Monday: (08/04) Lou and Dawn went down to San Jose for appointments and classes. They’ll be back Wednesday.

I was busy cleaning up my study to provide access to the windows for replacement. The room was piled floor to ceiling with stuff but the closet was empty. I went to Home Depot and got a shelf and installed it in the closet. I had intended to make my own but that intention is several years old so the quick fix is the purchase method. I installed the shelf and cleaned up most of the day.

The contractor called and asked to start the siding Wednesday so both projects may be finished this week.

I repaired the doorbell which hasn’t worked for years. What would you expect at an electricians house? Actually quite a productive day but there is much to do before Wednesday. Tomorrow starts with a doctors visit then back to work.

Tuesday: (08/05) Busy day made busier by the unexpected early arrival of the siding folks tomorrow.

I started the day with a followup visit to the doctor. My little kidney stone hasn’t been seen these past two weeks but fortunately I’ve been feeling good waiting for it to show it’s face. It’s almost ready pop out but that knowledge doesn’t make me worry less waiting for the fun to start again.

I treated myself to a Chinese buffet lunch near the hospital before heading home. It was one I haven’t tried before called the Super Buffet on Saratoga Avenue in San Jose. Real good.

I had to finish a few things before tomorrow. I repaired several vent screens. Don’t want any critters moving in. I also repaired all the rafter ends that had been sawed or rather hacked off to provide clearance for the old patio cover. I installed new end pieces so the siding and soffit can be installed correctly. I’m sure if the contractor did it it wouldn’t be as good especially since they hadn’t seen the problem since when they were here before the patio cover was still in place. I also cleaned up and put away a lot of stuff that had accumulated on the patio.

I finished up just before 9pm and then picked up dinner at our local beanery Taco El Grullense getting a nice super nachos.

Wednesday: (08/06) While I waited for the contractor to show up I did a few last minute things. I Removed the fencing that was against the house. Again, I know what the contractors best friend, the sawsall, can do to fence and I prefer a little better installation. I also remembered to move a couple of big planters that were against the house that have bougainvilleas. That can be a sticky job but wasn’t bad other than the weight of 30 gallons of dirt.

Fortunately, as I sit here, at noon, waiting for the contractor, who was supposed to arrive at 10, I have good entertainment. They are finishing up the house being built across the street. They are installing the paving stone driveway today.

It works every time! The contractor arrived at 1210 with his truck very over loaded with most of the material. These workers, like most of the people working on the house across the street, live in the valley around Sacramento. The price of gas has to be hurting them. The foreman across the street says he spends $350 a week on gas. Glad I’m not doing that!

After dropping off the load, they left to go to Home Depot to get the lumber that was needed, another truck load. So, work didn’t start until near 2pm but even with the delays, they nearly prepared two sides of the house with furring. At this rate they should finish fairly quickly.

Lou picked up a Pizz’a Chicago pizza for dinner.

Thursday: (08/07) We expected both the return of the siding folks and for the window installers to arrive about 8am. The windows arrived near 9am while the siding guys arrived just before noon.

All the windows except the garage were installed today and a little of the touch-up work done today. The garage window could not be installed because it’s 13″ too narrow. Oops! In addition, we learned that the door is not yet available. They don’t schedule the installation until all material is in. The installer confirmed all th material was in the day before but when he arrived to pickup the windows and door, the door had left the building. So it’s on order again, hopefully with front of the line privilege. The windows look great!

Even with such a late arrival, the siding guys completed the most difficult part, the area above of sun room. They had to brace the roof to allow to work on the weak tin roof. They also have some missing material like more than half the vent covers. That may make them have to stop until they get them since all the other work rises from the vents.

Lou and Dawn whipped up a cranberry asian pair pie. The pears come from Dan’s pair tree in the front yard. The poor little tree is overload with fruit this year. Dawn planted this tree from a seed she saved from a pear our neighbor gave her. It’s probably 10 years old now but due to not getting out of a pot into the ground for a few years, it’s only about two inches in diameter and has only had a max of 17 pears before. This year there are more like 71.

My job is photo journalist. I’m taking hundreds of pictures some of which will end up being posted here when th job is  done.