House of Swank

Let the Fun Begin!

I got the call around 11:30 this morning that the recording numbers were in, and the house is officially ours.  Plus $52! 

I went to the house to unload the pile of stuff that had been accumulating in the car and to measure rooms.  Tonight I will start to sit down with the graph paper and attempt to plan out the rooms.  This could get REALLY entertaining, because I don't ACTUALLY know what any of our furniture measures... I just went to Ikea one day, borrowed one of their tape measures, and wandered through the store saying "That looks like it's about the same size as my dresser," and "I THINK the buffet might have a similar footprint to this." 

The good news is that I KNOW I got the size of at least two of the bookcases correct, and the layout of the den is one of the biggies that I want to be prepared for before there are movers involved.  I KNOW that we won't be able to get all of our bookshelves in there, and wouldn't WANT to get all of our bookshelves in there, because there are some that don't match in an ugly way (versus those that don't match in a cool design sort of way).  So, the question of HOW MANY bookshelves will fit is very important, as that will determine how many bookshelves DO NOT fit, and need to have new homes found for them.  Yes, I really do think about bookshelves this much, isn't it intriguing?

Tomorrow I will have about 3 hours at the house to get started on the real work.  I think I'm starting with pulling up carpet, because that is more exciting to me than hanging window coverings.  I also need to decide what size tile to put in the bathroom.  I can go 6 or 8 inches square for about the same price per square foot, 12 inches square for a hell of a lot cheaper.... but I don't know if the 12 inch squares will be too big for the space.  So I need to figure all that out and get the tile purchased soon, in case it needs to be ordered.  We're going with plain white tile, which I think will look best with the green and pink in the shower without closing in a small space.

I have to be up and out of the house early tomorrow, but perhaps I will remember to bring my camera so I can show pictures tomorrow.

Ironically, Students are Probably Ashamed of This...

I spent my Freshman year of college at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas.  To say the school's football team was lousy would be an understatement; the big selling point to try to lure students to the (free) games was that the team had new uniforms that year.  Still, no one went.

Some friends and I wanted to see a football game one week, so we went to a high school game at Alamo Stadium, which was closer to our dorms than Trinity's football field, and also offered higher quality play.  I will never forget the confusion on the ticket seller's face when he asked us what side we wanted to sit on and we asked him which team was the favorite for the game (traditionally, when one attends a high school football team, one has a team that they are rooting for).

The crap-tasticness of the football was actually one of Trinity's big selling points.  If you are an academically oriented student in Texas it is easy to feel you are a second class citizen to the football team.  So a lot of smart Texans in search of a liberal arts education go to Trinity because they KNOW that academics comes WELL before football in terms of the school's priorities.  Tennis may be another story, but at least they come by their country club college status honestly. So to see this record-breaking play by Trinity takes the cake. 

Wacky lateral plays that are successful are always fun to watch.  But this one is of epic proportions. Although I think Jim Rome summarized it well today.  What he said was, in effect, you are never going to see a football play with fifteen lateral passes that results in a touchdown again in our life.  But, Cal's five laterals against Stanford retains the title of "Coolest Lateral Play Ever" because a) it's Division I ball and b) they guy had to trample a trombonist to get the touchdown. Still, a fun little blast from my past.

To-Do List

Final walkthrough of the house was this afternoon.  We officially take possession sometime on Wednesday (the exact time is a bit unclear to me, so let's say noon), but will have the keys late tomorrow afternoon.  Water service starts Wednesday, electricity Thursday and garbage a week from today.  Tomorrow and Wednesday I will be acquiring all the supplies/materials needed to move in, so that Thursday morning I can get started on the work.  This is a list of what needs to be purchased and/or done before we can move in:

Exterior:
Cover for outdoor outlet
90 degree bend for gutter on south end of garage
Locksmith to re-key two deadbolts

Interior upstairs:
Supplies necessary for removal of carpet that will insure the hardwoods beneath aren't ruined in the process

Living Room:
Either reinforce or reattach mirror over fireplace.... it's coming loose so something needs to be done.

Master Bedroom:
Window Coverings
Replace foam mattress that we tossed because it had gotten moldy
Bedskirt
Water purifier

Bathroom:
Replace flooring (learned about this today.  I am NOT happy!)
Window coverings
Bolt vanity to the wall

Kitchen:
Level out the fridge

Basement:
Purchase washer and dryer
Check status of mirror over basement fireplace, given status of upstairs mirror

Once we get our stuff in and unpacked, a whole new list will come into being.  I'm excited to get to that stage because "Living Room Furniture" is on that list. :)

The Amazing Race 12: Preview

Season 12 of The Amazing Race starts in a week, and it looks like we have quite a few fun teams to choose from this year.  Here's how I rank them, worst to first:

Azaria and Hendrekea: Siblings who still haven't gotten over their rivalry with a brother who is perceived as a bully and a sister who is "dainty."  Unless Phil is willing to play Dad and quash any spats, these guys may never make it out of the starting gate.

Ari and Staella: I'm sorry, but looking at these two, and reading their biography, I can't help but think of Flo and Zach from season 2.  And although Flo and Zach won, I hated Flo, and still wish Zach would have killed her at the finish line so he could keep the money for himself.  I cannot live through that again, so I need this team to disappear quickly.

Marianna and Julia: Emotional, sarcastic, lacking a censor button, and relying on each other may cause some problems.  That has loser written all over it.  And their strategy to flirt their way through the race won't work, because blonde beats brunette in that competition, so Shana and Jennifer will be their demise.

Jennifer and Nathan:  They're soul mates that can't stop breaking up, and drive each other crazy.  As always, doomed.  What seals their fate:  She used to be a dancer for the LA Clippers.  The JV Cheerleader squad to Laker Girls' varsity status.

Kynt and Vyxsin:  Between the proclamations of "keeping Louisville weird," the fact that Kynt looks like Pete Burns (lead singer of Dead or Alive), and the fact that his girlfriend's name is Vyxsin, I strongly suspect his name is really Cunt, but they had to edit it for television.  I think they're doomed, because I've never seen a goth even willing to WATCH athletics, much less participate in them, but I really want them to survive enough to make it to a third world country, just to see the (lack of) interactions with the locals.

Kate and Pat:  Gay, married, Episcopal clergy.  YAY!   I'm rooting for this team, but have no delusion that they will be winners.  Then again, I though the Bowling Moms would be sacrificial lambs and they made it to the final three, so I'm putting these guys ahead of all the teams that I really don't think have a chance, and hoping for the best.

Ronald and Christina: I think this team is doomed, but I'm still rooting for them.  Just the fact that Ronald (the father of the obligatory parent/child team) is wearing a sweatshirt that says "Who's Your Daddy?" has made me fall a little bit in love with them.  They'll excel at travel and interacting with the locals.  They will fail at athletic endeavors and interacting with each other.

Rachel and TK: Of the "dating, and going on the race to test the relationship" team, these two seem the most grounded.  They'll probably be OK, but thus far seem so forgettable that I'll probably forget they're running the race until they get themselves eliminated.

Nicolas and Donald:  This team is a bit of a wildcard at the moment.  I think a grandfather/grandchild team has a better chance than a parent/child team, simply because there are usually less issues with the skipped generation.  I like that the kid is a pilot, so should rock at navigation and travel challenges.  And Grandpa is described as "street smart," which should give them an edge in other sorts of situations.  So definitely well-rounded.  The question is whether or not Gramps has the strength to last.  He looks like a tank, so I'm wagering he does, but if he doesn't have the physical ability than they're doomed.

Lorena and Jason:  The couple wanting to see if marriage is in the cards for them and if their relationship can last.  Here's a hint, folks:  if you need to go on a reality competition show to test if your relationship will last, the answer is it won't.  They're athletic and traveled, which will work well for them.  But he's volatile, so there's going to be some big, ugly fights along the way.

Shana and Jennifer:  I want to hate this team because they are just too damn pretty, but you've got to admit they've got the total package.  They've got maturity, travel experience, and diversity.  And blonde hair and nice tits.  The world will lay down at their feet, and they will sail through with their makeup looking just fabulous.

Just click the link

LOLYankees... I can't believe I haven't seen this sooner

Fantasy Football Simplified

In 2006 something like 40-50% of fantasy football teams with LaDainian Tomlinson won their championships. 

When you consider there are 32 teams in the National Football League, 3-4 running backs per team, and multiple other positions to take into consideration, that is a very statistically significant number.

I suspect that if you were to substitute "2007" and "Tom Brady" in the first sentence you would probably be pretty close to the truth at the end of this season.

Unfortunately, I do not have Tom Brady on my team.

I DO have the kicker who kicked the most field goals in any NFL game ever on my team.

He was on my bench this week. 

But I STILL won the week and beat my husband this week.  Why?  Chad Pennington is the bomb.  Other people mock him, but I love having him as my third string quarterback.  Seven weeks into the season, and he's still the starting quarterback for the J-E-T-S Jets!  And that's saying something this year.

Adding To The List

We already know that my cat is:

• Psychic
• Homosexual
• Suffering from an Oedipal Complex

But tonight we added another one to the list:

• Bullimic

He's always had weird food issues.  Most recently being that he does not want anyone in the room when he is eating (which is difficult at my parents' place, considering they've got a great room layout at their home).  He also tends to puke a lot.  Tonight my dad commented that he always seems to puke as soon as he's done eating.

Yep, my cat likes to binge and purge.

The Rules

Previously, I have commented on the evil of the HOA.  We don't have an HOA at the new place, but we do have codes, covenants and restrictions that were implemented when the property was developed and subdivided in 1951 (paraphrased):

• We have to have a house or duplex.  It can't be more than 2-1/2 stories tall, and the garage can't be bigger than 2 cars.
• The house can't be a cheap piece of crap, and has to be at least 1000 square feet.
• We have to have an appropriately sized yard.
• We can't subdivide our lot into a tiny little pieces.
• Easements exists for utilities and such.
• No being a pain in the ass to the neighbors.
• No one can live in a tent, trailer or shack on our property.
• No livestock.  (Cats, dogs and household pets are allowed).
• Clean up your damn garbage, you slob.
• Sewage disposal systems must be legal.
• If you live on a corner (we don't) you can't have landscaping that prevents others from seeing around the corner while in their car.

Yeah, I think I can live by these rules.

A Roof Over Our Heads

Well, it's official.  We're getting ourselves a house WITH a roof.

Negotiating repairs was, perhaps, the most difficult part of the process.  But, we got all the stuff we REALLY wanted (well, except the outdoor light, but I always knew that was a longshot), and there is a CHANCE we'll be able to close early.

Life is good.

Homeless

It's official, I am now, without a doubt, homeless.  Except for the fact that I have kick-ass parents with a guest bedroom.  Thank goodness they aren't doing the "let's sell the house and live in a trailer" thing until NEXT year!  :)

At least there's a big chunk of change wiring it's way to our bank account at the moment.  That makes a girl feel better.