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Karrie J. Butler
We met in 1996, less than two year after the
unsuccessful attempt on my life. I looked
liked death warmed-over, trying desperately
to recover from a near fatal head injury and
fractured neck, while Larry was suffering
from serious depression. He had just recently
walked in on his wife with another man,
which was then followed by a painful divorce.
His ex wanted to keep the house, so he was
living in the darkest, most depressing
apartment I have ever seen, sustaining
himself on boxed meals so filled with
chemicals that they didn't need refrigeration,
while their unmarried, unemployed son was
borrowing his car and return it smelling like
spoiled milk, milk spit-up by his newborn
granddaughter.
unsuccessful attempt on my life. I looked
liked death warmed-over, trying desperately
to recover from a near fatal head injury and
fractured neck, while Larry was suffering
from serious depression. He had just recently
walked in on his wife with another man,
which was then followed by a painful divorce.
His ex wanted to keep the house, so he was
living in the darkest, most depressing
apartment I have ever seen, sustaining
himself on boxed meals so filled with
chemicals that they didn't need refrigeration,
while their unmarried, unemployed son was
borrowing his car and return it smelling like
spoiled milk, milk spit-up by his newborn
granddaughter.
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First, I transformed a Storage Room into half of a brand-new lower-level Kitchen
#1 - The Storage Room!
#2 - Installing the new floor
after wiring for a new stove
and refrigerator.
after wiring for a new stove
and refrigerator.
#3 - Installing cabinets
#4 - New Stove and Fridge
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Next we installed two new Windows and added a new Storage Room!
#1 - We took out one window on the side closest to the neighbor, and we added two new ones to the back
#2 - Framing in the new storage room
#3 - I began repainting with a lighter color and red accent
#4 - The new storage room ended up housing our
new 125 gallon solar hot water heater
new 125 gallon solar hot water heater
C o n t e m p o r a r y A r t i s t a n d H o m e R e n o v a t o r
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Then I redesigned and rebuilt the Laundry Room and added the other half of the lower level
Kitchen...
Kitchen...
#1 - The Laundry Room Before
#2 - Starting the Framing
#3 - All framed-in outside
#4 - Finishing the inside
#5 - New Doors and Tiled Floor
#6 - New sink for the lower-level kitchen
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In between the building projects, I worked on the landscaping
#1 - Front Yard Before
#2 - Front Yard after I finished it
#3 - My first attempt at a stone wall
#4 - My first attempt at creating a dry creek bed.
#5 - After a couple of years of practice, my
stone walls passed the inspection of the
Hawaiians who kept up the walls in
Volcanoes National Park!
stone walls passed the inspection of the
Hawaiians who kept up the walls in
Volcanoes National Park!
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Finishing up the lower-level one bedroom Apartment
#1 - Installing a new ceiling in the bathroom
#2 - Installing new lighting
#3 - Installing new flooring in the closet
#4 - The lower-level bathroom
#5 - The lower-level bedroom
#6 - The lower-level living area
#6 - Installing new outside lighting
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Rebuilding the Stairs and adding a new Entrance
#1 - Dad rebuilt the landing for me
#2 - I tiled it and did a Venetian Plaster wall
#3 - The new entrance from outside
#4 - Painting the walls
#5 - Installing a wall sconce
#6 - Installing a recessed light
Upstairs - three bedrooms and two baths
Bedroom #1
Bedroom #2
The Main Bathroom
| The Master Bedroom and Bath |
| The Living Room |
| The Lanai |
The Dining Room
New top-of-the-line stainless appliances upstairs
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My plans for the new garage were all approved. The engineer had been out and
taken measurements and elevations. We were ready to go when...
taken measurements and elevations. We were ready to go when...
| ... on December 21st, 2003, just five days after my birthday I receive that call you never want to get. The Emergency Room at the Hospital wanted me to come down. It was Larry... They put me all alone in a tiny little private room. First the doctor came in, and then the policeman. It took them three times to tell me before it sank in, that Larry had dropped dead in the parking lot of his favorite grocery store. This being just one hour after I had waved "Goodbye" to him at the house. Only this time it really was "Goodbye"! Larry was my Angel for eight years. I met him right after my head injury and broken neck. I looked like death-warmed-over, and he had just walked in on his wife in bed with another man. He didn't want to live anymore, and I didn't think I was going to survive, but together we thrived! With unfulfilled plans of visiting the Southwest together, three months after losing him, I sold the house and moved to Tucson, Arizona. |
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See photos of my house in Arizona
| Back to Main Menu |
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The New Garage
New Roof and Solar Hot Water Heater
Hilo, Hawaii
1991 - 2004
1991 - 2004
Larry's parents were Filipino immigrants,
coming from prominent families who sent their
kids away during the war. Larry was born and
grew up on a pineapple plantation on Kauai, but
became the Honolulu based Operations Manager
for Aloha Airlines, and then on to be the
Manager of Hilo International Airport. He was
well known and well respected all around the
State, but the most humble man I have ever met!
coming from prominent families who sent their
kids away during the war. Larry was born and
grew up on a pineapple plantation on Kauai, but
became the Honolulu based Operations Manager
for Aloha Airlines, and then on to be the
Manager of Hilo International Airport. He was
well known and well respected all around the
State, but the most humble man I have ever met!
| This Page is currently under reconstruction, please check back often for updates! |
I took it upon myself to pull him out of his funk,
while he, with the patience of a saint, supported
me through every step of my long and painful
rehabilitation.
while he, with the patience of a saint, supported
me through every step of my long and painful
rehabilitation.
After we got Larry moved to a brighter unit in his building, a unit overlooking
Hilo Bay, we worked on his finances. He was being garnished over $4,000
each month from his wages, all of it going to his ex-wife who had quickly
married her "Lunchtime Lover". $2,000 was still going to her for alimony,
and another $2,400 for two kids now over 21 years of age and no longer
living at home. On top of that, she had never paid him for his half of the
house. She was not at all happy with me! After I had encouraged him to give
the stinky old car to his son, with the money he got back from his ex, I sent
Larry off to Honolulu to buy the car of his dreams. And he did just that!
Hilo Bay, we worked on his finances. He was being garnished over $4,000
each month from his wages, all of it going to his ex-wife who had quickly
married her "Lunchtime Lover". $2,000 was still going to her for alimony,
and another $2,400 for two kids now over 21 years of age and no longer
living at home. On top of that, she had never paid him for his half of the
house. She was not at all happy with me! After I had encouraged him to give
the stinky old car to his son, with the money he got back from his ex, I sent
Larry off to Honolulu to buy the car of his dreams. And he did just that!
Larry came back from Honolulu that
day the very proud owner of a dark
red and chrome Jaguar!
day the very proud owner of a dark
red and chrome Jaguar!
1994
An attempt on my life left me legally blind. A fractured skull
and neck left me having to learn to do everything all over
again, including walking and talking and writing.
and neck left me having to learn to do everything all over
again, including walking and talking and writing.
Overlooking Hilo Bay
Larry's Dream Car
Moving Day!