Monday- Raining again-camping out in the living room now. The bedroom is now wrapped in plastic-but the drywall is in. In the living room it's the dogs and me on the memory foam (MUCH better than the Aerobed), Jim on the couch- pretty cozy with the Christmas tree lights. Waiting for the inspector again today. Mike and Brian put a big plastic tent around the house. Plumber was here looking at leak in crawlspace-how surprising....
Tuesday- The roof guy came to check for leaks- everything good. It keeps raining. We're getting so much water under the house and hoping it's not under the addition too- however....it is. Sump pump's working away, dumping the water down the drive. Insulation happening in the room and Brian and Mike are fixing the termite eaten floor.
Wednesday- Raining so hard today. Everyone is here- plus schnauzer Wiley, since sister Judy has gone up to Laguna to help a friend whose driveway has a mudslide on it. The guys put another sump pump under the new room, since there's water underneath. We're all thinking there may be some larger water main leak somewhere nearby. We can't even think about that now. Meanwhile, Wiley tried to escape through the back gate, which was left open a little because of the sump pump. No such luck though, the guys spotted him and got him back in the front yard.
Thursday- Drywall happening, here in the new bathroom (you can see the great new shower!!)..., 
and the room (view to the new closet and hall).
and new crawlspace put in Jim's closet.
Maggie is sad about the rain (look at those beautiful eyes) and Camelia keeps trying to find a comfortable spot in our even more reduced space. I have been working all week on freelance book and website projects- hoping to help fill some of the money pit this project is creating.
Friday- It finally stopped raining last night. This morning Jim and I went down to Johnny's place in National City to pick out a piece of granite for the vanity top- definitely a new adventure for me. Not the greatest part of town. Johnny wasn't there when we arrived at 8am, so, returning after breakfast, he met us and helped us pick out a piece of granite from his storage yard in about 2 minutes. Then he proceeded to show us these amazing things he has made out of granite, including a lifesize golf club and ball on a pedestal-odd but incredible. Also told Jim the story of his life after leaving Iraq years ago. He could have chatted a long long time...but fortunately Rob called and we got to go home and talk about tile some more. It looks like we finally are able to order what we want at a really good price - thanks to Rob's negotiating skills!
Saturday- Merry Christmas! We actually managed to have a wonderful holiday- and it even looked pretty festive! I hope all the people helping us had a wonderful Christmas too- they are working REALLY hard.
Monday- Meeting with Rob this afternoon - talked about the tile we can REALLY get- instead of the beautiful tile that will take two months (of course we'll still probably be writing about this project two months from now) - not that easy to find the hexagonal and subway-but Rob found a source with sage subway tile- looks really pretty - and a dark teal liner- ivory hex for floor with teal line border. I like it! Also redoing the existing bathroom since the tub and window have to come out anyway. Same ivory hex on the floor, white subway on the walls and sage liner on the wall. FINALLY a decision. Later this week, or early next we'll go look at granite or silestone for the top of the vanity.
Meanwhile, the electrician came and did more work- which knocked half the power out. Tomorrow Todd is breaking through the back of the house- so I think the sleeping in the bed is out. They already took the window out of the existing bath- so it's very dark in there - with plastic and red tape- charming.
Tuesday- They all came this morning - roof guys, electrician, Mike, Brian, Todd. Gave Mike $5000 for the roof repairs-sigh. I moved most of bedding out of bedroom- good news though- when I came home late-did get to sleep in the bedroom and not the Aero bed- Jim said it was not dusty- and maybe it will still be possible to sleep there- I hope so. All the windows and doors are in! Most of the electrical got fixed inside today too- can now plug in Christmas lights-yay! I have been feeling really bad about the clutter-it's impossible-keep throwing things out (a good thing). Today, I freaked out about the dogs- afraid they would get out with all the people coming in and out-maybe leaving a door open. Called Jim, called Rob- Jim's idea to lock dogs in front yard, outside the house- probably do that Wednesday too. Meanwhile, NOTHING about Christmas is happening - except for tree is beautiful and mantel- but no cards, presents, etc- no time and much chaos. It looks deceiving normal in the living room.....
Wednesday- Rob and I talked about the bathroom shower, tiles, etc this morning and he measured everything to make sure it's right. In my mind the bathroom is going to be beautiful.
Thursday- Windows are in the bathroom, but....guess what...how surprising...termite eaten wood hole in the exisiting bedroom where they just moved the wall. Jim called me at my office Christmas party - "Do you really want to come home?" sigh- perhaps it's not as bad as the roof project.
And...no wall where the bedroom was...very strange
Friday- But at least there are the little windows in the bathroom now, and, it looks like it's going to rain this weekend.
then it's REALLY going to look almost done. There was a hideous smell part of the day after the hot mop people came in and covered the shower-
- it's almost gone now- or I'm so used to it- it doesn't smell anymore - it's almost 8pm and they did this about noon. They also worked on the window framing outside - you can see the amazing plastic tent protecting the house from the rain- makes everything look surreal.
Tuesday- Everything is really dusty- how surprising-amazing we don't have asthma. Today lots more done- but sub drywall guys everywhere doing taping....
so we went on errands and to an early movie- True Grit - I was sobbing at the end-good movie, excellent acting- but the Coen brothers' movies have such a dark side- I couldn't stand the horse dying part - it's unsettling going to a movie and coming out in the daytime- kind of ruins a schedule. Still- it was good to be out of the house and then I could work at night without worrying about the computer snapping off. The most beautiful thing so far is the siding- Brian and Mike are doing a wonderful job on it- looks like a brand new Craftsman.
Wednesday- Getting the shower ready for tile...
Thursday- Texture on the walls- looking more and more finished...
Friday- Brian worked most of the day on the siding-a forever job- but it looks great. He said he worked 4 years on siding on the Hotel Del in Coronado- at least the room isn't QUITE so big!! New Years Eve-everyone gone a little early. We went to dinner at the Red Fox Room- what a throwback in time-steak, baked potatoes and the dark English inn feel- everyone from 80+ year olds with walkers to 20's hipsters and dressed up transvestites- I think! Back to the room- who knew you could look for hours for a bathroom sink faucet- finally settled on this one- ordered online from Overstock.com. I like its vintage but clean look- plus the porcelain 'hot', 'cold'. Hope it works.
Saturday-Happy New Year!- I went out to see Duncan- a beautiful but very chilly Saturday morning-my boy! He's so good now in his older age-and wanders about this almost perfect ranch-a far dry from his wild youth-and mine. 
