Today was a rather quite day.Nothing exceptional going on. Nancy and I finished programing the new TiVo machine. Nancy learned to use all of the controls from the remote. Now she can do the recording, deleting, and playing of programs from the hard drive -all on her own. She never used the old machine. I think we'll get more use out of this one, since it is in a downstairs location and a little more convenient. The lifetime subscription eliminates the monthly fee that we had been paying. All in all, a good purchase. TiVo rules as a DVR, in my opinion.

I did manage to take my afternoon walk today. I try to take a walk of around two and a half miles, several days a week. I saw the Westies, Eddy and Wiggy, while on my walk. Carlene, their caretaker, walked with me awhile and told me stories about how difficult it is to train Westies. She once hired someone to train Wiggy. It was costing her thirty dollars for a half hour of obedience training - to no avail. Wiggy befuddled the trainer and basically continued to do things his way. So, she gave up and decided to get a second dog to keep Wiggy company - and hopefully to be a positive influence. That's when Eddy came on the scene. That didn't work either, as Wiggy taught Eddy some of his bad habits. Now both Wiggy and Eddy do pretty much whatever they want - and that seems to work fine for them - maybe not so great for Carlene, but the dogs seem to be real happy. Carlene has decided to just let them be - you know, Wiggy and Eddy. Both of their pictures are on my "Dog Wall of Fame" - in my garage. They're special animals. Soon there will be a cat picture added to the "Dog Wall of Fame" (Baby Face). I know, it sounds strange, but Baby Face is a special cat and she is deserving of being included. She'll be the only cat that I add to the collection.

More about that tomorrow...

I just finished watching "Friday Night Lights". It is one of my favorite new shows for the fall season - along with "Studio Sixty". Texas football is in a league of its own and "Friday" does an interesting job of depicting the sport from a Texas mindset. As for "Studio Sixty", I feel that it provides viewers with some of the best writing that is currently on television. "West Wing", same producers as "Studio Sixty" and recently cancelled, was another favorite of mine.

Tomorrow is suppose to be a pretty good day, weather-wise. Maybe we'll plan something special to do for the afternoon? We'll have to see...

Guest Blogger - Sir Thomas Henry

Mr. Davis has invited me to be his guest blogger for the day. Today we visited a Chinese Supermarket and then had lunch at the New China Buffet, very yummy. We especially enjoyed having grilled meats and fish. We also ate lots of vegetables and fruit. I even managed to eat some ice cream with chopsticks, most amazing.

Before lunch I went to a cellular store near the Chinese Supermarket and had my cell phone unlocked so now I can purchase a prepaid Chinese sim card that I can use to make local calls when I go to China. I tested out the phone by using Mr. Davis's sim card, and wow, it worked.

After lunch I drove over to Mr. Davis's house and we worked on setting up his TiVo box (with the lifetime subscription). I should mention this box used to be at my house, and now it has a new home. It is working ok so far, no guarantees.

I just sent an email to Lady Wendy in Chengdu, China, and attached a photo of me typing the message.

Now we are just about to have dinner, soup and sandwich. I am having a meatball sandwich, Jim is having prime rib sandwich and Nancy is having a turkey sandwich. Nancy was out running errands on a very rainy and she was kind enough to pick up our soup and sandwich. Thank you Nancy.

Okkkkkkkkkkk, that's it for today.

Signing off, Sir Thomas

Searching for Accessories

The search for accessories for the master bedroom continues. I've been looking for throw rugs to put next to the bed and near the bathroom entrance and today I came across a rug with the right color for that particular area. I also found the frames that I intend to purchase for the back wall. I still have to add the prints that I need for the frames. After searching online for prints, I've found a site that has the size and style of print that I think will compliment the frames that I found at Aaron Brothers Art Mart. So, today some progress has been made towards completing the final look of the master bedroom. I also added a cordless phone to the nightstand by the bed and set up remote on/off/dimming switches for the room lighting. Next will be the addition of a sound system for the room. I need to ponder just what I want to use to add music to the room, before I design the system. I may use my iPod for that purpose. More on that later...

A Good Day to Watch Oscars

Today it was rainy, cool and rather windy in Sacramento. A good day to light the fireplace, turn on the TV, and take in the Academy Awards. From watching the awards I know there will be several movies that we'll want to see on DVD. "The Departed" will probably be the first one, but "Babel" and "The Queen" look to be equally interesting. As I mentioned in a previous blog, last week we went to see "Notes from a Scandal". I really like that movie, but it didn't come away with an Oscar. We'll also want to see "Dreamgirls", and some others, so our movie viewing list is rather long. I can think of another half dozen movies that could also be added to the list for future viewing. I guess we'll just have to make some time for catching up on last year's flicks.

I plan to take Jose's picture to "The Broiler" this week. I'm not sure that he'll be working at the time I drop it off, but I can follow up to make sure he gets his photo. The 13 by 19 size is impressive and I always like to provide a frame when I give someone one of my large photos. It is difficult to find 13 by 19 frames; especially for a reasonable price. It's an odd size. I have an online source that I order from and I usually purchase enough frames to last around six months, or thereabouts. I've attached a picture of the 13 by 19 that I'm giving to Jose. Take a look!

To update, in regards to our visit Wednesday to The Broiler in downtown Sacramento, I have just finished touching up and printing the picture I took of Jose (our host). I enlarged the photo to 13 by 19 and printed it on Canon Photo Pro paper. I will put it in a frame tomorrow. I hope to get it to Jose by Wednesday of this week. I'm almost certain that he will be pleased. It's not that it is such a well composed picture (although the setting did capture the photo on the wall that shows the Broiler sign from the old location...a nice touch), it's more about the size of the print and the detail that comes with such a large photograph. I used my Canon ip9900, the best printer that I have ever owned. It can print a 13 by 19 in about the same about of time that an Epson or HP printer takes to do a 4 by 6. The Canon is fast and accurate - with vivid colors and excellent details. Mine is an older model, but I plan to keep it awhile longer before purchasing one of the latest models, such as those shown at this year's CES in Vegas. At this point , I'm certain that I will replace it with another Canon printer. It makes an amateur photographer, such as myself, look like a pro.

Nancy and I are still "in the hunt" for the master bedroom pictures. No luck today. Maybe we'll find them tomorrow?

Today Nancy and I went shopping for some pictures to hang in the master bedroom. I took lots of cellphone shots of various prints that we came across during our visit to The Home Store, Big Lots and WalMart. We like to check the photos when we return home. It provides a better visualization of how the item will look in the room. My LG CU500 cellphone does a good job of taking indoor pictures, even though it doesn't have a flash. As I mentioned, in the prior blog, we're not looking for expensive prints. We just want something that has a frame that compliments the bedroom furniture and a print that has colors that don't clash with the bedspread. Oh, and here is the difficult part. We have to agree on the choice. Compromise - the essence of being married! So far, no luck in finding what we think will suit our needs. However, we did find a lamp for the dresser. So, the lighting is pretty much completed. We'll pursue the task of finding the right pictures over the weekend.

Phase 2 - Master Bedroom

I've started my search for accessories to go in the bedroom. This phase of the project takes some time. There are lots of products made specifically for bedrooms, but narrowing things down to what is needed to "complete" the style you're attempting to create is somewhat of a challenge. Currently I am focusing on adding a couple of prints for the back wall. It seems that when I see a picture that might work, the print doesn't go with the frame that encases it. I don't plan on buying anything very expensive, just something that is pleasant to view when you enter the room. I will continue the search over the weekend and hope to come across something that I feel will be suitable. I also need to look for window coverings to replace the drapes that were removed when we did the makeover. The windows currently have mini blinds, but no curtains. I'm considering using shutters this time around. There are a lot of new designs available. That should make things interesting.

Outing to see The Moody Blues

The Moody Blues performed tonight at the Memorial Auditorium in Sacramento. We bought our tickets several weeks ago, so we were able to get pretty good seats. Prior to going to the concert we had dinner at a restaurant that has been in downtown Sacramento since 1950. The Broiler has been a favorite of mine for many years, although my visits don't date back quite as far as 1950. I believe my first visit was closer to 1972, somewhere around thirty-five years ago, if I recall correctly. The steaks at The Broiler are always top notch - and I, of course, always have a steak. Tonight was no exception (a Fillet Mignon). While being escorted to our table by Jose, we mentioned that we had been coming to the restaurant for many years. We knew the current owner of the business when he first started out as a server. Jose took an interest in that admission and proceeded to ask us questions about past visits. He has worked at The Broiler for many years himself. Nancy still has a good memory, contrary to mine, and she told Jose that she remembered the original - and rather unique - dishes that were used to serve the food. These were no longer in service as they were removed when the owners changed the business location several years ago. We both said that we remembered the dishes fondly and a short time later we noticed a plate from "the old days" was on our table. Jose came by the table and told Nancy that she could keep the plate. He said that I might want to slip it under my coat when we left, just so he wouldn't get into any trouble for giving it to us. He really wanted us to have it. He sensed that it was something that we could appreciate from days past. He apparently had good memories about those times as well. What a great gift! Jose also noticed that I had brought my camera with me, just in case there was a chance to get some pictures at The Moody Blues concert (there wasn't, they absconded the camera's flash card prior to entering), and he wanted to know about the camera's specs. I told him and also mentioned that I would like to take his picture, so I could give him a print when I return. He agreed. I have posted both a picture of the plate from The Broiler and the picture I took of our gracious host, Jose. Actually, I thought it came out rather well. I think that he will be pleased. A fun night on the town and most certainly a night to remember!

Phase 2 of Master Bedroom Project

Today we started to accessorize the master bedroom with some new lighting to compliment the new furnishings previously purchased. J C Penny had a sale on lamps today and we found a couple that seem to go well with the new colors we used in the room. I'll post some pictures - at a later date. I want to add a few more accessories over the next few days and then I'll snap a couple of pictures when the room starts to take on a more finished look.

Dengue Fever Update - February 19, 2007

I added a few more pictures of the Dengue Fever band members. Nancy and I will be going to The Moody Blues concert this Wednesday. I hope to be able to take some pictures at that event, but I'm sure it will be much more difficult than when we went to see Dengue Fever. We'll have to wait and see...

San Francisco Outing - Sony Metreon and The Independent - February 18, 2007

Today we left Elk Grove around 2:00 pm for our trip to San Francisco - to see Dengue Fever at The Independent. Traffic was heavy because of the holiday, but we still made fairly good time. We wanted to see a movie prior to the concert and afterward we decided we would have dinner at Buckhorns in the Sony Metreon. We went to see "Notes From A Scandal". Excellent choice, we really enjoyed the show. Buckhorns has terrific tri-tip beef sandwiches and Nancy and I were both hungry even though we had a late breakfast. We capped off the sandwiches with some cake and ice cream for dessert - from Just Desserts, also in the Metreon. We left the Metreon and traveled to Divisadero Street. That's several miles from the Metreon. We soon discovered that the blogs regarding The Independent were accurate when they mentioned that parking near the club can be extremely difficult. The Independent does not have a parking lot and the only option you have when using your car to get there is street parking. In San Francisco that is like finding gold nuggets just waiting to be picked up on the side of the street. Suffice to say, it's not likely to happen. At least not nearby the club. After a half hour of driving around, we found a spot about a half mile from The Independent. Oh well, I hadn't gotten my walk in for the day, so off we went. Nancy did a good job of keeping up; we didn't rush, just took our time. It didn't take all that long and the weather was nice. Dengue Fever put on a very entertaining show and the entire scene at The Independent was a lot of fun. We also got to see two other groups, Sutro and Pack of Wolves. Sutro was a fairly polished three piece group and "Pack" was just... well, real loud. By midnight we were ready to leave, as we wanted to get back to Elk Grove before 2:00 am. The bouncer hailed a taxi for us, as we had already decided against doing a midnight walk to return to our vehicle. We made it back to Elk Grove around 1:45 am - after spending a great day in "The City". San Francisco and it's proximity to Sacramento is one reason why I like living in California - plus the weather is pretty decent most of the time. There is always a lot happening around the Bay. I've posted a few pictures to provide a visual of today's outing. Check it out!

Project Progress - February 18, 2007

The "window" for the bedroom furniture (purchased from The Room Source) to be delivered was from 8:00 - 12:00 am. At 11:55 am the truck pulled up to the curb. Two guys carried the furniture to the second floor and immediately began to assemble the bed frame, attach the mirror to the dresser and put the box springs and mattress in place. It all probably took about a half an hour, or so. Very professional workers and very efficient.

We've since discovered that the trim that we made for the back wall is not the right color to go with the bedroom furniture. So, we'll have to make a change. The trim should compliment the overall look of the room and it doesn't. We were working from pictures that I had taken of the furniture in the showroom and the store lighting lightened the color of the wood in my photos. Also, we've still got lots of accessories to add to the room and window covering to select, but this phase of the project is complete and we accomplished it on scheduled. We're looking forward to "phase two" and we will start with that project after we get back from San Francisco. We're leaving tomorrow to see the band "Dengue Fever" at The Independent - near Japan town. Should be fun!

Project Progress - February 17, 2007

Installing the carpet was today's objective and it turned out to be a "one man" job. I expected to see at least a couple of people at my door this afternoon, from Carpeteria, but when I answered the doorbell - there was only one person, Nick. He explained that he does entire homes on his own each day and that this was actually a rather small task. When I saw how much carpet there was in his van, I asked him how much it all weighed. Nick said that after cutting -the largest piece will weigh around eighty to ninety pounds. Looking at Nick, that appeared to be somewhere around his current weight - and that would probably only be after he had consumed a gigantic dinner with an extra slice of pie for dessert. Nick said, "no problem", he could carry it on his back and up to the second floor; he does it all the time. "You just put your head down and move forward", according to Nick. I thought to myself, somewhere in that statement there must be a lesson as to how to live life. Just put your head down, don't get overwhelmed by any potential obstacles - and move forward. Watching Nick install the carpet over a three and a half hour period, I was amazed at how much work he got done in such a short amount of time. Impressive, indeed! Hard worker and a philosopher to boot!

I've posted a couple of pictures of the outcome of today's tasks. We are now ready for the furniture to be delivered. That will happen tomorrow. It was purchased from "The Room Source" and they called today to confirm delivery - so I don't anticipate any glitches. What am I saying? I think I just jinxed tomorrow's entire mission. Oh well, we'll just have to see?

Nancy and I went to Kohl's department store to pick out items for the new bed (sheets, pillowcases, blanket, comforter, etc.). So, now we're all set to move forward with completing the Master Bedroom makeover. To date every thing is on schedule. More news tomorrow...

Project Progress - February 16, 2007

This was suppose to be a day of rest prior to the carpet installation... but as they say, "the devil is in the details". Today I decided to correct some creaking noise in the master bathroom floor. It has been in need of a repair for some time. So, the perfect time meant doing it before the carpet installers lay down the new pad and carpet. Simple enough task, you would think, except I discovered that my old 12 volt drill just wasn't up to the job of inserting the screws properly. The battery wouldn't hold a charge very long and the power was inadequate. Time for a new drill! After a considerable amount of time at Home Depot, I made a decision on a new cordless 18 volt drill. If you haven't shopped for tools lately, you're in for a surprise. They must of had thirty different cordless drills - with thirty different prices. Tools are made all over the world now and some of the manufacturers are new to me. I ended up with a Skill model that has two batteries. Interesting venture, but time consuming.

My other major objective was to get all the wires together that I want to run under the carpet (for stereo speakers, Ethernet hookups, TiVo connections, phone cords, etc.). That also took a couple of hours longer than I expected. I decided to run some extra wires, just in case I want to add something later. Anyway, it all got done and we're ready for the carpet installers to arrive in a few hours. I'll update with some pictures of the carpet, tomorrow.

Project Progress - February 15, 2007

Today Kelly and Ryan finished painting the master bedroom. The ceiling was painted, as was the bedroom closet. Additionally, the molding (trim) around the back wall was cut, stained and installed (see photo below). Jim and Nancy contributed to the project by taking the old bedroom furniture to Fairfield (Kelly's home) via a rental cargo van from Enterprise. Tomorrow the bathroom area will be readied and at that point we should have both rooms prepped for the carpet installers to do their work on Friday. So far, the project is on schedule. If all goes well, we should complete the project this weekend. We have our fingers crossed.

Project Update for February 14, 2007

Happy Valentines Day! The project continues to progress. The walls and ceiling have been painted. The back wall is blue and the side walls are antique white (see photo). Tomorrow we will add the molding to the back wall and finish touching up various areas from today's painting. The molding will be stained a color to compliment the new bedroom furniture - a medium oak.

Project Update Feb 13, 2007

The room has been readied for painting. The preparation included removing the old drapes, removing all of the bedroom furniture, disconnecting various wires from the wall and along the carpet, cleaning out the closet and packing items in boxes. Also,the room was vacuumed and the walls cleaned. Painting starts in the morning.

Current Project

The current project entails a rework of the master bedroom in our eighteen year old house. Needless to say...it's about time. I plan to do daily postings on the progress of this project. To date, we have ordered the carpet, picked out the new furniture and selected the paint colors for the walls. Now we must prep the room for painting. This means we will have to clear the master bedroom of all furniture and miscellaneous items. It's more work than you might think. The first thing I need to do is to get more boxes to store stuff. There is a lot of "junk" in the room. Who knows, I might even have to throw something away. Wow, what a concept!!

This Blog will be used to share various media with my friends. The daily entries are for the purpose of initiating communication about topics that we hopefully share an interest. Welcome to this small portion of cyberspace.

Jim