House Work

Bunny Nephew and I went to the hardware store to buy materials for the house.
One item was the "For Rent" sign which I have put up even though we have much more to do...

I used the credit card.
It has been at least a year since I have charged anything.

I felt a little endorphin hit knowing I just bought 350.00 worth of stuff that I won't have to pay for immediately.

So, we bought light switches and cover plates and power outlets to replace the old, tired ones with 30 years of dirt.

I want to find out if I can clean them up some how. Or at the least, recycle them.

My coworker at the office and his family own a number of rent houses.
He has given me a number of tips.

Number one, "clean and everything works".
Number two, "make sure you rent to a couple, who both have jobs".

We returned to the house to continue cleaning and working.
I put up the sign with my cell phone number on it.

While out front I saw a car pass and the passenger pointed out sign to the driver.
Two hours into it and I got a call.
An hour later I got another call.

I think it was the same couple.

We'll see.

Oh, tip number three, "don't rent to someone who wants to move in tomorrow".

Closer

Zelda and I are closer now than ever before.
Really,
Since she had her breast reduction,
I can wrap my arms all the way around her!
***
I am having anxiety regarding the old house.
I have not been On Top of things and getting things taking care of have lagged.

The expenses are larger than I calculated. The utilities, even though it's empty, have topped the budget.

This morning I will go the hardware store to pick up the rental sign and other materials.
Bunny nephew goes back to school middle of this month, so it has to be ready next week!

Eeeekk!

Can I do this?
Yes I can.
Yes I will!

Things have been tight before.
They will be again.

But it will get better.

Escape!

I enjoyed revisiting Harry Potter and his world, his friends and beliefs.
It was a nice escape from the everyday problems of life.

Life in his world is intense, and although the people are not as black and white as they appear, what one must do, is.

Loyalty, courage, duty.

I enjoy Europe for many reasons.
One of them is the news,
good and bad,
it's in a language I don't understand.

Similar to childhood.

I miss my mother...!

House for rent

We are close to getting the house ready.

I'm putting the "For Rent" sign out tomorrow even though the interior is not even close.

Time to spend some money to pick up materials.

I have to have the house ready to be shown by the 15th.

The check book has been visiting the Red WAY to often lately.

We have the money to cover it in savings, but it's WAY stressful...

Putting the house together and scheduling the pros is suprisingly rewarding.

Bring it on!

Sigh...

Finished with Deathly Hallows yesterday.
I'm happy with the book.
She did an out standing job.

I'm going to miss Harry and the gang.

And I feel sorry for those children born this year, who will grow up, start school and discover the Potter series for themselves, not knowing what it's like to look forward to the next addition of the Harry Potter series, two years from now.

Praise

Last Wednesday I approached the boss, after having had lunch with the millionaires, with the fact that I have been there a year and a half now. And I am due for a raise.

He said we'd talk.

A week later and I mentioned again that I'd like to finish our conversation.

"I haven't forgotten, we'll talk about it after lunch".

Two lunches have passed...

I like working here.
I want to be paid what I am worth.
And what I have earned.

I understand that this is a small firm.
I understand that if this keeps up, I'll have to put out my resume...

Currently I am juggling 4 restaurants (two different designs) and am enjoying it.
I'd hate to have to leave.

What's going through his mind...

Anyone out there???

Zelda is missing her friends.
She's called.
But they don't get back to her.

I called to let them know she'd had surgery and that she'd just gotten back to the room.
She wanted to let them know she was alright.

Sadly, none of them called back to speak to her.

My Zelda is missing her friends...

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday! to our marriage.

She turned two yesterday.

So far she's been cute and loving, new and occationally grumpy.

And now it's time for the "terrible twos".

Do marriages have terrible twos?

I guess we'll find out!

Lunch

Wednesday I had lunch with two millionaires.
We didn't go anywhere fancy, but it was interesting to listen in.

The first man is my boss.
The second is the owner of a restaurant chain.

Where as when I hang out with my friends, we talk about
TV shows,
shopping (clothes),
friends,
food (Sam's down the road has great calzones)
work (current projects),
and family,

the two business owners talk about
shopping (for real estate),
travel (let's go fishing in Alaska or Argentina),
friends (joe shipped his bentley to the ski village vatcation),
cars (bentleys cost 170k, too expensive),
family (my son's ball team is going on trip and I'll be joining them),
food (best italian food in New York),
and work (I have 4 locations my real estate agent wants to show me for possible restaurants).

So, at heart, we talk about the same things.

The magnitude is different.

I buy clothes and furniture for myself.

They buy chairs, and kitchens, and bar equipment for making more money to buy chairs, and kitchens, etc...

What next?

Now that I have achieved registration.
Now that I have a new home.
Now that I have a wonderful wife.

What's next?

I think LEED qualification would be next.
***
What else...

Back to work

I took Thursday and Friday off for a 5 day weekend.
Wanted to get out of town, but we had the theater Friday night, and Mo had a doctor's visit.
He's doing well. Got his shots and a clean bill of health.
We take Izabell to the specialist on Wed. She's got a growth on her throat and will have to have surgery.

I'm asking for a raise this week.
Boss was in Mexico all week and should be relaxed.
Registered Architects in Dallas make more than what I'm making right now...
By about 25k.

I'd be happy with half that.
***
My former coworker invited Z and I to go with her to see "Spamalot".
Was nice. Met her for dinner at La Duni, Then on to the theater.
***
TVs on. What in Hell could Hugh Hefner see in a bunch of 20 something air heads? The sex can't be THAT good...
***
Z and my former coworker seemed to get along.
My coworker is moving into her new house.
I should strike a deal with her, help me move the last of our stuff, and I'll help her move that last of hers.

She has decided to go full time with the Arch firm and part time with the Arts school.
It will make things easier.
She's finally free of her ex.

I hope her well.
***
I need to think about a career change.
A larger more modern office.
I want to keep my skills up to date and the current office is still in the dark ages.
Great atmosphere, but no future.

The employee with seniority is the boss's right hand go-to man. But he's been there 15 years, has no interest in getting his license, and will never be made a partner because that's not what the boss does.

Rain Rain go away

I have enjoyed the rain we have received this spring.
It has ended a record drought.

In the last two months of May we had 14 inches of rain in our back yard.
And in June we had over 29 inches.
So far for July we've had 10 inches...

I like it.
It has kept things cool.

It's time for some sun shine...

debtor's prison

For the last couple of years, I have not had the discipline or desk space to keep track of our spending.

Check cards make keeping track of the balance sheet a real bear.
Our old bank statement provided a running balance.

Expence balance
deposit balance

made keeping track of things fairly easy.

Our new bank gives an ending balance.
Rather than give a running balance, it shows all electronic transfers, ie. check card transactions,
and on a second page gives all the cleared checks.

I love Zelda.
She loves me and using her bank card.

Now that I have a nice office space and a desk of my own I want to get back out of bad debt.

We need to tighten our belts and cut back on spending.
Increase our savings and make some financial moves to improve our lives.
***
I ran the numbers again on the old house.
I am ready to move on the old house and make it a rental as I have intended for 6 years now.

It will provide a positive cash flow and bring in money with no cash out of Z's or my pocket.
***
Hopefully Z will begin to look at debt differently.
It has been nice to spend $$ and get the new house.

I really want to go on vacation and the new house eats a majority of my income.
We got ourselves into this.
We will get ourselves out.

toilet troubles...

It seems that the plumbing problems we had back in October of last year have sapped enough of our budget for the remodel on the old house that we will most likely have to sell...

Which is frustrating...

Years of planning shot down by bad plumbing.

Which is a City problem. It's their portion of the line that is bad.

Anyway...

We will get it as complete as it can be, and put it up for sale...