The good, the bad, and the... vermin.

To say we've been busy would be putting it mildly. It's been one of the busiest weeks to date and we've had more than one snag, but we're working through it.  Just to give an idea of how things have been going:

Good: We found three essential kitchen appliances for cheap on Craigslist. They're relatively new and in fantastic shape.

Bad: As soon as they were in the space, we realized for the first time that they're cream-colored and will not match anything we own.

Good: Appliance paint is always an option.

Bad: We can't fully agree on colors yet. And even if we could, the large expanse of exposed brick in the kitchen has severely limited our color options.

Good: We worked out some ways to run power trials to figure out where our leaks are, what uses the most energy and if anyone else is using our grid without paying. (The first floor was abandoned for a number of months and while we do trust our neighbors, we can't rule out the possibility that this has happened.)

Bad: As soon as we patted ourselves on the back for coming up with solutions, we called the electric company and were informed that based on past bills for the space, a $1100 security deposit will be required. This estimate is incorrect for multiple reasons - the space used to be twice as big, was zoned commercially at the time, and was a late-night gym that sucked up tons of power. We asked to be transferred to another operator. After 25 minutes of pacing,  foot-stomping, hand-wringing and more than a few swear words, we have bypassed this requirement.

Good: Bedroom #1 is painted and the ambitious lofted bed/closet was built over the weekend. It's a sight to behold - it's going to be the kind of bedroom worthy of being splashed across Apartment Therapy and design magazines. Well done, roomies!

Bad: We've been told we're crazy if we consider laying down Bedroom #1's cement floor before summer, and we really need it done now. It doesn't help that it's been 40 degrees for something like thirteen consecutive days.

Good: After finally coming up with a kitchen layout that works, moving all work-related things to the gallery, and honing in on a final date for a completed bathroom, Renard is finally starting to resemble a home instead of the cold and dirty semi-abandoned space it once was.

Bad: While we were all out for Easter, a little mouse wandered into the workspace in the furnace room and quietly gave up the ghost. Not only do we not want vermin (obviously), the point was raised that mice don't typically come right out into the open to croak. It makes me believe he ate something that didn't agree with him. I'm hoping it was sweeping compound or something. If we have rat poison anywhere on the premises, we're in trouble. We have three cats and a dog moving in and once rat poison has been put out even in one location, the little buggers disperse it everywhere and you'll never find it all. We'll keep our eyes open for more bitty corpses.

Good: The print work is taking off, our independent art endeavors are paying well, and most of us are due some pretty good tax returns.

Bad: Nothing. Ba-ZING!