My favorite clipping of all time, from the June issue of the Harvard Sportsmen Club newsletter:
Beavers! Got Trappers?
We are having desperate problems with the beavers. The Town of Boxboro is issuing permits for trapping beavers. If there are any club members who are trappers and would be interested, contact John Lawler. We will get the permits.
It’s just too beautiful. Too classic and too beautiful and I weep.
One of the good things about our new place: I can finally have my compost pile. I’m thrilled to death with the idea, it’s something I’ve wanted for ages but have been unable to do so. Sure, I have to deal with being shot at and mugged and possibly pimped out while I put disgusting food bits in our yard, but boy can I not wait!
try carolina hurrisuck!
hahahahaha.
seriously though. I refuse to root for a hockey team that has cheerleaders. for pete’s sake, cheerleaders! in hockey! it makes me vomit.
So, as I’ve previously stated, our new digs are quite dirty. I was kidding about the whole puerto ricans thing. It’s true that the previous occupants were puerto ricans and were in fact quite filthy, but I don’t really associate the rican-ness with their flithiness. They just weren’t the homeowners, so they didn’t care about the place. In my experience, people who don’t own what they’re living in tend to be not so concerned with the space and its general cleanliness and upkeep. Plus, some people are just pigs.
Anyway, we’ve decided to hire some professional cleaners, because as much as I hate cleaning up for myself, I really loathe cleaning up after someone else. We’re paying someone else to do that. woohoo! But that place needs a lot more work than just dirt removal. Which means even longer before we can actually move in. Sigh. But it’s better to do it now, before we get in there. I’m kinda bummed, the place looks just awful right now and I’m scared to go in and I want to cry. I hope we didn’t make a big mistake.
Everything needs fresh paint, of course. People have really bad taste in paint color, I’ve discovered, especially townies outside the city. my god. color blindness, I only hope.
And for some reason, the previous owners had one of those cheesy, ugly drop ceilings, so we’re taking that down. We started that over the weekend. And boy did we open a can of worms. Because all the walls hidden by that drop ceiling are unfinished, with wires running everywhere and even some plumbing exposed. Ugh. But that ceiling has to come down. Better to do it right from the beginning, that’s what they say.
The carpets are coming up and the hardwood floors underneath need to be sanded and polished. New light fixtures need to go up, the cabinets in the kitchen need to be sanded and painted, the bathroom needs a whole new tub/shower, sink/vanity, toilet and floor (which we can do after we move in). The front porch needs windows replaced and screens put in, paint, etc. Again, projects we can tackle after we move in.
But the whole thing is going to take a lot of work and a lot of money. And we’re just talking about our apartment! The hedges surrounding the house need to go, white fences need to go up, new paint on the foundation and the decks need to be done. The list goes on and on. welcome to the world of homeowning, I guess. I think I prefer being a renter.
I’d say our new move in date is closer to july 1st, which is beyond depressing. And after surveying the place yesterday and driving around the area, I’m questioning our new neighborhood. We couldn’t afford anything in any tony Boston neighborhoods, of course. Heck, we couldn’t even afford anything in any crappy Boston neighborhoods. We are as close to the city as we can afford, in an “up and coming” area, but it’s gonna be several years before that happens and I’ll guarantee you right here and now we will be long gone by then. I will not send Ryland to school there, that’s for sure.
Why am I such a negative nellie? I should be thinking positive, hopeful, excited thoughts. Instead I’m grumpy and worried and two steps away from regret. I guess what’s done is done and I just have to keep moving forward and let things happen as they may. right?
anyone have any good cheering-up things to say? helpful hopeful stuff that will make me feel better about everything? please. I’m begging.