Do you know what a Cat Genie is? No? Well, let me tell you... These spoiled rotten furballs (rotten to the core and plotting my demise) have a fully automatic litter box. The "litter" is plastic pellets. The box itself is computerized and not only scoops the poo for them up to four times a day (programmable), but because it's hooked up to the water line and the drain in our laundry room, it washes, scrubs, sanitizes, and BLOW DRIES WITH WARM AIR their precious litter for them. Up to four times a day! All I have to do is insert a new 60 day cleaning cartridge when it beeps at me. It's spendy, but has been worth EVERY penny. I have scooped no poop since we made this purchase.So, these lovely little bundles of JOY have been urinating underneath the window in our dining room. Seriously, if we ever sell this place, what would we say - water damage or cat pee? Which is better? Which is worse? So, armed with my favorite cat stain and odor remover, I pulled back the carpet to see how bad the damage was on the bottom of the carpet. Lord, it was so bad I...I don't know. I don't know how to begin to describe how bad it was. I won't even post pictures, it was that bad (and yes, I took pictures because I couldn't believe it). I started in on the cleaning, half-heartedly, and just got angry. After some (brief) deliberation with The Man, I grabbed my trusty pink utility razor and cut out the dining room carpet. Just cut the whole thing out. At the very worst, we would just replace the carpet. However... Goodbye carpet...hello GORGEOUS 1928 OAK FLOORS!!! That is, of course, underneath all of the plaster wall texture that I had to scrub off... Seriously? Seriously?! Come ON, people! Can't you cover your stinkin' floors before you retexture your walls?! Nevermind the few splotches of paint and the carpet pad adhesive around the perimeter of the room. BUT, there was no kitty pee damage. There's no smell now that the carpet and pad are gone, and after a few more wipes down with that pee neutralizer/odor remover, the evil bastards will be let out of their room...and all will be well. Hopefully. It does appear that the floors will need some refinishing, as someone apparently got drunk and decided it would be fun to learn how to stain a floor (going across the grain, no less, and leaving a stain can ring with drips here and there...you know, just to tip us off as to what their plan was). But, even as is, they remind me of some of the older floors that can be found back home in Juneau, Alaska. The historic bars and such. They have a lot of good character. I'm going to start my way into the living room next (and then the front part of the hallway along with the other living room).
If you've ever taken carpet out, you'll know that the carpet and pad - even of a well-worn carpet - is at least 1/2" thick if not more. It's amazing what that 1/2" drop to bare floor can do to a person in the pitch black of night if they're not expecting it. As I stepped from the hallway, that measly 1/2" drop sent my arms flailing out like a baby that feels like it's suddenly falling. After I'd been pulling, ripping, scrubbing and scraping in that very room ALL day. Criminy, Steph...really, get a grip.
What else, what else...hm...it's been nice and cold here lately and we've been able to make use of our fireplace again. As much as I ADORE the fireplace, it's not so wonderful when its' thermostat kicks it on mid step aerobics session (our TV is located on the wall above our fireplace).
That's about it, folks. I need to get crackin' on these floors again! Pictures to come!
