I’m sure you all can recount at least one time I’ve mentioned our basement recently. That’s because …
cue (not really, but kinda) sad story.
Our basement is a comfy little space that has a room I office in and then another room we have always had mismatched furniture in (looked nice, but not cozy if you know what I mean). Then in December I sold all the mismatched furniture (mostly donated, some even left by the previous owner) on Craigslist, January we got brand new, beautiful carpet put in (such a headache, but worth it) and February we started welcoming in new furniture. A spiffy new couch, the perfect taller-than-normal media cabinet from Ikea, bits and pieces from antique stores, Charley’s renovated desk and all kinds of other little details I was piecing together at night while sitting in front of the TV.
And, then we found some water. Bummer. Pull up the corner of the carpet, dry, lay back down. And, again. And, again. And, then over here and there and suddenly we realized it was coming in from everywhere. Panic setting in, an ulcer forming. NOOOOOOOOO!
I called a waterproofing company and he dropped the number. Woh. Let’s just say we sold our Honda to Corey’s brother for 1/4th of the cost it would be to fix our basement (and no lie – this company was only 1/3 of the second quote I got. Dang, Gina.). And, on top of the price “the fixing” includes moving furniture, pulling up the carpet and padding and *digging up the concrete*. NOOOOOOOOOO!
Forget the wambulance. I need a defibrillator.
As of tonight our newly “renovated” basement that I’ve worked on at least 2-3 nights a week for over 3-months looks like this …
Now, that is the saddest “after” photo I have ever seen.
And, our new ottoman is all up in our new couch’s grill. Awkwaaaard.
the door to my office:
and, the area where my desk usually lives:
All of the basement companies around here are slammed because Cincinnati is quite flooded, almost every single house has a basement and the future weather report looks a little something like this:
The company we’re using said the earliest they could probably get to our house is May 9th. As you probably don’t may remember May 9th is our start date for HGTV bombardment Casa Cudzilo 2011!
Having our basement dug up and our upstairs gutted in the same week is not an option. But, waiting for the basement means more water. Hmmm …
So, I’ve been a little stressed about this. All I’ve been able to do is ask for God’s kindness, whatever that may look like.
Cue slow, but up-beat music.
I’m happy to report that Sohan and Sons called today to say they would be able to dig our basement right up to a big, giant (but dry) mess next week. Before HGTV takes over. Thank the Lord! I never knew I’d be so happy to have my basement dug up. The slowly, seeping in water has been real real annoying and distressing.
Cue that sad music The Biggest Loser plays that always makes me tear up.
Middle of the post P.S. I read a friend’s blog update and she talked about how they have water in their basement (more than us it seems) and then she said they watched the news that night and saw all the devastation with the tornado that ripped through Alabama this past week and everything was put in quick perspective. Oh man. What a good reminder. A little water in our basement means moved furniture and (possibly) carpet that needs to be replaced. It does not mean a destroyed home or lost lives.
I tell you all this because there is a good possibility I may drop off the face of the blogosphere for a bit. We’ve got Sohan coming, then HGTV and then Denver (did I mention we’re taking a work trip with Corey just 2 days after HGTV leaves?). Then, it’ll be the 3rd week of May. Good gravy.
But, I will blog as much as possible and I hope that’s a whole lot. If it’s not you’ll know why.
Now enough with all this seriousness already! How about this …
direct link: http://youtu.be/Ng6BYHQNoKA
; )
jc