Erin Leedy, World Traveler

Holy cow, my world map is looking better and better. 2012 has really fleshed this out—I added 3 new continents! And can really say I've been to the southern hemisphere now. (Note that I'm cheating for 1.5 weeks, as I don't hit Mexico until 10/1). 

That said, Where I've Been calculates that I've visited 9% of the world. That's it? Really!? It looks like so much more than 9% when you color in the entire countries of China and Brazil after having visited a city or two in each. ;-)

Perhaps next I will have to visit Russia, as that'll add a lot of blue to this map.

Now, how am I going to convince a client that we need to do some market research in Antarctica?

Unpacking and shopbuilding

Unpacking is not fun.

But having a new house with your beloved things in it is fun.

And so we unpack.

We must make better progress in advance of Oct 1, when we are featured in the AIA Design Matters home tour (http://designmattershomestour.eventbrite.com/). Yikes. That is really soon.

Here are key things that'll happen in September:

• Shop is to be framed, roofed, sided, wired, and fitted with a custom garage door. This is already in process. If I were less lazy, I would post pictures.
• Backyard is to be leveled out--the current surface texture is what I'd call "moon-like"--and areas behind the house and beside the house are to be excavated a few inches and filled in with gravel. Vendor is hired, work to begin this week.
• The front door's concrete stoop will be re-poured so that it's a lovely smooth surface again (also currently moon-like, which is not very welcoming). I believe Andrew's setting us up... Andrew, do your magic!
• Betsy's kitchen wall in her mother-in-law suite will start to come together: countertop, sink, refrig, burners and dishwasher will join recently-installed cabinets.
• 1,397 things will be put away in their proper places (or stashed in a closet so as to temporarily disappear from sight).

Later in October, we are supposed to lay down grass seed and straw. And hope for rain. Oh, also we need to transplant some roses. Oh, and master our holiday music compilation. Sh*t. October promises to be as busy as September. Well, at least there's Halloween.

AIA Portland home tour

Looks like we (and our lovely new house) are likely to be involved in the AIA Portland home tour this October. More on this soon. http://www.aiaportland.org/

I believe the date is Saturday Oct 1, but I'll confirm and share more as things firm up. Sure hope we're done by then...

On the plus side, I believe it's a part of A+D 11. If you know me, you know I like little formulas like this, so I figure that's a good omen.