Sunday, May 31, 2009

My house


It has been a tiring weekend. Joseph and I have gotten a lot done but there is still SO much to do. We haven't even STARTED moving yet....

The house was built in 1995, and it's in really good shape. The only thing we are trying to get rid of is a strange smokey smell. It's not too bad; once you're in the house for two minutes you don't notice it anymore. But that is not the first impression I want to be giving my guests! So we are scrubbing the walls and we are going to paint. Ugh, painting....

The kitchen faucet needed to be replaced. That was the only major repair...the house is really move-in ready but we want everything done before we start moving in. Joseph and I replaced the kitchen faucet by ourselves. We were proud as peacocks. It doesn't leak and it look FABULOUS. My kitchen has ugly countertops and old cabinets, but we're going to eventually replace those. The floorplan is awesome and the backyard is HUGE (really hard to come by in pricey Phoenix) so we think we got a good deal.

We also replaced the toilet seats, because...come on....that's just gross. Joseph let me do that because I like to do handyman stuff. I was telling him how glad I was that he wasn't letting his man-pride get in the way, and he was letting his wife do the manly stuff. His reply? "I wasn't touching those toilet seats!" Ah, my honest, handsome boy.

We are going to have to figure out how to install our garage door opener. That will be the next project after painting. We're also going to have to figure out how to take down the ugly fans so we can install new ones. Being a homeowner is expensive.

On my wish list: change out the light fixtures (they are an ugly brass), change the locks (not a wish, a must), change the closet into a pantry (who puts a closet in the kitchen??), remove the palm tree and cactus from the front yard (Joseph and I may be native Phoenicians, but I do not like cacti), eventually replace the kitchen cabinets/countertop and vanities in the bathrooms, and other little projects like making a seat for my little nook and making myself a headboard for my new (yet to be purchased) bed.

It's a bit daunting. But if you know me, you know I'll get it done. :) Joseph is very helpful when I am in project-mode.

If anyone wants to help with the painting/moving....I would seriously appreciate it. Joseph's mom offered but since our closing was DELAYED she has now moved back to Tennessee. Ah, I should probably write a post about the horror of a process it was to purchase this house...for posterity....I am too tired right now. It's finally our house and that's all that matters. Woo hoo we are homeowners!!

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Extra Day Off

I am new to this blogging thing. It bothers me a little that my profile is bare. I'll have to figure out how to spruce it up when I get more time. It seems like everyone else has a blog, and since I like to check them out, I guess it's only fair that I have one too.

I had a fun day today. It's the day after Memorial Day, so I had a nice four-day weekend. It is going to be hard going back to work tomorrow after my mini-vacation. My mom, my sisters Breezy and Stephanie and I went to Tempe for lunch and shopping. First we went to Dilly's Deli where they have very delicious sandwiches. It's fun to just sit and talk and catch up. After lunch we went across the street to Buffalo Exchange. In case you've never been there, it's a very upscale second-hand store. They keep it upscale by purchasing the clothes they sell. And trust me, it's not easy to get them to buy your clothes. My sister Kristi, my husband Joseph and I all brought in a truck full, and what did they decide to purchase? Two of Joseph's AE shorts. Oh the shame. I just donate my old clothes now, instead of suffering the rejection of Buffalo Exchange.

It is, however, an awesome place to shop. I found a $14 Halloween costume (Halloween party at my house in October! I've already got the costume!) I found a couple cute shirts and a very adorable skirt as well. But the most fun is checking out the strange clothing. There was almost a contest for who could find the most hideous article of clothing. "They BOUGHT this??" came out of my mouth once or twice. I guess it depends on what kind of mood the buyer is in. How do you train your employees for that anyway?

My most favorite find was the red heels with the boa-feathers. I almost bought them but the heels were too high for me; I would have twisted an ankle. Breezy and Steph really wanted me to purchase them, claiming that they would go perfectly with my costume, so I told them I would get a boa, cut it up and make my own (not as high) heels.

After the shopping excursion we went back to my mom's house. I was hanging out for a bit before heading back to my apartment, when my mom mentioned her cockatiels needed some water. I thought I would do my mom a favor and give her birds some water, so I opened the cage. Well, one of the birds escaped. I hurriedly closed the cage so that the other bird wouldn't get out and then chased after the escapee, thinking it was probably on top of a fan or something. I found it on the floor, and the dog Taz staring at it. I was glad it was only Taz, because any other dog probably would have eaten the bird. So I scooped the bird up and it latched its beak into my finger. It must have been a Gila Monster in another life because I couldn't get it off. My first reaction was to let go, but I didn't want the dog eating the bird so instead I screamed and ran back down the stairs to the cage. It took a second to get the cage door open, but as soon as I did I put the bird (still connected to my hand) inside the cage. I had a wait a few seconds before the bird figured out I wasn't holding it anymore, and it finally let go.

Ahhhhhhhhhh. Stupid bird. I told Steph I just might squeeze a little tear out, it hurt pretty bad.

My mom doctored me up and I started to feel better. My mom's chicken requirement makes a little more sense to me. Before I got to her house I picked her up two chickens (they are pets) from Pratts and she told me they had to be pretty, "not all messed up like they've been out on the farm," and they couldn't have large talons. At first I laughed at the seemingly Napolean-Dynamite reference, but I can see why she should not own (any more) threatening birds.

When I got home, our friends invited us out to dinner, so it was a nice way to end my day. I'm going to do some laundry so I can wear my new (old) clothes.