Double Edged Sword

A few days ago a friend left a comment on my post that captured my take on the foundation of Rev 2 being poured.  Here's what it said...

"You know - Heather - I just realized... what a cool thing you are getting to experience. Certainly - hundreds of people have new houses built every day and they go by every day or every other day to see the progress - but you - you get to see it AS IT HAPPENS every day - outside your window.

You get to see all of the things that happen (good and bad) and literally watch your house being built from the ground up (well, for you - from INSIDE the ground up... lol).

How coooooooooool is that!"

So just about everyone who reads this blog knows that I work from home.  I have a big desk, complete with 2 computers, a 2 line phone and a stylin' new 4 in 1 Printer, Scanner, Copier and Fax ... the thing is sweet but that is a totally different post.  Here I sit, day after day and sometimes night after night working away in gym shorts and a t-shirt.  

So the upside of working from home when you are building a new house in your back yard is that you are there.  It comes in handy to pay people, direct delivery people to the spot they are to leave their wares, to be a watchful presence over the project.  I cannot be snowed by a contractor --- I KNOW if they were really here and for how long.  I do not need to drive by to check on what got done over the last few days.  I take it all in when I walk the dog!

So the downside of working from home when you are building a new house in your back yard is that you are there....the people need to ask you a question, collect payment or be directed to where to leave crap when you have just joined a conference call.  They also all seem to show up on the same day and rarely at the same time so the disruptions seem to linger.  It is loud - there are always voices, power tools, trucks ...

This 3-4 week period that we are in right now is BEYOND hectic ... so much has to be done in a short period of time to be ready for the sections when they arrive at the end of the month.  It continues to require a ton of organizing and coordinating.  Things have to be done in the right order or costs increase or there are delays.  I was losing track, so much that I had to photocopy a blank August calendar and start penciling things in.  I am fortunate, I have help.  We have appointed my dad the Project Manager ..... he might have actually appointed himself, but frankly, he had no competition and he knows his stuff ... so it is all good.

There is visible progress daily ... it really is amazing to think back to what our property looked like on July 14, just one month ago.  It is takes your breath away to see all the activity and progress.

There are some days that I wish I was sitting in the air conditioned Data Center and came home at 5 to survey that day's accomplishments.  Truth be told, most days I grin from ear to ear as I walk by the window and glance out at the commotion on the way to and from filling up my coffee.  We have been talking about, planning for and dreaming about this for years and it is appearing before my very eyes.

My dear friend was right ..... how cool is that???

A Strong Foundation

foun·da·tion   [foun-dey-shuhn]  noun

1. the basis or groundwork of anything

2. the natural or prepared ground or base on which some structure rests.

3. the lowest division of a building, wall, or the like, usually of masonry and partly or wholly below the surface of the ground.

4. the act of founding,  setting up, establishing, etc.: a policy in effect since the foundation.

You might have heard, we're building a house and I am excited.  Yes, that probably means you are going to be subjected to numerous blog posts, conversations, texts, and phone calls where this very well might be the ONLY topic of conversation.  

It took a day and a half last week with 3 guys working in high heat and humidity but the forms were up and ready for concrete.

Tuesday was a big day here in Romanskiville - the weather cooperated and there were plans for a foundation to be poured.  I heard a rumor that there were 3 trucks of cement due in at 11 that morning.  The builder and crew arrived shortly after 7 and quickly got down to business. I am not sure what prep is required the day of .. but they were busy until about 10 and then they waited.  

At about 11:03 while I was sitting at my desk, working away I heard the tell tale sound of a big truck nearing the top of Case Street.  Then that familiar sound of the Jake Brake ... I spun in my chair to look out the window and there it was the first big red cement truck.  I'm a tad bit embarrassed to say, when that truck pulled into my driveway - I started to cry.  Not a full blown, meltdown, ugly cry .... just a few single tears fell from eyes that were brimming with several more.  Armed with my cell phone, digital camera and sunglasses, I made my way outside to watch.  Yes, watching cement slide down from the shoot might be the equivalent of watching grass grow to some .... but for me this was a once in a life time moment. 

Truck 1 starts .....

Truck 2 waits for direction

 It literally took my breath away to see these 3 trucks circled around those forms.  It was loud and the ground was literally shaking under the weight of those trucks.  Nothing short of awesome.

Almost as quickly as they had arrived, they were gone.  About 20 min later the 4th and final truck arrived ..... apparently 3 trucks wasn't quite enough.  

The next day the forms were stripped and stacked back on the trailer and there stood the foundation for Romanskiville - Rev 2.  

foun·da·tion   [foun-dey-shuhn]  noun
the basis or groundwork of anything; the act of founding,  setting up, establishing

Love Grows Best ....

Love grows best in little houses,

With fewer walls to separate,

Where you eat and sleep so close together.

You can't help but communicate

-Doug Stone

That's from an old Country song by Doug Stone and was always a favorite of mine. I think he was right - when you are so close together you can't help but communicate ... but sometimes its not the healthiest of exchanges. 


 "@#$% !!" after stepping on Lego in your bare feet


Screaming "If you don't pick this crap up, I'm throwing it out" at the top of your lungs.


Or the frustration that wells up inside you when you find that someone has written their name on the wall in lip gloss.


Not that any of that has EVER happened in Romanskiville *wink wink*


You might have heard, we're building a new house.  We've dubbed it Romanskiville - Rev 2.  The house, a 1968 sq ft 2 story colonial, will be constructed on our existing building lot just pushed back further.  We are allowed to live in our current home, a 1024 sq ft Cape Cod, until we have the Certificate of Occupancy for the new house.  After that, we'll have 90 - 180 days to demolish the old house.  Demolish. The. Old. House.  That was so easy to say when there was not a gigantic hole in the yard with footings poured and foundation forms constructed.  When there was not a projected delivery date for this new house that is a mere 4 weeks away.  Yes, I said delivery date - we are having a modular house built and it is under construction in a factory some where in PA.  It took months to get to this point and now things are moving so fast. 

The house we live in today never really seemed that small until the girls arrived and then all the STUFF that came with them.  Toys, dolls, little kid sized dishes, silverware, furniture and the clothes .... seriously how do they dirty, rip, change, wear them out, grow out of them SO FAST ????? They have no closets in their rooms.  Kristen has a room that is 7 x 10 with a knee wall.  There is no closet for games, puzzles, art supplies.  We are drowning in piles and clutter. Love is growing here, there is no denying that, but so is anxiety, frustration, aggravation, annoyance and bruised shins.  At times it feels like there is a complete loss of control. 


The new house has closets, a spacious and functional kitchen, and 3 bathrooms - THREE.  The downstairs employs the "open" concept and the rooms all flow together.  I fall asleep at night dreaming of the 740 sq ft, covered wrap around porch.  


Love might grow best in little houses, but I think it grows just fine in average sized homes with an open floor plan too.