Pool pics and surprise guests
Aug. 16th, 2010 10:34 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
stoney321First, because it's all consuming in my life, pool pics.
We spent the weekend watering the cement and drinking margaritas, because it's incredibly hot. And we're standing on cement. Hooooooot is what I'm saying. Four times a day it gets hosed off. Oy. Almost done, though! (Which is crazy, right? That's crazy fast?)
The end of DAY 8 saw the pool equipment go in, the water, gas and electricity lines were run to their appropriate locations, and I had loads of inspectors come to approve of all of this. I was told by my HOA that we cannot build the steel shade structure that we wanted, because they would prefer wood or VINYL, because they're morons. Vinyl is classy I guess? Also, you automatically lose points when you use the term "classy." WHATEV. We're making the exact same thing out of wood, then, which means we'll have to replace it in 10 years because we live in an oven. FEH. (See this site for some beautiful examples of how it will look when it's done. I was so happy to find this site this weekend, because it shows I'm on trend, as Tim Gunn would say. Hahaha.)
DAY 8 - Wrapped up
I had loads of ankle-breaking trenches dug all over the property, but once the lines were covered up, back when the horrid dirt. That will all be covered by decking, so eh. Behind the pool where the landscaping will go, I will have it all hauled away and some lovely loamy soil brought in.
It's drying out after the billionth watering.
And a shot of the super awesome high tech pool equipment. (Ours is a combo of chlorine and ozone, much more efficient, much clearer water, much less maintenance. We will build a wall to hide the equipment, btw.)
DAY 9
Um, I thought the black stuff was some kind of backer board for the tile, but they're laying mortar/a scratch coat on top, so I have no clue what's happening.
Proof they're keeping hydrated:
I know that I'm supposed to get tile and plaster this week, as well as getting the posts for the shade structure dug and decking by the end of the week. Next week - when the plaster has cured for several days, GUESS WHAT? If you guessed cannonball, you are the winner.
I am not a fan of fennel, per se - I hate black licorice and anything that tastes of it [with one exception, star anise when cooked in tomatoes, because it ends up tasting like basil] but I grow fennel every year in hopes of hosting Monarch butterfly larvae - this was a rough year for the Monarchs, their #s in Mexico were cut in half due to weather. So this is an excellent sign!
We counted about 20, including the teeny ones. I hope there's enough fennel that they'll be able to metamorphose from that instead of eating each other. (They did that last year, cutting the 9 down to 2. Eeesh.)
Closer! [/Hannibal Lector]
Those were the welcomed visitors. The tomato hornworms (I stopped counting at 15) that ate ALL OF MY TOMATOES - oh my god - were not welcomed. I spent a little bit this morning venting my anger at my 7 foot tall tomato plants being reduced to skeletons (no, really) by cutting them in half with my secateurs. BASTARDS. There goes my second round of tomatoes, I didn't even get any from the first round because of rabbits and a poorly timed vacation. AUGH. No more veggies grown up front for me, I'm the only one that grows anything which means I get ALL of the pests, warm blooded and otherwise. It's incredibly frustrating. I feel like Ma and Pa Ingalls watching the corn freeze, lol.
Lastly, and under a cut, TRUEBLOOD LAST NIGHT, OMG LOL.
True Blood - SPOILER ALERT!
1. I guess Franklin regenerated because his head wasn't removed? Note to self - bashing in a vampire's brains doesn't work.
2. The Mr. and I have contemplated wooden bullets for YEARS and wondered why we hadn't seen that in any vampire movies we've watched. Well played, Jason Stackhouse, even though I'm over your needing to save every female in the show.
3. Speaking of, too late, Sookie, with your "I am strong, quit trying to save me OMG EEEEEEEEEK!" b.s. with BEEEL last night. I figured out what it is with her that bugs me: she has the body of a child. That's gross. Like, she looks like a girl just in the middle of puberty. GRODY. (Because she's an adult having adult relations, you see.) Also, I mentioned to Kassie last week that it bugs me that they didn't cast a big boobed woman in the role, because Sookie is all about reminding people of her grande tetas.
4. PAM AND ERIC. I love them forever. I want fic where they had sex before the PR chick showed up, because they were totally in a state of re-dress post coitus, anyone else catch that?
5. OMG RUSSELL EDGINGTON IS THE BEST VAMPIRE ON THIS SHOW currently. How freaking awesome was that scene of him ripping out a SPINE, licking his hand, then the whole, "And now, the weather! Tiffany?" LOL x infinity. I did find the rolling in Talbot's sticky entrails a bit much, but him keeping his lover in Lalique leaded-crystal is pretty awesome.
6. I'm over Tommy. He just serves to cause drama.
7. Interesting take on the abortion/pro-choice issue with Holly and Arlene. Felt too after-school special to me, however.
I AM OVER THE BATTERED WOMAN SHIT, can I just get that out? It's heavy handed. WE GET IT. Also, it's more of a circus show than "how can we really dissect this issue in a new and intelligent way?" I just cracked myself up because this is True Blood and they don't do things delicately, lol.
8. OMG SUNNY BROUGHT HER DOLLS TO MERLOTTE'S AHAHAHAHA. Who is this person, and why is she not in a home with lots of meds? Hilarious. (And I just caught her name this ep - see: heavy handed symbolism)
Okay, my boys needs new jeans for school. We're off to someplace basic like The Gap - it's better than the tattered athletic shorts he lives in. Jeez, anything is better than that. :)
We spent the weekend watering the cement and drinking margaritas, because it's incredibly hot. And we're standing on cement. Hooooooot is what I'm saying. Four times a day it gets hosed off. Oy. Almost done, though! (Which is crazy, right? That's crazy fast?)
The end of DAY 8 saw the pool equipment go in, the water, gas and electricity lines were run to their appropriate locations, and I had loads of inspectors come to approve of all of this. I was told by my HOA that we cannot build the steel shade structure that we wanted, because they would prefer wood or VINYL, because they're morons. Vinyl is classy I guess? Also, you automatically lose points when you use the term "classy." WHATEV. We're making the exact same thing out of wood, then, which means we'll have to replace it in 10 years because we live in an oven. FEH. (See this site for some beautiful examples of how it will look when it's done. I was so happy to find this site this weekend, because it shows I'm on trend, as Tim Gunn would say. Hahaha.)
DAY 8 - Wrapped up
I had loads of ankle-breaking trenches dug all over the property, but once the lines were covered up, back when the horrid dirt. That will all be covered by decking, so eh. Behind the pool where the landscaping will go, I will have it all hauled away and some lovely loamy soil brought in.
It's drying out after the billionth watering.
And a shot of the super awesome high tech pool equipment. (Ours is a combo of chlorine and ozone, much more efficient, much clearer water, much less maintenance. We will build a wall to hide the equipment, btw.)
DAY 9
Um, I thought the black stuff was some kind of backer board for the tile, but they're laying mortar/a scratch coat on top, so I have no clue what's happening.
Proof they're keeping hydrated:
I know that I'm supposed to get tile and plaster this week, as well as getting the posts for the shade structure dug and decking by the end of the week. Next week - when the plaster has cured for several days, GUESS WHAT? If you guessed cannonball, you are the winner.
I am not a fan of fennel, per se - I hate black licorice and anything that tastes of it [with one exception, star anise when cooked in tomatoes, because it ends up tasting like basil] but I grow fennel every year in hopes of hosting Monarch butterfly larvae - this was a rough year for the Monarchs, their #s in Mexico were cut in half due to weather. So this is an excellent sign!
We counted about 20, including the teeny ones. I hope there's enough fennel that they'll be able to metamorphose from that instead of eating each other. (They did that last year, cutting the 9 down to 2. Eeesh.)
Closer! [/Hannibal Lector]
Those were the welcomed visitors. The tomato hornworms (I stopped counting at 15) that ate ALL OF MY TOMATOES - oh my god - were not welcomed. I spent a little bit this morning venting my anger at my 7 foot tall tomato plants being reduced to skeletons (no, really) by cutting them in half with my secateurs. BASTARDS. There goes my second round of tomatoes, I didn't even get any from the first round because of rabbits and a poorly timed vacation. AUGH. No more veggies grown up front for me, I'm the only one that grows anything which means I get ALL of the pests, warm blooded and otherwise. It's incredibly frustrating. I feel like Ma and Pa Ingalls watching the corn freeze, lol.
Lastly, and under a cut, TRUEBLOOD LAST NIGHT, OMG LOL.
True Blood - SPOILER ALERT!
1. I guess Franklin regenerated because his head wasn't removed? Note to self - bashing in a vampire's brains doesn't work.
2. The Mr. and I have contemplated wooden bullets for YEARS and wondered why we hadn't seen that in any vampire movies we've watched. Well played, Jason Stackhouse, even though I'm over your needing to save every female in the show.
3. Speaking of, too late, Sookie, with your "I am strong, quit trying to save me OMG EEEEEEEEEK!" b.s. with BEEEL last night. I figured out what it is with her that bugs me: she has the body of a child. That's gross. Like, she looks like a girl just in the middle of puberty. GRODY. (Because she's an adult having adult relations, you see.) Also, I mentioned to Kassie last week that it bugs me that they didn't cast a big boobed woman in the role, because Sookie is all about reminding people of her grande tetas.
4. PAM AND ERIC. I love them forever. I want fic where they had sex before the PR chick showed up, because they were totally in a state of re-dress post coitus, anyone else catch that?
5. OMG RUSSELL EDGINGTON IS THE BEST VAMPIRE ON THIS SHOW currently. How freaking awesome was that scene of him ripping out a SPINE, licking his hand, then the whole, "And now, the weather! Tiffany?" LOL x infinity. I did find the rolling in Talbot's sticky entrails a bit much, but him keeping his lover in Lalique leaded-crystal is pretty awesome.
6. I'm over Tommy. He just serves to cause drama.
7. Interesting take on the abortion/pro-choice issue with Holly and Arlene. Felt too after-school special to me, however.
I AM OVER THE BATTERED WOMAN SHIT, can I just get that out? It's heavy handed. WE GET IT. Also, it's more of a circus show than "how can we really dissect this issue in a new and intelligent way?" I just cracked myself up because this is True Blood and they don't do things delicately, lol.
8. OMG SUNNY BROUGHT HER DOLLS TO MERLOTTE'S AHAHAHAHA. Who is this person, and why is she not in a home with lots of meds? Hilarious. (And I just caught her name this ep - see: heavy handed symbolism)
Okay, my boys needs new jeans for school. We're off to someplace basic like The Gap - it's better than the tattered athletic shorts he lives in. Jeez, anything is better than that. :)
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2010-08-16 03:56 pm (UTC)I thought she was all about the don't-touch-me-I-can-read-your-mind thing, but then again I am a sensitive, pure flower of a soul while you are a hussie! Strumpet even!
No, seriously I do not remember anything from the books!
And I am so over vampires. Next projectMAPLE phase is going to have a panopticon of vampire IP good and bad and I hate returning to thi stuff.
no subject
Date: 2010-08-16 04:03 pm (UTC)(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2010-08-16 04:07 pm (UTC)I think the problem is, there are just TOO DAMN MANY storylines this season, and whenever Tommy does something stupid (which is, uh, whenever he's onscreen) it's just another damn detour from Russell/Tara/Arlene/wheteverthefuck's going on. They really need to conserve storyline space.
And I don't even know what the fuck they're doing with Crystal. They keep hinting that there's something weird about her family, but they won't just come out and say what it IS. Because they'd rather focus on Crystal's Stockholm Syndrome. Yeah, whatever.
no subject
Date: 2010-08-16 04:13 pm (UTC)Oh, the Crystal line! (And if you've read the books you'd know what's up with Crystal. And in the books, she's a complete whore/bitch, because that's how Sookie sees every female. EYE ROLL.)
no subject
Date: 2010-08-16 04:12 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-16 04:14 pm (UTC)<3
no subject
Date: 2010-08-16 05:11 pm (UTC)I cannot imagine what possible difference it could make. Sheesh. And oh, yeah - *vinyl* - that'll hold up for a good....two years. Insanity.
Yay for monarchs! Boo for hookworms!
It's actually manageable outside for the first time in a long while. Not cool by any means but not *suffocating*. I'd really like summer to be over now.
Next year this time, the city will have the 'Aqua Center' open and i'll join you in that cannonball. :)
no subject
Date: 2010-08-16 08:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-16 05:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-16 08:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-16 05:28 pm (UTC)I also agree with #3. I wanted her to be more buxom and even have a little bit of chub. And yeah, Russell is the best vamp on this show <3
no subject
Date: 2010-08-16 08:08 pm (UTC)AND NOW FOR THE WEATHER. TIFFANY? <-- lol x forever
no subject
Date: 2010-08-16 05:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-16 08:09 pm (UTC)True Blood Spoilerific
Date: 2010-08-16 06:13 pm (UTC)I LOL'd for srs at "Closer/Lecter" -- lovely layering of humor, there. Nice.
I think Anna Paquin has an amazing body, but then I'm all about smaller, perky boobs because of my own embarrassment of riches. If you know what I mean (and I think you do.) The blood sharing shower scene was too much. I can read about Angel biting Spike/Buffy/Xander/Willow all day and it's HOT, but watching blood swirl down a shower drain does not equate happy fun times to me kwim?
Re: True Blood Spoilerific
Date: 2010-08-16 08:12 pm (UTC)See, I'm just going to not agree on that one. not that I think she's gross and ill formed, I just think she's NOT formed yet. She's built like all of #2's friends, with her small high boobs and square torso - like she woke up with those boobs and some apples are going to roll out of her calico, Miss Beetle. (TOTALLY FOR YOU, COME ON.)
The shower, yes. I just don't want to see Sookie/AP nekkid, because of the pubescent body she has. It deeply squicks me. Also, I think her acting is pretty rotten for this character, and she's an ugly cryer. I AM PETTY, OKAY?
Re: True Blood Spoilerific
From:Re: True Blood Spoilerific
From:no subject
Date: 2010-08-16 09:51 pm (UTC)That whole "bring your dollies to dinner" shit was fucking bizarre and creeped me out more than anything else on this show has TO DATE, because this means that there are enough adult people out there in the world who do this to have it be a legitimate thing to mock. WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK.
no subject
Date: 2010-08-16 10:12 pm (UTC)Dolls creep me the hell out. I HATE THEM. Oh, gah, I didn't even think about people doing that to inspire them to write it on the show THE HORROR! (Say it the right way, all throaty and deep: the whore-roar!)
(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2010-08-16 10:15 pm (UTC)Also, YES to what you've said re: their real relationship. CREEPY VOYEURISM.
OF COURSE PAM AND ERIC HAVE HAD SEX. Pam prefers women, doesn't mean she doesn't like to swing on the vine.
no subject
Date: 2010-08-16 10:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-16 10:16 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-17 12:28 am (UTC)If you're interested, a friend of mine took video of a monarch making its chrysalis. It was AMAZING and made me feel like us humans with our fancypants compooters and stuff are really secretly jealous of animals and are overcompensating. I can shoot you a link to the vid if you like.
And hornworms=devil spawn and you should kill as many as possible.
no subject
Date: 2010-08-17 02:04 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-17 02:46 am (UTC)Although let's face it, I'm cool with that gratuitousness.
no subject
Date: 2010-08-17 03:25 am (UTC)I love you.
no subject
Date: 2010-08-17 03:30 am (UTC)(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2010-08-17 05:15 am (UTC)Russell's ending to the episode was brilliant.
Hookworms are the evil. I found one on my kale from the farmer's market a few weeks ago, picked it off, and stomped on it in glee.
no subject
Date: 2010-08-17 01:00 pm (UTC)Hornworms are just disgusting - thick, green, horned, with a mean spike on their butt and over 3 inches long.. Aren't hookworms the parasites you get from going barefoot? Those ARE evil, yeuch!
(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2010-08-17 06:22 am (UTC)I can FINALLY understand what people are talking about when True Blood is part of their post. I knew ZERO about it and then it was like tapped into the True Blood Rosetta Stone; I was fluent within a week.
Bravo to Jason Stackhouse for using wooden bullets, I mean really, there is no excuse for the vampire genre to have slept on that for so long. However, the boy needs to stop riding to the rescue (especially with this Crystal girl, I do not approve of your choices in women Jason Stackhouse).
Eric and Pam are seriously my BFF OTP. If the show centered around them and Jessica/Hoyt, instead of Bill/Sookie, I'd be in heaven.
no subject
Date: 2010-08-17 12:59 pm (UTC)And I'm not cool with the Jason/Crystal storyline at all. I don't know who this person is they're turning Jason into, I just know I don't like it. I need more swagger! More stupid sayings! More nekkidness! :D
(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2010-08-17 10:42 am (UTC)The pool people are fast! Is the black board a levelling thing for the tile? Waterproofing? Eyeliner?
no subject
Date: 2010-08-17 12:56 pm (UTC)It turns out the black board is a backerboard for the tile, like I suspected! I have waterline tiles, huzzah! Next is the plaster, electrical lines, and decking, this weekend we're starting the shade structure. It's going so fast I can't believe it!
no subject
Date: 2010-08-17 02:49 pm (UTC)The tomatoes make me cry, noo, we needs them!
no subject
Date: 2010-08-17 03:14 pm (UTC)AND OF COURSE the fennel is right next to my tomatoes, so I couldn't spray to kill the bad ones, boo!! I'm going to have to start skulking about farmer's markets. Not that it's a bad thing, but oh, how I'm mourning my Cherokee Purple heirloom tomatoes!!
no subject
Date: 2010-08-17 06:42 pm (UTC)The Monarch caterpillars ate all of my Italian parsely this year *shakes fist at them* They are on my shit list every time I have to walk up to Central Market and buy another bunch of the damn stuff.
I love fennel and made a killer cold squid salad with chopped fennel and vinaigrette a couple years back. I need to find that recipe again. It's cold salad weather for sure!
no subject
Date: 2010-08-17 09:58 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-20 11:50 pm (UTC)