Plans

Lisa picked up the plans from the City today. The folks at the counter had nothing to day except that we needed to make fixes and re-submit.

Lisa was a little leery to take a look at them, but did. Here's what she said she found:

The only red lines concerned the concrete steps into the garage... they need to be moved into the house... that's fine by us: it means the washer and dryer will be raised up, making it easier to load and un-load these front-loaders.

There were other "highlighted" items: the water heater needs to be strapped top and bottom; the walls need to show something (she wasn't sure); the lint vent needs to be up to code; the roof vents need some clarification. And that was about it. No discussion of the garage. If this holds true, we're in good shape I think.

Lisa feels that most of the comments/fixes relate to a certain... sloppiness on David's part. This is not exactly a surprise: with every plan he showed us, there were always items he "still need(ed) to do"...

Lisa called David and his wife picked up the plans... we hope to meet over the weekend.

In the meantime, Lisa has started a craigslist search for housing...

Fear and Anticipation

Out of town this week... Just received this e-mail late last night from Lisa:

Hey, Babe. The City called today to say plans were available for corrections. I'll try to go pick them up tomorrow. I feel nervous.
I love you.
Lisa

Yeah, I know how she feels...

Quick Update

In Maryland for the week.

The sub-contractors for Lowe came through on Friday. Jason was there (working on his own real estate nightmare... let's just say that the tale of getting our friends into the house next door would fill a blog all its own... let's just hope that one is over); his only comment as a CPA was that he could hear the registers chiming CHA-CHING. Great.

According to the City, the plan check should be back either tomorrow or Thursday... while I'm away... great.

First Contact

Lowe's just called. Gary the Project Manager wants to bring sub-contractors on a walk-through of the house in preparation for their bid. Friday at 9am...

Stress and Changing Minds

Lisa had been bugging me to fill out the apartment application. Then when I'm ready to start (late last week), she drops the bombshell that she's thinking of renting our friends' (soon to be neighbors') house after they move next door to us. It'll be $350 more a month (than the apartment), but there are some conveniences (laundry, space, etc)... over the course of six months, are these conveniences worth the 2K? I'm not sure, and I'm not sure I want to mix business/rent with pleasure/our friendship.

With all the city/garage uneasiness, Lisa's been able to keep this portion of our stress at bay... why worry about where we'll live when we don't know when it'll happen? I'm all for that sort of denial as well.

So Lowe and Herman picked up their sets of the drawings on Friday, and Fred from Coastline showed up (over an hour early) today to pick up his. Seemed like a good enough guy. He said (after warning us that we'd need to move out of the house) that he thought it was a five-month job. We'll see.

So dad comes over and we really talk about him moving in with us. It looks like that might really happen. Good to have that settled (now if we can only get him NOT to pay us...). But just as we come to grips with that, Lisa has a change of heart and floats the idea of living with dad while we're displaced. What? We had pretty much tossed that one onto the scrapheap of bad ideas early on: my fear of cabin fever with my day, plus the incovnenience of trying to get Lisa and the boys to school from Ventura, were just too much to contemplate. But today it was back on the table. We decided to table it again until we get more info from the city re: the garage.

All this talk has brought back an old aquaintance of mine: my esophogeal spasms, chest tightening, and heartburn/nausea. I took a protonix for the first time in over a year today, and the first sublingual in months. Even with the ativan tonight, I can't sleep. I'm a freaking pharmacy, and I can't rest.

Boy, is this going to be a great six months, or what?

More Calls

Thursday brought no calls from contractors Lowe or Herman... so I called them up this morning.

Lowe's project manager Gary has been very sick, but the receptionist is going to speak to some kind of coordinator to set up a time for picking up the bid pack ... (and she just called back: Ellen will pick it up at 11am this morning).

Herman picked up the phone, saying that he just got my voicemail (from two days ago???), and was about to call me. He said he would swing by the house sometime today and pick up the packet. I told him I might be running an errand but would leave it out on the porch; he said just to put a note on it, "Attn RWH"...

Looks like we're making some headway.

[UPDATE:
10:43am: Ellen, the "Construction Concierge" from Lowe just picked up the plans (15 min early... I like it)]

[UPDATE:
11:17am: The rep from Herman just picked up the plans... two down, one to go (Sunday)

If schedule permits, I'll take care of the fire thing this afternoon]

Packets Ready

The bid packets are ready: two sets of architectural and structural engineering drawings plus a bid letter for each contractor.

Coastline (contractor 3) called and said they would come by on Sunday at 2pm to pick up the packet.

Still haven't heard from contactors Lowe or Herman.

Disappointing.

No News is More Bad News?

Wednesday ended with no returned calls from contractors Lowe or Herman.

The Architect David left a message regarding an Excel spreadsheet he had sent us: it's a template for how we can compare the bids as they come in. I'm sure he's build one for us. FOR A FEE.

Lisa just remembered something else our contact at the City said: the demolition plan submitted is not complete.

Great.

Word Out to Contractors

2PM: Just finished making calls to contractors:

The first contractor, Lowe (the first most definitely in Lisa's heart... the local one with the father who was my family doctor 30 years ago) went smoothly. I spoke with the receptionist who almost giddily took my info and would have Gary the project manager (whom we met at the same meeting) call me back to coordinate the hand-over of materials.

The second contractor, Herman (and the first ones we met with; the architect brought us together...another local group), I couldn't speak to. I left my info on Richard's voice-mail. We'll see what happens.

The third contractor, Coastline (and the non-local late-comer; Lisa met with the folks around the corner who are using them and happy with the work), had me on a phone-tree/answer service loop for a couple of minutes. Then the receptionist was not nearly as giddy, though still nicely sociable; she took my info and said that Tal would return my call.

Let's see how long it takes for them to get back in touch with me.

[UPDATE:

2:17: Tal from Coastline has just called. The contractor Fred is in the neighborhood today, if I have the drawings. No such luck... tomorrow at noon. No problem Tal says, she'll call me back tomorrow and arrange a time for Fred to come by Friday or at the latest Monday. The job on Clara is wrapping up in the next two weeks (two months ahead of schedule)... sounds too good to be true (and you know what that means...)]

Bad News from the City

OK, so Lisa called after school, and I told her the good news about the Fire Department, and that the copies were ready for pickup, and that I was going to call the contractors later today.

She did not have good news.

Our contact at the City (whose son was in Lisa's class a couple of years back) says that our plans are not going as smoothly was we hoped through plan check. Seems the garage, which our architect has said will not be a problem (as he was a signed waiver ... not that I've seen it), is most definitely a problem.

Our contact has also stated outright what we've had vague suspicions about: our architect David is NOT well-loved in the City... bordering on persona non grata status.

This is not good news. This is very bad news. My nausea that I've had for the last 48 hours is suddenly worse.

Some Good News

Finally some good news:

Just got off the phone with Ventura County Fire (trying to find out what plans I need to bring with my form 126 [the fire sprinkler stuff]):

1. If the structure is within the City of Port Hueneme, we don't need to have the water purveyor section of Form 126 filled out (since all of PH is developed, there's no need to double-check the water hydrant coverage/pressure)
2. After talking to the rep, he thinks we may be under the threshold of needing the sprinklers at all (since they count the existing garage in the existing square footage, we may not be doubling our size, after all)
3. Their processing fee is $194.
   

Just called Ford Graphics. They'll print out the six sets (two for each of the bidding contractors), plus two sets of the coversheet for the Fire Department. He'll call me back later with THAT cost.

[UPDATE: That'll cost us $155 and change.]

Chaos

It's earlier than usual on Wednesday (5:18 as I watch the paper be thrown on the driveway). I've been up for nearly an hour, stewing over the chaos that is going on.

Let's try to go back to the beginning...

Friday, I play hooky from work (and personal responsibilities like getting a form 126 filled out by the City), and after Kyle is released early from school after his standardized testing is over (No Child Left Behind, No Teacher Left Standing), I take him to the NCAA Women's Water Polo championships down in Los Alamitos. It's the beginning of a long weekend: Saturday, after Jack's baseball game, dad, Kyle, Jack and I are heading back down to watch the rest of the NCAA tournament; we'll stay overnight in Los Alamitos, watch (hopefully) the Bruins win the championship (a record-setter, but more on that later), and then come home late Sunday. Even though Sunday is Mother's Day, we won't be with Lisa, who will be spending a Ladies' Day (as opposed to our Boys' Weekend Away) with Grandma B and GG. Easter had hit me hard: though we aren't a religious family, that holiday I always associated with mom (because of the cooking involved), and I was pretty much devestated. This weekend was an escape, a diversion from this...

Saturday, things worked pretty much as scheduled. Jack played his game in the morning. I abandoned Lisa with the remodel stuff: she checked out a local apartment (saw that it could meet our needs for six months and put in an application), she also met with the architect to go over his drawings and the bid document [I really should have been there for that... but I needed to get out of town... coward]). The games were good. It was our Bruins vs. the Trojies. The last five matches between these two teams (including last seasons NCAA Championship match have come done to a single goal... this one didn't disappoint. We jumped out to an early lead, fell behind, jumped ahead again, then hung on for a nailbiting 7-6 victory. Absolutely incredible. Sunday, we would play for the national championship... and if we won, we'd be the first university to win 100 National Championships. We might just see history being made.

Sunday morning, we got up. I went out to get breakfast and bring it back (and also to do some recon: Spiderman 3 was playing across the street... and at a time, that would allow us to have fun in the morning, catch the movie, then hit the championship). Once back in the room with grub, we called mom and wished her a happy mother's day (after a Saturday full of text messaging, I think she was happy to hear the boys' voices); and I got an update on the remodel stuff... but quite frankly, my mind was in escape mode. We ate. I took the boys down to the pool for some playtime (actually got in the pool myself for a while). Then back up to the room for a shower and getting dressed. Then off to the movies (Spiderman 3 didn's suck... it just didn't soar like the first two). Then to the games. The game was incredible, tight, defensive, and a nailbiter. Our Lady Bruins won their third straight title, giving UCLA its 100th National Championship. It was awesome. We saw history being made. My dad repeatedly thanked me for bringing him this weekend, not realizing (I think) that he was doing me the favor. It was a great weekend.

I returned home to Lisa, who had had a great day with her mom and grandma. Today, she and our close friend/soon-to-be-neighbor visited a house around the block, whose remode seems to be moving along rather nicely. She spoke with the owner who was happy with the progress and project. We now have a third name (Coastline) for contracting bids.

There was a list of things to do for the remodel waiting for my return. But we were too tired to attack it or to even discuss it.

Monday, the work week began. I never got around to finding out about the fire department requirements. I was struck by this wave of nausea. I could only curl up in bed. Lisa, who is already stressed by things going on at work (an incident last week, open house this week, the possibility of her having to retain up to 4 students, the end of year "opera", the presentation she's to give this summer), in life (our close friends/new neighbor's graduating from college this weekend, urologist appointment Tuesday, the house). It was crazy, and I was fetal-ed up in bed wanting to throw up.

And Monday night, the wheels came off the wagon. It seems that Monday at school, Kyle was playing two-hand touch (read "tackle") football at lunch. He was taken down and took a knee to the head. Headache and dizziness ensued. Not that he told anyone. So he goes to water polo practice. And the headache hits. By the time he gets out of the pool, it's headache, nausea, and light-headedness. Lisa thought his pupils were smaller. Possible concussion? So I end up waking him up every two hours through the night.

Yesterday/Tuesday, I feel like Ray Liotta at the end of GoodFellas... the only thing missing was the FBI choppers overhead. I had a 7am dentist, because he opens early. By the time I was out, I called Lisa who said that she had Kyle at her school so the nurse could check him out... he hadn't seemed "right" and he had a nosebleed. The nurse confirmed our suspicion of a concussion. She said call the pediatrician. Pediatrician said come in at 9:30. By 9:45 he had sent us for a CT scan (he really didn't like the nosebleed and dizziness a day after the incident). We wait at the imaging center an hour and a half for the scan. Then they send us home, telling us that they'll send the results to the doc and he'll contact us. So that's what we do. I call dad to ask him to come to the house and watch Kyle and Jack this afternoon, when I go with Lisa to the urologist. By 2pm, I'm pissed: no word from the doc... I KNEW this would happen... lunch, I was sure, had fouled up the communication. 2:15 I call the pediatrician. No results yet, they'll call the lab, and call us back... I give them my cell. Lisa and I go to the urologist. Seems bloodwork that was done at the same time as the ultrasound (for last month's general practicitioner's appointment) had turned up an INFECTION THAT NO ONE AT THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE CAUGHT. Fucking Christ. The in-office urinalysis showed it was still there. So no full exam... the doc wasn't to kill off the infection first. So prescription and we're out the door. I call the pediatrician... STILL NO CT RESULTS. FUCK. Can't anyone do their damn jobs? After take-home dinner with dad and the boys, the pediatrician calls: the CT Scan is negative. Kyle can resume activity when he feels like it.

Lisa and I were both stressing at bedtime. The architect calls to say the final drawings are at the graphics company, a "final" bid document will be in my inbox in the morning. Lisa collapsed asleep at 8. I stewed for another hour before crashing to some very weird dreams about cleaning the house and demolishing it. And I wake up thinking of all the stuff I have to do.

Again, I feel like Ray Liotta. After we determine how Kyle is doing (it's now 6:33, he's up and still has a headache... if it doesn't disappear by 7, he's not going to school), I'll get the boys ready for school with breakfast. This morning, I'll call the fire department, see what drawings we need to submit their forms, then call the graphics company to run six sets of drawings (plus whatever the fire department needs). Then I'll go over to the City and get them to sign the fire form (as the "water purveyor"). Later this afternoon, I'll call the contractors (Lisa found a third one over the weekend while I was gone), and let them know that tomorrow afternoon, we'll have bid packets for them. Tonight, Jack has a game and Kyle has water polo (though probably not); Lisa will meet us at the game, since she's trying to prep for tomorrow night's open house. Tomorrow, on my way to therapy, I'll pick up the drawings from the graphics company, and put the bid packages together for the contractors.

Where are the helicopters?

Not to Worry

Got a call from the architect last night. We should worry about the public works/drainage issue (that's pretty standard).

As for the garage, he has signed preliminary drawings that say we're exempt from having to retro fit the garage.

Whew.

While we were at Kyle's water polo end-o-season potluck/party (where after only four months of playing, he earned MVP honors... not like I'm proud or anything), the architect also left paperwork (Form 126) that I need to take down to the City for their Water Purveyor info...

Hitch Number 1

Just got back from the City... joy.

To sum up, here's an email I just fired off to the architect:

Just got back from the City.

They griped that there was no existing structure floor plan. No problem; they had me use a sharpie and draw it in on two of the sets.

Then they brought this guy over (didn't get his name)... he saw two issues right away.

1) They'll need to bring public works into this because of the slab in the back and drainage.
2) There's a problem with the garage. Since we're redoing over 1/3 of the square footage, the old garage may need to be redone to meet today's standards. The current garage is 17x20; this guy said something about 20x20. Also, we're not allowed to have stairs into the garage... so even if we don't have to rebuild the garage, we'll need to recess the stairs into the house.... not sure how we'd do that given that area is the laundry room, but whatever.

They asked if, since there were already plan check issues, I wanted to submit now or not. My take was let's learn all the issues in a first pass, instead of piece-mealing this... so I submitted the plans.

Where's my maalox???

Have a good one,

bw

If we need to rebuild the garage... how much will that add to this? If it's too much, we may need to rethink this whole thing.

Damn.

Avalanche

Holy crap.

The architect just left. Things will start hot and heavy now.

He left three sets of the architectural and structural drawings, plus two sets of the "calc books" (structural calculations and energy calculations). He spent about an hour discussing the plans and process ahead. He also noted some changes he wants to make to the architectural drawings that will have no bearing on plan check, but might have some on the bidding process.

Tomorrow, I'll take the drawings and calcs to the City (along with a $700 "plan check fee").

Tomorrow night, the architect will return with a Form 126, filled out with the general information. Form 126 is a county fire department document, outlining the need for fire sprinklers (the new code that it seems we'll be beta testing); he will also provide for us the information as to which drawings (and how many copies) the fire department will need.

On Friday, I'll take this down to the City to have them fill out the "water purveyor" portion of the document. Then either Friday or next Monday, I'll take that package to the folks at fire, plus another plan check fee (this one probably around $250).

On Saturday, Lisa will meet with the architect to hammer out the bid letter. This letter outlines for the prospective contractors an overview of the project, the dates (of both the bid and the proposed construction) and any areas of the bid that may include alternative solutions/costs. The architect's sent me a sample, and I've made what changes I can, highlighted areas of question or concern, and noted some outstanding questions. That finished letter will then be part of the package we give to contractors as early as next week.

On Monday, the architect will deliver the updated architectural drawings to the graphics company to scan and hold. We'll meet again that night to go over the final drawings.

On Tuesday, first we'll contact the graphics company to print out as many sets of drawings as we have contractors bidding on the process (times two). Then we'll contact the contractors and say that we are ready to begin the bid process, letting them know that we have two sets of the drawings and a bid letter ready for them to pick up. When they come to pick up the drawings, we hand over the drawings and bid letter, briefly outline the timeframe (two weeks) and direct them to email to me any questions. If/When I receive questions, I am to forward them on to the architect. He will respond to me and I will send them to the particular contractor, sending copies of this correspondence to the other active bidders, so that everyone is on an even playing field.

In the meantime, we need to find another contractor we might be interested in working with... we have two, but the architect says it's a good idea to have three.

Now, I'm beginning to stress...

Goodgoda'mighty, what the hell have we gotten ourselves into???

Delay

The architect called last night. Seems there's something amiss in the drawings the structural engineer sent. He's sending them back. Plan check is delayed until at least next week.

Movement?

The architect called last night and told Lisa that the structural engineer was sending the plans to him tomorrow, and that after a couple of corrections, we should be able to submit it to the city for Plan-Check, and to the contractors for bid.

Nebulous, but at least movement.