Yesterday a friend and I hit the floor running at dawn to tackle my master bath. I’d seen water leaking through the wall after a shower and Tod said he’d take a look at it. By the time he got here, I’d decided to remove the tub I installed in 1988 and go back to the original tiled shower stall. I removed the tile and wallboard that had water damage, as well as the little wall I’d built around the tub, then tiled. Most of the tiles were salvageable. I hauled load after load of tiles and drywall out of the bathroom. I cut the caulk around the tub to begin loosening it. I did all this last week. So, by the time Tod and I went to work on it this morning, we had a clear working space. The first thing we did was pull the tub out and set it on the patio outside the master suite, where I’ll create an outdoor spa. Tod took on the task of cleaning up the shower stall using bleach and then Lime Away. Even with the fans on, the chemical smell was strong. I was stunned at how spotless he got the tiles using a scrub brush and a Paul Bunyan sized arm of elbow grease. 

He also helped me do some legal work. I needed two witnesses and a notary, so we picked up the man and drove to Mary Jo and Mark Woolley’s, where MJ is a notary. We executed documents I’d been carrying in my car for a year. Then we dropped off the man and decided to hit a few pawn shops before going to Home Depot. We were looking for a diamond blade to cut concrete board with, didn’t find that but Tod found a real deal on a supercool nail gun.  In the bottom of the box was the original receipt from two months earlier, for $100 more than he paid for it. Score!

We decided to stop at Golden Corral for lunch on the way home. We weighed driving thru somewhere fast or sitting down, so it was a last minute decision. We pull up in the parking lot at the same time Fred Goodnight is getting out of his car next to us. Synchronicity! It’s always a great day when you get to hang with Fred! We had a good lunch and great conversation. We hit Home Depot on the way home for concreteboard and tile adhesive and such. More synchronicity: as we’re coming out, we see Dom Durso, another fave pal. We got the supplies home and set up and are ready to tackle stage two later this week. I felt like I’d worked all day yet socialized with friends all day. That’s a good combo, I like it!

Typically my day off to seclude after getting the mag to press, today was a whirlwind of mental and physical activity. I wasn’t prepared for it all but it all flowed together like clockwork. I got so much done and had fun doing it. It felt like a lot of energy moved today, in a fun free flow. I feel exhausted and exhilarated. That might be the bleach fumes. If I dropped my body tomorrow, I hafta say I am stoked I got to live this life

RELATED: I’m ready to pull out my tub
I test my shower again for a leak