Heather's Blogtastic Blog

Saving lives...just another thing I do :)

2009-06-21T19:18:00.000-07:00

I was in Edmonton this weekend to attend a wedding reception for Stuart. He and his family lived next door to my family in Kingston. My sister and I used to babysit them all the time. Their family (Jean, John, Stuart, and Willie) and ours have remained great friends, despite them moving to Alberta in the late eighties and us moving to Victoria in the early nineties. This morning, we drove over to their house to visit one last time. As I was walking into the house I noticed a nest on the ground. I walked over to it and saw the nest was overturned and a baby bird lying next to it. The chick was still alive and opened its mouth for food when I came near. I flipped over the nest and saw that there were two more babies beneath. They weren’t so lucky. I picked up the live bird and put it in the nest and walked into the house.

After all the planning, cooking, and baking she did for the reception, Jean, not surprisingly, was a little overwhelmed by my companion. So, she said “John, you deal with it”. John and my Mom promptly started to feed it muffin crumbs. Before taking on the task of finding a place to take the bird to, I suggested they skip the muffin and give it milk. The bird appeared to enjoy the milk, and we collected a few numbers to call. Being in Edmonton meant I had no idea what was where and being a Sunday meant that most places were closed. I called one place who said leaving it in the nest where the mother could get to it would be best for the bird. They even suggested placing the nest and bird on the lawn as mother birds are known to tend to fallen nests. With cats in the house, I didn’t think that was a good idea so we proceeded to plan how we would get the nest back up into the tall tree. One of the other places called back at that point and suggested we put the nest in a margarine container and then secure the container to a tree branch. We found a container, poked a bunch of holes in it, connected some wire, and then put the nest in the container. It was then time to haul out the ladder and attach the nest to the branch. The men did just that, with the help of their cat, and then we waited. John and I went back out a while later and saw that a robin was hanging around in the tree. We wondered if the baby was a robin after all. We went back inside and continued with our visit. As we left, we looked up at the nest and my Mom noticed a beak sticking out over the edge. Sure enough, momma bird came home, recognized her baby and hopped right in to care for it. What a wonderful sight; one I am so glad we got to see before heading off to the airport.

The last time we rescued a bird, my Mom hand fed it for weeks and eventually taught it to fly. We drove out to a wild bird sanctuary so it could live out its days there. On that trip, Willie was a wee baby who cried the entire trip out there. It seems fitting that when the MacLeod’s finally went to visit that we rescued a bird in their front yard.

Countdown to life without the crapbox

2008-11-06T19:27:00.000-08:00

Well, Cleo and Evin weren’t having any of my toilet training but I am absolutely determined to go litter free. So, instead of giving into them, I chose to break down those first few steps a bit more.

So, “Step One: Place the kitty (smaller) litter pan next to the toilet” became:
Step One: Move bigass litterbox + roof into bathroom
Step Two: Take roof off bigass litterbox
Step Three: Introduce small litterbox next to toilet (Trick: stop scooping bigass litterbox)
Step Four: Take away bigass litterbox

It has only taken a week and a half to get to the point where they are starting to use the small litterbox. I suspect I will be able to remove the old litterbox by early next week!

It was quite ingenious of me to have two litterboxes going at the same time but to stop scooping the old one to increase the incentive to use the new, albeit smaller, litterbox.

Some interesting observations now that there is no roof on the litterbox:
- Cleo was the first to embrace the new smaller litterbox. Evin may be easygoing, but mess with his litterbox or take him to the vet and he is a different cat.
- Evin is absolutely useless at burying his deposits. He climbs out of the box, reaches over the box and paws at the wall. What a tard.
- Cleo, on the other hand, has digging down pat. Maybe she is a little too good -- she practically empties the pan when doing her business. In addition to no roof, the smaller pan has lower, so this results in a huge mess on the floor.

Well, time to go watch Survivahhhhhh!

Step One: Place the kitty litter pan next to the toilet.

2008-10-27T20:20:00.000-07:00

I’m baaaack with another project to share with you. This project is in the name of saving money and my health -- I am going to teach my cats to use the toilet. No, I won’t teach Evin to flush.

I tried to teach Cleo to use the toilet before Evin joined the show. She was very close but then developed a urinary tract infection which became a common occurrence for the next few years.

What I learned about that attempt was to take it slow. Cleo does not like rushing into things. I skipped too many steps last time and she begged to go outside on the balcony and peed in a potted plant. My behavioural Psych prof would have been so ashamed at me for trying to rush her.

So, follow along if you too want to learn how to potty train a cat with my “10 Simple Steps to Ridding Your Home of Crap-in-a-Box”. I’m expecting it to take 8-10 weeks. But my cats crap a lot, so maybe they’ll get lots of practice and learn fast.

Step One: Place the kitty litter pan next to the toilet.
Step Two: Raise the kitty litter pan so it is almost as high as the toilet.
Step Three: Raise the kitty litter pan so it is as high as the toilet.
Step Four: Take the kitty litter pan away and replace it with a large stainless steel bowl that fits inside the toilet (and rests on the rim). Put the seat down and fill with kitty litter.
Step Five: Decrease the kitty litter by half.
Step Six: Decrease the kitty litter by half again.
Step Seven: Decrease the kitty litter by half yet again.
Step Eight: Replace the kitty litter with a small amount of water.
Step Nine: Fill the bowl with more water.
Step Ten: Remove the bowl.

We are on step one -- Put the kitty litter pan next to the toilet.
(This is much better when you have a spare bathroom to devote to this project, but alas, I only have one bathroom.)

I may have rushed things with step one though. I also switched to a much smaller pan (with no roof) because I don’t have much room beside my toilet. That may prove to be too many changes for Cleo to handle all at once.

I’ll try this for several days and update you on our progress.

Stay tuned for the next step: Raise the kitty litter pan so it is almost as high as the toilet.

Excuse me while I make sure Cleo isn’t peeing in the closet.

You know you have spent too much time playing in Excel when...

2008-07-04T17:29:00.000-07:00

You know you have spent too much time playing in Excel when...

...you are driving home with the music playing and you start imagining how you would sort the song lyrics. Like to see if there are duplicates.

Because I am not enough of an excel nut, I went to start writing this and instead of opening IE to load the Blogger site, I opened Excel.

It reminds me of the time I was studying for a French 11 exam. I was so Frenchified that I went to bed and dreamt in French. Then I start to wonder how babies dream if they don't have language yet. But, not everyone thinks linguistically. There are artists who hear colour, and musicians who see music. And once I remember that, I find something shiny to distract me.

So, what is it I am doing in Excel that my brain is going to complete data mush? To prepare for everyone in Gov to get new worksations, we need to track down all the existing hardware. My job is to combine a series of reports which contain all sorts of cool data that has been gathered for all workstations in our branch. That amounts to 700+ machines. I massage the data, run filters, use cool formulae in Excel to make the data more manageable for the folks that have to document the actual users and locations. It sounded like a gross task, but I'm a bit of a data fiend, so playing with Excel has been so much fun.

Oh how I love The Onion

2008-02-14T12:51:00.000-08:00

In an unusual turn of events, I had an entire hour to devote to eating lunch today. As many of you know, it takes me about 30 seconds to scarf down a sandwhich, so that leaves plenty of time for surfing.

I started with the Times Columnist, where I got a few giggles after reading an article about a dumb burglar.

I then put my attention towards my neglected "Favourites" list. I came across the link to The Onion, a site with satirical accounts of events around the globe. An article about a paper bag immediately caught my attention. Yes, it was about cats.

So, the article was so funny I actually had tears streaming down my face.

The other great thing about the article, and I say this with the most cheeky of intentions -- it puts the whole war in Iraq thing in perspective! Not that I agree with the war, or interfering with those countries, I can honestly* say the reason they are fighting makes sense!

* Remember, I am being cheeky.

Day 120: The Cabinets Are In...

2007-12-28T21:11:00.000-08:00

...and Christmas has come and gone.

Sorry for taking so long to post an update on the kitchen. I have no good excuse.

Well, enough of the blubbering, lets get to the good stuff. The cabinets are in! And so are all the appliances. Well, except for the dishwasher. But it is in place while I wait for the missing pieces to be delivered.

The cabinet installer, Theo, showed up on the morning of the 14th and got straight to work. He was working solo but figured he could get them in in a day. I knew all along, but didn't let myself get too used to the idea that they would go in that quickly.I lucked out when they sent Theo to install my cupboards. He normally works on high end kitchens, so he knew his way around cabinetry. He did a great job and only forgot one thing -- to drill a hole for my microwave cord. I had the right drill bits, and my handy dandy new drill, so I cut the hole myself.

After Theo left, I was faced with the daunting task of putting everything away. I was completely overwhelmed. Not only did I have to put stuff away, I had to clean most of it first and without a sink nearby. It all went in relatively smoothly, but I needed more shelves which I got to the following day. I even managed to put the stove and washer/dryer back all by myself. I was really craving some soup after I stumbled upon a can while unpacking. So, I fired up the stove and made me some soup!

By shear luck, my super awsome plumber Darrell was able to come on Monday to install my sink and dishwasher. He actually sent a different guy, but stopped by between jobs. I insisted they use braided lines all the way to the dishwasher, even though it would cost about $60 extra. I don't need it to burst which has been known to happen with plastic supply lines. Apparently the braided lines you buy at the hardware store are NOT the right kind. Only those from an actual plumbing supply place are the right kind. You can tell because they have a 'ring' type thing on the inside of the nut which goes on the inside of the pipe thingy. When the nut is tightened I am guessing it acts as a bit of a compression fitting on that inner ring thingy.

While there, Darrell helped me yell at the guy at the Brick when they told me the pieces I was missing for the dishwasher had to be purchased separately. He is now waiting on those parts, which the Brick will pay for thanks to my "conversation" with them. So, he will come back in the new year to install. Turns out I won't be flexing again until Feb 1, so I have a full month to wait for that last piece of the kitchen reno. But, I am so used to washing dishes by hand that I hardly notice. Besides, the dishwasher is sitting in its place and not my living room or dining room, so I am quite happy to carry on this way for as long as it takes.

I will be sure to get the kickplate tiles (base of the cabinets, same as the floor tile) and backsplash tiles in before the dishwasher goes in so that the kitchen will finally be done. I purchased the plain white tiles for the backsplash and decided to go with a glass tile for the insert. Glass tiles will go better with white grout and the taupy-purple colour will really go well with the floor. They should arrive some time next week.In the meantime, I am trying not to make a mess of my carpets which were just cleaned by my friends Tom and Lorraine. Thanks guys, they have a new lease on life while I save up my money to do the floors!

And here are some pics...

The cupboards AND the sink is in! w00t!

My microwave doesn't look half bad thanks to the black knobs.

The new cupboard over the washer and dryer. I need a stool to reach it.

My slick new range hood. It has a very bright light setting that I use when I want to interrogate what I am cooking.

My super deep sink and goose neck faucet. I can fill a bucket in the sink now.

Day 119: Giddy

2007-12-13T21:47:00.000-08:00

I was giddy all day today and I'm pretty sure it has to do with the fact that the cupboards are going in tomorrow...at long last! (insert happy humming)

I know I promised to post a pic of my closet doors...but I hit a bit of a snag. The replacement pieces I had to buy weren't quite the same as the ones that came with the door. Remember, I needed two sets of the mounting hardware since I wanted to install each door separately?

I can honestly say that Home Depot is a much better place than Rona to get bifold door hardware. I ended up buying all new mounting hardware (the pieces the pins go into) because HD had a style that had a screw to keep the pin in place. They also had a pin for the bottom which was threaded so the door height can be adjusted slightly. The trick is getting the current pins out. The plastic bushing has burrs on it so it goes in and stays in. I have a trick that works, but it is too tough to explain. I picked up the last of the bifold door hardware tonight so will install tomorrow while I am at home...in the event that I can't help install the cupboards!

When it comes to hinges, the Cook St Do-it Centre is a better place than Rona (sorry Rona). I just wanted brushed steel hinges and Rona wanted $9.00 for a single hinge. Cook St had them for $4.00...for a pair! They aren't as good quality, but it is for a door that no one will ever see.

While at HD, I bought a drill. I had to replace the one that was covered in mortar from using it to mix the mortar. It actually still worked and I needed a drill this past week, so the excitement to work on my bifold doors helped me overcome the fact that it was covered in mortar. But, I had taken off the chuck key to keep it after tossing the drill but I've misplaced it and obviously never did get around to tossing the drill. I've even purchased two keys but neither work. Enter the new drill...the new keyless chuck drill! It is corded and has variable speed too! That is a feature I didn't want to be without and I can't stand cordless tools because I would never drain the battery properly and would wreck the battery...but not before they discontinued that style of battery. I also think you need a lot of torque on a drill and you can't get that with a battery pack that is nearly drained.

Well, I go sleep now...if I am able to sleep that is!

Day 117: 3 More Sleeps...Oh, and I'm a Genius

2007-12-11T21:43:00.000-08:00

I am down to 3 sleeps before the cabinets go in. I am quite excited. I don't expect they'll finish in one day, but one can hope.

In the meantime, I have been painting a set of bifold doors for my front hall closet. Since moving in, none of my closets have had doors, so this is VERY exciting. I've painted the pair white to match the trim I just installed, but I am wondering if painting them the wall colour would have been a better option.

Sure, the bifold doors are just the compressed paper flavour, but I came up with an ingenious modification to the door which will alleviate most of the hassles you get with paper bifold doors. Namely, the slider rail thingy and corresponding pins as well as where to mount the knob/handle so it will open the door with the least amount of wear and tear on the hollow paper carcass of a crappy door...to mention a few.

I came up with the idea while I was measuring for the holes for the bottom bracket. This piece and the top rail plus pins at the top and bottom of one side of the door act as stationary pivot points for the door. So, I had one half of the door temporarily in place when I noticed how well the door swung. It was as if the door was floating it was so smooth. So, I decided to do away with the hinges and the slider piece altogether and just hang the other half of the bifold door the same way on the opposite side of the opening. In other words, the doors will hang freely and independently like a pair of french doors. The pins are still in place, but because I am not using the slider piece or the hinges, I don't expect the part of the door where the pins go in to sustain much wear and tear.

As I was typing that up, I realized the bottom bracket doesn't actually mount to the floor. It has holes in the side that meets the wall thus allowing you to affix it to the wall. This means I DON'T have to drill holes in the slate floor! Sweet.

And, in case you were able to follow me and are wondering how I will prevent the doors from swinging into the closet, I am going to mount a piece of wood along the top to prevent that from happening.

Further modifications may happen. For instance, the rail at the top is currently in place because it holds the piece that the top pin goes into. I could get a "floor bracket" and mount it up top instead of the rail. I'll mull it over but I've pretty much convinced myself that is what I need to do. Stay tuned for pics tomorrow night!

"LOL very funny haha"

2007-12-04T18:05:00.000-08:00

"LOL very funny haha"

Aside from the obvious reason this is funny, I especially like it because it reminds me of the South Park episode called "Towelie". You know, when Cartman and Towelie were arguing and he called Towelie a towel? Poor Towelie was a little high and couldn't come back with anything better than "You're a towel."

Day 109: A Little Anti-Climactic

2007-12-03T21:44:00.000-08:00

Well, the cupboards have left the warehouse...and are stacked up in a huge pile in my living room. They look really nice and the hardware I selected is going to look awesome.

(no, I didn't plan on getting Evin in the shot, but by the time the camera took the picture, there he was.)

Knowing the cupboards are just going to sit there for nearly 2 weeks is a little anti-climactic. Plus, the delivery guys scratched the tops/sides all up. I'm hoping the scratched sides are the ones facing the wall or ceiling and not the underside of the upper cabinets. They even scratched the side of a door which I've photographed and will send in to Harbour City Kitchens tomorrow. Finally, there is a chip in the countertop, but it is the back corner that will be covered by the backsplash.

I started painting the baseboard trim last night. I used the ceiling paint by accident, so although it is the right colour, it isn't the right sheen. It looks great and I'll get going on a second coat one of these nights.

Day 106: 14 More Sleeps

2007-11-30T21:04:00.000-08:00

The countdown is on! I have 3 more sleeps before the cabinets are delivered and 11 more sleeps after that before the installers come!

The last few tasks to do before installation:
- Seal the tile and grout -- Check
- Touch up the walls with paint
- Paint the trim

At any point I could be fixing the grout in the bathoom but I think I'll wait until I'm not using the bathroom to wash dishes or prepare food.

In other news, I won a 2GB iPod Nano at the IIBA dinner I attended last night! It is a second generation iPod which means it has a smaller display screen than the new G3 models, but I prefer the look of the G2's.

I decided to splurge on a speaker/docking system as I currently don't have a stereo or anything better than a set of computer speakers. So, I went shopping after work. I saw an Altec Lansing docking station for $149 at Future Shop and a Sony micro stereo on sale for $149 at London Drugs. I wanted one with a usb port so I could still play my Sony mp3 player and charge it at the same time. The Sony micro stereo fit the bill and it had a cd player so I can play regular CD's if I want. I didn't come to the decision on my own though -- Mikey helped me.

Now, if only I can get the iPod to stop saying "Do not disconnect." when I plug it in to the computer. Surely 9 hours was enough to charge it.

Day 95: I'll never do that again

2007-11-19T20:23:00.000-08:00

If ever I talk about installing slate tile, or any other unglazed tile for that matter, shake me until I agree to go with lino.

This weekend I grouted and it was only slightly more fun and marginally less painful than actually laying the tile. Because the tiles were so rough and uneven (compared to glazed tile), the grout really stuck to the surface of the tile. This made it very hard to clean the tiles after grouting. About 3/4 of the way through, the pain in my wrists that I got from wringing the sponge and scrubbing became nearly intolerable. The only thing keeping me going was the fact that if I left it it would only be worse. Besides, I had a free meal to attend.

I came home from dinner to finish washing the tiles. There is still a hazy film left behind but I think I'll wait until the grout cures and just mop the damn floor. On my way home I stopped off to buy a heating pad for my poor back. It might be just the thing to train my body to sleep on my back.

I'm sure the floor looks great but I am too tired and sick of looking at it to care.

Before grouting, I installed baseboard moulding. It went in pretty smoothly, and I only mismeasured one piece about three times. I used the old fashioned hammer and nails and borrowed my brothers compound mitre saw. I set it up in the boiler room of my condo so I wouldn't get sawdust all over the heaps of dust covered kitchen stuff in my living room. It was also quieter for my nabours.

Most helpful were my good friends caulk and Durham (as in Durham's Rock Hard Water Putty). Together, they hide a miriad of imperfections! The worst wall was in the front hallway that I didn't even touch. There is about a 1/8" gap between the wall and the baseboards. I went with bulky but plain baseboards so I couldn't simply bend it to fit the concave wall.

Caulking cracks between the wall and trim/baseboards before painting is, for whatever reason, one of the best kept secrets out there. I've known about the trick for about 13 years and will never be without. Be sure you use the paintable stuff! I've even heard of someone smearing a very very very thin layer along the taped edge before painting stripes on the wall (to prevent seepage). I've yet to try it, but when I do, I'll report back.

As for Durham's, it cures quickly into, get this, a rock hard surface that can be sanded. I used it along those mitred edges on the outside corners. Speaking of which, there are a few outside corners that only have half a piece. I'll install the others when the living room and dining room get done...one day...and that day is far far away...

I've nearly settled on a plan for the backsplash -- tile! But not slate, at least not much slate. I plan to lay white 6x6 tiles with a few that have a cut out for a decorative tile. Enter the slate. I have a few thin pieces that, when cut into 1.5x1.5 squares, will be a great insert! I think it will be fantastic and will really tie in the floor. It is a far cry from beadboard which I had planned for the outset, but depending on how much tile there is, I may beadboard most of the backsplash and do the tile detail above the sink.

On a related note, Harbour City Kitchens called and the cupboards are still due for early Dec. They get delivered on the morning of the 3rd but we don't have an install date. I may have to wait until the 10th or as late as the 14th, but I've known that for some time.

At long last, some pictures:

Day 87: My Slate is Sealed

2007-11-11T17:39:00.000-08:00

At long last my floor is sealed. I got to it pretty late today because I was procrastinating. Once at it, the task wasn't that bad. The rich colours really come through with the colour enhancer/sealer so it was instant gratification. I'll know tomorrow morning if I need a second coat, and if so, whether I can apply that other product on top of the sealed tiles and grout.

Here is the view coming down the stairs:

Compare that with the unsealed picture from the last post.

The floor looks really good, but there are a few imperfections in my installation that are nagging at me. I'm a perfectionist, but at the same time, I just wanted to get the tiles laid. I'm thinking the extreme back pain had something to do with that. So, I'll just have to live with the few tiles that sit higher/lower than others, and the too big or too small gaps between some tiles. I'm hoping they all blend away when the grout is in.

One of the remaining tasks while I am waiting for the cupboards to arrive is to install baseboard trim. That will make a huge difference in finishing off the floor. I am really pleased with how the walls turned out, so I am actually not that keen on installing the panelling I originally had in mind. I guess I should decide pretty soon. Maybe a glance at my bank account will help me decide.

Day 85: Getting Ready to Seal the Tile

2007-11-10T17:34:00.000-08:00

I had to go into work Friday and because I couldn't make a reservation the night before, I didn't get home from Van until 11:30 pm. Needless to say, I was tired most of the day.

I came home, ate a piece of cheese, and proceeded to scrub the floors to get all the mortar off the tiles. It wasn't nearly as hard as I thought. There are a lot of gaps between the tiles that got filled up by mortar which means the grout won't have far enough to go to get good contact. I really wish I had watched out for that more carefully while the mortar was still wet. I'll dig it out in the high traffic areas and proceed with the sealing tomorrow.

Even though I didn't get around to sealing the tiles last weekend, I'm not really that far behind. I'll grout next weekend and if there isn't goint to be enough time for the grout to be sealed before the cabinets go in, then I can seal it after the fact.

It is very exciting that I am to the point where I just have to turn one page in the calendar to see the approximate date that the cabinets will go in.

Here is a pic of the tiles without the enhancer:

Day 85-ish: Renos? What Renos?

2007-11-10T17:28:00.000-08:00

I have just returned from Vancouver where I was at the PM/BA World Conference. I stayed in the very swanky Pan Pacific Hotel which was such a treat I forgot all about my renos.

Well, I didn’t completely forget. I closely inspected the marble tile job in the bathroom and was glad I had a whole ¼ inch forgiveness…I mean grout line…to work with. See, marble only needs 1/16 of an inch for grout so your alignment has to be bang on.

The reality of my kitchen sank in as I bade farewell to my posh hotel room with a 21-story view and pristine carpet that has never been scratched by a cat, the super rapid talking elevators with a monogrammed carpet for every day of the week, and the very yummy breakfast biscuits. I would soon be back to the dirty, cluttered, and non-glamorous condo I call home. Back to the toaster breakfasts and microwave dinners. Ho hum.

The conference was really great. I saw a few former ACD’ers (Vince and Meghan) and some Schneider-ites (Charmaine) so got to visit and reminisce. The “Track Sessions” (1-hour long sessions on various topics) were interesting but it was the 2-day BA Crash Course that was the real reason for being there. The facilitator/teacher was great and clearly enjoyed the topic and teaching. When I go back, I won’t bother with the track sessions unless there is a speaker/topic I must see.

I came away from the conference almost completely convinced I will proceed towards the BA stream. I get to get my hands a little dirty and use both my PM and QA background. In fact, my QA background is going to be quite useful even if I have yet to get any formal training in QA.

The highlight of the trip might have been the fact that David Beckham was staying in the hotel but I honestly couldn’t pick him out of a lineup. His presence sparked a modest gathering of loud people outside the hotel which woke me up. But the real highlight of the trip really was the crash course, but I won’t lie when I say I also enjoyed the shopping. I ventured out Wednesday night to Restoration Hardware, Pottery Barn, and IKEA. I would have liked to go to Tiffany’s and the craft fair at the conference center but I didn’t want to risk being stuck on the mainland Thursday night.

When I got home at 11:30, I was thoroughly exhausted and glad I made it home without falling asleep at the wheel. I fed the cats and climbed into bed. Evin was either very rested or glad to see me (or both) because he ran around on the bed like a village idiot. It was nice to get such a warm welcome.

Day 79: Back Breaking Labour

2007-11-05T16:06:00.000-08:00

Laying the tiles was quite a painful process. I was at it all day Saturday and was too tired/busy Sunday to do anything about cleaning and sealing the tiles.

I have a new line on some sealer that does both tile and grout so I may get to wait until the grout is in which would save some time.

I'm on my way to Van and don't have time to post pics, so here is a temporary album: http://www.sendpix.com/albums/07110423/kdymw12bgs/

Do Cats Go To Heaven?

2007-11-02T21:54:00.000-07:00

This month's picture in the New Yorker Cat Calendar is "Cat Heaven"...a bunch of tattered arm chairs with cats clawing them. Of course, the cats are drawn with cute little angel wings and halos. I looked at it and remarked to my coworker - "That sure is a lot of cats that made it into heaven" after which I paused, and then added "Evin won't be going to heaven. My luck he'll be stuck in purgatory so he can bug me the rest of my life." We got a chuckle out of my fate and I headed home for the day.

Evin is a great cat and has amazing spirit, but he can be really annoying when I am busy doing cat-unfriendly things like laying tile, making the bed, preparing a sandwich...the only thing he watches me do from a safe distance is get ready for work. He perches on top of the cabinet above my toilet where he can see me doing everything, including showering, but is well out of my way.

Day 78: Blinding Progress

2007-11-02T21:24:00.000-07:00

I plan to lay the tile Saturday so I did some prep work tonight. Laying out the tiles is essential if you want straight lines and as close to full tiles as possible when you get to the threshold between rooms. I have a few thresholds to contend with, but things look pretty good. I used my handy dandy laser level which does right angles on the wall or the floor. So there I am, laser levelling away and making marks on the floor when I looked up. There was Evin sitting with the laser line going straight up his face. I stopped what I was doing, shut off the light, and sat down with disbelief at how innocent he looked with the red line going up between his eyes. He obviously wasn't blind, but it just goes to show you how dumb cats can be when it comes to home renos. I'll be mounting large cardboard panels across the stairway so he can't get into my way when I am tiling. If that fails, I guess I could pull one of my bedroom doors off the hinges and lean it up in front of the opening into the staircase.

Speaking of Evin. I just had to go see which box of food he was just now getting into. I tried to pull him off the box of cereal he was rooting around in but his claw got stuck on the inner bag. It is like living with a raccoon some days. Heck, it is like living with a raccoon most days.

Prepping for tile laying also meant moving upstairs. I am now confined to 500 square feet for the next few weeks. My microwave and toaster are in my bedroom and the dish rack continues to live in the bathroom. So far living out of the bathroom is not that bad. I could really use a table to prepare the bit of food I have, but keeping Evin off it is probably more work than it is worth.

Back to the tiles. The mortar will set up in 24 hours, and the sealer needs up to 72 hours to cure. I'm in Vancouver all next week, so I hope all the tiling gets done Sat so I can seal the floor late Sunday. That way it can be curing away while I am in Van. And apparently I only need to put one coat of sealer on slate, so I'll be grouting next weekend and grout sealing the middle of the week following (14th-ish). That leaves about two weeks to go before the cabinets arrive! December 8th is probably when the cabinets will go in. That marks 114 days since the first 2x4 went up and the drywall installed over top of the hole in the wall!

Day 77: Oh my aching back

2007-11-01T19:30:00.000-07:00

A day off schedule but the orange waterproofing membrane has been laid in the kitchen and front hall closet. Mixing the mortar was probably my least favourite part, but I decided to do away with the wooden spon and just mix it with my gloved hands. I will look into buying an attachment for my drill so I don't have to do that again.

The entire job was really quite unenjoyable but I sure am glad I cut the pieces to size before hand. It would have gone better if I locked the cats away before starting. That way I wouldn't have had to deal with Evin walking through the mortar I was spreading out. I grabbed him and chased Cleo up into my bedroom and shut the door. An hour and a half later I have a larger bare spot in the carpet near my door!

Well, I need to head out to Survivor. Besides, I am not really in the mood to write.

Here are some pics. The latter of the sacrificial bucket.

Day 73: Bye Bye Crappy Kitchen

2007-10-28T21:22:00.000-07:00

I had a flex day on Friday so decided this was to be the weekend that I would demo the rest of the kitchen and lay the tile. I was on nephew duty all day Sunday (starting at 6:00 am), so I decided early on that I wasn’t going to be laying any tiles this weekend. Besides, I was so thoroughly exhausted after Friday that I wouldn’t have had the energy to lay tiles this weekend.

I got started about 11 am on Friday and began by disconnecting the sink. The hot water supply wouldn’t completely shut off, so I had to place a bucket beneath it. I worked around the slow drip and it wasn’t long before the sink was out, the countertop off, and the base cabinets a massive pile in the middle of my kitchen.

Upon removing one section of the base cabinets I was greeted by the most hideous carpeting. Not only was it brown with a crappy “floral” pattern, I couldn’t see how it ever matched the green and gold striped wallpaper or the bright orange countertops! That must have been one butt ugly kitchen. And to think a developer would install carpeting in rental unit kitchens!

After some super tasty food from the Noodle Box, I was ready to tackle the next step – break the pieces apart, remove any screws, and start taking it downstairs to my car. I forgot I owned a power screwdriver so after removing several dozen screws, I plugged it in, put the remaining pieces aside and took up the last of the green peel and stick flooring. I have nothing against peel and stick flooring, but after a decade or so, it wears out and if it is an ugly pattern, there is just nothing positive I can say about the stuff in my place.

I filled my car with about 2/3 of the pile of junk and headed to Ellice Recycle Ltd (David St near Bay Street Bridge). It was about 4:30 so to avoid the bridge traffic, I headed down Hillside to Gorge St. Some bonehead was trying to turn left onto David St despite signs saying not to at that time of day. But when I approached David Street I saw an opening and decided to turn left…right into the open arms of the law! Curses. The cars behind me followed like lemmings and we all got pulled over. While explaining to the others why they were pulled over, I got my license and registration ready. The cop approached and I handed him my stuff at which point he jokingly told me they didn’t take Master Card. I wasn’t the least bit worried/scared/panicked, so I laughed and swapped it for my DL. Meanwhile, he hollered over to the Chief and told him that I was trying to bribe him with money. I tried to explain to the cop that I was a very good driver, had never gotten a ticket, and that I was actually doing traffic a service by making room for all the people behind me who were backed up because of that bonehead woman who was trying to turn left. He didn’t buy it, but we both got a good laugh out of it. He finished writing up the $120 ticket, said it was nice to meet me, and sent me on my way.

With 5 minutes to spare, I was happily unloading the crap…flinging pieces with gusto as I bade farewell to my crappy kitchen. I returned home and loaded up the last third. It was about 6 times as heavy though thanks to all that peel and stick flooring. The next day I took it to the dump but it was so heavy I didn’t fling it with nearly as much enthusiasm.

Since I wasn’t going to tile this weekend, and the waterproofing membrane only needs 24 hours to set, I decided to paint the walls while the kitchen was clear. It is very liberating to haul out the paint roller and just start painting without having to tape or cover up the flooring.

Next steps: Install waterproofing membrane and then the tiles.

I'm Becoming Calendarlexic

2007-10-23T18:17:00.000-07:00

I am becoming calendarlexic...I can't use one to save my life.

This is an odd turn of events given I was practically sprouting calendars from my elbows while I was PM'ing at ACD.

Now I find myself using my blog to see what I am supposed to be doing. According to a post the other day I am going to be painting my kitchen ceiling this week. Well, the blog doesn't lie, so here I go.

Those damn cats!

2007-10-22T19:10:00.000-07:00

This morning I awoke at 5:00 am with a sore back and two cats (whose names I will not mention...cough...cleoandevin...cough) doing jazzercise on my bed. Evin tries to put it to music by pressing a bunch of buttons on my clock radio.

At least once a week, I feel the need to remind Evin, who's brain is about the size of an apricot, that there will never be a need for him to brush my face, chew on my hair, or turn the radio on, so he may as well stop it!

By sheer coincidence, I arrived at work with this video in my inbox:

Anyone that has cats knows exactly what it is like.

Day 66: Washing Tiles and enjoying the view

2007-10-21T13:29:00.000-07:00

I now have 13.5 of the 15.5 boxes of tiles in my condo. The last two are still sitting in my car. I figure there is no huge rush to get them up here as I still have 4 unopened boxes yet to wash. That means I have washed approximately 9.5 boxes of tile, or for those who like err on the side of mind boggling -- a whopping 95 12" square tiles. The cleaned tiles are stacked against any vertical surface I can find. I’ve categorized them into a few groups: perfect tiles that are great for the open areas; really dark grey or black tiles that I’ll need to place as randomly as possible; broken, uneven, or otherwise odd tiles that I can use for half pieces/coaster sets you are all getting for Christmas; and the ugly pile for those I find unattractive and will use under the stove, dishwasher and washing machine where I don’t have to look at them. Once they are all washed, I will further categorize the perfect tiles into coloured groups: purple, green, grey, and rust.

I really want to make sure the layout is random which means that after I categorize them I’ll have to lay out a bunch on my living room floor until I am happy with the “random” pattern. If I don't do all this sorting and planning ahead, I just know it will be hard to be random on the spot while the mortar slowly hardens. Besides, I'll need the extra time to back butter some of the tiles which are not a uniform thickness.

Cleaning the tiles means taking a pile of 10 into the kitchen, inspecting each one and removing all loose pieces with a paring knife. Then I wash the tiles one at a time and put them in the dish rack to air dry. I admire each tile as they go from a dusty bland colour to a beautiful array of fall colours as the water hits the surface. Many of them have a metallic tinge such as copper or pewter. Some tiles are so full of colour that they remind me of a Monet painting. The sealer will bring out those colours so I can’t wait to see them all laid out throughout the kitchen.

The rack can confidently hold a meagre 5 tiles at a time, and they take several minutes to dry, so you can see why I have only washed 95 tiles! I’ve managed to injure my right wrist in the process so I haven’t washed nearly as many tiles as I had hoped this weekend.

My plan for the next week or two: Finish washing the tiles and paint the ceiling and walls with finish coats so that on Friday (the 26th, day 71, and a full moon) I can remove the sink, lower cabinets, and counter top. I’ll move the appliances into the living and dining rooms where I am quickly running out of room and finish removing the rest of the peel and stick tiles. With a lot of luck, I’ll lay the waterproof membrane (I call it orange waffly stuff) that night so I can get going on the tile laying Saturday. I don’t think I’ll get all the tiles laid that weekend, but I’ll sure try. If not, I’ll resume the next weekend. Once all done, I’ll apply the sealer after which I need to block off the area so a certain orange flea circus doesn't ruin the finish. I really want the floor to be completely cured/sealed before the cabinets arrive, so I have opted to get an early start.

Going with slate was a labour intensive choice but it is all stuff I can do which really kept the costs down. Unfortunately, it means being without a kitchen sink for a very long time. I think I’ll hook up a laundry sink temporarily if it looks like the tile sealed up long before the kitchen cabinets are due to arrive. Meals and laundry will be a fun challenge.

Day 62: The Tile Arriveth

2007-10-17T22:11:00.000-07:00

I checked my messages before leaving work and to my delight the tile store left a message saying my tile was in. Woo hoo! That put a spring in my step.

I picked up the tile but could only manage half the batch. I didn't want to see if my car could handle the full weight, but I might have been too cautious. No matter, I'll get the next batch tomorrow.

The woman at the store (Dacora Tile) remembered me even though I didn't actually deal with her when buying the tile. She was super friendly so I'll go back there again any time.

I took a detour past my folks place so I could pick up the dolly. They thought the tile was lovely and seemed impressed that I was going ahead with the installation myself.

I struggled a bit with the dolly and needed a break after bringing in the first three boxes. I got side tracked by my friends basement reno blog and only just finished bringing in the last 2.5 boxes.

I immediately laid the tiles out in the front foyer and here is how they look.

You can really see the pink I was talking about, though there is a lot of dark grey in there too. In fact, the tile is more grey than pink. Stupid camera. I'm a bit concerned about how porous the slate is. There are many "bubbles" and I just peeled of a good size chunk of slate leaving a "crater" where it was. Sure, that adds to beauty and it isn't really a surprise. It just means I have to inspect all my tiles, remove any loose spots, and place them with the least porous pieces out in the open. I hope there isn't too much waste.

While I wait for time to pass (3.5 weeks) before I start laying the tile, here is what my living room looks like. What a mess.

And here is my "workshop":

In other news

2007-10-15T11:48:00.000-07:00

So I was reading on the CBC news site about the latest taser incident which happened to be at YVR.

According to stats, BC has had a significant number of fatalities -- 6 of the 16.

I wonder if that is because we are so wet and therefore conduct electricity more!

I am totally joking. Besides, there seem to be underlying conditions causing the deaths. I guess I'd want to see the number of fatalities compared to overall use per province. There I go again, questioning the stats I see.

In terms of the YVR death, I wonder if he was a drug mule and the capsules broke. We'll have to see.

Day 58: Not much going on...but I bought the tile

2007-10-13T12:28:00.000-07:00

With the kitchen cabinets on order and not due until early Dec, there isn't a whole lot I can do.

I did decide to find/buy/order the tile for the flooring in case it has to be ordered from India or some far off land. I took home a few samples from Tile Town but just wasn't satisfied. I was trying to find a similar tile to what is in the bathroom not only for consistency, but also because I know it works with the countertop.

I decided to see what Gazola Tile had. The choices were overwhelming, but I brought in a large sample of the countertop (the whole that was cut out for bathroom sink) so it made it easier to find the right colours. I found one that was great, and it came in a few different colours so I could do a bit of a checkerboard pattern. Unfortunately, it was over $7 a square foot. I don't need a $1500 kitchen/hall floor. The next choice was a tile they actually had laid down on thier floor in the front entrance way. It was darker than I had planned, but it was a good match. At $5.00 a square foot, the price was coming down.

Still not happy, I decided to go back to Tile Town and wade through the boards. I stumbled upon the brand of tile that my bathroom tile was made by so I thought maybe I could get the same one. The guy led me to believe it could be ordered but I had to come back after the long weekend. I did and he was wrong, so back to the drawing board.

Yesterday was a flex day, so I went in to Dacora tile. We checked out the slate and prices were $5.00 and up a square foot. So, we started looking through the slate boards and found one with a lot of redish pink in it. It is a stunning tile and it really complemented my countertop. And it would match my living room furniture which are dark jewel tones. So I ordered it on the spot. I had yet to react so positively to a tile that I knew it was the one. Besides, it was $4.00 a square foot, so a pretty good deal.

I've always loved the look of slate, especially when there is so much variety in colour. I've never seen a slate with so much red/pink in it and despite how it sounds, it is not at all girly. I wish they had some in stock so I could have taken it home with me yesterday. I'll take a pic and post as soon as it comes in.

Fortunately, the tile is in stock and will be here next week. I'll have to use a lot of restraint when it comes to installing it though. Once I rip out the lower cabinets and sink, I will be out of a sink for good, so I don't want to lay the floor too quickly. I also don't want to lay it too late in case it takes a long time to cure. My guess is I'll install it mid Nov.

In the meantime, I guess I could paint the kitchen ceiling, fix the bathroom floor, and put a second coat on the dining room wall. I am pretty curious to see if the tile matches my hallway walls so there may be a condo wide repainting in the works if not.

Day 43: Stupid Home Depot/Omni Grip

2007-09-27T18:06:00.000-07:00

I went to Tile Town to check out tiles for my kitchen floor. I found one that is a pretty good match, but it is not due until next week. I hope that batch is going to be OK since each batch is a bit different.

At $3.19/ft, and with the grout, adhesive, plastic waffle stuff and tile cutter rental, a tile floor should be as expensive as (if not cheaper) than lino since I can do the tile myself. And because I don't (or at least hope I don't) have to level the floor with super incredible precision.

To determine when I can install the tile, I need to work back from my cabinet delivery so I only have to be without a kitchen sink for the least amount of time. So, I asked how long tiles that large (12") would take to set. She said 24 hours which blew my mind. After several days my bathroom tile hadn't set. After many days, I figured it had so applied the grout which cracked when I walked on the floor. Fixing the grout is just another project I need to work on. Turns out pre-mix adhesive is NOT meant for the floor. It just doesn't stand up. So, I should not be surprised if my tiles start popping up! I can't wait. Stupid Home Depot for selling me the wrong product and stupid Omni Grip for advertising itself as a floor tile adhesive. Heck, in the first sentence it mentions floor tile...and not because it is warning users against using it on the floor. The part that worries me most is that I tiled the whole floor BEFORE installing the vanity. That means some tiles are half under the cabinet so if I have to retile, it will be hard to deal with those tiles. Aside from one tile in front of the toilet that cracked (probably when toilet was put back on), the floor has held up very well. Cross your fingers and tread lightly when you go into my bathroom! I've included a picture so you know what product NOT to buy.

In other reno news, I put a coat of paint on the dining room wall (the one that had the big openings in them) and it looks FANTASTIC! As long as you don't move your hand over the entire wall, you won't be able to tell that there are some highspots where the old drywall met the new drywall. Now to find something to hang on that wall. Maybe I'll see if the Portuguese artist from Bastion Square is still doing paintings.

Day 38: I Have Smooth AND Painted Walls!

2007-09-25T19:40:00.000-07:00

Yippee…my kitchen walls are finally smooth AND painted. I completed my touchups and applied the drywall sealer to all the walls, the bulkhead and the ceiling. It was tinted the colour of my bathroom walls, so it gave me an idea how the finished product would look. The angle I put in the bulkhead was a beautiful work of art! And the ceiling came out so nicely. Once a uniform colour, I was able to see a few spots that needed more mud. These were few and far between, so I’ve been carefully applying mud so I don’t have to re-sand.

While the appliances were still in awkward places like the middle of my front hall and kitchen, I went to pick up a quart of green paint (Restoration Hardware’s “Willow”, discontinued) that I thought would add more colour to the room. It was enough to put one coat on nearly all the walls. I’ve put the appliances back and am living with the colour. It is a pistachio green that I am not sure I love but it does go well with red…the colour I plan to use as an accent colour.

I am also living with some of my stuff back in the kitchen. I put up a temporary shelf and have food and dishes lining the countertop. It isn’t a finished kitchen, but it is clean, colourful, and way more functional than it has been the last few weeks. It is a good thing I can appreciate the small accomplishments because the finished product is months away.

Now that my walls are so smooth and colourful, I am reluctant to cover them up with the bead board paneling I have in mind! The room definitely needs trim around the doors, and I really do think the paneling will look great. Fortunately, I can’t do anything about the bead board until after the cabinets are in so I don’t have to decide now.

Day 37: This Better Be My Last Sanding!

2007-09-22T17:00:00.000-07:00

In just under a week Harbour City Kitchens will be here to measure for my kitchen cabinets. In order for them to be able to take accurate measurements, my walls need to be painted. That meant finishing up the angle in the bulkhead and sanding all afternoon. I also decided to take down my upper so now I get to look at the original and very ugly wallpaper.

The bottom half of my walls were pretty rough since I was planning to put up my beadboard paneling. In case I don’t, I wanted to make sure my walls were smooth all over so another 10 kg’s of mud went up. After a good rigourous sanding the walls look pretty good and the bulkhead just needed a few touchups with mud! A quick sanding later tonight or early tomorrow and I should be able to clean up and prepare for paint. I think that feat in math and carpentry that was the bulkhead angle might be my greatest achievement. It is off by 1/16th - 1/8th of an inch, so I hope they can install that corner cabinet that much away from the long side so it is centered on the angle. If not, it will still look better than no angle at all.

Once the paint is up, I can put my appliances back and start using them again. That means plugging in the stove and stocking up my fridge. The fridge was plugged in this whole time, but I wasn’t stocking it that well. Needless to say, for the last few days I have been eating noodle box or cereal until I ran out of milk. Then it was on to instant oatmeal which I prepared with hot tap water as I couldn’t be bothered to plug in my microwave to boil the water. And Evin gets to eat crunchy food for dinner because the wet food is too much of a hassle to deal with.

I got the coolest gadget for sanding. Actually, it is for the plastic sheeting that goes up while sanding. It is a self adhesive zipper that is intended for tarps. Now I don’t have to crawl in and out of a corner to get out of the kitchen! I didn’t find the zipper at the paint store, but rather at Industrial Plastics and Paint. But I bet Capital Iron would have them in the camping/tarp section.

Day 31: More Drywall...is that possible?

2007-09-16T16:19:00.000-07:00

To accommodate the angled corner cabinet (upper), I wanted to angle the drywall bulkhead that runs the length of my upper cabinets and sticks out about 3 inches past the front of the cupboards. After lots of math and graph paper, I figured out the angles. It didn’t take long to attach the framing to the bulkhead and before long it was covered in drywall and mudded. I used paper tape for the edges though the plastic self adhesive mesh tape is easier to work with.

My new plan is to have the kitchen painted by Sept 28th which is when the cabinet guy comes to measure. That is no less realistic than any other plan I’ve had so far, but it is a target that isn’t carved in stone. Technically I can wait until late November to finish the walls, but I am tired of the dust so want to finish up sooner rather than later. I am pretty hopeful I will have the angle mudded by next weekend so I can spend Saturday morning sanding. Cross your fingers there are no bubbles in the drywall mud. Grr.

Day 27: Blowing the Budget

2007-09-12T18:30:00.000-07:00

Within a few hours of making the decision to go with the fake wood cabinets I began to have doubts. The cabinet doors would be quite modern, no matter what accessories I brought in, and I know I would have regrets about not going with the style I initially had in mind.

So I called HCK back and got an estimate for the Landcaster door in white. Not only is the door style my top pic, but it is light and will make my kitchen seem brighter and more open. The upgrade will be about $1000. I've chosen to look at it like this -- got the cabinets I wanted at an affordable price and splurged on installation fees!

The guy comes to measure in a few weeks (on my first flex day) so I will know shortly thereafter exactly what the price will be.

While bouncing ideas off people, the idea of a glass mosaic tile backsplash in a nice watery colour was brought up. It would be beautiful, and I only have 34 square feet to tile, but at $18/square foot, that is a buttload of money. And then I would have to do something really high end on the floor, so I think I will stick with either a basic tile (with neat accent tiles) or beadboard which I might paint the wall colour so it doesn't look so bland.

I've purchased new knobs, but they are a little common, even if they do match my bathroom knobs. I think I will go with a black version of that knob and a matching (black) large pull like you see on old desks.

Well, gotta run.

Day 23: Cabinets are on order!

2007-09-08T11:53:00.000-07:00

What a week. I stopped into Kitchen Craft (Cloverdale) one day this week as it is within walking distance of work. We went over my measurements and she walked me to a kitchen about the same size as mine and said this one is $12,000...so yours (with no real wood cabinets) would be $9000! Yikes, that is so far off my budget ($5000) and it is pretty hard to shave off $4000 so I should have told her to forget about preparing a quote.

Feeling thoroughly discouraged (even though I knew Harbour City Kitchens would be less), I went to Home Depot to get some quotes. The Mills Pride cabinets came is strange sizes and there was really no way to make it work. They obviously don't have their target audience figured out as they had no matching bridge cabinets for over the sink (we aren't all that lucky to have a window over the sink) nor a similar piece for over an apartment sized stove (I have a full size stove, but most people buying those cabinets are probably trying to finish off a suite). So I talked to Dale in the design center. Right off the bat, two suppliers were taken off the list due to unreliability. I was left with Kitchen Craft and Thomasville. The door I chose started at $219/linear foot, so a 10x10 kitchen (slightly bigger than mine) would start at $4000+. Not bad. But when you add drawers and upgrade the drawer slides, it was going to come to between $5000 and $6000. Still pretty pricey given counter tops and installation wasn't included.

Today I was finally able to get out to Harbour City Kitchens on a day they were open (they close at 5 most days and were closed last holiday weekend). Alas, there was nothing in Cash and Carry, and no done up kitchens just waiting to be sold for a good price. I found out that cash and carry units are the same price as ordering but you pay both taxes. If you order and have them install, then you only pay the GST. I thought maybe there would be an advantage to getting at least the cash and carry sizes (thinking they were cheaper) so tried to use as many of those in my design. Next came choosing a door style. The cheapest was plain white LP laminate (which look like the storage units you can buy at Zellers. Next was a PVC coated door with the fancy "raised panel" on the inside...you've seen them -- "white melamine" cabinets that were big 14 years ago. Next in line was a LP laminate with curved/rounded vertical edges. They come in lots of colours. The shaker LP Laminate I was thinking of looked OK when done up but was susceptible to moisture since there are seams where water can get in. And I was getting tired of the idea of painting all those doors. After much thought, I decided to go with a Millwork Cherry rolled edge styled door. Kind of modern, but the same colour as my bathroom (which are maple, not cherry as I had thought). With slightly more traditional drawer pulls and the rest of my stuff, it won't look uber modern. Plus the wood will tie in with all the wood I have in my living room. I'm a bit nervous as I can't exactly picture it in my mind, and it means I may not be able to do a beadboard back splash, but that goes in at the end so I can see how it looks when all done. I've also got to ensure my walls are super smooth since I may not be able to finish with beadboard. So much for all that craftsmanship I was trying to go for.

They come to do a final measurement on Friday the 28th (my first flex day) and will probably be ready to install late November. Such a long time away, but plenty of time to get my walls ready and flooring selected. I've pretty much decided to go with lino, especially now that my cupboards are "wood".

The moment you were waiting for...$4000+ for cabinets, countertops (same as bathroom but not as pink as pic shows it to be), INSTALLED Professionally! Beat that Kitchen Craft! It was going to be cheaper, but I decided to get as many drawers as possible and a microwave shelf.

Gotta run, I hear the Brick guys outside getting my dishwasher off the truck. I think I bought it a little too early!

Day 16: Procrastination and Cats

2007-09-01T11:01:00.000-07:00

I had grand intentions of sanding today, but I am not looking forward to it, so am slowly inching my way through the prep.

I'm a bit worried about the "bulge" on the diningroom wall. The previous owners didn't do a great job and I'm afraid my concealing efforts will not be enough to mask the ever growing bulge. My options: break open the bulge and fill with mud or new drywall on that entire wall. Either way, my kitchen can proceed.

So far, I've gone to three separate cabinet places...all of which were closed. I would have expected to see signs saying closed for entire weekend but no such luck. I was a bit annoyed as I made my way home and decided to take a nap. Once home though, I started sealing up the kitchen for the sanding.

I bought an industrial size box of plastic sheeting and began covering up doorways, blocking off a section of the dining room, and covering pieces of furniture I would prefer not to dust should my first layer of sheeting not work for some strange reason...hmmm...Evin....

As you can imagine, Evin was enthralled. He's pierced a few holes in some of the plastic (hence dual coverage), and got completely entangled in a wad of plastic I was about to mount from the ceiling.

I still feel that nap coming on, but I still need to cover all the appliances. Sigh...what a lot of work.

Day 13: Pass the Mud Please

2007-08-29T21:04:00.000-07:00

If you ignore the drywall mud that landed on the floor, I have spread 2o kgs of drywall mud on my kitchen and dining room walls! Most of it is in the kitchen where all the crappy texture was. But the dining room wall has its fair share to conceal the bad plaster job the previous owners did when making the openings, and the fact that my drywall installation wasn't perfect.

I don't mind spreading on the mud now that I have figured out a system, and I probably won't try to order cabinets this weekend given it is a long weekend. So, each night, I leisurely spend up to 2 hours spreading mud on the walls. At this rate, the walls should be ready for a first sanding by the weekend. I'd like to get a second sanding done and a primer coat by the end of the weekend! Can you believe it? Probably not because my plans for the kitchen have been pretty schizophrenic.

Speaking of which, I'm back to installing wainscoting. I firmly believe the "craftsmanship" will go a long way to make my kitchen look great. It will go 2/3 to 3/4 of the way up the wall...whatever takes me to the bottom of the over-the-stove cabinet which I've determined is the best spot to stop so cupboard doors don't get hindered by the moulding. That means on the other end of the cabinets I need that wine rack cubby hole thingamagig.

I am really looking forward to having a nice looking kitchen. One that not only looks good because everything is hidden behind cabinet doors, or because the walls aren't covered in crap, but because I have things hanging on the walls. I didn't bother hanging some Italian pottery pieces I have because the walls were in such rough shape up until now. And I have a huge wall in my dining room to hang things on too! I had run out of spaces to hang art so I am totally stoked!

Day 11: Another Wee Change Of Plans...

2007-08-27T22:59:00.000-07:00

I managed to get convinced that a new layer of drywall would be a better option than floor to ceiling wainscoting. This advice came from the realtor that helped me buy the place. He wanted to come by to see what I had done and give me some pointers, even though I had changed my mind about selling. While he liked the wall colours and the work in the bathroom, I got the distinct impression he wasn't a fan of "turn of the century" wainscoting. Normally I believe in maintaining the integrity of a building's design, but this condo is devoid of character and I am not into modern design. Plus, I freshen up the wainscoting look by using simple baseboards and trim, and a light and airy paint job.

Tonight I walked in to measure up for drywall when I decided to give the skim coat technique another try. Instead of using the big huge plaster putter onner, I went with a 3-4 inch putty knife. It was much easier to handle and I could really lay the stuff on thick. I even worked the mud until it was pretty stiff and easy to smooth out. It will take days to dry, but I can boast that I have plaster walls when I am done! Sanding the stuff is going to be a real b*&^% but since I have to do the same prep work to close off the kitchen for sanding, I may as well go all the way.

I still may put up waincoting but only 2/3 or 3/4 of the way up as is the style these days. Or maybe I will do a shaker style panelling which will require I do a good sanding job but will add the architectural detail I am after.

Needless to say, the cupboard ordering is on hold. Not until my walls are paint ready can I accurately measure the space for cupboards. I do know that my kitchen is now several millimeters smaller thanks to all the mud I put on today!

Days 2 - 6: Change of Plans

2007-08-23T21:48:00.000-07:00

Well, my plans for the condo have changed significantly, and so too have my kitchen plans.

To start, the money I would need to fork over to afford another 1000+ sq foot 2-bed condo in town is about as much as my share of the exterior work required for this building. And any condo I buy would need all the work I will have just finished doing on this place. To top it off, it wouldn't be a 2-floor unit which is pretty unique. I am going to try to convince strata to put off the siding work as much as possible to see if we can outlast this construction boom. Surely downtown Victoria will run out of space for new buildings so that we can get our work done!

So, I am staying put. That means I can realize those plans I originally had for my kitchen. Despite losing the aggressive timeline imposed by hitting the late fall market, I am still planning on going ahead with my kitchen as soon as I can.

After a trip to Harbour City Kitchens (HCK), I learned that their cash and carry section is pitifully understocked, and there were no done up 'reject kitchens' that go for a rediculously affordable price of $2000 -- I guess there is a lot of construction going on. Who would have thought? So, I have about a 2-month wait from the day I order my cabinets.

I spent the week measuring and coming up with 1st choice, 2nd choice, and 3rd choice options for the cabinetry. I'll go in on Saturday to price out those options and hopefully settle on a new kitchen for no more than $3000. I wonder how realistic that budget is? If my budget is super tight (I don't think it is), I am going to have a hard time choosing between lots of drawers for the main kitchen or going simple there so I can also get a few more pieces to install above and next to my fridge which is currently all alone in a large empty corner. Anything not on the curent footprint, as well as lots of drawers are, I fear, nice to haves that I may never get.

My measurements took into consideration that I have decided to cover the walls with floor to ceiling tongue and groove waincoting...just like my bathroom. The walls are just going to take too much work to smooth out properly. If I am able to afford all the cabinets, there actually won't be that much wainscoting visible so I am not as reluctant to install so much of it. I priced out wainscoting and it went something like this:

Finishing Store: non-pine boards that I can hand pick (read: no knots and no waste) = $800+
Rona: pine bundles that I can't hand pick (read: lots of knots and ~10-20% waste) = $200+
Home Depot: pine bundles that I can't hand pick (read: lots of knots and ~10-20% waste) = $260+

In addition to being the cheapest, Rona is Canadian and gives airmiles so I am stoked I won't have to succumb to the American Home Depot enterprise.

The walls and appliances will be/are white, so I don't want white cupboard doors too. The style of door I've settled on is like my bathroom (minus the cherry), is very affordable (will confirm on Sat), but doesn't have a very high-end finish. So, to spruce them up and add some colour I am going to look into getting them sprayed a light neutral colour.

In the meantime, I have finished installing the drywall over the large wall openings and have put up a very thick (read: messy) coat of drywall mud.

Stay tuned for the results of my visit to HCK.

Day 1: Dealing with the Walls

2007-08-17T21:38:00.000-07:00

My kitchen walls were wallpapered and then covered with a fiber texture which is probably the most ugly thing I've seen because they painted it. It is not that different than when you spill paint on the carpet and it dries to a rough finish that is bad on so many levels. Imagine an entire kitchen covered in the stuff! I began to remove the paper and texture shortly after moving in but was thoroughly discouraged by the fact that it pulled off the drywall's paper finish so I now have a very paint unfriendly surface to deal with. What to do?

Originally I was going to get someone to replace all the drywall and install pocket doors while they were at it. But you try getting someone in to do the work. Then, I was going to cover up the ruined drywall with floor to ceiling wainscoting. But now, with an aggressive bee in my bonnet and a budgeted approach to this reno, I've decided to do a skim coat over top of the crappy fiber texture. It will take several coats and lots of sanding.

I've also got to patch up the large opening the previous owners created. My fridge is in front of one half of the opening, and I would like to put a large cabinet beside the fridge for more storage, so I don't need the poorly done cutouts in the wall. Fortunately I got a hold of some pieces of drywall so I don't have to deal with one large piece that I wouldn't be able to fit in my car let alone carry. I'd rather deal with an extra seam or two if it means no delivery trucks.

I ran out of 2x4's so could only put one piece up tonight. Besides, it was getting late.

I won't be able to work on my kitchen again until Sunday. I plan to mount the rest of the drywall and finish skim coating the rest of the walls minus the backsplash. I'll then do another skim coat during an evening this week and maybe even start sanding before next weekend. You saw it here...in print...lets see if my plans for the week are at all realistic.

I won't bother with skim coating the back splash as I plan to cover it up with tile or maybe even wainscoting. Besides, it is tough to get in there with the cabinets in place and I don't want to gut them until I absolutely have to.

I'd really like to cover the backsplash with wainscoting so it will tie in with my bathroom but it depends on the cupboard doors I get. I already have the kitchen version of my bathroom faucet and I will likely use the same pattern for the countertops that I did in the bathroom. I may even get the same floor tile, but will have to see how my energy goes.

OK, time for bed.

Moving on...

2007-08-17T21:23:00.000-07:00

Well, I've finally decided it is time to get my condo ready to sell. I had been planning to do things leisurely and with extra attention to detail. Instead, I've got to keep it simple. My goal is to have it ready for sale in the new year at the latest. Though, I could wait until spring if it means getting more money.

My plans for the kitchen:

Fix walls in kitchen instead of new drywall and pocket doors
Replace all cupboards and counters
Put up new light fixture instead of pot lights
New sink and dishwasher
New floor: lino or tile
Backsplash...not sure what material yet

My plans for the rest of the place:

New closet doors (x5!) -- likely bifold instead of actual doors as I had originally planned
New flooring upstairs and on stairs. Not sure about first floor.
Finish the grouting in the bathroom

That is a lot of projects and I am suddenly overwhelmed by it all. But, I am starting in the kitchen where all the messy projects are.

Stay tuned...

Emma Came Home!

2007-07-01T08:09:00.000-07:00

After 9 long days, Emma came home. A miracle my Mom exclaimed.

I was sitting on my parent's porch enjoying my dinner when I heard a cat meowing. I immediately recognized the meow and said "That's Emma!". I ran down the stairs to meet her where she was just emerging from beneath a bush. I scooped her up and took her inside. I put her in my parents dining room with food, treats, and water and closed the door so she could eat in peace. After she was done, my sister took a closer look at her and noticed her eye was leaking. That is pretty normal, but one eye was infected. She had obviously lost weight, and her white paws were dirty, but otherwise she looked unharmed. We cleaned up her eye and I started brushing her. She walked away, but then I realized she was headed to her favourite brushing spot -- the ledge behind the kitchen. But, she missed the jump and that is when I knew she needed to be checked out.

It took no convincing that she needed to go to the vet but I would have paid the bill myself had there been. And there wasn't a frying pan in sight. In fact, I think my Dad was pretty pleased to see her alive. I took her out to the car so we could go to the Animal Hospital. She didn't want to go in the car, so fought back a bit -- a good sign. But, once in the car, she settled on the passenger seat. At that point, it sunk in and I began to cry. Partly out of relief for her coming home, and partly out of sadness for her having to go through this ordeal.

We got to the Animal Hospital and we checked her in. I was still a mess, but the vet techs were great. We had to sit in the waiting area but Emma didn't mind. I like to think she felt safe and knew she was in good hands. So, she calmly rested on the fleece blanket in my lap until it was time to go into an examining room. This despite a dog or two coming around. Once in the room, another several minutes passed, but she was fine to rest in the blanket on the examining table. At that time, I noticed how dirty she was. My hands were filthy from petting her. It looked like dust from a garage, so my guess is she got stuck in a garage or shed. The alternative was under a bush recuperating from being hit by a car or beat up by kids. But she would have smelled like earth and had more plant debris stuck in her fuzzy medium length fur.

The vet took a good look at her and determined she was dehydrated. He didn't think she could consume enough fluids herself to recover properly, so recommended she stay for 24-48 hours so she could get IV fluids and blood work done. He thought an x-ray would be helpful, but would leave that as an option if the fluids weren't helping or the blood work looked suspicious. I didn't like the idea of an x-ray because she would have to be sedated and the last time she was sedated she awoke with seizures.

So I paid the $690 deposit (ouch) and left her there for treatment. Mom was fine with the quote though commented how much prices had gone up since her car accident 10 years ago.

I've been dehydrated before (flu) so I know the amazing recuperative effects that fluids can have. I expect that she will look like a new kitty today. I hope to visit this afternoon.

I still can't believe she made it back in as good a condition as she was. At 15 years of age (tack on a few more years from her past injuries), you have to agree she is one tough kitty.

I didn't sleep all that well as I couldn't help but think about Emma. There were a few things that made her coming home yesterday significant. For starters, her mom (my sister Kim) was in town. Secondly, it was a blue moon yesterday. Finally, and this one is a bit of a stretch and requires that I be much more spiritual than I am -- the spirit of my brother's cat, also named Emma and was put down on Friday, helped bring this Emma home.

Regardless, we are all glad Emma is home and suspect she just used up her 8th life. Pretty good for a 15 year old (80 in people years).

No News on the Emma Front

2007-06-26T18:14:00.000-07:00

It seems like Emma is not coming home. It is strange that no one has found her or her collar and given us a call.

As Jaime put it, she has used up many of her lives, so I am guessing she ran out this time.

On the bright side, now she doesn't have to suffer through old age, and we don't have to make the tough decision to euthanize her. I've done that twice, and as much as I believe in putting animals out of their misery early on, that doesn't make it any easier.

Evin has now started asking if he can go on sleepovers to Gwanny and Gwampas. I say "no" because he is sure to be hit by a car within minutes of getting there. Besides, I need someone to wake me up at 5:00 am (and 15-minute intervals thereafter) . Heaven forbid I sleep right through to the alarm!

Oh, and Sam doesn't need a super cute, fuzzy, young, and goofy orange cat around the house making him look even older and more crotchety than he already does.

Emma, if you are reading this -- Come Home!

2007-06-24T21:25:00.000-07:00

Well, it seems our little Emma has gone missing. At the age of 15, she just disappeared and we fear the worst. I was the last to see her and gave her a good brushing so she would be all set for Gwanny and Gwampa's homecoming last week.

She seemed fine, so I can only imagine that something bad happened. What a poor end to such a sweet little cat. It is too bad we don't know what happened. We hope that someone will see her collar and call us. I've walked around the block a few times, and even went to check out the base of the huge tree where a bald eagle lives. No bones or cat collars...thank goodness.

Emma was a feisty, fierce, and formidable feline who weighed about four ounces. She also became the sweetest cat once my brother and I moved out. When she came in from an outing, she would talk up a storm with whomever she saw first. If you didn't acknowledge her, she would keep yammering. She was a hit at Mom's afternoon bridge.

Emma was adopted as a kitten by my sister Kim, but when Kim had to go from practicum to practicum, it was better for Emma to move to Gwanny and Gwampas. She's been coughing up hairballs on Gwampa's journals and papers ever since.

In order to live with Gwanny and Gwampa, she had to be declawed. I would agree that it is pretty harsh except that it didn't slow her down a bit. As you can see, it didn't stop her from climbing small fruit trees. And she took sole responsibility for protecting the house from the likes of Fonze who came across the fence for his regular cat nip fix. At twice her size, and with 10 sharp claws, you would think Fonze would have gotten the munchies after a cat nip session, and snacked on her ages ago.

Emma has had a few tough breaks. She was hit by a car out front on Beach Drive. We told her not to cross the street, but that didn't do her any good. She was barely alive, so my Mom took her to the vet hospital. My Dad would have driven, but he was inclined to use the frying pan to finish the job. So, my Mom took a cab.

Emma's front leg was paralyzed, but she needed to recover from her other injuries first. By the time she did, the nerves had begun to regenerate. Aside from a small twitch from time to time, she recovered completely.

And as a small kitten, she went missing for a week. We didn't find out until 7 years ago that she had been shot with a pellet gun. The recognizable hourglass shape of the pellet showed up in an x-ray she had. And when she woke up from the sedation, she had a seizure. The vet said she looked more like a 12 year old cat when she was only 8 or 9.

There is a chance Emma will come home, but it is doubtful. Emma, if you are reading this, please come home.

Random facts about Emma...in case you are still reading and don't have anywhere to be:

One of her nicknames is Stinkerbell...she used to wear a bell (tinkerbell), but hated being picked up...hence Stinkerbell.
Another one of her nicknames is Fender Face...on account of being hit in the face with a car fender.
Emma used to catch birds (the defenceless ones, namely old or very young). She would have the bird rammed in her mouth and would wander around the yard meowing. She was proud but dumb...as soon as we heard her, we'd rescue the bird. I figured how a declawed cat could catch a bird when I observed Evin lunging onto the bed from a high dresser -- the element of vertical surprise meant there was nowhere for the bird to go.
My Dad had a suitcase laid out for a trip. He awoke the next morning to finish packing when he saw muddy pawprints and fur all over his pressed dress shirts. Emma had used the clothes as a place to clean up and rest one rainy day.
Emma has forgiven Gwampa for wanting to finish her off with a frying pan. She sometimes sends him Father's Day cards thanking him for not hitting her over the head with a frying pan.
Emma was named after my Great Grandma Emma. They both happen to share birthdays (Feb 14). In many ways, Emma the cat was a lot like Great Grandma -- tough and stubborn.

Great Minds Think Alike

2007-06-20T17:35:00.001-07:00

Check this out, the Freakonomics blog had the same idea when they heard about the Ten Commandments of driving. I'm particulartly referring to the part about the rosary beads:

Let’s set aside the question of whether reciting the Rosary indeed “does not distract the driver’s attention.”

But, you heard it on my blog first and I didn't even read the whole document that was prepared! Oh, and I have the timestamp to prove it.

I tend to disagree with their idea of the Benedict Effect. The Freakonomics blog questions whether praying will make people feel safer and therefore take more risks. But the gist of the commandments, as I understand them, is to be a better, more christian driver. It doesn't logically follow, at least not to me (and again, I have only read the list, not the full document prepared by the Vatican...I unlike some large groups living in Rome, don't have time to read, let alone write such a document) that people would be more careless while behind the wheel.

cough...smoke and mirrors...cough

Driving 101, Vatican style

2007-06-19T21:05:00.000-07:00

I was watching the news this evening when a story came on about the 10 Commandments of driving. According to Pope Benedict XVI and his compatriots at the Vatican, drivers need to exhibit a few more Christian virtues while on our roadways.

Religion seems to be on the rise, so this may be a good angle. I don't see ICBC jumping on this bandwagon, and I don't know that it will help me as I am not that religious.

Many things sprang to mind upon hearing the story, and many more as I began writing this blog. But, I am not really interested in starting a religious debate nor do I want to offend anyone. So, I'll share one of the more lighthearted thoughts, however ireverent it may sound. Now remember, you can't get mad. I, Heather, admit to snickering at the thought of accident rates going up because drivers began letting go of the wheel to perform the sign of the cross before entering an intersection, or they got distracted by reciting their Hail Mary's.

That said, I'll put my judgements aside, drive a little more courteously, and be thankful the Catholic church has had the time to prepare these commandments for the world.

Barriers to Junk Food

2007-06-14T19:29:00.000-07:00

When I got to work today there was an email from the provincial government waiting patiently in my inbox. It told me of the importance of a healthy lifestyle. One method for improving the health of Canadians is to stop stocking vending machines with junk food. Apparently this is already underway in Public Schools and Public workplaces are next.

That is great news. I have pretty bad willpower so if the vending machines down the hall are chocolate free, or better yet, stocked with healthy alternatives, I am less likely to cave in to junk food. Especially at 2:30 when the afternoon lull kicks in.

There are potentially two wrenches with this plan...at least for 4000 Seymour:

The cafeteria still stocks junk food (and probably will after this switch over) and is a mere 25 feet away from the main vending machines.
The vending machines don't actually accept twonies.

I am hopeful the healthy offering will be tasty too. If they start stocking food that tries to pass tofu off as an alternative to turkey or chocolate I may have to start a picket line. Shudder...I'm going to have tofu nightmares.

The Horror!

2007-06-14T19:18:00.000-07:00

I was in the mall, picking up the new Wil CD when it happened...it was aweful..horrible even. I walked out of HMV and was disoriented! I looked both ways and for the life of me couldn't remember which way would take me back where I came from.

I usually pride myself at being able to walk out of a store and know which way I came from and/or which way is next. I could be in a familiar mall, a new mall, or downtown and I would still know my bearings.

This isn't much of an accomplishment, but when you think of how easy it is to get distracted by the things going on in the store...including the rush of finding something you absolutely have to have, it sounds pretty impressive. And don't forget, I'm the one with the attention span of a 3-year old.

Bird TV

2007-06-09T19:31:00.000-07:00

In an effort to enhance the indoor life of my cats, I decided to get a window mounted hummingbird feeder. I had seen a hummingbird at a neighbors feeder so knew they were in the area.

I got a great little feeder at Canadian Tire and had it up in moments. Within about 24 hours, a hummingbird had spotted the feeder.

For whatever reason, he is afraid to use the feeder. He clicks noisily and hovers near the feeder which alerts the cats that something is going on so they race to the patio door and start chattering away. When the screen is open, the bird can hear them so I think this makes him more afraid. A week has gone by and the nectar looks untouched. Maybe it is too late now that the flowers are out.

I decided to add a seed feeder to the mix and picked up a window mounted feeder. Again, from Canadian Tire for less than $15.

I haven't seen any birds at this feeder, but there are seed shells starting to collect on my balcony floor.

I expect this feeder will get more action in the fall and winter when food is more scarce.

Workin for the Guv - Part Two

2007-06-09T19:03:00.000-07:00

I've been in my new position for 3 weeks now and I am settling in quite well. I get to do real work and I am used to the 1 hour lunch and leaving at 4:30 pm. I really like the job and am looking forward to the Business Analyst courses I'll be taking in the winter. It is too early to say, but I may switch from PM to BA.

I have to say, my coworkers are a great bunch. There are lots of stories and lots of laughs. I couldn't ask for anything more. When it comes to training though, there has been a bit of tension. I tend to want to be pointed in the right direction, given a few pointers, and then sent on my way. I feel this is OK since there is a ton of documentation and I have some experience in the field.

I also tend to work pretty quickly. There are a few thinkers in the group who I feel think I am acting rash. On the contrary, I just function better when jumping in and making things happen. So far, no one has tried to cure me by reminding me of the story of the tortoise and the hare. Besides, I know my limits and wouldn't do something permanent without asking for someone to check my work. To demonstrate that fast is not always bad, I have compared myself to a hummingbird. This seems to have worked and has turned into a project to find the "bird" in all of us. Though when I take my time with something, they are quick to wonder what happened to the hummingbird. For those that know me, you are probably placing bets on when I will show up with a bird craft.

What a pill

2007-06-09T18:37:00.000-07:00

Taking pills is one of my least favourite things to do. Fortuantely, I don't have to do so very often. I think I'd rather chew on a yucky tasting pill than swallow them. It goes back to the time when I didn't use enough water when taking a pill -- it got stuck in my throat which went unnoticed for the first hour until it started eating a hole through my throat.

As I get older and it is no longer the best option to eat a bunch of fruit (vitamin C) and hang out in the sun so it can convert the vitamin C to the much needed vitamin D, I figure I should take some vitamins. You can get a multi-vitamin which is very efficient except for the fact that one tablet is the size of a small child. Forcing one of those things down my throat is an excellent way to get more water in me but I wish they made chewable multi-vitamins for adults.

Enter kids chewable multi-vitamins. Sure, a child multi-vitamin is not the right dose, but I figure it is better than nothing. And since I got a super jumbo bottle at COSTCO, I can afford to eat 2 or 3 so it is more like an adult dose!

Disturbing TV

2007-05-22T21:17:00.000-07:00

Oftentimes what impresses me about great TV or the movies is when the writers add something to the plot that seems unconscionable. To come up with something most people wouldn't admit to having thought of, let alone write it into primetime TV or a movie, takes courage.

I refer mostly to rediculously funny movies....often the ones starring Will Farrell, or early Jim Carey movies.

Tonight though, I saw something that was hardly funny. Rather, it was probably the most disturbing thing I have seen on TV.

I was watching NCIS and it was about a drug mule who died after the cocaine capsules he had ingested ruptured. The guy expecting to receive the drugs (intact) showed up with the kid's jonesing sister and wanted to cut the kid open to salvage some of the capsules. A doctor was forced to retrieve the drugs and purposely slashed the drug capsules so they would be ruined. Needless to say, there was a struggle. While the doctor and NCIS guy fought to get the drug guy under control , the sister was snorting cocaine off the her dead brother's intestines. Sick.

Sure, it was TV, and it is pretty common knowledge that a drug addict would do something horrible in the name of that next fix, but to snort coke off your dead brother's gutted intestines is pretty harsh. Slightly less harsh is coming up with it and writing it into a prime time tv episode.

BTW...NCIS is a great show!

Workin for the Guv

2007-05-22T19:03:00.000-07:00

Well, today was my first day working for the BC Government (The Guv). All in all, it went well. I was able to crack a few jokes, I didn't have to do any work, and my direct co-workers all like animals.

I wasn't that nervous, but that didn't stop me from taking a while to get to sleep. It didn't help that the fleacircus brigade was in full force at 5:45 am this morning.

The day started with a tour of the facilities which include numerous coffee stations (BYOC - caffeine and any apparatus you may require), a cafeteria, a gym (with classes and everything), and bike lockers (which I am on a wait list for). The day also consisted of forms...lots and lots of forms. Snore.

One such form was to say I wouldn't do anything bad, or install programs on the computer. So, my suspicion that MSN is a no go was right. That is OK though -- I have ZERO privacy in my semi-fishbowl cube. Besides, having 'clean' workstations directly impacts me since I'll be responsible for ensuring new applications work on all types of workstations.

Things I found out today:
1. There are 3 Heather MacLeod's working for the BC Gov.
2. I get to swear at work...and they book 15 minutes for it. OK, so I'll be swearing an oath, not a blue streak, but still!
3. There aren't enough shower curtains in the shower stalls at work. I hope I don't have to go freestyle!

The predominant sentiment today was grief. Grief over the loss of working for a company (ACD) that I knew inside out. I could recognize almost anyone by the sound of their voice, and a select few by the way they walked. On the up side, there are just so many people in the office that I don't feel like I stand out like a sore thumb the way I would at a company of 30-60 people. As the hours wore on and my mid-morning feeding came and went without food, I found it harder to embrace my new surroundings. Fortunately, some food, caffeine, and a bit of fresh air helped.

I am hoping my sleeping habits get back to normal so I don't have to drag my butt around like a zombie tomorrow.

A solid 8 hours

2007-05-21T14:45:00.000-07:00

Wow, I slept for 8 hours solid the other night. It was my first night in Van and I was in the tiny twin bed at my Grandma's house. I can't remember the last time I slept for 8 hours straight. Ever.

It might have something to do with the lack of cats at 6:30 in the morning, but I really think it had to do with the foam mattress topper she has on her guest bed -- I barely tossed and turned...even on the nights when I didn't sleep for 8 hours straight.

So, upon returning to Victoria, I went to buy a memory foam mattress topper for my bed at home. I didn't get the fancy $140 version from Linens N Things, or the Temper Pedic version. Rather, I got the $80 version which smells pretty funny.

Last night was my first night trying it out, but I was so overtired from two 2:00 pm - 11:30 pm shifts with my nephew Kaleb, that I still managed to toss and turn. Given I have to start a new job tomorrow, I am not sure tonight will be a good test either -- I would probably toss and turn regardless what I was sleeping on.

I already love sleeping (never phone me before noon on weekends), so I am a bit afraid to see what might happen.

I need a valium...STAT!

2007-05-08T14:29:00.000-07:00

Yesterday could be considered a textbook example of a bad Monday: I broke my key in the door (fortunately, the piece broke off in my hand and not in the lock), a jacka$$ cut me off in traffic (I honked and fingered him, than passed him), and I saved my parents new patio table from being destroyed by my Dad.

It all started when I went there for dinner. I was hungry and knew full well we weren't going to eat at 6 like my Dad said (we ate at 8:30 or so), but I tried to remain calm. It wasn't long before my Dad told me he had a technical question. It was actually a tool question, as opposed to the typical technical (computer) questions he pummels me with on a somewhat regular basis (which is then followed by a rant about customer service and product design at company XYX).

He asked me to cut the patio table umbrella hole grommet thingamagig in half so it would fit in the hole of the tiled patio table top. I obliged, but suggested we just cut out a section, instead of cutting the grommit right in half. Brilliant they thought. Not so brilliant was the fact that I didn't think to ask why the grommet was so large in the first place.

After several trips up and down the basement stairs, which required I contort my body to avoid getting the hand rail in my hip, tripping on the 3 mops hanging in the stairwell, and getting a bag of recycling in my face, I cut the grommet to the right size. Navigating my Dad's shop was no easy feat either. I had to make my way past the airplane cockpit he is building down there, through piles of stuff, and over shards of broken glass and twisted metal (I am NOT exaggerating in the least). As you can guess, the saw I was using (coping I think) had a twisted blade, so it was hard to cut a straight line. The sight of my Dad's shop would send Helen B and the guys from Clean Sweep running out of the house and throwing themselves in front of one of the many double decker buses which pass by my parents house on a daily basis.

Back on the deck, the grommet snugly in place, I went to move the umbrella base into position under the table. It wouldn't fit under the side rails of the table without lifting one side of the table and sliding it under. It also wouldn't fit under the umbrella bracket which also acts as support for the table legs.

I decided to ignore this for now and lift the umbrella in place. It suddenly became clear why the grommet was too big in the first place -- the umbrella pole was bigger than the hole in the table. That's OK, my Dad said, we don't need the grommet. Uh, yes you do Dad I said. The table top is tile and the pressure of the pole next to the edge of the hole could cause the tile to chip or crack. This is especically true since the pole was also too big to fit in the bracket beneath the table. So, upon my command, we removed the umbrella.

The next challenge was to deal with the base that was too tall. That's OK my Dad said again. I'll just cut the support brackets off the table. Visualizing the table collapsing under the weight of the tile top and the umbrella, I suggested we reduce the height of the base by cutting the vertical tube the pole fits inside.

At this point, I looked at my parents friend Marylin who was visiting and listed out all the ways in which I had just saved the brand new table...all because I happened to stop by on that particular evening.

Events like these are all too common. It didn't take long to recall another example as I looked out over the edge of the deck at the greenhouse my Dad built, the electrical outlet installed on the deck, and the hose 'stations' throughout the yard.

Dad, if you are still reading this...I love you. Next time, consider this saying: "Two heads are better than one" and your next project may go a bit smoother.

It isn't like I dropped an anvil on her face

2007-05-02T09:39:00.000-07:00

My cats beg to be fed snacks about 800 times a day. I usually give them 5-10 kernels of their regular food. As you can imagine, I lose count at about 347. I give in because if I don't, Evin will run to the bowl every time I get up to walk. Most times, the bowl is nowhere near where I am headed so I trip over him as he dashes right in front of me.

I keep most of the food in a large Iams tin, but I have a 1/2 cup plastic Rubbermaid container which makes gauging portion size much easier. Plus, I don't have to deal with the stupid noisy tin lid nearly as often.

Last night, on trip 652 to the food dish I was opening the little container full of food when I lost my grip and dropped it. Because Cleo was at my feet looking up in anticipation, it managed to fall on her face.

As you can guess, she ran away. Not only that, she wouldn't come near me. I couldn't believe she would be so quickly and permanently traumatized by this rare event, so I picked up the food container and shook it. Normally, this brings the cats running from wherever they may be. This time, Cleo cowered under the coffee table. Even attempts to lure her back with catnip failed. All the while, Evin couldn't believe his luck at snacks AND catnip! He got two servings of each due to Cleo's new found phobia -- the cat food container.

This morning, I was able to feed Cleo her breakfast from that container, but it was pretty full so not as noisy. As I was preparing to leave, I gave them another snack and sure enough, the sound of the container shaking sent her straight upstairs and under my bed. Evin got another double-dose of snacks.

I think I need to find a new way to store the cat food. But seriously Cleo, get a grip. It isn't like I dropped an anvil on your face.

Happy Birthday Cleo...you old flea circus you!

2007-05-01T11:21:00.000-07:00

Apparently it is Cleo's 9th birthday today. I didn't have it marked on my calendar, but Catster did and sent me an email.

I marked the occasion by giving her and Evin cat treats, and reminding her of how funny it was when she fell off the cat scratcher yesterday.

Evin inhaled his treats (you don't want to know how I know this) and then tried eating Cleo's treats. I fended him off while Cleo growled at him and finished her treats.

Cleo is probably celebrating her birthday by shedding on my couch and/or caughing up a furball.
Happy 9th Cleo!

A step back in time

2007-05-01T10:34:00.000-07:00

I was born in Vancouver and lived there until I was 8. I've always had fond memories of Van, and even though I only went back twice before moving to BC when I was 19, I managed to remember the basic layout. Pretty good for a kid who couldn't drive or barely see out the window for the first half of those 8 years! I think taking solitary walks along King Edward and Mackenzie (playing in traffic) while I was 2 helped me get my bearings! Poor Mom was too busy dealing with Scotty to keep track of her wandering toddler.

One day my Dad took me and my siblings up to Dunbar. I remember being in a bookstore, my Dad remembers it being a Library and my Mom, who wasn't there, remembers it being someplace else.

Anywho, I lost track of my Dad. After trolling the aisles, I found him. But, then I lost him again. Being kid number 3 (of 4) to an absent-minded professor of a Dad (sorry Dad, but it is true), I thought he left without me. So, I decided to walk home.

I made my way over to King Edward (25th) and headed East towards home. A few blocks in, I approached Grandma's house (blue dot on map below). But, I couldn't go in as my sister Kim would be mad at me for spoiling her weekend sleepover with Grandma. So, I kept going. I don't remember the rest of the walk, but I do remember arriving at Granville and Connaught (~ 6 blocks from home) where I was met by a Policeman. Seems Dad didn't leave without me afterall. Instead, he probably panicked and called the police.

Being the shy, rule abiding child that I was, I didn't want to go into the strangers car so declined the policemans offer to wait in his cruiser. I think I wanted to keep walking, but I don't really remember the rest. I don't even remember being reunited with my Dad.

From that day forward, I have been a Master Parent Finder (TM). My Mom used to take us to the mall and announce the time we were to meet back up at the pet store. I wasn't an avid shopper then, so was usually done before the time was up so would go looking for my Mom. I could always find her whether she was in the grocery store, dress shop, or the florist. I never had to walk home again.

Here is the route I took:

One day, I'll drive it and record the distance.

-----------------

One day: I drove the route and it was a whopping 4.5 kms!

Cool new fridge

2007-04-30T15:21:00.000-07:00

Remember the Kitchen Aid fridge I was talking about. Well, it was due to arrive at All Temp last week, so I called to find out just when and then drove down to check it out. It was 4-5 years old, white, not dented and downright beautiful...for a fridge. Just look at the difference!

It was a very rare find and at only $600, which is less than half price (new) and better quality than some of the new ones in that $500-600 range, I couldn't pass it up. I decided to buy it right then and there and arranged to have it delivered Friday afternoon.

I cleared out some of the stuff I had kicking around, but I didn't expect to fit all my refrigerables in the door! I adorned the shelves with a few items so it actually looked like I had food when I opened the door.

The freezer is the best because I can fit more stuff in it. And it has a light! Now I don't have to cave in and buy a rinky-dink deep freeze, but I do have to do something about the super bright lights -- I practically blind myself whenever I open the door.

Update: Evin's freezer shelf

Add Facebook to the list of networks I'm in

2007-04-30T15:06:00.000-07:00

I've recently joined Facebook and have to say I am pretty pleased. Apparently it is a lot like myspace, but I can't say for sure as I somehow managed to sleep through the myspace wave.

Facebook is great for looking up long lost friends. This is especially cool for me since I grew up and went to high school back east. It is the cyberspace version of walking through the main streets of your home town.

I've yet to connect with those from highschool, because the friends I did have then I still know or aren't on Facebook. Everyone else that I recognize are more like acquaintances.

I did connect with a girl I used to babysit though. She is 18+ (and her brother almost 17) which makes me an old fart. Her family was great to me -- even after they moved several km's away, they would pick me up and drive me home after babysitting. They would also take me skiing with them. We stayed in touch for a few years and I visited them the two times I went back. But, contact slowly whithered away...before email took off and blogs were invented.

The downside to Facebook? It is a bit of a popularity contest. I got invites from folks I barely know because they were on my MSN list way back when. Sorry, but I refuse to join anyone's harem...except Mikey because it isn't a virtual harem but rather the real kind that includes Sunday coffee, cat jokes, and Survivor nights. Also includes a concert or two. Woo hoo...The Hip rocked!

Leaving the ACD nest

2007-04-30T14:25:00.000-07:00

Well, I accepted a job with the Government ("the guv") and bade farewell to ACD. My last day at ACD will be May 11th, and my first day at the guv will be May 22nd. That is right, one week off between jobs to rest!

I'll be cutting my contract a bit short, but things have slowed down so it shouldn't be so bad.

I'll miss ACD. I learned a lot here over the past 5+ years. I was given many opportunities, and sought out many more. I went from a little green QA tester to a PM managing our flagship software. I'll be leaving with tons of friends and many fond memories. I hope I will be able to say the same after being in the guv for a few years.

I am still green by PM standards, which is why I have chosen to take a QA/BA position with the guv. I will take a cut in responsibility, but not in pay. This position will give me a chance to learn the government ropes before I get thrown to the 'Project wolves' as a PM.

According to facts like this one:

45% of managers and 35% of bargaining unit employees in the BC Public Service
will be retired by 2015. (buried deep on this site -- http://www.gov.bc.ca/bvprd/bc/home.do)

...I stand a great chance of moving up the ranks before I know it. I was pretty up front about using the QA/BA position as a stepping stone, and my new boss is completely on board and supportive. Besides, it isn't like I will be switching jobs any time soon -- I have a lot to learn, including taking BA courses.

I'll be celebrating my departure by having lunch with Janet (my boss and uber-mentor) and then I'll probably close the week with a night out. One last ACD party (sniff).

Things I'll miss:

the people (you know who you are)
24-hour relay (especially the volleyball)
my nice green office with a window, fancy chairs, and a door!
walking the halls and knowing everyone by name
MSN during the day (something tells me taxpayers don't want to pay me to msn friends during work hours)

Things I won't miss:

the 17 km drive (I'll be down to 2.5 km's! w00t)
the predictable food at The Roost
the roadmap (or lack thereof)
the people not included in the above 'list'

Things I am looking forward to:

2.5 km drive (not on bus route, and lots of hills, so it will be a while before I bike it)
opportunity
9 - 5 baby!
Pension (the bennies are about the same, but don't kick in until Nov)

Sign that you need to plan an intervention

2007-04-23T15:14:00.000-07:00

So, my friends and I meet every Sunday for coffee and a stroll along Dallas Road and then through Beacon Hill park.

I've often thought it would be cool if Evin could go on walks. I think it would be fun to bring him along so he can get some fresh air and meet people. After all, he is very social. But, then I remember he is a cat. He would probably run away or get hit by a car. Sounds like what I need is a canine version of Evin.

Well, Evin's world just might open up thanks to the cat stroller!

I'm kidding. I wouldn't be caught dead pushing one of those. So, if you hear me talking about buying one (and I seem serious), plan an intervention!

Shopping for Appliances 101

2007-04-19T17:59:00.000-07:00

To celebrate my winfall 2 months ago, I thought I might buy a new stove and fridge. I broke the glass window in my oven, and my fridge just isn't performing that well (warm or frozen milk, nothing in between). So, it is not exactly an impulse buy.

I've been to three places recently: Trail Appliances, Sears, and a second hand place called All-Temp on Craigflower. My specs include: coil elements, self-clean, white, no ice-makers, and nothing uber-fancy.

Trail is having a sale but they don't have much to choose from. They steered me towards Whirlpool stoves because the door insulation is on the oven opening. He made this sound like an obvious place, but didn't explain why insulation on the door was worse. I left with a few model numbers, but didn't plan to go back on Friday when the sale starts.

Sears is also having a sale. They have a huge selection of appliances, but the sales guy should have quit his day job and applied to be a high school drama teacher; he was just way too animated for me. Kenmore doesn't actually make appliances. They contract it out to Frigidaire adn Whirlpool. He said Kenmore (by Frigidaire -- KF for short) are for old people and Kenmore (by Whirlpool -- KW for short) are for young people. This is because, according to him, Frigidaire has spent more time on oven/stove technology while Whirlpool has focused more time on looks. So, I settled on a KF coil element with self clean for $500+. We then took a look at fridges. There were many on sale and on clearance and I picked a KW one that had no handles on the front. Nothing fancy, but it did have glass shelves and clear drawers. With delivery, hinge switching for the fridge doors, and old appliance removal, the entire package came to $1500. Gulp. I decided to sleep on it.

Today I stopped by All-Temp because I was in the neighborhood. This place carries new and used. The new machines are clearance items from department stores, and the used machines are only top performers. These guys turned my world upside down. To my surprise, Frigidaire sucks. The computer/panel thingamagigs on their stoves are notorious for breaking and cost $400 to replace. Whirlpool is not known for their looks (vs performance) so they said. But they aren't really known for anything else. The star of the day was GE. They consistently outperform all others and oftentimes include high-end features in their mid-range models. Despite this, I almost walked home with a barely used Fridge-on-top Kenmore (by Whirlpool). The door even opened the right way but the freezer door would have to open 180 degrees in order for the drawer thingy to pull out. This is impossible in my kitchen, so I passed it by. In the next few days, they are expecting a used side-by-side Kitchen Aid fridge. I don't know the price yet, and I am not hung up on side-by-side, but it doesn't have an ice maker (which uses up half the freezer) so I am interested. Surely Kitchen Aid is good for resale!

I trust All-Temp because they are on the receiving end of good and bad appliances. They see the insides and know which models are build to last. They also have a current Consumer Report on hand. Mr Joe Sears-I-should-have-been-a-drama-teacher could care less about return rates and even less about repairing them. It is no surprise he is going to plug the models that need to move off the floor.

This just in -- Home Depot carries GE. I think I'll whip over there now!

Update: Home Depot didn't have much selection so I went to the Brick. Once I got the sales person talking and admitted to her that Mr Sears was trying to sell me a Frigidaire, she finally let her opinion show through and she agreed with A-T that Frigidaire sucks. She told me the insulation thing for the door is best on the oven itself if a self cleaning oven. The GE model she showed me had it on the door and it was barely attached. I left with the Whirlpool I saw at Trail. I got a great deal because it is an older model (newer versions have lower quality panels so score for me) and it has a dent in the drawer (which I can probably fix myself). But, it has a ceramic top which will be good for resale even though I am not a huge fan.

Check it out:
http://www.whirlpoolappliances.ca/en/Products/WERP4110SQ.html

Silly Cats

2007-04-11T14:51:00.000-07:00

I've packed away my duvet and in its place is a lovely new quilt. It has proven to be a bit premature, but the warm weather will be here soon enough.

It must be laced with catnip because Cleo has gone absolutely nuts the last two nights. As I settle into bed, Cleo has taken to lunging at my feet and trying to bite or claw them to death. Any sudden or repetitive movement (like foot twitching which is pretty common) and out come 10 shards of glass and countless piercing daggers . These antics are very unusual for her and risky for me -- the quilt is quite thin so teeth/claws are no match.

Last night, Evin climbed under the covers and Cleo, who hates closed spaces, went in after him. I feared for my life. OK, not for my life, but definitely for my legs. There is no telling the carnage they could do to my legs!

I survived, but it didn't stop them from running around like village idiots for a few minutes.

From the Mouths of Babes

2007-04-10T20:23:00.000-07:00

My nephew Kaleb is pretty funnny. He picks up things all over the place. And his recall for momentary happenings is amazing. He remembered there was a horse buried at the petting zoo and that the pig would have babies in the summer. These were but 2 of many 'facts' he picked up that day at the park.

The other day his mom was helping him clean up after a wee accident. During the clean up, he asked his mom "when will this nightmare end?".

After recovering from a bout of laughter, his mom asked him where he learned that. To her surprise, he didn't learn it from me. Rather, he learned it from an equally cool source -- Scooby Doo. I still laugh when I think of that story. I don't know what I would have done had I been there myself.

I have taught him sayings such as "slobber chops", "fall down go boom", "goofball", and the latest addition to his vocabulary -- "shishkabob". I'm saving "smell you later" for later.

Still Here

2007-04-09T17:57:00.000-07:00

I'm still here. Just a little busy with work and feeling a bit of writers block I guess.

So, on the work front. Still looking for a job, but have had a bunch of interviews and a bunch more lined up. In the meantime, my contract at ACD was extended until June 1.

I am leaning towards working in the Government -- it is more stable these days and I seem to be craving that.

Once I am settled into my next full time job, I don't think I will wait too long to get the kitchen done. I'd like to get my condo complete so that if I notice condo prices going down (new condos are going up at record speed), I can get out and into something a bit more competitive.

Where was my camera when I needed it?

2007-03-19T19:23:00.000-07:00

I was driving home from work today when I noticed a Red Bull van next to me in traffic. The driver was drinking a coffee from Tim Hortons. It was pretty funny, but I guess it is no different than all those pics of the Coke driver drinking Pepsi, or the Maille guy eating French's mustard. Nonetheless, I wish I had my camera so I could add it to my collection of odd pics:

(taken at Kelowna Home Depot)

(taken outside appartment on Simcoe)

No balance owing: Priceless

2007-02-08T12:08:00.000-08:00

Space Travel...can it be done?

2007-02-07T17:27:00.000-08:00

A question about space travel has plagued me for the last few weeks.

As we know, all that fascinating cosmic stuff we hear about and see in pictures is really a snapshot of what it looked several light years ago, depending on how far away it is.

So, I am thinking a human couldn't actually travel to any of those cosmic things, even at the speed of light, without growing old and dying along the way.

Is that true? Is there any way humans could travel several light years away without dying? Is that where black holes and such come into play? You find black hole x (I'll take door number 3 Chuck) and blammo, you are instantly taken to a cosmic destination several light years away.

The sad thing is, I could have had all this answered a few different times in my life:
- When I was in Astronomy 101
- When I worked at PureEdge and was surrounded by Sci-Fi fans.

The worrisome thing is is that I probably know the answer and Mikey is going to have some smarta$$ reply to my silly musings. I can take it Mikey, bring it on!

What a concept

2007-02-07T17:13:00.000-08:00

So, I am back at work, managing not only the projects I was working on before to the layoff, but also a few more. I am busy to say the least. But not as busy as my co-worker who has to fly off to Kiev for 10 days.

All that work doesn't leave much time for the job hunt, so I spend my evenings working on my resume. I've put a few out there, but need to fire off some more.

What is great about this whole layoff-contract thing is that I have the luxury of being completely open and upfront about my job search. In fact, it is socially acceptable to bounce ideas off co-workers and use HR to network. What a concept!

And to add further bounce to my step, the property tax winfall I confirmed last week has gone through and I no longer carry a balance on my credit card! Of course, the monthly fees and interest may not have been calculated yet, so I could still see a balance owing over the next few weeks.

I still have ~$3000 from that winfall and I am reluctant to do anything with it, including putting it in my RRSP or against my mortgage. That would be the wise thing to do, but I have become a bit of a miser and don't want to lock it away somewhere. I am also getting cold feet about my kitchen reno now that I may be able to bump it up by two years. The idea of jumping into the demo and rebuild process is a little daunting. Not sure I am ready for that as I am still recovering from the bathroom reno of 2006...which has about a weekend worth of touching up to do...11 months later!

Its Alive!

2007-02-05T12:06:00.000-08:00

As fellow Victorians know, we had rain this weekend. In fact, it pissed rain the entire time my friends and I were out on our weekly stroll along Dallas road with the dogs.

I am pleased to say that my car started, despite the rain. Woo Hoo! It was a pretty challenging test to pass, but the real challenge will be whether it starts during a deluge like we had in Nov, and again in Jan. I'm not worried.

Given the festivities of last week, I have yet to finish send my letter of complaint to Toyota. But I wanted to be sure the car worked in the rain anyways so I am not that behind.

Hitting the books...

2007-02-03T20:45:00.000-08:00

Urgent to get a kick butt job, I've taken a more aggressive approach to my chosen profession of Project Management. I'm studying for the PMP exam. Sure, I'll sign up for a prep course, but for now, I am filling my head with knowledge (or reconnecting the neurons to the knowledge I already had stashed in my brain) that I am sure I'll need for an interview.

I've started with a book that I should have picked up 2 years ago...back when I was thrust into the position with very little if any guidance. I can't plead neglect on the part of my coworkers as they had their own dragons to slay, but when they were done with the dragons I have to admit the sudden focus on me and my methods was a little frustrating. I'm just glad I learned to appreciate and highly respect the wisdom, even if it was a little delayed in getting to me.

Back to the book. It mentions the PMBOK (Body of Knowledge) a lot, so it helps to reinforce the things I'll need to know for the exam and my job. And the book is well organized so studying isn't that bad. Besides, I really do like my profession and I can't wait to apply some of the new found knowledge to my next project.

What is funny is that in all these years since my days at Uvic I have not forgotten how to procrastinate. It is great though -- my dishes are done, laundry done, and even a 3 hour nap to boot! I just wish my cats would stop sitting on my books and asking me to take another nap.

The cat came back...

2007-02-01T19:52:00.000-08:00

I'm back at ACD for a 4 week contract. I would have liked one more day to really fine tune my resume and get more sent off, but I wanted to get back to my old projects.

It was wierd being back because I got so much positive attention. I really am a humble person, and attention goes straight to the tear ducts! I kept it together and made my way to my office which hadn't changed a bit.

Before I could get deep into work, I got a lead on a position at a company in town. I was pretty excited as I've heard they have a similar culture to ACD. So, I ran through my resume one last time, whipped up a cover letter and sent it off. If they really are like ACD, they'll be so dazzled by all I have to offer and look past the minor limitations and let me learn on the job. Cross your fingers!

Show me the money

2007-01-31T13:06:00.000-08:00

How things change in the matter of just a few days.

Last week, I was battling all these people that wanted my money and this week, people are throwing money at me.

In addition to a pretty sweet severance package (that is only sweet if I get a job before having to dip into it), I noticed a $6700 excess in my tax account. Seems the bank was stashing too much of my mortgage payments in there.

So, I'll pay off Master Card (thanks for lending me the money, too bad I forget what I used it on) and the rest will go towards my mortgage which is where it should have gone all along.

While this winfall is a nice surprise, I don't expect the bank to do it again -- we changed how much is set aside each month so it shouldn't pile up again.

Farewell ACD

2007-01-30T14:13:00.000-08:00

Well, I’ve joined club layoff for the second time in my life. Yesterday I got the surprising news that I no longer had a job. I was shocked to say the least. The last layoff was 5.5 years ago (PureEdge) and for a number of reasons, made for the most stressful time in my life. Because of that, I was not looking forward to the emotional roller coaster that would be my future for the next few days. But, by 7:00 pm, the migraine I thought I would get ended up being a bad headache that was cured with a few Advil, my spirits were up, and I was book marking jobs I wanted to apply for. I even turned down the sleeping pills my mom gave me.

My severance package was generous this time round, though the government took nearly %45 of it. I’m also entitled to a bit more as my vacation time jumped up a week after reaching 5 years of employment at ACD. Finally, I was offered a month contract to wrap up the projects I was working on. I’ll need to think about whether I accept the contract and whether I want to negotiate some of the terms. I’d hate to dump all that work on Janet, but at the same time, I don’t want it to get in the way of looking for another job.

After getting the news and the package, I had some time to collect my thoughts before meeting with an employment counsellor who specializes in getting people back on their feet after a layoff. She was great and I have a meeting with her on Wednesday. I’m going to have her look at the CV and cover letters I want to submit for the jobs I want to apply for. Fortunately, both are up to date as I have been looking for a new job off and on for the past 2 months. That also means I was already disengaged from ACD.

I describe the layoff as a shock, but not heartbreaking. While I was hoping to be the dumper not the dumpee, at least this way I get a chunk of change out of it.

Overall, I think my first day went really well and if I can keep up the momentum, I’ll be working in no time.

I’ve begun organizing a traditional trip to a local pub were survivors and those laid off can say good-byes and mingle one last time.

So far so good

2007-01-27T07:37:00.000-08:00

Well, the car is running great so far: it starts like a dream, and runs well once started. The true test will be when it rains. Unfortunately, that test isn't about to happen any time soon as our weather patterns have returned to their normal Victoria selves -- mild and dry.

I am also looking forward to watching to see if fuel economy increases. I'm not holding my breath, but I am optimistic.

I've decided to write a letter of complaint to Toyota and have a first draft on paper. However, after talking to more people, it seems I learned what they know already -- the Toyota service department is full of lazy jerks.

I chose to go with a letter because I know that if I go into the shop and ask to speak to a manager (remember: lazy jerk) they are just going to blow it off. That is exactly what others said about how they handled their negative feedback. I also feel pretty strongly about good customer service, but get stressed out by sticking up for myself so would probably end up crying or something stupid like that.

Don't worry, I am not expecting any better treatment by sending a letter. But, at least it will be in writing. Whether I send the same letter to BBB is yet to be decided. After all, the more I dwell on this saga, the more it will consume my thoughts. It really isn't worth this much attention, but I like telling stories and this venue is ideal for doing just that.

Tricks of the Trade

2007-01-25T12:58:00.000-08:00

I'll preface this post with a warning that you won't see much work talk here. But, today, I couldn't resist.

Here's the scoop. We have an issue with our software and that of a third party component we rely on. We had asked that that third party do the fix and they had this to say about why they can't do it right now:

"...tied up on a project for a very large international corporation (whom we can’t disclose, but it's the largest software company you can guess)"

Gee, I wonder who that could be?

I learned another trick for dealing with partners. When they want something done now, I just have to say this:

"...this would require a one time expedite fee of $15,000".

I already warned an executive that I might play this card if he tries to slip a project in through the back door. No need to worry, I have a good enough relationship with that individual that I can get away with being cheeky. But, if you see me selling stuff on here, you know I went too far.

Things are looking up

2007-01-24T22:42:00.000-08:00

As expected, my financial woes would become more clear by the end of the night.

I just got a $400 quote to fix my car (and possibly improve mileage!) before hopping on the bus that would get me home in time for my strata meeting.

At the strata meeting, we agreed (though not unanimously) NOT to paint the interior of the building. Those against painting ($33,000) would rather see money go to more important things for resale than cosmetic issues like paint.

That leads me to the big ticket item -- the roof. The quote was for $200,000 (~$4,000 each) . Hutton (the building manager) had a similar sized roof done this summer and paid $150,000 so I (we) felt pretty good about the amount set aside. After some discussion we unanimously agreed to not only go through with the roof, but to use the money previously (3 years ago) collected and set aside for replacing balconies. I was pretty pleased with myself for pointing out that the ROI on that use of the money would far exceed any interest the 'balcony' money could bring in simply sitting in the bank. Yay for me.

The balcony money won't cover the full cost to replace the roof, but it was enough to bring my contribution (special levy) to ~ $1500. What a relief. I can handle that no problem though will still need to borrow from the Bank of Mom & Dad to cover it.

While at the meeting, I met the couple below me whose suite got water damage thanks to the idiot plumber who disconnected my sink prior to my renos. And after the meeting was all over, my neighbor and I split a bottle of wine and shared stories of cats, men, and weird neighbors.

Why I won't go back to a car dealership for repairs

2007-01-24T22:12:00.000-08:00

Well, I got the call from my Esso Station mechanic (the station on Cedar Hill and Blenkinsop to be specific) and was actually energized by the $4oo quote to fix my car.

He said the sparks weren't firing (rotor + contacts), though all spark plugs were replaced last summer by Toyota. And he said the fuel filter was probably the original. Seems replacing the spark plugs was dealing with a 'cosmetic' symptom of a greater problem that Toyota never did figure out.

Now, the fact that the sparks weren't firing sounds like a perfectly good explanation for why my car was not starting so I am quite confident that it will solve my starting issues. As for the fuel filter, that is a tough fix, so tough in fact, he figures Toyota probably purposely avoided it like the plague. I am hopeful it will resolve my poor mileage, but that really would be the cherry on top at this point. He also read through the last tune up report from Toyota and was surprised at how little they did for the amount they were charging. No kidding. Here is how that Toyota tune up saga went:

My car wouldn't start, so I had it towed to Toyota. I was planning to get a tune up when my tax return came in (yes, the very return Rev. Can. realized this month was $500 too high) the next month, so I told them to just go ahead and do the tune up then while it was in the shop.
They addressed what they thought was the issue, and sent me on my way. I realize now, they missed the request to do a tune up, so when the woman at Toyota told me the bill was only $300 and I didn't need a tune up (and that mileage would increase) I was ecstatic.
A week later, it was towed to Toyota again for not starting at which point they did the $1700 tune up they should have done in the first place. I was a bit annoyed and figured I probably paid $300 more than I should have since it had to go in twice, but since I had neglected the car for a while (save oil changes) I sucked it up. I actually called them on it but nothing much amounted to it. In the end, the tune up did NOTHING for mileage, and the car started acting up again in the rain.
All seemed well until the November rains kicked in. Once again, it was towed to Toyota and I explained the problem (won't start in rain), and they "checked the starter contacts" which is NOWHERE near the distributor cap which is where moisture is known to wreak havoc. Of course, they found nothing wrong!

We'll have to see how well the Esso fix goes, but at this point, I have way more confidence in them than the guys trained to work on Toyota's. I bet if I took it to Toyota and they finally figured out what Darren at Esso did, I would have been pretty cheesed at them for taking so long. Funny how taking it to someone else and hearing all that is wrong (with car and Toyota) seems less worse than hearing it from the jugheads who had 3 tries at it. Talk about validating my choice to go elsewhere.

I hypothesize that dealerships are so bogged down with maintaining all the lease cars they have (for which a simple hook up to the diagnostic computer will do the trick) that when it comes to dealing with an older car, they are just plain lazy. For that reason, I'll never take this car back to the dealership again.

I'll probably write a letter to Toyota, but I need to see how well Esso panned out.

Happy New Year to me

2007-01-24T15:07:00.000-08:00

Well, my year has gotten off to a rough start. A proverbial kick in the financial pants if you will.

In the span of about 2 weeks, the following happened:

Strata announced we needed a new roof. If we don't use contingency fund (which I don't think we should), this could amount to about $4000 each. We are meeting tonight to decide.
Revenue Canada just figured out that they paid me $500 too much in last years' tax return. I wish I could just debit that from this year's return, but I know that is hard on the books.
My car is acting up and there is no way I can afford a new one (or my mother's 2002 Camry). The repair bill should be in tonight.
I had to have a tooth pulled (At ~ $350, that was more mentally than financially traumatic)

Much of my financial future will shake out tonight, so all should look clearer then. If I start posting stuff for sale, you know I had to cough up $4000 for the roof.

If you've been following along, you know that it didn't stop me from buying an mp3 player which, at $50, has been awesome given how often I've had to take the bus.

By the way, smelly people shouldn't be allowed to ride the bus.

Poop Ornaments

2007-01-24T13:12:00.000-08:00

I was walking home through the Cedar Hill Golf Course and noticed a number of 'ornaments' adorning the bushes along the chip trail.

It seems people have figured out the pick-up-yer-dog-poop part, but haven't quite mastered the and-throw-it-in-the-garbage part because what was adorning the bushes were bags of poop. Some were blue, some white, but none were worthy of decorating a bush with.

Sure, some of the bags are bio-degradable, but that is so they don't fill up the landfills. It is not, at least, not in my opinion, free license to chuck them into the woods.

In the poop chuckers defense, I'm sure the bushes were covered in leaves and stood a lot taller and fuller at the time...perfect places for crap stashing. The bushes are now a mere shadow of their former selves after the huge snowfall we had this winter.

So, the lesson of the day: After picking up yer dog poop, put it in the garbage. That also goes for all the other stuff you don't want anymore.

But what if my big girl panties are in the wash?

2007-01-23T15:09:00.000-08:00

So, I had a root canal and a crown. Some time ago, the crown broke off at the gum line leaving no tooth exposed and virtually nothing substantial for the crown (or a new one) to stick to. My only reasonable choice was to have it removed.

Yesterday I went for a consult at a Dental Surgeons office and was signed up to have the thing pulled (or pushed as they like to call it) the next day. I got in so quickly thanks to a cancellation and the fact that I was willing to have just local freezing.

The choice to go local was pretty simple -- it is cheaper and involves less recovery time. Despite being an obvious choice, I was still a little anxious about being able to hear, and see if I wanted, all the drilling, pushing, and pulling that goes into pulling out a molar. I knew it would require some serious mind over matter to get through.

Well, today is the next day. I didn't think much about it all morning, and when it came time to leave I was in a bit of a rush. So much so there was no chance I could walk. Fortunately my car started so I drove down the hill. The free lot out front is 30-min only, but I decided it was worth the risk of getting a parking ticket if it meant I could recover some of my lost time. Besides, I used up my last twonie on a chocolate bar the day before (yes, the humour is not lost on me). I was so preoccupied by being in a rush, I hardly thought of the procedure at all.

Once I got into the room and lay down on the table, it started to sink in. I had my mp3 player with me to help me focus my thoughts on something other than all the sounds and activities going on in my mouth, but it was of little help really. I could hardly hear it over all the noise.

I settled on a song by Xavier Rudd (GBA? main chorus is "I'm Doing Fine") but I think I might have drifted off or something because I don't remember them finishing. Before I knew it, they told me it was out and they were stitching me up. I still had minor shakes and the idea of a needle and thread probably made me twitch more.

When it was all done and I was ready to go, I sat up and began reading the home care instructions. At that point, the mind over matter trick was no match and I got dizzy. I guess it was more stressful than I realized because tears started running down my face. I lay down, with a cold compress, and recovered pretty quickly. Once the colour was back in my face and I could sit up, I was able to go home.

Now, several hours later, it hurts like something I shouldn't say out loud. The fact that I also have a headache means I might actually take one of the T3's.

I'm trying really hard to be a big girl and suck it up because it was self inflicted.

I want my mp3...player

2007-01-19T19:34:00.000-08:00

I'm back to riding the loser cruiser after all the rain we've had this week. It isn't that bad because I am getting lots of use out of my new mp3 player. It is tiny and pink...like a litle jewel that cranks out tunes like you wouldn't believe. I still can't believe how far the walkman has come. I think my favourite part is not needing batteries, but that is closely followed by it being so cute and pink.

I have to say, the transfer software it came with is a little clunky, and it is too easy to hit the big connect button which, if you are running Shaw Lite, takes forever to load a web page. I wish I could disable that feature.

Piece of crap car

2007-01-18T09:43:00.000-08:00

So, another morning has come and gone where I get all dressed up for work, walk out to my car, and fight to start it.

It seems my car doesn't like the rain. I figured this out after all those rain storms we had this winter. But, today, there wasn't much rain. I fear that now my car is sensitive to rain anywhere in the province, not just Victoria.

Well, that isn't all. I went back in to check the bus schedule and I was just in time to catch the bus which would take me to my transfer out to Keating. Unfortunately, the 75 was on time or early so I missed the last bus out to Keating until this afternoon. I didn't even get off the bus before realizing it so I kept going downtown and grabbed the 4 back home again.

The only good part -- I got to try out my new Sony mp3 player. Man, the walkman has come a long way since 1981 when my sister came home with its cassette playing predecessor.

Another Story

2007-01-17T21:36:00.000-08:00

For those that don't know me, I like cats. For those that do know me, I am not a crazy cat lady.

Cleo and Evinrude are my fuzzy little lap warmers that really do make my house a warmer place to be.

So, it is rare that my alarm actually wakes me up in the morning. Most days (week days and weekends), I awake to at least one of the following:

- Claws pulling at my nose
- Paws patting my face
- Claws combing my hair
- Sandpaper licking my exposed limbs
- Ralphing
- or cats jumping, running, or leaping on the bed

It is great. I love it. Really, I do. Denial is the best remedy for all that ails you. Seriously. It is.

Then, I lie in bed for 10 - 30 minutes waiting for my alarm to go off so I can catch up on current events in 10 minutes or less.

Bueller?

2007-01-17T21:26:00.000-08:00

Here.

Well, its been over a month since getting this puppy up and running, so I thought I would get off my duff and write something.

So, each morning, the radio (CBC) wakes me up and I listen to it (actually that is only half true, but that is another story). Today they were talking about how the number of stolen cars has gone down in Vancouver thanks to the bait car program. Wow, great news.

I'm not sure what the specific objective was of the program, but the story left me wondering -- just why are numbers down? Is it because the culprits are being caught and put in jail (so aren't around to steal cars), or because they are afraid to steal cars in which case they have probably moved onto other crimes. After all, most car thieves are drug addicts, and a stolen car isn't the only thing to pay for that next fix. It is sort of like the first law of thermodynamics -- crime can change from one form to another, but it cannot be created nor destroyed. OK, so that is a bit of a stretch, but I think you get my point.

Like most programs, the bait program treats a symptom, but the real problem is dealing with the top reason for stealing cars -- drug addiction.

That is easy for me to say because I don't have to figure those things out for a living.

Better Late Than Never

2006-12-11T16:35:00.000-08:00

Well, I finally decided to join the ranks of bloggers out there.

I can't guarantee that this will be terribly exciting, funny, or even remotely interesting, but that is what blogs are all about.