yet more minutiae

LIFE IS ALWAYS INTERESTING!

2011-07-06T06:22:00.003-05:00

Well I didn't think I would be adding anything to this blog. I created it to tell everyone about the progress of the building of the house. But, here I am again, waiting for the house to be completed.

Habitat tested the house around Thanksgiving of 2010. They let me know we did have Chinese Drywall the week of Christmas. We moved out the Friday after Mardi Gras, March 11. So far things have been creeping along. With any luck things will get going and they will finish the house soon and we can move back in.

Keep me in your thoughts.

Cherie

PS: If you don't know about Chinese Drywall you can read about it here.

http://www.chinese-drywall-answers.com/blog/uncategorized/200-habitat-humanity-homes-orleans-built-chinese-drywall/

D Day

2009-01-15T09:50:00.005-06:00

D-Day (Damn It, It's Mine At Last Day).

The closing is today at 3 PM... and I'm going to celebrate tonight by painting something on one of my walls. Yes, I am going to scribble on MY walls.

I've thought all along this process that Habitat was going to have some kind ceremony when I moved in, but now it appears not to be the case. So at this time I'm thinking about having the party I promised everyone on Sunday afternoon, March 8. The date is not firm yet, but keep it in mind. Everyone is invited. It's going to be a potluck, so consider what you want to bring for the feast.

This has been a long time coming, and the closing is rather anti-climatic, but it means it is mine, mine, all mine, and that means a lot to me.

Move in was actually New Year's Eve, and very hectic. People, as they have all along this journey, gave me tons of help in moving. Despite the cold weather, big trucks that broke down on the top of even bigger bridges, keys that where for some other house, we made it. We crammed all the stuff into every vehicle that we could commandeer. When we got to the house with the first load we couldn't get in. It was the wrong key! Hot soup and cold champagne kept us going as we waited in the cold for replacement keys. Habitat finally got the door open. The second load of stuff was totally uneventful.

And that is how I welcomed in 2009, in my bed (lovingly made by my friends), in my new home (lovingly made by my friends), with a smile on my face (lovingly made by my friends).

I love you all.

Thank you.

Love,

Cherie

Perhaps It May Be A Home For The Holidays

2008-11-28T09:58:00.005-06:00

It has been a long time coming with small and giant steps forward, and tons of big steps backwards, but, I think, cross your fingers, that my home is very close to being finished.

The house itself is complete. Ben, the new supervisor (he's in the yellow shirt on the right), and I walked through it two Saturdays ago and made a punch list. There were three very minor items on the list.

What needs to be completed is the ramp, the fence, two concrete walkways, and the landscaping, plus any completion certificates that are needed from the city. After the ramp is completed the electricity will be turned on, and we will do another punch list. I don't see this being a problem.

One of the reasons the house is in such good condition is due to a group of volunteers (you can see them in the picture top right) who worked on it for two weeks. They were sensational, meticulous in the care they lavished on the house, and some of the sweetest people I have ever met. All I can do is repeat my mantra, THANK YOU!

Below is a group from Xavier University. These very sweet and capable young people worked on the house one very cold Saturday. I was in awe of their strength at such an early age. I wish I had had that so early on in my life.

My daughter, Rebecca, is now living with me and she has also been helping.

An organization donated furniture to me and there were some lovely things. One was a table created by some Amish craftsmen, all of them signed the bottom of the table. WOW! I am getting so excited.

I could be in my home for the holidays... but no one can tell me if I will be... so, just know that a REEAALLY BIG celebration is coming.

I love you all.

Cherie

I Need A Home!

2008-06-30T09:06:00.005-05:00

I recently got an email from a friend asking why I had not been posting anything about the progress on my house. Well the short answer is there is nothing to report.

There has not been a work day, nor I have been in the house since mid-May. Some work has been going on inside though. I see electrical wires sticking out of the front porch walls where light fixtures would go. This leads me to think that some electrical work has been done. I drove past the house last Saturday and there were three Sewerage and Water Board traffic cones standing on some freshly dug up dirt. I surmise from this that plumbing work has been done. Are they finished? I don't know!

I've been much too depressed to write because what Habitat tells me is that it could take up to three more months. This boggles my mind. More than one person has told me that some Habitat houses have been completed from start to finish in one week.

I've been too depressed to write because my lease expires at the end of July and there is a new tenant moving in after that. Where do I find an apartment that will rent to me for a month... if it is only a month? Perhaps, I will pack up of my stuff and depend on my friends to let me sleep on their sofas until this is over. Maybe, I am too close to the problem and just can't see the answer. All I know is I am soooooooo tired of waiting ...and yes, I am whining.

Luv Ya

Cherie

Hurry Up And Wait

2008-05-14T12:20:00.004-05:00

I'm feeling rather anxious. It seems we are running out of things to do on the outside of the house while waiting for the contractors who will be doing the plumbing, electrical, and drywall work! Argh! The universe is trying to drive me crazy. I have dreams where I wake up at night and there is no house, never was a house, and never will be a house. Yes, I AM crazy!

But, there is a house! There is! There is! There is!

And, I worked on that house this past weekend with some great volunteers and some sweet friends who came out to help me. My friends have been with me through greater bouts of craziness and depression than this. I am always grateful for their forbearance and love they extend to me.

This too shall pass.

Luv ya!

Cherie

An Inconvenient Rain

2008-05-06T12:03:00.005-05:00

Friday was iffy, overcast and not too humid. We were fortunate it didn't rain until after we finished for the day. I was in Home Depot shopping for ceiling fans when the rains came down. It sounded like a cattle stampede.

Saturday was a different story completely. It was dark and overcast but not raining when I awoke. It still wasn't raining when I left my place, but I had to make a stop on my way to the site and by the time I got there it was coming down in buckets, bathtubs, ocean liners. Andrew was locking the door and all the workers were huddled on the porch waiting for a break in the rain to make their escape. Bummer!

But I am grateful for Friday. I am grateful for all of you who come out to give of yourselves. I am grateful to the wonderful person who made a quilt for me and brought it to me. You all give me courage.

2 Doors, Lots of Lilac Paint

2008-04-26T19:47:00.004-05:00

I have doors.

I was late getting to the site this morning. And as I drove up I could see that the crew was putting in the my wonderful new front door. I was ecstatic.

Yesterday, Friday, no one worked on the house. It's JazzFest weekend in New Orleans, of course nobody was there. I was a bit bummed and afraid no one would show up today, but they did.

Most of the siding is painted, and work on painting the trim is underway. The porch columns have been sheathed in nice clean wood. And I have doors, one in the front and one on the side through the laundry room. It is a house, not just a shell. We didn't get to the shingling, but, hey, next weekend could be the shingling weekend.

I painted a sign and Andrew hung it on the unfinished porch post. It says, A House Built With Love By the World Thru Habitat For Humanity. I think I want another one that says, I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends!

Luv Ya All!

Cherie

Tar Paper Roof

2008-04-21T17:05:00.006-05:00

Didn't get the shingles on like I hoped we would this weekend. But the tar paper is in place, and it looks like this coming weekend will be shingling time.

We did get to open the sacred bucket of paint and start painting. I got a lot of razzing about that. The color wasn't the rich purple I thought I had picked but a lovely orchid and that is okay with me. I am so deliriously happy to be building a home of my own that I can afford, with a studio to do my art, a porch where I can greet my neighbors, a kitchen that I can actually use, and a bathroom where I won't injure myself trying to get in and out of the bathtub, that the color of the outside of the house is just not that important.

Again this weekend the wonderful people from the judicial community, through the 2008 Bar & Bench Project, gave of themselves with joy. And then there are the people who just come in from the universe... a UU youth group from New York state, and a member of a local meditation group who is a friend of a friend. I get by with a little help from my friends. Thank you my friends.

Spring Has Sprung

2008-04-12T17:34:00.016-05:00

Well for an entire week now I have been trying to post the good news about last weekend, and the week has passed and we are now back to the weekend. So... I am going to talk about both weekends here. It could get a little confusing, but I am not afraid. Let's plunge on.

On Friday the 4th, I delivered donuts to more great volunteers from our judicial system. This Bar and Bench project has been a true blessing. It sends me marvelous people. Thank you.

Saturday the 5th was incredible. 40 people worked on my house... ladders, ladders, everywhere! It was like a beehive; boards being hauled up to the roof to be nailed in place; siding cut to order and climbing up the side of the house. Awesome! Most of the roof was put on this day.

On Friday the 11th, I took a day off from the office and leant my support to some Colorado UU volunteers. They had some amazing stories to tell about their volunteer efforts all over the world. My friends from the courts were there again. It felt good.

Today, the boards for the roof are up. The porch roof is not up and it's not really a true roof yet, but if the weather cooperates hopefully it will be completed next weekend.

A Word On Cooperative Weather

2008-04-03T10:39:00.006-05:00

Well, last Friday was just fine. The sun was shining and a great bunch of joyful, dedicated people were there to lend their hand and spirit to the task of building the house. We shared hugs and donuts... very nice indeed. They got most of the roof truss up that day.

But Saturday was very different. It started out as an overcast day, which was fine because it wasn't raining. Toward noon the sun came out and it started raining! Sounds confusing? Well it was!

We immediately covered the electric tools when it started to rain, and uncovered them when it stopped. It started again, but this time much harder, so we put all the saws and drills away, and broke for lunch. When we came back from lunch it had stopped so we resumed working.

Soon it began to drizzle but it was decided we would continue to work as long as the rain did not get any heavier. So for the rest of the afternoon we made sure the equipment was protected from the rain but we worked on. The last of the roof truss was put in place late in the afternoon. It is a very beautiful roof truss.

Let us hope that this weekend there will not be rain or if there is rain that is as cooperative as it was for us last Saturday.

Luv ya!

Cherie

Some Things I've Missed

2008-03-24T10:03:00.010-05:00

Well really, this first thing is more like the one I lost, but I have found now. These are the wonderful people from Delta, Colorado who worked so hard on my house the week of the wall raising. They were my gift from the mountains. Thank you all.

Also, I just wanted to tell everyone not to hesitate to volunteer to work on Habitat projects. Everyone is needed and Habitat will teach you what you need to know. I'm a prime example. You can do more than you think, tell them your limits and they will work with you to find something productive for you to do. And you know what else... it's fun and I've met some great people!

Argh! There was something else I wanted to say, but I have forgotten...

Luv ya all!

Cherie

Donuts and Good People

2008-03-21T00:45:00.004-05:00

George Washington University, thank you. You sent me a wonderful group of young adults to work on my home.

What a great start to a three day weekend, 30 young people offering their help. I felt blessed. Each of them shook my hand and said hello, it was inspiring. The love, and joy, courage, and compassion I feel pouring out from these people who give of themselves is so powerful and inspiring. It keeps me going.

I fed them donuts. They fed me love. They were really good donuts, but the love was better.

Luv ya!

A Tale of Roof Truss

2008-03-18T14:36:00.006-05:00

Oh, where, oh, where, have my roof truss gone. We can't do the roof until you arrive.

Well the silly things arrived last week and when I saw them Friday evening I was dancing up and down because that meant we could get back to work... except it was too late to reach anyone to see if they were going to work the next day. Sooo... I got up early Saturday morning, and I went to the house to see if anyone was working there.

Not only were there people working there, but there were tons of people working there, and not only were there tons of people working, they were all lawyers and judges. You heard me. It seems there is a program each year called the Bench & Bar Project where the legal community turns out to work on community projects. Thank you guys. You are amazing.

But any way... the roof truss are still sitting on the ground, but the posts, to hold up the porch roof, are in place. Windows are in place and have been framed. A little siding is up and the walls are where they should be. I am a happy camper.

Life is good. Luv ya all!

Fame... or Notoriety... or Delusions

2008-03-17T15:45:00.005-05:00

Here is my 5.3 seconds of fame. Hey, really, I'm in there. Forward this to like -5.10. I'm the one in purple, if you didn't know. Luv ya!

Yes, I Am Famous Now!

2008-03-14T09:27:00.003-05:00

I didn't see the tv show last night, but a friend called and said it was cute... and my sister and other friends at the office told me it was very nice. I wonder if this takes the place of my 15 minutes of fame. I am sure it wasn't a full 15 minutes. I would be surprised if it was 7 and half minutes of fame. Do you get to divide your minutes of fame? Or do you only get one stab at it?

It's Friday. I'm tired as usual. My house is a colossal mess and I don't have the energy to deal with it. Bah! So much for fame... it doesn't get the laundry done. Luv ya!

Gee! I'm gonna be on TV!

2008-03-13T11:27:00.001-05:00

Somewhere in my life I must have done something right!

Habitat for Humanity is building a home for me.... amazing!

A TV show came and helped me work on the house and is going to show what they did on TV tonight... wow!

Life is okay. Growing old is the pits, but what other choice do I have.

Luv ya all...