Transition...

Ok kids, raise your hand if you enjoy upheaval and major changes in your life. Right, me either. Until recently. I was so eagerly anticipating this move, it was hard not be bubbling with enthusiasm. Those feelings waned rather quickly in 90 degree heat. Packing stuff ourselves. Which wasn't a first in our long marriage, but we hadn't done that part of moving for 40 years. Always completed and paid for by the company who had just hired Hubs. The kicker was we had no "next place" lined up where to hang our hats. That was an uncomfortable first.

 

Have not missed this house for 1 second since we moved...

So it's been 40 days. And 40 nights. Sounds almost biblical. We bid on a house as the movers were loading up our belongings in North Muskegon. A smaller home with several cosmetic issues. One of the homely stepsisters. Inside and out. But the outtie will have to wait until spring. New driveway, landscaping will help a lot. John decided if he puts weed killer on the lawn, all he'll have left is dirt. Mr. Anal-Lawn-Dude will be busy for the next couple of summers trying to perfect his lawn. Installing a sprinkling system will do wonders.

 

So long west Michigan...

 

On the whole though, the house is in great shape. Good bones I guess. Pella Windows. New 2-1/2 stall garage. The place just needed a complete makeover really. What not to wear. Immediate needs were new appliances, carpet, flooring, and paint, paint and more paint. I ended up doing the living room and hallway 3 times. Gave it one coat, did the trim where the roller doesn't reach twice and was running low on paint. Got another gallon which proved to be a couple shades lighter than the first gallon. Grrr, so frustrating. Painted the walls a second coat and the non roller trim again. Twice. Hubs sauntered in, said, "looks awesome Hon, but the room's definitely shrunk 3 inches." Smart ass.

 

I have however really missed windy days watching Lake Michigan. Jeremy Church pic on 10-20-15...

 

Actually, the whole house deal went surprisingly fast. Once we learned who we were dealing with. Intrusive, over-powering, big government. Ugh. The first time we submitted the longish 50 page offer, I accidentally forgot to sign my middle initial (no, not my middle finger, didn't want to piss them off) for one of 40 times required. Whole thing got sent back with a stern note stating unless it was properly signed sealed, delivered (I'm your man) within 24 hours, the house went back on the market. Two days later, the whole 50 pages came back for a second time. Our realtor had signed her name where required for about as many times. But in one of those spots, both Hubs and I were required to initial where she had signed. So we lost about a week with piddly shit that didn't matter.

 

Lake Michigan by North Muskegon, 2015...

 

I think it was a test. To see if we had the muster to put up with their piddly shit. We did. Yay. After that, things did go pretty fast. Three weeks later we were closing. Which took all of 20 minutes. As my reward, I snagged 3 Tootsie Roll Pops out of the kids basket, which I guess was really meant for kids. Who brings kids to a title office? As I deftly slid them in my purse, I noticed one was raspberry. Shoot, thought I had cherry. Didn't have the nerve to turn around, walk back and exchange it in front of several adults. Nuts, can't even swipe the right flavors. John was awarded a spiffy new yardstick advertising the Title Company. Probably with hopes that he use it on his unruly companion. We were assured the deed to the house would be forthcoming. I was so excited about the deed. Thought it might be reminiscent of an old time marriage certificate that would warrant a fancy mat and frame. It arrived via snail mail 2 weeks later. Non-descript legal envelope containing two folded, stapled plain white pieces of paper. No fancy calligraphy, just laser printed. With a seal of some sort making it look halfway legal. That was a huge disappointment. Won't be hanging that puppy on any wall. But it is our home, free and clear. Yay, Neese and John.

Like I said, when we packed it was late August, humid and hotter and than Hades. Anticipating exactly what I'd need for a questionable length of time wasn't even on my radar. In my biggest suitcase I plopped 4 pair of capris, maybe 8 T-shirts, one pair of jeans, a light jacket, couple of pair of Keens, one pair of shoes, socks and undies. Good grief, I'm so sick of wearing the same boring misfits over and over. Plus I had to sacrifice one outfit. Paint clothes. Dang it was a nice pair of Nike capris too. But they only have one teensie-weensie pocket that barely holds my ever present Mentholathum Lip Balm. Should have chosen this popular outfit more wisely. I lived in those paint clothes for a fortnight. Scooching my butt along the grubby floors, painting the trim white, twice. Nice. Looking so much better.

 

Travel bottles precariously low with my good smelling hair products...

 

I have a nice travel bag. Holds stuff not in my everyday makeup case. The travel bag is tired and almost bone dry. Normally this gets used when we are gone for a weekend or a few days. So I can use my favorite shampoo, conditioner, hair gel. Most are running on fumes. Each day I wonder if this is the last time I'll be able to squeeze out a bit more from those small plastic bottles. My great smelling shower gel pooped out on me weeks ago. Bought another travel size of strawberry something. Not the same. Neese not smelling the same. I'm on my third travel size Aveeno lotion. Those tiny bottles crap out after about 3 showers.

 

Tiny bottles of Aveeno last about 3 days...

 

Still, things keep falling into place. We ordered 4 different carpets. Held my breath that none would be back ordered. Told the gal at the store if any were to call me and I'd pick out something else. Not waiting around for 3 months for one particular pattern/color to come in. I'm not that fussy. The normal time frame is 7-10 business days for special orders. Got a call on day 7, everything was in and they could install the next day. You know, I really needed to take more before and after pictures. But I couldn't. The carpet and walls were in such bad/sad shape, I just didn't have the heart to document it. I will tell you this was the dining room carpet. At one time it had been beige. It's black. With a huge strip of colorful tape in the middle of the room. Designating where one should stand when throwing at the dart board on the dining room wall. Peppered with 50 holes. I'm embarrassed, yet none of it was my fault. How fricking crazy is that?

 

Yucky carpet with tape so we can throw darts. Replaced before any neat Neese stuff hit the door...

 

Each day headway has been made. One room at a time the house is starting to look ever so much better. We've met several of our neighbors. Pat told us years ago our house was the nicest one in the neighborhood. Well, we got a little ways to go to reach that high popularity status again. We also found a picture of the place when it was much newer. It was beautifully landscaped. Our luck, all had been yanked except for weeds. But new landscaping will make it more of our own. The front storm door was literally hanging on by a thread when we took possession. A wind storm had trashed it, tossing glass all over. John pitched the door on day one, and I finally cleaned up as much of the glass as I could with a broom and dust pan yesterday. We bought new storm doors for the front and back, but will wait until the movers are done unloading.

 

How can my hair look great without gel. And my glasses kept free and clear without these necessities?

 

Looks as though our days of sponging off our kids are drawing to a close. Yes, what you just heard across hundreds or thousands of miles were huge sighs of relief coming from everyone involved. They have been extremely patient and kind. But we are ready and eager to make this little house our home. We lost about 800 square feet. Which we hadn't used much in North Muskegon for the past several years. But each square foot was stuffed pretty full. Where exactly we put 14,000 pounds of miscellaneous Neese junk, antiques, food, canning supplies, and collectibles has yet to be determined. Stay tuned Hawkeye fans...

 

7 and 0 baby. This week is a bye, we need the rest....