Tangled Thoughts

Renovation Wednesday: Making progress

Christina

September 8, 2010

{Day 8}

This week has seen a major change in our bathroom. Last week the place was almost gutted entirely. Thankfully dad put a few things back so it was atleast “Use-able” and we didnt have to make midnight trips to the shop to use the facilities! Good thing we live so close!

Anyways…this week, he decided to tear the bath tub out and take a look in there – it was a good thing he did, because there was a big hole in the ply-wood. Before the weekend we had something along these lines…

This would be where the tub WAS:

Or, rather, where it was suppose to be, or was before dad pulled it out.

This is where it sat for a few days instead:

And then we had this three day weekend, and the bathtub founds its way back home. Which now has new plywood under it for support.

Its not completely finished yet, but as you can see the…Im not sure what you want to call it, the extra piece of “wall” that was built up infront is now gone. New drywall and tub surround kit. And its starting to feel / look like an actual bathroom…and the old smell is gone. It now smells outside in the pile of old floor/wall/rotten things.

The walls still need prepped, and painted. The floors need put in, but they just showed up yesterday (YAY!), the counter top still needs done, and a bunch of plumbing issues still need taken care of. But its coming.

The dining room is coming together nicely too – the arches (which dad wasnt too sure abut) are done, and look awesome! The walls are almost ready for paint now too. That wall that is a green/blue – used to be the original outside wall, as in, the rest of the house was an extension, as most of the house was. We plan to leave that wall, sand it, and give it a grayish look.

Everything is torn up and chaotic, but its looking better, and getting us all excited.

Were making progress…finally!

Any projects going on anywhere else this week? Hows last weeks project coming if you had one?

I heart faces: How I spent my summer

Christina

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September 7, 2010

We spent the Spring / Early Summer in England…when we returned most of Summer we were told was already over! But we did get a few good weeks.

We had a lot of flowers:

We picked Blueberries:

Had some Birthdays:

We celebrated our Countries freedom:

(My picture, I just didnt feel right putting my name on the flag)

Babysat some dogs:

Swam with Starfish:

We also chaperoned some junior-high girls to a Summer Camp and spent a week in Juneau:

And all too soon, the Summer is coming to an end 😦

Hope everyone else had an awesome summer. What is your favorite memory of Summer, either this year, or years past?

Happiness Project: Old Treasures

Christina

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September 7, 2010

{Day 7}

Today my happiness comes from WAY BACK. Way back…twenty years ago when I was a baby (Just saying that makes me feel so old. So very very old). Last night my sister and I were going through old journals and pictures and came across this one. It had us both laughing.

November 1990

“Thats when I stopped liking dolls” She told me. “You would scream at me”

Incase you didn’t catch it – that’s me. In the doll cradle, while my sister attempts to “Feed” me a doll bottle.

In my defense, Im sure any baby in its right mind would scream if a mad scientist such as herself tried shoving a fake bottle at them!

I also don’t know why I sported a Chinese look most of my baby days.

My sister and I…we go way back.

The best (and worst) of BC

Christina

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September 6, 2010

{Day 6}

I pulled another idea out of the hat today – and the topic was “The best and worst of BC” Im assuming, that she meant BC Canada (I wasn’t here B.C.)

This was, a very fitting topic, considering that we are currently planning a road trip. For those of you who don’t know – we take random road trips. It’s really the cheapest way to travel “Down south” usually our route goes something to the effect of hopping on the ferry at midnight, and arriving in Canadian waters early the next morning – where we drive. And drive. And drive. And drive and drive and drive and drive until we are so sick of driving….and then we proceed to drive yet some more!

Its about 1300 miles total. To our final destination. Or somewhere about that.

We get through Canada (BC) in about 24 hours. 24 hours of non stop driving. Which basically means that mom drives all that day, all night, into the wee hours of the morning when we usually pull off to the side of the road and sleep a few hours before driving all that next day. That’s 24 hours, right?

It all runs together and somehow equals 24 hours.

Anyways. We drive a lot. A long long time folks. And then we pop out in Washington, cross the border, and continue to drive to our nearest relatives house and beg to shower.

The Best (and there are some pretty good moments) and worst (and let me tell you there are some of those too) of BC. Although I don’t know that I could blame the “Best and worst” on BC itself…

The best:

The scenery – its pretty awesome during the Summer months. Not too hot, but not too cold.

The company – during the first few hours.

The memories – Enough said.

The sleep deprived mental states (oh these are good!) – After driving with little sleep for an extended period of time, our minds start playing some funny tricks on us. It leads to some very interesting conversations and topics!

The price – It doesn’t cost nearly as much to drive through Canada, as it does to fly (Just to get to Washington via air is $500 per person – and that’s considered cheep).

Its fun – Despite everything, really. Looking back, its been a blast. Just don’t ask me if I love you on the road. I will say no. You know I will. I might even disown you.

Hiking trails – The last time we were “Stuck” in Canada, we attempted to make the best of it, and found a few hiking trails which were awesome.

The quiet – Time to just think. To be. To reflect. To read. To study.

The worst:

Insides out – I once read (or maybe said) that if you want to know a person, inside and out, just go on a road trip with them. You an confined to a small space, and let me tell you, tempers rage and attitudes fly. We arent perfect. We may have set out with perfect intentions, but ½ way through, and we have had it with each other.

The sickness – About ½ way though, I reach a point where my stomach is done. It usually happens around 2:30 the following morning after driving for who knows how long trying to survive on carrot sticks and cottage cheese…and while I have only thrown up once – there have been some “I don’t feel so hot” moments that arrive about ½ way though. The weak legs, empty mind, flat stomach sensation.

The delays – Every single time that we have taken a road trip. The ferry, for one reason or another, has been delayed. The first time, it was for five days. The second time. Seven. We drove 24 hours straight – right to the ferry terminals door step – and the man took our tickets handed them back and said “See you in a week.” Trapped. In a foreign country. With no escape. No options. No information. There have been tears, frustration, thrown coffee, angry words. Its not pretty. Darn you border man! Of course, after a round of tears, we suck it up and end up enjoying our extended vacation.

The ketchup – Seriously. Why sweet ketchup??

Getting to know you: Under the sea!

Christina

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September 5, 2010

1. Do you like seafood? Ah, most of it. I love seafood up here, from Alaska. But dont really appreciate “Seafood” that people try and call “Seafood.” Has to be the real deal folks. Halibut, not cod.

2. Are mermaids hot? Hmm…I suppose they might get hot. I always felt bad for them…having no legs and all…but no, I dont think they are hot in that sense. Merman’s neither.

3. Have you swam in the ocean? Yes. We go whenever its hot enough to go! A quick run down the street, and were there!! Come back sun!

4. If you got stung by a jellyfish, would you let a stranger pee on you? Um. That depends. Sort of. Probably be a little skeptical at first.

5. Have you ever pee’d in the ocean? Hmmm…I think I might have, when I was younger, because that sounds like something I would do, but I cant recall a specific time.

6. Can you make a cute fish face? (Show a pic..if you want) Mmmm…I dont know about CUTE, but I can make fish lips – that count?

7. When you see the lobster tank at the grocery store do you just have this overwhelming urge to set them free or cook them up? Never seen a lobster. I know, right?

8. Are you afraid of sharks? Who me? No never. Uh, yea totally! I always scare myself when I get out of bed in the middle of the night – with “There are sharks behind you.” I always thought we avoided them up here in Alaska, but then a friend showed me “Salmon sharks” and my life has never been the same. We go swimming and I freak out when I cant touch or see the bottom, especially when something brushes up against my leg? Then its like “OH HELP SHARKS IN THE WATER SHARKS!” Because all sharks hang out in two feet deep water waiting for me. You can thank me later.