Remodeling: Bathroom #2, Finished

Finished

The bathroom remodel is finished now.  :-)

I still need to get a cabinet for the cubby behind the shower.

And the toilet is still behind the door.

But, I am so happy to have this finished.

Buy Local

As a manufacturer at heart and knowing that there aren't a lot of manufacturing options for me, I think it's important to support local manufacturing jobs.  It's difficult to find US manufactured products these days, but I did find a few.

• USA: tub, pedestal sink, tile, baseboard, paint, grout, mastic
• China: faucets, hoses, shower rod, curtain and hooks, light fixture
• Taiwan:  towel racks
• Germany: grout sponge
• Mexico: outlet, switches and switch plate
• Unknown: toilet, wall board, dew rock, primer

Environmental Impact

Remodels are tough.  A lot of trash is generated, both in the demolition and in the packaging of the new products.

• Reused: mirror, exhaust fan, wallboard and studs not affected by tub/shower removal.
• Saved for Later Use: Cabinet front, sides and drawers
• Salvaged for Re-Store:  sink, light fixture, shower doors
• Recycled: paper, cardboard and plastic packaging
• Landfill: everything else
• Continued Consumption: Both the new toilet and shower head are "low-flow" so we should see a reduction in water usage.  Also the Light Fixture Lamps are LEDs so there should be a reduction in electric usage as well.

So much nicer.  Fresh, clean, easy to clean and matching.  Time to start saving for the next project.  :-)

I used to be an Engineer

When I was a young girl, I was curious about how things worked. I was good at math and science and loved puzzles. I also loved animals (especially horses) skiing, rocks, hiking and Miss America.

I remember one of my parents friends asked if I wanted to be an engineer when I grew up. I told him that I was absolutely not interested in driving a train for a living.  Then many years later a career councilor suggested I think about engineering, because "engineers solve problems."

Engineering school was challenging for me but I could see how the coursework might be relevant someday. I graduated with a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Colorado and completed some graduate study in fluid dynamics and heat transfer.

My first professional job was as a Manufacturing Engineer on the Space Shuttle Main Engine working in Los Angeles, CA. At Rocketdyne we manufactured most of the pieces that went into the Space Shuttle Main Engine, as well as other rocket engines and assemblies for the International Space Station.

This job was like living a dream.

As a child, I remember watching the shuttle launches on TV. Everything would stop.

The world, my world, would stop to watch the launches and landings. Of course that was until Challenger. So to be able to watch the shuttle launches as a contributor to the space program was incredibly special to me.

Alas, my (soon-to-be) husband and I did not enjoy living in Los Angeles. We moved to Albuquerque where I had the opportunity to work with entrepreneurial companies on multiple laser systems, an electric generator, defense programs and an airplane.

These smaller companies allowed me learn how businesses operate. Specifically I have been responsible for purchasing, manufacturing, shipping, customer service and marketing as well as product development and traditional engineering. Some of my favorite accomplishments include developing and certifying two quality and production systems, of course with a team. No one can do everything by themselves.

Today, I work for a young IT consultancy, Astral Technology Group. We develop user interfaces and improve processes for our clients as well as develop and host websites. With ATG, I am primarily a project manager, but as the young companies I've worked with before, I have the opportunity to wear many hats.

To this day, I love the smell of machine oil and I love seeing the progress from day to day. Much like gardening, where the plants look different every day... the assemblies look different every day too. I really enjoy seeing them grow and eventually ship to customers.

I saw an Eclipse

I spent close to eight years working on a dream. It was Vern Raburn's dream and I bought it hook, line and sinker.

Our mission was to change the way people travel. Many said it couldn't be done. However, a lot of us spent most of our waking hours making it happen.

Eclipse Aviation's Type Certificate and Production Certificate were history making.  The 500 is the quietest and most fuel-efficient jet ever produced.  Even with the final price being more than twice the original, at $2.7M it is still the least expensive new jet on the market.

In the end, Eclipse Aviation filed for CH7 Bankruptcy and was sold to a group of customers for a small fortune. The new company is called Eclipse Aerospace. They are servicing the existing 500 fleet and have plans to restart production in the future.

I write this post because I saw an Eclipse 500 as I was leaving the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport yesterday.

It was the first time I had seen one since I left Eclipse and Albuquerque earlier this year. I couldn't help but smile. I loved the plane and the company, I learned much while there and I greatly admire the drive and belief of my fellow Eclipsers.

The pictures below are of production #13. It was my first and only ride on the aircraft I dedicated 8 years to. It was an honor to work on this product and it will always have a special place in my heart.