Friday, August 28, 2015

Modernizing the Master Bath, Part 2

The saga continues with the remake of our master bathroom.  I left you at the end of week 5 of this project.  If you didn't have a chance to read my last post, check it out here.  The contractor said he'd call us on Monday to set a time to come in that day.  He never called, nor did he call Tuesday and Wednesday.  My arthritis is flaring up just thinking about how inconvenient and frustrating this has been for me.  This remodel is definitely not a 4-week job, like he said it would be.  So here's where we stand, so far:

Week 6:  It's Friday, and finally the contractor shows up.  He probably wouldn't have shown up if Gerry didn't call him on Thursday to see what was up.  While we wait for the extra-large custom mirror and window coverings, which will take at least two more weeks, all we wanted was for the toilet to be installed so the master bath would be fully functional.  So on this day, the baseboards and toilet are installed.  

Week 7:  Nothing. Nada. Niente.  Wala!

Week 8:  Okay, we are getting somewhere here.  The super large custom mirror was installed, and the glass company took the old mirror and installed it in the garage, in front of the treadmill.  It looks great and makes the garage look larger.  Also, the special-order blue glass knobs and the extra 90-degree chrome handles arrived, and Gerry already installed them on the drawers and cabinets.  Now we're waiting for the bathroom contractor to make the time to come back to finish the paint touch-ups and to install the rest of the hardware.  The blinds and shutters should arrive in another two weeks.  Meanwhile, sheets and bath towels cover the windows.  We've peeled off some of the pink plastic wrap off the vanity drawers and cabinets.  

The contractor finally came to  install the saber lights into the mirror cut-outs and in doing so, cracked the mirror on the left side. He immediately contacted the glass company to order another custom mirror at his expense.  We learn that this mirror will arrive in early October!!  Keep in mind, work began on this bathroom on June 29.  

Week 9:  The faux wood blinds were installed yesterday.  Shutters for the arch window will be ready in early October.  My physical pain has subsided a little, and I'm able to deal with life a little better. In time, my master bath will look like the model bathroom.  I'm being patient.

I can't wait for everyone to see the finished remodel!  Hurry up, October!


Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Dealing with Arthritis

If you've been reading my blog posts lately, you're aware that I've been going through some tough days dealing with arthritis, which is a painful stiffness and inflammation of the joints.  In all of the excitement of preparing for a quick trip to Maui for a wedding, I didn't realize just how painful my joints were until I went to the nail salon for a manicure early this morning.
Photo Credit:  Salon Manon
As the technician massaged my arms and hands, and with each stretch of the my fingers, my head exploded with silent screams of pain.  I know it took only minutes for the massage, but it felt like hours.  I kept my eyes and mind focused on what I was reading.  I didn't want to be obvious to anyone in the salon that I was hurting.

As a young child in the 1960s, I loved looking through my parents' medical encyclopedia set.  The set contained volumes of books that explored medical conditions from A to Z.  I always lingered in Volume A.  It contained photos of people who suffered from various forms of arthritis.  The book included photos of hands that were gnarled from the disease. Looking at the photos, I hoped I would never have arthritis, ever.  But here I am, and my hands and feet show the trauma of the disease.

It got me at age 38, and my life changed forever.  I was diagnosed with lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis was a manifestation of the autoimmune disease.  Arthritis has robbed me of the ability to live my life comfortably on a daily basis.  I live with some level of pain daily, and should I have a lupus flare-up, going through a normal routine at home or at work is almost impossible.  

Gerry asked me if I was going to be okay getting on the airplane and carrying a heavy tote bag and small suitcase.  I replied that I'd just have to ask a  passenger to help store my suitcase in the overhead bin.  Usually Gerry does that for me, but I'm traveling solo this time.  It's a strange feeling to know he won't be with me to do the little things I can't.

Anyway, I have my medications, chemical and organic, and some over-the-counter pain aids to get me through the day.  I don't use all of them in one day. The prescribed meds are taken daily, but everything else is a day-by-day evaluation of what will help push me over the edge to feeling better.

Having a positive outlook on life, and the support of a loving family helps, too.