I updated a couple of the pictures in the "We call this home" blog... I still haven't posted a picture of our bedroom. Here's the thing - it's not done. Nothing matches, and I can't stand it. We're going for warmth in our room, instead of style for the moment...not too pretty. I know, I know...how sad is that?!!

814

Today I finally made the change in my cell phone number. We've been here 9 months, and it took us this long. Ridiculous, I know. I did have my reasons as to why I couldn't let go of my old number...and I'm quite surprised I went through it. This weekend was one of the hardest for me. I am very, very homesick - even as I type I'm getting all teary-eyed. It's so silly. Not sure what brought this on. Well, maybe I do. All of last week Neil and I were holed up in this house, sick and just unable to do a darn thing. That has nothing to do with anything... but it lead to me handing over a special package that needed to be shipped out- that had a specific deadline. My girlfriend Nat, who lives in CA, had her baby shower today. And I was bummed beyond everything that I couldn't make it. I wanted, I NEEDED to have that package to get to CA on time...it needed to be there, since I wasn't. Long story short...it didn't make it. I discovered that it was shipped out incorrectly. It's no ones fault. I was physically unable to leave my house to do this small task myself...but its reasons like this that I am obsessed with doing EVERYTHING myself. This is who I am. I can depend on myself.
Needless to say - Nat will receive her package, hopefully in tact, sometime early next week.

To continue on with my CA homesickness - I'm getting over it. Tonight didn't help much. Showing up at a restaurant w/Neil - meeting up with 3 of his friends - and there only being room for 4 at the table. Apparently no one knew I was coming. Good thing my husband informed everyone. I just wanted to run - run out the door, get back in my car, and go home. But instead, we moved tables. I definitely felt out of place. It makes me wonder if Neil ever felt this way in CA when we'd go out w/my friends? I hope not.

Oh! I did want to share my attachment to my old number...
7322414
7-Half of my favorite #
32-Old softball uniform# and favorite NBA basketball player (Magic Johnson)
24-Anniversary date
14-Favorite #

Pretty cool. I know.
Well...814 it is.

We call this home...

Living Room: Framed photos and art will be hung here shortly - once I make a decision as to where they belong. This could take months, so bare with me. Just stay posted.
This is our office. Originally I was going to paint the walls a soft black, trim everything white, and hang movie posters framed in white. Also, accenting the room with all sorts of nic-nacs. But after over hearing our friend Joel talk about wanting to paint a mural to add to his portfolio - I jumped right smack in the middle of the conversation & told him he could use our office. So for now, this will be the "before" picture.
This is the spare bedroom...aka MY room. Mine! I plan to make this room my get-away. A place I can sew and spend time in. I like doing arts & crafts, and quilting - basically, I create one hell of a mess when I get going. So I was very happy that there was a 3rd room I could call my own. My plans are to paint the trim white. Purchase bedding from Urban Outfitters (it's all picked out), and find unique curtains to match. This room is my summer project - a summer of yard sales and estate sales...I cannot wait to get started.
Oh and that's the bathroom.

Here is the dining area. The wall to the right will eventually have a Cherry Blossom tree painted on it.

The kitchen. This is what drew Neil and I to this house. We LOVE this kitchen. All the appliances were included, which of course was very appealing to us! To the right is a bench that came with the house as well. I love it!


Here is the basement: Laundry

Again, sorry for the darkness of the photo. Neil has many, many plans for this place. If you haven't heard, "jungle" seems to be the theme. This will be his space, as well as a place for entertainment when our friends come over. You can't really see...but there is a bar to the right, that we believe was custom made for this basement. Coca-Cola on tap? We're going to look into it. Ping Pong table? Yep, there's room.

Whoa-I just noticed what a disaster it is down there - sorry!!! One day it will all be organized. Cannot wait. There is actually another room, that will eventually turn into a 2nd bathroom. But that is months & months from now...

Negative 6 days....

...The Hartmans are officially home owners as of 6 days ago! Yay us! The events that went down this weekend in "FYI" fashion...

Signed papers
Received keys
Drove to the house, relished in it for about 10 minutes
Lowes shopping - finalized paint colors (pictures up soon)
Dinner
Back to our home, taped off the trim - prep for paint
Friends stopped by and checked out the place :)
Saturday, woke up in a startled-like fashion...let's go, let's go, let's go!!! Paint awaits!
Prep work - aka primer the walls
Painted ALL day
Sleep time
Woke up in crazy pain. Didn't know I was using my calves so much.
Sunday - PAINTED ALL DAY
(Neil however watched some NFL playoffs, as I listened via radio)
Sleep time, was completely exhausted, and in major pain.
Monday, brought over "kitchen" boxes.

Pictures up soon...
Tomorrow is moving day - pray for good weather :)

Meet Cali

She is just 4 weeks old, and I pick her up in 2 weeks....in 13 days. I'm so excited!

Cali vs. Cobra

Neil and I have been on a crazy man-hunt for a baby doggie. This dog would belong to me. Mine. (In the end, this dog will probably favor Neil) I have checked high and low w/every dog rescue in the 200 mile radius in hopes that we could rescue a dog. Cleveland Rescue wouldn't adopt out of Ohio. Buffalo Rescue won't adopt out of New York. Pittsburgh didn't have any dogs I'd be interested in. And I know, I'm rescuing a dog - why be so picky? You must ask yourself, have you not met Dawna Editha Hartman? Then the search began in the "puppies for sale" websites.

As of 3 days ago, I was driving 4 and a 1/2 hours to pick up the sweeeetest looking dog (which was a rescue pup): boston terrier, chihuahua mix named Baxter. I was in contact w/the foster family, and it looked to be a done deal. Then snow happened. Then the thought kicked in we'd be traveling 9 hours in 1 day. I had Neil make the very sad phone call that we wouldn't be able to meet Baxter. I was in tears (no surprise there).
In the last 48 hours we've checked every site that is available to our fingertips. This is what our eyes were looking for:
Pit Bull Terrier
Pit Bull Terrier mix
Puppy (6-8 weeks)
White w/tan or brown markings
You must all be thinking? A pit bull? Yes. I adore them!!! If trained and treated properly, they can be one of the most amazing dogs you'd ever be in contact with.
Now, some of you know my husband - and those closest to him know how much he adores Chihuahuas. You didn't mis-read that, it's true. He loves 'em. After I made arrangements to meet the potential Cali, the pit bull - who is located in Pittsburgh - I wanted to take one last glance at the Pittsburgh site to see if I could maybe meet another dog...if they were in the area. And low and behold I come across black and white male chihuahuas. They're precious! Of course Neil's face just brightened right up! He made the phone call instantly and made arrangements.

So here it is: Cali vs. Cobra Commander....
sorry for the small photo:

10 days to go.

The radon is going to be mitigated this weekend on our home, and should be cleared out by closing. My boss told me today that over the weekend he saw a moving truck at the house... how excited are we?!
For the time being I've been picking out paint colors - and most importantly...looking for a baby doggie to add to our family. I'm looking for anything from a french bull dog, a boston, to a boxer, to a pit bull - I'm just keeping an open mind and heart about this. But I'm super anxious! Neil and I made the decision that we want to rescue a dog, but it's harder then it seems. The application process, going to meet the dog - and the foster family. It's all very nerve-racking to me. As of right now, I've located a really cute baby girl. She is a boston terrier, chihuahua mix - and is just precious! I need to go through a phone interview, which I think is tomorrow night (I'm nervous). The downfall is, this baby doggie is located over 4 hours away. Is she worth the drive? I think so. Neil, however... does not. So, we'll see what happens... We're sort of hoping the foster family will meet us half way. I'm having doubts about that.
Stay tuned.

Happy 2009!

I was terrible at taking pictures these last couple of weeks - but here are some highlights...
Christmas with the Quiggles:

I did attempt to get a group shot, but that didn't work out. (aka, the Q's are too tall versus what I had to work with.)
Christmas in Erie was amazing! I have to admit, it was the 1st Christmas I've spent where I was totally at ease...no irritation. We did have snow!!! And spending time here, with Neil and my mother-in-law was just amazing. Not only was I spoiled from them, gifts were sent to me (us) from some of our bestest friends in CA. I made out big time:

Two days later, Forward Hall hosted "Decembercon" aka Shockwave. I was completely blown away by the entire night!!! Our friends Ryan and EMS did such a great job putting this show together. It couldn't have gone off any better. Shannon and I spent nearly 4 hours putting the merch together the night before, organizing and what not. Am I glad we did that!!! Here is an after shot of what was a very full cooler of hoodies - and a picture of a packed house...

The night ended by heading over to Fox and Hound, eating and spending time with some of the guys. The week continued with Neil and I both off from work - and being able to hang out with friends. Not only were the Quiggles here in town, but our dear friend Jon was home for a short vacation from his duty as a US National guard. Being able to spend time with him and his wife Laura was awesome!
Today is the 1st, and I pray that 2009 will be as productive for Neil and I as 2008 was... I do have a New Years resolution, which is to take care of myself physically - get myself to the gym more often, and eat healthier. I may even blog about my status...who knows.
Neil and I are just weeks away from closing on our house...we can't express just how excited we are about moving in! I really can't wait because I have waited over 4 years to make a home for us...and paint walls the colors I want to paint them...

9 days flew, 2 to go...

Our good friends Dave and Shannon, along w/their daughter Beatrice arrived 9 days, and some odd hours ago - and the time has flown by!!! As cliche as it sounds, time flies when you're having fun. A warm feeling came over me when I saw them for the first time at Shannon's parents house, as if I were back in CA. I was at the stove, frying up my cream cheese wontons (which is usually what I'm doing at a "family" gathering) chit-chatting with Shannon, catching up...and Neil and Davey close by laughing amongst themselves about who-knows-what...
The week continued with us getting together here and there - but it was as if time wasn't precious...they're here for awhile, right? The show came and went (which I'll post about more later) and it was a great time - good people all around us.
With 2 days remaining 'til they fly back to warm, sunny California - I want them all to myself!!! But I can't be selfish, no Dawna - they didn't come just to see you....they have family here. I really didn't think I'd feel this way, its a total shock. I'm naturally not a selfish person.... I think I'm starting to face the fact that I miss CA...and I don't want that. It's probably best they leave, it's making me toooo homesick!!
A part of me feels as if I can just pick up everything I own and just drive back to California - my safety zone - and continue where I left off there. Is this me just giving up? I think so. Thank God my husband would never read this, because if he did - he'd be packing me up the second he laid eyes on this blog. He misses CA more then I do, but I feel it's all emotional, not practical. We have a house just waiting for us, with a SOLD sign leaning up against the post (the wind knocked it down) and screaming for a new interior paint job. The house needs us, and we need it. I truly feel this is where God wants us. At least for the time being...
With that note...I have really enjoyed the time spent w/my friends, and I pray they return to their home safely. I hope it's not too long before I see them again....

29 days, if not LESS

Today we found out from Maryanne, our realtor, that the seller doesn't quite have the money to take care of our requests before closing. We did know this, but still felt it was their responsibility to take care of these 2 things:

Radon that was detected in the basement ($1,000 -/+ to clear that out)
Seal on the toilet needs to be re-done, correctly to avoid future problems ($100)

The news continued that they will get the seal repaired. 2nd, the two reality companies: Howard Hanna (seller) and ours, Coldwell Banker came to the decision that they will team up and take care of the radon. Thank the LORD!!! Maryanne told us they sometimes do that, especially in a case like ours. We didn't have a lot of requests, and at the same time, the seller is in a bind & just needs to get out of her mortgage and sell this house.

And yet another positive note - we may close sooner then expected. We initially picked a farther date due to the holidays - but the seller really is just needing to get out. Hey, we're not complaining.