Four Inches

I'm having to deal with maintenance for two houses.

I bought my first home years ago. It was a tiny match box.

That's fine for a newlywed couple in love, love, love.

Ah . . . I remember those days . . .

But a matchbox house sucks when you've been living in it for five years now and your second child is on the way.

Our house changed from our nest to the incredible shrinking box. It just got smaller right before our eyes.

My wife eventually told me that she was moving, with or without me.

She wasn't joking, either.

Hmmmm . . . .

So now I live in a second home. My first home is still my financial problem. Oh, and so is the current one. But I won't gripe about my current house. It's not shrinking like the first one. But I pay enough on it each month to where it had better not start shrinking.

I'm renting my first house out to someone (finally). I had a different tenant months ago, but she vanished after not paying rent for several months.

At least the place was really clean when she left and she didn't steal the stove and refrigerator.

So, now I have to be the landlord and Mr. Handyman. I have to fix things I don't even know how to fix around my current home.

I had to change the locks because of the previous tenant. Kinda neat-- but only when you don't have a million other problems to fix. At least I found out that you can have a lock re-keyed instead of buying new locks. That saved me several hundred dollars!

I also learned how to get a broken key out of a door knob. Take the cylinder off the door and then carry it up to Ace hardware! Oh, and don't throw away the broken handle part of the key in disgust. It can come in handy if you need to make a new copy of your broken key.

I had to get a guy to add freon to the refrigerator. He educated me on the implications of a freon leak. While cheap to repair, leaking freon is your refrigerator warning you that a $500.00 repair is in your feature should the leak be a bad one.

Or, perhaps you're being forewarned that a new refrigerator is in your future. Which ever comes cheapest-- $500.00 part or a cheap (but decent) refrigerator for a rental property.

Hmmmm . . . .

At least I'm informed.

And I had the illustrious opportunity to fix a toilet as well. I didn't know I could fix toilets. But I can.

A little. Just a little.

All that-- a broken key in a lock, changing locks, fixing a refrigerator, and fixing a toilet all in one day!

I even went to the hardware store and found the concrete based tile for the siding of the house. A few pieces have to be replaced or my insurance company won't renew my insurance policy.

Apparently the style of this tile is rare. I tried to get some custom pieces made. I measured and everything.

But they didn't have any sheets that were wide enough to make the pieces the correct size.

But maybe I can still make it will work . . . so I decided to take a chance.

I'm four inches short.

Four inches stands between me and getting the most important task out of the way concerning that old house that I've grown to hate so much.

Just four inches.

Grrrr . . .

Back to the drawing board.

It might also be time to look for a different insurance company.