Moved in!

Quick note: I wrote the following yesterday but never got around to posting. Two nights down in the new house. Good times.

That's right, we've moved in. Our new house is filled with boxes and general moving debris, but we don't really care. Last night we slept there, and that felt great. The house isn't 100% complete, but it surely is livable, and we really couldn't stay away any longer. There was some sort of pull where we just decided that it was time, and it didn't matter if the kitchen countertops weren't finished, or that some of the trim isn't complete. So we packed up the apartment and moved. Three days of straight work, Jess still at the new house trying to get it ready, me at the old place packing. My mom came over to help on Saturday, which was a huge help. She tackled the kitchen, and that was awesome. On Monday our friend David helped Jess move the big stuff, and my folks came over again to shuttle another load over to Coyote Run. We haven't quite gotten everything out of the old place, but we'll get to that later this week. So there is still a lot to do, and I don't think it has quite sunk in yet that we finally moved in. To look back to when we moved from Wyoming to Vermont in September of 2005 thinking that we'd build the house in the Spring of 2006. Little did we know what we would be dealing with. It was one year ago this week that we finally received our wastewater permit from the state of Vermont. It was thirteen years ago this week that Jess and I got together. We can't remember anything really cool happening this week in other years, but we figure those three things are pretty big. I'm calling it a lucky week. The photos I have now are from before we moved in, but I'll get some up soon of the finished (or close to it) product. For now I want to thank all the people that helped us, especially our parents, and families. We couldn't have done it without you. And to Jess, who has lived and breathed this house for the last nine months. It's time to pour the Gatorade cooler over your head and carry you off the field. I'm sure we'll be finishing this house for a long time, but we should enjoy this time for what it is. Here are the photos from 199, check back for more soon.

Hayden the tile guy. Nice job.
Bathroom vanity
stairs
Kitchen without backsplash or grout. The stove is missing too, but it's in now.
I love my new house!!

So close....

Only a couple more weeks before we can move in. Woohoo! The collection of boxes has started, and I've packed a few already. The cabinet installation is complete, and they look awesome. I should remark again on the cabinet moving project. It was really incredible how everything came together. Bernadette and Ben were amazing, and really seemed to enjoy the experience. Ben sent an email out after the move saying how they had talked to every one of their siblings on the trip (nine kids in that family), and talked to their folks everyday. This is a little quote from Ben's email, "Our support crew spanned the time zones we crossed, help and entertainment were a cell phone away." It certainly gave me a warm fuzzy feeling to read that. Thanks again to the Buck Wonder Twins. You guys rock.

We can also thank our friend David and my dad for coming over on New Year's Eve day to help us move the cabinets into the house. My brother makes a heavy cabinet, and it was good to have some extra help. Like good Vermonters we employed the help of Mr. John Deere to move the cabinets from the truck to the house. Jess installed a fork-lift kind of thing on the front of my Dad's tractor, and we were able to drive the cabinets around to the back of the house and put them on the porch right outside the kitchen. Two cabinets had to go through the front door (which had to be taken off the hinges), but they made it. Jess installed the cabinets in two days (thanks again to my dad who helped). It's crazy to look at that kitchen and think that it's ours. Today the appliances arrived, so we're pretty close to a functional kitchen.

We're at the point in the process where we need to buy those last things to complete the house. The kitchen sink, the faucets, stair treads, light fixtures, and a whole bunch of other stuff. Needless to say, Home Depot is a very familiar place for us these days. We were there last Saturday night buying 1400 square feet of insulation to put between the floor joists of the first floor. I installed some of that insulation on Sunday, and apparently must have jostled a repair coupling in the radiant floor pipe. It didn't leak right away, but later, after we left, it leaked like crazy, and Jess walked into a basement the next morning that was about two thirds covered with two inches of water. Thanks to Jess' mom and my mom and dad for coming to the rescue to help clean up the mess. We have a ton of stuff stored in the basement, so this wasn't just an empty space filled with water. By the end of the day things were looking better. Just a another hiccup in the wonderful world of house building. On a more positive, and happier note, our good friend Mike Johnson came up from NH to help on Sunday. Mike and Jess worked together in WY, and Mike was the best man at our wedding. It was great to see Mike, and also to have his help. Mike and Jess worked on trim all day. Thanks to Mike for making the trip.

If you're still reading this entry, I should apology for making it so long. Here are some photos of the latest from 199.

Snowy day for the cabinet move in.

Big fridge cabinet required taking the front door off to get it in.

Levi, supervising the moving.

room of cabinets

The lower cabinets getting set.

uppers

All installed, just waiting for countertops and appliances.

Jess and Mike.

Happy New Year!

B&B Trucking

The update on the cabinets is that they are all in the house now, not installed yet, but at least the truck is unloaded. They look awesome, and we are so thankful to everyone who helped get them across the country. We picked the truck up in Litchfield on Sunday, and Jess piloted it to Shelburne. He got a little turned around somewhere in CT, and ended up in the Berkshires of MA, but in the end he made it. I got Bernadette back to the Boston area, and myself back to Burlington before any major snow hit. The story of the trip was great to hear. B&B Trucking did a great job and have a pretty damn good story to tell now. I especially liked the Milesburg, PA Holiday Inn bar story. In true Buck fashion they stole the show on the Karaoke stage, and were on first name basis with everyone in the bar by the time they left. And now two New England kitchens will have cabinets made by our favorite Wyoming cabinet maker. Smiles for everyone.

Our long-haul trucker hero, Bernadette, compiled a list of credits (which are both touching, and hilarious) of the journey. Here they are...





Roll Credits:



CABINETS CROSS-COUNTRY 2007



-- Jackson, WY Unit --


INNOCENT-SEEMING QUESTIONER: Eric Huyffer "You wouldn't want to drive back East, would you?"
FEMALE TRUCKER: Bernadette "why not?" Buck
THEORETICAL DRIVING INSTRUCTION: Cynthia Huyffer, Eric Huyffer, Ben Buck, Janine Martinelli, Hannah Martinelli
METICULOUS BLACK DIAMOND RENTAL AGENT: Amy ("Who's the driver? WOW. I wouldn't do it in this weather.")
DIESEL INSTRUCTION OF QUESTIONABLE QUALITY BY: Black Diamond Employee("I wouldn't want you to be stranded. Do you know the starter fluid trick? You spray it in the air filter. Here, I'll show you. I've done this many times and never once has it exploded.")
DIESEL INSTRUCTION OF SLIGHTLY BETTER QUALITY BY: D&E Cabinet Employee "Montana" Ben
TRUCK LOADING SPATIAL RELATIONSHIPS: "Montana" Ben
TRUCK LOADER WHO FORGOT ONE CABINET: "Montana" Ben
FRANTIC PHONE CALL ONE MINUTE AFTER DEPARTURE TO CALL TRUCKER BACK TO GET FORGOTTEN CABINET: Eric Huyffer
DEPARTURE MORAL SUPPORT: Cynthia and Eric Huyffer
EXPLETIVES INDUCED BY: Hoback Canyon



-- Boston, MA / Denver, CO Unit --


MALE TRUCKER: Ben "didn't have any work this week anyway" Buck
TRUCK HEIGHT CONSULTANT: Cynthia Huyffer
TIMING COORDINATION: Eric Huyffer and Ben Buck
TIMING DISASTER CREATION #1: United Airlines ("I'm sorry, your flight is cancelled. I can't help you. Please go to US Airways.")
TIMING DISASTER CREATION #2: US Airways ("I'm sorry your flight was cancelled. I can't help you. Please go to United Airlines.")
TIMING DISASTER AVERSION: United Airlines Gate Agent "You're 7th in line for standby? You'll get on.")
AIRPORT SECURITY THAT APPARENTLY HAD NO PROBLEM WITH A 24' BUDGET RENTAL TRUCK DRIVING RIGHT ON UP TO THE TERMINAL: National Transportation Administration, Denver International Airport



-- Sterling, CO Unit --

AROMATHERAPY: North Platte River (and potentially many, many, many livestock)

MOTEL ROOM HEAT BY: Nuclear Fission Inc.



-- Nebraska Unit --

EASY CHEESE ART: Ben Buck



-- South Bend, IN Unit --


ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE: Dmitri, Budget Rent-A-Truck
BRAKE SENSOR REPAIR: John, Michiana Truck Center
COFFEE: John's daughter
EXTENSIVE WAITING ROOM KNOWLEDGE ON BIODIESEL, SOYBEANS, BACTERIA, AND IOWA CAUCUSES: Tom the Heavy Equipment Repairman
RETURNED PHONE CALL (timely, even): Christopher Buck



-- Milesburg, PA Unit --


HOLIDAY INN POOL PLAYER #1: Jason
DRUNKEN YOUNG THING: Jenna (loved, loved, loved that Kid Rock)
DRUNKEN YOUNG THING'S BOYFRIEND/POOL PLAYER #2: Brad
DRUNKEN YOUNG THING'S FRIEND: Theresa
DRUNKEN YOUNG THING'S FRIEND'S BOYFRIEND WANNABE: John
KARAOKE MASTER: Dave ("awwww, Brad got beaten by a GIRL")
DANCING GRANDMAS: Themselves
ACTUAL TRUCKER: Himself
ACTUAL TRUCKER'S UNKEMPT GIRLFRIEND: Herself


-- Litchfield, CT Unit --

WARM RECEPTION: Jessica Buck, Caleb Buck
REAL FOOD BY: Jessica Buck
FAST BASKETBALL: Caleb Buck
NEW TRUCKER: Jess Oppenheimer
SPECIAL TRANSPORTATION FOR MS. BUCK: Karen Oppenheimer



EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Eric Huyffer
ADDITIONAL PRODUCTION BY: Karen Oppenheimer, Ben Buck
STORY CONCEPT: Eric Huyffer
STORY CONCEPT ASSISTANT: Black Diamond employee ("Don't you know anyone who's going back East?")
SET DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION: Eric Huyffer
KEY WEATHER: Rose Buck
DOLLY WEATHER: Eric Huyffer
TRAVEL AGENT: Eric Huyffer
DAILY DIVERSIONS AND SUPPORT (TELEPHONE): Rose & Ron Buck, various
DAILY DIVERSIONS AND SUPPORT (TEXT): Karen and Jess Oppenheimer, Eric Huyffer
PHILOSOPHICAL UNDERPINNINGS: Gregory Buck
ADDITIONAL ENCOURAGEMENT: Christopher Buck
CATERING/SNOWBOUND FOOD SUPPLIES: Janine Martinelli
BIRTHDAY DIVERSION: Jacquelyn Kelley
CHICAGO TRAFFIC CONSULTANT: Stephen Buck
EMERGENCY ROAD TRAFFIC EVALUATION: Alexander Buck



Special thanks to all of the above for their love and support during this project. The ground crew throughout the country was outstanding. We never wanted for directions, hotel rooms, weather information, coping strategies, or entertainment.



No animals were harmed in the making of this movie. Strangely, no rabbit carcasses were even visible on the road through Pinedale, and the deer we saw in Nebraska was already dead, we swear. If I forgot anyone I am deeply sorry.





Happy New Year, everyone!



-- Produced with Dual iPod Surround Sound courtesy Eric Huyffer and Caleb Buck --

Update from the road...

As of 10am this morning the truck had just entered Indiana. Not sure if they'll try to make it to CT tonight. We'll have to see how it goes. By my calculations they are about 800 miles from Litchfield.

Update on the Cabinet Move...

On Wednesday Bernadette left Jackson Hole around 1pm en route to Denver to pick up her brother at the airport. According to Eric, Ben almost didn't make it to Denver because his original flight was cancelled. Ben ended up flying standby and making it to Denver. Bernadette piloted the truck through a hairy Hoback Canyon in Wyoming, but made it to Denver, picked up Ben and then the two of them drove to Sterling, CO, where they spent the night. Day one completed. I got a picture from Bernadette on Thursday morning fueling up in Sterling. I'm not sure where they all got to last night, but as of 9pm eastern time they were in Iowa City, Iowa, and still moving.

Back at the house things have been going on as usual. Jess finished the hardwood floors yesterday. They look great. I've had the week off from work and have been able to help Jess. Miranda has been spending a lot of time at Nammie and Papa's this week. Grandparents right down the driveway are pretty wonderful. The interior doors have been painted and Jess was starting to hang them yesterday. I got all the outlet and switch covers on yesterday. Pretty much Jess is going to push ahead with doors and interior trim. We still have to put tile in the upstairs bathroom, and finish off the plumbing and final electrical, but we sure are getting closer to moving in. We are planning on picking up the cabinet truck in Litchfield, CT on Sunday and Jess will drive them up to Shelburne. The appliances are scheduled to be delivered on January 8th. I ordered the vanity counter tops yesterday and they should arrive in a couple of weeks. It's all coming together. Here are some photos of the floors, and of Ben fueling up in Sterling, CO.

Ben in Sterling, CO
living room
kitchen
beautiful view off the balcony

The Truck is on its way!

Today is the day Bernadette leaves Jackson, WY headed to Denver. Her plan is to pick up her brother Ben in Denver today. He is flying from Boston and they will co-pilot the truck together from there. Word from Jackson was that the cabinets rolled out of there around 1pm their time. Here are a couple of photos of Bernadette with her new friend, a 20+ foot moving truck. Yee Haw!

Ready to go!
Our Hero!

Some holiday magic...

The story of our cabinets just got a new cast member. The cabinets for the house already involved family. My brother is a cabinet maker, which is a handy thing if you're building a house. Although some of that handiness kind of goes away when your cabinet maker brother lives in Wyoming and your new house is being built in Vermont. Of course there are ways to get things from point A to point B in America. There is a price to pay though, and some of those prices were pretty expensive. We were prepared to pay these prices until our latest hero entered the scene. It seems that it is rather cheap to rent a 24' truck for a one way trip from Jackson, WY to Burlington, VT. So the driver recruitment was the only problem. Enter Bernadette Buck. By day she works at an investment company in downtown Boston, but starting next Wednesday she'll take on the role of a long-haul trucker. My brother, Eric, convinced Bernadette (who was visiting Jackson for the holidays) that instead of enduring a grueling six hour flight back to Boston wouldn't she rather drive a 24' truck across the country in the deep of winter. The truck would be containing our cabinets and some cabinets for Bernadette's brother, Ben (who is my brother's brother in-law). It seems that Bernadette was up for a bit of an adventure. And so the story begins. One truck, one woman, one country to drive across. Check back, we'll be blogging the progress starting 12/26/07.