Catching Up

NOTE: 99% of this was written at the end of July...

So...it's been awhile. Much has happened in the last few weeks. I shall debrief and then post pics later this week...

An amazing amount of work has been done to the house since I wrote last, thanks to los padres/Mom & Dad/Grandma and Grandpa. They arrived the evening of July 16 and spent most of their time here helping me get the house in order. We tackled unpacking the remaining boxes, painting the horrid, cranberry office, and just about everything in between. I don't think I can begin to count the number of hours we spent working, nor can I correctly add up the number of trips to Costco, Home Depot or Target. The end result is pretty darn amazing, and while there is much still to be done, I love that my family has put their blood (no, really), sweat, and love into making my new house a home. I can't begin to thank them enough.

There are many fun stories from our time together, and I will elaborate soon, but here are a few teasers:

• Dad gave a precious little nickname to my basement, though I think this blog will be flagged should I write it out.


• Mom cleaned my entire basement from ceiling to floor and brought the laundry tub/sink back to life with merely a sponge, white vinegar and Lime Away.


• Dad and I cut up yards and yards of carpet and carpet pad, which, I am proud to say, will fully be disposed of by tomorrow morning.
• Dad and I spent an entire day painting my office. What was once the deepest, darkest cranberry color is now a lovely Silver Sage. It's a new room.


• Mom took on the yard and garden, watering, weeding, fertilizing, and planting a lovely window box outside the kitchen window.


• Dad introduced me to Famous Dave's pickles. Yum.


• The three of us were trapped in a Super Target when a tornado warning took affect. I suppose there are worse places to be stuck...


• We spent two very fun evenings with Linda Nucci - one grilling at the house, and the other eating a Nucci family specialty at Linda's - and playing fetch with the largest, most agile sheep dog ever, Puttney (sp?).


• Linda agreed to pick up my new work desk from Crate and Barrel and transport it home with the back door of her MDX half-open (thank goodness for good friends...especially friends with SUVs). Later that evening, dad and I struggled getting the desk into the office, and we all went to bed thinking we would either have to dismantle it completely and rebuild it in the office or wait for a miracle. The next morning, out miracle came. With clear heads, we carried the desk into the room with little effort.


• We skyped for the first time with the Smiths and B.D. Rileys. Noah, Nolan & Pen stole the show, while Nolan introduced us all to naked skyping.

It was so much fun to have the folks in town - they were kind enough to put up with some questionable sleeping circumstances (office, living room) on top of all the manual labor they did. I wonder if they will ever come back? Even with the promise of a proper guest room and less work?