Route27

We have moved two weeks ago into our new place. We have completed the renovation of the rental unit and have decided to move there while we await the arrival of our zoning exception from the City of Chicago. We have been waiting for the arrival of the permits for two months now, but I really believe it is going to happen now. For a fun story of Andy’s trip to City Hall, stay tuned. Meanwhile, here is a before and after shot to give you an idea of what our place is like.

Our Kitchen before - notice the four or five layers of linoleum floor. There were gas pipes run outside the walls, cabinets made from plywood, lacquered plywood as decorative wood on the sides of the floor.

Our Rental Unit Kitchen After rehab. We have also changed the bath tub, installed new sinks, re-tiled the bathroom, put new floors in the dining room, put in central heat and air, removed and re-run obtrusive gas pipes, put new carpeting in the bedroom and installed a new washer and dryer.

Asking Mara to marry me was probably the most significant decision I took in my life so far. It was also probably one of the best decisions I have made to date. After years and years of wishy-washiness, sitting on the pot, and on-and-off bachelorhood being engaged to Mara feels great.
Helping to plan a wedding is a completely different story. I put a brief top level list of tasks based on our experience:
• Select a venue
• Make a wedding invite list (hands down the most hand wringling and difficult task to date)
• Buy Dress
• Buy Tux
• Write and organize Invitations
• Pick a Band
• Pick a photographer
• Organize a florist
• Pick ceremony and officiant
• Organize a website with all necessary info
• Select rehersal dinner venue
• Create rehersal dinner invite list
• Pick maids of honor and groomsmen
• Organize (or help to) a bachelor/bachelerette party

Its a good thing Mara’s parents have done this already with Hallie. More on Wedding Planning later.