Thread Drift

[salsabike]

Rant away, Mimi and X. I have a soapbox I carry with me (metaphorically speaking, anyway) for a long, grumpy speech about how schools emphasize verbal, seat skills over visual-spatial, movement skills that are valued just as much in society, and how it's a sin that active boys don't have the opportunity to see that their skills are really valuable, and how that attitude "creates" disabilities when there really aren't any....see what I mean? I'll stop now. It does, however, drive me crazy in my profession.

Knot, it'll be nice to get that app done before you go, only in the sense that it's a pain in the *** AND you'll have a much better time knowing most of it's behind you.

BMof3, the heating/plumbing/electrical work is supposed to be done this week and inspected. Then they can do insulation and dry wall. After that there's lots of bits and pieces left---putting in hard wood floors, building various shelves, installing all the bathroom stuff, etc. I am not sure when they'll finish because I think I will be killing the contractor first, possibly even this afternoon. Please consider visiting me in jail and maybe getting Snap's recipe for cinnamon buttons so you could bring me some if you're feeling kindly.

The contractor is coming over this afternoon to discuss the bill and the totally unexpected $15,000 overrun. We are expecting a call from an architect friend in Paris whom we've used as a sort of consultant on contractor stuff. Mr. Salsa leaves tomorrow for a 12-day boat trip (work) and I leave a week from today for another week in Albany to help my mother move to assisted living. We are still definitely in la vida loca territory. But after we went to the Bellevue Botanical Garden D'Lights show, we went to the local Ethiopian restaurant, which was great. We'll go for a tandem ride sometime today, although maybe only 30 miles. So things could be worse...

CC, congrats on the 12-hour! I'd be bonkers, I expect. How fun to finally see pics of you and Ian--now I know who I'm talking to when I babble about football and Lake Taupo.

Fine limerick, X. Team Addled. I think I'll add it to my profile with Mimi's permission.

Any future business I do with contractors will have to include a materials clause that provides steady valium. Or something like that. Or, maybe just the flamethrower. I may like the latter better, come to think of it.

[Bikingmomof3]

BMof3, the heating/plumbing/electrical work is supposed to be done this week and inspected. Then they can do insulation and dry wall. After that there's lots of bits and pieces left---putting in hard wood floors, building various shelves, installing all the bathroom stuff, etc. I am not sure when they'll finish because I think I will be killing the contractor first, possibly even this afternoon.

We could probably post bail.

Please consider visiting me in jail and maybe getting Snap's recipe for cinnamon buttons so you could bring me some if you're feeling kindly.

If we failed to bail you out I would visit, maybe even stay with you.

The contractor is coming over this afternoon to discuss the bill and the totally unexpected $15,000 overrun.

Do nothurt him too badly.

Mr. Salsa leaves tomorrow for a 12-day boat trip (work) and I leave a week from today for another week in Albany to help my mother move to assisted living.

I am sorry to hear Mr. Salsa will be away so long.
I am however thrilled you found an assisted living facility for your mom.

Any future business I do with contractors will have to include a materials clause that provides steady valium. Or something like that. Or, maybe just the flamethrower. I may like the latter better, come to think of it.

Why not both?

[mimitabby]

We could probably post bail.



If we failed to bail you out I would visit, maybe even stay with you.



Do nothurt him too badly.



I am sorry to hear Mr. Salsa will be away so long.
I am however thrilled you found an assisted living facility for your mom.



Why not both?

this is hilarious! Salsa, I really feel for you. Because of your and other experiences we are strongly NOT considering adding on to our dorky little house.
our housepayments are just right. if we add on to the house, we'll have more room for gracious living and less $$$ for BICYCLING.. and we're just not that gracious.

[salsabike]

Yeah, we're not that gracious either. This all started because I wanted a front porch in memory of my dad. Then I needed a weaving studio. And then we thought it would be good to have the living room bigger because we really can't get many people in there. And then. Arghh.

Mimi, our contractor is a pretty good one, too. The work quality is very good. His communication skills and planning are not so good. I think our experience is quite typical, and frighteningly enough, better than many. I will miss our very low house payments when we refinance, but we really did need more space to be comfortable here, just ourselves. And we do love the neighborhood/neighbors and the double corner wooded lot, so...from all the other stories from friends going through this, it could be going much worse. I'm sure we'll love it when it's done. Hahahahahahaha. That's what all our friends keep telling us who've been through it.

My guess is we'll be in the basement at least 5 or 6 more weeks.

I think having both valium and flamethrower is the best idea, really.

The assisted living place for my mom is very, very good---full of cultural activities, beautiful, best rep in town. I'd go there myself. Maybe tomorrow.

[Trek420]

salsa,

yes it's pretty typical. I've been through a few home remodels and I'd say they all either took twice as long or cost twice as much....or both.

The most extensive started as a bathroom remodel only on a 3 story, 2b, 3 B house in Berkeley. At one point we were down to one room, everything else was being worked on.

It can also be very hard on a relationship so the fact yours & your sense of humor is intact...that's a good thing.

I vowed all I'd do is paint my condo but the floors and kitchen are abysmal so I don't think I can get away with not doing something whether I stay here and enjoy them or turn the joint.

oooh, I found out that a guy in my dojo is a triathlete, a burnt out triathlete, one who says he will never swim, run or......bike again....and he's 5'1".

He actually offered me his bikes; a Felt, Trek and a Cervelo and they are my size. I said "why don'tcha think about it, you may want to go again". Do I really need 6 bikes? I'd have to add another room

[snapdragen]

All right. I am throwing a scavenger hunt. First person that finds me Hershey's Cinnamon Chips wins. Can't find 'em in the local grocery stores, and online all I can find is large quantities, I just need a bag or two.

[DirtDiva]

Maybe X could get some factory-fresh ones for you..?