Tool Room Update #1

The tool room remodel is coming along. I would say that about 80% of it is done, but the remaining 20% continues to linger. As you can see from the pictures, one side of the room is about done. The other side (where the jackets, gloves, hats, etc, will go) will hopefully get done in the next week or so. I'm still debating whether or not to do some built-in seating below the window. Hmm...


The built-in shelving is stained and finally able to house some of the random clutter that has been all over the place these last few months. The brown color looked a lot nicer on the sample at Home Depot then it does on the wall, but still a good color considering it's just a tool room.

Finished the trim around the door, but I still need to clean up some paint drips on the door.

Projects, projects, projects!

I think I was a carpenter in another life. I love working with my hands. And tools....what guy doesn't like tools!?! In addition, we all like the satisfaction of "doing it ourselves" right?

With my parents in Japan, they've pretty much given me free roam around the house to do as I please. Besides liking things clean and neat for myself, I want to make sure my parents come home to a nicer house then when they left. I have a lot of ideas for the house, but so far time constraints have those plans mostly in my head and only a few of those projects have come to fruition. I'm way behind on my "to do" list.

However, the current project is a mud/tool room in the basement. Previously, this section of the basement was unfinished and boasted a mix of tools flung on the walls while shoes and other random stuff really didn't have a home. So far, I've added a wall which will separate the tool room from the food storage/laundry area. The drywall is done. The mudding and sanding of the drywall is done. I'm going to put up pegboard throughout for the tools on one side, while making a tidier area for jackets, coats, gloves, etc. Again, I forgot to take "before" pictures, but here is some of the progress so far.


Built-in shelving will go to the right of this wall.


I added this wall to separate the laundry room from the tools, etc.


Tools will go on this wall.

The new bow (not bay!) window

I finally convinced my parents to invest in a new bow window for the living room. The old one was on its death bed and would be hard-pressed to make it through another winter. Although I enjoy doing little projects around the house, installing a huge bow window was not exactly up my alley, so we hired professionals. One day later, here are the results, although hard to tell since I don't have the "before" pictures.

The finished product.

Whale Watching

A few friends and I got together and went whale watching. Although I had gone whale watching once before off the San Diego coast, this was actually my first time whale watching in New England. The boat left Gloucester, MA and took us some distance out into the ocean where we followed three whales for a few hours. Although it was interesting to see, whales aren't the most active animals and besides a few extended rolls from ocean to surface back into the water, it was difficult to see more than a small section of their backs.

The tour guides were helpful with their whale expertise, but they weren't too amused when I asked where they kept the harpoons.


Pre-whale watch nap.

Napping, part deux. (and yes, my receding hairline is getting out of control. Sigh.)

New Phone Number

Greetings family, friends, and random people who stumbled upon my blog!

I have a new cell phone number! As much as I would love to post it here for all to see, I think a more controlled way to get the word out is to add it to my Facebook profile. So, I have added my new 978 area code phone number to my Facebook and will no longer have my 602 area code number.

If you're not on my Facebook, just send me an email if you need my number.