Oh Yeah..

I only posted about a dozen entries about the shower issues. And then I never posted a "ta-da" entry. Of course, I was busy birthing a 9+ lb baby, so maybe you'll forgive me.

This is the nice view of our new tile shower. If narrow my vision to stare at the other corner (to the right), I can pretend it's a perfect shower. I won't see the cheap, generic, chrome, upside-down valve or the gray metal pipe coming out of a hole in the wall sealed with a plastic grocery sack stuffed around it. Nor will I see the dual-layer translucent, vinyl shower curtains that I paid a whole $1.49 each for. Oddly enough, the rings that hold up said shower curtain match the fake-bronze showerhead and cost $16. There's no accounting for a highly hormonal 9-months-pregnant woman making budget-vs-design decisions. I did however manage to design that cute line of squares-on-point that run around the shower, and the shelves, although had I designed them with a little more forethought, I'd have had Tile Guy install the shelves before the decorative row, but oh well. The rest of the bathroom still looks like a construction zone; plywood showing where we tore up the vinyl and subfloor to replace it, the storage shelves packed with tools, lumber, and other odds-and-ends. The outer walls of the shower are still mud-on-sheetrock.

A year or two ago I got my property tax assessment which increased the value of "improvements" (houses, etc) a whopping 44%. Of course, I called the Assessor's office and said, "Are you out of your minds?" Turns out they did an across-the-board hike on 'small acreages'. Ours doesn't really qualify, except for the odd way we had to purchase the place, which temporarily divides the 17 acres into two pieces, making the house piece look small. I said, "Why dontcha come on out here and take a look-see fer yerself!" And he did. I pointed out the bad exterior paint, the not-quite-attached countertop (before it broke), the death-trap garage door, and of course, the master bath.

He actually changed the house description from 4 bed, 2 1/2 bath to 4 bed, 1 1/2 bath.

Before he left, he assured me that this place was a dump he had confidence our tax bill would be lowered back down.

As it turned out, the assessed value was a couple thousand dollars LESS than what it had been before!

All this to say, don't nobody go telling the county tax-man that I have a shower again.

Shower Issues, of Course!

Wow, what a job! I decided I better make the shower at least useable if not perfect, so I have destabilized the universe with a cheap chrome and plastic on/off system. Oh, but it gets worse. It's not even a Moen cheap chrome and plastic thing. No, it's generic. Believe it or not, it gets even worse than that! The tile and cement board were cut so closely to the (old-style) valve that the screws to attach the handle system couldn't access their little screw-holes. Hubby could chip away at the cement board thru the hole, but he could do nothing about the tile. So he turned the valve thingy and the handle had to be installed upside-down. Why not? It points downward, and hot is on the right, cold on the left. Of course, the back plate things are designed with a hole at the bottom to let out any water that got behind it. Our hole faces up, which isn't really good. Hubby grabbed some caulking to take care of that issue, and after I freaked out about it needing 36 hours to cure, we realized that it is painter's caulking, designed for windows, doors, baseboards... not exactly tubs and showers. So-- here's hoping for no more troubling surprises!

Our tile-guy/relative is paid off. And wow, even with a "family discount", it ain't cheap. I am SO in the wrong business. He spent about 5 days setting the tile and grout, working anywhere from 5-9 hours per day or thereabouts. I didn't track the exact hours, but it comes out to almost $200/day! That averages out to $20-$40/hr., depending on the length of the 'workday.' I wonder what he usually charges. In any case, I think I could manage the thin-set, which was my troubling issue (I've set tile before, but with another medium), so as long as I don't have to depend on anyone else (Pan Guy) to take months to get here, I shouldn't run into such a time-sensitive deadline like I did this time. A very, very expensive deadline. We don't have immediate plans to finish the floor (which is good, because while I bought tile for the shower and bathroom floor, plus 10% extra, we are down to six boxes of tile, which won't even come close. I don't know if they were prone to breaking or what, but dang.), and after triple-scrubbing the toilet last night, the bathroom is almost useable, if undone.

[Note to self: wear hazmat suit when scrubbing toilets that have seen only hard water, construction debris, and men for 2 years.]

Tile Woes

Well, not the tile, specifically. But the tile project in general. The grout was done Sunday evening, and now we're faced with the issue of the fixtures. Our main problem: Behind the grout/tile/thinset/durock is our shower valve. It is one of those typical (or so I thought) valves which you pull out (to turn the water on) and adjust left or right for the temperature. The other side of the problem is I Hate Chrome. I would like a nice oil-rubbed bronze, or antique bronze. Heck, I'd settle for a miserable brushed nickel if I had to. But so far NONE of those nice finishes are available for the old-style valves. They're all made for the pressure-control, temperature-regulated, no-pulling-required valves. And as mentioned before, the valve isn't exactly accessible. What IS available? Chrome. Chrome and plastic. I'm sure the universe would collapse in upon itself if I built a fancy custom tile shower and put chrome and plastic fixtures into it.

What are the options, then? Well, Chrome and plastic, obviously, though the universe would be at considerable risk, and I would be considerably put out. The other option is to tear into the wall from the other side to change valves, which happens to be the front end of the tub in the other bathroom. The one we just recaulked? Yeah. The risk there is running into problems that put the whole thing on another delay, and having NO showers available for whatever amount of time. Bad plan. Add to that our "I can get you such a deal" guy not calling back (surprise!), and Lowe's not having anything tolerable and I'm ending up perturbed.

Best plan? Maybe put in the old crappy stuff so at least I have a "working" shower during this critical time period, and set hubby to work tearing out the other bathroom during his 'vacation' after the baby?

Busy!

It's been a busy week! Since Pan Guy finished the shower pan, Hubby has been working on all the other details. Taping and thin-setting the joints in the shower walls, putting up sheetrock on the outside, widening the 'doorway' to the toilet, moving electrical switches, putting in more, and even putting in a recessed light. Tile Guy came on Wednesday and Thursday, and I expect him this afternoon as well. A good portion of the wall tiles are done, and another friend who is a plumber's apprentice got me a pretty spectacular catalog of Moen fixtures. It's a contractor's catalog, and I really like this style. However, now that I'm looking at their retail prices online, I'm seriously doubting we can even afford the contractor's cost. When you buy the Costco toilet paper by the pile (cheap), it's hard to justify a $40 TP holder!!! And the finish I prefer (oil-rubbed bronze) seems to add $10-100 per item, for heaven's sake.

On Wednesday, my good friend (and Tile Guy's wife) came over and helped me do a few things. We picked beets and got them cooking (you have to entirely cook them whole, then chill, peel, and dice before freezing. Very annoying. And I don't even like beets), and cleaned and arranged part of my room in preparation for Baby's arrival. I even found all the pieces to the Graco playpen/bassinet thingy. She also swept (shoveled?) and mopped the kitchen and dining room, and they look great. I had just done it myself last Friday, but you wouldn't have guessed it by Wednesday.

Gi-gi came on Tuesday, and just left today. She must've done 100 loads of laundry, though I don't think we have that many clothes around here. She also tackled the Family Room, which I have barely stepped foot in (i.e. it was a disaster) and other little chores everywhere.

Thursday I went to Town for my errands, solo. It was also my oldest's 6th Birthday. I was sorry to be gone much of the day, but we are planning cake for Saturday. I had to stop by one of those home improvement warehouses to return some items, and wanted to look at the shower fixtures, which the gal directed me to the FAR corner of the store. I sighed. "Other than swallow my pride (and wear a bag on my head?), what do I have to do to borrow one of those little motor scooter thingies?" Yes, I used it. I would've left the store without the shopping if I'd have had to walk. The beets and cleaning and cooking for a crew so wiped me out on Wednesday that Thursday was excruciating. I managed to do 10 of 15 stops, returning home after 7 or more hours away. It included lunch with friends and a visit to the midwife, where everything is checking out (though I have 'trace leukocytes' in my urine), and 2 visits to a tile shop, where I got a giant free tile to have Tile Guy make some corner shelves, and had to return later to retrieve my cell phone. I still had my major grocery shopping to accomplish, and a scripture came to me that I need to hold on to: It's in Romans 8-ish, and says something like "the sufferings of this present time aren't worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us." I couldn't recall the second part, and had to call my dad. I had the sufferings part embedded, but couldn't remember the rest. I think that verse is highly appropriate considering my present time!

I rested when I got home, more or less, but forgot to eat anything more than a bowl of popcorn (organic, of course). I didn't sleep much last night, and when I did it was full of bizarre dreams, and it wasn't until 4:30 a.m. that I realized I was probably very hungry.

I'm now convinced that my Prenatal Tea does wonders for my emotional state. At least at this point. I did those errands yesterday after leaving it at home, and it's not the first time I've noticed serious destabilization when I haven't had it. I got home, drank some up, and could cope much better. And it was nice to be home.

Shock and Awe?

Guess what? As I write this, Tile Guy is in my master bathroom, tossing down wet cement to complete the shower pan. Actually, perhaps I should call him Cement Guy, or Pan Guy, because he won't be doing the tile. The original plan was for him to do the entire pan, and Hubby and I would finish: Walls, tiling, grout, etc. At this point I don't think I'd be very good at crawling around laying tile. Especially after yesterday's time spent in the garden, I'd probably kill myself trying to do it. In any case, Hubby's cousin (Pan Guy's son) is planning to do the tile. Well, his wife is planning for him to do it, anyway... :) I'm loathe to pay for the installation of something I know I could accomplish myself, eventually, but I don't have the luxury of waiting for eventually to happen, now! We're in crunch time, for sure.

As to the other bathroom, I scraped out the scary caulking, and yesterday Hubby replaced it, this time without any paranormal influences upon him. It looks very presentable. Now we have to wait till it cures, tomorrow morning. I'll enjoy being able to bathe, certainly, and I'm looking forward to finding my girls under the layers of dirt they're sporting these days. I tried to take them to the city (wading) pool yesterday, and wouldn't you know it; it's closed for the season. We were all excited to be rid of the schoolkids, and enjoy one of the perks of homeschooling, but it was not to be.

Soon, perhaps, I'll have my choice of bath or shower, and then the hard part will be to keep the tax assessor from discovering that.

Wow

Things just keep getting better around here... Almost to the point of comedy. I'm 3 weeks away from D-Day, and the tile guy hasn't so much as rang my phone. Which might be good at this point; if he showed up I might find some lighter fluid and things could get nasty. My distress has caused Hubby to take on the Particular Task Requiring Skill on his own, which hasn't done much for marital peace either. I'm torn between, "you'll mess this up and we'll be in real trouble!" and "if you thought you could do this where were you these last 2 years!?" Not a good plan, either way. Even if he does complete the shower pan decently, I don't see how he can do the tile work in the remaining time. Which leaves me at the mercy of the people who've said they would be happy to take on that job... Forgive my doubts, at this point.

Also, the tub in the other bathroom has had problems leaking water thru the silicon caulking. Very bad. I took a razor blade and removed a good portion of the problem areas, and waited for Hubby's return from the hardware store. I don't know if this diet is messing with his head, or what, but he didn't exactly do a careful job. He caulked all right, as though he were posessed with the spirit of Little Monkey. He caulked over old caulking, and thru standing water in a different corner, and missed other parts that needed it. I'm waiting until it cures, maybe by tonight or tomorrow, and then I'll have to dry it with fans (can't keep moisture in the wall!) and in a day or two try again. So much for my daily prescribed ginger baths. This just doesn't feel like the attitude of a grateful, supportive helpmeet, but I can't figure out how to mesh the two here.

What else? Apparently I didn't pay the property taxes in June. They're not much; just for our adjoining field, but they did tack on their interest and late fees. Communists. Plus, I SWEAR I remember making it up those courthouse stairs in my white maternity shirt, which I bought in early June, but the checkbook doesn't back me up. I hope I didn't pay with cash, because any receipt is long gone, certainly.

*Something* was threatening the chickens this morning at 2:30 when Hubby came to bed. Of course he shot it (not a dog, darn it!). Of course, it's in the freezer now, but I don't plan to eat it!

I've been trying to find some cloth diaper stuff online. There's so much to pick from, so many ways to "diaper", and the worst of it is I don't know if I want pink or blue. So I better just wait.

Well, time to find out if Hubby plans to make it to church this morning! I'm not sure if I should go or not: Tile Guy's life may be in danger if I see him...

A Day In The Life...

...Of Gi-gi.

I just got off the phone with her, and decided I needed to record her goings-on of yesterday for posterity.

Do keep in mind that she is 81 and has macular degeneration, which greatly hinders her detail-vision (though she just passed her vision test - thanks to her freaky binocular glasses - and skills test for her driver's license - again).

Gi-gi was taking a shower yesterday, and she got some shampoo in her eyes. As is her habit sometimes, she sat/leaned against the ceramic soap dish that is embedded in the tile wall while she cleared her eyes. The soap dish gave out, and she and it crashed down to the edge of the tub. She stood up and picked up the thing to examine it, and realized that it had some considerably jagged/pointy protrusions. About this time she also noticed that her feet and everything around them were red... with blood. She of course called 911 immediately reached back and realized that she had a pretty big gash in her, um, gluteus maximus. Blood was flowing everywhere. At this point she of course called 911 immediately decided it was more than she could first-aid herself, so of course called 911 immediately grabbed four washcloths to apply pressure and of course called 911 immediately wrangled herself into a pair of her late sister's compression stockings and got dressed. Then she gathered a few items and got into her car and drove to the emergency room church where she attended Mass and said her Rosary. After this, she got the attention of a close friend and said, "[Friend], I have a first-aid job for you. I fell in the shower this morning and cut my rear. I have some band-aids here and some duct tape.." (no, I'm not kidding)

Shw showed her friend the injured area, and when her friend removed the four blood-soaked washcloths and the blood started gushing again she exclaimed, "[Gi-gi], you're gonna need a lot more than duct tape! I'm taking you to the ER!"

"You are not! [insert tirade about doctors, Medicare, and drug companies here]"

"Well, there's a Doc-in-the-box up the road here, I'll drive you."

"You'll do no such thing. If you drive me I'll be without wheels and I have a luncheon at 1:00."

"Fine, I'll follow you but you've gotta get that taken care of."

Gi-gi complied, probably because her retired-nurse, back-alley, duct-tape trauma care plan wasn't going to fly. She lay on her side while the doctor and nurse practitioner did "running stitches" for 45 minutes. Apparently those were required to sew deeper into muscle tissue for the six-inch gash.

Of course, she kept them in stitches for the duration with tales of previous back-alley trauma-care events.

They told her she couldn't take a bath for awhile.

"I haven't had a bath in 30 years."

She's very proud that she "has the skin of a 50-year-old."

She's also proud that she has "so much good, healthy red blood." She thanks her vitamin E and other supplements for that.

She told me she really has a "high tolerance for pain."

And she made it to her luncheon on time.