Last week, I flew out to Arizona to visit Tide Guy for several days. We stayed at a fabulous resort that even had a lazy river. I got a wonderful massage and we had some great salsa and food, went to Tombstone and Bisbee, relaxed by the pool, and overall had a great time. One restaurant had the best salsa ever. It was made table side to taste. We got the ingredients and can't wait to try it ourselves.
Our trim work is finally done and we are so happy with the results. The coffered ceiling is fabulous. The painter has started painting the trim and I have the basics of the paint colors picked. This week, I ordered the kitchen sink. Yesterday, I bought the kitchen faucet and a faucet for the bathrooms. We are using the same faucet for all the bath sinks. We also ordered the bar sink and faucet for the bonus room last night. Our cabinet man needs the specs and template for the sinks and faucets to install the granite counter tops this week.
About two months ago, I met with a lady and commissioned her to make two stain glass window inserts for the master bath. A large one to go over the spa tub and a smaller one in the water closet. With help from her, I designed the window and picked the different types and colors of glass. The windows were installed Friday and they look great!!
It is hot and dry. It is in the mid 90s everyday. My garden looks okay, but could really use a good rain.
Gas is steady at $2.49 a gallon. And Farrah Fawcett died from cancer. Unfortunately, she died a few hours before Michael Jackson, so her death was a very small bye line in the news.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Deck and Coffers
Our coffered ceiling is almost done and it looks fabulous. Since we decided to do the coffered ceiling after the electrical was done, the ceiling fan & some light boxes are off center in the coffers. Our builders will move the boxes to center them. They still have a some trim work to do, but that should only take a day or so. I think.
I am meeting with some designers on Tuesday to get some help on paint colors to go with our Persian rugs we bought when we lived overseas. My five year dream of a red leather sofa for the living room is squashed. I realized the rug for the living room has a red in it that will clash with most reds. It has been too difficult to find any red that will compliment the red in the rug.
This week, the painter started caulking and filling nail holes. He will paint the trim and columns before starting the paint on the walls and ceilings. My brother and his crew started our massive deck this week. I am meeting the bricker in an hour to discuss the pad for the air conditioner units, the brick wall to conceal the units, and the front steps.
Tide Guy is out of town for work and I am flying out Wednesday evening to spend five days with him. With neither of us here to take care of the house decisions is causing me some anxiety. I am trying to anticipate those problems and take care of them before I leave.
Gas is up to $2.53 a gallon. It is going up fast!
Have a good weekend!
Tide Gal
I am meeting with some designers on Tuesday to get some help on paint colors to go with our Persian rugs we bought when we lived overseas. My five year dream of a red leather sofa for the living room is squashed. I realized the rug for the living room has a red in it that will clash with most reds. It has been too difficult to find any red that will compliment the red in the rug.
This week, the painter started caulking and filling nail holes. He will paint the trim and columns before starting the paint on the walls and ceilings. My brother and his crew started our massive deck this week. I am meeting the bricker in an hour to discuss the pad for the air conditioner units, the brick wall to conceal the units, and the front steps.
Tide Guy is out of town for work and I am flying out Wednesday evening to spend five days with him. With neither of us here to take care of the house decisions is causing me some anxiety. I am trying to anticipate those problems and take care of them before I leave.
Gas is up to $2.53 a gallon. It is going up fast!
Have a good weekend!
Tide Gal
Saturday, June 6, 2009
19 Months
Today is our 19th month LID anniversary. Almost two years. Nuff said.
China is still confusing the waiting families as they didn't refer the end of May as we all thought they would. Now, we wait to see what happens and when it will happen.
Our builders are doing more trim and we have much more to do. I think they will start the coffered ceiling next week which will be so exciting to see. All four columns are installed, but still need to be painted. Right now they are the same color as our stucco and front door, which still needs to be stained. I'm sure all the neighbors are confused about our brown columns with the white coppers and bases. HA. Yesterday, I picked out our granite slabs and they will be sent to the fabricators.
In national news, gas prices are going up. Gas at our local Race Way is $2.39. Ugh. Not good. The economy isn't great and neither is the unemployment rate.
On with the weekend.
Tide Gal & Tide Guy
China is still confusing the waiting families as they didn't refer the end of May as we all thought they would. Now, we wait to see what happens and when it will happen.
Our builders are doing more trim and we have much more to do. I think they will start the coffered ceiling next week which will be so exciting to see. All four columns are installed, but still need to be painted. Right now they are the same color as our stucco and front door, which still needs to be stained. I'm sure all the neighbors are confused about our brown columns with the white coppers and bases. HA. Yesterday, I picked out our granite slabs and they will be sent to the fabricators.
In national news, gas prices are going up. Gas at our local Race Way is $2.39. Ugh. Not good. The economy isn't great and neither is the unemployment rate.
On with the weekend.
Tide Gal & Tide Guy
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
5K Runners!!
Tide Guy and I ran in a 5K on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, 2009. He can easily run the 5K race, but once we arrived, he wished he had signed up for the 10k. My goal months ago was to complete the race. I recently decided I wanted to run the complete race without having to walk any. And I did it. I was so proud of myself. It isn't that I'm not athletic, but rather that I am not a runner. My time was just over 40 minutes and Tide Guy finished just over 28 minutes. Now, we've both set goals to run the 10K next year.
Three of my friends also completed the race. We are awesome. I was fine before the race, but just a few moments before the start gun, I looked at my friend and said, "What am I doing here?" Yes, I had a little moment there! But, I did it. I could have run further, but possibly only a mile. I could not have run faster.
We had so much fun. I was totally excited and felt great after the race. I guess that is what is called a "runner's high". Afterwards, we went to Lowe's and Home Depot because they gave a discount to military for Memorial Day. We bought a few things for the house. We finally got home around 2 and I was wiped out. The runner's high hit a low!
In house news, more of the cabinets and cabinet trim were installed yesterday. The black distressed hood looks amazing beside the cherry cabinets. We also told the cabinet man to build us a small island.
After seeing the snake at the new house Friday, Tide Guy and I had one waiting on us when we got home Saturday night. Tide Guy killed his first snake while I hid in the house. Monday afternoon, we walked to Mom's for a cook out and found one in their yard. So, Tide Guy killed another snake. That is three snakes in four days for me!
Tide Gal & Tide Guy
Three of my friends also completed the race. We are awesome. I was fine before the race, but just a few moments before the start gun, I looked at my friend and said, "What am I doing here?" Yes, I had a little moment there! But, I did it. I could have run further, but possibly only a mile. I could not have run faster.
We had so much fun. I was totally excited and felt great after the race. I guess that is what is called a "runner's high". Afterwards, we went to Lowe's and Home Depot because they gave a discount to military for Memorial Day. We bought a few things for the house. We finally got home around 2 and I was wiped out. The runner's high hit a low!
In house news, more of the cabinets and cabinet trim were installed yesterday. The black distressed hood looks amazing beside the cherry cabinets. We also told the cabinet man to build us a small island.
After seeing the snake at the new house Friday, Tide Guy and I had one waiting on us when we got home Saturday night. Tide Guy killed his first snake while I hid in the house. Monday afternoon, we walked to Mom's for a cook out and found one in their yard. So, Tide Guy killed another snake. That is three snakes in four days for me!
Tide Gal & Tide Guy
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Pigs and Snakes
The CCAA actually referred through March 14, 2006. That will be great news if they refer another 6 or so days again the end of this month. Families arriving in China now, along with other passengers, have their temperatures taken before they get off the plane as a precaution.
Big news! I had to take the builders their check on Friday. While I was there, the builder asked some questions. One question was related to the mud room. As we entered the mud room, he saw a snake. Yep. He first asked if Tide Guy put a fake snake in there. Then he said it was real. I ran out the door. He and his brother killed it. It was a three foot chicken snake. He later said he shouldn't have killed it because it would kill bad snakes. I am terrified of snakes and yesterday had Tide Guy go into the house and check for snakes before I went inside.
There isn't much more to tell on the house other than there is more trim installed. And we have a lot more that is still needs to be installed. The columns are not up yet and I am very excited to see those.
Big news! I had to take the builders their check on Friday. While I was there, the builder asked some questions. One question was related to the mud room. As we entered the mud room, he saw a snake. Yep. He first asked if Tide Guy put a fake snake in there. Then he said it was real. I ran out the door. He and his brother killed it. It was a three foot chicken snake. He later said he shouldn't have killed it because it would kill bad snakes. I am terrified of snakes and yesterday had Tide Guy go into the house and check for snakes before I went inside.
There isn't much more to tell on the house other than there is more trim installed. And we have a lot more that is still needs to be installed. The columns are not up yet and I am very excited to see those.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Referrals!!
Rumors are floating around the internet and blogs that China has referred through March 15, 2006. If this turns out to be true, the number of days referred will be 7. This sounds a little positive, but considering it has been about 6 weeks since they referred last, it isn't great. If they would send out a 7 day batch of referrals the end of this month too, that would be awesome.
Of course, the reason for the delay in referrals is the swine flu. It seemed the swine flu had slowed and was dying away. There has been a resurgence in the last week or so. A vice principal at a middle school in New York died last week and he didn't have any existing conditions (example: heart problems) that would escalate the illness. Stories like this has caused China to restrict people entering their country. CCAA has to abide by these restrictions. However, CCAA has delayed many referrals, travel appointments, and matching without giving any explanation. All we've heard here are rumors and speculations. Nothing official. Even our agencies aren't told anything.
Several months ago, we heard of a potential speed up in this process. All signs were positive. But, something always seems to happen to prevent a speed up. Earthquakes. Severe cold and snow. The Olympics. Swine Flu. Will we ever get through this process? And, if we do, how long will it take?
Again, with no answers, I am so glad Tide Guy and I did not announce this information when we decided to adopt from China. If we have all these questions, we would expect to be bombarded with the same questions from everyone who we told. That was a great decision we made!
On with the delay....
Tide Gal & Tide Guy
Of course, the reason for the delay in referrals is the swine flu. It seemed the swine flu had slowed and was dying away. There has been a resurgence in the last week or so. A vice principal at a middle school in New York died last week and he didn't have any existing conditions (example: heart problems) that would escalate the illness. Stories like this has caused China to restrict people entering their country. CCAA has to abide by these restrictions. However, CCAA has delayed many referrals, travel appointments, and matching without giving any explanation. All we've heard here are rumors and speculations. Nothing official. Even our agencies aren't told anything.
Several months ago, we heard of a potential speed up in this process. All signs were positive. But, something always seems to happen to prevent a speed up. Earthquakes. Severe cold and snow. The Olympics. Swine Flu. Will we ever get through this process? And, if we do, how long will it take?
Again, with no answers, I am so glad Tide Guy and I did not announce this information when we decided to adopt from China. If we have all these questions, we would expect to be bombarded with the same questions from everyone who we told. That was a great decision we made!
On with the delay....
Tide Gal & Tide Guy
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Swine Flu & House Updates
The swine flu "pandemic" has fizzled and barely makes the news now. There are still cases popping up here and there across the country, but it doesn't make the headline or top story. Now, the swine flu has caused the CCAA to delay any progress. What progress they make is sporadic, shows no common thread, and follows no known plan. Some families are getting travel appointments, some are not. Some are getting referrals, some are not. Some are getting information, some are not. Some are traveling, while others have to wait. Different agencies are getting different information. Nothing makes any sense. So much for the potential speed up. One rumor is the CCAA will suspend matching until September. That is 4 months away.
Our house is getting lots of trim. We are getting trim around the windows and stairs, massive chair rails, and huge baseboards. The builder also set the whirl tub. Garage doors went in two days ago. Our columns have arrived and should be installed next week if the rain will stop. Our cabinets were also delivered on Thursday. The cabinet guy called Friday and told me they had returned the cabinets to his shop. The stain wasn't even and he wanted to fix them. I took the opportunity today to shop vac the areas where the cabinets will be installed. I want to get out as much sheet rock dust and sawdust to keep dust down in the house when we move in.
Gas prices have jumped up to $2.11 a gallon.
Our house is getting lots of trim. We are getting trim around the windows and stairs, massive chair rails, and huge baseboards. The builder also set the whirl tub. Garage doors went in two days ago. Our columns have arrived and should be installed next week if the rain will stop. Our cabinets were also delivered on Thursday. The cabinet guy called Friday and told me they had returned the cabinets to his shop. The stain wasn't even and he wanted to fix them. I took the opportunity today to shop vac the areas where the cabinets will be installed. I want to get out as much sheet rock dust and sawdust to keep dust down in the house when we move in.
Gas prices have jumped up to $2.11 a gallon.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)