Patrick and I started cutting and glueing. Let’s try the sink before we apply the Formica. With the help of Dan and a neighbor we found out that it fit with no room to spare. Wish we could just leave it here. Out it came. I’ll take 4 advil later. Cut and glue, no stopping for lunch. It got dark but we now have outside lights. We can finish tonight. At 8PM it became clear I would have to put in another half day.
I recruited James last night to help me with the cabinets. We started laying out the cabinets then stopped. Too many questions about the counters. So Cynthia and Dan and I went shopping. I left James to work with the stair crew ( they did show up). At the first store ( Lowes) we found a nice choice, but Cynthia was not sure. Dan & I thought it was a nice blend of the old and new cabinets colors. So off to Home Depot. They had none. Well let’s try the store in Gulfport. Black and white only. Back to Lowes…three hours wasted.
With the materials in hand to do the counters we started to attach the bases. Ruffis (the electrician) came after lunch and worked to install the lights. In all it was a good day…should wrap it up tomorrow.
At dinner, I asked for a volunteer who liked to sniff glue (we will be using contact cement) hands went up before I could stop talking. Patrick was first.
I arrived in Biloxi around 3PM today and went straight to 334 Crawford. Cynthia and I unwrapped the cabinets and set them in place. We had to move the sink stand that Art and Robert built. It was hard to get it away from the wall, but when we did it held together. The lights work except the cans in the kitchen and bath. The AC is not in yet, maybe tomorrow.
I think I will make tomorrow my word for today.
Other than the minor mess in the kitchen the house looks good. The tree that Luke put up is still in the living room. They have a couch and coffee table. The beds are all stacked in the study. Eddie is sending a crew to build the stairs TOMORROW. I thought they were already done. I wonder if my visit sparked the sudden interest. I will only be here to finish the counters so don’t expect many more blog-entries. Toby said I could stay till Friday.
By the way I want to thank everyone who came to our house Saturday and left all the treats. A special thank you to Sue and Kathy for the poem. See you all TOMORROW.
Waiting is the name of the game in construction. Just talked to the electrician and he has called for an inspection to get temporary power. This means he is almost done. After the inspection, Cynthia has to call the power company to get the hook-up. Then the electrician can check everything and call for a final. More waiting.
I also talked to Cynthia today. She is excited but willing to wait. She has some elderly friends that have their house done so she is trying to get them to move out of their trailer. She wants them in first. She talked of getting her Christmas tree up and running an extension cord from the trailer if she has too. Her decorations were in the attic during the storm so they survived. She said she has the lights on the tree by the side walk on. She has been out looking for drapes but can not find any she likes. Too bad some of you shoppers couldn’t help her out. I guess a few of you have sent gifts, she is so thankful. She said ” didn’t they give enough?”
HandsOn will be closing down on the 21st so the cabinets that arrive tomorrow may have to wait till after the New Year. But the temporary sink will work til then. Wait, wait, wait.
For those of you that have inquired about my adjustment to life at home let me tell you it is hard. No more bacon and pancakes every morning. Toby won’t let me wear the same dirty sweat shirt every day. I have to drink water out of a glass and not out of a can. Toby still lets me stand up at dinner and tell about my day, but I think she is starting to lose interest. The hardest part is not having all my new friends around.
Have a merry happy holiday,
David Kramer
It’s hard to believe it only took 2 months to rebuild a home. Of course, they can’t move in yet, the electric is not yet ready. But that is about all. We left the house in great shape, everything painted, two more coats of varnish on the floor, and the upper cabinets are back in the place they were in August 28th 2005. It took us 2 months, and it took Cynthia and Dan 16.
We had a sad goodbye. Cynthia was so thankful. She thanks everyone who had a part in the project. I thank everyone. I even have people thank me for letting them work on the house. I would also like to apologize for all the picky things I asked people to do. It was not easy. It was not what I like to do. If I pushed hard to finish it was because I wanted it over so I could go home. I enjoyed the work, the camaraderie, the new friends, the old. I hope we all stay in touch. I hope we will see each other again soon. Cynthia wants us all to come and visit. She said anyone is welcome to crash on the couch. The same goes for anyone visiting the Boston area, only I can offer an air mattress. How can I sleep in a real bed again?
Last night at dinner I said my goodbye. Carrie gave a nice praise for Bridge to Biloxi. All the long timers said “you will be back.” They say there in something in the Bud water that gets people to return. As I drove back to HandsOn today I passed Mr George’s house. Luk came over to the car to say goodbye and to say that we set the standard for rebuilding. Thanks to Peter for getting it all started and all of the other B2B board members for their leadership, but especially all the volunteers that took the time and expense to come to Biloxi and work so hard. I will try to add updates as I hear from HandsOn as they complete the house. Bye.
I am set for my last day. All that is left for us to do is finish the upper cabinet, touch up the walls, varnish the floor, grout around the dryer vent. What is left for the project is the electric finish, stairs, and what ever I must have forgotten. It was hectic and I may never get Dartmouth students to help me again. I kept getting short with them for getting paint on the floor and not wiping it up. They were not there when I spent 3 days sanding them so I understand their not caring, NOT! But they cleaned it up and asked what else they could do. Art came through again by figuring out the upper cabinet puzzle. Just wish there was a photo of the kitchen before the storm. I will try to give more of a recap after tomorrow, and lots of pictures.
We are coming down the home stretch. The house was a mad one today. Mike and Doug and Elizabeth and Beca did the base molding while Wright and Patrick and I finished the door trim. Art and Rob took on the sink (we are installing the sink temporarily so they can move in.) The sink looks great. We had so many people waiting to use the chop saw (that was bent and would not cut a 45) that I dropped everything and went to buy another one. HandsOn really needs it. Well, we only have a small bit of trim to do. No sooner had the sink been unveiled and the plumber showed up and started installing everything. After lunch Bri came to help with the putty. Tomorrow we will have 8 volunteers from a new group from Dartmouth to help with painting the trim. The cabinets are scheduled to come on the 19th and Mike may be able to help out, we will see.
Crystal will be coming home late Saturday night for Christmas break to new home. For those that want to send a Christmas card their address is: Cynthia and Dan Mceldowney, 334 Crawford St, Biloxi, MS 39530
1. Trim doors 2 to go (Thurs) Peter, Rite
2. Trim baseboards 1 room done 8 to go (Thurs & Fri) Mike, Doug,
Art, David Other vol.
3. Build and install steps 1 day 3 people (will move FEMA stairs
to house) Eddie
4. Sand and varnish hardwood floors 1 day 1 person (Sat after lunch) David & Art
5. Install door hardware 2 hr 1 person 2 done 8 to go (after Painting) Robert
6. Paint all trim and doors 4 done (Thurs) HO vol.
7. Clean stuff out of house (Thurs, Fri) everyone
8. Touch up paint (Fri)
9. Install dryer vent (???) Dan
10. Finish electric (???) electrician
11. Install vanity in MB 2 hr 1 person (Thurs) David
12. Finish plumbing (???) plumber
13. Install upper cabinets 3hr 2 people (Fri) David, Art
14. Install lower cabinets (waiting for arrival)
1 day 2 people (Eddie or $800 for Home Depot)
15. Get Occupancy permit (ASAP)
Robert is leaving Friday, Art is leaving Sunday, and I am going to catch the last flight out of town on Saturday. It still looks like a long list but most of it will be done before we go. Altho we will be gone when they move in, I know Eddie and his gang will get them in very soon.
Ok, so we had a really awesome time making 1X4’s stick to the wall around the doors in a upside down u shape with these wire like things that come out of an air gun. It was so cool! And tool shed Mike and that other Mike put this wood looking stuff on the floor of that big room in the back. How many times can I say awesome? And then this guy with a box of those things that turn on the lights came by and put them in the wall. But he left and they didn’t work. Then we drove in the cool van to have dinner in this big room, only it was late, and it was supostobe meat loaf but was more like soup. And we had this long green stuff with peanut butter and raisins because it’s Like celery week. And the server is like dead and Bell South takes in air real fast. So maybe you won’t read this.
Hung 2 more doors. Made 2 more creative thresholds and 2 selves on the arch. Installed the attic stairs. Mike & Mike installed half of the MBR floor, looks good. All of the windows are painted. The punch list is shrinking but still there.
Jim & Joel left this afternoon. Elena is leaving tomorrow, got home sick. Ann & John’s nephew checked in today, I am trying to recruit him for a day or so. Another guy from Ohio is going to help tomorrow triming the base molding. More doors arrived so we should be able to make more headway on that. It’s movie so till tomorrow. Look for pics then.
