Construction is finally finished!

WELCOME to Dave Murphy!  I'm sorry I haven't blogged since you became a Follower - don't take it personally. : )  I'll post more as I get closer to summer and start shopping in earnest for my RV, have my estate sale and...  start full-timing!   I didn't see a blog listed for you, let me know if you have one so I can follow along with you, too.

The roof has been repaired, the mold taken care of, the walls rebuilt and painted, and my bedroom is back to normal.  The construction crew painted all the walls and the ceiling, too.  The room looks really nice and it's sooooo nice to be back sleeping on a regular bed again.

 The Warning before entering into the contaminated area

Two partial walls were replaced

This is where the main leak was.

Drywalled, spackled, then textured.

Walls and ceilings painted, drop cloths and plastic walls removed, furniture moved back, and here we are, back to normal:

All the decorative items, photos, pictures on the walls were removed during the repairs and construction, and I'm not sure I want to drag them all out again, put new holes in the walls, etc., when I'll be renting the condo sometime this year.

We've had a couple of heavy rain storms since they repaired the roof, and I was so glad I didn't have to worry about the water coming in anymore.  Katie is pretty happy, too.  She can stay home and sleep during the day, now, instead of having to come to work with me and stay in the car or in her crate in my office.  She was getting real tired of that crate, and after lunch - which I eat in the car - she wouldn't come with me back to the office.  She wasn't getting her usual peaceful all-day-long sleep, and I think she's pretty happy getting back to normal, too. : )  Having my bedroom off limits had me more off-kilter than I realized until it was over. 

I've gotten the air quality report, and will recieve a final report this week.  I'm going to put all the reports and photos in a folder and forget about them until I need them for a sale.  So, now onward and upward!  

On Friday I started thinking about looking for RVs again.  I hope to get one after the summer and stopped by Camping World to see what they had.  They actually had one that I really liked - at least the floor plan.  It was a 2005 Fleetwood Jamboree 23 E with the kitchen in the back.  I keep going back and forth about what I think I want, and I'm back to my original floor plan.  I really liked the floor plan and the extras the Fleetwood had, but I didn't like the interior color, it was very well-used (lots of chips, etc.) and had a musty, uriney smell. 

 I love these rear kitchens

The salesman said it's easy to change out the colors and he could reduce the price to reflect what that would cost me, but the smell really bothered me.  He said it was probably from the tanks, but I haven't smelled that in other used RVs I've seen.   

It's $39,995, which seemed high for a 2005, but I don't know much about pricing yet.  Of course I know they would come down, but not to $30,000, which he said someone else had offered and the offer had been rejected.  Around $30K is the neighborhood I'd like to stay in. 

So, it's not the one for me, but I'll definitely be looking for that year and style.  If I found the perfect RV for the right price, I'd try to get it now.  I think I could swing it, and I'd just lease my condo sooner and stay in a local RV park while I'm still working.  That's the plan in the fall, but I could do it earlier.

Have you changed colors inside your RV?  Had the cushions recovered?  I wonder what that would cost me.  There's a local place, the salesman said, that they would refer me to, so I guess if I find the perfect rig with a color I don't like, I would look into it.  I could always paint, change out wallpaper borders, and change the flooring. Since I'll be buying used, that would probably all be a good idea, anyway unless I find a particularly clean unit.

On the way home, there was an estate sale going on a few streets from mine, so I stopped to talk the the owner of the company putting it on.  I wanted to know how they work, and what it costs to hire them.  It was pretty interesting.   I'd have to be moved out, then they come in on a Sunday, stage everything left in the place, price everything, and place ads in local papers and in lots of internet sites from here to Los Angeles.  He said most of the good stuff is sold through the ads on Wednesday and Thursday.  The serious shoppers drive to sales on Wednesday/Thursday while the best stuff is still available. 

The "Estate Sale" signs go up out at the main road and around the neighborhood on Thursday and the sale is on through Sunday.  At the end, everything not worth worrying about is left for Goodwill or similar companies that come out and pick them up and leave receipts for me for tax write-offs.  He has a warehouse that he uses to store things that are still worth selling, and he brings them to the next couple of sales and tries to sell them.

At the end, he keeps 35% of the funds earned.  I'd get 65%.  I love the idea of taking only what I need in the RV, what I want to store, and what I want to throw away, and leaving the rest for them to deal with.  That's worth 35% to me.  It's all done in a week, and they probably get more people to come that I'd ever get, and they know how to stage and price things, so they would probably sell more.  Like every job, there are tricks to the trade, and he knows them.

When everything is gone, I'd take the next week to vacuum, clean the patio, kitchen and both bathrooms, do a little painting where needed, and that would be it.  In two weeks or less it would be ready to lease.

One of the things I've been dreading is the "getting rid of everything" phase.  It seems like such hard work, takes so long, and is so emotionally draining in many of the blogs I've read.  I live in a really safe area, but after posting items in Craig's List, I worry about the peole who came in and looked around.  Although I did well and sold a lot of things, I don't think I want to do that again.  I've heard too many horror stories.  I like the idea of an Estate Sale, which eliminates all that.

So, that's the plan.  All I have to do is find the perfect little Class C and I'm on my way!

 Katie proudly walking around with both her chew toys in her mouth.

What a silly girl!

From me and my dog, Katie, have a great evening, everyone!  : )

Why do I blog?

I find it interesting to read blogs when the writer is questioning their purpose for blogging, what it means to them, whether they should continue, etc.  I just read GYPSY G-MAS' post about this subject.  It was very thoughtful, and I enjoyed reading all the comments.  I started to comment, too, but then thought this might be a good post for me to document why I'm doing this.

I started blogging because I plan to RV full-time and when I first found RV blogs, I really enjoyed reading about the people who were just starting out and making all the decisions that are necessary to become a full-timer.  I was learning not only about the mechanics of getting into full-time RVing, but also the emotional part of getting rid of everything, selling or leasing a current home, buying the RV, and taking off, and all that really helps, too.

I also enjoyed reading about those of you who were on the road, where you went, how you managed things, the camaraderie on the road, meeting up with people in person after reading and getting to know them through their blog.  I live vicariously through these blogs.  I used to say when I'd close my laptop after going through the day's posts, felt like I had been on vacation.  Not so much anymore, because I pretty much follow you all every day, and I'm used to it now.

So, I decided I would start a blog, too, and document the steps I'm taking to join the full-time RVers on the road.  I wanted to be able to go back and remember what I did, how I was feeling, etc., and once on the road, it would be a good way for my kids to keep track of where I was, and to know I was safe and happy.  I wasn't going to make it public, but I told a few people, and like a box of See's Candies, you can't stop at one or two.  Once I opened the box, I decided to share with everyone.  I started commenting on other blogs, and followers signed on to mine.

I wanted to blog every day and at first I did, but right now my life doesn't have that much going on to blog about every day. I just live, work, etc., I'm not a very social person, but I DO bring my camera with me and snap photos when I find something interesting.   I also keep finding more and more blogs I want to follow, and reading them regularly takes a lot of time, and usually I'd rather read those than post something here that doesn't really matter to me. 

I hope to be on the road this time next year, so I'll have lots more to write about in the coming months and will post more as that happens.  I am also going to have an account somewhere on-line where I can organize my photos, so I will have an easy way to share them and have a pictorial history of my travels for myself.

On a different subject, the little Camellia tree in my back patio area is in full bloom.  It's actually been blooming for a while now, it seems to bloom for a long time, but right now it's covered with blossoms. 

When I took these photos I kept getting a round image right in the middle of the tree. From this angle it isn't as noticeable, but it's frustrating to not get a clear photo. I wondered it it had something to do with the angle of the sun. The camera lens was clean, and I could snap in other areas without getting this spot.

It's a gorgeous day in San Diego today:

 

I was outside in my air chair enjoying the sunshine and reading Smarter, Faster, Cheaper until the sun moved.  (I should take a photo of that chair for you, it's such a great chair - another time).  It's really a perfect day, sun shining, birds singing, slight breeze, Katie asleep by my side, mold gone.  (More about that later, too.)

From Me and My Dog, have a great Saturday, everyone!  : )

The MOLD

A big WELCOME to Carol Kerr!  Thanks for becoming a follower of our blog as my dog, Katie, and I get ready to RV full-time.  Of course I'm going to be the one doing all the work.  But she'll definitely be coming along for the adventures!  I hope you'll enjoy coming along, too.  Do you have a blog?  : )

I got the results back from my blood test and I was exposed to mold.  According to the doctor, the particular mold in my blood test can cause asthma, which will diminish when the mold is gone, and COPD, which was diagnosed last year, that won't go away. Because of the two issues, I need an inhaler which I use morning and night. Not a big deal, just tightness in my chest in the evenings, but since using the inhaler, I have no breathing problems at all. I just hated to have to rely on a prescription med, but I guess at 66 I'm lucky that 's all I need so far.

My bedroom is still sealed, no action for the last few days, but today when I came home there was a new seal, a better one with a zipper in it, so someone was working here today.  Last Friday they took away the big HEPA filter fan that was there last week. A surgical office in the area was found to have a really bad mold issue, so they took it there.  I can hear it again behind the plastic seal.

 This was the previous seal, loose thick plastic covering lighter plastic taped around the opening.

 Today's new seal. Nothing is getting in or out. The blue strip is a zipper.

It appeared work was going to start on Tuesday afternoon, and I was concerned that there had not been time to get building permits, if we needed them at this point.  They did get the permits for the first two units they've had similar problems with.

I e-mailed the contractor Tuesday and told him I want to make sure we have all  the permits, etc. that I'll need to show when I sell my place.  I don't want to have a buyer, and lose the sale because I have to disclose this leak and don't have proof it was repaired correctly.  I'll also get a certification from the testing company that the area is safe. That seems to have put the work off by a few days. In talking to my insurance company, I understand we probably don't need permits for the mold removal and cleanup. But since there was a lot of termite and water damage to at least part of this load bearing section, they will need to remove and rebuild part of the wall. 

I was told I'd get copies of all the reports and photos the contractor sends to the HOA and I've gotten nothing yet, so I also sent an e-mail reminding him that I wanted to be copied on those.

His e-mail response started:

Dear Barbra,

Please calm down.

Ohhhh boy!  Not a good way to start!  You know the worst thing to say to a woman who is upset is "Calm Down."

I called my daughter and went through my concerns with her. Kristy really helped and after we hung up I did feel better. 

Katie and I are still sleeping on the mattress on the guest room floor and she is still going to work with me every day.  She is so good I forget she's there in her crate right next to me.  At lunch I always sit in my car and listen to my books on tape while playing a game on my phone. (Who would have understood that sentence 25 years ago?)  When I was ready to go back into the office, Katie wouldn't get up and come with me.  She's so used to sleeping all day, I think the constant activity in the office is keeping her awake and really tiring her out.  Poor thing.

She used to get me up in the morning and be so excited to go out in the yard, and now I get up and make the bed around her.  She doesn't move, just a lump under the bedspread.  She crawls out between the pillows when it's time to go potty and get in the car. I'm not really inconvenienced by the bedroom being closed off, but it is affecting poor Katie.  It will be nice to get back to normal.

From Me and My Dog, who is burrowed under the quilt on the couch sound asleep...

... have a great Thursday evening, everyone! : )

Update on my LEAK.

WELCOME to Ms. Fiddlesticks! (Love that name!)  Another "over 50 mom and Grammy" solo woman planning to RV full-time in the future. Like me and Katie.  Ms. Fiddlesticks, I enjoyed reading your blogs and will continue to follow along with your adventures.  I've always said, "If you want it bad enough, you'll do it!"  And we will.  Hope to meet you on the road someday. : )

Update on the LEAK - not good news.

My Homeowners Association has hired a contractor, Art, to act as project manager, and per his request, he is hiring third party companies to do the repairs and testing.  He really seems to know what he's doing.

Last weekend there were two roofers fixing leaks in my and my neighbor's roof (adjoining).  He said there were three areas that needed to be fixed.  The way my neighbor's roof was configured, any rain runoff in one area was going directly into our common wall, and probably has been for years and years.  Finally it came through the wallboard and I saw the water stain.

After a week of beautiful weather, it just started raining, and I'm sure glad the roof is okay now.

I came home from work on Wednesday, and Art had opened up a square in the wall of my bedroom.  He said they pulled it back, and it tilted back the baseboard.  He saw black and green mold on the inside of the baseboard, and the inner wall area was infested with ants, spiders and termites.  He said he put his screwdriver into the supporting beam, and it went right in. So they put the cutout back and sealed it off.  They sealed off a portion of the room from the end of my bed to the wall, put in zippers so they can move from the outer plastic wall, inside and through the next one to the wall.  There was a large hepa filter fan running.

 The dark blue strip is the zipper and the behind the sheet on the left with the red tape is the cut out area. They did take out the piece of wall Friday and sealed it with plastic.

When I mentioned I was having a tight chest for the last year and my doctor has me on an inhaler twice a day, Art said to make an appointment right away to get a chest x-ray and be tested for mold. He immediately had the worker seal my entire bedroom off from the rest of the house.  They removed all my bedding and took it to my laundry room, then took the mattress into my office/craft room, where Katie and I are now sleeping on the floor.  They covered the rest of my bedroom furniture with plastic. 
 

 Furniture covered with plastic sheeting

This thick plastic sheet covers another sheet 

that blocks off the entrance to the room 

I was able to see a doctor Thursday afternoon, they took a chest x-ray (which was the same as last year's so that was a relief), and I went down the hall for a blood test to check for mold, the results will be available Tuesday or Wednesday. While I was there I also had my flu shot, so I felt like I accomplished a lot in that one visit.  I have Kaiser, and I've always been happy with them.  I'm feeling hopeful that the mold was contained inside the wall and won't cause me any problems.

When I got home from my doctor's appt on Thursday, Art came by and said the company that is going to do the repairs inspected the area that day, and probably Monday another company is coming to test the air quality.  Once all the construction/repairs are done, the testing company will come back to make sure my condo is completely safe.

What a deal.  Hopefully in two or three weeks all the work will be done and things will be back to normal.  I've been taking Katie to work with me, and she loves it.  The first day I kept her in her little carrying crate until the weather outside warmed up, then I put her in the car which I park right in front of our office.  She can see me through the window and I can see her.  She kept barking, so I finally brought her back in.  She just curls into a tiny ball and sleeps in the crate.  I take her out for a few walks during the day.  I'm surprised she is so content in that little crate all day, but that seems to be her preference.

 Katie in her crate at work

 Sound asleep

It's been a quiet weekend for me and Katie - just staying in and taking it easy.  I'm actually looking forward to work next week, especially since I am taking Katie with me.

From Me and My Dog, have a nice Sunday evening, everyone!  : )

Birthday cake and cheer competition

This goes under the "better late than never" tab:

Sunday, January 16, was my eldest grand daughter, Kennedy's, 8th birthday.  She also had a Cheer Competition on Sunday, the only one in the San Diego area, and I had planned to attend.  It was in the arena at San Diego State University.  My kids were out of town, so I met up with Kennedy and her teammates at the arena that morning.  Kennedy had a sleepover with a teammate, and the friend's mom did Kennedy's make-up and hair and got her into her uniform and drove them down earlier that morning.  (It's quite a process!)

It was a great performance - everyone on Kennedy's team did a great job, no falls or flubs. 

Kennedy is the little cutie with the blond pony tail, back left.

 Kennedy on the left.  She smiled throughout the entire routine.  So cute. 

The poor girl being raised up is really getting manhandled, but they did it!

 The Finale!  Cheers and Applause!

Aren't they just the cutest little things?  Kennedy turned 8 on this day, and I'd guess the rest of the girls are around the same age.

And here she is - their second First Place Trophy. This is the trophy that will be in the display case where they have their cheer/gymnastic classes.  All the participants got a white participant ribbon, and the winners got a pin.

All the participants also got a "goodie bag," similar to what they give you at 5Ks, etc.  It was funny when these younger girls were opening theirs:  I think they got a headband, probably some foodie type things, then one by one they pulled out a "woman's" deodorant.  They were all saying, What's this?, turning it over, then reading it.  Kind of embarrassing for some of them.  I thought it was kind of funny. One of "those" moments. There were lots of older teams, too, and I'm sure they were the teams being targeted by the manufacturer.

There was also a team of handicapped kids - they were in wheelchairs, on crutches, in walkers, blind, deaf, mentally challenged, etc.  Each team member had a spotter helping them depending on their needs.  It was the coolest thing to see, they did a fantastic job, and you can imagine the applause when they finished.  Still brings tears to my eyes thinking about it.  They also won a First Place Trophy, and it was definitely earned.

After the awards ceremony, we drove back to my house to bake Kennedy's birthday cake.  For the first time she made the entire cake - read the directions, helped me fill the measuring cup with the water and oil, cracked the eggs, etc. 

 Pouring in the eggs.

Kennedy even handled the mixer for the first time, but I helped her keep it steady.

 Pouring cake batter into the baking pan.

I have a new frying pan that can be put in the oven, and we decided to try it out with our cake, so we made a large one-layer cake, an upside-down-cake, but with chocolate batter.

 

I had some white frosting, so we divided it into three and made pink, purple and blue frosting with food coloring drops.  Believe me, this cake was a creation entirely out of an 8-year-old's creative brain!  She made three circles, one of each color, outside, middle and inside.
 

Then Kennedy used the "writing" frosting tubes I keep in the cupboard for these events.  First circles outlining the inside two colors, then four purple dots on the pink, and finally her initials in the center:

OMG!  What a beautiful cake!

All kinds of sprinkles later, with "princess" sugar decorations and candles, and we're done.    We put it in the back of the car to take home with her, and headed out to Hometown Buffet, Kennedy's choice for our Birthday Dinner Out.

 Birthday Girl with her Dinner

Poor Kennedy, her parents were out of town all weekend, and she had a sleepover for two nights, Friday and Saturday, then the Cheer Competition and coming to my house for our birthday celebration together.  She was so tired at dinner, I'm surprised she stayed awake, but she was asleep in the car on the way to her house.   A really fun day from beginning to end.

Have a great Thursday evening from Me and My Dog, Katie! :)