Fireplace Progress and Return to Normalcy

The firebox arrived in port while I was in Yosemite (as predicted) so I went to pick it up on Tuesday. I got it home and then a friend and I struggled with the awkward bulky, 160 lb. piece in order to get it up the steps in the house and out onto the lanai. Once that was completed, the hardedst part was finished. I secured it within the surround (it actually fit!) and finished up the final structural components of the surround.

On Saturday, a carpenter, who is a friend of a friend, came over to help me put the chimney through the roof and seal it properly. Give me a drill, screws and some 2x4s and I'm fine, but with flashing, shingles and chimney pipe I'm out of my league. We got that completed with only a few minor complications and in the matter of only 6-7 hours. Maddie was helping too since Em was at work. As of now the fireplace is functional and needs only decorative work done, although I'm pretty fond of the plywood look.

The following day, Maddie and I attempted a hike together, but somebody woke up on the wrong side of the bed and it wasn't me. Needless to say, we didn't do to well on the hike, there was a lot of screaming (by her) and a lot of sweating (by me) as I hustled back up the trail to the car. We still managed about 5 miles of hiking and a hell of a workout.

She was better in the car, but started acting up again as we waited in line at the grocery store while the lady in front of me was making a fuss about the free food she was getting for her dirty kids who were misbehaving in the cart. I guess if I was less constrained by a social framework and political correctness, I would have been making more noise too - especially when I saw the large tattoo on her foot. I wonder if I paid for that as well as her food. More screaming on the way home. By the time we got home, I was fuming, but by dinner time, Maddie and I were friends again, even though she threw up her rice cereal and sweet potatoes. Tough day for the little one.
Enjoying some carrots the next day

Other than those couple of highlights, last week was pretty much average; back to the routine after a week of vacation, but I'm certainly not complaining.