The Front of My Hacienda Is Finally Back Together!

Yesterday Carlos finished the stoop and siding. He repaired the siding and installed the railing. Finally, something in this remodeling project is finally done!

This is shot of the stoop in late June 2006. Lori and I were getting the place cleaned up for the 4th of July pool party with her kids.











Here's what it looks like today.

The planting might even start today.

Some difference, huh?

Can I have those pictures now baby HNT?

The last couple of weeks I've hijacked Lori's blog for an HNT. It wasn't exactly the brightest move I've ever made, because her potential pay back is a bitch and a half. Maybe even a bitch and three quarters. So I figured if I post an embarrassing picture or two of me, she might just keep "THE" pictures to herself. Guess we'll have to wait and see.

So for your viewing pleasure and my total embarrassment, I give you 'BTExpress the Perverted Horn Dog".

Sort of Happy HNT!

PS
For another embarrassing picture, visit Lori's blog.

PSS
Lori baby. Are these embarrassing enough for you so that you won't post those pics we talked about? Are they? Well, are they?

PSSS
I sure hope so.

PSSS
I'm so embarrassed. I can't believe I'm doing this.

Remodeling Update

Today Carlos came back to install the hand rail for the stoop and to replace the siding where it had to be removed to rebuild the footing of the house.

First thing he did was he drilled seven 1 1/2 inch holes in the stone, which will be used to anchor the railing.














Then he started to work on the siding. He'll finish the siding today, but will have to come back tomorrow to install the railing.







I hired a sprinkler system contractor to work on the sprinkler system. He has to add a few heads to the flower beds in the front of the house, reposition a few sprinkler heads around the yard, repair some heads that have broken and move the valve box that is now in the yard into the flower bed. In this shot his digging to reposition the valve box.



Last but not least by a long shot! MY HALF BATH IS 98% COMPLETE AND THE MASTER BATH 93.5% COMPLETE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'll post a video tour as soon as I edit the rough copy.

They finished the last of the spackling today and all that's left to be done of the major work install the vanity top in the half bath and install the vanity, medicine chest and lights in the master bath. They will get done as soon as they are manufactured.

The best news is that in 24 hours I'll be able to use my shower again!!!

The College Kid - Part 2

Finding my old college ID card brought back a flood of memories about those times. Part one of this time of my life is this HNT post .

Soon after I was discharged from the army in 1970, I went to the VA and asked about educational benefits. Since I had a 70% disability rating from being wounded, they told me I could go to any college or trade school that would accept me. They told me that they would pay my full tuition, all books and supplies, and a monthly living allowance. In short a free ride and then some. I jumped at the chance.

I didn't know what school I should go to, because didn't know what I wanted to for a living or even have an inkling of an idea what I was qualified to do. All I knew for certain, was that I didn't want to work outside for the electric company any longer. I'd, so I asked them if they would test me to see what I would be good at doing. No problem they said, that that's what they are there for.

I drove the 40 or so miles into Brooklyn on two different days and took a lot of different types of tests. Things like IQ tests, aptitude test, etc. At the end of the second day I sat down with a counselor to find out what my future held for me.

"Let's see, it looks like your most qualified to be a musician. Do you play an instrument?

"Uh, no."

"Have you ever played an instrument?"

"No, not really. I did take guitar lessons for a while when I was a teenager and piano lessons too, but I never stuck with it that long."

"Okay, the next thing on the list is a high aptitude for electronics."

"Good, I'd like to do that. I'd like to learn to fix computers."

"There is an excellent college in Arizona we could send you to."

If you remember, I live in New York and living in the desert didn't appeal to me at all.

"No, I don't want to leave home right now. Being away for two years in the army is enough for now. Anything closer?"

"Let's see. Yes. There's an excellent school on Long Island, the New York Institute of Technology. You could go there if they accept you."

I didn't think that would happen in a million years. I barely passed high school due to my complete lack of effort. I think my average was a D minus-minus. I was something like 35th in my class, from the bottom!

"Why would they ever accept me? My grades sucked in high school."

"They will, but you'll have to take high school level courses at no credit to qualify. If you do well, they will accept you. We'll pay for that, so don't worry about money."

Can you believe it? They'll even pay for that. Same deal applied too. They footed the bill for everything and sent me a check each month to help me live. How could I say no? I jumped at that chance in a heartbeat. I was going to be a college boy!

Weekend Update - Saturday

We had a good weekend. Like I said in my last post, Friday I spent at Lori's working around her place. We went back to my place for the night though. I heated up left over teriyaki steak, pepper, onion & pineapple stir fry for dinner.

Saturday we went to the local Maritime Museum's annual seafood festival. They had a lot of foods to choose from, beer of course and a Stoli booth where you could buy vodka drinks. They also had bands playing throughout the day, but we didn't stay as long as last year to listen to them play. Last year they set up the portable bleachers in front of the stage, but this year they didn't do that. No way was I standing for hours on end. Here's a few pictures I took.

The first thing we did was eat lunch. We stayed away from the typical fried seafood and ate clams on the half shell and grill shrimp. I drank a beer and Lori had a Stoli bay breeze.





As you can see, Lori enjoyed the food and drinks.








Then we topped off lunch with an ear of grill corn on the cob. I LOVE local fresh corn on the cob!










We walked around checking out the booths, but didn't find anything we wanted to buy, so we left and spent the rest of the day at my place in the air conditioning. It was so frigging hot and humid out. I cooked dinner as usual. I made a recipe Lori found. It was Margarita Shrimp Salad. Hot shrimp over salad just didn't taste right, so I made hole grain pasta and we had it over that. TThat way we really enjoyed it. If you like shrimp & limes, give it a try.

Weekend Update - Sunday

Sunday Lori and I went back to her place so we could watch the power boat races in the bay at the end of her block. I enjoyed it, but I'm not too sure how much Lori and her daughter did.

One of the races was going on when we got there, but you couldn't see very well from the shore were almost everyone had to stay.







The best view was from the public dock, but that was restricted to people connected with the event. I wish we could have gone out there.






Or better yet, if I had my boat in the water we could have anchored out there with the rest of the boaters and had a front row seat. I did that years ago and it was so exciting to see the boats zoom by at something like 100 MPH.


Now that's the way to watch a boat race!





We spent most of the time just walking around looking at things. Geico insurance looked like the big spender at this race. I can't count how many truck and people they had there.



We walked down by the Geico area at the far end on the shore where we found the Geico Girls getting more give aways out of the trunk of a car.



These babes were HOT to say the least.

But right past them was this, which spoiled the moment.










But the moment returned as the girls drove by and waved at me. I think they wanted me, don't you?



The heat and humidity and the hot Geico Girls was getting to me by now, so it was time to cool off with a cold beer.

I'm not sure what these kids were doing at the beer wagon.










But I waited patiently for my turn and a Blue Point Brewery Toasted Lager. Blue Point Brewery beer is brewed in Patchogue and a very popular local brew. I love their beer!




I looked over at the dock and saw that the crane was lifting one of the larger power boats off of the trailer and putting it in the water.



We watched the races for a little while longer, but I sensed Lori had enough so we went back to her place. Where she promptly pout me to work. Hung some stuff on the walls.



Then hung her new curved shower rod.













Lastly I installed peep holes in her doors.










Then we sat down and watch the Little League World Series for a while. Then I saw a trailer carrying one of the power boats go by. So I went outside to get a closer look at the boats as they went down the street next to Lori's.



The it was back to my place for dinner and more snuggling. I cooked lemon garlic loin of turkey, herb mashed potatoes with gravy, brussel sprouts in cheese sauce with apple sauce.

All an all we have a great weekend. How was your's?

It's nice to be missed!

Aw Crabby, I didn't know you cared. :-)

You see folks, Crabby was disappointed, or should I say broken hearted, that I didn't make a post yesterday.

Sorry Crabby, but I have a good excuse. I was at Lori's all day helping her around her new apartment.

I have proof too. This is the bar I put together for her.

Didn't I do a spiffy job?

:-D

We're going to have a jam packed weekend here. In a few minutes I'm taking Lori for an eye exam and then we're going to the Seafood Festival at maritime festival.

Tomorrow we'll be spending most of the day at her place, because there are power boat races on the bay and I sure don't want to miss that.

Y'all have a great weekend, ya hear!!

PS
Crabby dear, I'll try to do better from now on. Forgive me? :-(

The Master Painter HNT

As most of you know, I've been remodeling my bathrooms. The last few days I've been painting the half bath while the contractor Frank, has been fooling around in the master bathroom. Today I finished painting.

So for your viewing pleasure. I give you the Master Painter and the tools of the trade!

Happy HNT Y'all!

(If your interested in the progress of the remodeling, scroll down a few posts and check it out.)

PS
I hijacked Lori's blog again this week. Check it out! I promise you will not be disappointed, because she's naked! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm going to be dead meat for sure.

Half Bath Update

While the contractor has been fooling around in the master bath, I've been working on the half bath.

Monday I finished sanding the door trim and primed the trim, walls and ceiling.










I had a check up scheduled in Patchogue on Monday too, so stopped by the cabinet maker to take a look at the vanity he's making for me. The pictures didn't come out very well, because the dust reflected the flash.

Here's the vanity. I couldn't find a small black vanity, so I had to have a cabinet maker build one for me.










Here's the molding and the vanity door.











Here's the trim for around the window.











The vanity top hasn't been made yet. The cabinet maker is getting me a sample, so I can see if I like what he found. I also have to buy the sink, so it can be installed before he installs the vanity top.

New Master Bath Rebuild - Day 3

The contractor installed the cement board and sheet rock today. He also made the cement base for the shower floor tile. Monday he'll come back and start the tile work. Speaking of tile, here's a peek at what he's going to be installing.

The larger tile (17"x17") goes on the floor outside the shower. The rest is for the walls and the ceiling in the shower. The bottom half of the walls will have the 8"x17" tile and then a row of the boarder tile you see on the right. Next will be a few rows of 8"x8" tile and then another row of boarder tile. At the top of the walls will be another row of the 8"x8" tile.





This tile (1"x1" squares) is for the floor of the shower. I needed to use this type, because it forms better to the curves of the cement base to assure proper drainage.









So without further ado, here's a video tour of day three's work.



I hope you've been paying attention, so you can remodel your bathrooms too.

Frank started the tile work today,......

.....and I primed the half bath, but I'm too tired to post the pictures. YAWWWNNNN..........

Maybe when I get back from Lori's. I'm going over there to take a shower and wash the paint off of me.

Ewwwww, I forgot how much fresh paint stinks.

Anyway, .........

..... read the post below to tied you over.

New Master Bath Rebuild - Day 2

Wednesday the electrician and plumber did their thing. The electrician's job turned out to be pretty what was expected, but the plumber had more work to do than was anticipated. That meant he had to come back a second day to finish. You know what that means don't you? Yes, more money to do the job. That also means the job will be delayed one more day.

The electrician's job went pretty quick, about 3 hours. While he worked, we talked about some things we had in common. You see, his father is a member of the electrical union my father and I used to belong to. He filled me in on the major changes with the union over the last 30 or so years. I also mentioned that I was retired and that my financial adviser, Steve, is a VP with Morgan Stanley and handles my investments. He is unhappy with the way his retirement plan is being handled, so I gave him the phone number of mine. He called Steve and Steve will take him on as a client. Both of them were very appreciative.

Woops, I got side tracked again.

The electrician installed the vent fan, ...








the light in the shower, ...








the wiring for the light above the vanity, ...








and then wired it all up.








Ta da!










While the electrician was working upstairs, the plumbers were working downstairs in the basement. The half of the basement that's finished is under the master bathroom. The plumber said he'd have to remove some of the ceiling to get at what he needs to work on.

This is what he calls some. LOL



Frank said not to worry, that he'd fix it and . You know what that means don't you? Yes, more money to do the job.

Once the electrician was done, the plumbers moved upstairs. They cut out the old plumbing and started installing the new.

Here's the new drain for the toilet.











The sink plumbing didn't need much work, so went quickly.








The plumbing for the shower was another story. I got a little crazy with the design, so that took more work. This was responsible for most of the extra work and parts.









Installing the pipe for the hand shower was pretty simple.











Lastly they installed the liner for the shower pan. The floor of the shower is going to be tiled, so the rubber was laid down to prevent any possibility of leaking.






Thursday and Friday Frank and his helper install the cement board, sheet rock, spackling and the cement shower floor.

Want a private video tour? Then check this out.