Chris Moody’s Blog

The roses in my back yard that I don’t even attend to have bloomed again.  Click on the photo for a larger version of the photo.

It’s a Monday evening as I write this. I just got home from work, and I’m thrilled to see my power is finally back on. We had our second ice storm of the season this weekend. As usual it knocked down trees which in turn brought down power lines all over St. Louis. This was the third extended outage for me since moving into my house last May. It was finally time for me to do something.

With the assistance of Kurt, who ran to the store and laid claim to the last generator, and my neighbor Eric, who helped wire the gas guzzler into my circuit breaker, I was able to enjoy sweet, sweet electricity and not freeze to death… Not to mention catch all of the 24 season premiere.

I have plans now to make the connection to the house permanent, so I won’t need as much help next time. Just plug something into an outlet, through a switch and go. It’ll cost a lot, but it’ll be worth it!

RRUMg-HgI38

This past week has been a trying one for the St. Louis area. It started with near 100º temps, and was then peppered with rain and the occasional hurricane force winds. The winds did the most. Trees and powerlines are down all over the metro area, the roof at Lambert Airport was uncerimoniously deposited onto Inerstate 70, some were injured at the new Busch Stadium (check the video above), and semi-trucks were blown over like toys.

Estimates vary, but AmerenUE thinks that more than half a million people were without power in the area. Mine went out Friday morning during the second round of scary weather, and just came back today (Sunday) around 8:15am. Since then I’ve been going around resetting clocks, pitching food, closing windows, and resetting the A/C.

Read more from Yahoo News:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060721/us_nm/utilities_ameren_outages_dc_4

Looking for some ideas for something to get me as a housewarming gift? Of course you are! Here’s a list of things I’d like.

• Craftsman 3-drawer Ball Bearing Workbench with matching…
• Craftsman Powered Backwall with Metal Pegboard
• …more to come.

EDIT: Got the workbench! Thanks mom and dad!!

Here’s a list of just some of the things I’ve bought since moving into the house.

• UPDATE: Mini-fridge for the basement!
• UPDATE: 6-piece patio set!
• UPDATE: Elbow joints for downspouts (woo hoo!)
• 6.75HP Self Propelled Lawn Mower
• Cordless Trimmer/Edger
• Convertible ladder (angle or straight)
• 2 garden hoses, a sprinkler, and 2 spray nozzles
• 2 full sets of towels for each of the 3 bathrooms
• 2 bathroom trashcans
• LOTS of lightbulbs
• and more!!!

I’m typing this from from my living room floor in my apartment on a laptop because my computer, desk, chair, and most of my other worldly posessions are all packed away in a Budget Truck down in the parking lot. Today was closing day. I am now a homeowner. And while I’m in the apartment tonight, it is pretty bare.

I’d like to type more and tell you all about signing my life away, and all about what a pain moving from a second story apartment is… but I’m too tired. I’m gonna go to bed now. I’ll write more when I have energy.

They say it’s not over til the fat lady sings. I’d just like to report she’s been spotted backstage warming up her vocal cords.

The bank called today. The house appraised for exactly the amount that I’m purchasing it for. While I think that sounds a little fishy, (I start with no equity) it does mean that I’m done jumping hurdles for them. All that’s left now is the sprint to the end and hope I have enough energy left to break the finish line tape that is closing. Well, that and apologizing to everyone for my horrible use of metaphors (I know too many English majors).

Now the fun begins. Well, sort of. Moving won’t be terribly exciting, but buying things for my new house like lawnmowers, and patio furniture, and end tables should be interesting. I’m taking volunteers from the women in my life to head out to the stores and show me what’s not tacky. No guarantees I won’t buy it though.

Well I’m going to be singing the praises of Craigslist for a while now. I just put my older car up for sale, and in less than an hour, it sold. You gotta love the internet!

Of course maybe I should have waited til tomorrow before actually selling. At last check there were emails from 5 more people wanting it. Oh well. At least I have a little more money for moving expenses.

Used my lunch break today to get up to date with my realtor, schedule my inspection, and lock in an interest rate for my mortgage. How did people buy houses before cell phones came around? Okay, not the people that worked in offices with phones. How did UPS drivers buy houses before cell phones came around? Especially the single ones?!? I just can’t imagine it. Not without taking all your vacation weeks in a big block and hoping you happen to search, find, offer, counter-offer, accept, finance, inspect, appraise, insure, and close in the time you have allotted. My hats off to the people that did manage it.

I’ve just returned from meeting my real estate agent at the local Kinko’s where I signed the contract. I have a house now! I just can’t move in until I’m done jumping through hoops. The final act in my home-buying circus will be Friday, May 12th after work, when I close. Luckily, that’s the beginning of a week long vacation so I can move with 12% less stress.

In the mean time, I need to call an inspector to look the place over so he can tell me that the termites are bearing more load than the 2×4s. And I need to have my bank finally get the ball rolling (with me as the bear in a tutu balancing atop). Any advice from you readers? What else am I missing? E-mail me your thoughts, or post them in the comments.