True to their word, the contractors are here this week, working on my master bathroom and the corner of my bedroom. . . and generally putting things back to being right. It's a company called Cactus Rose Construction (I've also seen them listed as Cactus Rose Enterprises) and they have been terrific. I would post their website if I could find one, but they don't seem to have one yet. They have been very polite, thoughtful and respectful of my space. They have been very consciencious. The bedroom wall is now repaired and I expect the room will be painted tomorrow. They painted the bathroom today. The flooring sub-contractor should be out tomorrow to look at things. I will need to pick out new linoleum and they might be replacing the carpet. . . if it cannot be re-stretched into place. There is a worn spot that may prevent the re-stretching, so we shall see. So far, things are coming along and looking nice. They expect to have most of the work done by Friday, although the flooring stuff will trickle into next week.
More later. . .
Be well!
~Paulena
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Interesting Health Info.
Just a quick note. I was reading a newsletter I get once or twice a month. In it, there was a link to "TriVita's 10 Essentials" which is mostly a common sense list of healthy things to do for optimal health. But I think the clencher is thinking about it and paying attention to what we do. . . our actions, our thoughts, our deeds, and what we take into our bodies. So often, in today's face-paced lifestyles, we forget to pay attention. Here's a simple reminder, a simple list to help you remember how to keep yourself better tuned.
Be Well!
~Paulena
Be Well!
~Paulena
Friday, January 11, 2008
Drying Out...
Happy Friday!
A few people have asked, "So how is the restoration going? Are you drying out yet?" Well, let's see. . . New Years Day was pretty much a wash. hahaha
Hey, at least I can laugh about it! I had the drone of the two big fans for a total of six days. I think that I mentioned about the restoration guys visiting Thursday, and partially cutting open my bedroom wall to air-out behind the tub.
Friday, my insurance adjuster visited, photographed, measured and documented, but I think I mentioned that too. Monday the
restoration guys came back and took their fan club home. It was suddenly SO quiet!!! The heater came on and startled me! haha "Oh yeah, regular house noises!" But there was still a six foot hole in the bottom 12" of my bedroom wall and insulation was exposed. It would have been a messy place to have the cats messing around and exploring, so I had to keep the bedroom door closed for a while longer. And if you know anything about cats, they do NOT suffer a closed door in their house very well!! So there was no hope of ME using the room and shutting them out. They would have worried the door into oblivian!! So we continued to camp out in the living room a few more days.
The contractor fellow from Cactus Rose Construction had called me on Sunday, just to touch base. He said he'd call back on Monday to schedule a visit. He forgot about me on Monday. I called them on Tuesday and he called me back within about an hour. He said he had that nagging feeling all day Monday that he'd forgotten something. He appologized profusely and said he felt so guilty. I told him that as long as he felt guilty, then he was forgiven. We laughed. He visited later, on Tuesday afternoon. He also measured and documented. He gave me the bad news. . . That it would be about three weeks before they could get to me.
He said I have the option to ask State Farm to chose another contractor in the hopes of getting someone sooner. But I already knew how slammed everyone in the local industry has been. A LOT of folks had freezing pipe troubles between Christmas and New Years, but most of them sustained more damage than I did, because most of them weren't home when their's happened, and/or their's came through ceilings. I was one of the lucky ones. So I told him that if three weeks was when we could get it done, then so be it. I asked only one thing. . .
. . . "Could you, pretty please, slap some wall board up over the hole in my wall, to keep the cats out of the wall? That way I could at least be back in my bedroom and sleep in my own bed and get off the couch! Could you please just do that little thing? No frills, just wall board."
He said that would be no problem and that he could come over in the next two days and do that for me. He said he would do that himself. I was very grateful. That
meant I would only be on the couch another night or two. He actually ended up coming over the very next day. . . to take the photos he forgot to take the day before, and to put the wall board up for me. Then he moved the entertainment center back against the wall for me and put the tv back in place.
So I'm off the couch and using my bedroom again. I'm opting to keep that bathroom closed off, for now. There is no linoleum on the floor, just bare concrete. And the front kick-board is now missing from the vanity. None of that is a real big deal and I could toss a couple of throw rugs down and still use that bathroom. But the silly cats do try to squeeze under the vanity. I worry that there might be exposed nails under
there or they might get stuck. Since I have already been using the middle bathroom and my stuff is already in there. . . AND I would just have to move my stuff back into the middle bath in three weeks (when they come back to do the work). . . I just keep the master bath closed and use the middle 
bathroom until it will be all done. Besides, the cats have been enjoying the clear shower curtain I have in the middle bathroom. It seems to be a fun novelty to explore! So it's all good and things will gradually get back to closer to normal.
I'm still looking for meaningful work, but I'm Ok so far. Last night I was sitting in my livingroom, reading a book about my new camera, by the fire. I had a purring cat sitting against one leg. I had to smile. I thought about how very blessed I am. I have a home, and a loving family, and terrific friends. I am warm and relatively safe in my home. It's a calm and happy place to be. So there are a couple of minor inconveniences in my life at the moment. . . So what? At least my circumstanses are such that I qualify for unemployment benefits. And I will find meaningful employment. . . Long before the benefits run out, I'm sure! I feel blessed that I can sit by a warm fireplace in my home and read a book with a purry kitty at my side. And I know that if I want to pick up the phone and chat with my Mom or my Dad, some other family member, or one of my friends, they are a phone call away. So. . . Life is Good!
Be well!
~Paulena
A few people have asked, "So how is the restoration going? Are you drying out yet?" Well, let's see. . . New Years Day was pretty much a wash. hahaha
Hey, at least I can laugh about it! I had the drone of the two big fans for a total of six days. I think that I mentioned about the restoration guys visiting Thursday, and partially cutting open my bedroom wall to air-out behind the tub. Friday, my insurance adjuster visited, photographed, measured and documented, but I think I mentioned that too. Monday the
restoration guys came back and took their fan club home. It was suddenly SO quiet!!! The heater came on and startled me! haha "Oh yeah, regular house noises!" But there was still a six foot hole in the bottom 12" of my bedroom wall and insulation was exposed. It would have been a messy place to have the cats messing around and exploring, so I had to keep the bedroom door closed for a while longer. And if you know anything about cats, they do NOT suffer a closed door in their house very well!! So there was no hope of ME using the room and shutting them out. They would have worried the door into oblivian!! So we continued to camp out in the living room a few more days.The contractor fellow from Cactus Rose Construction had called me on Sunday, just to touch base. He said he'd call back on Monday to schedule a visit. He forgot about me on Monday. I called them on Tuesday and he called me back within about an hour. He said he had that nagging feeling all day Monday that he'd forgotten something. He appologized profusely and said he felt so guilty. I told him that as long as he felt guilty, then he was forgiven. We laughed. He visited later, on Tuesday afternoon. He also measured and documented. He gave me the bad news. . . That it would be about three weeks before they could get to me.
He said I have the option to ask State Farm to chose another contractor in the hopes of getting someone sooner. But I already knew how slammed everyone in the local industry has been. A LOT of folks had freezing pipe troubles between Christmas and New Years, but most of them sustained more damage than I did, because most of them weren't home when their's happened, and/or their's came through ceilings. I was one of the lucky ones. So I told him that if three weeks was when we could get it done, then so be it. I asked only one thing. . .
. . . "Could you, pretty please, slap some wall board up over the hole in my wall, to keep the cats out of the wall? That way I could at least be back in my bedroom and sleep in my own bed and get off the couch! Could you please just do that little thing? No frills, just wall board."
He said that would be no problem and that he could come over in the next two days and do that for me. He said he would do that himself. I was very grateful. That
meant I would only be on the couch another night or two. He actually ended up coming over the very next day. . . to take the photos he forgot to take the day before, and to put the wall board up for me. Then he moved the entertainment center back against the wall for me and put the tv back in place. So I'm off the couch and using my bedroom again. I'm opting to keep that bathroom closed off, for now. There is no linoleum on the floor, just bare concrete. And the front kick-board is now missing from the vanity. None of that is a real big deal and I could toss a couple of throw rugs down and still use that bathroom. But the silly cats do try to squeeze under the vanity. I worry that there might be exposed nails under
there or they might get stuck. Since I have already been using the middle bathroom and my stuff is already in there. . . AND I would just have to move my stuff back into the middle bath in three weeks (when they come back to do the work). . . I just keep the master bath closed and use the middle 
bathroom until it will be all done. Besides, the cats have been enjoying the clear shower curtain I have in the middle bathroom. It seems to be a fun novelty to explore! So it's all good and things will gradually get back to closer to normal. I'm still looking for meaningful work, but I'm Ok so far. Last night I was sitting in my livingroom, reading a book about my new camera, by the fire. I had a purring cat sitting against one leg. I had to smile. I thought about how very blessed I am. I have a home, and a loving family, and terrific friends. I am warm and relatively safe in my home. It's a calm and happy place to be. So there are a couple of minor inconveniences in my life at the moment. . . So what? At least my circumstanses are such that I qualify for unemployment benefits. And I will find meaningful employment. . . Long before the benefits run out, I'm sure! I feel blessed that I can sit by a warm fireplace in my home and read a book with a purry kitty at my side. And I know that if I want to pick up the phone and chat with my Mom or my Dad, some other family member, or one of my friends, they are a phone call away. So. . . Life is Good!
Be well!
~Paulena
Friday, January 04, 2008
Wacky Water Works...
Happy New Year!!
I rang in the new year quietly. I stayed home and watched movies by the fire. The next morning, I awoke and made the coffee. I was watching the morning news and sipping my coffee when I heard. . . what was that? It sounded like my bathtub was hissing! I jumped up and ran in the bathroom to see what it was. It didn't appear that anything was happening
in there. As the fog cleared my head, I realized it must be the hose bib outside, on the other side of that wall. I jumped into my shoes and ran out into my backyard. . . Sure enough! There was the hose bib spewing a geyser of water. . . pipe froze, broke and let loose!
Well now, the nice builders of my house didn't put in a home-owner water shut-off valve. . . so the only water shut off for my house is the one in the sidewalk, out front. Problem is, I can't lift that big ol' heavy metal panel to get to the shut off. . . then, I also don't have the right tool to turn the valve. In my residual fog, instead of thoughtfully calling 311 -- I called a neighbor, who wasn't home. Then I called my Mom (since she has dealt with floods before). . . and oh yeah. . . Just call 311!!! haha DUH! A sleepy, foggy brain is a frustrating thing!
I finally called 311, and they gave me the number to the emergency water services. I called them and they sent a crew out. It took an excruciating 15 - 20 minutes. . . very quick actually. But when your house it spewing from a main artery, it seems like forever! In the meantime, I went back into my bedroom for something. I walked over near the bathroom and. . . squish! Oh s%*#!!!
I looked at the bathroom floor. . . water was oozing across the floor. . . from the wall!! I tossed
towels down on the floor in a desperate attempt to keep the water back. But there wasn't much I could do about the water going under my carpet, into my bedroom. I just hoped I could get things stopped and 
someone to move the entertainment center before it sustained any damage!
"Oh where is that water crew???" I thought. I went to the linen closet and grabbed more towels and tossed them down on the bathroom floor. Like a trapped cat, I ran back and forth from the bedroom to the front door. . . anxiously searching to see if the crew had arrived yet. They finally arrived and shut off the water!! Hallelujah!! I then called my home owner's insurance company, filed the claim, and got my claim number.
Then, I called Mom back and asked for names of reliable companies to mop up. I called Rockefeller's Cleaning and Restoration upon her recommendation. They, in turn, recommended TLC Plumbing. That's who has been taking care of the cleanup & the plumbing fix, respectively. I have been very happy with both companies! TLC came within a couple of hours (on a chilly holiday) and fixed the affected plumbing and got my water turned back on. I was only without water for about 4 hours. Just as the plumber was finishing his work, the restoration guys arrived.
The cleaning and restoration has consisted of quickly unloading and moving my entertainment center, pulling up part of the bedroom base boards, pulling up part of the carpet, removing the affected carpet pad and probing the wall base with a nifty device that measures moisture. They measured and documented. Then they wet-vac-ed the area. Next, they set up a fan club of two
big fans. I have listened to the drone of the fans since Tuesday afternoon. But it's all for a good cause. Thursday, the restoration guys came back and removed the linoleum (water came in underneath it and the backing was wet), 
and they cut open part of the bedroom-bathroom wall to probe for moisture, which we were sure we'd find loads of. . . since the water bib is on the opposite side of the tub wall. Much to our astonishment, it was relatively dry!! But just to be on the safe side, they redirected the fans inside the wall. . . to dry everything back there for several days. I wouldn't want any mildew growing in there!
The insurance adjuster visited me today (Friday) and surveyed the area, measured, photographed, and documented everything. He explained to me the next options and steps. We decided upon a plan of action and he left to submit the report and get the rest of the ball rolling. They will choose a contractor to call me by Monday for scheduling the work. I could have chosen the contractor, but this way, they oversee any issues that might develop and the contractor still works for me. . . and I still have the final say-so on the work. So the contractor will call me. On Monday, we schedule the work. The vanity might have to be replaced, the linoleum replaced, the wall board has to be replaced & the room painted, the affected carpet pad replaced, the carpet re-stretched (if possible) and put back and cleaned. If the carpet cannot be restretched, then probably new carpet will go in. Of course, they take care of moving all the furniture involved. Whew!
My cats are weathering the process remarkably well. They are cautious of the noisy fans, but curious. They are especially curious about the big hole in the wall!!! But that is part of why I have the bedroom closed off. That also cuts down the effect of the noise. They hate that closed door!! In the meantime, we camp out in the living room and use my sleeping bag. Yes, I do have a second bedroom, but
it's my "study/office" and it was already a disaster-area. . . a mess I have intended upon organizing this year! And now. . . it also has some of the stuff from my entertainment center stored in there. I fear it will get worse, before it improves!
So in the grand scheme of things, it could have been so much worse! Thank God I was home when it happened, that I heard it, and that it happened while I was awake (relatively awake). It's an inconvenience, but it's getting resolved. The restoration guys told me they had moved a couple of families out of their homes before they arrived at my house. . . folks who had gone to New Year's Eve parties and had arrived home at 2 or 3am and came home to "Squish!" -- a completely flooded house due to frozen & burst pipes! So I feel rather blessed that I caught mine early!!!
I hope your New Years has been more quiet than mine. And I hope that you have a wonderful, prosperous, and happy year!
Cheers!
To your health!
~Paulena
I rang in the new year quietly. I stayed home and watched movies by the fire. The next morning, I awoke and made the coffee. I was watching the morning news and sipping my coffee when I heard. . . what was that? It sounded like my bathtub was hissing! I jumped up and ran in the bathroom to see what it was. It didn't appear that anything was happening
in there. As the fog cleared my head, I realized it must be the hose bib outside, on the other side of that wall. I jumped into my shoes and ran out into my backyard. . . Sure enough! There was the hose bib spewing a geyser of water. . . pipe froze, broke and let loose! Well now, the nice builders of my house didn't put in a home-owner water shut-off valve. . . so the only water shut off for my house is the one in the sidewalk, out front. Problem is, I can't lift that big ol' heavy metal panel to get to the shut off. . . then, I also don't have the right tool to turn the valve. In my residual fog, instead of thoughtfully calling 311 -- I called a neighbor, who wasn't home. Then I called my Mom (since she has dealt with floods before). . . and oh yeah. . . Just call 311!!! haha DUH! A sleepy, foggy brain is a frustrating thing!
I finally called 311, and they gave me the number to the emergency water services. I called them and they sent a crew out. It took an excruciating 15 - 20 minutes. . . very quick actually. But when your house it spewing from a main artery, it seems like forever! In the meantime, I went back into my bedroom for something. I walked over near the bathroom and. . . squish! Oh s%*#!!!
I looked at the bathroom floor. . . water was oozing across the floor. . . from the wall!! I tossed
towels down on the floor in a desperate attempt to keep the water back. But there wasn't much I could do about the water going under my carpet, into my bedroom. I just hoped I could get things stopped and 
someone to move the entertainment center before it sustained any damage! "Oh where is that water crew???" I thought. I went to the linen closet and grabbed more towels and tossed them down on the bathroom floor. Like a trapped cat, I ran back and forth from the bedroom to the front door. . . anxiously searching to see if the crew had arrived yet. They finally arrived and shut off the water!! Hallelujah!! I then called my home owner's insurance company, filed the claim, and got my claim number.
Then, I called Mom back and asked for names of reliable companies to mop up. I called Rockefeller's Cleaning and Restoration upon her recommendation. They, in turn, recommended TLC Plumbing. That's who has been taking care of the cleanup & the plumbing fix, respectively. I have been very happy with both companies! TLC came within a couple of hours (on a chilly holiday) and fixed the affected plumbing and got my water turned back on. I was only without water for about 4 hours. Just as the plumber was finishing his work, the restoration guys arrived.
The cleaning and restoration has consisted of quickly unloading and moving my entertainment center, pulling up part of the bedroom base boards, pulling up part of the carpet, removing the affected carpet pad and probing the wall base with a nifty device that measures moisture. They measured and documented. Then they wet-vac-ed the area. Next, they set up a fan club of two
big fans. I have listened to the drone of the fans since Tuesday afternoon. But it's all for a good cause. Thursday, the restoration guys came back and removed the linoleum (water came in underneath it and the backing was wet), 
and they cut open part of the bedroom-bathroom wall to probe for moisture, which we were sure we'd find loads of. . . since the water bib is on the opposite side of the tub wall. Much to our astonishment, it was relatively dry!! But just to be on the safe side, they redirected the fans inside the wall. . . to dry everything back there for several days. I wouldn't want any mildew growing in there! The insurance adjuster visited me today (Friday) and surveyed the area, measured, photographed, and documented everything. He explained to me the next options and steps. We decided upon a plan of action and he left to submit the report and get the rest of the ball rolling. They will choose a contractor to call me by Monday for scheduling the work. I could have chosen the contractor, but this way, they oversee any issues that might develop and the contractor still works for me. . . and I still have the final say-so on the work. So the contractor will call me. On Monday, we schedule the work. The vanity might have to be replaced, the linoleum replaced, the wall board has to be replaced & the room painted, the affected carpet pad replaced, the carpet re-stretched (if possible) and put back and cleaned. If the carpet cannot be restretched, then probably new carpet will go in. Of course, they take care of moving all the furniture involved. Whew!
My cats are weathering the process remarkably well. They are cautious of the noisy fans, but curious. They are especially curious about the big hole in the wall!!! But that is part of why I have the bedroom closed off. That also cuts down the effect of the noise. They hate that closed door!! In the meantime, we camp out in the living room and use my sleeping bag. Yes, I do have a second bedroom, but
it's my "study/office" and it was already a disaster-area. . . a mess I have intended upon organizing this year! And now. . . it also has some of the stuff from my entertainment center stored in there. I fear it will get worse, before it improves! So in the grand scheme of things, it could have been so much worse! Thank God I was home when it happened, that I heard it, and that it happened while I was awake (relatively awake). It's an inconvenience, but it's getting resolved. The restoration guys told me they had moved a couple of families out of their homes before they arrived at my house. . . folks who had gone to New Year's Eve parties and had arrived home at 2 or 3am and came home to "Squish!" -- a completely flooded house due to frozen & burst pipes! So I feel rather blessed that I caught mine early!!!
I hope your New Years has been more quiet than mine. And I hope that you have a wonderful, prosperous, and happy year!
Cheers!
To your health!
~Paulena
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