Friday, May 26, 2006

Yet another: Housing Update

It’s been a long road, but by next week we should be able to apply to Shenandoah County for a temporary occupancy permit for our new house.

Why “temporary?”

Because the bottom floor won’t be completely done. There are two bathrooms down there, plus my raised dog tub and none of that will be done for three or four weeks.

Meanwhile, living in this house is becoming unbearable. Last night the clothes dryer gasped its last breath and, while I’m not above hanging clothes out to dry, this spring a tree fell on the clothesline. The water pressure in the bathroom is dwindling, meaning the pump is about to go – again – for the fifth time in the 17 years we’ve lived here (the well is 650 feet down). My mattress this week sprung a wire that sticks into my back. I pound it down, it pops back up. The only way to replace the mattress is to take the banister off the staircase to get it up the stairs, not an easy task and certainly not something you want to deal with if you’re moving in a few weeks.

It occurs to me that we’ve gone about this rather strangely. Most people would have gradually improved housing over a period of years. Instead, we’ve taken years to improve our housing. So we’re rather like the Beverly Hillbillies in that we’re moving from a shack to a mansion all in one go (that, and Dirtman’s shaving habit’s are kind of like Jed Clampett’s).

Not that this is a mansion, but it is certainly a honkin’ big house. I have major house guilt over this and keep apologizing to people. Truth to tell, I originally wanted a very small cottage, but when you add a couple of kids plus a home business plus a husband who adores chaos – well, it kind of became like Rose Red and I’m not so sure that even when we think we’re done construction will stop.

So start baking that cheesecake and chess pie, Jag and Leslie; cool the wine, Trasherati; and Mamma K, whatever – sure to be wonderful: The Linguinis are movin’ on up, to the east (west…) side, to that dee-lux apartment (house), in the sky…

Editor's Note: The above pictures are old. Sisiggy fully intended to update the pictures. Then attempted to navigate the dark staircase and went tumbling down, probably rebreaking the ankle she's broken twice before. As you read this, she is probably waiting in a long line to be x-rayed. This is because she's too cheap to go to the emergency room and, therefore, spent the night making everyone in the house miserable.
Update: Whiney Sisiggy did not break or even sprain her ankle. It is swollen and very colorful and big baby that she is, she will insist on putting her foot up today as a good excuse to knit and listen to books on tape. None of this will prevent her from going to the Williams Sonoma outlet and to see Aussie puppies with Mamma K tomorrow. So don't cry for me, Argentina.

6 comments:

Sisiggy said...

Early on will be the Linguini meeting for those of us interested only in eating, sitting in the hot tub and drinking wine (as a poster here you are, of course, invited -- remember?). The pool won't be in yet and the landscaping may be dicey, but by the second glass, it shouldn't matter much.

Later will be a more lavish soiree featuring everyone on the planet and my brother, and so I will probably hide in the library when not serving food. Dirtman was going to hire a caterer, but I said I wanted to cook for it since in the back of my mind I knew Mamma K wouldn't let me go it alone...

Anonymous said...

The house looks good even in the old pictures. Woohoo..

Anonymous said...

ah, I will just swing my magic stick to make your house and ankle goood as gold!

*adrakadabra* *pling*

- Did it work?

Let me know if anything unusual happened, because I'm only practising yet, so there can be some light side effects *lol*

Anonymous said...

LOL.... Doggies and Willams & Sonoma... hmm... most of my friends would find that hard to resist too.

mrhaney said...

this is a great looking house. i did not know you were rich. do you want to adopt me. it is about time i move up in the world.

White Trasherati said...

Name your varietal.
It's heartwarming that you're...housewarming. I'm thrilled for you guys. And let me know if you need anything to help with the hurt ankle.