She said YES!!

[susandennis]

Yahooo!!!

Sheri replied...  My note asked her if she was interested and willing to take on Part Deux II and she said yes!  She's such a trooper. 

Here's what I want:

The chaise.  I like the fabric, I like the general size and shape.  But it is just too darned fluffy.  It's not comfortable for long stretches and it's a bitch to get in and out of.  I'm thinking that maybe we could just pull out the stuffing of the seat and back cushions and replace them with a firm foam.  I'll be interested to hear what she has to say.  I've given this thing my best shot and it's not going to work.

Blinds for the windows.  The ones I have now do the job but when they are not in use - most of the year - they never line up right at the top and they look like crap.  When they are in use, 2 months a year, they look ok but cheap.  They need to be replaced and I want the replacements to look very very nice and to maybe work by remote control. 

Eating.  The new counter stool is pretty and nice but sitting at the counter to eat isn't working out too well.  I like to read while I eat and the lighting sucks - there is a glare bouncing off the magazines that makes them nearly impossible to see.  My feet dangle and a foot stool seems like a silly idea.  And the stool is slippery.  My butt wants to slide right off.  But, mainly, I'm not sure the counter is the best real estate for my meals.  This absolutely needs Sheri-ising.

Kitchen.  I want a new stove, a new dishwasher (the independent drawer things) and a new fridge.  I want drawers installed in my bottom cupboards and I want those magic corner cupboard pull out thingies.  And the fucking door hinges are all out of whack again. 

Fish bed.  I need lighting over the fish bed.

Washer/dryer.  I might want to replace them but I absolutely want them installed better - pulled out and put back straight this time so that the dryer door does not bang my head.

And I want a budget for both money and time.  I don't want 8 months of people in and out of here doing stuff.  This time, I'd rather hold off and wait until everything is ready and then have all the pain at once.  

I'm so much smarter now.  And it just dawned on me that it was just about this time last year that I wrote to Sheri the first time.  Let me go look... Yep!  I first wrote to her on January 10 and because of the snafu with her email, I didn't get a response until January 14.  So really we'll count it one year and 5 days.  Wild.  Wonder what I'm going to do next January??

Comments

[susandennis]

Oh, don't tell me that the chaise isn't going to work. I think if I can get it as solid as the mattress on my bed maybe??? I can never get comfortable in recliners.

Furniture drama? Hmmm what a tease. I've been reading your journal after I watch whatever shows we watch together... You have any Project Runway spoilers?? I haven't seen this week's yet so I haven't read your journal yet. I'll watch it tomorrow and then catch up on your adventures!!!

[susandennis]

There's no need to tailor your writing habits to suit me!! I can fix my reading habits and still not miss a thing... honest.

[nanne.livejournal.com]

Madness! It's madness, I tell you!

Then again, I want to spiff up my bathroom before I sell my place, so maybe I should learn to embrace this kind of madness.

[fj.livejournal.com]

How are you going to keep control of the process, what will you do different?

[susandennis]

GREAT question!

And I have some ideas. But, you know what? I started to really answer your question and that made me realize that my ideas need some more thought. So thanks!! That will be today's project. To come up with a control/management process. good.

[susandennis]

I ended up having way too much to do today but your questions just nagged the shit out of me. So I went back and found the note I sent to Sheri (http://susandennis.livejournal.com/773535.html) about what I would do differently next time.

And I think the major things this time will be:
- A Reasonable Money Budget We Will Work With and Stick To Or Know Why Not
- A Reasonable Time Budget We Will Work With and Stick To Or Know Why Not
- And communications - I want to hear from Sheri regularlywhether she has anything new to report or not. I'm going to offer her 3 days a week OR chaining - tell me with every email the exact day you will be contacting me next ('mid-next week' or 'in a couple of weeks' ain't going to cut it).

Thanks for your nagging question!! And I remembered another one of your lessons - magazines. Someone left 3 recent modern decor magazines downstairs on the rack and I scooped 'em up tonight.

[fj.livejournal.com]

Susan, nothing here will make Sheri change to suit you. It is stuff you wish she would do, but I see no teeth nor reward to make them happen this time around.

[susandennis]

You are right, fj, nothing will make her change but she has said that she understands my concerns and will try. Bottom line is that she did a fabulous job the first time and I trust her and I want her back. Where teeth/reward are practical, I will work them in.

(and I'll sure be glad when lj gets their login thing fixed! - sorry about the dupe)