Aren't we lucky!

So, when we discovered we had to leave our beloved Blue House, Alex and I had some decisions to make about where we were going and what we wanted/needed in an apartment.

We decided

• we could move down to one bedroom if we had to if there was some storage
• staying close to our current neighbourhood was a necessity because of Alex's job and hours
• we could give up a deck/balcony if necessary because we live in a great city and there are lots of parks in the neighbourhood
• we should try to be far away from a White Spot because far too often we cop out on making dinner
• we would be looking at a fair chunk of change more for a two bedroom than we're currently paying, and if we were lucky only a few hundred less for a one bedroom

Well what do you know, we scoured craigslist for anything and everything. Made a few contacts, saw some pictures and decided EWWWWWWWWW and then found the Pink Palace. And we took it right away.

Because

• it had two bedrooms and three closets even if there was no storage in the building
• it was only eight blocks from the Blue House which means a five minute each direction increase in commute time for me and at least a 25 minute reduction for Alex (that's bus versus foot travel)
• while it had no balcony, there is school right behind it and really, it's only about ten blocks from the beach
• there is no White Spot nearby, but we did discover when we actually took the time to look that there is a pub a block away, an Earls, a Moxies and they all have patios so it's okay, because it makes up for the missing deck...yeah, that's it!
• it's only a bit more than what we're paying now, even when utilities and laundry are factored in (and the storage unit we're going to have to get), but it still has two bedrooms

We sort of seconded guessed ourselves and could both be heard wondering out loud if it was the right decision...to take the first place we saw...I mean, it was completely redone inside, it's close to everything, the only real downside besides the storage issue is there is no reserved parking, but well, it's okay.

I'M SO GLAD WE TOOK IT!

I was looking at what's available this month, and well, it's not pretty. Thank goodness we went with instinct. We would be able to find somewhere, it just would not have been an easy thing to do and we probably would not have been too happy. Thank goodness we started looking early.

Now on to the packing (and major decluttering!)

Finally...it's been christened

Alex and I just got back from not-the-blue-house. We started our afternoon checking out new couches along Granville Street and then stopped at not-the-blue-house to plot our move. Before we left the blue house this afternoon, we had measured our furniture to see what we would have to get rid of as not-the-blue-house is quite a bit smaller than the blue house.

Oh, and before I continue, not-the-blue-house has been christened. After a number of hours within it's empty room, painted somewhat pinkish-peach, not-the-blue-house will be henceforth known as The Pink Palace. Hopefully once we get our furniture in and our walls decorated, the overwhelming sense of pink won't be so, well, overwhelming.

Upon arrival we noticed that our landlord has yet to hang our new blinds or fix any of the stuff he was supposed to fix before we moved in and we've been paying rent for two weeks. Whatever, we ignored that and set to work with our masking tape. No, that's not where furniture died, that's where furniture is going and we figured this was the easiest way to try our stuff without necessarily moving things in that we don't want to bring with us.

This is our bedroom...which, after much deliberation, will house the queen-sized bed and our double bed will be banished (quite possibly temporarily until the Aerobed arrives) to the guest room.

Happy Shannon would like to point our that while it's not the biggest room in the world, it will accommodate, not one, not two, not three, but FOUR bookcases...something very exciting seeing as we were I was concerned about housing our books since the blue house is full of built-in shelving.


Alex shows that the living room is an okay size (we do need at least one more pair of eyes to help us decide what size new couch to buy).


This is the other end of the living room/dining room where we will have our dining room table...good thing we ended up with only one set in the end!



And finally, our guest room. We will still have a guest room and will still welcome you to the blue house pink palace, it might just be a bit cozier.

So that's the pink palace without furniture. If you're in the neighbourhood in the next few days and would like to offer your opinion on couch size and placement, please do let us know.

That's all.

STOP! Make a u-turn

Do not pass GO. Do not collect $200. Just turn around and go.

Why is it that just when it looks like everything is going according to plan, the path veers off in a direction you DO NOT WANT TO GO?!?!?! I guess that's part of the excitement of life. It might get boring if I did exactly the same thing every day. Right now though, I could do with the boring. I just need to keep reminding myself that last week I was feeling bored even though I had lots to do and this week while the lots to do is still boring, I'm powering through it because "down time" will be a thing of the past shortly.

Oh life...gotta keep it interesting!

And on the upside of the things we get the keys to not-the-blue-house this week.

looks like it's ours

I think we have our new place. We pretty much just have to sign the agreement and we can move in shortly...but we won't...we'll wait until January.

We'll wait to have one last (and really a first) Christmas in the blue house. We'll wait until we made a few trips to the Salvation Army with some good stuff that we just don't need or want anymore. We'll wait until the ghosts have calmed down a bit. Strange things have been happening lately...like the shredder turning itself on, things falling over for no reason and not leaky taps dripping. I think the ghosts know something is up...smart ghosts.

Anyway, here are a few pictures of the new place.

It's a bit smaller than what we're used to, but it will do...I will post some more pictures on we take some. Like maybe when there's stuff in the apartment!

not-the-blue-house

bedroom looking out towards the other bedroom and the living room in not-the-blue-house

kitchen in not-the-blue-house

Oh, and not-the-blue-house needs a new name. Not-the-blue-house doesn't quite cut it. Not after the hobbit hole and the blue house.

Suggestions? Or maybe the apartment will name itself after we move in.