Approaching approval (Day 516)

Last week was sort of a wash since I had to go to Idaho to be a paid geologist. I'm starting to think in terms of what these jobs are going to become. For example, if I do this job we can lay carpet in such and such a room. Or perhaps hardwood upstairs. Take about being a geopimp!

Anyway, Idaho Falls was lovely as usual. Overcast. 38-40°F, and snow the last day. Saw the inside of the same conference room for 16 hours and discussed technical dribble ad infinitum. Heck, they pay me to sit there and talk once in a while, so who's complaining.

So since the last post I've been working on our punch list for the occupancy permit and Nancy the painter has been finishing the maple counter tops. All done now, wonderful, even the one next to my man sink in the garage.

Our large list (see Day 486) is down to four items. No. 1 is completing the appliance installation (double oven and refrig) and putting lights up in the basement. No. 2 is the stair railings. Just have to get my courage up to drill 12 holes per stair rail and hope I hit the studs. No. 3 is assemble all the appliance manuals, and no. 4 is to find and have the insulation specs for the house. The electrical issues will be solved tomorrow by Gary Estes, my electrical guru, who is coming by to help install the appliances and lights. No. 2 is just a matter of getting Nancy to hold the railings while I drill their mounting brackets.

Meanwhile, the fir trim is begging to be sanded and finished, which will take a few days. The plaster still needs some attention in terms of being compressed, and the wood floors need to be rough and fine sanded, probably in a few weeks (Mills Interiors).

If all goes well, we'll have our occupancy permit in about 10 days. The IRS deadline for the $6500 house repurchase credit is April 30th, but I don't want to cut it too close. Money talks and everything else walks, as they say.