A Passion for Running

Almost all the big stuff with the reno is done! The last biggish kind of jobs to do are the floor trim and kitchen backsplash tile. I’ll probably do the trim this coming weekend but I can’t do the backsplash until the countertops are installed in a couple of weeks (we’ve hired a contractor for that).

Starting last Thursday I haven’t had to work till 11:00 PM every evening and I’m getting some sleep! That, and seeing the reward of our labour (pictures are coming) has rejuvenated me. I feel great and have a tremendous amount of energy and excitement for getting back to some consistent running…and blogging…and blog visiting.

Woohoo!

We’ve been without a kitchen sink for about two weeks. During that time, Lori was using the downstairs bathroom sink to wash dishes, get water for the little cooking we can do, etc.

After yesterday’s news about the countertops, I resolved to get a make shift kitchen together ASAP so last night, I hooked up our dishwasher and that thing you see pictured below (Aaron’s great idea). I was even able to get some temporary countertops set up.

Lori’s pretty happy. Of course, when the woman of the house is happy, everyone’s happy.

Tom Petty obviously knows all…

Lori and I are at a bit of a standstill with our kitchen. The earliest the countertop people can come to measure our cabinets is next Thursday and it will be 7 to 10 days after that before they can install them.

Ugh.

So the plan is to get the shelves and doors on the upper cabinets and to set up a temporary laundry tub/basin so we at least have a semi-functional kitchen for the next two weeks or so.

We’ll also get some lights and furniture picked out and get the rest of the upstairs finished.

So not all is lost.

Art de Vany’s bloglike site is fantastic. Once I started reading, I couldn’t stop. I bet you won’t be able to either.

Lookin’ for a good, well written, fun, romantic comedy worth seeing on Valentines day? I highly recommend Just Like Heaven. It’s excellent. Lori and I both enjoyed it very much.

It stars Reese Witherspoon and Mark Ruffalo.

Before I get to the reno pictures I should mention that I actually ran yesterday and this past Friday and I swam on Saturday. In other words, life is beginning to return to normal.

Here’s a couple of pics to wet your appetite. The first one is the morning before my dad and I installed the hardwood. Notice the dust everywhere including on my wife’s camera lens? The second photo is near the end of day two doing the hardwood floor. That guy in the picture is my dad.

The walls are not the color in the pictures. They’ve been painted a new color. Whatcha think?

Thursday: 1st coat of paint
Friday: 2nd coat
Saturday: built about 15 Ikea kitchen cabinets
Sunday: Dad came over and helped me install/hang cabinets

We got all the tough cabinets (the two corners + the sink cabinet) installed. We have one straight line of cabinets left to hang but those ones will be easy – one to two hour’s work.

And we got the place completely cleaned up so we can finally see the full impact of our work. The rich, dark hardwood with reddish undertones with biscotti walls and bright white cabinets is beautiful. Plus, the open space that is now our living and kitchen area is wonderful. We are very happy.

It’s all downhill from here (sorry to steal that from you Karen). The only thing holding us back a bit are a few items on backorder with Ikea. Once those come in, I will install them and order the countertops.

And “yes”, pictures are coming!

Thanks to everyone who’s left me comments and emails this past month. I apologize for not answering but I honestly have had no time whatsoever. That said, when I’m all done with the renovations I am eager to connect with each and every one of you.

Thanks!

Not running-wise. Running-wise, I suck.

Renovation-wise, things are going really well. I took this past Friday and Monday off to make it a four day weekend so I could get the hardwood floor installed. My dad and I got it 95% done (only 1/2 of the hallway going to the bedrooms is unfinished) and the consensus from most people who have seen it is that it’s “rich”. Lori and I love it and we can’t wait to paint the walls and install the cabinets. Both of those tasks will be done in the next 4 or 5 days – I’m patching and sanding right now.

Once those things are done, all that will be left is to install the cabinet doors (on backorder), baseboard and probably some other odds and ends.

I’m drop dead tired. The reno is taking up pretty much every non-work waking hour. Oh well. It will definitely all be worth it when we’re done.

Take care everyone!

Our living areas have less stuff in them each day. The wall is gone. The wiring is done. The popcorn ceiling is gone. The walls and ceiling have been patched and the new California Knock Down ceiling goes in tomorrow.

Over the next couple of nights the rest of the flooring will come out (lino and carpet) and I’ll spend time preparing the floor and doing some base painting in the kitchen area.

All this with the hope of beginning the hardwood floor installation on Friday.

Whew!

Just wish I was running more. I’ve been averaging two runs a week this past couple of weeks!

I hope you are all doing great.