Before & After - Part 1 - The Yard

The most dramatic changes we made to the house this past weekend were in the yard. Check out some before & after pictures below.

Front - After

Finally, you can see the house from the street...which is nice.


There were trees & bushes growing up the side of the house.



Had to get rid of them.

Behind the garage was a mess. There we could see that there was a fence which created a little pen/kennel area...


Which there was - need to get back in there with a weed whacker and some paint. Previous owners must have treated it a as a garbage dump - some people have no respect for their own property.

While I was on top of the garage I snapped some shots of the entire yard which had just been mowed (thanks to my dad!).



Gloria & my Mom

That's all for now!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kboogy/sets/72157608091635040/
http://brokershandsontheirfacesblog.tumblr.com/

Home Improvement

Home improvement has begun. Check out our Flickr album below.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kboogy/sets/72157608091635040/

We'll be updating this album as the improvements go on.

Real Progress

My wife and I got our first home! An all around sweet deal in a great part of a great town. We couldn't be happier.

As with many first homes, it's a fixer-upper. I'll do my best to keep you updated on the progress of the remodel/rehab. Here's a pic and a link to my Flickr album of the house, back before it was touched to begin any updates.


Flickr photo album

Stay tuned, I'll keep adding pictures / updates as we remodel the house.

Yes, you can

Progress has halted on the blog. Please Stand by.

No Explanation Needed

Drivers of Michigan Roads...

Read this. You will laugh and/or chuckle.


Source: Autoblog

Epic Fight

Eagle vs. Fox

A Marriage Based on a Pun

Free cars are cool and all, but would you want to get married at the Chicago Auto Show?
[read here]

How will you stimulate the economy?

The big "Economic Stimulus Plan" has passed, and it looks like all the John & Jane Q. Tax-payers out there (even those that don't pay the Fed) will be a little richer come summer time. Here's how it boils down...

(from Consumerist.com)

• Workers making at least $3000 but not paying federal income taxes: $300


• Income tax paying individuals: $600


• Working couples: $1200


• People with children: extra $300 per child


• Individuals making $87,000 and couples up to $174,000: partial rebates


• etc...

Now, I'm not one to turn down free money, nor am I any kind of economist. I may have an excel-spreadsheet budget, but I wouldn't want to begin to understand the complexities behind running the budget for you know, an entire country. I plan on putting my money directly into the bank. When we put our down payment on our first house, we'll have to send a thank you letter to the US Government I suppose. If we don't get weaseled out of the rebate by some ridiculous loop-hole. At any rate it's new TV's, PS3's, Xbox's, Wii's, Car Down Payment's, Computers, etc...for everyone! America F-Yeah!

Oh wait, what?

It could potentially double last year's budget deficit of $163 Billion.

"I am concerned that in our rush to help, we talk ourselves into a quick, feel-good hit today that will leave us with a bigger budgetary hangover tomorrow," said Rep Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, the senior Republican on the House Budget Committee.

Sorry Grand kids. It just gets gloomier and gloomier for you.

Sources:
Consumerist.com
Tax Rebate Deal Could Mean Checks by May | AP
Deal Reached in US Economic Plan |BBC News

To quote Styx...

To much time on my hands! (this guy does)