Gina's journey

[Gina P]

  Worked with the volunteer crew clearing trails for next weeks summer poker run. This ride is different than the spring one. It travels on many back roads with some very extreme, almost impassible trails. My son is coming to visit us next weekend and wants to drive. Should be interesting. 
  Construction continues on the house. I hired a fellow that I met helping out on the poker runs. Hard worker. I have him running wire and nailing on electric boxes,  while I work on the plumbing. We have the insulation and that will soon go up. Looks like we might make it in time for the drywallers.

[ChrissyRyan]

I hope you meet your schedule for the house.

Chrissy

[Gina P]

  My area was under a tornado watch yesterday. Luckily we didn't get hit by any of those nasty storms. Interesting topography, we live on a hill or mountain, and many of the thunder storms go around us. Very strange yesterday as some of those storms were making a close pass. One minute the air was 83, than a 60 degree wind , then back to the warm, back and forth.
   Had my bi-annual checkup yesterday. I like this doctor. He said my E numbers were low last visit, and wants to see them over 200. Last doctor was always saying she didn't want anything over 100. He ordered a blood test and will adjust as necessary. I also discussed about getting voice surgery and he is going to work his end, and try and get the insurance company to pay some. Fingers crossed.

[ChrissyRyan]

Have you escaped the WV flooding Gina?


Chrissy

[Gina P]

Have you escaped the WV flooding Gina?


Chrissy

So glad that bad weather missed us. A town, Weston, about an hours drive, was flooded pretty bad. Videos all over the web of the mayhem.
   Working on the house, went to install the shower walls to find one damaged. Back to the store and re-order. Still hoping I can get it in before the drywallers show up. Switched gears and installed the new electric panel yesterday. Hooked up a light circuit and tried it, nothing. Checked it, used a different breaker, nothing, third try realized I never turned on the main! Nothing like feeling stupid!
   My son starts his trip down here today. So looking forward to seeing him. He was against us moving here, so I am looking for his approval, and a nice visit. Poker run Saturday with him, should be fun. More to come.

   

[Gina P]

  I survived the Poker run. This one had some really bad spots. I let my son drive and I must admit, he was a bit aggressive behind the wheel. Helped pull out a fellow in a side by side 4x4 stuck in the mud. Hooked our winch to the back of another side by side, who hooked his winch to the stuck one. All in all a good day. Nothing broke!
  He has left for home and it's back to work for me. He is a very intense man and has an opinion about everything. Its nice to see him, but also nice for things to return to normal.

[Gina P]

  I received a call from our drywaller, yesterday. He is a week behind. That will help me out. One shower came in damaged and had to be reordered, the other shower is stuck in customs, some of the insulation is back ordered. So I now have 2 weeks to finish my prep work.
  Doctors office called with my blood results. They said everything is where the doctor wants them. My E was over 500. This was at peak and only 2 days since I had injected. I was still surprised that the doctor felt it was good. He also said he will start working on the insurance company to try and get them to pay for some of the voice surgery this winter. We shall se how that works out.

[Gina P]

   I met my short term weight loss goal of 190lbs. Next is 180! I hope to get down to somewhere around 160 or whatever appears right, in front of the mirror. As my waist continues to shrink, my breasts are looking proportionally bigger. Now I need a new belt and many of my bras are slipping. My shorts are also an inch or 2 to big now. I want to go shopping but also want to wait as more pounds are shed.

[ChrissyRyan]

I met my short term weight loss goal of 190lbs. Next is 180! I hope to get down to somewhere around 160 or whatever appears right, in front of the mirror. As my waist continues to shrink, my breasts are looking proportionally bigger. Now I need a new belt and many of my bras are slipping. My shorts are also an inch or 2 to big now. I want to go shopping but also want to wait as more pounds are shed.

Congratulations!

[Charlotte Kitty ✅]

Congratulations, glad that's working out for you.

[ChrissyRyan]

I received a call from our drywaller, yesterday. He is a week behind. That will help me out. One shower came in damaged and had to be reordered, the other shower is stuck in customs, some of the insulation is back ordered. So I now have 2 weeks to finish my prep work.
  Doctors office called with my blood results. They said everything is where the doctor wants them. My E was over 500. This was at peak and only 2 days since I had injected. I was still surprised that the doctor felt it was good. He also said he will start working on the insurance company to try and get them to pay for some of the voice surgery this winter. We shall se how that works out.

So these showers have already been made and you direct plumbing to the right places?

What about grab bars so when you get old you can pull on one to avoid a fall and not tear a sidewall out?  I hear that those should be directly connected to a two by four behind the shower wall. 

[Gina P]

So these showers have already been made and you direct plumbing to the right places?

What about grab bars so when you get old you can pull on one to avoid a fall and not tear a sidewall out?  I hear that those should be directly connected to a two by four behind the shower wall. 

Thanks Chrissy,
I have the grab bars and have put additional blocking in the walls for them to fasten to. Thanks for the suggestion though. So much to think about before the drywall goes on.
Also added blocking in the kitchen for the cabinets to fasten to. Ran the vent pipe for the stove/microwave hood, yesterday. Dryer vent needs to be run still. This will go up and out through the attic. Almost forgot to run the thermostat wire. 

[Gina P]

Thanks Chrissy,
I have the grab bars and have put additional blocking in the walls for them to fasten to. Thanks for the suggestion though. So much to think about before the drywall goes on.
Also added blocking in the kitchen for the cabinets to fasten to. Ran the vent pipe for the stove/microwave hood, yesterday. Dryer vent needs to be run still. This will go up and out through the attic. Almost forgot to run the thermostat wire.

I was at Lowes the other day and one of the female clerks came up to me and said I just want to complement you on how you dress. You are always so pretty and everything is coordinated. Made me feel so good. Being in Lowes in a dress is a bit out of place but we usually go out for lunch and make a day of running errands so I dress nice. 
  Even with all the construction, I have found time for a small garden. We have been picking spinach, beets, and tomatoes. I have some nice cantaloupe growing also, and the potatoes are doing well.

Chrissy, I installed the grab bar on one shower yesterday, just incase I forgot where the blocking was. 👍�
Started connecting some of the electric circuits to the panel, so I can remove the temporary wires draped all around the house. They will still have just a bulb hanging till later. Feels good actually completing some aspects of this project.

[Gina P]

Had my 40th wedding anniversary yesterday. Reminded my wife what day it was. She has maintained that she married Greg, not Gina! We had a discussion about it, which she didn't want to have. Only after I started calling her Miss .... followed by her maiden name, would she talk about it. It's all very fustrating. So she married my male anatomy? The best I could get was that she is very confused about how she feels but still wants to be together. Its difficult for me, as I desire some intimate contact. I also enjoy the security of our relationship. Where this goes is anyone's  guess.

[Gina P]

  I think I will be ready for the drywall next week. Yay!
  99% of the insulation is up. The house seams so quiet now.
  Cut a 4 foot hole in the side wall and installed a window in a bedroom that used to be a bathroom. Nothing like cutting a large hole in your house wall, to get the blood pumping. 
  Realized the dryer was over the return vent for the furnace so I ran the dryer vent up through the wall, and out through the attic to the side wall. Had to fabricate a duct to fit in the wall. Luckily I brought my metal brake down here.
  Electric is all run, with several circuits connected at the new panel box. Spent a large portion of yesterday removing the last of the old wire.
  2nd shower came in, and installs after the drywall, so that will have to wait. I added some extra studs for the shower door and wall to fasten to. Set the base in and found out my drain is off by 1 inch. Argh! But yes, I can fix that.
  I think I see a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. There is hope that I might make it to the end of this project.
  Struggled with bit of depression this last week, so the diet took a back seat. Going to try and resume being good today.

[ChrissyRyan]

I think I will be ready for the drywall next week. Yay!
  99% of the insulation is up. The house seams so quiet now.
  Cut a 4 foot hole in the side wall and installed a window in a bedroom that used to be a bathroom. Nothing like cutting a large hole in your house wall, to get the blood pumping. 
  Realized the dryer was over the return vent for the furnace so I ran the dryer vent up through the wall, and out through the attic to the side wall. Had to fabricate a duct to fit in the wall. Luckily I brought my metal brake down here.
  Electric is all run, with several circuits connected at the new panel box. Spent a large portion of yesterday removing the last of the old wire.
  2nd shower came in, and installs after the drywall, so that will have to wait. I added some extra studs for the shower door and wall to fasten to. Set the base in and found out my drain is off by 1 inch. Argh! But yes, I can fix that.
  I think I see a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. There is hope that I might make it to the end of this project.
  Struggled with bit of depression this last week, so the diet took a back seat. Going to try and resume being good today.

Does a building inspector come by and check your work at various points of construction?

Also, and maybe this was done at building permitting time, are the tax assessors adding to your property tax bill these improvements?

I gather that "general contractors" take care of all of this behind the scenes work for their customers, and the government people do their part to make sure everything is built to code and safe.

[Gina P]

Does a building inspector come by and check your work at various points of construction?

Also, and maybe this was done at building permitting time, are the tax assessors adding to your property tax bill these improvements?

I gather that "general contractors" take care of all of this behind the scenes work for their customers, and the government people do their part to make sure everything is built to code and safe.

Ha, ha! This is 'Wild and Free', West Virginia! No inspectors or zoning rules here. What's a building permit? They never heard of one. This a double edge sword, as anything goes here. So that explains the previous owners, poor work done on the house I bought. 
  It is nice to not have to wait around for inspectors approval though. Or to comply with their idiosyncrasies. 
   Seriously, my work is up to NJ codes, to the best of my knowledge.

[Stottie Girl]

Ha, ha! This is 'Wild and Free', West Virginia! No inspectors or zoning rules here. What's a building permit? They never heard of one. This a double edge sword, as anything goes here. So that explains the previous owners, poor work done on the house I bought.
  It is nice to not have to wait around for inspectors approval though. Or to comply with their idiosyncrasies.
   Seriously, my work is up to NJ codes, to the best of my knowledge.

Whaaaat??! No building inspectors? No building control? That's nuts! As someone who works for building control I'm astounded! We've had building control since the great fire of London ha ha!

Good job you build responsibly Gina!

[Courtney G]

Ha, ha! This is 'Wild and Free', West Virginia! No inspectors or zoning rules here. What's a building permit? They never heard of one. This a double edge sword, as anything goes here. So that explains the previous owners, poor work done on the house I bought.
  It is nice to not have to wait around for inspectors approval though. Or to comply with their idiosyncrasies.
   Seriously, my work is up to NJ codes, to the best of my knowledge.

I know your work, Gina, and I'd rather have you renovate a house for me than a licensed contractor! Congrats on the weight loss.