recap part 1

I think in order to share our story as we embark on this new adventure, I should have started this blog back in April when we found this house that is now our home. But alas, since I didn't, and I think it would really feel too contrived to just immediately type in all of the tales, I will paste in a few emails we sent of various disasters (mini or otherwise) and joys, in an attempt to recap. And then, should the spirit move, may retell a story or 2 of the last 2.5 months of homeownership amid the new!

Recap #1

THE CLOSET!

(originally from an email dated July 6, 2009)

our scene opens on a dark, peaceful room.

the time: 4:15am

snap

R: "what was that?"

A: (not really waking up, cause I could sleep through a train coming through the walls) "I dont know, nothing probably"

snap, crack

R: "do you hear that?"

A: "no"

snap....crack....

BOOM!

entire closet system, with all of our clothes- 5 feet away from my face- crashes to the floor, ripping out the paneling in the walls that the support beams were screwed into, and likely waking our neighbors, the lions, which Im sure caused all sorts of chaos at the zoo.

We awoke to all of our clothes on the floor, followed by lots of deep sighs, head-shaking, and 7am use of measuring tape, and closet strategizing.

Previously......

Our one goal for the weekend was to finish the bathroom which meant buying fixtures, hanging bath and hand-towel bars, finishing painting, and hanging a very pretty little shelf above the toilet. Well, of course, the one towel bar was missing a teeny set screw, which we matched and purchased during our 4th trip to home depot in 3 days, which of course, did not actually make it home because it is so small (not on the receipt either which means it is still in our cart at home depot). so we were successfully able to hang only one towel bar. Not yet totally defeated, we finished painting and moved on. When hanging the shelf, we managed to put 4 huge holes in the bathroom wall (which I think if you squeeze through you end up in Narnia) because the drill bit size the directions call for is WAY too big for the molly screws (yes, I said it- I used a tool word!). We will have to spackle or something, and repaint...and still try to hang that shelf. Im giving this project to Reggie- my frustration level is too great.

Now our "finished" bathroom is covered in dust and there are still tools strewn about the floor and we didnt get to bed til 11, only to be awoken by the Great Closet Disaster 2009.

This is why we will NOT drywall our own walls/ceilings. We are NOT do-it-yourselfers. On that note, when pulling off the painted-over-wallpaper in the dining room (excellent...) I uncovered all sorts of weird cardboard wallboard (not drywall), and some kind of heavy plaster in patches (also not drywall) and now I dont think I can just pull off the wallpaper and paint...I fear the wallpaper was covering some DIY disaster the previous homeowners attempted and of course messed up, or did poorly/cheaply like everything else they did, and I fear its another job for Bud, the contractor (who thankfully follows all stereotypes by wearing jean shorts, cut-off t-shirts, a starter-mullet, and speaks in perfect Pittsburgh-ese).

In good news- we did tons of landscaping- uncovered a nice walkway in the back we didn't know was there because it was so overgrown, planted flowers, got hanging baskets for the back porch, the front porch looks great, got a weed-wacker to finish the edges, inherited a raised garden bed and are in full swing to become beautiful organic backyard vegetable gardeners! Also, minus painting the walls, the office and guest bedroom are in their "done" stages- hooray!! Gives me more inspiration to stay in the office which of course was the point of moving to Pittsburgh in the first place.

Ok, off to the lab, then to home depot. I actually recognize the employees there now. I know which checkout girl is fastest, meanest, etc. How do people buy a house if they don't live within 1 mile of home depot???

If any of you who live in "nice" houses which aren't "falling in around you" and think it would be fun to "rough it" for an hour or a day- we welcome all extra sets of hands...at least to just hold me back from slamming my head into the wall (which luckily is panelled and likely wouldn't do much damage)

Happy monday!

And originally emailed to our realtor, July 4, 2009 after MASSIVE basement flooding (like, roll up your pant legs, put on galloshes)

hank goodness Lowe's is open til 10! We vacuumed up the water and have been running a dehumidifier (which fills in about 6 hours) and its basically dry down there.

We also used this cool crack-filling caulk stuff (comes in a can and expands in cracks- it was so cool, but now our basementlooks like there are sea monsters coming out of the walls!) and we filled in every crack we could find around the storm door. I think we isolated the area we think the water came in, and we also put plastic over that area. It has rained since and so far no leak. I think we may have temporarily stopped it. Inspection of the outside of the storm door hatch area showed a lot of loose concrete. We are considering re-concreting the loose parts ourselves. BUT in the meantime, we are just watching the situation...and so far no more water! whew!

Thanks for checking in!!!

Happy 4th of July!

see photo of said flooded basement: