Playing catch up!

I hate when I start a post with "It's been awhile", Yeah, I know...it's been awhile. I did get our wedding photos all set up along with a video on another site - I'll share it later today or in the morning. Paul is uploading the wedding video as we speak.

I started a new job this past week with another organization. Leaving behind (almost) 5 years of service with my other employer. I just felt it was time to move on. I also wanted more $$, to be closer to home, and be in less traffic. So far, everything is going well.

Our tenants finally moved out, leaving behind quite a mess. I spent all day yesterday cleaning and it looks almost brand new. Our tenants were hoarders - though we didn't really find that out until they had lived here 6 months or so when Paul had to go in and look at some plumbing issues. I got to check out their obsession about 3 weeks ago when I demanded a pre-move out inspection - I was curious to see what it was going to take to get this apartment rented again. I also wanted to see potential damage.

They may have been hoarders, but I can at least say they were clean hoarders. The fridge/freezer was the worst, but a good helluva scrubbing, and miraculously it still works! It appeared that they had set the temperature so low, it wouldn't cool or freeze and we considered it a loss. They never hung anything on the walls so the walls which were painted 2 years ago look brand new!

So a little scrubbing and cleaning and the place looks grand! Thank god because Paul and I need to catch a break somewhere in this whole scenario. Paul will install a new vanity/sink this weekend and we should be able to start looking for potential renters by Monday.

I can't believe how Thanksgiving is in 3 days, already! This year seriously has just flown by! I'll be back later today with the wedding pics/video link and other fun holiday stuff I have going on!

XOXO

ShaZam!

OH, I love when I get Jessica Sprague in my inbox on Friday's! Today's Photoshop Friday was a SWEET trick for photos, she calls it her ShaZAM trick! Here you see a picture of a friend's little girl, is she not just the "cutest little dirty face girl", ever?

Before:


After:



OK, check out the Life's Burning World Tour t-shirts... they just came in! This was Paul, Steve and Brian's band back in the day. Unfortunately, they've all moved on in separate musical directions, but remain great friends. Read the t-shirt...if you don't get it, nevermind!

Front:


Back:


Tenant Update: Paul had a sit-down talk with the guy and told him he would give him time to sort through things, that he understands that it takes time [yeah, like the time it took to accumulate all that shit!?!] to get settled, etc. Paul also just reiterated the fact that we expect that they do remove at least 75% of their stuff to external storage somewhere. The guy did say he had been working a lot and we know that he had been doing all of the moving himself, he also said it's mostly his girlfriend who "saves" stuff. But that he would definitely work on things. Paul gave him until August 1 to see major improvement. [We'll see! I just want to point out that our halls in the front and back stink like hot musty old garbage, like a stench is in the air...]

I have the "biggest" balls in this house!

Well, I have a bigger mouth, that's for sure. (And I know how to use it!)

Scenario...remember we rented out our 2nd floor apartment about 11 days ago? Well, I'm not sure they are all moved in just yet, but I have a feeling they will rethink EVERYTHING they carry through their doors from now on! These people are NICE, don't get me wrong. I almost felt like a real ASSHOLE this time when I had to pull them aside to talk about the MASSIVE amounts of stuff they have moved in. 7 truckloads of stuff...2 bedrooms, a bathroom, a kitchen, dining room and living room are wall to wall PACKED with nothing but JUNK...trash bags and rubber maid totes - we're talking pack rats here - REAL LIVE PACK RATS. We could BARELY get in the new washer, dryer and vanity in the apartment today because they barely had a walkway path to get through each room.

Paul is about to jump off the Tobin Bridge, I see it in his eyes. $3500 of money to go straight down the fucking drain from remodeling + new appliances - all gone to pack rats.

Now, I'm not saying they are dirty, YET. They haven't unpacked, but before they got a chance to unload the last of the shit in the Uhaul that they've had for 11 days, I had a not so nice conversation about their "stuff". I simply put it out there in a not-so-nice way...that they have too much stuff, that it's a fire hazard and that we would NOT allow them to live like this and they cannot live here if their stuff didn't get put in storage or whatever it is they need to do with it, but they need to DOWNSIZE. I said "I have the biggest balls in this house and I will NOT TOLERATE this kind of living in this 3-family home, rented or not and you MUST understand that I will not shut up about it until I see progress." Paul about died when I got started, because when I get to going, I don't shut up and I tell it EXACTLY like it is. He could NEVER say things like that to people. He's too damn nice, but I will be damned if I will watch 2 pack rat slobs ruin everything he's worked so hard for to make a beautiful home for someone. Not to mention that this is not only OUR HOME, it's his parents home as well.

By 10:30pm last night...way past our bedtimes...both Paul and I are stressed to the hilt, we can't sleep...we ended up going out to Uno's for a few brews, to help shake off the stress. I fell right asleep when we got home...thankfully. Insomnia takes over when I am stressed out and it's my worst enemy.

On a positive note, I started school last night, it was fun to be back in the classroom! The class I am taking is learning about using computers in the law office - applications, software, etc. Totally my kind of thing. Going to be a hectic 6 weeks, but well worth it!

BEFORE - from front of apt looking towards the back - the bedrooms, one is to the left after you walk into the dining room and the other is off the kitchen opposite the bathroom. (Click pictures to make them bigger)



THE PACK RATS: Please note that I did NOT go IN their apartment to take pictures, these are from the common areas of the house (back hall and back porch - I can't see in from the front, you have to embrace your imagination when I say there is a footpath between each front room to get through because totes and bags are piled up like trash)

View from back kitchen window looking towards the front living room: (Click pictures to make them bigger)



Back porch starting to fill up (how many freakin coolers do you need?) and the back bedroom, it's so full you can't walk in there):



I want to point out that these people have NO FURNITURE, persay. They have a bed a chair and a futon and some other small things, but not like HUGE furniture that eat up a rooms space...you get the picture about how much shit they have drug in. It looks like a freakin' warehouse. To top it off, it smells like freakin moth balls and it just smells dirty and OLD.

LEGAL ADVICE or just plain ADVISE, ANYONE???

On a positive note, I started school last night, it was fun to be back in the classroom! The class I am taking is learning about using computers in the law office - applications, software, etc. Totally my kind of thing. Going to be a hectic 6 weeks, but well worth it!