Forgotten Hidden Treasure

Yes, I know it's been half a century since I wrote anything. I am sure no one even reads this anymore but just for my happiness I wanted to write about my newly found forgotten hidden treasure. 

A few weeks ago I talked to Russel about painting one of my end tables I brought when I moved. I needed a project. One day when I was surfin the inner-nets I wanted to see if I could find a match for the end table for cheap. Of course I had no idea who the manufacturer was. I searched and searched and finally found something close. It was made by Kent Coffey. Then I discovered the name for the era I have been trying to re-create subconsciously all along. Mid Century Modern. Late 60's through mid 70's. I hit the jackpot. It was Broyhill Brasilia furniture and I almost cried when I found the first end table for over $500.00. Then I remembered I left my long dresser that matched at my aunt's house. I nearly cried again when I searched and found one for over $1600.00!!!! Why was I so sad? I had both pieces painted in my early 20's because the paint was coming off and I wanted something darker. Then I realized who cares!!!! I owned two of these beautiful pieces and they were mine mine mine. 

Actual Broyhill Brasilia Commode. 

Broyhill Brasilia Dresser. Mine is not in this condition yet.

I begged Russel to let me keep them as our bedroom furniture and of course he is so awesome he said of course we can keep them. We discussed having them professionally refinished but I am going to try first. I've never refinished a piece, I've never even stained a piece of furniture before and I've never even sanded a piece of furniture before. But, I have an expert in woodworking afterall. He build an arcade and doggie stairs for Bella all by hand. 

I remembered long long ago taking the drawer pulls off so it could be painted and I remember not putting them back on. Back to the inner-nets I go in search of replacement hardware. *GASP* Each pull costs no less than $75.00. I currently need more Kleenex because of my past treatment of my awesome furniture. 

I am trying to make ammends. Here was the first step. Sanding off the paint and stain it was covered in. I am only two days in so hopefully I will post more photos as it progresses. 

Top and side

Back

I have been searching for the hardware at antique stores, thrift stores, ebay and etsy. Maybe one day I will happen upon them again. Or I will win the lottery and be able to buy a set of 6. But I'm keeping my furniture!!!! 

February Update

Things have been so busy lately I haven't had time to write on my own blog. Well, this one at least.  

I have been planning the wedding and things are going well. With the exception of the photographer crisis. The first one missed our first meeting. The second didn't show to our engagement shoot. I e-mailed 4 more photographers and got no answer and finally one responded. A husband and wife team that seem very enthusiastic and dependable. It was getting a little stressful there for a moment. 

I have been learning a new skill thanks to my friend Jennifer and I am hoping it will make me much happier in the future. 

I also started a new hobby. As if nail polish wasn't enough! I have started collecting vintage Pyrex. I think the closer we get to the wedding the more and more I miss my mom and wish she could be here to hang out with, the more I want things around me that remind me of her. Mrs. Schultz gave me such a wonderful wonderful gift. My mother's correlle dishes. Since then I have been on a mission to find more things that remind me of her. Then as I started growing my collection Mrs. Schultz gave me 5 vintage Pyrex bowls that belonged to Russel's grandmother. I was just kind of blown away. I mean how lucky am I to have a Mother-in-law who is so wonderful? 

Russel has even endured taking me to antique malls and walking around with me. Poor guy even had to carry around stuff for me. A true sign of love I am sure!!!!

I found a great deal on an old IKEA bookshelf at a thrift store and now it displays my awesome treasures. 

 

Then there is work. Work has been stressful and difficult. I can only hope that things improve for everyone there. I have to consciously make an effort to make myself go there daily. It is worse than it has ever been. 

And here are some cute pictures of my kids for your viewing pleasure.

And the beautiful flowers I got for my birthday for Russel. They couldn't have come at a better time and they are my favorites!!!

  


 

 

Ridiculousness

Ok so I usually don't post anything very specific about my job but this ridiculousness is exactly that.

I answer incoming calls. Sometime one of our employees calls in to speak to a supervisor to call in sick.

This entails taking out a pink missed call memo pad and writing the employee's name, date, time of call and the word "Sick" in the notes. Then this note is posted on a pole where the supervisor's desks are with the thought that they will see it when they come to their desks for work. I mean seriously? My dog could probably be taught to do that. Not a huge project you want to assign to someone making $75k a year right?

On our particular shift the on duty Shift Commander takes these calls. The Shift Commander is the highest ranking officer on duty at the time. This could be the Lt. or the Sgt. When the call is transfered the Shift Commander can either fill out the pink memo himself or he can call dispatch and tell us to do it for them. If the call is transfered to the Sgt. on duty because the person asked for the Sgt. on duty but they are calling in sick the Lt. usually lectures you about how these calls are to be transferred to him.

Usually in the real world the employer treats the employee as an adult and accepts e-mails for sick calls. Not here. You have to call the on duty Shift Commander to speak with them so that they can judge whether you sound sick so that they can comment on that to the next Shift Commander. For, example, "Hey, Just so you know Sickly Sick Girl called in sick again and there was a lot of background noise and she didn't sound sick at all." Some of us also have to notify our direct supervisor as well. There are others who also have to find someone to cover for them. Oh and you also have to have your current address on file because your on duty Shift Commander could possibly make a home visit to ensure that you are sick and unable to come to work.

Now, what happens when the on duty Shift Commander is too busy to answer his phone? Well, it goes to voicemail and they usually don't know how to check it. The sick employee calls me back and says they were unable to get through. Ok so we transfer to the desk phone. If the on duty Shift Commander is "out and about" they don't answer that either. The sick employee calls me back again and advises me that no one answered. So then we go down the list of supervisors until we finally get one. Then the Lt. calls back to inform us that all sick calls are to be sent to him.

C'mon people I am not making this shit up!

Wings over Houston

I've been so busy lately with planning and working I haven't had a lot of time to update my blog. I think Russel's projects have also been delayed a bit. I am definitely not complaining though. I am enjoying the planning and trying to make sure we get the absolute best price for what we are getting. We took a break to go see the Wings Over Houston air show and got to see the Blue Angels perform. Here are some awesome pics I was lucky to get.

 

 

 

 

My future

I have a very warm heart. I feel loved and at home in his arms.

On Saturday September 22, 2012 Russel asked me to marry him. I said yes and feel like I am living in a fairy tale.

I couldn't have asked for a better family to accept me unconditionally.

He did an outstanding job picking out a beautiful ring. It is much more than I could have hoped for.

I love you Russel, with all of my heart.

THE PROJECT

I haven't updated in a while. Mostly because I am on my iPad and iPhone all of the time and I don't drag out the computer often. Blogger doesn't play well with apple products or it could be user error, hard to tell.

So, here is the arcade project update with hopefully lots of pics. Russel has done an absolutely outstanding job with this project and it has become something I am very proud of. I wish I could help more even if it's just sweeping up and putting away the tools. I can't wait until it's finished so I can REALLY show it off. :-)

Paint or Stain? Which shade of Red?



Precision counts.

Looks like progress

No chopped off fingers yet! Yay

Freshly cut wood.

Clamp and unclamp

The inside bracing complete

Fit together like a glove. And looks spectacular.

The keyboard and mouse drawer

The Monitor and bezel test

He's a genius and made the monitor able to be switched depending on the game.

Red wood dye

Don't worry it's only a flesh wound. Just kidding! Its just dye.



Stain on top of the dye to get the perfect shade

Looks great

Cabinet up to this point. :-)

Arcade project

Russel is working on a project. I get the benefit of his hard work at the end of the project. IT'S AN ARCADE!!!!!!!!!! (insert 12 year old girl scream here) Long ago I thought about doing this myself, of course on a much smaller scale and ummmm pretty much no budget. I never had enough to order the buttons for the control panel. So, when he mentioned he wanted to plan something like that I was super dooooper excited. I can't wait to see the finished product and of course play it!

Here are some pics of the work in progress. More pictures as the project progresses and when it is complete!

who can draw this stuff on a legal pad? really? of course Russel can.

yes! I was ready to start shooting some Galaga bees.

It's a good thing he is so precise. I would have used double the wood.

He did a really good job.

Box-O-Buttons

Wow he is cute.

Wow wow he is really really cute. Oh, and that is a joystick in his hand. :-)

Rough week but it's (my) Friday

It was supposed to be my first week back from vacation. Turned out to be half a week back from vacation.

You know the best thing about vacation? NOT being at work. I'd like to thank the entire Schultz family for treating a poor girl to a great vacation. Thank you very much. It means a lot.

So here are some pics.


Sunset cruise

Texas State Aquarium. It's a dolphin not a shark.

     

The view from the beach house.

   

Flying kites on the beach was awesome.



Sand castles on the beach.

 

Sunset cruise and dolphin watching