Day 57: Better to live life…
With each passing day that I don’t write in this Project 365, I feel guilty. And then I think about what I’m going to write to catch up on four days. And I dread it. Not much has happened on the home front. The thought of reflecting on the past few days and writing four stories wrapped around my house hunt seems impossible. I’m tired. Really tired. I’d rather go to bed than attempt to muster up the creative juices.
The good thing, though, is I’ve kept busy this week. I started my new job. It’s wonderful. My evenings were filled with the greatness of Grand Rapids. The Pop Scholars improv comedy troupe at Dog Story Theater was hilarious. A concert at The Intersection revealed a music culture I didn’t realize existed in this city. It wasn’t the concert itself, I suppose, but the person I was with who peeled back that other layer. I also attended a Public Relations Society of America lunch Thursday. The speaker mentioned that keeping up a blog was hard work. Especially one you’ve committed to writing a couple times a week. I suddenly felt a smidgeon of relief.
This morning a friend said to me, “better to live life than just write about it.” It sounds like an excuse to rationalize failing an English class. But today, it’s a gem. So there’s my excuse for no postings. I lived like crazy.
Now I’m home in my cozy living room blasting the smoky, soulful pipes of Etta James because I no longer have anyone sharing a house with me. For now, anyway. Playing music at any volume anytime is one of those little big things for me. It crossed my mind as I debated whether to start the home hunt. It helped push me from condo toward house. Plus, I like to sing along. No one needs to hear that. 🙂
Once I catch up on my sleep and my calendar settles down, I’ll get back to the daily writing. Another day or two probably.
Rest in peace, Etta.
Day 56: Peculiar habits
I love getting to know people well enough to discover their idiosyncrasies and the things that make them unique. Since I live with myself day in and day out, I’m oblivious to my own oddities. Tonight, however, I did notice a strange little habit.
Midway into a phone conversation, I realized I had a broom in my hand. Again. I’m not usually compelled to pick this thing up, but once a phone call passes the 10-minute mark, a force of tidiness seems to strike. This time, I even dug out the dusting spray. I’m perplexed as to why I can’t seem to awaken these habits otherwise.
Then it clicked. And it makes perfect sense! That inner domestic goddess is simply waiting to be unleashed until I’m a homeowner. She’s in there somewhere armed with a broom, mop and several rags, ready to squash any excuse that interferes with scrubbing floors and porcelain. Her detailed cleaning calendar is labeled, in bold letters: everything in its place and a place for everything. I’m simply letting her build up a pension for the dirty work… Yep, that’s it.
I should get a bluetooth headset. The amount of cleaning I could accomplish with a single phone call would be incredible!
Day 55: Giving up a good thing
Today I went through the Ottawa Hills house again. As I pulled up, I noticed the long stretch of sidewalk in front of the house. And then my gaze wandered over to the other side of the house. Corner lot. That’s a lot of snow to shovel.
After an evening stroll through this winter wonderland, I came home to find my landlord and his wife and kids shoveling the driveway. I mentioned the garage-door light he’d fixed recently wasn’t working again. He pulled open the light, tightened the bulb, and voila! It works.
A landlord is going to be a tough thing to give up.
Day 54: Expectations, indulgence and an attached garage
My mom once told me to never have high expectations. That way you’re more likely to be delighted rather than let down.
Despite the good feelings I had about the Ottawa Hills house the other day, I’m beginning to worry that I got my hopes up for nothing. I had even come to terms with the small backyard. I even had visions of landscaping what little space there was into a cozy oasis perfect for reading on a summer’s morning or drinking wine with friends in the evening. Hammock included. Basically, I am completely over Brooklyn (ok, so completely might be a stretch).
or…
- An adult treehouse… I’d be in heaven!
Last night, I slept over at my friend’s house. She needed company and a little help after getting hit by a forklift. A forklift! Can you believe that? It ran her over while she walked through a parking lot. Her arm is in a sling and she’s got a few bumps and bruises, but thank goodness she’s ok. Since her car was still in that parking lot, I got to pull in to her attached garage. I loaded my car up in my socks this morning. Yep, this was an indulgence.
And now I want the Ottawa Hills house that much more. It has an attached two-stall garage; you don’t find many of those where I’m looking. Now it appears I might have competition, and I’m crushed. I had my hopes high, and hope is a form of expectation, right? My mom’s advice proves true again. This house hunt is a freakin’ roller coaster.
Day 53: Thanks for the advice
Thanks to this blog, I’ve gotten a lot of helpful tips throughout this house hunt. Friends and acquaintances share their own homeowner experiences and cautionary words of wisdom. It appears my house hunt of 80 plus isn’t too unusual. Turns out a few Facebook friends are in the home-improvement or real-estate industry. I’ve learned a lot of things I’d otherwise be clueless about.
For instance, icicles are a sign of inadequate attic insulation. Heat rises, and without proper insulation, it escapes through the roof, melting the snow and forming icicles. Icicles may be pretty, but increased heating costs aren’t.
Thanks to everyone who’s taught me a thing or two about house hunting. Any gardeners out there? I want to plant a vegetable garden!
Day 52: I’m raising a sunset chaser (or hater)
The sky looked like sherbet, though my phone didn't quite capture the colors.
I was on the wrong end of a bad attitude tonight. Calin didn’t want to leave his dad so he pushed every button he could on our car ride home.
“I’m not in the mood to talk right now,” he said, when I asked how his day was.
“Nuffin’,” he replied, when I asked what he did today.
“The sky isn’t beautiful,” he scowled, when I pointed out the sherbet-colored sunset.
Sherbet… that sparked a new idea. “Yum, it looks good enough to eat,” I told him.
His face perked up. I had his attention. “I wanna eat the sherbet sky!” he exclaimed.
I mumbled something about being able to see it better from the top of a hill, but when we got there, the sunset was too low. And now Calin was determined to take a scoop out of the sky, which meant he had to get out of the car.
As we headed from Rockford to Grand Rapids, I thought about one of the house listings I saw a few weeks ago. It actually listed a great view of the sunset as one of the selling points. The house was cute, but it was that point that really hooked me. If you read my Facebook Project 365, you may have noticed I have an obsession with the sky. Clouds, stars, sunsets, you name it. I’m enthralled by the sky’s vast, endless splendor. Unfortunately, someone else is, too, because they nabbed the house before I even got a walk-through. Realtors should really consider listing such views more often.
Anyway, as we approached the city, the sun was quickly setting. I debated heading to park by the Sixth Street bridge, but was worried we’d miss it. Calin was really into taking a bite out of the sky. So much so that I was concerned he forgot it was just a game of pretend. I didn’t want to chance the attitude again.
Then I remembered a new friend mentioning Lookout Park yesterday. I’ve never been there, but knew the general whereabouts. It’s facing West, so I’d imagine with a name as such, we’d have a pretty good view of the setting sun. So that’s where the Camry carried us. We made it with moments to spare. Calin reached toward the sky and dug out a scoop of sherbet. “Yummy! Tastes salty!”
The sky still had a sliver of pink and Calin finally got his scoop full of sherbet.
Whew. He was content with pretend – though clearly confused on his flavors.
As I looked around this small spot overlooking downtown Grand Rapids, I was shocked that I’ve never been here before. Do you know how many times Calin and I chased the sunset last summer? This is freakin’ spectacular! I can’t wait for the weather to warm up. Anyone know anything about the surrounding neighborhood? Is it worth looking at the homes for sale?
Day 51: I have a good feeling about this one…
Despite my anything-but-solid stance on houses over the past week (Ms. Renovation one day, Ms. Sensibility the next), my enthusiasm for this Ottawa Hills home seems to just keep growing. Good thing, because my initial visit left me anything but thrilled. I was so agitated by the little man following me around, pointing out each and every minuscule flaw, that excitement never stood a chance.
Fortunately, my mortgage guy unraveled his successful attempt to dissuade me from wanting the house. And each time I describe the house to anyone, I push that man further and further out of my mind. In fact, I’m actually quite excited!
I finally talked to my uncle today; he’s managing this process for his mother in-law who owns the house. You might recall I had a few concerns with leaks and the age of the roof. Funny how these roofs continue to be a hang up for me. Well, he called today to report good news on the roofer’s assessment. Yahoo! Maybe I’m one step closer to being a homeowner!
Day 50: Conversations with my preschooler
While we sat at the dinner table tonight, Calin asked if he could get up to give me a hug and a kiss. Random, but I’ll take it! When I asked if there was a particular reason why, he said, “Just because I love you.” My heart melted. And then, with just as much sweetness and sincerity as the ‘I love you,’ he sprinkled on, “But I don’t love you that much. Only a little.”
Umm, ok?
And then the conversation turned to discussing a fire escape route. He’s just filled with odd surprises tonight. Not too long ago, he was terrified by the mere mention of fire alarm. Now we’re having rational conversations about them. I was feeling quite confident with his plan, until he said, “If that door knob is hot, then I’ll just go to your room and climb into bed with you.” (A bathroom connects our bedrooms.) I took the opportunity to set him straight: don’t worry about anything except getting outside of the house.
He contemplated this for a moment. “If I can’t get down the steps, then I’ll jump out the window.” He paused again. “But I might break my ankle.” A broken ankle is better than being inside the house, I told him.
This is his I’ve-got-a-great-idea face.
Suddenly, his eyes lit up, his three-year-old mind struck with what he deemed a brilliant idea. “When we get outside, we could roast marshmallows!” I was speechless. “Well,” he said. “Can we?”
Oh, the innocence of children.
I guess we’re both a little preoccupied with fire. It’s one of my biggest fears and always one of the many considerations that float through my mind while walking through houses. I assess the bedroom layout to make sure Calin’s will be closest to a door leading outside. Thanks to our little conversation tonight, I added a few more items to the new-home to-do list: buy a fire ladder and do a fire drill!
Soon after our fire talks, I tucked Calin into bed and he told me he loved me to the moon and back. I’m sure that’s what he meant by a ‘little’ love.
Day 49: Crazy talk
I planned to peruse listings this afternoon for homes in need of a face lift. But I never got around to it. I talked to my best friend, and she knocked some sense into me. So did a few other Facebook comments. One of those comments mentioned home warranties. I think I’ll spend some time researching these instead.
Looks like another one emerged. Miss Sensibility came out, knocking Ms. Renovation off her pedestal. I hope this one sticks around long-term.
Day 48: The symbology of silverware
Meet Sara, my first guest blogger and one of my oldest friends (we met in second grade). She closed and moved in to her new home just under a month ago. I thought it’d be interesting to share another perspective of being a first-time homeowner, particularly since our experiences were quite different. Sara and her husband, Josh, learned a lot, but my favorite three: paint is expensive, wallpaper is truly a pain, and parents are a blessing. So here she is… thanks, Sara!
The happy homeowners
Learning the ropes
During the house hunt, it was hard not to just settle, because I wanted to be in a house so bad! We definitely learned to be patient. In the end, I learned that I would most likely not find a home that had EVERYTHING that I wanted in our price range. We learned to ask a lot of questions… about the roof, furnace, etc. When it came time to put an offer in and go through the closing process I was surprised by the amount of time, meetings and information needed to get through all the paperwork. But I did not put in as much time as Kara researching mortgage lenders, inspectors or realtors. I went with the first person recommended to me with everything and moved on. Perhaps a mistake, but I will never know the difference.
The hunt
As we were hunting for houses Josh and I looked for totally different things. He focused on where his bar would be, the size of the garage and kitchen (he’s the cook), and the age of the roof and furnace. I, however, was focused on a finished walk-out basesment, nice deck with stairs, decent size closets and a two-stall attached garage. I was also very persistent on a private backyard with very few neighbors. Well, that desire went right out the window when I walked into our now new home! The rest of the house had everything I was looking for, so I settled with living in a neighborhood with houses in my backyard.
Relationship test
Looking at houses caused some tension in our relationship because I didn’t mind working on a house and making it our own, whereas Josh preferred to do little work. It was difficult for Josh to overlook the Victorian curtains, wallpaper, ugly furniture, junk on the walls, etc. He was looking for a newer home that was updated and move-in ready. I knew that I wouldn’t be able to find the style home I wanted in the newer homes. I was willing to paint and do minor repairs to update something older. Like most marriages, I got my way 😉 and we bought an older house. We had a ton of wallpaper to tear down and every room in the house needed paint.
Handing over the keys
It was so exciting to go to our closing meeting! We packed the car with some of our stuff, planned to grab dinner and our dog afterward then head to OUR HOME!!! After the meeting, we met the previous homeowners, an older couple that wanted a bigger yard and a barn. They answered our questions then handed us the set of keys and garage door opener. Yay! We were pumped – except for the fact that our two-stall garage only came with one garage door opener. Minor, but disappointing. It was amazing, however, to push the garage door opener and pull our car right in. That first night in our house we ate Subway on the counter, I did cartwheels in the living room, I set up the Christmas tree and Josh set up our dining room table and chairs. We spent every evening there since we closed painting and pulling down wallpaper.
Painting isn’t as easy as it looks
The next night we could have been the newlyweds on the Lowe’s commercial that don’t have a clue what they are doing. We figured we would get the first coat of paint on our living room one night after work. How hard can it be? So we jumped right in. I trimmed one wall as Josh worked on the other. We layed a couple tarps over the carpet and started painting.
Thank goodness my parents happened to stop by. My dad looked at us like we were crazy! “What are you doing? There are holes in the wall. You still have all the oulet covers on. You have drip marks already. Have you ever painted?”
After a crash course on filling the holes with plaster, sanding them down, prepping the whole room even before you open the paint, having enough light to see what you were doing, we were off to a much better start the following Saturday when both of my parents came to help us paint.
She's got this painting thing down pat.
Work, work, work
As our updating continues we have learned that paint is expensive, wallpaper is truly a pain and parents are a blessing. Just one week after we moved in we hosted our first party for my mom’s birthday and it was fantastic. Our lazy Saturdays have turned into painting a room or closet, organizing the tubs in the basement and cleaning out the garage. We wouldn’t change it for the world it has been so fun seeing how much paint can change a room and deciding together which drawer the silverware should go in. Owning a home is a lot of work, but it is also so much fun.
Thanks, Sara! I saw their new home the weekend after they got the keys and it’s a great house. Their living room had its first coat of paint. I can’t wait to go back to see how much things have changed.
The first time I read this through, picturing cartwheels in the living room and the paint story gave me a good laugh. It made me really excited for my own first night at home. The second time I read it, I caught the line about deciding together which drawer the silverware should go in. Awww, how sweet. And then I realized it’s the polar opposite of my experience. I’ve got a few go-to people that I can call to bounce ideas off (I don’t know what I’d do without them), but there’s not one person that knows every bit and piece.
I have a feeling Josh and Sara learned a lot about compromise through this process. Me, well, it’s pretty much just the Kara show. I’m sure once I find a house there will be many memorable moments, but the simple delight in deciding where to put my silverware – in other words, togetherness – won’t be one of them. That is, unless Calin suddenly decides he’s interested in helping me make decisions…
Unfolding the Story of My Life 