One more comment about the ads...

I should mention that the referral buttons below the ads in the left column are for Google products that I personally use and enjoy, especially Firefox (a web broswer that I like better than Explorer) and Picasa (free image editing/organizing software). Picasa is really functional and easy to use; for the basic home editor, it does just as well as Adobe Photoshop Elements and doesn't come with a price tag. At all. And free is the new cheap, in my opinion. Firefox handles most websites as well as Explorer and I LOVE the tabs feature. It keeps your bottom status bar from filling up with all those windows that insist on tiling. I hate that. Anyway, just wanted to say that I'm actually endorsing services that I totally dig. :o)

As of this afternoon. Progress, though I'm curious why our unit still doesn't have the correct windows in the great room. The unit below us has the right ones (two outers that open). Anyway, it's getting there!

Google Ads

I've finally sold out to the lure of advertising revenue and added Google AdSense to my page. So, visitors, please click the links if you see something that remotely interests you! All the links to our favorite pages, previous posts, etc., are just further down the page (under the ad boxes). I'll keep you posted on how it goes...

D.R.Horton - America's Builder

OK, I have to say, I'm really impressed with D.R.Horton - America's Builder. I am genetically predisposed to distrusting corporate entities, assuming that they're all out to make a buck by screwing the consumer at every turn (I get that from my dad). Anyway, over the past couple of weeks, I've had a couple of interactions that make me think DR Horton is one of the good guys. As you know, we're buying a condo from them. It's still under construction and due to be finished in November.

In my weekly unofficial walk-throughs, I've noticed a couple of things that really bothered me. First, the triple windows in the great room were fixed (don't open). So, I called the sales office to complain, called the city planner to find out why it is the way it is, then emailed the corporate office to explain my unhappiness. This past week, I got an email from a VP at corporate and a call from the sales office to let me know that they analyzed the window situation and are going to replace the two outer windows with openable ones (and the middle will remain fixed). Wow!

Then I measured the laundry closet and found that there's no way under the sun that even an apartment-size stackable unit would fit in a 27" deep closet. So again, call sales office, email corporate. Lo and behold, yesterday, the sales office called to report that they'd analyzed the situation and will be moving the door frame forward three inches (to a total of 30") which should accomodate quite a few models of front-loading stackables. That's going to be a pretty major project, and I really respect them for wanting to please their homeowners.

In addition, I'm using the builder's lender, DHI Mortgage, and my loan officer, Dina, has been a real gem. Helpful, nice to work with, etc. All the crew at the sales office are delightful; Susan, Michael and Jeff are the ones I've dealt with. Then, their design center staff are all really sweet, too. The whole process has been painless.

So, there you go.

Shoes at Zappos.com

Apparently my husband knew all about Zappos.com, but either didn't tell me, or didn't sell it properly so that I would remember. Either way, I'm just learning about the coolest way to buy shoes. Shop online from a zillion options, search by color, size, price, width, etc. They ship free, and if they don't fit, return shipping is free, too! They also have handbags and other stuff, but primarily shoes. Plus, there's a 110% price guarantee, so if you find it cheaper elsewhere, they'll refund the difference plus 10%. Nice. Perfect for Jennifer, who's out in the country and it'd be a pain in the butt to haul three kids into every shoe store in town!

Upgrades ... Done!

We've finally finished all the paperwork on our upgrades and are ready to go. Our design consultant, Sharon, is on the right. She was really great to work with.

Our carpet choice ... great for hiding dog hair!

Here's the marble, which will be on both bathroom vanities. This is a weird sample, because the slab will be much bigger (this photo is of about a 8-inch square), so it'll look less busy on the counters.

Our tile, which will cover entryway, kitchen, and both bathroom floors.

This is the same style and color of our cabinets, but this sample is maple instead of beech. Close, anyway.

Here's our tile (left), cabinet and granite combo. Again, the color is a little off in the photo, but you get the idea.

Options and Upgrades!

Today we finalized our options and upgrades. This is the color (Sesame) and type of wood (Beech) we have, but the door style is a little different (Remmington). They didn't have a sample of the exact model (which I don't understand, since it's they're "standard" cabinet, but I digress). This is the granite we chose (Harvest Gold), though the flourescent lights in this photo make it look greener than it really is. Either way, it's pretty. This combination was our second choice (the first choice added about $3,000, so we had to cut back).

The cabinets will be the same in the kitchens and baths, and we chose a marble (Breccia Oniciata) for both bathroom counters. Don't remember what the tile we chose is called, but it'll be in the entry, kitchen, and both baths. That cost more than we'd hoped because construction required a cork underlay for sound-proofing. But so be it. We'll appreciate that when our upstairs neighbors are moving around (speaking of whom, I met one today at the design center; Lisa, who is somewhere above us, but not directly... nice girl).

In addition to what I already listed, we also upgraded to the stainless appliances (stove, microwave and dishwasher), added a TV outlet and pre-wiring for a flat screen TV, two "water" glass inserts in kitchen cabinet doors (either side of the stove), a dimmer switch on the chandelier above the dining table, "rain" texture glass for both showers (a little extra privacy), and upgraded carpet and pad. We'll still have to buy our fridge and washer/dryer once we move in. Now it's getting exciting!!

Remembering the Sacrifice

Monday evening we had an impromptu, unplanned BBQ to celebrate Memorial Day. Clockwise from the far left are: Tim, Jon, Ken, Kim, Kaitlyn and Michelle. We had burgers, dogs, potato salad, chips, dip and brownies with ice cream. Yum.

We all appreciate the sacrifices that have made our freedoms possible. And every Sabbath we celebrate the sacrifice that Jesus made for our eternal freedom. Even those who live in countries that aren't as liberty-blessed as the U.S. have been assured that eternal freedom in God's kingdom is theirs for the taking. What an awesome gift!

Brookshire

Here's today's progress on our condo. We're the second level, which is right there in the middle. The biggest opening is the patio, and the windows from the patio lead into the master bedroom. The door goes into the great room (triple windows), and the second bedroom is on the end with the single window (that you can see). We found out today that those triple windows in the living room don't open, which is totally unacceptable, so I'll have to do some work on that problem.

Make a wish!

We celebrated Ken's 35th birthday about a month ago, so I'm late uploading photos. Anyway, we had 15 or 16 people over for haystacks, cake and general good-time gabbing. Fun!

I *finally* do!

We just returned from Michael and MeeRa's wedding in Porterville (yesterday at 3). I didn't get any ceremony photos with MeeRa in her actual wedding dress; she changed into this traditional Korean dress (called a Hanbok) for the reception. It was a lovely wedding and the couple is probably in the air on the way to Tahiti as I write. Fun!

Our first night on the Big Island we did a manta dive. A synopsis: descend to 35 feet, hold up flashlight which excites plankton, mantas feed on plankton. There were at least six, perhaps eight, rays that night. Very cool; we bought the video from our excursion. Remind us to show it to you. There's a fascinating eel incident on it as well... We really enjoyed Big Island Divers. I recommend them if you head out that way.

Today we went to Hanauma Bay to snorkel. Ken hadn't been there before. Once we got past the first reef break, it was much prettier. We saw a couple of turtles and lots of big fish. Tourists have really trashed the reef on the inner side. People are unbelievably clumsy and careless.

We didn't take many photos with us in them at the Waikoloa Village. But here's "the grand staircase" that leads from the lagoon to the lobby. Really pretty hotel. Dog, The Bounty Hunter, was there at the same time to marry his girlfriend tomorrow night.

Cruising around Gilligan's Island. Yes, the real Gilligan's Island.

A little picnic in the park before heading down to the water at Waimea Bay.

Drying out after a snorkel at Waimea Bay.

Matsumoto's Shave Ice, famous on the North Shore. Ice cream on the bottom, a layer of azuki beans boiled in sugar, and topped with shave ice. Yum!

Aloha!

We've been enjoying Hawaii this week. Arrived noon Wednesday and had a nice supper with Wendi and Chris. Early yesterday morning we went diving (YO-257 and the Pipeline). Today is the full moon, so the current was really strong on the wreck dive and we were really nervous down there because of fatigue. Neither of us seemed to be able to get enough air. Anyway, we'll avoid dives in a current like the plague from now on. The Pipeline was a nice dive; shallow with pretty fish and no current. Much more relaxing! We were home by 11 a.m. in time for showers and lunch with Wendi and Chris at the local Korean BBQ. Yum. Then an afternoon nap in the tropical breeze before a late supper in Waikiki with Jon, Tim and Chad. They've been auditing the conference office here and are headed home this afternoon. Today about eight of us are taking a pontoon boat to an outer island for a day of snorkeling and a picnic. Wendi and Chris are going to Maui tomorrow for a few days, so we'll have their house to ourselves for a day before we leave for the Big Island Sunday morning. It's a rough life. :o)

ReligionFacts - Just the facts on world religions.

ReligionFacts - Just the facts on world religions.

Cool Things to Remember

Some of you may be intersted in stuff on my other blog. Just wanted to remind you it's there (CLICK HERE). The link is also along the left column, so you can always get to it.

Folding Money

The Shirt

Guitar Lessons

Lessons

The 29 Healthiest Foods on the Planet

So I downloaded a plug-in/extension for FireFox called StumbleUpon, which basically pulls up highly ranked websites in categories you select. So I'll probably post a zillion links to cool sites because of that. Here's one. The 29 Healthiest Foods on the Planet

Stuff I want...

I want a Roomba and an air purifier for each room.