Sticker shock

Despite their supposed edibility, I always find a partially consumed apple sticker a little disconcerting. 

Furniture shuffle

Always on the prowl for 1950’s freebies Jonathan came across a 1950’s Westinghouse entertainment center listed on Modern Phoenix for, you guessed it, free.  I can’t say this prize find was at the top of my list, but a good relationship requires compromise right : )

For two weeks this very large piece of furniture complete with mounted television set, radio tuner, speakers and record player sat randomly in our living room. Dealing with sleeping in our guest room during our master bedroom modification, plus random excess furniture taking up our living room and the chaos that was becoming our backroom was steadily eroding my sanity.  Despite both of us working excessively long hours and keeping up with dog/kitty routines, it was time to take action and gain control of our house again.

Finishing up the bedroom was first. It took several days of construction, but we managed to complete our bajillion step IKEA bed and headboard in just under a week. Overall, the master bedroom renovation included painting the entire room, removing the temporary carpeting we’d put down the day we moved in to avoid dealing with floor issues, mounting a new ceiling fan (which is still causing some grief), constructing a bed and headboard, custom cutting and mounting new blinds, and rearranging some existing furniture.  We also bought and mounted some cute little bed side lamps and will finish up our bedside shelves sometime this week/weekend. Moving back into the master not only relieved a little stress of living out of several wild rooms, but also allowed me to lower the slightly too high mattress in the guest bed and clean out our stuff, once again opening it for guest use and cat lounging.

On to the living room/kitchen.  Our plan required many a furniture move, but resulted in a lovely kitchen and living room improvement. Growing tired of the large and somewhat overwhelming white shelving unit we removed it from the kitchen and sold it on Craigslist. We also moved the white table out of the kitchen into the back room (which will serve as my desk/crafting area), and are attempting to sell the kitchen chairs.  We then moved the wood table with two of its chairs back into the kitchen from its storage space in the backroom, and moved the buffet that had served as the TV stand in the living room into the kitchen, thus tying the wood table in with the room a little better.  The kitchen looks much better with all of the changes and not only feels more inviting but corresponds better with the feel of the rest of the house.  Live, purchase and learn I suppose.

As for the living room, the original plan was to move the 1950’s Westinghouse unit toward the back corner and buy/build a small cabinet mounted on hairpin legs to hold the TV plus its peripherals. But, as per the norm, after some failed shopping trips and an initial move of the Westinghouse unit into the corner our plans needed to be changed. The Westinghouse unit was far too large for its intended location so we moved it to where the buffet used to sit and set the TV on top. True, the TV now sits a little higher than I’d initially wanted, but overall the changes enhance the look of the living room. Removing the buffet, which spanned nearly ¾ of the wall, opened up the wall and will allow for a new plant as well as a spot to hang art purchased last April.

 We will eventually mount a shelf in the kitchen for Jonathan’s aspiring collection of “kitchen collectables” and a chotchkie or two, but taping a nail into our pristine walls requires some meditative breathing and serious planning. Moving furniture is one thing, but disrupting perfectly smooth, professionally coated walls is another.  I never realized what the big deal was when I wanted to hang stuff on walls I didn’t own but now that we’ve paid to refinish them I’ve become pretty anti the random hanging of items

                                                                                                 

Carl the tiki approves!

         

 We finished our Sunday by cleaning up the backroom, which continues to progress towards becoming a usable room, but is not on the top of the list of projects to be completed any time soon.  I’ll admit defeat in our goal of rocking the front yard by the end of July, but seeing that we’re inside a lot more than outside during the summer, interior projects won out in the budget. Despite a little end of the weekend exhaustion we are really proud of our changes and happy with the outcome.  

Bustin out!

For about a month or two now I’ve known my running shoes were on their last legs.  I had originally intended to retire them back in May after the Bay to Breakers run seeing that they had plenty of miles on them, and were over a year old, but due to budgeting and laziness I never made my way to the running store.

This past Saturday proved to be the breaking point when I realized I had literally run through my shoes!  

Despite having to purchase a shoe size larger than some people’s first born child my new shoes are quite wonderful and made for a lovely run this morning.  

Beds, beds and more beds

This weekend was a bed weekend.  No, not time spent in bed, but time buying, deconstructing and rebuilding.

Being bed-less and on a budget upon our arrival in the desert we bought a rather unattractive, intentionally-faded-yellow painted, four post bed from IKEA.  It was cheap and we were tired of sleeping on an air mattress, so it worked out just fine. Once we moved from our apartment to our house we were still in need of a bed for the guest room so I took the opportunity to chop off the tops of the posts and tone down the yellow with a few coats of white paint.  Again, nothing glorious, but a functional bed for guests. 

Thanks to the purchase of our new bed, much to Jonathan's delight, we could rotate our bed into the guest room and send the once yellow, now white guest bed off to a new home. Jackson kept me good company while I deconstructed the bed, and barked his goodbyes as its new owner picked it up about 30 minutes after having been listed on Craigslist.

Bed breakdown number 2.  The breakdown of this bed was delightfully easy but the short move from room to room caused minor personal injury.  My focus on not denting or scraping the walls resulted in a nice little scrape on my leg, and seeing that I've started scaring with every minor scratch this project will be with me for longer than I'd like.  Jackson again provided good company while I re-constructed the bed frame and drug in the box spring/mattress. The bed will need a little adjusting to lower the mattress a bit, but that will have to wait for another day.  The thought of heaving out the box spring and unscrewing, then re-screwing just wasn't that appealing near the end of my Sunday.

Meeting supervisor Toby's approval, our new bed currently remains in its boxes in our living room patiently waiting to be constructed in our bedroom.  We have some blinds to hang, and a little paint to touch up before this can happen, but hopefully by this weekend, I can start unpacking and begin construction.

In the midst of all this house work I was finally able to capture a few pictures of Mr. Jackson that better represent his adorable ways. He proves to be a tough photo subject because as adorable and loveable as he is in person, he has a way of looking a little downtrodden in his photos.

                                                                                                                                                                   

LA adventures

Late Friday afternoon I learned I'd be making my way to LA for a business related trip the following Tuesday.  So, bright and early Tuesday morning, ear ache and all, I hopped on a short flight and survived a semi wild taxi drive that wove me through some exceptionally lovely neighborhoods to get to the new LA office.  After work I headed to the hotel to check in and came across what appeared to be an unusually large number of  pageantry-esque costumes roaming about.  Turns out, the iPop! convention was in town and would not be checking out until Thursday.

While the front desk guy took my information I learned that iPop! encompasses iDance, iSing, iPerform and iModel. iCan't quite define why, but pageantry folk give me a little bit of the willies.  Seeing that I was away from the hotel a majority of the time I didn't mind the minor circus taking place, but when their post event partying disrupted my sleep the rage set in.  Nothing like annoying party singing by juvenile sounding voices at 4 AM in the morning to enrage the soul.

       
  After finishing work on Wednesday I took the opportunity, camera in hand, to enjoy my beautiful surrounding and the lovely Southern CA weather by wandering the streets near my hotel and office.  Little did I anticipate, about two blocks from the office I would be treated by the iconic Beverly Hills sign.  I strolled Santa Monica Boulevard enjoying the sights, snapping photos and scoping out a tasty dinner location. Trying to decide between two restaurants I opted to enjoy a happy hour beverage at a small modern italian restaurant  Little did I know I would be in for quite the interesting LA interaction. Minding my own at the nearly empty bar a funny little man touched my shoulder and commented "oh there you are", until he realized I was not who he was looking for.  This man proceeded to inform the bar tender and anyone within earshot that he was ordering pasta for his wife who had a bladder infection.  TMI.  He then took the opportunity to impose conversation on me.  Nothing creepy, nor was he trying to put the moves on me, but this was a man with stuff to say and golly gee I was going to be the one to hear it.  Super.  I decided my best exit strategy might be to start gulping rather than sipping my drink.                                         

                                                                   
As my new found buddy talked at me I noticed he had on two watches, a bold red, bedazzled number on the left and a bright orange leather one on the right.  An interesting fashion choice for sure.  Had he not made the clear and odd announcement about his wife I would have surely pegged him as playing for the other team. Godfrey, yes his name was indeed Godfrey, rambled on about fine Italian leather goods, and gave me the low down on Nick's martini bar, a known meat market where he was sure I could pick up a date or just have a good time. Thanks for the vote of confidence Godfrey.  The more he talked I realized there was no need to down my drink and slowed to a leisurely pace.  I had an interesting little Godfrey bug to observe and was quite entertained by his goings on.  Once I made my way to Nick's as he insisted I visit,  I was told to ask for the owners son by name and let them know who sent me, and of course, ask to be seated at the James Dean booth.  Nothing less would do.  Godfrey, being the helpful type, wrote down names, locations, references and provided his business card as well as a little professional background. A funny little bug for sure.  He continued to chat at me long after his takeout had arrived which was surely growing chilly.  As my glass emptied and he was confident that he had provided me with enough information for Nick's, my pal Godfrey headed back home to his "wife" and I made my back up the street to pick up my dinner.


Armed with psychologist Godfrey's business card and my scrumptious Mediterranean dinner in hand I ventured my way back to the hotel. Now keep in mind, California is a mighty big state, so despite the fact that I grew up and lived in the Bay Area for most all my life, my trips to southern California were quite limited and frankly only for swim meet purposes. So its quite accurate to say I have never really experienced LA like I did on this short trip and my oh my, the area I visited blew my fancy-car socks off.  The S class Mercedes  and/or high end BMW appear to be the everyday car for anyone driving in the vicinity.  Not a day went by that I didn't see multiple Ferraris, Aston Martins, Rolls Royces, Maseratis, and hear the purr, not the squeal, of someone's high end engine as the speed around the corner only to roar up the street.  I tell you it's enough to make this lady's knees go weak.

                                   
                                 

 

                                                                                                                                         
As much as I enjoyed my visit, working like a dog and observing a little LA culture, I am glad it's over and am be happy to be back home.  I didn't end up making it to Nick's Martini Bar this trip but perhaps, if I'm feeling adventurous, on my next trip I'll test out my pal Godfrey's self proclaimed connections.  Till next time LA. classy.

July 4th 2011

This year's 4th wasn't quite the second day in a three day drive across country but we did manage to keep busy.  A little home improvement, a little horticulture and some grilling/baking made for a pleasant Independence day.


Sydney provided a little holiday entertainment by her fascination with the in-shell peanuts in a bowl. She is pretty much the queen of tactile experience.  Anytime she is near a glass, a bottle, a box, you name it, she has to rub her teeth on it and give it a good test bite.  When it comes to items she can knock around she is quick to toss them about then immediately loose interest.  She's a special little kitty indeed.

                                                                                              

Painting and Planting

 I've undoubtedly been remiss in my Hupp home improvement posts so here is a brief run down. A few weeks back I started the laborious task of painting the side of the house as well as the outdoor ceiling beams. I've since finished the blue wall but ran out of Plymoth green about two weeks back and have not had the motivation to buy more paint and get back up on the ladder.

Hasta la vista original pink and tragic red!

Since painting outside in 100 plus degree temperatures can't be good for the paint I simply moved the painting inside. Having recently purchased a new ceiling fan for our bedroom, pre-installation the ceiling needed to be painted, and like it or not, ceiling painting has become a bit of an acquired skill. After that was completed I realized, with the furniture moved to the center of the room, it was a great time to get rid of the red walls.  First I patched some wall issues, primed and started down the road of color samples.  About 6 shades of orange later we agreed on Mango Madness, a perfect pairing with out honeydew guest room!  Three, yes three coats of mango madness later our room is looking terrific.  Our room progress hit a bit of a snag when Jonathan realized that due to the previous fan's instillation we were not able to install the new fan ourselves and will be calling in an expert.  

Back to painting. Amid my painting euphoria I realized just how many doors and door frames, 4 in total, remained a nasty oily looking beige, despite all of their surrounding walls having been repainted.  The new white doors and their surrounds look great.  The white pops not only against the orange but also brings a little snap to the barely-beige of the hallway.  Painting an entire bedroom and 4 doors in about 4 days, not bad at all.


                                                                                        

With painting completed it was time to move outside on a 108 degree day with 30% plus humidity.  Ah yes, an ideal day for planting.  In just under an hour Jonathan and I managed to snazzy up our front yard with a handful of natal plum bushes.  True we need more to complete the row, and yes they are pretty small, but given time they'll grow up nicely.  We are hoping to get our front yard rocked as of the end of the month but the completion of the walkway will undoubtedly have to wait for cooler temperatures.

They're wee right now but will grow, flower and eventually
provide fruit for which Jonathan informs me I can make Jelly
from. We'll see how that goes.

I think that about covers our household efforts, at least until next weekend!

A day to celebrate!

Eight months later and...(again, this is not a delayed baby announcement), as of today I finally managed to pay off all medical expenses for my shoulder injury!  It may seem a little pathetic that its taken this long, but these not so little bills stacked up mighty high atop the already bothersome pile of monthly bills which rudely require payment.  Getting one step farther from debt is a delightful feeling!  Happy June 30th.

Even Lola basks in the glory of paying off medical bills

Lodi and back

All set in our Hyundai midsized SUV rental, an unexpected upgrade when we switched rental car companies, and ready to explore the bounty of Lodi, CA we hit the freeway around 11 AM on Saturday.  Along the way we saw some wind farms, (my favorite) some un-recognizable agriculture, dry grass covered rolling hills and of course the ever present development complete with big box strip malls.

Needing some sustenance for our big day in Lodi we went to Bon Appetit, a well rated, local sandwich shop, and enjoyed a tasty lunch before checking into our hotel.   Checked in and with plenty of time to spare until the wedding we started our Lodi tour by driving about an 1/8th of a mile down the road to where most of the wedding guests were staying.  Pool side, surrounded by Rutgers buddies and family we came across the groom. We chatted for a while and when we asked what there was to do in town, I was a bit disappointed by the grimly serious "nothing" response.  Back to the hotel we went. After scanning the channels and settling for some boring re-run we watched a little TV before I could no longer take the boredom.  It was drive time!  Back in the car we headed into town.  We drove down one massive main street, through a few nice, platonic neighborhoods before finally finding a Pleasantville-esque center of town complete with antique stores out the yin yang and not a bar in sight.  We walked into a few uninspiring shops before making our way back to the hotel.  I hate to sound like I'm picking on Lodi, but this iconic suburbia truly seems like a place where a kid could start up a drug addiction just to have something to do.

 At 6 pm Ms. Molly Jones, now Mrs. Molly Campbell, walked down the isle to be with her bridegroom.  Yeah weddings!!  Following the ceremony, as the bridal party headed off for pictures, we wandered into the "cellars" to enjoy a few appetizers and drinks.  We mingled a bit then settled down at our table where we caught up with Rutgers friends and met new pals.  The evening was a little chilly especially for those of used to desert temps, but we enjoyed the company of our table-mates as we endured the gusts of chilly wind. After toasts, cake and a bouquet toss we boogied down for a few songs before making our way to Molly's parent's pizza shop for a few slices, and a little beer with fellow guests.

 Sunday we didn't have anything scheduled until much later in the day so we opted to check out Muir Wood, just North East of San Francisco.  Ascending the twisty roads we soon found ourselves driving in the fog bank and watching the fog whip across the open roads between the low points of the tree topped hills. We then made a twisty descent into Muir Woods and were lucky enough to find a parking spot along the road not too far from the official park.  I enjoy living in Arizona, but this trip made me realize just how much I appreciate greenery, moisture in the air, and trees, trees, trees.  Yes, we have trees in Arizona, but they just don't compare to the redwoods of Muir Woods. Since many, if not all, of the longer paths were closed we sauntered along the tourist loop, snapping too many pictures, before starting our drive back to Alameda. 

                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                    Later in the evening we met up with Tyler in Oakland to check out his awesome new place and enjoy some burgers and beer at Cato.  The atmosphere was interesting, a very diverse and hip Oakland scene, the food/beer was tasty and it was a treat to spend a little time catching up with Tyler.  Tyler is currently training for his first Ironman taking place this August in Canada.  Go Tyler Go!!

 We spent our final day in the bay area, lounging at home, watching Larry the box turtle feast on snails before roaming the backyard, fighting with car rental providers and hanging out in the airport waiting for our plane which was delayed for 2 hours due "mechanical problems".  Thankfully that big metal beast got us home safe and sound and we were able to pick up Mr. Jackson from his vacation home in Scottsdale. We had a lovely trip, but as always, its good to be home. (Note the bone dry desert viewed from the plane window and understand why I miss the greenery)

Off to a wedding -first stop SF

Making a break from the desert for a few days and headed to a wedding in Lodi, CA Jonathan and I flew into Oakland airport Thursday evening.  I cannot tell you how much I appreciate an 1.5 hour direct flight home after living on the East coast for about 9 years.

Friday morning we hopped on the Alameda ferry headed to the city.  By about 9:30 the ever present fog was already burning off which is always a good sign for a day in San Francisco.  We didn't go in with any concrete plans, our biggest priorities were picking up a re-sized anniversary gift and making a stop in Chinatown to try out a much anticipated Chinese food restaurant. Upon debarking we spent a little time checking out the ferry station full of stores we cannot afford and had some burnt coffee and bland pastries.  Certainly not the way I like to start my day, but we were on vacation, no worries. Time to wander.

Not seeing anything that knocked our socks off on display at the SFMOMA we toured the museum store, found plenty to buy but managed to walk out empty handed.  It takes time to build such willpower.  It just so happened that across the street was the famed Yerba Buena Gardens.  We walked about, enjoyed the view, but apparently missed out on a labyrinth in the park.  We have no idea where this was located, but the short snippet in the airline magazine on our trip home mocked us for not seeing it.  Since that our lunch destination was another neighborhood over we started for Chinatown.  The restaurant we were headed for is not listed in any prestigious top 10 lists or even Zagat rated, but, thanks to PBS, after watching a re-run of a 2008 Bay Area Backroads with Martin Yan (Yan can cook, so can you) we knew we had to try Sam Wo's.

The sign blends in with the gazillion other signs in Chinatown, but luckily Jonathan spotted it and made our way in.  The front door leads right to the kitchen which is on the ground floor.  Not knowing where to go we stood for about 30 seconds before getting scolded to go upstairs.  We ascended the tiniest little staircase ever to get to the second of three floors.  A table was pointed out to us, a window table at that, and menus were hastily slapped down before our waitress skittered off.  The room fit a hand full of tables and had to be around 10ft wide by 20 feet long which included a tiny wait station complete with dumbwaiter elevator for food delivery.  The wait for the food wasn't too bad, but this was no rapid/friendly service place. Jonathan ordered a combo noodle dish with a little of everything and I ordered the bbq pork with broccoli dish on flat noodles.  Delicious. Again, this is not award winning cuisine but both dishes were rather tasty, super cheap and undoubtedly would have been fabulous drunk food.  Apparently Sam Wo's is quite popular for meeting this very need and remains open until the wee hours of the morning.

Bellies full and sodium intake accomplished for the next 3 days we again started wandering the city.  On the hunt for a new copy of Atomic Ranch we ended up in a rather nice neighborhood to find an Architectural book store. The two people who apparently worked there were akin to airline attendants click clacking away at the keyboard as if you didn't exist.  Eventually when one acknowledged are surely bothersome presence we learned that they did not carry our lowly Atomic Ranch magazine, then returned with flash like speed to their assertive typing.  To add to the strange factor the "music" playing was darn near silent except for the occasional harp string pluck and a strange noise that can be perfectly replicated by closing one nostril and humming in a strange pitch, ever so gently for about 2 seconds.  Yeah, it was a special place indeed, and on that note, it was time to head home.

Just thinking about that meal makes me a little tired so I'll have to continue with the remainder of our trip tomorrow.  Stay tuned, but keep in mind Credence used the term "stuck" in his song "Stuck in Lodi again" for a reason.

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