Staging during the holidays?
Annette Holbrook(z7a)
7 years ago
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sushipup1
7 years agoAnnette Holbrook(z7a)
7 years agoRelated Discussions
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Comments (5)Try building a house in the Pacific NW!!!! We got soaked many times before we finally got dried in. I know our wood was treated in some way to protect it. They used HUGE industrial fans to dry it all out and of course, inspected before drywall went up. They measure the moisture inside and it has to be below a certain level to pass. Several of the houses in our neighborhood had holes drilled in the second floor just to drain all the water. Happens all the time out here. If we waited for dry weather, we wouldn't build homes here. We did come out several times and use a push broom to get the water off the floor though...we were worried too. ;c) Water in the Great Room...See MoreCurmdgeon's rules for 'helping' during the holidays.
Comments (18)yogacat writes: 13)It's neither polite, nor helpful, to arrive at the host's house TWO HOURS early. I knew a couple who always arrived anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes earlier than stated on the dinner invitation. The first time it happened to me, I tried to lighten my annoyance by joking that they were lucky that I had on any clothes that early. The second time they did it, I was in the shower and not amused. I got out of the shower, marched to the front door with hair and body dripping wet and answered the door stark naked. They never arrived early to my dinners after that. I think I may try that tact at my next foray into large group entertaining. I wasn't feeling quite up to par with a nasty head cold, but did the whole nine yards anyway. Decided to take a short catnap, only to hear the phone ringing as my head hit my pillow. Thought it was one family member or another who live in other parts of the Country, calling to say Happy Thanksgving. No, it was a local family member/one of our guests, asking if it was okay for the five of them to come by earlier. ONE AND A HALF HOURS early. Well, I while tried to explain that I hadn't had time to shower, hor d'oeuvrs were coming with another guest, so nothing out to nibble on. Hadn't had a chance to do some last minute cleanup, etc. DD was napping in order to do some midnight holiday shopping, yada yada. I felt as though I was speaking some foreign language, and what my guest heard was ~ sure, that's fabulous, we would love for the five of you to come by two hours early~. After the explanation of why it would NOT be great for me, the guest offered to help with the last minute stuff. As I expected, that didn't happen. So, I did a few last minute things, and left the rest to DH, as it seems that it is his side of the family who seem to appear for things somewhere between 1 and 2 hours early EVERY time. UGH. I enjoyed a lengthy hot shower, and took my good ole time getting ready. I appeared downstairs in my home at the time I would have, had the early birds had the sense to spend a bit of time doing something else rather than arriving so early. When this has happened in the past, I rush through my shower, and don't get that 10 minute break I so badly need before the crowd descends on my home. Maybe the naked thing would've worked better, or at least send the guests a loud and clear head's up - please show up closer to the invitation time (which we had confirmed by phone the day prior)! I would never do that to any host/hostess. Oh, and I know you may be thinking these guests just don't know any better, you see, but they do. These people were raised "properly" and regularly attend cocktails parties, holiday parties, and the like as adults as well as through their entire childhoods. Entertaining and being entertained is something not foreign to them. Just cannot for the life of me, figure out what they were thinking other than they were already out, and didn't think better of killing two hours sitting in my LR while the last minute stuff was accomplished. So glad I am not the only one. Had I not been a bit under the weather & been my usual self, I would have been much better able to roll with it. But having last minute vacuuming and a few other things other than food-related things to do in the house, is very different than a guest coming in a few minutes early to share a cocktail and help you set out some things to nibble on. That kind of early is a-okay. Yes, we also have the guests who rummage through everything. But wait, they aren't just looking for a forgotten serving utensil, or linen bar towel to dry a pot. Nope, just plain curious I suppose. Another subject altogether! There's really no way to stop that behavior short of super-gluing the cabinets and drawers closed....See MoreSaving money during the holidays....
Comments (15)I come from a large family and Christmas has always been a struggle. I love the season but hate the gift giving. I think part of it was because my parents only gave gifts to the children - I never learned how to graciously receive a gift, how to just say thank you and smile. Someone gives me a home made nik-nak and I rush out and buy them a new car (just kidding). Anyway, the holidays are over, I made it out alive without spending a fortune. The coolest idea for celebrating the holidays was by a friend of mine years ago. He had recently moved to my state, all his family lived far away. He loved his new city and had no intentions of going anywhere for the holidays so he planned a huge dinner party. He cooked all the food, made all the decorations even made up simple invites and mailed them out a month in advance. His deal was - the party was his gift to his friends and family. If you can't make it for whatever reason, he understood but had no plans to do anything other than throw the party. I imagine he spent some money on the food and stuff but in the end he solved a lot of problems. It didn't come off as a "take it or leave it" kinda deal, more like a "I can't make everybody happy, so this is what I plan to do". I loved it....See MoreDidn't have a working stove for 4 weeks during the holidays.
Comments (1)Tough one. You might be able to ask the maintenance guy who directly knew of your problem for a signed letter, at whatever legal level might be requested, but whether or not the new owners are responsible is probably dependent upon their contract of sale. Whether it be the old owners, or the new, they may take your word for it, or they might ask for evidence and a statement from the old manager. Just for reference, a verbal contract can be binding, but then you're talking about some sort of court or arbitration to decide. I do hope they take your word, or honor the promise of the former manager....See Morecpartist
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7 years agoAnnette Holbrook(z7a)
7 years agoUser
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7 years agoStan B
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