Closing in on target...

Yes, that's right: we have a closing date! The house should be completed on November 1, which is a Thursday. Then, on Monday, we have our new home orientation and walk-through. That's when we learn how to use the heater and stuff, and we get to point out any little things that need to be fixed, like scuffed walls (hopefully, only LITTLE things.) Then we close on our house on Wednesday, November 7. We give them a really big check, sign a lot of papers, and we get the key. We can start moving in then.


We locked in the terms and interest rate of our mortage today, which was really nerve-racking, because the interest rate kept changing throughout the day. We also cashed in our mutual fund, to pay for the down payment and the closing costs. (Thanks to Emilie's Mommy and Daddy, who gave it to us when we got married!) That was also a little scary, because we had to request it be cashed out BEFORE the stock market closed, but we wouldn't know exactly what the account was worth until AFTER the market closed. Does any of that make any sense? Anyway, it is all done now.


Our house is progessing nicely. Every day we see something new. Our walls are painted, the plastic is off the cabinets, and the doors are back up.


Today they started laying the vinyl flooring in the kitchen and bathrooms. We didn't actually see that part, but our builder e-mailed us to let us know. Next week they will finish the plumbing, install the toilets, sinks, and faucets. And, outside, they will pour the driveway. They actually build a little wooden trough for a mold, then pour the concrete, then smooth it out--but not too much. You apparently want little ridges in the concrete to improve traction, since the driveway is not totally level. They use what looks like a metal broom to achieve this. A bit like a rake in a Japanese sand garden, I think.


You can learn how to make your own relaxing zen garden here.

I just packed our 100th box. I can't believe how much junk we have! It is kind of scary to think we have to move in 5 weeks. There is so much left to do. I have packed most of the kitchen stuff we can live without, but the office still looks like the Abominable Paper Monster lives there. I can't just throw all the papers away without either looking at them or shredding them. We are in luck: the Staples (an office supply store) in Indianapolis is having a shredding day, where they will shred your mountains of papers for free. It will be November 6. I hope we can fit all the old bank papers and such in our car!

We also need to start all of our utilities, get insurance, change our address with about 50 companies, hire movers, and I fear we will need to give in and buy some packing paper and dish boxes. I worry all of our nice dishes will be broken if we don't. Actually, we don't have nice dishes. We have ordinary dishes and cheap dishes from Wal-Mart. But it is nice to have something other than paper to eat off of!

I wonder if the movers will charge extra when they find out about the card catalog? I plan to pack the contents in boxes, and take the individual drawers out. It will still weigh a ton. What do librarians do when they need to move one? Oh, wait, they have computers now, don't they? I actually sat in on a course at IU about the History of the Book. It was soooo coool! But all the library science majors who were required to take it were unappreciative. They said things like "Why do we need to preserve old books when we can just scan them?" and "Print is dead." I bet none of them have a card catalog in their dining room!

(This is a picture from our last Christmas party. You can see the card catalog in the background.)

As you can see, I am reaching a state of total panic about moving and buying a house. Any reassurance would be most welcome! Hugs and help also accepted. :-)