We've been busy

So part of the reason posts have been so infrequent over the past few weeks is that I've been incredibly busy (the rest of the reason has to do with me not really knowing what I should post about these days).

Much of the reason for the business has to do with two major purchases that Jeannette and I are just in the midst of finalizing.

The first major purchase Jeannette and I are in the midst of finalizing is that of a new house.  Not surprisingly, the purchase decision was preceded by a number of visits to prospective houses as well as trips around potential neighbourhoods.  Once we settled on a house there were back and forth communications with our realtor as well as various inspections that had to be arranged (one of which lead to some extra plumbing work) before the deal could be finalized.  Since the deal has been finalized (though we still do have to transfer the deed and all of that finicky legal stuff) we've had to continue to make house arrangement, plan for the move, consider paint and furniture, and deal with utility and insurance considerations.  All in all, it's been a fair bit of work and generally quite tiring (though may not quite as tiring as a mid-winter possession date).

While we were working our way through the aforementioned house purchase we had the pleasure of being backed into while driving slowing (I'm guessing we were only going about 5 kph) through a mall parking lot.  The accident has lead to us making several trips and calls to insurance company representatives and auto body shops.  It's definitely been much more of an ordeal than I initially expected.

Of course, one thing that soon became clear in the midst of this process is that we weren't interested in having anyone spend several hundred dollars more than the price we paid for the car just to fix one of the car's doors. Fortunately we think that we've finally managed to have the vehicle declared a write-off, though the final confirmation of this fact has been slow to come.  Maybe tomorrow? Please?

And in the midst this entire process we realized that we really couldn't avoid buying a new vehicle.  At first we considered not junker used cars but then soon realized that for only a little more we could have a new car.  So we then suddenly entered the new car market and soon settled on a model (it had the upside of being on the lot and available for a quick pick-up).  And then a few days after that we had a brand new car.  I can't tell you how much we've both appreciated having heated seats and a seat that effectively accommodates our disparate heights.

So somehow in the middle of our house buying process we managed to start and complete a car buying process (and two complete registration and insurance acquisition process - but that's a story I really don't have the energy to tell on what has already been a three-post day).  So we're now both completely exhausted and quite aware that this likely won't let up at any point between now and dementia.

Cameron - 3
Neil - 0