Heavenly Tahoe and Oakland

I went to work this week! I so rarely get to write that any more, and I get slightly excited when I am able to hit the road in a Beechjet. It's been such a blessing to be home more these past few months so I can work on projects for our new house. However, early Tuesday morning we departed Phoenix for Truckee Tahoe Airport on the north side of the lake. After dropping off two people, we continued on to Oakland for the day.

Lunch was at P.F. Changs in downtown Oakland, which is always a treat. I found a little bakeshop and wanted to go in, but luckily I had left my wallet back at the airplane. We went into the Barnes and Noble instead and each got a Clive Cussler book to read over the next few days, since we knew a lot of waiting at the airport would be taking place. I am almost through my book already and love it. Clive Cussler is one of my favorite authors when I just want a fun read. My problem is I will read about six of his books in a month and burn out, then take a few years to get back into a monthly reading attack again! After heading back to Truckee later that day, we had a pizza delivered to our Hampton Inn. The views from the hotel were beautiful, and I certainly noticed an altitude difference since we were at 6,000 feet!

The little airport cafe at Truckee was closed when we tried it for lunch. Apparently, a bear had broken in at night to eat all of their goodies. They really do like honey! So we hopped on some airport courtesy bicycles and rode about a mile to Mountain Burrito for lunch. It was delicious. By the time we got back to the airport and got the airplane ready, it was time to enjoy a book for an hour. Big Boss called to say it could be as late at 10:00 PM before we left back for home, but he arrived with the two other passengers around 4:00 instead. It seemed everyone in the west was heading to Phoenix, and we got slowed down five-hundred miles out! Phoenix Tower was busy enough that we couldn't get our normal south runway, so we landed on 26 and had a 15-minute taxi back to the FBO. What a fun trip! It always feels so wonderful to go flying!

KPHX - KTRK - KOAK - KTRK - KPHX

Slobber and Love

I got to babysit my favorite Phoenix Nephew yesterday. Evan came to spend a few hours with his Aunt Micah while his parents attended some religious facilities in Mesa. I was really looking forward to it, and he certainly didn't disappoint. I am rather partial to Evan, after all. And not just because he has the most beautiful blue eyes and longest eyelashes, though those things don't hurt one bit.

We had a blast during his stay. I showed him around our new house and got some decorating tips by way of him growling. Such a boy...he growls! Soon, however, Evan was rubbing his eyes and yawning (I guess no tough guys are really that interested in home decor). I laid him down in a quiet, dark room at the end of the hall (with a properly-functioning ceiling fan, thank you very much). I soon realized that he was being too quiet for sleep to be happening! I peeked my head in the door to take a look and cracked up laughing as a result. He was repeatedly kicking both legs high up in the air, then down at the same time against the soft mattress of his Pack-N-Play (Judo Chop!). Because of such rigorous movement, the blanket had ended up covering his chubby little face. I went into the room to put the blanket back in its rightful place around his body and found a huge grin underneath the blanket! He was having the time of his life kicking up his heels...literally! It melts my heart when that boy smiles. He repeated it all again five minutes later, so I decided he wasn't tired enough and got him out to snuggle (or, more accurately, to play with manly electronics). His Uncle John was setting up the theater room and found an Oldies station on Pandora via the Blu-Ray player. Apparently, Evan likes rocking out to the Oldies. Who doesn't? It tuckered him out to enjoy such good music, however, and he was soon ready for nap time.

His parents were able to enjoy a lunch out as well and arrived while Evan was still fast asleep. I didn't want him to leave and even invited him to spend the night (from the back of the house, I heard my husband say, "Oh no he doesn't..."). Evan will be back tomorrow when we are hosting a family dinner to welcome back into town his cousin and aunt after their summer out of the heat. I refuse to let cute related babies leave town for a summer again. She leaves for two months and starts CRAWLING? Never again, I tell you.

Medicine (Cabinet) for the Micah

Well, I did it. I broke down and hired somebody to do something that was completely out of my comfort level. And then I watched him very closely so I can do it next time!

We have a "cozy" master bathroom, so having a ghetto, made-in-shop-class medicine cabinet hanging out six inches into valuable air real estate simply wasn't hacking it. I bought a beautiful mirrored cabinet on Amazon to cover the bare wall underneath. We needed the storage, but I didn't want to bonk my head or arms on it any more! I made the mistake of reading the instructions when it arrived and realized I would much rather have it recessed into the wall! Then I found the stud and the outlet and realized it was beyond my professional abilities as a home owner. So I found a handyman through ServiceMagic.com and received a call within two minutes! He did the job in two hours, and I am tickled with the results.

After measuring twice and cutting once, Jerry (names have not been changed to protect the innocent) plugged through cutting out the 2x4 stud in the way, as well as relocating my outlet to allow for the new HUGE medicine cabinet to move in. He then installed new studs on either side of the cutout to mount the medicine cabinet and fit it into place. It's perfect and adds lots of storage space without potential bruises! I also like how adding an additional mirror bounces light around the cozy room to help it feel even larger. On a side note, Jerry accused me of being Canadian on the phone...dang my accent. I warmed up to him after I learned his dad was an airline pilot and retired on the 747. After Jerry left, I went to Home Depot to color-match some paint in order to touch up the work underneath. And voila! My new medicine cabinet! I think for how much we've improved on this house, it might be a miracle that I haven't had to hire someone prior to this. It was an investment, and I took notes. I am glad I did it! And I hope to never have to hire help again. I hate paying someone for something I (think I) could do! And now I know I can move outlets and cut out studs! Figuratively speaking, of course.