Series: First Austin Reno

After much preparation and backbreaking work on the part of my awesome landscaper, who we will call AL (Awesome Landscaper), and his crew, I have a lawn. Squeal! We came in something called “under budget”. I had to look up the meaning of this term, but from what I gather it means I didn’t write…

The past couple of weeks Austin have taught me some valuable life lessons. I figured I’d share them with you in the hopes that having them in writing would prevent history from repeating itself. First, don’t stand directly under the portion of the ceiling you are painting. Seems logical, but not necessarily something you think…

Fixy Not Really, who I am renaming Captain Noncommittal, has been promising to return our deposit for, oh, at least 4 days now. His avoidance tactics really are a form of art. Our conversation usually go as follows. Me, “What time will you be here?” Capt. Noncommittal, “Maybe tomorrow, if I can.” Me, “Since I…

My teacher once told me that every time a bell rings an angel gets clean socks. A miracle happened on my street this morning. I’m now listening to the quiet whir of the spin cycle on my washing machine. I don’t have to wash my clothes in the river anymore. On May 5th Fixy Not Really…

It’s 7:15 AM and I have already primed and painted my kitchen ceiling this morning. Let me be clear, although I’m happy to have this underway, I am in no way thrilled about the hour of day. I’ve been up since 4:45 waiting for the new kitchen appliances. The carpenter was here until after midnight…

Tad-a! I’m back. Oh the fun I have to share with you all! I have a temporary reprieve from home improvement prison. I’ve put myself on a work release program completing only minor projects this week. These past couple of weeks of my life would make any reality show look like an episode of Happy…