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June 29, 2003
Mowing the lawn
My new lawn mower works well. I had my lawn mowed in under an hour. And it wasn't a bad job, I'll probably do another pass mid week and lower the deck a little. Morgan asked if they make a Roomba for Lawns... They do, its called a iMow. Although this could be pretty cool.... I'm not sure I'm ready for it yet.
Posted by KnipSter at 03:03 PM | Comments (0)
June 26, 2003
There and back again...
This post was going to be able the cool feature of MCI's TheNeighborhood. The flat rate plan includes unlimited local/long distance as well as the mandatory Call-Waiting, Caller-ID, speed dials, and other stuff. But it also includes a pretty decent voicemail that is accessible from a 1-800 number, 00 at home, and over the internet, you can actually play back your messages as .WAV files as well as configuration Greetings, Notification and a nifty feature called "Find Me". Which will attempt 3 numbers to reroute a missed call to. Kind of like a robotic receptionist who will "patch" calls to you...
But, as I predicted, ditching the incumbent local exchange carrier (ILEC), only complicates stuff like moving..... Calling MCI, they said it would take 3 weeks and over $200 to move my service.... By the way it took 2 months just for them to switch my service (it activated the day before yesterday)
Imagine my nervousness calling SBC SNET (are they going to take advantage of me?). Time to play poor vermont country boy again. So they tell me they'll have me back from MCI in 3 business days, and moved (with dual service: phone rings (same number) in both places simultaneously for < $19.00.
But, of course, the feds would have you believe that the markets are open and competition is great. After I'm all done, I think I have to provide this story to the DPUC, but having looked at their site, I don't think it will make too much difference, besides to I really want to be the bug throwing rocks at the giant SBC?
Posted by KnipSter at 03:50 PM | Comments (0)
Land Baron's
So we bought a house today. Its empty, but its ours. I wrote the biggest check of my life to get a cashiers check for my attorney, and the bank charged me $5. Afterwards, my real estate agent suggested that had I just insisted on a cash withdrawal, then I probably could have had the fee waived... Oh well, live and learn.
I've got to pay some taxes, move my phone and cable service, and, of course, move my family.
Posted by KnipSter at 01:11 PM | Comments (3)
June 25, 2003
Breathing...
So I have the number for the biggest check of my life. Lori and I did the previous biggest check on her birthday (the 10% at contract). Fingers crossed for tomorrow... Walkthru at 10, Closing at 11.... Thank you Laurie N for watching Maura during the insanity. We're hoping to have a little picnic at the house afterwards... Words to follow....
Posted by KnipSter at 08:46 PM | Comments (1)
Nauseous...
Our new house closing is scheduled for tomorrow morning... That means walk through and actually buying the property. Of course our current condo is on the market, but hasn't sold yet, and so that will have us heavily invested in the local real estate market.
Today, I find out precisely how much "out of pocket" expenses I need to bring to the closing tomorrow. Its frustrating that this isn't something that I could have known a week or even a month ago. We knew how much we are paying the sellers, we knew the interest rate and we knew the date of closing... Isn't it just arithmetic? They must be out to get me...
Anyway, I'm sure that we're fine, but its the fear of having to deal with an unexpected event that makes me physically sick to my stomach. This situation is routine for the mortgage people, bankers, lawyers & real estate agents, but is not a common occurence for the average home buyer or owner, a little touchy-feeliness would go a long way. Of course in this high volume market of low interest rates, rising home values and affluent people, there's no incentive(time) to coddle the tense people.
Lori jokes about how nice it would be if she came home and I just told her that I had bought a new house and all she had to do was grab the kids, diaper bag and just start living there: no moving hassles, complications or trade-offs. While I know she is empathizing, sometimes I don't think she realizes that I really wish the same thing.
But, back in the real world, we have leaned on each other so much through this process and, at the same time, used each other as punching bags. We'll come out of this a bit fatigued, a bit bruised, but hopefully having made an improvement for our family. All the issues won't be gone, and we'll have new ones, but hopefully we'll net a small improvement.... Does anyone know how to keep score?
Posted by KnipSter at 04:11 PM | Comments (0)
June 21, 2003
First Showing...
So it about 10:20 am and Maura and I had already left and returned grabbing old-fashioned donuts for breakfast. Lori decides to take Maura to the grocery store and errands while Kieran takes a nap. I'm in for a bit of breathing time....
The phone rings and its a Real Estate Agent wanting to show the condo. They'll be by shortly after 11. Go!
Okay, panic, everything is still not back in its place after the carpet cleaning... Call Lori, we need more hands, where's the phone? Oh, there's Lori's cell phone, oh wait, guess I can't call Lori... She'll be home soon right... Kieran started crying... Uhhh, that can wait a bit.. Tables, Chairs, Toys, Shelves, stuff, stuff, stuff. Run up and plug Kieran... Oh Yeah, Upstairs: Mirrors, Glider, ottoman, Sheet on the window, flush the toilets, fix the toys, turn on the lights, open the windows, put the toilet seats down. Where is Lori?
10:45 Lori arrives home, "You've got 20 Minutes!" "You're kidding, right?" "Does it look like it, I'm dying...." Move the buffet, replace its contents, take out the trash, grab the diapers....
I think I see the people, exchange pleasantries: "You don't have to leave..." "Its okay, we've been doing this to, we don't like the owners there..." Walk to the flea market, looks kinda grey. Walk home, the rain has begun, the prospective buyers have left, begin to breathe again....
Adrenaline leaving system..... I'm tired... Wonder what they thought? I don't even know what the listing says....
Posted by KnipSter at 12:33 PM | Comments (0)
June 20, 2003
Why didn't we do this sooner?
So the scummy broken sliding glass window was replaced yesterday. If google should happen to find this site and someone wonders about replacing a sliding glass window pane, its less than $400. The pane is not just one piece of glass but the whole thermal assembly. I thought sure this was a multi-thousand dollar event. It turned out to be a .5 hour job and makes the living room so much more pleasant.
A 2 year-old had effectively destroyed our carpeting throughout our home. The melted in crayons/chocolate/tomato sauce/vomit/raisins/crackers/milk/etc. had really taken its toll. It takes putting your home up for sale to take a stab at getting the place somewhat tolerable. Wouldn't know it, this guy made a huge difference. I wouldn't be suprised if they didn't keep the carpet a bit longer. Well worth it.
Anyone want a 1800+ sq ft townhouse with 2 Bedrooms and 3 baths?
Posted by KnipSter at 08:11 PM | Comments (2)
June 17, 2003
31 down...
So I arrived about 31 years ago at ~4:32pm. As my brother has mentioned, its been an eventful year. I described to a coworker yesterday my father's theory of Age 26. Roughly, its that its at the age of 26 when an individuals has the maximum perception of what they know vs what there is to know. Its both comforting and disconcerting to find oneself on the other side of that peak. As time goes by one discovers more and more unknown. The comforting part is that there is more and more to learn.
The thing that really amazes me is human achievement, that a group of individuals over time, who individually know very little, somehow collaborate well enough to do some amazing things.
On the other end of the spectrum is watching my children and being awed by how quickly they learn and create.
On the home front: we've got the signed contract for the place we are buying, the condo gets listed on Friday. Kieran's procedure is going to be mid/late July.
Game on...
ps. I only rode my bike in to a parked car once or twice, but it wasn't the last time I've had the opportunity to laugh at myself. Embarassment is a fun emotion.
Posted by KnipSter at 12:53 PM | Comments (2)
June 12, 2003
Pyeloplasty
Apparently the ureter develops "upwards" from the bladder and joins with the kidney, this becomes the pathway for urine flow out of the kidney. In some people, the tube can be slow running due to 1) high implantation: where it connects to the top of the kidney (creating a kink effect); 2) being strung over a blood vessel or 3) a narrowing of the tube generally near the connection with the kidney. When this happens the kidney becomes enlarged (hydronephrosis) and can result in complications. Sometimes hydronephrosis can be caused by the ureter "kinking" on the pelvic bone during development.
Unfortunately, Kieran's left kidney/ureter will have to be repaired via surgery. Its low risk, but the idea obviously is not thrilling to me. There are other things I would rather do on a given day than hand my son over to someone to be cut open. But there is little I would rather do than help my children the best I can.
I don't think it will be fun waiting during the ~1.5 hour procedure or having him in the hospital for a day or two. Suprisingly, however, I don't think of him as any less perfect.
Posted by KnipSter at 09:16 PM | Comments (7)
June 07, 2003
Smart Home Gadgets...
The iCEBOX FlipScreen seems like the perfect under the cabinet broadband enabled device, but why does it have to cost so much and what is the difference between FlipScreen and FlipScreen 03?
So if you were replacing a 10 year old gas hot water heater, would you consider replacing it with an Tankless Hot Water heater? It looks like they might be more efficient and have a longer life time, but you give up flow rate (how many hot water consumers simultaneously: showers, washer, dishwasher, faucets). Maybe these aren't designed for New England...
Whats the best choice for home security system monitoring? Big national company or local company?
Our condo association charges us for water once or twice a year... Do I have to pay for water now?
If I can reach all the lights do I really need X10 devices all over the place? I'd consider getting Child Proof Outlet Plates (they seem easier than the inserts, but holy crap they are expensive).
Posted by KnipSter at 08:20 AM | Comments (3)
June 04, 2003
Happy Birthday Lori!
So my wife reaches a milestone today. I wish her the happiest birthday. Her gift, and mine for my birthday, plus the next few years is a new house. We signed the contract today and expect to close by the end of the month. Pictures can be found in the gallery.
Posted by KnipSter at 09:12 PM | Comments (0)