Bathroom remodel days 3 and 4

 

Day three began with a request to get into the back of the tub wall. This is done through a boarded-up hole in Madison's closet. To get to that entry, I had to rearrange the furniture just to get into the closet, and then I had to remove hanging clothes, six plastic bins full of crap important things, a sewing machine, and several other various baskets and bins. By the time I was finished, I was drenched in sweat, and Madison's room was cluttered. 

It was a good thing they needed to get into that hole because when they did, we discovered the previous day's flood had also gone into the closet and soaked the carpeting. I retrieved yesterday's now clean towels and proceeded to dry the carpet. The guys set up a large fan, and that sucker ran for thirty-two hours, kicking Madison from her bedroom that night. 

Also, on day three, we discovered that the backing of the new vanity didn't line up with our sink piping, so my guy added another repiping project to his list, and I did everything possible to see that they were comfortable, offering sandwiches and drinks and a few stories every hour or so. 

By day four, the three of us were good friends.

They really kicked it up a notch on Friday. Then, the problems were minor ones that we solved together, and by five-thirty, the job was complete. They made me go back through the bathroom as we had done the first day, and I couldn't contain my excitement. He had sloped the window ledge so that water wouldn't pool and mold, and he hid the piping (that used to collect dust between the toilet and sink) in the wall--little details for sure, but very important ones to me that he did on his own.

Me: "Wow. I can't tell you how excited I am at this bathroom. Mainly for the angled window ledge, but also for the finished room. It really looks awesome!"

Him: "So, now you're going to tell your husband he was right?"

I conceded that one. 

Tom was right. The bathroom needed to be redone, and it looks amazing. Madison and I will add the finishing touches with a shopping trip because, as I told Tom, if we're going to do the job, it should be done right, and we need new lighting and a new mirror, and new wall plates, and new towel bars, and a new shower curtain pole and hooks, and...

NFL playoff picks

Tampa Bay over Green Bay

Buffalo over Kansas City

Bathroom remodel day 2

Nothing in remodeling ever goes right--at least not in our household. On the first day, the water pipes leading to the tub had to be redone. This was due to a remodeling project years ago when pipes in our bathroom floor burst, causing us to repipe the entire house. The plumbing company took the easy way out and added more lines until we had a puzzle of pipes.

These bathroom guys, AWESOME by the way, didn't like the maze of pipes, so they redid it all, spending time not allocated for that. When they left for the day, the head man told me to periodically check the new piping--just in case. 

I did. Periodically that evening, I checked the bathroom and the new handiwork. However, I did not check it that morning before I left for my exercise routine with the neighbors. Anyone guess where this is going? I'm definitely a foreshadowing expert. 

I returned from the walk, the bathroom guys showed up, and my bathroom was completely flooded. NOT from the tub pipe job, but from a clog in the sink. Our sinks almost back up to one another in the two bathrooms, and when Tom shaved that morning--major water waster in the a.m.--the clog caused the water to exit through an exposed pipe in the second bathroom. It completely flooded the room and the construction guys' leather tool bag, containing fifty-seven hundred tools that then had to be dried and oiled.

More time spent not allocated to the job.

It was a nightmare for them. I only had to take towels and mop up the water, and thank my lucky stars that they found it and not me. I'm not sure what I would've done had I opened the door that morning. I thought about doing so but was too concerned about meeting my exercise walking buddies on time. Whew.

I had to call the Big Guy to update him on the problem. He was nonchalant about it and told me to call a plumber. I did and was told someone would be out later in the afternoon. From there, it just went bing, badda, boom. My house was a beehive of activity.

There was the inauguration, which I watched with the construction guys.

There was an issue with Grammy that required multiple phone calls back and forth between family members. 

There was Madison bringing me lunch because she had to take half a day off for a dental appointment. 

Off she went with instructions to pop in on Grammy afterward.

There was Darcy showing up from college because she, too, had a dental appointment.

There was no water since that had to be shut off for the workers to work. 

I mean, it was one thing after another on Wednesday until I didn't know if I was coming or going. 

Luckily, my neighbor offered her toilets and sinks for use, the plumber appeared and pulled out wads of red curly hair from the bathroom pipes, and dinner was a crockpot meal already in and doing its thing. 

When quitting time rolled around, the three of us--the two bathroom guys and yours truly--looked like we had been run over by Mack trucks and hung up wet to dry. Our celebration with the neighbors and bottles of champagne to toast the Biden and Harris administration's beginning was quite welcomed by five o'clock.

There is no way this job will be complete in three days.  

Good thing I never expected that it would.

Home improvement quarantine project #4

Tom's bathroom renovation has finally begun! He started grousing about redoing the hall bathroom many moons ago, and after finally taking the plunge and hiring the same company that did our master bathroom, he had to wait. 

Due to COVID, construction is hopping, and we were told the end of December. That really meant January, but when we got the call that we were good to go, I vetoed it. Or rather, I put it into terms that I knew would force Tom to reject the date.

Me: "Darcy and Oleg will still be living with us then, so you will all need to coordinate your morning bathroom routines for those three days, keeping in mind that you and Darcy work and Oleg has interviews scheduled."

Tom called the company and pushed it back for two more weeks. Last weekend, knowing construction would begin today, I asked if he would be there when the worker bees arrived.

Tom: "What for?"

Me: "To make sure that the job is done right, unlike last time."

Monday afternoon, he took me into the bathroom to explain in detail what was to be done. 

Me: "So this is your way of telling me, no, you will not be here to make sure the job is done correctly?"

I was on a deadline and didn't have time for his simulation games, but since I know how to manipulate guide him, we got through the run-down in five minutes, and I was prepared when the gentleman arrived this morning. 

Head Guy: "Let's go into the room and discuss what we will do."

Me: "Let's. I'm more than prepared."

Head Guy: "We will--" he proceeded to go through the details until he got to the toilet. "We have a problem, here. The toilet is against the wall, and I need to get the new wall behind it. We have a problem."

Me: "There is no "we" here, just to be clear."

He moved on, giving me more details. 

Head Guy: "We're stopping the new wall here?"

Me: "Correct."

Head Guy: "Why aren't we going to the door frame?"

Me: "That was the Big Guy's decision. Big Guy meaning the husband. I have no idea why he stopped there. Maybe because it was too expensive?"

Head Guy: "You see, I have to chip away here, and when I do, the tile over here might start breaking."

Me: "In which case, you will fix your mistake by going to the door frame with the new wall?"

I winked. Head Guy laughed. His assistant chuckled. Head Guy moved on, tapping the cabinet hanging over the toilet. 

Head Guy: "Do you want this to remain here?"

Me: "I do."

Head Guy: "We--this might be a problem. I'll have to take it off the wall, and it might be tricking to get it off in one piece." 

Me: "Okay, I get that, I really do. Do what you can. If it doesn't come off easily, then the Big Guy will just have to buy me a new one."

Head Guy: "So, no problem, then. I'll break it as I take it off the wall."

Yep, we're going to get along just fine for the next three days!

NFL Monday morning recap - playoffs week 2

• I was on a deadline, so I missed the Packers game--forgot all about football, actually. Isn't that crazy? It's because Saturday NFL football isn't normal. Or, maybe I just didn't care enough. Either way, by the time I remembered, the Packers had the game well in hand, and hottie Rams coach Sean McVay was looking none too thrilled. I take it I didn't miss much in that game.
• The most excitement in the first half of the second game was the wind. If I had been drinking, it could've become a game--take a shot every time the cameras cut to the flags flying in the breeze.
• Buffalo's defense kept the Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson off-kilter and off his feet, miscues kept the offense from scoring, and Ravens kicker Justin Tucker finally had an off night, missing two field goals. I know, I know, blame it all on the wind. 
• Buffalo's offense made it into the end zone in the third quarter, and then, not to be left out minutes later, their defense did too. Buffalo's Taron Johnson intercepted Jackson's pass in the Raven's end zone and ran it 101 yards to the opposite end zone for what would end up being the final score of the night.
• Directly following that play, Buffalo's defense sacked Jackson, who then went into the concussion protocol tent never to return, and that was pretty much game over.
• Sunday's Kansas Chiefs/Cleveland Browns game also had a concussion protocol tent visit and a quarterback loss with the Chief's Patrick Mahomes wobbling after hitting his head on the turf. Luckily for the Chiefs, their back-up quarterback Chad Henne was ready, and their coach was feeling brave. With less than two minutes in the game, Chiefs coach Andy Reid went for it on a fourth and one. Henne threw a pass to Tyreek Hill, who got the yard, and that was all she wrote for the Cleveland Browns.
• Near the end of the first half, the Browns went for it on fourth down. The Browns Rashard Higgins tried to stretch the ball to the pylon, but a hit by the Chiefs safety, Daniel Sorenson, caused him to fumble. The two clearly hit helmet-to-helmet on the replay, and the Browns fans went wild when the refs didn't throw a flag. In real-time, I thought Sorenson got Higgins in the shoulder. Unfortunately, there was way too much for the ref to watch to catch it all, and since those hits are reviewable...yeah, that hurt.
• I give Baker Mayfield and the Browns props. They didn't let the Chiefs run all over them, and they really, really gave viewers a game to watch. Of course, the drama of the Browns' fumble on the one-yard line and the missed helmet to helmet call will be what everyone talks about this morning, but I think the Browns might actually finally have themselves a team for the next several years.
• I started off this year saying the Bucs were a contender, and I even was willing to welcome Tom Brady to Tampa, despite my less than stellar feeling for him as a human. When he brought Antonio Brown to Tampa and into his home, I washed my hands of him once again. Dude, winning can't be everything. If you had something to prove, then you should've done it with what the Bucs had in place prior. Bringing back the guy you helped orchestrate a shady trade from the Raiders after he staged a nefarious exit out of Pittsburgh? I rooted for the Saints. 
• Unfortunately, the Bucs defense was too much for Saints Drew Brees, who may have--or may not have--played his last NFL game. 
• How tiring was it hearing the old man vs. the old man nonsense that the networks and media played up all week? Yeah, well, it isn't over yet as the Bucs and Brady now face the Packers and their old man quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

NFL playoff picks

 Last Week 4-3

Green Bay over Rams

Baltimore over Buffalo

Kansas City over Cleveland

New Orleans over Tampa

NFL Tuesday morning recap - Steelers

I only caught brief highlights and snippets of the other games. Saturday, I sat in three meetings from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Sunday, I was writing, editing, and following up on things from those meetings. 

As for the Steelers...

I had to give myself a recovery day before I could sit down and try to analyze that playoff game. Several words come to mind right off the bat: debacle, horrendous, painful, and gut-wrenching. From the first play of the game, the Steelers were--what my Steelers buddy referred to as "a shit-show." It was tough to watch. This team is done, in more ways than one due to free agency, contract timelines, retirement, etc., and winning that seventh ring will have to wait until next season.

Steelers:

• The Browns were missing coaches and players to COVID and injuries to start off the playoffs. While I said the Steelers at 11-0 were the worst undefeated team ever, I truly thought we'd play well enough to beat Cleveland.
• The first play of the game--wait, that is so INSANE I have to type it again--On the first play of the game, Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey sailed the snap so high it flew over Ben Roethlisberger's head, where it rolled into the end zone, recovered by the Browns for a touchdown. While that was ridiculous in itself, what was even worse was the lack of urgency in recovering that errant ball. Roethlisberger and Steelers running back James Connor--because of course the first play would be a run--were the two closest to the ball, and both of them seemed to be looking to the other to get it. Roethlisberger acted like he couldn't bend over, and Connor literally slid right past the ball. My heart sunk, and I knew it was going to be a long, damn game.
• I mean, FALL ON TOP OF IT! I never understand players trying to pick up a fumbled ball when a crowd is descending. Aren't the chances better to fall on the damn leather? I've watched the replay of play number one so many times my stomach hurts because we should've had it for a loss of yards.
• The Steelers did nothing to shake off that play, settle down, and even the score. Instead, Roethlisberger threw the first of what would be four interceptions in the game. The Browns took advantage, and within five minutes, the score was 14-0.
• The NFL's number one defense in almost every category obviously didn't eat their Wheaties. They were lackluster, unmotivated, and plain awful. Gone is the sack streak--they never got close to Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield--and the Browns running backs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt ran through the Steelers defense like water through a broken dam.
• Using fullback Derek Watt on a third and one was genius. Using him for the same play on a fourth and one? Stupid. The Steelers were stuffed, leaving the Browns with great field advantage.
• I think the future of the NFL lies in quarterbacks who can run. Need I say more, Ben Roethlisberger?
• Yep, once again with the penalties.
• Trailing 35-23, Tomlin opted to punt instead of go for it on fourth and one near midfield. What? I'm not an NFL coach, but you have a two-ton, six-five quarterback who has, on several occasions, plugged a ball one yard inside a mass of bodies. Ben was in Ben-comeback-mode, slinging and firing. Why not give him a chance over a struggling defense? Ack! That pretty much sealed the deal for the guys. I mean, if you're coach doesn't have faith...
• Fans are calling for Mike Tomlin's head, but that isn't how the Rooney's do things. The bottom line is Ben needs to walk away before his $41 million salary cap digs a bigger hole. I don't think his heart is in the game anymore, and his leadership isn't getting the job done. We can blame injuries, COVID, rescheduling, bad luck, and resting players, but this loss--hell, the last five games--were not Steelers football. I'm a believer in rooting for the elderly and keeping teams intact, but after the five-plus years and drama we've had in the last five-plus years? It's time the Steelers rehaul, revamp, and rebuild.

Other:

• The most impressive performance of the weekend for me was Washington's back-up quarterback Taylor Heinicke, who was making only his second start in the NFL. Only recently added to the team in December, Heinicke started in place of Alex Smith and gave the Tampa Bay Buccaneers a game. Finishing 26-44 for 306 yards with 46 yards in rushing, Heinicke played the second half with a separated shoulder. His grit and play reminded me of the Lions Matthew Stafford.
• Didn't see the Seattle game until it was almost in the bag, but I'd say quarterback Russell Wilsons five sacks might've had something to do with his poor play.
• The closest game was the Colts/Bills game, and while old man Rivers (that's Colts quarterback Phillip Rivers to non-football readers) attempted a hail mary to give ESPN a newsreel and the Colts the win, but like so many of Rivers' past nailbiters, it wasn't meant to be.

NFL 2021 playoff picks

Last Week 11-5

Overall 165-92

Buffalo over Indianapolis

Seattle over Rams

Tampa Bay over Washington

Baltimore over Tennessee

New Orleans over Chicago

Pittsburgh over Cleveland

Hitting 2021 hard

January arrived, and we were off and running here at the Florida abode. There were resolutions to begin, football games to watch, a plane to catch, appointments to keep, Christmas decorations to take down, and a lot of packing. 

Two months ago, I forced myself to stay on an early morning schedule, beginning with a brisk walk around the neighborhood, where I met two walking neighbors who invited me to join their walking duo--now a trio. We walk twice a day, once in the morning and once in the late afternoon, covering a little over three miles. Both live on my street in the area I've never ventured into unless entering or exiting my subdivision, and subsequently, I've not only walked my entire road, but I've met my neighbors! So many nice people I've never known. Who knew? My walking partners hold me accountable, especially on the cold days, and so far, I've only canceled once. Even when they've opted out of our morning walks, I've still hoofed around the neighborhood, mainly to brag about it at our afternoon walk. 

The change in our season not only brought cooler weather but the acorn apocalypse. Every oak tree in the neighborhood has mass-produced enough acorns to keep the squirrels in the north fed for three winters. If my husband wouldn't kill me for spending money on postage, I'd send acorns to my northern families to fatten up their neighborhood wildlife. I'm not sure I can accurately explain the number of acorns on our streets and in our yards. Needless to say, one takes his life into his hands just walking outside in our hood because acorns drop fast and furiously and hurt like the dickens when landing on one's head. 

Ridding our yard of acorns has become his nightly after-work ritual, and he doesn't stop until he's filled a bag. Recently, I suggested making a game of it so we'd get up off the couch. We had five minutes to see who could collect the most acorns. Darcy set the timer, and we were off! While I suggested weighing the bags to crown the winner, we instead counted out the acorns, taking turns chucking five at a time into the garbage at the end of the street. God knows what the neighbors thought of us circled around our can!

I was out of acorns first--a blow, to say the least, because of my competitive nature--and I may or may not have started collecting and hiding piles of acorns in the hopes of a rematch. It came down to a duel between Tom and Madison, and it was a close one. Madison eeked out the win by seven acorns for a total of 239 acorns collected. She did this contest barefoot, which I've concluded is the reason why she excelled because one cannot walk anywhere in our yard without stepping on an acorn. I'm not kidding. It's the worst apocalypse we've had in years. 

Oleg celebrates Christmas by the Julian calendar, which runs from Christmas Eve on January 6th to January 19th. He was not happy with my decision to start taking down Christmas decorations before the end of the year, which resulted in me exclaiming:

Me: "Christmas is over."

I removed the indoor decorations--sans tree--first and before New Year's. I needed to clean before guests arrived for our outdoor card game, and picking up and returning holiday items after dusting seemed a waste of energy when I'd be right back to the job in a week. While I did not want to "kill Christmas," as he exclaimed multiple times, I knew the entire job would be left to me, and therefore, I opted to divide it instead of cleaning in one shot.

Tom took down the outside decorations after tiring of the Christmas boxes piled in the garage, and when the ornaments began falling off the branches of the tree, I had no choice but to remove the last of Christmas. 

Me: "After all, Christmas is over."

Oleg: "Stop saying that!"

Our 2020 skinny tree was by far the messiest I've ever had. I'm still finding needles in various places, which is normal, but the amount is greater than in years past. As a concession to Oleg, I have left one remaining decoration.

The youngest headed back to campus on Wednesday before flying to Baltimore for an interview process she is trying to get for an internship. She and I unpacked her things before I took her to the airport where she boarded a flight armed with an N95 mask, Lysol spray, hand sanitizer, Clorox disinfectant wipes, and instructions on how to combat bedbugs in the hotel.

 

Days prior, we had to dig out the winter garment bag for jackets, hats, and gloves. The East's temperatures were in the low 30's, and while my girl might be thrilled about this internship, cold weather is not her thing. Of the hats I offered, the warmest was a Pittsburgh Steelers hat, which also included a scarf. 

Darcy: "Uh, I'm going to Baltimore. You keep telling me to be safe. This seems the opposite."

Me: "When it comes to team loyalty, we take our chances. Besides, we aren't playing them this week. You'll be fine."

Oleg stayed at our house for the remaining days of break, and when Darcy flew home, they met her at the airport, where Tom then dropped both of them back on campus for the start of school on Monday. 

I'm not looking forward to next week when the quiet will hit me, but I console myself with the task of my six new year's resolutions. I'm keeping track of completion on a desk calendar, and as hard as I've been killing January 2021, I think this might just be the year that I'm perfect!