The House Before

Claire and I finally have the house settled and ready for prime time...well mostly.  We still have some landscaping to do, would like to redo the kitchen and spruce up the floors, but we figure it is probably time to share some before and after shots...

Today, before...and no, none of the furniture is ours...also, every wall, ceiling and exposed wood in the house (Except for kitchen and basement) has been painted...



Back Deck, just off the kitchen...



When that day comes, this is probably what this room will look like.





Dining room



Front Entry, stairs and C's Office

I guess you would call this the Hearth Room and Breakfast Nook

Kitchen



Living Room




Front 1/2 of basement



Back Half of Basement



Storage room in basement




Master Bath..notice the rough wallpaper




Master Bedroom




C's Office



So I was watching "Dancing with the Stars" and...

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Yea, I can't believe I said that either...Claire's parents and granddaddy are in KC with us for Thanksgiving and it was on my TV.  I enjoyed being with the fam!

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Loving the full all day feeling today.  Turkey and corn grits rock!!

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Claire made a really good pumpkin cream cheese pie.  Wowza!

Had a nice cigar with granddaddy.

Life is good.

Happy Thanksgiving Y'all!!!

Last Call for Hungry Men

I was reminded last week why I hate strongly dislike US Air.

I have flown on eight different flights with them this year (two round trips) and all eight have been at least 15 minutes late.

That of course means I have to do an OJ Simpson through the airport.  It also meant that twice last week I had to hear "Final Boarding Call for Mr. Bogart.  Mr. Bogart, please board your plane at gate *** or your seat will be forfeit."

Did I mention my employer had spent $1300 on a round trip ticket to Toronto and I had to pay another $10 when I checked in so I could avoid the last row window?

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My favorite part of the trip to Toronto?  Well, probably getting to my hotel at 10:45pm and finding the kitchen closed.  You see, since my connecting flight was late, I did not have a chance to eat at the airport.  Since my flight into Toronto was late, I was unable to get to the hotel in time to get dinner from the kitchen.  So, what did that mean for my dietary choices???  Well, I got to experience something that I had not had since college...

HUNGRY MAN FROZEN DINNER

Ah yea baby...Barbecue Surprise for Bogart.  Booya.  Take that GI Track.

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Despite the non-glorious parts of business travel, I do miss getting on the road once in a while though. 

Peeing into the Wind

Guys, what is the very first rule of life that your dad's taught you?

Okay...you are right, suck it in when a pretty girl walks by...but what is the second rule that you were taught?

That's right, don't pee into the wind...followed closely by rule number two three...don't spit into the wind.

I realized today a rule I should have been taught, but due to being San Diego, I never was shown properly.

Rule number....uh, four...don't attempt to rake leaves in the wind.

Yes, a job that should have taken me 20 mins, lasted a little over an hour and it still looks crappy.

And getting worse because the leaves keep falling in the wind.

Yea, some Rhodes Scholar I am.

Do you? Do you? Then you are!

Spent 5 days in Vegas last week for a conference and some College Football.

Spent the last 24-hours in Toronto, Canada for a 45-minute work meeting.

And that brings my travel for 2010 mostly to a close.  I have one more trip to Atlanta coming up at Christmas, but that is all about family and fun...A wedding specifically.

And then in May I have another Wedding...

That follows on the heals of the two weddings (1 in New Orleans and 1 in VA) that I performed in October.

You can just call me the Minister for Hire...not quite as cool as Gun for Hire, but it is the best I can do.