We are at that point of the project now…

…where we are getting pretty darn sick of the relentlessness of this renovation!

Perhaps it is no wonder, as we:

• Started planning for this project even before we began house hunting.
• Hired the first architecture firm in September 2006.
• Began bidding the project in July 2007 to builders, most of whom mocked us for having a design that—even it if was executable—would cost us more than the value we’d ever reap.
• Walked away from Jimmy and Anthony in January 2008, after their designs failed every test—from not following our instructions on paper to not being buildable in the real world.
• Had our loan cut on February 1, thanks to the credit crunch that was building momentum to become the full-blown global crisis it is today.
• Hired The Todd, another disappointing (but less expensive) architect, on February 17.
• Undertook the downstairs demolition ourselves in March.
• Learned that the problems behind the walls were worse than anticipated, and hired a structural engineer in April to help divine solutions.
• Selected Steve Wasko as our builder, along with his partner, Alessandro Schiavone, on May 31.
• Got permit approval on July 17.
• Saw structural repairs get underway on July 28.
• Freaked out when Wasko’s crew removed the deck on September 2 and rejoiced when rebuilding started right away.
• Tried to maintain a sense of humor once construction moved upstairs on October 2. In terms of geologic time, it hasn’t been an era. In terms of quality of life—from not seeing the lake view because we lack windows to wind gusting through the plastic film to nails and other shrapnel on the floor to dust everywhere—it is relentless.
• Tempered our tempers when there were visible signs of a lack of progress. On Friday, we came home to a “we missed you” sticker on the door regarding a plumbing inspection for our in-progress downstairs bathroom. Yesterday and the Saturday before, we got up early and evacuated our home so members of Alex’s crew could work. They didn’t make it either day. The lack of a roof is also impeding progress. We thought it was to be installed last week; last week, we thought it would be the week before… There is some sort of “blah-blah-blah back order” delay.

Coping mechanisms for Matt and me, in addition to laughing—a lot—include playing kissy face and huggy bear, making good use of Morris County’s lovely parks (today we had a picnic), keeping on top of all the details, making decisions in a timely fashion, watching our beloved HDTV in bed (while eating Stephen Colbert’s AmeriCone Dream™), “adult” beverages, support from family and friends and envisioning the project when it is finally complete.