Dive Mom left town over the weekend and we decided it was time to add to the list of things we “stole” from the Bissonnet Facility. This weekend saw us remove all of the grid wall displays from the retail area and the basket storage from the inventory closet!
We are sure she would not notice! The crew is responsible for this dastardly deed? Zaide, Coad, Bill, Zac, and Eric were the co-conspirators but please don’t tell.
After loading everything up, and moving it to the new facility, Dave, Madison, and Coad set to work hanging it up while Zaide and Eric took over cleaning from Dave so he could assist with the grid installation. Once again, Christian was chasing electrical issues; this time it was upstairs where we found an incorrect wiring job. After a few more, Christian can probably work as an apprentice electrician for his Father, George.
Zac also worked on the electrical as well as re-wiring the dishwasher, hanging blinds, and cleaning blinds. And speaking of cleaning, Zaide and Christian tasked themselves with cleaning years of dirt and dust off of the grid wall fixtures.
Here are a few photos from the weekend…
Christian Fuss has spent two afternoons this week, chasing lighting issues and installing more track lighting in the facility. Every room now has light! This is a real treat when the sun goes down and the rooms get a little dark. It will also be great when the merchandise arrives in a few weeks. Of course, we could not have done it without the help of Sonny from SCT Electric. He worked for two to three hours trying to get all of the circuits and daisy chained switches operational. We even have a lot of new GFIC outlets throughout the facility (where they need to be).
Speaking of merchandise, Dave Snyder and Eric got the new wetsuit racks installed and they too are ready to accept merchandise. These racks look really cool and will make it easier to find your size when you come by.
Colin volunteered to build some benches and he and Eric sat down and designed them so they could also store boots. And speaking of custom work, Colin also volunteered to help Al out by making him his own stand. Look for photos of these in the next few weeks.
And lest we forget the most important thing to happen this week – Joe Thompson donated a new commercial ice maker! We should have it hooked in an a day or two. You know – it is really hot here in Houston!
The painting is really progressing. Able and Caesar along with Richard have been working hard to complete the transformation. They have even had tome to finish the custom color on Eric’s office wall!
Todd Frank came by today for the second time to work on the mailbox installation. He just sneaks away before we can snap a photo.
As you can see, things have been moving along. We are trying to get everything complete this week so Rick and the computer team can come in and install the cabling and monitors throughout the office. Oh and lets not forget the cameras…
Over the past few days with some help, we have made a lot of progress! Dave came into town this week and told me — I am here for you so let’s get to work. What do you need done? With his help, things moved along quickly. We were able to build the new wetsuit racks using structural steel components (lots of trips to Lowes in outside the loop — inner loopers have not discovered this yet so it was not available close-by.) Dave became an electrical contractor and took over the ceiling fan installation; so, now the ceiling fans are up in the classroom and my office.
The painters have finished the ceilings and trim and are moving on to the walls. The upstairs is about 75% finished and they will be trying to finish most of the second floor this weekend and move on to the first floor. Ceasar has promised to finish at least the “wetsuit room” this weekend so we can attach the racks to the wall.
Joe surprised us today by not only loaning us a powerwasher but actually powerwashing the front of the building to remove some wild paint that was on the brick. Joe spent a few hours cleaning the brick and the sidewalks removing dirt, grime and paint. The brief rain shower didn’t even deter him from his work! It looks so much better now!
We had a bit of a set-back with the electrical — we lost several circuits. Christian came over and with some consulting with his Father, George, who is an electrician in Germany, we were able to get back some of the power but we still don’t have power going to the lights in three rooms. We know it is a drop in the electrical daisy chain but we just cant figure out where it is. It would seem logic could solve it but Dave and I finally decided there was some institutional knowledge we just do not have. So, we have a call into our electrician for some assistance in solving the problem.
Chuck, from Chill-Co Air Conditioning came by to rescue the painting crew by getting the upstairs A/C running again. He still has to come back to do some other work but things are cool again upstairs.
Ann, Amelia and Coad have been making sure that everyone’s scuba needs are being met during this transition. Of course they have been coming by to supervise as well.
Tomorrow, Zaide is coming over to the Bissonnet location to help me pull down some of the track lighting so we can put it up in the new facility on Monday!
So we are continuing to push forward to get things ready for the big move — which we have yet to schedule since we need to get the painting done and now the electrical issue resolved.
