Twig!

Winfred-ians!* Did you know that a Twig is the head of the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission (i.e. the owners of the Metrodome)? Roy Terwilliger, born in Winfred....What a networking opportunity! I'll use my questionable "press" credentials to get invited to some party he's at, sidle up to him, bond over our shared knowledge of the Winfred literati, and weasel some Vikings season tickets out of him. It can't fail! Unless he moved away at age 5 or something, and never met a Wettlaufer or hung out at Virg's.

Of course, he has other things on his mind at present.

*Note to non-Winfred-ians: Winfred, S.D., is my hometown and Terwilligers took up at least half of it.

Cabi-nots

OK, so the cabinets are installed but it wasn't a slam dunk. There are some issues. I had good cry about it, then got mad, then had an idea how to fix it, then had a reasonable conversation with my remedelor. (This is known as the Four Stages of the Remodeling Grief.* It's in the DSM.) You really should wait to call, at least until after the crying is over.

But I will say this: I wish I'd ordered stock cabinets from Lowes or someplace. This "custom cabinet" business is bull. Or at least the guy doing mine is a pain.

However, on to the pictorial:

Everything is good here. As is should be. I'm not sure about my color choices now, 'cause the walls and cabinets seem a little monochromatic -- all blending into each other without enough contrast. But the black counters and dark floor may change the look?

Here's my desk area. I'm sitting here right now! With my makeshift plywood countertop. That cabinet to the left is super big, y'all! But here's where the trouble begins:

That cabinet to the right of the refrigerator opening is kind of stuck in that corner -- can you see it? The wall bumps out right in front of it to house some plumbing. A few weeks ago I said to the cabinet guy, "Are you sure the cabinet door will open in that corner? It's very tight." He assured me it was no problem. Yeah, not so much:

I guess he thought part way would be good enough? Yeah, maybe part of his money will have to be good enough. Jerk. Anyhoo, I think my GC will be able to reframe that bumped out wall with an angle to allow room for the cabinet door.

In other jackassery, the cabinet doors don't match the drawer fronts. You can kinda see on the island:

The cabinets doors are the plain, flat-panel style I ordered, and the drawer fronts are just solid with no style at all. I have no idea why, and the cabinet knucklehead will be fixing it, though he may not be aware of it yet.

Meanwhile, I spent a pleasant hour and a half ordering my countertops from Lowes this evening from Neal, a ridiculously competent and detailed guy in the kitchen department. It took so long, both because he was making sure everything was correct and because we were having a pleasant conversation. I wish to God I'd ordered my cabinets from him. Oh well, spilled milk and all.

My mood has improved, and I'm able to appreciate the presence of cabinets. (Sqeeeee!) Once the final drywall taping and sanding is done (this week?), I may even be able to put away some of my drop cloths. My lifestyle would be improved significantly at that point.

*Please note that you do not go through the Four Stages once, but many, many times during the remodeling process.

Yeeeee-Haaaw [shoots gun in air]

I just talked to my remodeler and he says the cabinets should start going in next week. Squeeeeeeeeeeeeee!! OMG, I can't wait!!

We must be on the downhill slide 'cause I been paintin'. The whole room got a coat of primer and the ceiling got another coat of white. (White paint does not make for exiting photos, unfortch.) I'll apply the wall color over the weekend and maybe paint the door. Painting is super easy when you don't have to do any taping.

Maybe by this time next week, I can put stuff in a cabinet. Can you imagine? Stuff. In a cabinet! Unimaginable luxury! I'm going to pee my pants from excitement!

Name Calling

If Sarah Palin were my mom, my name would be Tank Dent. And you? Ask the Sarah Palin Baby Name Generator.

By the way, I don't think the Republicans know what the work "sexist" means. Tip to the GOP: Poking fun at a candidate on SNL probably doesn't qualify, unless some kind of offensive word was used. Pundits commenting on her looks and clothes rather than addressing her policy positions? Yeah, that's a bigger issue.

And while I'm up, feminism is not about the elevation of one woman. Nominating a woman to high office doesn't make her or you a feminist. Working for the rights, equality, and well being of all women does, so you need to shut up about that, 'cause your track record isn't so good in that area.

Baby Steps

A few more progress photos--new insulation with vapor barrier. Sexy!

Look at all the outlets! Also, you can see the colors on the scrap wood. The off-white is for the wall and base cabinets, the brown is the island and the gold is for the walls.

You like? I'm totally recreating my mom's kitchen of the '70s -- brown appliances, gold carpet -- except it wasn't intentional, I swear! Then there was drywall... Check out the alcove to the left of the back door, where my new desk will be:

Yesterday, the neighbors probably heard me yelling for joy -- I have a back door for the first time in a month. Isn't it pretty?:

Please note the convenient blinds, encased between two panes of glass:

Almost as exciting as outlets! (You think I'm kidding.)

My mood is only marginal, with evenly spaced nervous breakdowns. Yesterday was a bright spot, though, with the door and my friend and co-worker Denise making me a hotdish and green beans to last a week. You guys, so good. I've been fantisizing lately about the humblest of meals. Thanks D. -- they'd canonize you if you weren't Lutheran.

I'm starting to get rid of furniture I won't need. Anybody looking for a desk or a pink dresser with mirror? The latter is tres shabby chic:

Bargain basement prices, y'all!

Keepin' On

Sorry for the radio silence. I'm not on the InterWebs at home now, due to wiring changes/remodeling limbo. I need to take my laptop to a hot spot and do some updating, but then, I need to do a lot of things.

But just so you know: I've got insulation, I've got new wiring (OMG, outlets!!), I've got drywall. No door yet, though. grumble, grumble, bitch, moan Also, major design change last week when the island went from angled to perpendicular to the dining room wall. Turns out the angled version restricts traffic to the back door. The island is now longer, so I'm getting one of those pull-out garbage bin drawers next to the sink. Yay! I think the floor goes in sometime. I don't know. Nobody tells me anything.

I spent the weekend in western S.D. with this lot. But we were mourning a loss, so the performances were limited to guitars and singing. Good to see everybody, sad as we were and are. Be well, you guys.