Sales

It's true, a salesperson is never available when you need one, despite swarming you when you don't.

I spent the better part of this afternoon shopping for Betty. I ending up buying less, retreating from feeling overwhelmed. I had thought I'd buy a replacement faucet ad maybe a light. Those are my most pressing needs. But, I started to think through design, and what works and what doesn't, and quickly became overloaded with all the things I wasn't settled on, so in the end I bought a curtain rod at West Elm, some cheap drapes at BBB, and some drywall anchors and closet lights at HD.

At home, I discovered that the studs are not evenly spaced with the windows. Knowing what I know now, I'll red the window treatments to be symmetrical, using anchors to drop in drywall screws where there are no studs.

Reconsidering my furniture arrangement. I may move the desk back where the movers put it, in the living area, which seems weird but less weird that having it in the dining area. I saw a great table at Housing Works today. I definitely want a dining area, even though it will be hard to pull off in this space.

I took a stab at painting the hallway . . .and ran out of paint. At least I got enough color up to have a clearer sense of where I'm going. The radioactive orange of the kitchen is survivable and I am moving that re-paint job to the back burner, so to speak.

Betty continues to be disagreeable about the kitchen light. I will definitely replace but will take a stab at repairing it first. I think it's just loose. If I can get it to work consistently, I can take my time to design right.

I found a pot rack that gets great reviews on Amazon. Going to order it and use a gift card my parents sent me.

Stasis

The good news is that I got a little more work done. Last night was the last major bit; tonight I got my trashcan mounted under my sink (it's a pull-out unit on rails).

Next projects: the faucet, which is OK as long as it's on medication, and perhaps the kitchen light. I'm a little worried about interacting with electricity, but I've seen it done and will consider it.

Also: I've used masking tape to play with where I will place things on the walls, and sixed out some additional shelving options for the kitchen.

Home

Welcome to my new blog. It's all about my recently-purchased co-op apartment in Manhattan. I've nicknamed her Betty, for reasons that will eventually become clear.

Previously . . .

I started apartment hunting on a lark in summer 2010. I was about to finish my last year of business school, the market was low, at the time as low as it could go (since then, things have stayed more or less the same, which is bad in economic terms). Anyway, I looked at perhaps a dozen in person, many more online, and kept coming back mentally to an underpriced unit at the bottom of a hill in front of the George Washington Bridge.

I won't give out my address, or even describe in much detail which building I'm in, but I am sure clever or local readers will suss it out. By October I signed a contract; it would take six months to finally close, in part because while still in school, my student loans were not fully consolidated and it was hard to get a definite statement on what my payments would be. I didn't meet with the board until February, and then we had to let the bank formally commit and eventually sign off. I formally took ownership in April.

Since then, I ha the hardwood floors sanded and polished, and I painted two rooms myself. I will have to redo the kitchen because it is way to bright, like the inside of a radioactive papaya. I spent all weekend unpacking, and only finally cleared a good flight path Monday evening. At this point in time, I'm waiting to hear about some building storage, and once I get that, I can move things out of the closet, allowing me to put other things away, allowing me to finally get things into a working order.

I also bought appliances; the refrigerator had to be replaced, and the stove, while workable, just seemed like a good idea as long as the nice men were replacing my refrigerator. I've reduced the crime against humanity that was my kitchen to a misdemeanor; it will be a while before full rehabilitation.

The bathroom is in decent shape; if I had my druthers, I would redo the tile, and there is loose tile in the floor. The tub is cast iron, long, and deep; I love it. It's an odd shape, but relatively high ceilings; I think I'll put in some shelves.

I talk to Betty. We are forming a relationship. The kitchen light is a little twitchy and that may be the first somewhat dangerous task I take on. I spoke up about it, when Betty put the light out while I was doing dishes, and she promptly put it back on. I am not a superstitious person, but it is useful to talk through these minor irritations.