August 24, 2010: Painting the Bathrooms

Rhad and Mike worked on the two bathrooms.

August 23, 2010: Hooking up the Gas

The Gas Company guys dropped off some stuff to get ready to hook up the gas lines.


(Sorry, don't know where all the other pictures went!)

August 21, 2010: Repairing the Porch of the Old House

Darren and Roger spent the day replacing one of the posts of the house where we live now. Now that this is done, the roofers will be able to finish roofing the house, then Curtis can come in and do the gutters.


So imagine picking up a nine-foot 4x4 beam... the rotten one weighed only about a pound and a half! (That's about the weight of my MacBook Pro.) Telephoto look:

Yes, those are gecko eggs inside the termite holes! Yuck!

Buster floated the floors in the two bathrooms.


Jerard's toys all lined up!


And we had visitors today!

Wally and Corinne came by to check out the progress of the place.

Oh, and here's the progress of the plumerias:

August 20, 2010: More Trenching

The biggest challenge in digging the trench is working around (or through) the humongous blue Kaimuki rocks! According to the USGS on the Big Island,

Often, the very dense interior of a thick lava flow is exposed. This is where there are no gas vesicles or "holes" in the rock, and the grain sizes of the minerals are slightly larger. The gray rock appears to have a tint of blue to it, and this is often called "blue rock" in Hawai'i. Contractors have other names for it, but they are not printable in a family newspaper. "Blue rock" is the bane of contractors, especially road builders and pipeline installers, because it is difficult to break. The largest bulldozers and backhoes are regularly humbled by this dense rock, causing contractors to revert to expensive drilling and blasting techniques.

While encountering "blue rock" is a contractor's worst nightmare, it is also the most sought-after rock type by commercial quarry operators. The best grade construction aggregates are from "blue rock." The concrete made with a mixture of crushed "blue rock" and cement has the structural integrity to pass necessary strength tests.

So, see Eric?? We shoulda sold it! Would've made a mint!!




Anyway, so Jerard continues to dig the trench...



Uncovering the broken sewer pipe from our current house in order to replace it (this is what the aforementioned doc was working on yesterday)...


Jerard also spread out the coral which will be used for the foundation for the concrete slabs that will be poured for the carport and sidewalk leading to the lanai stairs. Pretty dusty work!

August 19, 2010: Interior Priming

The painters put on the prime coat.



The doc put on his Superman alter ego and helped today with prepping the area for the concrete slab in the carport.


Darren started on the lattice work...


...and Eric took a break to photograph his buddy.

August 17, 2010: More Digging

Jerard continues to punch through blue Kaimuki rock as he digs the trench for the water and gas lines for the entire lane. Challenging job, but he has the toys to do it!


And Eric installed the door handles for the front doors. Very elegant!

August 16, 2010: More Digging... and Uprooting

Jerard continues to dig: now he's working on the moat that will surround the castle...

Naah! We have to place the water and gas lines to required depth (not where they currently are), so we have to dig up the entire line to Mom's house.


Meanwhile, Wayne and his Eager Beavers are removing the stump from the mango tree that was chopped down in June.



And look! I have a fabulous purple truck to haul away some of my yucky Kaimuki dirt and rocks!


(P.S. Happy birthday, Michael Gum!)