FAQ's #2

Q: Is everything still on schedule?
A: If you had asked me that yesterday, I would have said yes. Today, however, brings a different answer. First of all, the plasterer needs about half a day's worth of work to finish up, but he chose this week to go on vacation, so the half day won't happen until next Monday. Second, we had a little problem with the new bathtub. When this 500-pound cast-iron tub was delivered, it had plastic tape around the rim to protect it. The tub was installed, and yesterday when our contractor pulled off the tape, parts of the glaze came off with it. The company was very nice and offered to replace the tub for us, but that's going to mean that the bathroom tile cannot be installed for another 10 days (because no one wants to be responsible for dropping 500 pounds of cast iron onto newly laid marble tile). That'll teach me to be so smug about being on time.

Q: Is it still dusty in the house?
A: Put it this way, earlier this evening I was on my hands and knees in the hallway with a bucket and sponge trying desperately to erase the white layer that seems to permeate everything I see. Last night we had to sleep with our bedroom doors closed because the dust from the plaster and concrete was so bad. We all woke up this morning coughing and with headaches. When I looked at one of the new window frames I thought it had already been painted because it looked so white. Nope, just dust. White, fine, powdery, gag-inducing dust.

Q: Why are you still parking in your driveway?
A: If you look in our garage you'll see 1500 feet worth of mahogany hardwood floor waiting to be installed. Apparently the wood has to sit in the environment that it's going to be laid in for a few weeks in order to adjust to the temperature and humidity of the house. Our contractor told us that he laid wood in a house around the corner and the owner insisted on laying it down immediately it was delivered. The next morning, he woke up to a floor that looked like cooked lasagna, all wavy and scalloped. Needless to say we listened to what the contractor recommended. So the garage is out of commission for a couple more weeks still. That's OK though. If it rains at all we get our cars cleaned without any effort on our parts at all.

Q: Do you still stand by your decision to remodel?
A: The easy thing to say would be, "Come back to me in a couple of months and I'll let you know for sure." But the reality is, no matter what happens, our house is going to be wonderful and it's going to be an even better home for our family. The girls are at a point where they need to define their own spaces (not to mention the fact that they're finally going to have to learn how to keep a bathroom clean!). Julia will have her own desk and a private place to study and write, instead of fighting for room amidst Grace's stuffed animals. Meanwhile Grace will have her own walls to decorate instead of having to look at Julia's objects of adoration. And having that brand new spare room means that any of you can come and stay with us any time you like (assuming you can live with the dust, which I think will be here for the next 50 or so years).