You're Killin' Me Smalls, Whatchu Talkin' Bout?, Butterfly & Eskimo Kisses
06 April 2010
05 April 2010
Race For 4th
After the games this weekend: advantage Manchester City. We lost to Sunderland in a game we needed to win. Liverpool drew with Birmingham, a difficult team, also missing their chance to gain an advantage.
The long and the short of it is that City and Spurs have some difficult games coming up while Liverpool and Villa have an easier run in to the final two games of the season. With only 5-6 games left, this morning I projected each team's points in their remaining games up to the penultimate round in the league.
In summary, City should be slightly ahead of everyone else. City and Spurs will drop a lot of points but I wouldn't be surprised if Spurs are still within 3 points of the current leaders for 4th place. To add complexity, Liverpool has the easiest schedule of the 4. I fully expect them to pick up 7-9 points vaulting them right back into the mix. Villa could slip, but they could also concievably pick up enough points to be within a game of everyone else as well.
So, it's looking like the race for 4th place could be essentially even going into the last 2 games for each of the 4 teams. Each team's last match should gain them 3 points. Coincidently, the second to the last match for each team sees them playing each other or the current league leaders. Bottom line, I think the race for 4th will be decided on May 1st and May 5th - within the same week. It should be very exciting if this happens. Even if it doesn't, it'll still be exciting since nothing this season has played out as planned.
The long and the short of it is that City and Spurs have some difficult games coming up while Liverpool and Villa have an easier run in to the final two games of the season. With only 5-6 games left, this morning I projected each team's points in their remaining games up to the penultimate round in the league.
In summary, City should be slightly ahead of everyone else. City and Spurs will drop a lot of points but I wouldn't be surprised if Spurs are still within 3 points of the current leaders for 4th place. To add complexity, Liverpool has the easiest schedule of the 4. I fully expect them to pick up 7-9 points vaulting them right back into the mix. Villa could slip, but they could also concievably pick up enough points to be within a game of everyone else as well.
So, it's looking like the race for 4th place could be essentially even going into the last 2 games for each of the 4 teams. Each team's last match should gain them 3 points. Coincidently, the second to the last match for each team sees them playing each other or the current league leaders. Bottom line, I think the race for 4th will be decided on May 1st and May 5th - within the same week. It should be very exciting if this happens. Even if it doesn't, it'll still be exciting since nothing this season has played out as planned.
04 April 2010
Easter 2010
Considering it snowed last year on Easter, I couldn't really complain this year. We had a good church service in the morning and then Julia and I watered the trees and bushes before lunch. After nap time we went over to Umpa Oma's for Easter dinner. You're never too young or old to get an Easter basket!
03 April 2010
Short And Sassy
Julia's hair now matches her personality. Her hair was getting pretty long and ratty in the back again, so I got out my scissors. She needed some sass in the back. I tried to go for the short and fun yet manageable look (as much as possible without cutting too much hair off). Let's be honest, it's still growing in so there's only so much I could do. I'm also not a professional and 2 year olds squirm. I think it's super cute regardless. The best part is no one got cut and it didn't end in tears.
02 April 2010
01 April 2010
28 March 2010
The Patio Day
After some pretty nasty weather Friday night and Saturday, it cleared up enough on Sunday for Matt and me to really tackle the patio. I had 3.5 tons of road base and 1.5 tons of concrete sand delivered on Friday along with the pavers. 3.5 plus 1.5 equals 10,000 pounds. The driver for Pioneer was just barely able to fit his dump truck up our driveway and drop one load (the road base). Once it was dropped we had no other choice but to drop the sand closer to the end of the driveway.
We got started right at 7:30 and I called it a day about 4. It was a long day. The good news is that this was the big job. Now that it's done, we probably won't have another day as long or as hard as this and a lot of the work hours are now behind us. We laid the road base with shovels and wheelbarrows and then left the house to rent the plate compactor. After all of the road base was compacted, we had to throw some of the dirt back on the top and compact it since we were a little low. I had pulled out too much dirt while excavating and really didn't know how much the road base would compact. We then laid the sand and compacted it too...and have about a wheelbarrow of sand to spare. As far as materials used/ordered go, we were right on the money.
We ran a chalk line (snicker snicker) along the house and I laid the paver border following the line. In case anybody is wondering, sidewalk chalk makes great chalk line chalk if you're willing to "color" the string by hand. I'd also recommend using as pink of a color as possible on the job site if you're trying to maximize "mockage".
Today was a lot of work even though the pictures don't look that different. We're ready to lay the pavers now (I'm going with a diagonal running herringbone pattern). Once the pavers are actually in, I think you'll really be able to see the difference in the pictures. With a little cement glue, a diamond bit saw blade, and my rubber mallet, I should be done with the patio by Easter. Interestingly enough, that's (Easter) also our 3 year house anniversary. For the modern era, glass or crystal is the gift you're supposed to give on the third anniversary. You can make glass out of sand, so Happy 3rd Anniversary, house.
We got started right at 7:30 and I called it a day about 4. It was a long day. The good news is that this was the big job. Now that it's done, we probably won't have another day as long or as hard as this and a lot of the work hours are now behind us. We laid the road base with shovels and wheelbarrows and then left the house to rent the plate compactor. After all of the road base was compacted, we had to throw some of the dirt back on the top and compact it since we were a little low. I had pulled out too much dirt while excavating and really didn't know how much the road base would compact. We then laid the sand and compacted it too...and have about a wheelbarrow of sand to spare. As far as materials used/ordered go, we were right on the money.
We ran a chalk line (snicker snicker) along the house and I laid the paver border following the line. In case anybody is wondering, sidewalk chalk makes great chalk line chalk if you're willing to "color" the string by hand. I'd also recommend using as pink of a color as possible on the job site if you're trying to maximize "mockage".
Today was a lot of work even though the pictures don't look that different. We're ready to lay the pavers now (I'm going with a diagonal running herringbone pattern). Once the pavers are actually in, I think you'll really be able to see the difference in the pictures. With a little cement glue, a diamond bit saw blade, and my rubber mallet, I should be done with the patio by Easter. Interestingly enough, that's (Easter) also our 3 year house anniversary. For the modern era, glass or crystal is the gift you're supposed to give on the third anniversary. You can make glass out of sand, so Happy 3rd Anniversary, house.
23 March 2010
Julia's Answering Service
Today was the first day that Julia picked up the home phone while it was ringing. Without prompting she ran over and grabbed the phone, pushed the correct button and answered. "Hello? Ok. Bye-bye!". Then she hung up the phone. Stacey's friend had to call back a few minutes later...
22 March 2010
Patio Prep
Not much has changed since the last time I updated you on the backyard. We've had some snow, but more importantly, we've really only done grunt work. We did lay down some gravel and fabric against the wall for drainage, but otherwise the highlights have been smashing cement to bits, shoveling dirt, tearing out the old steps, and hauling it all away.
So, these pictures aren't much different then before. I have ordered 3.5 tons of road base and 1.75 tons of cement sand that will be delivered on Friday afternoon. Wheelbarrow by wheelbarrow, we'll fill in the area and then compact it this weekend. Ideally, we'll be ready to lay the pavers next weekend after this step (and one other one).
Tonight I made fill marks on the house at the height of where the base should stop. After looking at the area for a little bit, I realized I should run some string to make sure I had ordered the right amount of base. Luckily enough, I discovered a few sections where I had pulled out too much dirt. So, I shoveled back in a little bit of dirt so that we wouldn't get to the end and run out of base and sand. I'm glad I double checked it. In general, most of the area has the 6 inches required with some having a little less. We should be good to go for this weekend.
So, these pictures aren't much different then before. I have ordered 3.5 tons of road base and 1.75 tons of cement sand that will be delivered on Friday afternoon. Wheelbarrow by wheelbarrow, we'll fill in the area and then compact it this weekend. Ideally, we'll be ready to lay the pavers next weekend after this step (and one other one).
Tonight I made fill marks on the house at the height of where the base should stop. After looking at the area for a little bit, I realized I should run some string to make sure I had ordered the right amount of base. Luckily enough, I discovered a few sections where I had pulled out too much dirt. So, I shoveled back in a little bit of dirt so that we wouldn't get to the end and run out of base and sand. I'm glad I double checked it. In general, most of the area has the 6 inches required with some having a little less. We should be good to go for this weekend.
21 March 2010
Still In 4th Place...
...for now.
Spurs won again this weekend, further distancing themselves from Liverpool and Villa. There are only 8 league games left in the season. 3 of them are very difficult, 4 of them are winnable, and the other match yet to be rescheduled against 4th place competitor City could go either way. Assuming we can win our FA Cup game on Wednesday, our match against arch-rivals Arsenal will be rescheduled for a later date. So, the two biggest games of the season could come towards the very end of the season. If we happen to make it to the final of the FA Cup, there will be another massive game at the end of the season for Spurs. This could all be very exciting if it plays out.
If I had to rank, in order, what's most important to me:
1) Prevent Arsenal from winning the league (or have other teams beat them)
2) Finish 4th
3) Win the FA Cup
I think all are possible...yet none may happen. This could have a great or terrible ending. Most likely, it will be a bittersweet combination of the 3.
UPDATE: I just found out that the Spurs - Manchester City game has been rescheduled. It will be the penultimate match of the league season for both teams. This could be big.
Spurs won again this weekend, further distancing themselves from Liverpool and Villa. There are only 8 league games left in the season. 3 of them are very difficult, 4 of them are winnable, and the other match yet to be rescheduled against 4th place competitor City could go either way. Assuming we can win our FA Cup game on Wednesday, our match against arch-rivals Arsenal will be rescheduled for a later date. So, the two biggest games of the season could come towards the very end of the season. If we happen to make it to the final of the FA Cup, there will be another massive game at the end of the season for Spurs. This could all be very exciting if it plays out.
If I had to rank, in order, what's most important to me:
1) Prevent Arsenal from winning the league (or have other teams beat them)
2) Finish 4th
3) Win the FA Cup
I think all are possible...yet none may happen. This could have a great or terrible ending. Most likely, it will be a bittersweet combination of the 3.
UPDATE: I just found out that the Spurs - Manchester City game has been rescheduled. It will be the penultimate match of the league season for both teams. This could be big.
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