One More Pandemic Project

The Colonel and I used to have a hot tub. We purchased it shortly after we built our home. We originally thought that we wanted a pool in the back yard but then wised-up (thank God) and decided on a hot tub instead.  I was able to have the sales tax waived on the hot tub because I had a doctor's note stating that the hydro-therapy would be beneficial to the arthritis in my neck (and it was). 

We used the hot tub quite a lot in the early stages of ownership. We often used it in the evenings and would star gaze as the very warm water bubbled all around us (usually with an adult beverage in hand). Our kids made us of the hot tub too, especially when they had guests visiting (minus any adult beverages).

As happens with many things we humans acquire, the newness wore off and we used the hot tub less and less. The cleaning and the chemical upkeep began to far outweigh the pleasurable use of it (again, thank God we did not get a pool). Eventually, the only ones enjoying the hot tub were the many frogs who discovered its steamy-oasis-like allure and so, permanently camped out under the hot tub's cover.

We had not used nor cleaned/treated the hot tub for a few months. We had ailing, aged and dying parents to take care of and all of the maintenance went by the wayside. The Colonel and I decided it was time to be rid of the hot tub.

We drove to the hot tub supply store over the bridge and spoke with the owner. How does one divest themselves of a hot tub? Could he help us in this, our time of need? The owner, a very nice and older gentleman, said he would come out to our place and check out the hot tub. We said it works fine and that we just did not want it any longer and he could have it for free.

The Colonel and I went home elated with the news from the gentleman and began to drain and clean the hot tub (in spite of our neglect, the water was still crystal clear). The frogs would have to eventually find a new party palace (the nasty looks they gave us). 

A couple of days later the gentleman and a couple of young helpers came to our house and took away the hot tub. He said he could probably resell it for a thousand dollars or so. We were just happy to have it taken away.

The hot tub pad looked a lot larger without the hot tub on it. I had forgotten how large of a pad The Colonel and I dug (footers and re-bar included) before we had the concrete guys come out all those years ago.

The Colonel power washed the concrete pad. Once it was clean and dry, we began to paint it. I wanted to paint the pad to look as if it had a rug on it (I drew up a pattern on grid paper and then laid out the design on the pad using The Colonel's chalk line). In the garage, we searched through all of our paint cans and came up with three that would work nicely together.

The first color was a tan color. That was the base color.

The second color was gray and it would be the outermost color on the pad.

The third and final color was a pretty blue (chosen mainly because we had a lot of it left in the can). It would be the "rug's" edge and stenciled design color.

I looked online for a pretty stencil in which to decorate the pad. The one I finally chose reminded me of some type of Colonial American design (I would stencil a few blocks before the afternoon rains and oppressive heat set in and some days I took off. It took me a couple of weeks to finish the stenciling).

When I finally finished the stenciling, The Colonel and I sealed the painted pad with a wet-look, clear sealant. I think the pad came out just as I had imagined and designed. I also think the tan color reminds me of a jute rug.

 

The Colonel and I ordered a fire pit to place on the pad and we will use the red, outdoor furniture we bought back in 2018 for the seating. We will place these on the pad once rainy season is over (around the first of November).

 

Sorry froggies, no water feature for you here but I am sure The Colonel and I will still enjoy a few adults beverages.

Another Pandemic Project

The Colonel and I have lived in Tradewinds, our custom-built, retirement, dream home for nearly thirteen and a half years now. When we had Tradewinds built, the little garage cottage (Tarpon Cottage) that sits catty-corner from the house did not have an air conditioning system. We had a couple of window units at one time but those really are no substitute for a a good system (plus they are noisy).

I had been wanting to get a good A/C system in the cottage for a long while but just kept putting it off and with the pandemic situation going on, we had nothing but time to do a much needed and desired renovation project on the cottage.

We went to The Home Depot to choose a new floor tile. We wanted something that was light gray in color and had the look of wood flooring. We thought it would be easy working with The Home Depot, but it was not. We kept on getting the install date pushed back. No one at the store seemed to know anything about our order when we spoke to them. One employee called us the day before the install was finally going to take place and demanded more money (because the tile we choose had a special installment procedure unbeknownst to us) or the project would be cancelled. The whole order was mishandled from the very beginning. The tile installer was the exception to the whole experience...but we will talk about him later.   

We wanted a new color for the cottage walls. The original color was called Delicious Melon (very much like the color of the flesh of a cantaloupe). I like the color (my mermaid bathroom is still that color), but we wanted a change for the cottage. The Colonel choose a blue-gray called Absolute Zero. It is a nice cool and calming color. 

We pulled up the old carpet and began painting the walls in the smaller room of the cottage. Then we began to take out the pocket door that separated the two rooms and enlarge the opening. We would need to enlarge the opening so that the new A/C system could circulate the cool air throughout the entire space.

We got the pocket door removed (it is a heavy door) and continued to cut away the wall separating the two rooms of the cottage.

Once we had the wall opening enlarged, we framed it up and painted the wood white.

It was then time to tackle the larger room. There was more carpet removal and wall painting to do.

Before the tile man came, we had the new A/C unit installed. It is one of the mini split type units. It is whisper quiet and keeps the place very comfortable.

Finally, it was time for the tile installer. He was a nice, middle-aged man and originally from Albania. He did an excellent job installing the tile. It looks beautiful! He had the job completed in three days.

The transition from the bathroom tile to the new tile was seamless.

This is what the cottage looks like now. The only thing we are waiting for is a new piece of furniture. It is a chair that can convert into a lounger or a bed (the camping chair is temporary).

The chair we had originally wanted did not pan out. The company kept pushing the delivery date back, so we cancelled the order and got our money back. We decided to order a couch from Amazon and while we waited for that one to arrive, The Colonel, Yam and I shopped at Ikea in Tampa and bought a wing-back chair to sit in while we waited for the new couch to arrive. Funny thing was, when we came back from Tampa, a FedEx truck pulled in a couple of minutes after we did and had our new couch from Amazon (it was not supposed to arrive until the first week of October).

The chair we had originally wanted did not pan out. The company kept pushing the delivery date back, so we cancelled the order and got our money back. We decided to order a couch from Amazon and while we waited for that one to arrive, The Colonel, Yam and I shopped at Ikea in Tampa and bought a wing-back chair to sit in while we waited for the new couch to arrive. Funny thing was, when we came back from Tampa, a FedEx truck pulled in a couple of minutes after we did and had our new couch from Amazon (it was not supposed to arrive until the first week of October).

These are the new couch and chair.

The Colonel and I are very happy with the cottage renovation project. On to the next project...

A Pandemic Project

 We are all experiencing some cabin fever during this pandemic. I think The Colonel's cabin fever manifests itself through the creation of DIY projects (from the crowds at The Home Depot, I think many people feel the same way).

One of his latest projects involved revamping my end table in the living room. He made me the table a long time ago and said it was time to "beef up" the legs, give it another coat of paint and maybe add some color to the interior. Sure, why not. I had some time on my hands too.

This is what the old spindly legs looked like and the interior was plain white (I had removed the top, an old six-paned window frame before I took the photograph).

 

Not only did The Colonel add more substantial legs, he also added some storage (a place for headphones, cables and cords) and a power bar to the underside of the table. 

I painted the interior of the end table a beautiful, blue, chalk paint.

I also repainted the outside, legs and window pane a bright white.

I am glad The Colonel suggested the end table revamp. It has turned out beautifully. I love the new blue interior, it makes the displayed items inside pop.

We have more pandemic projects in the works. Stay tuned!

My Brush (or Swab) With Pandemic Procedure

Image from the Internet

 

That looks uncomfortable doesn't it? THAT'S BECAUSE IT IS!

The image above is depicting the act of a Nasopharyngeal (NP) swab. It is what you have to have done for a COVID-19 test.

I was hoping I would never have to have one of these tests but I had my first (and hopefully last) one done on Wednesday, August 12. I had to have the test as part of my pre-op work-up for my gallbladder surgery on the 20th.

The test would be administered while I remained in our vehicle. The Colonel drove to the testing site (a covered area on the side of the hospital...their signage was less than helpful in locating the testing site) and a nurse came out within a couple of minutes. Once she determined who I was and that my name appeared on her list, she told me I would be having the "regular" test and a MRSA test. I also was to get a small bottle of soap that I was to use for my shower before I had my surgery. She went back inside the building.

The Colonel said having the "regular" test was good, as it supposedly shows less false positives. That made me feel a bit better about having to have this test.

The nurse came back to the vehicle's window and began her first swabbing. It was for the MRSA test. She had two long Q-tips that were attached to one another on one end, like a pair of disposable, wooden chopsticks. She gently spread the two swab ends apart, just enough to fit one end in each of my nostrils simultaneously. She then moved the swab ends around the inside of my nostrils. That was painless and quick.

Next came the much maligned (and rightfully so) NP swab. The nurse then took out one very long Q-tip and stuck it in one of my nostrils. She kept inserting it until she reached the dark line on the swab's shaft that indicated how far the swab needed to penetrate one's nasal cavity. 

As the swab was moving along its predetermined path (which felt like its destination would be beyond my Cerebellum), I felt a burning sensation in my nose and eyes. It felt similar to getting your nose hit or bumped hard. We all know that feeling. I also experienced a metallic/chemical taste that stayed with me for about twenty minutes. Now I knew what to expect and what all the hype was about. I had one more nostril to go. Thank goodness the nurse was experienced and her movements were swift and economical (and that I did not have to pay for the testing...at least not monetarily...as my Econ teacher taught...nothing is ever free...I paid with my time and pain).  

I do not know when I will hear the results of my testing, but I certainly hope they will return negative so that I can proceed with my gallbladder surgery next week.

I have been hearing that some people go and have the COVID-19 tests voluntarily...must be gluttons for punishment.

NOTE: Both tests were negative and my gallbladder surgery took place and went well.