UMTravels

OK — so first, the new photos that I’ve been promising for days:

 So — Josh came by today, put the next (last?) coat of mud on the project that we started remodelling the house with (the laundry room) before he shot back to Ballard to earn a paycheck (I sent him two sets of towels [...]

Finally got the rolling bed assembled so I’ll have a place to sleep, store my files, my socks, and t-shirts. Sort of an all-in-one. There will be pictures posted on Twango at some point.
Got the wiring done in the kitchen cabinets for the outlet strips underneath the counters… and got all the appliances unpacked — [...]

It’s amazing number of little tasks it takes to get a house squared away. Getting closer, but still much more to do.
Helene was coming after lunch to do the next coat of varathane, but she was confused as to when Chris was headed to the airport… which is a good thing since it was almost [...]

Damn! Missed garbage pickup by about 20 minutes — I knew there was a reason I was planning on staying at the house last night.
Lots of little things to do today:

Sand and stain the couple of spots so it will be ready to seal tomorrow
Fix the tiny little leak in the dishwasher water supply
Router the [...]

Got to sleep in, a bit. Breakfast was English Muffins for me, Muffins and Miso for Helene.
Then packing and sandwich making (with all the leftovers). Too much chicken and lamb left over, so we will have an early lunch of stew (from the chicken stock I made the other day).
Out of the condo by noon [...]

Out of the condo by 10:15 to make a 10:45 pickup at the ferry terminal — which didn’t happen until 11:15 when this huge black “luxury van” pulled up. It turns out that we are the only two people on the tour today — they could have sent a town car — but this pimped [...]

Slept in a bit… then walked down the street and met Helene’s boat. She just had carry-on so she was off the boat quickly.
Dump the goods, hang out for a bit with computers looking all the time like an old married couple.
Lunch was at Barb’s Fish and Chips – a Fisherman’s’ Wharf institution for 33 [...]

Well — here is my latest Amazon reading list. It is short, need to buy another $14.90 worth of stuff to get free shipping.

So — this Tony Wheeler book (co-founder of Lonely Planet guides) is a tourist adventure through 14 countries, many on the Bush “Axis of Evil” list. Seems much safer to read about [...]

Boy do I hate early morning where I’m actually required to be some where. The Victoria Clipper departure is 8am, which means checking in around 7am. Ick.
Really bad breakfast choices, all carbs, but they did have some Caesar salads from last nights run at half off, a little champagne and orange juice and a bottle o [...]

OK — so the military metaphor doesn’t really work when the troops are Helene and Josh (well, I hope Josh — haven’t heard from him in a couple of days). Helene sealed the front bedroom floor yesterday and will do the living room, hallway and half the other bedroom today. Guess I’d better get that [...]

With Josh coming tomorrow, I really have to get a bunch of stuff rocking and rolling in the house.

Kitchen counters need to be in place (even if not mounted or stove working)
Stove needs to be reassembled and pushed into place.
Last kitchen cabinet needs to be build and mounted.
Wall behind laundry room cabinet needs to be [...]

It only took four of us to get the stove in the kitchen. Now if it would just put out some BTUs. Guess I’m gonna have to call the service guys to come and fix. $$$. Better that than a grand for a 36″ wide stove (or more).
Not much done on the house today. Lots [...]

So, the other day I go to the Sears website to order a dishwasher and range hood - the pages tell me 3-5 days I can pick up my dishwasher at the local store — the range hood, couple of weeks. Fine. Two trips, I need the dishwasher now, I can wait for the range [...]

Unpack the van — find space in the garage. Move the BMW out so I can work on the stove. Walls to paint in the hallway. Josh to coordinate. a last cabinet to build and mount. Counter tops to buy, mount and finish. Ugh.
Now why am I doing this?
At least there is now a microwave [...]

Josh called this morning — might get some work out of him this week, which would be good. The done by the end of Sunday deadline is looming. Chris gets back while I’m in Canada, and then his maid/painter is here while he is in Europe, so I need a place to start sleeping SOON.
Once [...]

Today is getting the rest of the flooring in the kitchen and pantry, getting the base built for the trap door in the hallway (so I know how much bamboo I have left over), and getting some of the baseboards on. Got seven sticks of baseboard from Home Depot… but looking at it now I [...]

So. Listed the Bluebird last night on the Yahoo Groups list for Bluebirds — they are an incredible source of knowledge for these “built like tanks” Bluebird Wanderlodge Motorhomes. The price is $28,500 since it needs new paws (tires). That’s a really good price since it has inverters, solar panels, new fridge with ice maker, [...]

Up at 8, to the house by 9, on the road by 10.
Gas and a trip to Home Depot north of Everett, then groceries in Anacortes. To the island by two. Load the car, have a business meeting to sell the large format printer (and now a computer and a laminator) and it’s time for [...]

Too much whiskey. A dog at Lowes helps, but I still have to drive back north after a stop at Rich’s Chevron to drop off a wine review.
Stopped by the house, scrapped a little paint, met the neighbor (Jeremy’s mother) when Wonderful showed up out of the blue. A lost day since I have to [...]

Today’s laundry list of chores:

Breakfast (eggs)
Crosscut Hardwoods to check out Maple Counter tops
Bamboo Hardwoods to check out Bamboo Counter tops
Install the EVDO router at the new house so there is whole house connectivity to the Internet
Test the Wireless-G signal in the garage (put extender on packing list for the next trip to the church if [...]