Kitchen Remodel II

Ohmigawd. I'm sure that even before humans moved beyond the basic animal survival stage and began to do simple, civilized things like living in caves, stealing each other's wives and cooking food that there were probably more developed kitchens than the one I've had for the last couple of weeks. I thought the whole no cabinets, no countertops thing was bad. Then I met the no stove, no microwave and no sink thing, and I began to realize that even backpacking is more civilized than kitchen remodeling. At least the cave men had fire. If I want fire, I have to light a candle or pull out my backpacking stove. I feel so, primitive.

Gary working on the plumbing

Doesn't it make you want to cook?

Speaking of which - I'm toying more and more with the idea of starting a commune. with the economy where it is, and with society as a whole pretty well going to hell in a dump-truck (I don't think the problems fit in that hand basket any more), I'm beginning to think that creating a small community of other pissed-off intellectuals out trying to live off of the land and make clothing out of old grocery bags might just be an appropriate response. I've got several interesting developments so far:

• The folks that run the Mountain States Wholesale nursery have been talking about creating a commune on their property - which is already blessed with ample growing yards, green houses, wells and food producing plants. While I think this is an ideal location, it would be unlikely that they'd let me run it (seeing as how it's their idea and all). So, obviously, that doesn't work for me. However, I like the nursery idea, so I say we either find a similar set up, or use Gary's guns to take over their commune and plant me as the "Gemini Queen of the Commune". Gary can be my consort.





• Another friend with ties to the New Mexico ranching and farming community has offered cows and seed. I can't imagine life without beef, so this works for me. He also thinks we should ban money in favor of the barter system. This would eliminate the need for lawyers and accountants. I think this is brilliance.




• Considering that we're in the Southwest, we should take a clue from the native communities who were seasonally migratory. Living somewhere nice for the summer, like Mt. Graham or the Rincons where we had a regular water supply, cooler weather and lakes stocked with trout (we'd have to manage this resource carefully if we anticipate Fish and Game's collapse). For the winters, we could go someplace where we wouldn't have to deal with cold weather and keeping track of heavy coats. I like the San Pedro river area for that, but there's always Hawaii. It's a long canoe trip, but the Queen of the Gemini Commune can just conscript a few handsome young studs to row her over there.




• Finally, the commune has to be equipped with a full kitchen at all times. I will not eat brick dust and try to re-heat meat in a toaster oven just to escape the evils of society. At the very least, I need a flame for my macaroni and cheese. There are certain products of progress that simply cannot be set aside.

Monday has been established as the install day for the cabinets. I'd be more excited if it meant I'd also have a sink, stove and microwave - but we must take the little joys as they come, right?

Funnies from the Political Race...

Now, I know that some of you may disagree with me politically - but I think these are funny just the same. The last one is my own attempt...

Gotta Share this With the World...

Pure genius: Click here for the future of America. Click all over the screen to find great little jems.

And this - if you like SNL - is one of their best skits, ever, especially if you had to watch the vp debates like I did. At least I was in Chicago. Among friends...
Felt kinda like this to me...

Kitchen Remodeling Project

So, for those who are interested in what really happens when you decide to build some 'sweat equity" into your home...I bring you the great kitchen remodeling project of 2008! This isn't one of those "we did it in 48 hours" tv shows - this is real people, real budget, real timeline. Things could very well go wrong, and there isn't a perky host to make it all better.

To say I'll bring you in from the beginning would be a bit of a fib. We've done a couple of small projects already - or more accurately, made a few purchases (a fridge, a stove, a hood, a sink - you know - small cheap stuff snort). But, the cool, scary and sexy stuff is just getting going... So strap on your tool belt and put on your safety glasses, because the plaster will fly (and likely tempers will flare, so bring your asbestos apron, too!).

For starters, here's what my kitchen looked like before:

Oh, alright, so I didn't bother to take good "before" pictures that don't show my kitchen full of booze and drunk people (there isn't a whole lot of time that it isn't). But I guess you get the drift: tiny space that people love to hang out in, yellow walls, old cabinets, a counter top that's slowly flaking away (yeah - flaking - we'll get back to that in a minute) oh, and:

a sink that's getting old, nasty and starting to clog a lot. EEew. The model, however, is lovely. She makes the sink look even worse. Some applause for Vana, please...

So, plan is: new cabinets, new sink, new counter tops, keep yellow walls and drunk friends. While we're at it, might as well modernize so that if and when we try to sell the place, people don't have feel they have to avoid references to Geico and sweep our stone-age tool fragments from under the furniture. So, new appliances (or new old appliances) and some upgrades such as a dishwasher (although I find my current 'dishwasher' to be fully functional and sex is cheaper than electricity), a garbage disposal (to avoid messes like the one above - eeeew) and a vent hood (so I don't turn the kitchen into a Hopi Sweat Lodge each time I cook). The end result should be eclectic, homey and (with any luck) slightly more functional. I hope we don't drive the drunk people out with all of our modern gadgetry, though!

Progress to date: BIG FREAKING MESSES MADE!

Removing the upper cabinets (see I told you my 'dishwasher' was sexy)...

Removing the counter top (yes, he's using a pneumatic chisel. It's hard stuff.)



So, the counter top was "flaky" because it was plaster or cement which had been poured over lath and then painted with some sort of enamel finish (likely lead based, tasty). Over the years, no doubt water had infiltrated the protecting layer, and as a result that layer was lifting, the porous cement was allowing the water through to the wood, which then expanded and contracted, causing the material to crack, letting in more water... Well, let's just say that we were experiencing a little riparian erosion right in my kitchen (I feel so privileged).

Now we fell better about ripping it out (because we probably could not have ever really repaired it). It also proved that the kitchen was pretty much original, because behind that was...brick.


Here's what the kitchen looks like today:

Guess the Mexican food restaurant down the street will be getting a lot more business from us over the next weeks. Lets just hope the cabinet maker doesn't delay things any more! Watch for more installations of "a new kitchen in an old house"...