Two Steps Forward, Three Steps Back

I am so sick of painting. I can't wait until it is all done. This weekend I had the fascia and soffit replaced on the house and it already looks so much better. I also took some mirrors that were glued to a wall (80's style) off and in doing so ripped off some drywall paper. (Under the mirrors was some lovely pink sponge paint- see picture above). Now I have to patch the holes and re-texture. Fun stuff. Mom and I were painting the walls with the trim on, then we decided it would be easier to paint if we took the trim off, so I ended up pulling all the trim off. I can't wait for things to start coming together.

I am going to NY for R's 30th birthday. I am leaving Wednesday morning and getting back on Sunday. I can tell that my dad is upset about this because he keeps whispering to my mom and talking under his breath. He thinks I should stay and work on the house. He is probably right given the extremely tight deadline we are under. But, after dating someone for over 7 years you kind of want to be there for their birthday (esp. when he was here for mine, and asked that I come as his gift). My fear is that dad will keep working on the house and then resent that I wasn't there to help. What should I do? I can't win no matter what I do.

Timber!

My new neighbors decided to cut down a tree from their back yard so that they could get their truck back there. (Not quite sure why you would want to put your truck in the back yard, I always thought driveways and garages where for vehicles). So...the guy was standing between the tree and his house with a rope tied to the tree so that he could pull it in the direct he wanted it to go. The tree fell towards his house (and him) with only a foot to spare. On its way down it took out part of his fence. Mission accomplished, now there is definitely enough room to drive a truck through there. We noticed that the guy that was helping him cut the tree really didn't say anything. He just got on his cell phone and called his girlfriend to come pick him up. I guess his work was done.

If This Isn't Motivation to Work Out I Don't Know What Is

Yikes!

Passing

My Nana died this morning around 7:30. She had emphysema that was caused by many years of smoking. I can't help but think she would still be perfectly healthy if only she hadn't smoked. The doctors said she had a very strong heart, and other than her lungs giving out she was basically healthy.

If you smoke please please stop! Think about what it would be like to never be able to walk up stairs again, to fall and break your hip because you black out and then you can't have surgury to fix it because you would die under anethesia, or to have the vains in your hands turn black when you scratch your nose because the effort used up to much oxygen.

Don't Feed the Bears

This article was posted on my companies internal Web site. (I have changed the actual name of mountain to "The Mountain".)


Title: Bear Alert at The Mountain- June 20, 2007
Body: The Bear Facts:

They are back and hungry – and curious. There are at least three different bears roaming around the Mountain community at the moment. Two black and one cinnamon in the one to two year old range. They are most often seen along the main road but there have been some encounters on the mountain as well – these encounters are with older bears. The concern is that they don’t get too comfortable around humans. Unfortunately the cinnamon yearling is already there as many motorists have stopped to watch and even get out of their car for pictures. This bear has also been fed. None of this is good.
Fish and Game has told us that they are out of the bear relocation business and if they have to deal with a problem bear they most likely will shoot it. Sadly, if this bear meets that fate it will be because of inappropriate human interaction. Please, do not feed these animals or even stop to watch them.

Any activity that makes them more comfortable around humans may ultimately cost them their lives. These are wild animals as well and just because they seem tame and cuddly, they aren’t. They’re after one thing and that is food. What seems like a docile encounter can instantly turn into an extremely dangerous one. A few days ago an 11 year old boy was killed in Utah by a black bear in a unprovoked attack while the family was asleep in their tent.

To date, the cinnamon bear seems to be the only one that is acting human friendly. Bears have run off in other encounters and have been territorial in at least one hiking encounter. We are going to try to re-program the cinnamon bear by employing some interactive tactics that have proven successful in making them afraid of humans again. Can’t guarantee it will work but we do need everyone’s support by not encouraging them to approach you in any way. If we’re not successful we may need to have Fish and Game intervene.

Limit your hiking to daylight hours. Bears react more aggressively to shadows in the evening. Please leave your pets at home – they may attract bears and in their efforts to defend you, they could endanger you. While you are hiking, make noise (bells, whistles, horns) and carry bear spray with you. If you encounter a bear that doesn’t want to move out of your way, choose another route (don’t cross in front of them). Don’t ever get between a sow and her cubs. If you suspect you have, move quickly out of the way.

The Mountain does not allow firearms on their property. [I especially like that this last line was added to the article.]

My note: For anyone that thinks bears are cuddly and cute you should watch the movie grizzly man. Come on people, use some common sense! Don't feed the bears or the next thing you know you will be the main course to their huckleberry dessert.

Paint is Supposed to be Fun.

I am trying to pick my paint colors for the interior of my house. Just when I think I have it all figured out, I tried the color that I was planning to paint the main part of the house on the wall. YIKES! It looks like of pinky gray. Hmmm...not good. Granted I am painting over yellow, so that could be messing it up. So, then I tried painting it on a white wall and it looked yellow. I don't want to paint the whole house and then decide that it looks like it has been chain smoked in for the past 50 years. So...now I am thinking of using the color I had chosen for the bedrooms in the whole house (Gobi Desert). Keep you posted...

My New Neighbor is Pig!

Literally!!! Yesterday morning we walked through my new house for the first time. The lady did a great job of getting things out and cleaning. We were outside examining the deck we were about to demolish when I heard squeals and grunts coming from my neighbors back yard. Yep, my next door neighbor has a pig as a pet. Why am I not surprised?

My parents and D (my realtor's nephew) did so much work yesterday. They tore up all the carpet and pad, took the roof off the porch, and demolished the back deck. I can't wait to see all the stuff they get done today.

Kayak Lust

The kayak I want is on sale at REI. It is the first time I have seen it go on sale...and of course...I just bought a house, so no kayak for me!

Let the Fun Begin

Yesterday I closed on my first house. I must admit it is a bit terrifying. As you probably know from my previous posts it is definitely a fixer upper. We have one month from yesterday to get all of the improvements done. So....you are all invited to grab a paint brush and head on over. I will keep you all posted with before and after shots. Wish me luck!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

I had a fabulous time in California! I got to see almost all of the people I wanted to touch base with (TT and MP I am so sorry I missed you).

Thank you so much CS and DS for your wonderful hospitality! It was so great to see you and the kids, I miss you all terribly. Thank you also for the party on Monday; it was such a nice surprise to see P & J. I was also so happy to see BL. And of course, the food was amazing!

A- I am so glad everything is working out in Mexico. It was so much fun catching up with you.

Hopefully, you can all make it up my way sometime. I would love to play hostess (you can stay in my moose/bear themed spare room- so N. Idaho!).

Thank you all for such a great time.