tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27526284014539503532024-03-13T09:21:18.817-04:00Bringing Back BelmonteBecause they always say you love your first baby just a little bit more…Kristen and Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00007273325734499565noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2752628401453950353.post-52730217274724599762011-01-31T16:19:00.000-05:002011-01-31T16:19:48.279-05:00To Do: 1.) Stop making lists.I have a bad habit of making lists. <br />
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Now making a to do list is not necessarily a bad thing! It can actually be a very useful tool for people who have trouble prioritizing, maybe for people who are over committed in their activities, or people with no short term memory, like say my husband, who frequently gets to the store and calls me to say "I forgot what you needed me to get." <br />
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Me, on the other hand.... I have love affairs with lists. So much so that it can drive me to the brink of despair and Dave to insanity. How is this possible, from one tiny little list, you ask????? Well I may have the tendency to.............. <strong>overdo it. </strong><br />
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I know, right. Me? Not possible. ;)<br />
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For example, YOU might make a list like this: <br />
1. sweep the floor<br />
2. take out the trash<br />
3. give the cat a bath. <br />
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I would interpret those tasks into my own list and it would probably look more like this: <br />
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1. Sweep the floor, swiffer dust residue, mop, strip the damaged part of the wood, refinish with poly. <br />
2. Take out the trash, go through closets, gather more stuff for goodwill, throw out old cassette tapes, organize sock drawer while you're at it, clean make-up brushes, organize hair products under the sink<br />
3. bathe cat, clip nails, brush, dry, apply flea treatment. <br />
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So while your list has you maybe putting in 45 minutes of work, my list takes about 300% longer, and results with me sitting on the swept, swiffered, yet not refinished floor, holding onto a drowned cat who is hissing and tying to get away from me as fast as possible, while I sob about not having time to get to that sock drawer. Why do I add all those extras to my list???? I have no idea. But I fail every time. And I feel awful afteward. I'm sure this means I need therapy of some sort, but right now I have about 18 gallons of paint to buy so it'll have to wait. <br />
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So I am trying VERY HARD at not getting too carried away with the list of things to do at the house. Here is a basic rough plan of what we need to accomplish: <br />
INSIDE<br />
1. Fix cracked plaster<br />
2. Refresh and update kitchen<br />
3. Fix damage and refinish wood floors. <br />
4. Fresh coat of paint<br />
OUTSIDE<br />
1. Pressure wash<br />
2. Get landscaping under control<br />
3. Curb appeal. <br />
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That's all she wrote! Yes! I can do this! You see what I'm trying here? I think its called.... restraint? <br />
Obviously we have a lot of little minutia in each of these steps, but if I don't write it down... well there's more of a chance I won't wake up in a panic attack at 2am right?? <br />
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Just go with me here.Kristen and Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00007273325734499565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2752628401453950353.post-63243372759794059852011-01-26T11:13:00.000-05:002011-01-26T11:13:59.877-05:00Renting is for the birds.<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ok. Its official. We are fixing up the old geezer and putting her on the market. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Please! - please people! Just everyone calm down! Put down that check book... We're not quite ready to list it yet. I know, you're chomping at the bit to make an offer, but Mrs. Belmonte needs just a few improvements before we try this again. Its not like we're doing a ton.. but she just needs some "freshening up" before we put her out there for all the world to see. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's been suggested to us that maybe we should try listing it "as is" and then we wouldn't have to make any of these improvements. I'd be lying if I said we didn't consider that. Yeah it sounded very appealing... But I just couldn't stop thinking about how sad it made me feel. Even more so for Dave. He bought that house when he was 23 years old. (the only thing I was committing myself to when I was 23 was a seriously bad haircut) He poured a lot of sweat equity into it in the five years before I came along... and then we continued with the fun as a young married couple, being weekend warriors and having a blast. Ahh good memories... I just can't <strong>leave it</strong>, all sad and worn out from renting, and stick a sign in the yard?! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So we are committing ourselves to revamping our 1922 house so its ready for someone new who will love it just as much as we did. When is it going on the market? I have no clue. On New Year's Eve when we made this resolution, somewhere in my mind I was thinking Feb 1 we would have it show worthy. Now I realize that may have been the champagne talking... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Stay tuned for all our updates! I will try to post pictures and progress reports in between painting and sanding and replacing, and updating, maybe a little stripping and refinishing.... you get the idea...</span>Kristen and Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00007273325734499565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2752628401453950353.post-75549060710553250942011-01-25T14:16:00.003-05:002011-01-26T10:50:46.871-05:00Come in and meet the old lady!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So now that you know a little but about us, I can jump straight into the house talk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hmm maybe we should go over Belmonte’s stats? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just so you know all her qualifications.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hmm. This kinda feels like an interview, no?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m starting to get really nervous, ahhh!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sweaty palms!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Look I’m just nervous because a lot of people misunderstand the old broad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s a GREAT old house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just don’t expect her to do more than she’s capable of, ok? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Age built:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1920 or 1922 we think.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Records are spotty. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Number of Owners:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2 total, that we know of. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sq footage:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1,009</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bedrooms: 2</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bathrooms: 1 </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Plus a 1½ car Garage!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The “half” overhangs with the house, so you can enter through the kitchen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the coolest things I’ve ever seen. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh yeah, and did I mention that it’s always on the market?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>ALWAYS available for anyone… that just wants to… swoop right in and make an offer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yup. Uhh… we’re always open to offers!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So uh, just open up you’re checkbook and uhh<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>HA HA HA HA Ha ha !<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just kidding!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ha.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good one. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Unless you really want to make an offer………..? </span></div>Kristen and Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00007273325734499565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2752628401453950353.post-84890774199933862222011-01-25T14:15:00.001-05:002011-01-26T10:51:10.002-05:00Back to square one. Literally.<span style="font-family: Bembo;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ahh Belmonte.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please say it isn’t so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last weekend I found myself sitting on the floor of the dining room with paint chips spread out all around me in a gigantic fan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn’t decide whether to laugh or cry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Am I really painting this house AGAIN?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please someone pinch me because I must be having a nightmare. </span><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Maybe I should back up slightly so you can catch up… </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My is Kristen and I am married to the most wonderful man on the planet and we have a diabetic furbaby <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Arnold</city></place>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Is that one word?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Furbaby?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fur-baby?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fur baby?)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More on the cat to come – but first the story of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am from <state w:st="on">New Jersey</state>, Dave is from <state w:st="on">Mississippi</state>, and we met and fell in love in <state w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Florida</place></state>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes – we called our wedding the civil war.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No – people did not have to wear red or blue uniforms and there was no fighting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">was</i> quite the throw down, but in a good way, as in a kick ass par-tay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thankfully no one was injured; maybe just a few hangovers the next day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We decided to stay here, because, well, it was… easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My family lives here, our jobs were here, there’s the beach, the golf courses, the whole “no snow” thing… and Dave already had… this… house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Belmonte house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Belmonte Estate as I like to call it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s actually a cute little thing, 1,000 sq feet, built in 1920, nestled in the heart of the historic district.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I moved in after saying I do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since then, we’ve gown up, we’ve changed, we added to our family (remember the furbaby?) and started acquiring lots of STUFF as George Carlin used to say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we decided to move it on up like the <place w:st="on">Jeffersons</place>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately the real estate market tanked just as we made this life changing decision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyways, I’ll spare you all the details but like so many Americans we ended up buying a new house (got a fantastic deal!) but couldn’t sell the old one (oh wait, now its not so good of a deal).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yeah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can say that again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>UH OH.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here we are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The proud owners of 2 old houses, 5 miles apart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are those crazy neighbors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ones running back and forth between the two houses, all hours of the night, patching plaster, fixing kitchen drains, and pushing ourselves to the point of exhaustion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why at night?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh maybe because we ALREADY HAVE DAY JOBS.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yeah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a crazy life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But back to the paint chips…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So for 3 years we’ve been renting Belmonte.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I have this feeling like maybe we should try selling again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We already tried that and were totally unsuccessful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>BUT the market seems to be coming back right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although what’s one more year of renting!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At least its money coming IN instead of an empty house just sitting there going unloved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Either way I am going to have to paint.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now – who needs a tissue?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m getting up to get one anyway… along with my roller.</span></div>Kristen and Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00007273325734499565noreply@blogger.com0