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
20.8.09
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.
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.
18.8.09
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!
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!
31.7.09
Privacy, I used to have it.
If I had to think of a scale on which to rate my control over my own information, I would rank the following ratings on a scale of one to five:
1: Aperture. Can I control who sees the information? (Five is complete control, where others cannot even pass on the information, and one is complete lack of control where the information is entirely public)
2: Reflectivity. Can I see a reciprocal level of information from others? And does a reciprocal level of information even exist? (Five is a tit-for-tat arrangement of shared info, and one is, well, one-way communication only)
3: Identity. Are the people who see the information aware it is my information? (Five is completely anonymous, One is every bit of it signed with my name)
4: Intention. Is the information pushed by me, or is it gathered by others. (Five is a process by which I publish the information and have complete control over it, One is a situation where I am, in essence, monitored)
Facebook... 3, 3, 1, 1. Total score: 8
I'd rate it higher if it weren't for the fact that pictures can be put up of me and tagged by other people without my knowing.
Twitter... 1, 1, 2, 1. Total score: 5
Twitter ended up almost more private than Facebook, until I realized that everyone who follows me on Twitter knows who I am. Then I thought more about the fact that I am 'followed' and lowered the Intention score a lot.
Gmail Calendar... 5, 4, 1, 3. Total score: 12
I think because the people who see my calendar are completely trustworthy, I'm comfy with the amount of information I put on it.
Blogger.com... 3, 5, 3, 3. Total score: 14 (16 for one of my blogs)
This is the last open space where I can put information about me that is not instantly seen by everyone I know.
Hmmmm. Does this keep me honest, or does it creep the crap out of me? Can't it be both?
1: Aperture. Can I control who sees the information? (Five is complete control, where others cannot even pass on the information, and one is complete lack of control where the information is entirely public)
2: Reflectivity. Can I see a reciprocal level of information from others? And does a reciprocal level of information even exist? (Five is a tit-for-tat arrangement of shared info, and one is, well, one-way communication only)
3: Identity. Are the people who see the information aware it is my information? (Five is completely anonymous, One is every bit of it signed with my name)
4: Intention. Is the information pushed by me, or is it gathered by others. (Five is a process by which I publish the information and have complete control over it, One is a situation where I am, in essence, monitored)
Facebook... 3, 3, 1, 1. Total score: 8
I'd rate it higher if it weren't for the fact that pictures can be put up of me and tagged by other people without my knowing.
Twitter... 1, 1, 2, 1. Total score: 5
Twitter ended up almost more private than Facebook, until I realized that everyone who follows me on Twitter knows who I am. Then I thought more about the fact that I am 'followed' and lowered the Intention score a lot.
Gmail Calendar... 5, 4, 1, 3. Total score: 12
I think because the people who see my calendar are completely trustworthy, I'm comfy with the amount of information I put on it.
Blogger.com... 3, 5, 3, 3. Total score: 14 (16 for one of my blogs)
This is the last open space where I can put information about me that is not instantly seen by everyone I know.
Hmmmm. Does this keep me honest, or does it creep the crap out of me? Can't it be both?
29.7.09
Home update!
My god, it's all coming together, I think...
I have successfully constructed new stairs for my decks, and I have a plan to finish the upstairs balcony and paint it... Mmmm... plastic paint. (supposed to be SUPER durable) I think this will also require me to buy another power tool (a pneumatic paint-gun). DANG! I SAY DANG!
In fact... with a little luck and some good weather... I may have the balcony done this weekend!
Not including the fabulous solar lamp that I'm sure exists that I want to put on it.
Something like the lamppost from Narnia, but solar.
I have successfully constructed new stairs for my decks, and I have a plan to finish the upstairs balcony and paint it... Mmmm... plastic paint. (supposed to be SUPER durable) I think this will also require me to buy another power tool (a pneumatic paint-gun). DANG! I SAY DANG!
In fact... with a little luck and some good weather... I may have the balcony done this weekend!
Not including the fabulous solar lamp that I'm sure exists that I want to put on it.
Something like the lamppost from Narnia, but solar.
13.7.09
Housely things!
I did a big, long-overdue houseclean this weekend. It's funny how it is getting easier to do as I settle in more and more. There's a definite sense of knowing where everything goes. I got rid of a bag of clothes I don't like anymore. I rearranged my closet to my satisfaction.
I have two big scary things left to do that are not going to be easy:
The basement:
My basement is a combination of craft supplies storage and costume storage. It needs to stop being those things. I'd like to get it completely empty and there's no really good reason why it isn't.
The garage:
This where I keep the REST of the craft supplies and costumes. I'd like to get it so empty that I can a) walk around in it, and b) insulate the ceiling, so that I can use it in the winter-time.
Well, back to work!
I have two big scary things left to do that are not going to be easy:
The basement:
My basement is a combination of craft supplies storage and costume storage. It needs to stop being those things. I'd like to get it completely empty and there's no really good reason why it isn't.
The garage:
This where I keep the REST of the craft supplies and costumes. I'd like to get it so empty that I can a) walk around in it, and b) insulate the ceiling, so that I can use it in the winter-time.
Well, back to work!
8.7.09
Full speed ahead!
How to make it rain:
a) remove your eavestroughs and rainbarrels,
b) leave the wheelbarrow out in the yard, upright,
c) lay new paving stones under where your eavestroughs used to be,
d) Put your rain gear for your bike in a closet and forget where, and
e) Bring in some building supplies and put them behind your garage in the open
RAIN = GUARANTEED.
a) remove your eavestroughs and rainbarrels,
b) leave the wheelbarrow out in the yard, upright,
c) lay new paving stones under where your eavestroughs used to be,
d) Put your rain gear for your bike in a closet and forget where, and
e) Bring in some building supplies and put them behind your garage in the open
RAIN = GUARANTEED.
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