ID TO PA

The (Great) Speaker Debate

It's funny how things truly change when our lives have been thrown into the air, shaken up a wee bit, and emptied out like a bag of popcorn.

Take the speakers in the family room, for instance.

When we lived here before the speakers sat on the white built-in shelves.  When we moved back last year I kinda forgot about the speakers (and if I'm totally honest, I don't miss them.  Oh, I know, I know, surround sound, blah blah blah) and so I decorated the shelves without them.  When Larry came back last month he immediately wanted to find those speakers and put them up.

At first I went with the story, "the speakers were never unpacked so they are somewhere buried in the shed".  That seemed to keep him at bay since the temperatures were nearing triple digits and a day in the shed looking for speakers lost their appeal.  Whew...

However, he kept at the desire to find and hook them up.  I told him I really, really don't want them up on the shelves.  Here is the key to (our) marriage: does he want the speakers more than I don't want them?  The answer: I didn't want them more.  This system is how we solve many issues in our marriage.  Anyhoo, I am not being a total stubborn bitch here...I suggested he pick up smaller speakers that can be attached to the wall where the outlets are and would blend into the paint...win-win, yes?

Last weekend he decided to organize (and alphabetize. Please let the record state that I am not the only crazy fuck in this family!) our DVDs and what did he stumble upon?   

Him: "I decided to organize the DVDs."
Me:  "Oh yeah? Cool." (Shit.)
Him:  "Yeah, you know what I found in there?"
Me:  "Yes I do and I still don't want those big, ugly speakers on the shelves!"

 The black speakers were just too big and dark for these white shelves.  I have always disliked those speakers.

 The other side...

 Not sure if you can see where the outlets are for the speakers but they are about level with the middle shelf in between the built-in and the window you see in this shot.

The Office Debate

Before we left Idaho for the east coast both our desks were in this one office.  To be honest, I didn't like the way it looked because we had too many different styles in here.  Larry's desk was a dark wood with black legs, I had a utility type table, we had bookcases that were yet another "color" of (fake) wood, the printer table was another "color", and we had a light pine amoire.  Miss-matched to say the least.

As we were moving back we began discussing where the furniture would go now (we got rid of many pieces and so the house is somewhat different since the last time we lived here) and one of the biggest discussions was the office space.  Because Larry, at the time, wasn't going to be staying, he obviously kept his computer stuff in Pennsylvania.  I thought it would be great to put our large pine three-piece unit (that once upon a time was our main unit in our family room in Oceanside and while here before was in the living room) that I could fill with scrapbook supplies, embroidery supplies, and writing files.  I also utilized a (matching) pine dresser that I could also fill the drawers with creative supplies (I like the out of sight look, personally, because it is less overwhelming to the eye).  Our "old" nook table now doubles as part of my desk (I still have the somewhat ugly grey thing, however, which I hope to change out at some point).  In another words, the room works now.  It flows and helps me to be creative and gives me a space that is ultimately all mine.

At the time we were moving ourselves back into our home we decided that the loft would be a good place for his office...when he returns...and we put a smaller desk up there along with the bookshelves (it was the kids "play space" when we were here before but the kids really never went in there and it became a cluttered space full of random toys, old VHS tapes, an even older television, and leftover furniture pieces.  This time around I decided to make it more into a "library" space so our bookcases and all our books are up there along with a recliner...that was also in my office before...and the desk).

Fast forward a year later and the Main Man is moving back home.  He states, "we need to make room in the office for my desk and computer."

Um, yeah, no.

Him: "Where is my desk going to go??"
Me:  "Where we said it was going to go a year ago, in the loft."
Him:  "That idea sounded good at the time because I wasn't coming home any time soon.  But now I really want to be back in the office.  We can make space somehow...move a few things around..."
Me:  "Um, yeah, no.  I don't wanna move anything around.  There isn't room in here for you.  Sorry."
Him:  "Maybe under the window..."
Me:  "Um, yeah, no.  There just isn't room.  If you don't like the loft idea there is space at the desk in the laundry room."
Him:  "Hmmm, well, I guess I'll have to see which is better."

He spent an entire day going back and forth.  He liked the laundry room idea simply because he would be on the main floor and have desk drawer space.  However, he felt cramped, potentially hot with the dryer going, and in the midst of the coming and going through the garage door that would cause distractions.  The loft, while warm up there in the middle of summer with windows that don't open and have the hot afternoon sun beating down, was also more open for him.

In the end, he decided on the loft.  At least that (dead) space is being used now.  I like that.  And, he seems to be okay up there.  Honestly, (and selfishly) I like having my own space to come to without the distractions of his computer and stuff in here too. 

 The laundry room desk area.  Unfortunately, it is somewhat a dead space because I'm not sure how to utilize it.  Right now it has drawers full of warranties, business cards, phone numbers, school supplies, and grocery bags.
 My office as it looks today...
 
 See, no room for him.
 The loft.  That desk was put in there specifically for him to use when he returned.
 The loft is kinda out of the way.  Granted, it is open to the stairwell to the left and the living room over the wall to the right...but, it has its own "hallway" so no one is going to be traveling through his space unless they intend to be in the loft.
 Larry hooking his stuff up...
 The loft wins.

Spoiled

When we moved into this house in the winter of 2004 we were told that the three lots to our left would most likely be sold and built on within eighteen months.  Six years went by and there was absolutely no activity on those lots other than kids riding loud motor bikes, building dirt ramps for their bicycles, and a host of other stuff by bratty neighborhood kids.

That all changed this spring when signs appeared on the three lots and before long the one in the middle was marked "sold".

Crap.  We were going to get new neighbors.

And my view was going to be gone.  Now, to be fair, it wasn't really a view but more an open space/sky "view" that provided us privacy and a clearer shot of the sunset.

At first I was annoyed.  I realize that annoyance was misdirected, but I was annoyed that someone was building on the lot next to me (how dare they!).  I was annoyed that we would have neighbors on that side with noisy kids (our neighbors to the right of us are about as ideal as they get!).  I was annoyed that a certain level of privacy, while I still have plenty, would be lost.  (I did feel better when I realized the windows facing our house are limited to very high...and very small...family room windows, master bedroom windows, and a sliding glass door.  Luckily, our house has almost no windows that face the west except for a window in our master "foyer" and our back door.  However, it definitely affects our "outdoor living".)

Then, I was jealous.  Ah, a new house again.  The thrill of watching your house being built.  All the newness of floors, cabinets, and carpets.  The empty canvas of landscaping possibilities.  The excitement of moving stuff into a brand new house.  Suddenly my floors seemed more scratched, my cabinets in desperate need of cleaning, and my entire house in need of a fresh paint job (thanks in part to our renters...thanks guys).  Sigh.

I got over the jealousy part and I have also got accustomed to the ugly brown house being there now too.  What I did realize is that we need to plant some new trees in that corner that we have put off for too long and probably shouldn't have (oh well).  Our plan over the next year would be to plant a total of six new trees...all along the one fence line...with three of them in direct relation to the new house...not only to cover up some of their house and windows, but to provide us with more privacy in our own yard.

 The "view" before...again, not so much of a view as it is an open feeling of unlimited privacy.  There is one plus side to this house being built: it will limit almost entirely the wild neighbor boys who cause havoc on these dirt lots!!!
 The "view" from our back door.
 The "view" from our patio...
 Goodbye empty lots...
 This is the shot of our new neighbors from the only other window that faces that side...our master bedroom "foyer".

 And up, up it goes.  Dammit.

 There it is.  The "view" we have now.  Boo.

 It'll never be quite the same, but we'll survive.

 The just-about-completed house as it looks from our patio/back door now.  At least they have some trees that provide some privacy for both of us.
 (I still prefer an empty lot...)