The tape on the corners is just masking tape where he sprayed the ends that were chipped.
The trip to Austin was eventful only in that we did not get lost once! We made every turn correctly and found the place no problem and even came home with no mistakes. That is an event in itself.
We made a trip to Ikea and got the bookshelves to put against that big blank wall in the back of the family room and also some little square lamp tables. Jer put them together yesterday and they look great! I am so very pleased with them all. The man is wonderful to me. I can't believe how he is willing to make me happy through all kinds of difficulties. I wanted to put Erin's little decorative lamp in the bookshelves and he drilled holes here and there and rewired the lamp and he got it installed so nicely. And he had to wind the wiring for the lamps on the little lamp tables around the fireplace and along the wet bar to the plug and it looks great. We still have some minor changes coming, but the basic plan is in place.
We did have a little emergency yesterday, though. While he was winding the wiring around the fireplace along the floor he smelled gas. We investigated and learned that the valve leaks into the fireplace logs. He took it apart and left to find a plug for the pipe and the gas got worse and worse. I got worried since I was supposed to go visiting teaching right away so I called him and he said to open the windows and go ahead and leave. I did and when I got back the house was still standing and the man was still alive and the gas smell was gone. We will have to have a plumber out when we get back, but for now it's safe. It isn't the logs that are the problem; it's the actual valve in the wall that leaks so we really do need a plumber and not the nice fireplace guys out again.
Last night I went to a hurricane preparedness workshop at Relief Society. It was very instructive about things that you just don't think about normally. We had already decided to buy a generator and window AC unit, and put away some food and water, but there are other things to consider too. It's important to chain your generator down or it could sneak away in the dead of night. It's important to have a water purifier in case you are without water for longer than you have water for. It's also important to know that your cell phone may not work after the hurricane blows through. If you plan to evacuate (which we don't) you need to leave days earlier to avoid parking on the freeways for hours and hours. And Lara told me that when you trim the trees around your house you want to leave some lower smaller branches to catch the larger ones that may fall on your house or to cushion the tree trunk as it falls on the roof. There hasn't been a hurricane here for 7 years but it's good to be prepared. You can count on one coming another time.
And Monday I got a call from the guy in charge of the ESL program here in Kingwood. The lady that is teaching now wants to quit and so he wondered if I could come next week and take over her class. (gulp!) I said, Sure! and went to listen to the lesson she gave Wednesday. She team teaches with another guy who focuses on grammar. I was worried that I couldn't do it, but after seeing how they teach, I know I can do as well. The class is of adults: 3 that are Hispanic, one Chinese lady, and one lady from India. They converse very well and just want grammar help. There are two that are not quite that good, but I will see how I can support their desire to learn. They are all intelligent professional people. I told them I was leaving next week and wasn't sure when we would be back, so now I am planning to observe again on June 10 and then take over. The grammar guy also wants to quit so he can travel more and I am hoping he really does so I can convince the man to come and cover grammar with me. :o) That was his baby in Cambodia.
We are looking forward to seeing everyone next week!
Wow! You certainly didn't have to think about hurricanes here!
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