House Stupid

5.18.2009

Smoke and Mirrors

Today we went to the Architect's office and he didn't have good news. To any and all who are going to buy a fixer and or who plan to make any changes to their homes please check your city's permit requirements. Each city has different rules.

If anyone tells you, "Hey don't worry about it, you don't need permits" don't take their word for it. In the city we are working in, you need a permit to fart in your own house. You can't even change a toilet without a permit. We were led to believe that we had nothing to worry about and now we are paying a big price for it.

When plans were drawn to make our house into a proper two bedroom home, like anyone in our shoes, we got excited. I had visions of tile and floors and paint and closets. Turns out the city won't allow extra square footage to be added. Had we known this, we would have saved ourselves a lot of grief, time and money.

Where are we now? Well according to the architect, because we demolished without a permit, we may not get the space back that we tore down. So even though we paid for a two bedroom house, this hiccup may have now cost us that 2nd bedroom. We have been demoted. Welcome to our Monday!

I cried like a baby in that office today. I felt so stupid but I couldn't hold it in. As he handed me a kleenex the architect says, "You should have come to me before you did anything. Why did you do this?" We acted out of faith, and we trusted in the advice given to us. I feel stupid but more than anything I am unbelievably angry.

The only sure bet in my life is The Mister. Of anything or anyone else I am not certain of. This quite possibly has to be the worst month in my life. When is it going to be over?

5.13.2009

Divine Intervention Needed

As you all know we are trying to avoid getting nicked by the city. We went yesterday and lucked out, no citation. I hope we can get permits this week. The wait is hard, but if we can make it to the end of this week we should be fine. It sucks knowing your luck is about to run out, I pray to God, it doesn't. If a person takes a peek at the back we're screwed. The back of the house is missing. I hope the nosey people in the neighborhood don't call the city. I have never been so exposed in all my life. I am still waiting for the engineer to call, i hope he pulls through, if not it's plan B. I still can't believe i am in this situation. To all reading say this out loud. "Dear God please help the housestupids they really need your help. Amen"

5.11.2009

One Step Forward 20 Steps Back

So you remember all that work we did? The beautiful trenches for the foundation? How "far along" we were? Well we are right back to where we started.

The Mister took me to see a movie yesterday. Smart move since it starred Gael Garcia Bernal. I'm on cloud nine enjoying being back until he takes me to the house where an 8 ton dumpster full of dirt is parked in our driveway. Huh that's weird!

I asked just how much of the 8 tons we had to shovel. He never gives me an answer. So I shoveled, trying my best to hold it together and not cry from pent up anger. We didn't finish and it felt like we only put a tiny dent in the hours that we worked.

Today my back hurts, my arms burn, and my hands are blisterd, the skin on them thin. We shovel again. This time until the 8 ton dumpster is empty and the trenches filled. I couldn't feel my hands until I poured water on them which felt like acid rain. Not even the joy from watching a beautiful movie yesterday makes up for it.

Never have I wanted to yell "I told you so" in the loudest voice I can muster.

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STOP IN THE NAME OF LOVE

Before you break my heart, think it oh oh over.

We need to think it over. Turns out the city we are doing our remodel in are super sticklers. They have the hardest hitting city planners / inspectors in the LA area. We had no clue, we should have known, but hindsight is not only 20/20, it's worthless. We are in the shit. In the trenches digging for dear life to put back 8 tons of dirt back into the ground before the city inspectors come down on me like a 300 pound jail mate. I feel like Macgyver using camo techniques to escape detection. We have an engineer/architect drafting some plans to get the approval from the city. They should be ready to go tomorrow. We are in limbo and i can feel the flames licking me.

5.10.2009

This blog is called house stupid for a reason

This last week I learned a ton by the cost of being rash, hubris got
the best of us. I have been too tired to post. But i will tonight.

Going to have breakfast with the beautiful misses who is back. Stay
tuned.

5.08.2009

This Pots A Boiled

The Mister filled me in on yesterday's events. I was livid, angry, and felt let down. I was stressed about my job and then this curveball hit me like a ton of bricks.

I don't do well with surprises especially when they involve an investment in which I have dumped every penny to my name. An investment in which every cent has been accounted for and has a place in our budget. Shortcuts don't exist.

Today The Mister spoke to the city. I'm glad I wasn't there because not only would I have been devastated and completely destroyed but the lid to this boiling pot would have finally blown. He says there might be a way to work it out. I trust him and I hope he is right. Once again its The Mister and me against the world. I miss Texas. I miss my family and I miss my friends. Over and out!
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THE NAIL IS NOTHING COMPARED TO THIS

Today I learned a very painful lesson. Acting without a proper permitted plan only leads to double the work and money. Our ambition must be scaled back for now. The city code states that if any work is done to increase the square footage of the house, we become subjected to everything short of public flogging. Jerry introduced me to a standup engineer architect Nick, who specializes in the draconian laws of our town. keep you posted and please keep your fingers crossed.

5.06.2009

Mhm...

I was so worried about The Mister. I was traveling all day and couldn't check in on him as often as I would have liked. Before I left he had orders to go to the doctor. I get a message from him telling me he was at the doctors but the reception was so bad I couldn't understand all that he said. We finally touched base once he was out of the clinic.

The Mister tells me he is feeling fine but I know he is only saying that so I don't worry. I get an e-mail from Jerry and I come to find out his foot is the size of a small country. Thank God he is at the studio tomorrow and not working from home where he seems to attract all sorts of danger.

If his foot is the size of a small country, does that mean he is getting close to world domination?

Day 3: Wasted Days and ......

Wasted the majority of the day waiting at the hospital to get the foot looked at, while the demo dumpster was taken away. The guys dug the trenches for the new foundation and it looks great. (Like i know the difference) I wish i could of been more hands on today, but i will tomorrow. Our goal is to have the foundation in by Saturday. How can keep myself out of the hospital before Vanessa returns?

I will try my best to keep up the Blog Vane. Missing you. CHOTO

5.05.2009

More Pictures of Day 2

They are in reverse order but you get the point right? Notice anything out of place? El Rookie, AKA The Mister is not sitting on the ground with an nail in his foot and not one single picture shows him almost decapitating Jerry "Dozer" Mendoza our contractor with the load of lumber he was carrying to the dumpster.

I Still Can't Believe This is My Life

For so long I have dreamed of a house. After living in apartments for so many years where the only thing we had control over was how we furnished the place, the freedom that comes with something as simple as keeping a window, or getting rid of a sink, or getting to decide how a space works best in our daily lives is truly a gift. We for once have control of our dwelling. We are humbled, excited, and so very grateful for this wonderful blessing. We have a great team of people helping us. We can't thank any of you enough. Please pray that The Mister doesn't get any more rusty nail piercings. He promised to get his shot tomorrow.

NOT CRAZY

Thanks to the crew of Mendoza Dev. and the help from the MR and Misses, we are ready for tomorrow. Trenching out for the foundation.

CRAZY?

The Mr. is Going to the Doctor tomorrow

Going to get a tetanus shot tomorrow afternoon. My brother the doctor who just graduated told me about all the lock jaw horror stories. I don't want to go like that.

2 inches

Of pure fun went into my foot. Jerry removed the nail with a shovel. I
got a tet shot 3 years ago. So all good.

First Nail Through Foot

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5.04.2009

Ready for tomorrow

We finished for the day, the addition has been torn down. Tomorrow our goal is to dump all the trash, trench out place for the foundation, and demo the bathroom. Keep you posted. Reaching for the Tiger Balm.

DAY ONE

We found this in the wall. It reads "Dine Dance Romance---BURTONS PALACE ENTRANCE Edwin James Contractor / Builder 5¢ Stein Beer. When was the last time beer was 5¢?