Well, it's been a few weeks since we've moved in to the house and I must say, we're adapting nicely. We haven't killed each other yet, however I'll admit there was an incident that required a Bandaid. All in all, we're doing very well. We've got the boiling water down to a perfect system where we always have hot water whenever we want. It's pretty much like camping, except you have doors, a real bed and electricity. Well, some electricity. Most of the house is turned off as we had to rewire the entire house. So, we passed our first big hurdle; a partial electrical inspection...let me back up a bit.

So, in preparing for our first inspection, we were feeling pretty smug, pretty confident. Red was so confident that at the last minute and just minutes before the inspector was due to arrive, he decided to throw in the bathroom as well to the inspection that day. WHAT? All we were originally shooting for was the kitchen and bedroom! You see, Red is one of those people that if it isn't scary, mindboggling or nerveracking, it just ain't fun! I love him dearly, but could really do without his edge.

So, as Red was hanging inside the rafters above the bathroom with his fancy new ROMEX clenched in his teeth, I heard the inspector drive up. Now I can't really type here what I said as I'm sure there's some kind of FCC regulation. But you can surmise what I had said because all morning I had been gently reminding Red that he needed to remove ALL of the OLD wiring in the bedroom before the inspector arrived...they'll flunk you for having the old wires in the walls. Anyway, after numerous reassurances by Red that he'd get them ALL removed BEFORE the inspector arrived, he didn't make his mark. Grrr.

The good news was, the inspector passed the kitchen with flying colors but he would not pass the bedroom because the OLD wiring was still in place. Never mind that it was done expertly! Grrr again. Red, who is the ever willing soul, God bless him, suddenly enlists me into his next plan. He gestures to me, behind the inspector's back, to STALL him! To make small talk with him and do whatever I could do to allow Red those precious few minutes to rip out those blasted wires. Earlier, the inspector refused "to wait" while Red ripped out the few menacing wires and he stated, rather firmly, "I'm not gonna wait or pass you today because of those wires." He was definitely a curmudgeon and my work was really cut out for me as my vast abilities to chat charmingly and make small talk we're failing miserably and finally, I was reduced to trying to bribe the old man with a cookie...needless to say, we had to reschedule another inspection for a week later, which did pass with excellence. Let me add this, Red did get the old wires out while I was still drilling the poor inspector with lots of stupid questions. Proudly, Red announced to the inspector, "I got them all out! Now, will ya pass me?" The inspector bites, "NO, I've already written it down on my report." Gulp.