Home improvement II

this is a continued post -read the one below first.

We had 3 employees taking apart these shelving units and stacking them on a cart for us. Once we paid and loaded them in the van we knew that our plans for the day had just changed. We went straight home to take care of our new plants, and once we had lunch and repotted the plants we started to unpack the shelves.

We weren't exactly sure where everything was going so we moved a few things around and started to set up the first couple of units. We then decided that we needed to clean up the craft area of the basement in order to figure out where everything was going to go. Next came the decision to rebuild the craft table. It makes sense. So much of the crafting supplies that is just stacked in the basement used to be in this table that is sitting in pieces in a corner of the basement. The problem is, I'm not sure I can remember how to put it together. It has been over a year since we took it apart. We cleared out the area and pulled up the rug and found a play may underneath the rug. I knew something was there I just wasn't sure what it was. Now tomorrow (if I ever get to bed) I will be able to do my exercise on a mat. The carpet doesn't give much padding.

Back on track--I was able to get the table together a lot easier than I had expected. Now Mel just has to load it up, we'll hook up some sort of extension cord to a strip of plugs to plug in the sewing machine and maybe some organization will start to come to the basement.

We have 4 of the 6 shelving units built, two of the fancier ones are in the picture. The craft table is done so this completes number 91. The storage shelves aren't completely built and arranged so I cannot say that 47 is done yet.

Last day of summer vacation

I can't believe it is here already, so much was planned and most of it got done. The summer seemed short but it seems really short now that the kids go back to school tomorrow.

The day started like most others, I didn't want to get up, hit the snooze, got up-fed the dogs-went back to bed. I kept telling myself that it is the last day of summer so why not sleep in a little. Also I knew that I was doing the kenpo routine in p90x, and that only takes an hour so I can push snooze one more time, and I'll do it while Mel is at the chiropractor.

I did the routine and had fun, the kenpo routine is fast paced and full of punches, kicks and you just sweat like crazy. Mel came home shortly afterward and all six of us went out in the boat and Reese and Jaren went tubing. It was windy and gave the kids some good bumps.

After lunch we visited some Cub Scout friends to try to plan the year. It was good to sit around with the adults and watch all the kids play.
After dinner we had an open house at the middle school to help Reese remember where his classroom is and where his locker is. We got to meet one of his teachers and the band director. We went to The Dugout for some ice cream and then came home to tea and cookies with Gram-Gram. Doesn't help the diet, but it tasted good.

I got my book it the mail today. It is The Rookie by Scott Sigler. I listened to the podcast first and have been a Sigler Junkie ever since. This is an autographed numbered limited edition that I can't wait to read to the boys. It is supposed to be a toned down version because Siglers stuff can be a bit graphic/disturbing/harsh language, which is probably why I love it.

I am still reading Peter and the Shadow Thieves to the kids, so before bed tonight I was able to get in several more chapters. Alas, we are not really even close to halfway through it. (But it is also a great book that I highly recommend)

busy days

Well my birthday was Monday and I was working so I decided to wear my kilt to work and get one of my four days done. It was fun. Made lots of people smile and probably question my sanity, but that's nothing new. I only had one customer who really had no idea of what I was wearing and was surprised that it was allowed. I got lots of women who asked my technicians what I wore under the kilt. I couldn't lie and said that I needed something under there since I was at work. Now I can update #8 to 1/4.

I have been getting up to exercise every morning and am on day 8 of P90x. I really pushed myself this morning and got nauseous while doing the chest and back routine, tomorrow is the pylometrics workout (aka jump-training). Another killer morning routine. My before pics will hopefully be attached to this post. (scary pictures, I'll only attach one.)

Melissa had scheduled the energy audit for the house today. The woman showed up at 8 am and I assumed that it would be a couple hours at the most. She left at 1pm. She was very thorough and we went over the entire house. She had a thermal-imaging camera and was able to show us all the spots that heat would escape in the winter. The final report and recommendations will come in about 2-3 weeks. She only gets paid one flat fee and give us lists of places that the house should be made more air-tight and some tips on how to make the fridge run more efficiently etc. We will have a list three miles long no doubt. Lots and lots to do. She will have a breakdown of what is the most cost effective jobs and how to do them. Definitely worth the $ just for the info, now we just need some $ to implement the recommendations.

Another item on my list that we did today was to go out fishing on the lake. All six of us squeezed on the boat and we anchored on a rocky point. I had a bite and saw him jump but that was the closest thing to a fish we had all year so far. We did see a bald eagle circling above and heard some loons calling back and forth. It was nice. I finally, after 37 years, can tie a lure on my line. Thank you Dad, your persistence has paid off.