We gots them.
And they look fabulous.
Tile work will be done tomorrow and Wednesday. I'll post pictures of the kitchen then because right now, there is plastic covering all the counters. The final plumbing work and miscellaneous other little things will be done on Thursday.
And Saturday, I'm going to spend the day doing some much-needed housecleaning.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Remodel: Weekend Edition
Aside from the fact that the furniture is still dishelved and there are no pretties in the living room (and I really, really need to dust), the living room is complete. And if I weren't feeling incredibly lazy this Sunday afternoon, I would trek upstairs to find the camera to prove this fact. I do love the non-windows and really wish we'd done this when we built the abode.
And I'm blaming my mom for this next part because she was the one who questioned the counters being installed on Friday. I blindly believed we would. But, alas, we still don't have countertips in the kitchen. As a result, we have no sink or dishwasher although Paul was trying to figure out how to run the dishwasher yesterday despite it not being hooked up to any water. He called me at Donna's to find out what was going on. Good times. I did speak with the contractor briefly on Friday--Paul insisted I call to let the contractor know that we wouldn't need him to change the battery in the smoke detector that is on our living room ceiling some 22 feet up even though Paul was in ABQ and I was in Grapevine at the time and Paul was the one who even brought it up to the contractor. It just made more sense. Or something. So here's hoping for Monday so the tile can be installed on Tuesday and Wednesday and we can reclaim our house by next Thursday. But I'd even give him until Friday. I'm not terribly picky. I just want my little routine back. That would be very nice indeed.
I had a lovely visit with Donna this weekend and it's always so nice to see all my friends in the D/FW area. I'm truly fortunate and blessed to have all these wonderful people in my life. I just wish we were a little closer to each other so they could be in my life a bit more.
It's back to work tomorrow after a much-needed Spring Break. We have seven or eight weeks left when we return--I know we are out before Memorial Day. I think the last day of school is May 22. I'm sure I'll soon have the date seared in my memory. But as it stands, I'm attending the the NMLA conference in Las Cruces April 9-11, have a professional development day on April 15, a training on YA literature on April 23, and am taking a personal day on May 6 . I might have to find something to do the last week of April. I think I feel a cold coming on. . .
And I'm blaming my mom for this next part because she was the one who questioned the counters being installed on Friday. I blindly believed we would. But, alas, we still don't have countertips in the kitchen. As a result, we have no sink or dishwasher although Paul was trying to figure out how to run the dishwasher yesterday despite it not being hooked up to any water. He called me at Donna's to find out what was going on. Good times. I did speak with the contractor briefly on Friday--Paul insisted I call to let the contractor know that we wouldn't need him to change the battery in the smoke detector that is on our living room ceiling some 22 feet up even though Paul was in ABQ and I was in Grapevine at the time and Paul was the one who even brought it up to the contractor. It just made more sense. Or something. So here's hoping for Monday so the tile can be installed on Tuesday and Wednesday and we can reclaim our house by next Thursday. But I'd even give him until Friday. I'm not terribly picky. I just want my little routine back. That would be very nice indeed.
I had a lovely visit with Donna this weekend and it's always so nice to see all my friends in the D/FW area. I'm truly fortunate and blessed to have all these wonderful people in my life. I just wish we were a little closer to each other so they could be in my life a bit more.
It's back to work tomorrow after a much-needed Spring Break. We have seven or eight weeks left when we return--I know we are out before Memorial Day. I think the last day of school is May 22. I'm sure I'll soon have the date seared in my memory. But as it stands, I'm attending the the NMLA conference in Las Cruces April 9-11, have a professional development day on April 15, a training on YA literature on April 23, and am taking a personal day on May 6 . I might have to find something to do the last week of April. I think I feel a cold coming on. . .
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Remodel Day 4: Drywall
A little bit of progress to report on today. Yesterday around noon, a man with the stucco company showed up to get that process started. He put up the tar paper and the wire--lots of banging involved there. I thought he would get the primer coat of stucco on but no such luck. Eh, well. At least this is outside and not terribly disruptive to my life. It could stay like this for months and it wouldn't bother me. The HOA, on the other hand. . .
This morning, a man came to do the finish work on the inside where the windows previously resided. That took most of the moring to complete. I'm so happy with the way the wall now looks. Tomorrow, the contractor will be back to prime and paint the wall so at least this portion will be finished.
As for the countertops, I have a good feeling that the countertop company better get on the ball and get them in or they might lose some future work with the remodeling company. According to our contractor, the company rep is pretty hot over the fact that we've had to wait at all for the countertops since they came out for a measurement over two weeks ago. I'm trying to take it all in stride--although it would be nice to be able to use the dishwasher again. We've run out of spoons and have moved on to paper plates. I think I might break down and do some dishes in the bathroom sink.
I won't see our contractor again until Tuesday morning because I'm leaving town this evening to visit Donna over the weekend and they have Monday morning meetings and don't arrive at the jobsite until around 8:30. As much as I would love to prolong my Spring Break by that hour, I don't think I can get away with it. The contractor and I went over the plan for the tile, working out some of the finish details of the tile and where to put the sink faucet. Paul could answer these questions but doesn't want to be responsible. He already told the contractor that I was the first person to call tomorrow even though I'll be in Ft. Worth.
And a few more pictures of my poor mistreated cat. This chair in our bedroom has been claimed by Jubjub as his usual napping spot during the day. However, because I've been hanging out in the bedroom this week, I've reclaimed the chair for my own use. Apparently, that does not deter my cat from at least trying to use it for his own purposes:
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Remodel Day 3: The Jubjub Interlude
There is a term the remodeling company uses for the stage homeowners arrive at during the remodeling process when it all comes down to "I want you people out of my house NOW." They call it remodeling fever. It occurs when you're just sick and tired of the workers, of the mess, of the drop cloths and thick plastic curtains, of being displaced from your normal routine, of breakfast being interrupted every morning at 7:30, pretty much done with the whole of it. During our previous remodel, my breaking point came over our garden hose. It was about a month into the process, which thankfully lasted only about 7 weeks. The roofers used our hose and it ended up with tar all over it. I couldn't get the spray nozzle off which was fine because they had broken the spray nozzle in the process of using it. I remember the builder VERY CALMLY speaking to the crazy woman in front of him who was carrying on and on and on about a spray nozzle that cost under $5 at Target. It was a fine example of remodeling fever and one that I'm trying not to recreate in this two-week, I brought it on myself, project.
Jub, however. I think he's at his breaking point. Two days of banishment and confinement to our bedroom (even though he normally spends most days in here) has been quite enough, thank you very much. The plastic, the drop clothes, the everything--he's D-O-N-E with it all. He's been doing the hairball-warning meow all morning so I've been following him to catch said hairball (even though there is plastic every where downstairs that isn't tile--force of habit I suppose). He spent much of the last hour and a half squawking at me, even though no one has yet to show up this morning. Now, he is hanging out by his BFF, the humidifier in our bedroom, still voicing his displeasure but taking solace in the one thing he loves unconditionally.
We have yet to determine why Jub has a crush on the humidifier. From the time we get it out in the fall until we put it away in the spring, he is right there beside it, a sentry standing guard over Holmes Model HM2408-UC. He knows the nightly refill routine and waits for Paul to take the tank to be refilled, loping beside him as Paul walks the bathroom then running back to get a little water from the reservoir before Paul comes back. We don't try to explain, we simply accept.
We call this "The Sniff" because Jub is, well, sniffing. We don't know if he likes to feel the breeze through his whiskers, if he's loving the extra moisture, or what it is but Jub is often found doing "The Sniff."
I think the carpet is permanently flattened in this spot. We've debated if it's the vibrations on the ground, the steady hum of the fan, or what it could be but even if the humidifier isn't running, Jub is still beside it. He isn't quite as interested in the larger humidifier we have downstairs although we have found him sitting on it doing The Sniff. Basically, this just confirms what we already knew--our cat is a simpleton.
Day Three update: Shortly after I was initially posted this, the contractor called. No countertops until Friday which is rotten because I won't be home until Sunday. This leaves Paul in charge of all decisions which means I'll probably get lots of phone calls and text messages. Thank goodness for picture messages. No word on the stucco guys, yet. I think I'll join Jub by the humidifier.
Jub, however. I think he's at his breaking point. Two days of banishment and confinement to our bedroom (even though he normally spends most days in here) has been quite enough, thank you very much. The plastic, the drop clothes, the everything--he's D-O-N-E with it all. He's been doing the hairball-warning meow all morning so I've been following him to catch said hairball (even though there is plastic every where downstairs that isn't tile--force of habit I suppose). He spent much of the last hour and a half squawking at me, even though no one has yet to show up this morning. Now, he is hanging out by his BFF, the humidifier in our bedroom, still voicing his displeasure but taking solace in the one thing he loves unconditionally.
We have yet to determine why Jub has a crush on the humidifier. From the time we get it out in the fall until we put it away in the spring, he is right there beside it, a sentry standing guard over Holmes Model HM2408-UC. He knows the nightly refill routine and waits for Paul to take the tank to be refilled, loping beside him as Paul walks the bathroom then running back to get a little water from the reservoir before Paul comes back. We don't try to explain, we simply accept.
We call this "The Sniff" because Jub is, well, sniffing. We don't know if he likes to feel the breeze through his whiskers, if he's loving the extra moisture, or what it is but Jub is often found doing "The Sniff."
I think the carpet is permanently flattened in this spot. We've debated if it's the vibrations on the ground, the steady hum of the fan, or what it could be but even if the humidifier isn't running, Jub is still beside it. He isn't quite as interested in the larger humidifier we have downstairs although we have found him sitting on it doing The Sniff. Basically, this just confirms what we already knew--our cat is a simpleton.Day Three update: Shortly after I was initially posted this, the contractor called. No countertops until Friday which is rotten because I won't be home until Sunday. This leaves Paul in charge of all decisions which means I'll probably get lots of phone calls and text messages. Thank goodness for picture messages. No word on the stucco guys, yet. I think I'll join Jub by the humidifier.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Remodel Day 2: Not Much
After all the excitement yesterday, today was pretty slow around these parts.
No stucco guys.
No countertop guys.
The contractor was able to do a few smaller things--get the plumbing ready, put the insulation and dry wall on the window holes, redo a wonky electrical box. He also ran errands to pick up paint and tile and was able to knock off a bit early which was great since today is his birthday (I didn't know or I would have gotten him a cupcake).
Tomorrow with either be super-busy if both countertop and stucco guys show up, moderately busy if one or the other show up, or we'll just be staring at drop clothes all day with nothing being accomplished. Here's hoping for super-busy.
In the name of staying out of the way, I spent the afternoon in the yard getting it cleaned up and ready for spring. I can't decide if my face is still red because I got hot or because I got a little sun. I'm saying overheated. Future diversionary tactics include a pedicure, possibly a nap, and catching up on the pile of Netflix movies I've acquired. Oh, and leaving town on Thursday evening.
No stucco guys.
No countertop guys.
The contractor was able to do a few smaller things--get the plumbing ready, put the insulation and dry wall on the window holes, redo a wonky electrical box. He also ran errands to pick up paint and tile and was able to knock off a bit early which was great since today is his birthday (I didn't know or I would have gotten him a cupcake).
Tomorrow with either be super-busy if both countertop and stucco guys show up, moderately busy if one or the other show up, or we'll just be staring at drop clothes all day with nothing being accomplished. Here's hoping for super-busy.
In the name of staying out of the way, I spent the afternoon in the yard getting it cleaned up and ready for spring. I can't decide if my face is still red because I got hot or because I got a little sun. I'm saying overheated. Future diversionary tactics include a pedicure, possibly a nap, and catching up on the pile of Netflix movies I've acquired. Oh, and leaving town on Thursday evening.
Day One pictures
OK, I found the cables and the camera. Most of this won't make sense if you're not standing in the middle of the mess. It reminds me of all the pictures we took when our house was under construction--I know what it is I'm looking at. Paul might even have an idea. The rest of the world--not so much. Although, when we did our remodel two years ago, the contractor was actually quite pleased with the whole mess of pictures as it gave him a better idea as to some construction things and placement of beams, etc. He was probably the only person who was happy to see that album be brought out.
Looking at the sink and the backside of the bar. They had to put in new supports for the bar top (those will be tiled over) and notch out portions of the sides of the cabinet fo the new sink. On either side of the sink (between the sink and the dishwasher and the sink and the outside edge) was hollow. Paul was trying to figure out how to create new "hidey-holes" there. I made him just walk away from that scheme.
No countertops = very easy to get silverware and utensils. When the contractor pulled out the junk drawer (not pictured thank goodness), he laughed and asked if I could fit anything else in there. Why yes, yes I can. What's great about that drawer is when they came for the final pre-construction meeting on Friday, none of the three reps for the contractor had a tape measure. I opened that drawer and in 0.2 seconds had produced a tape measure for them.
Makeshift countertop for making breakfast this morning. I am taking most of my meals in my room currently. Which sounds better than "Nothing like a hamburger scarfed down in the bedroom."
So this really won't make sense if you aren't standing in the kitchen but this is looking behind the sink cabinet between the bar and the back of the cabinet. When we built the house almost 8 years ago (we broke ground on March 2, 2000), Paul and I both commented when this portion was being constructed that it didn't seem "right." We were both pooh-poohed and told that it was fine. We're assuming the electrical inspector didn't see the exposed wires (just above the pipes in the photo) when he stopped by. Either the builder did end up having to make changes because it wasn't correct and the wires were left hanging or we were right and it wasn't correct when it was constructed and the wires were left hanging. Either way, this isn't quite kosher. But we're just going to cover it back up and pretend we haven't seen it.
No more silly windows in the living room. We all agreed that it would probably be easier to cover the decorative hoo-ha over the mantle than try to take it down. The wall is painted red and then I made the frame and hung the decorative grate, which weighs in at a cool 40 lbs. It's screwed to the wall with four big old screws. It took some acrobatics to get it up and I wasn't looking forward to trying it again. (Basically, I told Paul to not watch as I stood with one foot on the ladder and one on the TV to hang the frame--OSHA, smosha)
The current state of the living room. I had to move the drop cloth on the recliner and the television so I could watch last night's Dancing with the Stars. Hey, I'm on Spring Break and have no shame about watching junky television (not that I have any shame about watching it when I'm not on Spring Break). I'm just a little bummed that I didn't stay up later and watch the season premiere of The Hills.
No more windows, as seen from outside. Hopefully the lath and stucco will be up before the end of the week. Here's hoping for warmer weather this week. . .
The second goofy-now-nonexistant window. Honestly, these windows just made no sense and I wish I'd said something 8 years ago. Live and learn.
Looking at the sink and the backside of the bar. They had to put in new supports for the bar top (those will be tiled over) and notch out portions of the sides of the cabinet fo the new sink. On either side of the sink (between the sink and the dishwasher and the sink and the outside edge) was hollow. Paul was trying to figure out how to create new "hidey-holes" there. I made him just walk away from that scheme.
No countertops = very easy to get silverware and utensils. When the contractor pulled out the junk drawer (not pictured thank goodness), he laughed and asked if I could fit anything else in there. Why yes, yes I can. What's great about that drawer is when they came for the final pre-construction meeting on Friday, none of the three reps for the contractor had a tape measure. I opened that drawer and in 0.2 seconds had produced a tape measure for them.
Makeshift countertop for making breakfast this morning. I am taking most of my meals in my room currently. Which sounds better than "Nothing like a hamburger scarfed down in the bedroom."
So this really won't make sense if you aren't standing in the kitchen but this is looking behind the sink cabinet between the bar and the back of the cabinet. When we built the house almost 8 years ago (we broke ground on March 2, 2000), Paul and I both commented when this portion was being constructed that it didn't seem "right." We were both pooh-poohed and told that it was fine. We're assuming the electrical inspector didn't see the exposed wires (just above the pipes in the photo) when he stopped by. Either the builder did end up having to make changes because it wasn't correct and the wires were left hanging or we were right and it wasn't correct when it was constructed and the wires were left hanging. Either way, this isn't quite kosher. But we're just going to cover it back up and pretend we haven't seen it.
No more silly windows in the living room. We all agreed that it would probably be easier to cover the decorative hoo-ha over the mantle than try to take it down. The wall is painted red and then I made the frame and hung the decorative grate, which weighs in at a cool 40 lbs. It's screwed to the wall with four big old screws. It took some acrobatics to get it up and I wasn't looking forward to trying it again. (Basically, I told Paul to not watch as I stood with one foot on the ladder and one on the TV to hang the frame--OSHA, smosha)
The current state of the living room. I had to move the drop cloth on the recliner and the television so I could watch last night's Dancing with the Stars. Hey, I'm on Spring Break and have no shame about watching junky television (not that I have any shame about watching it when I'm not on Spring Break). I'm just a little bummed that I didn't stay up later and watch the season premiere of The Hills.
No more windows, as seen from outside. Hopefully the lath and stucco will be up before the end of the week. Here's hoping for warmer weather this week. . .
The second goofy-now-nonexistant window. Honestly, these windows just made no sense and I wish I'd said something 8 years ago. Live and learn.Monday, March 24, 2008
Remodel Day 1: The Beginning
1. The cat and all his accoutrements have been moved into our bedroom. Not so sure how the litter box five feet from the bed is going to work out. Thankfully, this remodel projects should only last about 10 days.
2. We have no countertops. Or sink. Not sure when the new countertops will be installed--the counter guys said it would be Wednesday. Or Tuesday. Or Thursday. Hopefully one of those days. Thankfully, we do still have access to the refrigerator and the stove, which is being used as a make-shift countertop in the interim.
3. The windows are no more. Of course, there is no wall there, just the framing. But I love the way the light in my living room comes in now--it's softer.
The house is a mess. There are drop clothes everywhere, plastic covering the carpet, a fine haze of dust covering everything downstairs, including the cat. It's a maze to get in the guest room where all the kitchen stuff is hiding. To find the menu to order Dion's tonight, I had to slip between the foot of the bed and the side chair, step over the magazine basket, move a picture and dig through the sack containing the phone message center where we keep take-out menus. I would post pictures of all this madness but I'm not sure where the camera cable ended up. As soon as I find it, and the camera, I'll share the joy of home remodeling with everyone.
2. We have no countertops. Or sink. Not sure when the new countertops will be installed--the counter guys said it would be Wednesday. Or Tuesday. Or Thursday. Hopefully one of those days. Thankfully, we do still have access to the refrigerator and the stove, which is being used as a make-shift countertop in the interim.
3. The windows are no more. Of course, there is no wall there, just the framing. But I love the way the light in my living room comes in now--it's softer.
The house is a mess. There are drop clothes everywhere, plastic covering the carpet, a fine haze of dust covering everything downstairs, including the cat. It's a maze to get in the guest room where all the kitchen stuff is hiding. To find the menu to order Dion's tonight, I had to slip between the foot of the bed and the side chair, step over the magazine basket, move a picture and dig through the sack containing the phone message center where we keep take-out menus. I would post pictures of all this madness but I'm not sure where the camera cable ended up. As soon as I find it, and the camera, I'll share the joy of home remodeling with everyone.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Finally getting around to that resolution from 2006
We had another round of Secret Pals at school that ended with the big breakfast and final gift-giving this morning. Even though I'm in charge of organizing this, I honestly had no idea who had my name. I have another person helping me who assigns my name and even though we keep a master list, I put it away and don't look at it so I can't see who's name is blank. And thankfully, I have the attention span of a gnat so I usually forget who is even participating.
The info sheet contains all the usual questions--favorite color, music, general interests. I received all kinds of neat things from my secret pal during the past month--a Starbucks Chai Latte one afternoon, peanut M&M's and a People magazine during testing, a small bouquet of gerbera daisies, more chocolate. On the bottom is the question "Anything else?" I'd written that I keep thinking I should learn to knit. As soon as I saw my final gift I knew exactly who had been my secret pal. My final gift was nice knitting needles, a skein of yarn, and a note that if I wasn't joking, she'll teach me how to knit and already knows what she's going to assign as my first project. There wasn't time to start today but when we get back to school after Spring Break, I'm going to have my knitting lessons.
I can hardly wait.
And speaking of work, here is a little glimpse into my office. Here are the pictures I have on my desk:
This picture of Paul was taken when we were on a cruise in 2004. This was his best attempt to look like a goofy tourist. I think he succeeded.
This picture of a teeny Jub was taken shortly after I got him. He still has blue eyes here--according to the vet, Jub was probably only a month old when I got him. I'm not sure what the thing directly behind him was but for comparison, the pillow is 12" square.
This is a picture from the ones we had taken last October. We gave this print to our siblings and as wallets. I normally dislike profile pictures of me but I liked that Paul's laughing and I like our hands so those trumped my self-consciousness about my nose. and this one made the cut.
The info sheet contains all the usual questions--favorite color, music, general interests. I received all kinds of neat things from my secret pal during the past month--a Starbucks Chai Latte one afternoon, peanut M&M's and a People magazine during testing, a small bouquet of gerbera daisies, more chocolate. On the bottom is the question "Anything else?" I'd written that I keep thinking I should learn to knit. As soon as I saw my final gift I knew exactly who had been my secret pal. My final gift was nice knitting needles, a skein of yarn, and a note that if I wasn't joking, she'll teach me how to knit and already knows what she's going to assign as my first project. There wasn't time to start today but when we get back to school after Spring Break, I'm going to have my knitting lessons.
I can hardly wait.
And speaking of work, here is a little glimpse into my office. Here are the pictures I have on my desk:
This picture of Paul was taken when we were on a cruise in 2004. This was his best attempt to look like a goofy tourist. I think he succeeded.
This picture of a teeny Jub was taken shortly after I got him. He still has blue eyes here--according to the vet, Jub was probably only a month old when I got him. I'm not sure what the thing directly behind him was but for comparison, the pillow is 12" square.
This is a picture from the ones we had taken last October. We gave this print to our siblings and as wallets. I normally dislike profile pictures of me but I liked that Paul's laughing and I like our hands so those trumped my self-consciousness about my nose. and this one made the cut.
Saturday, March 1, 2008
For comparison (in response to Dad's comment)--it's LOLDad
I can has Jamaican hot pocket
And your loan is still not approved.
(Sorry, Dad--this was the only unsmiling picture we could find of you and Paul said I had to use a nonsmiling picture to compare with the kitty picture. In all the rest of the pics I have of you, you look all cute and cuddly and like you might just give us money.)
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