End of February craziness

Where to start... let's start with the good stuff. Hubby and I are really polar opposites in so many ways. We have to really work at communication because we rarely see eye to eye. Hubby recently had what I'll call an "epiphany" - one of those great "ah ha" moments that will alter your life forever. Suffice it to say, his priorities have shifted, and in a direction that's better for us. I can say we are even more of an "us" - and it's a good feeling. I'm really enjoying this growing moment for us.


Work has been full of politics this week, but it will get better. My supervisor will be back from vacation this week. It's more complicated than I care to express in my blog but it will all fall out in the end.


And, finally, landlord stuff.... one day at a time, we still have repairs we'll have to deal with over the summer, but we're doing okay. We're catching up on bills and such. We're pretty proud of just how much we paried down our budget, it's always nice to separate needs from wants and situations like this really help make the difference crystal clear.

Ongoing

Well, from my last post... my homeowner's insurance has decide our water issue is pre-existing, even though they can't tell where it's coming from either. It's up to me to find it.

I'm not too worried - the water has stopped dripping in the apartment but it's still running under the outside wall. We are going to have to do some serious investigative work this summer.

Ah well... life goes on.

All work and no play, water water every where...

Haven't posted in a bit. We did get the new tenants but have yet to do their "inspection" required by the military. Last Tuesday water was running from the wall along the bottom of their cupboard. Talk about frustrating. Dad and Hubby investigated and thought it had to be coming from a pipe in the wall, I think it's coming from the roof - maybe an ice dam.

Well Dad and Hubby cut in to the exterior wall, two 3' x 3' sections and found wet fiberboard under the siding but no broken pipes. Dad and Hubby then checked out the roof but the ice made it too dangerous for them to do much except knock down the icicles.

We decided to call our homeowner policy and see what help we can get. Tomorrow, an adjuster comes take a look. At least, the water isn't running into their apartment, it's now seeping out the incisions in the siding. LOL.

February, moving right along

So, we have a signed lease and have passed out one set of keys - we haven't seen them today, but I suspect Superbowl Sunday may have delayed their move in...

The apartment turned out okay. It's always amazing how much dirt we find after someone vacates.

Now that our vacancy is filled, it's back to taxes, looking for that second job, helping Mom and Dad apply for heating assistance, and plow ahead with the boiler plans.

Moving right along...

New Tenant, Bathroom Repair

Well - as things would have it - we may have new tenants after all. We were there #2 choice, and #1 has a six week application process and waiting list. Yay us for being simple and convenient!

But - thinking we had time to clean and prep the apartment, we took down the tub surround back wall. It has been coming down since the slumlord who I bought the building from put it up. DH was able to pry it off without breaking it. Oh and the reason we removed it rather than just regluing it - he put it in upside down. We thought this would be the perfect time to turn it around.

So - with new tenants who want the apartment now - we have a lot to do in a short time. Last night I cut out the failed dry wall. Sprayed bleach on some mildew that was starting to form. And removed the caulking from around the tub - it's going to have to be recaulked.

Today - I took off half a day at work - I'm going to vacuum the wall cavity. Reseal some of the vapor barrier. Pick up some blueboard to put in where we removed drywall. Seal of the wall as watertight as I can make it. Then when it's all prepped, we run glue all over the back of the surround - and up it goes. (fingers crossed here)

We also have a leaky tub faucet which means turning off the water supply to the whole building and changing out the faucet. Might as well get it done now... then half a days work and back home to clean carpets and wash walls. I will have DH and Dad helping on this one.

I"m thankful for all the help I have and that the apartment will only be vacant for a few days! And I'm thankful that I don't have to work on taxes today!

Happy Groundhog Day

Ha, six more weeks of winter? Really? Let's see February 2nd in Alaska... I'd say 8-12 more weeks of winter.

Taxes Taxes Taxes

Worked for about 3 hours last night gathering data on my deductions. I have another few hours of work tonight crunching numbers and gathering receipts. Then it all goes off to the tax preparer... keeping my fingers crossed.