Uh...Oops!!

The lumber package came today.  Very exciting!!! I thought this was a good day as this is the framing package.   But this was a very bad day for the driver of the lumber.  He accidentally hit the gutter at the corner of the house. Oh dear.....at least he wiped out the gutter and not the house. Poor Art has a lot of work ahead of him now.  He just got one more project added on.  Good thing he is so good natured......

My New Swimming Pool

As you all know I have been wanting a swimming pool for some time.  Well with all the rain we have been and are receiving, the foundation hole is filling with water.  I don't think I want to swim in it though.  I guess next time, I had better specify what kind of pool I want.

Foundation in the Works

The concrete guys came yesterday and poured the footings for the foundation.  They are here today to pour the stem walls.  Oh listen to me,  don't I just sound like I know what I am talking about?  HA HA HA.  It is all talk.  Anyway it is looking good.  Art is on top of it and making sure it is all going as planned.  He makes a good contractor.  This retirement gig is awesome.  It is all exciting.

We also got new windows yesterday in the basement. Two in the family room and one in the game room.  They look good.  I will post pictures later, once I get the poofies back up.  But trust me it look a million billion times better.  The fireplace will get done next week.  Everyday we make progress.  Here are photos of the process so far.

 The hole

The Footing

The stem wall

MK Conquers Robie

Today was the Robie's half marathon.  It is a treacherous 13 mile race over Aldape summit.  To add insult to injury the race started at noon with the temperature over 80 degrees.  My hat off to MK, she did it.  I am so proud of her.  She did it in about 2 hours and 43 minutes.  To put it in perspective.  Miss R and I drove there.  It took us 1 hour and 50 minutes.  

I had the pleasure to go with MK and Miss R to the starting point.  After the race started Miss R, another runners wife and I went and picked up burgers and fries and headed to the finish line.  We drove most of the way and then hopped on a bus to go the rest of the way. We had a little picnic at the finish line and waited for MK.  I thought the race was well organized.  I was warned by several folks to be prepared to wait in long lines but we didn't have to wait long at all.  

Way to go MK... you did awesome!!!!

Make Over

The salon I go to to have my brows done had a makeover night.  For a small fee I went and played beauty shop.  First I had a shoulder, neck, head massage.  It was so nice.  Then I had my hair done.  I liked the way it was done.  After my hair was done, I had a hand massage.  Then I topped it off having my make up done.  It was fun and I liked the way it turned out.  Art and I were going to go out to show my new look off but we ended up staying home and BBQing.  Wish I could get my hair to look as good when I do it.  It was really fun and I am so glad I went. 

Columns

Our columns arrived.  Yeah!!!  Oh NO!!!  one arrived smashed.  We had to refuse it and send it back.  Art called the company and they said "we are so sorry, we will send another one right away".  Talk about hassle free.........Sweet.  I am not sure how the other got smashed because it is pretty solid but it did.  Kudos to the company for their great customer service.

What's New With The Remodel

Someone stole the deck!  No, I am just kidding.  We removed the deck and got ready for concrete.  We were suppose to get the foundation started today but with all the rain the past few days,  the concrete guy got behind so hopefully tomorrow.  

Art had a lunch date on Wednesday so while he was gone, I got started on removing the concrete blocks from the flower beds.  Yes, the flower beds are going away as well.  It really looks different.  It looks like it did when we moved in 22 years ago. Art commented this morning how we are reverting back.  Change is a coming. 

We picked up the living room window and the slider yesterday.   The window is a BA window!  I am very excited about it.  We are still discussing the deck.  I think we have a little more time to decided.  

Oh decisions, decisions!  

Here are some pics:

Before 

After

Let's get that foundation going

The deck is gone

A Pick Up Day

Today we are off to pick up our curio cabinets. The garage is getting full. The fire table arrived and I must say it is much better in person. Art and I are both very excited with it. It came with some lava rock but we are going to replace it with fire glass. We found a screaming deal on fire glass on the internet so we ordered it. While we are out today, we are going to order the lumber package. We get the foundation stated on Friday. We need to get the fireplace repaired and that is scheduled to done the end of May. Nothing big, the top two layers of bricks on the chimney have come loose. Art assures me we can still install the new fireplaces before the repair is done. I would wait but we need to move the gas lines, so it just makes sense to install the fireplaces while the gas folks are here. It is crazy how changing one thing leads to another. All the changes are sure exciting. At times I am overwhelmed how lucky I am.

The Day Today

Today was a fun day. We started with a great breakfast and the a long walk to work it off. We went to the mall......didn't buy anything but it was a short cut to the trump tower. We checked it and a couple of other places out. The weather was a little cooler today.

After lunch we did the dolphin and secret garden, We thought it was a formal dolphin show but it wasn't. Not sure if it was worth the fee to get in but I really enjoyed watching the dolphins swim around.

We took the tram to Treasure Island a couple of times. We even had dinner there.

Tonight we went to the Terry Fator show. One word.....AWESOME. He is such a great entertainer. The joke with us is everyone has seen Art's underwear but according to Manard the best Elvis impersonator (a puppet) Art doesn't wear any. Pretty funny!!! We had the best seats!! We were front row center. Art did such a great job getting us the seats. What a chance of a lifetime.

We played yoyo.....we watched our money go up and down. I would rather play elevator......our money goes up.

Love hanging out with Art.

Vegas Baby

So...to celebrate Art's birthday and retirement we are in Vegas to see a Terry Fator show. I have to say the flight down was the worst fight I have ever been on. We flew Southwest. And because of the way they do they seating, we ended up being in the last group to board. As a result, we didn't sit together. Art ended up with a nice isle seat midway and I got a middle seat toward the back. Being in the middle of two men left me scrunched. Being claustrophobic didn't help. One seat mate was drunk on his hind end and talked in my face and they other was sick and had rank (I mean rank) gas. The gas was so bad, I literally gagged twice. The drunk seat mate finally went to sleep but he was a flincher and kept slapping me. I was so happy to land.

Our hotel room is really nice and the bed is super comfy. After checking in we had lunch and went to the mall in hopes of finding a bag for the Buddy and myself. We found the store that sells them but they are cheaper at home. We had a good walk though and the weather is awesome.

We played roulette and 21 most of the evening. I did play a few slots. We met some charming and fun folks and one hilarious dealer. Today promises to be another stellar day. Did I hear someone say place your bets? Gotta run.

Check

Staus Update:

Get floor - check

Get Curio cabinets - check

Get fire table - check

Get sliding door - check

Get windows - check

Get foundation -

Get foundation -

foundation???

Oh where are you?

What?! NOT UNTIL MAY

OH heavy sigh

Happy Easter

Happy Easter to all. "I am not perfect....but ... Jesus thinks I am to die for" and that is all that matters!

A side project

That Art is a mover and a shaker. He isn't just sitting around. I forgot to mention one of his side projects. He took the fridge he bought for his office and put it on top of the freezer so we could put our drinks in it. It works great. I think he was tired of me drinking warm pop. Anyway it is really nice to have and I am super happy with the extra fridge space.

It's Gone

Hooray!!! The hot tub sold. It was hauled away yesterday to a new home. I hope the new owner's enjoy it as much as I did. The new owners hired a company to haul it. The company called to see if they could pick it up while we were at the store buying a new window and sliding door. I told the guy we would be home in 45 minutes and he said he needed to replace a tire on the cart so he would be an hour. We agreed an hour would be great. Art and I raced home to finish emptying the tub and make sure it was clean. We just got started and here the crew came. It had been 15 minutes since I hung up the phone with the guy. That was one short hour. And as luck would have it...one of the haulers also does concrete work. He is going to give us a bid. Yeah!!! We are moving forward once again. Here are some pictures of what the future dining room looks like now.

Day 2

The deck is disappearing fast. Now if someone would just buy the hot tub and take it away.

Art is stacking the lumber from the deck.

Day 1

The roof and railing is gone from the deck. Art is getting right after it. He is working hard. He didn't even get started til mid afternoon. He is really rocking it.

Remodel Begins

Art has started the remodel. We had a pre start. We updated our kitchen appliances. It was hard to say goodbye to my fridge. It was 18 years old and my favorite appliance. But I have a new one and the kitchen looks great. I also went from a single oven to a double. Love it!

I bought a time-lapse camera for Art for his birthday but it has yet to arrive. I will be posting pictures and progress reports. So stay tuned.

Art Retires!

After 32 years with the State, Art retired. First off let me tell you how incredibly thrilled I am. I have Art to myself....full time. One word describes my feelings ......"WOOHOO" .

His last day was on his 55th birthday. The office had a farewell reception for him with cake and punch. His boss gave a humorous farewell speech. He had 32 reasons why Art was ready to retire. They were very funny. Once I get a copy, I will publish. Then off to a local restaurant for hors dourves and drinks.

I really have to thank Art for his hard work and dedication, He worked so hard to build a great life for us. He planned well for our future and now he gets to reap the rewards that he has allowed me to reap for so many years. I am one lucky gal to have such a wonderful man in my life. Thank you Art...I love you.

I think the Hawaiians say retirement the best.. dowhatyawanna. Soooooo Art dowhatyawanna. And I really hope dowhatyawanna means remodel.

Art reading his card

Art and his boss Jeff

An awesome wood box Art received

The Buddy, MK, Miss R and Art in his office