The Project Continues - Home Depot Gets an F

The flooring for our remodel project arrived yesterday, just in time for today's installation. 

43 Cases of Flooring in the Garage
November 3, 2018

What have we learned from this experience? 

Quire a bit actually. 

I am going to call out Home Depot on this. Their home delivery option, for which extra money is collected, is terrible. The email I received from Home Depot indicated that the flooring would be delivered on 29 or 30 October. Nothing heard from the company until 31 October and then Chris had to spend a lot of time coordinating with Estes, the trucking company, to get the flooring delivered.

Finally, the flooring arrived Friday afternoon, 2 November.

And that is not all. It turns out that home delivery is not really home delivery. It is curbside delivery. The trucking company is not obligated to put the goods into a garage or under cover. They are not required to "cross a threshold." That would be like ordering a washing machine and they leave it on the doorstep.

Wait, I paid extra for all of this hassle!

I would ask for a refund for the delivery fee, but that would not nearly cover the aggravation we experienced.

I probably will never order a large items from Home Depot for home delivery again. It was too frustrating.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

On to November

Around the Fire Pit
November 1, 2018

It arrived yesterday. The eleventh month of the year announced its beginning with a beautiful day that saw shirt-sleeve weather and an over-all pleasant evening.

Sunset happens earlier, but that meant that the fire pit was in use for a longer time. 

We enjoyed the arrival of the evening around the fire with neighbors and, of course, some wine. 

The basement project was on hold and for this one evening, we just enjoyed the mild weather and time with neighbors. It is amazing how wine and munchies can transform a hectic day into a relaxing and enjoyable evening.

The best part, however, was the warmer temperatures and the fact that now we can actually sit in the yard without being besieged by hordes of mosquitoes. The weather was so mild that we even saw a couple of bats slicing through the air in search of a meal.

What a great way for November to begin. 

We have a very busy month ahead and have decided that the decking project for the fire pit will be a springtime endeavor. Until then, we will enjoy evening fires from the ground under the lights.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Halloween 2018 - A New Chapter

One House in Halethorp, MD
October 31, 2018

A Pirate Ship with Skeleton Fish
Halethorp, MD
October 31, 2018

It was a different Halloween celebration this year as the grandsons are getting older and going their more separate ways. We were still able to enjoy the festivities with all three of them, but in two very separate locations. 

Lucas

As the evening began, were found ourselves in a neighborhood in Halethorp with Lucas. What a really cool neighborhood. The families living there really go all out for Halloween. The decorations on many of the houses are extensive and fascinating. I took a few images, but they really do not do the neighborhood justice. I was very impressed and we had a lot of fun walking around with Lucas.

Although we could only stay for a short time, we had fun enjoying the decorations in the yards and seeing the kids surging through the neighborhood seeking treasures and candy.

Chris and Ethan
October 31, 2018

Then it was off to Odenton for time with the other two grandsons. 

Another house in Halethorp, MD

Both Jax and Ethan enjoyed their Trick or Treating. Ethan headed out with friends and Jax cruised the neighborhood with family. I was able to enjoy my favorite part of Halloween, sitting on the lawn with an adult beverage handing out candy to the costumed throngs of children passing by. I was also able to chat with the neighbors and enjoy the festivities of the evening. 

Somehow, I failed to get a good picture of Jax in his costume--but it was a creative taco costume. 

Even Finnegan got into the spirit of the evening. He started out as an alligator, but wound up in a lighted jersey because he just didn't like being an alligator. Who would have thought that the dog had two Halloween costumes? He does. It is a cross the Yorkies must bear. 

Well, Halloween is over now and it is onto the best season of the year! Turkey season. 

I will be getting out the Thanksgiving decorations tonight as Halloween heads back into storage until next year.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Phase 2 - The Project Gets Long

More painting and patching.

Ladder in the Stairwell
October 30,  2018

The realization that there are too many walls to paint became a reality yesterday. Fortunately, Mary, one of our friends, was available and helped Chris paint all day yesterday. Together, they put a huge dent in the painting part of the project.

Last evening, I was in the stairwell painting from my ladder that allows for stair adjustments. At one point, the smell of the paint was becoming overpowering and my food low-level light was flashing. Chris made a mad dash out for pizza leaving me trapped in the basement. Fortunately, there was another way out. 

The main basement room is painted, mostly. We are having some difficulties with the wall board repair, I guess I messed up the taping in one spot, but the now repaired repair is nearly complete. 

The days are beginning to get a bit long. The end, however, is in sight!

It will look great when the floor is laid. Speaking of the floor, it was supposed to be delivered yesterday, I wonder what happened?

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Remodel Project Phase 2 Continues: Paint

Painting in Progress
October 29, 2018

Despite the entire we all not being ready for paint, we began to transform the color of the room last evening.

This is a huge project. Let me just say that. But the first coat of paint is mostly applied to the largest room. The laundry room, bath room, and auxiliary bedroom still need to be painted, but they are also full of stuff removed from the main room. 

The new color is a radical change from the previous color and really brightens the entire room. I think the new floor is going to be fantastic! It will be delivered today, hopefully. I checked its status and it is in Baltimore ready for delivery.

We have a few more days of work to do, but the remodel is progressing nicely.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - October 29, 2018

1. Amazingly, it is the last Monday of October and Halloween is this week. Wow, where did the month go?

The Blue Mash Hole #1
Laytonsville, MD
October 28, 2018

2. The remodeling project continues, Chris and I made two trips to Lowe's yesterday for supplies. 

3. Who knew that selecting a paint color for a room could be so difficult? Why is selecting a color for the walls of a room so difficult is what I really want to know.

4. I played a round of golf yesterday at Blue Mash in Laytonsville! Yay! While it was good to be out on the course, it was cold and I didn't play very well. The temperature at Tee Time was about 50 degrees with a cold, biting wind.

Milkweed Pods
Laytonsville, MD
October 28, 2018

5. I believe that the President should have taken a more deliberate and tough stance on the recent violence that we have experienced in the country. Saying that the synagogue should have had an armed guard is not the correct response. This is not fake news, I saw and heard the President say those words!

6. Family NFL Report

   Ravens (4-4) lost to Panthers 21-36
   Steelers (4-2-1) defeated Browns 33-18
   Redskins (5-2) defeated Giants 20-13
   Cowboys (3-4) had a bye

7. On the golf course yesterday, I happened upon these milkweed pods along the banks of a pond. Autumn is definitely deepening. No, I didn't lose a ball in the tangled underbrush, I was waiting for the group in front of us to clear the green.

8. I watched the World Series final game last evening, at least until 10 PM when I went to bed. Baseball is over until February. I hope the Orioles begin reconstructing soon.

9. What are you doing for Halloween? It is Wednesday!

10. Daylight Saving Time ends next Sunday morning. I hope to enjoy the extra hour in bed, but am already mourning the loss of sunlight at the end of the day.

11. Other than skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men. The American Cancer Society’s estimates for prostate cancer in the United States for 2018 are:
              -- About 164,690 new cases of prostate cancer
              -- About 29,430 deaths from prostate cancer

12. Today in History: 1998. Nearly four decades after he became the first American to orbit the Earth, Senator John Hershel Glenn, Jr., is launched into space again as a payload specialist aboard the space shuttle Discovery. At 77 years of age, Glenn was the oldest human ever to travel in space. During the nine-day mission, he served as part of a NASA study on health problems associated with aging.

Headlines

Pittsburgh Shooting Suspect, After Massacre, Said He ‘Wanted All Jews to Die’ - The New York Times

Trump says Pittsburgh synagogue should have had armed guards - CNN

Far-right Bolsonaro rides anti-corruption rage to Brazil presidency - Reuters

North Korean Defector Describes ‘Prison Camp’ Conditions for Slaves Sent Overseas - The Washington Free Beacon

Ronald Reagan Quote for the Week

I'm convinced that today the majority of Americans want what those first Americans wanted: A better life for themselves and their children; a minimum of government authority. 
 -- Nationally Televised Address, July 6, 1976


-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Phase 2 Begins, Reconstruction

The Hole on the Wall is Filled
October 28, 2018

The remodeling project continues. We have completed most of the demolition. While there are still a few things to accomplish, we have moved into the reconstruction phase.

Even though it was raining today, Chris and I removed all of the carpet from the main room and the bedroom. We took it to the landfill and spent the rest of the day beginning the reconstruction phase of the project. 

Floors to the Concrete
October 28, 2018

The floors are now down to the bare concrete. The hole in the wall that was at the end of the now removed counter has dry wall installed and the initial coat of joint compound is in place. 

It has been a lot of work. There is still so much to do, but at least the demolition is complete and we are onto painting and floor installation. The flooring will be delivered next week. 

Painting begins, probably later today and floor installation begins next Saturday. The flooring will be delivered Tuesday, I wonder where I am going to store 43 cases of flooring? The project totals about 827 square feet of floor. Hopefully most of the painting will be completed by the time the floor installation begins. It is possible that the laundry room and back bedroom may not be painted before the flooring is installed.

The hardest part about the project is deciding where to store stuff. All of the closets are empty and this has turned into an entire house project. Empty bedrooms are being pressed into service as temporary storage rooms.

In two weeks, the project should be complete! I look forward to the house returning to normal.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Morning to Evening

Reverse Autumn Tree
October 26, 2018

It was another unique day from morning to evening.

During my morning drive to work, I had the opportunity to see a reverse autumn tree. 

Watching the Video
Me and Francis
October 26, 2018

What is a reverse autumn tree, you ask? It is a tree that still has its leaves and is silhouetted by the autumn morning sky. I saw the tree on my drive and stopped to snap an image of it. 

It was a stunning scene and the image does not really do it justice, but it does stir the memory in my mind.

The end of the day was a completely different experience. 

Chris and I gathered with friends at a local establishment to celebrate the end of the week and enjoy time together. During the evening, I was encouraged to watch a video on Chris's cell phone and Francis was watching over my shoulder. It was fascinating, as you can tell from the image.

I think the bottle of Americana wine, from a Cayuga Lake winery in the Finger Lakes region of Upstate New York, in the foreground helps to tell the story of the evening. Yes, it was Happy Hour and we were enjoying the fruit of the vine.


Friday is for friends and, well, wine makes it all the better.

From the spectacular morning to the warm ending with friends, it was a Friday to remember.

BTW, if you are keeping track, 14 down and 30 more to go!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

What Happened to Kinder and Gentler?

A new paradigm has been created in America during the past two or so years. People who offer differing thoughts and ideas are being vilified.

I see it in the political ads on television. I saw one last night that so repulsed me that I am seriously considering changing my party affiliation. The ad stopped just short of characterizing the opposition as enemies of the state.

It is appalling the amount of fear and hate mongering that many of the campaign ads are pushing this year. Our society, encouraged by the current administration, has become sadly polarized and that is unhealthy. The ability to engage in healthy discourse about issues has eroded and we are being forced into a single and unhealthy view of the world.

That is wrong. The problems our country and the world face require thoughtful consideration and discussion. No one person has the answers to the problems and even then, there are multiple sequences and branches that need to be considered and explored.

The recent spate of explosive devices that have been apparently mailed arounds the country to those who voice differences of opinion from the current administration are a symptom of the larger problem of intolerance. Violence against the opposition is encouraged and condoned by the lack of condemnation coming from the highest levels of our government.

The Brave New World is very scary.

Is America still the shining beacon of light for the world?

If what is happening in America today is not enough reason to get out and vote in the mid-Term elections, then I do not know what is!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Autumn Gracing the Trees

Autumn Trees
October 24, 2018

Last evening as Chris and I were walking the dogs we noticed that autumn colors were finally arriving on the trees. Perhaps the light frost of the past few mornings had jump-started the autumn colors.

The trees were highlighted in the setting sun and they were stunning on the street among the still green trees.

Sunrise over Elkridge, MD
October 24, 2018

Yesterday morning, I also noticed the sunrise on the horizon while I was sitting at a stop light on my way to work. I guess it was a day to notice the autumn.

The morning sky was clear and the sunrise on the horizon was even. The trees, which still have their leaves, were silhouetted by the color of the colorful sky.

The day was bookended by the sunrise and the last rays of the sun. In between was color and life.

Life is noticing the world around me.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD