Myriam's Kitchen

First things first. Myriam gave me the crud as she was recovering. I however, recovered in one day. A double shot of NyQuil chased by a little tea with honey and rum, capped off with about 9 blankets and an equal number or layered clothes a good night sleep and back to business.

Anyway her kitchen. I cannot believe she left this off. I am going to try and get a photo or screen print from Glen to show the kitchen. In a nut shell it will be
20 x 20
11 ft. island we are debating whether or not to reduce the island from 11 ft. to 9 ft.
17 drawers, (at last count) 18 cabinets, 3 sinks, 1 ins-ta-hot water boiler, 1 custom built hood
1 pot filler

(I had no idea what a pot filler was; I always assumed it was the hired help in the back room who flushed the pot and baggies down the toilet and jumped out the window when the cops came) but incredible there can be a pot filler in a kitchen to. it sits above your stove and allows you to fill our COOKING POTS with water and not have to move them to the stove when they are full. Can you believe it just because e get older and our muscles begin to degenerate they have found yet aother must have. I figure I will have to save about 22,000 trips with a full pot of hot or cold water to save the cost of a pot filler. It makes me want to jump out the window when the general contractor shows up!!

and lets not forget
34 ft. of counter space. yes 34 feet. folks that is four feet longer than a bowling alley....and with it being 20 ft x 20 ft. I am thinking no gutter balls.

Raising the Roof

So, I have been under the weather lately- I had that terrible flu/crud thing that is going around- you know the one that makes you feel like dying. I am happy to report that I am on the mend and doing much better. Anyway- hence the reason for not blogging in a while about the house.

So, the house- it currently has a giant hole in it, with no roof, and the entire back wall is gone. It is kinda funny, because from the front of the house you really can't tell much of anything going on, other than it is really messy. But once you walk in- uh- there is no assemblance of any kind of order. The demolition part has been really hard for me. It's kinda like with your newborn, no really tells you how hard it is those first few days/weeks/months! It is really hard to see your home being torn apart- especially with no sight of anything getting better. However, today I learned that we are almost 25% complete! Although it does not seem like ANYTHING is anywhere near "completion", apparently it is! So that is a good feeling I guess.

So far we are on schedule- so that's nice. I guess there really isn't more to say- the pictures are worth more than any words I can put to them! Enjoy!!

A room with a view ( view from our "loft")


Michael is putting together a slide show of before and after pictures. The before pictures are sad for me, because I will never have that again and I already miss my house, my kitchen etc. I know the "new house" will have nice things, but I have no memories with that yet, so for now, I will just miss my old house and look forward to my new house!

Beverly Hills 90210

A few weeks ago I went to CA for a weekend with some college girlfriends. We had such a great time and it was truly so much fun to spend the weekend with some great girlfriends and reconnecting. Some of us had not seen each other since college- and it felt like no time at all had passed at all! We stayed in some swanky hotel in Hollywood, shopped, ate, talked, stayed up way too late, reminisced to our hearts content, laughed so hard my stomach still hurts and cried! Thanks girls for such a great time!!

We also went to our Alma mater- TMC. So here's the thing- Sweayze dorm looks much the same as when we were there! And we felt like we still look that young!! Seriously- we did- we know we don't, but it was weird to picture ourselves at TMC, walking around like we were just there!!

Thanks ladies- I can't wait for 2010!!

I have to post this picture- I know the girls will appreciate it- and of course there is a story. This is Sprinkles- Rhonda insisted that we go here and have cupcakes. So, after Carla and Fran diligently got us there- (thanks ladies- you two are the best navigators ), we stood in line, outside, for about 30 minutes- for CUPCAKES!!! They were tasty though- you were right Rhonda!! We cracked up at the sign being so small, and apparently they are huge in Beverly Hills!!

Courtney and Heather were great at spotting LOTS of stars- I think I would have only recognized Oprah or Dr. Phil- it has to be super obvious for me!! I think we should take the red, double decker star sighting tour bus next time!!

Out of Time Out of Patience and out of Money

OK the last couple of weeks has been absolutely crazy. Michael his dad, brother Bruce, brother in-law Dave and Nephew Joe attacked the house we vengeance last week emptying rooms pulling up carpet and pads and finally ripping out Sheetrock...lots of Sheetrock. We literally removed two tons of material from the house, so says contractor Glen who keeps track of such things.

The concrete foundation and stem walls are in and have past inspection. Next came the patio slab and sidewalk. The contractors have also filled in the 16 inch deep ruts in ours and our neighbors yard. Next we paid for the infamous wort case scenario drain. More money to be spent at a later date.

OK enough of the remodel. the family is officially out of the house. The kids moved out about 10 days ago. Michael moved out last Friday and Myriam came home from her California college reunion of six to ten close friends and landed in the RV early Monday morning. So far it is OK. Only had to go 4 days without hot water and the kids only had to retreat once to the RV to give Nana and Opa some space. You have to give the Burgstahlers credit all this time with just the two of them and overnight five people moved in and disrupted the balance of the universe.

Nolan is dealing with the concept of TV without TIVO, "How come we have to watch commercials" How come I can't fast forward, there's nothing on TV. Michael will be hooking up the Wii today or tomorrow so he will be able to escape reality soon enough.

Sophie will not go over to the house. Not sure what she thinks about the whole thing, bit it's evident she is not comfortable there anymore.

Chase is good as long as wherever he is he has his trucks and dirt. He loves going over to the house to knock holes in the walls surprise surprise.

Myriam just got back from a weekend trip to California to visit with her college girlfriends. and Michael just dodged a two month assignment in Mississippi then another in Renton. Had he been assigned to the new engine plant it most likely would have been until late May and who knows about assignment extensions.

I have posted some photos and will probably post a collage later.