Kitchen Planning

This might help you guys understand what I'm up to overall. Not much work happened in the room itself today but Jodie and I spent the day mapping out all the circuits from the main box to the rooms / lights. I have to have a better idea of what goes where and what I'll need to shift around to free up dedicated power for the kitchen. It turns out that there are three circuits going there now and are barely being used so I'm in good shape.



Below is the heads-up view of the plan with some notes. Above is the view walking into the kitchen from the just finished dining room. Almost forgot, had the hook handed dry wall guy in today to get an estimate for sheetrocking the entire room (ceiling included). Also picked out a nice ceiling fan.

Day 2 and 3

Funny to think of it but we usually don't see past the walls, this is the stuff that is holding the roof up. It's made of lumber, plaster, nails... and it's always there but we usually don't see it and so forget it. There you go. Day 2 and 3 in the bag. Doing some homework on the electrical and I just realized I didn't understand how pocket doors work. I'm guessing I'll have to special order the one I want so it might be a bit of a delay.

Kitchen Kickoff

OK, here comes the big one. I'm guessing this will be done in 2 months at the latest. But here is the crappy blue / green / teal / white 70's mess I've been living with since I got the place.



Where the window is, there will be French doors to the deck, door to laundry room will remain but eventually be an entrance to the bath and not open outside, door to the bedroom goes away, all the cabinets / sink / stove replaced and moved to the other side of the room, window over sink installed, new sheetrock all around... stay tuned

Dining Room Remodel

OK, so these photos make it a bit hard to get the exact idea of what happened, but I think since the last post I've finished with the paint, wiring, electrical, ceiling fixture, installed the bookcases (and had fun with the table saw modifying them) and setup a cat perch. So the big work is done and at some point I need to get nice chairs and floor lamps to make it into a sitting room. Until then, it's become the new kitchen (as I start the demo in there) and I've moved the fridge, food, pots, pans and plates in.

and if you are wondering what the black electrical things are on the top shelves of the bookcases, it's my strobe and disco lights. Along with the fog machine, it should make for some fun evenings fiestas.

Here are more photos if it helps

Bagger?

I've been wondering about getting a bagger (big touring motorcycle) for several years now. The Goldwing was supposed to be the solution but it was just too old, clunky and just plain dangerous. I don't think I'm really going to buy anything but have narrowed it down to a Harley Road King, a big BMW GS (see photo), a Honda Valkyrie or maybe an old Motoguzzi Eldorado (or the new Guzzi touring bike)


Then I ran into a few articles about people touring on Maxi-Scooters like the Honda Silverwing and the Suzuki Burgman. These things are like riding your couch around. I've always said I would never own an automatic anything but I have to admit that I'm intrigued and have been scanning Craigslist. And that is always how it starts:

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/mcy/969644636.html

Jodie (spelled with an I and E)

OK, so the public outcry is overwhelming, "Post some Jodie photos!" So here you go everyone. Have at them: photo album link

Washington DC

Long time no blog. Did you miss me?

Work sent me out to Washington DC last month to support our the panel discussion with the FDA reps to get our drug approved. Theravance has been working on this thing for, what, 10 years now? How much does that cost. Sheesh. I was glad to be there and see everything work out well. The advisory panel voted 21 to 6 to approve. Nice. Now maybe the stock will go up and I can retire.

In the mean time, I got to spend some time in a city I've heard alot about but never visited. Jodie came out for a long weekend so we got to checked things out together. Awwww...


I've always heard about the great places to eat, the history, museums and monuments. Well, 3 out of 4 ain't bad.

It was great to see the changing of the seasons / leaves, something most East Coasters moan about ad nauseum in San Francisco. It actually does happen here on the west coast BTW. It is subtle and doesn't hit you over the head. You actually have to pay attention.

Some of the highlights were the Air and Space Museum where I was blown away by the two huge nuclear missiles in the lobby and the Mercury space capsule. Looking at the 2 ICBMs, first I was thinking that right here, this is what kept the world terrified, the potential annihilation of the human race and all that. Wow. Then the Mercury capsule. What a set anyone would have to have to climb into this tiny little box and and orbit the earth, traveling how many miles per hour, coming back through the atmosphere, in something that looked just a bit better than an homemade Airstream. Totally nuts.

The museums, 5 Guys burgers, Firefly restaurant, Eastern market, Lincoln, Jefferson and Washington monuments, bricks!, Calder.... check out the photos

Photo Album