1919 American Four Square

Before we had a house…

I had my nails done every 4 weeks

I had the time and energy to read a book

I was able to talk about more than stripping woodwork and paint colors

I didn’t know what a shingle exposure was or what a drip edge did

Dennis and I cooked dinner together

An outing wasn’t defined as a trip to Lowe’s

Dennis’ desk was neat and tidy

I spent my dough at the quilt shop, not the hardware store

I let the apartment management do the snow removal at 5:00 a.m. while I snuggled under the blankets

My property taxes were rolled into my rent, I didn’t have the big choking experience twice a year

Dennis had only automobile-related tools

I was able to watch a 10:00 p.m. TV program and see the end

I didn’t follow the results of the Fed meeting and it’s affect on variable rate mortgages

I didn’t feel guilty when I slept past 6:00 a.m.

The bookmarks on my web browser weren’t 90% home improvement related

We went on real vacations

I didn’t know what the slope of my roof was (8/12)

I didn’t know shellac came in flakes

I’d buy shoes that looked cute, not that could withstanding hammers falling on them

I never needed a tetanus shot

I watched “Trading Spaces” and “Changing Rooms” without getting physically ill

I didn’t spend time wondering if I’d ever be able to afford a genuine Stickley

On a trip to the antique store, I’d look for quilts, not architectural artifacts

We took naps on the weekend

Dennis didn’t drool when he saw a mortising machine or a contractor-grade table saw

A shop vacuum with dust collection system didn’t seem that important

I couldn’t name the different layers of plaster

I never checked the level on a fuel oil tank

The fact that some heat guns have electronic controls would not have excited me

I didn’t feel the need to take a picture of the outline on the wall of the original sink or of a shingle clip

You wouldn’t catch me out of the house without mascara and earrings, let alone with a potting soil encrusted T-shirt and sweaty neck