A Meerkat's Bolthole

( 98% proof feline )

I have to say, though, it's a lot cuter when you're not the one trying to actually do the work...

[Pandora, being wiser and older, is asleep on a pillow elsewhere, content to let me do all the heavy lifting]

EtA: and if anyone's jonesing for a canine shot, check out this week's Photohunt entry! No, that's not Mei-Chan, but the expression is just priceless...

The day started with the promise of the countertops being delivered "first thing in the morning." First and second thing come and go, no granite. Meanwhile, the plumber had arrived and was setting up the stove (why does the plumber set up the stove? The plumber also has 'lectricity skills. This will come in handy, later).

Many e-mails back and forth between myself and Joel the Contractor-worth-his-weight-in-rubies-and-gold, specifically wondering about the location of the granite guys. The countertops finally arrive while the plumbing guys are getting lunch. Apparently traffic on the Deegan was so bad it took them until 1pm to make the 30 minute trip. But no worries, they're here, all is... what do you mean it was cut the wrong size?

[flashback to me saying to granite guy: you going to make a template? Him: No need, I've been doing this for 20 years. Me: oooookay....]

Small amounts of Cranky Client ensue, and I am afraid to admit I channeled Elaine Koster in retrospect, it was more Phyllis Grann. (those of you who know the name may cringe now). More e-mails and phone calls and all four workmen disappear out to their respective vans. I sit and stew and am Cranky. But thanks to Joel worth-his-weight-in-rubies-and-gold, and the plumbers, who were willing to Wait, Damnit, until everything was finished, the granite guys were able to recut the granite on-site, and install it today.

At which point all that was left was to hook up the sink (new) and dishwasher (old). The sink was no problem. The dishwasher...

Plumber-guy, down on the floor:
"Give me something sharp."

Me:
"No bloodshed on my new floor!"

Plumber's Assistant:
"It will wipe away."

*time passes, circuits are thrown, tests are run*

"Oh. Oh, that was so not code."

But the plumbers, being also worth their weight in, oh, sapphires, saved the day, and before 5pm I had a Fully Functional* Kitchen.

And oh, it is lovely.


When I bought this apartment the kitchen was like a nightmare out of "Designed to Sell" -- everything done on the cheap, for surface appearance and not usefulness. The previous owner didn't cook. I, as you may have gathered... do. An all-white kitchen with glossy laminate surfaces might show well, but it did not wear well. And the less said about the 20" stove, the better.

( here there be Before and After pics )

And now... I shall live on pasta and tinned tuna for the rest of the year. But it's worth it....



* pending the installation of carpentry bits and the backsplash that's yet to be chosen....

for fakefrenchie: ( could you say 'go away' to this face? )

Goal today is to make a good-sized dent in chapter 7, then print out what I have so far and mark it up ruthlessly, to prepare for the mid-book rev-up, Big Fail, and Repercussions that will take us through the second half...


But first, there are bagels and eggs scrambled in garlic butter and OMG JBM coffee. Anyone else having decadence for breakfast?

(and you thought I was kidding re: that last conversation-with-cat? hah)


I have banned them to the sofa. We'll see how long that lasts....

Busy Sunday: worked in the morning, then met icedrake and katfeete at Les Halles for brunch that was so much fun (talk about a wide-ranging [free-range?] conversation!) that I missed the first half of the beer-and-cheer viewing of the Giants game. Not that I missed much, alas.

Then I spent the rest of the afternoon working/puppy-sitting. Poor Mei-Chan, like all the women of the family, hit puberty a bit early. Two months ahead of breed prediction, in fact. Poor baby. She doesn't understand why she doesn't get to play with her friends for the duration.... (she had been scheduled for surgery next week. Timing is everything...)

Dinner with folks, and then home to more work. I have plotted out the endgame of the caper in PACK OF LIES, and the marking-up and annotating of the revision letter for VINEART WAR: FLESH & FIRE is done. The actual re-writing of same will commence... tomorrow. Two books at once! Wheee! Expect either radio silence, or massive spamming of LJ and FB.

And I leave you with two favorite photos from my New Year's vacation:

LAG confronts her fears....


Sundowning on the Gulf of Mexico

As it's still coming down heavily, I think I will be canceling my plans for the evening and settling in with a book and a glass of wine, instead. I'm all for walking in the snow, but not when there may be sleet/icing later on....

Taken from an earlier comments thread: a pretty decent breakdown of the voting: http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/11/05/1646644.aspx

Highest turnout rate since '08 -- 1908: Provided the number stands, the turnout rate for yesterday's election was the highest in 100 years, according to the estimate from turnout guru Dr. Michael McDonald at George Mason University. Almost 137 million (136,631,825) went to the polls -- 64.1% of the voting-eligible population. 1960 saw 63.7% of the populace go out to vote; In 1908, 65.7% voted. It was, of course, the most people ever to go to the polls topping 2004's 122 million. That's 12% increase from 2004. For those wondering why the current total vote in the presidential adds up to approximately 117 million, note that it's going to climb. There is still a ton of vote missing on the West coast.

I think the word "mandate" can be used now, yes? Mandate, mandate, mandate.

---------------
And now, something completely non-political -- feline picspam!:


"all ur desk r ours"

So last night I went to the opening of the "Horse" exhibit at the Museum of Natural History.

Wow.

Unlike the Mythic Creatures exhibit, which was nice but a little light, this has (forgive me) more meat to it, from the genetic origins of equus through to the contemporary uses of therapy horses. There were a few blank spots, and I was heard to fact-check a few of the non-scientific displays, but we took a full two hours going through that one exhibit, and felt quite pleased with it, after. If you have any interest in horses, even just to see why they've been so important (in a relatively short time) to mankind's evolution, this is of interest.

And oh my gawd, if you go through with young girls, just blindfold them when you walk out, because as usual it dumps you into the gift shop where they have Prepared for the 12 year old [in all of us] with horse-related gear in every size, shape, color and price range..... (including chocolate!)

Museum horse! ( picspam )
Live Horse! ( Picspam )
and some feline picspam ( to round out the day )