Weekend Shenanigans

We had a little setback this weekend. Greg's car quit working at some point on Thursday - Thanksgiving, of all days! He went to the store in the morning, and we used my car to go to the movies... so it came as a total surprise when he tried to go to work on Friday and the car wouldn't start. So instead of working on the remodel project on Saturday, he spent the day (with help from Todd - thanks, Todd!) working on the car. And then he spent Sunday morning getting the car towed to the dealership (thanks, Aaron & James!). I'll be taking him to work for the next few days, and he'll be at the mercy of co-workers or friends for a ride home in the afternoons (or buses or cabs).

The good news is that it should be fixable. The bad news is that this is unplanned time and money spent on the car instead of the house. Ah, well. It's not like we were thinking it'd be done this weekend anyway.

The goal for this weekend: finish moving the power to its new location, move the floor vent for the kitchen, and redirect the downstairs bathroom vent (the black PVC tube that's sticking up through what is now almost the middle of the living room). Because of the whole car-thing, they (Greg & James - thanks again, James!!) didn't get as much done as Greg had initially planned. Two more "powers" to move - one is actually a light switch, and the other a plug; and moving the vent to the downstairs bathroom.

But there's been progress. And we're a little closer to being able to frame in the new walls. I am definitely looking forward to having the new walls in place - at least so we can temporarily move the counters back into the kitchen... Stay tuned for the details of our progress for next weekend! =)

Giving Thanks

It was a low-key day for us today. Didn't go visiting, didn't have company. I slept in. Greg did all the cooking - pies last night, breakfast, and later the stuffing filled turkey breast with some traditional sides. We watched some of the Macy's day parade, played Wii RockBand, and went to see a movie. I feel a little recharged - glad there's only Friday (should be a busy, but easy day) then the weekend. Next week is going to be a crazy one, so I'm glad I will have had some time to rest and get ready.

In the spirit of the day, I assigned myself a task to detail 5 things I'm thankful for and why. Here goes:

1. Greg. He brought me flowers yesterday, and did all the cooking today. Such simple things mean the world to me right now. They should mean the same always, but that's just not my reality. Right now, I'm stressed and prone to over-reaction. He's taking it in stride and above that, doing what he can to help me detox and be ready for more - which I need, more than I can say. He's a big support, and he does a pretty fine job of putting me back together when I fall apart. He believes I can do so much more than I believe I can, so sometimes I borrow some of that mojo and find out that I can do more than I thought. He's enthusiastic about life in general and new adventures in particular (my polar opposite, in that regard).

2. Family. The only thing that could have induced me to be social today would have been having any of my siblings around, particularly my sisters. I did get to talk to some of my family - it's hard to talk to everyone when that entails 4-6 different phone calls - and I thought of each of them. Sheri cooked, and Sara & Jeannea joined her; Dave & Mom spent the day together; Aaron, Mari, & baby Amy were together; I hope M was able to spend some time with family. It's comforting to think of them, even though it seems as if we're worlds (and small fortunes) apart.

3. Friends. Although I haven't been doing much in the way of visiting lately, I am thankful for the friends I have. They're smart, funny, caring people - each of them different by turn - and my life is better for having known them. They make me laugh; they give me strength; they listen to me vent; they offer advice but don't loathe me if I don't take it; they help me navigate the insanities of being alive.

4. Job. I do have a decent job. I've got medical benefits, some retirement, and it's relatively secure. Sure, it's super-stressful right now, and this next few weeks I may only get to see my husband as he's getting ready for work in the morning, or in the dark as he yelps when I put my iceblock feet against his hotter-than-the-furnaces-in-Hell legs. (I honestly don't know how he can use the same blankets as me and end up practically melting everything that directly touches him, and yet I can lay for hours waiting for the electric blanket - on the highest setting, and only on *my* side of the bed, since I don't want him to spontaneously burst into flames - to thaw through the invisible ice that's apparently crusted 'round my various extremities.) But I don't have to worry about how we're going to pay the bills and finding a new job in this tough economy. I'm grateful for the job I have right now.

5. Cheese (and bacon). I haven't had a cheese that I don't like yet. And we've tried lots of different varieties. Now, it's true that I'm not as fond of the cheeses with fruit in them (like that one with blueberries we had a while ago), but it was still good. I really like the one we had today - some form of white cheddar with crushed black pepper marbled throughout. Cheese on pizza, bleu cheese dressing, microwave nachos after a long day at work... Mmmm, cheese... and we all know that bacon makes everything better, so how could I leave that out?!?

I hope your day was filled with love & laughter, and you continue to have many, many things to be thankful for. Happy Thanksgiving!

The Remodel Continues...

In order to move the walls, we have to move the power. In order to move the power, the carpet has to come up and we've got to cut into the "floor" (subfloor?) to route the wires to their new homes.

Did you know that when you take up carpet that's been down for a long time, it's almost like you've got your own sandbox underneath? I was amazed at how much sandy grit was underneath the pad. If it weren't so difficult to lay & pull carpet, I'd recommend changing it every other year or so (especially for those with allergies), or just get wood/laminate flooring. Oh yeah. We're working on that. =)

James was over to help this weekend - THANKS, JAMES!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - and blessed our remodel job with First Blood. Turns out, when you're on a ladder underneath the remains of the stud wall, those nails that're still there can be pokey. And draw blood. Thanks for the sacrifice (and again for the help!), James. I'm sure it will all go better because of you. =)

It also turns out that there's not all that much between the floor you're walking on and the room below. Basically, it's that layer of plywood, sitting on wood beams that have sheetrock tacked to the bottom side of them (which then becomes the ceiling of the room below). That's it. Since I'm rather clumsy, I could picture myself - all too well - stumbling, accidentally stepping into one of the holes in the floor, and ending up in the bedroom (or the garage). I'd either hit the bed - after rebounding off the headboard - or land on top of the freezer. Neither is appealing, so I stayed away from the holes.

And you should pay special attention here: When your husband cuts plywood in the kitchen (for any purpose really, but in this case to cover the gaping holes in the non-floor so I don't go crashing through to the freezer below), any dishes on the counter will need to be washed again. Or you'll have to realize that you're getting some extra fiber when you use them. Our silverware is on the countertop (that will be rectified with the new cabinetry - practically the end of the project). I've opted to get some extra fiber - or if it just looks too chunky for me, I'll wipe it off (probably on my shirt) before I use it. Looks like it's a good thing we're not doing any more entertaining until this whole deal is done, right?

And here's me sitting in the office (paying bills - bleh!). It's a contrast in styles (to say the least!) to see the still-carpeted. "normal" portion where I'm at, and the construction zone not one foot away. It'll probably be like that for most of the winter. But it'll be *great* when it's done... It'll be great when it's done!!

Remodel - Phase I (Flooring): Stud Removal

The goal for this weekend was two-fold: clean up the rest of the Halloween decorations, and remove the studs from the kitchen/office wall. We moved the cabinets from that wall (again) - they're sitting in the living room now. In order to take the uppers down, we had to empty them out. So all the dishes are currently in stacks on the table. At least they're organized (somewhat) and easily accessible. We're not planning on doing any more entertaining until the remodel is done so as long as we can get to everything, I don't suppose it matters much where it is.

Greg did all the stud removal. I helped with cleanup - getting the boards moved outside, picking up nails, and vacuuming. It didn't take as long as I anticipated. In fact, Greg intended to do more, but the weekend kind of got away from us. He'll probably be doing more during the week, but most of my participation is relegated to weekends.

I think the next part involves moving the power - I banged my head on the light switch a couple times as I was picking up debris. Now that there's no wall, the power's in an awkward spot. Moving power involves tearing up more things. The floor for one, and maybe some of the ceiling too. Once the power's in its new home, it'll be time to re-frame the walls in the new layout.

Side note: I thought that by starting with the flooring, we'd be breaking the overall project into smaller, more manageable chunks. Turns out, the flooring is the last thing you lay down before finishing a room. It makes sense, now that Greg's explained it to me, but I hadn't thought of it that way before. Got to put the wall(s) in, sheetrock, texture, paint, and *then* lay the floor. Otherwise, the floor goes in early then you spend lots of time trying to keep the new floor nice while you're doing the dirty work for other parts of the room. So by the time we get the flooring laid, practically the only part of the remodel left will be the cabinets. Huh.

Life Lesson #76: How to Care for Your Monster

Things are crazy around here. I suppose they're normally crazy, but it seems it's even more so right now. I'm spending long hours at work for a large project that's under my care. It should be done before Christmas, but that's still seven weeks away. So Greg has to put up with me being late getting home (a couple nights so far it's been after 10pm), sometimes working on weekends, and the remodel is going to eat up the rest of the free time.

My "down-time" normally consists of sleeping, reading, or playing on the computer - very low-key. On the flipside, Greg is normally enthused about being busy. And as long as it's not work, it seems that the other stuff gives him enough of an outlet that he's recharged and ready come Monday morning. Whether it's remodeling, hiking, photo shoots, geocaching, or board meetings, it doesn't seem to matter. He can cram all those things into the after hours or weekend time (sometimes all in one week), and be ready for the coming week. I, on the other hand, seem to need the opposite - to hole up by myself and focus on some kind of mental escape.

Remodeling doesn't really fall into any of my relaxation categories, and so doesn't allow me to recharge for the coming week. But I feel guilty leaving all that work to Greg, so I'll have to figure out a way to get it all done. I just have to last through Christmas, then one of the big projects is done (work), and I'll have more time to relax even with the remodel continuing.

Greg has been a champ so far. He watched me melt down today. Slowly at first, and then faster & faster until I was just a red, teary-eyed monster with fuzzy hair. Then he helped me put myself back together so I have a semblance of sanity. I think I'll have to get him this book:

(I found the book cover image and a cool write-up here. Didn't realize the author of the book - Norman Bridwell - also wrote the series for Clifford the Big Red Dog.)

Putting me back together apparently includes lots of hugs; a shoulder to cry on; tissues to blow my nose; a nap; and some chocolate peanutbutter ice cream with a brownie. I think I will be ready for Monday... =)

Halloween Madness

Halloween was quite the event this year. We spent most of the day prepping - plenty of cleaning and cooking to do, as well as the decorating. (Special thanks to James, who came over early in the afternoon to help with everything, and Todd & Anita, who brought extra decorations and provided all the pictures for this blog!)

It's always fun to see what people come up with for costumes. Unfortunately for me, I can never think of anything clever. Last year, I had to use the grab bag for my costume. (We encourage guests to come dressed for the event, but provide a bag of items in case you're Imagination Challenged, like me.)

Decorating was especially fun, as we used the bare studs and raw framework from the remodel efforts to enhance the atmosphere. Had to keep the cats from trying to eat the fake spiderwebs. =) But, man! All the extra room from removing the fireplace was especially apparent. Much better people flow, and no bottleneck at the food. Yay!

Greg's costume took him almost 30 minutes to do - and was a surprise to even me. He looked like some zombied, strung-out member of an off-Kiss band. Definitely a great costume, but I'm glad it was a wig & paint... My costume was a hat with green & white braids and a tye-dyed t-shirt. Simple, easy to put together, but not very creative. Greg, on the other hand, made at least two trick-or-treaters cry when he answered the door and intoned "braaaaiinnnnssss"...

Every year, I think that next year I'll get the decorations out early, so I can actually enjoy them for more than a few hours. We have bats, a graveyard, and spiderwebs for the yard and walkway, as well as some lighted window decorations too. Even if we didn't do the inside decorations, the rest would be nice to have out for a couple weeks. Maybe next year...

We recently invested in RockBand Beatles for the Wii and brought it out for the party. Had lots of fun playing it with my family last Christmas, and I was excited for this one since I already know lots of the songs. Granted, I apparently have absolutely no coordination or rhythm (I scored 19% on guitar for one of the easy songs - *lots* of room for improvement!), but it was a blast and I do fine as a backup singer.

All-in-all, it was a successful event. Plenty of food and beverage for all, a few slightly terrified kiddies (mollified with several extra handfuls of candy), and bloodshed (but only Greg's - side-note: a footrace backwards in the middle of a cold night when you're three sheets to the wind isn't the greatest idea, as it can lead to a nasty bump on the head, some bleeding, and a bit of road rash...).

Remodel - Phase I (Flooring): Removing the Stove

Day Two of demolition this weekend is to do a little more wall work and take out the fireplace. Sounds easy enough. We're getting pretty good at destroying walls - too bad it's always harder to create than destroy. But demolition is a nice way to release tension and frustration! =)

Taking the fireplace out was a joint effort. The chimney tubing (whatever that's called) is actually pretty heavy - I know that now, since it bounced off my head when we were taking it down. Hadn't really thought of it before, but it's got insulation - which makes sense, since you wouldn't want hot air & flames going up a metal tube that's sitting inside a sheetrock wall surrounded by wood studs. Too bad we weren't filming for U-Tube or America's Funniest Videos, but (you'll be glad to know) it appears my noggin is fairly thick.

From there, it's just a matter of getting the fireplace on the dolly and locked in place. I think we may have dented it a bit on the side from the last step down, but since we're not planning on re-using it, I don't suppose that matters. I'm just glad I didn't have to be part of the crew taking it down a flight of stairs.

Greg had to get on the roof to finish (for now) the fireplace job. Need to make sure we're not going to be getting water down the stack that's not connected to anything anymore. We do have a small drip from the pipe that's in the attic - but since the last few days have been clear (and COLD), I'm thinking it's condensation. I'm not sure if we're leaving the rest of the pipe in and just putting in new sheetrock for the ceiling? Or if taking out the rest of it is for a different part of the project. I leave those kinds of things up to Greg - I know enough to know what I'm supposed to do and how I can help. There will be some days where my best help is to stay out of the way (and make sure there's plenty of food & beverages). I'm okay with that.

I do fine at cleanup crew, which isn't glamorous or fun but it's still important. Kind of like the filing in an office. Not fun; pay is lousy; but oh so necessary to keeping track of those important documents; and surprisingly satisfying when complete. =)

We had to put some cabinets back up (drilled right to the studs - I kind of like the look, although I'm glad it's not permanent). We're having a Halloween party next weekend. Need to have at least some of the storage space back so the kitchen is fully functional for a large get-together. I'm looking forward to seeing how the extra space works out for seating and having lots of bodies moving around, even if it's just bare plywood right now.

Next step is to take the studs out of the kitchen/office wall and frame in the new layout (including making the new closet in the office/bedroom). But for now, our work here is done.

Remodel - Phase I (Flooring): More Demo

This weekend we spent more time doing demolition. Step 2 of the demo - the wall between the kitchen and the office. Which means that what didn't get boxed up and shoved into the spare bedroom (downstairs) is currently taking up space in the middle of the living room, and covered by a not-so-fine layer of dust and de-construction debris.

Have to start with pre-work pictures, right? All the speckles and fuzziness in the pictures is because of dust in the air. If I use the flash because it's a little dark inside, it looks like it's snowing. If I don't use the flash, it looks a bit grainy. That's what I get for using my little point-and-shoot instead of the fancy-pants camera. So I'll just deal. =)

Saturday morning, I woke up to the smell of bacon, eggs, and coffee... Ah, sweet nirvana! Apparently Greg had been up for quite a while, and James was already over. I made it out of bed and upstairs in time to get a couple pieces of bacon and a cup o' joe before they started dismantling the kitchen.

Cabinets and cupboards have to come out before we can take the wall down. Makes perfect sense. Also had to turn the water off in the kitchen so we could detach the hose from the fridge. (Have I mentioned that I *love* the ice maker & water dispenser in our refridgerator? Well, I do!) Nita & Todd came over just in time to help remove the last of the cabinets, and Nita made the first hole in the wall. Another one bites the dust... yay!

From there, it was rather like an assembly line. Lots of ripping down, followed by breaking into smaller chunks and shoving in the trash bags. When the bags are full enough, move them to the deck & start the process over again.

Not sure how many bags of trash we took to the dump, but it filled two truck beds (debris was from last weekend and Saturday - we have a couple more bags already from work we did today). It's nice that we had a free dump pass from this spring. Sure came in handy this weekend!! All this was done in a few hours on Saturday, with more demolition on Sunday. Throw in a zombie bout of roller derby, and it makes for a packed weekend... Whew!

Many, many thanks to the extra hands that have helped us tear things down and move things out - it's *greatly* appreciated!!

Remodel - Phase I: Flooring

We're commencing a large remodel project for the house. It's going to take quite some time, and will affect all the rooms upstairs. It particularly started with the kitchen - we want to redo the kitchen to make more room. That led to talk about moving the wall between the kitchen and the upstairs bedroom (the office), to give us a little more space in the kitchen. And if we get rid of the fireplace, there'll be more room in the living/dining room.

We don't use the fireplace anyway - it doesn't produce heat more than 2 feet from the fire, doesn't have a fan to blow the heat out, and there's no way to arrange furniture to watch the tv *and* have a fire. And since we're doing all that, we may as well get rid of the *lovely* (there's a bucket-load of sarcasm in that one word) rose-pink carpet that we've been living with since we bought the house.

We've discussed several ways of approaching this whole project and finally settled on starting with the flooring. Which means we have to demo the walls, so we can at least frame in the new ones to lay the floor.

We're going to lay bamboo - the kind you get from Costco. It's got a nice pattern and color, and it's not nearly as much per square foot as the other ones that caught my eye. (I really like the look of tiger wood with a light finish, but I really *don't* like how it'd affect my pocketbook...)

Step 1 is to remove the fireplace. (Pre-Step 1 is to move a whole bunch of crap out of the way - we've got to go through it before it gets moved back upstairs to see what we really want and what we can get rid of!) It's amazing how much cleanup is included in a demolition job. First the faux rock, then the sheet rock, then the studs & nails... not to mention the vacuuming, and I actually swept the carpet with a broom. There's a reason I don't normally do these kinds of things.

But I'm keeping focused on the end. I'm excited to get the new flooring done. If I don't think too much about all the work and effort in between now & then, I'll stay positive. Baby steps. Already the room looks bigger. We've got the first wall down, now just have to move the fireplace out - which also means some whatnot about capping something to make sure the snow & rain don't leak down the thingy.

Step 2 is to tear down the wall between the kitchen & office, so we can reposition it to expand the kitchen. Move stuff out of the way; take down the upper cabinets; move the lower cabinets; demo the wall; and at least frame in the new wall. Not sure if that's for next weekend? I know that roller derby is next Saturday - yay!! - but we may be able to get some demo in on Sunday. All the demo here happened in an 8 hour period Sunday afternoon - and we have to have a functional kitchen for the Halloween party... =)

**Note: If you remove the filter on the shop vac and then try to vacuum dust & debris, everything shoots out the other side of the machine - and then, if you had a little film (since, if you're like me, you don't dust that often), now you've got ashfall. Fortunately, I can blame it on a volcanic eruption... ;)