House Obsessed
Published April 7th, 2009 in It's Really Just All About Me..., Renovations.
Okay, I’ve been very busy. No excuses, but I’ve been blogging a lot for work and it leaves me very little energy for L.A. Daddy. I remember the glory days of blogging when I could go and visit all my favorite sites and leave comments. But I’ve got a lot on my plate with work and my own personal obsession…
My house.
When I lived in L.A., I was obsessed with making movies. I was writing scripts, shooting films, and talking about movies every chance I had. Even with two kids, I still managed to find time for movie making.
I knew when we moved back to Ohio that I would be obsessed with my new home. It would become my mistress. The siren that would lure me away from my family. And it’s happened. It’s sucking up my few remaining hours and all my extra money.
And I’m lovin’ it.
This house - well, not this particular house, but the thought of a house - was one of my main motivators for moving back to Ohio. It certainly wasn’t the snow, ice and freezing cold temperatures. Like a woman wants a “bad boy”, I wanted a house I could fix and make my own. Put my stamp on it. I wanted to remodel, repair, and maintain.
For some people, changing their own oil or fixing the backyard fence is a chore. Something you pay others to do. For me, it’s fun. It’s intoxicating. If I don’t sweat and bleed all over this house, it’s not mine. Of course… it’s no fun to clean up all that sweat and blood, but… I digress.
So, that’s what I’ve been doing. I’ve insulated and repaired all our ductwork, painted the living room, pressure washed our decks, repaired and replaced the gutters, and installed all new lighting. And that was just Saturday…
Oh, and I bought a lawnmower through Craigslist. And this past Sunday, I cut my grass. For the first time. It’s been 21 years since I cut grass. 21 years! We rented our house in L.A. for ten years and we were in apartments before that. And it was just like riding a bike - - I zigzagged all across the yard and ran into the fence.
Exactly how I ride my bike…
Congrats on the lawn mower! I never mowed a lawn in my life until we bought our first house. My husband and I switch off on lawn duty and I actually enjoy it. But we have to mow our lawn year round out here! How many months do you think you actually have to cut your grass out your way?
Here in Ohio, we need to cut the grass from about April to October, or November, depending on how soon the temps start dropping real low. Once you get snow or a lot of frosts, the grass usually stops growing thru the winter.
But enjoy it? No, I’ll never enjoy it. That’s why I had kids. So they could mow the lawn…
If you ever get bored, I could hire you for a few projects around our house.
Aaron is not into home improvements. And I’m not very skilled with tools. So together we’re lucky we know how to change the furnace filter and mow the lawn!
However, I’m starting a garden this year, and while I’ve never kept a plant alive, I’m really looking forward to growing our own fruits and veggies.