Finally got the inspection yesterday. Today the electrician is going to start running wires and putting electrical boxes in and stuff. Also, filling in the holes in the concrete blocks and finishing blocking up the walls. Yesterday, I literally filled my van full of flexible PVC, and fittings and whatnot.

I, today, am going to work, but I’d like to make it out to look at some sliding glass doors and a regular front door.

I got my eye on a new gas grill, but the $500 pricetag is making me shirk.

And it’s Friday. I don’t think I’ll have much free time this weekend, but you have a good one for me!

I was walking the dogs this morning and at one point I noticed they weren’t paying any attention to where they were going, running into me and each other. Then I realized they were staring out into a field we walk by every day. There was a horse out in the field, and the dogs seemed amazed. I think it was the first time either had seen a horse.

I thought about walking them closer but it was still dark and the field was very grassy/muddy/car tracky and holey. So I didn’t.

Maybe we’ll walk by there again this afternoon.

Today it’s back to work. Doesn’t feel like a Thursday, feels like Monday. Gonna try and do a whole weeks work in one day.

Have a good day!

Yesterday I had a long dental procedure, installing the titanium post for my implant. My favorite part was when the dentist pulled out a tiny torque wrench and checked the torque.

In two weeks, the stitches come out and the ceramic cap goes on.

I have a sick note from the dentist today, so I’m off work!

But it feels like it. After 4 days off, I’m ready to go back to work. Kinda. Today I have a 90 minute dental appointment, installing implant #2. This afternoon, I have training at work. That means my work, which has been accumulating will accummulate more.

Didn’t see any transit of Mercury yesterday, it was cloudy.

On the building front, there’s supposed to be an inspection today. The walls are almost done. I’m starting to worry about bathrooms and toilets and showers. Worried the shower base might be available. And stack-up washer/dryer combinations.

I need a whole lotta coffee today.

Have a good day!

Remember my pics of the Transit of Venus? Well, today is the transit of Mercury.

I’m ready to watch it the only forseeable problem is clouds.

Today is a holiday Monday. Back to work tomorrow.

It was quite cool this morning for the dawg walk.

My attitude about the construction has improved considerably since yesterday, although it has been a long tough weekend. I’m just going to one-day-at-a-time it. What may sound contradictory, is I’m trying to think ahead, so I have the materials when they’re needed. I’m delegating a lot of that responsibility though. I got the wife working on colors and tiles and bathroom stuff.

Fun fact: Did you know a standard toilet sticke out 30 inches from the wall? That’s a lot! I’m going to find one that sticks out less.

Have a good week! Hope you get to see Mercury passing the sun today.

On Saturday, yesterday, the foreman of my construction project quit. He said the owner of the company wasn’t paying him what was agreed. The owner says otherwise. He’s been replaced already, and I find his replacement acceptable.

Continuing the building of the walls, it became apparent that two electrical outlets are directly under two windows. This concerned me, because when someone leaves the window open and it rains, (which will definitely happen, sooner or later), water will come in the window and get the electrical plug wet. So, I ended up eliminatiing one window and moving another. Eliminating the window was easy, remove something like two and a half blocks and fill it in. Moving the window is going to take cosniderably more work. maybe removing 6 to 10 blocks.

Another concern I have is the bathroom. Theres going to be a stand up shower and a stackable washer and dryer. I think the shower entryway is going to have a toilet right in front of it. And I’m worried about the barrier between the shower and washer/dryer. The architect didn’t put the washer/dryer in the layout, but it is in the electrical drawings. The drawings show a big shower (bathtub size?) and no room for the washer/dryer. That’s something to worry about another day.

So I’m a little stressed right now. My vacation day was spent on the road, getting materials, stuck in inexplicable traffic. Yesterday I was helping the one worker move blocks. (more workers showed up eventually) And today I discovered that have and extra window that I hope I can take back. (It hasn’t even been delivered yet.)

That’s been my holiday/vacation/weekend so far. One more day till back to work.

Monday is a holiday here. I put in for a vacation day today and I’m off today tomorrow Sinday and Monday!!

I’m thinkin’ beach, or hang out and observe the construction workers.

Have a good weekend!!!

The concrete pour came out better than I dared hope. 14.6 cubic yards of concrete, I learned yesterday that one of those cement mixer trucks on the road can only carry 9 cubic yards. Two truckloads of concrete poured under the house yesterday.

The guys worked really hard yesterday, till almost 7PM. I took ’em a case of beer when I got home at 5. I told ’em to drink it all and don’t leave any left over, which they did. Of course, as you know, I don’t drink.

Below is a video I made this morning of my first walk on the dried concrete. Pardon the audio, I sound like a mumbling sleepwalker, which I am. Pre-dog walk, pre coffee, pre shower.

Today they start the block walls, I’ve mentioned several times that maybe they could have it done by New Years, yesterday I changed it to Christmas and for the first time, they confirmed that this was a possibility. They originally estimated end of January 2020.

Things are looking good today. Hope they’re looking good for you too.

Today is the day of the big pour. The foundation, breezeway and walkway.

I hope I can take off work and be here, but I have a meeting that ends at the same time the concrete truck arrives.

After today, there will be no dirt portions under the house. When we moved in, it was all dirt, except a little porch.

My wife is thinking about painting the interior of the house. She mentioned it the other day, and I said “Go for it.” Yesterday I saw what looked like Post-It-Notes on the walls, and when I went closer to read them, I realized they were those color sample cards.

I’m off Friday, I put in for 1 vacation day. It wasn’t my idea. But it’s a good idea. Monday is a holiday for a referendum vote. Cruise ship dock.

Have a good day! Pictures tomorrow!

I didn’t post yesterday, as you, like all my gazillion readers know, but it wasn’t my fault.

Yesterday the wife had to go to work earlier than me, I was worried that she would be interfering with my morning routine. I was very happily surprised that she was already out of the shower by the time I got home from walking the dogs.

What really shot down my routine was the fact that I tracked dawg doo over half the house, and was cleaning that up.

The poop was on my heel, and I came upstairs with noticing it, But once I started across the dining room to the kitchen, I noticed “a little extra cushioning in my step”.

Spray bottle and a roll of paper towels, how I spent my coffee/blog time yesterday.

Then, I rode the scooter, 30% chance of showers, and it became 100% overcast and rained. I’m lucky I made it home dry.

But other than that it was a really good day!

YOU have a good day today! Watch your step!