Notes - carpet to go then ready to show /

       Carol is taking a shower. Kim and Paul went to bed a short time ago, the boys about three hours ago. Carol still can't have 'solid' food. After working all morning the five of you had lunch at Two Cities as everyone wanted pizza in downtown Mason. More work in the afternoon. You didn't feel well so Kim, Paul, Owen and Brennan drove to the local Blue Ash Chili which they all loved; the original is still in Blue Ash across the street from where the old Blue Ash Elementary School was located when Carol first got her job with Sycamore Schools. A bit more work in the evening then relaxation with conversation while HGTV was on in the background, particularly the Gaines couple who are the family's personally favorite show on the channel. - Amorella

       2334 hours. The basement is clean and well organized . . . it looks huge. The office, kitchen, dining room, living room and family room are decluttered as is the master bath, Kim's old bedroom and the little bedroom where Kim and Paul sleep. I have only one electric outlet in the basement to change and it's done. Plus, a load goes to the street tomorrow for Monday's pickup. Basically, the house is ready for carpet which were are checking on this coming week then the house is ready to show. I cannot believe the amount of work it has taken four people to do over the last four weeks.

       You can return to more of a modified routine this next week. Taking out a couple pieces or so of furniture in each room makes a lot of difference, all stored neatly along the south wall in the basement. You had forgotten how large the basement actually is as it goes under the entire house which was bumped out two feet across the north and west sides and a bump out of about a foot and a half on the south side in and below the family room. Post. - Amorella

Notes - off routines

     Mid-afternoon. You are at Kroger on Tylersville after Carol's dental appointment where an 'apparatus/post' was attached to a graft placed below her gum three months ago. The tooth will eventually be attached to the post for security as it is one of the two furthest top teeth. - Amorella

       2058 hours. When Kim, Paul and the boys arrived I met them at Outback off I-71 for dinner. Carol stayed home resting. She had yogurt and chicken noodle soup for supper and has to eat lightly for the next three days. She also has to rest. Kim and I were working in the basement but she moved up to the office. The rooms have to be decluttered. this is the major undertaking of this weekend. Kim can come back with the boys one more weekend in two weeks. When I go up for our 1960 high school gathering next Thursday I am taking the cats. Next week we have to have someone come and measure the living, dining rooms, steps and hallway for carpet. Then we will be ready to show the house once the carpet is down. People in the know say we will sell within a month, maybe two weeks. We can't move in until June so if it does sell fast and we get our asking price, then we'll pack up when we have to and ship our stuff into storage near Kim and Paul's and live with them until the house is ready. That's Kim's plan.

       You decided not to watch Rachel tonight and are about ready for bed. Carol is feeling better but it is delicate healing for a few days, she has to be very careful. The boys had their baths and said good-night. Tomorrow  will be what it is. Post. - Amorella

       2130 hours. In some strange way is stimulating to be off our usual routines. Life is always interesting, always something to think and wonder about. 

Notes - out of retirement

            Mid-afternoon. You have been busy with a focus on the basement cleanup as well as prepping the house for sale in a couple of weeks or so. You have been running errands and are now at Kroger's. "College Hunks Haul Junk" were supposed to come for the 'big' things in the basement but you had rain all night and this morning. Tentatively they are coming tomorrow afternoon one to three and if it is still too wet (don't want the grass torn up) then they'll come on Saturday. You are still working on tearing out the electric you put in the basement because it would have to be in the wall to be up to code. Otherwise, it is. - Amorella

       1543 hours. I have hardly had any time on the computer except to check email and the like. I don't mind the change in routine; actually, I think it is good for us. We need to move and start new routines, etc. The house is coming along on Monday the roof was on and most of the windows and front door were in Tuesday before we met with Jim A. our house manager who wanted our okay on framing for grab bars in the bathrooms and toilet areas if needed. We are asking for a full frameless shower door in the master, more expensive, but it is also more like we have now. Also, we have chosen when shelving goes in all the clothes closets, etc. With the windows in we have a better perspective on how it is going to look inside to out. We are very pleased with the back yard view, better than we thought because the house has a slight north by northwest tilt out the back. We will see no other houses, just trees and a slight hill of pasture-like land and wild bushy growth where a fence used to be. With the south of the house (front) we have a south by southeast degree tilt which means less western afternoon sun which is fine with us. We will have to put in some small fruit trees to soften up the few east and west windows on the first floor. The basement has no floor until later and as the roof was not on during the large heavy rains that flooded the Ohio recently we accumulated at least four feet of water in the basement; that was being pumped out on Tuesday. Now I know why they don't put in a basement floor until the roof is on and windows are in and until electric is in so when the floor is done the sump pump will also be operational. M/I Homes are known for their excellent insulation and energy savings equipment, all included in the cost. The gas furnace is over 95 percent efficient and the gas water heater top notch as well as a humidifier built to individual house model energy specs. All lighting is LED inside and out. (1609)

      

       Dusk. Carol worked on kitchen material and you spent an hour plus counting about fifteen dollars' worth of pennies and thirty dollars of other coins, many from basement caches and will take them to the bank tomorrow. You still have electric to work on tonight and tomorrow morning. Kim, Paul and the boys arrive just in time to go out for dinner tomorrow night. The weather is looking better so tomorrow "College Hunks" will get the job done: a large treadmill for when you weighed 400 pounds, two desks, several file cabinets, two tables, an outdoor table and a queen 'bed' in a sofa, a lawn mower and assorted other large items which will allow the basement to appear much larger. Post. - Amorella

       1825 hours. We appear to be out of retirement for the duration of selling the house.