Well, it’s official. We now have so many workers here that we’ve become a regular stop for the roach coach.

We were told the previous owner couldn’t see well. (Maybe that had something to all the crappy quality “repairs” around the house?) She also had pets, bad mix. We found cat food everywhere. On the old washing machine, the dryer, the kitchen floor, behind appliances, you name it. This, of course, attracted cockroaches. Now we had new pets.

Actually, the first night Rachel and I came over (after the house purchase was official) we walked into the kitchen and turned on the light. Scary! There were roaches everywhere! Not only that, but a northern alligator lizard had moved in and taken up residence under the refrigerator. He would come out at night and eat all the cockroaches. Yes, it was that bad.

I don’t do roaches, I don’t live in New York, I’m not used to them, and I certainly don’t want them anywhere near my kitchen. And so started the unbelievable job of cleaning up after the previous owner.

I called Stanley Pest Control today, had them come out and set up a schedule to spray every three weeks. I caught the lizard (we named him Garibaldi) and set him loose outside. I moved the refrigerator out and the smell coming from back there was horrible. I tore out all the drywall back there, had them spray in the walls, and then cleaned.

We won’t be making any food in here for weeks, and we’re now saving for a new washer, dryer and dishwasher. Take out here we come.

I could be wrong but I think asbestos is bad for you. Let me check… Yep. It’s bad.

Turns out all the wrapping on the heater ducts in the cellar is asbestos. Not only that but it’s torn so bad in places that the previous owner was actually using a wicker basket to catch all the asbestos pieces. Brilliant.

Today we had P.W. Stephens come out, remove all of the asbestos and ducts, seal the heater vents and take air tests to make sure we’re clean. We are. Amen.