existing deck update

ok. let's review. here is what our deck used to look like. peach colored loveliness that got disgustingly dirty.

we knew that the wood was in pretty good shape unlike the other portions of the deck that extend into the yard. so we sanded away the peach and grit and found it was lighter colored than we thought.

rob believes it some sort of fir and we sanded and stained/oiled it with what we're using on the cedar (of the deck we built). its simply "natural cedar" color. but doesn't it look wonderful compared to that peach?

book update

Ok. so this is what i got in my yahoo account today from our marriage counselor at the vet center. crazy!!!

here it is:

My office manager and I enjoyed the book. I will need to explore options with my Team Leader. We may even go regional with this. It may bigger than you originally thought.

I will keep in touch.


Kenneth Dubé, M.A.

the book

sheesh. what an experience it can be to self-publish. all this time i've been wanting to have the book be bigger. an 11x17 in 1/2. however, i am finding that 11x17 is a very hard thing to find in person. and, all i have found for paper options is bright white regular mutli-purpose paper, which quite frankly i'm not too keen on but had decided to go w/ anyway. but as i have researched around for 11x17 for a cover, i'm finding equally few options that aren't crazy expensive or geared toward a laser printer (we have an inkjet and it can accomodate 11x17, which at the time of purchase took us to 4 stores to find on that size). so...as my frustation mounted (in a more bummed out than angry sort of way), rob asked why we couldn't just use 8x11 and fold it in 1/2. ah! a small book. so....i printed out smaller versions and it looks just as nice and now i'll have all sorts of options for better paper (hopefully some sort of gloss) and simply use the cardstock i bought to experiment (before buying in 11x17 online) as the real deal. its ok, but again, w/out the laser printer my options on glossy cardstock are few. plus, this way i'll use way less ink as well. so...until a real publisher comes along, a small book it shall be. :)

deck progress

we have one side of the railing on the lower deck done! my contribution was applying linseed oil to the various pieces. rob did the rest. but we hope to have this go all the way around. the gates will be constucted the same way as well. more updates as they occur. :)

ah! almost done!!!

this is the picture to page one of my book. i have it all set up to print now and just need to design and scan the cover. then purchase a huge stapler and 11x17 glossy photo paper (its spendier than the 11x17 super bright--which unfortunately, unless i want to use photo paper for the whole book, is what i'll be using. that's 500 sheets for $16 as opposed to $30 for 20). i'm sooo excited! so close!!!

its a bit belated but here it is

the kids got their hair cut last month. izsak has had long hair since he was about 6 yrs old (at his request) and was curious how he looked w/ short hair. i wasn't a big fan of the hair cut at first because i thought it made him look younger (like six?). but it doesn't really matter because he still normally wears a hat.

ryenn doesn't really like hair on her neck and has had short hair (at her request also) off and on. in september she got a bob, but is wasn't a good, proper bob. so for her summer do she wanted a proper one and rob found someone who could do that. :)

ah...

on thursday rob and i had the opportunity to see "flight of the conchords" up in portland. first, we picked up cousin tim from salem to watch the kids and pets. then we headed up to portland and visited briefly with our friends the becks. at 7:15 we made a mad dash to downtown portland to the albert schnitzer concert hall. there is really not a bad seat in the house there and we enjoyed a really humorous show. rob did awesome considering there were so many people. indeed. we lucked out w/ aisle seats which make him feel less anxious. and believe me, the crowd at the show just couldn't sit still. every minute somebody had to get up to what? go the bathroom? smoke? it was a sit down show and quite a few people had a hard time w/ that concept. regardless, we had fun. we then headed back to the becks where we stayed up too late chatting. we then spent most of friday with them, eating lunch at the park and then visiting the model home of their future home and walking around the neighborhood to possible lot options. and connor (their two year old) only threw a major fit once. :)

rob and i then headed to the movie theater and saw "wolverine". we very much enjoyed it. me for hugh and rob just in general. :)

after that we headed to our friends the davisons where they'd prepared a very lovely dinner of chicken (as in a WHOLE bird), kale w/ green beans, salad and mashed yams w/ potatoes. it was delicious!! we then went out for dessert and drinks. then we splet in their cozy, delightful guest room. the next morning they made us a fabulous breakfast w/ fresh eggs from their chickens (in which they discovered days old kittens in the coop while we were there), corn bread muffins, toast (mark is english..gotta have the toast) and the BEST coffee.

we then had a very easy drive back considering it was a sunny saturday and the traffic could've been a lot worse. in fact, the average speed was 70mph in the fast lane much to my dismay and if i hadn't been so tired i might have been more irritated. :)

all in all a fantastic reprieve from the kids and pets. this next weekend when i head to san francisco for three days for a sisters weekend!