Valentine's Day - Ok. The deed is done. There is no turning back now. We have closed on the construction loan. That means we now have the funds available to start the project. Nine months to the day will make the loan due November 14, 2002. We made Judd a co-signer on the checking account so he can write checks to the subcontractors in our absence. That would be a bit of a scary proposition if I wasn't so sure Judd was an honest man who wouldn't take advantage of the situation. Our only control is that we will make bank drafts just before any checks are written, and Jan and I are the only ones authorized to make the drafts and put the money in the checking account.

Judd has met with us and Calvin Taylor about the concrete. Calvin has done a lot of work in the area and comes very highly recommended especially if a basement is needed. The last thing we want to worry about is a leaking basement after this is all said and done. Calvin will arrange the dirt work to be done by Dwight Fountain.

When we had the survey done and measured the lot and easements, we found that the further we move the house from the runway and Marc Bowman's lot, the more drop there was in elevation. Too much and it becomes a problem for the step out basement. Either we would have to step up to ground level to get out of the basement or we would step out and have a drop off immediately out the front. We have asked Calvin to move the house as far as possible from the runway (to make room for the large hangar). We will build the house first, then build the hangar on what is left of the lot next to the runway.

After closing on the loan, we met Judd at the site to go over windows. That seems to be a major part of the house. We have a lot of windows as you can see by the picture and each one seems to have something special about it. Even though only a couple of windows are custom sizes, each one needs a little attention to detail since once they are ordered, they can't be returned. At a total cost of around $20,000 we want to make sure we get the right ones to start with.

Lesson learned: Guys, if any of you are starting about this time, make a note. Don't get so consumed about the loan, survey, etc. that you forget it is Valentine's Day. Yes, a house is a nice present, but at least a card will go a long way toward talking the wife into letting you build the the larger hangar.