Happy Freakin' New Year

2009 has gotten off to a glorious start. Got to play golf in shorts and sandals on Jan. 2nd and 3rd. God, I love West Texas.

And, yesterday I received a phone call at home from my boss. He is moving back to Tyler to take over that District. Looks like I will have one final shot at the top job here in Lubbock. Guess I better shine my shoes, rent a suit, and sharpen up my ass kissing skills.

Phase 1 - Complete (More or Less)

Well, I managed to get almost complete with everything I had hoped to do before Christmas. The only thing lacking in Phase 1 is the glass shelves and doors in the bar.

Phase 2 will get the floor and walls. Still slightly under $12,000 at this point.

Taking a Peek Out of the Box

Damn...it has been almost a month since I posted anything on this blog. Is my life really that boring and eventless? Not really...I just haven't had much to say.

A quick update.

The kitchen is coming along nicely, but I have been struggling mightily to get some things wrapped up before next Tuesday, when the Warren clan will descend on Maniacal Lane for Christmas. My goal is to have everything complete, except for the floor. Pictures will be forthcoming once that occurs. The walls will have to wait, as the wife has yet to decide what treatment I will be applying.

Bought a new grill today for my Christmas present. Ironically, considering how much shit I gave the wife about her convection oven, I drank the grill Kool-Aid and bought into the Infrared scam. Don't know if it will make any difference in how things cook, but telling people I have an infrared grill just sounds cool. Bought it at Lowe's and was informed they had none in boxes, and I should just roll the display up to the cashier and pay. I felt kind of silly as I went through the line, pushing this humongous grill ahead of me. Then it hit me..."Geez, I am buying a demo. They should discount this thing." Managed to get them to knock 15% off, saving me $75 on a $500 grill. That will make the burgers taste better for a while, at least.

That's it...work, go home and work on the kitchen, sleep, wake up, work, go home and work on the kitchen...well you get the drift. Have a nice Christmas, and stay tuned for finished kitchen photos next week.

What's Old is New

I took the dogs out for their after dinner business tonight. It is a nightly ritual, wherein I watch them to assure they have each done their business, and make sure neither of the young Aussies partake of any poop-sicles that might be strewn about the yard. It also gives me an opportunity to see that Katie makes a good long walk around the back yard to get some exercise on her substandard hips. As I plod along, urging Katie to keep up without letting her break into the hop-skip gait she prefers, I am hit again with the knowing that her days are numbered. It is clear that her ability to get around is diminishing, and her senses are fading little by little. The hearing is very selective, smell and vision are not as sharp as they used to be. But, she seems happy, even if I am not.

Just as I begin to fall into that depressed mood, little Ellen Barkin, the youngest Aussie, comes bounding by with Sara Evans, the next in line...bound together by the rope toy they are fighting over. They gallop around the yard like a team of horses in stride, as they each try to get the toy away from the other. I am reminded to cherish these days with these two dogs, as I know one day, they too will be in their twilight years, and unable to perform this task for my amusement.

Katie will enter the clearing at the end of the path one of these days, and so will all of the others...that is the nature of having dogs. But, just as Ellen is filling the role Katie used to perform, others are sure to take her place as well.

There will always be another dog...but for now, I will enjoy these days with the five crazy canines currently under our care, and constantly remind myself that time, in dog years, flies by.

Marathon Week

Well, the long week has come to an end, and I think I accomplished everything I told the wife I would while she was in Georgia. The cabinet work is complete...now for the details, like doors and trim and hardware and painting. Might start trying to schedule the brother in law for the tile backsplash.

Finished The Beast today.

Vacation???

Last week, the wife and I decided she should go to Georgia on her own, while I took this week of vacation to try and get as much done on the kitchen as possible. There has been a bit of progress, as I have completed the doors for the new cabinets around the stove and microwave and sink. I also managed to replace all of the paneling on one wall with sheet rock, and get the fridge cabinet built.
Tomorrow, I get after the bar area. Haven't decide yet if I will do the sheetrock or the cabinet work first.

A few update photos...

Can't Top That`

Okay...the counter tops are finally in. Guess I can quit bitching about the contractor now. I am not sure if they really look good, or if I am still coming down from the airplane glue high from the adhesive, but I am very happy with the results. Please note the first items placed on the counter are associated with the feeding of the dogs.

Probably will not be anymore photo worthy activities until I finish the cabinet work now.