Friday, June 15, 2007
duckies, home improvement, and moving
Since I'm in flux, I don't have many brain cells available for long and insightful posts. The way I figure it, the internets will be here when I have two brain cells to rub together.
In the meantime, let me give you a duckie update. This is mostly for Karen, wife of Trout. THEY'RE FINE. All seven of them have reached the duckling equivalent of teenager: they're gangly, have tufts in strange places, and they don't listen to their mom all that much. But all seven are still alive.
On the home improvement front, it's almost all done. Flooring guy is finishing his work today. Everything looks really nice. I get to live in a nice place for two whole weeks. When the house is on the market, I'll link to the MLS Listings page so you all (my parents) can see what it looked like in the end (and how crazy prices are in California).
Moving. It'll be soon. Have to get the cats to the vet sometime before then so I can get health certificates and tranquilizers. Right this moment they're sitting quietly in their carriers since the flooring guy is here and the door is wide open most of the time. While Max (old guy) would likely just sit on my desk and sleep all day, and Deuce (youngster) would stay under the bed, I prefer not to take the chance that one of them would get a wild hair and bolt. So in the carriers they went. Deuce went without much fuss at all. It was a sneak attack. She'll be pissed later, I'm sure.
In the meantime, let me give you a duckie update. This is mostly for Karen, wife of Trout. THEY'RE FINE. All seven of them have reached the duckling equivalent of teenager: they're gangly, have tufts in strange places, and they don't listen to their mom all that much. But all seven are still alive.
On the home improvement front, it's almost all done. Flooring guy is finishing his work today. Everything looks really nice. I get to live in a nice place for two whole weeks. When the house is on the market, I'll link to the MLS Listings page so you all (my parents) can see what it looked like in the end (and how crazy prices are in California).
Moving. It'll be soon. Have to get the cats to the vet sometime before then so I can get health certificates and tranquilizers. Right this moment they're sitting quietly in their carriers since the flooring guy is here and the door is wide open most of the time. While Max (old guy) would likely just sit on my desk and sleep all day, and Deuce (youngster) would stay under the bed, I prefer not to take the chance that one of them would get a wild hair and bolt. So in the carriers they went. Deuce went without much fuss at all. It was a sneak attack. She'll be pissed later, I'm sure.
Labels: home improvement, misc life
Saturday, February 3, 2007
my kitchen countertop is so nice, i think i might cry
Not really, but it sure makes a difference. I ordered the new appliances yesterday, so sometime next week I should have a sparkling new stove, fridge, washer, and dryer. I'll get to put "all new appliances" in the sales listing! Somehing that will cost me ~$1500 will raise the price of the place certainly more than that. Good investment.
Anyway, so all I have left to do in the whole house are minor painting things plus one visit from Mr. Handyman to do things like replace some outlets (I don't mess with electricity), put up some shelving (I don't mess with things that need to be level), and install some new bi-fold doors on the laundry area (see above re: things needing to be level). The flooring guys need to do the flooring in the vanity/bathroom and the kitchen. But it's damn near done and I can stop obsessing about it!
By my calculations, I'll live in a nice place for about 4.5 months. Whoo hoo!
Today I'm off to do a bunch of grading so that tomorrow I can work on my thesis intro (10 pages or so)...it's due during my Tuesday meeting. I must also write a summary of my research so that lay people (profs outside the dept) can see that I did a bunch of it. How does one do that, really? In science, you can totally rock a research summary what with all those experiments and stuff. Me? How do I articulate that "I read a hell of a lot of primary material and secondary sources" is good research? It's sort of a rhetorical question.
Anyway, so all I have left to do in the whole house are minor painting things plus one visit from Mr. Handyman to do things like replace some outlets (I don't mess with electricity), put up some shelving (I don't mess with things that need to be level), and install some new bi-fold doors on the laundry area (see above re: things needing to be level). The flooring guys need to do the flooring in the vanity/bathroom and the kitchen. But it's damn near done and I can stop obsessing about it!
By my calculations, I'll live in a nice place for about 4.5 months. Whoo hoo!
Today I'm off to do a bunch of grading so that tomorrow I can work on my thesis intro (10 pages or so)...it's due during my Tuesday meeting. I must also write a summary of my research so that lay people (profs outside the dept) can see that I did a bunch of it. How does one do that, really? In science, you can totally rock a research summary what with all those experiments and stuff. Me? How do I articulate that "I read a hell of a lot of primary material and secondary sources" is good research? It's sort of a rhetorical question.
Labels: grad school, home improvement
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
fffffreeeezing
It is currently 37 degrees in San Jose. Now, my parents will tell you that I have no problem with the cold. I like the cold. I prefer it to heat (in fact, I hate hate hate the heat). I hardly ever wear a jacket because I stay warm pretty well on my own.
But it's freaking COLD outside.
This would not be a problem, usually, because my little condo has really lovely forced heat. However, I do not have the heat on as we speak (and I keep it at 66 anyway) because I am venting the fumes out of my house.
I had my shower/tub combo refinished yesterday and the fumes are still hanging around. When the fellow was here doing the work yesterday, he had this cool pump-driven vent sort of deal so no worries for me and the cats...the ducks and the birds and squirrels outside stayed away for a few hours...sorry, environment.
Anyway, I could hardly stand it last night. Luckily, I was up and working in the wee hours so I just had the back door open then as well.
No, I'm not turning the heat on. That would just be a waste of electricity and money since the back door is going to stay open until the smell clears up or my toes fall off, one or the other. Instead, I'll just complain on my blog!
The cats have the right idea. They're in the bedroom hiding under the blanket: it's warm and acts as a filter from the smell.
[But boy oh boy does my shower/tub look nice. I almost cried.]
But it's freaking COLD outside.
This would not be a problem, usually, because my little condo has really lovely forced heat. However, I do not have the heat on as we speak (and I keep it at 66 anyway) because I am venting the fumes out of my house.
I had my shower/tub combo refinished yesterday and the fumes are still hanging around. When the fellow was here doing the work yesterday, he had this cool pump-driven vent sort of deal so no worries for me and the cats...the ducks and the birds and squirrels outside stayed away for a few hours...sorry, environment.
Anyway, I could hardly stand it last night. Luckily, I was up and working in the wee hours so I just had the back door open then as well.
No, I'm not turning the heat on. That would just be a waste of electricity and money since the back door is going to stay open until the smell clears up or my toes fall off, one or the other. Instead, I'll just complain on my blog!
The cats have the right idea. They're in the bedroom hiding under the blanket: it's warm and acts as a filter from the smell.
[But boy oh boy does my shower/tub look nice. I almost cried.]
Labels: home improvement, misc life
Monday, January 8, 2007
so proud of the kitties
They spent almost NINE hours in their little crates, and only peeped, not peed.
I am so proud of them. Max is sitting right here next to me, and Deuce isn't even hiding under the bed sitting on the clean laundry, as a cat should.
The handyman was awesome. Hooray Mr. Handyman! He did all the major things, and a few minor things, and was really nice and teacherly when he ripped out something I had tried (and failed) to do and showed me how I should have done it.
The day's work took a few hours longer because we had some furniture issues. Namely, that the vanity cabinet that I purchased and had waiting for him was totally thrashed on the inside. So we taped it up, he threw it in the back of the truck, and followed me to Home Depot. I gave them back the thrashed cabinet and we went to get a new one but alas it was not in stock. Went to the next-closest one and got one there. I purchased a few other parts he needed for my job, and we went back to the house. Had he done all the purchasing himself, he would have had to mark all the parts up. This way, I just paid the regular price.
See? Handy.
Tomorrow is the shower/bath refinishing, and then that's all for this week. I'll do minor things in the evenings. Probably the end of the following week the kitchen will get done, and then the week after that will be the flooring and I'll be done done done. Whoo hoo!
I am so proud of them. Max is sitting right here next to me, and Deuce isn't even hiding under the bed sitting on the clean laundry, as a cat should.
The handyman was awesome. Hooray Mr. Handyman! He did all the major things, and a few minor things, and was really nice and teacherly when he ripped out something I had tried (and failed) to do and showed me how I should have done it.
The day's work took a few hours longer because we had some furniture issues. Namely, that the vanity cabinet that I purchased and had waiting for him was totally thrashed on the inside. So we taped it up, he threw it in the back of the truck, and followed me to Home Depot. I gave them back the thrashed cabinet and we went to get a new one but alas it was not in stock. Went to the next-closest one and got one there. I purchased a few other parts he needed for my job, and we went back to the house. Had he done all the purchasing himself, he would have had to mark all the parts up. This way, I just paid the regular price.
See? Handy.
Tomorrow is the shower/bath refinishing, and then that's all for this week. I'll do minor things in the evenings. Probably the end of the following week the kitchen will get done, and then the week after that will be the flooring and I'll be done done done. Whoo hoo!
Labels: home improvement
mwrowr mwrowr mwrowr mwrowr
"mwrowr mwrowr mwrowr mwrowr..." That's all I hear right now as the cats are firmly ensconced in their little crates because the handyman is here.Turns out the inadvertent practice day was a good thing. Deuce only meowed for a few minutes until she settled into the back of the crate and tried to make herself invisible from the strangers in the house. Max, on the other hand, he's being a loudmouth and for no good reason other than to be annoying.
And oh, how annoying he is... But hey, at least it's not both of them.
They'll be pissed off later, but not tremendously so. The workers who will be here tomorrow to work in the bathroom (on the shower/tub thing) can do so with one of the bathroom doors closed. That way, I can just lock the cats in the bedroom and not their crates. They won't need to go back in their crates again until the flooring guys come in a few weeks.
Labels: home improvement
Wednesday, January 3, 2007
kitty stress
Mr. Handyman is on his way here to do some work—rip out a vanity and replace it with a new one, hook up some plumbing, that sort of thing. Unfortunately, he will be working in the rooms typically reserved for holding my cats when workmen are here. If he didn't need to go in and out of the house during this time, I'd just let the cats run free. For Max, that would mean hanging out and watching the workman. For Deuce, that would mean hiding under the covers and pretending the scary stranger didn't exist. No big deal.
But, with all of the trips in and out of the house today (and on the flooring day sometime in the next few weeks), the cats are in their crates.
Max is fine with it. He doesn't particularly enjoy it, but he's quietly pissed off. He's made several trips across the country, after all, including one in an airplane (never again).
But Deuce? Poor thing. She's crying like I've left her on the side of the road, never to return. It's particularly heart-wrenching. She's fine, of course, and will settle down soon (I hope). It's only been 17 minutes. The crying is slowing down. She has a blanket in the crate, so hopefully when the stranger does come in the house she'll realize that the crate is actually a good option for her, and she'll hide herself under the blanket in the crate.
I'm looking at today (and flooring day) as training days for the inevitable car trip to wherever I move. You can understand why I hope I only have to go to Davis (1.5 hrs away) and not any of the other places (8-12+ hours away). With the exception of one school, everywhere is within a day's drive. That was specifically planned...
update after 28 minutes: it's quiet. Let's hope this continues for a few more hours.
update #2 I let them out of their crates. There was a miscommunication with Mr. Handyman. We get to do this all again on the 8th! But the good news is that Deuce doesn't hate me. In fact, she's now sitting on her crate. Go figure.
But, with all of the trips in and out of the house today (and on the flooring day sometime in the next few weeks), the cats are in their crates.
Max is fine with it. He doesn't particularly enjoy it, but he's quietly pissed off. He's made several trips across the country, after all, including one in an airplane (never again).
But Deuce? Poor thing. She's crying like I've left her on the side of the road, never to return. It's particularly heart-wrenching. She's fine, of course, and will settle down soon (I hope). It's only been 17 minutes. The crying is slowing down. She has a blanket in the crate, so hopefully when the stranger does come in the house she'll realize that the crate is actually a good option for her, and she'll hide herself under the blanket in the crate.
I'm looking at today (and flooring day) as training days for the inevitable car trip to wherever I move. You can understand why I hope I only have to go to Davis (1.5 hrs away) and not any of the other places (8-12+ hours away). With the exception of one school, everywhere is within a day's drive. That was specifically planned...
update after 28 minutes: it's quiet. Let's hope this continues for a few more hours.
update #2 I let them out of their crates. There was a miscommunication with Mr. Handyman. We get to do this all again on the 8th! But the good news is that Deuce doesn't hate me. In fact, she's now sitting on her crate. Go figure.
Labels: home improvement, misc life
Saturday, December 30, 2006
update on the home improvement
I have done a lot, but I haven't actually finished anything. That's ok—my list is a lot shorter and several appointments are scheduled for finishing the other things. For instance, on Wednesday Mr. Handyman will come out and rip out the large vanity (in the vanity area) and replace it with the one sitting in the room all ready to go. I would have done the ripping out myself, but I can't undo the plumbing (I'm strong, but I don't have good gripping power with my hands). Also, since I need the pipes hooked up in the other vanity (in the bathroom) I figured what the hell, have the person do it all. I have the faucet all installed and working (yay me) but the pipes don't line up and I can't figure out the correct size/connectors so I gave up. The following week, the shower/tub thing will be refinished (it's cheaper and easier than busting it out of the room and replacing it). The following week or so, the kitchen guy will replace the countertops and drop in a new sink. He's also going to bust out some cabinets in my laundry closet and replace them with shelves.
Remarkably, I'll still have money left over (thanks, Dad!) and will have the flooring done in the vanity area, bathroom, and kitchen. At that point, all that will really remain is touch-up painting and...
I'm getting a new range! I love to cook, and my oven is crap and the stovetop has those stupid electric coils and drip pans. So, for six months or so I'll live in a fine condo with hardwood floors and new, shiny things and a brand-new stove.
And then I'll sell it and move to some grad student apartment.
But here's the thing—I'm certainly not going to mind living in a less-nice place. I'm not a big "stuff" person—if you walked in my house right now you'd be surprised to know I've lived here for just-shy-of five years. I'm sort of a minimalist—not quite in the sense of that Absolutely Fabulous episode with the white room with white accessories, but close enough.
Getting a mortgage and a condo was an achievement, and a necessary one for tax purposes. Selling it will be necessary to fund the next stage in my life—I have to pay off my car, credit cards, and an old tax bill so that I have zero revolving monthly debts else this whole full-time student thing won't be possible. I consider myself very lucky to be able to do that. I would also like to thank the state lottery of Pennsylvania and its check to my father a few years back, and then of course my father for forgiving a ton of money I owed him.
In brief, I'm one of the luckiest people around not only to have a house, but to improve it, sell it, and move willy-nilly through the steps of doing whatever the heck I want to do in life. Happy birthday to me!
Remarkably, I'll still have money left over (thanks, Dad!) and will have the flooring done in the vanity area, bathroom, and kitchen. At that point, all that will really remain is touch-up painting and...
I'm getting a new range! I love to cook, and my oven is crap and the stovetop has those stupid electric coils and drip pans. So, for six months or so I'll live in a fine condo with hardwood floors and new, shiny things and a brand-new stove.
And then I'll sell it and move to some grad student apartment.
But here's the thing—I'm certainly not going to mind living in a less-nice place. I'm not a big "stuff" person—if you walked in my house right now you'd be surprised to know I've lived here for just-shy-of five years. I'm sort of a minimalist—not quite in the sense of that Absolutely Fabulous episode with the white room with white accessories, but close enough.
Getting a mortgage and a condo was an achievement, and a necessary one for tax purposes. Selling it will be necessary to fund the next stage in my life—I have to pay off my car, credit cards, and an old tax bill so that I have zero revolving monthly debts else this whole full-time student thing won't be possible. I consider myself very lucky to be able to do that. I would also like to thank the state lottery of Pennsylvania and its check to my father a few years back, and then of course my father for forgiving a ton of money I owed him.
In brief, I'm one of the luckiest people around not only to have a house, but to improve it, sell it, and move willy-nilly through the steps of doing whatever the heck I want to do in life. Happy birthday to me!
Labels: home improvement
a trip to the dump
Part of home improvement is demolition, and being the somewhat-good person that I am I did not sneak my demolished base cabinets and countertops into the dumpsters here at my condo complex. Instead, I asked my buddy Jim if he was experienced in the ways of the dump (actually the "Fremont Landfill" but whatever). Turns out that not only is he experienced in the ways of the dump and has a pickup truck, but he also still has a driver's license with a Fremont address and thus could actually get into the dump. Apparently this particular dump is limited to people who live in one of three particular cities, none of which are mine.No, I don't know where the other dumps are. After going to this one, I don't want to know where the others are.
It was a pretty tight operation, especially for people in a small truck with just a few large items to toss onto the enormous pile of waste. We paid our $11.95, drove up a long, winding road to the current top of the pile, parked the truck, and tossed large items on the enormous pile of waste.
The photo in this post doesn't begin to do justice to the enormous number of seagulls patrolling the dump. Those suckers own the dump. We lowly humans are just the purveyors of fine dining for them, apparently, and they come at you in waves of seagull aggression. Freaky. I was too dumbstruck by the whole dump experience to haul out the cameraphone and snap some pictures.
One part of me was completely disgusted by the enormous pile of waste we humans have produced, but the other part of me was particularly pleased that at least it was confined to this area. Also, this particular dump has been recognized by the EPA for some sort of environmental goodness, so there's that...
Labels: home improvement
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
it's home improvement week
I know I said I'd start on my thesis, but I really have to deal with a lot of the remaining home improvement stuff while our company is technically closed this week.
I started in the bathroom. It needs a new vanity, medicine cabinet, light, flooring, and a shower/tub thing. I ripped out the old vanity, medicine cabinet, light, and flooring. I gave the walls a once-over with paint (they'll get another coat tomorrow). I bought a new medicine cabinet and light to replace when the second coat of paint is dry.
Then I learned the hard way where my water shut-off isn't for that bathroom.
The plumber will be here in a few hours to do something minor—but which requires the water to be shutoff from elsewhere and I don't have the tool—and then I'll continue on my merry way...
I'll get the new vanity and sink tomorrow and install it. The flooring and shower/tub will be dealt with by others.
On Friday (I think), I'll rip out the other vanity (I have a vanity area between the bedroom and bathroom) and replace it. But another person and a truck is involved for that bit of fun, as is taking all this stuff to the dump.
I really do not enjoy the home improvement thing. I know a lot of people do. I am not one of them. But doing what one can is a lot cheaper than having others do it, so when there's time it's best just to suck it up and do it.
After the bathroom/vanity is done I need to finish painting some areas in the living room/hall closet. Then all that will remain is the kitchen countertop and flooring. The bonus there is that I'll get a new range, so for six months or so I'll be able to cook on a nice stovetop/in a nice oven.
I started in the bathroom. It needs a new vanity, medicine cabinet, light, flooring, and a shower/tub thing. I ripped out the old vanity, medicine cabinet, light, and flooring. I gave the walls a once-over with paint (they'll get another coat tomorrow). I bought a new medicine cabinet and light to replace when the second coat of paint is dry.
Then I learned the hard way where my water shut-off isn't for that bathroom.
The plumber will be here in a few hours to do something minor—but which requires the water to be shutoff from elsewhere and I don't have the tool—and then I'll continue on my merry way...
I'll get the new vanity and sink tomorrow and install it. The flooring and shower/tub will be dealt with by others.
On Friday (I think), I'll rip out the other vanity (I have a vanity area between the bedroom and bathroom) and replace it. But another person and a truck is involved for that bit of fun, as is taking all this stuff to the dump.
I really do not enjoy the home improvement thing. I know a lot of people do. I am not one of them. But doing what one can is a lot cheaper than having others do it, so when there's time it's best just to suck it up and do it.
After the bathroom/vanity is done I need to finish painting some areas in the living room/hall closet. Then all that will remain is the kitchen countertop and flooring. The bonus there is that I'll get a new range, so for six months or so I'll be able to cook on a nice stovetop/in a nice oven.
Labels: home improvement
there's more!
archives:
12/06 · 01/07 · 02/07 · 03/07 · 04/07 · 05/07 · 06/07 · 07/07 · 08/07 · 09/07 · 10/07 · 11/07 · 12/07 · 01/08 · 02/08 · 03/08 · 04/08 · 05/08 · 06/08 · 07/08 · 08/08 · 09/08 · 10/08 · 11/08 · 12/08 · 01/09 · ???
labels:
foody · grad school · home improvement · misc life · one local summer 08 · outdoorsy · sporty · teacher-like · technical interlude