Mad Men, Coca Cola and backyards

AMC has a Mad Men marathon today. I found it at 3 and have been getting caught up on the current season since then. What a wasted day!

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It was a beautiful day – cool, but clear skies and sunshine. Besides a couple short walks with the dog, I spent the day inside (watching Mad Men). I would have enjoyed sitting in the sun a bit (thus avoiding Mad Men), but I really hate sitting on my little deck. I`ve talked about it before – it`s totally open and the neighbours are an arm`s length away. NO privacy. Not that I need any, I just don`t like being out there when the neighbours are entertaining because then I feel like I`m imposing.

The neighbours had company this weekend!

It made me go back to my idea that I should get my little house ready to sell … and then move into a 2 bedroom house that has a walkout from the living room. The walkout from the basement is, it seems, a bonus … but from my perspective I`d rather have a relatively private backyard that I could access from my main floor. My yard that is accessible from the basement has fences between the units, so does offer a bit of privacy where I could sit out without having to watch everything the neighbours are doing, but it is totally shaded because of the upstairs deck.

Last week I went to a beautiful park and Moodie and I sat beside the river while I listened to my audiobook, but that just isn`t as convenient as if it was my backyard where I could come and go as I wanted.

I figure $10,000 would do most of the work:

* ALL floors – basement, main floor and upstairs

* ALL painting (I can do some, but there are a few things that need a professional`s touch – like the water marks on the main floor ceiling from a leak upstairs. The ceiling is stucco so I don`t want to do it) and the stairway

* new crown molding – it was a real hack job!

* the ceiling in the main bathroom is all cracked and peeling. I read that that happens when drywall in a bathroom is painted without a primer first. The fan up there doesn`t work either …

* toilets – either replaced or just fixed

* fix the major leak in the laundry room (I have to turn off the water to the washing machine when it isn`t running)

* closet doors – there were no closet doors when I moved in … there are still no closet doors

I owe $180,000 on the mortgage. Other 3 bedroom townhouses in this complex are selling for more than $230,000 … and they aren`t the ones backing onto the conservation with the basement walkout. So, I`m probably sitting on a good $50,000 equity at this point.

There are 2 bedrooms in this little complex, and some in a complex not too far from here. Two bedroom townhouses aren`t nearly as common as I would like! There are quite a few `stacked towns` which are 2 story apartments, but I`m not ready to give up the basement. That is painfully obvious by how much crap is being stored down there … not to mention, I don`t want kitty litter on the levels where I spend all my time.

I`m sure this urge will pass when the summer has ended. I don`t really want to do the work while I have all these animals. Because, although the junk in the basement is thanks to my kids … the ruined carpet is thanks to the stupid animals.

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We had a potluck at work on Friday. I was feeling less than engaged so signed up for `drinks`. I was also feeling pretty cheap because I figure `drinks` was a more costly venture than the person who had to bring `chips`. So, I suggested we have TWO people on drinks.

I brought some lime flavoured Perrier (I love Perrier and when I told someone I was bringing drinks, she specifically requested that) and coke.

I rarely drink pop. I know if I buy it, that is what I will drink (bye bye water and peppermint tea). Since I was in such an incredibly cheap mood, I brought home the leftover coke (6 tins). I`ve had two already today. I`ll probably drink another one before I go to bed.

Not a whole lot of control.

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I`m hungry. I wish I had a bag of chips to go with the coke.

Maybe I`ll make popcorn!

* I WISH YOU WELL! *