Meanwhile Back in Tucson

 

We arrived home to some scary stuff.  The beams were still not incorporated into the house for our renovation.  Apparently the contractor, engineer, and draftsman are going round and round about putting in an I-beam for the the back of the house.  I have been told that these beams are so strong, they go into skyscrapers.  Needless to say, the contactor thought it was overkill.  So he waited for 2 months to make a decision, while we were travelling around.  I was not a happy camper.  I have house guests and family coming for Christmas this year.  So, finally the contractor just bit the bullet and put in what the engineer was requesting.  

So as we were incorporating the beam and pulling back the sheetrock, we all noticed a lot of shaved rafters...not good.  The termite damage was so extensive in the back room and kitchen that 8 of 12 rafters had to be replaced.  Meanwhile the time is ticking away.  Our landscape and pool guys cannot get started until the support beam (constructed) were taken down. All this work was finally finished up on Friday.  

View of the "open" space on the back side of the house

If I have to look at the positive side, it likely means we will be getting in the van for another couple of weeks, as I cannot see the house being finished by Dec. 1.  If there is a last Hail Mary out there --please give me an indication, but I am not seeing the house finished until around Dec. 15-21.  Thank goodness it is warm in this area.  I am planning a trip to Joshua Tree and the California Coast. and then rounding down the southern side of AZ.  It should be fun.

I have also been down the last three days as I just completed the COVID-19 Pfizer booster.  I am sure if I had not taken the vaccine--I would have died from the virus.  My response all three times has been off the wall for 3 days...and then everything goes back to normal.  I finally got a chance to make the chicken soup that I had been planning and it tasted pretty good after sleeping for 3 days.