How We Spent Our Fuel Money

The price of diesel is getting downright obscene.  Gas is pretty bad, too.  For us to get on the road fulltime, we've got some hurdles to complete on the house, making it more desirable for that one buyer we (and everybody else) are looking for.

One major house project was replacing the old, original Formica kitchen countertop with a new, modern Corian unit.  The Formica was original to the house, it was cracked, stained, warped and just plain ugly.

 We picked out the color  for the new Corian countertop about a month and a half ago, suffered through a national back order of the material to make the countertop and finally we both had to arrange our work schedules to be home when the contractors came to do the job.

Yesterday, I watched as the job was started.  The countertop, sink, faucet and plumbing all had to be removed. 

It came off in no time.

While I waited on the team of installers to come, I used some white Kilz sealer to cover some water stains where the sink was.

It was amazing that the cabinets that the countertop covered were not level.  The contractor spent a good hour re-leveling the cabinets so the new Corian would fit perfectly.  The old Formica countertop was very flexible and bent to fit the off level cabinets (love fast, mass built houses).  The Corian will not flex and would have left gaps had the cabinets not been properly leveled.

Then the installers arrived with the new countertop and went to work.  After about two hours of fiddling, gluing and sanding, the Corian unit with the new, integral sinks was in place.  It had to sit for 24 hours before the plumbing could be reinstalled.

Today, Marti went to work a little late so the plumber could install the brand new faucet, which matched the countertop color and hook up all the plumbing.

The finished project.  We could have bought a lot of diesel fuel for what this cost, but without doing it, we might be waiting even longer for that elusive buyer. ;c)

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Checking Out the Competition

While we are working steadily on getting the house ready for sale, other houses in the neighborhood are popping up on the market.  Our realtor sent us the latest multiple listing for the houses on the market near us and their sale prices.

We took a ride around and looked at them.  After viewing them, we feel pretty confident that we have gone way beyond what the other homeowners have done (or not done) to their houses.  We've spent a bunch of money and realize that even though the wallet is getting thinner, every cent will help move the house towards a completed sale.  Money is flying out of my wallet so fast, I'm afraid it will catch fire.

Today the house and deck were power washed, a quick $525, but the results were fantastic, the deck looks brand new (it's over 20 years old).  Thursday we get the new Corian countertops put in (finally, after a national back order on the material used to make the Corian).  Lastly, we put in the order for the new carpet.  After the contractor measures the rooms, we'll get the cost.  Hopefully, we'll have oxygen and an AED nearby...

At work today, I finished my last project.  Every year I have to write ten completely different advancement tests for Coast Guard members in my specialty, 150 different questions on each test, that's 1500 questions.  It is a big relief to get that over with.  Now it will be just teaching a few classes and hanging around looking pretty for the next couple of months until the retirement date hits.

One of these days, we'll get a chance to scoot away in the Journey for a couple of days, boy do we need a break!  It's been so long, I'm not sure what the Journey looks like any more...

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Marti's Musings: A split weekend

We ended a l-o-n-g week last week by the sudden goodbye to Zoe, the Wonder Dog.  My job was pretty stressful all week, ending with a 12 hour day Friday, and then the mad dash to the vet's office.  Sure has been one thing after another recently. 

This weekend our time was split between helping our son Corey get his house ready to rent to a new tenant, and our ongoing getting-ready-to-move-on stuff.   Our son is learning some tough lessons being a landlord in his mid-twenties!  The last tenant trashed the house, including ruining all the carpets with nail polish spilled throughout the house, in various colors. (yeah, hard to believe, huh?)  So, all the carpet needed to be replaced, and then the tenant (I would LIKE to use a few choice words here) refused to show up for the walk-through, and never returned the house keys!  Pressure is on, as a new tenant was moving in today.  So, amidst Paul meeting the carpet installers, doing minor repairs throughout, me sending in a housekeeper to clean up, and having the house door re-keyed - well, that was pretty much Saturday.

While Paul was meeting the carpet installers I was doing loads of laundry, and weeding out some more drawers. Yeah, well the clothing thing is gonna take longer than I thought.  Paul was right, my wardrobe is out of control!  I can't get rid of my work clothes, 'till I am done with work.  Gotta work 'till the house sells, hmmm - seems like a vicious circle.  So, I weeded, did loads of laundry, and have filled another large garbage bag full of give-away clothes. Next, I will have to do final decisions on what I want (read: can fit) to take with me on the road.  Our son and DIL, have offered to store winter clothes (coats, etc) as they live in a 4 season state, and we would need those things visiting them.  I can't decide, though - I will be wearing primarily jeans, but - there will be times I need other clothes, right??  We are church goers, we plan to volunteer (hopefully with SOWERS, or the like) - and if we are in one spot for a month, I can't wear the same outfit 4 weeks in a row... sheesh!  Decisions, decisions..

We got a few hanging plants for the porch - it gives the house just a little bit of 'oomph, -  a nice touch.  Plus the red flowers attract humming birds!  :-)  Think it will attract a seller or two?  Here's hoping.  One of the two houses for sale down the street is already under contract.  Today we heard a bit of good news:  per a local realtor our town is "hopping" for selling houses.  Great news!!

Next weekend we will be totally focused on this house as Caring Transitions will come in and help weed out, clean out, and we begin the staging of the house.  YIKES!

Amidst all this craziness, we still shed a tear or two for Zoe.  We randomly suddenly realize she isn't here anymore.  She drove us crazy at times, but was definitely one of the family.  The house is quieter, we don't need to bring home our leftovers anymore from our restaurant meals, and when I see lightening in the distance, I no longer have to rush home before she starts panicking and digging up the carpet.  I guess on the bright side, when we have the carpet replaced, we won't have to worry if she is going to rip it up....  *sigh*  Life goes on.  We sure are ready for the next step!  Getting to this step sure seems endless.

~Marti