Animal house!
Hello my fellow bloggers.
So quite a bit has happened since my last post. Ethan and I closed on a house and have moved in. Its been fun playing real house but its also expensive. Money doesn't sit in my account like it used to. Ethan and I both have spent over 1000$ just getting items for the house to make it comfy. For the most part the house was completely move in ready. There wasnt any work really required at move in. Just getting things for the house to make it a home are really expensive. Overall I dont think the most expensive part is behind us. We need to water seal the foundation. It gets very damp in the basement to the point where in several years time moisture will damage the foundation wall. Causing at least a $15k replacment job. The sealant or whatever it is, is quite expensive and will have to be applied by hand. Ethan and I calculated it to around about 1600.00$ or so. right now the dehumidifier runs at full speed to keep as much moisture as possible out of the basement. We have set up the dehumidifier so that it drains into a large container as the reservoir on the appliance it self filled up within a few hours time causing the thing to auto shut off. I have to say the dehumidifier does a great job since when you go into the basement it feels very dry down there. We are hoping to get the sealant stuff here to complete phase 2 of operation stopthemoisture. Phase 3 is getting the gutters cleaned out so that the water doesnt flow over the gutter and on the ground and into the basement, but rather go down the spout and away from the house. We've been lucky that most of this summer has been very dry with only a rain shower maybe once a month. While this overall operation will be expensive it we sure it will save us money in the long run.
Secondly on our house agenda is the installation of a fire pit. We went shopping for some we liked at Ace Hardware but again our tastes are always expensive. Some of them range nearly to 1000.00$$ They are handmade and look awesome. The one we were considering is small and about $300.00. Ive tabled the purchase of it only to see if something else comes up that requires money.
Let's remember that no living space expansion goes without an expansion of brood as well. Weve adopted another Boston Terrier. His name is Nitro. He and Petey are best of friends. This is pretty surprising as Petey and Nitro didnt get along. At first a butt sniff here and pecker lick there but it always turned out to be hump your doggie butt session that always led to fight. At one point I think it would have encourage boys who frequent a bathhouse to take notes. Tater as the alpha had to break the newbie in and did a good job of it because I now can see him being a good dog. Now Petey and Nitro are a team that is hell bent on lowering the neighborhood squirrel population. Petey alone has taken out 2 or 3 of their babies and gave one of them enough terror to keep squirrel psychologist going for years. Its clear they are one pack now since each of them will lay next to each other on the couch without trying to make a gay doggie porno session out of what should be a quiet TV viewing experience. Overall things have started to quiet down, with the exception of the 2012 football season.
Yesterday was the 1st game as a homeowner I've encountered. It wasnt too bad, but slightly annoying. We're are close enough to the stadium so that everyone wants to park in front of house making difficult to get in and out of our driveway. After the game started I sat on my back patio and heard the crowd cheered as the announcer's echo told me the score. Michigan was playing Air Force and as part of the Air Force's scheduled pep rally a few military jets flew overhead. One of them being a some giant transport plane. Later on, Ethan and I bopped to downtown for some late brunch and a late afternoon martini when a very intimating stealth bomber capped the rooftop of every Ann Arborite in central ann arbor. The roar of the engine wasnt heard until after the war machine had past us and then it could be felt within our bones. If I remember correctly I think that is part of its design. You dont know its coming until its too late. In any case I can see why the plane would be frightening. Overall it was a fun experience being downtown again when the game is going on. It reminded me of my Greene st apt I had years ago. I watched several house parties on my way to downtown and realized that Im getting old. It looked like fun but drinking shitty beer and doing stupid stuff that requires one to stand up on a wobbly porch rail just doesnt do it for me anymore. I will however wear my Michigan attire to blend in to the crowd so I dont look like im a fuddy duddy.
So that is how crazy it has been. Oh yeah one last thing. Ethan finally managed to figure out the enigma on how to turn up the water heater. The replicating lesibans who had owned the house prior had it turned to the lowest setting so that it wouldn't scald their offspring. *eye roll* Steamy hot baths here I come.
So quite a bit has happened since my last post. Ethan and I closed on a house and have moved in. Its been fun playing real house but its also expensive. Money doesn't sit in my account like it used to. Ethan and I both have spent over 1000$ just getting items for the house to make it comfy. For the most part the house was completely move in ready. There wasnt any work really required at move in. Just getting things for the house to make it a home are really expensive. Overall I dont think the most expensive part is behind us. We need to water seal the foundation. It gets very damp in the basement to the point where in several years time moisture will damage the foundation wall. Causing at least a $15k replacment job. The sealant or whatever it is, is quite expensive and will have to be applied by hand. Ethan and I calculated it to around about 1600.00$ or so. right now the dehumidifier runs at full speed to keep as much moisture as possible out of the basement. We have set up the dehumidifier so that it drains into a large container as the reservoir on the appliance it self filled up within a few hours time causing the thing to auto shut off. I have to say the dehumidifier does a great job since when you go into the basement it feels very dry down there. We are hoping to get the sealant stuff here to complete phase 2 of operation stopthemoisture. Phase 3 is getting the gutters cleaned out so that the water doesnt flow over the gutter and on the ground and into the basement, but rather go down the spout and away from the house. We've been lucky that most of this summer has been very dry with only a rain shower maybe once a month. While this overall operation will be expensive it we sure it will save us money in the long run.
Secondly on our house agenda is the installation of a fire pit. We went shopping for some we liked at Ace Hardware but again our tastes are always expensive. Some of them range nearly to 1000.00$$ They are handmade and look awesome. The one we were considering is small and about $300.00. Ive tabled the purchase of it only to see if something else comes up that requires money.
Let's remember that no living space expansion goes without an expansion of brood as well. Weve adopted another Boston Terrier. His name is Nitro. He and Petey are best of friends. This is pretty surprising as Petey and Nitro didnt get along. At first a butt sniff here and pecker lick there but it always turned out to be hump your doggie butt session that always led to fight. At one point I think it would have encourage boys who frequent a bathhouse to take notes. Tater as the alpha had to break the newbie in and did a good job of it because I now can see him being a good dog. Now Petey and Nitro are a team that is hell bent on lowering the neighborhood squirrel population. Petey alone has taken out 2 or 3 of their babies and gave one of them enough terror to keep squirrel psychologist going for years. Its clear they are one pack now since each of them will lay next to each other on the couch without trying to make a gay doggie porno session out of what should be a quiet TV viewing experience. Overall things have started to quiet down, with the exception of the 2012 football season.
Yesterday was the 1st game as a homeowner I've encountered. It wasnt too bad, but slightly annoying. We're are close enough to the stadium so that everyone wants to park in front of house making difficult to get in and out of our driveway. After the game started I sat on my back patio and heard the crowd cheered as the announcer's echo told me the score. Michigan was playing Air Force and as part of the Air Force's scheduled pep rally a few military jets flew overhead. One of them being a some giant transport plane. Later on, Ethan and I bopped to downtown for some late brunch and a late afternoon martini when a very intimating stealth bomber capped the rooftop of every Ann Arborite in central ann arbor. The roar of the engine wasnt heard until after the war machine had past us and then it could be felt within our bones. If I remember correctly I think that is part of its design. You dont know its coming until its too late. In any case I can see why the plane would be frightening. Overall it was a fun experience being downtown again when the game is going on. It reminded me of my Greene st apt I had years ago. I watched several house parties on my way to downtown and realized that Im getting old. It looked like fun but drinking shitty beer and doing stupid stuff that requires one to stand up on a wobbly porch rail just doesnt do it for me anymore. I will however wear my Michigan attire to blend in to the crowd so I dont look like im a fuddy duddy.
So that is how crazy it has been. Oh yeah one last thing. Ethan finally managed to figure out the enigma on how to turn up the water heater. The replicating lesibans who had owned the house prior had it turned to the lowest setting so that it wouldn't scald their offspring. *eye roll* Steamy hot baths here I come.