August 21, 2007
Yup. Karma and her new husband Murphy have returned from their honeymoon, and they started immediately on me. Don't get me wrong, they had a few excursions while away where they said, "wouldn't it be funny?" It wasn't. But that's ok. I can handle it. I hope it ticks them off completely that I can handle it. By the way, if they are reading this, I'd really appreciate knowing why I am a focus of their endeavors.
It's not really a big deal, but I would really like for a plan to work out the way I intend just once. Well, maybe a couple of times... The first thing was when I pulled out the circular saw to cut the existing mudsill between the bathroom and the closet so I could move the entry. I haven't used the saw in a while, and the masonry blade was what was installed. I went to change it, only to find out that the only blade I had was chewed to pieces. Alright, that's my fault. I should have paid attention to it when I switched them last. I made the cut by hand, and also built the header without the advantage of this valuable tool. No biggy. I made it all work.
Next I put in the new side board for the doorway. I have difficulty holding an ~8' board steady and hammering the bottom of it for some reason. So I decided to pre-drill the nail hole. I grabbed the cordless drill and started the hole. The battery was dead. Strange, I just charged it. No problem, there was another one in the charger. I plugged that one in. Same thing. Both batteries died at the same time. They couldn't hold a charge to save their lives, which is exactly what was at stake. I put the board in place without pre-drilling, and then noticed how twisted it was. I grabbed this 2x4 because it was leaning on the garage. It has been there quite a while, and I didn't think about it being damaged by the sun. I know, what an idiot. It is installed, but it is twisted and not even close to plumb. No worries. I can fix it.
I knocked out the two 2x4s that were still in the way with the hammer not bothering to cut the nails off given that my reciprocating saw was dead. Then I went after the next challenge. It is very funny to look at the bathroom walls. Well, it is not funny, but if you don't laugh will take a splitting maul to the whole freakin' thing. The doors have been moved so much in the past thirty years that headers occupy about sixty percent of the top lengths for two of the walls. One of them happens to quietly reside where I need to put my new closet access. Hmmm... I can make it work. However, the area requires me to do some rather precision cutting. I can't do it by hand, there is no room. I need my (usually) trusty tools.
I turned to the wonderful internet. How much could batteries be? The answer: $90... each. The tools themselves are currently going for about $200/each. Battery and the associated interface technology is apparently very expensive. I don't have much of a choice. I guess I will be making a trip to Home Despot tomorrow.
"Geez, HockanDoc, you are working on this on a 'work day'?" Yes I am. I worked several hours this morning, and in the process I received my annual review. I got an 'average' rating. The last quarter of the fiscal year I worked tremendous hours to help solve problems that were not my responsibility. My senior manager told me that I was racking up some serious comp time. Fine. No extra money for what I did regardless of the e-mails I received that said they wouldn't be as far along as they were without me. So, I am taking comp time. In a couple of weeks, I'll receive a notice from HR that says that I have maxed out on my vacation accrual. So, I will be taking vacation. Granted, I'll be hanging out at the house and working on the bathroom, but I intend to do it. Frankly, I should have a rather easy work life until at least Christmas. Don't worry, Sergiu, I'll not let anything fall through the cracks, but I'll not be busting my butt to make sure the cracks are sealed before it hits. Yes, I know we will talk about this...
So? I don't think I'll get the bathroom done by Christmas, but maybe by my birthday. Who knows? That might include the entry to the study as well!
Bring it on...
It's not really a big deal, but I would really like for a plan to work out the way I intend just once. Well, maybe a couple of times... The first thing was when I pulled out the circular saw to cut the existing mudsill between the bathroom and the closet so I could move the entry. I haven't used the saw in a while, and the masonry blade was what was installed. I went to change it, only to find out that the only blade I had was chewed to pieces. Alright, that's my fault. I should have paid attention to it when I switched them last. I made the cut by hand, and also built the header without the advantage of this valuable tool. No biggy. I made it all work.
Next I put in the new side board for the doorway. I have difficulty holding an ~8' board steady and hammering the bottom of it for some reason. So I decided to pre-drill the nail hole. I grabbed the cordless drill and started the hole. The battery was dead. Strange, I just charged it. No problem, there was another one in the charger. I plugged that one in. Same thing. Both batteries died at the same time. They couldn't hold a charge to save their lives, which is exactly what was at stake. I put the board in place without pre-drilling, and then noticed how twisted it was. I grabbed this 2x4 because it was leaning on the garage. It has been there quite a while, and I didn't think about it being damaged by the sun. I know, what an idiot. It is installed, but it is twisted and not even close to plumb. No worries. I can fix it.
I knocked out the two 2x4s that were still in the way with the hammer not bothering to cut the nails off given that my reciprocating saw was dead. Then I went after the next challenge. It is very funny to look at the bathroom walls. Well, it is not funny, but if you don't laugh will take a splitting maul to the whole freakin' thing. The doors have been moved so much in the past thirty years that headers occupy about sixty percent of the top lengths for two of the walls. One of them happens to quietly reside where I need to put my new closet access. Hmmm... I can make it work. However, the area requires me to do some rather precision cutting. I can't do it by hand, there is no room. I need my (usually) trusty tools.
I turned to the wonderful internet. How much could batteries be? The answer: $90... each. The tools themselves are currently going for about $200/each. Battery and the associated interface technology is apparently very expensive. I don't have much of a choice. I guess I will be making a trip to Home Despot tomorrow.
"Geez, HockanDoc, you are working on this on a 'work day'?" Yes I am. I worked several hours this morning, and in the process I received my annual review. I got an 'average' rating. The last quarter of the fiscal year I worked tremendous hours to help solve problems that were not my responsibility. My senior manager told me that I was racking up some serious comp time. Fine. No extra money for what I did regardless of the e-mails I received that said they wouldn't be as far along as they were without me. So, I am taking comp time. In a couple of weeks, I'll receive a notice from HR that says that I have maxed out on my vacation accrual. So, I will be taking vacation. Granted, I'll be hanging out at the house and working on the bathroom, but I intend to do it. Frankly, I should have a rather easy work life until at least Christmas. Don't worry, Sergiu, I'll not let anything fall through the cracks, but I'll not be busting my butt to make sure the cracks are sealed before it hits. Yes, I know we will talk about this...
So? I don't think I'll get the bathroom done by Christmas, but maybe by my birthday. Who knows? That might include the entry to the study as well!
Bring it on...