This Is Shambles House

One woman. Three cats. Few handyman skills. One 1914 American Foursquare in need of attention. Chaos and hijinks.

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Location: Phoenix, AZ, United States

I spend a lot of time riding the bus; the time I don't spend doing that or working I gleefully waste doing WHATEVER I DAMN WELL PLEASE.

Friday, June 27, 2008

Want To Check Out My House?

Here's pictures.

The Secret To Stripping Wallpaper And Other Tedious Household Work...

Is listening to The Savage Love Podcast.

Seriously, there's something about listening to the sturm and drang of other people's freaky sex lives and personal problems that makes the tedium of household fixing go faster.

Thursday, June 26, 2008

I'm Pretty Sure I'll Never Own Another House

But if I take the plunge, especially out here, I will want an outdoor shower.

For a bit in the late 80's-early 90's, my parents owned a vacation home at the NC Outer Banks. This was a miserable experience except for the fact we had an outdoor shower. No, not the ocean access steps away, crabbing, bewitching views of dolphin pods. Owning a vacation home is a particular kind of self-deprivation--everything is much nicer than what you have at home, and has to be kept so, requires a lot of worry, and is done for people you will never meet. Screw that, in my opinion.

But you cannot imagine the sensual delight of an outdoor shower unless you've experienced it: the naughtiness of being nakey outside, the juxtaposition of hot water and cold air (or hot air and cold water) and fresh air.

And environmentally conscious too!

Sunday, June 08, 2008

Just Wait A Second While I Spackle That Dent From Hitting The Wall With My Head

So, if a neutral decor is so important for resale, why buy property in the first place? Wasn't one of the reasons/pleasures of owning your own place supposed if you wanted an orange room, you could go ahead and do it? Those home shows on cable, they are all about the splashy decor and color.

Personally, agonizing over nine shades of white makes me want to slap people. Yet I can do it just as well as anyone!

Having just neutraled up Shambles House a bit for sale (pictures to follow), I'm of mixed thoughts on this. I'm someone who just lives with decor--it's one of the reasons why I'm a lousy homeowner. So I kinda like the neutral look, bit on the other hand I have a strong Slovak side that likes some SW Lime Rickey and other bright colors. There's a sizable contingent of buyers who immediately seek to change their surroundings and put a stamp on their new home, so neutralizing is sort of useless, no?