Katherine's new bed, complete with 2 dog pillows.
July 2002 Archives
Spent time on the house today gardening. We're more in the rip out than plant phase, though we added a number of flowers. Never seen more prickly plants before, but they're coming out one by one. There's so much land and potential, just need a plan...
Vincent, now 8 1/2 weeks, in his favorite hangout: car seat, pacifier in mouth.
The blades came and the fan is up and working. Took 3 weeks, but we finally have airflow.
In the battle of the witless, the second fan store is making a run for its money. I drove down to Huntington Beach to pick up the fan on Saturday (120 mile round trip) so that I could get the fan up and working before the summer ends. Found out on Monday that they gave us the wrong fan blades. Called them and they promised to ship the correct set, postage paid. Blades arrived today. Wouldn't you know it, but they shipped a different but still incompatible set of blades.
All this makes you wonder what's going on in the world. All you have to do is look at the box and make sure it says B6-11. Two different people could not. Calling again tomorrow. That should be fun...
 | It's expensive being handy. Need a new garbage disposal, so went out and bought that. Looking at the instructions, it indicates I need a plumbing wrench. These are not cheap -- $52 for the smallest. Not to mention the plumbing putty. And a hack saw??? Still don't see why I need that. If it takes 30 minute for a professional to install, and they charge $80 per hour, I'm not saving money am I? Also on the docket: dry wall repair, toilet seat, shower head and electrical outlet replacement. Of course, the toilet seats were too big for our toilets, so I'm going to have to return those (or auction them on EBay (for sale, 1 slightly used toilet seat). At least I was successful on the shower head and electrical outlet. Dry wall repair on the smallest holes is in process. Looks like it's drying ok, still need to sand and paint... |
Morning stroll in Hermosa Beach. Typical weather, June gloom (in July).
Drove 120 miles today (roundtrip) to pick up the new fan, the Casablanca Bel Air. Apparently, the model with the remote control is hard to come by, as Casablanca is transitioning from one remote control to another. The old one is out of stock and the new one is new yet stocked. Found it though, in Huntington Beach.
Katherine came along for the ride so I could take the car pool lane. We stopped at Dave's house for a trip out to Martha'a for breakfast. Haven't had Eggs Martha in 5 years. She ran in the sand and played on the swings. Jeannette took pictures, will try to get them.
Living by the beach is nice. Lot's of good memories from years back in Hermosa Beach. We'd walk, ride or roller blade everywhere.
The aforementioned fan has been returned (our sixth trip). Apparently, we were sold a incompatible fan and remote control. So, the salesman sold us a fan without blades and the wrong remote. Wouldn't have been so bad if it didn't take so many trips and so much time to get the various pieces:
- buy the fan [45 minutes]
- pick up the fan [1 hour]
- us: we're here to pick up the fan
- them: it hasn't arrived yet
- us: yes it has, the salesman called us
- them: oh yeah, you're right. How do you want to pay for it?
- us: we already did
- them: when you ordered on Monday, you didn't pay
- us: we ordered it on Sunday and paid in full
- them: oh yeah, you're right
- try to pick up the blades that didn't come with the fan (had to be ordered) [1 hour]
- tried to pick up the blades that just came in, but they couldn't be found [30 minutes]
- finally, picked up the blades. Everything is finally ready. Oops. Remote control and fan don't work together.
- return the fan for and get our money back (there's a 21 day return policy -- we were just a few days shy)
We're starting to find out with Katherine that the 2's weren't so terrible after all. It's three that we're worried about. The tyrannical three's?
According to Vickey, it's the theatrical three's and ferocious four's.
Women's day out in Starbucks earlier this morning. One woman couldn't stop telling the other ladies she was waxing her eyebrows today. But this time, she was going to keep up, and pluck, pluck, pluck -- Please, not before my coffee. Might have to find another Starbucks if this keeps up.
Vincent at 6 weeks. He's currently growing at 1/2 pound and 1/2 inch per week. At his 5wk checkup -- 12 lbs 13 oz, 23 inches (up from 10 lbs 2oz, 20 inches)
Birthday cake
Katherine, ready for a birthday party, poses with Ally.
Connected again. Missed the cable guy last Saturday when Suzy was under the knife, finally connected again Friday, though I had to call this morning to get the internet going again. It's been a hell of a week with all sorts of surgeries, viral infections, heart problems but things have settled down and it's not as bad as it appears.
The new house is growing on me. Amazing what a little paint, ceiling and electrical work can do to update a house.
After 5 trips to Lamps Plus Sucks, we finally have the fan and all blades. Never dealt with a less competent bunch. One guy would call and say the blades/fans were in, but when we came in, they couldn't find it. Claimed we hadn't paid yet. Claimed we bought it on a different day. Spent 2 hours in the store waiting for them to figure out that yes, we paid for it, yes, it was on the day we said, yes it was shipped and where did those trick fan blades go. But, it's all in my possession now.
Computers are about to be packed. Cable modem should be hooked up on Saturday. That's all for now.
Good luck Suzy. I love you.
It turns out that Suzy needs an operation before her operation. From blood tests, it appears that a gallstone is stuck in her duct. So, before doctor #1 removes the gallbladder, doctor #2 wants to remove anything clogging the ducts.
New Schedule
| Day | Todo #1 | Todo #2 | Todo #3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday | Movers come at 8am. Move. Overhead fans installed. | Check in at hospital #1, 8am. | Babysit Katherine and Vincent, 6:30am. |
| Saturday | Unpack. Wait for cable guy. | Check in at hospital #2 at 5:30 am. Surgery at 7:30 am. | Babysit Katherine and Vincent, 4:30am. |
| Sunday | Unpack and recover. | Recover | Babysit Suzy ":-)" |
Now I know what was meant by it takes a village. Helps to have a big family on each side for events like these. Thanks all.
How you know you're moving into a nicer house: there are HAC vents (heating / air conditioning) in the bathroom.
Started moving today. Borrowed a Ford F250 -- man, I want one. Some romantic cowboy notion -- a guy, his pickup truck and his dog (Ally). Holds a lot of boxes and you feel like you'd survive the crash. Twice as big and wide as most cars. Two gas tanks too. Wouldn't drive it to work, but sure would come in handy on the weekends, hauling wood, bricks and mortar from Home Depot.
Vincent at one month -- June 29th, 2002.
