Monday, February 26, 2007
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by Nina Camic
Hey, new readers! If you want a quick summary of how it is that I came to blog, read this:
It is the year 2004. My two daughters are away at college (younger one) and law school (older one). Wow. Suddenly I have time to write! Not big stuff. Little stuff. Bloggy stuff. And so on January 2, I start to post on Ocean. I test styles, I add photos. Things evolve.
Over the years, I tell you just a little about my past life. You’ll have found out that I was born in Poland, but due to my dad’s diplomatic career, I spent some childhood years in New York. Eventually, as a young adult, I moved back to the United States. I married, had kids, went to law school. And after a short stint at a law firm, I came back to the University of Wisconsin Law School, this time as a faculty member.
I taught law for twenty-five years and then took early retirement so that I could hatch new ideas and immerse myself in other projects. In the meantime, my marriage ends, my daughters graduate from law schools (both of them!), life moves forward.
I meet Ed. On line, then in person. Ed is his own guy. Ed is Ed. One date and we are together.
I’m done with suburbs: I live downtown. First in an apartment loft, then a condo. Ed is indifferent to the apartment and hostile to the condo. Ed likes life in his sheep shed. He travels to see me daily, but never tires of calling my brilliantly clever living arrangement ...a dump. (Ed: if I wanted to live in buildings like this, I would have stayed in New York.)
Five years after meeting Ed, I pack up my dwindling belongings and move to a farmhouse on his land (just south of Madison). We renovate it. Ohhhh, the farmhouse needs it! A hundred years of issues. But, Ed has skills and he has time. With the help of a small construction team, the place is patched, mended, finished and (in April of 2011) I move in.
Alright. That’s the chronology. Here’s what else you might want to know: I love our farmette (it's not really a farm anymore), but I am very often on the road. Away. Ed used to tag along. I have been known to call him my occasional travel companion. These days, he prefers to stay home and look after the chickens.
Anything else? My younger daughter lives with her husband and their little ones (Primrose and Juniper) in Chicago, my older one teaches right here at UW in Madison. She and her husband have a little girl (Snowdrop) and two little boys (Sparrow and Sandpiper). This makes me a grandma!
That’s it. Anything else you’ll have to pick up by reading along. Curious about my childhood in postwar Poland? Pick up my book, Like A Swallow!
Yes... but I'm concerned by what appear to be ceilings so low you are in danger of bumping your head on them, and an apparent lack of windows?
ReplyDeleteIt's really not fair to ask for approval while giving so little information!
Yes, yes, yes. A guest room with a door that closes is a necessity!
where is it?
ReplyDeleteI would like to have a place like that that can be made into whatever I want, but if you aren't handy it might not be such a good idea.
ReplyDeleteI think this calls for more pictures.
As you know, Nina, I'm against unconventional financing. Otherwise, I think it's a nice building and a good location -- esp. if you want to continue your car-free lifestyle.
ReplyDeleteI was surprised to see the ceiling heights unmentioned on the building's website. Some of the upper floors look to be 10' or more, but what about your unit?
chuck b.: I told myself the first response will be the one I will follow, so if this is a success then I have you to thank!
ReplyDeletejoan: you are correct. too little info. you know me -- more wil follow.
sarah k: you'll find out. hints to come.
ookami snow: I'm not handy, but I can boss others. I'm meeting with a construction guy tomorrow.
tom b.: hmm...I'll check on ceiling heights tomorrow.
Geez...if it's not a success, may I be excused?
ReplyDelete