First, two new rules:
(1) The words “rent” and “sale” should both NOT be 4-letter words. We’ll leave “sale” alone, but let’s make “rent” a longer word (“rentacular!”) so that when I’m driving through a neighborhood and spy a “For ____” sign in a yard half way down the block, I can instantly tell whether it’s For Sale or For Rent(tacular!). This would save a lot on the erratic slam-on-brakes and sudden turning that I’ve been doing lately.
(2) Landlords should be required to put on their “For Rent” sign some sort of indication if they’re pet-friendly or not. I’m getting very tired of getting yelled at and belittled because I had the GALL to actually call and ASK if a prospective rental property allows pets. I’m sorry — your sign says “For Rent”, not “For Rent and I hate cats and dogs so don’t bother calling if you like 4-legged fluffy creatures”. I understand you may not allow them, but don’t treat me like a jerk for not knowing that via psychic intuition!
That being said …
We’re still looking for a new place to rent. The combination of in our price-range, wanting to be in a safe neighborhood, and needing them to allow small pets is proving to be very difficult to accomodate.
We found one rental possibility that we’re really in love with and it’s smack-dab in the comfort zone budget-wise, but the landlord is “iffy” on pets due to negative past experiences.
So I spent the last four hours tonight organizing the Giant Rental Portfolio of Doom! It has a copy of the landlord’s rental application, along with a cover letter, personal and professional references, pay stubs, copies of my rental insurance policy, and “profile pages” with photos, vet records, and references for our pets. It’s all in a nice folder with everything paper clipped and labeled.
I figure if that doesn’t impress them … nothing is going to. I think my sheer anal-retentiveness should qualify us, really! (Ha ha.)
Anyway, please say a prayer, send good vibes, or keep your fingers crossed for us! ::Hugs::
We’re slowly getting settled in around here. Though sometimes it feels like there will never be an end to the stacks and stacks of boxes.
We’ve been finishing up Little Man’s room. I still have to get a new mattress pad and pillows, and get my old toy box from my mom’s house. Then I think we’ll be done.
In other news… I managed to catch a nasty sinus infection (again) so I’ve been out of commission the last couple days. I’m hoping I can shake whatever nasty bug I caught soon. I don’t have time to be sick!
This has been a very, very busy week. We got the keys to the house Monday afternoon and now it’s only Thursday, but the place is beginning to look like home already. I’m in disbelief that it’s shaping up as quickly as it is. Not to say there’s not a lot of unpacking to do, but you can see the main living spaces taking shape, at least!
I’ve spent a lot of my time in the kitchen.
Tuesday night I washed every dish, bowl, drinking glass and mug that I own and put them in the cupboards. I unpacked the coffee pot (which is vital). I even found a cute little pumpkin-shaped candy dish (sitting on the stove at the moment, as a psuedo-spoon rest) amongst the junk my boxes. I thought it was quite seasonally-appropriate right now!
We also stocked the fridge…
Ok, that’s a complete lie. Actually, our cupboards and fridge are bare at the moment. Those 2 bottles of wine were Christmas gifts from last year that I have yet to uncork, and mom gave me the Asti to celebrate the new house (also has yet to be opened). In the fridge/pantry (but not in the picture) you’ll also find: a snack-pack mandarin oranges, maple syrup, soy sauce, 1 can of cream of chicken soup, 1 box of vanilla pudding mix, instant oatmeal, and assorted spices. Clearly, I can do some wicked cooking with those ingredients. Anyone up for some maple-glazed mandarin oranges in soy-chicken cream sauce? (Barf.)
Yesterday my dad, Mike and Dan (Mike’s brother) moved some of the bigger things from the storage unit to the house. I got a panicked call from Mike in the afternoon when they found this in the storage unit …
That would be the top edge of the back of my couch. With mold (mildew? unidentifiable organic fuzzy material?) or something like that. I freaked out completely. There was a whole dramatic series of events that I won’t go into … mostly only dramatic because I was terrified thinking that my mattress and couch and everything fabric-covered would be utterly ruined. (And how would I pay to replace it?! Would insurance cover it?!)
Long story short (too late!), my mother examined it and whatever those nasty goobers were, they brush right off (Yay, microfiber!) and left no smell behind at all. So I took my vacuum with the pet-brush handheld attachment and scrubbed the furniture down last night. Then went over it with Fabreeze for good measure. Then when I get some detergent for my Bissel steam cleaner, I’m going to use that on them too.
The day was saved and the living room is starting to look familiar and more like “home” again…
I was pleased as could be that my big coffee table fits in the room too. (My love for that coffee table will have to be expressed in another post…) Do you love the draperies? (They’re even nicer when they’re opened and tucked behind the nifty metal tie-back hooks! But this pic was taken around midnight last night, so I wasn’t going to open the drapes at that hour.) Mike picked out the drapes and the drapery hardware. He also hung them last night. (Whatta man!) I do need to take them back down and iron them to press out the wrinkes (they’re bad) as soon as I locate my iron, but I’ll get to that eventually.
You’ll also notice Gracie is sitting on the couch in that picture. (Stuart was off exploring somewhere and wouldn’t pose for the picture. Stinkin’ cat! haha)
So yes, Gracie and Stu have joined us at the house. Stuart was so, so happy. He couldn’t figure out what he wanted to do more: explore or cuddle. So he alternated all evening. Gracie was happy to explore, and happy to be able to play with her StuStu-Kitty, but she also looked a little lost. I think she’s used to having Kodi and Spock (my parents’ dogs) chasing her everywhere she goes, so the quietness of this house was a little weird for her.
Oh! And last night, I got to sleep in my bed. My bed. As in, my big ol’ cherry 4-poster with the smooshy pillow top mattress. (For the record, the mattress was fine — I’d forgotten we’d wrapped it in plastic before putting it in storage! Yay us!) It felt so good and was so comfy. I haven’t slept that well in what feels like ages. Of course, I had to sleep with a cat on my head and a dog between my feet — ’cause that’s what they do — but it still felt like home.
