What you've been waiting for:
Now just imagine the trim a nice picket fence white (no really that's what it's called, thanks Martha!). Besides being able to walk on the floors (and thus use the bathroom) other exciting things were happening around the house today. 
On the outside a big load of shrubbery and a big tree were taken out (thanks Brent and Bill!). Now I don't have anything against trees, I love them, I just don't like it when their roots are growing into my foundation. Besides I am going to poor a new long porch next year, the whole length of the brick. I used a photomerge for that picture, my house isn't really falling apart. Here are some comments I got from the neighbors:
"Do you have something against trees? Did you fall out of one when you were little or something?"
(that was Adam, joking)
"Whoa that's drastic."
"Can I borrow your chainsaw?"
And on the back side: Pre-staining one side of the fence (Bj and Bill did this) because it will be impossible to get to once up (we're not taking down Morris's fence). And were is this going to go?
A combination of efforts between Sciarrino, Bj and I, along with some chainsaw work by my dad and Bill. I know I'm going to keep my eye on that ivy like crazy, but that's all I can do as my neighbor likes it. When it starts growing between the fences I'm going to spray the crap out of it.
Also in the back Sciarrino sands the drawers for the kitchen. Maybe now they will open and close. And we are so NOT painting the sides of these suckers for that very reason. Speaking of the kitchen:
Oh ya, my mom's been busy. Doesn't this look a million times cleaner and brighter and nicer. I think it does, I love, love, love it. Still have to paint around the window, and get the back splash (someday project: recycled beach glass tiles back there). Going back out to the garage:
Karen helping out. We took all the remaining hardware off the doors/cupboards/drawers and got to work stripping. Now some say I'm anal to do this. I don't care. This will make the whole house look clean and fresh. And when I clean up those glass knobs they will really pop.
In the basement you see my dad appreciating the Bud Light I have stocked in the fridge. Quite a transformation down here. They ripped out every last gross board. Started framing up the new wall, replaced all the beams, and added a three foot wide door into my storage room (behind my dad, the door is around the corner to the right of the stairs). I love that they took that wall off behind my dad, it totally opens up the corner. I've decided to leave that and just put a railing in it's place. My neighbor Tracy loved the difference. She said she and an old renter use to joke about which weird room in the basement had a body in it. Ew, we didn't find a body, but we did find the remains of something else:
Fire! This had been covered a long time ago, and could be the reason the ceilings are taking so many coats to paint nicely. That's the worst part above, and no structural damage thank goodness. 
Dave the carpenter says, "Those posts aren't going anywhere." And he's right. They were sitting on little bits of concrete, but they sledgehammered that out while the house was jacked up (not as risky as it sounds I found out). Then this plate is bolted into the concrete floor, a little lift is put in (to keep the beam from sitting directly on the concrete and thus avoiding moisture problems in the future) and then it's bolted to the beam. It's also bolted to the big beam at the top. I think this looks way better too (added bonus!).
So what now? Oh just a million little things. Before the carpenter comes back next weekend the electrician needs to come. But before he can come I have to dryloc the walls (so the conduits don't sit on a moisture trap), and before I can do that I have to patch them, before that muratic acid them, and before that wire brush them. So I start with the wire brushing tomorrow. In great news Sciarrino volunteered to power wash the exterior of my house. Um, gee, I don't know, YES PLEASE! So things are coming along, and I feel good about everything. My budget is staying on track thanks to all these wonderful helpers. I LOVE YOU GUYS!