Construction Continues

It looks like the rain has finally stopped, so the construction is starting to continue in my folk's backyard. I like the brick caps on the wall and the house.

Employment!

I start my new career as an associate attorney at a very reputable law firm January 12th. (Don't really want to say which firm since I try to keep this blog about family and friends and stuff, and don't want work life to come into it.)
I am very excited and relieved. Of course Sarah could come into the world at any point now (we're at 31 weeks with a due date of March 2). So this is great news and will allow Sherri to take the full extent of her maternity leave.
Anyway, now if I could just accomplish two things I would be set:
1: get this back pain gone - unfortunately the best doctor I ever had passed away so I'm looking for someone else to fix me up.
2: Get the Dr. Horrible lyrics and music out of my head. I love the mini-movie and all, but it's been at least a week where every time I don't actively think of something, I have the music in my head. It won't stop - "I cannot believe my eyes" - see what I mean. THIS IS DR. HORRIBLE'S CRUELEST THING HE'S EVER DONE!

Chanuka at my Sister's

Yesterday we had a Chanukah party at my sister's house. A fun time was had by all.

CousinsCousins - Part II

Aaron leaves today, and he said he'll be back between 1 and 7 years.

Advertising for ginger ale

Sherri and Me

My sister set up cookies and the accouterments to decorate them. Here's one of mine.

Sawyer liked his cookie

Skunk

I don't really mind the smell of skunk, but I've decided it doesn't belong in the home. I went over to my folks' house yesterday and there is a faint smell of skunk in it. Turns out one of their dogs got sprayed and didn't like the spray too much so she rubbed her face in the carpet. My parents say the smell is already pretty well gone (they left the windows open and the fan on), but it is still there.
Here's a couple pics from the kitchen. Coming along, but the backsplash tile work needs some fixing. Some of it is not even.

The Perfect Circle

We went to The Perfect Circle Cupcakery last night. They officially open on Tuesday, but they had an open house last night to sample the cupcakes. We only stayed for one sample, and it was very good. They were not ready for the open house though. It was supposed to start at 5:00 and no cupcakes came out until 5:30. They said they were still working out their ovens - wouldn't you do that before the open house?
Anyway, the cupcakes and the decor were very good. If the place is still around I could see us taking Sarah here for a Camp Cupcake:

Unrelated, but I'm still obsessed.

Nephew's 2nd Birthday

My nephew, Sawyer, turned 2 yesterday.

My sister made this great cake. Makes me want to go skiing.

There was painting for all. I like the little smocks. There just shirts my sister cut to fit.

Grandpa and some kids.Happy Birthday to Sawyer.

Quite a bit of the kitchen is done. The table is in.

Some of the appliances are in, and the tile work (backsplash) is finished.

Kick

For a while now Sarah has been moving around quite a bit inside of Sherri, but yesterday was the first time I could feel her. It was pretty cool.
Logan slept over last night. We'll probably play some Wii when he wakes up. Sherri will be leaving for work at about 6:30am. Love the holidays!

Yard Progress Slowing

I like this picture. If you look at the wheelbarrow you can see bricks soaking in water. The crew left before the rain and the bricks are soaked from the rain.The countertops went in yesterday. Here's a pic of the very blue (not sure if it comes out correctly in the pic) counter.Sherri made ginger cookies...mmmm.

Cold

Here's the current weather as I write this:
47°F Current:RainWind: E at 19 mph
Translated, it means cold.

Anyway, I went over to my folks to see the floor installation. It's coming along well. It was delayed a bit for various reasons, and of course the outside work is delayed while it's raining, but hopefully things will be back on track later this week.Lots of footprints on the new floor.

On the way home I picked up some Duraflames, since our chimney isn't drafting correctly for a real wood fire. Sherri will be home about 4:00pm today since she went in at 7:00am. Tomorrow she has off, and it will be a day of errands.

I'm never eating again!

Last night I am sure I ate more in one sitting than I have ever eaten before. I was uncomfortably full (or fool) for about 4 hours. Sherri made a ton of food, and I felt obligated to eat the whole thing. That isn't quite true. I just really liked it and didn't stop myself from eating the whole thing.
Let's see, I had: over a pound of london broil, pasta, over half a loaf of bread, almost 2 whole artichokes, a glass of water, 2 glasses of wine, and frozen yogurt for dessert.
TOO MUCH!!!

Anyway, here's Sherri cooking, with a minxish expression. Here's some of the food eaten. Of course Sherri controlled herself (which is why I ate over half the loaf and ate almost 2 artichokes, and ate much more meat than her)

Arcade video coming along

As I previously blogged, my friend Alex is making a video for my arcade cabinet. Right now he is working on a shot from the game (movie) TRON. He will also be making a Pac-Man, Space Ace and other shots. Here is the first bit of the TRON video. He really is moving along quickly. I can't wait to see the finished product!

Parents' Project Progress Précis

Scullery Snaps

Backyard Broadcast

YLD Hanukkah Party

I went to the Young Leadership Division of the Jewish Federation of Orange County's annual Hanukkah party tonight. It was a good place to mingle and get some new contacts for work. Sherri stayed home since she has to work so early in the morning tomorrow, but Sherri's sister introduced me to some attorneys she knows, so it was a good evening. The party had probably about 200 people. The home where it was held was AMAZING. I only took one picture with my cell. The inside atrium of the place was literally bigger than my entire home. Besides the inside atrium though, there was a basketball court, full outdoor kitchen/barbecue, and a very nice pool. There might have been horse stables too, but I couldn't tell. Anyway, very nice home.

Kitchen / Yard - Moving Right Along

Here's a couple pictures of the kitchen cabinets coming in. The kitchen really is almost done. I expect by next Friday it will be usable. We'll see.

In this picture you can see Alex Macias. He is the general contractor for the kitchen. The general contractor for the backyard is Tony Escondido. They are both excellent and very inexpensive for what they do.I apologize in advance for this video. My narration and the excessive camera shake are not good.

Metamorphosis

This flower is in my atrium. The plastic looking thing around it is really a spiderweb. There is a hole in the middle where I poked it with my key because I couldn't figure out what it was. I have never seen a spiderweb so complete - without gaps. It's as if a plastic sheet was placed over the flower.
Anyway, it's pretty cool.

LOUD!!!

You will want to turn down the volume on this video. My folks' backyard was getting ripped out yesterday. They had an air compressor big enough to power 5 jackhammers, but since that wasn't enough, they had an electric powered jackhammer too.

It was VERY loud. But all the hardscape came up and the pool is deplastered. In the distance you can see another team of guys digging trenches so the pool equipment (pump, heater, etc.) can be moved out of the line of site of the new kitchen.

Kitchen / Yard Progress

It looks like the retaining wall for my folks' new patio is almost done.

And the cabinets are coming in. Hopefully by Friday, all cabinets will be installed. Also, I was told the flooring comes in on Friday.

Happy Birthday to My Brother

Yesterday was my brother's birthday. We went out to Chakra's Indian Cuisine. I really liked it, but Sherri couldn't eat much (any) of it because she cannot stand even the tiniest little bit of spicy food.

Far away group shot from the waiter.

I took the flash off for this picture. I like the glow.

Duck's Game 5-3!

Sherri went out with Angel, Robin and Logan tonight, while I went to the Ducks game with Raitis, Shawn and Dave. It also just so happened, Sean and Belinda were at the game. It also also so happened my brother was at the game with his kids. It was a very fun game. With about 3 minutes left the score was 4-1, and the Blue Jackets made a last minute rally of 2 points. I didn't bring my camera, so just one picture from my phone.My brother took this picture when I went to meet him between 1st and 2nd period. My nephew (with his back to the camera) was very startled when I showed up.

More Thanksgiving

Since my nephew is visiting from Japan, and because he missed out on Thanksgiving, my brother had another Thanksgiving last night. More turkey, potatoes, stuffing, pecan pie, etc. I was again stuffed...just when I thought I was out they pull me back in.

Aaron brought these chocolates from Japan. This is a cantaloupe candy.