More kitchen photos!

We're finally getting somewhere...

This gives a better idea of the actual paint color

I hand-pulled most of the staples out of the subflooring - that was not as much fun as stripping wallpaper, but more fun than painting the trim

We tore this huge hole in the wall to connect the vent to the microwave and then we couldn't do it anyhow - grr!!

We got the wall fixed and put this cement board on the floor for tiling over


And FINALLY - visible progress!!

The dreaded microwave is finally installed, as well as the upper cabinets

The rest of the upper cabinets on that side

And the upper cabinets on the other side. The pantry was shipped with one door missing - I have no idea why!


BONUS PHOTO: This was the view out the office window a couple weeks ago! And yes, the paint is really that purple!

Kitchen during

These photos were taken before this weekend.


One of my favorite things - removing wallpaper! We bought a steamer (next to the ladder in the photo) and it has paid for itself over and over.





All gone. Now we have to do one of my least favorite things: scrub the walls with TSP to try to get the paste off. :(

The cabinets are in the back yard, the oven is in the dining room, and that tile has got to go!

I had tons of fun scraping the adhesive off the wall once the tiles were down - it was a very high bang/buck ratio thing.

The mess in the back yard. It's actually worse now!

I'll take more photos later today so you can see this weekend's progress!

Kitchen Before Photos

This is the view from the back door - note the mess next to the microwave!

The view from the other side. This shows the white tile backsplash and the fake wood counter. The cabinets look better in the photos - in real life they are falling apart and the paint job is crappy.

The garbage and recycling containers will be covered up - there will be a cabinet for the recycling where that stuff is now, and a pot rack hanging above that. Dining room is to the left (red drapes).

The fridge will be moved over and a pantry will be where the fridge is now.

Rings and Pins, Part 2

OK, here are more - there are still a stubborn few items that won't let me get a decent photo, but here are most of the rest.

I love this ring, I got it at a flea market here in VA.

This is another VA flea market find, I can't seem to get a photo that really shows just how big this one is.

Derek and Brian gave me this one, it's not "vintage" but it's what I wear on special occasions.

Got this one at a flea market in San Francisco. It looks like an agate.

Another owl - this ring is from an antique mall in Sacramento.

Yet another VA flea market find.

My friend Catherine got me this one as a gift - so cute!

Another of the church rummage sale 3 for $1 rings. It's small for my taste but the colors are cool.

I love this ring. I found it at a tiny flea market we stumbled upon while driving around in Maryland a couple years ago.



Got this at the same time as the owl ring - I think it's wood but I'm not sure.

VA flea market again - this seems like some kind of fossil.

This is fun, it's kind of Asian-inspired.

This is a fun pin from one of the many CA shopping expeditions.

Got this at a little thrift shop in Alexandria. It was the only cool thing in the shop!

Another CA antique mall find.

Rings and Pins, Part 1

Here are the photos that weren't blurry, or weren't as blurry - it turns out it's harder to take photos of rings and pins than you (or I!) might think. I'll take more tomorrow - I'll try outside, maybe the flash is throwing it off? Who knows, this technology is beyond my capacity!



This is a small ring for me, and it's a real cheapie - I got it with some others at a church rummage sale (just visiting the church - ha ha!) in Virginia a couple years ago. 3 for $1 - can't argue with that! This one is sort of patriotic, too.




I got this ring at one of the local flea markets in the Alexandria area, not sure which one anymore. I call it my pirate ring, to me it looks like something a pirate would wear. And yes, I wore it to Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End. :)



These two I often wear together just for fun. Derek got me the one on my middle finger at an antique mall in the Bay area, and I happened to find the other one at a flea market here in VA. These are close to giving me the dreaded fat finger look, though, so they may have to be semi-retired until I start eating better or something!



This is my most recent pin. I got it at an antique store in Gilroy, CA on my last visit to CA back in May. Derek and I hit tons of these places on that visit, but didn't have tons of luck finding things.



I love this pin, can't remember exactly where I got it but it was with Derek somewhere in the Bay Area.



Derek got me this one as a present. It's totally fun to wear on a sleeve.



This I got in a tiny antique store in San Jose. It's about an inch wide - tiny and cute!

Some photos for you!

Here are some random photos I thought you might like.



This is Buster, the "older" cat. He is a sweet kitty, he loves to follow us around the house all day, and he likes people food, so he always wants to see what you're eating in case he wants you to share.



This is our baby, Pico. We both love both of our cats, but Pico is Al's favorite. Pico runs the house, if you want to know the truth. He doesn't care about people food, but he loves to be brushed. Both our cats are from Texas.



My hair! I swear there's hair of every color, from dark brown to blonde, with red too just for good measure, and even some gray!



And just because I know you can totally understand, here are some cool Japanese miniatures.

Rock of Love, Episode 9

It’s a beautiful new morning on Rock of Love, and everyone is rejoicing that Krusty is finally gone. Bret’s note to the Ladies tells them there will be an elimination that night, and to help him make a decision, he has invited the Ladies’ exes to spill the beans on all their deep dark secrets. First up is Destiney’s ex-husband, Adam, who doesn’t look at all bikerish, which I thought he might. Destiney thinks he will have nice things to say about her. Jessica is upset that they brought in her ex, Casey, who treated her like crap. Megan’s ex, Josh, is a guy she dated for about 6 months, and whom she wanted to be her boyfriend, but he had another girlfriend he wouldn’t dump for Megan. Ambre is totally surprised that her good friend (and not an ex) Adam is there instead of her fiancé of 7 years. Bret interviews that he is kind of worried that they couldn’t get any of Ambre’s exes to come out for the show. Well, they are either very smart, as evidenced by no longer being with Ambre, or SPOILER ALERT signed iron-clad non-disclosure-of-Ambre’s-true-age agreements. Daisy is totally nervous to see her ex, Charles, who, to continue my habit of comparing people to the evil love children of two male celebrities, looks like the evil love child of Tommy Lee and Kid Rock.

Bret reveals that he has brought someone too, and the doors open to reveal last season’s Heather. In a nutshell, Heather’s job is to get the Ladies stinking drunk and help Bret pick someone to eliminate. Daisy interviews that she is nervous because there is something huge she hasn’t told Bret about Charles. What could it be?? Charles used to be a woman… Charles plays Bret Michaels in a Poison tribute band… Charles was created in a lab using genetic material from Tommy Lee and Kid Rock… I guess we have to wait until later in the show for this big reveal. If the past episodes are any indication, it’s probably something like Charles never got his wisdom teeth removed. Sigh!

Heather wastes no time, immediately repairing to the bar so the Ladies can do body shots, remove clothing, etc. She immediately gets Megan to cough up what Young Mancini had tipped me off to in the beginning of the season, namely that Megan has been on other reality shows, specifically Beauty and the Geek. Megan rats out Destiney behind her back as being on the show just because she is a rock and roll groupie, and throws Jessica under the bus for being too innocent to fit into Bret’s wild lifestyle of wig maintenance and Metamucil swigging. Jessica similarly bitches about Megan and Destiney. Mysteriously, no one is going after Daisy, but we haven’t had the “big reveal” yet.

Meanwhile, Bret drags the guys to a totally awkward sit-down at a cigar club. He hilariously interviews that guys don’t sit around discussing old feelings and wonders what he has done. Bret, honey, this was a conversation you should have had with the man in the mirror before you ever agreed to be on this show. No good dirt emerges until Josh, who looks like a tool in the Daniel Baldwin mode, tells Bret that Megan might date a guy just to get something from him. What does she think she’s going to get from Bret, cheap stripper clothes and a case of the clap? OK, that was uncalled for, but I couldn’t help it. Sorry, Bret, you brought it on yourself.

After a break, Daisy is a hysterically bawling mess worrying herself sick about her big secret, and grabs Heather to finally come clean. And here it is, people, brace yourselves: Daisy and Charles still live together in a one-bedroom apartment, even though they are not a couple. Yeah, that was just about as stupid as I predicted. Heather interviews that Daisy is a total blubbering train wreck. If this kind of stupid thing is all it takes to make her lose her marbles, I can’t imagine what a REAL problem would do to her! I prefer to think that Charles used to be a woman, so I’m going to go with that. Heather is incensed that someone would have the nerve to be living with their ex and trying to date Bret. Ho hum.

Speaking of Bret, he and the guys + Charles are chilling at Dave and Busters, a kind of amusement arcade with booze. Bret, for the record, is drinking a Corona in one scene, so I am free to dislike him again. Without the benefit of hearing Daisy’s Big Secret, Bret shows psychic abilities that are probably related to his recent chakra work, as he is convinced that she and Charles are still getting jiggy. Charles does not seem to flat out confirm or deny it. Bret channels his inner Winston Churchill (yeah, I didn’t know he had it in him either) and calls Charles “a conundrum wrapped in an enigma wrapped in a mystery.” More like a dips**t wrapped in a wifebeater, but who’s keeping track?

Back at the house, Jessica is plowed and is angry that everyone keeps calling her innocent. She eventually starts falling down and barfs and the other chicks have to literally carry her upstairs as she stumbles around dragging the others down with her. Bret arrives in the middle of this and calls her Pukey Pukerton, and seems fairly good natured about all of this. I imagine these types of things are not at all unusual for him, given the types of chicks he seems to like. I can’t be too hard on Jessica, mainly because I’ve probably been close to that state in the fairly recent past, so I will plead the 5th and move on to the next scene…

…which is Heather “downloading” Bret on the Ladies. Here is Heather’s view: Jessica is too young, Megan is an opportunist with a great rack, Ambre is cool but Bret’s lifestyle wouldn’t mesh with hers, and Destiney just wants to date a rock star. What’s she doing on Rock of Love then? Ba-dump-ump! Heather then reveals to Bret that Daisy still lives with Charles. What’s the big deal? I bet they’re just like sisters. Heather thinks Daisy is the worst one for Bret. Just to give both sides, Bret thinks Jessica is a young soul, Megan’s expression never changes, Ambre may be shocked by the goings-on aboard a tour bus, Destiney might go out with any guy in a band, and Daisy needs further questioning about the Charles situation. Bret “confronts” Daisy and Charles and asks Charles point-blank if he’s cool with Daisy possibly being Bret’s Rock of Love, and Charles says he is. Again, ho hum. Would some fisticuffs or an old-fashioned pistol duel have been too much to hope for?

Out next to the pool, Megan drunkenly realizes that Josh only came on the show to advertise the bar he owns (Chicago-based “Swig” in case you’re wondering – I’m sure it sucks) and this makes her cry. She bawls to Ambre about how he broke her heart by refusing to date her and Ambre tattles to Bret as soon as she can. Bret then summons Megan to his room to interrogate her, and we get a hilarious scene where he stares at her “great rack” while trying to find out if she is still hung up on Josh.

Jessica manages to make it to elimination, interviewing that she doesn’t remember the night but rallied. Ambre is confident because she didn’t throw up, she’s not a stripper, and she doesn’t live with her ex-boyfriend, and she is validated by being called first. Bret calls Daisy and tells her no more BS. She interviews that she still has stuff to tell him and she hopes she gets the chance. See, I’m right, Charles never did have his wisdom teeth removed! Ultimately Megan gets the boot, and freezes, staring at Bret with tears in her eyes until he finally drags her outside to get rid of her.

Next week: Bret brings Heather and the remaining Ladies to Vegas. God help us all!

Rock of Love, Episode 2

Dear readers, I want you to know how much I suffer in order to please you. I am forced to watch Rock of Love multiple times, pausing and rewinding all the while, in order to give you the most accurate recap possible. This means that I had to endure this episode’s peepshow far, far too many times, and I fear I have suffered permanent brain damage as a result. However, this will probably make me an even better candidate for a spot on Celebrity Rehab 2, so it’s all good.

Courtney finally wakes up and is informed that she was eliminated in absentia. Her reaction? “That sucks …. I’m a dumb f*** …. I’m a sweet girl, I’m a caring girl, but apparently I’m also a blackout drunk girl.” Sara apparently went on this show on a dare, which is the most sensible reason for being on it I have heard yet. Inna, who is outraged, deliberately tells Aubry, who has a big mouth, who runs straight to Bret to tattle. Did none of these dopes make it past age 12? Bret rationalizes this revelation away, because deep down he can’t believe ANY of these chicks are dumb enough to be on his show, but it makes him feel better to think that they truly want a chance to be his main squeeze. I also think Aubry is trying to pull “mirroring” on Bret by wearing a bandana in the same way he usually does. Either that or she has a wig too.

The “Ladies” learn that they are going to have to put on a talent show, which will take place in a peepshow-style booth, complete with giant fake coin box in case Bret particularly likes an act. Oh boy, this is going to degenerate fast. Gee, what would a houseful of skanky, shameless hos most likely do in a talent show designed to impress Bret “Open Up and Say … Ahh” Michaels? Let’s see:

Destiney: “I am gonna do Kung Fu.”
Angelique: “I’m going to show heem I can get nekkid un be sexy but I can alzo be like a good you know housewife so I cook like a chocolate mousse and a chocolate cake for eem.”
Sara: “I thought I should do belly dancing. I mean, granted, I’ve never done it before, but at least I’ll stand out.”
Ambre: “I’m wrapping myself up, because I’m really good at wrapping presents and stuff, and then I’m just gonna unwrap myself.”
Niki: “A poem. It’s kind of cheesy, but I’m good at cheesiness.”

It’s hard to believe these talented ladies haven’t been snapped up by the entertainment industry before now! Each Lady has a mere 30 seconds to impress Bret “Swallow This Live” Michaels, which freaks them out. Daisy is a little nervous because Bret is “like a god.” If that’s true I bet he’s Ovda, the deep forest god of Finland, who takes the form of a naked man with his feet pointing backwards, and dances or tickles people to death before he eats them.

Let’s sum up the “talents” and Bret’s reactions:

Aubry: plays drums in a “rhythmic-ish” way
Bret: “no token for you”

Destiney: turns Bret on a little with her “kick-a**” Kung Fu moves
Bret: gives her a token

Niki: reads her poorly rhyming poem (maybe she’s a big Walt Whitman fan and it was supposed to be free verse?)
Bret: “eh”

Korie: writes “merry me” on a flip chart (yes, that was it)
Bret: “misspelled, and that’s not good”

Christine: another lame poem
Bret: “not really lovin’ it”

Krusty: irons clothing
Bret: gives her a token – “I like a lot”
Krusty: starts taking off her clothes
Bret: “just pretend you’re ironing again, because that just f****** completely turned me on. I know people think I’m crazy but ironing does turn me on.” (I prefer dusting, myself)

Megan: turns 3 thongs into an American flag in a magic hat (no, it’s way stupider than it sounds)
Bret: gives her a token – “nothing can make me stand at attention better than the American flag”

Sara: belly dances for the first time without showing her belly at all
Bret: “very little effort”

Inna: ties cherry stem in a knot with her mouth as Bret humps the front of the booth
Bret: no token, but she gets an “I love you”

Ambre: unwraps herself
Bret: gives her a token – “more present, I need more present!”

Daisy: sings a song and gyrates
Bret: “I like Daisy a lot. I’m addicted. I don’t care. I don’t want rehab”

Peyton: sings and play guitar
Bret: gives her a token - “I love this woman, she is just cool”

Angelique: takes off her skirt, shows Bret the cake and the mousse
Bret: “just take it off”
Angelique: takes her top off and smashes herself against the booth
Bret: runs over to the booth
Angelique: er, um, how to put this, well, consumes some chocolate mousse in a very Rock of Love way (what, there was a huge “censored” box, use your imagination!)
Bret: can’t deny a spiritual connection

I am going to spend all day tomorrow picketing the French Embassy in retaliation for that little incident.

Just to prove he’s not entirely ruled by his nether regions, Bret picks Peyton, Daisy, and Ambre for the next day’s date. Krusty, despite her hot ironing act, gets scorned by Bret, because suddenly ironing is not a talent, except “maybe in Finland.” I KNEW IT! Krusty is understandably peeved. He specifically tells the Ladies not to go to bed early because he wants to party, so naturally Destiney, Jessica, Megan, and Daisy go straight to bed, breaking one of Bret Michaels’ Rock and Roll Rules. I’m dying to hear the rest of them! The sleepyheads “miss” an acoustic version of “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” and some minor drinking but otherwise made the wiser decision. In retaliation Bret decides to have an old-school dance contest the next night. They’ve been served!

Big John drags the Ladies out of bed the next morning and lectures them about not missing events because of a false sense of security in their VIP status. Destiney is worried sick that Bret is upset, so while Peyton, Daisy, and Ambre leave for their date, Megan, Destiney, and Jessica decide to make a card for Bret using Sharpies and glitter. Exactly how old are these people? Is this where that guy from To Catch a Predator is going to come crashing in? Because now I’m actually getting creeped out. Meanwhile the “lucky” Ladies get to go four-wheeling with Bret. What, there were no NASCAR races or monster truck rallies going on that day? Ambre thinks it’s one of the coolest things she’s ever done, and I feel sorry for her if her life has been that empty up until now. Meanwhile, back at the house, Inna and Angelique (whom Inna calls “Frenchie”) decide to kiss up to Bret by setting up the living room for the dance contest, and the busy cardmakers are hard at work.

Bret and the date ladies have lunch, but it would be way more amusing if Bret and some lunch ladies had dates. Ambre gets some one-on-one time because she’s not a musician, unlike Peyton, who seems reasonably talented, I must say, and Daisy, who comes from the Failed American Idol Conservatory of Music. I understand Ambre’s empty life when he asks her what she’s into and she tells him she likes to work out, hang out with her friends, and sometimes chill at home. Again, I’m a little creeped out, as she sounds like a 13 year old, and I know from junior high students because I actually taught seventh graders for two years. This does, however, explain a lot about the average “contestant” on this show. Ambre and Bret hold hands and make out and Bret gets “movement. Heavy heavy movement.” EEWW!!!!!!!! TMI, man, TMI!!!!!!! Blech.

Megan, Jessica, and Destiney are inordinately proud of the art project they have put together, and get all tarted up and sit by the door so they will be the first thing Bret sees when he gets back from his date. They are wearing very revealing, low-cut tops, and Jessica thinks they “make an amazing trio. Of brains.” Yes, BRAINS. Because I’m sure that’s the first thing anyone will think upon entering the house and seeing them and their prominently displayed “huge tracts of land.” Inna and Frenchie decide to make a similar display of brains, and then we get to watch the stupidest turf war in the history of reality TV, as the two groups of Ladies creep closer and closer to the door in an attempt to be the first ones Bret sees. And hopefully trips over.

When Bret finally gets home, we get the big reveal of the card that will restore Bret’s affection for the VIP Ladies who just couldn’t bother to “party” with him the night before. It’s a poster made out of cardboard and bandanas, and contains a lame poem so dumb I can’t transcribe it here. Wow, I’ve really become an angry recapper, haven’t I? I think I need some liquid attitude adjustment. Bret is thrilled that Inna and Frenchie set up his dance contest, and names these two judges. The prizes are special VIP passes that the winning Ladies can use strategically to spend more time with Bret. He specifically tells them the passes are to be used to steal him away from other chicks. I can hardly wait to see this in action. Frenchie and Inna are given absolute power, or maybe Absolut power, over awarding the prizes.

Idiocy ensues. Most of these chicks have no idea what the dances are supposed to look like, and I have to admit I have no idea in many cases myself. Krusty gets the “worm” and turns Bret on by mashing her tracts of land against the floor, but otherwise Bret is concerned that he has “a crop of bad girls here” – I can’t even think of reply smart-assed enough for that. Roxy owns the “funky chicken” and gives Bret hope; Daisy does the “pony” and earns herself a kiss on the navel and another declaration of Bret’s devotion. I bet she dumps him on national TV too.

Inna, Frenchie, Bret, and a bottle of vodka repair to Bret’s lair to decide the winners. Inna has no idea of the names of the other Ladies, and refers to them by the size of their chests. This is difficult for Bret, not only because most of the Ladies have huge fake boobs, but also because “between Angelique and her thick French accent and Inna, my Ukrainian love gun, I’m confused.” Bret does anticipate my most obvious joke, however, by saying that they reach a non-binding resolution, “much like the U.N. handles their problems.” You know, I bet the world would be a much more interesting place if we let Frenchy, Inna, and the bottle of vodka solve problems at the U.N. Roxy, Destiney, and Daisy are declared the winners, and then we go to the dreaded elimination.

Bret has to clear the air about Sara’s being there on a dare, as opposed to a sincere desire to be Bret’s soul mate, like everyone else. Sara denies it and Inna and Frenchie call her out, which should have led to a Jerry Springer-esque fight but sadly didn’t. Sara’s tour ends here. Bret calls Krusty to get her pass and she initially says no, just to fake him out, and then adds, “how does it feel?” with a snotty look. She better apologize in a way that involves lots and lots of ironing or she’s history next week! Bret calls Catherine a “girl,” which I’m sure she hasn’t heard since the end of WW2. Meow! Niki says that if she’s going home, she’s retarded. Get ready for Special Ed! She joins Sara and Korie in the Losermobile tonight. It's good to know that Bret does pay attention to things like bad poetry and a complete lack of spelling ability! Angelique attempts to French Bret as thanks for getting the last pass, and even Bret is scared by her serpentlike tongue, saying “that tongue [could have] made its way down my throat, all the way to my belly and tasted last night’s supper.” AAAAAAAAGH!!! That was definitely a mental image I will have to erase with a fresh drink pronto.

Next week: stroller derby with Lacey! Woo-hoo!