Sorry I haven't posted. I'm still working on the house, but it's been a bit slower because the projects seem to be getting bigger, more complicated, and needing more tools. Also, my fiance Frédéric and his friends are coming for the wedding just before Thanksgiving, so that's pushed some things back and moved other things forward.
I bought a table saw. I started assembling it yesterday and got the legs done, then decided I was tired. I think I have a fear I will cut something off (on me!), so I'm reading the instruction manual very, very carefully.
I decided I needed a workbench, so I got one of these cool little Black & Decker dealies super cheap at OSH! It took me far too long... which worries me: if I had this much trouble putting together the thing that's going to make my involved projects easier, how am I going to handle those? Slowly. Very slowly, appears to be the answer.
Note that the crank on the right did not come with a pin to lock in the handles, so I had to jeery-rig a solution: a ziptie! Worked really well. I felt this might be a test: Can You Handle It If Something Is Missing? Yes. Yes, I can!
DUMPSTER IN A BAG
Dumpster Bag
I found a Dumpster Bag at Home Depot. It's a giant bag that can hold up to 3300lbs. I set it up on my driveway, fill it with crap and call Waste Management to remove it and for a low fee, they take it! My junk is gone!
I've been trying to get rid of boxes for the last few months--I keep cutting them up and filling my recycling, but I just want all of it gone.
Boxes and Styrofoam I want out of my garage!
My fireplace insert that was seriously messed up and the old antenna.
Those are going in the bag and I'll finally be rid of all this stuff.
CLUTTER
I hate clutter. I finally started on the last of the boxes downstairs. I'm putting my collection of action figures and things that make me laugh on the shelves in the den. (Because I'm still a child.) When I woke up on Sunday, the room was neat and clean, with boxes stacked neatly in the corner. Now, it looks like a fricken toy store exploded in the room. Crap is everywhere. (Pics to follow when it's done.)
My big worry is my office. It's become a catch-all for all the boxes and things I'm not quite sure where they should go. I did manage to fix the bookshelves (thank you Nail Gun!), but the books are sort of haphazardly placed on the shelves. Another project for another evening.
Oh, speaking of projects: When I was going through my final inspection of the house, I was walking down the stairs to the den and I grabbed the flooring for the upstairs (I was going down, so the first floor stairs were now eye-level) and I noticed the cap along the edge was easily moved. It was the main reason I wanted a nail gun. This weekend I finally got it done. It's nailed down and looks good. I'll post pics of that at some point, too.
I GOT GAS
I had PG&E come out and turn on my pilot light for my heater. It's been FREEZING the last few nights (California Freezing, not actual freezing--in the low 60's). Turns out it was already lit (waste), but I felt better having him inspect it, change the filter, and explain a few things on how it works.
When he turned it on, we set the temp REALLY high to make sure it was working at full capacity. It works great... however, a year's worth of dust bunnies flew out into every room. Good thing I put off vacuuming and dusting this week (and last... and the week before... oy). The funniest bit is that the vent in the master bath blows right on the toilet paper roll. Normally, not a problem, but less than half a roll starts to spin... and unravel. It's almost like having a cat or small child in the house.
When the technician was out, he mentioned that my hot water heater did not have a dial on it and he'd adjusted it. I no longer have hot water, I have scorching hot water. I swear, it's not so much hot water as it is steam... It made my shower more interesting...
That's about all for now... I promise to post more... and hopefully it will be something actually worth reading.
