Ya llegamos

"you don't have to tell me, I know I look tired"
- Louden Wainwright III

The kitchen? Put it right here.

 I get that a lot and yes, I am tired.

I also get some not-too-subtle hints that I could have/should have gone faster. I know that too, but you see I didn't know how.

I hired or asked for help whenever I thought it could fit. This is telling; is it me or here that makes the 'fit' problematic?

Fully formed companies and Uruguayan versions of myself (contractors) were priced too high when I dared to even check.

Friends, family and favors made up what help we did have. For the most part, we did everything ourselves.

Our niece Ximena, turned my drawings into blue prints and officially filed them. So many good ideas and recomendations came from her. We can never thank her enough, but thanks Xime!

My friend Antonio (Chero) Carambula helped with carpentry part-time for a dozen weeks more or less. He was a big help and is always patient with me. I don't know how I would have managed someone without some English and an appreciation (or fear) of my expectations regarding accuarcy.  Alas, in the end even he found my overbearing presence too much.

Another pal, Gonzalo (Mono) Gutierrez was there on and off for most of the project, usually part-time. Apparently I don't know anyone who can work a full week, at least not for the meager pay I offer.  Actually the pay wasn't too terrible, but keeping a steady roster is fraught with difficulties.
He helped transport, translate and was there to listen as I figured things out aloud. We demo'd walls, scraped, mixed cement together and when finishing time came, his painting skills saved the day.
A big part was of his help (or sometimes just visits) was the much needed company. Yeah, I'm island, but a visitor now and again doesn't hurt.

WiFi installation, yeah!

Our biggest local booster is my sister-in-law Cecilia. She opted to diminished her official role, not being ready to run a busy day-to-day business, but that has allowed her to 'unofficially' be there for the really important stuff. She's financed, co-signed and used her considerable connections to make sure we weren't pushed around. She loves nothing more than a dust up when her loved ones are under fire.

bench appearance

When decorating time came around, her secret craft skills (who knew?) and design sense were unvailed to everyone's delight.


My parents came through when the chips were down.
No way we'd have made it without their help. I only wish they could be here to see the results in person. Maybe someday. Thanks for your sacrifices.

There are more to thank. I will do my best to aknowledge everyone who helped, supported and cheered us on.


So now it's time to make the donuts. Well, that's one of the few things we are actually buying already made. I'll explain Pangiorno another time, but we've got some baking to do.

There are still a few minor details to finish and we are not fully stocked yet. The sign and the last few things should all be here this week.

Opening day? I dunno, you tell me.

July tough. August tougher

I've taken a respite from the floor tile. I've weeded out all the bad ones and I'm satisfied about what went wrong.
It was a real problem for a while; I had scores of tiles that didn't bond well and I wasn't sure if my cement mix was wrong or it was some other problem. The mix works, but a type of plaster was used to level the old floor that needs to be completely scraped off.
 

In some spots I reapplied the tiles 3 times!

The weirdest thing is how much the tile pattern matches the old floor I'm covering.  

Why add tile anyway?

 We were tagged recently, but I've grown accustomed to it. I'd have it as the name if I knew what it said.
Where are the good graffiti artists when you need one?
 

It's glued back together for now.

Here's Pablo Electrician below. (That's all the name he's getting from me.) He's a good guy; nice manners, friendly, etc., but I've been put off by his work habits. Wind up the complain-o-meter......Super messy for one. I blew a gasket at this broken fuse panel cover. It's the second time! He's young and may not have a lot of 'obra' (job site) experience. In the end, we got it done, together. We worked for a week finishing his last (his quote) "two more hours". He's taking night coarses to finish High School which is endearing. Ahh, Pablito.

 

Chero is back, rougly part time. I'm glad for the help and the company.
Here he is perfecting a newly learned skill; applying joint compound to corner bead. Looks professional, no?

The ventilation system for the kitchen is finally in place although I am not sure about the electrical connections. The engineer/salesman is helping by email.

This shot shows the space age flexible duct, suspended over the new bathroom ceiling. We broke a path just under that massive lintel (viga), gaining exactly enough space (15cm) to squeeze the duct through.




These past two weeks have been spent in the work shop with some carpentry projects that can't be postponed any longer.
The bathroom doors, ceiling access panel, closet pieces and the table tops are nearly all done. The rest, like the banquettes, the closets and the countertops, we should be able to do in situ.

Onward and upward.