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After a good deal of drama with receiving the keys, we got into the house on Thursday and the guys assessed the supplies we would need while I went and got gift cards at Home Depot so the guys could purchase supplies without me. At Home Depot, for my convenience, Chase responded to my attemptend purchase by freezing all my cards with them, so I used my Amex. So there, Chase.

Later, we went back to Home Depot and received an incredible deal because of a new program they were trying to get off the ground. In order to be eligible to use the services of the new Pro Team, we had to start by buying $2500 worth of stuff.

From now on, we are entitled to call and have our orders pulled in advance, which is an incredible timesaver, to get free delivery direct to our jobsite, and to get 10% off on everything. Also, after they quote us that 90% price, we are then entitled to have each project submitted to the ³bid room,² which gives us an even lower price. I tested that this week with our new appliances.

In order to get great service on our appliances, I want to buy only Whirlpool or GE, which are the specialties of my appliance repair guys. So I chose a set of Whirlpool and a set of GE, and asked my rep which she could get. I didnıt think she could get Whirlpool, and she couldnıt, but they are equivalent.

For the fridge, the MSRP was $999, the dryer $469, the range $649, and the dishwasher $399.

The original offer of the Pro Team was $899, $409, $599, and $349. Then, after submitting this to the bid room, I am told we saved another $249, but I may have misunderstood. This bid room thing is so far not entirely clear to me, and it doesnıt show up on my charge card yet.

My rep threw in all the install kits and free delivery, which is amazing for appliances.

I bought a range hood on eBay because I felt it was a better one than I could get from either GE or Whirlpool. Itıs a Maytag and only 4.5 sones, whereas the competitors were 6­8 sones. A sone is a measure of noisiness.

I got three dining tables on closeout from Crate and Barrel for $25 each.

Friday Star came over to consult on decorating, and we agreed to go with the color schemes that are already successful for me, because 1) Iım trying to do the first house quickly, 2) because we know they are popular, and 3) because we already have some paint and coordinating accessories. An ancillary advantage was I could then build the Web site without pictures of the current place, because I could give pictures of the other place as examples.

The reason I want to rent it quickly is to try to get Cal students, even though the term has begun. The site is temporarily at http://www.sunahweb.com/MilDos/.

A was going to help me get some Craigslist furniture and appliances on Saturday, and he did not show up. He had also been late on Thursday and Friday, so we temporarily demoted him. He and I have been planning this job for months, and he has had some great ideas, but itıs a big responsibility and I think he got a little nervous. Fortunately I had already changed my original plan, to now rely on both A and J. We agreed that A could be my guy again as soon as he is on time five days in a row. Until then he will be Jıs guy. Iım sure this is a temporary thing. After Monday all personnel matters went perfectly.

On Sunday my back went out and I have been suffering all week. Sunday is the day SN comes over here to go to the gym with me, and she was here when my back went out. She and Barry put me to bed and then drove to Whole Foods to get me comfort food. That made me happy.

Michelle and I pulled out all the art we have been saving for the new building and discussed how to use it.

In order to have a shot at getting ready in time for Spring semester, we decided to work with four guys instead of two this week and next. J, A, and Danny all worked together on my cottage in 2008, so I knew that would go well, and Luis has been working with his uncle J since he arrived, which would seem to have been just a few months ago, but I havenıt asked. He doesnıt talk much.

Our living room, foyer, and parlor have board-and-batten trim, and there are two parts where that trim is messed up. I asked J to fix it. In the living room he pulled the messed-up part off the wall and there was a beautiful built-in cabinet behind it, which completes a weird hole that looked like it used to be a pass-through from the kitchen. So now that pass-through and that cabinet are available.

The guys rewired the house and did the plumbing this week. We had thought we needed to increase the service to 100 amps, but PG&E made such a big deal about it that we invited another, more licensed electrician that J has worked with in the past to help us out for free, and he says we are OK with the amps we have. He also helped us buy some non-Home Depot supplies at a good price.

J took the horrible countertop and backsplash off in the kitchen and uncovered some beautiful subway tile with a somewhat unfortunately green feature strip, but authentic. It will work out great.

AT&T is careful not to give out too much DSL, so there was a chance if we didnıt have some bandwidth on the line by today they would reduce our service. Therefore we got a rudimentary office going today; also a lady we know gave us a really nice bathtub, toilet, and some cabinets from a house she is remodeling.

The Holiday Inn nearby is closing and selling a lot of furniture that we need at great rates, but so far I havenıt been able to arrange access for me and my measly three units.

Our money estimates are fine so far, and we are fine on time because of the four guys this week, but the late COE put us out of reach of the beginning of Spring term. Also it seems that we canıt wait til next year for the second roof as we had planned because it is leaking now, and I think it would also be wise to change the windows now because they let the cold air in the house and the rain and dew into the frames, rotting them. I will see what I can arrange.]]>