Home away from home

Crummy cellphone picture of the pugs in the hotel just down the street, to which we were banished during floor refinishing. When the couch wasn't soft enough for them, they got all the extra pillows you see in the photo. So they really had a good time, don't let those tragic expressions fool you.

Haunting

All evening, snapping and popping noises come from behind the plastic curtain that separates the construction from the rest of the house. They even caused Rose to bark in the middle of the night as if someone were at the door.

The man of the house was sent to investigate on several occasions, particularly because this blog's Hollywood Correspondent recently reported the discovery of a rat in the closet of her nice house in a nice neighborhood. He insists that we do not have rats, numbats, porcupines or any other creatures that might account for the noises.

I can only conclude that the kitchen is haunted. Do you think they might turn out to be useful spirits who could once in a while pull their weight by making me a cup of tea, at least?

More stuff you don't want to know about your house

There is a pug in this picture to create an aura of calm, while you consider whether it is possible that YOUR pipes look like this inside, too.

R-13

Now we have insulation and electricity. Today they are putting up drywall. Why do they call it drywall? I've never heard of anyone installing wetwall.

So far, working at home while they do this work doesn't have the problems that I anticipated. I have done a few phone interviews and it hasn't been too noisy. I am afraid to ask if somehow they haven't gotten to the really noisy part; let's just hope for the best.

However, it does have other problems. Why are people asking me about light fixtures before I am even showered and dressed? I don't care about the light fixtures that much even when I am awake. In related news, why do I have to pick out a storm door? Why is there even more than one kind? And why is there a link on the website that says 'caring for your door'? My approach to the doors in my life is that I open them to walk through and close them behind, and that is it. I'll be damned if I am going to "care for" a door.

Taking advantage

The guy in charge of the kitchen just called me downstairs to ask a question, and I find Lilly sitting on the kitchen table (which is, of course, in the living room) and he's giving her a neck rub. Argh. Way to reinforce my dog for something she shouldn't do. But she is just so good at getting what she wants, how can I blame him?

Both dogs, even Rose, seem to think that he should pet them when he comes into our part of house. I guess it's good that they're not finding the process too stressful, huh?

Stuff you don't want to know

Apparently my house is made of cinderblocks and boards, like a dorm room bookshelf. I guess I should be glad it's not plastic milk crates instead.

It was also discovered that some of the pipes were all corroded and needed to be replaced to the tune of several hundred more dollars. But that's better than having them spring a leak later inside the walls of a brand new kitchen.

Afternoon of destruction

This is what it looked like in the middle of the day yesterday. They clean up so nicely at the end of each day that I have to sneak in while they're working to take a really impressive picture of the mess.

Right now there's a sound like an elephant trumpeting coming from down there. I think I am going to try not to think about it.