En La Casa (part 2)

So... it's official, we are pretty settled... I mean once you pay the second month's rent, it's a done deal. :) Here is the household update...


Furnishings:

OUR POD HAS ARRIVED!!! Hoooorraayy!!! On Thurs, the 18th Em met the three movers downstairs to unlock out whole world. They unloaded our entire life in just 1.5 hrs.

We were able to back in the glory and beauty of our beds after purchasing $35 bed frames from a neighborhood furniture store, literally, just down the street.

NO MORE AIR MATTRESS FROM HELL!!!

::happy happy happy dance::

We carried the frames with us to the laundromat, one block over, finished our laundry, and then set them up during commercial breaks of GREY'S ANATOMY (which we finally were able to watch in REAL TIME since the TV was also in the pod. YAY!!!).

We were able to relax and watch the show on Em's huge comfy bed while folding laundry instead of crowding around a laptop on two crappy camping chairs.

In the living room, we are still sitting on camping chairs, and have now added our faux-couch (a.k.a. our coffee table topped with pillows and a blanket to - barely - cushion the booty) to our lovely situation.

I think one of the best parts may have been unpacking the kitchen. As the boxes became empty, the cabinets became full; seeing a stocked kitchen and all of the cute dish items we've collected over the years really helped make the move from house to home. (Pictures should be coming soon, the kitchen really is pretty damn cute, with our martini glasses and bakeware displayed above the cabinets, a la quasi-model home status.)

We will soon get a living room rug and some curtains (we really like some stuff we found at Urban Outfitters, we have been kind of obsessed with that place lately), but we are trying to spend as slowly as possible, building our home in increments.

Right now we are working on getting some dressers together so we can (FINALLY) stop living out of suitcases. I bought one last night on my way home from the same store and it will be delivered Thursday! Can't wait!


Bugs:

We bought roach motels.

It had to be done.

We stratigically placed the little poison palaces about the house and have not seen a roach since. I guess with the squashing of the original few and this toxic temptation, we are really no match for those creepy crawlies!!!

MUAHAHAHHAAA!!! (Or, I mean, something less evil?)


Noise:

As I have mentioned, we live in a fairly (very) boisterous neighborhood.

The livley family gatherings and bumpin' dance parties taking place on the weekends are one thing, but now that I have moved into the other room, I have noticed the real problem: sharing a bedroom wall with a family's living room.

Children. Multiple children, playing loudly. I am glad they sound like they have fun as a family, BUT it is 11:30 p.m. shouldn't they go to bed so I can wake up at 7 a.m.!? K, thanks! Also, the last couple of nights they must have had someone (or the dad is in the dog house) staying with them, because I have heard very loud man snoring through that wall. I mean, if I can hear you THROUGH THE WALL, there may (may?) be something wrong with your nighttime breathing.

THE WORST PART, is that something VERY ODD goes on upstairs at about 3 a.m.

I don't know how, or why, we never noticted it before... BUT the last few nights at 3 in the morning we have been woken up by LOUD baby crying (more like toddler... or "miniature child" as Em put it) and VERY VERY VVVEERRRRYYY (I don't want you to think it's quiet in anyway) LOUD LOUD LOUD banging/slamming of something into the ground.

We have both been scared awake out of a dead sleep by whatever it is that they slam into the floor (ahem... HI THAT'S OUR CEILING!) that shakes the entire house.

We have yet to figure it out, but it is VERY odd and HIGHLY obnoxious. If it continues, we will soon have to talk to the landlord.

Really people, I just want to SLEEP... THROUGH the night. That would be amazing.

Repairs:

Household woes, repairs, and then more repairs...

FIRST, our tub leaked into our downstairs neighbors' apartment prompting her to wake us up at 6:30 a.m. one morning to alert us to this fact. (Because.... I look like a plumber? Or... the super? No? Didn't think so.)

They fixed it. Leaving a mess in our bathroom.

THEN, our upstairs neighbors' (also known as Those Who Make WAY Too Much Noise!) tub started leaking into OUR bathroom.

After a few cold drip, drips from above, I realized that there wasn't just ONE cold spot coming out of our shower head and looked up to find a bulging crack over my head. ACK!!! lol

When you feel like the whole ceiling is about to burst, it is amazing how fast you can shower.

Well, we have been struggling with this for about a week now.

Living with a bathroom in shambles, because we have given up trying to clean since the super inevitably has to come back upstairs and tear something else apart.

Also, my window does not stay open on its own, the kitchen window does not stay open on its own, the ligtbulb in the entry went out (we are apparently supposed to change this ourselves... cause, duh, I have a ladder in my small NY apartment!? and/or I am 7ft tall...? Totally. Hopefully we can be nice to the super and he will end up fixing it, because...) one of Em's lightbulbs also went out.

LOL, we can't win folks; just can't win.


HOWEVER...

We are still really loving having our place in the city and the convenience of the location. Hopefully we will get to know our neighbors soon and the noises will be reduced. Wish us luck!!! And... if you are feeling charitable you can make a donation to the EmiLo Couch fund.

Thanks! LOVE YOU ALL!!