Is my life really this boring...

..that I have nothing better to do than write about little projects around the house? My dad recently left for Japan last Wednesday which left me an empty-nester for the first time since moving back to good ol' Methuen. This weekend was especially uneventful, but I really needed this weekend of no social plans so I could get some little projects done around the house as well as cleaning.

some recent projects...


Although I did this a few weeks ago, I added some closet lights to the master bedroom and hard-wired a switch to the entrance of the room. It was another few hours in the attic inhalling more insulation than I would have liked, but the fixtures look good and added some great light to the closet. I can now see what I'm wearing when I get ready for work in the morning. The lights also make good mood-lighting when they are the only lights on in the room.


Even since living in Arizona, I've become a big fan of ceiling fans/lights. I hate having floor fans all over the place. Like the closet lights, this required some time in the attic. When I was installing ceiling fans in my house in AZ, I made the big mistake of not installing a remote controls with the fixture. I remember countless nights when I was half asleep and had to crawl out of bed to turn the light off. This time, I installed a remote control for the fixture and have used it everynight!


The old bamboo-ish shades that were in the theater room looked nice, but at night, they didn't provide much privacy, as anyone walking down the street could see right into the house. I decided to get some new shades, providing some much needed privacy. I also added the window treatments that my mother was nice enough to leave behind.

The Ultimate BYU Football Highlight

I found this video on youtube.com and had to post it. If you've ever played football in your life, you will surely want to go out and hit someone after watching this!

Go Cougars! coming off back-to-back shutouts of UCLA (59-0) and Wyoming (44-0) the BYU football team is now ranked #11 in the country and are favorites to bust the BCS. Oh, did I forget to mention they have the nation's longest active winning streak and haven't lost a conference game in three years!

Enjoy the video...

A Suprise Visit from an old Friend

Last weekend I got a call out of the blue from an old friend, Gary Anderson. Gary rented a car and was making his rounds around New York and New England touring some of the sites and remembered that I moved out here at the last minute. Gary and I used to work together in Utah, Minneapolis, and Chicago. We did some of the Boston touristy things like Quincy Market, Fanuiel Hall, The Boston Public Gardens, Prudential Center, Copley Plaza, etc. But our last stop was the new 180 degree Omni Max theatre at the Museum of Science. It was a first for Gary seeing a screen that size! We didn't take many pics, but here they are.

I'm never watching another Patriots football game with Gary ever again. Tom Brady tore up his knee while we were watching. At least Gary didn't wear any of his damn Yankees crap around me!

Right before the Omni Max show.


Street performers right behind the old Fanuiel Hall.

Labor Day Weekend in Phoenix

Over Labor Day I decided to take a last minute trip to Phoenix, for no other reason than to see my friends and to check up on my house. It was great being back. As a matter of fact, it was like I never left! It was good seeing old friends and catching up. Also a special thanks to Tim, Zach, Russ, Chris, and Dwight for contributing to the Chris Sturgis poker winnings fund!

Hannah and her daugher Angel.


Hannah, are my conversations really this stimulating?


Me, Hannah's Kid, Jay, and Hannah!


Martini Ranch in Scottsdale. I was SO tired that night due to the jet lag. How I stayed up so late is a mystery.


4am apartment football anyone?


Dave and his new belle, Lindsey. Ironically, Dave met her the same weekend I moved to Boston. It was good to finally meet her. Take care of Dave, Lindsey! Come visit soon! Oh, you can bring Dave, too! Ha!


Dave Tipp at 4am, ready for bed on the floor!

'
Garret and Chris Leonard - getting a bit too close there fellas!


Chris and Joanna.


After Joana's wonderful dinner of homemade mac and cheese!

More hijacked pictures of my niece, Maya

Ok, maybe I'm a little biased here, but Maya has got to be the cutest thing ever! More pics for your viewing pleasure...

Maya and Mommy on the Jungle Gym.


Maya's first time on a slide!


Apparently Maya can't stop smiling and laughing when she is on swings. Her new favorite thing to do!




I hope that is organic, Elaine!!!


Maya in the pool.


Maya loves to travel - at least once she's out of the car seat.


Maya still has strawberry blonde hair. Is it me, or does anyone else think she doesn't look like her Mom (my sister, Elaine.)

Boston Harbor Cruise

Yesterday I had the opportunity to go on a company outing on the Spirit of Boston which toured the Boston Harbor area for a few hours. The lunch provided was great, as well as the scenery from the decks. The on-board entertainment, however, was super cheesy to say the least. But, nonetheless, it was a fun afternoon - sure beats being in the office all afternoon. And even though the forecast called for a 70% chance of rain, we lucked out and had clear skies for the most part.

I wanted to jump of the boat when I heard them sing!

I'm not sure what island this is, but someone mentioned that they thought it was George's Island.


My boss Chris and I. I don't even remember anyone taking this picture.

The skyline of the best city in the world!

Bathroom Remodel Update

Well the bathroom remodel has been a slower than I would have hoped, but isn't that how all big projects end up? Over the last few weeks, we ripped out an old, outdated cabinet, countertop, and faucet. Although we still have some drywall to finish up and a toilet to install (among other things), here is the progress so far.

The new granite countertop and brushed nickel faucet.

The new cabinet. All the plumbing issues in the wall have been fixed and water tight now. In the process of putting in the dryall and then installing the new toilet. What joyous work! After all that is done we will be installing new towel fixtures as well as a a fresh lavandar paint.

Yankees Yuck!

Gotta love the G-rated t-shirts we have out here - land of the Yankee haters. Little Maya is being trained at a very young age to hate the Yankess! Good Maya! Repeat after me, "Yankees Suck."

College Football is right around the corner!

That's right! It's never too early to start talking about college football. And the team that most pick to crash the BCS from a non-BCS school...Do I even need to say it?

On the quest for perfection and a third consecutive undefeated season in the Mountain West, BYU is returning 10 of 11 starters and are already being talked about as one of the top offenses in the entire country!

Enjoy...

http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/AKbuckeye/160995

A week of Family Visits!!

Right before mom left for Japan, two of my sisters flew into town. Elaine came with her hubby, Mike and adorable niece, Maya. My other sister, Annie, came solo - her husband Brandon stayed behind in Utah. The other sister, Emily, was not able to fly back to say bye to mom due to her finishing up her last class for her MBA (congrats Em!). It was great to have everyone back for a few days. As always, little Mayumi (Maya) stole the show and is a contant attention-getter (and rightly so!) She is a very well-behaved baby to go along with her cute little looks.

Some pics for you!

Maya and her happy hands!


Maya and Mike enjoying the ducks


Annie and Maya


Maya with my cousin Jodi's kids, Ethan and Aaron in New Hampshire


Maya and mommy


Mom and Annie kissing Maya before their trips to Japan and back to SLC


Maya enjoying some father/daugher time


Elaine and Maya


Me and Maya at NOT YOUR AVERAGE JOE'S in Methuen


Mike enjoying the fish tank at LL Bean in Maine. Maya, not so much.


Me and Maya.


Maya trying to steal some playing time from her Daddy


Grampa Mark (my dad) and Maya


Annie and one of her best friend's, Kim, from Connecticut.


Annie, Maya, and Grampa Mark.

Mom's gone, but her flowers remain

Mom left for Japan a few weeks back and my dad has struggled keeping up her old routine of constant care and courturing for the garden and flowers. Its a daughting task considering all the countless hours she put into it everyweek. Some of my mom's flowers for your viewing pleasure (before they turn to weeds!)