Grades are posted. Whew! It was touch and go there for a week or two, but I am pleased to report all A’s. Now I can sit and ruminate over the lessons I learned. Lesson One: Do not ever pack up and move in the middle of a semester. Unless, of course, your house sells and the buyers aren’t interested in letting you crash on their sofa until after finals.
Don’t mind us. We’re just gonna crank some tunes and hang out a while. That’s okay, isn’t it?
There are still repairs that need to be made, but we are beginning to enjoy our new home. It means a great deal to me to be able to recommend companies that deliver exceptional quality. When contractors take pride in their work, it shows.
If you want something done right, do it yourself. Better yet, hire a professional.
“We’re only human” was the builder’s favorite excuse for the deficiencies identified by our home inspector. It’s a running joke around here each time we discover something else that isn’t quite level or square or attached. “HUMANS!” I hope we don’t find out six months from now that the plumber was wrestling with his humanity on city sewer tie-in day.
Don’t worry, they can just hang a picture over it.
Yes, that is exactly what I heard the builder say to the electrician who came in and hacked holes all over the place AFTER the painters had finished the office.
What’s the matter, lady? Don’t you like that rustic look?
And yes, that is exactly how the builder left it. I had to hire someone to fabricate and install supports for the bar because the builder threw his hands up at my asking for the job to be completed before we moved in. They were “jumping through hoops,” he said, already fixing mistakes that were made by their sub-standard contractors, and now I also wanted the two by fours replaced with proper supports? What a demanding customer!
What’s a little spackle in the disposal gonna hurt?
Yes, that is what I walked into on moving day. Nothing was cleaned. I spent a days working on the construction grime. It has been about six weeks now and I am finally getting settled back into my casual routine.
Dust
Sweep
Vacuum
Mop
Dishes
LAUNDRY
Shower
Shop
Dinner
Dishes (once again)
Housework seems to never end
But there’s no crying over milk that’s spilt
In this house that humans built
I got it. No, seriously, I got it. You just sit there and relax. I’ll have this cleaned up in a jiffy.
And so it goes.
Honie Briggs 
Congrats on your new house. I’m sure you bravely soldiered on with your trademark wit and humor over the bumps along the way.
The best way to soldier on is with a sense of humor. Thanks for the kind words.
No wonder they say moving is one of the most stressful life events. Shoddy workmanship certainly doesn’t help! Damn humans…
You know all about it. That moving stress is a killer, isn’t it? I can say, though, that this was surprisingly not the most stressful move we’ve ever made. I think it was the freak storm combo that made this one seem so difficult. And those humans.
Congratulations on the A’s /and/ on surviving the builders [with your sanity intact]. 😀
Thank you, thank you, Meeks. Sanity? Intact? Um, sure. 🙂
…or a good facsimile there of. 😀
Being a closer, I could never quite understand some of the construction folks we dealt with years ago on our reno that had no concept of finishing the job. It sounds like your builder could aspire to your grades.
I guess when a project being built on spec goes over the deadline and budget, builders just want to find a buyer and move on to the next thing. The house wasn’t ready to be on the market.
Parts of that new home look really lovely. Such a shame the contractors apparently thought you ordered the fixer-upper coupon special…
A lovely home indeed, Randall. We hear a rooster crow in the morning and watch the moon cross the backyard in the evening. I’m sure we will create many happy memories here. I think the most disappointing thing is how we were treated throughout the buying experience. It was like being stabbed with a thousand tiny daggers. The builder took our money and didn’t show us any respect. The workers didn’t treat each other with professional courtesy. It’s the way of the world any more, I suppose.
Congratulations on the grades!! I’m still waiting for one of my classes to post the grade.
I LOVE your house, but I could see why you’d be a tad stressed!
Thanks Darla. We had our first house guest last weekend and nothing caved in or over flowed. So, it looks like maybe everything is going to be fine.
Hi Honie. Congrats on your As. Enjoy your new home.
Hi Helen. Thanks. I think a house party is in order in the near future.
Hey, you have the same lights I have! Nice.
I hate moving, sort of. Actually I kind of like moving in a really weird way. You are getting there, it will get much better. I love your new house. It is beautiful. Contractors are good, great contractors, even better.
So far we’ve hired painters, a carpenter, and an electrician to correct builder mistakes. The patio enclosure contractor was also a real pro, and I couldn’t be happier with the work he did. Next is the garden. I am thrilled to have the space to create a Texas Smartscape of my own to grow herbs and veggies & FLOWERS.
Congrats on the straight As! Very impressive, especially considering the move. That would’ve stressed me out completely. But the home is lovely, even with the issues that needed mending.
Thanks, Carrie. It’s funny, the title of the textbook for my Disaster Response & Recovery class was “The Human Side of Disaster”. I was extremely stressed, but I have a good support system and a terrific friend who made meals for us the week of the move.
Support systems are good. And what an apt title for your textbook!