Monday, May 25, 2009

Flat Tire

It is a quiet, rainy Memorial Day morning. We have no big plans for the day except containing to finish the re-model job.

I installed the new toilet yesterday. The job went very smoothly for which I was appreciative, my back is bothering me again so lifting and guiding the toilet was a trial.

I had to set the toilet twice since the wax ring shipped with the toilet (all the way from Foshan City in China) was not high enough so a trip to Home depot was in order.
After that, all went smoothly. I checked this morning and saw no leaks so that project goes into the finished pile.

I am not going to attempt installing the pedestal sink. All that I have heard makes it out of my league.

We bought a new stove and dishwasher, both of which I will install. We are going to gas after 40 years of all electric stoves. I have to run a gas line, but that is easy work; shouldn’t take more than the standard three trips to Home Depot.

I worked at the bus lot on Saturday. We have lost three drivers, one due to involving her self in a rear end collision with the bus, and two ladies who failed the physicals. All of them had more than 35 years school bus experience. So the load shifts even farther to me. And this is at a time of budget crunches so there is no “paid” overtime. First Student, an English owned company, is the worst managed company in this country. It’s amazing it can stay in business.

Jason came up for overnight on Wednesday. It was 9:00 PM when he called and said he was on the side of I-64 with a flat tire. He had no flashlight and had never changed attire before. I, knowing how dangerous this can b alongside an interstate in the dark and tiring to change the tire, it made me shudder with fear. Jason was on the shoulder just past mile marker 45 (as it turned out) so I headed that way. I had to go past him for five miles then loop back. A state trooper had pulled up behind him at that time with all lights flashing. Unfortunately he did not remain since I was on the way. Those lights would have mad me feel a lot safer.

Anyway, Jason had the doughnut tire out and the jack and was ready to go. Thank god the flat was on the passenger side, the other side would have been scary as all get out. We were safely back at home at 10:45.

Jason had bought the tires at Sears with road hazard protection so he got that changed the next day and was able to take Savannah out for pizza in St. Louis.

Savannah is camped out at Laura’s; I plan on taking the two to City Museum sometime next week, after Laura is out of school. We may take Savannah up to spend time with Brook and company at some point in this visit. Plans are still tentative.

We understand the need for allowing Savannah as much social time with girls her age. We will let her have as much of that time as we can.

That is all from Home Alone ( Jim, you are such a good Dad)

Dad



Sunday, May 10, 2009

Poles








Things are coming to a head here at Home Alone:
The flooring will be installed on Wednesday. I have to pull the dishwasher. Also need to make sure all the stapes are pounded down (from the old flooring)

I dug holes for three new posts ..

Hole #2 (center) was the record holder for the hardest clay I have ever encountered. I thought I had hit bedrock.

I'll let them set up in the mortar then start adding the boards. I made one span an even 8’ so I can take it down to pass a pickup through.

I borrowed Mike Melanovich's truck to bring the new sink and toilet home. He is really nice about letting me borrow it. Lee always sez I should ask him, but then I have to work on his schedule; not something I am willing to do.

Took your Mom to the casino today, then I left and walked around downtown for an hour and a half. Cloudy here and cool so it was pleasant

Yesterday I did all the mowing of our yard and the schoolyard.
The backyard here is still wet from all the rain, but it was getting out of control (grass wise).

Randy, the guy next door, came to tell me the house next to him had been repossessed. He went on to say that the backyard at the house was a mess. Randy said he had called the realtor to complain. We went over to see, and it was a jungle. So to protect the neigborhood, we decided to mow. I unhitched the riding mower (that is one good mower!) and went over and knocked the weeds and grass down. Randy did the edging with his weed eater. Randy and I had just finished when a truck pulled up from Bosslers Landscaping (Andy Bossler was the former husband and owner(?) of the house so the realtor called him and he sent his crew over. Too late!

Anyhow, we did no harm.
Thats all from Home Alone
Love you all
Dad








Sunday, May 3, 2009

The Loo







Sunday night and I am weary. I mowed the lawns yesterday after painting the kitchen and pantry area. Today, I finished tearing out some of the old floor and painted the bathroom and the hallway.

I pulled the toilet and sink/vanity out. The plumbing is stubbed into the wall and I was afraid of breaking a pipe in the wall so called a plumber to cut the pipes and seal them until I can get the new fixtures in. I asked him to give me a quote on installing the new toilet and pedestal sink. It floored me when the quote was $700.

Your mom said “SEVEN HUNDRED DOLLARS?!?! YOU can do it”. So I went on line to check it out. How hard can it be?

Well, the toilet would not be a problem; I have done that before. But, the pedestal sink is not as easy as I thought. Or your mom thought. The sink has to be rigidly mounted INTO the wall, the pedestal has to be attached or cemented to the new flooring, and the old faucet (the brown one we got a couple of years ago for $150 will be reused. The info I found on the web says it is a moderately difficult job for TWO people and can USUALLY be done in a day. I think I can understand why the plumber’s quote was $700.

The old toilet I moved, with the help of gravity and friction, to the basement. That is one heavy piece of work. Then using the same two helpers, I took the vanity sink to the basement. No way can I ever take it back up the stairs by myself. We are giving them to Bill and Dawn for their basement.

The old flooring in the kitchen was under the dishwasher. I wasn’t satisfied with what remained so I pulled the dishwasher out. I write the date of purchase on most things and I was surprised to see that I installed the dishwasher in 1996. Is been a good one. I had to clean out under the sink to get the feed hose loose. I noticed that the garbage disposal was marked that I installed it in 2000. Warranty expired two years ago.

I found a bonanza of stuff under the sink. Traci really loaded up things when you left. Some interesting items have surfaced in the freezers. Who eats turkey salami?

We went to Outback’s Steak House last night with Dick and Jeannie to celebrate her birthday. I tried lamb chops for the first time. They were quite good. We then went to their house. We will not have people over until I get the loo up and running.

I planted flowers for your mom today (did I mention that I am tired?) and am now thinking of bed, since it is almost 10:00. I have been taking two Tylenol PM tablets hoping that thepain in my shoulder will not awaken me. It is a a major nuisance and doesn’t make any sense since I have really tested it the past two weeks with all the work I have done in the house. None of that bothers me, not even the painting. Yet I sleep on the right side and the pain comes back.

X-rays were negative and nothing changes. Any ideas, Jim?
Thats about it from Home Alone.
Dad