We've been home dwellers for just over two weeks now and the house is slowly taking form. In place of piles of boxes we have some furniture placed and even have a few rooms completed. The vast majority of the work has been accomplished by Amber while I've been at work. I've done a few key things, but not enough to claim any credit. It's a good thing that Amber is so organized and efficient or we'd still be living out of boxes if thins were left up to me.
Spending our first dweller weekend in Orem for Stacy's (Amber's sister) baby shower we came home on Labor Day to utilize the holiday for some much needed unpacking.
At least, that was the idea. We didn't actually get out of Utah Valley until around 2pm, getting us back to Cache Valley at around 4pm, so I did the most important task I could think of - get the Internet connection working.
I had connected all the necessary devices together - incoming cable to the modem; modem to the router/switch; switch to where i wanted to use the Internet - but I was having troubles getting the Internet service from Comcast working.
After exhausting all other options the dread of calling technical support was eminent. The numbers were dialed and after the mandatory waiting "while they were working on getting me connected to the next available representative" I had the most amazing experience. The tech support person on the other end of the line was actually helpful. Not only did he resolve my issue he was entertaining to speak with. He shot the breeze while waiting for the process to complete and never once made me feel inferior or stupid. Well done, Mr. Comcast Customer Serviceperson.
As mentioned earlier, I spent much of the rest of that week at work while Amber juggled unpacking, enhancing her motherly relationship with Ashley, and completing her professional duties as accountant for Campus Housing.
My first major responsibility was to hang blinds on each of the 10 windows through out the house. The task sounded simple enough, but that's because I had never hung blinds before.
The first round began Saturday morning. After distributing the boxes of blinds to each window location I started with the smallest window in the house, the master bathroom.
I was surprised at how uneventful the process was. With my budding confidence I attacked the master bedroom. That one was a little tougher - width nearly twice the width - but it went in fairly well.
The directions that came with the blinds were very wrong about one thing, and that is the estimated time it took to hang the blinds. There is no way it takes someone less than 30 minutes. Or, I could be slow. Nah.
I had time to do Ashley's room before calling it a day. Surprisingly, it turned out to be the most crooked job out of the three. I must have been rushing it.
During the week I figured that I could get some more hung by taking advantage of some time in the evenings. At Amber's request I moved to the basement bedroom where she spends most of her days. It was there that I learned that basement windows are made a little differently than other windows.
After several man hours, taken over multiple nights, and drilling over 20 holes in my wall, I came to the conclusion that the blinds as they were currently shaped were not going into that window.
The following Saturday (16 Sep) I set out to finish the task, this time with Ashley as Amber was attending a Relief Society activity with the other women at church. I now have a greater appreciation for how Amber can accomplish what she does during the day.
I enjoyed the time with my daughter, although my blind hanging productivity was affected greatly. I successfully covered the family room window and fixed something I messed up on the master bedroom. Then as I was drilling the holes for the upstairs office I learned that drill bits aren't indestructible.
While burrowing into some dry wall I hit the point where the drill was cutting into wood. As you can imagine, the drill bit was pretty deep into the wall. Something jerked and I shifted - moving the drill sideways - and the bit couldn't take it. With a loud snap three-fourths of the bid stayed in the wall while the rest came out still attached to the drill.
After my attempts of excavating the broken bit from the wall I decided that it can stay where it is. But, if anyone has suggestions on how to retrieve the metal spiral piece I am all ears.
Needless to say, the blinds are winning at this point. Our main floor, with the kitchen and living room is still a fishbowl.
Until next week, enjoy your privacy.
