The Coffee Table Project

Finally Finished

Holy Cow - the coffee table is FINALLY finished. 

When did I start on it? Mid March I think. That's when I started painting layers of poly-acrylic on the gas station sign I acquired. I bought the iron legs on E-bay months before that? 

Here it is and then I'll tell you how many steps it took -- a lot of them unnecessary, but hey, I got there! And now I can say I built this lovely, quirky piece of furniture!

The table began as a termite eaten sign that appeared at my place sometime early last year from I don't know where. At first I thought I wanted to hang it on the wall, but then I decided a coffee table would be a great use for it.

It sat out on the lanai until a little over a month ago when I began sanding the edges. Then I needed to seal it and make it more user friends (i.e. no splinters for my guests) I started with a wipe-on polyurethane but quickly discovered that wasn't going to be enough unless I wanted to wipe on about 40 coats. I did not want.

A little Internet research turned up poly-acrylic - a bit thicker coverage and more water proofing than the wipe-on poly. Off to Ace.

I "polyed" every few hours for a couple of days and sanded in between until I had probably 10 layers on top and sides and 5 on the underside.

 It was time to figure out how to attach the legs, which meant the table sat put together but unattached for a couple of weeks until I had time to get to it.

And then I told you about putting the screws all the way through the sign and then the first gluing attempt to put wood underneath on which to attach the legs. Well, that glue didn't hold. One piece of wood came off as I was attaching the legs with screws.

Back to Ace (I could make commercials for them at this point). I chose Liquid Nails - or the better version and possibly original of that product - an Ace employee confirmed my selection. I painted the thick goo on the wood two nights ago and let it set - underneath my heavy cast-iron skillets (I'm not a professional - I improvise).

The stuff

The pans again

This morning

Pretty proud of my little project. I hadn't built anything before. I'm sure there are 10 ways I could have done it better or more quickly - it's finished and I'm extremely happy with it. So - yay!

Now, back to this thing:

B and friend Karl each separately told me to chuck it or send it back. I'll keep you posted. 

Told You I Was Going to Saw Something

Good Thing the Pieces Don't Have to be Symmetric

I said I was going to use the borrowed circular saw yesterday to move my coffee table project forward - and use it I did. I'll show you in pictures.

Plywood, circular saw.

After cutting the length.

Two pieces from one. Um totally uneven.

I was promised at Ace that this would hold.

Mix it up and slap it on the wood after careful measurements.

                                                                                               



       

Had to hold down the slightly warped plywood with SOMETHING.

While the wood gently dried...

I attempted to assemble a file cabinet - this is as far as I got.

 A little video of my pain:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B82TQhwgihNkSGY1R0c4ck5FQzQ

Be Afraid. Be Very Afraid - Of Me And Another Power Tool

This Is Going to Happen Today

Circular saw borrowed from Karl

To be Cont'd

Learning Experiences - Otherwise Known as Mistakes

If You Don't Fail, You Aren't Trying? Let's Go With That

My mom calls mistakes "learning experiences." My sisters and I often use this phrase to describe daily events.

Among my latest learning experiences is the recent discovery that the trim I was so proud of installing in my powder room is neither square nor plumb and must be repeated - for a second time. I didn't even check or measure for squareness or plumbness - I was so focused on learning how to use my Brad nailer.

I'm not a builder or woodworker or craftswoman of any kind - as you know. A visit from electrician brother-in-law Brad uncovered the problem when he offered to cut the top piece for me. Brad, my sister Summer's husband, showed me how to cut a 45-degree angle and how to measure properly before I cut - not that I'm going to remember any of this now that it has been a few weeks.

Brad fit the top piece in between the two side pieces that as you may recall I nailed up there - twice since the nails I used first were too long and scratched the pocket door - oh vey! When Brad laid the top piece in, it was clear that everything around it was crooked!

My brother-in-law explained why and how to fix it. As Brad, Summer, kids and friend were on vacation, I didn't beg him to help me.

The crookedness remains: 

Another Learning Experience

Weeks later, after a trip to Houston for the men's NCAA Final Four basketball tournament and a 3-day hospital stay with food poisoning when I returned to Florida, I tried to finish my coffee table. I apparently didn't understand what Steve at Ace had in mind when he sold me screws and washer - not until after I had drilled all the way through the sign I worked so hard to protect with poly acrylic, and after I went back to Ace for longer screws and nuts - why didn't you sell me nuts, I asked. 

Richard made my mistake clear without realizing that's what he was doing. A light bulb went off as this fatherly figure talked through the process. I shook my head and hung it in embarrassment when I realized I was meant to put the small screws in from the back of the sign with the washers without going all the way through to connect the metal legs. "But it's too late, I drilled through the table, " I told Richard.
 
"That's ok," he said. "It can be fixed." He went on to explain "plastic wood" and that I can fill the holes with the plastic wood and then glue some thin wood pieces to the bottom and connect the legs through that wood instead of through the sign.

This big screw sticking out isn't the look I'm going for

So I have those mistakes to fix and projects to finish. Nothing is ever simple. That's OK - life isn't either. Mistakes are fixable almost no matter how bad they are - almost. 

*A side note:
Illness is great way to to learn more about someone you are dating. And about yourself when that person is sick. B and I passed with big bright flying colors. While I was in the hospital, B was amazing and after I got out - even when he caught a stomach bug and we were stuck in my house together for 3 days trying our best to take care of one another. 

We managed to get out to see the sunset on the third night. I managed to get to yoga with my muscleless muscles yesterday.

I was lucky my parents were still in town too - they are wonderful.

I was and am lucky for great friends - Kate who took me flying Friday night; Jess who made me gluten-free Chex mix and gave me all her unexpired gluten-free food and brought B and I Gatorade and sweet potatoes when we were sick; and Lisa who has great ideas about my other belly troubles and has encouraged this gluten-free, non-dairy eating (despite my grumping about it, it's a great idea and she's just trying to help me).

Kyle and Gretchen in the back of the 4-seater

Our island

Capt. Kate - AKA Rock Star Badass

Kate and co-pilot Jess

Dreaming

Renovations And Decorations and Vacations

It's been a while since my last blog post - I have several in my head about unfinished projects, mistakes and works in progress, family, lovely B. For now, until I have more time, here are some things I'm dreaming about lately:
A new bike and a place to store it inside out of the salt air
http://www.cb2.com/wood-bike-storage/s309683Bike storage

A lovely wine rack filled with wine
http://www.cb2.com/accordian-wall-mounted-wine-rack/s456699

A concrete island
http://www.cb2.com/fuze-grey-counter-table/s561623

or maybe this onehttp://www.cb2.com/stern-counter-table/s116735

Barstools

http://www.cb2.com/revolution-adjustable-bar-stool/s202564

Tile http://www.lowes.com/pd_591546-89276-0591546_1z0y8zw__?productId=50253111&pl=1 -- for the entire house!

A new bathroom
http://www.houzz.com/photos/140288/Classic-Contemporary-Washroom-transitional-bathroom-toronto

Countertops
http://www.hgtv.com/remodel/kitchen-remodel/concrete-kitchen-countertop-options

Working on my sailboats
http://bit.ly/1MZF33Y
Going to Cuba
http://insightcuba.com

A flat stomach
http://bit.ly/1TGuxjq

Running another marathon
https://www.popsugar.com/fitness/Boston-Marathon-Running-Shoes-2016-40847927#photo-40847927

Going to Maine
http://static.panoramio.com/photos/large/25659122.jpg

Fishing

Standstill

Trying to Get the Cart Back Behind the Horse

So what I put in the kitchen sink and base cabinet before I replaced the tile so it's not permanent? At least I have a fully functioning kitchen now. I kind of had to do things backward to know what I need to do to go forward.

I have tackled a lot of projects in this condo since buying it almost 2 years ago and since sort of taking all the planning and the work on myself (with lots of help) last June.

But man! There are so many more projects to be done.

I'm at a standstill because they are big expensive projects that I'm not sure I can or want to do myself. The biggest of these is the need to replace the tile and carpet throughout my home. I have to do this downstairs before my counter tops can be attached to the floor and walls and before I can add permanent counter tops. Probably $5,000 each floor. I'm sure I can save a lot if I take the tile and carpet out myself. All things that need to be decided and saved for.
And yet, I'm decorating some because ya know that makes sense. I bought a lamp and throw pillows and am soon going to hang a mirror over the couch - as soon as I scrape the paint I got on the glass and try to smooth out some of my poor spray painting.

I have started to build a coffee table - next post!
In the middle of this and two jobs, asthma is rearing its ugly head, and it's March Madness Baby! Go Cats!

And for the heck of it and because I'm all over the place in this post (I'm going to blame the Prednisone for my ADD behavior here but it might just be me), here's a video and great remake a friend sent me the other day. 

Disturbed "The Sound of Silence"

Things I Know Among Uncertainties

Goodness

"The human heart yearns for the beautiful in all ranks of life" - Harriet Beecher Stowe

So many things in life - in my life - are uncertain.

I'm completely OK with that - I don't need everything mapped out. And thank goodness for that since it never has been! I'm hopeful about a happy future. I'm happy now - why wouldn't I be happy later? What later will look like I have no idea. I hope I can get to all the things I want to. I hope there's love and companionship in a romantic sense but I know there will be with friends and family.

For now, what I know for certain includes the following:

• There will always be another project to tackle in my condo
• Running - it's part of me even when I can only think about it. 2 slow, lung hurting miles this morning 
• Asthma stinks
• Hockey - finally got back on the ice last Sunday
• Fishing - dropped a line in for the first time in months and it felt great
• Everything is better after yoga even when it was already good
• I have the most amazing friends - all over the country and the world - AND on this lovely place I call home
• My family will always love me
• The sun WILL come out - figuratively and literally
• Tourist season won't last forever (grocery shopping with a glass of wine eases the pain of season)
• I can always complain or marvel at my first-world problems and I guess aren't I lucky to have them to complain about?
• Everyone who enters my life - even briefly - is there for a reason

This post was supposed to be about my latest project below but I got sidetracked.

No major construction or plumbing lately. Lots of straightening, organizing, sorting and purging. 

Tonight - after Nacho Tuesday at the pier - no B, no Jess and Chris had to head home to get ready for the next day's fishing tournament - of which I was the volunteer leader -  I came home wondering what I should have for dinner. I saw the two teak towel bars that had arrived last week and decided I would install them - cleverly attaching them to the temporary plywood counter tops. Not permanent fixtures - though I want to incorporate them later when I install the concrete counter tops - but good and helpful and lovely for now.

Good and helpful and lovely for now - I like this idea. It's like being present in the moment - every moment - and not thinking about what's ahead or behind. Yoga instructor Julia reminded we yogis to do this last night.

Stupid Excited and Proud

Another Switch With a Phone Instruction Twist

I thought today's home achievement was going to be installing a toilet paper holder.

I was perfectly happy with this idea. - I was going to whine about the frustrations of wall anchors. I mean I did work a full day as a financial reporter/editor. I did walk over and pay off my mechanic bill. I did get to the UPS store to drop off a return and pick up some copies. And I'm committed to a yoga practice tonight (I went - it was lovely and opening, with friends - and in a studio - different for me).

All-in-all a productive day. However, while I was admiring my handy work with the TP holder, I thought, "hey, I'll open up this dimmer switch and see if I'll be able to change it out with a double switch to separate the light and fan." When I bought the condo, there was a dimmer switch on both fan and light but no way of actually switching it all the way off. The replacement was also a dimmer but with a push all the way to click, it was off.

Friend Karl said it might not be possible to change out the switch, depending on what's in the electrical box. "I'll just have a look," I thought, and turned off the power.

That did it - I was all in as soon as I removed the front plate.

Dimmer switch attached to both light and fan, alongside regular outlet

I found this already cleaned-up-since ownership mess of wires. I pulled the instructions out of the box of the new switch, scratched my head and sent pictures and questions to Karl - and asked if he could answer if he wasn't busy. He called and that was the beginning of a nearly 1-hour adventure - taking wires out of wire nuts, turning power off and on to see what wire worked for what, taking one switch off, snipping the ground wire from the old new switch to connect to the new switch, putting wires back into wire nuts.

Karl reviewed the pictures of the set up (above) and said - OK, looks good. Turn the power back on. I did it and squealed with delight yelling "hot diggity!" as each switch worked correctly. 

Cheers!

Thoroughly Exhausted

Wow and Still So Much to Do

Last night - just a few hour ago actually, I finished more than six solid hours of working in my condo. I still think most people would walk in and wonder how I live this way.

Progress for sure though.

• cleaned out under the stairs
• moved sailboat supplies including sails, anchors, tools under the stairs
• went through some boxes on the lanai
• moved some items next to the couch to the lanai
• went through kitchen supplies 
• put two large bags of kitchen supplies out ready to donate
• organized in the only cabinet in my kitchen
• cleaned out sideboard and organized the dishes there
• took out recycling
• made five trips to the dumpster with garbage
• put the legs on a new table for the lanai that I'm going to use in my house until I replace the lanai roof
• Moved wood planks and pieces around - for at least the 50th time since I've had wood in my house for building
• Swept, straightened
• Put clothes away

I'm sure there's more to that listed. Let's just say I went to bed after 1 about to pass out. Now I'm up and headed back to the pier for the day.

I feel like it was Saturday well spent. And I guess thank goodness for Prednisone since couldn't sit still. hahaha

Brief Update

Usable and Useless

Upon the recommendation of the lovely woman at the lumber yard, I covered my temporary plywood counter tops with table cloths so I can use them until I'm ready for the concrete top I want to install. Otherwise, bacteria and water will make everything a mess - not to mention it would be gross.

I mean who knows when I'm going to get to install the concrete and as I said before having working sink and counter space is changing my life. It probably will be many months before I can do the counter tops. I need to tackle the tile replacement first. And that's going to have to wait too.

So I just wanted to show it off a bit.

As for the asthma - three days into steroids after the ER visit and I thought I was ready for a little yoga - a new class in a new studio instead of at the beach. Mistake - but now I know. I chose the wrong class for sure - It was hot. It was with weights. It was intense. It would have been a challenge first time at 100% lung capacity. I lay in child's pose about half way through the class, then left when I realized I might be doing more harm than good.

Back home to the nebulizer. I still have about 10 more days on steroids. When they first kick in, you feel a bit Wonder Womanish - in your head anyway. The lungs let you know when they are ready for the tough stuff. Today was not the day. Heck, they aren't really even ready for the easy stuff.

All will be well.  

Breathing - Easier Said Than Done Some Days

Asthma Getting in the Way of Progress and Life

I have asthma.

It hit me 10 years ago and hasn't let up since. I moved to Florida to shed the many triggers in New Jersey - ragweed, mold, winter, extreme temperature and weather changes.

That doesn't mean my asthma is cured but it has been much improved.

The last two years I lived in New Jersey, I spent at least once a month in the ER or overnight in the hospital - one time I spent two weeks in the hospital. After that, my doctors sent me to National Jewish Hospital in Denver for two weeks of intense tests two months before I moved to Florida.

Since moving south two years and three months ago, I have been to the ER 3 times for asthma, with one visit turning into an overnight stay. Sunday night was the third ER visit.

I went to work at the pier Sunday morning and I'm not sure what triggered the attack, but it hit hard and I went down fast. I don't huff and puff and struggle for air - my lungs close up and stop moving air. It feels like someone has deflated them. It's hard to move or talk.

The lungs hurt - it can be very painful. Not everyone has chest pain with asthma. Lucky me. Sometimes it feels like there are hands inside squeezing my lungs tight. Sometimes it feels like there are large books or animals or my brother sitting on my chest.

After a full day using my nebulizer every four hours and trying to rest and B checking on me (he stayed at the pier much longer than his schedule allowed - just watching out for me), it was decided I should head to the ER. I wasn't getting better and it was time for some IV steroids and help. I always question this move - going to the ER. I shouldn't - once you are asking the question, it is time to go.

B drove down from Naples at 9:30 p.m. and drove me back to Naples to the hospital. When he arrived at my place, I was still questioning whether we should go. He persuaded me - you can barely talk, you need to go. I'm glad we did. I'm glad he was there to take me. He's a good egg.

The drill: you say you have asthma - you get back almost immediately. You tell the triage nurse about your chest pain and you are sure it's the asthma. No matter - EKG time. Chest X-ray. Doctor listens to your lungs not moving air. Blood work, IV, IV steroids, breathing treatment. Doctor listens to your lungs moving a little more air, hands you a prescription for prednisone and sends you home with an order to follow up with your pulmonologist.

B drove me all the way back to my place instead of two blocks away to his - for several reasons but mostly because my nebulizer was at my condo. He checked on me every time I woke during the night, asked if I needed anything. He stayed with me for much longer than he should have work-wise on Monday because he wanted to make sure I was ok on my own. As Jess said: so glad he was able and willing to help me.

I let my parents do a little petting last night. They had me over for dinner and that was very comforting. I told them B stayed at the pier watching out for me Sunday and took me to the ER. Dad hugged me and said, "little girl, that's what good guys do." I told B he made some serious brownie points - haha. (Don't get excited or freaked out out there. It's nice. No jumping ahead here.)

Two days later and the Prednisone is starting to kick in a little - sometimes it takes a while. I feel a little better than yesterday - the entire Encyclopedia Britannica isn't sitting on my chest and there's a lot less pain, but still really tight. And I'm writing today - more than I could manage yesterday so I must be on the mend. I'm trying to sleep but my brain is awake - my body isn't so much. And my brain isn't exactly moving quickly.

It's amazing how slow the brain and body get when they don't get enough oxygen.

Something funny though: a couple in the coffee shop earlier today were telling Oscar he could sooth his dishpan hands with "that dish detergent what's it called?" I piped up with Palmolive - whoa where did I pull that out of? "And who was it who used it," the mused. Immediately from me - Madge. I couldn't come up with my doctors names at the ER Sunday night without looking at my phone contacts - what the heck? I guess I regressed. Haha.

While my home looks like a cyclone came through and I'm unable to muster the strength to clean it, I did manage to change the light bulb on the fridge water and ice dispenser... and to color.

I'm going to try to shut down my brain now and rest my lungs. Good night.