Before leaving Purdue behind, we stopped at the nearest Sprint store to buy a home charger for our phones -- seeing as how both of ours remained on the kitchen counter from Monday night's charging session.
We also talked to Jimmy, who said the shower doors were looking good so far.
And then we were off -- toward Iroquois County in Illinois (which is where I'm standing the photo) and then to the Indiana-Michigan line for a Michigan photo.
Along the way, we encountered those huge electricity-generating windmills for the second time. (The first was on our quick trip to Iowa last year.)
Something about those windmills captivates to me. They're huge, and I understand that there are issues with them disturbing the migratory patterns of birds. I'd guess some locals dislike them as much as I abhor mountaintop-removal mining in eastern Kentucky.
But I love the windmills anyway. We took pictures, but they don't do any better a job than TV in conveying just how massive the darn things are. Stopping to take the photos felt like meeting a celebrity.
So we finally made it to the hotel, which was actually in the northern suburbs of Chicago -- about 60 miles or so from Milwaukee. We ventured out for dinner and found a great sushi place. Huge! With five sushi chefs!
Monday, September 1, 2008
Day 356: Aug. 26, 2008
After breakfast with Jamie and Allyson, we waited around all morning for the marble fix-it crew to arrive. But when we got a call that it would be later than 1:30 p.m. before they showed up, we headed off on our vacation, leaving Jimmy and Gary to handle the vanity problems.
The guys had begun building one of the columns for the deck before we left.
Motorcycles loaded and no rain in the forecast, we began our trip to Milwaukee for Harley-Davidson's 105th anniversary celebration -- our first-ever longer-than-overnight trip on the bikes.
Bud had a few ABCs of Touring photos scheduled along the way, so on the first day, we only went as far as Lafayette, Ind., near Purdue University.
In the photo, Bud checks out the Wasbash River, which runs through Purdue's campus, after our great dinner at 9 Irish Brothers, recommended to us by a really helpful clerk at the local Harley shop.
Jimmy left a voicemail in the late afternoon that the marble guys weren't able to fix the pit in the marble, so they'll be cutting a new top. No word yet on when it will arrive.
The guys had begun building one of the columns for the deck before we left.
Motorcycles loaded and no rain in the forecast, we began our trip to Milwaukee for Harley-Davidson's 105th anniversary celebration -- our first-ever longer-than-overnight trip on the bikes.
Bud had a few ABCs of Touring photos scheduled along the way, so on the first day, we only went as far as Lafayette, Ind., near Purdue University.
In the photo, Bud checks out the Wasbash River, which runs through Purdue's campus, after our great dinner at 9 Irish Brothers, recommended to us by a really helpful clerk at the local Harley shop.
Jimmy left a voicemail in the late afternoon that the marble guys weren't able to fix the pit in the marble, so they'll be cutting a new top. No word yet on when it will arrive.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Day 355: Aug. 25, 2008
To save you from death by boredom brought on by concrete photos, here's a quick shot of Bud slipping up the driveway behind me on my motorcycle as I was capturing yet another fascinating picture of the millstones.
But don't breathe too easily, those stones (now free of duct tape) could be tomorrow's photo.
Bud and I did a walk-through to check out the floors this morning in anticipation of Chester's arrival. Apparently, we were a little to eager because he didn't come back today.
The good news is the only mistake we found was a small, dried puddle of urethane in the great room that I already had noticed Friday evening.
Jimmy and I also walked through, placing the doorstops in the correct locations. Several more that were on back order are scheduled to arrive soon.
Gary and Jimmy removed the forms from the concrete before a huge rain blew in. Courtesy of that storm, we spent an hour and half in the dark at work. Bleh. Nothing like wasted time on a Monday.
The marble shop crew is supposed to be back Tuesday mid- to late morning. I'm still hoping they can repair the flaws, but if they can't, at least we'll know that and they can get started cutting a new slab.
Jamie and Allyson are in town, so Bud visited with Jamie while I was at work today. Then the four of us had dinner before I headed back for a few more hours at the office.
But don't breathe too easily, those stones (now free of duct tape) could be tomorrow's photo.
Bud and I did a walk-through to check out the floors this morning in anticipation of Chester's arrival. Apparently, we were a little to eager because he didn't come back today.
The good news is the only mistake we found was a small, dried puddle of urethane in the great room that I already had noticed Friday evening.
Jimmy and I also walked through, placing the doorstops in the correct locations. Several more that were on back order are scheduled to arrive soon.
Gary and Jimmy removed the forms from the concrete before a huge rain blew in. Courtesy of that storm, we spent an hour and half in the dark at work. Bleh. Nothing like wasted time on a Monday.
The marble shop crew is supposed to be back Tuesday mid- to late morning. I'm still hoping they can repair the flaws, but if they can't, at least we'll know that and they can get started cutting a new slab.
Jamie and Allyson are in town, so Bud visited with Jamie while I was at work today. Then the four of us had dinner before I headed back for a few more hours at the office.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Day 354: Aug. 24, 2008
Not so much to tell. Cleaned a bit. Tried to make sense of the dining room. Things are in more upheaval than usual in there now that there's no table on which to stack them. Here's hoping for enough room to organize this stuff in the new house!
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Day 353: Aug. 23, 2008
Bud and I escorted our neighbor Mark on his first poker run today. The proceeds from the run will benefit children with special needs, which is an even more important cause to us these days because of Lance.
It didn't rain. That's the good news. In fact, it was pretty much the complete opposite of rain -- hot! Temperatures in the mid-90s.
So when we drew our final cards and decided none of us probably would win either highest or lowest hand, we called it quits without riding the final leg of the run.
Maybe we would have won lots of door prizes at the last stop. We'll never know, but by the time we left, air conditioning was prize enough for us.
The photo is the medicine cabinets' first coat of paint Friday. (Mark took pictures today, but we didn't, not even with our phones.)
It didn't rain. That's the good news. In fact, it was pretty much the complete opposite of rain -- hot! Temperatures in the mid-90s.
So when we drew our final cards and decided none of us probably would win either highest or lowest hand, we called it quits without riding the final leg of the run.
Maybe we would have won lots of door prizes at the last stop. We'll never know, but by the time we left, air conditioning was prize enough for us.
The photo is the medicine cabinets' first coat of paint Friday. (Mark took pictures today, but we didn't, not even with our phones.)
Day 352: Aug. 22, 2008
See. Concrete. I told you.
The guys poured this morning. It was a hot and sweaty job, but they made it through. Bud said Gary and Jimmy liked this driver's mix and precision so much that they tipped him!
Now we have this slab for the side deck steps, one between and garage and the back of the deck, and one for the new central heating/air units.
The floors got their final coat of urethane this afternoon. Now all that remains for Chester is the thresholds.
Robert happened to stop by (as he does frequently), so he put a first coat of white paint on the medicine cabinets.
The misunderstanding of the day was pretty big. The marble shop crew stopped by to look at the downstairs vanity, and Chester apparently chased them away because he was ready to put down that final urethane!
Now they'll be back either Tuesday or Wednesday. Who needs plumbing anyway, right?
The guys poured this morning. It was a hot and sweaty job, but they made it through. Bud said Gary and Jimmy liked this driver's mix and precision so much that they tipped him!
Now we have this slab for the side deck steps, one between and garage and the back of the deck, and one for the new central heating/air units.
The floors got their final coat of urethane this afternoon. Now all that remains for Chester is the thresholds.
Robert happened to stop by (as he does frequently), so he put a first coat of white paint on the medicine cabinets.
The misunderstanding of the day was pretty big. The marble shop crew stopped by to look at the downstairs vanity, and Chester apparently chased them away because he was ready to put down that final urethane!
Now they'll be back either Tuesday or Wednesday. Who needs plumbing anyway, right?
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Day 351: Aug. 21, 2008
OK, so I was two days ahead on my concrete estimate. The trucks are supposed to arrive tomorrow at 10 a.m. I swear.
We're dining room table-less right now. Bud and I loaded it up just before lunch, and he delivered to the same refinisher who did the front door.
Tomorrow, he's taking the sideboard and the chairs. So I get to choose new upholstery for the chair bottoms. That's one I hadn't anticipated, so I'm sort of excited. Yay!
Gary made the medicine cabinet doors today. Chester put another coat of sealant on the floors.
The shower-door guy finally called me back. He said they have installation scheduled for next week. At least the floors will be dry by then.
The marble shop repair crew is supposed to arrive between 1 and 4 pm. tomorrow. I really hope they don't have to take the top away, but I'm still not optimistic.
We're dining room table-less right now. Bud and I loaded it up just before lunch, and he delivered to the same refinisher who did the front door.
Tomorrow, he's taking the sideboard and the chairs. So I get to choose new upholstery for the chair bottoms. That's one I hadn't anticipated, so I'm sort of excited. Yay!
Gary made the medicine cabinet doors today. Chester put another coat of sealant on the floors.
The shower-door guy finally called me back. He said they have installation scheduled for next week. At least the floors will be dry by then.
The marble shop repair crew is supposed to arrive between 1 and 4 pm. tomorrow. I really hope they don't have to take the top away, but I'm still not optimistic.
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