of my stinky clothes into a clean outfit, just in case I met some neighbors also doing the lookie loo.
The listing was held by the same agent that had our listing. He greeted us at the door. The walk up to the house was a glamorous wide swath of concrete and pillars. He told us it had been put in in 2004 and cost $250,000 just for the front remodel. The whole remodel in 2004 had cost over $1,000,000. The house had subsequently been sold and the new owners were elderly and moving to down size and not have to deal with stairs any more. The house has been listed for a while.
It was full of white carpet and had a step down sunken living room. The kitchen was lovely with a huge swath of granite counter and a view of the river. But the view looked out over the ugly roof top of the house next door, before you noticed the river in the distance. My girlfriend and I talked about how we would want to hang a basket off the deck rail to hide the neighbor's roof from the view. The whole lot was taken up with house and driveway, no yard maintenance needed.
The house had lots of sparkle and glamour with a big bathroom off the master with soaking tub and extra large glass shower. His and hers closets were as big as the boys' bedrooms. A work out room with a wall of mirrors had its own entrance for the masseuse. The hot tub was nicely secluded on a side deck.
Downstairs was another complete master suite. A huge slate floored wine seller could hold 2500 bottles. Behind the two car garage under the house was a work room for projects.
The house was lovely. But what I loved best was walking away from it and being able to say that I liked my house better. I had a better, more private view. My neighbors were unobtrusively located. I love the fact there are no step downs on the first floor, one of the reasons the owners are selling. I love that there is minimal carpet and what carpet there is will slowly be replaced with solid surface. It was a glamorous home, but mine is much more welcoming and warm. I love being able to say that I love my house better than the $500,000 house down the street.
I got up early this weekend and worked in the yard. I couldn't figure out the steel bladed weed eater that Tom had got working for 15 minutes in the heat of the day, earlier this week, so I pulled out my trusty clippers and went to work. I cut back the berries even further until I could reach the grove of cotton wood saplings that had sprung up and begun to interfere with my view off the deck. Some of the saplings were still thin enough that I could just cut them down with the clippers. Twenty feet of tree would fall over with a soft crunch. I would then walk the length of the trunk to clip the berries being crushed below. the trunk would pin and expose the fat thorny branches for me to reach easily. The bigger trunks I attacked with my hand saw. The curved blade and jagged teeth ate right through the trunks within minutes.
After cutting down half a dozen trees and a small field of berries surrounding them, sweat poured off me. The sun was beginning to break through and warm up the day. I went up on the deck to admire my work and drink some water. The yard looks twice as wide with the trees gone and I am not done yet. Another half a dozen trees still wait to be removed.
I tried to convince the boys to collect the trunks and clip off all the branches. A friend suggested they would make great Tippi poles. If I can't get them to do it I may just do it myself, gather the sticks into giant clusters and tie off one end, spread the other end. I have sheets I can drape to create the effect.
The land slopes and levels in different areas. As I clear it I can feel under my feet the terrain even if I can't quite see it yet. Ideas are flowing. Tom talks about retaining walls to create garden areas. I am thinking different terraces. Oh, it is going to be fun.
Friends keep offering me names of landscapers, but what it really came down to is I like doing this work. If I pay someone that is money I can't use else where. There are so many projects on the inside that I would like to see accomplished. The gardening is therapy, very fung shu and relaxing.
I also painted the repaired hole in the wall at the bottom of the stairs. When we first moved in there was a hole at the bottom of the main stairs on the wall where either someone had put his fist in it in anger or a piece of furniture had hit while being moved out. I had patched the hole but the ugly white patch had needed to be painted to match the rest of the wall. I found the wall paint in the garage and did a quick fix. I can hang a painting on the wall now which will mask any flaws to the repair.
My list of chores goes on. Unpacking a box of linens, I found some lovely curtains for the sun room windows, but need to pick up brackets to hang them. I found Tom's missing books in the third book box I completely unpacked in the basement. That was a good feeling. He spent all day reading.
We went up to the club last night and had a lovely time with old friends. I tried a sipping tequila, Patron. I can tell you that even sipping tequila will give you a hangover. I woke this morning in an alcoholic sweat almost as heavy as when I was chopping down the trees in the hot sun the day before. Tom brought me Ibuprofen and I had to sleep another couple hours before I felt capable of getting up and making everyone cheese omelette's and bacon for a very late breakfast.
I am still on the hunt for the cars' titles. They were not in the box they were supposed to be in. Find one lost item, lose another. but progress is being made. The ceiling high wall of boxes in the basement is now just two boxes high. They have all been opened or at least I know what is in the ones that are not opened. I found I have a lot of holiday stuff that I don't use. It is amazing how much there is of something when the boxes are all collected in one place with one theme.
Friday was garbage pick up day. By Sunday we filled the can again. I also sent my girlfriend off with another goodwill load in her minivan. So much junk that I paid to move and now have to deal with. I guess though I just had to get mad enough over it and irritated by it that I don't love it enough anymore to keep it. Now it is easy to let it all go.
I do need to squeeze in a clothes shopping trip for Riley. He has sprouted this summer and his pants need to be replaced. His friend didn't like Riley's Hawaiian shirts, but I had to disagree. I love the Hawaiian theme that Riley has found for himself. I hope to cultivate it further. I am pleased that he is comfortable with his style. His friend has a Justin Beiber hair cut and has to wear only the "In" name brands, self conscious and insecure that he might not look right. I love that Riley can be himself. Sometimes I do have to hide the ugly sport pants, but Riley knows how to dress up when needed, yet still have his own style. I just need to stay ahead of the growth spurts.
Tom went looking for his Hawaiian shirt for the Laue. The Hawaiian shirts were all in Riley's closet or on the floor of Riley's room. Tom used to complain about not having any pants because Trevor had been wearing them. Now Trevor is in a larger size and Tom is losing his shirts to Riley. Good thing everyone has a lot of clothes to share around. This is after several trips to Goodwill having sorted and tossed and got rid of much old, worn, or commercial advertisement clothing.
I just keep patting myself on the back and plodding on to the next box. I still have to start tackling the book boxes.
The half dismantled pool tables still need to be dealt with in the game room. I need the slate on the one that came with the house moved outside. I need to rip out the carpet and replace the flooring in the game room. This needs to be done before I go get a couch or sectional for that room so we can watch TV in comfort. Right now the only good chair is Tom's recliner. Everyone else has to sit on the floor or a regular chair. I have yet to sit down and watch a single TV show of my choosing since we moved in. I just haven't had the time. To be honest I am enjoying every minute of every busy day, stress included.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Carpenter ants
80% of the deck is a composite like trex. A friend recognized it as one of the original Weyerhouser products. She said she had never seen this old version installed after this long. She was interested in how it was holding up. I can tell her it held up well with all the neglect this house has had over the years.
I have been dismantling the nasty broken hot tub. I thought if I removed the surround It might be light enough to lift off the deck. Using a crow bar and a hammer, removing one panel at a time, slowly the Styrofoam insulation is being exposed. It is even uglier without the rotting siding. I had fun using the crow bar to snap pipes and rip off trim.
As the interior guts were exposed so were thousands of carpenter ants. A thriving monster colony had been living in the Styrofoam. Tunnels with hurrying black ants were exposed over and over again as the siding melted off the hot tub. On the far side, away from the heat of the sun was the most extensive invasion. I could smell the formaldehyde odor that the nest released into the air upon exposure. The nest had been there a long time.
I had waited until the cool of the evening to tackle the hot tub. It got dark before I completely finished. Tomorrow, I will smash away some more, even more motivated to get the monster off my deck. At the party the men said to just saw it up. After the siding is removed, I may just do that if it is still too heavy to move. It is a nasty piece of work.
I am now thinking exterminator for the house just to be safe. Under the deck, there are some insulated walls where the siding has been removed and foam siding is installed with no top finish material. This is often done on concrete foundation to help insulate. This particular area is pretty high up on the house . I am thinking that the carpenter ants had been at work and that was the repair job. I am happy to find the source of the ants we would see on the deck. Now we can make some progress.
Tom bought some insecticide. I think after the hot tub is gone, a good dose of spray will be in order. When we lived in the country in new construction, I did go around the foundation spraying for bugs. The construction materials would sit outside while the house was being built. The bugs that crawled into the wood piles would come out of the walls into the lovely new warm environment once everything was finished. I would spray the foundation every summer to discourage small crawly visitors.
This house will need that same kind of love for a while. The damage is limited to the damp area under the deck where the sun doesn't reach well. As Tom likes to say "Chemicals are our friends.", lets kill the bugs.
I have been dismantling the nasty broken hot tub. I thought if I removed the surround It might be light enough to lift off the deck. Using a crow bar and a hammer, removing one panel at a time, slowly the Styrofoam insulation is being exposed. It is even uglier without the rotting siding. I had fun using the crow bar to snap pipes and rip off trim.
As the interior guts were exposed so were thousands of carpenter ants. A thriving monster colony had been living in the Styrofoam. Tunnels with hurrying black ants were exposed over and over again as the siding melted off the hot tub. On the far side, away from the heat of the sun was the most extensive invasion. I could smell the formaldehyde odor that the nest released into the air upon exposure. The nest had been there a long time.
I had waited until the cool of the evening to tackle the hot tub. It got dark before I completely finished. Tomorrow, I will smash away some more, even more motivated to get the monster off my deck. At the party the men said to just saw it up. After the siding is removed, I may just do that if it is still too heavy to move. It is a nasty piece of work.
I am now thinking exterminator for the house just to be safe. Under the deck, there are some insulated walls where the siding has been removed and foam siding is installed with no top finish material. This is often done on concrete foundation to help insulate. This particular area is pretty high up on the house . I am thinking that the carpenter ants had been at work and that was the repair job. I am happy to find the source of the ants we would see on the deck. Now we can make some progress.
Tom bought some insecticide. I think after the hot tub is gone, a good dose of spray will be in order. When we lived in the country in new construction, I did go around the foundation spraying for bugs. The construction materials would sit outside while the house was being built. The bugs that crawled into the wood piles would come out of the walls into the lovely new warm environment once everything was finished. I would spray the foundation every summer to discourage small crawly visitors.
This house will need that same kind of love for a while. The damage is limited to the damp area under the deck where the sun doesn't reach well. As Tom likes to say "Chemicals are our friends.", lets kill the bugs.
updates
Trevor's doctor told him to rest his back until Monday. It was just a bruise but needed time to heal. He could work out but no contact, no hitting. The doctor banned his own child from football having seen too many injuries in his practice. He told Trev to work through the pain in silence or take his advice and rest the back.
Trevor went to practice with the note. He did not wear pads, but did everything he felt comfortable doing during conditioning to keep himself limber. Coach even wanted him to sit out one of the exercises when he saw Trevor was hurting, but Trevor told the coach he could run through the pain. Trev is trying to stay limber and in shape as much as possible. Coach said as long as he pads up and plays contact next week, he can play in the first game next week. I love being in a AA league. They are so desperate for bodies on the field.
Trevor and I stopped by an athletic store on our way home. They had padded undershirts. $75 later including the tax, Trevor now has a little more protection on his torso. A little late but hopefully preventative of further hard impact soreness.
I had to pay tax as I did get to the Drivers license office this afternoon and get a new cute picture taken of me. I am always good about wearing makeup for the picture and a nice top, since it is often asked for and I have to flash it. I want it to look good. They had me take my glasses off for the picture. They also punched a hole in my old licence making it useless.
I was a little worried as I did the glasses check, reading the letters in the box. I couldn't make out the first set, they were so faint and faded. The last two sets of letters I could see just fine. I could also see peripherally the flashing lights, and the red dot was in the box. I didn't have to take any tests as I had a good record and had been licenced in the state before. I was still in the system.
The clerk did crack a joke that since I was from Oregon he wasn't sure he could let me vote. I told him that I was a good Republican which was one of the reasons we had to move out of Oregon. He laughed and handed me my paperwork.
I had to go pick up Riley at his sleep over play date. We brought his friend back with us. I also picked up all the stuff I had left in their garage from the move, when I had to make room in the car for his unexpected visit that time.
Before we made our noon appointment with the doctor, I took a load to Goodwill from Tom's closet. I returned the new Saws all, unopened to Home Depot, that Tom purchase, not knowing that "we" already had one. Brilliant minds often come up with the same thoughts.
I did miss that today was the first day the councilors are back in school officially, to get the boys enrolled in the classes they want. I didn't get Riley back in town soon enough to accomplish that task. Tomorrow morning I will have him come with me in the morning so he can chat with the councilor himself. Trevor already filled out his paperwork. I can just drop off his form.
The back up tenant called disappointed that our current tenant made the deposit. She loved the house. I had a nice chat with her, suggesting that she make a low ball offer on the foreclosure in front of us, or call the owners and see if they want to rent. She was in a position to do either. She was doing as we are, leasing her old home due to a job transfer, but she had equity in her old home and loved it, not wanting to let it go.
Big day of running errands. Only accomplished a few tasks in the house. Made Beef stew for dinner. Almost burned it again on the electric stove. The stove takes so long to heat up that I left it on high. As soon as I smelled that burning scent in the air I dumped the fixings into a clean pot to make sure the burnt part on the bottom didn't flavor the stew again. It came out lovely. I can hear the boys fighting over the servings now. I had better go supervise.
Trevor went to practice with the note. He did not wear pads, but did everything he felt comfortable doing during conditioning to keep himself limber. Coach even wanted him to sit out one of the exercises when he saw Trevor was hurting, but Trevor told the coach he could run through the pain. Trev is trying to stay limber and in shape as much as possible. Coach said as long as he pads up and plays contact next week, he can play in the first game next week. I love being in a AA league. They are so desperate for bodies on the field.
Trevor and I stopped by an athletic store on our way home. They had padded undershirts. $75 later including the tax, Trevor now has a little more protection on his torso. A little late but hopefully preventative of further hard impact soreness.
I had to pay tax as I did get to the Drivers license office this afternoon and get a new cute picture taken of me. I am always good about wearing makeup for the picture and a nice top, since it is often asked for and I have to flash it. I want it to look good. They had me take my glasses off for the picture. They also punched a hole in my old licence making it useless.
I was a little worried as I did the glasses check, reading the letters in the box. I couldn't make out the first set, they were so faint and faded. The last two sets of letters I could see just fine. I could also see peripherally the flashing lights, and the red dot was in the box. I didn't have to take any tests as I had a good record and had been licenced in the state before. I was still in the system.
The clerk did crack a joke that since I was from Oregon he wasn't sure he could let me vote. I told him that I was a good Republican which was one of the reasons we had to move out of Oregon. He laughed and handed me my paperwork.
I had to go pick up Riley at his sleep over play date. We brought his friend back with us. I also picked up all the stuff I had left in their garage from the move, when I had to make room in the car for his unexpected visit that time.
Before we made our noon appointment with the doctor, I took a load to Goodwill from Tom's closet. I returned the new Saws all, unopened to Home Depot, that Tom purchase, not knowing that "we" already had one. Brilliant minds often come up with the same thoughts.
I did miss that today was the first day the councilors are back in school officially, to get the boys enrolled in the classes they want. I didn't get Riley back in town soon enough to accomplish that task. Tomorrow morning I will have him come with me in the morning so he can chat with the councilor himself. Trevor already filled out his paperwork. I can just drop off his form.
The back up tenant called disappointed that our current tenant made the deposit. She loved the house. I had a nice chat with her, suggesting that she make a low ball offer on the foreclosure in front of us, or call the owners and see if they want to rent. She was in a position to do either. She was doing as we are, leasing her old home due to a job transfer, but she had equity in her old home and loved it, not wanting to let it go.
Big day of running errands. Only accomplished a few tasks in the house. Made Beef stew for dinner. Almost burned it again on the electric stove. The stove takes so long to heat up that I left it on high. As soon as I smelled that burning scent in the air I dumped the fixings into a clean pot to make sure the burnt part on the bottom didn't flavor the stew again. It came out lovely. I can hear the boys fighting over the servings now. I had better go supervise.
Injuries
Tom said "We sure are raking in the doctor bills." Trevor came home from practice with his back still bugging him. Coach told him he wants a doctor's clearance before he lets Trevor play again. He will give him a pass for today to get the appointment without penalizing him for the first game. All Freshmen are getting a pass today, a day of rest. Coach doesn't want to burn everyone out.
I have a noon appointment for Trevor. It was so nice to see that the new doctors office gets the urgency of sports injuries. Tom wanted an appointment with his new doctor and was put off a few days. Trevor gets his appointment within hours.
I still need to get records sent for all of us.
the tenant came up with the deposit money. She will be coming up with the rest by the first I am told. I will let my property manager deal with it. I was talking to a woman at our insurance company. She shared with me that she also was a landlord and found that without a property manager, taking care of tenants was a pain in the rear. I will be happy once things settle down.
I can only hope this tenant turns out to work out for us. I am a little leery. Once we miss the summer window, it will be harder to rent. Meanwhile I am hanging shelves and preparing to unpack books. Still have not found those books I bought Tom. I have opened every book box. I will just have to unpack them all. But where do I put all those books. That is the question.
The bid came back for the laundry and new wall in Riley's room, $3500. Tom asked me to wait. I asked the handyman if he could tell me how much just for the laundry. Maybe if I break each project down into smaller segments we can afford to do one a month. Tom said he would like his gas range installed for Christmas. That is $2500 just to get the gas in place.
I am looking for a kitchen planner to come run some ideas by us. She might come up with some ideas we haven't thought of. Reconfiguring the kitchen on a budget is tricky.
I have a noon appointment for Trevor. It was so nice to see that the new doctors office gets the urgency of sports injuries. Tom wanted an appointment with his new doctor and was put off a few days. Trevor gets his appointment within hours.
I still need to get records sent for all of us.
the tenant came up with the deposit money. She will be coming up with the rest by the first I am told. I will let my property manager deal with it. I was talking to a woman at our insurance company. She shared with me that she also was a landlord and found that without a property manager, taking care of tenants was a pain in the rear. I will be happy once things settle down.
I can only hope this tenant turns out to work out for us. I am a little leery. Once we miss the summer window, it will be harder to rent. Meanwhile I am hanging shelves and preparing to unpack books. Still have not found those books I bought Tom. I have opened every book box. I will just have to unpack them all. But where do I put all those books. That is the question.
The bid came back for the laundry and new wall in Riley's room, $3500. Tom asked me to wait. I asked the handyman if he could tell me how much just for the laundry. Maybe if I break each project down into smaller segments we can afford to do one a month. Tom said he would like his gas range installed for Christmas. That is $2500 just to get the gas in place.
I am looking for a kitchen planner to come run some ideas by us. She might come up with some ideas we haven't thought of. Reconfiguring the kitchen on a budget is tricky.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
What is it with stress
My Tenant arrived from Colorado. She does not have the deposit. She doesn't even have a full month's rent. I told her I would give her today to come up with the funds but she could not move in without the deposit. Full September rent is due September 1. The deposit is $4000 plus the pro rated rent for August. I feel comfortable if she can get the deposit then we can cover our expenses i.e. mortgage and the last utility bills that are our responsibility.
Another woman is looking at the house as a back up plan. To me money speaks when it comes to our house. Tom is only going for this if the mortgage is covered. If this becomes too much trouble he'll be done with this avenue. I just hope she can come up with the deposit. We still have insurance and taxes to cover out of our own pockets.
Tom asked me to start on the books. I have still not found the books I bought him recently that he wants to read.
He also wants the nice furniture in the basement, in my boudoir, to be moved upstairs. His brother refinished them before he died so there is sentimental value. He wants to see them. I told him I wouldn't move them but he could. I am thinking I can move the planned wall in Riley's room one more foot over, then the hall could accommodate the four foot wide mirrored armour. So much for my linen closet, but domestic happiness has its own rewards. I am still dwelling on the mirrored dresser. I may just swap it out for the other dresser in the dining room that I use as a side board. It is smaller, but I don't have any strong feelings other than I don't want to be the one moving them.
Off to take Trevor to practice. Still don't know when Riley will be coming home. He must be having fun.
Another woman is looking at the house as a back up plan. To me money speaks when it comes to our house. Tom is only going for this if the mortgage is covered. If this becomes too much trouble he'll be done with this avenue. I just hope she can come up with the deposit. We still have insurance and taxes to cover out of our own pockets.
Tom asked me to start on the books. I have still not found the books I bought him recently that he wants to read.
He also wants the nice furniture in the basement, in my boudoir, to be moved upstairs. His brother refinished them before he died so there is sentimental value. He wants to see them. I told him I wouldn't move them but he could. I am thinking I can move the planned wall in Riley's room one more foot over, then the hall could accommodate the four foot wide mirrored armour. So much for my linen closet, but domestic happiness has its own rewards. I am still dwelling on the mirrored dresser. I may just swap it out for the other dresser in the dining room that I use as a side board. It is smaller, but I don't have any strong feelings other than I don't want to be the one moving them.
Off to take Trevor to practice. Still don't know when Riley will be coming home. He must be having fun.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Things happen in threes
Friday or Saturday, I can't remember which day now, I was out gardening in the back. Hitting those berries with the clippers and pulling roots with my gloved hands, from the area under the decks. I walked through a spider's web. The spider didn't like me and left a mark on my arm. My body did not respond well. My arm began to grow. I took benydril and iced the arm, but it continued to balloon. Monday I called the Doctor's office. They couldn't get me in but from my description of the now foot long swelling going above and below the elbow, they recommended I go to the ER immediately.
I had iced it over the weekend and been taking benidryl, which knocked me out causing me to lose two days of work. All I could do was sleep. I knew since I had done everything I could do for it that I needed the arm looked at.
I was on my way to take my girlfriend to the airport that evening. I was to watch her dogs at my house while she was gone. She has been helping me toss and organize. She suggested I hit an Urgent care instead of the ER. Having been to the ER a few times I knew it would be a long wait with my arm getting bumped for every car crash that came through the door. It can be an easy four hour wait. Tom sends Riley with me on the trip to the airport just in case something goes wrong.
My girlfriend's daughter looks up a location near the freeway that would be easy to hit on the way home, open until 8:00 pm and not busy. I drop in at the clinic after dropping them off at the airport. I am seen within 15 minutes. The Doctor takes one look and says I have a bacterial infection called Cellulitis. It is serious and can easily get out of hand. He says for me to fill a prescription of antibiotics and steroids and start taking the first one immediately, not to wait until I get home. Once home I am to take another dose, hit the infection hard to start.
I swing by the nearest pharmacy. Riley and I get dinner from the deli while we wait for the prescriptions. The pharmacist tells me the prednosone will keep me awake so not to take it until morning. I down the antibiotic with the last of my dinner.
Riley has a friend call for a play date. Had Riley had his own prescriptions with him I could have dropped him off afterwards. Instead I agree to drive him to their home in the country the next day.
Between Trevor's Daily double practices and delivering Riley to his play date, I am also reminded I have a bridge date at the club. It is a tight schedule the next day. I do a drop and run on Riley. I don't even say "Hi" to the mom, another dear friend. I just shove Riley out of the car and head back to pick up Trevor from morning practice.
Trevor calls asking where I am. I am going to be late. I tell him to walk to the nearest restaurant and I will treat him to lunch. Call me back when he has chosen where. He calls from Starbucks. I am just getting off the freeway when I smell something hot. I am passing construction so at first I think it is that, but I look down at the dash anyway just to check. The temperature meter is all the way on H. My car is over heating.
I realize I have to get the car to a repair shop fast. Mean while Trevor is waiting for me. I slow down and pray that the car doesn't catch fire and leave me stranded.
I make it to the repair shop. They tell me I have a reasonable size hole in the coolant tank. $230 to repair. I am pleased as I had anticipated something much more expensive knowing car repairs. I make a couple of calls including calling the Starbucks to let Trevor know of my car troubles. I had been lucky he had used the house phone to call me as I was able to back dial the number and ask for the big boy that had just used their phone. They were able to relay the message.
I next called a friend who was able to come pick me up and swing by to pick up Trevor and deliver us both home where I could grab a spare car. Thank goodness for spare cars. I then took Trevor out for that lunch. We ended up at KFC, his choice. I offered Applebies, but he wanted KFC. I delivered him a little early back at practice and made it to my bridge date with minutes to spare. My partners weren't even there yet.
I was a little yippy at bridge. It took a while to come down off the adrenaline rush of all that excitement with the car. The prednosone prescription along with the antibiotics the doctor gave me probably didn't help. I told everyone if I broke down in tears or decided to hit someone to please forgive me, its just the meds.
Just as we are winding up and finishing the game, I got a call to pick up Trevor. He limped to the car. He has pinched some nerves in his back when a big line man hit him from behind. I can only hope he feels better in the morning as he has already used up his spare practice. If he misses another he does not get to play in the opening game.
I like to leave time in my day for events. I really worked my time yesterday. It was a full day, yet I made every appointment. Trevor did not give me a hard time for being left hanging, which I appreciated. I appreciated Riley's willingness to ride with me the day before to watch my back until I got my arm looked at.
The car is fixed. I am picking it up today. The swelling is going down on my arm, though I feel wired on the prednosone, but I really need its healing powers. I barely slept last night even though I took the prednsone in the morning. I am really not a steroids kind of person. I am naturally wired with an "On Swtch". Several people have told me how serious cellulitis is and how quickly you can end up in the hospital or wearing an IV pack on your waste. It is not to be fooled with, so I am taking my meds on schedule.
My little friend in the hospital may be coming home this week. I am dropping off the air filter for him to use. I really felt it helped keep Riley from catching those germs that kept putting my little friend back in the hospital. I am hopeful his hospital visits are just scheduled updates from now on as his Bone Marrow Transplant from his brother seems to finally be taking hold. We pray for him every day as there but for the grace of God go we. What adventures we are having.
I had iced it over the weekend and been taking benidryl, which knocked me out causing me to lose two days of work. All I could do was sleep. I knew since I had done everything I could do for it that I needed the arm looked at.
I was on my way to take my girlfriend to the airport that evening. I was to watch her dogs at my house while she was gone. She has been helping me toss and organize. She suggested I hit an Urgent care instead of the ER. Having been to the ER a few times I knew it would be a long wait with my arm getting bumped for every car crash that came through the door. It can be an easy four hour wait. Tom sends Riley with me on the trip to the airport just in case something goes wrong.
My girlfriend's daughter looks up a location near the freeway that would be easy to hit on the way home, open until 8:00 pm and not busy. I drop in at the clinic after dropping them off at the airport. I am seen within 15 minutes. The Doctor takes one look and says I have a bacterial infection called Cellulitis. It is serious and can easily get out of hand. He says for me to fill a prescription of antibiotics and steroids and start taking the first one immediately, not to wait until I get home. Once home I am to take another dose, hit the infection hard to start.
I swing by the nearest pharmacy. Riley and I get dinner from the deli while we wait for the prescriptions. The pharmacist tells me the prednosone will keep me awake so not to take it until morning. I down the antibiotic with the last of my dinner.
Riley has a friend call for a play date. Had Riley had his own prescriptions with him I could have dropped him off afterwards. Instead I agree to drive him to their home in the country the next day.
Between Trevor's Daily double practices and delivering Riley to his play date, I am also reminded I have a bridge date at the club. It is a tight schedule the next day. I do a drop and run on Riley. I don't even say "Hi" to the mom, another dear friend. I just shove Riley out of the car and head back to pick up Trevor from morning practice.
Trevor calls asking where I am. I am going to be late. I tell him to walk to the nearest restaurant and I will treat him to lunch. Call me back when he has chosen where. He calls from Starbucks. I am just getting off the freeway when I smell something hot. I am passing construction so at first I think it is that, but I look down at the dash anyway just to check. The temperature meter is all the way on H. My car is over heating.
I realize I have to get the car to a repair shop fast. Mean while Trevor is waiting for me. I slow down and pray that the car doesn't catch fire and leave me stranded.
I make it to the repair shop. They tell me I have a reasonable size hole in the coolant tank. $230 to repair. I am pleased as I had anticipated something much more expensive knowing car repairs. I make a couple of calls including calling the Starbucks to let Trevor know of my car troubles. I had been lucky he had used the house phone to call me as I was able to back dial the number and ask for the big boy that had just used their phone. They were able to relay the message.
I next called a friend who was able to come pick me up and swing by to pick up Trevor and deliver us both home where I could grab a spare car. Thank goodness for spare cars. I then took Trevor out for that lunch. We ended up at KFC, his choice. I offered Applebies, but he wanted KFC. I delivered him a little early back at practice and made it to my bridge date with minutes to spare. My partners weren't even there yet.
I was a little yippy at bridge. It took a while to come down off the adrenaline rush of all that excitement with the car. The prednosone prescription along with the antibiotics the doctor gave me probably didn't help. I told everyone if I broke down in tears or decided to hit someone to please forgive me, its just the meds.
Just as we are winding up and finishing the game, I got a call to pick up Trevor. He limped to the car. He has pinched some nerves in his back when a big line man hit him from behind. I can only hope he feels better in the morning as he has already used up his spare practice. If he misses another he does not get to play in the opening game.
I like to leave time in my day for events. I really worked my time yesterday. It was a full day, yet I made every appointment. Trevor did not give me a hard time for being left hanging, which I appreciated. I appreciated Riley's willingness to ride with me the day before to watch my back until I got my arm looked at.
The car is fixed. I am picking it up today. The swelling is going down on my arm, though I feel wired on the prednosone, but I really need its healing powers. I barely slept last night even though I took the prednsone in the morning. I am really not a steroids kind of person. I am naturally wired with an "On Swtch". Several people have told me how serious cellulitis is and how quickly you can end up in the hospital or wearing an IV pack on your waste. It is not to be fooled with, so I am taking my meds on schedule.
My little friend in the hospital may be coming home this week. I am dropping off the air filter for him to use. I really felt it helped keep Riley from catching those germs that kept putting my little friend back in the hospital. I am hopeful his hospital visits are just scheduled updates from now on as his Bone Marrow Transplant from his brother seems to finally be taking hold. We pray for him every day as there but for the grace of God go we. What adventures we are having.
Friday, August 19, 2011
mess
every room has boxes open and half unpacked. That is my downfall, half unpacking. I get thing accomplished but try to do everything at once. I am waiting this morning for my girlfriend to come by with her daughter to do more tossing. I set up three rods in the basement, screwed brackets into a corner wall area after moving some furniture down to make room. Set up a lovely boudoir area.
Last night we didn't get home until after 11:00pm. My sister had a dinner at her house for some friends. I told her we would attend. Trevor wanted a cake for his birthday, white with butter cream icing. The only white cake with butter cream was a giant sheet cake with pink icing. Trevor wasn't happy but he said he could handle pink since that was what he wanted for flavor.
My sister threw together a little gift bag for him. Inside was a bag of sticky eye balls. Trevor stuck them all over his face then offered everyone a stare down contest. He was quite delighted with the gift.
The drive home was long and dark. Tom is working night shift so I have been hunting for our bedroom curtains to help him sleep during the day. They are doing some tests that need to be done during off peak power hours. I took an hour to look for the missing curtains. I didn't find them. Trevor didn't want his special day to end so he wanted to stay up late. l finally went to bed.
At 3:00 am I sat up in bed and yelled for the boys. Trevor mumbled from his room so I knew they had gone to bed at some point. I fell back to sleep knowing everyone was where they should be. Tom was home when I woke in the morning to let the dog out. I miss being able to sleep in without having to get up to let the dog out. Add it to the list of things I still need to figure out.
Last night we didn't get home until after 11:00pm. My sister had a dinner at her house for some friends. I told her we would attend. Trevor wanted a cake for his birthday, white with butter cream icing. The only white cake with butter cream was a giant sheet cake with pink icing. Trevor wasn't happy but he said he could handle pink since that was what he wanted for flavor.
My sister threw together a little gift bag for him. Inside was a bag of sticky eye balls. Trevor stuck them all over his face then offered everyone a stare down contest. He was quite delighted with the gift.
The drive home was long and dark. Tom is working night shift so I have been hunting for our bedroom curtains to help him sleep during the day. They are doing some tests that need to be done during off peak power hours. I took an hour to look for the missing curtains. I didn't find them. Trevor didn't want his special day to end so he wanted to stay up late. l finally went to bed.
At 3:00 am I sat up in bed and yelled for the boys. Trevor mumbled from his room so I knew they had gone to bed at some point. I fell back to sleep knowing everyone was where they should be. Tom was home when I woke in the morning to let the dog out. I miss being able to sleep in without having to get up to let the dog out. Add it to the list of things I still need to figure out.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Gardening
Started gardening to escape the boxes today. It was a beautiful sunny day, not too hot. Told the boys they had to keep me company. They lasted a couple of hours. Trevor had to go get everyone water, look for his shoes, set up the music box in the garage. Riley tried to use a hay fork to flip the ivy vines over so I could get at the big thick vines hidden below with the loppers. It was somewhat productive.
We had to be careful of the drop off. The ivy disguises the the edge. Slowly we will tone down the overgrowth, try to save a few trees and bushes from being strangled. I read a paragraph in one of the welcome brochures. It said the home owner is responsible for keeping the street and sidewalk in front of their home free and clear of overgrowth. Getting on top of the ivy that was growing out onto the street became a priority today. I want to show the neighborhood we care.
The handy man came today. He will get back to me in a few days. The furnace guy came next. I am so glad I called him. There were no filters in the furnace. The dirty air was sucking right up to the coils. He worked hard to clean the coils. It took him a long time to clean two years of debris off the coils. He also found frayed wires going to the heat pump. Probably our previous furry residents having a party in the walls. Luckily the wires were easy to access in the unfinished basement. Tick that important chore off our list. He said the heat pump is probably only 7 years old. The furnace is original to the house and over 20 years old.
He told me running the gas from the corner of the house to the furnace and kitchen area in the basement would be $450. 50 feet is $450, which is about what we need to reach the right area. The handy man will need to run 220 power from the box across the basement by the furnace, to the outside wall and up the wall to the new laundry area. I told him he could open up the finished ceiling area he needed in the basement to run the upgraded wires, since we will be running the gas along the same route going the opposite direction.
I can't wait to see the bid. I was pleased with the cost of running the gas line. I had thought it might have been more to run gas. If I do the trenching in the front yard, we can bring in the gas for less than $2000 total. I already have the Viking appliances, all but the fridge. Not having an ice maker is a sore point.
I am off to do more yard work and unpack more boxes. If I can crush at least one box a day, I feel I have accomplished something.
We had to be careful of the drop off. The ivy disguises the the edge. Slowly we will tone down the overgrowth, try to save a few trees and bushes from being strangled. I read a paragraph in one of the welcome brochures. It said the home owner is responsible for keeping the street and sidewalk in front of their home free and clear of overgrowth. Getting on top of the ivy that was growing out onto the street became a priority today. I want to show the neighborhood we care.
There is a deep drainage ditch outside on the street. Our Ivy had completely crossed it looking for more territory. In an area with as much rain as we get, I felt it was important to keep the drainage ditch free and clear in preparation of the rainy weather to come.
Riley disappeared down the drive way with a pair of clippers claiming he was going to tackle another area by himself. I knew he was looking for a spot out of my sight to just hang out. But at least he was outside and away from the electronic games. I was hopeful that the neighborhood children might come out to play again, but they stayed in their back yards. I could hear their gleeful cries from my yard.
Once the boys finally went inside, having kept me company for a couple of hours, I brought out the chemicals, the weed be gone and the blackberry killer spray and took a first foray at the blackberries. Had to pour the weed be gone into a different spray bottle as the brand new sprayer it came with didn't work. I went down the front walk hitting the weeds in the gravel. I went out the back door with the blackberry spray. The wind was quiet so I took the opportunity to spray from the deck so I could hit them further back. This bottle has a cool pump sprayer that works like a water pistol. It had a nice far reaching arch.
The handy man came today. He will get back to me in a few days. The furnace guy came next. I am so glad I called him. There were no filters in the furnace. The dirty air was sucking right up to the coils. He worked hard to clean the coils. It took him a long time to clean two years of debris off the coils. He also found frayed wires going to the heat pump. Probably our previous furry residents having a party in the walls. Luckily the wires were easy to access in the unfinished basement. Tick that important chore off our list. He said the heat pump is probably only 7 years old. The furnace is original to the house and over 20 years old.
He told me running the gas from the corner of the house to the furnace and kitchen area in the basement would be $450. 50 feet is $450, which is about what we need to reach the right area. The handy man will need to run 220 power from the box across the basement by the furnace, to the outside wall and up the wall to the new laundry area. I told him he could open up the finished ceiling area he needed in the basement to run the upgraded wires, since we will be running the gas along the same route going the opposite direction.
I can't wait to see the bid. I was pleased with the cost of running the gas line. I had thought it might have been more to run gas. If I do the trenching in the front yard, we can bring in the gas for less than $2000 total. I already have the Viking appliances, all but the fridge. Not having an ice maker is a sore point.
I am off to do more yard work and unpack more boxes. If I can crush at least one box a day, I feel I have accomplished something.
Still unpacking
I have become very good at tossing and donating. Part of the encouragement/problem is limited closet space. The stains and holes in items also make it easy to let go. So far I am still only working on the boxes in the garage. Tom wants to park his car. My goal is to clear the garage so he can park.
The mousy couches are still in the garage. I put them in his parking space. When they get hauled off, he can park his car.
The blackberries are beginning to encroach on the house again. I haven't had time to cut them back. I am going to have the boys tackle them. Pretend they are in the land of the lost or Jurassic Park, hacking a path through the wilderness. I need a machete, but I worry someone might hit someone else with it.
The handy man came. He will get back to me with a bid in a few days. He said he is booked out until the middle of next month. That works fine for me as we probably need to look at the finances after the move before we go doing anything. The renters don't move in until next week. I am waiting on that windfall. Tom said to not count on anything until they have officially moved in.
I had the handy man look at my plan to put a wall with closet in Riley's room. Take down the wall with his door in it now. He would then put the laundry room upstairs in the existing closet which is 6 x 8 feet, plenty of room for the machines. The 220 power for the dryer is our hardest hurdle. He saw a way to bring that through the basement just as I had thought. He doesn't do gas lines, so we will have to find someone else to run the gas to the kitchen.
That kitchen is just a pain of poor planning. I feel cramped like rush hour in the big city on the train. I have to keep my elbows in, or I might hit something or someone accidentally. The granite counters are the 12 inch squares. The many grout lines bother me. I fear breakage. I am noticing little dings on our glasses already where I imagine someone has landed their glass a bit too hard on the granite. We will probably go through a lot of replacement dishes in this house with the boys. On the other hand I am noticing that they have become more gentle when laying dishes on the counters.
The kitchen is really designed for a couple, not a family. Yet they put it in a 5000 square foot house built for a large family. I look forward to the remodel of the kitchen, but first I really want that laundry room upstairs. I really want a place to put my clothes.
The boys are growing so fast. Trevor had on a pair of pants the other day. His ankles showed below the cuff. I will be a little cranky if I have to go buy him another wardrobe for school when I just bought him one at the beginning of summer.
We went to the parent football meeting, Trevor and I. I sat next to a dad who looked familiar. He signed his name to a paper and I realized I did know him. He was the dad of an old cubscout from my troop. I was excited that the boy will be doing football with Trevor. His dad said he played running back and was worried there weren't any line men. He said he would let his son know that Trevor definitely is big enough to protect him.
We are plugging right along as we get things accomplished. The heat pump and furnace are both getting cleaned today. I am off to put away more boxes.
The mousy couches are still in the garage. I put them in his parking space. When they get hauled off, he can park his car.
The blackberries are beginning to encroach on the house again. I haven't had time to cut them back. I am going to have the boys tackle them. Pretend they are in the land of the lost or Jurassic Park, hacking a path through the wilderness. I need a machete, but I worry someone might hit someone else with it.
The handy man came. He will get back to me with a bid in a few days. He said he is booked out until the middle of next month. That works fine for me as we probably need to look at the finances after the move before we go doing anything. The renters don't move in until next week. I am waiting on that windfall. Tom said to not count on anything until they have officially moved in.
I had the handy man look at my plan to put a wall with closet in Riley's room. Take down the wall with his door in it now. He would then put the laundry room upstairs in the existing closet which is 6 x 8 feet, plenty of room for the machines. The 220 power for the dryer is our hardest hurdle. He saw a way to bring that through the basement just as I had thought. He doesn't do gas lines, so we will have to find someone else to run the gas to the kitchen.
That kitchen is just a pain of poor planning. I feel cramped like rush hour in the big city on the train. I have to keep my elbows in, or I might hit something or someone accidentally. The granite counters are the 12 inch squares. The many grout lines bother me. I fear breakage. I am noticing little dings on our glasses already where I imagine someone has landed their glass a bit too hard on the granite. We will probably go through a lot of replacement dishes in this house with the boys. On the other hand I am noticing that they have become more gentle when laying dishes on the counters.
The kitchen is really designed for a couple, not a family. Yet they put it in a 5000 square foot house built for a large family. I look forward to the remodel of the kitchen, but first I really want that laundry room upstairs. I really want a place to put my clothes.
The boys are growing so fast. Trevor had on a pair of pants the other day. His ankles showed below the cuff. I will be a little cranky if I have to go buy him another wardrobe for school when I just bought him one at the beginning of summer.
We went to the parent football meeting, Trevor and I. I sat next to a dad who looked familiar. He signed his name to a paper and I realized I did know him. He was the dad of an old cubscout from my troop. I was excited that the boy will be doing football with Trevor. His dad said he played running back and was worried there weren't any line men. He said he would let his son know that Trevor definitely is big enough to protect him.
We are plugging right along as we get things accomplished. The heat pump and furnace are both getting cleaned today. I am off to put away more boxes.
Monday, August 15, 2011
kick myself
I could just kick myself. Why didn't I get rid of all this stuff at the other end rather than pay for it all to be moved. The reason is my girl friends who are very good at the sort and toss are all up here.
I went through all the clothes lying on the floor of my bedroom with no closet space left. We kept maybe 10%. My girlfriend's teenage daughter has a great sense of style and a similar long torso build to mine. She cold hearted told me what was old or dated or too small or too short. Tops that I had for years were tossed. Many of my old shirts were stained or had shrunk from years of washing. I was amazed what little passed inspection. It was a wonderful purge. I can't wait to have them back for more.
My shape has changed with time. Much of my wardrobe just doesn't fit the same as when I bought the clothes years ago. Tom ought to be proud that I can fit these clothes and that I still have them. I look at it as a sign of frugality not hoarding. It is time to purge though when I realize some of this stuff I have been wearing since Riley was a baby, over 15 years ago. I can't go around looking that dated.
We also tackled the linens, another great weakness of mine. Again, we purged old and stained and ratty. I think of all the sweat and money I poured out to get this stuff up here. If only I could have done this months ago. Partly it is the convenience of being in the neighborhood so I can get the advice and help. This particular friend should go into business as an organizer. She is amazing.
She has just had an organizer come to her own house. I was surprised to hear about how much stuff they found to purge. I felt her house was already under control. I was open to all suggestions she had learned. There is just so much to do and sort. It is much easier to advise someone to give up their stuff when you have no personal or vested interest in the things. There is a talent in not offending yet getting the job done.
This woman was from out of town. She makes $55 an hour in Seattle. She has packed up households condemned for eminent domain when the airport expanded and the people had to move. She has moved offices when businesses relocate. She has worked with hoarders. My friends accuse me of being a hoarder. I will purge and toss to lose that title.
One of my girlfriends told me she was staying away until I had it all under control. She didn't want to be roped in to help me. It over whelmed her just to think about it.
I was able to convince my girlfriend that would help me to take a trundle bed that had been left in the garage of the new house. The bed had a big board attached to the side. I suggested she remove the board which would lighten the bed and make it fit nicely under her spare bed for an extra bed when company comes. I already have plenty of beds and mattresses. I definitely didn't need it.Trevor was called out to rmove the screws holding on the decorative board. Once the board was removed from the trundle, she was delighted with the find.
That is half the fun of helping out a friend, finding the treasures, then passing on to someone who will use them, and does want the neat finds. Of course I try and explain that the helpers also have to take everything offered just to get it out of my house. They can get rid of it later, just have it gone please.
We load up the mini van each time with a goodwill run and treasutres I don't want anymore. Steady progress is made. When the van is full we can quit for the day.
So we continue to sort through the morass of boxes. Tom offers to rent a dumpster. He has no sensitivity for this chore. That is half the problem. He is so cold hearted about it as to be careless. There are a few items that are real treasures. I don't want to lose those real treasures. Last time he helped I found the boys' birth certificates in the garbage. Throwing the baby out with the bathwater is not what we are trying to accomplish.
I just want a fresh start, a beautiful tidy house.
The handy man is coming this morning to bid the wall for Riley's room and moving the laundry upstairs. My mom said this house has no storage. I am going to change that opinion. I want to find out the cost of a five foot wall with closet and doorway. How much for flipping the plumbing to make a laundry upstairs. Can we get 220 power to that room easily? At least I would have a closet upstairs in the worst case scenario.
Riley's room will shrink by five feet with the new closet and the hallway continuing to the end of the house. I would confiscate his gigantic walk in closet, six feet by eight feet for either the laundry or for a closet for me.
I bought these cool closet organizer systems at Home Depot. The rods hang on the wall and make the shelves adjustable. I am thrilled with the results. Tom had to hang one set as I could not locate a stud for the brackets to hang on, even with a stud finding tool. He told me it was a funky wall. I saw that he had put almost as many holes in the wall as I did while searching. It made me feel better to know it wasn't just me. The wall was funky. Already, with the closet rods up, huge progress is being made.
Progress everywhere, in every room. That is what I like to see. If only I could snap my fingers and be done. Really, though, I am amazed at the quick progress I am making, all but the books. Somewhere I have packed the new books Tom wants to read. I have looked in the boxes and have yet to find where I packed them. I don't like the set up for the book shelves so am hesitant to unpack the books. Besides it is another area to sort and toss. I want to tackle the clothes and linens first. I need my clothes out of the boxes.
The laundry is just not working for me downstairs. The piles are out in the open and just a mess., visible all the time. No where to hide anything. The lack of pantry to the kitchen is a pain also. That laundry closet just makes the most sense as a pantry and having the laundry upstairs is a no brainer. Our last house has the laundry upstairs by the bedrooms where the laundry is created and accumulated.
The rooms for the boys would also be more equitable. I love the thought of a linen closet at the end of the hall. Just a few modern tweeks will make this house perfection.
Enough talking, time to motivate. Sort and toss and put away.
I went through all the clothes lying on the floor of my bedroom with no closet space left. We kept maybe 10%. My girlfriend's teenage daughter has a great sense of style and a similar long torso build to mine. She cold hearted told me what was old or dated or too small or too short. Tops that I had for years were tossed. Many of my old shirts were stained or had shrunk from years of washing. I was amazed what little passed inspection. It was a wonderful purge. I can't wait to have them back for more.
My shape has changed with time. Much of my wardrobe just doesn't fit the same as when I bought the clothes years ago. Tom ought to be proud that I can fit these clothes and that I still have them. I look at it as a sign of frugality not hoarding. It is time to purge though when I realize some of this stuff I have been wearing since Riley was a baby, over 15 years ago. I can't go around looking that dated.
We also tackled the linens, another great weakness of mine. Again, we purged old and stained and ratty. I think of all the sweat and money I poured out to get this stuff up here. If only I could have done this months ago. Partly it is the convenience of being in the neighborhood so I can get the advice and help. This particular friend should go into business as an organizer. She is amazing.
She has just had an organizer come to her own house. I was surprised to hear about how much stuff they found to purge. I felt her house was already under control. I was open to all suggestions she had learned. There is just so much to do and sort. It is much easier to advise someone to give up their stuff when you have no personal or vested interest in the things. There is a talent in not offending yet getting the job done.
This woman was from out of town. She makes $55 an hour in Seattle. She has packed up households condemned for eminent domain when the airport expanded and the people had to move. She has moved offices when businesses relocate. She has worked with hoarders. My friends accuse me of being a hoarder. I will purge and toss to lose that title.
One of my girlfriends told me she was staying away until I had it all under control. She didn't want to be roped in to help me. It over whelmed her just to think about it.
I was able to convince my girlfriend that would help me to take a trundle bed that had been left in the garage of the new house. The bed had a big board attached to the side. I suggested she remove the board which would lighten the bed and make it fit nicely under her spare bed for an extra bed when company comes. I already have plenty of beds and mattresses. I definitely didn't need it.Trevor was called out to rmove the screws holding on the decorative board. Once the board was removed from the trundle, she was delighted with the find.
That is half the fun of helping out a friend, finding the treasures, then passing on to someone who will use them, and does want the neat finds. Of course I try and explain that the helpers also have to take everything offered just to get it out of my house. They can get rid of it later, just have it gone please.
We load up the mini van each time with a goodwill run and treasutres I don't want anymore. Steady progress is made. When the van is full we can quit for the day.
So we continue to sort through the morass of boxes. Tom offers to rent a dumpster. He has no sensitivity for this chore. That is half the problem. He is so cold hearted about it as to be careless. There are a few items that are real treasures. I don't want to lose those real treasures. Last time he helped I found the boys' birth certificates in the garbage. Throwing the baby out with the bathwater is not what we are trying to accomplish.
I just want a fresh start, a beautiful tidy house.
The handy man is coming this morning to bid the wall for Riley's room and moving the laundry upstairs. My mom said this house has no storage. I am going to change that opinion. I want to find out the cost of a five foot wall with closet and doorway. How much for flipping the plumbing to make a laundry upstairs. Can we get 220 power to that room easily? At least I would have a closet upstairs in the worst case scenario.
Riley's room will shrink by five feet with the new closet and the hallway continuing to the end of the house. I would confiscate his gigantic walk in closet, six feet by eight feet for either the laundry or for a closet for me.
I bought these cool closet organizer systems at Home Depot. The rods hang on the wall and make the shelves adjustable. I am thrilled with the results. Tom had to hang one set as I could not locate a stud for the brackets to hang on, even with a stud finding tool. He told me it was a funky wall. I saw that he had put almost as many holes in the wall as I did while searching. It made me feel better to know it wasn't just me. The wall was funky. Already, with the closet rods up, huge progress is being made.
Progress everywhere, in every room. That is what I like to see. If only I could snap my fingers and be done. Really, though, I am amazed at the quick progress I am making, all but the books. Somewhere I have packed the new books Tom wants to read. I have looked in the boxes and have yet to find where I packed them. I don't like the set up for the book shelves so am hesitant to unpack the books. Besides it is another area to sort and toss. I want to tackle the clothes and linens first. I need my clothes out of the boxes.
The laundry is just not working for me downstairs. The piles are out in the open and just a mess., visible all the time. No where to hide anything. The lack of pantry to the kitchen is a pain also. That laundry closet just makes the most sense as a pantry and having the laundry upstairs is a no brainer. Our last house has the laundry upstairs by the bedrooms where the laundry is created and accumulated.
The rooms for the boys would also be more equitable. I love the thought of a linen closet at the end of the hall. Just a few modern tweeks will make this house perfection.
Enough talking, time to motivate. Sort and toss and put away.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Ready for the renters
I have cleaned and prepared the house. We are now ready for the renters. All that are left are some potted plants on the porch. I will get them next and last time visit for a while.
Last night I hung the rods in tom's closet. I started on Riley's but I kept missing the stud so I went and looked for and amazingly found the stud finder in the basement in a box with tools. It was the third box I looked in. By the time I got back upstairs it was after 10:00pm. I decided to wait until today. Now I am off to hang the rods in Riley's closet so we can start putting away clothes finally.
We made spaghetti last night. The process only emphasized to me the dysfunctional design of the kitchen. There is no counter space around the stove. No where for pots to land. I cook with 14 inch pots and there just isn't space to the side. I look forward to the remodel. The funky high cabinets in the island chop the island up so it doesn't function for prep work.
The other problem is the laundry closet right off the kitchen. The piles have no where to hide. The clean laundry lands on the kitchen table so the boys have been eating in the formal dining area, leaving messes in that lovely space. I have been folding and laying the clean laundry on the stairs to go up, which means the unattractive piles sit there until I take them and put them all away, when I eventually head upstairs. Meanwhile everything sits in messy visible piles. We have got to move the laundry upstairs. It will improve the value of the house. Trust me.
Tom told me last night since we are not moving again, I should not even be worried about value. Tax wise we are to say the house is worthless. So much is wrong with it that the tax appraisal should be lowered. He says that as we sip our cocktails admiring the territorial view without a neighbor's house to obstruct it. We listen to the wind in our trees. He points out a spot where we think a deer has been resting.
I spent over $300 at home depot buying the closet rods and weed be gone, and blackberry killer, and deck cleaner. The deck cleaner is a combination of Bleach and TSP and water. Next time I will just mix it up myself. I have all those ingredients.
I am loving the thought that one more trip to the rental and it will be done. I will need to pick up gas for the mower so the lawn looks sharp. I will have the boys mow while I load the plants. Tory has invited us to a pot luck. We will tie in the last house trip with the pot luck and be able to write off the mileage.
70 miles one way. We definitely want to keep track of each time we go check on the house. I am so excited about how everything is falling into place, other than the nightmare of my unpacking still to do. I will continue tackling that mess for some time to come.
Sold the washer today on craigs list for $100. The woman wouldn't take the broken drier. I will load the drier into the car and deliver it to a repair shop as a donation.
Last night I hung the rods in tom's closet. I started on Riley's but I kept missing the stud so I went and looked for and amazingly found the stud finder in the basement in a box with tools. It was the third box I looked in. By the time I got back upstairs it was after 10:00pm. I decided to wait until today. Now I am off to hang the rods in Riley's closet so we can start putting away clothes finally.
We made spaghetti last night. The process only emphasized to me the dysfunctional design of the kitchen. There is no counter space around the stove. No where for pots to land. I cook with 14 inch pots and there just isn't space to the side. I look forward to the remodel. The funky high cabinets in the island chop the island up so it doesn't function for prep work.
The other problem is the laundry closet right off the kitchen. The piles have no where to hide. The clean laundry lands on the kitchen table so the boys have been eating in the formal dining area, leaving messes in that lovely space. I have been folding and laying the clean laundry on the stairs to go up, which means the unattractive piles sit there until I take them and put them all away, when I eventually head upstairs. Meanwhile everything sits in messy visible piles. We have got to move the laundry upstairs. It will improve the value of the house. Trust me.
Tom told me last night since we are not moving again, I should not even be worried about value. Tax wise we are to say the house is worthless. So much is wrong with it that the tax appraisal should be lowered. He says that as we sip our cocktails admiring the territorial view without a neighbor's house to obstruct it. We listen to the wind in our trees. He points out a spot where we think a deer has been resting.
I spent over $300 at home depot buying the closet rods and weed be gone, and blackberry killer, and deck cleaner. The deck cleaner is a combination of Bleach and TSP and water. Next time I will just mix it up myself. I have all those ingredients.
I am loving the thought that one more trip to the rental and it will be done. I will need to pick up gas for the mower so the lawn looks sharp. I will have the boys mow while I load the plants. Tory has invited us to a pot luck. We will tie in the last house trip with the pot luck and be able to write off the mileage.
70 miles one way. We definitely want to keep track of each time we go check on the house. I am so excited about how everything is falling into place, other than the nightmare of my unpacking still to do. I will continue tackling that mess for some time to come.
Sold the washer today on craigs list for $100. The woman wouldn't take the broken drier. I will load the drier into the car and deliver it to a repair shop as a donation.
Friday, August 12, 2011
The fish
My girlfriend took the boys to Merwin Dam for the day. Near the boat dock there was a three foot long fish swimming sluggishly in the shallows. They figured it had been hit by a boat propeller. Trevor, always able and willing, jumped into the water and herded the fish by hand over to the beach so everyone could get a good look. My girlfriend pulled it out of the water. Another family came over to admire the dieing fish. The father put the fish out of its misery then proceeded to help my girlfriend gut and clean it. They split the fish between the two families. My boys received the head and upper body. The assisting family took the rest.
When I arrived to pick up the children, they proudly showed me the fish head. The body was baking in the oven for dinner. The fish was delicious served over brown rice with a little butter. Everyone ate it, even Riley. The only side effect from the dinner seams to be that my boys have gas. We had to ride home with the windows of the car rolled down on the freeway to vent the odor. Their systems are just not used to fish.
When I arrived to pick up the children, they proudly showed me the fish head. The body was baking in the oven for dinner. The fish was delicious served over brown rice with a little butter. Everyone ate it, even Riley. The only side effect from the dinner seams to be that my boys have gas. We had to ride home with the windows of the car rolled down on the freeway to vent the odor. Their systems are just not used to fish.
Scrub scrub scrub
After working on the old house this week, I can proudly let tenants move in in a week. I am not done but within two days I expect to be completely finished. I rented a rug doctor to give the carpets a once over before having the "professional carpet cleaners" come in to do the living room. The property manager asked me to have them professionally cleaned as that is what we ask of the tenants at the end. I am hopeful they can remove even more stains, though the carpets look fantastic with just getting a thorough cleaning from me.
The cleaning of the carpets only emphasises to me how much I dislike carpets and how next time I am ripping out the carpets in Trevor's room and putting in the rest of the laminate. The carpeted rooms were so much more work than the laminated rooms. I would be done if it weren't for the carpets. A little sweeping and vacuuming and a damp mop and the laminated floors were done and looked great. Even the bathrooms were easier than the carpeted rooms.
My mom has been coming over and packing. She packs everything. If I allowed it she would strip the house of light fixtures and anything nailed down. I told her its a rental. We have to leave it for the tenants. I said throw out the junk, but she said she would just pack it tightly for moving. I will really need to go through everything at the other end.
I was very appreciative of the help. I had tossed everything into the living room from upstairs, so the upstairs was completely ready to clean. I cleaned while she packed. I loved the company also as it was lonely on the first days she wasn't able to come over. We have just a couple of more loads to get out of the house. The upstairs just needs a last walk through to hit the spots I missed. I saw a window sill that needed wiping. Mom pointed out some finger prints on a door jamb. I need to wipe down the white moldings, make sure I don't miss a spot. It already looks move in ready.
I just have to get the rest of the junk out of the house. Two more loads and I should be done. Last night I went to pick up the boys from a play date on the way home. I had left just enough room to fit them in. They wanted to bring their friend home with them. I ended up leaving half my car load in my girlfriend's garage so I could fit the extra child I hadn't planned for into the car. I will get the stuff later, when I return him at the end of the weekend.
Two more trips I tell myself, then the burden of that house will be off our shoulders for a while. I just feel badly for people who did not think of this solution sooner and found themselves in financial difficulties. We are able to charge a rent that covers our mortgage. We can live where we want to be for the rest of our lives.
While packing I came across a smiling photo of my Dad and his sterling silver thumb print I had made when he died. I felt that he would have been proud of us and have loved the house. His wish was for us to own our house without a mortgage. I took two years to get it done, but here we are. Tom is thrilled. My Dad would have been happy. I love that we are not in the market with all the turbulence and volatility. I have a solid roof over our heads, a physical asset to appreciate.
I am not in the market. I am a woman of property now. It took everything we had available, but I am comfortable with my choices, especially this week. Tom has been playing double shorts and finally his bets are paying off. In one week he has had a 20% return. He has a little play money in his 401K, which means it is tax free returns also. He has been having a fun time calling the closes and charting the bounces. One of the few people happy with a tanking stock market.
I am just relieved that we can sit back and watch the world from a house we never thought we could own, completely debt free, except for our "investment property" which is a great tax right off, up to $25,000 a year.
Now I am off to take Trevor to conditioning and swing by Home depot. Today, I work on the L house as it is getting a little out of control with my not being here to unpack. I don't mind missing that commute. I really need to get those closet rods hung. I did buy two dozen light bulbs, but we used them all up and I still need more.
The cleaning of the carpets only emphasises to me how much I dislike carpets and how next time I am ripping out the carpets in Trevor's room and putting in the rest of the laminate. The carpeted rooms were so much more work than the laminated rooms. I would be done if it weren't for the carpets. A little sweeping and vacuuming and a damp mop and the laminated floors were done and looked great. Even the bathrooms were easier than the carpeted rooms.
My mom has been coming over and packing. She packs everything. If I allowed it she would strip the house of light fixtures and anything nailed down. I told her its a rental. We have to leave it for the tenants. I said throw out the junk, but she said she would just pack it tightly for moving. I will really need to go through everything at the other end.
I was very appreciative of the help. I had tossed everything into the living room from upstairs, so the upstairs was completely ready to clean. I cleaned while she packed. I loved the company also as it was lonely on the first days she wasn't able to come over. We have just a couple of more loads to get out of the house. The upstairs just needs a last walk through to hit the spots I missed. I saw a window sill that needed wiping. Mom pointed out some finger prints on a door jamb. I need to wipe down the white moldings, make sure I don't miss a spot. It already looks move in ready.
I just have to get the rest of the junk out of the house. Two more loads and I should be done. Last night I went to pick up the boys from a play date on the way home. I had left just enough room to fit them in. They wanted to bring their friend home with them. I ended up leaving half my car load in my girlfriend's garage so I could fit the extra child I hadn't planned for into the car. I will get the stuff later, when I return him at the end of the weekend.
Two more trips I tell myself, then the burden of that house will be off our shoulders for a while. I just feel badly for people who did not think of this solution sooner and found themselves in financial difficulties. We are able to charge a rent that covers our mortgage. We can live where we want to be for the rest of our lives.
While packing I came across a smiling photo of my Dad and his sterling silver thumb print I had made when he died. I felt that he would have been proud of us and have loved the house. His wish was for us to own our house without a mortgage. I took two years to get it done, but here we are. Tom is thrilled. My Dad would have been happy. I love that we are not in the market with all the turbulence and volatility. I have a solid roof over our heads, a physical asset to appreciate.
I am not in the market. I am a woman of property now. It took everything we had available, but I am comfortable with my choices, especially this week. Tom has been playing double shorts and finally his bets are paying off. In one week he has had a 20% return. He has a little play money in his 401K, which means it is tax free returns also. He has been having a fun time calling the closes and charting the bounces. One of the few people happy with a tanking stock market.
I am just relieved that we can sit back and watch the world from a house we never thought we could own, completely debt free, except for our "investment property" which is a great tax right off, up to $25,000 a year.
Now I am off to take Trevor to conditioning and swing by Home depot. Today, I work on the L house as it is getting a little out of control with my not being here to unpack. I don't mind missing that commute. I really need to get those closet rods hung. I did buy two dozen light bulbs, but we used them all up and I still need more.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
The move
The movers came. We packed and packed. I am so grateful to my girlfriend L. She came down from Seattle and sweated and packed. The house was hot and dirty. Things were dusty and dirty. Some items had never been unpacked because we always thought of C as a stepping stone to Tom's career.
When the company didn't expand as planned and the economy tanked, Tom decided to go independent. He is so happy to be back in our old town. He and the boys and I love the new house.
We toasted it well on moving day. I am told that upwards of 50 people came to party with us. Friends I hadn't seen in a while came to say hello. They brought wine and beer and other drinks. One friend who didn't drink had to go out and buy more pop as I hadn't provided anything. I had advertised BYOB and an hor d'ouvre. I provided the location, which is all I was able to do with the movers wanting me to tell them where to put furniture just hours before the party. With all the guests providing food, the party went off with much laughter and enjoyment as we gave multiple tours of the house.
If it didn't get unpacked or have a home by 2:00pm, the item went into the basement or garage. I was thrilled the place looked this good in that amount of time. The bedrooms upstairs were full of boxes, but it was a "Before Party". The beds were in place and the book shelves. Everyone got the idea of how it would look when we were done.
Tom had borrowed a power washer from a friend. The front of the house looked awesome. He had blown away the weeds in the seams of the walk way and the spider webs around the eaves and front porch. He didn't have time to complete the power wash of the back deck but it was much better. He had removed the spider webs and brought the mess down to acceptable levels.
When we drove up on Friday evening and I saw him, after all his power washing, he was covered from head to foot in mud. He was a dark filthy mess. He wanted a hug and kiss as his reward for hard work. I gave him a peck on the cheek and told him to shower. I gave him the requisite hug and kiss when he came back after showering and changing. He had missed the inside of his ears though. You could still see a film of mud. It took three showers before he was truly clean. He is a hard working when given a power tool.
He wants to take out a few trees in the yard. I noticed some offer good shade to the deck on sunny days, rare though sunny days are this year. I think we are in agreement as to most of which trees to remove. First the berries need to go. The steel weed eater needs some work to get started.
The views are stunning from the bedroom windows and on the deck. I love the whole house. We have to figure out the bathroom light switches. Every bathroom has five to eight switches. Only one turns on the lights. The bathrooms have one of those fancy fans with heat, fan and light. I am guessing the switches are for the fan, but it is hard to tell as over 50% of the light bulbs are out.
I have to focus on getting the old house ready before I can work on the new house, so I haven't had time for light bulbs or missing closet rods. I just want to be fully out of C. Get the new renters in.
I haven't heard anything more on the old renters, but my property manager says the deposit check has not cleared the bank yet. Not a good sign. I figure worst case scenario is the most we would be out would be a couple weeks rent. Tom doesn't think even that, as she was the one who canceled. I am just glad she is not our tenant. I couldn't even hire people to spread the bark nicely enough for her. I worked my tail off getting that yard weeded and barked and she called to say the job wasn't done to her satisfaction. When she said she wanted out, I was fine accepting. The yard looks lovely barked, though I miss my beautiful flowers and the mint.
I am waiting now on the Direct TV installation. I am told it will take three hours for all we want done. It is free for being such long term customers. I wanted to take advantage and have lines put in the basement for when we finish the space downstairs. The system in the house turned out to be dish net. Direct TV has the football package Tom likes, so everything has to be switched out. The party room didn't even have any lines, so new lines have to be run. We did find a line of sight that might work. You never know for sure until the remote is in your hands and the TV is working.
The front door bell doesn't work so we have had people standing out there waiting for us, until they figure out to knock hard. The house is so big that the boys can't hear the front door in the play room. I told the telephone installer yesterday to honk his horn in his car to get the boys' attention. Tom arrived home before the telephone guy was finished. That was a painful installation. I called at 8:30 to confirm our order and was told yes some time between 8 and noon. After noon I called back and was told the scheduled time was for after 4:00pm. I was not happy having waited all morning. Not wasted time as I had plenty of unpacking to do.
Tom had woken at 5:00am and had no clean pants that he could find. He asked me to get up and find him some clothes for work. I dug around in a couple of gigantic boxes until I found some packed clean pants. He had been snoring during the night and I had gotten up to find some ear plugs unsuccessfully. I finally stuffed little shreds of toilet paper in my ears, so I could sleep. I was motivated to tackle our room so I wouldn't have to wake at 5:00am again.
I found some of my ear plugs in the drawer of the side table right next to the bed. Life does not have to be this difficult. I also located most of Tom's pants, though I can't hang them as the rods haven't been installed in the closet yet. But I put them where they could be found easily.
This morning Tom bent over to kiss me before leaving and I almost broke his nose when I flailed out of a deep sleep, ear plugs located and silence prevailing. Slowly we are making progress.
I told a friend I might need to do a welcome to the neighborhood garage sale. All that stuff that I packed and don't love anymore as it was so much flipping work to move.
The movers wanted to know how good a job they did. All I can say is they were worth every penny. They didn't get it all. I was more like a three and a half truck move. They also left a few things, like the shelves to a book case. A lot is my own fault for not being completely prepared. I am messy and without my mom and my girlfriend it would have been even a worse disaster. The movers split the difference. They had bid me $6000 if they did all the packing and moving. $1500 for just moving. We ended up at $2800. There was still a lot of packing to do when they arrived. Usually they pack and the next day load and the day after that deliver. We crammed packing the house and packing the truck into the same day so it made for a full first day. Unloading went much faster. Nothing like a party to go to to motivate me.
We are in and half unpacked but now I really need to be in C. getting the house ready. The boys are going to a play date. Trevor is supposed to be at conditioning, but it is a unique summer for us this year. I can let this week slide. Next week starts real football camp on the 17Th. I had better find out what time. I need to let the school know we are not homeless, that we have a real legitimate address now.
When the company didn't expand as planned and the economy tanked, Tom decided to go independent. He is so happy to be back in our old town. He and the boys and I love the new house.
We toasted it well on moving day. I am told that upwards of 50 people came to party with us. Friends I hadn't seen in a while came to say hello. They brought wine and beer and other drinks. One friend who didn't drink had to go out and buy more pop as I hadn't provided anything. I had advertised BYOB and an hor d'ouvre. I provided the location, which is all I was able to do with the movers wanting me to tell them where to put furniture just hours before the party. With all the guests providing food, the party went off with much laughter and enjoyment as we gave multiple tours of the house.
If it didn't get unpacked or have a home by 2:00pm, the item went into the basement or garage. I was thrilled the place looked this good in that amount of time. The bedrooms upstairs were full of boxes, but it was a "Before Party". The beds were in place and the book shelves. Everyone got the idea of how it would look when we were done.
Tom had borrowed a power washer from a friend. The front of the house looked awesome. He had blown away the weeds in the seams of the walk way and the spider webs around the eaves and front porch. He didn't have time to complete the power wash of the back deck but it was much better. He had removed the spider webs and brought the mess down to acceptable levels.
When we drove up on Friday evening and I saw him, after all his power washing, he was covered from head to foot in mud. He was a dark filthy mess. He wanted a hug and kiss as his reward for hard work. I gave him a peck on the cheek and told him to shower. I gave him the requisite hug and kiss when he came back after showering and changing. He had missed the inside of his ears though. You could still see a film of mud. It took three showers before he was truly clean. He is a hard working when given a power tool.
He wants to take out a few trees in the yard. I noticed some offer good shade to the deck on sunny days, rare though sunny days are this year. I think we are in agreement as to most of which trees to remove. First the berries need to go. The steel weed eater needs some work to get started.
The views are stunning from the bedroom windows and on the deck. I love the whole house. We have to figure out the bathroom light switches. Every bathroom has five to eight switches. Only one turns on the lights. The bathrooms have one of those fancy fans with heat, fan and light. I am guessing the switches are for the fan, but it is hard to tell as over 50% of the light bulbs are out.
I have to focus on getting the old house ready before I can work on the new house, so I haven't had time for light bulbs or missing closet rods. I just want to be fully out of C. Get the new renters in.
I haven't heard anything more on the old renters, but my property manager says the deposit check has not cleared the bank yet. Not a good sign. I figure worst case scenario is the most we would be out would be a couple weeks rent. Tom doesn't think even that, as she was the one who canceled. I am just glad she is not our tenant. I couldn't even hire people to spread the bark nicely enough for her. I worked my tail off getting that yard weeded and barked and she called to say the job wasn't done to her satisfaction. When she said she wanted out, I was fine accepting. The yard looks lovely barked, though I miss my beautiful flowers and the mint.
I am waiting now on the Direct TV installation. I am told it will take three hours for all we want done. It is free for being such long term customers. I wanted to take advantage and have lines put in the basement for when we finish the space downstairs. The system in the house turned out to be dish net. Direct TV has the football package Tom likes, so everything has to be switched out. The party room didn't even have any lines, so new lines have to be run. We did find a line of sight that might work. You never know for sure until the remote is in your hands and the TV is working.
The front door bell doesn't work so we have had people standing out there waiting for us, until they figure out to knock hard. The house is so big that the boys can't hear the front door in the play room. I told the telephone installer yesterday to honk his horn in his car to get the boys' attention. Tom arrived home before the telephone guy was finished. That was a painful installation. I called at 8:30 to confirm our order and was told yes some time between 8 and noon. After noon I called back and was told the scheduled time was for after 4:00pm. I was not happy having waited all morning. Not wasted time as I had plenty of unpacking to do.
Tom had woken at 5:00am and had no clean pants that he could find. He asked me to get up and find him some clothes for work. I dug around in a couple of gigantic boxes until I found some packed clean pants. He had been snoring during the night and I had gotten up to find some ear plugs unsuccessfully. I finally stuffed little shreds of toilet paper in my ears, so I could sleep. I was motivated to tackle our room so I wouldn't have to wake at 5:00am again.
I found some of my ear plugs in the drawer of the side table right next to the bed. Life does not have to be this difficult. I also located most of Tom's pants, though I can't hang them as the rods haven't been installed in the closet yet. But I put them where they could be found easily.
This morning Tom bent over to kiss me before leaving and I almost broke his nose when I flailed out of a deep sleep, ear plugs located and silence prevailing. Slowly we are making progress.
I told a friend I might need to do a welcome to the neighborhood garage sale. All that stuff that I packed and don't love anymore as it was so much flipping work to move.
The movers wanted to know how good a job they did. All I can say is they were worth every penny. They didn't get it all. I was more like a three and a half truck move. They also left a few things, like the shelves to a book case. A lot is my own fault for not being completely prepared. I am messy and without my mom and my girlfriend it would have been even a worse disaster. The movers split the difference. They had bid me $6000 if they did all the packing and moving. $1500 for just moving. We ended up at $2800. There was still a lot of packing to do when they arrived. Usually they pack and the next day load and the day after that deliver. We crammed packing the house and packing the truck into the same day so it made for a full first day. Unloading went much faster. Nothing like a party to go to to motivate me.
We are in and half unpacked but now I really need to be in C. getting the house ready. The boys are going to a play date. Trevor is supposed to be at conditioning, but it is a unique summer for us this year. I can let this week slide. Next week starts real football camp on the 17Th. I had better find out what time. I need to let the school know we are not homeless, that we have a real legitimate address now.
Garbage
How many children does it take to empty the garbage. In my household it takes two strapping teenagers over an hour to figure it out. The cans were full and one has a bad wheel to give them a little credit. I had spilled the broken wheeled one over the other day myself. But I was able to quickly right it without too much mess to clean up.
Trevor was to take the garbage up the driveway to the street. Both big cans were full from the cleaning, the move, and the house warming party. He spilled the first can. He called for help. I send Riley out with rubber gloves for both of them, to help Trevor right the can and clean up the spill. They get out rakes and shovels. The mess was mostly paper, easily picked up while wearing the rubber gloves. My boys must make a production of it. The can gets cleaned up and together they get it to the street. It only takes thirty or forty minutes.
Trevor goes back for the second can. At the very top of the driveway he spills the second can over. I pretend I don't see it as I peek through the curtains of the upstairs window. I sigh. So much to do and this is only the beginning. Trevor comes in from his chore of taking the garbage to the street and asks for a break for all his hard work. All I wanted was the garbage taken up to the street. It wasn't that hard to do. I will call today and have the garbage company deliver a better can without a broken wheel.
Trevor was to take the garbage up the driveway to the street. Both big cans were full from the cleaning, the move, and the house warming party. He spilled the first can. He called for help. I send Riley out with rubber gloves for both of them, to help Trevor right the can and clean up the spill. They get out rakes and shovels. The mess was mostly paper, easily picked up while wearing the rubber gloves. My boys must make a production of it. The can gets cleaned up and together they get it to the street. It only takes thirty or forty minutes.
Trevor goes back for the second can. At the very top of the driveway he spills the second can over. I pretend I don't see it as I peek through the curtains of the upstairs window. I sigh. So much to do and this is only the beginning. Trevor comes in from his chore of taking the garbage to the street and asks for a break for all his hard work. All I wanted was the garbage taken up to the street. It wasn't that hard to do. I will call today and have the garbage company deliver a better can without a broken wheel.
Friday, August 5, 2011
Dog barking
We went to bed last night. My girlfriend in with me on the king bed, the boys in the guest room on the double. Trevor ended up on the floor of his room, as sharing the only other bed with his brother was a disaster.
I found Trevor tossed and turned at night when I had to share with him, so I didn't want to share with him again. I wanted a good nights sleep. I wanted to sleep long and well.
We watched "Weeds", a dark comedy, on Netflix, about a widow dealing drugs in the suburbs to make ends meet after her husband dies of a heart attack while jogging with their son. It was edgy and dark, but funny and sad at the same time. I probably wont watch it again. I don't like the drug movies.
I shower off the filth of the day and climb in bed. Lights went out. Hours later a dog starts barking outside. He goes on barking for a while. No one yells for him to stop as it is the middle of the night. I get up to close my bedroom windows. I start to get concerned that some prowler might be lurking. I go downstairs and turn on the exterior lights. The dog continues to bark. I can tell the dog is in the back, one of the dogs on the big lots, not part of our neighborhood. My stuff and the cars are out front, two fences away. I feel better with that realization. Leaving the front porch light on I go back to bed.
My girlfriend had wondered the house with me while I checked the dog barking noise. She had a hard time getting back to sleep. I fell asleep again quickly, but woke this morning to my mom calling me to let me know she would be heading up to unload her car at the new house this morning. I still felt tired from my disturbed sleep. I called my mom back and told her to wait until after the commute, leave after 9:00 am. It was 6:45am.
I showered and moved the cars to the neighbor's driveway, out of the way of the movers, when they arrive. Now I clock watch and wait for the big semi. I wonder if they will drive down the driveway or just park on the street and walk my stuff to the truck. The new house has a steep 15' pitch with a little dog leg turn at the top. Tom says to warn the movers to pack for a steep hill.
I worked hard to clear the walkway and the stairs to the street so the movers would have access. I did not get the side yard mowed or weed eaten, though I did clear it with my clippers. I am bringing the mower. I can cheat and set the wheels at their highest capacity and mow the blackberries down at first. Not scientific or the recommended method, but I have done it before and it works. I mowed my sister's ivy that way.
My girlfriend just walked in with Starbucks and donuts. Trevor and Riley are popping right up out of bed. Got to go.
I found Trevor tossed and turned at night when I had to share with him, so I didn't want to share with him again. I wanted a good nights sleep. I wanted to sleep long and well.
We watched "Weeds", a dark comedy, on Netflix, about a widow dealing drugs in the suburbs to make ends meet after her husband dies of a heart attack while jogging with their son. It was edgy and dark, but funny and sad at the same time. I probably wont watch it again. I don't like the drug movies.
I shower off the filth of the day and climb in bed. Lights went out. Hours later a dog starts barking outside. He goes on barking for a while. No one yells for him to stop as it is the middle of the night. I get up to close my bedroom windows. I start to get concerned that some prowler might be lurking. I go downstairs and turn on the exterior lights. The dog continues to bark. I can tell the dog is in the back, one of the dogs on the big lots, not part of our neighborhood. My stuff and the cars are out front, two fences away. I feel better with that realization. Leaving the front porch light on I go back to bed.
My girlfriend had wondered the house with me while I checked the dog barking noise. She had a hard time getting back to sleep. I fell asleep again quickly, but woke this morning to my mom calling me to let me know she would be heading up to unload her car at the new house this morning. I still felt tired from my disturbed sleep. I called my mom back and told her to wait until after the commute, leave after 9:00 am. It was 6:45am.
I showered and moved the cars to the neighbor's driveway, out of the way of the movers, when they arrive. Now I clock watch and wait for the big semi. I wonder if they will drive down the driveway or just park on the street and walk my stuff to the truck. The new house has a steep 15' pitch with a little dog leg turn at the top. Tom says to warn the movers to pack for a steep hill.
I worked hard to clear the walkway and the stairs to the street so the movers would have access. I did not get the side yard mowed or weed eaten, though I did clear it with my clippers. I am bringing the mower. I can cheat and set the wheels at their highest capacity and mow the blackberries down at first. Not scientific or the recommended method, but I have done it before and it works. I mowed my sister's ivy that way.
My girlfriend just walked in with Starbucks and donuts. Trevor and Riley are popping right up out of bed. Got to go.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Tomorrow the movers
I have packed and packed and so has my old college roommate. She came to help. In five years she had never visited me. I have gone to see her. She wanted to see the house before we moved. We are packed to about 90%. What isn't packed we can come back for next week. A few drawers in the bathroom, perhaps some dresses in my closet, stuff I can carry myself.
My girlfriend had a glass half full moment. She poked her head out a doorway at me and said "Hey, this is the first move I have packed where someone isn't dead." She worked on the kitchen. We didn't get to the everyday dishes cupboard, but I will be back.
Tom called with a list of things he wanted in the car, air compressor, spray painter among others. I called back and told him I could do one better. I remembered Tom Sr. in the closet. Wouldn't want to lose Grandpa in the move. He now is in the back seat of the car waiting to go.
The boys tried hard. Focus is always an issue. They lasted in spurts. They were good for runs of garbage out to the cans outside. Tom had spoken to them so they were great, answering when called and doing the tasks assigned.
We will see how the chaos goes tomorrow. Movers arrive at 8:00am.
The fridge was cleaned today. My girlfriend took the interior apart and scrubbed everything. I turned on the upper oven to start the clean cycle. Tomorrow I will do the lower oven. The stove only lets you do one oven at a time. I cant wait to vacuum and steam the carpets now. Just having these couple of chores done gives me hope that we will achieve the rest. I have scrubbed out some drawers as they became empty, but there are many to go.
Tom reminds me we have time this time. We are not being pushed out with a twenty four hour turn around like most people. I am even loving the moving date, just to get it done. I only wish I had more time to get the new house even cleaner in the basement for all the furniture coming.
The basement may not be beautiful now, but it will be eventually. Tom meanwhile is having his own dreams of how the spaces will go. He loves the basement for a work shop. He has ideas for the kitchen. It is going to be fun.
Tomorrow my computer will be unplugged and I wont be up and running again until Monday when the phone company connects our Internet. I need to cancel the old house phone tomorrow.
I understand electric and gas just get transferred to the new tenant's names. We'll figure it out as we go.
My girlfriend had a glass half full moment. She poked her head out a doorway at me and said "Hey, this is the first move I have packed where someone isn't dead." She worked on the kitchen. We didn't get to the everyday dishes cupboard, but I will be back.
Tom called with a list of things he wanted in the car, air compressor, spray painter among others. I called back and told him I could do one better. I remembered Tom Sr. in the closet. Wouldn't want to lose Grandpa in the move. He now is in the back seat of the car waiting to go.
The boys tried hard. Focus is always an issue. They lasted in spurts. They were good for runs of garbage out to the cans outside. Tom had spoken to them so they were great, answering when called and doing the tasks assigned.
We will see how the chaos goes tomorrow. Movers arrive at 8:00am.
The fridge was cleaned today. My girlfriend took the interior apart and scrubbed everything. I turned on the upper oven to start the clean cycle. Tomorrow I will do the lower oven. The stove only lets you do one oven at a time. I cant wait to vacuum and steam the carpets now. Just having these couple of chores done gives me hope that we will achieve the rest. I have scrubbed out some drawers as they became empty, but there are many to go.
Tom reminds me we have time this time. We are not being pushed out with a twenty four hour turn around like most people. I am even loving the moving date, just to get it done. I only wish I had more time to get the new house even cleaner in the basement for all the furniture coming.
The basement may not be beautiful now, but it will be eventually. Tom meanwhile is having his own dreams of how the spaces will go. He loves the basement for a work shop. He has ideas for the kitchen. It is going to be fun.
Tomorrow my computer will be unplugged and I wont be up and running again until Monday when the phone company connects our Internet. I need to cancel the old house phone tomorrow.
I understand electric and gas just get transferred to the new tenant's names. We'll figure it out as we go.
TV
Tom called me a wimp. He wants the TV so bad he can taste it. I am to call and say if Direct TV can't set up on Saturday we'll go with Comcast. Right. I'll make the call. You never know, maybe they do set up on Saturdays. Poor Tom. He is having withdrawals. He has to go home to his little apartment because he doesn't have a TV in the house yet. Patience.
My mom rocked and rolled yesterday. The garage is about done. What a mess that was. She got it all boxed. I would bring out lemonade smoothies for her to keep her hydrated. We were both sweating in the heat and with work.
Trevor goes to conditioning today. Riley is going to mow the lawn then move the food from the fridge we are leaving for the rental to the fridge that we are putting in the garage at the new house. Neither fridge is small enough for the space the new kitchen has for a fridge. On my to do list is to get a fridge that fits. I am torn though since we will be remodeling. We will probably make a space for a large fridge.
OK enough typing back to doing.
My mom rocked and rolled yesterday. The garage is about done. What a mess that was. She got it all boxed. I would bring out lemonade smoothies for her to keep her hydrated. We were both sweating in the heat and with work.
Trevor goes to conditioning today. Riley is going to mow the lawn then move the food from the fridge we are leaving for the rental to the fridge that we are putting in the garage at the new house. Neither fridge is small enough for the space the new kitchen has for a fridge. On my to do list is to get a fridge that fits. I am torn though since we will be remodeling. We will probably make a space for a large fridge.
OK enough typing back to doing.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Renters what a pain
My property manager left me a message to call her yesterday. By the time I listened to it it was too late to call her back. I didn't sleep well wondering what she wanted. I knew it wouldn't be good news and it wasn't. The renters, She has hired an attorney to sue for breach of contract. She canceled. I spent all morning stressing and getting nothing else done. I typed up a letter regarding our conversations for our attorney. Nice having a good lawyer in the family. I passed the letter on to Tom. He said he would deal with it.
I get the feeling the wife didn't tell her husband about her phone calls with me, otherwise he would have realized she screwed up, and there isn't anything to sue over, since she canceled and I accepted, OOps. I am not very sympathetic, with the move literally on right now. More threats just makes me feel like we made a good escape from that family. Tom and I are in agreement that they are the last people we want to deal with as renters, or at least the wife. I only met or spoke to the husband once. On the other hand Tom is looking for a good legal battle. He has been wanting his day in court over so many things that have gone wrong in our lives that we have just had to swallow because they weren't worth fighting over. He would love to play lawyer. He likes to argue and is good at it.
If law school didn't cost so much he probably would have made a great lawyer. He likes to read anything and everything. That is what law is, knowing the law having read the precedents.
We have just taken our lumps in the past. We will come back fighting this time. We got our dream house. It can't be all bad.
This week will pass. I am earning my keep the hard way, through stress. IRS also wants another chunk out of us. I had to put an adjusted return together for some stock basis that were missing two years ago. I love how they wait two years and then notify you and charge interest and penalties when you didn't even know there was a problem. Just pile it on. I might as well get it all over with at once.
So ex renters are trying to sue. Maybe they really love our house as it is and want it still. But this isnt the way to get what they want. IRS says they want more of our money also. The movers are coming Friday. My mom went around the house choking back words as she realized how much I still have to do.
Positive Vibes Baby, Positive Vibes.
Lets Party Saturday. I am going to need a little comfort and love. Bring me a good bottle of Red. I might even be able to afford the hang over on Sunday, as my day of rest. Monday the phone company comes, and Tuesday the TV gets hooked up. Tom will be thrilled.
Wednesday, I will start cleaning the rental. What do you think, two days to get it cleaned? I will sleep in a sleeping bag and get it done fast.
I get the feeling the wife didn't tell her husband about her phone calls with me, otherwise he would have realized she screwed up, and there isn't anything to sue over, since she canceled and I accepted, OOps. I am not very sympathetic, with the move literally on right now. More threats just makes me feel like we made a good escape from that family. Tom and I are in agreement that they are the last people we want to deal with as renters, or at least the wife. I only met or spoke to the husband once. On the other hand Tom is looking for a good legal battle. He has been wanting his day in court over so many things that have gone wrong in our lives that we have just had to swallow because they weren't worth fighting over. He would love to play lawyer. He likes to argue and is good at it.
If law school didn't cost so much he probably would have made a great lawyer. He likes to read anything and everything. That is what law is, knowing the law having read the precedents.
We have just taken our lumps in the past. We will come back fighting this time. We got our dream house. It can't be all bad.
This week will pass. I am earning my keep the hard way, through stress. IRS also wants another chunk out of us. I had to put an adjusted return together for some stock basis that were missing two years ago. I love how they wait two years and then notify you and charge interest and penalties when you didn't even know there was a problem. Just pile it on. I might as well get it all over with at once.
So ex renters are trying to sue. Maybe they really love our house as it is and want it still. But this isnt the way to get what they want. IRS says they want more of our money also. The movers are coming Friday. My mom went around the house choking back words as she realized how much I still have to do.
Positive Vibes Baby, Positive Vibes.
Lets Party Saturday. I am going to need a little comfort and love. Bring me a good bottle of Red. I might even be able to afford the hang over on Sunday, as my day of rest. Monday the phone company comes, and Tuesday the TV gets hooked up. Tom will be thrilled.
Wednesday, I will start cleaning the rental. What do you think, two days to get it cleaned? I will sleep in a sleeping bag and get it done fast.
packing
Mom came over yesterday. Every time she walked into a room I could her the expletive. There is a lot to do. She dug right in. A lot of it is just first impression mess. I kind of grazed through each room but not fully packing any. She fully packed the front room. She also took the fragile China with her to make sure it was delivered un broken.
She tackled the garage with me. We still have more to do. She said she would try to be back today, but has a dental appointment. I doubt that she will feel up to it after having her teeth drilled. Her back was hurting her from all the lifting and stooping while sorting and cleaning yesterday.
By four yesterday we were ready to call it a day. She treated the boys and me to dinner out. Trevor had a buffalo burger with a shake and fries. He then said he was still hungry. Against my advice Mom bought him another dinner of chicken strips and fries. Riley added a cup of soup to his meal. I had a chicken salad. Riley criticized the food until he was told that was very rude when someone else was buying. I appreciate my mom telling him, if I had told him to stop complaining it would have gone in one ear and out the other.
He took it to heart when the reprimand came from Gigi. I could see he was listened. He loves and respects his grandparents and appreciates the treats. He and Trevor wouldn't want to lose out on seeing them, or the treats. The boys have been asking all summer for their annual trip to the beach. I just haven't been able to schedule it with the hold up on the house. I don't even know if it will happen with the need to get moved and the old house cleaned and ready for tenants.
I will be so glad when this is all done. I just want to sleep a day away. Right now I can barely sleep at all with my mind going in a thousand directions. The property manager called and left a message for me to call her. I worry it is another problem. I can't move any faster than I am going. I am the homeowner aren't I? To put myself in a better mood I remind myself I am a woman of property, two properties to be exact. I am proud of that accomplishment.
Tom texted me that he loves the new house. I hope so, we sweated a lot of stress over the four months it took to get it. I still can't get over the view. the lights at night are beautiful. during the day the trees are so bushy with leaves the view is obscured in the summer. You have a complete sense of privacy. When you look out the windows there is not a house to be seen out back. The lot is twice as big as our old house. It feels monstrously huge, as the lot below us is also long and deep, giving the illusion of a much bigger back yard.
I can't wait to get the blackberries dealt with and begin landscaping. I can afford mowing the lawn. I may need another lawn mower, as I debate whether I need to leave one at the old house for the new tenants, or just keep it handy while I maintain the yard until the place is rented out. I am so thrilled with the new house and that potential basement space. Time is going fast now as the big truck is expected on Friday.
She tackled the garage with me. We still have more to do. She said she would try to be back today, but has a dental appointment. I doubt that she will feel up to it after having her teeth drilled. Her back was hurting her from all the lifting and stooping while sorting and cleaning yesterday.
By four yesterday we were ready to call it a day. She treated the boys and me to dinner out. Trevor had a buffalo burger with a shake and fries. He then said he was still hungry. Against my advice Mom bought him another dinner of chicken strips and fries. Riley added a cup of soup to his meal. I had a chicken salad. Riley criticized the food until he was told that was very rude when someone else was buying. I appreciate my mom telling him, if I had told him to stop complaining it would have gone in one ear and out the other.
He took it to heart when the reprimand came from Gigi. I could see he was listened. He loves and respects his grandparents and appreciates the treats. He and Trevor wouldn't want to lose out on seeing them, or the treats. The boys have been asking all summer for their annual trip to the beach. I just haven't been able to schedule it with the hold up on the house. I don't even know if it will happen with the need to get moved and the old house cleaned and ready for tenants.
I will be so glad when this is all done. I just want to sleep a day away. Right now I can barely sleep at all with my mind going in a thousand directions. The property manager called and left a message for me to call her. I worry it is another problem. I can't move any faster than I am going. I am the homeowner aren't I? To put myself in a better mood I remind myself I am a woman of property, two properties to be exact. I am proud of that accomplishment.
Tom texted me that he loves the new house. I hope so, we sweated a lot of stress over the four months it took to get it. I still can't get over the view. the lights at night are beautiful. during the day the trees are so bushy with leaves the view is obscured in the summer. You have a complete sense of privacy. When you look out the windows there is not a house to be seen out back. The lot is twice as big as our old house. It feels monstrously huge, as the lot below us is also long and deep, giving the illusion of a much bigger back yard.
I can't wait to get the blackberries dealt with and begin landscaping. I can afford mowing the lawn. I may need another lawn mower, as I debate whether I need to leave one at the old house for the new tenants, or just keep it handy while I maintain the yard until the place is rented out. I am so thrilled with the new house and that potential basement space. Time is going fast now as the big truck is expected on Friday.
Our first neighbors
I am in the kitchen doing dishes at the sink. Bucky starts barking. I look over. His head is turned to the interior garage door. I peak around the corner to see what he is barking at, a little concerned it might be a mouse . A big beautiful brown boxer is standing there with a miniature toy poodle. The boxer is wearing a diaper. Their tails are wagging. As soon as they see me, that seems to give them permission to enter the house. They wander into the kitchen and sniff tails with Bucky, whose tail is hesitantly wagging.
I am not about to upset that boxer by throwing everyone out right away. I want to make sure everyone stays on friendly terms. Tom had a boxer once. He tells the story of how she got mad at a neighbor golden retriever while he was at work. The two dogs fought to exhaustion and an expensive vet bill.
Once sniffing is over tails wag heavily. I shoo them all outside, where I start pulling weeds while supervising the friendly visit. They run around peeing on the bushes, marking their territories. After a few minutes a voice calls out and the two visiting dogs romp home across the street.
The next day, I am out gardening with Bucky in the front yard. I look up to see my visitors from the day before, the boxer and the miniature poodle, returning with another friend, a Chinese pug. The boxer no longer has her diaper on. Again, there is the doggy meet and greet. I am glad Bucky is such a cute Cavalier. He is hanging with a pedigreed crowd. I watch the other dogs leave, the three neighbor dogs continue to trot down the street to check out the rest of the neighborhood. I make Bucky come inside with me.
I am not about to upset that boxer by throwing everyone out right away. I want to make sure everyone stays on friendly terms. Tom had a boxer once. He tells the story of how she got mad at a neighbor golden retriever while he was at work. The two dogs fought to exhaustion and an expensive vet bill.
Once sniffing is over tails wag heavily. I shoo them all outside, where I start pulling weeds while supervising the friendly visit. They run around peeing on the bushes, marking their territories. After a few minutes a voice calls out and the two visiting dogs romp home across the street.
The next day, I am out gardening with Bucky in the front yard. I look up to see my visitors from the day before, the boxer and the miniature poodle, returning with another friend, a Chinese pug. The boxer no longer has her diaper on. Again, there is the doggy meet and greet. I am glad Bucky is such a cute Cavalier. He is hanging with a pedigreed crowd. I watch the other dogs leave, the three neighbor dogs continue to trot down the street to check out the rest of the neighborhood. I make Bucky come inside with me.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Moving
The movers kept our date 5/6. No one bumped us. We are moving Friday and delivery will be before the party. Well, we do like to provide entertainment of some sort. It is going to be fun. Tom thinks that we can have the furniture in place before the party starts. I am just laughing. It will get done one way or another.
Exhaustion
The boys were amazing getting the u haul loaded and un loaded at the other end. It was a mad dash to get to Longview with enough stuff so we could stay in the new house and start cleaning. The truck had to be returned by 4:00 pm the next day. We loaded until dark the night before then I had everyone up early and finished shoving in what ever would fit just to get it loaded.
As soon as the truck was unloaded the boys felt their work was done. They disappeared into a corner with the lap top computer to play spor, the only game Riley has on his computer that doesn't need Internet.
I returned the truck without incident. We were all starving since it was almost 3:00 pm and all we had was breakfast cereal before we left the old house that morning. The vote was for Izzy's, a good choice as it has a salad bar for me, and all you can eat for Trevor, and a huge selection so Riley can sample and find something he likes.
I had not been able to bring up anything but twin beds and frames. As a result we were short mattresses. After our early dinner we swung by a mattress store and the boys picked out two more mattresses they liked. It was after 5:00 pm so they wouldn't be able to deliver. As a result we went to the warehouse ourselves. By laying down the back seats in the jeep we were able to get the two mattresses into my car. It was a perfect fit. I swear the furniture people and the car people are in cahoots designing both to accommodate the other.
I had to leave Riley sitting under a shade tree by the warehouse while Trevor and I drove to the new house with the mattresses tied down in the back with the trunk hanging open. The town is not that big so Riley only had to wait 15 minutes in the shade. He opted for that rest opportunity. Trevor and I unloaded the mattresses and left them leaning against the house, while we went back to get Riley.
We then swung by Walmart to get some staples. I didn't have soap or shampoos or some cleaning supplies. We also needed snack food. There is no refrigerator so the boys were instructed not to get anything that involved needing to be kept cold. Fiber One bars and oatmeal packets were on the menu. Riley also picked up yogurt. I figured it would survive a couple days un refrigerated if it didn't get too hot.
We almost forgot our most important purchase. We had to go back into the store and pick up a microwave. Canned soup was a good choice with the mice fighting for residency.
We did all this on Friday. Once we got home and were semi set up for residency and I had scrubbed out most of the kitchen with cleanser then gone back over it with Clorox wipes to make sure it was sanitary, I called Tom.
Tom was at the club. In a big annual weekend golf tournament involving much partying and out of town guests. He asked me to come up. I told him to give me half an hour. I needed to shower and change.
When I arrived at the club, the music was playing. Tom was so happy to finally know we got the house we wanted and are now back in town, he glowed with contentment. The owner of the Title company we used bought us a bottle of wine as congratulations. Tom asked me to dance. It was after 11:30pm before we knew it.
I had a big day the next day of tackling more of the house cleaning. I still had to clean the bathrooms upstairs. Tom had an early tee time. We each headed home, Tom staying at his little apartment next to the club for convenience.
I opened enough boxes to get the beds made and some dishes out before crashing onto the twin bed that had been set up in the master bedroom with the new mattress. It will go to the guest room eventually, once the rest of our furniture arrives. It was an incredible first day. I was amazed at how much I achieved.
Saturday, I spent cleaning, then weeding when I got too disgusted with the yucky mice droppings in the kitchen. I would change chores to keep myself fresh and on task. Which also meant everything took forever to finish. The boys did not help. They played. I took them up to the club to swim in the afternoon. Trevor had an old friend with him.
The boys put on sun block but they still were really sunburned by the time I came back for them. I had told them to swim in t shirts, but neither wanted to wear them. I asked the life guards how the boys behaved. I was told they were a bit enthusiastic at first, but they did listen to the life guards. They had a football confiscated when Trevor ran into another swimmer one too many times. They were playing water basketball when I arrived to get them. Tom had finally noticed them out in the pool. It was time to take Trevor's friend home. His friend had an evening obligation. I was due back at the club for the tournament end banquet.
I only lasted until 9:30 pm. I was careful about how much I drank, one glass of wine and a bailey's coffee for dessert. Tom and I danced to the karaoke. He spun me and dipped me. It was wonderful to have a social life again. But I had been bitten by a spider while gardening and I wanted to take some benidryl for the itching and swelling. I knew it would knock me out when I took it. So with Tom giving me a sad pout look I slipped away. The mini mart at the bottom of our hill was still open. I got some benidryl and antisporin to help with the bites. I was in bed asleep by 10:30 pm.
I had told the boys they could go to the fair on Sunday. Trevor wanted to take his friend. I finished the house in the morning to the point where I felt comfortable having our open house party next weekend to celebrate. My sister from New York said she would drive up and see the house and go to the fair with us. Sunday is demolition derby. She didn't think she had ever been to one before.
I showed her the new house. She said it was her favorite of all the houses we have owned. We laughed as she pointed out that her 900 square foot apartment cost the same amount as our 5000 square foot beauty, location, location, location.
We arrived at the fair grounds. I was running on fumes of energy. The fair only took cash and I had nothing. Tom called in the middle of my dumping my purse out on the grass to see if I had a buried $20 in the bottom. He could tell I was needing a little love. He hopped in the car and drove over from his apartment to share some of his cash golf winnings with me. He is still staying in the apartment since we don't have a TV set up yet, or a big bed for that matter. His effort gave me just the extra energy I needed to get through the rest of the day.
My four year old nephew was enthralled by the derby. The derby had a slow start but the finally was as good as ever. The car he chose though, did not win, which caused him great tears of grief over its demise. He had become very attached to number 711.
I had given Trevor a little money to be shared with his buddy. They were able to do a couple of rides before they came back looking for more. I gave them another $5 to split. They bought fried oreos with it.
My step mom was worried about losing them, but keeping them on a tight cash flow meant they would come back looking for more. I knew they would show up. I even knew they would be late since neither of them had a watch. I didn't rush as we looked at the goats and the cows and the chickens and the rabbits. We enjoyed wandering through the barns. My step mom enjoyed chatting with the 4H people. She said she hadn't been to the fair in years and as a child had participated in many as a 4H member. Being in the barns brought back wonderful memories.
My sister and I ordered gyros at a food stand. I shared mine with Riley. Fair food is the best part of the fair. I had hoped to go through the vendor hall and check out contractors and materials for my plans on the new house, but once we sat down for dinner with our sandwiches, I was done. We stayed almost until the fair closed at 7:00.
I even talked to a goat breeder. If I was ten years younger I think I might try having goats as pets, but I know who will be taking care of them now. She said having two works best. What killed the idea was she said they attract flies so I would need to have a covered pen away from the house. I was hoping I might utilize the basement or under the deck, but that would be a bad idea.
I like the idea of making a separate apartment in the basement anyway. Something similar to the place Tom has been staying, a mother in law suite independent from the house. That will be something to tackle later. Right now I just have to pack up our old house and get it all moved.
The new renters want to move in. We haven't signed any contracts this time. First I want to get out of the house and the house ready.
Trevor was amazing with the boxes unloading. He would load the dolly with heavy book boxes. Eventually the boxes just went into the garage for convenience, just to get them out of the truck and unloaded quickly. Riley only picked up the light boxes, so I had Riley carry in the frame pieces for the twin beds and put the frames together.
As soon as the truck was unloaded the boys felt their work was done. They disappeared into a corner with the lap top computer to play spor, the only game Riley has on his computer that doesn't need Internet.
I returned the truck without incident. We were all starving since it was almost 3:00 pm and all we had was breakfast cereal before we left the old house that morning. The vote was for Izzy's, a good choice as it has a salad bar for me, and all you can eat for Trevor, and a huge selection so Riley can sample and find something he likes.
I had not been able to bring up anything but twin beds and frames. As a result we were short mattresses. After our early dinner we swung by a mattress store and the boys picked out two more mattresses they liked. It was after 5:00 pm so they wouldn't be able to deliver. As a result we went to the warehouse ourselves. By laying down the back seats in the jeep we were able to get the two mattresses into my car. It was a perfect fit. I swear the furniture people and the car people are in cahoots designing both to accommodate the other.
I had to leave Riley sitting under a shade tree by the warehouse while Trevor and I drove to the new house with the mattresses tied down in the back with the trunk hanging open. The town is not that big so Riley only had to wait 15 minutes in the shade. He opted for that rest opportunity. Trevor and I unloaded the mattresses and left them leaning against the house, while we went back to get Riley.
We then swung by Walmart to get some staples. I didn't have soap or shampoos or some cleaning supplies. We also needed snack food. There is no refrigerator so the boys were instructed not to get anything that involved needing to be kept cold. Fiber One bars and oatmeal packets were on the menu. Riley also picked up yogurt. I figured it would survive a couple days un refrigerated if it didn't get too hot.
We almost forgot our most important purchase. We had to go back into the store and pick up a microwave. Canned soup was a good choice with the mice fighting for residency.
We did all this on Friday. Once we got home and were semi set up for residency and I had scrubbed out most of the kitchen with cleanser then gone back over it with Clorox wipes to make sure it was sanitary, I called Tom.
Tom was at the club. In a big annual weekend golf tournament involving much partying and out of town guests. He asked me to come up. I told him to give me half an hour. I needed to shower and change.
When I arrived at the club, the music was playing. Tom was so happy to finally know we got the house we wanted and are now back in town, he glowed with contentment. The owner of the Title company we used bought us a bottle of wine as congratulations. Tom asked me to dance. It was after 11:30pm before we knew it.
I had a big day the next day of tackling more of the house cleaning. I still had to clean the bathrooms upstairs. Tom had an early tee time. We each headed home, Tom staying at his little apartment next to the club for convenience.
I opened enough boxes to get the beds made and some dishes out before crashing onto the twin bed that had been set up in the master bedroom with the new mattress. It will go to the guest room eventually, once the rest of our furniture arrives. It was an incredible first day. I was amazed at how much I achieved.
Saturday, I spent cleaning, then weeding when I got too disgusted with the yucky mice droppings in the kitchen. I would change chores to keep myself fresh and on task. Which also meant everything took forever to finish. The boys did not help. They played. I took them up to the club to swim in the afternoon. Trevor had an old friend with him.
The boys put on sun block but they still were really sunburned by the time I came back for them. I had told them to swim in t shirts, but neither wanted to wear them. I asked the life guards how the boys behaved. I was told they were a bit enthusiastic at first, but they did listen to the life guards. They had a football confiscated when Trevor ran into another swimmer one too many times. They were playing water basketball when I arrived to get them. Tom had finally noticed them out in the pool. It was time to take Trevor's friend home. His friend had an evening obligation. I was due back at the club for the tournament end banquet.
I only lasted until 9:30 pm. I was careful about how much I drank, one glass of wine and a bailey's coffee for dessert. Tom and I danced to the karaoke. He spun me and dipped me. It was wonderful to have a social life again. But I had been bitten by a spider while gardening and I wanted to take some benidryl for the itching and swelling. I knew it would knock me out when I took it. So with Tom giving me a sad pout look I slipped away. The mini mart at the bottom of our hill was still open. I got some benidryl and antisporin to help with the bites. I was in bed asleep by 10:30 pm.
I had told the boys they could go to the fair on Sunday. Trevor wanted to take his friend. I finished the house in the morning to the point where I felt comfortable having our open house party next weekend to celebrate. My sister from New York said she would drive up and see the house and go to the fair with us. Sunday is demolition derby. She didn't think she had ever been to one before.
I showed her the new house. She said it was her favorite of all the houses we have owned. We laughed as she pointed out that her 900 square foot apartment cost the same amount as our 5000 square foot beauty, location, location, location.
We arrived at the fair grounds. I was running on fumes of energy. The fair only took cash and I had nothing. Tom called in the middle of my dumping my purse out on the grass to see if I had a buried $20 in the bottom. He could tell I was needing a little love. He hopped in the car and drove over from his apartment to share some of his cash golf winnings with me. He is still staying in the apartment since we don't have a TV set up yet, or a big bed for that matter. His effort gave me just the extra energy I needed to get through the rest of the day.
My four year old nephew was enthralled by the derby. The derby had a slow start but the finally was as good as ever. The car he chose though, did not win, which caused him great tears of grief over its demise. He had become very attached to number 711.
I had given Trevor a little money to be shared with his buddy. They were able to do a couple of rides before they came back looking for more. I gave them another $5 to split. They bought fried oreos with it.
My step mom was worried about losing them, but keeping them on a tight cash flow meant they would come back looking for more. I knew they would show up. I even knew they would be late since neither of them had a watch. I didn't rush as we looked at the goats and the cows and the chickens and the rabbits. We enjoyed wandering through the barns. My step mom enjoyed chatting with the 4H people. She said she hadn't been to the fair in years and as a child had participated in many as a 4H member. Being in the barns brought back wonderful memories.
My sister and I ordered gyros at a food stand. I shared mine with Riley. Fair food is the best part of the fair. I had hoped to go through the vendor hall and check out contractors and materials for my plans on the new house, but once we sat down for dinner with our sandwiches, I was done. We stayed almost until the fair closed at 7:00.
I even talked to a goat breeder. If I was ten years younger I think I might try having goats as pets, but I know who will be taking care of them now. She said having two works best. What killed the idea was she said they attract flies so I would need to have a covered pen away from the house. I was hoping I might utilize the basement or under the deck, but that would be a bad idea.
I like the idea of making a separate apartment in the basement anyway. Something similar to the place Tom has been staying, a mother in law suite independent from the house. That will be something to tackle later. Right now I just have to pack up our old house and get it all moved.
The new renters want to move in. We haven't signed any contracts this time. First I want to get out of the house and the house ready.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
