Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
More remodeling work
Mom, Dad. I'm not sure we're going to have a bathroom for you guys this weekend. Sorry.
Actually, we will, but it probably won't be the upstairs bathroom. It's sort of been torn apart, or at least the floor has been torn apart.
It all started with our washing machine - it started going out of balance and draining very slowly. At least that's what the little error codes said. But, we couldn't get to it because the toilet that is in that room sticks out far enough that we can't get either the dryer or washer out more than an inch or two before they hit the toilet.
I had visions of pulling out the toilet, but my wife (who is much more clever than I) measured the downstairs toilet and the upstairs one. It turns out the upstairs toilet is much shorter than the downstairs one! If we swap the toilets, we can still get the dryer and washer out even when the toilet is still sitting there! Bravo!
So, I pulled both toilets out. The toilet bases are different. Our pastor and a friend come over and both say that once the new wax rings are on it'll be fine and it won't matter. Whew!
Well, now that we have the toilets out, the upstairs bathroom has been waiting to get new tiles put in, so how about we do that? Execellent! We'll kill two birds with one stone! I go in and pull up part of the tiles.
Hmmmm, the flooring underneath is pretty icky, at least in one area. How about we pull up just that board and replace it with cement board? Yeah, that shouldn't take too long!
Oh, wait. The cement board is quite a bit thinner than the other boards, and that wouldn't work out for putting in new tiles. Ok, I guess we'll rip up the entire bathroom floor and replace it all.
So, that's what we did last night, with the help of RP. All the old boards are pulled up. All the cement boards have been cut and put in. We are ready to screw down the cement boards and patch in the joint cracks. Then it'll be time to put in the new tiles. Then we can install the toilets - swapping the upstairs one with the downstairs one.
Lots of work, but at least now we'll be able to have a repair person come in and be able to access our washer....
Hey! What do you know! The washer hasn't been having any problems for the last half-dozen loads!
Actually, we will, but it probably won't be the upstairs bathroom. It's sort of been torn apart, or at least the floor has been torn apart.
It all started with our washing machine - it started going out of balance and draining very slowly. At least that's what the little error codes said. But, we couldn't get to it because the toilet that is in that room sticks out far enough that we can't get either the dryer or washer out more than an inch or two before they hit the toilet.
I had visions of pulling out the toilet, but my wife (who is much more clever than I) measured the downstairs toilet and the upstairs one. It turns out the upstairs toilet is much shorter than the downstairs one! If we swap the toilets, we can still get the dryer and washer out even when the toilet is still sitting there! Bravo!
So, I pulled both toilets out. The toilet bases are different. Our pastor and a friend come over and both say that once the new wax rings are on it'll be fine and it won't matter. Whew!
Well, now that we have the toilets out, the upstairs bathroom has been waiting to get new tiles put in, so how about we do that? Execellent! We'll kill two birds with one stone! I go in and pull up part of the tiles.
Hmmmm, the flooring underneath is pretty icky, at least in one area. How about we pull up just that board and replace it with cement board? Yeah, that shouldn't take too long!
Oh, wait. The cement board is quite a bit thinner than the other boards, and that wouldn't work out for putting in new tiles. Ok, I guess we'll rip up the entire bathroom floor and replace it all.
So, that's what we did last night, with the help of RP. All the old boards are pulled up. All the cement boards have been cut and put in. We are ready to screw down the cement boards and patch in the joint cracks. Then it'll be time to put in the new tiles. Then we can install the toilets - swapping the upstairs one with the downstairs one.
Lots of work, but at least now we'll be able to have a repair person come in and be able to access our washer....
Hey! What do you know! The washer hasn't been having any problems for the last half-dozen loads!
Monday, February 15, 2010
My Back Should Look Like A Bowflex Commercial Or Something
During our first big snowstorm, now two weeks ago, I pulled a little muscle in my back - in between my spine and my right shoulder blade.
For the first day or two it didn't do much, but just in time for the second big snow storm, it started to act up and get sore. Then I proceeded to do lots of shoveling dealing with the second snowfall.
I'm telling you - my back ought to look like it could be a model for one of those weight machine commercials! Why?
Because I use that muscle for every single motion my body makes! It ought to look like Arnold Schwartz-ensomthing gave me his back muscles! Turning my head, rolling over, moving my arms while driving, twisting my torso, lifting things, sitting straight, sitting slumped, lifting my hand to mouth while eating, and obviously shoveling - that little muscle gets used for absolutely everything!!!!
For the first day or two it didn't do much, but just in time for the second big snow storm, it started to act up and get sore. Then I proceeded to do lots of shoveling dealing with the second snowfall.
I'm telling you - my back ought to look like it could be a model for one of those weight machine commercials! Why?
Because I use that muscle for every single motion my body makes! It ought to look like Arnold Schwartz-ensomthing gave me his back muscles! Turning my head, rolling over, moving my arms while driving, twisting my torso, lifting things, sitting straight, sitting slumped, lifting my hand to mouth while eating, and obviously shoveling - that little muscle gets used for absolutely everything!!!!
Friday, February 12, 2010
On an up beat
I got to go climbing on top of an icy, snowy roof in the middle of the night in a blowing, cold wind!!! Woo hoo!!
Unfortunately it wasn't for a happy reason. Some friends' house suddenly went *CRACK* and developed a (thankfully small) crack in their ceiling. AP ran up to start shoveling off the snow and his wife gave us a call asking for some help to get it shoveled off more quickly.
So we got to spend and hour or two talking while we shoveled off the roof. It was a good way to spend the evening!
Unfortunately it wasn't for a happy reason. Some friends' house suddenly went *CRACK* and developed a (thankfully small) crack in their ceiling. AP ran up to start shoveling off the snow and his wife gave us a call asking for some help to get it shoveled off more quickly.
So we got to spend and hour or two talking while we shoveled off the roof. It was a good way to spend the evening!
I really abhor Quiznos
I think I've blogged once or twice about Quiznos (I'm too lazy to go look up to see if I actually did) and may have even mentioned that I had resolved to never bother with them again. Quiznos is MUCH more expensive than Subway, Quiznos sandwiches are smaller than Subway's, and Quiznos doesn't have nearly the selection of topings that Subway has. Taste-wise they're about the same, but Quiznos doesn't have the range of breads that Subway has.
All in all, Subway is far superior to Quiznos.
But! I got a buy-one-get-one-free coupon for Quiznos and thought I would use it at the store in Leesburg. Even with the more expensive and smaller sandwiches, the free sub from Quiznos would make up for Subway, right?
Ha!
I get in there and the guy is as slow as molasses. Three or four minutes per sandwich. I ask him to put on all the extra toppings he can, but he doesn't because he said they're all around the side for me to get myself. So, I go over and start picking up the yellow peppers, pickles, and some jalapenos. I ask for green peppers. They don't have them. I asked for olives. They're out of them. I ask for onions. Oh, they're behind the counter. So I ask him to open up mine and add in onions.
Wait, wait, wait. Ok. Finally done.
I give him the coupon.
He stares at it for a while.
I go over to get some sauce and dressing for the subs.
"We don't accept this."
What? I hurry back over. "What do you mean you don't accept it? I just got it!"
"We don't participate in coupons here."
"What do you mean you don't take coupons here?!? This is a Quiznos coupon, this is a Quiznos, right?"
"We don't participate. You see, the coupon says 'In participating stores only.' We don't participate."
I was starting to get steamed. I was hungry and looking forward to dinner! C at home was making soup, but it wasn't going to be ready for another hour or so. We wanted to get the subs, and have the soup when it was finally done, on the side.
"How on earth can I tell if you guys are a participating store? I live in Leesburg! I got this coupon! How can I not use this coupon here in the Leesburg store?!?!?"
"You need to tell me when you come in that you have a coupon. I can tell you then that we don't accept coupons."
I stared at him aghast. "So what can you do?"
"I can give you a $1 discount on one of the sandwiches."
$%#^&*$#!@#$^!&$%#%@!! (No, I didn't start swearing at the guy, but that's what was going off in my head - each one of those sandwiches was $2 more than Subway's sandwiches!!!)
I wad up the coupon and throw it down and walk out.
"Fine," I hear behind me. "Get out. We don't want you here anyway!"
Well, I'm glad he doesn't want me in there because he won't be disappointed. Yes, my resolve has been once again set - stay away from Quiznos!
All in all, Subway is far superior to Quiznos.
But! I got a buy-one-get-one-free coupon for Quiznos and thought I would use it at the store in Leesburg. Even with the more expensive and smaller sandwiches, the free sub from Quiznos would make up for Subway, right?
Ha!
I get in there and the guy is as slow as molasses. Three or four minutes per sandwich. I ask him to put on all the extra toppings he can, but he doesn't because he said they're all around the side for me to get myself. So, I go over and start picking up the yellow peppers, pickles, and some jalapenos. I ask for green peppers. They don't have them. I asked for olives. They're out of them. I ask for onions. Oh, they're behind the counter. So I ask him to open up mine and add in onions.
Wait, wait, wait. Ok. Finally done.
I give him the coupon.
He stares at it for a while.
I go over to get some sauce and dressing for the subs.
"We don't accept this."
What? I hurry back over. "What do you mean you don't accept it? I just got it!"
"We don't participate in coupons here."
"What do you mean you don't take coupons here?!? This is a Quiznos coupon, this is a Quiznos, right?"
"We don't participate. You see, the coupon says 'In participating stores only.' We don't participate."
I was starting to get steamed. I was hungry and looking forward to dinner! C at home was making soup, but it wasn't going to be ready for another hour or so. We wanted to get the subs, and have the soup when it was finally done, on the side.
"How on earth can I tell if you guys are a participating store? I live in Leesburg! I got this coupon! How can I not use this coupon here in the Leesburg store?!?!?"
"You need to tell me when you come in that you have a coupon. I can tell you then that we don't accept coupons."
I stared at him aghast. "So what can you do?"
"I can give you a $1 discount on one of the sandwiches."
$%#^&*$#!@#$^!&$%#%@!! (No, I didn't start swearing at the guy, but that's what was going off in my head - each one of those sandwiches was $2 more than Subway's sandwiches!!!)
I wad up the coupon and throw it down and walk out.
"Fine," I hear behind me. "Get out. We don't want you here anyway!"
Well, I'm glad he doesn't want me in there because he won't be disappointed. Yes, my resolve has been once again set - stay away from Quiznos!
Thursday, February 04, 2010
Oops, one more news item.
I didn't procrastinate long enough! I put up my news tidbits post yesterday and then found this!
Spray On Glass!
It's nano-particles of glass that adhere to surfaces with quantum adhesion, which I assume means the Casimir Effect, but I don't quite see that working for particles rather than plates. The scientific detail offered is annoyingly slim.
Anyway, this stuff promises to be the greatest thing since sliced bread. You can spray it on virtually anything to make a flexible coating of glass. Apparently you can spray it on cloth and then future spills can just be wiped up instead of needing to be washed. Spray it on metal and it stops rusting. Spray it on almost anything and it becomes non-stick, and can be washed without removing the glass coating. Spray it on plants and there won't be problems with mold or mildew. Put it on cars to be a superior protection (and able to be quickly/easily reapplied) against wear, tear, and rust.
IF (notice the "if") this stuff actually lives up to its billing, it could be a revolutionizer in dozens of areas! I so want some!!!
Spray On Glass!
It's nano-particles of glass that adhere to surfaces with quantum adhesion, which I assume means the Casimir Effect, but I don't quite see that working for particles rather than plates. The scientific detail offered is annoyingly slim.
Anyway, this stuff promises to be the greatest thing since sliced bread. You can spray it on virtually anything to make a flexible coating of glass. Apparently you can spray it on cloth and then future spills can just be wiped up instead of needing to be washed. Spray it on metal and it stops rusting. Spray it on almost anything and it becomes non-stick, and can be washed without removing the glass coating. Spray it on plants and there won't be problems with mold or mildew. Put it on cars to be a superior protection (and able to be quickly/easily reapplied) against wear, tear, and rust.
IF (notice the "if") this stuff actually lives up to its billing, it could be a revolutionizer in dozens of areas! I so want some!!!
Wednesday, February 03, 2010
Some News Stories
Nothing particularly earth-shattering here, but I have been keeping an eye out for news articles that I found particularly interesting.
Let's start off on the deep end: Embracing Illegals. This is a really good, and very in-depth article on the current state of illegal immigrants in the US. One of the things I found particularly fascinating was how bank accounts, loans, etc, are able to be arranged without US-issued identification.
On to a more comedic issue is how Congress keeps throwing money at a military project the military doesn't want. GE F-35 Engine, Opposed by Pentagon, Backed by Levin And who thinks that the proposed spending freeze the President has put forward actually has a snowball's chance in hell of passing in any meaningful way?
And finally, on the very "cute" side of things (at least if you think super-tiny toads are cute): ZooBorns: Teeny Tiny Toads at the Bronx Zoo Warning - this article is also informative. RAYOR! You may learn something!
Let's start off on the deep end: Embracing Illegals. This is a really good, and very in-depth article on the current state of illegal immigrants in the US. One of the things I found particularly fascinating was how bank accounts, loans, etc, are able to be arranged without US-issued identification.
On to a more comedic issue is how Congress keeps throwing money at a military project the military doesn't want. GE F-35 Engine, Opposed by Pentagon, Backed by Levin And who thinks that the proposed spending freeze the President has put forward actually has a snowball's chance in hell of passing in any meaningful way?
And finally, on the very "cute" side of things (at least if you think super-tiny toads are cute): ZooBorns: Teeny Tiny Toads at the Bronx Zoo Warning - this article is also informative. RAYOR! You may learn something!
Tuesday, February 02, 2010
Back to work from California
Whew! That was a bit of a late return, but we made it safely. C wrote a great summary of the trip.
If you've read it, you might have caught a little piece of news:
That requires a correction: I got in at 8:30. I just didn't call C until 8:50. :-)
The rest of that statement is right-on though. I've been in my current position for 4 years (almost) now, and after Anthony moved on, I was on my own in it. It started out as a full-time job for two people as well as needing help from two or three others occasionally. Over the last 2.5 years I've gotten the job down to something one person can do part time.
That's a good thing, right? I'm making a more efficient use of the company's time! Well, it's not so good when it means I don't have a full-time job any more. I've been getting coverage with helpdesk work and by creating sample apps, but it wasn't a permanent situation.
So, I searched for and applied to another job in the company and got it! It's very much a lateral move - I don't change title or move up or down (and no, I don't get any huge pay increases, unfortunately!!), I just go to work on another project.
I'd tell you about that project, but I'd have to kill you. (Tracking down my blog's visitors and all the people who have me on their RSS feeds would be a pain. Then I'd have to search your computers for who you might have passed on any information, and take them out too. What a bother!)
Oh, wait. It's not a classified position. Oh. Well, I can always dream!
But, still - good news that I get to remain employed! So, even though I am dragging my sleep-deprived carcass around the office like I'm actually doing some work, today actually is a good day!
If you've read it, you might have caught a little piece of news:
After flying from California and getting to bed around 4:00 AM, he [Jesse] was at work by 8:50 AM. And after more than a week of uncertainty about his position at work, he's received encouraging news about another potential position in the company.
That requires a correction: I got in at 8:30. I just didn't call C until 8:50. :-)
The rest of that statement is right-on though. I've been in my current position for 4 years (almost) now, and after Anthony moved on, I was on my own in it. It started out as a full-time job for two people as well as needing help from two or three others occasionally. Over the last 2.5 years I've gotten the job down to something one person can do part time.
That's a good thing, right? I'm making a more efficient use of the company's time! Well, it's not so good when it means I don't have a full-time job any more. I've been getting coverage with helpdesk work and by creating sample apps, but it wasn't a permanent situation.
So, I searched for and applied to another job in the company and got it! It's very much a lateral move - I don't change title or move up or down (and no, I don't get any huge pay increases, unfortunately!!), I just go to work on another project.
I'd tell you about that project, but I'd have to kill you. (Tracking down my blog's visitors and all the people who have me on their RSS feeds would be a pain. Then I'd have to search your computers for who you might have passed on any information, and take them out too. What a bother!)
Oh, wait. It's not a classified position. Oh. Well, I can always dream!
But, still - good news that I get to remain employed! So, even though I am dragging my sleep-deprived carcass around the office like I'm actually doing some work, today actually is a good day!
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