Monday, January 7, 2013 (an all nighter)
Hi Dr. Marvin
... this is me and I think we're going to write just for a little bit.
We're having trouble falling asleep ... it is 12:28 AM and Rich just got
up to use the washroom and remind us that we weren't sleeping. If you got
the last note, you know that we asked the Realtor (Charlie) to write a contract
to present tomorrow. The first contract is the balloon and if that didn't
work ... I’m thinking Rich is going to ask his brother to give him a loan.
He's put out the seed thought already that it might come to that, but it
would be entirely up to Mark. Rich and he know that Mark's got 3 years
before he retires and will want a home, and Rich would sign a contract to say
he'd be fully paid up WITH 5% interest on the loan and then the mother would be
taken care of without Mark really having to pay anything on his own. It
just give Rich and us some time ... I'm thinking ideally he would borrow
$50,000. The first $37,000 would come from Mark's money given by his
mother and the last $13,000 would come from his savings which he has about
$30-40,000. I feel surer that Mark would do the "good thing” for not
only his mother, but Rich and us.
I'm not sure that I am
feeling over-confident when I shouldn't. Just have this strong feeling
this is going to work out. I don't want to blame anyone if something
takes a different turn. We're looking for fabulous results ... those are
what my horoscope says - Rich's? He has to worry today (Tuesday) about
people talking back of his back. Could be anyone thinking that he
shouldn't ask so much from a family, or possibly even that something go wrong
tomorrow and we get petty ... thinking though you and Linda would be the only
two hearing the negative Ann ... other than that I'd have to
"woman-up." Rich's horoscope says he still has to show
consideration and kindness. Ok, next ... we have to check out YOUR
horoscope! Well if it's a choice between showing someone you’re true
spirit shining through ... or presenting in a sexy outfit ... show off what's
most unique about you between the two.
See now you barely have
to worry about the day now that we got it all figured out :)
Ok, one more walk down
the house path tonight ... now 12:40 AM and it's not getting any earlier ...
There are 167 pictures to go through one more time. I'll try to hold down
the chatter. But, seeing something with eyes we share with you ...
PRICELESS!
(1 of 167) The first
picture is not actually our place, but is of the model and gives a good idea of
the place architecturally. By the way ... You've seen some of the very
first pictures. We've added maps, and then there are the 16 pictures
you've seen, and then there's the other adding up to 167.
(2 of 167) The harbor
drive picture is the real building ... the side of our driveway is toward the
street. We are on the southwest side of the building as she sits with the
sky being north and the driveway being south :) The main entrance is to the
right of the second garage. We have to walk on the stepping stones at the
middle of the grass to get to the front door - OR go in through the garage.
Rich and I did a little arguing about what faces out each of the
windows, but it's all good in general.
(3 of 167) on this
picture you can see the exit from 55 on 30 and how close our place is to the
Joliet Mall ... there are a LOT of stores and restaurants and include things
like target ... a fishy store ... and a JoAnn's Fabric. You can see how
close we are also to the "L" shaped lake (Chase Lake). Charlie
thought it belonged to the Parks and Recreation and that Rich could put a line
in :) - Our place is being covered by the Red "B.” I like being off of
Hennepin and Essington. Looking at the Bolingbrook place we watched for
so long - it was off of Essington so every time we passed it on the way to
Rich's mother ... we had to keep our attention on not living in the place of
Essington - so that is a good thing we've found someplace even better for us -
at least $100,000 less :) AND, as for Hennepin ... I was born in Hennepin
County, MN. WooHOO!!! That's got to be a sign.
(4 of 167) Hmm, this is
going to take a while ... we might have to put this note in the Blog.
Pswhoo! Anyway this picture shows the 93 miles or 1 hour 50 Min to
Linda's house :)
(5 of 167) This picture
pulls in the map better to get more cities acknowledged. The key cities
were that we live off of LaGrange, Maury is in Des Plaines, Joe is off Elmhurst
in Lombard, my ex lives in Bolingbrook, and Rich's ex and two boys live in the
itty bitty top left corner of Algonquin ... we know where you are at - business
wise too :) ... Almost everything we do will be off the 55 corridor yet … it's
been that way all along and feels comfortable to me - familiar.
(6 of 167) The
purple line from Millington (Rich's Mom's) and the Red "B" being our
new place would be a distance of 35 minutes - STRAIGHT west.
(7 of 167) This purple
line goes to your place - you are 50 minutes NE - again the 55 corridor.
Brookfield REALLY looks a lot closer in this map ... but we'd have to let
that old convenience go.
(8 of 167) This is a
really close up. I can see Rich aimlessly throwing his jigs and worms in
the lake just to loosening his arm :) Again we're right under the main
mall and it excites me that out of ONE of our windows forget which we're across
from Hooters ... Somehow that comes off as a good deal. Rich is worrying
a little about being so close to a mall, but I love it. The area we live
now is a deserted (FOR 12 YEARS) commercial site BLAH. There
are a lot of houses around us ... but we're one of the bigger housing units in
the area. All the houses in our division are off of Harbor Drive ... it
gives me a sense of neighborhood just a really nice size.
(9 of 167) You've seen
these next 16 pictures. The first being a view of our place from the side
... you can see our garage more than anything. No ... we haven't given or
been accepted yet for a contract ... just reminding both of us, BUT it FEELS
like our place.
(10 of 167) This is the
LR view of the space between kitchen and breakfast nook. It's pretty
amazing, but the colors yellow and green like that one place we loved with the
stairs are the colors we'd pick if we were to paint rooms - and, the design on
the couches? It's the same or very similar print to the drapes I chose
for our old LR. We've got very similar tastes ... we did find out that
the lady selling the building (through relatives) is now in an assisted living
home. Nicely enough ... she didn't die!
(11 of 167) I so love
getting a fireplace ... if we do ... and the color of the drapes that I think
they are leaving are the color of our couch ... maybe a shade darker. I'm
a little worried about the TV. I would like it to go on the fire place
mantel, but the base is 9" wide and the base on the mantel is 7 1/2"
wide. The TV is weighted on the 7 1/2" piece, but I don't know if that
is considered a sturdy arrangement ... have to ask someone in the know.
You can tell there are shades under the scalloped curtains, and then you
can see the vertical shades which are actually covering the balcony windows.
(12 of 167) We’d have
to fit TWO couches corner to corner that are each 9', with Rich's chair next to
the window, OR we could have two couches on either side of the fireplace with
Rich's chair in the middle - toward the front door ... time would tell.
We've got a 40" round table that will go in the LR nicely.
(13 of 167) We would
need to get Thom's table back from my sisters - the 8 seat glass table.
She doesn't want it and wants us to move it. We would put just
Rich's chair, laptop table and footstool in front of the windows. Rich
would do his office work on the dining room table. The light is gorgeous!
The table would probably be up against the wall normally. Where she
has her cabinet, we'd put our two thin (29") Baker's Racks ... one would
have my Grandmother's dishes and the other would have Rich's. We might
take back until Maury or Ame is ready for it my other Grandmother's dishes.
There seems to be plenty of room in the kitchen for them :)
Ok, just redid this
thought … inserting thoughts at 4:47 AM here as we look over and do some
grammatical editing. Just that we’re
thinking what we really could do and it would be much better is to put one
couch as mentioned before - along the main living room wall. Just that instead of making an “L” shape with
the two couches … we could put the second couch under the windows in the LR
toward the balcony. That way it opens
the bigger space which meant that we could put Rich’s chair where the love seat
had gone in the picture. That way … we
could still put the two bookshelves on either side of the long wall couch … and
then we’d leave that couch as two open sections and then the section I sit on –
the lounge – so that the open end on the opposite side of the lounge would be
close to the fireplace. Then we’d put
the tea cart between my lounge end of the couch – good viewing for the TV on
top of the fireplace mantel, and then 90 degrees from there would be Rich’s
chair along with his footstool and his laptop table. In front of the couch directly would be the
round table.
That way … if Rich
could convince his mother to sit in the living room – most likely in her wheel
chair … she would be able to pull up in the open spot between Rich’s chair, the
dining room table and the open space between the walkway to the kitchen nook
and the couch on the window wall. I
really like this idea a lot. Because we
used the open couch on the long wall, we figured that we would have a two armed
couch along the window. This would be a
nice place for company … or to lie on the one arm of the couch with feet up
facing the TV. I didn’t know before how
to get all the best views since the TV is going to be high up, but this really
works, especially with me sitting fairly close to Rich and him sitting directly
across the room facing the TV so he’s not squinting his neck J SEE SEE!?? Good deal,
right?
Now back to the
previous material.
(14 of 167) Ok, this is
going to be an all-nighter. Just got to get this stuff off my chest ...
Don't know a better person Dr. Marvin than you to be doing this with. This is
the first of the kitchen pictures. On the left of the kitchen table is
the family room and on the right is the living room. The picture is being
taken at the end of the kitchen closest to the bedrooms, baths, AND hall.
(15 of 167) This shot
lets in a little bit of the sink - THREE parts! And it shows an inkling
of the pass through to the dining room LOVE IT! In the upper right you
can see also the perspective of where the balcony comes in - through the door.
(16 of 167) This is on
the table side of the kitchen looking toward the bedrooms hall. Soooo
much cabinet space ... we have only about the size of half the cabinets AND we
don't have a pantry like this one - see left 1/3 of picture across from fridge.
Nice lamp too, right? Not sure what we'll put on top of the
cabinets ... maybe something nice ... hmm, have to think about it. I'm
thinking right above the pie rack for the third set of Grandma’s dishes.
Not sure ... we're going to need some glass/cup cabinets that are bigger.
Maybe there's a nice way to show off some dishes up on top. I'm not
sure if Rich's mom has dishes from home she wants to keep with her. It’s an
idea.
(17 of 167) The next is
the first shot of the family room. My 5' desk with hutch will go where
she has her desk. And then we'll have a sofa sleeper - queen size at
about 78" x 36", but the 6' long bed would total 90" from the
wall out toward the window/sewing table – the room is 15 x 12' so the bed pulls
out into the short side of the room. 90" is 7 1/2' so not much space
when it pulled out. Table is 2 1/2" wide so there would be 2'
between one and the other ... it's doable. The couch we were looking at
is from the Room Place I think for about $1100 ... think we could get by with a
$750 couch.
So 60" of desk next to 78" of couch is 138 of 180" (-138) = 42" ... the shelves again the far wall are 13" - leaving 29" for the second part of the "L" shaped sewing tables. It's close enough to the 2 1/2' wide table because a little can overlay the couch (by an inch :) because the table length will be 7 1/2' x 8' ... so with the 7 1/2' that would be 90" on a 144" wall leaving 54" toward the couch wall. If the couch is folded at 36" then there would be 1 1/2 feet between tables and couch ... SWEET! I'm pretty sure we can fill up that 54x30" space. The table will be directly in front of the shelves we are using from the LR. We've got 6 units at 7' tall, 13" deep and 30" wide ... so on a 12 foot wall we can center 4 of the shelves and have 2' left over for one side or the other or to center shelves. (1' left).
So 60" of desk next to 78" of couch is 138 of 180" (-138) = 42" ... the shelves again the far wall are 13" - leaving 29" for the second part of the "L" shaped sewing tables. It's close enough to the 2 1/2' wide table because a little can overlay the couch (by an inch :) because the table length will be 7 1/2' x 8' ... so with the 7 1/2' that would be 90" on a 144" wall leaving 54" toward the couch wall. If the couch is folded at 36" then there would be 1 1/2 feet between tables and couch ... SWEET! I'm pretty sure we can fill up that 54x30" space. The table will be directly in front of the shelves we are using from the LR. We've got 6 units at 7' tall, 13" deep and 30" wide ... so on a 12 foot wall we can center 4 of the shelves and have 2' left over for one side or the other or to center shelves. (1' left).
We are going to need
putting all 9 of the under bed things in the Master bedroom closet so that when
we have guests ... the table by the books will be collapsed and laid against
the shelves so there will be almost 2 1/2 feet of space open to walk (make the
bed).
(18 of 167) Still in
the FR sewing room/office/guest room (WALLAH!) On the other side of the couch
opposite sides with the desk - there is a three pained window you'll see in a
few moments. We’re figuring with 13" for bookshelves – “QUILTING
STUFF!” plus 96" of table there will be 71" of wall left ... which
means it will fit our 54" of ironing table :) MAN OH MAN ... you got
to love it. We still might want to take it in the LR periodically to
continue ironing the scraps for our quilting, but it will be next to the
kitchen table normally so we can iron and talk to Rich's Mom – Listen to Rich’s
Mom. Our good office chair will work for sewing, computer at desk AND
ironing! WOOHOO!!! There's one more thing here too. We will
get an extension bar across the kitchen table side of the FR - possibly with a
holder in the middle attached to the ceiling for strength. That's where
we'll put our current sliding glass door curtains. Most of the time they
will be hugging the walls on either side, but that way ... when we have a guest
we can pull them shut for their privacy. They have the rubbery back so
you cannot see through them and they match everything else :) We figure
Mark - Rich's brother will be our most frequent guest and that he'll stay 3-4
days every 4-6 weeks. I don't want to cut his potential for staying at
his Mom's. I want him to feel very welcome - but, as well if Thom were in
town or Jillian and Chris.
(19 of 167) This would
be the guest bath or Rich's Mom's Bath. It needs to have grab bars put in
and possibly a higher seat. I don't really think she showers anymore-
Just sponge baths, but one shower is available if necessary. Across from
sink is toilet.
(20 of 167) This is the
little niche of the Master bedroom ... in another picture you will see across
from the bed and the other side of the TV where the windows and other furniture
are. Our furniture is going to fit very well in this room. This last time through too … we saw there was
a blue comfy chair next to the wall between what I think is the master bath and
the entrance door. We might have to get
another chair ($120) for Rich so he has something comfortable to retire to if
he’d like to get out of the main areas and relax.
(21 of 167) to the left
of the bed is the bathroom - more pictures coming up on that, and almost all
the rooms (LR, FR and two BR have ceiling fans) thinking maybe to push down
warm air? Not sure. Maybe she was conservative with central air?
(22 of 167) Long
Kickass sink! Maybe there'd be a reason we would one day want to put in a
second sink, but for the moment we can't think of any. Rich and us have
very little problem sharing a bathroom. Nice wood throughout though that
matches in kitchen and tile in kitchen, baths, and laundry room match.
Further into the bathroom is a toilet and double shower :)
(23 of 167) across from
sink is naturally the whirlpool tub. YAY!!!
(24 of 167) This is the
last of the "Real Estate/Internet" pictures. This is of Rich's
Mom's room. No doubt it’s the smallest room, but she seems to want and
fill it wall to wall with furniture anyway. She must be like us. When she wants to get out of bed - she'll get
a handle bar :) and then will feel her way around the room. She wants to
bring all her cabinets, but Rich and I wanted to have her leave stuff at the
mobile home, so she can easily go back there for slumber parties with her
husband. I don't think Rich though would keep her from her furniture if she
really wanted it.
(25 of 167) Now we
start the balance of the pictures all taken today (Monday, 1/7/13). These
are the stairs going up to the top floor (2nd). There are only 4 units in
each building and they all enter this one door for their front door. These
are the stairs that would need the handicap chair for stairs.
(26 of 167) This is
Charlie our Realtor opening our door and the door next to us is the other
upstairs tenant Charlie is VERY tall and used to play semi-pro
basketball.
(27 of 167) Front hall
closet. Rich has won the battle where coats (current coats) go in the
front closet - AND CURRENT shoes. I don't want to store shoes in excess.
Just want the ones in season to be handy.
Want to see ground between those shoes and space between the coats.
(28 of 167) Laundry
room - Nice upper cabinets and I think the washer and dryer has to be specially
written into the contract, but we can't hold them to it. Just a big
start-up cost for us - boo-boo! We figure the kitty litter box is going
to go under the sink and the monstrosity in front of the sink is the water
softener and Rich says it stays. Looks fancy enough - Hehehe. Rich is already looking for a guarantee we
will change the litter box EVERY day.
*Sigh*
(29 of 167) This is
Rich standing next to the back door ... which seems senseless because it’s just
steps away from the front door along the same wall. They got a little
hanging up thingy on the wall for hanging coats when people come in through the
garage ... and the circuitry is all new in the electrical box.
(30 of 167) This is the
long hall leading down the back stairs. At the bottom of the stairs are
doors that go into the individual garages.
(31 of
167) I think these two doors go into the first floor garages, but
I'm not sure. I think I went down the front stairs to take these
pictures.
(32 of 167) this is a
picture of the heating/cooling system and their pipes. It looks
complicated, but fairly new. YAY!
(33 of 167) This was a
nice surprise - it’s the triangle in front of the first doors. The rug is
by the front door, then the accordion door is the front hall closet, and the
white tile door is the laundry room. I don't know what the triangle floor
covering is, but I like it.
(34 of 167) In back of
the LR wall next to the laundry in this recessed spot is her buffet, but it
will be for our treadle sewing machine AND a night light ... and if I can
convince Rich we would build-in our Victorian Mantel above the treadle machine.
I'm thinking this is a really good idea, but it would have to be built-in
so his mother couldn't knock it over - it comes in pieces. I've been
carrying this mantel for 20 years. And, now that we got a PERMANENT house
or if we get it I believe I'm going to push to have it built in. It's a
nice piece by the front door because people can check their hair before leaving
out or coming in because there is a big oval mirror at the top. We would
either paint it white or oak color like the front door. It’s a matter
that it’s never been fully stripped which is beyond us. MAN OH MAN ... what a good idea that would
be. Maybe we could have whoever would be coming in for the grab bars and
the smoke sucking-up machine could do that too. Just need a handyman.
I'm thinking Rich is going to ask Bud's son-in-law. He's on
disability but does odd contracting jobs. SWEET!
Hmm, so far we've been
working for several hours and we're only 22% done. I'm feeling a bit of
accomplishment with this last idea ... enough to think I can go to bed smiling.
Ok girls ... to the bathroom AND bed NOW! K?
This sleeping thing
isn't going very well. I was up until 2:00 AM, and then made ourselves go
to bed ... and then we didn't fall asleep for 1 1/2 hours - this like NEVER
happens! And then we got up at 3:30 AM and were up for 15 minutes before
Rich got up and told us that we could rub his back to fall asleep. Then
we rubbed his back 20 minutes, and now it is 4:05 AM and we're up again.
We keep thinking and thinking. We took this time though two pills
for the anxiety so we'll have to see how that works. I think Rich is
going to be up in an hour or two and he's already saying that the lack of sleep
is going to ruin us for the rest of the week. Pswhoo ... I'd like to
think we're not going that direction.
Ok, ok ... it's now
4:30 AM and we're still up and atom. We've been browsing around here and
there, but we've already come up with a new idea. THAT IS ... Not only
can we put up the treadle machine on the wall between the laundry room and the
hall for bedrooms, but the thing is that ... there is absolutely no reason why
we can't put the fireplace mantel on the wall we were talking about for the
treadle machine. Hmm, seems to me we just said this? It seems just the
right side ... and we'd like to think that we'll be here for the rest of our
lives so that we could build in the fireplace and attach
it permanently to the wall. That was another thing that we
thought about. We were thinking that what we might be able to do if it
all went through was to offer Roberto from our apartment here to come out and
do things like this periodically like building in the mantel, adding the air
purifier in the balcony, or things like hanging quilts and such. I don't know
but it seems like a good deal. We trust Roberto and maybe he has some
time on weekends to make a little extra income. PLUS, we really like
Roberto and would love to keep in contact with him. PLUS, again we really
trust his work. I'd LOVE it ... to have someone we really like.
Oh man oh man are we
going to get busted from Rich. It is now
5:30 AM and we’re still up. Maybe a
little dizzy from lack of sleep. We just
heard Rich’s alarm go off. I think he
shut it off and went back to bed. I’d
heard it squeak and then there was nothing … Hmm, seems if Missy figured out
we’re late for breakfast too. Might as
well get that taken care of, hmm? Silly
Rich alarm … it did more good for the cats than Rich!
(10,547/1,679)
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