Happy Birthday To Me

It's not often someone turns 56 and end up having it shaken apart.

I was lucky yesterday. Living in Waikiki is a long way away from the Big Island. The quake shook us up a bit, but no real damage really.

I saw birds taking off in droves just before the shaking began. I didn't realize the portent of it until then. Spooky. The building shook and swayed and standing was next to impossible here on the eighth floor. No, I wasn't drunk though that happened much later in the day when I joined some friends at the Sand Bar.

I saw pictures on the news. The devastation was really minor, compared to some of the stuff I used to witness in California. Still, it was sad for the people who have to deal with it.

Too Much To Ask For

I suppose it was too much to expect for this vacation.

Utz has yet to finish the bedroom. We're putting in a Murphy bed and the parts are either not right, or there isn't a hole here, or there and there is something wrong with the bed size. It goes on and on and poor Utz is about to have a heart attack.

Of course, Dwane and I are sailing through all this with heads held high, sleeping on the floor of our bedroom on our brand new mattress, sans the bed's platform, and a working Murphy bed. (Sigh)

My gawd, has this been going on since May? Oy.

The Long Hot Summer

When Utz and his bunch finished the kitchen and bathroom work, they started on the living room, adding the entertainment cabinet, then in the bedroom, working on the closet modules and more wall cabinets.

Looks like a good job to me, the Murphy bed, however, is proving a lengthy, drawn out task, not just for us, but for Utz. I'm surprised he's not buried a few suppliers along the way. If he did, I don't wanna know. Never tick off a German contractor. You could lose your life! I speak this because I really like Utz. A real character, this man.

After numerous false starts and many lies by the bed people (I forget the name of the store) we are now given the song and dance that we won't get our cabinet doors for the murphy bed cabinet until 9/15/06. Let's see, we begun all this back in May? Shoot me.

I doesn't help when you're enjoying a sinus infection either with sawdust everywhere and there's a pile of used kleenex on the floor next to your mattress that is sitting on the floor. Pretty picture that.

Family Reunions

Looks like we won't have one this year, as planned. I tried contacting my cousin about it, but had little luck. I checked the family website and found an email about her having some bad times. I didn't want to dig in on that one. I've learned to wait for the rest of the news, if they wanted to fill me in. And when you think about it, it is NOT my business. I just hope she is doing better now and that she's all right. Perhaps another time for a reunion.

Leaving on a jet plane

Well, it looks like the kids won't be staying on the island after all. Crap. J won the battle, though he is supposed to cover the court costs. I seriously doubt that he will come through and make good on the court order.

I could wax philosophically and say that it wasn't meant to be that my little buddy stay on the island, but that would be absolute b.s. The boy loves it here and no one is listening to him. His silent tears told us that much when he found out that he was supposed to leave.

Oy, Valerie is leaving tomorrow . . .

Kasper will follow soon after. The condo will be quiet, save for the renovation going on around here.

Last Nail In the Wall

Utz and his team of workers finished the kitchenl and bathroom, working till 7:30 in the evening. For me, that was late. For Utz, it was relief. They worked hard today, starting at 9:30am, late for them, a panic for us. We thought, for sure, they would be later. The water was turned off at 9am and set to go on again at noon. The plumber was to blame. Damn them.

Pictures of the before and after are out of the question. Had the kids not been the more important issue these past couple of months, it would have been a joy to take pictures. No, not this time.

Cabinet Mania II

Each day that Utz and Richard are here, things change considerably. Yesterday, it was good to see Utz before he left for the day.

The cabinets look fantastic. I couldn't help but grin as I inspected his work. The men are marvels! That takes talent to do this kind of work. I certainly lack that!

Dwane will go out tomorrow with them to get the rest of the stuff to get this place together. Sorry I didn't take any pictures of the progress.

One of the cabinet doors were wrong which means Dwane and the guys will have to go back to Home Depot and get a replacement. Hope they have it in stock. Rotten when you have to travel even further just for a door.

Our Buddy Is Coming Home!

Seems like forever since we last saw you, but with the good news that your mother is returning to AZ to retrieve you makes us all happy!

Don't be bitter about all this. It really won't last forever. You'll be back and with us again. This time, for good, right?

We sure missed you.

Cabinet Mania

It starts today. I've got a bunch of cabinets to empty before Utz can start with their demolition. He said he won't be here till around 10am. Good, I can relax for now. It's almost 7am and I can relax till 8 to start the job. So much for a 3-day weekend.

Cabinets and Court Drama

With my buddy and his mother dealing with the donor on who should be the real parent, Dwane and I have a major project going with kitchen cabinets. Funny how in spite of life's big dramas, you still have to deal with small things, like when are the contractors coming? Do I have time to clean out the old cabinets before they are torn apart?

What will Tom say??? Does he know about this? Will he care? I hope he likes it! I'm so excited! New cabinets! Yipeeee! God. I need a sound proof room so I can let off steam by belching out a primordial scream.

The cabinets came today. Curb side delivery. My God. Heavy stuff. My back will never be the same.

Utz, the contractor, came by to measure the kitchen. Short guy, really nice and speaks with a slight German accent. Dwane actually couldn't get a word in. Stunning!

Oh, did I mention this is an anniversary date? I left the island 39 years ago today.