Tried It

Okay, I've seen a bunch of you bloggers using these nifty little video things, and I figured that this would be a good way to share some of the house project pictures without totally cluttering my blog with picture after picture.

So I tried it. I've posted my first slideshow below (with Smilebox). I think there's a way to click on them and view it bigger which should help. it is hard to give anyone an idea of a house picture in so small a form.

Some of the pictures you've seen, but I put a few of Day five up there and they're pretty dramatic, I think.

Anyway, I'm home sick today (thanks, G - think I got it from you). Feeling pretty cruddy but hoping it will pass quickly since we're going to try to do our Christmas decorating this weekend.

We keep going back and forth on the roof material choice. We have plenty of needs and wants requiring our money - it's hard work to determine how to best spend it. Anyway, I'm headed back to sleep off some more of this sore throat...

House Project - first 5 days...

Make a slide show, scrapbook, or ecard

Day Four Made a Difference

Here's a photo that's probably a bit more dramatic than those I've posted so far. They knocked off the roof covering the porch!! We had kind of figured that they would do this, but weren't 100% certain.
We've got the second payment coming up this week - they've done a lot of the work already, so it's time to give them a little more $$ for materials. We've been really pleased so far - especially considering they were initially planning on starting our project this week and they've already finished the roof rebuild, which was a big part.
We're going to sit down this week and discuss where we are in the budgeting and try to break down the remaining costs so that we can make the final decision on the roofing materials. I know it's probably too much to hope for, but I am really really really wanting that red metal roof (I know, there's an echo in here, I've already said that!).

House Project - Day Three

In some of these pictures, it's really hard to tell what's been done. The entire roof has now been rebuilt - meaning new beams, new wood panels and tar paper (except for the portion over the porch). There will be no water coming in this house under this roof! Now all we have to do is make the big decision between shingles and metal. Of course, metal is about 3 times the cost of shingles, and as we're now faced with having to buy Geoff a car, we'll probably have to go with shingles, but we'll do it up nicely... I really really really want that red metal roof!!!

Snow - War Eagle Style

Celebrating a white Thanksgiving. A little Auburn University tradition for those unfamiliar with our SEC town: when AU wins a football game folks come out and roll Toomer's Corner - one of the main entrances to the AU campus. There's a huge party with the band and locals and folks celebrate into the night.

Above is a picture of me the morning after our most recent win (6 years in a row) against our number one rivalry, University of Alabama. Below is a wider angle picture of the magnitude of the rolling...

House Project Day Two

Between a rainy forecast (of which we had only sprinkles) and it's being the day before a holiday, the crew did not come to work today. They cleaned up pretty well yesterday and wrapped everything in tar paper, so I was not surprised to not see them. Their next major project sure doesn't need to be done just before rain, because next they will be digging out the foundation for the porch extension.

I didn't post pics of the work from Day two. I hope these pictures will give you a better idea of what they've done to the roof. The first pics I posted of the house were really to give an idea of all the mess everywhere, more than to show the roof itself. It's not a drastic looking change on the back of the house in pictures, but it looks amazingly different when you're up close to it...

Where the siding looks black is how much the roof was raised. That's new boards covered in tar paper. The second picture is standing a little further back. If I had to guess, I'd say there's about a foot difference between the slope of the new boards as opposed to the old roof. It was very nearly flat and dipped in places. Now there's a nice clean line straight from the peak down the back.

It's exceptionally difficult to take pictures of the roof, actually. Hard to get enough distance to see what's been done and hard to get close enough to show a little detail. But I can tell you when you're standing next to it, it looks fantastic!

The picture of the stoop/steps does not come close to doing it justice. The steps really look great, and dress up the entire patio area. Our outdoor living spaces - this side porch and the new covered front porch - are really going to add value to the house!

And finally, my post would not be complete without a picture of the "Auburn Throne" sitting just outside our fence in the front yard. What Alabama home would be complete without the old outhouse?


On a side note, we had a bit of bad luck hit today (just pre-holidays of course). Geoff's dad's van, which we've been borrowing temporarily to replace Geoff's van, is officially dead. Not only do we not have enough to put the metal roof on the house like we wanted, we also don't really have what we need to take care of his transportation situation.


For the last year or so, his van has been in our back yard in need of a transmission/motor/something or other that costs a lot. Also for the past year, a friend has been tinkering on his motorcycle (still not done). So he's been driving the old VW van that finally is kaputz. I hate to take out ANOTHER loan, since we're already paying on something for all of this construction, but it would figure that while we're working on this, we'd end up with another major expense. Such is life!

Weight Loss - Then and Now Pics

I'm posting embarrassing pictures of myself because people who haven't seen me in awhile might not be able to appreciate how much weight I gained and then THANKFULLY lost!

The first one was taken in June, when I was wearing a 14 to a 12. I barely look like I can fit in the picture! No, I didn't widen the angle or alter the picture in any way. That's just how much of a weight problem I allowed myself to get into... I got to where I could not wear that shirt. Now it's a staple of my daily wear.

The second one was taken in September. Down to a 10 there, and I know not the best pictures, but I honestly don't have that many to choose from. I guess I got a bit camera shy after gaining all of that weight. I know my hair is longer in the second picture, and that might be all that you can notice from it, but if I had better close ups of the face, you could definitely tell the difference.

Side by side below I've put pictures of my face - the first in June - just before the Hallquist family fourth of July reunion. I took it on my cell phone myself, so it's not the best image ever, but hopefully you can tell a big difference between that one and the one next to it (besides that I had curled my hair for the second picture). The difference is actually about 20 lbs! The second picture was taken in October, and you'll recognize it as my sidebar pic from my blog.

I wish I could show more of the final picture that's down there, because you can really tell in that pic just how much I've lost, but Geoff managed to take a picture that shows entirely too much uncovered chest with the angle, so I've had to crop it.

Anyway, enough embarrassing photos for one day. I didn't get a chance to do an update of the work completed on day two yesterday because I went and got my hair and nails done and got home too late to take pictures (no daylight left). I'll try to slip outside this morning and snap a few before the guys get started again.

Geoff's got the day off for Turkey weekend, so he might take some of the work in progress. As long as it doesn't rain...

End of Day One

Before & after of the back of the house. I took the first picture last week, and the second picture today after the contractors finished up day one on the roof. No more saggy roof, yeah! The contractor said that there were actually already two roofs on the house. Not two layers of roofing shingles, but a roof with a layer of shingles, and then a second roof with two more layers of shingles. You probably can't see this but there is a massive pile of shingles behind the house. We're having to walk the dogs out front.

The dogs are not thrilled about all of these strange noises and strange people. They were pretty scared this morning. But I'm hoping that maybe this will desensitize them to every little noise they hear. Colson barks a lot, so it will be good for him to chill a bit. The other reason we have to walk them out front is below.

The steps were definitely far from "code." They have a date etched in them of 4-21-1975 and had been broken up at the top to make room for a deck that we tore off when we bought the house. As you can see, we're getting a new stoop out back - a brick one. Stairs will come down either side and we will have a handrail! The contractor says the stairs will be done tomorrow (but will need to set before use), as will the back of the roof. Man, these guys work fast!

Weekend Project

My folks came down to help me celebrate passing the Series Seven. Geoff and I took them to Hamilton's, fine dining here in Auburn. Mom also helped me put together two weekend projects for my friend Summer who is having a little boy in February - a changing pad and diaper bag.

Study Buddies

Colson was a willing accomplice during my long hours of studying over the last several weeks. He loved it especially when I got sick of sitting at the desk and would sprawl out on the floor instead. He's a great little study buddy. Oh, and yes I know I was wearing two different socks. Geoff really enjoyed taking this picture because he thought that was funny. They were both fuzzy socks and I needed the warmth.

:)

Catch Up

Okay, here we go. It's time to play catch up between studying. Yes, that's right - I have more studying to do. But today I'm taking a break and using the opportunity to catch up my blog from the last few weeks.
So here we go...

Portrait of a Stockbroker

This is the post you have all been waiting for and I have been desparately wanting to write for the past eight to ten weeks. It is official - I have passed the Series Seven!!!

I know you're all wondering how I did it, especially since I only studied an average of 6 to 8 hours a day for the past ten weeks, and only took around 300 pages of notes, and only did around 50 practice exams - HA! Seriously, though, if I had not studied that much, I don't think I would have passed. I made an 82% (needed a 70% to pass). It's certainly not the highest score I've ever made on a test before, but it's probably my new favorite number.

I can't wait to finish up on all of this and get back to having a life again. I've forgotten what that is like. On a nice note, though, I just think it's awesome how everything is falling into place right now. My husband's sister and husband have found jobs in the area and are moving here mid-December. I passed the first leg of my licensing requirements in a field and for a job that I absolutely could not be happier about having! My sister is expecting again!

There's always a little something to wish for though. Fo me it's that my parents' situation would be resolved and that Geoff and I would get to the other side of fertility issues with little expense, pain, or much effort. You know you're enjoying life when all you can think of that is missing is another little someone to share it with!

Thanks to Zac Henderson, my boss's son, for the great professional photo (taken on 11.12.07). (I should have taken off the jacket - now that I wear my hair so long and dark, it's hard to see that it comes way down in the front because it blends in with the jacket - still, Zac did a fantastic job)!

A New Favorite Picture

I have some better pictures of Colson, better meaning that he's looking dead-on at the camera. I even have a great one I took the same day as this one. But I just love the look on his face here! I figured this could fall under the category of favorites, this being a favorite picture. I'll share some other pictures soon.

I took this one because I was outside trying to take some before pictures of the house before the contractor gets started. The official start date for all of the building and repair is November 27th, just two weeks away!

Favorite Things

anyone lived in a pretty how town

I was thinking it might be nice to share some of my favorite things - maybe I'll try to occasionally come back to something that I think is worth sharing. Tonight it's my favorite poem:

A Pretty How Town
by E.E. Cummings

anyone lived in a pretty how town
(with up so floating many bells down)
spring summer autumn winter
he sang his didn't he danced his did.

Women and men (both little and small)
cared for anyone not at all
they sowed their isn't they reaped their same
sun moon stars rain

children guessed (but only a few
and down they forgot as up they grew
autumn winter spring summer)
that noone loved him more by more

when by now and tree by leaf
she laughed his joy she cried his grief
bird by snow and stir by still
anyone's any was all to her

someones married their everyones
laughed their cryings and did their dance
(sleep wake hope and then)
they said their nevers they slept their dream

stars rain sun moon
(and only the snow can begin to explain
how children are apt to forget to remember
with up so floating many bells down)

one day anyone died i guess
(and noone stooped to kiss his face)
busy folk buried them side by side
little by little and was by was

all by all and deep by deep
and more by more they dream their sleep
noone and anyone earth by april
with by spirit and if by yes.

Women and men (both dong and ding)
summer autumn winter spring
reaped their sowing and went their came
sun moon stars rain

This is Fabulous - Check it out!

Summer sent me this link to a 12 question survey that helps you choose the 2008 Presidential Candidate who most closely aligns with your views on big issues:

http://www.wqad.com/Global/link.asp?L=259460

My candidate was Mike Huckabee - who's yours? (According to the survey and if you've actually chosen someone). I'd be interested to hear if anyone got a different survey result than the person they're actually thinking of supporting...

How do you spell S-T-R-E-S-S???

S
E
R
I
E
S

S
E
V
E
N

I CANNOT SEEM TO WRAP MY BRAIN AROUND OPTIONS TRADING, MARGIN CALLS, BOND MATURITIES, ETC., ETC., ETC. ! ! !
Why oh why did I not take more math classes in college? It has been far too long since I used basic mathematical logic!

And Away We Go!

We checked some references and contractor # 3 passed with flying colors - FINALLY. He's preparing the contract and we will be signing up on Monday or Tuesday to get started on our home improvements. Now all we have to do is pray that he doesn't run into any problems on the roof repairs so that we can (maybe) actually afford that metal roof we've been wanting. Take one last look. This place will sure look different with an entire roof rebuild and new looooong front porch!

I'll post some before and after pictures when we get this project started...

GREAT TO BE AN EIGHT!

This morning I realized that I had lost enough weight now to consider trying something. So I went to the closet and pulled out my navy pin-stripe suit, which I haven't worn in nearly 2 years. In fact, I only got about 3 wears out of this thing because I bought it too snug since I really liked it (wanted it for an interview) and they didn't really have it in my size.

I am thrilled to report that this morning I put it on easily and am now wearing it comfortably. My main goal has been officially reached - Size EIGHT and LOVING IT! I would still love to lose about 10 more pounds before the year is out and then I will be in a weight range that is comfortable for me to maintain indefinitely. Still, today is for a little celebration (not talking about cake and ice cream here).

Series 7 - YIKES!

Here we go. The test is scheduled and now I have to see what I've learned over the last eight weeks of studying. November 15th I'll go to Montgomery bright and early with my calculator and drivers license and whatever my little brain can hold. Pray hard! I'm going to pass, but a seven hour test sounds frightful!