Dagmar - very excited for you! Welcome to the slippery slope and money pit of home ownership! Kidding - kinda. You know how it's said that laundry is never "done" unless everyone in the house is naked? I think my house is like that, except that it eats more money instead of time. My before/after photo album is now 3" thick ... However, there's nothing quite as satisfying as making "home base" your very own. Congrats!
Our money pit is not our home but our new building for our business. There were a lot of repairs we needed to do before we moved in but now that the summer heat has hit we've discovered that our office AC may not be up to snuff. With 105 outside and the AC set to 77 it actually gets up to 85 in the afternoons with the AC running full bore. DH used a gun that measures surface temperatures and the air coming in from the AC ducts is about 65 degrees, but it is not cooling the air closer to the ground (where we reside). The ceiling isn't that high, either--maybe 9 or 10 feet. So the AC guy is coming today and we'll discuss getting a bigger unit.
Dagmar, try to hold onto your elation over home ownership despite the enormity of the to-do list that has just landed on you. I loved furnishing my apartment (which is a good thing, because the flood meant that I had to do it twice in three years). It's a creative act, to make an atmosphere, somewhere between a bird building its nest and the creation of installation art that rejects or celebrates aspects of your past & what you hope your future will be.
Bargoo, thinking of you behind a fencing mask, and glad you'll have the comfort & ease of a car service, & can slip into the backseat of something big, comfy & expensive-smelling when you transition from home to medical center.
Shannon, you ran in a 10K, I just realized this from our exercise logging thread. How did that go? Did I totally miss your account of it somehow?
saef I think our home is going to be a bit more "rough and ready" than yours. I have pets and a man living with me so things are not bought that can't withstand some punishment. Couches have blankets thrown over them, rugs don't have fringes (Mudpie eats those), and no antiques (both Mud and DH are pretty rough on wooden furniture).
I do have a decorating plan, mostly incorporating everything we already have and adding some stuff. DH leaves most of that to me (though he does complain that he's got no input) as I pay for it so I get to choose. My theme is "Scando-Asian-curbside chic".
The decorating is the fun stuff for me. The reno has to be done first and will involve a lot of fighting, whining, and emailing back and forth. I have a plan for that too but DH has to be on board with it so it's tricky.
saef I think our home is going to be a bit more "rough and ready" than yours. I have pets and a man living with me so things are not bought that can't withstand some punishment. Couches have blankets thrown over them, rugs don't have fringes (Mudpie eats those), and no antiques (both Mud and DH are pretty rough on wooden furniture).
I do have a decorating plan, mostly incorporating everything we already have and adding some stuff. DH leaves most of that to me (though he does complain that he's got no input) as I pay for it so I get to choose. My theme is "Scando-Asian-curbside chic".
The decorating is the fun stuff for me. The reno has to be done first and will involve a lot of fighting, whining, and emailing back and forth. I have a plan for that too but DH has to be on board with it so it's tricky.
Dagmar, Is the house yours now? Did the closing happen? Been holding my breath all day.
I handed over the money yesterday - yes, in one big lump (how weird is that - very). I get the keys Monday. Is it a done deal? I don't know but I am now calling myself the owner of the house.
I guess when DH and I do our quick walk through the empty house on Monday night it will be official. Maybe we should "mark" in the corners?
The housewarming will be in November. I believe the food will be a little different then. I'll let you all know well in advance.
Should you all want to come to my current house now with all the cool juicy food you are most welcome. I do not like making salad, even though I enjoy eating it. Ditto fruit plates.
I can barely think. Going to take a cab to the lawyer's.
My before/after photo album is now 3" thick ... However, there's nothing quite as satisfying as making "home base" your very own. 
Congrats!
Happy house day, Dagmar! Woo!
!!!
