ONE OF THOSE DAYS

Monday at work I took some time to fabricate this little shelf unit.  I put some quick drying finish on it so I could install it that day

how cute

A while ago I built a large display rack for our concrete color samples.  The tiles are 10" x 10" and are kind of heavy.  When we let a client take one home to see if it would work for them, we are left with that color missing until they returned it.  We decided to make smaller samples for clients and needed the smaller rack to hold the 5" x 5" tiles.  Here you can see how nice this system looks.

looks almost professional

After work our good friend Shelly stopped by to check me for cooties.  Luckily she didn't find any and she gave me a hair cut too.

I haven't had cooties since the fifth grade

Tuesday night I had to tend bar.  I hadn't caught up on my sleep since working that private party on Saturday night, so I was hoping for an early evening but that isn't what happened.  Tuesday night at the bar is generaly just me and 10 others at the most, and usually I'm all alone by 10 and closed by 10:30.  But this night the place was packed.  A birthday party took up most of the space, but because there was music and laughter happening, any others that stopped in decided to stay and have fun.  On the good side I made some nice tips and got a Christmas bonus from the boss.  On the not so good side I didn't get home til after 1 and had to be in early the next morning.

the fun havers

Wednesday at work (after several cups of coffee) we got the bar for Famous Daves processed.  This will be installed a couple days after Christmas.

inlay looks good

Wednesday night I had to work another private party.  I used to be a property manager for this well-to-do couple and have remained good friends with them. (they payed for my mission trip to Africa)   As you come down the long private drive you see this 15' tall dragon in the woods.  There is a switch in the driveway that makes the dragon breath fire and yell at you.

lucky I had my dragon repellant spray

Here is the bar.  I have worked in a lot of bars that couldn't hold a candle to this place.

cocktail?

As the party drew to a close I was thanked and sent on my way, but I stopped and took a quick pic of the  beautiful lights on the mansion.

I love this place

Thursday at work (after many cups of coffee)  we had an install to do.  See if you remember this pic..

can you picture the bar?  Me neither.

I was asked several weeks ago to make a bar that would go here, in this soon to be man cave.  Below you can see the bar as it begins to bring this place to life.  I will post photos of the completed project later.

starting to come together

sweet

Thursday night we did our Christmas because Canyon was heading out of town Friday.  We put on our favorite Christmas music, lit a fire in the fire place and opened our loot.

Calvin opens his own presents

Canyon hoping those boxes are all full of $$$

Grandpa opens... wait, that's me.  Man I'm old!

Robyn enjoying the moment

I got some cool stuff, like this major award, from Italy..

it's fra-gil-e

That was actually a tree ornament from my favorite, Christmas Story.  (trick photography)  But my favorite gift was this cross from Robyn..

she must read my blog

We both took Friday off and I used that morning to finally catch up on my sleep.  We lounged around most of the day and then got ready for Point of Grace's annual Christmas Eve-Eve service.  At POG they like to have service on Christmas eve-eve so families can travel or be home with loved ones to celebrate Christmas, including the pastors and staff.  Here's a pic of the service.

the music was fantastic

The service was really good, but the best part was the video from the student ministries.  Here is a link, you gotta check it out..

point of grace youth ministries christmas rap

I thought it was awesome.  If this link dosen't work (because I'm computer illiterate), it is on you tube.  Just copy and paste that link in the you tube browser.

After service Robyn and I went up to visit my sister, she was tending bar.  We stopped and got some egg nog for the bar.

sharing a little Christmas "cheers"

Saturday it was go time.  Robyn thought it would be a good idea to finish the master bathroom remodel I started a couple months ago.  I put a little dry wall mud on the walls and she started painting.  I tried to shut the water off to the stool but the valve started leaking.  It is one of those cheap 1/4 turn valves.  I can't believe a good builder would take a short cut on cheap water valves.  So I put a plastic cup under the leak and ran to Menards for a good valve.

Picaso at work

Here is a before and during pic of the bathroom

needs help

paint fixes everything

As I drove to Menards I was bothered a little by the other drivers out there.  I've told you in the past that I suffer from some mild road rage.  I often say that I'm exactly where God wants me to be when I'm trying to calm myself down because of all the bad drivers, but c'mon, the speed limit is 55.  You could do 60 and still be alright.  But for some reason everyone is doing 40.  40!  I held my tounge on the way to Menards because surely those slow pokes would not be going back the other way, but on the way home everyone was still going 40.  People please, there are huge signs that say 55 for a reason.  

I got home feeling a little edgy.  The combonation of the bad valve and the slow drivers was nerve racking.  I decided to leave the valve for tomorrow and let Robyn paint the bathroom while I hung the new ceiling fan in the master bedroom.  The bedroom is being painted along with the master bath.  Upon opening the packaging I immediatly found missing parts.  I was frustrated to say the least.  Robyn, bless her heart, tried to help me out by quietly telling me to repack it and take back for an exchange.

I asked where the reciept was and she told me we didn't have it.  I didn't want to go through what I thought I would have to go through so I decided to make my own parts.  I got the first step completed and discovered I put it up backwards.  I took it down, redid it and moved on to the next step.  I needed a down rod because I was hanging it from a vaulted ceiling and lo and behold, the down rod was not right.  I think at this point I verbaly asked God why.

I was able to fanagle the down rod to work and, after trips up and down the ladder to numerous to mention, eventually I got the fan hung.  But when I tried the switch nothing happened.

Heavy sigh,

After a moments thought I realized that I needed to pull the chain, then all went smoothly.

the fan from hell

Once that was accomplished, we decided we should probably call it a night and went downstairs to watch a movie. (and have a much needed glass of wine)

We scrolled through the guide and stopped on It's a Wonderful Life.  Robyn had never seen the whole movie and since it was Christmas Eve the movie seemed appropriate.  As the movie went along we saw George Bailey constantly help others and slowly sink into a hole.  When George couldn't take it anymore he wrapped his car around a tree.  When he got out of the car the door wouldn't close.  He tried to shut it three times before he got so frustrated that he angrily kicked it shut.  At that exact moment Robyn and I looked at each other and said he's having a day just like me.  It's funny that we thought the same thing at the same time.

Funny probably isn't the right word there, but the fact remained that I had a frustrating day.  In the end of the movie, George realizes how blessed he really is, even when everything seems to be piled on his shoulders.  That is true for me also.  I have my struggles, but God never said I wouldn't have trials and tribulations here on this earth.  He did say, however, that He would help me through them.  

When all Georges friends, and all the people whose lives he has touched come to him in his time of desperation it is really just a depiction of Christ showing through him and reflecting back in his friends.

Robyn said it best, when everyone was tossing whatever they could afford into the kitty to help George out.  She said, "See what's coming?"  

 But it's not the money, it's the love.

Peace

Dan