Monday, February 1, 2021

Progress or “I don't know where I'm going, but I'm on my way."*

Source

 When last we talked, Operation "Everyone move one house clockwise" was in a critical phase and success was not  guaranteed.  To add to the excitement, we recently received word that DIL and GrandDog Tex would most likely be arriving around ST Patrick's day..(If Tex moves directly from Kuwait to Hong Kong, he has to be quarantined for 6 months there.  If he moves from the United States, he's good to go on arrival.  Tis a strange world we live in, n'est-ce pas?)
  

The good news? Well, she's coming home, that's always good news.  And we have a target date.

That focuses the mind a bit.  No more, "well....let's wait on that til next week".  

Now, to quote a favorite comedian, it's "Git R Done!"

Source

 Course, the above is also true.

This is where we were last Monday.



So, this past week, the floor guys came back to finish the flooring job.  Like most construction jobs, the preparation step seems to take forever and nothing seems to be happening.  Then you blink twice and the job's done.

Blink twice Beans!



Once again, we're in the scheduling portion.  We've got to get the cabinet guys (the same guys that did the demolition and underfloor repair) back to replace the other cabinet and finish reinstalling the sink and replacing the countertops.  Then we have to get the painters in, which we didn't really intend to do, however when the house was standing there with nothing to cover her age spots, we agreed the old lady could use some new makeup.  

Or so Mrs J says, to which I replied..


"Yes, Dear"

Once the paint dries, my Sister will move in.  She doesn't have a lot of "stuff" so that shouldn't be to big a deal.  Nevertheless, my back is telling me to hire the same guys that moved us into our new digs.  

At that point, we'll take a look at the cottage she's currently living in and decide what has to be done and how it can be done by the time DIL arrives and we'll make decisions at that point.

I always looked forward to retirement as a time of peace and quiet.  Two years in, that seems to have been a pipe dream. 

Source

Never give up, Never Surrender!**

UPDATED:


I think it's ancient Sanskrit and it reads:

Kilroy was here!


or something

*Carl Sandburg


**Jason Nesmith

31 comments:

  1. Don't blink twice now, it's alright.
    Good to see the improvement is coming along.
    Strange world - mainly because politicians are in charge.....
    I found out that retirement meant that things just became that more hectic.
    Frank

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    1. You got that last one right, Frank (as well as the one before). Thanks

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  2. Oooooo......flooring looks good. Get that kitchen done and then to use the technical term, slap some paint on......(heh heh). Retirement= peace/quiet, ya, sure,..... "I'm from the government and I'm here to help". Good to see you're closer to the end of "musical houses" juvat, hang in there.

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    1. Thanks Nylon, Gotta make a run to Lowe's this morning to pick out/up countertops. Got a good look at the "Here to help" thing while at the Ft Fumble. However, the ACTUAL statement is "I'm from the government and I'm here to help ME."

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  3. I've seen a lot of remodeling / reconstruction happening on houses. I guess everyone feels that there will be writing on the wall. mene mene tekel upharsin.... (or Alas Babylon as the case may be)

    I have a lot of respect for those that take care of family. Your clan has class, no doubt.





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    1. Yeah, the highly paid minions seem to be very busy round these parts, what with the droves of rich californians moving this way.

      Thanks STxAR

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  4. 'Tis a long road you're on. Eventually you'll get there.

    Retired? Not yet!

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    1. Well, The Missus seems to be getting you in shape for retirement (at least by the looks of your landscape). I think you'll do just fine.

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    2. That's her hobby, I just lift heavy things upon request.

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    3. "Yes, Dear". Heh.

      I always love Rumpole of the Bailey referring to his wife as "Sergeant Major, She who must be obeyed".

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    4. I think Ed Rasimus was one of, if not THE, first bloggers to incorporate SWMBO to describe his wife Carol in blog posts.

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  5. The flooring looks great Juvat!

    Go with the movers. We moved 95% of our house with our last move, seven years ago. It was enough to convince me "never again".

    The quarantine from Kuwait to Hong Kong seems oddly long. My eldest just went to Hong Kong from the US and after the required testing before and at the airport, must quarantine for 21 days.

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    1. Thanks THBB,

      I'm generally a fairly frugal (my wife might say cheap) guy money wise. However I've learned that Dr's bills are WAY more expensive than hourly workers.

      As to the quarantine, perhaps it's longer because Tex is an animal and while my eldest can ACT like an animal occasionally, he is, actually, a person. They have mentioned a quarantine for them and, IIRC, I think it was 21 days also.

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    2. Ah, that explains the difference. I missed that part. Here is hoping for a quick route then.

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  6. As others said, the flooring looks very nice.
    What's written on the side of the cabinet?

    We are waiting for the snow to end.
    After it does I will snowblow our property and our elderly neighbors place.
    After I'm done wrestling the snowthrower, I will once again think about moving to where it doesn't snow.

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    1. I hadn't noticed that writing. I'll have to go and look.

      I got enough snow in my year at Kunsan to last a lifetime. A little dusting once in a while is nice and kills off the bugs, but...I like warm better now.

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    2. NOAA predicted 3-5 inches more today. But at 1415 here the sleet is slowly changing to snow, and the snowthrower is still sleeping in Shed #2.
      I can think of any number of good reasons to push dealing with this off until Tuesday, or August.
      Unlike other things, snow really does go away if you simply ignore it long enough.

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    3. John,
      See the update above. It took a long time to translate, but I think I got it right.

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    4. I think it says, "if you keep putting cabinets after this red mark, I will pull you through a key hole sideways." Or words to that effect. Thanks, dad... I remember...

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  7. When we moved to FL from the fabulous Santa Cruz, there was little we needed from our house in the condo. HAH! Just twenty boxes, all UPS'd or USPS'd. mostly my kitchen stuff since I'm the cook. Oh, and women's shoes. I'm beginning to understand that it takes a while to retire. It is not a date. It is a process and mindset. I have been processed, but not lobotomized.

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    1. One should home the latter is never part of the retirement process. The elected official process however....

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  8. There's retirement, where you go from very active to lump and then to death rather quickly, and Retirement, where you leave your ex-place of business and only deal with them when they have payment questions but you stay active, sometimes in the field you just retired from, and you live a long and pain full, from doing things, life.

    The second is the much more preferable way. Which, between the skunks and your wife, seems to be pre-ordained that you will stay active.

    Floors look great. Too bad you didn't paint first... When talking to painting people, ask them about using some Kilz or other paint that has anti-fungal features in it, just in case the fungus has climbed into the drywall. Not saying doom and gloom here, but it's easier to take care of that step now before that funny discolored spot turns into a green blob of doom.

    Glad to hear DIL and DOG are coming for a stay. She'll enjoy the states for a bit before the hectic pace of Korea.

    As to blinking... A long series of cats have trained me in the ancient war fighting ability of Stare-Fu. Which my dog totally hates as he tries to look at my plate while I'm eating. So, yeah, got your blink right here, baby...

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    1. Beans, The Kilz idea is a pretty good one. I'd say there's way better than a fair chance gooky crap (technical term) is likely to return.

      Fortunately/unfortunately, Little Juvat and DIL are transferring to Hong Kong not Korea. Hong Kong of the '80's wouldn't be bad. Hong Kong now.....

      As to retirement, I've got no say in the matter. Mrs J, on the other hand, Slave Driver, I say!

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  9. Very nice floor! Identical to what is in my room...landlady picked it out, landlord paid for it, I put it down. It has held up very nicely over the past 15 months (lots of dog traffic in and out of my room from all the pups)There are 2 rules in suz' room...no fighting, and no peeing on the floor!! And the rules ARE enforced...cause I'm cranky :)

    Seriously tho'--it looks very nice, and, yea, Mrs J is right, do the paint thing before ya move all sorts of stuff in and have to cover it so it doesn't get accidentally painted.

    Definitely listen to your back...the truth hurts...you are over the age of 60 now, and you worked hard all those years to make big bucks...just so you wouldn't have to do the U-Haul rental thing...hire the young bucks, and let THEIR backs hurt instead of YOURS!! Wisdom comes with age...because you have done it in the past and promised your back you wouldn't do THAT again...hehehe

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    1. We've got those two rules in our house also. Unfortunately, Cooper and Oscar are getting pretty old and therefore, sometimes forget the recently installed dog/cat door which opens to the Petio.

      I'm all in with regard to hiring young Turks to do the heavy lifting. My back is already thanking you, my knees and neck will be adding to the hallelujah chorus shortly.

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  10. Liking the progress, as I'm sure you are - here's hoping for no more surprises (I know, now I've done it by tempting the fates!!)
    As to snow, I'm getting a good dose whilie helping a friend who's basically family in Columbus, OH - been snowing quite a bit, as it did yesterday when driving up from NC. But I'm VERY glad not to be in Little Rhody with Sarge (no offense!) since the NE is getting a LOT of snow.

    "I always looked forward to retirement as a time of peace and quiet. Two years in, that seems to have been a pipe dream." Amen, Brother! Me, too!

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  11. Peace and quiet??? Were you dreaming??? :-) 4 years into my second retirement, and I'm STILL busier than a one legged man in a...well you get the idea. Glad folks are getting home for a while at least!

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  12. Hire the guys, juvat. There comes a time when we just can't do some of the stuff we used to be able to!

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Just be polite... that's all I ask. (For Buck)
Can't be nice, go somewhere else...

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