Coming Up for Air

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Home Sweet Home

So. We're all moved in here at the Big Brown House. All of our belongings are under this roof, and while we still have some unpacking to do and furniture to buy, it's absolutely livable and the kitchen area is actually finished, with the exception of the window treatment on the patio doors


We're still picking away at all the other rooms, waiting for them to speak to us about what type of wall hangings, furniture and other decorations they want.

The move went surprisingly well, all things considered. All of the service people arrived on time and did the work promised with quality and for the agreed upon price. There was little damage during the actual move itself, and while we're still scheduling warranty work on the new place, we're very pleased with our result.

Flash - Ahh-ahh!

We put the Big Yellow House on the market at 9:30 a.m. on May 4th. We accepted an offer for more than we asked at 3:30 p.m. on May 5th. So it basically went from listing to contract in 30 hours.

We're very pleased with this outcome, and we're going through the normal selling process now - inspection, earnest money, etc. Since Douglas County real estate is in pretty good shape these days, we don't anticipate any trouble with the sale. The couple buying it are recently discharged veterans using a VA loan, and it makes us happy to know that another veteran couple will be living and raising their family there.

Sneaky Little Stinkers

Four days after we moved out of the Big Yellow House, I was over there supervising the cleaning crew and tidying up the yard a bit. The Smart Man had to go get the oil changed in his vehicle, and was planning on meeting me later in the morning.

When he did appear, it became obvious that the whole "oil change" thing was a big fat lie because he brought the Smart Sailor with him. Evidently the Smart Sailor was in the States attending a conference, and decided to take some leave while in-country. He then conspired with the Smart Man to surprise me with a visit. I was very much surprised, and loved having him here while we were on vacation for the move. While they're both liar, liar, pants of fire, I love them for it.

Knock, knock Motherfucker

Sunday the Smart Man and I were doing some chores when the doorbell rang. I went to answer it, and there on my doorstep was a five foot metal chicken with a sign around its neck saying "Knock, knock, motherfucker." Turns out my blog circle, The UCF, had conspired to get the Smart Man and I the most impractical housewarming gift on the face of the earth, and this was it. I haven't named him yet, but he's now sitting in my office, looming over my desk, creeping me out whenever I look over my shoulder. Please note that when Jackson barks in my office, the sound reverbarates inside the chicken. I am NOT making that up.

"Worship me, or I'll CUT you with my tetanus-infested sheet metal wings, Motherfucker."
It's a little scary because I'm allergic to the tetanus vaccine. But his presence reminds me of how grateful I am to have such friends, who care for me enough to waste hundreds of dollars on a gag gift because they knew it would make me laugh. 

That's worth a little tetanus, I think.

7 comments:

Anne C. said...

Making you laugh IS worth hundreds of dollars, because we love you.

neurondoc said...

What Anne said

Random Michelle K said...

I so wanted The Smart Man to be the one to open the door, and then take one look at the chicken, and say, "Honey! It's for you!"

mom in northern said...

No way can that be topped. I am with Michelle on this one...that would have been beyond price...
Hugs...

David said...

Not only a big metal chicken, but a big metal REVERBERATING chicken!

Waste? No, no, no, my friend. That was worth it, most definitely. :)

Dr. Phil (Physics) said...

Dammit, if we'd known about the reverb we could have put a recording of Jim saying, "Knock, knock, knock, motherfucker" with a motion sensor and a whole lotta batteries wired in parallel...

Dr. Phil

Anne C. said...

While not as priceless of a reaction as the one Michelle proposes, the actual one was pretty sweet.
Janiece was on one side of the chicken and I was on the other, and it took him a full 3 seconds of looking to register that the middle figure was not another person, but a giant metal chicken. At which point, he exclaimed "WTF?" (or something to that effect). :D