Basement update: home stretch

It is Monday night, and I now have less than 1 week of summer vacation left.  I return to work on the 20th, and have students starting the 27th.  [I have received the draft schedule and have finished one of my syllabi - things are moving on the school front.  But that is for another post]

After a healthy break from house work while in Michigan, it is time to wrap up the big tasks for this project.  Tonight I finished a good chunk of the leftover painting - the stairway, and touch-ups.  The closet doors still need paint, and touch-ups of the trim.

That leaves one big job - the ceiling.  I didn't want to sheetrock the ceiling because I want to be able to more easily access ductwork, electrical wiring, etc.  Also, hanging it on the ceiling is a bear.  Instead we bought some attractive beadboard panels that I will cut to fit.  I hope it turns out well.

We also picked up two more items for the basement today:

My dad's old chair returns to to family, after being in long-term foster care with my cousin.  It outgrew his tastes, so he offered it back to me.  It is not much to look at after all these years, but it is still comfy.  I can already feel my butt enjoying its contours come football season.

Also I ordered a dorm fridge to use in the basement.  I will put drinks in there, to free up space in our small kitchen fridge - with all the visitors, we need every inch for foodstuffs.

-alan

Summer break in Michigan

After a fun-filled summer of Millers in Chicago, it was time to get to Michigan and see the Allmens before summer ended.  We are at the tail end of our time here, so it is time to get the spotlight off the house and back on the kid.

Andrew has learned how to smile on command.  It is big, and cheesy, and reminiscently Allmen-like. 

He showed it off for the first time at the Swiss picnic - an annual get together and celebration of all things Swiss.  Think brats, kitschy t-shirts, a recorded message from the Swiss president, lots of Swiss flags, and live accordion music.  Good times.   

 

Plenty of Allmens were there - a variety of the extended family in the area.  Only Mom was there from the immediate family, though.  I guess the rest aren't cool enough to party with the Swiss.

 

 

 On Monday we took a trip to a splash park.  Andrew had lots of fun playing, just as he does in the sprinklers at home. 

He needed coaxing at times, but once he got familiar with a particular spigot he would go back again and again and again.  

The funniest part was how he would grab at the water as it squirted, but never be able to grasp them.  So he would use his sign language to beg for help.  What did he want us to do?

On Tuesday we traveled with Sharon, Jenny, and Danielle to the zoo. It has been a number of years since I was last there, but many of the sights are the same as when I was a kid. 

 Mom said a whole album could be filled with family pictures at Rackham Fountain.

Tapping into his inner predator, Andrew was drawn toward any medium-to-large animal in motion.  He could care less about the sitting camels or the sleeping tigers.  But the otters?  All over it.  Penguins?  Facinated.  Macaques?  Chased them around, squealing.

The zebras fell somewhere in the middle.  They have a unique look and fun-sounding name, so that helped them to get some ahhh's from him.
    

The giraffes came up real close, drawing all of our attention.  They were anticipating feeding time, so it was good timing on our part.  

Our last stop was the arctic exhibit. While the polar bears were not around, we lingered anyway because the AC was a welcome break from the hot sun.

We ended the day with a trip to downtown Royal Oak for bubble tea.  Rachel actually wanted an Asian fruit smoothie, but Joy Yee's-style boba just has not come to metro Detroit yet.  However, it was good nough to spur Jenny and Sharon to go with us to load up on supplies to make their own milk tea at home.

Today we rested and I did some odd jobs for Mom.  Phil and Karen are staying the night, because tomorrow morning they will go to the airport for a vacation in Hawaii.  I am pretty sure I could get by on Phil's ID, so I have to figure out how to switch with him so that I can spend 2 weeks in paradise.

-alan