TO BE CONTINUED

The Monday after Christmas was spent on continuing the master bath remodel.  We got rid of the old vanity top and put in a granite one we found at Menards. (I know, I know,  you're asking why not concrete.  Well just because I can make em don't mean I can afford em.  Remember, I'm a tight wad)    I also covered up the old vinyl flooring and put down some tile.  The tile is appearantly quarried from the titanium mines.  I have installed alot of tile but I have never had so much trouble cutting the tiles.  My cutting wheel was glowing white hot as I attempted to make the cuts.  And as I was just about to complete the cut, suddenly the tile became as brittle as fine china and cracked in places I didn't want it to.  Luckily we bought just enough extra tiles to finish the job.  I was able to change that cheap water valve on the stool without too much trouble.  Here are a couple pics of the transformation in progress.

out with the old...

...in with the new

My sister Debbie called to tell me she was back in town from our parents and she had a package for me from mom.  So after a long vacation day at work, I headed over to her house.  When I got there I found my friend Nick visiting.  He house sat and watched her dogs for her while she was up there.

The gangs all here

We watched some of the Monday night football game and I opened my package.   Mom got Robyn and I a fondu kit.  She thought we could use it at small group.  I could always go for a chocolate fountain.  Let's dip something.  Debbie also brought back my best gift of the season.. a bag of mom's home made candies!  Usually when you can't make it up there for Christmas, you miss out on the candy.  Even if somebody tries to bring back a bag, it gets eaten on the way home and you are left with some crumbs and empty wax paper wrappings.  I think Debbie was too tired driving home to try to eat my candy.  

Then I had to head home, I had a long day coming up.

Tuesday we went into work and got prepared for a big install.  The bar for Famous Dave's was all loaded up and ready to go in, but we had to wait till after they closed for the night.  We were going to remove the old bar tops and replace them.  It would make a little bit of a mess and be quite noisy.  So about 1:30 that afternoon we quit and decided we would meet back up at 9:00 that night.  Good plan except that I had to tend bar that night.  

I went home and did a little work on the bathroom then went to bar tend.  The night was slow enough that I was able to get closed, change into work clothes and get over to Famous Dave's by 10:15.  They were just getting started.  It was suprisingly one of the easiest installs we've had in a while.  Check out this beautiful bar..

Stainless inlayed logo

recessed bar mat

The bar was prettier than the other Famous Dave's we did.  We were done by a little after 1 in the morning.  We were told to not come into work that day until 9.  That sounded great to me.

Wednesday I fabricated this rolling cart for my new band saw.  They were selling carts for this saw for $75.  I made this one for next to nothing, and it works great.

Think I can get $75 for this one?

Earlier that day Canyon got home from Sioux City, but that night he was picked up by his uncle and cousin and went to spend the night with them.  I think he's using his Christmas break to the best of his ability. 

Thursday at work we poured the first of what will be several dozen pieces for Iowa State University.  They are remodeling an entire building so this project should continue through winter

ready for concrete

I love making messes

We got them demolded and ready for processing later that day.  We also have a big show coming up in February.  I was asked to design a base for the compass table.  After several mock-ups a design was picked and I built a full scale base.  It's a unique base but very modern.  It was also extremely simple and easy to build.  It needs a few minor adjustments and a coat of stain, but it looks pretty cool.

groovy

Friday we flipped the pieces for ISU and began processing them.  Shortly into the day we were asked to stop making noise because all the sales crew came in for a training class on epoxy floors.  The company thought it would benifit everyone if the salesmen knew the product they were selling.  That lasted until about 1:30, then the company president offered to buy everyone lunch.  

After lunch I continued the work on the table base when I got a call from a friend of mine.  Cliff told me he had a carpentry emergency.  It seems he bought a new fridge and it wouldn't fit in the cabinet opening.  Well, I have seen this problem before.  The simple solution is to remove the crown mould, raise the fridge cabinet a little bit and replace the crown mould.  It looks like it was never changed but the fridge fits beautifully. Wha-laa.  I told him I would stop by after work.

If you know me, you know nothing EVER goes that easy for me.  It turns out that hieght was not the problem, it was width.  That is a problem I haven't seen.  The cabinet width was right on top but the base cabinets were almost an inch too narrow.  They were new cabinets but who ever design the layout was either cross-eyed or mathamatically challanged.  

I tried to move the cabinets over a little but that was not going to happen so I figured I would pull out the small cabinet next to the fridge and trim it down a little.  It was the most confusing cabinet I have ever delt with.  I couldn't get the pull out drawer to release from the cabinet.  I have installed thousands of cabinets but I have never seen a cabinet like this.  I lost count but I think I removed over 20 screws from this tiny cabinet before I figured out the correct way to disassemble it.

nightmare on 73rd street

I ran the cabinet and countertop to my shop, cut them down to size and finished the job.  Wha-laa.

a tight squeeze, but like I was never there.

Saturday was New Years Eve.  I got a phone call from my boss asking if we wanted to stop by his house for a get together but I told him Robyn's boss had already invited us to join them at the Elk's Lodge.  There was an extended silence on the other end of the phone, then he repeated, "Elk's Lodge?"  He told me I was showing my age. 

As I think about it I realized I am getting old.  I knew there would be lots of games, lots of drinks and fun at my bosses, but I knew I couldn't keep up with them.  That is a younger bunch and those days are behind me now.  Besides, I also knew there would be a lot of kids there and those days are definetly behind me, so the Elk's Lodge it would be. 

We made it till 11.

The upside of not being a party animal on New Years Eve was that we awoke in the morning feeling fine.  We had decided to visit a friend of ours who left Point of Grace about 7 years ago to start his own church.  It is called Re-Church.   We arrived and saw lots of familar faces.

Pastor Jason

The message was around the story of Joseph.  Not Mary's Joseph, the one with the technicolored dream coat.  The whole story of Joseph is about using what ever God has gifted you with to bring good to those around you.  Joseph found himself in several bad situations, undeservedly so, but used what God gave him to make it better for himself and those around him.  The message was wonderful, and I kept thinking about if I was doing that myself.  If I was taking where ever I found myself and focusing on the possibilities for good rather than the "why me" and "if only" thoughts.

My thoughts turned immediatly to writing.  I am sure that God gifted me with an ability to put down on paper the things that He wants to say through me.  And I love doing just that.

I read some of my old posts and came across something that warms my heart.  I have been blogging for one year today.  Happy Anniversary!  I started this blog for my family to read.  That's why it's called Im the favorite son.  I'm teasing my brother, but he knows he's the favorite.  In my third post I said I wanted to be more bold in pointing people to Christ but I never thought about how many would read these words.  Right now this blog has been read on five continents in over 15 countries.  If just one person reads this and makes the decision to follow Jesus it would be awesome.  I hope when I get to heaven Jesus places his hand on my shoulder and says "well done, my good and faithful servant, I would like you to meet someone who read your words and chose Me".  

Here is a pic of my blog counter.  Almost 3700 hits.  And it dosen't show all of them.  I get so excited when I think that someone as far away China, or as close as my own family, may be reading about the love of God.  As I write this, someone in Bangladesh is reading a past post.  I can't wait to see what the next year brings.   Ain't Jesus cool?

Find God's gift and be bold

Peace

Dan