Week 7?

10/09/11 :: I thought I had problems with the countertop install on Friday, but I now have an issue I could have prevented...lack of heat! No, I can't control the weather and I didn't expect it to be cold so soon, but procrastination with the radiators was within my control. After night two of house temperatures in the 50s or 60s, I rose this morning with best intentions to clean up and reinstall the radiators today, which have been stored in the garage for two months. Do I get any credit for the clean up and relocation? The radiators are in the house, but as Alex and Tony pointed out, there's a fitting missing in the bathroom. With a missing fitting, I cannot turn on the heat because the one line will shoot water all over the place. I'm pretty sure I didn't spend the time and money in the bathroom remodel to ruin it. Alas, 4 radiators in place, temperatures at 55 and staying (or dropping), and I'm cold. Tony loaned me a space heater. Ha. It's the little engine that could in my bedroom right now. It may be 66 in there by the time I go to bed. First thing Monday, calling in the heating company. Dumb, dumb, dumb mistake.

In the home stretch. 10 days to go until the house warming party and 10% remaining in the project. The last 10% is always the hardest, no matter the task. The to do list is long. I'm scared, but remain steadfast. No more pictures until the last tile goes in. The full reveal is in 10 days.

10/11/11 :: Today's lesson: When removing radiators for refinishing of the floors, keep all of the parts in one place. And, be present. The failure to lose even one part, plus the replacement of a broken boiler piece, equated to a $1000 error on my part. Nonetheless, there is now heat in the house and plenty of it. Leo, the big cat, has been MIA for most of the day as he is terrified of the steam released from the radiators. This is unexpectedly my new ploy to get him to lose weight. If he's too scared to eat, surely he'll lose weight.

Other accomplishments today: 1) Killed no one. 2) Dishwasher installed and working. 3) Prepped irrigation system for the winter, "blew" the lines...a professional did the work. Not me. This is not my area. 4)  Jose the fearless worker is scooting around on the floor caulking the base trim. 5) Stain the stairs (me, I'm going to do this. $10 says it takes me all night as I've learned that everything takes 2-3 times longer here at the 505.) 6) Exterior painting completed.

Eight days to go. I think I can, I think I can.