Third Time’s The Charm…

…for most.

But for me? 

Most often it’s “Three Strikes You’re Out!”  Here’s hoping this time the charms are in evidence and not the strikes!

So, what’s all this talk of three’s about?  The carpet in my master bedroom and closet!!!

You might remember the late December post about the original carpet replacement or the post last week about the re-replacement.

Well, on Saturday March 6th, my bedroom will be sporting the fourth carpet in the past 10 weeks!!!!  Yes, you read that right…once again the current carpet will be pulled up and replaced with another one!  This time it’s a completely different brand but a nearly exact color.

If I am to believe the sales rep from Empire Today, the carpet I selected is an upgrade from what is currently on my floor.  I’m no carpet expert, but when I laid the sample next to what was on my floor it looked much better in the pile department, and nearly exact in the color department.  Of course the former could be because the sample has all the pile its supposed to have, but I’m choosing to take the positive road and believe that the new carpet is an upgrade.

Now to be fair, Empire Today has been EXTREMELY awesome to deal with throughout this entire issue, evidence of their attention to customer service was documented in the post about last Saturday’s installation.

Soo…in less than one week a fourth carpet will cover the floor in my master bedroom and closet.  I am hopeful that this will be the last one! 

There is a silver lining to this whole carpet debacle.  A few months ago I found some aweswome inspiration signs at Joann’s — they were on clearance so I only paid $3 a piece for them.  Unfortunately, hanging them where I wanted to would be awkward with the drawer units in place in the master closet.

Sooo…while said drawer units are in the front bedroom, AKA “the walk-in-closet-with-a-window”, I hung the signs.  Only time will tell if they’re as even as I think they are…

If they’re not, once the drawer units are back in place underneath these signs I’ll rearrange the items that I have on top of the units so that any misalignment becomes an optical illusion.

I hope…

Laundry Room Project

Well here it is, another soggy Saturday in always sunny Southern California…

I know it’s technically rainy season here, but it didn’t rain any weekend until I decided to do the backyard overhaul!  Though I tried to give Mother Nature the benefit of the doubt, I find that is no longer possible.  The only conclusion I can draw is that she has a mean streak…

…but I’m not going to let her have full control!

Nope, no way.

Today I am setting aside project #1, the backyard, and moving on to project #2, the laundry room!  I have all the supplies for the first phase of this project…I think…

…but none for the second phase.  There’s no reason to have the supplies for the second (and final) phase when the first phase will take me at least this weekend to get done.  Besides, I haven’t quite figured out my shopping list for phase 2.  I know what I need, it’s the quantity part that I haven’t yet calculated.

Unfortunately for you readers, I’m not going to share any “in progress” photos ‘cuz that would spoil the surprise of the finished project!!  When I do finish the laundry room I will share photos of the whole process, but not until then.  Don’t worry too much, it should only be a couple weeks from start to finish 

I will leave you with this.  When I lived in Massachusetts I had a tiny house with a really tiny bathroom.  I made my mark on all the rooms, the last one being the bathroom.  I wanted that room to be fun, bright and cheery.  After I stripped the wallpaper I set about painting the walls in what I thought was a most appropriate way…

There were 64 fish on the walls (the largest wall is opposite the ones in the above pic)!!!  Since I didn’t paint eyes on my aquatic friends, my neighbors constantly threatened to glue moveable eyes on them when I wasn’t looking.  I don’t know about you, but the fewer eyes on me when I’m in the bathroom the happier I am!!  When I sold my house the fish were still blind 

Anyway…I have been known to have fun with paint and bare walls!  Though I’m not telling what I’m up to, I promise you there will be no fish in the laundry room!!

OK folks…time for me to run so my fingers can be busy with other stuff 

Happy Friday!!

It’s going to be a GREAT day today because it’s FRIDAY!!!!

Let’s ignore the fact that once again the responsibility to research and recommend a new office production printer has landed on my desk, this time with an emergency, drop-everything-you’re-doing deadline (this re-circling to my desk has been a repeat occurence for the past 5 months); that the list of instructional layouts needing to be done by me is growing rather than shrinking;  that the “big boss” and the “little boss” (father and son) are at odds so the office tension is high;  that 2 large and solidly stitched cross stitch design charts are waiting for me to color check (2-3 hours each) then pass on to my assistant to get out to stitchers;  that I will have lots of homework this weekend;  that the number of e-mails requiring my attention on a wide variety of subjects is lengthy; that I have to sign off now so I can get more homework done; that I’m out of bananas so breakfast is going to be terrible and that Mother Nature is going to drench us tonight and tomorrow so the backyard overhaul continues to be on hold (with stuff scattered everywhere).

Yep, it’s going to be a GREAT day…

…somewhere…

My Adventure Monster Has Been Unleashed!

I’m not sure what has unleashed my adventure monster, but it has definitely been let loose!

Before I did my tandem skydive I had been told that once a person dives, they’re changed forever.  I didn’t believe that statement, but I will admit that even now, nearly 4 weeks after the dive, I still get giddy at the memory.  And when I’m chatting with others, even strangers, I have this need to tell them about the adventure!

Then there’s this huge “light” feeling that has finally started overtaking me.  It’s been 4 weeks since the trade show ended but I was so overwhelmed with work since late last October that I have finally started unwinding.  Thanks to the volume of post-show follow-up, there are still many times every day where the stress returns, but I’m sleeping better (and longer), eating better and just generally feeling more energetic.

The combination of the dive and the post-show unwinding have created an adventure “to-do” list!  I’d call it a bucket list except everything on the list will be done not just before I leave this world, but within the next 18 months!!!   Not everything has a danger factor, lots of it is just plain fun stuff…

So, what’s on the agenda (post backyard overhaul and laundry room makeover)?

First up is a 2 hour drive to Indian Wells on Saturday May 1st.  Why?  Kyle Petty, retired NASCAR driver and co-founder of Victory Junction will be kicking off his 16th Annual Charity Ride Across America!  This charity does INCREDIBLE things for sick kids, and if you read the history of the camp’s founding you will be moved, NASCAR fan or not.  I can’t wait to scoot out there and participate in this year’s kick-off as it’s the first time the ride has been anywhere near me!

Next up is another tandem dive in May!  Yep — my friend Gene and I are going to take our second dives (he dove last summer).  This time I hope his daughter Andrea will be on the ground taking pictures so I can see myself as I float to the ground!

Once June rolls around, either Saturday or Sunday June 5th or 6th I will grab my Canon Rebel camera and head down to Temecula to soak up and photograph all the sights of the Temecula Valley Balloon Festival!!  My current plans are to be there first thing in the morning for the early AM balloon launch, but once the entertainment line up is published, I may change those plans and go later in the day to enjoy the music AND the nighttime balloon bobbing to music.  If I’m REALLY adventurous, I might even make a looooong day of it and be there from sunrise to dark!

Every year the company I work for shuts down for the 4th of July week.  This year, like last, the holiday falls on a weekend so I’m not sure if we’ll be shut down the week before or the week after the holiday.  As soon as I know I’m going to make a 2 or 3 night hotel reservation in or near Solvang, CA.  This place looks AWESOME — and its proximity to the beach and some wineries is a bonus!  Originally I was toying with a trip to San Francisco but I’ve decided Solvang will be much more my speed – a mere 4 hour drive to a whole different world!!!

Late July will find me at a Martina McBride concert but the balance of July and all of August will be quiet…consider it either recuperation or preparation time…

Mid-September will find me zip-lining through part of the San Bernardino Mountains!  I’m waiting until September so that I can go up there off-season.  Big Bear is an “in spot” in both summer (lake activities and cool temps) and winter (skiing) but hopefully the early fall will be less crowded.

Early October will hopefully finding me winging my way to the East Coast to spend an incredible long weekend with my absolute best friend ever!  He has just moved to New York City, the one place on this earth that captures his heart and soul, and by autumn, he will so know the city that we will be on the go constantly, laughing non-stop and sobbing when it’s time to part.  Jeff and I have been friends for more than 30 years and though we may go weeks or months without talking on the phone, if you heard our conversation you would never know it had been that long.  Our personalities are nearly identical, ditto for our outlooks and approaches to life.

Of course I’ll blog about the trip…hopefully DURING the trip as a wrap up will take me weeks to complete!

If all goes according to my plans, late November will find me enjoying a long weekend in Delray Beach, Florida visiting my friend Kelly.  We’ll spend quality time bouncing around the area AND will be blissful over a day at the races.  That would be the final NASCAR race of 2010 in Homestead, FL.

Given all the adventures I’ll have had up to this point, I’m willing to cut back on more adventures through Feb. 2011 so I can focus on the CHA trade show.  And besides, there is this nasty reality called a budget that has to be considered!

What’s on the calendar for early 2011???

None other than horseback riding and surfing lessons AND taking in a live taping of a TV sitcom —- hopefully The Big Bang Theory!!!!

This schedule is subject to change, but all of the items on the list are absolutes…and additions will be welcomed with open arms!   I will be willing to modify when adventures occur, but not IF they occur.

Now that you know my adventurous side has been released, are there any adventures you’d like to vicariously experience?  Please let me know!!!

My Future Treat To Me

Meet Valentine…

…the cutest Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy that I have EVER seen!  She’s only a few weeks old and a gift to the boss’s wife from the boss’s daughter.

Friday morning a chorus of baby talk traveled up the stairs to my office.  When I’d had my fill of it I went downstairs to see what was going on…and instantly fell in love with this beautiful, colorful, energetic and amazing bundle of fur!

And yes, I started baby talking too 

Valentine isn’t the first Cavalier King Charles Spaniel to grace our office.  She’s the third, right behind her step-nephews King (left) and Charlie (right) – the former belonging to the boss’s son and the latter to his daughter.

I used to love Charlie’s appearance, and I still think it’s okay, but I am head-over-heels in love with Valentine’s coloring.  What you can’t see in her picture is her freckled front paws and her brown butt (yep – kinda looks like she sat in something).

Though the family owns a creative business, creativity is not their strong suit when it comes to naming these dogs.  King and Charlie (Cavalier King Charles) and then Valentine, she being a Valentine’s Day gift!

According to the boss’s wife, Valentine has the same personality as Charlie – very laid back, cuddly and friendly.  King on the other hand is the wild child.  Literally.  Honestly.

So when am I going to treat myself to a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel?  When I retire, win the lottery or don’t have to work outside the home all day.  These tiny bundles of love are very social and do not do well if left alone all day, day after day, so right now I’ll have to stick with my cat.

But…come one of the aforementioned events, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel will take up residence in my house.

I can’t wait! 

Bloomers and Fliers

My front and back yards were bloomin’ and buzzin’ and flyin’ yesterday.  I snuck out and took these pictures before the clouds and showers moved back in.

Enjoy these pictures of my bloomin’ and buzzin’ front yard…

Honey bees in my lavender…

…a couple gazania…

…and a geranium!

Though my backyard has plants, most of them are still in pots.  BUT that didn’t stop this visitor!

And I think these two were busy scoping out their future meals and rest stops…

Once the backyard is overhauled and the plants are planted I’m going to do two things. 

First, sit at the window with my Canon Rebel camera primed and ready to shoot.  Second, I’ve got to become a student of birds so I know who’s visiting!  I’m thinking the above 3 are sparrows of some kind but I haven’t yet figured out which.

Aaaahhh…to have days in the not-so-distant future where the only thing I have to do is wait for birds to arrive so I can take pictures and figure out who they are!!!  Will those days ever arrive??? 

I hope so!

A Frustrating Saturday

I was so excited yesterday to finally be ridding myself of my football field carpet.  Having that annoying incident resolved was going to erase all my unhappiness about not being able to work in my backyard this weekend, and possibly NEXT weekend as well! 

The master bedroom and closets were emptied of all small stuff by 6:45AM, breakfast was eaten, the computer was booted up and I blogged then played games while waiting for the installers.

They arrived at 8:35AM and were gone by 11AM.  Though the football field color effect is not in the new carpet, the grooves in the nap are!

When the Lorenzo the installer gave me the paperwork to sign, I wrote all over it that the carpet was unacceptable.  As the installers pulled away from my house I was calmly speaking with the customer service department at Empire Today.  I was very pleasant with Lorenzo and assured him that my frustration was not with him but with the carpet manufacturer.  I also smiled and told him I’d see him again soon.  He installed the original carpet and had reported the coloring/nap issues to the company when he called in to let them know he was done.  I know this because when I was called a few days later and I told them my concerns, they told me that Lorenzo had already told them and it was noted in my file.  I’m confident Lorenzo reported the issues again this time as he agreed with me about the problem.

An installation supervisor will be calling me on Monday to get this latest issue resolved.  I am going to ask the installer to be sure to come with carpet samples as I am not going to have this carpet installed for a THIRD time!  I absolutely love the color but at this point I’m willing to change that in order to get a carpet installed that is going to be acceptable. 

Because the carpet needs to be re-installed AGAIN I decided that I was not going to put everything back only to move it out again.  Since I was way behind in the laundry area (bed linens and towels on the floor are not shown)…

…I put all the drawers for the master closet drawer units into the frames in my front bedroom/office so that I could do the laundry and put it away. 

It’ll be a bit frustrating to have to get my clothes from the front room and bring them to my bedroom, but on the “up” side, I now have a walk-in closet with windows! 

Oh…all those hanging clothes that are draped over the chair in the lower right corner were put back in the master closet after I took the picture.  That was done in 3 quick trips.

Now why am I frustrated with the backyard?

Seems Mother Nature has her own itinerary for this project and it is completely different than mine!  It rained Friday night/Saturday morning, waking me up twice.  Though it didn’t rain during the day Saturday, everything was wet…

I could have puttered later in the day on Saturday if I really wanted to because it didn’t rain again, but everything was heavier because it was wet, so I didn’t.

If you look closely in the below picture you can see that the bark mulch has been pulled back and a dirt circle has been created.  In the middle of the circle is a pot – this is where the new manzanita tree will go.  To the left side of the pot is what remains of the old pathway — the pathway that has to get moved. 

What I have to do now is move all the pea gravel to an area in the side yard that will have a pea gravel ground cover.  Unfortunately right now it has a red bark mulch cover, so that mulch has to be moved out to the main area.  Once these two areas are swapped then I can lay that bright yellow cord (bottom of picture) where the path will go and start putting in the new path.

I hope to start working in the yard again Tuesday after work (rain showers Sun night thru Mon AM) for a few days, and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that the long range forecast for another wet weekend is wrong.  In the mean time, my piles of bricks and blocks, bags of soil amendment and pots of plants are patiently sitting in the backyard.

My work assistant has suggested that I start the laundry room project since Mother Nature is screwing with my backyard project.  I told her that I can’t have 2 major projects going at once because they would drive me nuts!

Or would they?

Would having one project on hold while the other moves forward be too stressful, or would it be rewarding because progress is being made on something?  Mother Nature will make the decision.  If she screws with the outdoor project again next weekend, the indoor one will begin!

Stay tuned 

I Met Jamie McMurray!!!!

Yep — I did!  I did!  I did!!!

It all happened here in Rancho Cucamonga…

Just in case someone didn’t know what was going on inside the store, this banner said it all…

I left work around 3:45PM on Thursday and arrived at Bass Pro Shops shortly after 4:30.  I went into the store to scout out the area, went back to my car to retrieve the item I’d brought for Jamie to sign, then went back into the store and took up my space in line.  I didn’t do an actual head count, but I’d guess I was around 30th in line with 1-3/4 hours to wait.

Patiently.

But just in case my patience was at a premium, I brought along some work to do.  I’d only gotten through the first couple pages when the guy in front of me and I started chatting….and chatting…and chatting.  Seems John was not a huge NASCAR fan but was in-line to get Jamie’s autograph for one of his sons.

The minutes ticked away, the line increased in size, the conversation ebbed and flowed and the work didn’t get done.  One of the co-ordinators for Jamie’s appearance announced Jamie would be interviewed for a live feed into a show (I didn’t catch the name) shortly after 6 so we were instructed to cheer for Jamie.  HAH – like we needed any instruction to do that!  As soon as Jamie walked to the landing in the staircase for the interview the cheers went up. 

That’s Jamie in red, his back to us.

After the interview, Jamie went back upstairs for a few minutes then made his grand entrance…

Jamie, his crew chief Kevin “Bono” Manion and the founder of Bass Pro Shops, Johnny Morris, were all sitting at the autograph table, markers in hand.  Here’s Jamie signing John’s t-shirt…

…and here are Kevin and Johnny soaking up the whole event…

I took pictures of John with Jamie…

…and John took pictures of me with Jamie!

Though I don’t like the picture of me, what I absolutely love is this clearly shows that Jamie was looking at me and talking with me (more on our conversation later)!  As I watched him with the people in front of me he did the same thing.  He made eye contact, chatted and was incredibly friendly – an awesome feat given the overwhelmingly non-stop and exhausting week this has been for the Daytona 500 winner.  Yeah, I was just a nameless person, one of hundreds, that he greeted and then forgot, but for a few seconds he made each of us feel like we had his undivided attention! 

Jamie has always had a very positive reputation both within the NASCAR garage as well as the personal appearance/fan appreciation area.  I can attest that the fan appreciation reputation is absolutely accurate!

So, what did I have Jamie sign? 

Back in October, 2006, Foxsports.com was doing something called “Speed Mail” with Jamie.  People could submit questions and Jamie would answer a select few.  Imagine how stunned I was a couple weeks later to find my question being answered!!!  Yep, there was my first name, city and state AND my question!  I printed the page on glossy cardstock paper and have had it sitting, unframed, on a shelf in my front bedroom/office.  This is me explaining to Jamie what I’m having him sign…

So, what were Jamie and I talking about?

I gave him copies of 2 blog posts — the one about his Daytona 500 victory and the one about Jamie Jammies.  I told him that I know in the chaos of his life right now they’d probably get lost or end up in the trash somewhere, but that I thought he’d enjoy them if he read them.  He rolled them up and put them in his left back pants pocket (hence his leaning towards the side a bit) and in the photo was telling me “Oh no, I’ll definitely read them.”

Here’s hoping he read and enjoyed!

If you’ve never been to a Bass Pro Shops you have to drop in.  The store was incredible, the prices very reasonable and from what I’ve heard from friends, the food in their restaurant is very good.

I had a great time Thursday night soaking up the atmosphere, chatting with John and other fans, watching Jamie interact with his fans, chatting with Kevin Manion, shaking Jamie’s hand, chatting with him AND purchasing my Jamie McMurray 2010 Daytona 500 Winner t-shirt!

And that happiness continues…Jamie won the pole yesterday for Sunday’s race here in CA!!!!  I am sooooo thrilled for him!!!!

I’m Suffering From Fan-itis…

…just like when I was a kid.  Yep, the past 4 years have found me once again in that place where I’ve become an active fan of selected local and national celebrities.   Not obsessive mind you, just cyber-following, and when the opportunity arises, seeing in person.  Though many may say its because of my maturity level, or lack thereof, I attribute it 100% to the technological world in which we all live. 

My first two face-to-face meetings were with one local and one national celebrity, and neither had nothing to do with all this new technology.

That’s me and Garth Kemp, weekday morning weather guy at ABC7 here in Los Angeles at the local Stuff-A-Bus location in Riverside County (the annual toy drive – that’s why Garth is dressed like an elf).

And that’s me meeting Josh Groban backstage, an event that happened because of my brother’s connections.

For the rest of my fan-itis, technology has everything to do with the disease.

Last summer the morning traffic guru on ABC7, Jane Monreal, was suddenly gone — no on-air “good bye”, no nothing, just no longer there.  Thanks to the internet and Google I found her website and then her blog.  I started reading and leaving sporadic comments and she replied.  I started blogging and she sporadically drops by.  I found her on Facebook and now we’re FB friends.  Thanks to my friend Kelly I’m now on Twitter too (more on that later) — and Jane and I follow each other and have tweet-versations.

Also during the summer I found Quinn Cummings blog The QC Report and immediately became hooked.  When she listed a book signing/reading in Larchmont Village I made the trip and met a really awesome and down-to-earth author (and former child star)!  That’s me and Quinn!

Another summer event was my defection from Jane’s old stomping grounds to the local NBC affiliate.  It took months before I felt “connected” to the morning news team, but once I did and co-anchor Jennifer Bjorklund mentioned being on Facebook I found her and sent her a message.  Just a “thank you” for being a friendly and informative face in the AM.  Next thing I knew we were friends!  We sporadically send messages to each other and I do write on her wall now and then – fun stuff, especially since she’s reporting now and not anchoring. 

Now, this whole Twitter thing…

Kelly e-mailed me and said that she knows I don’t need yet another thing on my to-do list, but she highly recommend that I join so that I can follow the NASCAR drivers.  Those were the magic words.  I joined and I follow.

What is so kewl is that the drivers all tweet about daily life stuff.  Often it’s nothing important, just everyday stuff that they see.  It’s also super kewl to see which drivers (and spouses) follow which drivers (and spouses).  Some are VERY chatty and VERY funny…I often find myself laughing out loud.

At times they do tweet important stuff.  An hour after his son was born, Elliott Sadler announced Wyatt’s arrival to his followers.  And yesterday Jamie McMurray, MY driver and winner of the 2010 Daytona 500 tweeted that he’s making a personal appearance tonight at the local Bass Pro Shops store.  Local as in MY local store!  I immediately told my boss that I was leaving early so that I could get up to the store and wait in line with everyone else.

Of course I’m not just following my friend Kelly, aunt, cousin, cyber-friend Jane and NASCAR drivers.  Nope…I’ve added the TV show “The Big Bang Theory” to my list, several singers (Neil Diamond, Josh Groban, Reba, Trisha Yearwood and Taylor Swift to name a few) and a small smattering of actors (Leslie Charleson, Melissa Gilbert, Valerie Bertinelli and more).

See, it’s all technology’s fault!  I was quite content just living my life and letting celebrities live theirs, the two never crossing paths.  But now that technology has made it so easy to be more connected I find myself being that star-struck little kid all over again.

Backyard Overhaul

I was so proud of myself.  Less than 2 years after moving into my brand new home I had completely overhauled my backyard.  I designed the patio but the concrete guy put it in.  Other than that patio, I did everything, and I do mean EVERYTHING myself!

I put in the pathways, the hammock patio, the retaining wall, the firebowl & swing areas.  I hauled yards of pea gravel and bark mulch from my driveway to my backyard using my wheelbarrow.  I bought tons of bricks, blocks and stepping stones and brought them home.

The result?  Take a look at the before and after photos…

All that’s missing is plants, lots of native plants!

Since I’m new to So. Cal. I visited the Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Gardens early this past fall where I discovered what the focal point of my backyard would be — a manzanita tree!!!

Last September & October I took a series of native plant workshops at the Tree Of Life Nursery in San Juan Capistrano then started planning the backyard.

This past Saturday I went back to the nursery and picked up a dozen or so plants.  Sunday I started weeding the backyard in preparation for planting my new treasures.

During the mindlessly relaxing couple hours of weeding my mind took off on a tangent, one that has turned my backyard planting into a major backyard overhaul!!!!!

There is only one place where the manzanita will fit in my backyard and it requires that I move the path that leads from the patio to the swing.  This I knew when I bought the manzanita, but I so love the tree that I’m fine with that.

Until the weeding that let my mind wander…

Though the texturing of the pea gravel and stepping stones in the pathway is visually great, it hasn’t worked out so well in the actual use department.  The stones are placed for my stride but not for anyone else’s.  And every now and then my stride varies, usually when I don’t have shoes on my feet.  Sooo…I was never really happy with the paths.

As I pulled weeds it dawned on me that since I have to move ONE path I might as well remake ALL the paths!  My mind raced trying to figure out what to do with the hundreds of bricks, dozens of stepping stones and yards of pea gravel and bark mulch.

In order to use up as many blocks and bricks as possible, this will be the new pathway…

There are two parts to the pattern – the two blocks side by side and the large block surrounded by bricks.  The two will just keep repeating throughout the path.  As luck would have it, I’m not going to have enough of some of the blocks and I absolutely need to pick up sand to put underneath this new arrangement, so once again I’ll be stopping at Lowe’s every day or two to pick up supplies.  No borrowing a truck and picking everything up at once for this girl — I learned that lesson a couple years ago when I literally moved 2200 pounds of blocks in less than 2 hours!

That still leaves the question of what to do with all the extra pea gravel…

I’ve decided that I’m going to put it between the hammock patio and the block wall in the last picture.  And the bark mulch that is currently in that spot?  It will get moved to the main garden area…

It all started with a desire to put native plants in my backyard.  It was just one little wish that has turned into a good 2-3 weeks worth of hard physical labor.

My muscles will be screaming, my fingers will be dirt stained for weeks, my nails will be broken, my hands will be dried out and my body will be exhausted.

I can’t wait to get back outside!!!