She's Baaack!

I've moved back into my house. It was rough going the first couple of days, the hot water was shut off and there was a circuit or two out of commission. Dave came and sorted that all out, including capping the gas line that went to the old stove (whew! glad I didn't try my luck at starting the gas water heater!... Actually, that would have been okay, the gas was shut off at the meter which I never would have figured out or dared mess with unadvised).

But, now that that's all settled, it's good to be back. I managed to get back into the house just 2 nights before the annual "Take Back The Night" night of block parties everywhere. It was dumb luck that I managed to pick a route back to the house that I could actually take all the way back to the house. That was the same day Dave came to fix the gas and the electric. When he arrived at the house he said "how come you're not out there with all your neighbors?"... Uh, no good reason. So I went to the nearest block party--or second nearest, there were two within half a block of my house, which seems a little ridickle to me.

Anyway, I went to the one a half block to the south (rather than half a block to the north), and met at least 6 of my neighbors. For me, (when I'm suffering the shame of having forgotten about the whole thing and so being unprepared with no macaroni salad of my own to contribute...) that was pretty good. I met Dennis from the corner, and Todd from the other corner, both of whom I'd met before. Then I met Jeanne and Kevin, and Jeff and Dave and Ellie, and Rita and Bill.. Hey! I remember more than I thought!! Anyway, they were all really nice, an it was pretty fun to say "I live in the house right down there, the one with the new porch." And listen to people ooh and aah over it. Todd, whose house was right there where the party was, had TONS of work done on his house before he and his family moved into it. I told him he was "the pride of the neighborhood." "Not like Dave," he protested. Dave used to live in the house right next door to Todd, until about 4 days prior to the party. Dave and his family moved into a house 4 blocks down the street, "the one that was raised up." O my god, I know that house. It's true, Todd's house is nothing compared to Dave's. And Todd--I happen to know--bought his house for 500K and said it wouldn't be liveable until he put 200K more into it--and he did!

Anyway, I still felt (feel) pretty darn good about my porch. Dave (my contractor) said it would be the nicest porch on the block, and I think he's right. Luckily Dave (my neighbor) no longer lives on my block!

The kitchen floor is grouted and sealed, and it's BEAUTIFUL. I need to talk with Dave and see if he'll just build a tub surround for the tub that I have. It's less than optimal, but it's a good brand, it's a nice tub and best of all it's bought and paid for and ready to go. I'll get a toilet this weekend from my folks, then I'll just need a vanity and that upstairs bath will be good to go! Then if I can order my freakin' cabinets it'll be almost done!