Foundation Poured

After hearing nothing regarding the plumbing situation at SewerSide³ (more on that later), we headed over to the Maxine site to meet with Fred. He was happy to see us and to show us the progress made. We passed two inspections today: foundations/footings and foundation epoxy. Major steps. So he's happy to not just see us, but to tell us the good news.

The front looked different with a pile of dirt outside the kitchen window... but more importantly, there were remnants of concrete on other driveway.


And sure enough, there were foundations all around the perimeter of the new construction:






[Though I'm not quite sure what this little footing is for...]


Then he took us into the kitchen. And what a site to behold: the interior is gutted... where there had been walls, there is only framing.

And the foundation has been poured in the interior, as well.

The footings, too (this one's in the kitchen).

Fred talked about the wood in the frames: fifty year-old wood, that was as strong today as the day it was installed.

It seemed so weird to look through the kitchen wall frames, across the open floor, and see a reasonably intact hall and bathroom door... surrounded by demolition.

And the master bedroom's walls were stripped completely, leaving them naked.


Fred must have spent a good thirty minutes, talking with us, telling us of his birthday yesterday, of the day of fasting tomorrow (he's thankful, since tomorrow they begin to remove first the insulation then later the roof itself... "a messy day," he says), of his childhood in Israel. And of his upcoming week-long vacation in Alaska; Jose will be in charge in his absence, and there's "nothing" he can't handle remotely... work will go on with no lessening of the pace. He says he hopes to return to framing the second story. His confidence is uplifting. It was great to talk to him; he's a pretty spiritual guy (our only twinge of embarrassment was when Kyle came by to say hello, wearing his (actually my OLD-- from the late 80s) Pogues t-shirt: If I Should Fall From Grace With God).

After we wrote him the next check: 60K for start of foundation (uh, it looks like we're more at the end of it), he took off and I went in to check out the rest of the house.

From the boys' old room, I could see concrete progress made (bad pun, I know):






The kitchen even looked more bare from across the open floor:




The heater looks as desolate and useless as it was during most winter nights with its pilot that never stayed lit... can't wait to replace THAT with a nice forced air unit!


The bath/master bedroom footing was done,

and the master bedroom was stripped of drywall.

And now the master bedroom afforded a great look into the living room.


And from there it was into the living room and dining room, to look more at the kitchen:




Then Lisa and I called the boys over to do what Fred told us we must. He had seen our painted handprints behind the refrigerator in the kitchen. Now, he said, it was time for something more monumental, more permanent, more meaningful. We all had to write our names or initials into the foundations. We were taking ownership of what would hold up our lives for ... well, the rest of our lives.

And so we took turns, marking our territory. I went first.




Then Jack...




Then Kyle...




Finally, Lisa...




This was a great moment for the boys, as you can see.


And the love of my life, my beautiful wife, she looks pleased as well.


I took this pic because it looks like a funeral mound, a grave that buries our old house, and plants the seed for our new home.


Then we had dinner and drinks and tv with the Coreys.

When we returned home, it was not to plumbing difficulties, but to a plumbing email from Wes:

Hi Bill and Lisa -
I sent Lordon Management Company an email last night detailing the problems you experienced with the kitchen sink, shower, and the response times of the plumbers, and followed up this morning with phones calls to them as well as John at Pipe Dreams. (also left you a voice mail message earlier this evening about this). What I was told by John (Pipe Dreams) is that the problems you have experienced this past week have been caused by food / kitchen scraps / cooking grease being introduced into the kitchen drains from the units that share the common line (3 units total - yours and the two directly above) and was further told by Lordon Management that care needs to be taken with what is sent to the garbage disposal.
I am proceeding to schedule a diagnostic session with John to use a camera device to verify the integrity of the piping in the unit - just to rule out any structural issues - as well as performing the full servicing of all the drains in the unit in case there is any build up not removed by the snaking done last week. Had thought the diagnostic session was planned for Tuesday based on our discussion Sunday AM but John (Pipe Dreams) did not have this on his schedule. So had him check for any openings this week and get back to me. Will contact him tomorrow AM; my schedule is open TUES, WED and FRI this week - do you all have a preference?
I'll be in touch as soon as I hear back from John. Also please let me know what we owe you all for the plumbing service call from last WED.
Thanks -- Wes


At least, it SEEMS like he's looking out for us. It really FEELS like Fred is... It's going to be an interesting five and a half months...