Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Is it springtime yet?

It's 60 degrees right now in Chicago and its too hot to wear my winter coat.  This winter has been terribly dissapointing from a snow perspective but I'm ready to write it off completely.  Bring on the chirping birds, budding trees and blooming flowers.  I'm ready for spring.

Also, Treetie, I started reading Dune the other day.  I'm not far yet but I will let you know what I think as I go along.  What all is everyone reading these days? Mom, did you ever get around to Atlas Shrugged or The Fountainhead?

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Stay Tuned for New Photos from Treetie and MJ's Big Adventure!

I'll post some photos this evening.

Thanks for the update, Margaret, although I confess I misread one of your sentences when you mentioned that you and Dave had been productive this weekend.....I initially read it that you two had been "reproductive" which was disturbing on so many levels!

Winter In Minnesota

It appears it is finally here!

What's up with everyone?  I hear Noah had a tournament in Albertville and that the Clan met Greg for lunch at Sensor's.  Dave and I missed it because it hit at church time for us - hopefully next time!  We did run into Greg in Treetie and Ian's back yard as Dave and I were taking the future Kansans' (Mizzoos'?) kayak from their garage.

And, of course, MJ and Treetie and Ian were in historic Williamsburg this past weekend!  I got a bit of a recap from Treetie but not too much.  It sounds like they had a nice little trip and got a chance to see Mike Curtis as well.

Dave and I had a productive but not too exciting weekend.  We stayed in the Cities and fixed cars, sorted through stuff to figure out what to take to the cabin and what to keep in Eagan, ran errands, fixed the auger, etc.  I was also dumb enough or ambitious enough (you pick) to go running in 10 degree weather with my running group on Saturday morning.  It was a good weekend but nothing crazy.

And now we have a snow storm - finally!  I hope all are well!

Friday, February 17, 2012

I own real estate again!

I am the proud owner of my cabin!  I plopped down my cash and closed yesterday and went up late yesterday afternoon to clean carpets and use the outhouse!  Pretty cool!  I am going to see if I can fire up the water (not the right words) this weekend.  The carpets cleaned up pretty nicely and the outhouse really isn't that bad either.  It all looked pretty good, actually.

Jon is coming up this weekend and we are bringing a truckload of stuff up on Saturday.  I think that a lot of my furniture will look really nice in it.  The outhouse makes it sound like it is a rustic cabin, but it really is not.  There is a little work to be done, but not too bad.

I expect lots of visitors and all that good stuff!  There will be places for lots of people to sleep!  I think I have sleeping accommodations for 8 lined up?

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Photos of the New House!!

Hey Everyone...just in case you are curious about our new house in Kansas City, I thought I would post a few photos.  These are some that I took yesterday afternoon when I was down there for the whole house inspection.  The results of the inspection were pretty basic--a couple things we would like them to fix or compensate us for but no deal-breakers.






Two photos from the street.  It's a nice saffron colored stucco and although you cannot see it due to the snow, there is a brand new roof (less than a year old) and some attractive, low-maintenance landscaping.
You enter through the door with heart-shaped wreath and there is a nice big foyer...

...and here are two views of the living room.  It is a rather odd shaped room and I am not sure how I will place our furniture but it is decent sized at 16x14.



This room is just off the living room and had originally been a porch but was closed in and they have been using it as an office.  We are going to try and use it as a formal dining room.  The photo is a little deceiving and the room is actually 12x10 which is about the same as our dining room before we did the remodel.
The kitchen is enormous and has both a little family room area and an eating area just off of it.  This photo is taken while standing in the family room. (The guy is the house inspector)

this is the opposite angle, looking through the kitchen with the family room in the background

More kitchen photos...

More kitchen photos...





The family room...

The kitchen eating area with sliding doors to the back yard...
This is the view while standing in the eating area and looking back towards the living room.
That is about it for the main floor, there is also a half-bath and a back entrance but they are not too exciting.  On the second floor, there is the Master Bedroom with walk-in closet, Master Bath and laundry room, plus a full bath in the hall and two bedrooms.  One of the rooms will be a dedicated guest room and the other one, which has access to a second floor deck overlooking the backyard, we will use as a tv room/den/library.
Master Bedroom



Master Bath

Laundry room off the Master Bedroom
Part of the Master Bath/Laundry Room off the Master Bedroom

My half of the walk-in closet
 
Ian's part of the walk-in closet

Guest Bedroom (note the massive floor to ceiling windows!)

View of the backyard from the guest bedroom

Poor quality photo of the bedroom we will use as a den.  To the right you can see the door leading to the deck.  Again, note the huge windows.  Despite the photo the rooms are really light and bright!
 
 That's it!  Our closing date for selling our current house and buying the new one is March 16th.  The movers will be arriving sometime between March 7th and March 14th to pack up the Minneapolis house and then will arrive between March 17th and 19th in KC.  For all of you living in denial that we are actually moving, I hate to hit you with this dose of reality, but in about a month, we will be out of 5500 Thomas!

Friday, February 10, 2012

My craziness is waning!

Good news!

They are ready to close on the cabin again!  I will close on Thursday at 11:00.

My speech to Greg's Toastmaster's group went relatively well.  My presentation at work went well.  I plan to attend Tess's Cabi Party tonight.

All is looking a little better in the world.

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Cabin!


Here is the floorplan.  The white area wrapping around to the bottom left is the current deck that I want to make into a screened porch.  The green area at the bottom is a future deck.  There is an upstairs/loft too that includes a bedroom (above the main floor bedroom), and a large area, some semi private, for a study and another sleeping area.

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Not so fast...

I won't have the cabin yet on the 13th.

Bummer.  Title did not come back properly.  It will be at least of few more days.  I must have done something pretty poopy to someone because my karma is not good this week.

Cabin and Other Updates

At long last, I actually have a closing date for my cabin!  I will hand over my money and take possession of the keys on Monday morning, February 13th, just before jumping a plane for Scottsdale.  It really does not seem real as I have been dinking around on this property for about 6 months now!  It is nice thought and I look forward to sharing it with all of you!

Beyond the cabin, I am just a little busy and overwhelmed.  I am looking forward to speaking at Greg's Toastmaster's Meeting, then attending Tess' Cabi Party Friday evening, and to closing on the cabin on Monday and to going to Arizona thereafter and eventually to actually seeing my cabin and moving some stuff in the next weekend.  I hear Jon may come to town to help and maybe try his hand at a little ice fishing!

I am kinda bummed that I will miss Valentine's Day though.  We don't do much, but I would rather be home for it than with all of those Visa sweethearts in Scottsdale.  Oh well.

I caucused last night and my guy won!  Yippee.  I guess I am a delegate too, but I already have delegate remorse...  TOO BUSY.

That is it for now!

Oh, and I am sad Treetie and Ian are moving.