E's out on her own

This time E really has moved into a townhouse with some friends (some months back, a plan to do that fell apart).

She's not far away -- probably four miles as the crow flies. And she's already been back twice to eat and shower since moving on Friday. But she feels more independent, I imagine.

Saturday, C and I went out to W. Va. Really didn't do anything except rest and walk, which was kind of the point of going.

After we got back today, I took some stuff to the landfill and went grocery shopping. Then we cooked a big meal for E, M and Sarah. Nice to have them all together.

Our house is 90% back in order now. The basement is all repaired -- new paint everywhere, new dry wall in the key places and new carpet. While we were in disorder anyway, I replaced our 10-year-old-or-so main TV with an HD model. Thursday, the cable guys come to give us full HD service. With the deal they're offering to also provide our phone service, we will actually save money.

This photo was taken last weekend, when C's parents came for a quick visit. They wanted to see the Air Force Memorial, which overlooks the Pentagon. Then we also did a bit of a walking tour through Arlington Cemetery. Saw the changing of the guard and the Kennedy graves.

On the way home from there, we met E at Macaroni Grill and were all waited on by M. I tipped him well.

Damage update: The insurance company steps in

Our insurance company has come through.

Monday, the adjuster examined all the damage and got the water-damage specialists to put in the dehumidifiers and blowers.

Within a day or so, she had estimates on how much it will cost to fix everything -- and she concluded that all the things we thought would need to be done did indeed need to be done. A check is on the way.

A painter and drywall repairer is already lined up to come do the work. Then we'll get new carpet.

Meanwhile, other specialists from our insurance company are dealing with the floor company and its insurer. Our side, of course, wants to recover its costs.

We're looking to get the floorer to pay our deductible, so we may end up OK on all this.
C, M and I have moved nearly everything out of the basement. C has painted the in-wall TV cabinet down there, which wasn't damaged but needed freshening.

I made a short run out to W. Va. on Sat. Did some work around the house. Took one good bike ride (stopped to talk with a woman who was picking cranberries, so now we know where to find them). Stayed over and then this a.m. did a little fishing (no luck) before coming home.

E went to see a girlfriend at Christopher Newport University and stayed over Sat. night. She's back home now. We bought a portable GPS/navigation unit, so she made it back and forth with no wrong turns. We'll make sure M uses it on any trips he takes now.

Oh, and Friday evening C and I went to the 25th anniversary party at work. Saw several folks we hadn't seen in quite a while.

Just a little water damage

Things were going very well.

We had the old carpet taken out of the first floor on Friday and wood floors put in. The crew got the job done in less than a day.

Then around 4:30 p.m C called me at work to say there was a "water emergency" at the house.
She and E had been out for an hour or two and came home to hear a smoke alarm going off downstairs.

Fortunately, there wasn't a fire. What had happened: The installers had punched a hole in a water line, which sent water into the ceiling of the basement, which apparently set off one of the fire alarms. By the time C got the water shut off to the house, there was quite a bit collected in the basement ceiling and quite a bit dripping on to the basement carpet.

A plumber got things sorted out for us a couple hours -- and a couple of holes in a wall and ceiling -- later. The insurance adjuster comes tomorrow. The floor installer is waiting to hear what our insurance company says, and is griping a bit about how "close" to the wall the pipes are.

But the floor looks great!

The punctured pipe (after the plumber cut the affected piece out).

The scene of the crime:

The biggest of the holes in the basement ceiling:

Fun times in the mountains

Their visits were too brief, but we all had a good time at "the cabin" when Jim, Cindy, Liz & Tom came yesterday and stayed over. Way too much food. Probably a bit too much beer and wine. Many good stories.

A reminder to others: The cabin is open for visits year-round!

Liz has a photo of the cabin posted here.