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Happy Halloween!!! Here is a picture of the Granddog. Sorry. Until I am fortunate enough to be a Grandma, I have to make do with what I have. I saw this at Gordmans today and just couldn't resist!
And of course my boy. He's just bored with the whole deal.
Happy Halloween!!
Wow. Does this seem like a looooooooooong time ago. Actually it was. We started on this adventure 8,927 days ago. Okay, it was really October 9th.
Nice wall. I really liked that arrangement too.
Now it looks like this. MOST of the painting is done and in the bottom left corner you can see the very beginning of the wood flooring being laid.
The ceiling is almost finished, it needs touch up painting, and the walls have a few touch ups.
This is a vast improvement over what it's been!
Another view of the now OPEN room. No, the wall shouldn't look like that. Exactly. It was the closet, now flipped. (I forgot to take a picture of the new opening.) And the sheetrock work wasn't finished when we painted last weekend. 
We've been to Lowe's so much lately I'm thinking of having our mail forwarded there.
Well, at least our bed isn't in the living room anymore! You just can't imagine what a difference it makes to sleep in a bed, YOUR OWN bed, at night. I was sleeping on the sofa cushions on the floor. Not horrible, but not my bed!
And this is my kitchen. Every ammenity known to man. What the well equipt kitchen looks like this year. We moved the dresser out, but you still are able to make a phone call, listen to a stereo, have your choice of books from a whole library. Turn on a lamp, work a puzzle, polish your shoes, and get dressed, all without leaving your chair! Now THAT'S convenience!
Yep. That's my family. We aren't the Hillbillies - we're just ahead of our time.......way out in front.
Way,
waaaaay out there.
Hopefully there will be some significant progress over the weekend. I might even have a computer at home by Monday! Woweeeee! A bed and a computer! Life just doesn't get any better than that!!
Well...not much in the way of progress. Actually there is, but I don't have good pictures.
Be sure to check in tomorrow for a before/after picture update!!!!
On the house...not the dog.
This is my granddog. Isn't she beautiful? 
She is the most mischevious dog...EVER. She knocks over the trash cans (every one of them) just to see if there's anything good in them. She hates the garbage collector (he's taking all the "good" stuff). She'll run from you if she gets outside without a leash. She comes when she gets darn good and ready. She farts when she's scared. She has an opinion and she ISN'T afraid to use it.
And she has the sweetest, most loving heart on four legs. Everything Zoey does, she does with enthusiasm. Sometimes we go outside just to come in and get more greetings. She lives life with GUSTO!!! And she's Ralph's very best friend. (BFF for those of you under 20).
However, sometimes Zoey has a bit of a problem with little cysts in her eyes. She can't help it. It's just something that is apparently a condition some dogs are prone to. Hey - we all have our faults. The first time Shell and Chad noticed it they were married a month. Surgery. With a vet specializing in eyes. Two loooooong weeks of recovery. One year later? The other eye. Two loooooong weeks of recovery. Over the fourth of July. So in her world, she can't see and she's under attack. This time, they catch it really REALLY early. 
Much, much earlier. 
So this time the surgery can be done with a cryo-scope. No big collar, no stitches, no two week recovery. Yahoo!!!!!!!
She is SO good for Dr. Bailess. She just lets him look all he wants. Then snorts. This was her post-op check up yesterday. She isn't happy.... but she senses it must be necessary. He says it looks really really good!!! No scarring, the little mass under her eyelid (from a year ago) isn't growing back. We are H*A*p*p*y!!! When I asked Dr. Bailess if I could take a picture, 
I had to explain why.
She's my granddog and i love her. And until I have grandkids..... she's all I have! And I love her. Did I mention that??
Shell was telling Chad how she came to adopt Zoey. That Zoey was a teeny bit older than the other puppies when we got her. She thought it was because of her white eye (it doesn't have much pigment around it). But I know that it's because it is a God thing. When we lost Barklie, who was without a doubt Heaven sent, God had the perfect family member picked out. And he was just waiting until Shell was ready to open her heart again. It was all His perfect plan...... wrapped up in a fun-loving-trash-sniffing-opinionated-farting-black-and-white-ball of attitude that is SO special her "Nana" takes a camera to her vet appointments.
I forgot that one of Murphy's important Laws: whenever you plan to do something, there's always something else you have to do first. Another really important one is, "one thing always leads to another".
So. The contractor tells me that we can paint this weekend. Hooray!!! But painting means...... picking out a color...
Actually two... 
Going home, painting bit "samples" on the wall. And making a huge decision.
Do i pick "cream in my coffee" or "latte". How incredibly appropriate that I chose some coffee themed colors since I am a coffee LOVER.
I was positively certain that "cream in my coffee" was going to be the winner. So sure that I nearly just went back in and purchased three gallons. But when it was in MY house...yuck. Latte was the definate winner. However, when my handy dandy assistant opened the can, she asked if there was any color besides white in here. Then she painted on the wall and got this orange color. I'm getting a sick feeling....... but then it dried to a nice light creamy beige. I wanted a color with as few "undertones" as I could. No pinks, yellows, greens, just beige (we live on the edge here at the Sunderland's!). So of course, while we're at it, we have to paint the ceiling, because we elected not to scrape and re-texture the entire ceiling, just blend in and paint all of it and see if it matches. (Please Lord...) So the wall paint led to the ceiling paint, and of course that led to ripping up the carpet. Why? Because it has to be done by Tuesday and we're off for the weekend. Ripping up the carpet leads to taking up the tack strips and pulling staples. 
And of course that leads to 897 band-aids. We figure we're laying approximately 395 square feet of wood laminate. At 7 staples per foot, I believe that comes to somewhere around 2,765 staples.
Some places have no staples, and some places have so many staples that the carpet must have been "live" when captured and they were taking no chances on it escaping! I wish I had known, because I would have taken out stock in the Band Aid company!!
This is what I did for about 2,119 of the staples. The others were taken out by knights in shining armor.
Yep, that's my cavalry. My "posse", my homies. I love them all. I was having a rough afternoon. Fueled by a lack of sleep, aching joints from painting ceilings to pulling staples, when I accidentally knocked off a box of glass stuff I had just packed and broke most of the things in it, I just sat down and cried. Shortly after, my beautiful in-laws showed up and not long after them my beautiful son-in-law, all with cheery attitudes and six more hands. I have NEVER been so happy to see them. Well, not this week anyway! It is amazing how quickly things can go when you have some help. It would taken us at least four more hours, and it seemed like with us all working together we got it done in less than one hour! And my heart was much, much lighter. 
just to give you an idea of my state of mind....today I Googled "remodel hell". This is one of the quotes I found:
Dale Nichols, owner of Summit Builders in Granite Bay, Calif. and president of the Sacramento chapter of NARI, recently went through the remodel of his own kitchen.
"I used to think I was sympathetic to my clients; now I know what they really have gone through," he said in the California Life Home and Garden article. "It sucks. It really does. You have to go into this experience with the idea that it's the most miserable experience in life."
But Lori Moler said it's all worth it in the end, comparing it to childbirth.
"You forget the actual pain and discomfort and only remember the wonderful final product of your combined efforts," she said in the article.
Wow. Couldn't have said it better myself! Having spent a mere 12 hours in labor with my only childbirth experience, I can honestly say....this is WAAAAAAAY worse!!!
Ohhhhh, it's getting closer! Our contractor told me yesterday that I will be able to PAINT A CLOSET when he leaves today!!! Wahoo! Who knew such a mundane task could bring such joy!
What it means is, something is nearly D*O*N*E!! As I looked around the kitchen before I left this morning (which, incidentally a mama pig would feel RIGHT at home in) I was so totally bummed I just wanted to crawl back in bed and pull the covers over my head. (I'd have to move Inspector Ralph over because lately he has been going BACK to bed until I leave for work). Here is a real short list of things I realized I miss:
1) Someplace to sit. Choices currently include a kitchen chair, the toilet, our bed. After tomorrow it will be down to the toilets and a mattress on the floor.
2) NOT being able to write my initials on any flat OR horizontal surface. The other day Larry wrote "wow" on the kitchen t.v.... The doctor said he'll regain the use of his finger again, but it will always have a little "crook ".
3) Being able to walk to our bathroom at night. Currently there is a mattress, box springs, fan and pile of clothes to navigate in the dark.
4) Cooking. I know I'm a freak of nature, but I do miss it.
However.....I am looking forward to the weekend. When I walked in to work this morning, I told John I was looking forward to the weekend like you can't believe. He said "why? You're just going to work your butt off all weekend". Yessss......but it is PROGRESS!! It means we're getting somewhere! This picture kind of sums it up for me....
The dawn...........ah, yes.
We're having a work day tomorrow. You should have heard Shell and Chad when I asked if they would be willing to help us tomorrow. "Oh yes!" "we'd love to!"
"can we start reeeeally early and paint ALL day?!!" "I was hoping you would ask!"
And if you believe that, I have some land in Mexico.....
Actually they were very kind and said yes. I bet Chad just can't WAIT to drill a hole in his other leg!
So, ya'll come! Put on your grubby clothes and head on over! We'll be singing and whistling and telling jokes all day!!
Speaking of which....you gotta see this. It might not be as funny if I couldn't see it happening at my own house, but it's SOOOOOO something Larry would do!!
Well, I guess two heads are better than one. When you can't figure out what to do next, call for the inspector.
"Larry" was having a hard time figuring out how to get things wired correctly (you'll remember that the two wires he tried connecting ended up in a cussing fit). So...fortunately Ralph the Housing Inspector came by.
Had to get his tool belt on.......
Then had to bring in a consultant.
Ralph tells the the "big boss" what a infernal mess this place is!
"big boss" says she's seen worse...but not lately.
However, then the thunder and flooding rains started, and they both had to find somewhere to go....
They just don't make inspectors like they used to!
In other news......I'm trying to select a paint color. Any ideas?
That's three in Japanese for those of you who don't know. Ichi, nee, san (1,2,3). I believe there are at least these beginning phases of a remodeling project:
1) Excitement or Planning
2) Getting started Uneasiness
3) Bit of Fear at the first holes in your walls
4) We're on our way!
5) Oh my God, what have we done.....
6) I'm in hell
This is the before and shortly after of the same view.
The wires hanging from the ceiling are what I like to call "cuss wires". That's sure what my husband has done with them this weekend!
Removing old, moving new thermostat.
Holes in the floor. Yes, you can look into the mail ductwork through there.
Looking through holes in the ceiling..... 
Here a hole, there a hole, everywhere......
This would be a picture from Larry's adventure with the wire he stuffed into the ductwork and then had to retrieve.
Everywhere a hole.....
When I get to another phase besides #6, I'll let you know..... in the mean time, say a prayer for us!
Only if you have seen the T.V. show "Dharma and Gregg" are you able to understand FULLY that I am married to Larry. With that in mind, here is our weekend.
Saturday: At the butt-crack of 1:00 p.m. (because he needed to sleep in), we get started on cleaning out behind the shed. This is the sole determining factor in our decision to rent the gigantic dumpster that sits in the street in front of our house. The construction materials don't amount to that much, but in back of the shed hasn't been cleaned out in years. Besides, I think to myself. A couple of hours, heave it into the dumpster and we'll be looking GOOOOOD.
2:00 - Where did all this crap come from? Why do we NEED to store 2 broken gas grills, 3 non-working lawn mowers and an assortment of rusted lawn chairs?? And, by the way, apparently the local wasp community has been working VERY hard on building a high rise in addition to the condominium complex we just knocked down. "Larry" is "not afraid of no stinking wasps"! So he goes back behind, hat swatting, bug spray fogging. They're gone he assures me. Besides, we took the whopping nests down and they're in the trashbag. I'm bending over cleaning leaves (his knee hurts too much) and I stand up to face 4,297 wasps that have discovered they have been evicted. They are NOT happy. And they are standing between me and the only exit. I scream for reinforcements. Nothing. I'm starting to panic because they have evidently gone and told the other tennants and THEY are no happier than the first. So I'm screaming like the village idiot behind the shed and realize....he left. Took the spray with him. Finally I decide to make a break for it and he comes driving back down the alley. "Oh, I was visiting with Charlie in the front yard. Couldn't hear over the music". I'm resisting the urge to wring his neck...
3:00 - Seriously. Keep one more thing we don't currently need and I'm going to have a fit. What IS all this crap? The dumpster we thought would be returned nearly empty is nearing full, and we haven't thrown out the CONSTRUCTION material!
4:00 - He tells ME to hurry up, he has things to do. And I'm having a good time?? Who stored this crap back here? And what did you think we would need 87 bent tomato cages for??
5:00 - I'm done. Now we have to go to dinner with my mom. A WHOLE nother story.
Sunday 2:00 - Ready to start working on the house again. I'm sick of construction, and I'm sick of orders. He comes home and asks what's for lunch. "well, I had a sandwich" I replied. Oh. Thirty minutes later he asks me where his sandwich is. I don't know, where did you put it? Uh...you said you had a sandwich for lunch. Yeeesss..... He assumed that him asking me what I had meant I would know to fix him one. I don't think so, Larry. It isn't that hard.
3:00 - He's working on the electricity. This should have been my first clue that I needed to go shopping. I am so tired after the day before, I'm not that smart. He cannot figure out why 3 of 5 outlets are no longer working. And he just can NOT understand why I think we need them to work! So he stomps into the soon-to-be dining room and starts looking at two wires hanging from the ceiling. Climbs up and puts the wires together. All of the sudden he's cussing like a maniac with Tourettes Syndrome. Guess I better flip the breaker.
3:30 - I've flipped the breakers on and then off (resisting the urge to leave them on) about 17 times.
4:00 - He tells me how much he loathes electricity and now is probably a good time to call Chad over to help. I make the phone call. Chad is just delighted at the prospect of working with said father-in-law. "Has he had something to eat lately?" Because in addition to other maladies, Larry suffers from LBSCBDO, or Low Blood Sugar Crabby Butt DisOrder. Chad has been around Larry enough to know, if he hasn't eaten in a few hours, keep the hell away.
5:00 - My torn up living area is full of men trying to figure out why there is power but the lights won't come on, and why the outlets won't work and they should. Larry called Paul Cook, a real handyman who has probably just decided he wished he had never answered his phone. But we need help with the electrical issues. Chad keeps telling him what's missing, but Larry has cotton in his ears. Finally, Larry mentions that there WAS a link of electrical wire that he shoved into the floor space.... Could it be the missing link??? So he drills a big hole in the floor to get to the wire he shoved in a duct. "Ta-Da!!!" Paul and Chad resist strangling Larry, only because there are witnesses. Larry crawls in the attic where apparently there are more live wires because he seems to have short term Tourettes again, and is now able to hand tools THROUGH the hole in the ceiling to Chad. A wicked looking drill bit slips and bangs Chad in the leg, evidently puncturing an artery. The kid is good bleeder. So now I have one cussing in the attic, one with his leg elevated trying to stop the bleeding, and I just want to stick myself in the eye with a fork. Why did we ever decide to remodel? Can someone tell me why I thought this was a good idea?
So the bleeding abates, Chad wads up a towel and duct tapes it to his leg. (And yes, I pointed out how that might feel when all that tape needs to be removed). Crabby Larry climbs down from the attic. Paul has left at this point and Chad asks me quietly if anyone would miss Larry....
Next we are trying to patiently worm a big wire through the existing wall to the new socket, and cranky-boy comes stomping in. "I do this for a living" he growls. "You can have it!" we all agree. Chad and Shell leave with a few leftovers for his lunch, happy I am sure to be going. I'm despondant. Larry can kiss my ass.
Two hours later - Larry asks "will you help me clean up?" No. "Will you carry some tools for me?" Hell no.
"Aren't you going to kiss me goodnight??" Blow it out your ass, Larry.
Things are going along just swimmingly. Drowning is an appropriate adjective right now also. We are just three days or so in, but it is starting to feel a little overwhelming. I don't want to cook in a mess, my house is torn up, but.....I have a quality control team that is second to none. 
Yep, that's Ralph on the job. Strapped on his tool belt and is taking on the job of Quality Control Inspector.
When Ralph's on the job, NOTHING gets by him!
I give Ralph full authority to grill the contractor as he sees fit. It’s important he recognizes who’s boss.
And I think, over time, the workmen have grown to respect Ralph's authority.
We like to encourage a healthy, positive work environment around here. Yep, that’s what we’re all about.
And yes, that IS a tool belt.
In other pictures.......
Hubby will be replacing the thermostat tonight.
Still ahead....the closet flip, the wall comes down, we paint everything that stands still, rip up carpet, lay floor, fall down exhausted.
