Thanks for the prayers guys, IT WORKED! - The Hull Truth

ReelWork · 11-30-2004, 10:44 PM

Just stopping by to say thanks for the prayers and well wishes.

We got a call this morning that the sellers had verbally accepted and about 4pm we went over to initial and sign all the official forms that were accepted and returned from the seller..

I said I would include some pictures of the new Casa de Reelwork that some have asked for when the deal was pretty much done, so here they are. I figure once I get a a gazebo built, a horseshoe pit dug and a shed installed in the back, it will be a wonderful home that we hope to raise our future family in. For those that are looking close, yes that is a nice payground/fort and behind the trees there's a huge two person swing (the top horizontal bar is at least 12 feet off the ground) in the 180 foot deep yard. House is 4/3 and actually has 2 Master Bedrooms, 1 upstairs and 1 down.

Sorry for the quality on some of the pics - camera phone. The stone on the fireplace kind of looks like it has glitter or something, but that is actually green marble and refractions from the flash.

Can you tell we are a little excited?

mronzo · 11-30-2004, 10:48 PM

Enjoy the Ponderosa Mr. Cartwright!

Best Wishes!

2020is · 11-30-2004, 10:51 PM

Congrats man. Where do you park the F150? That 'Rage don't look quite big enough.

ReelWork · 11-30-2004, 11:06 PM

Yep, that is the one negative of the house itself is the garage.

What's funny is that the other house we had considered had an oversized garage that even the boat would have fit in perfectly, but the 30 year owner was a smoker and the house absolutely stunk. We initially thought about making an offer on that house since it was beautiful and the hardwood floors were immaculate, but we didn't want to gamble whether or not the 30 year old smoke smell could be eliminated. Good thing too, we talked a friend of mine and he's had some bad "smokey" experiences and when we gave him the details, he said "Stay away from it and don't even get your furniture near it!" We heard him loud and clear and after further research, I'm glad we waited.... We will be pulling up the carpet in the living room pictured to bring out the hardwood floors again.

So, the truck is gonna be living in driveway for the time being. Most homes here in this area that we looked at had either no garage at all or small garages. Out of the 25+ homes we looked at, only one had a 2 car garage! Most homes here are either new cookie cutters or 30+ years old. We even looked at a 150 year old home.. It was way cool, but needed extensive updating.

BrooklynJoe · 11-30-2004, 11:14 PM

Congrads....Looks like you made a great choice.....

How long of a ride do you have to launch at the CBBT to get in to some of the striper action going on down there!!!

Joe

ReelWork · 11-30-2004, 11:17 PM

Well, I can launch at Langley about 15 minutes away from the house (about 10 miles). CBBT is probably another 10 minutes, or about 15 miles from door to marina. All in all, we have a very good location and Bass Pro is about 10 minutes away too!

Bruce W · 11-30-2004, 11:44 PM

CONGRATS, Chris - VERY nice place!

Looks like plenty of room there to start a family, too!

And a GREAT lookin' yard to boot - bet you love them trees!

Don't worry about getting your truck in the garage - WIVES always get the "no scrapping/no warmup required" space in the winter!

10-15min. from the ramp at Langley is sweeeeeeeeeet! There's also the public ramp across the river at Willoughby Spit - not sure what it's like now, but I heard some time ago that that area isn't as "safe" as it used to be? There's also a private ramp (I think?) at Willoughby Marina (same general area/exit as the public ramp). May be a "toss-up" as to driving through the HRBT or going over that way by boat? Think there's also one (public) at the north end of the James River Bridge?

Wherever they are, I know YOU will find them!

Glad everything worked out and that you'll hopefully be in the new place for Christmas!

Or are you spending Christmas in S.A.?

Regards,

thubert57 · 12-01-2004, 09:07 AM

Way to go Chris!!! That looks like a keeper to me.

I believe the ride to the CBBT from Langley will be a little longer than that though. HRBT maybe 15.

Quote:

Bruce W - 11/30/2004 11:44 PM

There's also the public ramp across the river at Willoughby Spit - not sure what it's like now, but I heard some time ago that that area isn't as "safe" as it used to be? There's also a private ramp (I think?) at Willoughby Marina (same general area/exit as the public ramp).

Bruce,

I watched one guy yank the axle off his trailer at the public ramp about 3 weeks ago because of a HUGE hole at the end of the ramp. We helped another guy get his trailer up that fell in. We ended up winching my brother's boat up from a long way away to keep the wheels on pavement.
The area itself is ok, not great but we didn't mind leaving a truck and trailer there.

The Marina ramp costs about $10 but it is nice and right on the point.

Chris, you'll learn the area quickly!

Tom

wolfpack03 · 12-01-2004, 09:40 AM

Nice man! Congrats! Good looking place. Let me know when you get the horseshoe pit dug and I'll be there!

Garett · 12-01-2004, 09:41 AM

Congratulation Chris.

I'm glad the deal went through for the two of you.

Home Sweet Home

So when do you take possession?

auguste · 12-01-2004, 12:38 PM

Great news

Great place

Close to the fishing

The Admiral is happy

Your Happy

Congratulations

gf · 12-01-2004, 12:46 PM

Make sure they rake up the leaves before you close on the house!

Capt. Dan · 12-01-2004, 02:53 PM

When's the THT house warming party? Make sure you have it BEFORE you rip up the carpet.

NewMoon · 12-01-2004, 02:58 PM

Reelwork,
Congrats I know how you feel we just sold our home in RI and will be closing on our new home in Manteo, NC in Feb. Congrats again....

ReelWork · 12-01-2004, 05:00 PM

First off, thanks for the kind words..

Bruce - Yeah it is pretty sweet as far as location goes. I was just down in Willoughby Spit area and thought of ya.. Christmas will be here in Virginia, it is home now and that's where the holidays should be spent in a new house. I took Caroline down to the Norfolk international this morning, so she is gone until just before x-mas. I guess I have some sneaky elf work to do!

Tom - I think you are right, I may have underestimated the distance to CBBT, but you're right in that I am learning the area quickly! 64 still keeps stumping me on the East/West thing. With those zigs and zags 64 makes and with my inexperience of locations, well, you probably know exactly what I mean.. Thanks again for the directions on the way in - it really helped... You da man!

Wolf - You bring the beer and I will have the grill going! Looking forward to it..

Garett - I told ya I had a feeling about this one! LOL - looking like we will close on/about the 15th. Yes, that is a quick closing, but I have been dealing with a mortgage broker since before I went to Tampa back in June so he can literally close as quickly as 10 days. Since we still have to have the home inspection, appraisal, moisture insp. and termite insp. I don't want to squeeze the timeline too much.

Gus - Few words with a lot said. As always, thank you.

Yes, the admiral is very happy!

GF - Funny you mention it, about 2 hours after these pics were taken the leaves were being cleaned up. I think it is really cool how the city will pick up the leaves. All you have to do is pile the leaves along the curb, bagged or not and they come by and pick them up. Some houses have an enormous amount of leaves, like the entire curb property as wide as a car and almost as tall! New to this Texas boy..

Capt. Dan - I don't know when I will have a party, but there will be one and yes, I will have a THT get-together BBQ and kids will be more than welcome to make use of the awesome playground. I may end up waiting until March/April when the weather warms up and isn't raining every other day. If you come down this way though, you are more than welcome just drop me a line.

NewMoon - I think there is a congrats to you in order! ]

Well, as I stated Caroline has flown back to SA to finish out teaching the semester and will return in a few weeks with her car and the kids (Dog and Cat). I guess that puts me in bachelor mode! Anyone want to get together for a beer, dinner or to just shoot the bull?

Also, can anyone recommend a good carpenter/mason in the area? We figure we would like a bigger window and better view of the backyard from the living room so I am looking to knock out the second window from the left and install French doors (or would that be Freedom doors? - LOL). I will need to move the HVAC compressor over a few feet, but that shouldn't be a problem. Probably looking to have it done in the spring - Thanks for any help there.

So I guess this cold front has blown through, Caroline called from the Airport at around noon and Baltimore was reporting 70+ MPH winds and the airport was shut down. As I drove back across the Monitor-Merrimac the bay was just nasty!

Anyways, Thanks again and y'all take care.. Wow, I really typed up a novel!

Chris

p.s. - Dial-up stinks..

Shorty · 12-01-2004, 05:02 PM

Your quite Welcome..

twentynine · 12-01-2004, 07:37 PM

Hey Chris, congradulations on the new home, looks like a really nice place. Great looking yard, and plenty room in the house.

I am glad things are falling into place for you guys.

29

Garett · 12-03-2004, 04:00 AM

Chris,

How handy around the house are you?
Do you have any decent tools?
Would you have any time to spare or would you be working 16 hr shifts?
Dispite the length of your boat, will you boat fit into the garage? If so, maybe while we are installing a patio door we could also install a second garage door - giving you a drive through.

Oh, now that most of the leaves have fallen, you should be thinking of cleaning out the eves or I think you guys call them gutters before the winter sets in.

Blue C's · 12-04-2004, 05:30 AM

Congratulations, Chris!!! I hope you and your family lead a happy life there.
Two things..........One, forget the leaves in the yard, get someone to get them out of the gutters, upstairs, and Two........ where do you keep the storm/hurricane panels??

floundermeister · 12-04-2004, 07:19 AM

Congratulations on the home and the move. I grew up in the Newport News/Hampton area. It sure has changed. Regarding the public boat ramp at Willoughby. It, at this time, has only one operational ramp. You can launch two boats from it at a time. But watch out, I have seen several boaters who need to use the entire ramp to launch and retrieve their boats! The other one will be repaired once the Corps of Engineers gives final approval. Hurricane Isabell took out the jetty and destroyed the ramps. The operational ramp is a bit shallower (sp?) and used to have a big hole at the end of it.
Cobbs Marina on Shore Drive will give you easy access to the CBBT. It is open 24 hours and the cost is $10.00. It is not far from the Hampton Roads Tunnel. Good luck with everything. Once the wind dies down it's Striper Time!