I had a dream I was walking around at night in the park, where I grew up, and behind the swingset, there was this 3-4 story brick building.  It looked like an old tavern or inn, but it was beautifully maintained with a nice porch and white shutters on the windows.  It had a for sale sign in front of it.  Across the front door in big gold plate letters “Washington Train Museum” was written.  I walked in and everything was very clean, but obviously it was closed.  The front lobby had a gift shop area.  The upstairs was a restaurant.  As I walked up the wooden staircase to the third floor, it overlooked the dining area of the restaurant.  In the third floor, there were a few rooms, like offices perhaps.  One of them had a light on inside, behind a sheet that covered the door way.  I walked in, and there was a man standing in there.  He was an artist of some sort, definitely a hint of mystery about him.  He was in his 30s, black hair, thin black beard and mustache, and dressed like you’d expect someone from the early 1900s to dress with a tightly fit vest and sleeves rolled up.  He seemed welcoming and asked if I was interested in buying the building.  I told him that I didn’t remember the building being there when I was a kid, so I knew that it was not a permanent building.  I was so very impressed with potential of the place though, so I asked him how I could be sure people would be able to get to it if I did buy it and try to reopen it to the public.  He seemed entertained that I had figured out the building was a sort of “traveling” building.  Then I came up with the idea that I’d have to market it as a place where you could visit in your dreams.  Only such a lovely place could be rationalized as existing in a dream world.

We shook hands.  I woke up.

Never fully trust a realtor.

Despite what they say, they’re probably not thinking with your desires 100% in their minds.  As a general rule of thumb, you should always know and question people’s intentions.  if they have no incentive to help you, they probably aren’t.  realtors make money from you.  They have a little motivation to make sure you have a good experience for you to throw referrals their way, but all in all, they’re not on the hook for anything.  They know you are going to buy a house.  If they’re selling a house, they know it will sell eventually if it’s reasonable.  The fact is, the more money the save you on the house, the less money they get, so their not going to work as hard as you’d like.

today was an emotionally draining day.  all is well though.  slept at my mom’s last night, woke up to return to the city around 10.  Brought a dolly back from my mom’s to help me wheel in the deep freezer i bought off craigslist yesterday.  I always told kallie that we can justify more freezer space when there were more than just 2 of us.  When she told me she was pregnant, I knew I had to make good on that promise.

Deirdre came over around noon and we talked and kind of caught up on what’s been going on with each other.

It doesn’t even feel like Christmas eve.  It’s silly warm outside.  Without anyone else reminding me about it, it’s easily forgotten.

Talked to Kallie for a bit around 4:30.  She comes back late Tuesday night and I think we both want it to come quickly.

I was supposed to play bass at church tonight, but they couldn’t get a drummer, so it didn’t really make sense for me to play.  As a result, I lost motivation to go as our holiday services are usually pretty thin.  I want to celebrate the birth of Jesus, but I need to find my own way to do that it seems because just going through the motions, traditions, and symbolic rituals seem to distract me from the tangible reality of the coming of our Savior.

I’m starting to think more about my daughter.  I’ve been focusing on having a baby, that i’d have to feed, change diapers, and all that jazz.  I was also aware of the stress of having a teenage daughter, keeping away the boys, but what I’ve forgotten about is that time in the middle.  There’s going to be a girl that will instinctively look to me for direction and also admire me, provided I do my job right.  I’m going to have a relationship with this girl.  I’m going to want to make her happy, I’m going to love her, and she’ll love me.  I’m going to have to learn about her, what she likes, what interests her.  It’s not just me changing her diapers or telling her what to do, it’s relational and even more organic than a rule setting father.  I decided I wanted to buy her a stuffed animal.  I want her to have something that she connects as being given to her from her dad[ddy].

I started repairing some damage ceiling parts in the office, started tearing down some stuff, but then realized the last time I used the joint compound, the lid was on tightly and it all dried up.  Quick hop online found that home depot is closed until Monday.  I had been hoping to get some painting done today and tomorrow so it would be dry by the time Kallie came back and the fumes would be gone.  Not sure what I’m going to do about that yet.  I started doing some other things on my list, but I’m really quite exhausted already.

9pm  – I’m spent.  Merry Christmas to everyone.  Good night.

I want a huge fireplace.  big enough to stand in.  A walk in fireplace.  Something you can have a bonfire on.  I don’t want to have to bend over and hit my head on the mantle.  Oh, and the mantle should be awesome too.  Ornate, or just big and awesome as well.

You knew someone was going to do it eventually.  Back in 2009, British Television host, James May, and a group of volunteers set out to create the house in the UK.  Sure, they made sure it had a solid wood frame structure, but everything else is all LEGO.  There was something about James actually living in the LEGO house for a couple days, but I’m not sure that really happened.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1203654/Thousands-Top-Gears-James-May-helping-hand-Lego-brick-house.html

http://www.geeksugar.com/House-Being-Built-Entirely-Out-Legos-Wood-UK-4389253

http://www.jamesmaystoystories.com/

Alright, now that we’re into the summer and for sale signs are posted, here’s a break down of all the houses that are for sale in the Hill District:

113 Erin Street – $143,900 : My neighbor’s house who passed away in February 2011 and now his son is selling it. If you’ve been to my house, it has the same exact floor plan, but has a deck. Listing & County Assessment

117 Erin Street – $63,319 : My neighbor’s house who declared bankruptcy in September 2010. If you’ve been to my house, it has the same exact floor plan, but has a deck.  She also put in expensive tile throughout this house.  You have to do some research on how to get a house on sheriff sale, but come June 6th, this thing will be sold to the highest bidder. Instant equity here. Listing & County Assessment

9 Davenport Street – $93,500 : This house is just across the parking lot from me. If you’ve been to my house, it has the same exact floor plan.  Listing & County Assessment

139, 147, 153 Erin & 129, 139 Davenport = $150, 000 : New constructions in 2010.  Garages and yards.  Listings & County Assessment

There are a bunch more, ranging from older/smaller/cheaper to new/larger/more expensive listed here.  All of these houses are about a mile to downtown and about half a mile from the new Shop n’ Save and YMCA going into the Hill District.

http://www.hgtv.com/green-home/index.html

Vote often!  Invite me when you win!  It’s outside Denver, Colorado this year.  You can also enter twice a day this year if you use the frontdoor.com site as well.

I want to “rebuild” something in the house.  I’m not sure whether it’s just a room that is a replica of another room of a house I lived in, or a famous room from somewhere else, like the Whitehouse.  At Winterthur and Nemacolin Woodlands, they have areas where the walls are actual storefronts so the room or hallway feels like a city street.  Something like that would work too.

Here are the top 10 Precarious Building according to TIME.  I’m particularly fascinated with the Sutyagin House, Archangel, Russia, because when I look at all these buildings, I think about how they were built and how they got the materials to where they ended up. Modern structures are easy to fabricate when you have a bunch of heavy equipment and cranes and such. When your building is on a crazy rock formation, or you’re doing it all by yourself, that’s truly impressive.

http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1995297_1995295_1995294,00.html

Here’s an update on some Hill District projects:

YMCA: This is going in 2 blocks from my house on Centre Avenue. It is currently slated for an early 2012 completion. Should be awesome to have an indoor basketball court and pool so close! Also, it’ll be one of the city’s largest green certified buildings. Post-Gazette

Grocery Store: Shop ‘n Save has committed to putting in a full service store (FINALLY!). It is scheduled to be completed in November of 2011. This is going to be 3 blocks from my house. Post-Gazette

Consol Energy Center: The new home of the Pens will be opening with Paul McCartney on August 15th. On my walk to work, it’s looking just about done from the outside. still some paint, shrubs, and lights to finish though. It’s on its way to being the highest LEED certified sports center in the nation. http://www.consolenergycenter.com/

Connelley School: At the upper corner of the Mellon Arena’s top parking lot, there’s this old school that has been closed due to asbestos. Now, there’s money to convert it into a place for green start ups and research facility for Pittsburgh Green Innovators. Seems like a pretty cool thing.Post-Gazette

Pharmacy: Duquesne has announced they’d open a pharmacy in the Hill. I’m not sure exactly which store front it’s going in, perhaps the old Carnegie Library Space? That might be too large though. It is slated for later this year. >Post-Gazette

Cambria suites Hotel: The hotel in between the Washington Plaza apartments and Consol Energy Center is close to being structurally done. It has all the blocks in place, now just time to brick it up and put some windows in and finish the interior. Looks like it will open in December 2010. More & pictures

Kaufmann Auditorium: Right next to the Hill House, they’re making a bunch of modernizations and upgrades to this auditorium. Plans also include an outdoor amphitheater. link

Dinwiddie Street: Not sure what all is included here, but they are tearing down a bunch of abandoned houses and blight. I think they plan to build new houses, but maybe it will be apartments. I’m watching the HDCG for updates.