fix up loft by 5/15
loft logistics now - internet, cable, garage opener, pg&e payment, room dividers
get roommate by 7/1
on the nines - noticed my odometer at 99.9 this morning. bought some in-n-out last night and it came out to $9.99. looked at my phone this morning to figure out if I had time to blog about this shit, and it was 9:09am.
9/2/08 and in about a year, my birthday is gonna be on 9/9/09.
lots of changes since my last post:
got divorced
kids are growing up and adjusting well
both gals are now going to preschool
sold the house
moved in with parents, and moved again into a loft in oakland
working 7 days a week, 60 hours
lost 20 lbs.
dogs have been having a rough go at it, but doing well
playing more ball
hiking
biking
boxing
loving life
mice, mice, mice, get out! we're gonna get ya.....me, ron and ac just put up upwards of 50 traps to fuck these little fuckers up
good times...I've got the week off from summer camp, but have to finish up my job @ KftB and do a lot of shit at home. I'm thankful for this week. Tonight, jo is giving me a night off from the kids and I think I'll use it by watching transformers or die hard with sayo and/or alvin.
projects for the last half of 2007
patch
-patch up and paint all holes (belle's indiscretion, my misses, anger holes, etc.)
paint
-master bath water closet gray, sliding door wall gray
-master bedroom entrance to master bath gray
-hallway wall adjacent to washer/dryer niche red
-hallway bathroom wall with towel rod red
-living room/dining room divider grey
-breakfast bar grey and wood supports black (also put corner softeners)
-outside of downstairs bath grey
-as mentioned in porch, exterior door black and bench swing lumber support white
-paint garage soffets grey
-future considerations: paint walls and ceiling white to conceal drywall joints
master bedroom
-put grey square shag rug at the foot of bed (with half of it under the bed)
-put up rectangular mirror and remove orchid frame (for garage sale)
-remove all baby toys and hang up in garage for garage sale
-buy another lack shelf and place under double windows; add blue cushion and oversized books, magazines, etc.
-place silver dimming torchiere lamp in the corner
-re-organize closets and donate unnecessary clothes/items (organize underbed clothes storage)
-put up floating shelves and downlighting around computer table
-fix my shirt drawer pull and add pulls to computer side tables
-put up other computer side table and put up fax machine and shredder?
-reorganize contents of computer side tables and floating shelves
-put up home theater system and conceal all wires
-conceal wires for floating shelves downlights, bed nightlights and halogen torchiere
kids' bedroom
-fix wall border (remove from wall at toddler bead head and affix to missing spaces)
-remove futon and place in garage
-put up rest of mya's name
-purchase keira's name and put up
-find and put up closet lock
-put up mya's chair from living room
-reorganize closets in conjuction with extra room closet reorganization
hallway/washer & dryer room/stairs
-remove wood bookcase and put in garage next to futon
-put up desiderata next to bathroom
-remove plastic clothes hanger and shelf from washer & dryer room and put up shelf system; organize storage of items
-retrofit wierdly-shaped closet by adding 2-3 shelves; leave bottom for carpet cleaner/vacuum; relocate gift wrap section to garage and organize
-put up and organize religious niche
-put up japanese woodblock prints alongside stairwell
-wipe down washer, dryer and all the nooks and crannys; clean out dryer vent
-put up snake cable light to highlight stairs, religious niche and collage wall
-put up random-framed pictures on collage wall next to linen closet
-re-organize linen closet and towel closet
extra room
-use as a staging area for all activities
-use as temporary storage for anything and everything
-make bed frame safe for ankles
-organize (and donate) kids' clothes
-organize armoire and desk for random items
-compile, organize, and/or purge papers
-stockpile gifts, unopened items, etc.
kitchen
-turn message board on its side and put up relevant info
-reorganize coffee niche and only store coffemaker, espresso machine and grinder on counter; organize coffee cabinet
-revamp junk cabinet by using it for possible food/pots/tupperware storage; remove manuals, warranties, et al and purge/organize
-remove junk drawer items and use as coffee/food storage (first, disinfect drawer niches)
-make use of top-side refrigerator cabinets (donate or sell glasses); possible use for seldom-opened canned goods or seldom-used kithcen utensils
-put up wood boxes and use as overflow storage above kitchen cabinets (wines, etc.)
-remove all items from above kitchen cabinets and clean, purge and/or relocate
-before doing the previous two things, thoroughly dust and clean above cabinet surfaces
-clean out fridge and freezer; purge
-replace fire extinguisher with working one that can be refilled
-remove spices, oils, baby items from counter and reorganize into cabinets
-reorganize pots and pans into island cabinets, remove pot rack?
-paint sides of toaster oven black
-clean the back of oven thoroughly
-reorganize spice, oils and "medicine" cabinets (relocate medicines?); PURGE also
-attach microwave front
-make use of drawers next to stove
-fix dishwasher or replace with stainless
-relocate chemicals, alcohol from bookcases, turn around, and use as jo's shoe storage
-fix or get new blender
-reorganize undersink storage
-future considerations: get stainless steel laminate sheeting for dishwasher and stove
garage
-put up futon and grey shag rug in garage
-put up wood bookcase from hallway and use as giftwrapping/scrapbooking station
-remove computer table, lateral file cabinet, clean and disinfect, and put in dining room
-bring in coffee table, torchiere lamp, and traingle lamp from living room
-retrofit heating vent into broken heating duct (make sure to seal tight!)
-use ping pong table to place sellable items, especially baby items (put up items on craigslist and have a garage sale later)
-hang baby swing, jumperoo, and exersaucer up on the ceiling
-remove items from shelves systematically and hose down shelves
-disinfect all shelves with wipes, let dry and reorganize shelves (using ping pong table as a staging area)
-powerwash concrete and seal
-purchase multi-outlet light fixture and attach all lamps to it (while concealing wires with electrical wire hiders
-put up white partition behind futon, work table behind partition, and organize all bulky or rolling storage (ie. vacuum, etc.)
-put up bike storage
-put up floor absorbers and make room for car tires; put total gym there eventually
-find place for boxing bag
-retrofit speed bag for use
dining room
-put up cd/dvd bookcases in living room/dining room partition; use dining table purchased from IKEA as a backing and seperator/concealer from living room; use as shoe storage for the kids
-remove hanging pendant lamps from above breakfast bar and replace with integrated hanging pendant lamps; clean up and patch holes
-as in garage, move and assemble computer table and lateral file cabinet (underneath); remove keyboard slide (may be able to put under newly bought kid table)
-put up aquarium and terrarium on file cabinet side of computer table; on other side put up laptop; purchase snake and african cichlids
-put up modern hanging lamp and put existing lamp in the garage
-put up black carpet, purchase kids table from "kids direct", and paint stool tops black?
-put lack shelf (attach casters), full-length mirror, and pax storage on back wall, with pax storage in the corner and mirror near the kitchen; use lack storage for kids' toys and books, pax storage as possible medicine, junk, and kid storage (bottom half)
-stabilize dining room table and clean/disinfect chairs, tabletops and wash black seat covers
-put up iMac on kid's table, put keyboard slider underneath kid's table, put 13" tv/vcr on craftsman rolling cabinet and slide next to pax storage when not in use; put extension cord in bottom niche
-relocate rectangular mirror to master bedroom (next to halogen)
living room
-put up nesting shelves next to leather chair
-relocate west elm storage cabinet next to chaise (next to foyer)
-put chocolate wood storage shelf in the corner (where the west elm used to be); put round magazine holder in bottom shelf; always leave top empty
-make elise lamps with fluorescent light covers, drill holes, zip-tie together to make long cylinder, attach to wood beam with fluorescent fixture; then attach to concrete cylinder as the base; paint base silver and stabilize (maybe attaching a zip tie to a hook near the wall corner; make sure to conceal); place lamps in the corners behind couch and chaise
-remove orchid frame and put in garage; replace with stacey dynan artwork from
dining room
-reorganize grey magazine holders next to chaise
-put up chocolate floating shelf above mag holders
-put up west elm mirror art above floating shelf; relocate sacred family frame to collage wall upstairs or garage
-reorganize bookshelf, remove jackets and put in proper place (while garage is in chaos, keep total gym above ottoman; when garage is workout-ready, put inside
-remove old tv and purchase new samsung; clean out media niche; clean out access hole and organize wires in conjunction with media shelves in the garage
-organize all cds, dvds, laser discs, etc.
downstairs
-hire someone to remove carpet and replace with laminate flooring up until the stairs
foyer/closet
-put up and attach chocolate shoe shelf to wall
-play around with where to put two shoe shelves: bathroom, porch (behind swing) and/or closet)
-put up oft-used jackets only; remove all when there is a party
bathrooms
-downstairs: patch holes, replace light, remove cleaning items, relocate vase to master bedroom; put silver vase with dendrobium on top of toilet; put bamboo in concrete foundation cylinder and affix wood laminate or paint silver a la elise lamps(place in corner near door), put up 4 leaf frames above towel rod
-hallway upstairs: as in paint, paint towel rod wall red, replace light with long lamp, replace shower curtain with pink one mom gave us from PI; reorganize cabinets; relocate frame art to extra room or hallway
-master bath: as in paint, paint exterior water closet and sliding door wall grey, replace long lamp with two smaller lamps, put up wood laminate to conceal wires, and seperate huge mirror? in jo's closet, reaffix area open to alarm panel, put up frosted glass sticker on mirror?
-future considerations: paint walls grey, maybe put laminate flooring in bathroom (while already doing downstairs)
porch
-remove all junk items
-seal concrete (only if sealed concrete in the garage is not too slippery when wet)
-reinforce bench swing with a big piece of wood; paint white to match
-paint door black (non-glossy)
-retrofit baby fence to enclose porch (fold when not in use); place outdoor baby toys behind pillar(s)
-purchase outdoor fountain and place next to door
frontyard
-transplant 2-3 trees to backyard
-gather buckets, drill drainage holes and transplant remaining trees; place in 4Rs yard
-when leaves are all fallen, prune tree very well; move birdhouse to opposite side of tree; purchase swing and attach to tree (where the birdhouse was; roll up when not in use)
-future considerations: build arbor and attach above garage door (stain to look like teak); install remaining stepping stones on the other side of driveway (above the level of the other side to create a staggered look); create a fluid slate pathway around tree and EBMUD access hole (reinforce with concrete or sand); replace both mailboxes with lockboxes (as a gift for neighbor)
backyard
-put up stainless light in backyard; relocate motion detector light to side yard (put up existing light during garage sale)
-remove junk from side yard (throw away garbage, put exercise machines in garage)
-place garbage cans in side yard, or if space, in garage
-hire landscaper to clean yard, remove weeds, till soil, and install composite deck (to fit ping pong table)
-do it yourself: retrofit drainage, add shower area and drain pit (with eye-ring for dog leashes, place redwood mulch (gorilla hair) on plant side with a wave to separate gravel drainage, keep gravel on rock garden side (purchase and install more pea gravel if need be)
-place more gorilla hair in 4Rs garden?
-install irrigation (use soaker hose temporarily), plant bamboo, plant trees from front yard, plant pine tree in 4Rs garden (in front of first living room window to be used as Christmas tree)
-make concrete stepping blocks from wood form; place in rock garden alongside house, side fence, and dogyard to make a T
-place bamboo fencing (with seperated dog gates reinforcer) to separate side yards
-put up both canvas canopies (drill into fences and house with eye-rings and possibly carabiners; make sure it is taut)
-purchase 3 loungers from IKEA and arrange to form a U-bench (can be placed on deck or around fire pit
-make fire pit in rock garden
-put granite rocks in garden (get some big ones from shoreline?) and red rocks in japanese garden
-purchase black buddha, st. francis, and water basin (retrofit to make into a fountain? or purchase? make a bamboo water spout)
-purchase black storage bench from K-mart and place under dining room window
-use old slate stepping stones as a staging area in front of bamboo fence (with dog fence) in front of 4Rs garden
-put up solar lights in japanese garden and purchase flood lights? for rock garden area
-purchase red/green japanese maple and plant in middle of window frame (from dining room), near the deck
-purchase and put up little tikes playhouse, picnic table and sandlot (maybe just small swimming pool)
-put dog igloo in dog yard (or sell); stepper in front of tv window, weight machine skeleton in 4Rs garden and use as clothes hanger; put up remaining washer/dryer partitions to make a hanging herb garden (put wood blocks on the side to contain soil
-future considerations: replace gorilla hair with moss and pine needles (from Christmas tree); purchase old surfboards, corrugated roofing, and use as shower backing
didn't get to it last night; sad about the warriors
today, write letters of reference and email, give out
been busier this month than ever. aside from scheduling, taking care of the kids, making sure the kids are taken care of, working, cleaning, and sleeping, I haven't really gotten in the groove yet. must take care of all my responsibilities, despite being god-awful tired. things to help me out: MOVE, accountability, organizational need, and saving embarassment. another opportunity to increase salary and work closer came along at ACOE. must write letter of references and have moe, sayo and will sign it. also, whip out the credential and write a supplemental and application by may 17.
started cleaning up the garage yesterday
by next week, must clean up entire downstairs, organize kitchen and set up dining room
currently organizing clothes for the fam and making sure the laundry takes over
next project: clean entire downstairs, organize storage room, finish taxes
like I said in my cholessterol blog, it's gilbey's 7th psuedo-birthday, mikey's 34th, and belly's 6 year, 1 month and 1 day birthday. things to do today:
finish EBRPD application and mail
replace wipers on rodeo
put up floating shelves
prep red light tickets start organizing keira's room
KftB
vallemar - email, melody, mandi, leslie communicate
prep wildcat creek presentation
fax fremont bank direct deposit
get field trip flyer up on website
call Christina Wong
SDR recruit - angela higgerson et al.
warriors @ 5pm
workout - total gym 1/2 hour, jog dogs 1/2 hour
got an interview with a job that pays 4x what I'm getting now; researching city stats and rec dept to do well; gettin' a haircut and borrowing mike's suit
trial membership @ bally total fitness; start off with bike and go into resistance, free weights and aerobic classes/yoga
monday 1/1
worked NYE @ los reyes
did all laundry and bathroom wakeups
made all calls except 2/3
did y-dan in morning
got breakfast
shopped @ big lots
chilled with ron & jo
slept for 4 hours
took mya to ma and pop's party
wore raiders jersey to match bros
fucked around with k sistas
did not get gifts for anyone
watched after vince, reese and mya
brought a shitload of food home
went to uncle jaime's party w/ MJ
chilled with austrias
talked with godson
dissed cousin who forgot mya's name
greeted alex, lola, etc.
missed noel, arlene, brady, and starts
got shitload of x-mas gifts and birthday gift for mya and keira
got back home at 7
put mya to sleep, and she went straight to sleep on toddler bed
took gemfibrozil
cleaned up
watched what I ate
slept w/ cpap
tuesday 1/2
woke up late
cleaned up huge before jo's parents come
washed some clothes
no exercise
dropped off papers at fremont bank
took pups to KftB
fucked around at work and organized personal papers
checked all emails - got email from kelly re: field trip flyer
emailed adeya re: picking up shifts
went to strada and got bianca mocha
took 13 back home to dog park in CV
played ball w/ belly and reprimanded gilbey when needed, no incidences
relieved jo's parents at home so they could go to roy yaps' 1 year death memorium
watched warriors game
played with the girls
slept w/ cpap
took gemfibrozil
wednesday 1/3
woke up late
cleanes up a bit
gave girls baths
went to ON mtg @ parsons, make sure my voice was heard, cordial and friendly to co-workers, a lil' bit of a dick to supervisor by narc'ing on him
skipped out on sage mtg
shopped for good groceries @ TJs off redwood (finally found the goddamn place after thinking it was on center the past few years)
dropped off groceries @ home and picked up pups; got into it with ma for a bit
dropped off pups @ kaycee's grooming in SL, but had to p/u gilbey again cuz he wasn't havin' none of it, he wouldn't enter the cage or be handled, belly stayed
went to zocalo and had a zahlua outside with gilbs, saw erin inside with girls inc crew, gave her a hug, while outside, got online and emailed myself saratoga info, half and half rxn to gilbey, one crip in a wheelchair got his ass barked at (I wonder why?), dude on a bike with a baseball bat attached gave me a dirty look for not holding gilbs back from smelling his ass, so I shot him a "I'm gonna take your bat and beat you with it" look back, motherfucking mentally ill bitch-ass punk, shot the shit w/ erin outside, looking to hang out with seneca crew more by thanking her for inviting me to her christmas party a couple of weeks back
took gilbey to fairmont ridge via estudillo and lake chabot road, saw the infamous dam that signaled the end of my bike rides w/ mike x2 @ chabot
hoofed it up steep hill @ fairmont ridge w/ gilbs on leash
took gilbs off leash to socialize with other dogs only to have him chase a cow around, luckily the cow didn't hoof him and just took the chase in stride (he continued grazing right in front of us when I finally managed to track gilbs down), gilbs actually responded to a no command, took a dump and had to pick off a dingleberry, wondering how I'm gonna cut gilbey's nails w/o a groomer and express his anal glands
went to fairmont animal shelter to get a license for pups, was told to get rabies papers and come back, dogs need not be present, wondering if I need to get them a shot or whip out my old papers
went back to mike's feed and kaycee's grooming, called jo, called raksha @ fremont bank and got into it with her re: original loan documents
saw advertisement at mike's feed that they're having a low-cost vaccination clinic on 1/20 from 3-4pm
took truck in for a full oil change including liquid top-off and tire inspection (must check overinflation later) @ purrfect, nice indian staff hooked me up by not charging the usual 5 bucks to take off a charge plate (could actually get into change filter without having to remove it), look to do some other body work there in the future
ate lunch @ BK, whooper jr. and a diet coke
while waiting for truck, walked gilbs to a bench in b/t home depot and office depot; mostly negative rxns to gilbs (bunch of scared ass motherfuckers in that part of SL), listened to stereo and called sulphur creek to get rabbit for saturday's nature detective's, dog-eared HARD's winter brochure to death to see what me, the chick, and the kids can do
p/u truck, p/u belly at groomer's, damn that chick looked good!!!! mats all gone, burrs all out, hair cut down, nails did, bandana around collar, groomers advised to get rid of leather collar cuz metal irritating her, tipped a twenty to show my appreciation
took washington ave back home and put dogs in garage
got into it w/ ma because her ass was nagging me about every damn thing in the sun and moon, so I snapped back
took my ass upstairs to sleep for work tonight, pops picked up ma, and jo watched kiddies
didn't get much sleep, but got to rest a little, watched the beginning of pride & prejudice finally, watched the end again and liked it just as much
sayo commented on myspace and told me she was in MX sippin' on a tequila on a beach
myspace text to cell phone working well
got into it with the chick because she was stressin' out over a mock presentation @ work, ironically, we chose a presentation from the university of kentucky health services that focused on stress' effects on the heart, able to give her some tools and advise about speaking in public
kissed the chick goodnight and went to work @ crane
shot the shit w/ elliott, tony, and harpreet (new staff lookin' like hot shit), although big E can definitely get you caught in his vortex of one way dialogue
thursday 1/4
fucked around with crane's tv, couldn't get dvd to work, made all calls, a couple late, knocked off for a lil' bit, did bathroom wakeups although MS didn't make it this morning, washed linens, whites and AMs clothes, didn't get around to STs, lucy rang while I was chillin' with the hooters girls on best damn, rang 4 times before I could find the phone, told me that the new kid had no public school this week, so I'm gonna have to transport him other day tx kids and bring him back for dude to chill with him at home @ 10am, went back to gawking over hooters girls
Working three jobs, and I'm still managing to find time to spend with the kids. I love taking them to the park, and just hanging out at home. I especially love giving them baths. I have been neglecting the dogs. It's been so long since I've given them a bath and taken them out on a decent jaunt. It's just not possible to give them the time and attention I used to. I've got a lot of things to work on in the next few months, so I hope to come back with some positive outcomes in my subsequent postings.
