On Thursday the neighbors we don't like put up a for sale sign in their front yard. YAY!
We were wondering why they were painting their trim and actually cleaning things. Kris and the girls said now I have to find a different hobby since I won't have them to complain about or take pictures to post of their crappy garage, or complain about them parking in front of our window, or not cutting their grass, or a host of other things. I really wasn't that bad. And Kris would complain just as much, she just complained to me.
They have already had a few people looking at it. We were trying to think if we knew anyone who might be looking for a starter type house. That way we would be sure that we will like them One of Ali's friends has a dad who is divorced and currently renting a flat. He is looking to buy a house so we mentioned to him that the house next door just became available. Hopefully he'll take a look. It would be nice to have a friend of Ali living next door, sort of like Sarah has on the opposite side.
I am sure I will update the status, and have comments about the people we see looking at it, but they can't sell it soon enough for me. And now that I have said that, I am sure we'll be blessed with even worse neighbors than they were.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Faucet
I decided to tackle the outside faucet sooner than later. The fix I had with the flexible line while functional, was not ideal. The faucet moved around and the water flow wasn't great, I assume because I had to neck down from a ½" pipe with the flexible line. To add to it, I couldn't tighten things as much as they needed to be, so I had a little bit of a drip happening
To start with, I couldn't get the existing pipe out because of the elbow. It was too large to fit through the hole in the wall. And the faucet may as well have been welded on, because it wasn't moving. I ended up have to get out a hack saw and cut it in two in order to get it out.
I needed to measure the length of pipe, add in the distance to the valve, and run to Home Depot to look for a replacement. I got a standard 48" length, allowing for a little error. Well it turns out I didn't need to figure in a error factor. So after buying the pipe, bringing it home and installing it, the faucet stuck out about 6" from the side of the house. I had to take everything back apart, and go back to Home Depot to see if they could cut it to the exact length. Luckily they did, and threaded the nipple too.
So when I finally got back home, I was able to line everything up, screw it in and tighten it down, fill all the gaps with expandable foam filler, and we are now good to go. Total time for the project was about 5-6 hours. It is a good thing that Home Depot is so close by (only a 5 minute drive to get there). If I had to drive farther than that, it would have been a total hassle and added all kinds of time to fixing it. And who knows if I would have been able get it done in a day.
To start with, I couldn't get the existing pipe out because of the elbow. It was too large to fit through the hole in the wall. And the faucet may as well have been welded on, because it wasn't moving. I ended up have to get out a hack saw and cut it in two in order to get it out.
I needed to measure the length of pipe, add in the distance to the valve, and run to Home Depot to look for a replacement. I got a standard 48" length, allowing for a little error. Well it turns out I didn't need to figure in a error factor. So after buying the pipe, bringing it home and installing it, the faucet stuck out about 6" from the side of the house. I had to take everything back apart, and go back to Home Depot to see if they could cut it to the exact length. Luckily they did, and threaded the nipple too.
So when I finally got back home, I was able to line everything up, screw it in and tighten it down, fill all the gaps with expandable foam filler, and we are now good to go. Total time for the project was about 5-6 hours. It is a good thing that Home Depot is so close by (only a 5 minute drive to get there). If I had to drive farther than that, it would have been a total hassle and added all kinds of time to fixing it. And who knows if I would have been able get it done in a day.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Apartment Hunting
Kris and I spent Thursday and Friday last week to visit a couple of senior living facilities for her Dad. We just can't keep up the pace that we have been with taking care of him. We are lucky that it is summer now and we have been getting help from Bob's brother and sister in law. But once school starts up again and we have cheerleading starting, we are going to be stretched even thinner than we are now.
One place was very nice, but it was more like a nursing home setting. The residents have a one room "apartment" which we thought was very small. But the place likes to promote the fact that the entire building is the residents' home. As such, they encourage the use of the common areas. So if we were to come over and visit Bob we wouldn't go hang out in his room, but we would visit in the large room where the TV and couches etc. are. It was a very big, bright room, which helped give a feeling that wasn't so dreary, but we don't know how Bob would go for that.
The other place we looked at is more like I was expecting. They showed us a small, one bedroom apartment. It had a small kitchen so that he can make himself something to eat, and it is big enough that he can keep a lot of his stuff (bed, dresser, chairs from the family room, etc.). The only drawback is that the facility is pretty big and I would worry that he would get lost. I think that place though would be much better for her dad at this point, so does Kris. And Bob's brother knows people who have moved into this facility, so I think that would be our choice.
The big problem in this however, is how to get Bob to agree to it. He is adamant that he is not going to leave his house. And the problem is that with his memory we cannot reason with him because he will completely forget everything after we convince him. Kris and her uncle spent an hour telling him why he can't really stay in his house and should be in a apartment where he can get the care he needs and we wouldn't have to worry about him. after 45 minutes to an hour they managed to convince him, but an hour later we know that he completely forgot it.
Man it is hard getting old.
One place was very nice, but it was more like a nursing home setting. The residents have a one room "apartment" which we thought was very small. But the place likes to promote the fact that the entire building is the residents' home. As such, they encourage the use of the common areas. So if we were to come over and visit Bob we wouldn't go hang out in his room, but we would visit in the large room where the TV and couches etc. are. It was a very big, bright room, which helped give a feeling that wasn't so dreary, but we don't know how Bob would go for that.
The other place we looked at is more like I was expecting. They showed us a small, one bedroom apartment. It had a small kitchen so that he can make himself something to eat, and it is big enough that he can keep a lot of his stuff (bed, dresser, chairs from the family room, etc.). The only drawback is that the facility is pretty big and I would worry that he would get lost. I think that place though would be much better for her dad at this point, so does Kris. And Bob's brother knows people who have moved into this facility, so I think that would be our choice.
The big problem in this however, is how to get Bob to agree to it. He is adamant that he is not going to leave his house. And the problem is that with his memory we cannot reason with him because he will completely forget everything after we convince him. Kris and her uncle spent an hour telling him why he can't really stay in his house and should be in a apartment where he can get the care he needs and we wouldn't have to worry about him. after 45 minutes to an hour they managed to convince him, but an hour later we know that he completely forgot it.
Man it is hard getting old.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Not A Plumber
Yesterday, I decided to check off one of the items on my to do list, one that I thought would be a quick fix... Fix the faucet on the back of the house. It had been dripping for some time and I had taken to turning the water off to keep it from dripping. I figured I could just turn off the water, unscrew the spigot and screw a new one on. Maybe a ten minute fix.
I always underestimate what could happen. I started turning the spigot, got it around a couple of turns, but it didn't seem to be coming off the end of the pipe. I stopped for a minute and that is when I heard a sort of a hissing sound. It took me about 30 seconds to realize it was water. The spigot was so tight on the pipe that when I was turning it, what I was in fact turning was the pipe out of the fitting off of the main line in the basement.
I ran into the house and as I pivoted to run down the basement steps, the bottoms of my shoes were wet from the hose dripping outside, so I slid across the floor and fell backward on my butt, That wouldn't have been so bad but I twisted both my knee and my ankle. OW! I let out a couple of choice explatives, unfortunately Ali had a friend over. It was sort of embarrassing and actually the fall gave Ali and her friend a bit of a scare.
I got back up and limped downstairs to see water spraying out all over like a fountain. I ended up having to turn off the water at the main shut off. Then it was time to clean up. I found out that the threads on the end of the pipe were so old and corroded that they broke so that I couldn't just screw it back in. This resulted in a trip to home depot to get some spare parts.
Well the problem is that after looking at things, the pipes won't line up. The people who lived in the house before us (or someone who was here before us) put a couple of 45° elbows in the line. So now when I was turning the pipe, it was off center. This meant getting a whole new pipe, but since I had the water off and the valve for outside was past the "T" joint I had to get the pipe in place fast since all the water in the house was now turned off. I bought a small section of pipe and a new shutoff valve so I could turn the water back on and work on the pipe.
That was easy enough. The hard part was working on the broken pipe now. All my pipes are the old, galvanized style, and I couldn't get the broken section out. It took me about 30 minutes to get it apart, but now I didn't have a section to replace it because of the elbows. The elbows made it so that the pipe would not line up with the new valve/original joint. After three or four more trips to Home Depot looking for a solution, I managed to find a 6" flexible line that fit on the ends so that I could at least turn the water back on. I am definitely not a plumber. So for now I at least have no leaks and can use the hose outside, but it is going to need to have a permanent fix soon.
I always underestimate what could happen. I started turning the spigot, got it around a couple of turns, but it didn't seem to be coming off the end of the pipe. I stopped for a minute and that is when I heard a sort of a hissing sound. It took me about 30 seconds to realize it was water. The spigot was so tight on the pipe that when I was turning it, what I was in fact turning was the pipe out of the fitting off of the main line in the basement.
I ran into the house and as I pivoted to run down the basement steps, the bottoms of my shoes were wet from the hose dripping outside, so I slid across the floor and fell backward on my butt, That wouldn't have been so bad but I twisted both my knee and my ankle. OW! I let out a couple of choice explatives, unfortunately Ali had a friend over. It was sort of embarrassing and actually the fall gave Ali and her friend a bit of a scare.
I got back up and limped downstairs to see water spraying out all over like a fountain. I ended up having to turn off the water at the main shut off. Then it was time to clean up. I found out that the threads on the end of the pipe were so old and corroded that they broke so that I couldn't just screw it back in. This resulted in a trip to home depot to get some spare parts.
Well the problem is that after looking at things, the pipes won't line up. The people who lived in the house before us (or someone who was here before us) put a couple of 45° elbows in the line. So now when I was turning the pipe, it was off center. This meant getting a whole new pipe, but since I had the water off and the valve for outside was past the "T" joint I had to get the pipe in place fast since all the water in the house was now turned off. I bought a small section of pipe and a new shutoff valve so I could turn the water back on and work on the pipe.
That was easy enough. The hard part was working on the broken pipe now. All my pipes are the old, galvanized style, and I couldn't get the broken section out. It took me about 30 minutes to get it apart, but now I didn't have a section to replace it because of the elbows. The elbows made it so that the pipe would not line up with the new valve/original joint. After three or four more trips to Home Depot looking for a solution, I managed to find a 6" flexible line that fit on the ends so that I could at least turn the water back on. I am definitely not a plumber. So for now I at least have no leaks and can use the hose outside, but it is going to need to have a permanent fix soon.
Monday, June 13, 2011
Summer Vacation
Summer vacation is only four days old and the girls are already bickering and fighting about anything and everything. I need to get them a hobby because I am not going to be able to stand this all summer long. I am going to go out on a limb and say that Kris agrees with me.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Please Bear With Me
I now take time out from normal blogging to send a wish to my wife:
Today marks the 5,844th day since we said "I do". For better or for worse, through thick and thin you have been by my side sharing the laughs and tears of life's uncertain ride. Sixteen years might seem like a long time, but honestly, the time seems to have flown by. And through the good and the bad, I am grateful for, and humbled by, the blessing of time we have had together.
Happy 16th Anniversary Kris! All my love.
Today marks the 5,844th day since we said "I do". For better or for worse, through thick and thin you have been by my side sharing the laughs and tears of life's uncertain ride. Sixteen years might seem like a long time, but honestly, the time seems to have flown by. And through the good and the bad, I am grateful for, and humbled by, the blessing of time we have had together.
Happy 16th Anniversary Kris! All my love.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Last Day
Today was the last day of school for the girls. It wasn't such a big deal for Sarah, but for Ali, it was a relief (more so for us). We made it through the year at Shady Lane with no major problems. There are still things I am not wild about at that school, but I also realize there isn't a whole lot I can do about it. So both girls are going to be in a higher grade next year. In only five years Sarah we will be attending Sarah's HS graduation. Where has all the time gone?
So let summer vacation begin. The girls are already looking forward to sleeping late, especially Sarah. However one thing I anticipate starting this summer is boys. Sarah already has been walking home with boys and she and her friends have been going to places like Pop's, or Starbucks, and meeting up with other boys. Yeah, it is going to be a long summer.
So let summer vacation begin. The girls are already looking forward to sleeping late, especially Sarah. However one thing I anticipate starting this summer is boys. Sarah already has been walking home with boys and she and her friends have been going to places like Pop's, or Starbucks, and meeting up with other boys. Yeah, it is going to be a long summer.
Nanny State
It is now official. Ali brought home a note today stating that their will be new guidelines, excuse me, RULE for sending snacks to school next year. The school board has set forth an “approved” snack list, which means that we will need to send only the “approved” snack to school with Ali next year. I have a major problem with this. While I agree that eating habits of children suck, and that it is a good idea to send healthy snacks to school with your children, I have a problem with the school board telling me what that thing is. What is next? Will they send me an approved list of meals for dinner? Maybe they will tell me next when I have to put my child to bed, or what they need to do in their spare time.
It is utterly ridiculous for the School Board to waste their time mandating an approved snack list when the district itself is one of the worst in the state. How about concerning yourselves with keeping my taxes low and upping the standards in education in the district. And what are they going to do if I send a Ho-Ho to school with Alison? Are they going to send her home for having contraband? Or are they going to fine me? The snacks we send now are packs of peanut butter crackers or cheese crackers. Her teacher told her that they aren’t “healthy snacks”. So I assume that means that she won’t be able to have those next year. Who would have thought that just plain cheese & crackers would be contraband? And what about lunch? They have their “healthy lunches” (and breakfast for that matter) but if Alison doesn’t like the french fried cheese sticks, or whatever they are serving that day, will they examine her lunch to make sure it meets their standards?
I’ll be writing the board voicing my disapproval with this program and hopefully there will be other parents who will join me.
It is utterly ridiculous for the School Board to waste their time mandating an approved snack list when the district itself is one of the worst in the state. How about concerning yourselves with keeping my taxes low and upping the standards in education in the district. And what are they going to do if I send a Ho-Ho to school with Alison? Are they going to send her home for having contraband? Or are they going to fine me? The snacks we send now are packs of peanut butter crackers or cheese crackers. Her teacher told her that they aren’t “healthy snacks”. So I assume that means that she won’t be able to have those next year. Who would have thought that just plain cheese & crackers would be contraband? And what about lunch? They have their “healthy lunches” (and breakfast for that matter) but if Alison doesn’t like the french fried cheese sticks, or whatever they are serving that day, will they examine her lunch to make sure it meets their standards?
I’ll be writing the board voicing my disapproval with this program and hopefully there will be other parents who will join me.
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