Well, I was planning on writing this progress report with PICTURES until I found out the reason I have been having trouble downloading the pics is because Diego had to take the software off the computer for some reason. I know the pictures can be put on manually, but I can't figure it out. But here's my report anyway:
October started with the digging of a big hole. Being so excited, we gawked and roamed as we wished that it was a house instead of a hole. The next day came foundation where the same thing happened. We "hmm"ed and "aah"ed at a concrete box and wished for the day when we would instead have a house. Soon after that, came framing. We "ooo"ed and "wow"ed at a basement with walls. Imagine us . . . walk, walk . . . pause . . . walk again . . . pause. There can be much to ponder about a basement, you know.
I don't know what happened after that because all the pondering and pausing has now given way to frenzy and flurry and I feel like I am in fast forward. Every day it is multiple instances of problem solving, catastrophe and most importantly, money questions. We are in a headlong dash to the finish line which just so happens to coincide with the end of the year. That is only a few weeks away, my friends and every moving piece has lead times. So for instance, if lights need to be delivered Dec 15 in order for them all to get installed and inspected by the 30th . . . and if those lights need to be ordered 3 weeks before . . . and factoring non-work days for Thanksgiving . . . that places us at Nov 19th . . . which is next week! And every little thing is like that. And if I don't get it done, then the whole project is delayed while we sit around and pay interest.
Right now, the framing for the house is completed as is the rough plumbing and rough electrical. All the windows are in. The front steps and part of the driveway is poured. All the internet, TV and phone wires are in. Last weekend, Diego spent every waking moment doing lights, TV, internet and phone and I feel like we skipped a weekend somewhere. But . . . you can see the house shaping up into a house.
Understandably, I am extremely excited about our house. So far, it is everything we have envisioned. The spaces feel light and airy and comfortable. But the surprise is that sometimes I am so sick of it that I just want to turn it all off. I have had two dreams in the past week about neglecting to choose tile. Sometimes I just want Diego to stop talking about it and instead to comment on how lovely I look today. It is distracting, consuming, and engaging. It is frustrating, stressful, and tiring.
Only eight more weeks to go. Also, those eight weeks include Thanksgiving and Christmas. Please don't think this is a pity party. Because it is a very exciting time for us. I am simply trying to flush out the jumble of emotions and thoughts that hardly get a mention these days.
So, as soon as I can catch Diego's attention for a minute, I will have him show me how to get pictures off the camera and then I will really have something to show. In the meantime, I will go back to obsessively checking my email for house updates every half hour.
