The bathroom is down to the studs, with the bathtub leaning on its side. I will try to bring the camera tomorrow and take some photos.
I went to Art Tile and chose (and paid for) floor tiles and shower wall tiles. It came to twice the estimated amount, but then again I have expensive tastes. I think I will like it when it's done!
We are enjoying our co-housing stay with the G family. All the dogs are getting along extremely well. I cooked dinner last night (halibut, rice, leftover caponata and cherry pie for dessert). H and her friend who is staying here for the week also offered to make dinner tonight. Here's hoping they remember they offered to cook!
June 30, 2009
June 29, 2009
Bathroom remodel begins today
I got up at 6:15 this morning to be ready for the bathroom demolition crew when they arrive at 7:30. How do people start their work day so early?!
Everything that was in the bathroom has been moved out -- stuff we use but not on a daily basis, stuff we will donate, and the few things we use every day. After I take my shower I'll move the last few items into our suitcases, hang the wet towels in the bedroom, and pack up the bed linens for our move to temporary housing with friends.
In addition to bringing bedding, I have to empty the refrigerator of perishables and cart over any produce, open bags of cereal, etc. Plus the dogs and their stuff, including dog beds. It's like getting ready for vacation except that we'll be back every day to get the mail and check on the remodel.
Everything that was in the bathroom has been moved out -- stuff we use but not on a daily basis, stuff we will donate, and the few things we use every day. After I take my shower I'll move the last few items into our suitcases, hang the wet towels in the bedroom, and pack up the bed linens for our move to temporary housing with friends.
In addition to bringing bedding, I have to empty the refrigerator of perishables and cart over any produce, open bags of cereal, etc. Plus the dogs and their stuff, including dog beds. It's like getting ready for vacation except that we'll be back every day to get the mail and check on the remodel.
June 28, 2009
Achoo! Achoo!
I am still blowing my nose, sneezing, and honking away after a week of this summer cold. Who knows? Maybe it's allergies. All I know is that my nose is still running merrily away. Thank goodness we have lots of tissues on hand from a prior Costco run. (I should buy stock in Kleenex.)
June 26, 2009
Celebrity deaths
The deaths yesterday of Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson have stirred the internet. So many of my friends are posting on Facebook about the profound impact MJ had on their musical lives. I think what disturbs them the most is that an age peer has died an untimely death.
Well, that's one I've grappled with many times in the past seven years. I've sat the death watch for young women in their 20s. One friend only wanted to live to celebrate her 30th birthday. She did -- and a month later was dead. And when I worked in the AIDS world, my colleagues had all been to many more funerals than their parents had ever attended.
Yes, it's a tragedy when a young person dies. It's not supposed to happen that way. Death is supposed to come when we have lived a rich, full life, accomplished our goals, and are surrounded by those we love. Preferably when we are in our 90s. So my guess is that MJ and Farrah's deaths hit too close to home for my friends who are in their 40s and 50s.
And by the way, what's up with all the coverage of Farrah? I tuned in to Dateline last night and not once did anyone mention anal cancer, much less advanced or metastatic disease. Now I don't know the details of Farrah's cancer, but maybe those words are just too scary to say on TV.
Well, that's one I've grappled with many times in the past seven years. I've sat the death watch for young women in their 20s. One friend only wanted to live to celebrate her 30th birthday. She did -- and a month later was dead. And when I worked in the AIDS world, my colleagues had all been to many more funerals than their parents had ever attended.
Yes, it's a tragedy when a young person dies. It's not supposed to happen that way. Death is supposed to come when we have lived a rich, full life, accomplished our goals, and are surrounded by those we love. Preferably when we are in our 90s. So my guess is that MJ and Farrah's deaths hit too close to home for my friends who are in their 40s and 50s.
And by the way, what's up with all the coverage of Farrah? I tuned in to Dateline last night and not once did anyone mention anal cancer, much less advanced or metastatic disease. Now I don't know the details of Farrah's cancer, but maybe those words are just too scary to say on TV.
June 25, 2009
Remodel update
Yesterday I looked for tile at Art Tile on Roosevelt and think I have found the right stuff!
For the shower wall tile, a pale green with a glossy finish.
To accent the Israeli tiles, 1x1 bright blue tiles. They'll make a border around the Israeli tiles in the shower and on the backsplash. I'm trying to decide between the matte and glossy finish. (Ignore the flash of dots on the bottom of the picture.)
For the floor tile (12x12 squares for the main floor and the same tile in 3x3 squares for the shower floor), a darker green with a slate finish so it's not slippery underfoot. Very important in a wet environment!
The extra bonus was finding a local place, Oregon Tile and Marble, that carries Jerusalem stone which we might be able to use as a countertop. I've put it next to the possible finish choices for the vanity cabinet and we have a few days to decide before ordering the vanity.
The pictures don't really do the colors justice. Now I have to call to see if we can afford the Jerusalem stone......
For the shower wall tile, a pale green with a glossy finish.
To accent the Israeli tiles, 1x1 bright blue tiles. They'll make a border around the Israeli tiles in the shower and on the backsplash. I'm trying to decide between the matte and glossy finish. (Ignore the flash of dots on the bottom of the picture.)
For the floor tile (12x12 squares for the main floor and the same tile in 3x3 squares for the shower floor), a darker green with a slate finish so it's not slippery underfoot. Very important in a wet environment!
The extra bonus was finding a local place, Oregon Tile and Marble, that carries Jerusalem stone which we might be able to use as a countertop. I've put it next to the possible finish choices for the vanity cabinet and we have a few days to decide before ordering the vanity.
The pictures don't really do the colors justice. Now I have to call to see if we can afford the Jerusalem stone......
Still scratchy but no longer a bass
My throat is still a little scratchy, but my voice has moved up the register from bass/baritone to at least tenor now. That appears to be a sign of general improvement.
I felt well enough yesterday to go out with a friend and do some more errands for the bathroom remodel. Demo is supposed to start next Monday! I've bought a toilet and have ordered a sink from a local potter.
He will decorate it in exactly the royal blue, sea green and reddish brown of the tiles from Jerusalem Pottery in Israel.
I felt well enough yesterday to go out with a friend and do some more errands for the bathroom remodel. Demo is supposed to start next Monday! I've bought a toilet and have ordered a sink from a local potter.
He will decorate it in exactly the royal blue, sea green and reddish brown of the tiles from Jerusalem Pottery in Israel.
June 23, 2009
Under the weather
I think I am coming down with a summer cold. You know that itchy, ashy-tasting feeling you get in the back of the throat that signals something is wrong? Well, it showed up last night and 1000 mg of vitamin C before bedtime didn't help. I slept poorly -- couldn't quite cough, clearing the throat (ahem ahem) didn't help, and yet that scratchy feeling kept waking me up. (Not to mention night sweats from the Megace. That is a side effect that wakes me EVERY night.)
We've had a cold start to summer, 60-some degrees after a month of a very warm late spring with lots of sun and no rain. Maybe that's the culprit. At any rate, I think I will settle in with some tea with honey and lemon, more vitamin C, and hope for a quick conclusion to this thing.
We've had a cold start to summer, 60-some degrees after a month of a very warm late spring with lots of sun and no rain. Maybe that's the culprit. At any rate, I think I will settle in with some tea with honey and lemon, more vitamin C, and hope for a quick conclusion to this thing.
June 21, 2009
Bittersweet Father's Day
Not only is today Father's Day, it's also the civil anniversary (not the Jewish anniversary) of the day my dad died. One year ago I had been back east for a visit when my dad appeared to rally again, so I went home. Only a few days later the phone rang at midnight. It was my sister, calling to say that they had just heard from the nursing facility that our dad had died.
Mom is here for a visit and told me she chose this weekend specifically so we could share Father's Day and this anniversary together. Given that she spends most holidays with my sister and her family, because they live only two towns apart, it was a great idea.
We've had a lovely visit, catching up with each other, watching old home movies, playing cards and Scrabble and filling her in on our bathroom remodel. Mom and I spent hours on Friday going to bathroom showrooms and checking out sinks, shower heads, etc. We even made the first purchase -- I bought a toilet!
Today, Father's Day, will be a bit more low key only in that we don't have specific plans. We'll go check out the new farmers' market near my house (if the rain holds off), run an errand, maybe get an ice cream cone. And of course we'll reminisce about my dad.
Mom says that what she misses the most is having Dad around to confirm that she remembers a certain event correctly. "Shel, what year was it that we....?" Mom is the last sibling (her brother died many years ago), she's in touch with friends from high school and beyond, but she and Dad went back to her sweet 16 party. They shared a lifetime of common history and I'm not surprised that she misses being able to ask him a question.
Mom is here for a visit and told me she chose this weekend specifically so we could share Father's Day and this anniversary together. Given that she spends most holidays with my sister and her family, because they live only two towns apart, it was a great idea.
We've had a lovely visit, catching up with each other, watching old home movies, playing cards and Scrabble and filling her in on our bathroom remodel. Mom and I spent hours on Friday going to bathroom showrooms and checking out sinks, shower heads, etc. We even made the first purchase -- I bought a toilet!
Today, Father's Day, will be a bit more low key only in that we don't have specific plans. We'll go check out the new farmers' market near my house (if the rain holds off), run an errand, maybe get an ice cream cone. And of course we'll reminisce about my dad.
Mom says that what she misses the most is having Dad around to confirm that she remembers a certain event correctly. "Shel, what year was it that we....?" Mom is the last sibling (her brother died many years ago), she's in touch with friends from high school and beyond, but she and Dad went back to her sweet 16 party. They shared a lifetime of common history and I'm not surprised that she misses being able to ask him a question.
June 18, 2009
dogs Dogs DOGS
I am so in love with my dogs that I had to post these two photos Rik took last night.
Pumpkin is the regal cocker spaniel.
Bob likes to sleep with his chin on a pillow.
They are the bestest dogs ever!
Pumpkin is the regal cocker spaniel.
Bob likes to sleep with his chin on a pillow.
They are the bestest dogs ever!
June 17, 2009
The end of the dry spell
It looks as though we will have rain today for the first time in 29 days. That is something of a record for Seattle! However, the skies are grey and lowering and I consider this a harbinger of wet. I think I should rescue some strawberries before the heavens open.
On another front, I did catch up with the ironing and the phone calls yesterday. I just could not get motivated early in the day, but after a nap and a snack, watched "Oprah" while ironing and made the phone calls after dinner, when at least most people would be home. So it wasn't a completely wasted day after all.
On another front, I did catch up with the ironing and the phone calls yesterday. I just could not get motivated early in the day, but after a nap and a snack, watched "Oprah" while ironing and made the phone calls after dinner, when at least most people would be home. So it wasn't a completely wasted day after all.
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