Monday, August 07, 2006

make it home

Where should I start to explain the last few weeks..... um....

We've had some great great time with family.
Which has been wonderful.
Got to see and be with all my silbings and their spouses and families
Only one of Regan' so far - but soon we will see two others.
We have been blessed too spend time with lots of family.
And when I would start to worry about how we hadn't gone to the other side's home... I had to stop myself and say wait a minute.. We live here. We can see them another time soon.
How cool.

As for the housing situation.
I must admit that I wasn't as prepared as I thought I was for the change of lifestyle we made.
We weren't living high on the hog before on anything, but we had a nice house.
In a nice quiet neighborhood
With great neighbors.
And a huge deck....
huge yard....
three bedrooms....
a whole playroom.
And the best kitchen and a dishwasher.

We don't have that anymore.
Tonight in fact is the first night we are going to all spend in our new place together.
The first day we got here in stunk.
I don't mean like a little stuffy.
I mean I just about vomited walking in here.
My mother in law asked me if I would have rented this place if I would have seen it first and well probably not.

There are pet people out there. People who love their animals and think of them as children and would do anything for them.
And then there are non pet people.
I am in the later half.
I think animals are nice.
Hey I grew up on a farm.
I had my own horse and about 20 different cats and dogs.
But all that is a completely different post.
But anyway, I do not want any more pets. Ever.
I just am not a pet person.
I like animals - at someone else's house.
Although I'd take a horse. I'd love a horse again. But my yard isn't quite big enough.

So whoever lived in this place.... They had pets.
Dogs.
Inside dogs.
That she didn't take care of.

And I have super nose.
I can smell very well.
Super well.
Almost creepily well.

When I cleaned the kitchen last week... before we moved in... There was dog poo under the fridge. Along with dog food and huge mounds of dog hair.
More under the stove.
Pee in the heating vents.
That is enough to give you the level of grossness.

Needless to say I used 4 Liters of bleach in 2 days.
I bleached every surface possible.
And tried all possible smell removal products.
(I think Arm and Hammer Pet Odor remover was the best that I found by the way.)

We left for the long weekend and it stunk of bleach in here
We came back today and well... It was stinky again.
Nothing to the level of before.
But I can still smell it.


I guess overall I just hope I can turn this place into a home where I am happy to be for 20 hours a day. Since I am at home a LOT.
And a place where my kids are happy.
And that I am happy.
And that is stink free.

Got lots of boxes to put away.
LOTS of boxes.
And every box we opened Alden asked if it was his train tracks.
I think he missed them.

11 comments:

whitney said...

Just give me a call and I'm there man. We'll make it the best tiny smelly apatment in town. You can have all the Carol Robinson prints you want. And remember you are in Alberta now with a dad and brothers that can build or fix anything. Try candles maybe. Or Pier 1 has smelly oils in a bottle with little sticks that soak it up so the yummy smell gets out. I'm sure it will help to get all your stuff moved in - sounds like the movers finally got there, yippie! Just remember, I too have a smelly house - it used to be really bad (not as bad as dog pee I will admit) but it gets better and better. Sereously, just call me when you can't take it anymore - I'm always looking for an excuse to go shopping now that I'm in southern alberta! Love you.

Crystal said...

Oh, Rhonda, Sweetie! What an ordeal! I know that you left your house in NS in such nice shape. Too bad that someone else didn't do the same for you. I hope you can make it work for your family. (( HUGS ))

P.S. How's school going for Regan?

Carmen said...

Okay, my heart is absolutely breaking for you!!! I too have an unbelievably freaky sense of smell!! But then again, my Italian nose is huge and really, I should be able to smell!! But I admire you soooo much for doing this. And I admire you soooo much for making this place "home". It won't be forever!! It won't!! One day you will have everything you want again - the house; the yard; the deck; they gorgeous kitchen and the great appliances!! I promise. It will come!! HUGS

Patti said...

I am thinking of you Rhonda.
I had the three bedroom house with the huge yard and moved across Canada to a two bedroom apt. to be with my significant other. Very difficult downsizing with two children.
After 15 months we are no longer in the apt and are renting a three bedroom duplex with a fantastic yard. It won't be much longer and I know I'll have my own home again.
Keep your chin up ~ hugs girl!!

Anonymous said...

Oh Rhonda!! I am not a pet person either, & your post says it all as to why!! (Although I like think that if I WERE a pet owner, I would have the decency to leave my house in MUCH better shape than you found this one!!) Big (((HUGS))) to you. It WILL get better!!

Sue Sykes said...

Icky - hope the smell leaves you soon! If not, buy TONS of Glade plug ins!!
Happy unpacking!

MonaS! said...

Oh I wish I could be there to help!!! We had a townhouse like that once and it took WEEKS before it started to smell semi better. Hopefully it'll be gone soon!

Heather M. said...

Oh girl!!!!! That is awful!!!!! I'd be having a really hard time! I'm with you on the pets - it might just be me but I've always thought pets belong outside (yep, definitely a farm girl). That is just wrong that they left the place in that condition. How in the world were they living in something like that?!?!?!
It won't be forever. I know it's hard to see when you're where you are right now but you will have a beautiful home. If you need any help, please give me a call. If you are just dying to get out, call me too!!!!
What area of the city are you in? How's school going for Regan? How are the kids adjusting?
Thinking of you!

Anonymous said...

Where are you? Your cell isn't working! we're coming through again Sunday afternoon. 388-4599. please call!

Mary Mac said...

urrrrrrrrrrrrrrggggggggggggg - stinky? Not so fun!

On the bright side, Heather told me what area you are living, and you are right by my work. Like less than 10 minutes!!!

Heather said...

Welcome home but that sucks about the smell. That sound aweful. Hope it will wear off in time. Renting is just not nice as people don't care what they do to the place.