Before and After :: Kitchen

Kitchen

There is more in store for the kitchen - appliances and new flooring - but for now the paint job makes a HUGE difference.

New Faucet and decor (and the indoor herb garden)

New light fixture

Before and After :: TV

TV

So this is a very lame before photo - but I didn't anticipate this change today.

We were at Ikea and decided to upgrade our entertainment unit. The previous stand was a piece from Logan's childhood desk.

New, sleek, floating.

No visible cords.

LED lighting behind the screen - supposed to be easier on the eyes. (and look cool)

Armed

This morning, in a deep sleep I heard a knock. I don't know how long it was before I realized that it was outside of my sleep filled brain. When I did I have Logan a couple hits saying "he's here". We scrambled into clothes and down the stairs to let in the ADT man.

We had a security system installed today. In my opinion this is not to protect us from stealing our meager possessions - but protect from that feeling of violation when they do. More importantly it is so I feel safe when I am at home at night alone. I am alone at night three out of seven or eight nights. To know that when I come home there is no one within hiding behind a door with a crow bar (why I have that image is beyond me) - and that while I am in my pjs watching HGTV if someone does get in, or tries to, I will be alerted and have two way communication with ADT. I think it will be good.

Although, since we have this puppy I have only been alone one night where I was aware that I was in a space three times as large as the apartment with so many vulnerable points of entry. Not going to happen again.

Rhett Butler's People

I have just finished the novel "Rhett Butler's People" the authorized novel based on 'Gone with the Wind'.  It was superb.  If you have read Gone with the Wind I highly recommend it.  It was far beyond the other authorized novel sequel Scarlet.  Which I thought was good when I read it, but is in a bit of a different writing style.  

If you have not read Gone with the Wind - do.

Before and After :: Fence

Fence

The fence is 99% complete. You can see the gate leaning to the left of the opening there. It will take a bit of muscle to attach the monster. Attach a few 1x4 caps and it is done.

All we have to do is wait for the rain to stop.

And Charlie - he is getting big.

Charlie Houdini and HO2008-1747

Our plan for little Charlie while we are away from the house has been a Pet Pen.  This is a 16' length of fence that is 2' tall and in 2' sections.  You can create a wall or a square or a circle, all designed to keep your puppy where he should be.  Well that little monkey.  He has figured out how to climb over it.  It is the cutest little thing - he looks very human like.  He did this once outside while we were building the fence.  We saw him climbing but not higher than the first rung.  Then later he was out.  Having not seen him escape we thought maybe through the bush we were using as the other side of the wall.

Today, I left for work and put him in his little circle in the kitchen with all of his accoutrement.  When Logan stopped by on his lunch to let him out - he had let himself out and was upstairs.  He had made his way to his favorite spot in our whole house, the nook at the end of our bed beside the hope chest.  Little turd.  

Our first line of defence is to remove the angles and just pen a straight line across the opening of the kitchen to the living room.  This will give him access to the whole kitchen - but may make it more difficult to climb.  We will see.

In other news.  It may seem like a long time since I have talked about my little business since the new house and new puppy.  But today I sat at City Hall for over 2 hours to get myself a Home Occupation Permit.  Glass Imagery is officially a business.  Up next - the launch of my web site!

Before and After :: Guest Bedroom

Guest Bedroom

While waiting for the cement to cure for 24 hours this morning we finished what was the little boys room.

Put the baseboards on and moved the bed back in.
The above photo is a little closer to the paint colour than the photo below.
I intend to make a duvet cover and roman blinds out of dark chocolate, milk chocolate and cream fabrics.

Today's Progress

We spent the day outside again, continuing work on the fence. We completed all of the rails...

And then started on the boards. One 6' section before supper, off to a BBQ, returned at nine and completed one 6' section and two 8' sections.
It looks really dark but it was just twilight when we wrapped things up tonight.

The BBQ we went to was great. One of the officers Logan works with. His parents run a Chinese restaurant and supplied some of the food. We had a hot pot - flash cooking lobster balls, noodles and beef, and BBQed ribs, steak and fried chicken wings. It was very good. This guy also supplied the beer. It was a great supper.

Our Yard

Today, like millions of other people, we did yard work.

Logan started working on the fence.

Logan completed all of the posts (just in time for it to rain - so we covered the fresh cement with bags).

I planted a garden. I know it doesn't look like much because I don't have the a before picture. It was over grown with weeds and grass that I dug down to the clay to get at some of the roots.

I planted cucumber, peas, carrots and strawberries (shown below). I also wanted to start a little herb garden in the bay window above the sink in the kitchen. I started that and had enough seeds left over that I planted them in the garden too.

It was pretty fun. While we were working this morning (I had a matinee today and left Logan to work alone for most of the day) I stopped raking and looked at Logan digging his hole and said "Is this what you imagined". "Pretty much."

Our current projects

All of the rooms in our house need to be painted. Even the hallway at the top of the stairs has stencil painting in the pattern of a quilt.

Our first stop, the guest bedroom. This may seem like a weird choice. Logan has never done any painting before, I have done tons. I figured that this was the best place to practice.

Before I left for Regina, on our Home Depot shopping spree, we picked up a gallon of "Oops" paint. For $9. We both thought that the paint was beige/taupe with a bit of green.

Today we painted the room. It turns out that the colour is actually green with beige. Photos will follow.

Our latest dog related project. We have been having a lot of accidents lately. I feel that some of them could have been avoided had I been able to read the body language of a dog. We decided to try a trick from Andrea and establish a bell ringing system for him to let us know when he had to go out. Now, we know that Jaxson abused the system and had it taken away. And very likely little Charlie will do the same. But in the mean time if it saves a few clean ups I think it will be worth it.

So, this afternoon we bought the bells and hung them on the back door. Before we took him out to pee we used his right paw to swat the bells and then opened the door and took him outside. We showed him twice. Later on Logan went outside to check on something and Charlie cautiously walked up to the bells and gave them a little hit. I let him outside - he investigated - he peed - we celebrated. Tonight, I got home and let him out (using the bell first). About the time I was thinking of going to bed Charlie jumped off the couch and trotted to the kitchen and rang the bells. I let him out - he did not pee. In three total bell rings he figured out how to work the system. Oh well.

Major Purchases

We have been talking about new appliances. They all came with the house - but they are original to the house. Now ten years is not that old for major appliances, however, if you ask either of my mothers they will tell you that the previous owners were not very careful with their house. There is no major damage but everything was quite dirty and ... weird. When we were first talking about appliances I thought it was more of a want. After being here a week I can tell you it is pretty near a need.

The home inspector told us that the dishwasher would go soon and that we should start saving. The fridge door makes a terrible noise when you open it. It sounds as though you have pulled the whole door off, a terrible metal on metal sound. The oven door and drawer are broken. They are in working order - but not great.

While in Regina I went appliance shopping with both Janet and my mom. Coast appliances, The Bay, Sears. I have a couple of brands that are standing out to me. At Coast appliances I discovered a great Jenn-Air fridge and looked at the matching stove. I have also been impressed by a LG and Kitchen-aid Fridge and a GE Profile Dishwasher. The research will continue.

KitchenAid Fridge
Jenn-Air Fridge
LG Fridge white only
LG Fridge

GE Profile Dishwasher - video demonstration

The other major question left is White or Stainless Steel.

Puppy :Day 9

House training has taken a few steps back. The last two days we have seen a few accidents. I shouldn't even call them accidents - he peed in the kitchen right in front of us twice. The second time Logan scared him good so hopefully he will be scared straight. Or at least think twice.

He has been sleeping in his kennel with no complaint.

A couple of firsts. Friday Jason and Auntie Shelley came over to visit. Jason and Logan were playing with Charlie and he discovered that he could run really fast. He found his wheels. Sunday night Logan and I were playing with him outside before bed. He was running from Logan to me, took a sharp turn, up the deck stairs, across the deck and leaped off the edge into the cedar bushes. To make matters worse it was dark outside and it took a bit for Logan to find him.

Today, while I was outside setting up the last pieces of our patio set he was walking calmly around the deck. All of a sudden he leaped off the front edge of the deck without a problem. He landed and then walked around the yard. I discouraged, but I have a feeling it will happen again.

And perhaps the biggest first happened moments ago. He barked. He was playing at the foot of the couch with a stuffed frog and a red ball. He was going between the two pushing them under the couch. I reached under and pulled out the wrong toy and he gave a playful bark. It was a little, quite high arf. It surprised him - and me. He instantly was trying to jump on me for comfort.

Right now he is sleeping beside the lap top with all four limbs on the number pad. What a cutey.

1st before and after :: Patio

Patio

Our empty deck.

Yesterday we set up our house warming gift from Stef, Matt, Lindsay, Dan, Tyler, Jason, Craig, Jenn, Cris and Raveigh

A patio set with a glass top table, six chairs, two ottomans, a side table and an umbrella (not seen here- still in its box in the shed).

We enjoyed the sun last night with Uncle Gord, Auntie Shelley and Jason. It was warm enough to enjoy appetizers and drinks in the sun before the wind became too much and we moved inside.

Puppy: Day 6

The puppy of last weekend is gone. He is now a wild dog running around, exploring and being a puppy. When our little puppy was Beau, he sat quietly - including the long drive from Regina to Calgary. Charlie, on the other hand, likes to run around and then under our bed in a circle as fast as he can. It snowed here last night. When I took him out to pee he was a maniac. This morning he ran full tilt up the five steps of the deck, over the couple feet of deck and then leaped through the air the ram square into the door.

He has figured out how to play with a ball and a little stuffed pig, how to get up and down the stairs (up alone, down with encouragement), is figuring out how to get up and down from the couch with a little foot stool. He is doing not bad in his kennel - he likes it when it is day time and he can choose to go in there and chew a bone - is not so keen at night. We even took him to the groomer to have a little puppy clean up - it is designed to get him used to being groomed. They gave him a bath, trimmed his nails and hair in important places - like his eyes.

He is a very good puppy. I think I am very lucky - as a first time pet owner - to have such a good pup. I wasn't totally thrilled with the idea, then I reluctantly got on board, but now I am happy to play with the little guy. He knows he is Logan's dog (he goes looking for him when only I come home), which is fine by me. He likes to cuddle and play - and only once has he left me a poopy mess...

Yesterday when we left for work we caged him in a small space in the kitchen with his kennel, toys and a puppy pad. We stupidly put the puppy pad in line with the door. When he heard me come home he started begging at the fence right on his little poop. In the time it took me to cross the deck, unlock the door and take off my shoes he had poop all over his feet and thus everywhere in his little pen. Super. Oh well. He has been really good with going to the bathroom outside when we are around. A few accidents but they have all been times when he couldn't ask to go out, our fault for playing too long without a bathroom break or leaving him alone. He is just a little puppy and I am happy with his progress and how much he seems to learn everyday.

News

Back in Calgary. Glad to be home.

Logan drove in on Friday to pick me up.

Had a good closing weekend.

Before we left town we picked up a little something.

3 months old Cockapoo puppy.

At first we called him Beau. Then we heard just how close it is to the word No.

Back to the drawing board.

Today we let him choose. We put out little papers with the different names and he picked up the one he wanted and gave it to Logan. Though there were many that made the short list; Jersey, Duke, Sergeant, Taser, there were only three little pieces of paper; Brave, Charlie, Mocha.

Charlie

compelled to post

I don't really have anything new to say. Today was our first two show day for this show. Two show days suck. Every time you turn around you are having deva ju? When we are doing a show everything I do is exactly the same - by design. I set everything in the exact same spot and I do it in the exact same order. To do it once a day is habit and order. To do it twice gets confusing. Did I do that yet? I have, but have I done it for this show or the last? You see where I am going with this.

This afternoon's audience was terrible. Today was a senior's tea matinee. If that was the actual story. What ever tickets the seniors don't buy they sell to high schools. So there were 68 seniors and just under 300 students. They were little brats. Now I have seen my fair share of bad student matinee of throwing stuff, cell phones, laser pointers and other such gadgets. Today they were talkers, mimickers and taunters. One of the first lines is the mom whispering to her daughter "Iris". These brats instantly started mimicking "Iris". The next highlight - the dad enters but doesn't fully go onstage to watch and over hear a conversation. The large group of kids that he was "hiding" in front of starting taunting him and telling him to F off, to go F himself and other stuff. The worst was near the end the mom and dad share this tender moment and then kiss - not passionately, very tender and loving - and very short. The kids started whistling and cat calls and other inappropriate things "way to go big boy" "give it to her". It was terrible. The actor left on stage after their exit waiting nearly 3 minutes for them to shut up before continuing the show. She nearly ended it - had it not been for the seniors that were there for a show too.

To all you teachers. I don't know how you do it. I wanted to throttle the lot of them. What were the teachers to do? 300 students spread out all making noise. The actors were really angry and it showed in our evening performance - which is not fair to those people. Oh well. I guess that is live theatre. However, I do know that those schools will be receiving some sort of follow up from the theatre.

Life in Regina

The show is open. I think it is a good show. The Globe put together a bit of a trailer on their site Globe Video Link. It is not bad.

Besides the show, not much to report. Hanging with my parents. Going to work. Trying to meet up with Regina friends. I guess I didn't put a lot of thought into everyone working regular jobs here. At home we all seem to work shift work and can meet up anytime - brunch, lunch, mid afternoon coffee, supper, drinks. Anything goes. Here it is tough to make plans cause I am working nights and weekends. Oh well.

Sunday, finally Sunday

In theatre Monday is our weekend. And tomorrow couldn't come fast enough.

The basic make-up of a theatre schedule goes:
Prep (just the stage managers for up to a week)
Rehearsal in the rehearsal hall - 2 ish to 3 weeks
Tech - a couple days on stage
10 out of 12 - up to 4 days that you work 10 out of the 12 hours you are called for the day
- this includes tech runs and dress rehearsals
Preview Shows with rehearsal during the day
Opening
Run of the show - 8 shows a week
Closing

Today is our 3rd out of 4 10 out of 12. I have been working 12 hour days all week to prepare for this weekend - which has been 14 hours a day for us stage managers.
I am pretty tired.
Tech run last night - which means we did the whole show with all of the tech (and usually you don't add costumes yet - but that is a whole other story)

Tonight is Tech Dress. The difference between a Tech Dress and a full on Dress Rehearsal is that professional theatre usually mucks things up by inviting people to watch the dress rehearsal. For this show, we are ready for an audience. For many others you are not. So tonight is our last run of the show before people start watching it for entertainment.

I am tired, I am sore and my eyes hurt. Wish me luck. (Common misconception that you are not allowed to say Good-Luck to a theatre person).

Life at Home

I have now been in Regina for over two weeks, living with my parents and working at the Globe Theatre. Moving back in with your parents, in the room that you grew up in, driving your teenage car, is a bit surreal. It is like I have travelled back in time. It is all very normal. I am not sure what I expected coming back to Regina.

The show is going well. For the most part I am having a good time. We switch over to evenings on Tuesday, and move into the theatre on Thursday. It is all moving very quickly.

Move In

We have a house!

Move in weekend has come and gone.
Friday Logan took possession of our new home.

Logan took pictures of the whole place for me before anything was moved in.

While Stef and Logan were handed the keys both sets of parents were on the road.

Saturday

There was a large group of people that came to help move.

We have a great family and a great group of friends.

We received some great house warming gifts. A ton of cash to help us get things going. A lawn mower (though it snowed 5 cm once they finished moving) and from our friends and siblings we got the patio set they are unloading from the truck!

Thank you to everyone who helped!!

A full weekend at home

I have been back in Regina since Thursday and it has been non-stop until today. I had three days of prep at the theatre during the days of Friday, Saturday and Sunday. After each of those work days I was off to family dinners - mom's side, dad's side and then Lorne and Andrea.

Today, however, I have nothing to do. I brought my knitting and have been watching TV and knitting. I pulled out the ole piano books and played for a while. Now I am at the computer. I had planned on bringing some editing but left the laptop at home for Logan to have something to do while everything is packed.

But only a couple days until move day. I am very excited. Which could be affecting my restlessness today. If I were home there would be plenty to do.

Countdown

I see from the countdown to possession that we have ten days to go. But sadly I only have two until I am off to Regina. I feel like it has been forever since we got the call saying the house was ours. And yet - I find it hard to believe that I leave two days and have to leave it all to Logan.

As you can see

we have done alot of packing. The kitchen is almost all packed up. All of our electronics are done. I am doing laundry right now - will pack my bag for Regina - and then will pack away the rest of my clothes. That leaves under the bathroom sink, and the necessities in the kitchen. He should be fine!

I am so excited about the house that I can hardly contain myself. If it were me home alone in our new house for nearly two months I think that there would be a lot of running around and screaming. That thought was brought about by all of the noise you get with apartment living. Our building is fairly soundproof. But this morning it sounded like someone was hammering down hardwood floors. That and the stupid Canadian Geese that fly up from the river beside our building to the roof of the building next door. They make the worst, loudest noise in the morning and evening - right around the time you are in bed.

I also started my taxes today. As a contract worker though I have to make sure that I get all of the paperwork/T4's mailed to me. I am missing one T4 and the statement of union dues. AGH. Looks like I will be taking it home with me.

Beauty and the Beast

Enchanted April closed last Sunday the 2nd. I fly to Regina on Thursday the 20th. Therein lies the problem with being a contract worker, sometimes there are weeks between contracts. This time I was a little more concerned because of the house and our bills going up very soon. To solve this I pushed for myself at Theatre Calgary.

The show after Enchanted April was the very large musical "Beauty and the Beast". There is a child in the show that plays Chip and he requires a Chaperone. The theatre waited a bit to long and all of the people that usually do it - or have done it before were busy. So I pushed that they should hire me for the two weeks that I am still in town. The Technical Director was all in favor and helped make that happen.

So I have been hanging out with Thomas for a week and a half. The show is huge! Until today we have been spending five hours in the afternoon rehearsing and then a four hour show call in the evening. (The show came from Edmonton and Thomas is the only new person in the cast). I stay with the show until Sunday and have three days off until I fly to Regina.