Friday, June 30, 2006
More About That Move
We bought our current house on a Sunday in late 2001, choosing to make the offer rather quickly since we knew someone else was likely going to make an offer. Frustratingly, the street out front has proven to be busy enough to not be a good place for the boys. No bike riding, no street hockey, no games of chicken. Since then more houses have been built up the road, and since it is the only way out, thsat means more traffic. I've gotten into shouting matches with jackasses who don't know how to slow down when children are walking on the road (I see I neglected to mention the lack of sidewalks), and I often step out in front of speeding cars, which so far has proven more effective at slowing them down than, say, killing me.
When we bought our house, the locals were all singing the praises of pressurised wood foundations (PWF), which of course we have. Cheaper to heat the basement, among other things. Since then, however, a number of PWF houses have been having problems. We brought in a structural engineer who reported that the clay soil structure was slowly flowing around the house, and he showed us how all of the basement walls were bowed in, both top to bottom and side to side. But we're lucky in that this house is basically a box, and so a state of equilibrium has been reached. The house, he figures, should be good for at least ten more years.
But a house up around the corner wasn't so lucky (well, the owners, but you know what I mean). Their house was also given a passing grade, but some digging found that the foundation was rotting, that the wrong nails were used and that they were rusting to nothing, and that the wrong size wood was used. Now, the engineer told us that fixing these foundations was currently running at about $14,000. A lot of money, and we decided we wanted out before this became a priority. Today, talking with the owners of the other house, I found that $14K was no longer the going rate. These folks paid FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS to redo their foundation, and they were given a deal since the prices are going up again.
We're more happy than ever to be getting out.
The new house has a concrete foundation and is at the end of a quiet cul de sac - walking by yesterday there were kids playing basketball on the street, where they had drawn the court with chalk. It's larger than our current house, has a separate dining room, sliding doors that access a deck at ground level out back (currently we have to go out a side door and then through a gate to get to our deck, a major pain), a two car garage instead of a car port, main level laundry coupled with a great mud room, a gorgeous and kid-friendly back yard, and more. I'll get some pictures up when we're in.
We bought our current house on a Sunday in late 2001, choosing to make the offer rather quickly since we knew someone else was likely going to make an offer. Frustratingly, the street out front has proven to be busy enough to not be a good place for the boys. No bike riding, no street hockey, no games of chicken. Since then more houses have been built up the road, and since it is the only way out, thsat means more traffic. I've gotten into shouting matches with jackasses who don't know how to slow down when children are walking on the road (I see I neglected to mention the lack of sidewalks), and I often step out in front of speeding cars, which so far has proven more effective at slowing them down than, say, killing me.
When we bought our house, the locals were all singing the praises of pressurised wood foundations (PWF), which of course we have. Cheaper to heat the basement, among other things. Since then, however, a number of PWF houses have been having problems. We brought in a structural engineer who reported that the clay soil structure was slowly flowing around the house, and he showed us how all of the basement walls were bowed in, both top to bottom and side to side. But we're lucky in that this house is basically a box, and so a state of equilibrium has been reached. The house, he figures, should be good for at least ten more years.
But a house up around the corner wasn't so lucky (well, the owners, but you know what I mean). Their house was also given a passing grade, but some digging found that the foundation was rotting, that the wrong nails were used and that they were rusting to nothing, and that the wrong size wood was used. Now, the engineer told us that fixing these foundations was currently running at about $14,000. A lot of money, and we decided we wanted out before this became a priority. Today, talking with the owners of the other house, I found that $14K was no longer the going rate. These folks paid FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS to redo their foundation, and they were given a deal since the prices are going up again.
We're more happy than ever to be getting out.
The new house has a concrete foundation and is at the end of a quiet cul de sac - walking by yesterday there were kids playing basketball on the street, where they had drawn the court with chalk. It's larger than our current house, has a separate dining room, sliding doors that access a deck at ground level out back (currently we have to go out a side door and then through a gate to get to our deck, a major pain), a two car garage instead of a car port, main level laundry coupled with a great mud room, a gorgeous and kid-friendly back yard, and more. I'll get some pictures up when we're in.
Dedication
Going through all the papers and crap that the boys brought home from their junk piles - I mean desks - we find a handwriting workbook from Aidan that has these words on the back: "I dedicate this book to" accompanied by Aidan's printing (ironic, I know) "Brennan Murphy. May you stay awake long enough to finish learning handwriting."
Going through all the papers and crap that the boys brought home from their junk piles - I mean desks - we find a handwriting workbook from Aidan that has these words on the back: "I dedicate this book to" accompanied by Aidan's printing (ironic, I know) "Brennan Murphy. May you stay awake long enough to finish learning handwriting."
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Why So Quiet?
Sold a house, bought a house. Lots of irritation, lots of heartbreak, much happiness, and we move two whole blocks in mid-August. More later.
Sold a house, bought a house. Lots of irritation, lots of heartbreak, much happiness, and we move two whole blocks in mid-August. More later.
Sunday, June 11, 2006
World Cup: Days Two and Three
I suck at making picks, it seems. In fact, Aidan has 12 points for a tie of the lead in our group, while at 8 points I'm only ahead of the person who forgot to pick for yesterday.
Glad England won yesterday, which I did watch with a couple of friends. They stunk for most of the game, however, something I had predicted, but not well enough, since I called for a draw in that game. I thought Sweden would have it easy with Trinidad & Tobago, but no, that game was a draw. I did pick Argentina to win, but so did everyone else.
Today I was right about the Netherlands and Mexico winning, and wrong about Portugal and Angola fighting to a draw, although again, Angola didn't look so bad.
Closer to home, Aidan's team (which I coach), won 10-1 yesterday. Aidan scored a birthday hat trick, and even though I mixed up the lines and at half time stuck in a goalie who'd never played the position before, we could do no wrong. The goalie even stopped a penalty kick. Later that day Brennan's team won, something like 4 or 4-0, and Brennan got two goals. And then today my own team won 2-0, and I scored the second goal. Should have had two more, but since it's so embarassing, I'll say no more.
I suck at making picks, it seems. In fact, Aidan has 12 points for a tie of the lead in our group, while at 8 points I'm only ahead of the person who forgot to pick for yesterday.
Glad England won yesterday, which I did watch with a couple of friends. They stunk for most of the game, however, something I had predicted, but not well enough, since I called for a draw in that game. I thought Sweden would have it easy with Trinidad & Tobago, but no, that game was a draw. I did pick Argentina to win, but so did everyone else.
Today I was right about the Netherlands and Mexico winning, and wrong about Portugal and Angola fighting to a draw, although again, Angola didn't look so bad.
Closer to home, Aidan's team (which I coach), won 10-1 yesterday. Aidan scored a birthday hat trick, and even though I mixed up the lines and at half time stuck in a goalie who'd never played the position before, we could do no wrong. The goalie even stopped a penalty kick. Later that day Brennan's team won, something like 4 or 4-0, and Brennan got two goals. And then today my own team won 2-0, and I scored the second goal. Should have had two more, but since it's so embarassing, I'll say no more.
Friday, June 09, 2006
World Cup: Day One
Sunday last I played a soccer game. On Tuesday I coached Aidan. On Wednesday I played, and Brennan played. On Thursday I coached Aidan's practice. Tomorrow I coach Aidan's game in the morning, then watch Brennan play in the afternoon. On Sunday I play again.
I obviously very much love the Beautiful Game.
Today, World Cup 2006 started with two games. The first one went the way I called it in my pool, the second not so much. I predicted Germany would beat Costa Rica, and they did, 4-2. I believe the commentator was saying during the game that the previous ten World Cup openers had accounted for a grand total of only nine goals. One game and two-thirds of that number. Amazing.
For the second game, I'd picked a draw between Poland and Ecuador, but the South Americans were too much for the Poles, who lost 2-0. Poland had some chances and rang a couple off the iron, but frankly, they're looking like they'll let down their fans just like they did in 2002.
Tomorrow, I'm attempting to be up to watch England play at 6am. Supposed to be at a friend's house for it. He'll be feeding us, so chances are decent I'll be there, since free food goes well with great soccer.
Sunday last I played a soccer game. On Tuesday I coached Aidan. On Wednesday I played, and Brennan played. On Thursday I coached Aidan's practice. Tomorrow I coach Aidan's game in the morning, then watch Brennan play in the afternoon. On Sunday I play again.
I obviously very much love the Beautiful Game.
Today, World Cup 2006 started with two games. The first one went the way I called it in my pool, the second not so much. I predicted Germany would beat Costa Rica, and they did, 4-2. I believe the commentator was saying during the game that the previous ten World Cup openers had accounted for a grand total of only nine goals. One game and two-thirds of that number. Amazing.
For the second game, I'd picked a draw between Poland and Ecuador, but the South Americans were too much for the Poles, who lost 2-0. Poland had some chances and rang a couple off the iron, but frankly, they're looking like they'll let down their fans just like they did in 2002.
Tomorrow, I'm attempting to be up to watch England play at 6am. Supposed to be at a friend's house for it. He'll be feeding us, so chances are decent I'll be there, since free food goes well with great soccer.
Friday, June 02, 2006
"Mayfly" Turned Loose
Peter has placed our Aurora-nominated story up on his site, both in a regular page and as PDF. Go read the story and then, if you feel you have the 6 bucks to spare (the cost covers making those fancy cheese graters they call trophies), do vote.
Peter has placed our Aurora-nominated story up on his site, both in a regular page and as PDF. Go read the story and then, if you feel you have the 6 bucks to spare (the cost covers making those fancy cheese graters they call trophies), do vote.
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]