Before you scroll down to read my brilliant insights into Penelope Fitzgerald’s Human Voices, I just thought I would let you all into my 3D world for a moment. I am a little overwhelmed at the moment trying to settle into a new house. Not only is there all the unpacking, but there are also more than a few contractors running around sorting out things like floors, hot water, and electrical panels. This would be stress enough along with work and a million other things that need seeing to at the moment. But it appears that we have well and truly entered into the life of homeowners with our unpredictable pile of bricks that we can now officially call a Money Pit. When your electrician calls you at work to tell you that your air conditioning system has gone belly up just as we enter into the stinking hot, humid slog of a DC summer, you can really only laugh. Long, loud, hysterical laughs that are in direct proportion to the amount of money it will take to fix the situation.
But alas, you don’t all come here looking for sob stories–unless someone wrote them into a fabulous novel–so I will truncate my “poor me” diatribe. The bottom line is that once we get past this bit we will have a wonderful place to call home. One with lots of birds and butterflies (seriously) and a whole room I like to call my library. Plus I have some great pictures of northern California and all kinds of other fun posts in store. It is just going to take me longer to post about them.
(No that isn ‘t our new house, and no, we don’t live in Newhouse. It just seemed apt.)
hogglestock 
I absolutely love the contradictory photo!!
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Well, as long as your new house is looking a bit better than that one, I suppose you're ahead of the game! Good luck getting things fixed up and settling in. :)
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hang in there!
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Its totally understandable feeling overwhelmed. I'm just glad that picture wasn't the current state of your new house, because “Yikes!”. Crikey, reminds me of Flip this House and those other home improvement shows I watch. Just remember that soon enough you'll be adding more books to your new library! So, repeat after me, “Serenity now!”. :)
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Moving is indeed stressful, so I hope you locate those inner resources of serenity.
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Not sure how it is where you are, but in California, the seller has to pay for the homeowner's warranty. Do you have one? A/C going out shortly after purchase would surely be covered.
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Great photo, give yourself lots fo time to settle in, moving is always a nightmare.
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This too shall pass…… trite to say but it happens to us all. You will look back and smile.
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Molly: To be perfectly honest I didn't notice the contradiction until after I had made the decision to use the picture.
Megan: Looks lots better. The picture better describes my temporary insanity.
Mlle: Will do.
Nadia: The library is alread one of the rooms that feels complete even though there is still much to do in there. It must be the books that make it feel complete.
Columnist: The last year in therapy dealing with my control issues had definitely helped me find serenity.
Ti: No such thing here unless you buy one of those third party warranties (which we didn't). Here the housing market is still warm enough that sellers have a lot of say still in how the deal goes down.
Simon: The nice thing is that the nightmarish bits come and go, it isn't a constant state of crazy. One gets glimpses of what will be and our new setting is so full of birds and rustling leaves that it is hard to get too upset.
Mystica: As I mention above, it does pass, and then come back, and then pass again…life I guess.
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Oh, I'm soooooooooo sorry about the A/C woes! We are nursing along our two old units, knowing that the day they die and we have to replace them, it will be the cost of a small car to get the new ones installed. And, being the spoiled rotten creature that I am, being without A/C is NOT an option (but in Texas in summer being without A/C can, at times, be a health hazard). We only had one day in DC that was “hot” (and it was only about 80, but with the wonderful humidity you experience, it felt like 110) when we were there. Everyone told us we hit the perfect weather window that ya'll experience for a couple of weeks each year.
I hope it is a quick fix and won't be overly expensive!
Oh, the joys of home ownership. :)
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I nearly flatlined when I saw the pictures of your home before, can't wait to see more!
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Susan: We were hoping to nurse ours along until we add-on to the house in about a year. But that's not going to happen.
Daniel: The thing is I had planned to photo document all our moving-in progress, but there is too much to do and I am too tired at the end of the day.
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