I am posting here as a method of therapy. I didn't realize that there was such an extensive pools forum here on gardenweb until I was nearly done with my project, but I've had a good time sifting through threads asnd looking at some of the great ideas people have included in their pools.

So here is my reason for therapy. I started my pool project on Jan 5th with the layout. We excavated the next day and started plumbing and electric on Jan 7th. We were done with plumbing, electric, steel on Jan 12th and shot the pool (gunite) on Jan 13th. One week and I had gone from bare ground to gunite and was very happy with our progress.

I spent 10 days watering the shell and on Jan 22nd I had a crew come in that did a fantastic job on an artificial waterfall/slide/grotto and some accent boulders. They finished on Jan 30th.

I took a week and a half off just to catch my breath and make some final decisions on the coping and deck as well as find a sub that we felt good about doing some of the work I had planned for a bridge and some suspended bartops. We started up again around Feb 9th. We worked a bit slower through the features and a large raised deck area, but were essentially done the first week of March. We had some waiting due to the bridge and bartops curing, but it had been just 2 months and I was only a few days from bringing in my pebbletec sub and seeing actual water in the pool. At least that is what I thought...

We made a couple decisions that literally put our project at a standstill from that day until today (April 27th). I ordered a waterjet cut medallion to put on the tabletop in the pool. That medallion has been done for 4 weeks, but the 1/4 round and 4x4 tiles we are using with it have been difficult to come by. The company that did the medallion agreed to get matching tiles to the stone that is on the outside and it has been one delay after another. I suppose I would have pulled the plug weeks ago and just driven over to NPT and picked up some matching (close enough) tiles and finish it up had it not been for the OTHER decision. We contracted 8 weeks ago for 2 custom gates to be built, which I need to pass my final inspection. What should have taken 2 weeks looks like it will take 10 weeks. The original sales guy was fired half way through the process and then they built the gate to the wrong dimensions, and on and on...

So from gunite at 7 days into the project I sit and look at a nearly complete pool as the temperature hit 100 degrees for the first time this year last week. That is my need for this therapeutic post. Feel free to console me...

Here are a few photos. Will post a few more if I don't mess up the image linking.