I Am House.

It’s official — my bank owns a house, and they’re gonna let me live in it.

Spent an hour signing eleventy-billion pages of paperwork.  The moment of comedy came when I was asked to sign a sheet of paper two ways for the bank that demonstrated my signature both with, and without my middle initial… and anyone who has seen my signature knows that you’d be hard pressed to make out any letters, much less the presence or absence of a middle initial.  I gave the title lady a look that said “you’ve seen the chicken scratch I used on the last hundred pages, are you being serious?“, to which she chuckled and told me to sign it the same way on both lines.

After closing, I met the seller’s agent at the house to receive the keys.  That is the first thing to get changed… the cheap-ass, made by Tonka locks on the house right now, and of particular note, the deadbolt and knob lock that are upside-down, as they are made for a door with the hinges on the other side.  New, well made door locks (Schlage), heavy-duty strike plates, window locks and a lock bar for the sliding glass door.  Then blinds, and a garage-door opener (the original one is MIA).

Bought a fridge too.  Well, ordered one.  25 cubic ft, “titanium finish” stainless steel, bottom freezer and french-door fridge, and ice maker (thank Jeebus).  To be delivered on the 10th, and it will just squeak into the space I have available.

Starting the address change dance.  Joy.

This weekend I go and start prepping the location to begin trickling things over.  Not much in the way of room painting needed, but the garage has some unpainted drywall, and frankly, could use a coating that dust and grime won’t stick to.  Also, the upper kitchen cabinets will eventually get glass-front doors, but the insides of the cabinet are nothing I want to show off, so those will need paint too, along with a few coats of poly for the cabinet fronts (the seller re-stained them, but neglected to seal them).

The new roof should get installed next week, and the following few weekends will likely hold some coax cabling work, new ductwork and a hefty dose of attic insulation.  The movers are scheduled for the 24th, and they are moving all the big crap I don’t care to carry down a flight of steps.  Everything that can be put into boxes will be transported by me during the next few weeks.

That’s all the news fit to report.  I ditched one elephant off my shoulders, so my stress is lessened by that much.  I can move forward with regard to the house, and not just sit here with my thumb up my ass.  Hopefully soon, one of the other elephants will at least reduce dramatically in size once Sweets finishes with the visa application and approval.