Inspection and Pre-Close

We are one week away from closing! The inspection went well yesterday and this afternoon is the Pre-Close Orientation. With the exception of an A/C valve, some grading in the back and a few minor finishing issues, everything looks great and we are ready to go.

Superbad!

Go see the movie. Judd Apatow knocks another one out of the park with this one. I just love it when a movie making team gets on a hot streak. Anchorman, The 40-Year Old Virgin, Talladega Nights, and Knocked Up may not be everyone's cup of tea but I found them to be hysterical in a very original way and each with its own charms.

These movies, especially 40-Year Old, Knocked Up and Superbad, have a certain sweetness and sincerity that most movies of this type don't.

Plus, they are freakin hysterical.

On another note, the funk heavy soundtrack for Superbad is inspired. But it was the hip hop track "Here I Come" that I sought out first, only to find it was from my long beloved The Roots (thanks to Chris). I shamefully missed The Game Theory last year from which this track is plucked.

Too lazy to link. Google away.

Peruvian Earthquake

Patty and I have received quite a few inquiries as to the safety of her family with the recent 8.0 Earthquake south of Lima. I am happy to report that she has spoken to them and everyone is fine. Her father said that the ground was moving "like a worm" for nearly two minutes in Lima. How that is possible without severe damage I just don't know.

This disaster is especially devastating to the small towns of Pisco and Chincha with the total dead currently over 500. Remember, this is a very poor country where there are minimal social services and insurance is not even a consideration.

Mad Visit

Madeleine visited for a couple of weeks and of course saw the new digs. She was very pleased with the size since she has lived in pretty small spaces her whole life. As for San Antonio, I think she liked it but her most common phrase was "What's that smell?"

Less than three weeks to go on the house. They have a lot to do on the exterior but inside is very near completion. Electric and plumbing are both functional.

Yo Gabba Gabba!

I just had to put in a plug for my friend Lance's new show, Yo Gabba Gabba! This is a children's show that was picked up by Nick Jr.! and will debut on August 20th. DJ Lance Rock is the host and the show is very colorful and musical. Take a look at the behind the scenes interview found on the Nick Jr. site and watch the show! You can get a good indication of what to expect can from this video of Party In My Tummy!

Elijah's First Haircut

After much pleading from Gina and Patty I finally relented and agreed to let Elijah get a haircut. I wanted him to let the curls grow for another 6 months to a year but we were able to come to a manageable compromise. Top right is the finished look while it was still wet. Very Billy D.

Laying Bricks and Tile

The house is about half way bricked and most of the floor tile is down. It is interesting how fast these guys can move. One guys stands below and throws the bricks up to the two guys laying them and another runs the bucket of mortar up the scaffolding.

Witness to the Fitness

Back when Patty and I were making trips to SA to search for houses one of the first things we saw was the huge Lifetime Fitness off the highway. Without even going in we knew that was going to be our gym. What we didn't know is that this is no mere gym, it is nearly a country club. All this place is missing is a golf course and a bar. We are addicted to going which is probably a good addiction. This is by far the pimpest gym I have ever seen. It has hot tubs, saunas, pools, slides, cafes, salons, rock climbing, well you get the idea. Just hit the link since most of them across the nation have pretty much the same set up down to the architecture of the building.

Closing Time

The date has been set for the closing, August 28th. I can only assume my construction manager is stalling a bit or they ran into some subcontractor troubles because until now they have been on a torrid pace and more than once made it sound as if they could be finished in July. I think August 21-ish would have been ideal but I am cool with the 28th. Two more months of apartment living.

South Central Rain

Huge fan of the song by R.E.M.. Not a huge fan of the insane amount of precipitation we are receiving. Flash Flooding is no joke around these parts and has claimed 24 lives since January. Over 151 high-water rescue calls have been made so far this year not counting the current tempest passing through (see above image). I am starting to see wisdom in the massive trucks that people drive here.

If I had a hammer

The carpenter came by and installed the railing, trim and doors. From the left you see the garage steps, the view of the kitchen and foyer from the great room and the view from the front door entrance. I couldn't quite capture the balcony with the phone's camera.

Back and Front

Now that we have been promised solutions to the step/deck problems, I wanted to capture the before shots to be compared to the after shots. I regret not having Patty along to demonstrate just how severe these grades are.

Everything's Bigger...

Yup it's true. From the trucks to the food. No wonder San Antonio was rated 2nd fattest city by Men's Fitness. Everywhere you go, the food is delicious and the portions are big.

Great Success!

We watched Borat again last night and it was still wildly inappropriate and funny. But the great success in this context is that we met with the construction manager and will be getting a full deck in back. Even better, they are giving us a front walk, and step solution that isn't something out of an Escher drawing.

Walls, Decks and Steps

The sheet rock has gone up and they are mudding and taping. There are two points of contention on the house: The back exit off the sun room and the front walk and steps. Because of the massive drop off on the right side of the house and the subsequent 12 foot foundation, the patio will be in a big hole (pictures to follow). I am insisting that they build a deck and they are thus far, balking. Patty has a similar concern in the front as she does not want Machu Picchu-like steps leading to the front door. We meet with the construction manager on Friday to negotiate.

May I See Your License, M'am?

It is official! Patty has received her License to practice Dental Hygiene in the state of Texas. Now the job hunt can begin in earnest. She already has some good leads and has hooked up with the ADHA locally. I am pushing her to get her Nitrous permit which sounds more fun than the Fissures and Sealants permit.

Mom, can we keep it?

During one of our frequent trips to the new house we saw Bambi walking around the lots in the back. This was the smallest deer I have ever seen. It could barely walk but had somehow wandered all the way from the not so nearby woods into the lots behind the house. Feeling bad about contributing to its displacement, Patty and I tried to herd it back to the woods. There were some menacing hawks flying around and Patty was pretty upset. I called wild life rescue and they gave the go ahead to pick it up. Apparently the urban legend around handling wildlife babies is a myth.


I didn't ask if it was okay to drive it around in the car while listening to house music but it seemed pretty cool about it.

We found the closest woods and carried in. After about 10 minutes I heard the mother approaching from nearby so I backed out. It should be safe until someone clears that group of trees to build another house.

House

No not M.D., although that is a good show. A bit formulaic and over the top but....anyhoo. Here are some progress shots of the house. They are moving fast.

5/15 - Check out the 2 story garage, and Jackson.



5/26 - Port O Potty not included


Seriously, the garage is huge


5/28 - View from the 2nd floor front

Blog interrupted

I took a break from posting until I could get the photos from my phone onto my PC so now I am back. Here is the latest:

5/30-Spurs win! My first and only Spurs game was the winner in the Western Conference Finals. Among the highlights was seeing Eva Longoria sitting among the crowd, cheering on her boyfriend Tony Parker.

6/1 - I found the real deal at a Mexican food restaurant near my job called Oasis. Lunch specials are $5.95 with drink and tax included!! We are talking real Tex-Mex here. Fresh Tortillas. Great frijoles. Check out this dish.

Go Spurs Go!

So read the innumerable signs everywhere you go in San Antonio. And so we shall chant as we are indoctrinated into the world of professional basketball by attending Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals. I have never followed basketball but tonight I will be sporting a Spurs T-Shirt bearing the name and number of Guard Manu Ginobili. When in Rome....

Go Spurs Go!

Not Unhappy Birthday

Well I am wrapping up things in the office but I would be remiss in not posting something about the Morrissey concert. Jeff was Still Ill so he missed this one and that was too bad because the man was as brilliant as ever. It was Morrissey's 48th birthday and he is still in fine form although he alluded to only having 2 years left.

I was not thrilled with the Tormenters heavy set list but hearing How Soon is Now? and The Boy With a Thorn in His Side live were worth the price of admission alone.

Nos Vamos

As we prepare to depart the Lou and begin our life anew in Tejas, I inaugurate this blog to track the changes we witness as we build the house and adapt to life south of the border. Well, south of the Oklahoma border anyway.

Check out the view from the backyard of la casa nueva. Suburban Concrete Jungle.