For Lauras' and Russ' and Kevin's eyes only

(updated Nov 13 and 14th)

Hi Laura and Laura! And Russ! And Kevin! My four fans! Or, at least the only ones I know about since you four have told me on different occasions that you are following, and enjoying, the blog. (I may have other regular blog checkers, but I don't know who they are.) I want you to know that when I am thinking about what I am going to put on it, I always ask myself " is this something Laura or Laura or Russ or Kevin would like to see?" So, I just want to thank you for your various messages of support. You four inspire me!

To the new bathroom! (video)

The project is finished. A short video to show you the room follows:

The closet-turned-bathroom

My project right now is converting a small closet to a sink and a toilet for the master bedroom. I started the day with the toilet drain completed. So, my task for today was to run the water lines for the sink and toilet and the drain lines for the sink. And, then, of course install the vanity and toilet. A short photo gallery of the job follows.

The drain for the toilet. Notice that is is not centered. There was a beam right in the middle of the floor, so I had to push the toilet to the left of the room.

What you are seeing is the water pipes and drain for the bathtub on the other side of this wall. My job was to change those tub pipes to also supply water for the sink and toilet and to run a new drain up for the sink.

And now, the same wall with the new pipes before I put the wall back on. I had to bring the hot water pipe over to the left side so it would be in the correct place.

One is really not suppose to work with bare feet - but it was so useful! I love that my foot looks normal but that my hand looks like it belongs to an alien.

The new vanity installed.

Happy sitting on the new toilet.

To finish the project, I now have to put in an electric outlet, a mirror, a towel rack and toilet roll dispenser. Then, on to the next project.... Total cost of all materials for the bathroom: $617.90.

October 25th pictures

I am getting sort of sick of putting on a couple of pictures a day. I have a lot of work to do here and the pressure is just too great! How can I spend 6 hours every day reading about the election, do my house projects and post to this blog? Well, as you can imagine - it is tough. I am just going to have to revert to random posts whenever I damn well feel like it. But, here is my last regular two photo day. (Also, I updated my last post to put today's sunrise on "Sunrise, Sunset).

As for the work, I am in the process of converting a 3' by 7' closet into a bathroom (toilet and sink). We had two closets in the master bathroom and a lot of built-in drawers, so this extra closet wasn't needed. Leslie's folks arrive next week and I need to have it done by then. Yesterday, I put in the toilet drain. We were so lucky! The main sewer line just happened to pass right by the closet. I only needed 4' of pipe. The odd expression on my face is happiness that I got the thing done. I will be doing the water pipes and the sink drain tomorrow.


And, here is Mauna Kea with the first snow of the season. Hilo is less than an 1 1/2 hour to the peak. I love sitting in a tank top and shorts looking at the snow and being real glad I am not there.

Sunrise, Sunset

Our front porch, living room and kitchen all face east - towards the sunrise. So, as I do the dinner dishes in the morning, I usually get a nice sunrise view. Like this one. (Update from October 25th - the morning sunrise through our kitchen window screen. If I like a sunrise or sunset better, I will replace the photo...Speaking of screens, French folks should get some. See my thoughts here.)


But, the really cool thing is that even though the sunset is behind us and we have no comfortable view of it - we almost always get the sunset colors in the east. Like this one.


This really pleases me. I like my cocktail hour with palms, clouds and color.

October 23nd photos

My first house project was to build this cheap-ass compost bin. Very important to compost! Food in the landfill is really bad. If you want to know why, I can get you in touch with my friend Brian. I don't remember the exact figures - but food waste is really, really bad for the environment. Don't throw away food!!

Updated. Brian wrote the following after reading the post: Just in case people cannot find me (although I have no idea why they wouldn't), food in the landfill decomposes WITHOUT oxygen. That means it will decompose anaerobically and will produce a toxic sludge and methane gas. Methane is 62 times more potent than CO2 as a greenhouse gas, so the real priority in recycling is with organic recycling.


Our single car garage is very tiny. To get the car in properly, one must use is guide. Here is my guide.

October 22nd photos

We brought home our first palms to plant - Alexander palms, to be exact. Leslie is going to be putting them into the ground really soon. They will grow to be really tall - 90'.

A very tan beachcomber at Hapuna. I particularly like his diaper-like swim trunks.

October 21st photos

Leslie took this as I was making Obama calls. Just two more weeks! If you haven't done anything for the campaign (and you support him, of course), do it now! Be a part of history.

But, then, I recommend a nice drink after your Obama work is complete for the day.

DJ wants more information

My friend DJ wrote and asked:

But I really wanted to see OUTSIDE your house—where is the ocean?! What does the backyard look like? Where does Rosie play (I saw her in the video and it made me very happy!).

So to answer her questions, here is a video of the outside:


And here is an answer about Rosie:



And here is our view of the ocean from the front porch. It is much more than a peek-a-boo view but much less than a full view. Nonetheless, we really like it. We get to watch boats come and go, plus I just like to see the blue of the ocean along with the ubiquitous ever-changing clouds.

A video tour

Today, instead of the usual one work and one leisure photo, I thought you all might like a little house tour. This was taken a few weeks ago and we have gotten a little more furniture - but it will give you the idea of the upstairs.

October 18th pictures

Leslie continues to recover from her back and knee injury. She gets better every day but hasn't resumed exercise or hard manual labor. She thinks she will return to both really soon. In the meantime, she is working on a mystery novel. Here she does research.


From our porch at cocktail hour(s) - a view of the moon through two posts.

October 17th pictures

Hey, it is 19 years today since the Loma Prieta earthquake in Santa Cruz County. Just thought I should acknowledge that. For about 4 weeks the only conversations in Santa Cruz were about the earthquake. Nothing else existed. Yet, on the scale of disasters, it was minor. And, I am very thankful for that. Santa Cruz is now totally back and, I think, better than before. So, even though in Santa Cruz time, it is past the official minute of the earthquake, but Leslie and I are going to toast our fair city at 5:04 - right as I post this.

Leslie's work (the picture is screwed up but I will miss 5:04 if I fix it)
(update 4/18 - I turned the picture but I really did post this exactly at 5:04 yesterday)


Leslie relaxing after her work is done

October 16 photos

The hard work (shaking cocktails):

The pleasing result (ah, life in Hilo):

October 15th pictures

Hanging mirror above our "monkey bar". Check tomorrow for why we call it that.

A weird anthurium at the Manago Hotel in Captain Cook

October 14th pictures

Robert gave us this table with a black center base. But, it was just too wobbly. So, I added some more legs. Eventually, this table will go outside when we find something better for our dining area. But, it works for now.

I love to boogie-board. The waves weren't exactly awesome, but truth be told, I am not really good on "real waves". I hope to improve over the years.