Siding...(also on the front and back)

So after my adventures with the DMV and some car trouble, we haven't been able to make it out to the site for a couple days. Well, at least not in the day time to take pictures. To explain a little, our '93 Civic wouldn't start if it got too hot outside. Since we haven't a lick of shade where we are now that's pretty much everyday. We got it fixed yesterday (it was such a small inexpensive thing it was sickening). Anyone driving a 1989 to 2000 Honda Civic, get at me if you're having the same problems, apparently very common with those cars.

ANYWAY, we did get to go to the house yesterday and many major developments have taken place in our absence. All of that drywall that was on the floor is now the walls. It looks excellent. If it didn't look like a house before it certainly does now. The rooms have officially taken shape. We didn't really get any pictures of the drywall work since it was rather dusty in there and we decided to let them finish cleaning up. More pictures of that to come.

On the outside, all of the siding work is done. From the outside, it looks like a totally done house. You can barely tell that there's still work going on inside. The "drywall window" on the top floor has also been added, so we are now totally windowed.

As per the title, I'm not sure why it's called siding. I've looked it up to no avail. Anyone who knows, feel free to leave a comment. On to the pictures...

"Looks brown to me"

So my current license expires at the end of this month which is in a few days. I go online to the NC DMV and find out everything I need to get my NC license. I have everything ready and I head down to the DMV.

When you get there, you have to wait at the information desk to be given a number. Of course there is no one at the information desk. There's only about 3 people working there period and they're taking people in the back and processing their info. Every now and then someone comes up near the front, looks at the 10 people waiting in line and then goes back to their station and calls another number. So after about 15 minutes of standing there, one of the ladies comes up to "help" everyone. The girl in front of me didn't have all her papers. The next lady in front of me was just waiting for a book, but of course, they were all out. At this point, I am thinking to myself that I'm so glad that I went online and made sure that I have all I needed. I get to the information desk.

"You're going to need your current NJ license". Got it right here. "You'll also need your Social Security Card". No problem, here you go. "I'll need to see proof of residence". I'm on fire, it's right here. "Lastly I'll need to see proof on insurance". Of course I have that, because I'm prepared. She looks over all my info and then says, "AND I'll need to see your Birth Certificate". !??!??!?!! Why do you need to see my birth certificate? It didn't say on the official NC DMV website that I needed to bring a birth certificate. This isn't my first license. "Well, sir, it seems that you only have two names, so I'll need to see your BC to insure that you do in fact only have two names". WHAT!?!!????? So you are telling me that because I don't have a middle name on my OFFICIAL government documents, or any other document I'm providing, that I need my BC to prove to you that I really don't have a middle name? Basically, I need documentation to prove who I am NOT? She nods her head, gives me a number and tells me that she'll allow me to take the test, but that I can't get my license until I bring my BC to prove that I have never had a middle name in my entire life. Of course had I a middle name, it probably would have been on my license, Social Security Card, and any other document. But I digress.

So I look at the great crowd in the waiting room which I was unable to number (not to mention the people waiting outside), and I figure to myself that it's got to be a long while before they call my number (which was 338). I try to ask at the information desk if it would be OK if I went home and came back. Naturally, they couldn't tell me if my number would be called before I got back. Foolish of me to think they'd have information at the Information Desk.

I call my capable wife who of course knows exactly where my BC is located and has it on the counter when I get home. She's a keeper! I race...carefully obey all speed limits and traffic signs on the way back...to the DMV. They haven't called my number yet. Actually, they won't call my number for another 90 mins or so. I'm prepared though and I brought my iPod. I listened to a whole album, watched a whole TV show and a ton of movie trailers (that JJ Abrams movie looks crazy, I wonder what it'll be rated). Thank you Steve Jobs for your magnificent device that iLove.

They call my number and I head to the back. The guy that I get doesn't really say anything to me and just types away on his keyboard with his two index fingers. Finally, he asks me for my NJ license, SSN, insurance, proof of residence. I give it to him, he goes back to saying nothing and tapping away on his computer. Then he says, "You're at computer number 5. You need to get 80 percent in order to pass. When you pass the test, go sit in the gray chairs and we'll call you". I take the test, get a 87 percent (I missed 3, which is like the most I've ever missed on a driving test...I was sweating), and proceed to the gray chairs. I should have pulled my iPod back out cuz about 7 people got their number called, came in with their info, got their picture taken and received their license. All while I continue to wait. Apparently the gray chairs section is DMV purgatory.

Finally they call my name and it's my turn to get my picture taken. I sit in front of the blue screen and have my mug shot taken. "Okay, now go sit in the brown chairs and we'll call you when it's ready". Sitting in the brown chairs and two more people get their license. Then the guy calls me and hands me my license. I take a look to make sure everything is correct. Of course something is wrong. I go back over to the guy who's been handling my case. "There's something wrong with my license. You put my hair color down as brown." He says, "Well, what color is it?" I look at him for a couple seconds and I say, "Um, it's black" He says, "Looks brown to me."

At this point, a lesser man would have smacked him across the brow with the Birth Certificate that I was never asked to show after going home to get it and come back. Instead what I said was, "It is black." to which he says, "Ok fine, I'll do it again. Have a seat in the brown chairs and we'll call you." Of course I'm wondering why he couldn't just take my picture right then and there as there was no one else getting their picture taken. I go to the brown chairs. Two more people get their license. He calls me back, I take another picture, I go back to the brown chairs. I'm thinking of carving my name in the brown chairs. I don't. He calls my name and gives me my license. As I'm leaving I pass the waiting room and everyone claps (seriously). Apparently they were doing that every time someone came out from the depths of the DMV (I wouldn't have noticed cuz I was listening to my iPod).

I say all this to say that I didn't get a chance to go by the house today so I'll have more pictures another time.

As opposed to wet walls

The insulation has been installed and the drywall has been delivered. Some inspections have to still be done and then the drywall can be installed. This also answers a question about our front upstairs window and why it wasn't installed. We had been puzzled as to why they'd install all the other windows and not that one. Then we realized that all the houses in the neighborhood that were currently under construction had one window missing as well. Since it was missing from all the other homes, we figured it was for a good reason and we kept it moving (they're the professionals right?). Well, if you are as puzzled as we were, the reason is so that they can deliver the drywall to the upstairs through the window. They can't carry it through the front door and up the stairs (it'd break). You learn something new everyday. Of course we could have learned this a long time ago had we just asked. Oh well, on to the pictures......

(Update 8/27/07: Yet again, I made a post thinking I'd add the pictures in a few minutes and then went to sleep. Here's the pictures I didn't add before.)

The roof is REALLY on now!

Earlier I reported that the roof was on. Of course I was referring to the plywood used to create the literal roof. Now however, the actual roof is finished. Well the shingles and whatnot are on, so that's done to me. Also, some electrical work is being installed. Light fixtures and switches are in their places and ready. The HVAC material that was put in earlier is now connected where it's going to go. I gotta say, it's starting to look like a real house now. Actually it looks like an X-Ray of a real house since you can see all the innards. Very interesting to see a house from this vantage point. Getting to see what's actually behind the walls is interesting.

Also I'd like to point out that our construction manager Rob is good people. If we ever have a concern or problem, he addresses it within 24 hours. So far we haven't had any major issuses, but the fact that he's on top of things whether it's major or not is very good. Kudos Rob, Kudos!

On to the pictures.....

Titles are the hardest part

First of all, sorry about not posting in a few days. We've been busy trying to settle in here. Also you may notice that we have a different layout now. This is the work of my wife Ivori. She thought the blue was too dark and made it hard to see. I agree with her. I think that's a house in the top left corner. Seemed appropriate.

On to our house. What's new? The columns in the front porch are in, the garage door is on and most of the trim seems to be on the house. The rest of the work is being done inside at the moment. They're putting in some HVAC and plumbing work. Most of the fireplace is in. Also the tubs and showers are in.

So that's up to date as of right now. Here's the pictures.

It’s been a long time, I shouldn’t have left you…

Sorry we haven't had a lot of time to post lately. A lot going on, including the District Convention that we have to get up in the morning for. It farther than we thought it was originally…long story, another time. Anyway, there have been minor updates on the house; the back sliding door has been added and they put the roofing paper on (it's stapled to the plywood and goes on under the shingles…I learned that in RBC).

(Update 8/16/07): I meant to put this picture on when I posted this, but I forgot, so here it is now...

I can't keep up

For some reason, we had this crazy notion that we could visit the site a couple times a week, at most every other day. We were sadly mistaken. Seems that if we miss a day, we miss a lot. We actually went by the site two times today. First time was to deliver some water to the workers (gotta keep my boys hydrated). Of course we forgot the camera so we had to come back later. Well, we come back and they have the windows and doors on. Well, ok, we only have a front door and a door inside the garage, and there's a sliding door that's not on yet. All of the windows are in tho. It's starting to look like a real house now. It's funny cuz when it was just a slab, my wife thought it looked a little small. She doesn't think that anymore. Please excuse some of the photos of they look weird. I'm partly excited and partly not a good photographer. My sister is a much better photographer than I. Maybe I can get her to come take some shots for me. Ok, enough of my yappin, here's what you really came here for...

The roof, the roof, the roof is on….

My, my, my how time does fly. Why it seems like just yesterday our home had no top on it. We didn't get a chance to go buy during the day. We were busying ourselves with other matters, so we decided to go buy later in the day. Actually we were rushing so that there'd still be some light to take pictures (ME: "We gotta get decent pictures for the blog, hightail it!!!"). Well when we get there, what do we see? Not only is the framing for the upstairs finished, they put on the roof as well. Ok, now I'm really starting to wonder if they have some RBC brothers and sisters working on this project. I promise you that we've only seen about maybe 5 guys working on the house at any one given time. That, plus the fact that it's basically been about 38 degrees (Celsius) every day, I'm astounded that they've gotten this far already.

Of course this would lead one to wonder…

"If they're going to be done with the house this quickly, what will become of this blog?"

I must admit that this could turn out to be the shortest blog in history, but I assure you that I will keep it going even after the house is finished. Being first time homeowners, I'm sure we're bound to have adventures in our first year of homeownership.

Until then, we welcome you to our front door.

You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers

I'd love to sit here and pretend that we're super famous and hundreds of people are reading this as I type. However, for the 10 of you reading this, I will try not to be too long-winded. Let's give it a whirl shall we?

Q: What's your new address going to be?
A: We are going to live on, um, Quiet Stream Dr.

Q: How many bedrooms and baths?
A: Three bedrooms, two and a half baths.

Q: What made you choose Concord?
A: We did some research and realized that it's got to be warmer than New Jersey (true story).

Q: How close are you to Charlotte?
A: About 15 minutes (of course that depends on how far into Charlotte you mean).

Q: How was the drive from NJ?
A: Long enough that I won't be doing it again unless I have no other choice.

Q: Do you live on a farm?
A: No, but we have seen cows. Actually saw more cows in NJ and PA.

Q: Don't you have more pictures than that?
A: Yes, but I didn't want to overwhelm you. I will add more all the time.

Q: When will your new house be finished?
A: We have been told sometime in October. This depends of course on the weather.

Q: Do you go to the site every day?
A: Just about every day. Ivori likes to bring the workers water and snacks (true story).

Q: How's the congregation?
A: Everyone is very nice. Interestingly they're all mostly from up north as well (NJ, NY and PA).

Q: Hardest thing to get used to?
A: Everyone being so nice. No one has beeped their horn at us once. Spooky!

Q: You going to be a Bobcats/Panthers fan?
A: HA! Funny, no, but I'll go to games when the Giants and Knicks come to town.

Q: How often will you update this blog?
A: Every time something happens, so check back often.

Our first blog about our first home

So this is it! It's getting closer and closer. Work on our new home has started and we can't wait.

To get this blog (and anyone reading this that has no idea what I'm talking about) up to speed...my name is Josiah and my wife's name is Ivori. We formed our marital bond on January 21, 2006.

(Fast forward to March 2007)

So we've basically had it with New Jersey. As my wife would say, "It's getting out of control". It's just getting too expensive to live here. We want to buy a home and after doing some research, we've narrowed it down to Concord, NC. We go down to North Carolina and our realtor Cedric shows us many homes, some that we really like. The last thing he shows us is a new development. We look at the models and we were sold. Told you it was short.

(Fast forward to now)

They've started already. Wow, it's going up fast. So fast that i got the blog started after construction began. I kinda wanted a day by day thing, but i've missed about 3 working days already. So here's some pictures of progress so far...

When we first picked out the lot back in March (view from the backyard looking towards the street)...

Then once we moved down and went to see the lot again the foundation was poured...

This past Thursday was our Construction Meeting and the first official "work day"...

We came back a day later on Friday and it looked like this...

We went to the site literally about an hour ago (today is Sunday) and it looked like this....

So as you can see, they are moving right along with the work. We'll try to get over to the house and keep our blog updated as much as possible with pictures and news and other goodies. I doubt the posts will be this long in the future, but you never know. Feel free to leave a comment.

We'll be seeing ya'll! (uh oh, it's rubbing off)