Idle hands are the devil's tools...

... but how do you know that the devil's not the one keeping your hands busy?

Last week Dad reckoned that his work was just about finished here. And when he started putting his tools in the truck, I panicked for a few reasons: first, there's still a lot of work to be done; second, I've never stayed here alone and I'm scared; and third, I'll miss him.

He had arguments to counter each of mine: (1) You can do it. (2) Get over it. (3) A round trip flight is about 150 bucks if you miss me that much. I'll pick you up at LaGuardia.

My ace in the hole is the gas stove, which will be delivered 6/15. Dad figures I can change an outlet or a light switch. He even plans to "let me" (="leave me") install a bathroom vanity on my own. (I've been assured by friends who are as ignorant of this as I am that there are plenty of YouTube video tutorials that will help me.) But propane is a different story. I could kill myself, demolish the house, and maim my neighbors. So he's stuck here until 6/16 (propane tank delivery date) at the earliest. :)

Fearing boredom and idle hands, however, Dad needed a new "big project" to occupy him for these two weeks. Simply tying up the loose ends from all the other big projects wasn't going to be enough to keep the devil at bay. Thus, the bathrooms (which weren't going to be re-modeled until the Fall) are getting an overhaul NOW.

Old bathtub.


Old vanity & sink. I swear, this isn't just a re-post of the black clamshell sink from the powder room. The house was blessed with 3 of them.

The bathroom as seen from the bedroom. Check out the neato linoleum floor.

What do you call a bathroom when it has no bath?

This was the second of three times we had to put this tub in. Apparently the room isn't quite 'square.' I have bruises up and down my legs from the ordeal. Just when the purple marks start fading to yellow, we've got another monster to haul and I get bruised all over again.


Skinny Dad. I swear I'm feeding him.


This is Dad's bedroom. He sleeps here. Like this. And that's OK because he doesn't have to get up and try to look clean enough to go to work.

But when I got home from work to find my bathroom partially demolished...
... I was a little alarmed.

Idle hands indeed.