Owning a Home is a Lot of Work

First night in the new place. Sleeping bag on the floor of the dining room, which needs just one more coat of paint. The color of the room is already up for debate. Christopher thinks it's orange. I think it depends on the light. We're still laying the broad strokes of the house, ripping up carpet, choosing colors for the walls, moving in appliances. The finer details will come in the next couple of days, the actual arrangement of rooms, hanging art on the walls, fixing handles.

The first thing I did after closing on the house on Friday was celebrate with friends. We had a little wine on the porch as I gave tours and explained redecorating plans. A couple of neighbors stopped by. The couple across the street know people I know, and the guy talked shop with Jim and Max. He works in Max's old department at Creighton, and they were actually supposed to meet through mutual friends for lunch that day. Max got busy and had to cancel.

Saturday was the first big work day. I moved in a lot of kitchen things, and got that set up first. I've read that it's important to set up an easy room first, so that you have a place to relax. The kitchen needs the least work, as there's not really anything to do to it. We're debating painting it a yellow of some sort. I might use the mustard paint I got from Jim and Jean. The chinese red they gave me for the dining room looks great, but is arguably not red. At least, according to some.

The work will go on for at least the next couple of weeks. I plan to have it funcitonal by next Saturday, so that I can host a Halloween/Day of the Dead party. Perhaps I will go as a crazy skeleton. There is plenty to do as we have to expose all the hardwood, spot treat all the paint globs, apply a liquid cleaner, then polish it with a little murphy's oil soap. There are plenty of walls to paint, and Christopher has a ton of paint from which to choose. The second priority is the stairs/hallway. It is sponge painted. Enough said.

As I've been told, I'll be running to the hardware store or Target a lot in the next couple of weeks. I'm trying to make a list, but there's always something else. I think that's the way of houses. There's always something else you could be doing, or fixing, or spending money on. However, the benefits far outweigh the money, which I have, or time, which I'll enjoy spending.

For one, we have a big back yard for Chris's dog, Xara to run around in. She's a half terrier, half greyhound. Very well trained, and only barks when she's excited to be playing with you. For two, I won't have muzak drifting up from the convenience store downstairs. Nor will I have to worry about parking. We have a two, count 'em two, car garage. There's equity, of course. And there's room. I have so many projects that I've put on hold because of space. Now we can set up all sorts of things, like a screenprinting area, like a letterpress, like a bike shop based on all the bikes and gear that Chris has.

It seems like we have complementary work that we like to do around the house. He's all about yard work. I cook all the time. We have similar tastes in decorating, and similar interests in art, design, outdoorsy stuff, music, and socializing. I still have a lot more to find out about him, but it seems like it will work out just fine. He wants to help out with Sharecrop, too. Say hello to my new headquarters. Max has already taken to calling it Xanadu, after Charles Foster Kane's place.

But I'm not moved in yet. I just slept here. I need to drive my dad's sweet truck [on loan] back downtown so I can take a shower and get dressed. I still have spot through the end of the week. I can park and walk to work. I can park and get the rest of my stuff. I can park and clean the hell out of my former apartment. Shouldn't take long, I keep things pretty neat anyway.

Comments

[George W. Bush]

Ben, I'd stay away from the Orange and go with a warm green.
"Martha Stewart Green" is a personal favorite as it is the one
our personal decorator has suggested as it is warm and not imposing.

What you also need to make sure to have in your new house is a good set
of curtains. I also prefer curtains over blinds as they add warmth to the room.
They also work well to close quickly when you catch Ashcroft out there
standing naked in the rain staring at you. The man has issues.

Anyway, best of luck with the house. Let me know when your first party
is and maybe I'll drop a flyer to the bush girls. Ya know they love a good
party!

Your President
George "Dubya" Bush