Before and after

 A little bare: A little more balanced.  We have worked with three different companies on this project.  Different teams did the cement pour, deck work, and concrete painting.  It all brings to mind that classic picture on the internet entitled “It’s not my job”.  What we experienced is the exact opposite of what that photo illustrates.  Nobody painted over any possums.  Three different crews of hardworking men taking great pride in their work.  Leveling, squaring, aligning; people working on their hands and knees making sure there wasn’t a stray pebble or leaf.  They were making this project as good as it could be. Everybody knows everybody.  They depend on each other.  The last crew, from Concrete Designs, consisted of Rolando, the son, setting up the job and doing the computer work, creating the forms for the graphics; Frank, the dad, and Artemio, Frank’s brother, doing the scraping, grinding, and painting. For us, the whole experience couldn’t have been better.  

Part three

 With all that done, it’s time for the tape and paper to come off.  One more brushing and blowing before the end of the day. Put the crime scene tape back up, and there we have it!  The finished product!  

And the finish

 Today began with more sweeping and blowing. The switch over to the uniform of the day, knee-pads and socks. Then, the taping. And taping. And taping. That took a long time.