August 25, 2008

• News And Notes: Extreme Makeover Progress

  

  THE OLYMPICS: There was too much to watch,  but what I did watch was stupendous. As with the 2004 Olympics, I just programmed the DVR (Digital Video Recorder) to record the "series" of Olympics programs on Channel 4. All of NBC's channels featured coverage, along with their websites, but I wasn't on vacation, so couldn't immerse myself into the whole shebang. Even limiting myself to the NBC coverage, that was a LOT of Olympics over two weeks. I saw it all in Hi Def, for the first time, and it was almost as if I were on the track, in the pool, and watching right from Beijing. Opening ceremony: As with all the ceremonies over the years, I'm sure I'll forget this one in four years, but it was a colorful mixture of dance, drums and high flying athletes. I thought I was watching a new Crique de Soleil show for a moment. China did invent gunpowder, and had a lot of fireworks on hand. I'm glad nothing burned down. Swimming: I was able to catch all of Michael Phelps' showcase events, even if I did see the last relay in reruns. I enjoyed the interview between Michael and Mark Spitz.

  NBC is Americentric, of course, (to the point of being a bit jingoistic, esp. during gymnastics) and the coverage was US heavy, but I do applaud them for showing some events in which Americans weren't favored.

  Gymnastics: I'm glad little Shawn Johnson did get a gold medal for the balance beam. Both Shawn and Nastia Luikin (Gold for All Around) were a joy to watch, and each had a distinct and different style. I actually hope that somebody makes enough of a stink that the real ages of the three Chinese girls are revealed, and the Chinese team loses their medals if in fact, their girls were underage. The Chinese did seem to be somewhat sneaky overall, but they put on a good show. They won the most gold medals (51) of any nation since the USSR won 55 in Seoul in 88. America won 36 golds, and led the overall medal count with 110. I'm glad NBC got rid of John Tesh, but I got so sick and tired of Bela Károlyi  that I fast forwarded through his segments. (Even though he IS of Hungarian descent.)

  This isn't a complete entry about the Olympics, so I'll close this now, but there was excitement and greatness all around. Too bad about LoLo Jones loss. I didn't think Usain Bolt showboated all that much. I even enjoyed watching the hula hoop and jumprope competition! (rhythmic gymnastics). True, I fast forwarded through a lot of the basketball , soccer, and volleyball games, but I did slow down enough to watch Kerri Walsh and Misty Mae Traynor in a lot of their matches. (Through a scheduling problem I didn't record their Gold Medal match!)

  HEALTH: I finally got my referral, the second, for an appointment with a specialist to see about my potential hip replacement replacement. My appointment has been made (after almost a month) for September 12th. I hope all they need to do is go in an retap and drill the existing hardware, or perhaps weld the broken part in place.  I've gotten a second refill on the Tylenol Codiene. I'm only taking it once a night, before going to bed, but during times of extreme pain, like this past weekend, I will take a pill during the day.

  WORK: I got a nice $184,000 order for 92 starter panels (which cost the customer $2000.00 each) on Friday. I quoted the job a couple of months ago, and was pretty sure I was getting the job. Since our engineer is off this week, he was all over the kit list with a fine tooth comb on Friday. At one point he was doubtful the starter was right for the job. The panels are going to Egypt and will be mounted in 121 degree heat. I ended the work day a bit frazzled from answering so many questions. (Sort of like the 3rd degree) But now I'm in the process of final design for customer approval. The panels are going overseas, and we got half the payment up front, which makes everyone happy.

  MIKE'S EXTREME MAKEOVER: I don't know if too many readers noticed, but I put the second part of  Mike's Extreme Makeover video blog online last week. The first part should still be on the main page of the blog and is ALSO HERE. The second part is below. In this "webisode", I show the process of carpet cleaning. The third part is nearly finished, in which I showcase the house as ready for my new roommate Mike to move in.

  The footage in the video was shot three weekends ago. Two weekends ago I relaxed, and took a weekend off. This past weekend I didn't stop working. The kitchen remodel was to begin last week, but Frank, our owner's handyman, (who is always overworked being the only guy who repairs and remodels all the owner's properties) wasn't able to show up until Friday. In order to prepare for the relaying of tile in the kitchen, which is to commece today while I'm at work,  I moved the stove, washer and dryer outside the house (by myself). I also completely sanitized Mike's bathroom, which had been Joel's.

  Mike needed some space in the garage for storage, and I had just filled all the empty spaces with furniture before I cleaned the carpet. I successfully cleared enough space that I could actually park my car in the garage. The space will soon be filled with Mike's mixing board and some rather large speakers he brought over. I fillled four trash cans with trach and a friend of Mike's came over with a van, which we filled with all kinds of stuff which went to the Goodwill. Mike , his friend and I moved the refrigerator out of the kitchen and into the garage as well. He's bringing over a newer refreigerator when the kitchen is tiled.

  Below is Part 2 of the video. Part 3 should be online this week.

  Mike's Video Blog #9.2: Mike's Extreme Makeover Part Two. 10.00 min. 512kbps. Plans are made to move furniture, and then Mike vacuums and cleans the carpets. Co Starring Spike and Malcolm.

   

  I've decided to keep the cats as long as I can. Spike is still being bad every so often, but I think it's because of the changes the house is going through, and the new folks which keep showing up in her "place". Hopefully she'll calm down after all the work is done. In the video, I haven't decided to keep them, but in the third part you'll see I say that they can stick around. I don't know if I'll videotape the garage and kitchen until after all the work is done, and Mike moves completely in.

  An Aside: This would have been Joel's 54th birthday. Happy birthday buddy.

  • 10:10 am
  • 48 Comments