Yesterday's News, Out of Date, Old Hat, Tell Me Something I Don't Already Know

This picture was taken on July 14, less than 2 weeks ago. Already it is out of date. Now I know how Eastern European map-makers felt in the 90's.

Future neighbor and co-worker called me this evening as she was walking through the house. She said the roof is complete - the shingles are already up. The shingles that are nothing but a pile in the above picture. All the rooms have walls. The backdoor (with built in blinds - nice!) is in. There is a front door, but it is just the temporary construction door. She could see the insulation in the roof. All in all, it seems to be looking more like a house. I can't wait to go see it again.

I've started thinking about landscaping. I have no idea what plants are called...I guess I need to start researching that stuff. And how to take care of a yard. My parents said they can start me off with some hydrangeas and banana trees (not sure about the latter). I know I like Bradford Pear trees, but I have no idea how much they cost. I have also seen a lot of small trees (bushes?) around that have pink blooms. I thought I knew the name of them, but it just escaped me. I wonder if the apartment people would notice if I just dug one up and took it with me?

On another note...same friend went to Shreveport last weekend. I gave her $5 to bet on black. She said if I won, she would play the winnings on craps, which she said she was good at. I just figured she would play (or not), and the money would get mixed in with her winnings or losings. But no, she is honest. She played, it was black, and then she turned my $5 into $27.50! I told her if she had made it to $50, I would have upgrade to marble counter tops :)

More progress, and a vacation

I'm afraid now comes the point where all I do is post updated pictures of my house. Nothing exciting to say, just that it is beginning more and more to look like a house. Sorry. But you choose to come to this site. I'm not forcing anyone.

Well, actually you won't even get any new pictures for probably a week. I did drive by the house on Saturday and walked around and took several pictures. But whenever I try to upload them on to this site, it doesn't work from my home computer. I can only do it from my work computer (shh). But....I won't be at work at all this week. Yes, that is right, I'm actually taking off a whole week. I can't remember the last time I took off for a whole week. Lately, I have been taking off for 2-3 days plus a weekend. So this should be fun. But sadly, that means that your life will be boring without my semi-weekly updates. You can do it! Be strong.

So let me use my eloquent writing style to convey to you the progress. I have windows! I have a fireplace! I have 2 bathtubs and a shower! And I have solid walls all and a solid roof! I have litter all around and in my house. Dr. Pepper bottles, Skoal cans, Big Gulp cups, a half eaten Twinkie (someone must have run for cover during a rain shower because I can think of no other reason to abandon a Twinkie). I have neighbors. I think retired couple #3 on the block moved in next door.

Next picture I hope to post will be of me relaxed and freshly tanned. I know you will be bored without me, but go read a book or something.

On Schedule

The builder said that we are still on schedule to finish this puppy by the end of August! I hope he doesn't mean the literal end of August, giving me 1 day to move. My apartment hasn't been very excited about the possibility of extending my lease for a week or so. Apparently, with them, it is a full month or bust. I'm hoping that I don't have to pay the month-to-month rate for September as well as August. Although moving in slowly and leisurely is a nice way to go.

After saying that I can do no more upgrades, I am at the top of my budget, no I don't want any fancy marble, (I'm broke, how many more ways can I say it, Mister) I did cave in on one thing. But it is to increase the energy-efficiency of the house, which should pay for itself over the course of X years. So I'm forking over another $500 for extra insulation in the walls of the house. I guess the gas grill will have to wait.

Drink your milk, little house

Seeing my house being built reminds me of those milk commercials that shows the little boy growing up into a man from 15 years ago. It is pretty neat to see the progress, and being able to see the skeleton of the house. Just a few short weeks ago, this was nothing but a plot of land. It's as close to the miracle of birth that I've experienced personally ;)

Speaking of birth, I watched Knocked Up today. It was funny, but I don't know if I would say it was the funniest movie I've seen in the last 5 years (which someone else has said). But it was cute and sad and funny and gross.

As requested, here is the floorplan.


I don't know how easily it will be to read. The living, dining and kitchen are lined up, and the bedrooms are on the other half of the house.

ensam och övergiven

I've heard it is most hard being single around the holidays and at weddings. I've experienced that. Company Christmas parties are always a trying event to go to alone. However, I think the weekend after a break-up is probably more difficult...the moment you realize that you have nothing planned with your friends because you had gotten into the habit of spending almost every weekend with that guy. Even if you didn't do anything special with him, you knew that you had someone to be lazy with. That was one of the good things - you didn't have to plan - weekends are couple time.

All that being said, I have found yet another event that makes being alone feel lonely. Going to Ikea. To be more precise - going to Ikea on the 4th of July. Maybe it was because it was a holiday (see first point). But going to Ikea is not a holiday tradition in my family. Maybe it is for the Johannsons or Gustafssons. Whatever the reason, every young married couple, and some not so young, decided like me to go celebrate our nation's birthday by purchasing cube-shaped furniture in "easy to get home" boxes. Who said men don't like to shop? You couldn't tell by the number of family men there today. I guess it makes sense. Ikea's reasonable prices and modern furniture are a good pairing with young couples furnishing their first home or apartment, or new parents getting ideas for their nursery. And nothing like a day off in the middle of the work week draws busy husbands and wives to shop together.

Virginia isn't just for lovers - Ikea is too. The whole store concept practically screams the need to shop in pairs. Take for instance the convenient "self-serve" furniture area. Unless your self is a 6-foot Swedish man named Lars, the self-serve section is not that easy to maneuver. A kindly lady did help to me put the 2 boxes into my cart. For some reason my entertainment center required not 1 but 2 heavy boxes. Then, after checking out, comes the delima of how to put the 2 boxes into my car. Outside of the store, they have a loading dock, which your husband (or that seemed to be the designated driver) can drive your car to, and then supposedly there is help to load your car. I never saw anyone to help other than already claimed and married men. Besides, am I supposed to leave my 2 boxes there while I go get my car? I don't think so. I mean I got the last of the entertainment centers. Someone could slowly steal it from me.

I decide to take the cart to my car and attempt to load myself. While walking the trek back to my car (I parked in J lot), I noticed a kindly man helping a lady and her girls load something in her truck. He then moved on to go home with his lovely wife and kids. It seems that Ikea brings out the best in others. Except for me. It took me a few minutes to load these bad boys into my car, but no one stopped to help me. Don't cry for me, Argentina. I survived. Just a few scrapes and I'm sure I will be sore tomorrow. But I did manage it. On my own.

I can't decide if I should put it together now, or wait until I move. I want to see what it looks like, but I'm not sure if I have the patience right now to handle the assembly of 2 boxes. Or the room.

If you are dying to see what the 2.5 hour and $6 in tolls hassle was for, please click here:
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10116910

Thursday Thirteen: Revisited

I know it is not Thursday, but I am bored today, and can think of nothing else to blog about. I was skimming through my old posts and came across this little checklist, and thought I would compare how I did in choosing my house.

Thirteen Things that I want/don't want in my new house:

1…. I don't want the garage to be the dominant view from the front of the house. (not off to a good start)
2…. Crown molding (I think there is some...not sure. But that is something I can add later)
3…. Built in bookshelves and nooks (umm..nope)
4…. 3 bedrooms (1 an office with french doors) and 2 baths (It is 3/2 but no french doors)
5…. A utility room big enough to put the litter box. I'm tired of it being in my bathroom (I'm hoping I can swing this, but won't know until I move in)
6…. A fairly new house...less than 5 years would be awesome...less than 10 great...less than 20 acceptable...less than 100 - better be free (A whole-hearted Yes! - it's not even born yet, in case this is the first posting you've read)
7…. No formal living area/dining - would probably be wasted on me (I'm on a roll!)
8…. Not too big of a yard (Uh...understatement of the year, which my dad was quick to point out)
9…. Not too small of a yard - don't want to be looking into the neighbor's windows from my window (Hey, I'm not Goldilocks, can't have everything just right)
10…. Big bathroom. And I want a window in the bathroom. And a window in the kitchen (Yes, yes, and yes again)
11…. Big master closet! (Yes! I'm not even entirely sure I will have to spill into the guest closet)
12…. Hopefully the yard will already have some basic landscaping done. (Well, the builder has to put in a little bit in the front yard. And I have an old tree in the back!)
13…. At least 1 bay window. I would love to have a sitting area in the master bedroom. (maybe on my next house!)

Now I need to figure out which of these are must haves, and which are negotiable. (I guess the proof of that is in the pudding)

A strong foundation

Somehow during the downpours that have happened every day in the last 2 weeks, I now have a foundation! I would have a picture, but it was raining when I went to take my parents to see it (and besides the batteries in the camera were dead). It makes the yard seem so small, which it really is. But at least it is progress. I was half expecting to see nothing new, and really who could I blame? The news said that some builders were reporting being 4-8 days behind. Others said as much as 4 weeks. Yikes!