House Progress

We met with the builder's planner last week.  We finalized the roof color which then made it time to finalize the outside colors as well - important so they can start working on the stucco.  We also finalized the interior paint colors with her.  We asked to confirm she had received a flooring change order we did awhile back with the design team and she hadn't - so we got that to her this week as well. 

It's frustrating that the builder doesn't have sample colors or suggestions.  She basically said 'drive around, send me the address of house(s) you like and we can do it'.  Only we couldn't really find one that had the stone style we love with a color scheme that hasn't been repeated already quite a bit through the neighborhood.  But we figured it out on our own.  We spent a lot of time driving around looking at exterior colors and stone and found a house we like and a stone we love via the stone company's website.  Not a stone that we think we see anywhere in our neighborhood but the style we love (compacted stacked stone with a lot of texture) in a color scheme we haven't seen anywhere else.  I think it's going to be beautiful. 

She set up two walk throughs for this week.  We did a cabinetry walk through on Tuesday morning and had an electrical walk through this morning.  It was 22 degrees during the Tuesday walk through and it was very cold.  Today was a balmy 34 - didn't even zip up my coat!

It feels like a house!  While I still get very confused about what's where (because framing creates see through walls all over the place and I lose track of where we were - not to mention that I'm not super clear on what rooms are where to begin with) - it's feeling like we can 'see' how it will look when it's done.  I've been worried that we didn't do any high(er) ceilings - will it feel very confined and 'small'?  But we are doing a bright white on all the ceilings - something I've never had in any house we've lived in until this town house we're renting - and it is amazing how it really does make the place feel more spacious and 'grand'.  The brightness and lightness draws your eyes up. 

The electrician commented more than once how much he liked the floor plan - he said 'it's so wide and open, I really love it'.  I loved seeing the house in the 9AM light - had also been worried that I would miss the beautiful sunlight we had in our Tracy house.  While the northern exposure definitely isn't as bright, there is still plenty of beautiful light in the house and the windows in the great room are a beautiful view onto the golf course.  It's really a very pretty location and I'm really glad we chose the lot.  Turns out the first lot we'd chosen (but decided not to buy because there would be a new housing development behind us and we didn't want back neighbors when other lots were available that made that a non-issue) is not being sold - the builder will eventually build spec houses for sale. 

The cabinet guy took us into a couple of 'in progress' houses in the neighborhood - and we're reminded just how much design is a very personal thing.  In one house, they had to redo the fireplace wall to make it big enough for the huge elk head that's going above the fireplace.  That place was very 'rustic' - not our taste at all.  And a 9 blade ceiling fan that is hideous - like the room will just lift off the planet when it's on.  But oh well.  Not our house. 

The other house we visited was to show us what a 'builder's carpenter' fireplace mantle looks like vs. the custom mantles our cabinet guy builds.  We are doing the custom for sure.  Huge difference in craftsmanship and aesthetic and I've never had a mantle before and I don't want one that looks bad. 

We'd love to think things are humming along on schedule but we know they aren't.  Our builder told J. 'it's been the snow' - and I told J. 'that's bullshit.  He's forgetting we live here now and the week of Thanksgiving and into early December was not great weather - but largely it's been a non-issue.  They are weeks behind the 'added every conceivable delay cushion I could think of' and I don't think March is going to happen.  BUT - when the house is closed in and water tight, they can plow through a lot of inside stuff pretty quickly so fingers crossed they can make up ground. 

Tomorrow, we've got DMV appointments to get our cars registered and licensed and to get our driver's license updated.  We've both got appointments so hopefully, it won't be too long of a wait. 

Days just fly by so quickly - can't believe it's been over two weeks since I last wrote a post.  Like they say - being retired is BUSY!  The pace is just slower and less 'mandated' but there's still plenty to do. 

B. is safely deployed and doing OK.  They work 8 hours on and 24 hours off so he's working out a ton.  They are housed in a Marriott property with a gym on site.  Free wi fi and breakfast, too. 

H. is the owner of a car and has been applying for work all over the place.  Not the best time to apply but he's hopeful he's got a potential gas station job in the works.  He had an interview and the guy asked to call his former boss - so fingers crossed. 

I have a free play offer at Atlantis on Saturday and some free play at GSR as well so that will be a fun day.  I did a slot tournament at Atlantis on Tuesday and Wednesday - cancelled the room reservation because I had a huge trouncing (lost!) this past weekend so I couldn't fund two more nights and days of play.  I didn't place at all well in either of the tournament rounds - and truly thought I would not win a thing - but apparently, low participation was on my side 'cuz I ended up in the top 80 so I got $50 in free play. 

And - in other news - we moved up a tier in the players club so now we get two monthly free car washes - and the most amazing thing about THAT is it's Hutch's - the same car wash we had (and LOVED) when we lived in Hayward.  Must be the same family.  Doubt we will be this tier level from July 1 through December 31st of 2020?  But we'll see.  We've played more because we were here a lot more in the months leading up to the move - but keeping up that level of play may not happen - and that's OK.  There's plenty to do and way more things to enjoy than just slot play.  I'm still loving it - but it's OK to slow it down as needed. 

Here's hoping I have a big win this weekend - big wins keep the fun happening so that's my mantra.  need some wins to maintain the play!!