July 2014-Closing and clean out

Buying a house is certainly one of the most stressful events I've endured. Put moving to a new city in that sandwich and its really a lot to eat at once. I'm glad it took so long to complete the sale, it gave me time to mentally adjust to a major lifestyle change.

When we did the last walk through before closing we noticed some of the appliances were taken. I assume David sold them for scrap to pay off some of the debts he promised to pay over the months the realtor relentlessly hounded him. The only thing I was miffed about was the old double enamel sink he took from the attic. 

   
Its a pretty surreal experience sliding a check for such a huge sum across that high gloss conference table. We ordered what I expect to be the first of many dumpsters on the first day. The driver asked if we were concerned about the grass. I thought he was joking. It feels voyeuristic and sad to go through someones discarded possessions, and yet cathartic to destroy really ugly furniture. 

Here are some oddities found during the first cleanup:

The bottle said vodka, but I wasn't about to smell it to find out what it really contained.

I think this pancake mix was in the house since 1973.

There were several syringes in the upstairs bedroom, along with some information about diabetes. I believe it was David's father who was afflicted with the disease.  UPDATE: I was showing this blog to my oncology nurse friend, who said these are not syringes for diabetics. I will just let this link explain it. Warning-involves adult issues. And yes, the needle gets injected directly into there!

I found these dentures in that gravy boat. Pete wants to put them on display in a jar. I think that's a great idea!

Another ironic find. This factory sealed VHS tape was part of a series of tapes that came with a workbook.

 Jesus could do nothing to save these socks.

This is one of the more PG13 items we found in the house. I will spare you from all the other raunchy stuff discovered. 

Discarding furniture:

We disassembled the furniture to make the most of the space in the dumpster.

That TV was so heavy! Pete is so thin and yet so strong. I don't know how he does it, I think he has muscular savant- ism.

This end table was the only furniture small enough to throw out the window.

This photo doesn't show the paint hardened like a rock on the roller. Pete could not pull it apart.

And another attempt to paint. This is above the fireplace in the living room.



A few discoveries:

Pete decided to smash through the drop ceiling in the dining room and found this newspaper from 1961. I'm hoping there are more treasures in the walls and ceilings.

A wall abruptly stops at the banister at the top of the stairs, Pete smashed through the other side of that wall.....

.......and found the attached finial on the other side. 

To the right of that is an old fence point used as a spacer.....

As well as a capped off gas line once used for gas lighting.

This is the kitchen entrance to the maids staircase that Pete broke through, the stairs are to the right. The door is glued shut with urethane expansion foam.

A true walk in closet, we discovered the closets in both bedrooms are connected. There is no dividing wall. I cant decide if its funny or creepy.

We found this degrading rubbery thing that appears to be a cap on a pipe. We have yet to figure out where it goes.

I only noticed this chalkboard after we closed. The curtains were so dark with soot that  I missed a lot of details until we pulled them down.

Pete's gloves after two days of work.