It’s Art, I tell ya! Art art art!
Of cors it’s always “art” at 0300!
Cheesie Meme
I got hit with a meme from Cheesie!
Fun to see that she’s actually been here to this dusty corner of the internet. Kanna comply with meme tho because she quotes here specifically:
Guys not excluded. I dun care! Make do with whatever you have! Unless you’re bald, you die die also have to do it Link
Well, I am excused cuz I AM Bald! Just like Bruce and Jean-Luc! WAHAHAHAHAH
However, I will be in KL this Wed and Thurs in case you’d like to share some cheese and verify my “follically-challenged” status…
Home Improvement: Backyard Phase 1
So Phase 1 of my “improve the backyard” project, a project that has been in the works for at LEAST 5 years, is more or less complete. One of the reasons why I took so long was because I had no idea what I could do with it aside from “clear the weeds”. To give you an idea on how the yard looks like, here’s a shot from 2003(!) of the biggest part of the yard.
Imagine all of this being overgrown with 4 years’ worth of weeds. That’s a lot of weeds…
Here’s how it looks today. Note the blue trash cans. I don’t think they’ve moved much…
Eventually, my idea came to “extend the deck”. By doing that, it would more than double the decked space in the yard and remove the weed issue from that part of the yard. There’s a small terrace next to the steps in the center on the right that also has been cleared of weeds that got paver stoned over additional space for chairs, tables, charcoal grills, etc. It kinda works out because it’s twin on the left side is filled with poured concrete and it’s not level and has things growing out of it. That’s the side with the white yard chairs in the first photo.
So after 5 weeks of clearing out the weeds and various things growing in the terraces, I was able to have the work started on the deck. You can see the last bunch of weeds/plants in the middle of the last terrace next to the green can. Imagine all of this being overrun with weeds…
Nothing here but sand and bugs
Here’s the shot when the contractors came in
The contractors had to level out the sand and drill studs into the retaining wall to support the frame that the planks would be put on top of to create the deck.
Halfway there!
This was this morning when they began to lay down planks as well as compact the sand in the terrace above to install the paver stones.
Finally it’s done! More usable space in the backyard AND no more weed worries!
Yes, the new and old decks don’t match. The new decks are made of a composite that’s wood scraps and PET. They’re rot-proof and don’t require weatherproofing. The old deck is rotting out and in a year or so, that entire deck will need to be replaced too. So when the time comes, I will have the planks laid out in the same pattern as the new deck. So it will match then!
Now all I have to do is to figure out what to do with a 25′ X 22′ space. That’s the main part of the yard and that comprises “Phase 2”. Hopefully that won’t take another 5 years.
Have some cookies!
Did anyone bring milk?
Music!
Hey! Do you like club music? Yeah?
How about classical music, the kind that you go to concert halls with dates to?
Well, how about combining the two?
50 Cent Vitamin Water Commercial
Posted Jun 02, 2007
Boring Stuff, Nothing of note to Report
…so not a lot of update-worthy stuff happening.
Unlike my fren DSD, who took the plunge and moved to London on a UK working holiday visa (Why we dun get those here, I’ll never understand. Must be a union thing), I’ve been up to ABSOLUTELY NOTHING that’s worth recording in photo or in words.
Over the next few weeks, here’s what’s up with me (as of 1 June):
Fix my black car’s headliner Done!
Fix the washing machine (stupid electrical stuff) Done!
Begin replacing windows in one of the buildings Signed Paperwork to authorise work
Begin backyard renovation (a lot of weeds to pull)
Begin hunting for new used couch & chair
Begin cleaning out the garage
Explore bathroom remodel
Explore repainting the house
You will notice that NONE of these things involve travel, EQM or flirting with SQ girls. How boring! I did take a brief roadtrip to the Napa Valley and paid a return visit to the Silver Oak Winery. You will recall, last time I made the trip up there was for the February winter release party that was to be the last one there because they’re tearing down the old, fire damaged building. I found out on my recent visit that Silver Oak will continue to have release parties in Oakville. But the question is, how?
It has a purty parking lot though. Wonder how they’re going to pull it off?
A brief visit to the SFMOMA
There was a long line. Some of it was because of the early Picasso exhibit, but mostly it was because the SFMOMA is open late on Thursday night (to 2030!) and it’s half price starting at 1800.
Unlike many of the other museums I’ve been to (Tate Modern, Louvre, MOMA, Musee d’Orsay), the SFMOMA forbids photography in the main galleries. WTF? I guess they REALLY want you to buy an overpriced exhibition catalogue. As a result, there won’t be a lot of pix in this post.
As with the other “modern art” museums I’ve visited in the past, much thought was put into the design of the building. SFMOMA is no exception to that. When you first enter the museum, your senses are assaulted by both a bright airy space and a very shiny patterened floor. It works.
It’s a nice building, the permanent exhibits are interesting and it’s half a block down from the W San Francisco and its XYZ bar. What more do you need?
Been Busy
No updates usually means I’ve been busy with other non-travel stuff (boooo!).
Been working on a couple of projects, one fundraiser and one awareness/educational event. Takes a lot of time and ALWAYS comes down to the wire. After it’s all done, I could sure use a quick trip down to LA for some food. Or even better, a longer trip to Hong Kong for some good won ton mein. *drooling*
Got some more Beijing pix of a verrry interesting bathroom coming up. Soon!
Great Quote
This is a quote that I thought up while talking on the phone.
Rear view mirror says “Objects Closer than they Appear”. SO DRIVE FASTER!“
Also been watching a lot of Giada De Laurentiis. She has a cooking show in these parts.
Cooking means eating! Yum!
It’s cold outside!
It’s 5 degrees (celsius) outside!
It’s frakkin’ April and it’s 5, FIVE degrees out! Brrrrr!!!!
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