Arctic Blast covers local bird feeder
In Memory of Miss Blackie
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<--After Sheetrocking
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FOR THE WEEK ENDING January 21, 2007
HIGHLIGHTS
1. San Antonio rose to national attention this past week with 3 days of "wintry wallop." Although OSHA Babe and I weren't walking in a winter wonderland, several historic events occurred - the Alamo actually closed to tourists for one day, many overpasses were shut down, schools extended the MLK holiday by 1-2 days, and construction at our house came to a standstill for those days. The local news media went crazy with their coverage of the "Arctic Blast." The first picture above is our bird feeder on day 2 of the Blast. (All of you California girls probably think that this looks pretty cold while our loyal readers in the Midwest probably would consider this summer in the city compared to what you have experienced this winter.) ..
HIGHLIGHTS
1. San Antonio rose to national attention this past week with 3 days of "wintry wallop." Although OSHA Babe and I weren't walking in a winter wonderland, several historic events occurred - the Alamo actually closed to tourists for one day, many overpasses were shut down, schools extended the MLK holiday by 1-2 days, and construction at our house came to a standstill for those days. The local news media went crazy with their coverage of the "Arctic Blast." The first picture above is our bird feeder on day 2 of the Blast. (All of you California girls probably think that this looks pretty cold while our loyal readers in the Midwest probably would consider this summer in the city compared to what you have experienced this winter.) ..
.....The saga ended on Thursday when we had a heat wave up to the low 50's. We did pick 25 - 30 pounds of oranges the first day of the Blast and got the satisfaction of giving some to neighbors, eating more than our share, and ultimately finding that there was no permanent damage to the ones left on the trees. Additionally, the heat is on in the downstairs and is working fine. (Have any of you named your heater? We've named ours "Michelle" and, let me tell you, she's so fine.) Only time will tell what our electric bill will be.
2. The sanding and painting efforts were nil this week because my girl, OSHA Babe, made a trip to Dallas. When she's not there, not much of this gets done. OB, aka the Silver Lady, was able to drive through the rain/sleet/snow/slush on Wednesday, shop at Market on Thursday, set up jewelry sales on Friday, and even thought about staying over until Monday. Monday, I hope to have her at the house back in OSHA Babe uniform. I'm a better man when I've got you, Babe, by my side.
3. We did receive some sad news about Miss Blackie. Our tender hearted, cat loving neighbor, Mary Alice, told us that she found Miss Blackie dead in the street on New Year's Eve. She and her sister (who is still keeping Little Leo - the 3 legged cat that is looking for a permanent residence) buried her in the yard. Having neighbors like that makes us proud. Mary Alice is already toward the top of our list (and the lists of several of our cat-loving readers.) Our fondest memories of Miss Blackie are of her taking over our lunch times after Little Leo's accident, standing on the lunch bag, and her being able to act naturally beautiful after she had had her fill. I don't remember the last date we saw her before Christmas but we already miss her when we go down to work at our house. ..
3. We did receive some sad news about Miss Blackie. Our tender hearted, cat loving neighbor, Mary Alice, told us that she found Miss Blackie dead in the street on New Year's Eve. She and her sister (who is still keeping Little Leo - the 3 legged cat that is looking for a permanent residence) buried her in the yard. Having neighbors like that makes us proud. Mary Alice is already toward the top of our list (and the lists of several of our cat-loving readers.) Our fondest memories of Miss Blackie are of her taking over our lunch times after Little Leo's accident, standing on the lunch bag, and her being able to act naturally beautiful after she had had her fill. I don't remember the last date we saw her before Christmas but we already miss her when we go down to work at our house. ..
.....The remaining cats, Grey Boy and Bad Boy, are hard core but are coming around. If they don't get hit by cars or become victims to a hound dog, they may eventually get to the point of letting us pet them.
4. During the Arctic Blast, I did get a phone call from Robert, the Cabinet Guy. He was asking for my help on the design of the doors (no, not the "light my fire" Doors). I drove out to his shop and saw with my own eyes that we do have actual kitchen cabinets. Robert thought that he might get them installed this past weekend but yesterday came and went without them being installed. Maybe we'll have better luck next time.
4. During the Arctic Blast, I did get a phone call from Robert, the Cabinet Guy. He was asking for my help on the design of the doors (no, not the "light my fire" Doors). I drove out to his shop and saw with my own eyes that we do have actual kitchen cabinets. Robert thought that he might get them installed this past weekend but yesterday came and went without them being installed. Maybe we'll have better luck next time.
5. Edward and his sheetrocking crew were the answer to my prayer. On Wednesday, I sent out the S.O.S. to Edward. On Thursday he made one final walk through and we agreed on a price. Friday, he and three others (one of them a 64 year old man) began hanging sheetrock. I hope that I can hang sheetrock when I'm 64. They finished on Saturday afternoon while three guys began taping and floating. Above, there are "Before, During, and After" pictures of the Dining room that shows the progress that they made. The tapers should finish downstairs and begin upstairs on Monday, put the second coat on this coming Tuesday, and finish out with the texture on Wednesday. THESE GUYS ARE GOOD AT THEIR TRADE. I'll post movies of them working if I can figure out how. It was cool to see the tapers walking on stilts (like Star Wars characters) to complete the work on the 10' ceilings. Although it was not eight miles high like last week's work on the scaffolding felt, it was a long way up there.
.....I could have worked eight days a week and it would have taken me until the next blue moon to do what these guys have done in 2 days. I should have known better than to hire the guy who started in December solely based on price.
6. Two plumber candidates came by on Saturday. One gave me a bid and other one told me he would have his proposal by Monday. Hopefully, we'll get this going shortly and I'll be reporting on the men at work on the land down under the house as they replace pipe and make connections. Hopefully, this is the sign that we've been looking for to get into the modern world and have indoor plumbing. Imagine that!
7. Visitors this week included Samuel and Mark, who were waiting in the truck while their granddad, Sam, one of the plumbers, walked through the house with me. As they got ready to leave, I offered Sam some oranges. I was using a long pole fruit picker that the boys, ages about 9 and 11, thought was cool. You should have seen them jump at the chance to pick their own. I also appreciated their grandparents reminding them to say "Yes, Sir" and "Thank You."
NEXT STEPS
1. Hopefully, we'll be reporting on the sheetrock work being completed. Once that is done, the high level path is prime the walls and ceiling, sand and finish the trim, refinish the doors (no, not the "light my fire" Doors), refinish the floors, and move in. I have a dream that we'll be there by the end of 1st quarter this year.
2. I plan to choose a plumber by Tuesday and get that show on the road.
3. The kitchen cabinets should be installed this week. OSHA Babe may shop for granite. Don't listen to those who tell you that all you need is love on a project like this. Money, money money is a big part of what it takes.
4. If you have noticed some cheesy content this week, you're right. I have embedded numerous song titles and am funding a contest (complete with a prize that is redeemable at your local Starbucks). The winner will be the one who identifies the most song titles and the corresponding recording artists.
7. Visitors this week included Samuel and Mark, who were waiting in the truck while their granddad, Sam, one of the plumbers, walked through the house with me. As they got ready to leave, I offered Sam some oranges. I was using a long pole fruit picker that the boys, ages about 9 and 11, thought was cool. You should have seen them jump at the chance to pick their own. I also appreciated their grandparents reminding them to say "Yes, Sir" and "Thank You."
NEXT STEPS
1. Hopefully, we'll be reporting on the sheetrock work being completed. Once that is done, the high level path is prime the walls and ceiling, sand and finish the trim, refinish the doors (no, not the "light my fire" Doors), refinish the floors, and move in. I have a dream that we'll be there by the end of 1st quarter this year.
2. I plan to choose a plumber by Tuesday and get that show on the road.
3. The kitchen cabinets should be installed this week. OSHA Babe may shop for granite. Don't listen to those who tell you that all you need is love on a project like this. Money, money money is a big part of what it takes.
4. If you have noticed some cheesy content this week, you're right. I have embedded numerous song titles and am funding a contest (complete with a prize that is redeemable at your local Starbucks). The winner will be the one who identifies the most song titles and the corresponding recording artists.
...To enter, send me an email - bbbrockman@yahoo.com - by Sunday, Feb 4 listing the Paragraph, Song Title, and Recording Artist, for example,
........Next Steps, 1., "Light My Fire", The Doors.
Remember, I was a teenager during the 60's. The decision of the judges will be final. GLA
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