A Picture Speaks a Thousand Words... of EXCITEMENT!!!

I cannot even put into words how EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!! I am!!!!! Holy crap this is AWESOME!

Pick a Side

Not sure where St. Louis stands nationally, concerning auto theft, but my guess is high. VERY high. Growing up, I never came across anyone whose car had been broken into, let alone stolen, so now living in the city, it comes as quite a shock at how frequent these things happen. Nathan said it was a fairly common thing where he lived, off south Grand–he had come across such occasions where someone had broken into his car, broken into and smashed up his friends car, and since I had known him, stolen Rachel's car within the thirty minutes she had taken to come in and say hi. Fast forward a few years to when we moved into Old North, and I experienced almost-firsthand, just what he was talking about. Six cars had been dropped off on our back parking pad, all stolen, and almost all beat up from joy-riding. The police were very nice, and we were interested to learn that if the car is not reported stolen, the police cannot remove it from our property. Also very interesting, if the car is not reported stolen within a certain time frame, and is left on our property, the car then becomes ours. I could have misheard what the officer was saying, so please do not take my word for truth.

Fast forward to now, when our neighbor's van was stolen, as were four other cars from their block, in addition to two vans on our street last year. Our neighbors across the street just had their car broken into with a brick from their sidewalk, and had their car seat stolen. This particular incident took place directly in front of their house, which is well lit and literally, four or five feet from their front door. The very next day, yesterday, while at work, someone was in my car (I hesitate to say broken into because one of the door locks is broken and was left unlocked) and stole a few CDs (they actually were not mine, but were borrowed from a friend). The topper is they stole my ashtray. I don't smoke, so inside the ashtray was about .30 cents in pennies (no good for parking meters, they just accumulate in their ashtray home).

I'd be curious to find out if all of this is common in any city, or if it is something that is exceptionally high in St. Louis itself, and not as high elsewhere. I found it to be of particular interest that at our neighborhood potluck, the attendance prizes consisted of Clubs (which Nathan did win), among other things. I'd also be interested to know how other cities combatted the issue, and what it is that we can do as a neighborhood and city. Who's responsibility is it exactly? The parents or lack of, raising such people? The educational system? The ever-widening gap between wealthy and poor? The City of St. Louis? The police?

Mayor Slay has said they are starting to hold the juveniles that commit crimes like these, and similar crimes, instead of send them home. Start to?? Why weren't they held in the first place? Since when does sending someone home for stealing a car send the message to not steal cars again?

I have no good ideas as to how to curb this problem, as I'm sure others don't as well, but I am frustrated that not only am I NOT shocked when someone tells me their car was broken into or stolen, I half expect to see my car gone every morning I leave for work. That's why, when I left my office last night, I felt lucky my car hadn't been stolen and only a few CDs had been taken. Lucky. Hmmm...

***Confident!

Here ye, here ye!! We have set a goal move-in date!! This is of course, subject to change, but I feel confident we will come close to meeting it!!! I feel excited and hopeful about the house and getting in there by... drum roll please! May 1st! Fancy move-in day!!

Nathan's ordering the drywall today and our front door design is almost ready to take to Messing! We are three months away from joining humanity once again! There will still be tons of work to be done once we move-in, but we will be in!!

GENERAL NOTES:
Our electrical has come in $2,000.00 over what we had specked out in the loan, but yeah for us, our plumbing came in under $2,000.00 what we had specked out. Yeah!

Nathan and Jonah planed down some old salvaged wood to use for the posts in our living room, and wow, they look awesome!!

The Bird, thanks to spending the day with Jonah and Lexi on Friday, is now, once again acting normal (for her, she's special needs). I think the house has been stessful for her. Poor Bird.

Estimated drywall party dates: February 26-27th, 2005.

Wanted: $15,000

Last night Nathan and I sat and had another brainstorming session. We have these periodically and even though they seem so logical at the time, they rarely ever get us anywhere. The first brainstorming session we had was about two years ago and it was right around the time we bought the house. We were trying to figure out how we could buy the house, without actually buying the house. Laugh if you will, but we honestly have conversations like that. Considering every possibility is apart of Nathan's personality, and now I've sort of grown accustomed to it. It gives us assurance that we are doing the right thing, and that there's not even the slightest bit of doubt in our minds. I digress, as usual.

So last night, we had another analytical conversation that again, involved thinking up new ways to finish the house, without us actually finishing the house. We have been absolutely frugal with our money for the past few months, and even when we haven't been (ahem, trips to the Taproom, Mangia (I of course am addicted to one of the most expensive items on their menu), or Crown), we have somehow managed to make ends meet without accruing credit card debt, which I despise. Realize now, that in our conversation, we threw out the following ideas: go back to the bank and borrow another 15,000 so that we can pay someone to finish up... everything; Nathan suddenly gets enough freelance work to cover the 15,000 we need to finish the house without us finishing the house, and he gets it all this week; win the lottery (new idea just popped into my head. I'm liking it, although we don't buy lottery tickets or gamble much, it's the new year, and I can always start fresh); and lastly, Nathan could sell his body to a strip-joint and make an easy 20,000 which would give us an extra 5 grand to buy appliances with.

Needless to say, we are back where we started, but at least we feel better about where we are, because we know for sure now, that we cannot do it any other way. Nathan and I will finish up the remainder of the work, and we will soon be in the very house we restored! Sweet mother of Jesus!!

Insulation Pictures (contain yourselves. please)

They're up! Pictures of our insulation party, and some pictures Nathan took that I am still trying to figure out what they are of. I am pretty sure, almost positive, they are of speaker wire, but he'll have to confirm. At this point, that's what I'm sticking with. Anyway, here's a sneak peak:



For more, check it out: tinyk.com.

Par-tay!

This past weekend we had a party. There were snacks (thanks mom c!), people, fun, and insulation! Lots of it!!

The "insulation party" as we like to call it, was a huge success and TONS was accomplished! Pictures are to come soon, but in the meantime I'll just share via blog. We had the best insulating crew come in and help us get as much done in one day as possible, and it worked. The guys came in and did all the first floor ceilings and our bedroom on the second floor. For those of you who don't know, that was quite a task. All the walls on the second floor have been insulated, and over half the walls on the first floor are finished. For two years we have been looking at the "skeleton" of the house and finally we can see walls. Literally, we can see walls, not through them! It's awesome! It gives me hope that we are almost there, and to have everyone come out and help, gave me that extra boost that was much needed!

Thanks to (and in no particular order) Mom and Dad Karner, Mom Costello and Pops Sprehe, Jonah, Paul, Joe, and Kate. The moral support and physical help was amazing! Literally, and I mean it, we could not have done this without you. Thanks.