Another real blog post

(I've been insanely busy, kk?)

Thanks mostly to this little guy:



Yup, that would be your basic swine-flu, right there. I don't have it, but it's business number one at work right now.

Anyhoo, where was I? Oh yes, it's been a month since I've last blgged, and much much has happened since then.

1) Work has been manic, off the charts. I ran a conference in Calgary, have another one coming up at the end of this month, all while H1N1 is drawing us further and further into work (and it's anticipated this pace will continue until December 23rd)

2) A Friend, as Crimson Rambler is wont to call them. This has been very funny, and at this point a product of the Stealthdachshund's infinite patience. and Beer.

3) The house... oh... the house... I am doing renos in the spare room right now, and discovered that the previous owner has liberally applied glue to where the stealthdachshund would apply nails.
In summary, He glued his window trim to the wall. Ok. Except that I needed to lift the trim to insulate under it. AND, the walls are made of plaster... except because of the gaps in the insulation, the plaster is rotten. So when I pried the trim up, the wall came with it. BLIND WITH RAGE!

A real blog post!

I planned to blog on a particular scene from a cult film and how it has influenced prayer in my life.

To help, I google-d the scene in question. Overwhelming consensus across the intar-toobs that this is the best moment of prayer in film. So I feel a little late to the party.

Anyway, here it is:



As one can tell from the comments, there's quite a community that feels this scene also resonates for them.

Of note in the scene, for you philistines who have never seen the film, is that the protagonist is shipwrecked, terminally ill, and the love of his life whom he has only just met, is comatose and shows no sign of revival.

Outside tasks.

By george, I might actually finish something.

My front deck requires MAYBE one more coat of paint, and then... well.. I think it's done for this year!

My back balcony requires a bit more work. One of the boards I used is very very bowed, so I need to think of something cunning to straighten it before I put the railing on it.

Then I need to quick quick build a deck over at the Rambler's... can't forget to do that

Things at work that are good:

Boss has gone away: good
Boss has given me his corner office: better
Boss has given me his truck: even better
I have a badge: WOOOOOOOOOO!

Sweep Sweep Paint Paint Drill Drill

Phew.
More progress last night on the front and back porches. The back porch is very close to done. I need to paint the deck of it, then wait 'til my room-mate is gone so I can finish the railing (as I'll need to haul equipment through the roommate's room), install corner trim around the posts so that no water can get down them. Then if I buy a paint-gun... I could finish priming the whole thing before winter comes!

As for the front, I am trying to order some lovely decorations, and finish painting it! I put the first coat of some primer on it last night, but I need to sand again and paint again, then paint again, then sand again. Then I can install the trim on it, and paint the trim. Once the decorations come I can install them and call it done for the winter. I'll need to install the south side of the railings next year, sadly. Ah well, no huge loss

A few handy definitions:

Foundation Header: This is the space over your foundation below the first floor of your house. Yours is likely capped at the ends with board, like 2x10s. Mine, apparently, is capped by wire mesh and a sign that says "Cold Air: Get In Here!"
DID YOU KNOW? Insulating this will cost approximately $1700?

Fascia: This is the vertical board that caps your roof joists, providing a strong secure bond between your eavestroughs and your house. Some exceptions do exist, such as in my house, where the fascia boards are made of compressed rot, and will eject the eavestroughs at the earliest opportunity.
DID YOU KNOW? Replacing this costs about $500?

Eavestroughs: These are aluminum or plastic troughs that attach to the side of your house and funnel rainwater and other precipitation away from your house, typically into rain-barrels. My neighbour's system has an ingenious setup whereby all the precipitation from his roof is deposited next to my side door. This is known as the Niagara Falls effect.
DID YOU KNOW? Replacing 100' of eavestroughs costs approximately $1400

Damn Fine: This is the technical description for how my railing and floor and walls are going to look when the refinisher is done.
DID YOU KNOW? There goes another $4000?



DID YOU KNOW? You're getting a nice hand-made card for Christmas. And possibly a hug. For the next five years.

Back at the grind!

Well, no excuses remain.
I have finished my major special events for the summer, I have got the house to a moderate state of cleanliness, I guess it's really time to finish some renos.

My social calendar is entirely mine to command (hurrah!) and I can work late if needs be to make time for other stuff.

I was hoping for a wee raise this month, and it has not come to pass, so maybe that will come in September.

If I can get three more projects finished, which is possible, I'll actually be able to go into winter with a light heart and do some interior projects!