Play Time With Dadda

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.

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...

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.

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.

I'm Going To Home Depot

Julia’s been watching me work in the backyard from patio door the past week or so. On Sunday while we were sitting watching basketball on the couch the following happened:

Julia: I need to go to Home Depot
Aaron: (laughs) You need to go to Home Depot? For what?
Julia: (smiles) Umm…
Aaron: To get some rocks?
Julia: Yes, to get more rocks for the patio (heads for the garage)
Aaron: Are you going to take my truck?
Julia: No…your truck is too big for me. I take Momma’s car
Aaron: (laughs) OK
Julia: I need momma’s keys right now
Aaron: (gets up and gives her the keys)
Julia: Ok, bye Momma and Dadda! I go Home Depot now!
Aaron and Stacey: (laughs) Ok, bye!
Julia: (opens door to the garage, walks to Stacey’s car, tries to put the key in the lock, tries to open the door)
Aaron: Do you need help?
Julia: Yes.
Aaron: (opens passenger side door)
Julia: (crawls into back of car, then to driver’s seat, tries to put keys in ignition) I need help Dadda
Aaron: (puts keys in ignition, decides to end the game at this point)

Later, after a day of lots of cuddles, she tells Stacey that she’s the “bestest Mommy ever”.

Nuggets Suite

We recently started a banking relationship with the Northern Trust branch in Denver. A few weeks ago they visited our campus and later invited us up to their suite at the Pepsi Center for a Nuggets' game. I was invited because I was the one who sought out and recommended them to our management (i.e. I did the research). They are very nice people and we have been impressed by them (wining and dining aside). I think this will be a good match going forward.

We left straight from work and got to the arena with no problem. Everything was paid for - no parking, food, or drink charges. Access to the area is restricted, so it was nice and quiet compared to general seating. There were restaurant style bars with TVs around the arena with nice decorations making this area much less crazy then the main levels. To access our specific box we had to scan the bar code on the bottom of our unnecessarily over-sized tickets. The box was catered and I dug into some chicken strips, buffalo wings and a beer...the perfect sports food. A little while later the dessert cart came by. It was crazy. It had everything you could think of. I dug into a piece of chocolate cake.

Towards the end of the game we were paid a visit from Chris Andersen's (aka "The Birdman") agent. Northern Trust has helped him and his client (i.e. "The Birdman") with wealth and cash flow management. He said he would try to get some autographed memorabilia for Kirk's young sons who came with us. We felt that was a nice touch for the kids. He was a nice guy.

All in all it was a fun night. It's probably something I won't ever do again or at least not very soon. Oh, and in case anyone cares, the Nuggets smoked New Orleans. I didn't really watch much of the game, which is probably normal for this setting (we talked a lot). I can officially say I was part of the "prawn sandwich brigade" (to use an English football term).

Crash On The Pillows

Backyard - Day 1

Can you see the patio area now? We laid out and built the wall that will serve as the boundary for our patio. In the next few days I'll dig out some of the dirt so that we can fill the area in with the appropriate base materials. Once all the gravel and sand is in, we'll compact it and then lay the pavers...and throw down some steps while we're at it.

Judo Kick Dancing