One Sixty: September 2006

And, there it is.

So - yes, these were taken by my camera phone, so don't hate the fuzzy cruddiness. Here is that section of countertop yet to be finished.

You can see more clearly here, it is in fact, plywood!

And the rest 'o the kitchen looks very nice, don't you think?

If you are shopping countertops - and not expensive custom granite or stone or butcher blocktop - the el cheapo laminate from your local massive home improvement chain restaurant - which, by the way, I'm not knocking! I get a lot of comments on mine - good ones!

Ok - that was the point, here's the counter point. DO NOT, let me repeat myself for speed readers who may have missed that, DO NOT BUY 90% OF YOUR COUNTERTOP AND THEN WAIT 5 OR 6 MONTHS TO BUY THE REMAINING 10%.

Yes, I admit. This seems like a simple point. But waaay back in the day - and if you go back and look at my posts - there's one about the joy of getting that first 90% of countertop somewheres in there - I was really happy to get that first 90% of countertop. Previously I had just plopped my cutting board across the cabinets - that little 2 ft area was my only space! I nearly cried when the counters went on.

But, we didn't buy enough for the back right corner of the room. So for temp, we just plopped on a peice of plywood and called it a redneck butcher block. Well, money waxed and waned and other big projects needed to take priority as the months went on. You know how it is.

But throughout this 5 or 6 months, a little voice inside my head said "countertop countertop" or "it's only a 4ft section" or "it's only going to be like, $30" over and over.

So last night that little voice got big as Mike and I pulled into home depot for more grass seed and fertilizer. But when we got to the kitchen section - there were NO small sections of that color. Mystic Night or something like that. In fact, there was only one Mystic Night left - a super long 10ft peice.

Immediately I thought to myself - what if it's discontinued. Mike thought the same thing, so we grabbed the sku off the thing and went to customer service to find out what the deal was. Well, turns out that the sku wasn't coming up in the computer - it might be discontinued! So the clerk checked some other Home depots, made some phone calls. No luck on a small peice.

I finally said, "You know what, for the price it would take me in gas to drive all the way to east bumbledom (not a MA town by the way, but it should be) looking for a 4ft section, I could just buy the 10ft here."

And so, we did. Which isn't horrible, because we'll have some extra if need for it ever arises. But I spent $70 more than I needed to, which is annoying to say the least.

So, the lesson here is - a countertop in the hand is worth 2 in East Bumbledom. And at least five in Center Bumbledomport. Don't wait. Buy it all at the same time.

And if anyone else has this pattern and needs about 6ft worth... well - let me know.

2006 = Muy Bien

I am so bored. Nada to do. Dead. Everyone else at my work is going plum crazy. But unfortunately, I did my part and now I'm bored. I wish I could help with the graphics/web stuff. But I'm so inept.

I was looking through this blog throughout the months of 2006 yesterday. Hard to believe what a year it's been. Mike and I started out the year with a hope of finally lifting our home to put in a basement. January through April was nothing but permit apps, futile calls to contractors, and conservation commission woes.

The lift finally began in April and we moved out to Mike's parents house. By June, the house was down on its new foundation and by July 4th - we were moved back in.

In August I hatched the plan for a backyard wedding September 9th and we worked feverously to make it happen. In the same month, we also refinanced the mortgage and equity loan. On 9/9, everything went off without a hitch.

So here we are, 3/4 through the year and still going strong. I am going to make some goals here. With all 'yalls as witnesses.

Goal #1 : Hook up the following: Hot water tank/furnace/heating system/2nd heating zone. (That all counts as one.)
Goal #2: Bathroom Bathroom Bathroom

I think that'll keep me busy through Jan.

So what? Sew seeds!

I picked up a bag 'o seed and a bag 'o fertilizer at BJ's last night. I figured - eh, what the heck. Cheap enough. Of course, then Mike and I had to go to the Deep-Ho to pick up a push spreader and a rake... jacking up the price a little bit. Oh well. It's still a last ditch effort cheaper then hydro seed or sod.

Today's the last hot hot day this week, so we may plant tonight. Tomorrow's supposed to rain, which would be good because then we don't have to water so much.

Mike: The Next Generation

Mike has been the nicest person ever since we got married. Maybe it's the release of all the stress. Maybe it's newlywedism. In any case, I like it. Just this weekend Mike helped me install the soap dispenser I've been wanting to install since August, 2005. Then he changed my oil.

And - Sunday morning I happend to mention that he should call our carpenter to come over and install our new stair steps. I go out to do a few errands - and when I come back, he's tearing up the old stairsteps to put in the new ones! When I walked in and said "What are you doing?!" he merely answered, "You said you wanted it done."

Well I just thought that was the awesomest thing ever. We installed the new treads and they look pretty good. We still have to trim them out and everything - but it's already a lot better then those old treads with the nails sticking out of them. Can't tell you how many times I nearly punch a hole in my foot.

This same weekend I also installed three new eyeball trims in the upstairs office recessed lighting fixtures. Looks a heck of a lot better I tell 'ya. That was my mini-project along with the normal cleaning.

Ooo! Ooo! Also due in early this week is our new furnace. I can't wait. Once we have that in hand, we'll head to the Deep-Ho and get a hot water tank. A nice biiiig one. (Because I've lived with short showers and no baths for waaaay too long.)

Also, we're going to try and get some seed/fertilizer for the front yard. Just some el cheapo bags. Couldn't hurt, and we decided not to spend big bucks on a lawn right now. Who knows. Maybe we'll grow some grass or something. Isn't that a novel idea?

Aunt Sharon Makes a Startling Discovery!

The question all girls want to know...

A little OT here - but does ANYONE know that song? It's an oldie and it goes "the question all girls want to know... is there enough room to make love in a spaceship..." That's all I know of it and my friend Becci and I have been trying to track it down for YEARS.

Anyhoo - the real question all yous out there probably have been asking - now that the basement is done and the wedding is over - What's next on the house to-do list?

Well! I've been screaming BATHROOM! BATHROOM! Which, has led Mike to think I have some sort of disorder. But seriously, he reminded me that we have yet to put in the basement windows and finish getting our new oil tank hooked up to a not-bought-yet new furnace and hot water tank. We've got to get our good friend and heating man Hal on that ASAP. (Hourihan Oil - best oil there is, look 'em up if you're in the south-eastern MA area.)

And I have to admit - what is a beautiful bathroom without enough hot water for a nice soak in a jacuzzi tub? Or a long long shower after a cold and unloving day?

So, hopefully, we can get on those windows this weekend. Because next weekend we'll be up in NH for some R&R. Not a honeymoon, but it will be fun to get away.

We Did It!

There was always something... wait til I got out of school, wait until I had a better job, wait until he had a better job, wait until we had a house, wait until the house was done... Well, after graduating, switching jobs, Mike switching jobs, buying a house, renovating a house (partially) - We were sick of, well, waiting.

So last Saturday 9/9 we were married. The ceremony was held just down the street from our house and the reception was in the yard. And despite the lack of grass, everything was perfect.