First Few Days working FT on the House

We got a huge break in the weather to begin my time off for working on the house. My Mother-in-Law came down from Terrace to help out, My Sister-in-Law came over for the weekend From New Westminster to chip in, and my buddy from Edmonton is arriving tomorrow to help out too. Even though it has only been a couple of days we have got a lot done. Check some of the pictures out here.

It really moves forward so much quicker when you can spend the entire day on it.  I would have finished the Hardie-Plank on the Sunroom this evening but ran out of Big Stretch. I think I have two more short planks to install, then the AC can be put in and sealed up. The ladies have been working on Painting, ( Hardie-Plank and trim on the front of the house and MB Expansion), prepping the stucco walls for Paint (I am going to have to mix up some cement to do some patching).

I prepped the MB extension for the inspection Monday, if all goes well then we can get the drywall in...paint, tile.. and get moved in.

Thought I had more to say, but I am bagged... another big day tomorrow....  Oh first full day of Spring tomorrow (It arrived here today at 10:31 AM)



EOF   --    LC

Builder Bob is Back in the House!

Only a few days until I am taking time off work for my other job. I become Reno-Man (Cape is optional)! So I can go gangbusters on getting things moving forward with the Home Reno. Going to be a blast. My Mother-in-law is coming down (arrives today) to help my Wife paint the outside and fences, a very good friend is coming from Edmonton to work with me on the building side of things. I have a lot planned, and it looks like the weather is going to cooperate too. When I took all the time off last year it was really rewarding as to how much we got done and how fast everything went. Since then it has hit a lull after Christmas, so I think this focus on things will re energize and motivate me to get going, plus getting together with family is always good for the soul. 

While I am doing this will be able to update the blogs, FB and Flickr with pictures of the events. We start tonight with St Patrick's and some Guinness of course, like a christening of a maiden voyage  ;-) . Then some pre-planning of how to proceed and organize who is doing what, I need to book the inspection for the Vapour barrier and Insulation. I was going to hire out the Drywall but may take it on ourselves due to time constraints (unless I can get someone in on a moments notice). Damn I am excited - some say not much of a holiday but considering how much we will benefit from this for years to come it is a great investment of time and coin.

I have been working a lot with Odin, and using ideas from Cesar" The Dog Whisperer" Millan's TV Show, not that Odin is trouble so much as he is just a dog that wants to be boss and I want to rein him in before he starts to believe he is in charge. It's really different for me, having a dog that has Rottweiler in him, I suppose the same with many other more assertive breeds. You have to handle them so much differently. Watching the show I can see where the wheels begin to fall off if your not careful.  I am surprised how well Cesar's hints and tips work, and how much behavior troubles are caused by us humans instead of the hounds. They had a Marathon of his shows dedicated to his dog "Daddy" who passed away in February, a beautiful Pitbull who helped re socialize other aggressor breeds. 

This past week, Gérémi Adam (FBI claimed he was Canada's biggest Movie Pirate - supposedly) was sentenced to 2 1/2 months plus Community service etc. What a crock, now I am not saying downloading movies is right or wrong, what I am saying is the Government is starting to put Commercial and Corporate interests (and lobbying groups) above the civil rights of the individual. Even bowing to foreign pressure to strip these rights from Canadians. All the while proceeding with further negotiations for ACTA (Talk about a envisioning a communistic police state - this act or at least what little has slipped out to the general public would completely restrict all of us, including artists, and would assume each of us to be a criminal without rights before any proof needs to be presented by the police or Border Services). Michael Geist has much about this on his website here.  Some further comments here. I think some radical protests are going to be necessary to stop this from going through or at least from stopping Canada's participation in it. 

Keep your eyes open and don't let it slip through.

EOF  - LC

Snap! Your life can change that fast..

Yup you hear about it all the time, and sometimes you get little reminders from time to time about how fragile life is, sometimes you get big ones. How we all have to live the moment to it's fullest, to be thankful for everything and everyone in your life. How no guarantees come with this life, no expectations for any amount of time you have or think you have. Putting off for tomorrow that may never come. Jeeze!!!

Two friends from work, whom I have known for the past nearly 7 years, took advantage of a beautiful day on Saturday, (it felt more like Spring than February), geared up for a ride on their motorcycle. I can imagine how exciting it would have been to look forward to a trip north from Victoria, so many other wintered bikes out of their cocoons, Motorcycle Gear that had been hanging in the closet throughout the winter brought out for an early ride of the year. I really don't have to imagine too much, when the weather turns like this I feel the anticipation of a more pleasant ride than my usual winter rides.

Unfortunately fate, destiny or whatever you call it was rushing at them from the other direction. a mid 20 year old steals a car out of North Vancouver, boards the ferry to Nanaimo it has not been released what he was doing or what kind of record he has but one assumes this is not his first trip down this path, travelling down towards Victoria on the Malahat, decides to take an illegal left turn into a rest stop in doing so my friends future is sealed, travelling at the speed limit or even below it when someone pulls this crap, well it always ends bad for the motorcyclist. Not usually for the Car driver.

Sure enough it was bad, no it was worse than bad...... She had just retired in September, her daughter had just married, she was just starting her life our now that work was over.. He still worked with us here I spoke to him regularly as he was in this building many times for meetings or for work on his laptop. they both were very positive and full of energy and life. Yes I said "were". Sad to think that that's it, finished , kaput, families and friends left in chaos and grief because of the selfish act of one little ***** who, I would not be surprised, probably feels no remorse (other than being sorry for being caught - he left the scene.. left them there to die. Little coward!) I am sure he and his defense lawyer will be working out something to absolve him of any responsibility. To ensure he gets a slap on the wrist instead of the life sentence he should be getting to think things over.

That's it it's over... We are all shell-shocked here at work. At home. I Can only imagine what the immediate families must be going through. Our Thoughts and Prayers to them of course...

Snap! that fast ...

UPDATE: Full Story on Victoria Times Columnist Newspaper Site.

EOF L.C.