Kitchen Remodel - day 1

After months of planning and waiting, the kitchen remodel has started today. Here is a BEFORE picture of our kitchen.

After much pounding, crashing, and barking (Jena didn't like the kitchen destruction at all!) Here is what it looks like... Good-bye OLD kitchen!

Have you ever wondered what the side of your free standing stove/oven looks like? UH, YUCK!!! That was the first thing I cleaned today!

Do you want to see our NEW kitchen?


Hahaha... as you have already guessed, it's not our new kitchen, but our interim kitchen. Jim setup one gas burner and a microwave. Cheryl and I are making orange chicken, egg rolls, chicken lo mien, and rice... it's so nice having the day off...

Here is what our kitchen looks like at the end of the day...

It looks so much BIGGER and BRIGHTER without the cabinets.

Well, here it is only Day 1 and we have a problem... several actually...

Problem number 1: We were going to have the soffit removed from over the sink. You can see the problem in the picture below:

We can't remove the soffit because the ceiling would run into the eaves.

Problem number 2: If we have to leave the soffit in, the cabinet that we got to fit in the spot, is too tall to fit in there. We will have to buy a new cabinet, and it would not be done for 4 weeks!

Problem number 3: We were going to have the over sink light replaced with a fluorescent can light. They just called and they can't find a can shallow enough to fit over the sink. (I have no idea how they were going to get a can light up there if we take the soffit out.)

So that is our remodel day #1... Stay tuned for more adventures in kitchen remodeling...

Surf City Half Marathon

The results are in!

Here is Chris:
He did Amazing!
Overall: 208 out of 13297
Men: 182 out of 4913
M 01-17: 12 out of 127
3 Mi: 19:56 Pace: 6:39
8.2 Mi: 56:12 Pace: 6:52
Finish: 1:31:47 Pace: 7:01

And me... there are no running pictures of me, but I'm in this picture somewhere:
Overall: 2960 out of 13297
Women: 1124 out of 8384
F 50-54: 44 out of 672
3 Mi: 26:10 Pace: 8:44
8.2 Mi: 1:10:57 Pace: 8:40
Finish: 1:57:23 Pace: 8:58

My pace dropped way off when the calf cramps started at about mile 10. But, I'm still pleased with my time.

Our next race is May 1... Cinco de Mayo Half-Marathon in Irvine!

Joy Captured - Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day! I love Jim every day, so why celebrate it on February 14th? The reason... two words... chocolate and flowers! I love the flowers that Jim got for me. They are perfect since the stupid squirrel ate all my tulip bulbs in the backyard. I just love tulips. Aren't they beautiful? ... And the chocolate is overflowing at our house today. Gotta LOVE chocolate.

I hope you all had a wonderful day of love!

Happy Birthday Jena!

No more puppy, today is Jena's birthday! We picked Jena out from the Orange County Animal Shelter on Sept. 13, 2010. They estimated that she was 7 months old at the time. So today, Feb. 13, 2011... OUR JENA-GIRL IS 1 YEAR OLD! She celebrated with a 5.5 mile run at the beach with Cheryl and me.

Do you love that birthday card she got from the vet? She LOVES it! LOL!

She is such a sweet girl. We love you Jena! Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday!!!

It was a busy weekend. I spent Saturday at work, and Sunday was my niece's birthday... 9 years old already! Don't you just LOVE that smile? She had a fun party with Super Bowl viewing and a Bananagram championship. Put that together with great food, lots of family and Uncle Dom's super bowl pool, it was a great way to spend the afternoon.

We spent our Sunday morning at the Surf City half-marathon with a group of 16,000 fellow runners (4,000 more people ran the marathon). Jim drove us. I sure appreciate how much he supports us!!! He really knows his way around. Even with 20,000 runners and multiple road closures, Jim was able to navigate us to the downtown parking structure (right across PCH from the starting line)! It stayed foggy all the way through the race, so it was nice and cool; perfect for running. Chris and I both PR'd... I took 1 minute off my PR, finishing in 1:57. Chris took 2 minutes off his PR, finishing in 1:31. I'll post more stats when they become available...

UGH! Sunday's over already! It's back to work and school tomorrow... Have a GREAT week everyone!

Happy Birthday - PTI

This week is PTI's anniversary! In celebration, I'm posting my favorite PTI card from last year. When I voted on my favorite stamp set, I chose the Around and About Sentiments. But when I look back at my favorite cards, they all use the Cupcake Collection. I think I voted for the wrong set. Oh well, I LOVE them all!

Welcome to the Year of the Rabbit!

So, now I have to remember to write RABBIT on my checks instead of TIGER, lol! Okay, bad joke...

Jim was born in the year of the Rabbit. He thinks he's a Dragon because he was born in 1952, but he was born in January before the Chinese New Year changed. So, sorry honey, you're a Rabbit: Timid and attractive, the Rabbits of the Chinese Zodiac tend to act more like bunnies, whether they like it or not! Sorry, Rabbits aren't macho...

Cheryl on the other hand is a Snake! Snakes are diplomatic and popular, the Snake has the sensual art of seduction down. This Sign is an interesting mix of gregariousness paired with introversion, intuitive reasoning paired with savvy business skills. Does that sounds like Cheryl? Sensual art of seduction?!!!

Here's Chris. The Rooster is the strutting peacock of the Chinese Zodiac! These quick thinkers are practical and resourceful, preferring to stick to what is tried and true rather than taking messy, unnecessary risks. That sounds like Chris... he's rock solid!

And there's me... the stupid Pig... The Pig of Chinese Astrology may be the most generous and honorable Sign of the Zodiac. Pigs are nice to a fault and possess impeccable manners and taste. They have so much of the perfectionist in them that others may be inclined to perceive them as snobs. Hey, it doesn't sound too bad being a pig, when it's put that way, lol!

If you want to find out what sign you are, go HERE:

http://www.astrology.com/chinese-astrology

They into account of the fact that Chinese New Year doesn't fall on January 1st. Great if you are a January or early February baby.

Good-bye year of the Tiger... welcome Rabbit!

Joy Captured - Happy Birthday, Jim!

Why is Jim's birthday one of my joys? Well, birthdays mark the passing of time... much like anniversaries. Another year has gone by, with it's all it's joys. {plus, it's Jim getting another year older... not me, hehehe!} He's 59 years old with retirement in sight. I still have years of work left... years and years...

I LOVE you, Jim!

Feel Better Soon, Grandma!!!

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

New shoes...

I LOVE the Nike Pegasus Trail and have been running in them for years... but this year, the new model just didn't do it for me. I'd end my run with achy feet and sore toes. This time I'm making the switch... NEW SHOES! There's nothing as exciting as getting new shoes. I started with these.

I loved them, but they didn't LOVE me. I ended up with sore hips and blisters. So thanks to Road Runner Sports 90-day satisfaction guaranteed policy, I traded them in for the Puma Complete Nightfox Trail.

... Very flashy, but I really don't care what they look like as long as they are comfortable. I'm looking forward to trying these out tomorrow!!!

Ring Bling

The first semester of school is almost over... finals are next week! Chris has been making some WONDERFUL rings in his jewelry class. He was filmed during jewelry for the school's 360 video. You can see it here: Capo 360. Also, watch for him in the opening scene. The cross country team was recruited to stand in line.

Here are some of the projects he was working on in jewelry. The ring on the left is rolled with a scarf, the next one is hammered, and the last one (my favorite) is double layered with cut-outs. Here's a close-up:

This one is very cool with a wavy edge. Chris's rings are all size 9.5 made out of nickle and brass. His final project is in sterling silver. I can't wait to see how it turns out!