Pool Issues and a picture!!!!

A regular question I get is how are you enjoying the pool? And, post more pictures!! Well, the pool is not done but it wasn't supposed to be done until mid October and we've run into problems so don't know if that will happen or not and I'm not holding my breath. This is a very sore subject with me. This is a long post so be prepared!! We've had many problems along the way but we seem to be at a major stumbling block. This pool company we are working with has horrible customer service. I've never built a pool before but I have to hope that other pool companies are better than this one. Let's see, they installed the pool equipment wrong, put the re-bar in wrong, built the concrete in the spa incorrectly, built the columns at the wrong height, didn't build the columns evenly apart, didn't put the irrigation sleeves in the columns when they were built, laid the travertine tile on the deck area crooked. There are a several more but you get the point. All of these things have been fixed but the pool company didn't catch a single one. We had to call them each time and tell them they did it wrong. Hello, shouldn't the project manager check once in a while to be sure their contractors are doing things according to the plan? And another big gripe with me is these contractors work all day in my backyard so they bring their breakfast and lunch and eat in the backyard which is fine but then they put all their garbage in a pile in my backyard!!! Gross!!!!! I swear every bird in the neighborhood loves my backyard. Emily has had quite a show with all the birds back there. We complained and most of it was picked up so it's not so bad now but for a while there, I was concerned about other critters showing up for the feast. So, the big issue now is that they didn't lay the travertine on our patio. Our request and the pictures we were shown, had the travertine laid on our patio and it extended out to surround the pool. That was always our plan from day 1 and it's what we asked for and it's what we were shown in the pool design phase but it's not what they put in the contract. If they had planned on including the patio it would have been a separate line item on the contract. Since it wasn't a separate line item and we didn't catch that (and how would we know that it was supposed to be a separate line item?) they now say it wasn't part of the contract and we didn't pay for it so they aren't going to do anything about it. We say we asked for it, we have friends who were there during the design process that can vouch for that, they designed it and showed us computer generated images with the patio covered so we believed that they drew up the contract according to what we agreed upon. It's not so simple as just ordering more travertine and covering the patio. It's all supposed to be one level so you could be on the patio and walk straight out onto the pool decking area with no change in level. It is currently built so that the pool decking area comes up even with the patio. If you laid tile on the patio now, it would be higher than the rest of the decking. We want them to fix it, they don't want to fix it. I have a feeling we're screwed since it's apparently not in the contract. I feel very cheated and taken advantage of and it's driving me crazy! I want this resolved and finished so we can get on with using and enjoying our backyard. I'll keep you posted on our progress and here is a picture - finally! It's going to be really nice someday!!

October 3rd

October 3rd is a special day for me and Glenn - it's our anniversary! This year we celebrate being married 9 years. Wow, time flies by doesn't it? It sure doesn't seem like it's been that long. It has been a great 9 years and there will be many more to come! Love you darling!!!

Wildlife

A few night's ago we pulled off the road on the way home to watch the bats. Yep, every time I'm driving home at night I look for the bats around the streetlights. There is one particular spot where there are usually several flying around. It's at a spot where traffic is basically non-existent which is probably why they like it. We pulled off the road and watched 5 of them flying around and around. It was cool! A couple weeks ago, we saw a coyote in the desert fairly close to the road. I originally missed him but Glenn stopped and pulled back a little bit and there he was! I rolled down my window to talk to him and he ran away. Yes, I know they are wild animals and are dangerous and I would never approach one. I've told this story and people tell me to be careful, don't go near them etc - yes, I know! I was in the safety of the car and he was a little ways away from me-sheesh! I just wanted to say hi but he didn't want to hear me. There is also a place near the entrance to our development that I hear there is a coyote regularly. Right across the street behind a cinder block wall there is a couple of dogs that love to bark at the coyote. There is a large rock in the backyard of this house and the dogs climb up on top of the rock which puts them at the same height as the top of the cinder block wall. They stand up there and bark and bark at the desert across the street. Maybe they are calling the coyote? It's hilarious to see the little dog some little chihuahua type barking for all he's worth. Little does he know, he is coyote food and he should enjoy the safety of his backyard!!

Reader Poll

I was out to dinner a couple weeks ago with a friend of mine (and a few other people). A friend of hers came along who I did not know prior to going to dinner (we will call her stranger friend). Stranger friend also brought along her daughter. So I don't know stranger friend and daughter prior to this dinner. We chatted and they seemed like very nice people. When our food came out, everyone was sharing so we could taste the other dishes which I love to do so you can get a little sample of everything! I had a soup that I offered for everyone to try. Stranger friend and daughter both wanted to try it so I passed it on down. They both picked up their used spoons and put them in my soup! There were addtional clean spoons on the table so I was not pleased that they put their used spoons in my soup! Not sure why because I didn't used to be this way but if I know you, I don't mind so much eating after you. If I don't know you, I don't want to eat after you. Skeeves me out. How about y'all out there? Do you mind eating after other people or am I just weird?

Mom's Visit

Well, we took my Mom to the airport today and she is headed home. She was here visiting for 10 days and it was so nice having her here. We did a couple of "touristy" things but mostly, we just hung out and ran around doing errands and it was great! I loved exploring the area a bit more and having Mom with me to do it. I was able to find my way around pretty darn well! It had been a very long time since just me and Mom have had the opportunity to just hang out together and I really enjoyed it. I hated to see her go but she will be back again soon, she bought tickets while she was here for her and her husband to come back the first week of November!

How Cute is This???

We make latte's every weekend at home and Emily knows the sound of the latte machine when it's steaming milk. She comes running and she gets foam from the top of the milk. On our drive from PA to AZ, we were happy to find a Starbucks right off the highway. Glenn went in for latte's while I stayed in the car with kitty. When he came out, he had two latte's and a little sample cup full of foam for Emily. How cute is she drinking her Starbucks?!! Good kitty.

Windows

We need window coverings on all our windows and can't make a decision. I am so not good at this kind of thing! Almost any home decorating type of thing, I need help with. I have decided on things in the past that after getting them, I didn't like. I have a hard time imagining a little swatch sample in the big picture. So I think I want blinds which sounds easy right? No. Real wood for feux wood? White or off white? How wide do I want them? I think I want white but then I need to paint all my trim and doors white (they are now off white) which I would love but do I want to commit to that? Window coverings are also quite pricey so I must make the right decision! Oh the pressure! We are really bad at making a decision so for now, we have the oh so lovely paper blinds on the windows that need them and the rest are bare. We really need to figure this out not only for privacy but to keep the sun from heating up the house so much!