end of week five

Time is passing more quickly, so I must be getting into the habit of not having kitchen or laundry. Things are happening out back but I don't see much, thanks to those plywood panels covering the window and door openings. They've dug the foundation trench and I think they've done most of the framing. They have to move some pipes (i.e., figure out where they can go) before they pour the concrete for the foundation. I spent most of last weekend looking, unsuccessfully, for a compact washer/dryer that would work. After I finally gave up on that idea, I whined and pouted until Ariel came up with a new way to deal with the posts that will keep the window width at 6 feet. 

I've also wasted some time agonizing over whether I can replace ugly sliding door hardware. I think I should do it, if I can.

Last Friday the guys left the hose on in the backyard and the water was flowing for 30+ hours. I stayed overnight at Nola and Thomas's on Friday, and even after I got home on Saturday evening I didn't hear the water in the pipes until I woke up on the couch at 12:30-1:00 am. At first I freaked out, picturing the back yard flooded. I tried to call Ariel, and then I tried to find the water cut-off outside and under the house, so I could go to bed and deal with the hose in the morning. But eventually I looked around for a drill in the kitchen (which is serving as a storage room for tools and equipment for the time being), unscrewed the plywood panel covering the window, and reached out and turned off the tap. Fortunately, it wasn't on full-blast, and there's a lot less concrete in the back yard than there used to be, so a lot of the water was absorbed. Ariel, recognizing my water guilt, was very apologetic. 

I don't think they've done an inspection of the foundation trench -- seems like Ariel would have told me. But maybe this will happen next week, and then maybe they'll pour the concrete. I'm still waiting for a change order for the plumbing and an estimate for the removal of the rest of the concrete. Ariel told me the other day that to do the plumbing work they'll have to remove part of the floor in the half bath because there are only about 9 inches of crawl space underneath. I told him not to worry about the aesthetic results and to try to avoid doing anything that will have to be undone later, if/when I redo that bathroom. 

wednesday, week four

My first change order is nigh. Half of my water pipes -- the back half, of course -- are galvanized. Apparently, they are disgusting. Ariel crawled under the kitchen, somehow, to make this discovery. Now someone is going to have to crawl under there and replace the pipes. I am not completely surprised, though it does seem odd that half of the pipes are copper, until I start to think about somebody having to navigate the extremely small space under the kitchen.

I found out about this on Monday afternoon, when Ryan and Ariel and I had a check in. I also found out that the sun room will be 6 inches narrower than planned because of the retaining wall/foundation next door. This didn't matter before, because the laundry room had no foundation. But now I have to decide whether to buy a smaller washer and dryer so that the laundry closet can be smaller, or live with a smaller sliding window. When I started looking into my washer/dryer options I remembered that America is the land of jumbo sizes. There are super-expensive pairs, and affordable pairs that don't quite work -- the washer is too small, or the dryer is ventless. At this point, I'm hoping I can stack a mismatched pair.

I took a couple of photos of the foundation trench, which is being framed. The framing will be inspected next week, Ariel says. And then they will pour the concrete. Ariel also said that the inspector for our area stopped by the other day -- he had been responding to a complaint at a neighbor's house, saw my job card, and came back to see what was going on. Apparently, he and Ariel are friendly. That is good news.

Ariel is also going to give me a quote for breaking up the rest of the concrete out back. It seems like the only way to go, really.

sunday, week four

The refrigerator compartment has been carved out of the bathroom, and the cabinetmaker has sent his first round of drawings. I bought the dishwasher and the exhaust fan for the stove; they should be delivered this week. Tomorrow Ryan is coming over to check in with Arial and me. I'm writing all this to remind myself that progress is being made -- sometimes when I am washing my dishes in the bathroom sink I feel a little impatient . . . also, it was wonderful to crawl out of bed and slowly get myself together this morning.

Went to game night on Friday and met Seymour (or C-more?), D+T's latest foster dog. Turns out that Seymour was about to be adopted by N+T. He is adorable and seems much calmer than most four-month-old pups. But, of course, he is not yet potty trained -- he followed KW into the bathroom and did his business on the floor.

Anyway, I saw him again last night at N's free-at-last party, and he seemed ok among all the strangers, even though he was probably wondering how he got there and how long he'd stay. He spent a lot of time with his nose close to the ground, investigating all the strange the scents.

The party was fun -- the air was full of smoky BBQ, and I brought some of that smell home with me. The brisket was wonderful, and so was the asparagus/fava/corn salad. Lovely brownies and Andronicos tuxedo cake for dessert.

This afternoon I need to get my bike from the PPIC garage and stop off at Whole Foods on my way home. Then maybe go down to the new brewery for an afternoon beer with neighbors.

third monday

The things that have happened this week are not very photogenic. It looks like the foundation trench is finished. The formerly obscured opening between the kitchen and bathroom has been framed, there are new plywood panels over the opening and on the floor, and there is new window framing. Ariel gave me an update on various water pipe issues. Apparently, the pipe under the sink has been leaking for a while now -- it wasn't visible until they took off the flooring above it. I *could* see a leak at the base of the faucet when I pushed the lever all the way back, and I did nothing other than try to remember not to turn the water on full force. But it's all gone now.

I wrote that paragraph yesterday and took these pictures on Monday. Now it's Wednesday and I'm about to go to sleep, or so I hope. When I went to the garage to unlock my bike and go home, I discovered that my front tire had been pierced by a big fat sharp piece of glass and that I didn't have a replacement tube. Arg. A day not to remember.

mother's day

I will call mom eventually. In the meantime I am bundled up on the couch with the heater on. The sky is mostly white, a little bit lumpy with clouds. My biggest accomplishment so far is having eaten breakfast. I ate one of the English muffins from the Cheeseboard and an apple. It was good to sleep in until 8:00 this morning and I'm glad to have the house to myself.

I'm not sure what is happening with my line of credit, but I know that the old loan has been paid in full and I don't have to make a payment on the new loan until July 1. Even though I know this adds a little time and money to the payment of the new loan, I am glad to have a few thousand dollars to spend on this remodel. This might be a good day to buy appliances. The stove fan and the dishwasher, perhaps. That will leave the tankless water heater, washer and dryer, and oven. And a garbage disposal, and four lights -- two pendants and two wall sconces. I will also have to buy exterior and interior paint, eventually. I think I've decided on the lights, and Ryan has spec'd the interior paint color, but I'm not sure about the outside color. I think I want to try a nonwhite color, but I can't decide whether to go with gray, blue-gray, green, or something altogether different. I don't mind the idea of the house looking patchworky until I get the whole thing painted.

second saturday

I got home around noon and it was chilly in the house. The pilot light for the heater was out -- Ariel had to cut off the gas when he was moving the water heater. Gas makes me nervous -- I am half-convinced that I'll blow myself up whenever I interact with it in any way. I tell myself that nobody would make or sell or install a heater that dangerous.

On Wednesday morning, after Abel took the plywood panels off the kitchen doorway, I went out back to take a picture of the house without the laundry room. Cute, isn't it? After they got the water heater reinstalled in the kitchen, they blasted out more concrete (about a third, all in all), removed the siding on the back wall, and started digging a trench for the foundation.

I had to go to the post office, which does not open until 9:00. To kill a little time, I walked up Bayview hill. On the way up I said hello to an elderly trio (Chinese) on their way down, and on the way down I chatted briefly with a trio of white men (a father and two adult sons) and their little dogs. At the post office I picked up a certified letter from Golden State Lumber (notifying me that materials are being sold to a third party -- Ariel -- on my behalf and that I am responsible for the cost) and retrieved mail from Jonathan's post office box. I also bought bread from Xan and orange juice (for Ariel's crew) at the Walgreens. Then went home, got in the car, and bought wine at BevMo and All Good pizza and salad for Ariel's crew. While I was waiting for the pizza I did a rush edit on some testimony that Mark was asked to give -- I sat on one of the pricey garden benches at Flora Grubb with my laptop, while people browsed past.

Scott came at noon, took measurements for the cabinets, and ran through the plan and the process with me. Then Ariel drove me to Golden State to look at window and door options. On the way I learned that he is Nicaraguan -- he came to SF when he was 14, with his dad, but did not stay very long -- he didn't like spending so much time indoors. He came back a few years later, though, and I suppose he is OK with the indoor life now that he makes a living facilitating it. I didn't find out much more than that -- I wish I'd asked more questions. Anyway, I think the Marvin windows and the door will be OK. But I do not like the handle that comes with the sliding door and am hoping I can switch it out.

Yesterday no work got done because it was raining. I went straight from work to LEN's to help celebrate her birthday -- I took the transbay bus, which was surprisingly quick. I had a good time talking to various friends of LEN and sampling the array of desserts (pecan pie, brownies, ginger cakes topped with blueberries and raspberries . . . ). N+T showed up late-ish, and after they'd been there an hour or so they chauffeured me to Valley Street, where my guest bed awaited. We had a leisurely breakfast -- T makes a great omelette. N and I were hoping to do a hike in the hills this morning but it was raining a little too hard. So instead I went with her to the Cheeseboard, where I bought a block of cheddar and half a dozen English muffins. I also scored an electric fry pan and some white tea.

week two, day two

Laundry room seems to be completely gone, except for the water heater. Which, I'm told, will be moved into the kitchen tomorrow. I am very tired -- the effect of my every-other-night of poor sleep. I couldn't get up the energy to set up the stove so I ate guac and chips along with cold leftover stir-fry veggies.

Tomorrow the cabinetmaker is coming to measure, and I go to the window supplier with Ariel to look at hardware and cladding options. I don't know what I'll do with myself for the rest of the day -- all I know is that I won't spend it at home. And that I'm going to Kate and Laura Mae's for a walk and dinner.

I should get lunch for the crew -- pizza?

week two, day one

The laundry room is almost gone -- except for the bit that I can see from my bedroom. I can't get out back because of the plywood sheets nailed over the kitchen doorway. So I took a few shots of the laundry room's footprint from the window.

Also, Ariel replaced the pipe and the water is back on. Yesterday I used some of Nanci's water for a shower and a load of laundry. And then she and I had pizza and sugar snap peas together.

I got out my stove and boiled pasta on it, which I had with pesto. It is windy, and the plywood is not airtight. Puffs of wind agitate the dust shield now and then.