Final inspection, paid the contractor, and his part is done. True, SWMBO and I spent a good part of the day “doing things” (painting doors and putting in grab bars and cabinet door knobs, but, basically, except for waiting on the counter tops to come in, it be done. My father-in-law could move in tomorrow if he’d a mind to.

Woo Woo. Gonna be kind of strange not to have the contractor or crew coming over almost every day. In other words; back to normal. I think I’ll get used to it fairly quickly.

At the meeting this morning I was pretty sure he’d (the contractor) do the numbers (he did) and tell us we owed another $10k or more. He surprised us with $1975 for “extra labor” charges (related to jack hammering the pad out to put the new zero entry shower in) and we were like “Hell, just round it up to $2k and call it good.” Yep, I like coming in $9k under bid but I really didn’t want him to feel cheated. So it worked out. Final total to the contractor: $53k.

Her Dad mentioned on the phone the other day that the pictures tell him that we spent a butt-ton of bucks on this remodel. Why, yes, yes we did.

Place looks GOOD though. We both think it’s been money well spent. SWMBO saved us a LOT of money with her shopping the cabinets and other things and getting great deals. She’s done good and been great through all this.

Stone guys came yesterday and put the bathroom vanity top and sink in. Looking good there too.

SWMBO bought a shit load of silver knobs for the  cabinet doors and a shit load of pull bars for cabinet drawers and we got into putting those in part of today also. Need longer screws for the pull bars or we’re going to be taking all the drawer fronts apart to install the pull bars. Not happening. I’ll go get the longer screws tomorrow.

Having a bit of a time putting the new front door in. Finally got the hinges placed right and the door really closes tight, but, color me shocked, the pre-drilled holes for the lock and knob don’t match the holes already in the door frame from the old door. So I get to figure out how to do that (make new holes that do match) and fill in the old holes. If only I were a carpenter.

The joy. The absolute joy.

I’m so tired. I’m gonna go lay down and it’s only 2100.

YouTube For Poopin’

The internet has made it possible for us to do everything from shop to work to watch movies from the comfort of our own homes. But there’s one activity that has been largely overlooked: pooping.

That’s right, pooping. It’s a natural bodily function that we all do, but it’s often seen as something to be rushed through. But what if there was a way to make pooping more enjoyable?

Enter YouTube For Poopin’. This new genre of YouTube videos is specifically designed to be watched while you’re on the toilet. The videos are typically short and funny, and they cover a wide range of topics, from cat videos to celebrity gossip.

So next time you’re feeling the urge to poop, don’t reach for your phone or magazine. Instead, open up YouTube and find a video that will make your time on the toilet a little more enjoyable.

I used to read while sitting there “not doing anything.” (When I was a teen, Dad tacked a poster board with the CW code on it so we’d at least learn that while “just sitting there.”) But, not anymore. Now it’s YouTube all the way. Gotta be some way to cash in on that.

Not a whole lot going on other than construction. Floor and trim got put in before the weekend and it’s looking real good down there.

Did get out and start prepping the area I’m going to plant the new rose bushes for SWMBO. Lots of tree roots to pull up! Rocks to remove! Shit, er, compost to shovel! Beer to drink! Er, Near Beer to drink!

I need to make a dump run and empty the utility trailer. Think I’ll throw the crushed up concrete in the driveway and pretend it’s gravel. That’ll lighten the load some. Probably Monday.

Speaking of which. SWMBO and made another trip to Home Depot an bought all the tiles for the new shower in the FILA, a couple of door handles (not knobs), and two more of those 7.5″ flat LED lights for less than $300. Not bad.

On the way we stopped at Jack In The Box for a quick meal before going shopping (we spend WAY less when we do that) and two simple 3 piece chicken tenders meals set us back $30. We could have had a real sit down meal in a good restaurant for almost that. I’m pretty near not stopping for “fast food” anymore.

Especially since I stepped on my scale this morning and it read 227. Yep. Lost 30 lbs in the last couple of months. I don’t really look different though. Still old and ugly. And I still look fat.

Tuesday: Filled the back of my truck with cardboard from the construction and SWMBO and I took it to the transfer station down the street from us. One job down: 90k jobs to go! Will probably make the dump run tomorrow. Trailer is getting real full.

Wednesday: Who the hell remembers.

Thursday: Shower tile started in the FILA. Cool! I seem to remember working outside a lot. Doing things. Man, this being “retired” shit sure makes one forgetful.

Friday: Date Day! Took SWMBO to the FPH in Port Orchard. Quick stop at Jo Ann’s to pick up a mermaid skeleton ($24). Walmart. We’ve been spending way less than $100/wk for “food” and things. Walmart managed to get $200+ out of us this week. But I did buy a mount for the 45″ tv to go downstairs.

Saturday: SSDD. SWMBO off to the Genealogy Library and me puttering around the house.

Sunday: Today. Wait. Haven’t taken my medicine yet.

Not actually “proven,” but, I really think that when I quit eating cereal for breakfast, and the freeze dried banana’s and blue berries and raisins I spread over said cereal, that I lowered my Potassium enough to set off the AFib. Since I’ve “restocked” with potassium the AFib went away. Mostly. Still get the occasional twinge; but no where near that constant fluttering I had for the entirety of last month.

So, in trying to get healthier I damned near killed myself.

Holy Crap! I just realized how much time has passed since my last post. Damn! Where does the time go?

Work is really progressing in the FILA now. Mostly. Still updating pictures for family, friends, and those just interested. (What few there are left; what with me being the oldest living member of my side of the family. HEY SIS! You still out there?)

Sorry. Got sidetracked.

Been to Home Depot a couple of times this week already and we have to make another trip tomorrow for the shower tile so that job can get done. The contractor chi sled out the pad and will be installing the zero-entry shower pan this coming week. Hopefully.

Made a trip to Tacoma (I HATE going across the bridge or into Tacoma) to the Yes Cabinets to return the 24″ wide cabinet for a 21″ cabinet. They found a teeny tiny small scratch (probably a whole .02″ long) on the very upper edge of the cabinet door (where it would never had been seen once installed) so wouldn’t take the $300 cabinet back. So SWMBO bought the one we need for $200. And we get to keep the $300 cabinet. SWMBO wants to keep it in the basement for “just in case” so don’t get me started.

Happy Wife, Happy Life.  My ass. It’ll be a long time before YES Cabinets gets any more of my business.

We stopped by what was the Sears “scratch and dent” store now going by another name but still basically the same and bought a brand-new slightly scratched dish washer for $300. They made a big deal about loading it into the truck for me but I’d have to unload it at home. Peh. Thing weighs less than 50 lbs and was not problem for even this OLD guy. Contractor already built a box around it. Looks good.

We also stopped by the Tacoma Boy’s (?) veggie place and bought 20 lbs of apples for $20. HUGE things. So big that they can’t go through the apple corer/slicer thingie I usually use. So I’ve been using a mandolin and being REALLY careful about where my fingers and palm are. So far I’ve made 15 (freeze dryer) trays, gave 3 apples to the construction crew downstairs, and still have 3 apples sitting on the counter. That’s a LOT of apples. I think next time I’ll just get 10 lbs.

Got out on the tractor and pushed a couple more trees over in the front yard so I can plant rose bushes for SWMBO. Started clearing more trails out in the back 40 so she and her cat can walk different places. She wants it more “park like.” Parks for me are like in and around the San Fernando Valley (mowed and sidewalks). Parks for her are more like someplace called the “Upper Peninsula.” (Michigan). We’re still trying to figure it out.

I am loving that induction stove! It’s surprising the things one can do when one has precise temperature control. From melt-in-your-mouth Southern buttermilk fried chicken to the salmon we had tonight; it just keeps getting better. And I’m really learning how to use iron too.

I hear Ice Cream calling …

Actually, I did but it did come as a bit of a surprise when I started going through my kitchen cabinets and seeing what a magnet would stick to. So these:

won’t work with the new stove. We’ll move them to the FILA with the old stove until when/if her Dad moves out and brings his own. Luckily, most of these I really haven’t used in months or longer, so, no biggie. And I’ve been slowly gathering cast iron skillets and pots and those do work.

SWMBO had her first session on the new stove this evening for “reconstitute Monday” dinner. She did pretty good.

Called last night to refill my Rx for the blood thinner I’m now taking. Showed up at the Pharmacy in town and got my meds and headed home. Just now, 7 hours later, I realize they refilled one of the “other” meds I’m taking that was due to refill. So, day 2 without the Xarelto; which you’re not supposed to just stop taking. I will be there at the pharmacy at 1000 sharp.

Which I did today. So I’m medicated to specs. Should be good for another 24 hours.

Not a lot going on. Mowed all but the front-lower (or lower-front) yard yesterday. Did the weed-whacking around the house and yards today. I’ll get the trail around the property later. Way later.

Maters are starting to come in. Have one (1) green bell pepper that looks kinda sorta like it wants to grow. We’ll see how that goes.

Freeze dried some apples, nectarines, and burger. Next up: green beans and riced cauliflower.

Painting with colors finally getting started in the FILA today. Light purple in the master bed room. Light green in the “office.” Woodchuck (I think) in the bathroom. (Might be Upchuck for all I know.) All the ceilings are white. FILA is really starting to look like something. Hell, if SWMBO’s Dad doesn’t move in, and I don’t wind up living down there, we could get about $1700/mo rent on the place. IF we were of a mind to rent again. (Both the last Renters turned out to be $ thousands expensive fixing the place back up. Never renting again.)