This Old House

As work progresses, I have decided it was a darn shame previous owners did not take care of the "bones". Under the crappy steel siding (yes, steel - magnets clung to it) was an exterior that was most likely quite lovely once upon a time. Good thing I am not in a "historic area" since I am covering those old bones with vinyl.

The top of the house had white shake siding and the bottom boards were a nice shade of green. Had they been taken care of and painted rather than been poorly covered, the deterioration would not have been nearly so bad.

Sad to say, but through a little research, I have learned that the windows do not quite meet the requirements for the energy tax credit. The two important numbers would have to be < or = .30. One of my numbers is .31 and the other is .32. It's o.k. though. They have to be better than what was there.

Rambles

Times have been strange lately. Liberal, Conservative, Populist, Centrist, Libertarian, Republican, Democrat, Right Wing, Left Wing - gee, I thought we were all Americans. Economy resembles the little balls in the lottery machine as it bounces all over the place. Some people screw up and get paid millions to do it, while some people work hard every day and get laid off. I am being taxed for a museum and the extra eight feet of ground that I gained at the back of my lot. But, at the same time, I have a little more money in my pay check because the Federal government is withholding less. From one hand to the other and gone! What to do? I wish I knew.

I figured I would do my part to stimulate the economy and show people driving through the East Bluff that at least one person is staying! This old house is getting new windows, siding and porch floor. If I can stretch the money a little, the garage will get siding and maybe the yard will get a new fence. The motivation of the energy tax credit doesn't hurt, but the face lift and improvements were needed and would have to have been done sooner or later. I like my house and my neighborhood and think that they are both worth investing in.

There is something strange about not having anything to complain about. Maybe tomorrow.