Today we had a meeting with our insurance guy. He's taking care of the building, the kids, the employees, and us. He's not really what I would have expected from an insurance salesman. See, it just sounds dirty saying it, right? Insurance Salesman. I need a shower.
This guy Travis though is straight up and thorough. He's been very patient with me while I run around all crazy like. We got everything figured out and we'll be covered come school-time.
On a side note, my mom and grandmother went to see the Reagan Library today because of our meetings in Santa Monica. I wish I would take advantage of all the history around us like that. There's so much to see right underneath us.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Break
As a hobby, I've been taking pictures since I had the old Kodak spool-film camera as a kid. I've always loved it. Today I shot some photos of our friend and her 5 month old daughter... precious. It was a nice mindless departure while it lasted.
The skylights are in and look pretty amazing. I don't think I expected to get that much light from the frosted kind.
The rough work is pretty much done now, so we're waiting on inspections.
The skylights are in and look pretty amazing. I don't think I expected to get that much light from the frosted kind.
The rough work is pretty much done now, so we're waiting on inspections.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Ripples
According to new safety code, any window falling at least 60 inches up from the floor, needs to be replaced with tempered glass. Except for the second level, all the glass was finished today. Joe walked me outside and showed me that some of it had rippled because of how it sits on the rollers after being heated up. He wanted it better and after seeing his passion for correct glass, so did I. Honestly, the rippled stuff reminded me of my home in Tennessee as a kid, so I was actually fine with it... but I played it off. With as much as we're paying for it, I guess it should be correct.
Speaking of money, we just found out that half of our fixtures bid were these double sinks... we scaled it back a bit, went with 2 sinks instead and saved a ton. I've never been one to cut corners, so when we can get something just as useful for much less, I'm all over it.
PS - My mom and grandmother are coming into town tonight. I'm sure I'll have stories.
Speaking of money, we just found out that half of our fixtures bid were these double sinks... we scaled it back a bit, went with 2 sinks instead and saved a ton. I've never been one to cut corners, so when we can get something just as useful for much less, I'm all over it.
PS - My mom and grandmother are coming into town tonight. I'm sure I'll have stories.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Red Zipper Jacket
Today those fencing guys I had called came to give bids for our playground. Only 1 showed up in full white garb, a thin sword, and a mesh face mask. I think we're gonna go with a small little company of 3 guys who've been doing fences for about 20 years. Really nice guy, great work, and his proposal was handwritten... does it come anymore raw and endearing?
We walked through every aspect of plumbing and confirmed our fixtures order and the timing for installation. The kids toilets and sinks are adorable... just wait.
Also, electrical should be done at the end of today.
I don't ever want this blog to serve as anything other than information about both Crystal and myself, Cassidy Preschool, and the little happenings around us. With that said, it doesn't makes sense for me to be writing today without mentioning how as a kid I had the red leather zipper jacket, a sequined glove and socks my grandmother had hand-sewn, a poster on my door, and a propensity to moonwalk through every grocery store. No matter what has been said, who thinks what, and what is true or not... we have lost a world-wide inspiration of love and a musical marketing talent that transcends words. While some will choose to love and some will choose to hate, I will choose to love and remember the days that inspired me in my youth.
We walked through every aspect of plumbing and confirmed our fixtures order and the timing for installation. The kids toilets and sinks are adorable... just wait.
Also, electrical should be done at the end of today.
I don't ever want this blog to serve as anything other than information about both Crystal and myself, Cassidy Preschool, and the little happenings around us. With that said, it doesn't makes sense for me to be writing today without mentioning how as a kid I had the red leather zipper jacket, a sequined glove and socks my grandmother had hand-sewn, a poster on my door, and a propensity to moonwalk through every grocery store. No matter what has been said, who thinks what, and what is true or not... we have lost a world-wide inspiration of love and a musical marketing talent that transcends words. While some will choose to love and some will choose to hate, I will choose to love and remember the days that inspired me in my youth.
Monday, July 6, 2009
There are two kinds of fencing...
Today I was calling around fence companies to come out and bid on our playground fencing. On my 5th or 6th call a nice lady answered "International Fencing of Los Angeles", to which I replied "Hey there, I'm looking to get a quote for a wrought iron fence for a playground." Mind you, I'd done a Google Search for Fencing Contractors in Los Angeles. The line went silent for a good 5 seconds. I thought she might have been transferring me or looking up a number. Out of the silence she said, "This is like the Olympics fencing." It took me a second because my brain was switched in one direction. Then I remembered how my mom used to fence in school and it all came together. There are two kinds of fencing... each of which Google doesn't decipher based on the needs of the searcher. Maybe one day.
Just got a call from our contractor... the new windows are in and they look great.
Just got a call from our contractor... the new windows are in and they look great.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Holiday Weekend
Have a great 4th. Think we'll go watch fireworks for the first time in about 5 years. Sad, I know.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
When Helen Can't Sleep...
Today we got an email from our Assistant Director. It was refreshing to get a new take on all of these Cassidy shenanigans, so I thought I'd share. The subject line was "When I Can't Sleep, This Is What You Get."
I present Helen.
To Crystal and Jesse, who made it all possible...
A crappy day and a random meeting... some unknown force in the universe brought us all together on that particular day. And lo, I am reborn into a new and better world.
The People
It started as a casual meeting through a mutual (albeit totally crazy) friend, just to pick my brain. From the minute I met Crystal it was evident that here was a force to be reckoned with. She had a relaxed and sweet facade, but five minutes into the conversation, it became immediately clear that under the surface was a determined, practical and intensely serious woman. The topic at hand was the opening of a brand new preschool on the Westside, a dream of hers, and many years in the making. It was also, to say the least, a very involved and complicated endeavor. This was her baby, but she also knew that by consulting with the myriad of people in the community, she would be privy to an endless source of help and information. Her excitement was immediately contagious. It seemed that no stone was left unturned. Crystal had visited every school possible and gathered the best ideas from each. My heart was racing at the very possibility of being part of what was sure to an amazing (not to mention much needed) new school - Cassidy.
Then what can only be described as scene out of I Dream of Jeanie, a blink of the eyes, a nod of the head, and week later Crystal came back, this time with her husband Jesse. He was introduced as "the business side". Much more reserved than Crystal at our first meeting; he seemed in many ways to be her opposite. He was a quiet observer and for me unnervingly impossible to read. I was convinced that if the room grew quiet, I would be able to hear the wheels turning in his head. A few meetings later I caught on to how really warm and funny he was, I just couldn’t always tell when he was joking with me.
The Building
My excitement continued to grow after visiting the building. Even though little more than a gutted structure, all the potential of a school with big beautiful classrooms was evident. Together Crystal and Jesse painted a picture of where everything was to be. Ideas and plans kept flowing for both the interior and exterior. Unquestionably, this wasn’t just a dream, this was real and it was going to be great.
The Staff
I was invited to sit in on the teacher interviews. Crystal dealt with the daunting task of weeding out all the nannies and people wanting to "try" teaching. Five Saturdays later an awesome staff was assembled. The chosen teachers came from far and wide, were varied in age and background, but all shared in the excitement of teaching in a brand new school with infinite possibilities. We took a weekend art class together, we bonded, good God, this is really happening!
The Parents
Next came an evening with all the preschool parents - my head was reeling with new names and faces. Some seventy-five people assembled in my backyard for a “Meet & Greet”. Seventy-five smiling, happy and excited parents all eager to meet the other parents whose children would also be attending Cassidy. The buzz in the air never once stopped. My heart warmed by the sound of the “ahhs” sung in unison at the showing of the beautiful slide show of all the children.
This is when it dawned on me…I had met Crystal and Jesse, toured the building, bonded with the teachers, met 75 eager new parents, but I had not met one single child. Well there it is then, exactly as it should be. The best should be saved for last.
-Helen
I present Helen.
To Crystal and Jesse, who made it all possible...
A crappy day and a random meeting... some unknown force in the universe brought us all together on that particular day. And lo, I am reborn into a new and better world.
The People
It started as a casual meeting through a mutual (albeit totally crazy) friend, just to pick my brain. From the minute I met Crystal it was evident that here was a force to be reckoned with. She had a relaxed and sweet facade, but five minutes into the conversation, it became immediately clear that under the surface was a determined, practical and intensely serious woman. The topic at hand was the opening of a brand new preschool on the Westside, a dream of hers, and many years in the making. It was also, to say the least, a very involved and complicated endeavor. This was her baby, but she also knew that by consulting with the myriad of people in the community, she would be privy to an endless source of help and information. Her excitement was immediately contagious. It seemed that no stone was left unturned. Crystal had visited every school possible and gathered the best ideas from each. My heart was racing at the very possibility of being part of what was sure to an amazing (not to mention much needed) new school - Cassidy.
Then what can only be described as scene out of I Dream of Jeanie, a blink of the eyes, a nod of the head, and week later Crystal came back, this time with her husband Jesse. He was introduced as "the business side". Much more reserved than Crystal at our first meeting; he seemed in many ways to be her opposite. He was a quiet observer and for me unnervingly impossible to read. I was convinced that if the room grew quiet, I would be able to hear the wheels turning in his head. A few meetings later I caught on to how really warm and funny he was, I just couldn’t always tell when he was joking with me.
The Building
My excitement continued to grow after visiting the building. Even though little more than a gutted structure, all the potential of a school with big beautiful classrooms was evident. Together Crystal and Jesse painted a picture of where everything was to be. Ideas and plans kept flowing for both the interior and exterior. Unquestionably, this wasn’t just a dream, this was real and it was going to be great.
The Staff
I was invited to sit in on the teacher interviews. Crystal dealt with the daunting task of weeding out all the nannies and people wanting to "try" teaching. Five Saturdays later an awesome staff was assembled. The chosen teachers came from far and wide, were varied in age and background, but all shared in the excitement of teaching in a brand new school with infinite possibilities. We took a weekend art class together, we bonded, good God, this is really happening!
The Parents
Next came an evening with all the preschool parents - my head was reeling with new names and faces. Some seventy-five people assembled in my backyard for a “Meet & Greet”. Seventy-five smiling, happy and excited parents all eager to meet the other parents whose children would also be attending Cassidy. The buzz in the air never once stopped. My heart warmed by the sound of the “ahhs” sung in unison at the showing of the beautiful slide show of all the children.
This is when it dawned on me…I had met Crystal and Jesse, toured the building, bonded with the teachers, met 75 eager new parents, but I had not met one single child. Well there it is then, exactly as it should be. The best should be saved for last.
-Helen
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