TA-DA!
ISSB is made of steel!Friday, August 31, 2007
Thursday, August 30, 2007
The Devil’s in the Details…
I am the devil. Not really, but "detail" is my middle name.
Today was the start of my "vacation" – really the start of our kitchen remodeling project.
I stayed home to get some stuff ready the day before. Some detailing stuff.
The line where the brown paint meets the ceiling has been driving me nuts since we put the paint cans away to lay the hardwood. So I have been staring at the uneven line. Today, I was able to go in with a fine artist’s brush and make it more defined.
I also, thanks to my mom, painted all the outlet covers. My mom suggested using a metallic spray paint. I picked it up for $4, and it changed the look of the covers dramatically! I love it. ISSB likes it too because replacing all of them would have cost roughly $300.
Here they are hung up.
In fact I am thinking of using the spray to do all the heating/AC vents. What do you think? Either that or we need to replace all of them (about $80-100). 
More tomorrow and the next day, and the next day!
Today was the start of my "vacation" – really the start of our kitchen remodeling project.
I stayed home to get some stuff ready the day before. Some detailing stuff.
The line where the brown paint meets the ceiling has been driving me nuts since we put the paint cans away to lay the hardwood. So I have been staring at the uneven line. Today, I was able to go in with a fine artist’s brush and make it more defined.
I also, thanks to my mom, painted all the outlet covers. My mom suggested using a metallic spray paint. I picked it up for $4, and it changed the look of the covers dramatically! I love it. ISSB likes it too because replacing all of them would have cost roughly $300.
Here they are hung up.
In fact I am thinking of using the spray to do all the heating/AC vents. What do you think? Either that or we need to replace all of them (about $80-100). 
More tomorrow and the next day, and the next day!Monday, August 27, 2007
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Flug What? Flugtag!
Yesterday Ian and I went to Flugtag 2007. This is the second time it has come to Austin, TX and boy does it draw a huge crowd – this year it brought in 60,000 people. But what is it? (Remember to rally see the photos click on them and they will open up much bigger.)
Flugtag is "is an event in which competitors attempt to fly in homemade flying machines." The first Flugtag was held in Austria in 1991. It has become very popular. And the teams enter because (1) they actually think their contraption will fly, (2) they want to do a dance rendition in front of 60K people, or (3) they want to get hammered and jump off a 30t pier in to the water. The event opened with sky-diving-acrobats! It was sooooooo cool!
Our friend, French, sponsored the Congress Bridge Bats Team. The team was made up of a bunch of engineers and was there to remind everyone that next week is the annual Bat Fest. Here is the bridge going up the launch...
About to take off...
And then in the water...
Teams come from all around; this one "Karl Sucks" is a team of five Minnesotan women who tried to fly a vacuum. 
It is important to note, no offense to the Minnesotans, but if you really want it to fly, wings are necessary. 
But, not a guarantee: 
Overall, the day was wonderful (even if it was 100F). There was a great breeze and beautiful sun set. 
The Bat Bridge won the People’s Choice Award. 
And it was a great people watching event. Here are a few more shots: A triple story stacker to get the best view!
To tell the teams that the water was all clear a funny little dude waved the Rastafarian flag which apparently means: "smoke um if you got um!"
Some teams were just in it to have fun, these three guys "Rock, Paper and Scissors" played the game to see who would jump first and then they just ran off the edge. 
The pirates were awesome! 
But, nothing topped the Irish "Get Lucky" team. They used a rope tied around the base to make the shamrock spin and then pushed it off the pier while it was going round and round (it was like an Irish spaceship!) 
The judges loved it. 
There was even a special appearance by Leslie (you all remember him!!!). 
Here is Leslie going overboard! 
Seriously, this is a flying fish taco. Fish tacos are VERY popular in Austin. (They are normally served with a cabbage slaw and mango salsa). 
Next time Flugtag comes to town I am going to convince ISSB to rent a canoe and watch from the water. 
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Looking back at the kitchen:
These two photos are how we have had the kitchen since we moved in, things on wire shelves, not a lot of storage space, crappy laminate counters, etc.
To see the remodel plan click here.
After ripping out all the cabinets.
Under the kitchen.
This is when we used the kitchen as the Grand Central Tool Station (only place in the house where you could set anything down).
These 3 are from the day we took ownership of the house in April.
These 3 are from before we took ownership when the place was a rental.
To see the remodel plan click here.
After ripping out all the cabinets. Under the kitchen.
This is when we used the kitchen as the Grand Central Tool Station (only place in the house where you could set anything down). 
These 3 are from the day we took ownership of the house in April. 
These 3 are from before we took ownership when the place was a rental. 
Friday, August 24, 2007
Good news, bad news
Well the good news is that the kitchen remodel starts next week. The other good news is that the tooth-ache I had for the last two weeks is not a cavity. The other good news is that my doctor’s appointments can be scheduled around the remodel. The bad news is that the pain in my mouth was my jaw. And, for those who know me, Motor-Mouth-Morgan has been down this path before.
In 1997, I had been wearing braces for over five years when I had my first jaw surgery. It was just my upper jaw and the non-medical description is that because my jaw didn’t close properly my teeth didn’t meet. My teeth were also crooked and that is another reason for them not meeting. So five years of braces later when my teeth were all lined up they went in to line up my jaw. They did a great job and if you live in Minnesota and need a good oral surgeon, ask me. I was pretty much a-ok, until January of 2006 when I took a tumble down the steps at our old apartment, trip to the ER, a week of no walking and I had pretty much healed up. But, my jaw had shifted. The pain returned off an on depending on what I did that day (talking too much, chewing tough foods, sleeping with my hand under my head, etc). Then the gap in my teeth started to recede, and a year and a half later the pain is almost unbearable. Which is why I thought it was a tooth-ache. But no, all the muscles in my jaw are bruised, tired and ready for a vacation. Enter muscle relaxers. And physical therapy for my jaw. Next week, I meet with the orthodontist, dentist, physical therapist and the oral surgeon – very daunting.
I am a little nervous about going through it all again, but I am happy it is on the fast track and may all be over in the next few months. And ISSB is being a trooper coping with the idea of a silent house for 6 weeks.
I wonder, though, if I fall again or take trauma to my jaw will I have to do it again or do I give up? My mom always told me she should have named me Grace so that I would have some.
Stay tuned for the updates.
In 1997, I had been wearing braces for over five years when I had my first jaw surgery. It was just my upper jaw and the non-medical description is that because my jaw didn’t close properly my teeth didn’t meet. My teeth were also crooked and that is another reason for them not meeting. So five years of braces later when my teeth were all lined up they went in to line up my jaw. They did a great job and if you live in Minnesota and need a good oral surgeon, ask me. I was pretty much a-ok, until January of 2006 when I took a tumble down the steps at our old apartment, trip to the ER, a week of no walking and I had pretty much healed up. But, my jaw had shifted. The pain returned off an on depending on what I did that day (talking too much, chewing tough foods, sleeping with my hand under my head, etc). Then the gap in my teeth started to recede, and a year and a half later the pain is almost unbearable. Which is why I thought it was a tooth-ache. But no, all the muscles in my jaw are bruised, tired and ready for a vacation. Enter muscle relaxers. And physical therapy for my jaw. Next week, I meet with the orthodontist, dentist, physical therapist and the oral surgeon – very daunting.
I am a little nervous about going through it all again, but I am happy it is on the fast track and may all be over in the next few months. And ISSB is being a trooper coping with the idea of a silent house for 6 weeks.
I wonder, though, if I fall again or take trauma to my jaw will I have to do it again or do I give up? My mom always told me she should have named me Grace so that I would have some.
Stay tuned for the updates.
Monday, August 20, 2007
Out of this world
In 1986, when I was a “shorty” (as Ian would say), I saw Halley’s Comet. The next sighting of Halley’s Comet will not happen until 2061. I am one of the rare generations of kids that will ideally be lucky enough to see it twice in my life.
Bunch of lying email jerks.
Dean: a soaker
We are watching the weather like hawks. It is that time of year when anything can happen. And with all the wet weather we have already gotten there really isn't anyplace for hurricane flash floods to go.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
