In our past lives, M and I must have been aggressivley mean building demolitions experts because we seem to have some pretty nasty dwelling karma everywhere we live. Or maybe it’s to be expected living on the Wet Coast?

Our on-going kitchen renos were about to take a giant leap forward towards completion this past weekend when we all received a blow to our hard work. As we took off the old counter tops to prepare for the installation of our new ones, something became increasingly obvious. The wall behind the counter top lip was soaking wet. M experimented by pressing and then poking and then by pushing through it. Well, I exaggerate this last bit, but as more and more pieces of sopping drywall came down, we could not ignore the fact that something was wrong. Thankfully, the source of the wet is from the outside, which means our strata will fix it. I wouldn’t know where to begin if we had to fix something like that so living in a strata complex can have it’s positive sides.

The downside is that everything on the kitchen wall pictured below has had to come off. It used to look like this:

Then it looked like this:

Apparently that great looking black stuff inside the plastic isn’t mold, but the result of something left behind by ants. Not even remotely reassuring.

Now it looks like this:

So onwards and upwards. The strata have been amazing: they tore out and replaced all the outer wall and insulation. M’s dad has been awesome. Thank goodness for newly-retired father-in-laws looking for “projects!” We’ve also taken the opportunity to fix some of the dodgy electrics inherited from the clueless former occupants.

It’s amazing that I am not more stressed than I am. I just feel so lucky that the strata and M’s dad can look after this. If I was left to my own to figure this mess out, my head would explode! By Friday evening we will have a brand new kitchen wall + our new counter tops (only 5 days delayed).

In other news, here are some of the  things that I am really digging this week:

1. Owl City: Ocean Eyes album. Sigh. This is what Death Cab for Cutie would sound like if they embraced their more Postal Service side. Does twee electro-pop get any sweeter? Thanks to my daughter’s dance instructor for initiating me into the world of fireflies.

2. Twilight saga. Groan, right? The series is awesome. I can’t stop thinking about it! I plowed through all 3 books while we were in WPG for x-mas and tried to **savour** the 4th. Now I want to re-read them again but have left the first 2 for my mom. Gargh! Well, will just have to be patient and enjoy the bitter-sweet wait until I can read them again.

3. Homespun Salon on Friday night! I missed the December session as M and I went on a date to see Mew. Have been a bit crafted out and am looking forward to getting back into sewing for myself without any gifting pressures or deadlines. Cashmere and doily hats, pillowcase dresses and beach bags, oh my!

4. My top albums of 2009 playlist (in no particular order):

• Raveonettes: In and Out of  Control (why didn’t this make any music “crititcs” best of list?)
• Air: Love 2
• A Place to Bury Strangers: Exploding Head. 1979 Cure meets My Bloody Valentine. So so sweetly dark.
• Mew: No More Stories are Told Today I’m Sorry they Washed Away…
• Charlotte Gainsburg: IRM
• Hope Sandoval and the Warm Inventions: S/T
• Jason Lytal: Yours, Truly
• Camera Obscura: My Maudlin Career
• OST New Moon (yes groan if you will but there is DCFC, kick ass Thom Yorke and Bon Iver, so stick it!)

5. Making It Lovely blog

See you again next time!

xok