Spa Rules for visitors to the Dragons' Roost

This post is for any and all potential visitors who may choose to use our tiny spa.

It is also for US to remember all of the steps we need to take in order to be able to fully enjoy our investment.

This spa is almost the smallest one made, with a low horsepower motor, and small filters.  Due to that, we have to be hyper vigilant about how we treat and maintain the water.  We learned this lesson the hard way the first week we had the spa.

This sounds like we're being control freaks, but seriously, it's expensive and a pain in the ass to have to drain, clean, and refill the tub every week!  The water quality should last months, not days.

So this is serious.  We mean it.

1.  If possible, plan ahead, and do not use lotions, oils, body sprays, perfumes, or deodorant on the day you plan to use the spa.  If there is conditioner or styling product in your hair, keep it out of the tub!  No, seriously.  Put it up so it's not in the water!

2.  Shower without soap before coming over, or if you're staying over, before entering the spa.   This is regardless of your non-use of personal care products earlier that day.  Even if you didn't use deodorant, shower anyway.

If you need to use soap to remove deodorant, lotions, and body sprays, do an extra rinse of your entire body afterward, to be sure that the maximum removal of soap residue has been attempted.  

Ladies- if you're wearing face make up, please consider removing it before entering the spa.  

3. Wash all swimwear in the rinse cycle only-- without softener or detergent.  It's a swim suit...it shouldn't be very dirty.  If you're pulling your swim wear out of a dresser and MIGHT have washed it with detergent last summer....please rinse it completely in plain water before wearing it in the spa.

4. Unfortunately, swim wear is required at the Dragons' Roost.  Neighbors are very close.

5.  Bring and wear flip flops or other water proof shoes up to the edge of the spa.  Then wipe your feet before stepping in.  If you need to exit the spa and then return again, use the flip flops to keep your feet as clean as possible, and then use the towel next to the spa step to wipe your feet completely before re-entering.

6.  Any and all dragons MUST refrain from washing their kills in the spa, or from eating while in the spa.  NO exceptions.

7. Lastly, when drying off and going back into the house, please try NOT to leave water on the wood floors.  Please try to dry off as much as possible in the laundry room.  

The minions of the Dragons' Roost thank you, most heartily, for your complete cooperation in this regard!  

Bliss

Yeah, so having our own little hot tub on the back patio is bliss.

Truly.

SO worth the expense.

Dave's son has a new girlfriend.  We've thought he'd met "the one" once before, but this time, it seems different.

They came over last night, and we sat in the tub together for almost 2 hours, until the heating unit couldn't keep up, and the cool October wind drove us inside.

Last night was only our second chance to use the tub, because Friday night was in the 30's and raining.  In the 30's would have been fine, but not with the rain pissing down.

Our other, and smallest home improvement project with this loan was to replace the bathroom sink.

The one that was put in here when the house was renovated was fine, but the bathroom is pretty small, and the old sink sort of stuck out, so that you were afraid you might hit your jaw on it when you go to sit on the toilet!
Especially if any alcohol use had been a part of your day.

SO...Dave picked out a nice little sink with a vanity that matches the medicine cabinet and the little cabinet up over the toilet, and he changed it out himself with no complications.

The bathroom does seem roomier now, and less dangerous.

Plus?  My bathroom cleaning products are not sitting out on the floor next to the toilet anymore.  I can put them away!

In other news, things have improved ever so slightly in my desk situation at work.

My boss found me a chair that isn't broken, and that raises up high enough for me to have less arm pain.  It's designed to raise up, and even has a built on ring around the bottom for my feet to rest on.

She had one of the desk construction crew try to fit on a keyboard tray that was in storage at the office, but it was WAY too big for my tiny spot.  However, the highchair effect is helping somewhat.

Also, the panel of my desk that was damaged was replaced last week when the crew was there.

But still no storage cabinets, and even though they installed the decorative glass panels on EVERYONE else's desks last week, mine did not come in.

That's because my desk is too small, and the glass now has to be "special" ordered.  Same reason I don't have cabinets yet.

What I don't get is that, while CLEARLY, one of these desks is not like the others, this fact has escaped the planners/installers, and oh gosh, we don't have anything THAT size....  really?

You didn't know months ago, when you drew the plans, that the very last desk built was going to be tiny?

Anyway, all of this was what caused my boss to finally notice that my desk REALLY IS the smallest....how could a simple keyboard tray be TOO BIG?  And how come the cabinets are still not here, and where's your glass??

Not that I give a shit about useless, expensive glass panels-- the money for which COULD have been spent on, oh, you know, a drawer or something.

These units have no drawers.  All they have is the overhead storage cabinets.

ANYWAY...the job itself continues to seem to be going really well.  My project management skills have been put to the test, and I have passed, so far.  It's been a challenge, but that's way better than being bored.

I'm also learning a lot about certain processes.

The position of manager has been created and someone hired for it, but I am the only staff person NOT reporting to the new manager.

My boss said that is because she needs me to work more closely and directly with her in future, and she needed EVERYONE ELSE to be out of her hair.  Her exact words.

I wonder what that means, though.  Being groomed for an assistant position or something?  Or perhaps this is a test project, and I am going to be made full time project manager if all goes well...which it seems to be doing?
I understand project managers make real money.

Not holding my breath, but it seems positive.  It's clear that I am going to be doing SOMETHING different from everyone else, if I won't climb the same reporting chain as everyone else.


Okay, off to roast the chicken that I was supposed to cook yesterday, but that didn't thaw in time.

the purpose of the patio

Notice the power cord?  Yeah.  The electrician comes tomorrow to give an estimate.  We should have this baby up and running by next weekend, though!

The Dragons' Roost gets a new drive way, front steps, and patio!

The driveway was crumbling, with deep holes up closer to the house

All gone!!

Patio outlined and framed

All smoothed out and ready for the pour

Front steps framed 

 nice butt, concrete guy

Had to

Patio, cured and ready for the tub...it's going on that shady corner on the right

Driveway and steps, fully cured

..and awaaay we go!

The concrete work starts in the morning!  Wheee!

Dave will be home, since he has lots of vacation time.  It's supposed to take at least 2 days to get everything done.

He got home from his second week in Pennsylvania on Friday evening.  SO glad that's over.

I was sick the whole time.  Ugh.  Haven't had a bug like that for a long time.  It wasn't fun.  Still coughing up goop, but not as often.

Ick.

Anyway, the concrete has to cure for 3 days after it's completed, so the hot tub can be delivered maybe next weekend.

Then the electrician has to come and run the outdoor line.  Then, once that's all done, we can fill up the tub and start soaking!

Oh yeah, I guess I need to get a bathing suit!

In other news, we have officially decided to cancel our traditional Thanksgiving in the cabin.  We went to Colorado last month instead.

Maybe we'll reinstate the tradition next year.  I will miss my packs of wild turkey running through the woods, though! :(

But really, why would we want to go away and leave home so soon after doing these wonderful upgrades? :)

Besides, Dave's brother and sister in law are going to come up for Thanksgiving this year, and I know Dave wants to see his brother.

Okay, I'm off to feed the cats and check on my pot roast.  Have a good week!