Rod & DJ's House Selling/Building Adventure: 27 Signatures and 25 Initials Later

I'm sitting here in my "study" (also called the second bedroom in the plans), looking out a rain dotted window at the land between fairway and tee box on the 16th hole of Kestrel Ridge. I have Sirius Satellite radio playing Aaron Copland's Rodeo: Four Dances Episode and thinking . . .WOW. We did it.

Going back in time seven days ago DJ and I loaded the car with a few plants and other comfort things and drove the twenty minutes to Columbus WI to meet with the lawyers and other parties to seal the deal on our little 1700 sq foot house.

One hour and 27 Signatures plus 25 Initials later we were the proud owners of ### Vista Circle.

We unloaded the two cars with a few things and once the guests and left we sort of ran around from room to room with little squeaking noises of glee.

After we got tired we headed back to Madison for more packing and that sort of thing, plus I had golf league to take care of.

Friday we woke up and saw that not only was our internet connection disconnected(making it an internet DISconnection) but our DISH Network had also lost many stations. All we could watch were religious channels and porno plus one Japanese News station that was broadcasting in French. hmmmm, I'd like to see the meeting where they decide what channels to give canceled subscribers.

SO, with no other option we packed both cars and started moving boxes in earnest. When we got to the house there was a new four inch layer of top soil with grass seed and hay on top of that. Things were a little . . . .dusty. No problem as we set to work cleaning and unpacking.

Side note - we tried McDonald's coffee for the first time - pretty freaking good I'd say!!

I hooked up a hose and sprinkler system and started watering our new lawn like a proud father until the clouds darkened and it started to rain. Perfect - we would not have to use OUR water and we both loved hearing thunder. Blake, our Corgi was not too keen on the thunder thing and found the bathtub, jumped in and proceeded to hyperventilate. AHHH - just like home.

The storm passed and the sun came out and standing on our deck we smiled as we looked out over the fields at a full double rainbow. DANG - no camera, grrrrrrr!!!

After a few hours we once again had done all we had to do and we needed to get back for more packing. The movers were coming at 8:00 in the morning.

After a sort of restless night which was sad because a thunderstorm with rain moved in in the early mourning, perfect sleeping weather but . . . . . . we got up and the movers moved in as the storm subsided. Three hip hop dudes worked their tail off and we could not be happier with Mayflower Moving. It took six and a half hours and we were all moved in . . .. well, 98% of our stuff was now moved 20 miles north but so you could CALL it moved in but not really livable.

So there we were, a whole house of stuff and everything to put away.

DJ, me, Milo, Sierra and Blake all went our separate directions looking or each comfort zone. Well, Blake sort of followed one human or the other . . . . actually he did that for the next two days. Sierra headed to the under the bottom of the basement stairs and hid, Milo roamed around aimlessly, DJ went into the bathrooms and started unpacking bathroom stuff and I started to put together the Home Theater.

We all had our priorities. And it rained.

By this time our lawn was soaked and it was not normal mud! It was normal DEEP mud. Step on it and you sink and the mud flows over the top of your shoes, literally. And there was one small problem. The down spouts were making little Grand Canyons in the yard and our top soil was washing away.

By Sunday much of the clutter was put away and Sierra was now upstairs and both cats were LOVING the house. Low windows on all four sides. In fact with the move both cats are much more like friends. Or maybe it is the fact that Milo is on Prozac and not irritating Sierra with his howling.

Yes yes yes - Milo is part of the Prozac nation - long story, don't ask, it was the last resort.

Still no internet or TV Sunday and we had a cook out with DJ's daughter (Little J - 25 yr old) and husband (Big J) and just basked in the new house glory.

Later in the day DJ went over to Little Js house and I was still putting electronic things together when I hear a low rumble. I go to the deck and see this charming image.

SWEET - you can see one canyon on the bottom of the screen. We only get a little rain but other areas got 3-6 inches. WHEW.

Monday - The DIRECT TV guy comes to hook up the system and he bypasses the mud by going over the house and installing the dish on top. Then the Charter Cable guy comes for the internet (has anybody heard of something called WildFire or something like that??). Well the cable guy sees the DIRECT guy and before you know it they are in the mud fighting and punching and so forth . . . . . . . what? ok ok, they never did that, but it would have been cool!

SO - now we have TV, I have internet and I spent a little MORE time hooking up the wireless router (maybe our neighbor should try to see if they can get it).

Tuesday we had a landscaper stop by and we talked about stage one of landscaping and he will be coming again Saturday when he can measure without sinking up to his knees.

We plan on one Autumn Blaze Maple and a clump of River Birch in the back yard (oddly, there was a river there Sunday morning) and a White Crab tree in front.

I planted a lot of Day Lillies (one word??) next to the house which were planted by DJ's mom in the old house many many years ago. Once then grow I'll dig them up in the fall and separate them from the clumps of 15-20 . . pod thingys.

SO - I leave the cell phone in the car for a few hours and when I retrieve it I see there is a message. HEY - we have a showing in an hour a voice mail says - but it was actually two hours ago and the house IS A TOTAL DISASTER!!

We just moved out and there has been no time to clean and pick up!! AAAAAAGHHHH! Toss that one away I guess. Another showing Thursday.

We seem to be in a crack with the price. The house is assessed at 204K. First time buyers are in the 180K range in Madison and the larger money are buying in the 250K range. Our agent is saying our price is in the retirement range.

Well - I hope a lot of people are retiring soon LOL

ANYWAY - it's now night and I'm dry on words.

I leave you with a nighttime photo of the outside and one of the living room - don't get excited about the content on TV - I was watching Las Vegas!