For the few faithful, I apologize: It has been a month since I blogged. Was I having a good time? Not necessarily. Was I having a bad time. Not necessarily. As often seems the case, there has been not much out of the ordinary happening, so yours truly seems less inclined to communicate. Bad Grayson! Here is a synopsis for the still interested:
The new abode continues to progress. It is dried in, as they say, which means that it has all its windows, its waterproof siding (Tyvek), and its roof shingles. It does not, as yet, have exterior doors, though they have been ordered. That is, at least in part, due to the sheet rock guys, who slop a lot of mud around and make a lot of gypsum dust (which cannot be good for anyone to breathe!). They have been known to trash doors.
We are fortunate to have this much completed and all of the wood necessary to have come this far. There are several housing starts in our new community that are sitting there with footings, foundations, slabs and walls, but no roof trusses. They have been awaiting the same in a couple cases at least a month. The trade guys are really worried about impending shortages due to Mom Nature. For example, it is likely that the timber industry in the NW will have a shortage of raw product soon due to a big fire season. Our cabinet guy is finding that his particle board is rising steeply in price. Add to that the increased demand in the SE in rebuilding after a horrendous hurricane season. There will be heavy demand on wood products. Can you say inflation?
Decision making, perhaps unsurprisingly, continues apace. It simply shifts to whatever is next. We are daily consulting with the design people in town about cabinet color/style, carpeting, other flooring and the coordination of all of it. On top of that we may be pouring cement for the short driveway and the walkways on each side of the house and some landscaping as early as next week. The developer seems to want to accomplish this before it gets too cold and/or snowy. The sheet rock guys didn't know that we wanted rounded corners everywhere. A friend, acting as, landscaper-in-chief hasn't got the final plans to us necessary to the next concrete pour. While all of these are not my favorite activities--they cannot be faulted for being boring. Under the heading of "What Was I Thinking?", how could I have thought we could have lived in SLC and commuted to accomplish what we have so far? The same (failed) logic may also reflect in whether we escape Utah this winter at all.
I have not seen NOAA's predictions for winter here, but I fear another normal one, sans drought. Here are a couple clues: The Sierra Nevada have already received snow this fall--during the last days of summer--which apparently is the earliest such has happened since modern record keeping. (They had to close the eastern exits from Yosemite briefly last week.) We get our winter weather from this flow. We have had an abrupt ending to bermuda shorts weather (damn!) this week along with accompanying rain. All of this is really great for everyone who loves winter, except those whose arthritis flares in the wet and cold, and who may fall and break stuff because it is icy out there. Only time will tell.
Personally, not much change to report. Working out a lot more consistenly. I got three outings in this week, and two last week. I can feel new muscle. Portion size at meals is still not under control so I have gained about 4 lbs. Back in the day I found that typically under this regimen about half my weight gain is fat. My blood pressure appears to have risen to what looks like borderline hypertension (eg 140/90). My 38" waist is starting to strain some of my chinos. The fall season here seems to increase socialization in everyone, so there is much eating out and getting together, all of which is marvelous, but not helpful health-wise.
We now have a month of apartment living and cannot really complain. We hear our upstairs neighbors walking around, but that is about it. Most everyone in the complex is either a working stiff or a student (not mutually exclusive), so is gone most of the day. Repairs, though not our concern, don't happen any faster than if one were in his/her own home. One gets on the list of work orders and waits one's turn. (We are awaiting a new receptacle for a hot plate. It has arrived but not been installed.)
Jan is undergoing some dental problems--a bone graft of 5 years has given out and she is getting a new one. Much pain. Guarding against sepsis. An unusual event for her. We hope the new graft takes.
That's about it....
