Personally, I believe it is an employee scam, though one that I can understand in the high-stress sell-sell-sell environment in a call center; even if I hate it. The scam, as I see it works this way. You call the help number and are shuttled to an employee whose numbers start running. Are you getting new services? Phone services? Internet? DirectTV? Cellular service? In our case, we were upping our internet service because it is faster where we are moving. Very good. Ka-ching. Money in the employee number bank. They just made a sale. How about another one? We don't want DirectTV because we rarely watch TV. Damn. We don't want cell phones because we're with AT&T since they are the only provider that offers iPhone support in our area without reprogramming (and have the best "unlimited" data plan prices in our area to boot). Damn. Oh, we're moving? Well it looks like we cannot transfer your number. Now I have to close the current account number and open a NEW account number for you. I'm sorry for the inconvenience. But I just opened a new account and see my numbers rise.

What could I do? Say "SONOFABITCH! I WANNA KEEP MY NUMBER! LET ME TALK TO YOUR BOSS? I'MMA TRANSDER TO CABLE ONE AND KEEP MY NUMBER LIKE ADVERTISED?" Not really. Marni took care of the details, but if we had transferred, we would have had marginally less internet service in our area and new setup fees anyway (as well as a new cable modem). So, no.

Sadly, convenience can let us feel shafted; but shafted in a way that we decide. It is inconvenient that we had to switch numbers (twice, mind you, in two years), but it is convenient that we keep our current service and had next to no disruption in the move when we have only a week in the house before our honeymoon.

It's worth it, right? Right?

The U-Haul with our crap

Justine and Lisa taking a break...look at that trailer!

So that was our saturday morning. After all of it, I was exhausted! I can't even imagine how everyone else who actually could lift stuff was feeling! That night we closed a wonderful show (Cash on Delivery). We had a nice cast party, though it didn't end up running that late. I was given one of the coolest gifts ever! I got a Portable Cooler stocked with awesome beers from around the world! The cast had Dine put it together. After all, he is a beer judge and has exquisite taste! He's also one of the nicest and most giving people I've met--but don't tell the people who work with him that! He has a reputation to keep!

Porta-Cooler - A wonderful cast gift for me!

Awesome Sauce (AKA. The Many Beers my Cast Gave Me!)

After the cast party, Marni and I went home and slept in our house for the first time. It was a really fun night, even if it was in the dining room because the carpet layers can't get in until the middle of the week due to people being out sick. So we are still not in our bedroom since that is the last place that needs the carpet. Hopefully we will be before our cruise.

The beginnings of our office

Marni wondering how the hell I can overload a counter so quickly with crap!

 We got some stuff done yesterday, mostly in terms of buying things that we needed. We also talked to Brin who is going to be putting up our French Doors starting here soon. We are thinking of taking out the load-bearing wall to the left of Marni in the picture as well as doing wall-to-wall bookshelves in the Piano Room with the piano in the center. It should be pretty sweet by the time it is finished--and Brin will have some extra cash as well!

Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, the other flooring crew will be in to lay subfloor in the kitchen, back hall, and back bathroom where the horrendous blue doube-tack carpet pad used to be. We were lucky enough to contract one of Tom's guys to remove it instead of scraping it ourselves and ruining even more subfloor. They will only be replacing the ruined areas.

Gary's sewer was coming over this morning to pull the toilets for the flooring guys to lay the vinyl in the bathrooms. We also have another plumber coming to remove our old tub fixtures and install the beautiful new ones. That was something that we hoped we could do, but we didn't have the equipment to wrench the old one off the wall (and thought we might damage something in the process).

I'm about to head over to check out the progress. For all the contracting we're doing, it still seems like we're doing a whole lot! We based the majority of the back areas of the house. We only have the bathroom and dining room left to Killz and we'll be good to go. We're painting the kitchen and bedroom tonight.

We will be moving stuff from our storage unit into the basement regardless. We have a good chunk of the apartment packed and ready to go as well. Once we have a good estimate on the completion of the floors (either us or them), we can hire the piano movers to get Marni's baby grand into the house.

We are getting a washer and dryer from my cousin and a different refrigerator from another cousin. One Tuesday, we're going to be going through the house and itemizing everything that we need. Whoo-hoo!

We're going to be gifted a washer/dryer and refrigerator for the first winter so that we can finance our shiny new sweet stuff down the road (and pay off the floors and painting!).

But for right now, things are looking great!

How I Roll

Marni and I wandered into Home Depot and Lowes yesterday to take stock of some appliances that we knew that we would need (namely a washer and dryer). When looking at the different options, it *still* seemed that LG's new ones were among the top in terms of performance and savings (which is why we are looking at new appliances)...but also in terms of initial payout. HD is about $200 below MRP, but I'm going to hit up some of the local shops that sell LG appliances to see if I can get a better deal there (as well as buying local from a mom-and-pop appliance shop instead of the Walmart of home do-it-yourselfers).

7.4 cu.ft Ultra Capacity SteamDryer™ with TrueSteam™ Technology

4.5 cu.ft. Ultra Capacity High Efficiency SteamWasher™ with Allergiene™

They are, of course, much more expensive than most of the washers/dryers that we could get, but I also like that they are both Energy and Water conservation models (which helps on the utilities that we are not used to paying since we've been apartment-bound). The Dryer that I'm looking at is also a gas model, which means further savings (so far at least) compared to Electricity. Were I to get the Jenn Air drop-in range, I would jump at gas there as well. But that's for *way* down the road. The electric range in the house is a nice one and will definitely get us by--even if I do prefer the front-controls to the ones on the back of the range.

We priced lawnmowers as well and I found a Toro Recycler that would easily work (I had two key requirements which were the easy-clean hose attachment and mulching). I'm planning on that for the spring, though, since it is getting to the end of the lawnmowing season and I know I can beg and borrow until then.

After the inspection tomorrow, we are planning on hitting as many places as possible and going aisle-by-aisle to find the items that we will need to move in. Oy vey!

There are a couple of things that we'll need before winter sets in (should everything come through okay). The first is hoses, because there's enough heat left in the afternoons to kill the lawn if we don't water it. And as much as I hate yard work, it's something that I can do relatively easily with no real problem. Except that we don't have any hoses or anything since we live in an apartment (and we donated all of the working hoses back in the day when we were packing stuff in the Fremont house so we didn't have to store it in our already over-crowded storage unit). So, hoses and basic sprinkler equipment. They also have a hose reel in the front and back yards.

Oscillating Sprinkler

I like these sprinklers because they seem to cover more ground somewhat evenly than other sprinklers. They also work well regardless of the water pressure (within reason, of course).

Never Kink Hose

I don't know if it works, but I hate fighting with hoses...and it has a five year guarantee on not kinking.

And since we have to water the lawn, I'm going to have to mow it at some point before the season ends (and then once spring heats up the green). So I've been looking at a couple of different mowers, but really like the Toro SuperRecycler Mower.

Toro SuperRecycler Mower

One of the things that I like about it is that it has a mulch mode which spreads cut grass evenly under the mower (and not making me pick it up as often unless it gets really long) as well as multiple bagging options.

Of course, we're also going to have to get a washer and dryer since that's the only appliance that is not included in the house. We are looking at paying through the nose for a good, energy and water-efficient washer and dryer. I'm leaning towards the LG Electronics 4.2 Cu. Ft. Ultra Capacity Front Load SteamWasher and the LG Electronics 7.3 Cu. Ft. Ultra Capacity Electric Dryer with TrueSteam Technology. While I would like a gas washer, I would have to pay to have a gas line rerouted and I don't know if we can afford that cost on top of those two expensive pieces of equipment.

Then there are all of the other costs like cleaning supplies that we don't have but will need a ton of, paint, stain and sealant for the hardwood floors, time to rip up carpet in the old part of the house and chemical strip the glue from the floors, buying light bulbs, light switches, outlets, nails and screws, and all of the other associated things that you never think of until you have to buy them.

For example, there is a small bathroom that will be our guest bathroom that I would like to update (and if we are taking care of mom, we'll have to update it). And since I'm a dreamer, I like to look at the Kohler website for ideas and expensive shiny things (ferrets and I have a lot in common).

I particularly like this shower module because I can integrate the steam shower into it.

Sonata Shower Module

This, of course would be complimented by the Sonata Steam Shower door.

Sonata Steam Shower Door

I fell in love with steam showers quite a while back and strongly believe that everyone should be able to relax in one after a long day! Of course, the steam generators can be expensive (and you have to make sure you have a water softener or they can cause you a lot of misery down the road).

Because water temperature can be sketchy in older homes, I have been looking at the rite-temp shower series from Kohler as well (yes, there are other manufacturers that do this as well, and I'll probably buy from them to save money). I love the idea of an auto shut-off if there is a surge of temperature difference of +/- 3 degrees.

Rite-Temp Shower Head and Wall Fixture

And I was also thinking that it would be fun to do something similar on the sink, though I do not think that Rite-Temp is really needed there as much. But I like the Purist design of this faucet.

Purist Sink Faucet

 Of course, with a faucet like that, I'd need to have a cabinet and a sink (of course!). The cabinet I've been looking at is this Purist cabinet. I personally like it because it does not touch the ground, which means no cleaning up dust bunnies around the corners when guests are coming over (like anyone ever comes over)!

Purist Wading Pool Cabinet

Here's a picture of them in action.

Purist Sinks

Which means that I also need a sink to work with such a cabinet. I really like this sink. It doesn't have much depth to it, but I rarely use sinks in bathrooms for their depth.

If I had my choice in our bathroom, I'd have a Purist Mirror Faucet and Wading Pool Surface Lavatory.

Purist Mirror Faucet and Wading Pool Wet Surface Lavatory

For a toilet, I've been trying to find a really clean (and perhaps quiet) toilet. I really like the Cimarron comfort-height elongated toilet. It hits the EPA water-saving ratings, which saves us money (though not as much as some of the toilets in the water-rating classes). It also has "class six" flushing technology, which basically means that it has a pressure washer to spray the hell out of the bowl when flushed, so less cleaning less often! Sounds good to me!

Cimarron® Comfort Height™ elongated 1.28 gpf toilet with Class Six™ technology

As for colors and decor, I'm not sure. That's Marni's department. I just want it to be a nice, stylish, and usable guest bath. We can save the really cool stuff (should we ever be able to afford it) for our bath like the 2-person Consonance Whirlpool Bath and Water Haven Customizable Shower.

Water Haven Customizable Shower

Whirlpool Bath

Of course, I would also want Body Sprays, a Rain Shower, and a steam unit. If I have to pay for water, I'm gonna pay for water!

Shower Tiles

Rain Shower Tile

But first we need a house...and a *LOT* of money to do even the most rudimentary of these dreams!