Valentines Day--2010

Valentines Day is very special to Carol and I. It was that special day in 1991 that I proposed to my sweetie and she accepted! We were married a little over 6 months later on September 20th.

Ever since 1992, we have tried-very successfully I might add, to make Valentines Day special. In fact, we started a tradition that continues to this day. We alternate the responsibility each year for deciding where/what we will do and to surprise the other. And just an additional note, this was our 19th time to celebrate Valentines Day!

So it was that 2010 was my turn. Weeks ago I had ordered and paid for our tickets to the Georgia Aquarium on line including parking in the covered lot next door. I advised Carol this morning to dress warm and wear good walking shoes. Our tickets were for 11:00 and we left Mattie behind around 9:30.

As we traveled on I-20 toward Atlanta, Carol and I played the guessing game--she made some good guesses including the Atlanta Zoo, Jimmy Carter Library, etc. It was just in sight of the aquarium when I surprised Carol with this years' surprise. Carol was ecstatic as we had said many times we wanted to visit the all famous aquarium.

After parking the "Tutzmobile" on the 3rd parking level, we prceeded to the entrance. We felt at home as the first thing we did was have our photo taken by a professional service--this is very similar to the professional photographers that roam cruise ships.

We entered the aquarium around 10:30 and spent probably at least 2 and half hours. We had so much fun, taking photos at every turn. Families with small children were everywhere and so friendly--we had serveral folks that took our picture with my little Fuji camera, and I in turn took photos for others. We saw everything there except the 3D movie--we felt it would be somewhat anti-climatic after seeing so many live fish in the various tanks.

We did however stop in the gift shop. We found our obligatory christmas tree ornament and lapel pins. Carol found a couple pieces of jewelry and shawl. Just before we exited, we stopped an purchased from the photographers booth the photo taken of us as we entered the aquarium. We brought the package that included a large print, 3 smaller ones, and small magnetic picture frames for 2 small prints -- all for $30.

After leaving Atlanta, we thought we would eat lunch at Longhorns but unfortunately the ones in both Conyers and Covington were way too busy with minimum 40 minute waits. We settled on a 10 minute wait at Appleby's in Covington. Carol chose fried shrimp and I had their chicken alfredo--it all was good. We returned home round 3:00.

Once again, we had a great and special Valentines Day!!

Henry Grant Liddiard

Here is aunt Tracy holding her newest nephew in the hospital with Henry's little head sock on!!

Henry Grant Liddiard has arrived!


Henry and his dad Evan.

What a cutie!!

Proud mother and son!

GREAT NEWS!

Henry Grant Liddiard was born to proud parents Tabitha and Evan at 3:41 pm on Monday Feburary 8th, 2010. Henry weighed 10.1 pounds and is 22 inches long. Mother and son are doing great and should be coming home in a couple days. Henry is my 4th grandchild and 2nd grandson. He was born in the city of Arlington, Va.

Tabitha and Evan were accompanied by my youngest Tracy and her husband Odie--both also from the city of Arlington. Tracy is also expecting a son and is due in early April.

Mattie Home From Ms Becky's-Jan 29th, 2010

Mattie gets groomed about every 6 weeks. Over the years, our groomer Ms Becky, has refrained from placing a bow in her hair simply because Mattie quickly "shakes" it out! Last week was an exception. When I picked Mattie up, there she was in her full glory and with a hair bow to boot. I could not resist but to come home and take photos. Here are two of my favorites!

Man Cave Bath Renovation--Jan 2010

The "before"--notice linoleum floor.

The cheap linoleum flooring has been removed & walls painted.

Commode is removed-note wall paper.

Getting ready to clean drain flange and start tiling.

Tiling down and just finished grout--notice excess and haze.

The finished product--all looks and works well!

On January 18th, 2010, I completed the full renovation of the powder room bath off the kitchen. I decided I would take some time off before starting my next "self imposed" project.

So it was, on January 21st (3 days later), I took photos of the "before" man cave bathroom and we headed to Lowes in Madison to choose a pint of paint as a test sample. Came home and tried the green sample--I did not like--too light. Back to Lowes and decided on a slightly darker green called Lyndhurst Spring Eve. Part of the reason we went green is this color--in a different shade--is found in the shower curtain, bath towels, and other amenities. Our plan was to change the yellow wall color to a green and keep everything else as is! Also, my plans are to change the venting fan to a quieter design and upgrade the towel rack, toilet paper holder, and hand towel to a new chrome.

I applied the first coat of green to the walls on January 22nd and the second and final coat the next day on the 23rd. On January 24th, I carefully removed all the shoe molding--this is smaller than quarter round--along with the linoleum floor that had buckled behind the commode. While the linoleum had originally been glued down, it came up fairly easily--exposing the bare concrete floor below. The next day I removed the commode and painted the wall behind it. The original walls were wall papered with an Arnold Palmer golf theme--was it ever ugly. The afternoon of the 25th found me beginning the tiling process. I completed the floor tiling at 1:00 on Tuesday 26th--allowing it to dry and somewhat cure for the next 36-48 hours.

The tiles are my first in the size of 13 x 13--most I have put down have been 12 x 12. I decided to use the same stagger design as the bath upstairs. We brought two boxes plus 4 individual tiles--upon completion, there were a couple partial pieces left--good measuring and estimating on my part! BTW--the tile has a green tone with a little light reddish tint--should be perfect to blend and compliment the walls and grout!

On Thursday, January 28th, I mixed the 25 pound bag of dry grout in a dry bucket. After thoroughly mixing, I returned about half to the original plastic bag. The remaining I mixed with water to obtain the desired consistency. I began with applying the grout in all the groves and letting sit for 30 minutes. For the next hour or so, using a clean sponge and water, I began to clean the extra grout from all tiles--it took about 6 times to get the tiles clean and sparkle free. Finished around noon and will now allow to thoroughly cure for next 36 hours.

Friday the 29th was officially "Completion" day. I started with cutting to lenght and installing all the quarter round molding that had two coats of white trim paint. Afterwards, I applied caulking and then painted finishing nail holes. Then came the real challenge--reinstalling the commode. It took Carol and I two attempts but finally success--yea! After making certain the unit was properly bolted to drain flange, Tutz and I put up the shower curtains and wall hangings. Job complete and it looks great!

Bathroom Renovation-Jan 2010

I retired last July 1st. Prior to that, projects took a long time when only Saturdays were available. No more. Now I can start a project and days later, (not months) its complete.

So it was with the powder room off of our kitchen. We decided on the paint, tile, and new sink & faucet late in December 2009. January 6th, I took photos of the bathroom as the starting "before" point. Yesterday, January 18th or just 12 days later, the project is completed!

Just a couple of comments before viewing below the photos leading up to the finished project.

There were 3 different colors/styles of wall paper. We knew it would not be removed without damage to the dry wall. So, first job was to add drywall mud to all seams and let dry and sand--had to do this twice before I got that smooth finish I was looking for. Next, one coat of primer followed by two coats of a bold red referred to as Cranberry. Afterwards, I laid down the floor tile backer board, then tiled with thin set and later adding grout. With water and sponge, cleaned grout then painted and reinstalled quarter round molding. Added a half inch toilet flange spacer (this is required due to added height of backer board and tile)and reinstalled toilet with new wax seal.

After confirming the toilet was installed correctly with no leaks, I now installed the antique oak vanity--first drilling large 2 1/2 inch holes for the water and drain lines. BTW--I failed to mention I previously added a new light fixture we really like.

Once the vanity was installed to the wall, I added both faucets and white vessel and added new water lines and drain pipes. Afterwards, with new light switch plate, towel rack, and wall hanging--the job was complete.

Enjoy the photos.



Here is the bath with pedestal sink, wall paper, and linoleum floor.
Everything removed and primer on walls.

Backer board down and tile being installed. Room is 5 x 6 feet.

Tile thin set was cured and here the grout has been added-clean up coming.

Quarter round painted and installed along with toilet.

Tutz modeling the finished project.

Our antique oak vanity customed fitted with faucet and white vessel.

Above is the finished project. Carol and I think it pops! We are very happy with the outcome. What a transformation!

Now to the next project--painting and tiling the "man cave" bathroom!

Beyond Allstate...

June 26th, 2009--my last day in the office.

Carol and I on May 20th, 2009 at my retirement party.

That's me in 1980 (4th from left) in the old Commercial Regional Office at a staff meeting---had to wear coat and ties back then!

My sweet wife just added a post titled "Honey, I'm Home..." commemorating the fact that as of June 30th, 2009, after some 33 years I have now officially retired from Allstate Insurance Company. Suffice it to say that those were great years and a great carreer.

I was hired by Allstate in Greensboro, NC and immediately relocated to the Charlotte Region starting my career on September 20th, 1976. I knew up front as a condition of employment I would be relocating to the Atlanta area in a year or so. And after just a little over a year in Charlotte, the company moved us to Atlanta.

From 1977 thru 1990 we were considered the Southern Commercial Regional Office located off I-75 and Northside Parkway. It was during those years I advanced from Unit Manager to Territorial Underwriting Manager (TUM) to Terrirtorial Commercial Manager (TCM) in 1988.

Allstate at one point decided to take it's quality to the next level and contracted with a Florida company who presented us with a plan to improve our quality standards. I was one of a few selected to attend a Quality College and learn how to teach those standards. For about 2 years (1988 thru 1990) we taught all of our Commercial Associates how to "do it right the first time, on time, every time" via the Quality Education System (QES).

Also, in 1982 I was one of the youngest managers to be selected to participate in the Manpower Development Rotational Program (MDRP). I entered what then was Personnell (now Human Resources) for 3 months and interviewed some 385 employment applicants for positions we were hiring for. From there I went to the Comptroller's Department and worked on the region's budget planning and lastly I rotated into a newly formed Commercial Division of Allstate named Northbrook P&C--we contracted only with selective large alphabet houses who could write millions of Commercial premium overnight. I stayed there for three years and was promoted back to the Allstate side in mid 1985 as a TUM.

In the early 90's we sold the large Commerial Region where some 600+ employees worked for so many years and moved to a high rise at 5660 New Northside Drive just outside I-285 next to the Chattanoochee River on north side of Atlanta. My office originally was on the 8th floor but later moved up to the 9th.I was one of a few TCMs whose department marketed Commercial products thru both the captive and independent agents market distribution system.

On 10-27-92, I transferred over to a new division that would handle Independent Agents only. This operation was so new that another manager (from NY) and I were given the charge to decide what we would call ourselves and develop a postion standard as to our accountabilities. We came up with Commercial Field Manager (CFM) and thus started my last 17 years with Allstate--these years were to be spent working from home and travelling every week.

Originally we had one profit center named Independent Agent Regional Commercial Center (IARCC). It had the Chicago and Atlanta offices. I found myself traveling between the two quite often. We added CFMs--each with company cars, expenses, and objective to profitably grow the top line (new business). As time went on, I went from being responsible merely for a territory to once again managing folks.

In addition to having Georgia and the Carolinas as my personal territory, I also managed about 7 CFMs located in Texas, Florida, Mississippi, New York, and Pennsylvania. I traveled at least once a year with each of these in their markets and we also had at least one CFM Conference in Atlanta and I would also bring them in during either Christmas or Kick Off meetings. Those were great times!

Over the years I had great folks that I worked with, for and managed. Those are the memories I now carry with me. I even had some great trips to Home Office where we worked hard and played hard. I remember one such trip included a boat ride down the Chicago River into Lake Michigan. Likewise, I worked in the San Francisco Branch Office of Northbrook for two weeks auditing their compliance to underwriting standards. I had a great time each evening just touring that wonderful city. I also had great trips to LA and other places over the years--these will be the fond memories I now will treasure.

This feature is titled "Beyond Allstate". So, what is in store for me now that I have closed that Allstate chapter?

Looking ahead, first and foremost Tutz and I now enjoy sitting at the breakfast table for lunch and eat without interruption. Also, we are having a great time each morning on the screen-in porch--making and discussing our plans for the day and week. Plus, we are not very far from each other--this is by far the greatest part of retirement for me--after all these 17 years of being apart during the week, we are now together and I have now found my real "comfort zone".

Naturally, I have projects around the farm I want to start and finish--all in the same day or week! As I write this I have a note beside my laptop that has 14 "to do" items on it that range from adding stepping stones from drive to workshop, to putting down tile in the "man cave" bath, with projects in between. I will look forward to sneaking up on each one of these in a calm and organized fashion as opposed to thinking I have to do these between 8:00 am and Noon on Saturdays.

Another great part of retirement is flexibility. If I get up one day and decide instead of working on a project let's take the new Beetle to the mountains--then off we go! Mattie has gotten use to me being around full time and now really gets angry when I leave---oh the joys of having a 5 pound Yorkie that suffers from Separation Anxiety--LOL.

I also will now have more time to "walk the walk" as it relates to one of my goals--that is to perform at least one good deed daily. That combined with my church calling will balance my life and purpose! Not to mention I have already begun the mental transition of emotionally caring for those issues I have control over and removing from my daily thought process those issues/items abeit politics, etc I have no or very limited control over.

Carol told me just today that the beauty of retirement is: "..wait up when you want to, go to sleep when you want to, and eat when you want to!"

Oh retirement---there is life after Allstate!!!