We've been incommunicado for a few days since taking possession of our house on Wednesday. It's because we've been too busy to write.
We had an inauspicious start Wednesday. I was going to meet Margo and Sarah at the house. An hour before leaving the office Margo told me she was taking delivery on a load of kitchen cabinetry at IKEA and might be late. When I got to the house I phoned Margo and she was still waiting. Since I had no keys yet, I spent the next hour at the pub across the way. It wasn't a great burden, but it wasn't how I expected to make a first entrance.
The delivery was delayed for its complexity. Apparently, even when IKEA's online cabinet-building application is used to specify components and measurements, it's not accurate enough, so every element was double checked, and some minor adjustments were made.
And Margo is no stranger to IKEA. She's there so often, they have a parking space for her. When she comes in, they say, "Margo! Welcome back! Quick, bring out our finest meatballs!"
Not much else happened Wednesday. I assembled some steel shelves in the garage. (We have a garage!) Thursday the kitchen was torn out. Margo spent the day building cabinets. After work I prepped the upstairs rooms for painting, removing fixtures and curtains rods, taking out some left-behind shelving, pulling out anchors and spackling the holes, taping off some edges. Friday the girls were tired (Margo had been assembling cabinetry all day) and we met at home.
Saturday we started painting. One room was nearly finished when some friends joined us in the afternoon to help out. Still, with four people working on the two remaining rooms, we weren't quite completed six hours later when we called it a night and ordered pizza. Those two rooms had dark colours we were painting over with a cream colour, and painting light over dark takes longer. After feeding ourselves and our friends with pizza and craft beers, we did a bit of tidying up and went home. (I'd of course forgotten to bring a bottle opener, but we discovered the claw of a hammer can do in a pinch.)
Also on Saturday our kitchen contractors were working with us. By now the cabinets are mostly installed.
Today I spent the day finishing the last two rooms. I am now sick of painting! Margo and Sarah started painting in our rec room. We had a surprise in the garage. Some water had leaked from the furnace room and soaked some of the cabinetry trim boxes. It was hardly a puddle but enough for the cardboard to soak it up and damage wood inside. We're not sure of the source of the water - perhaps the nearby hot water heater, perhaps a shutoff valve I noticed was open. Maybe Margo's plant watering affected it, or maybe the multiple water shutoffs the contractors did had an effect. We'll call a plumber soon to check it out and have meanwhile relocated boxes from that part of the garage. But it was more than I was prepared to deal with - I'd not even been inside the furnace room yet.
We've done quite a lot of work in the past few days but we still have a fair amount left to do, and then there's the move itself. It will all be over within two weeks. We're looking forward to being finished, and enjoying the fruits of our labours.
Sunday 31 July 2011
Tuesday 26 July 2011
PROOF that I am NORMAL!
Today I finally dropped a pound, after being stalled for about 2 months, to 164 pounds. This means that my body weight now falls in the "normal" range according to the Body Mass Index (BMI). No longer morbidly obese, no longer obese, no longer overweight. WOOT!
The great news is that I now have low blood pressure, low blood sugars, very low triglycerides, cholesterol in the "healthy"range, body fat in the "healthy" range, body weight in the "normal" range, no more arthritis pain, etc - in short, none of the health problems associated with obesity (save for the arthritic damage already in place at the time of my surgery.) I've been proactive about my supplementation, and about being tested for those vitamins that are sometimes difficult for WLS patients to absorb - so I have maintained good levels of calcium (as evidenced by bone scan), vitamins B12 and D, and iron.
What this means is that every single health problem that I had pre-op and that could be reversed or improved is now resolved.
And THAT is my idea of weight loss surgery success!
A big thanks to all of my friends and family who have cheered me on throughout this process - and especially to Mike and Sarah who have had to adapt to my goofy diet and put up with my occasional obsessing about my size, weight, vitamins, labs, macronutrient stats, workouts - and so on, and so on. Despite this, they've been my support team all along. Lucky me!
The great news is that I now have low blood pressure, low blood sugars, very low triglycerides, cholesterol in the "healthy"range, body fat in the "healthy" range, body weight in the "normal" range, no more arthritis pain, etc - in short, none of the health problems associated with obesity (save for the arthritic damage already in place at the time of my surgery.) I've been proactive about my supplementation, and about being tested for those vitamins that are sometimes difficult for WLS patients to absorb - so I have maintained good levels of calcium (as evidenced by bone scan), vitamins B12 and D, and iron.
What this means is that every single health problem that I had pre-op and that could be reversed or improved is now resolved.
And THAT is my idea of weight loss surgery success!
A big thanks to all of my friends and family who have cheered me on throughout this process - and especially to Mike and Sarah who have had to adapt to my goofy diet and put up with my occasional obsessing about my size, weight, vitamins, labs, macronutrient stats, workouts - and so on, and so on. Despite this, they've been my support team all along. Lucky me!
Sunday 24 July 2011
Nearly There
We take possession Wednesday! Margo will meet the realtor at our new home midday.
Friday we met a lawyer and signed papers. The papers are scary - we read in gory detail all the things that can happen to us should we default - but the experience was pleasant. Especially the view. Law offices always get the best views. Fortunately for us we don't spend much time in law offices.
Margo has things planned to a T. Utilities. Contractors. Movers. Furniture. Layouts. Paint colours. Payments. We have lots of work ahead of us and I suspect there's some little things we're forgetting but at the moment our battle plan seems to be bulletproof.
Friday we met a lawyer and signed papers. The papers are scary - we read in gory detail all the things that can happen to us should we default - but the experience was pleasant. Especially the view. Law offices always get the best views. Fortunately for us we don't spend much time in law offices.
Margo has things planned to a T. Utilities. Contractors. Movers. Furniture. Layouts. Paint colours. Payments. We have lots of work ahead of us and I suspect there's some little things we're forgetting but at the moment our battle plan seems to be bulletproof.
Sunday 3 July 2011
Camping
This weekend we went on a family camping trip. During the past year I have been gradually acquiring camping gear: the essentials such as tent, stove, lantern and sleeping bags, and also some items to make the whole experience more comfortable: a large rain canopy (this is the Pacific Northwest and at least a few showers are pretty much guaranteed), cots (because I have decided that I am too old to sleep on the ground anymore) and good cooking gear in particular.
Here are some photos of the weekend:
The car was packed pretty full!
Sarah, ready to roll...
Despite intermittent rain showers the afternoon Sarah and I arrived, we managed to get the tent up without too much difficulty and with a minimum of swearing on my part.
Enjoying some hot cocoa
Hamburgers for dinner our first night out
Marshmallows!
Here is Sarah with one of her toasted masterpieces
And one of me too.
Sarah on our first morning - tucked into bed and enjoying a book.
Me, finishing the breakfast cleanup
The view whilst canoeing on the lake
Mike, who arrived the afternoon of day two, in the canoe
Sarah, communing with the local wildlife
Mike enjoying a book and some sunshine before dinner
Spaghetti and sausage for night two
Also broccoli and garlic toast
Sarah did not eat broccoli, but enjoyed the spaghetti and bread
For dessert, I made cherry chocolate cake over the stove and topped it with cream ...yummy!
Here are some photos of the weekend:
The car was packed pretty full!
Sarah, ready to roll...
Despite intermittent rain showers the afternoon Sarah and I arrived, we managed to get the tent up without too much difficulty and with a minimum of swearing on my part.
Enjoying some hot cocoa
Marshmallows!
Here is Sarah with one of her toasted masterpieces
And one of me too.
Sarah on our first morning - tucked into bed and enjoying a book.
Me, finishing the breakfast cleanup
The view whilst canoeing on the lake
Mike, who arrived the afternoon of day two, in the canoe
Sarah, communing with the local wildlife
Mike enjoying a book and some sunshine before dinner
Spaghetti and sausage for night two
Also broccoli and garlic toast
Sarah did not eat broccoli, but enjoyed the spaghetti and bread
For dessert, I made cherry chocolate cake over the stove and topped it with cream ...yummy!
School's Out
Sarah's last day of school was Wednesday. She and Margo have already registered at her new middle school. It was a sad time for Sarah to be taking leave of classmates.
This week the girls embark on a series of trips. I stay put and work. Grumble.
We also finished our music lessons. I wanted to share the songs I practised on. I can (or, at least, at one time, could) do a reasonable performance of each of these songs (usually minus the solo):
This week the girls embark on a series of trips. I stay put and work. Grumble.
We also finished our music lessons. I wanted to share the songs I practised on. I can (or, at least, at one time, could) do a reasonable performance of each of these songs (usually minus the solo):
- AC/DC, Back In Black
- AC/DC, Thunderstruck
- The Beatles, Day Tripper
- Cream, Sunshine Of Your Love
- Creedence Clearwater Revival, Born On The Bayou
- Heart, Barracuda
- Jimi Hendrix, Hey Joe
- Led Zeppelin, Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You
- Nirvana, Smells Like Teen Spirit
- Oingo Boingo, Private Life
- Rush, Limelight
- Tom Petty, Refugee
- Weezer, Buddy Holly
- Van Halen, Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love
- ZZ Top, Just Got Paid
Friday 1 July 2011
Rush!
I saw Rush play last night. I must write about it.
Months ago my friend Todd invited me to the concert. I don't go to many concerts. This was in Rogers Arena, home of Canucks hockey games, and I'd never been inside. Last night I was thinking of the last time I saw a band in an arena, and all I could think of was Pink Floyd at Randall Stadium in Madison in 1988.
But if you had a bucket list of Bands To See Before You Die, Rush would likely be in the top few. I'm challenged to think of another band that's played so well, so consistently, for so long (approaching 40 years?). Among rock musicians, each of the three are, well, master musicians, and to me, being able to play a note-on rendition of a piece you recorded decades ago, which was virtuosic at the time, is just incredible. And to see that they still play together - without apparent politics or bickering - and are still playing for the sheer love of it is really impressive. They have a maturity and technical precision that reminds me of jazz musicians, many who play well into their later years, as opposed to the short flames of most rock musician's careers.
So how was the show? Did it blow my mind? No. It was a great performance, but not surprising. It would have been more surprising if it were anything less than great. I suppose it's a weak analogy, but it's like getting a really nice bottle of champagne. You pay a lot, but you know just what you're getting. You've tasted it before, you know and appreciate the effort that went into making it, and you know you're going to enjoy it.
And we certainly got our money's worth. There were perhaps four albums' worth of songs, including the entirety of Moving Pictures as the second act. Songs from across their body of work were represented, from a few songs off their still-unfinished new album, all the way back to a unique rendition of Working Man, which began in a slower reggae style, then morphed into its album style, then was overdriven to an impressive finale.
Todd got us some great seats, in the front row directly facing the stage, though on the far end of the stadium (rows of seating were added in the arena floor in front of us). If we stood (and sometimes when we sat) we could see the players, but not so well as to follow their fingering, say. But for that, we'd watch the big screen behind them, which would sometimes show supporting visuals but mostly show close-ups of the players. The live editing and camerawork was impressive - like watching a concert video as it happens. As a budding guitarist, it was a treat to be able to see Alex's fingering during the most interesting parts.
The band's self-deprecating humour was also on display. The three acts of the performances were bookended by short videos where the band members play ridiculous characters in sketches - I was especially impressed by Alex's comic acting.
A few new things I learned while watching ...
It was such a treat to see favourite solos and interludes played right in front of me. I've been a fan for decades, owning many of their albums since high school, and I wondered what my high school self would have made of it. I'd have probably been a lot more animated and impassioned. Instead, not one shout left my lungs, and I held no lighters aloft. I occasionally sat down. And wore earplugs.
Months ago my friend Todd invited me to the concert. I don't go to many concerts. This was in Rogers Arena, home of Canucks hockey games, and I'd never been inside. Last night I was thinking of the last time I saw a band in an arena, and all I could think of was Pink Floyd at Randall Stadium in Madison in 1988.
But if you had a bucket list of Bands To See Before You Die, Rush would likely be in the top few. I'm challenged to think of another band that's played so well, so consistently, for so long (approaching 40 years?). Among rock musicians, each of the three are, well, master musicians, and to me, being able to play a note-on rendition of a piece you recorded decades ago, which was virtuosic at the time, is just incredible. And to see that they still play together - without apparent politics or bickering - and are still playing for the sheer love of it is really impressive. They have a maturity and technical precision that reminds me of jazz musicians, many who play well into their later years, as opposed to the short flames of most rock musician's careers.
So how was the show? Did it blow my mind? No. It was a great performance, but not surprising. It would have been more surprising if it were anything less than great. I suppose it's a weak analogy, but it's like getting a really nice bottle of champagne. You pay a lot, but you know just what you're getting. You've tasted it before, you know and appreciate the effort that went into making it, and you know you're going to enjoy it.
And we certainly got our money's worth. There were perhaps four albums' worth of songs, including the entirety of Moving Pictures as the second act. Songs from across their body of work were represented, from a few songs off their still-unfinished new album, all the way back to a unique rendition of Working Man, which began in a slower reggae style, then morphed into its album style, then was overdriven to an impressive finale.
Todd got us some great seats, in the front row directly facing the stage, though on the far end of the stadium (rows of seating were added in the arena floor in front of us). If we stood (and sometimes when we sat) we could see the players, but not so well as to follow their fingering, say. But for that, we'd watch the big screen behind them, which would sometimes show supporting visuals but mostly show close-ups of the players. The live editing and camerawork was impressive - like watching a concert video as it happens. As a budding guitarist, it was a treat to be able to see Alex's fingering during the most interesting parts.
The band's self-deprecating humour was also on display. The three acts of the performances were bookended by short videos where the band members play ridiculous characters in sketches - I was especially impressed by Alex's comic acting.
A few new things I learned while watching ...
- Geddy isn't the only keyboard player - Alex played one during Time Stand Still
- Neil likes to occasionally toss and catch his drum sticks while playing
- Neil cinches his trouser cuffs with bike clips
- I was chuffed to see Alex was favouring his Les Paul guitars (which mine remotely resembles), though several others appeared for about a song each
It was such a treat to see favourite solos and interludes played right in front of me. I've been a fan for decades, owning many of their albums since high school, and I wondered what my high school self would have made of it. I'd have probably been a lot more animated and impassioned. Instead, not one shout left my lungs, and I held no lighters aloft. I occasionally sat down. And wore earplugs.
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