Sign On the Dotted Line

Just when you think it is over...there are more papers in the mail. It turns out the cost of the insurance for the house for a year is more than twice the estimate. I have to sign more papers and send the money NOW. More papers to be signed for the loan...fun stuff.

Then, we sit and twiddle our thumbs until closing day...August 8. After that the REAL work begins...getting that house ready for moving in. I have been busy here with little touch ups. The last thing I will do is clean the carpeting after we get everything out of here.

July 29--our 19 year anniversary. I'm not sure how we made it this far...but we're here. It would be nice if everything stayed on level ground for the next 30 years. I know...don't laught TOO loud...but it could happen!

I am not looking forward to the lifting and hauling from one place to another. But it has to be done. And once it is put away in its new home it should be able to stay there for a good long time. It has been a wee bit over 4 years since the last time we had to pack and move. That was a big change from the 'every two years' thing we had going.

Almost There?

Okay, the inspections have been done. So, today we met our realtor at the house, went over the reports, checked things out and she made out a form to give to the sellers' realtor specifying what we want them to do in repairs. We all agree that we will be surprised if they want to do ANYTHING! They are strange ppl. None of the repairs are much of anything EXCEPT for the new liner in the fireplace. The other stuff costs more time than money. But it is also things we can pretty much take care of ourselves if we have to.

We also made a wonderful discovery today...under all that carpeting is the most wonderful light oak stained hardwood floors! So the blue carpet in the room that will be Troy's office...gone. The new carpet in the diningroom...pulled up. I am also thinking the entry way carpeting will be pulled up. OH...and that disgusting rose colored carpeting in the master bedroom...gone. I REALLY hate that color! We are not sure what is under the kitchen carpet but whatever it is I am sure has been ruined cuz we're thinking is was put down with glue. It would be nice if it was carpet tape but I'm not holding my breath.

The add-on family room has some kind of flooring under it. I'm thinking some kind of vinyl/linoleum. It was difficult to see but it wasn't just a sub floor...it was shiny and dark. The carpeting in that family room is pretty...well...ugly. It is a type of tough strength something (but not really berber) and not worn in anyway...just would need a really, really good cleaning. And if there IS a tough flooring cover under it, the carpet will be cut away in front of the fireplace AND in front of the door in from the garage.

We are going to need an electrician or someone that knows what they are doing with wiring becuz we need some ceiling lights/fans put in for 3 rooms and an outlet put in the main bathroom (there isn't ANY!). The lights for the rooms downstairs will have to be rewired, also.

So, it looks like we are in the home stretch...???? I have read so many 'reports' and signed so many papers!!! I'm also still trying to find the right house insurance. I have 2 more places to call tomorrow. I haven't had time to go to the gym yet this week! I have been trying to keep up with my regular cleaning, laundry, and do some extra cleaning out as I go along...and every day there is telephone interruptions with someone or something to do with the house. I also had to do a dance with Troy's employee benefits today. It seems they wanted us to start using the company pharmacy. The Caremark plan we are under for prescriptions is a CVS plan. I went through 3 different numbers before we found the one person that could DO something. I told them that I already spoke to their pharmacy and found out that a 3 month supply of some of the Rx we use a lot of cost MORE than going across the street here to the local CVS AND I would have a 2-3 week wait OR pay MORE money to have it shipped overnight! So after much PATIENT explanation on my part...and a few more phone calls back and forth from the plan administrator, they 'decided' that we can continue using the CVS across the road instead of messing with their pharmacy in Iowa. sheesh. There went a good chunk of my day!

Tomorrow is 'grocery day'...although, it doesn't look TOO bad. I was taking inventory of the cupboards and freezer. MAYBE I will find some time to go to the GYM! It helps me work out the stress and it makes me FEEL so much better.

Oh...Bethany has been using exercise tapes. She goes downstairs and works out in the family room. She has decided she has some weight she needs to lose before school starts. LOL She looked at a calendar today and discovered she has one month left. That means I need to start school shopping. It really shouldn't be that big of a thing except for shoes and school supplies since she just got a bunch of new clothes for warm weather AND I am continually buying things for her each month.

I, on the other hand, need more time to look for work, too!

Home Owners?

Today we got the ball rolling...the offer was accepted on the house I have been wanting. We made an offer to them over a month ago. They wouldn't deal with it because they were so sure they were going to get the price they wanted. We weren't willing to pay them what they wanted. So we waited. They dropped the price on it last week quite a bit. So, after talking to our realtor, we made them another offer...still not what they wanted...but they took it! And now the fun begins with inspectors and paperwork, etc.


The house


Back view of Florida room


Inside view of florida room


Kitchen...like you couldn't figure that out! LOL


livingroom


The family room

There's a very large basement (semi finished) and 3 good sized bedrooms upstairs...along with the two bathrooms. I love the yard and the neighborhood. It is about a half mile from where we live now. And it is a block from our daughter's school.

There is an extremely large finished room in the basement with closets at both ends. We hope to put up a sound proofing wall down the center so the kids (teenagers, you know) can have their own large spaces. They will like that. Then hubby can use one of the bedrooms upstairs for his office and the other one can be a guest room or computer room...or both.

We also want to extend the driveway off to the side so Jr. has a place for his car and doesn't have to park in the street.

So many plans. And it all won't get done right away. But eventually. Of course, the house isn't ours yet. There could be lots of things that can go wrong between now and the end of the deal.

As I told Troy...a new adventure.

It Is What It Is

It has been a few weeks and there hasn't been a whole lot of anything happening. Not sure if that is good or bad.

Troy was in a golf tournament last weekend and he took me with him. Since Jr. is 17 going on 18, we let him be in charge. He did well. We were only 2 hours away and the neighbor was watching how things went. It was nice to get away but I don't know how Troy can stand that hotel life!

TJ is camping with Steven and his family for this weekend. Bethany is at loose ends but she'll manage.

Thursday evening we are going to be making out a purchase agreement on a house, again. It is a house I would like to have, but we are only willing to pay a certain amount for it, so as not to be paying way more than we really can handle. The amount we are bidding on it is not what they are asking...so we'll see if they want to negotiate. Always wait and see...

I am kind of dragging my feet in the job hunt right now. We are going to be up visiting with my parents next week and I think I will wait on putting out more resumes until we get back. I will also be looking harder then.

Well, like I said, not much going on. Life is what it is! Hope everyone has a nice 4th!