why?

because we bought a house.
we signed on it last monday.
tuesday was halloween, and since then the house has owned us.
it's already been a lot of work and expense, and we don't have a whole lot of progress to show.

seriously.
the ratty carpeting from the main floor and the staples and tack strips are up.
the floors (that need to be re-covered because they were neglected so badly that we can't refinish them without repairing them and we haven't the time or funds for that) have been scrubbed.
the walls downstairs are tsp'd and patched...
the walls upstairs are tsp'd, waiting to have errant nails and screws and mollies removed so the patching process can begin.
the foam (from the backing of the ratty carpeting that was on the stairs) has been scraped off, and we're determining what to do about the GLUE residue that is left behind... looks a lot like sanding is going to happen...
and the colors for the walls have been selected (though not purchased, because there's still too much to do)
we may be able to prime the downstairs walls tonight - - we're starting in the kitchen.
i still haven't been in touch with an electrician - - that is slated for tonight, I think. he has a lot to do too - - starting with straightening out the double lugs and crossed wires in the breaker box - - add to that that I want an outlet and switch for a garbage disposal and some additional outlets in the kitchen (and it would be best if they were all gfi) and some other additional outlets throughout the rest of the house... oh, and having the grounding on all these outlets actually work would be nice too...
i see the dollar signs spinning around my head like the little birds in the cartoons. i can almost hear the "cha-ching" every time i stop to think about how much needs to be done.

we are optimistically (aggressively) aiming to be able to live in the house sometime around thanksgiving. depending on how hard we work, it's still a wild possibility.

my mom and dad are helping, his mom and dad are helping, the baby is helping, the cat would help if he had thumbs - - even if not by choice.

but yes, behind all the complaining, and under all of the stress - - truth is i'm wildly happy to have the keys, and the mortgage, and the work and worry and everything else that goes along with owning our own home.