THE ENDLESS STORY

Though construction is moving at a very fast clip, at this stage IT JUST AIN'T QUICK ENOUGH!! Our Construction Loan expires Jan. 24th and for the first time since construction began, our contractor has given us a completion date...MARCH 2009!! Somehow, those two dates just don't reconcile. There should be no problem getting an extension on the loan but as with everything in life, it comes at a price. We're being told by IndyMac that the extension will cost one half point (.50%), of the amount used to date...PER MONTH!! This is on top of the monthly interest payment we're already making. Plans are to negotiate with IndyMac and see if we can pay some sort of one-time, lump amount for the extension on top of the monthly interest nut.

Before I go further into my rant, here's a new batch of photos updating the status of the house. The exterior finish/paint is complete. They have also begun installing the copper gutters. Inside, there's a flurry of activities. Stone stairs, electrical wall switches and fixtures, bathroom counters and counter tops, shower walls, kitchen cabinets and island, wood floors and much, much more have all been started.

Here's a pic of our retirement account. We're banking that copper will become the new gold. When the price of copper skyrockets, we'll be sitting on the friggen' mother lode!!

This is our incredible Murano glass chandelier that hangs over our dining room. Gina and I purchased this along with six (6) matching wall sconces and two (2) matching ceiling fixtures while visiting the Murano factory in Venice (Italy, not Calif.), two years ago. You may have noticed that one of the glass shades is missing. It's not missing, but was broken. After being shipped from Italy and being in our "protective custody" for years now, it mysteriously broke once it was brought on site to be installed by the electrician. Ain't it's incredible how some people are afraid to fess up to an accident? A very frustrating and disappointing development.

Here's the rough framework for the kitchen island. Once they locate the sink and fixtures, final measurements will be made and the granite countertops will be finished.

Here's an action-packed shot of the master bathroom. On the left is the vanity with the "his" and "hers" sinks. The pic on the right shows you the walls in the shower. Hopefully we'll actually be taking showers in this room within two months? Yeah, I know...that and when pigs fly!!

Here's the in's and out's of our front door. The left interior shot shows one of the large Murano glass fixtures. Outside we see the bare door with considerable work still to do. Natural stone will be used to cover the recessed area flanking the door and the same darker-colored stone we'll be using under the exterior window, will be used to frame the door. It should look very cool!!
The sequence on many of the remaining construction tasks, are now interwoven with each other. Once the bathroom and kitchen cabinets have been placed, the tile floors can finally be installed. They are scheduled to remove all the scaffolding and install the tile roofing. Once this is done, the scaffolding can be removed. It's been so long since we've seen the house without the scaffolding, it will be very momentous seeing the house for the very first time without them. With the scaffolding removed, work can also begin on the grading with the hopes that the retaining walls and pouring of the driveway are not too far behind.

The removal of the scaffolding and installation of the tile roofing this week, should provide some very spectular pictures within a week's time. I'll do my best to squeak out an update before our lives get even crazier!! Gina and I have two shows coming up in February. We'll be in New York during the first weekend and San Francisco two weeks later. We'll get a first-hand look at the effects of the current economy on our customers. Here's to a robust 2009 for all!!