Twisted's Journal
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12/01/2006 01:45 #36790
NutsCategory: family
My Dad sent me this picture for the family calendar. Does it seem vaguely obscene to anyone else or is it just me?
11/28/2006 12:39 #36789
It's always something...Category: housing
The kitchen & bath remodel is moving along. Luckily they didn't need me for much of the demo phase, except when they uncovered a hornets nest (literally) in the ceiling on Friday. It's amazing what you can co-exist with peacefully without even knowing it. But the hornets didn't take kindly to having their territory invaded and you do NOT want to get on their bad side.
After alternately feeling somewhat on top of things and outright panicking, I decided to take a short-term view of my part of the project. (This will probably bite me in the butt when it turns out the floor tile I like takes 3-4 weeks delivery time, but I'll work on dependencies like that next.) So I asked my general contractor what's the first thing he's going to need from me? He says, "the rough-in valve." Say WHAT? That does NOT sound like something I should have to pick out. Then he explained it's part of the shower system and depends on whether I want a thermostatic mixing valve, volume control, diverter for tub to shower, etc. Oh yeah. I probably do need to figure that all out! So I got right on it.
I thought Black Friday would be a fine time to go bathroom fixture shopping, since who in their right mind does that? Turns out I was all too right. Apparently nobody does, since the bathroom supply stores were all closed. Doh! So I did my homework online, then found what I needed locally yesterday. One thing down, about two million to go. ;-)
UPDATE: Pictures added. You asked for it!
It's images like these that keep me awake at night.
The toilet remains for obvious reasons.
Where the tub was.
View from the kitchen through to the bathroom.
I really wish my kitchen sub-floor went all the way to the outside wall.
On a happy note -- I think my sis-in-law really liked her birthday present!
After alternately feeling somewhat on top of things and outright panicking, I decided to take a short-term view of my part of the project. (This will probably bite me in the butt when it turns out the floor tile I like takes 3-4 weeks delivery time, but I'll work on dependencies like that next.) So I asked my general contractor what's the first thing he's going to need from me? He says, "the rough-in valve." Say WHAT? That does NOT sound like something I should have to pick out. Then he explained it's part of the shower system and depends on whether I want a thermostatic mixing valve, volume control, diverter for tub to shower, etc. Oh yeah. I probably do need to figure that all out! So I got right on it.
I thought Black Friday would be a fine time to go bathroom fixture shopping, since who in their right mind does that? Turns out I was all too right. Apparently nobody does, since the bathroom supply stores were all closed. Doh! So I did my homework online, then found what I needed locally yesterday. One thing down, about two million to go. ;-)
UPDATE: Pictures added. You asked for it!
It's images like these that keep me awake at night.
The toilet remains for obvious reasons.
Where the tub was.
View from the kitchen through to the bathroom.
I really wish my kitchen sub-floor went all the way to the outside wall.
On a happy note -- I think my sis-in-law really liked her birthday present!
twisted - 11/29/06 00:19
Oh yeah, I am so over blogging fatigue syndrome. That didn't last long! haha.
I do like picking out my own stuff, but there's so much to pick out when you're starting from scratch on a kitchen and bathroom. You'll be the first to see the results though.
Oh yeah, I am so over blogging fatigue syndrome. That didn't last long! haha.
I do like picking out my own stuff, but there's so much to pick out when you're starting from scratch on a kitchen and bathroom. You'll be the first to see the results though.
matthew - 11/28/06 21:21
you'll be happy that they gave you the choice when it's all done. I wouldn't mind having a new personalized kitchen. I'll put it on my x-mas list!
you'll be happy that they gave you the choice when it's all done. I wouldn't mind having a new personalized kitchen. I'll put it on my x-mas list!
paul - 11/28/06 18:54
So much for blogging fatigue syndrome. Where are the pictures. I want to see pictures.
So much for blogging fatigue syndrome. Where are the pictures. I want to see pictures.
mrmike - 11/28/06 16:56
Hey, the journey of a thousand fixtures begins with the first purchase
Hey, the journey of a thousand fixtures begins with the first purchase
11/28/2006 01:57 #36788
Geek ChicCategory: gifts
Haven't bought any Christmas presents yet, but I got this cool laptop bag for my sister-in-law's birthday tomorrow. It's gold brocade and comes with a matching pouch for your cell phone/iPod. Only $29.97 at the Sony Style store! Don't worry -- rug sold separately, haha.
Some other interesting things here. I especially like these items:
Laptop for Frustrated DJs -- the lid contains a touch-sensitive LCD panel which allows you to control your MP3s, either from the laptop itself or from a connected player. (Still just a concept piece.)
Handbag with solar panel to charge your cell phone.
Thwart would-be laptop thieves with the pizza box laptop bag!
(e:Kara,110) a photo-a-month calendar is a great grandparent gift. You just need 12 family photos (or more if you want to get creative with collages) + one for the cover. $19.99 minus 20% off with coupon code XPP112 at Kinkos if you order by December 15. Or do it the easy way with iPhoto.
Some other interesting things here. I especially like these items:
Missing Image ;(
Laptop for Frustrated DJs -- the lid contains a touch-sensitive LCD panel which allows you to control your MP3s, either from the laptop itself or from a connected player. (Still just a concept piece.)
Missing Image ;(
Handbag with solar panel to charge your cell phone.
Missing Image ;(
Thwart would-be laptop thieves with the pizza box laptop bag!
(e:Kara,110) a photo-a-month calendar is a great grandparent gift. You just need 12 family photos (or more if you want to get creative with collages) + one for the cover. $19.99 minus 20% off with coupon code XPP112 at Kinkos if you order by December 15. Or do it the easy way with iPhoto.
joshua - 11/29/06 13:55
MY LORD! I can't imagine the feeling of doing the business on that toilet. Seriously, a corn field has more privacy.
Reading the chronicle of your remodeling events is scaring the hell out of me. When I buy, I'm doing as little of that as possible!
MY LORD! I can't imagine the feeling of doing the business on that toilet. Seriously, a corn field has more privacy.
Reading the chronicle of your remodeling events is scaring the hell out of me. When I buy, I'm doing as little of that as possible!
twisted - 11/28/06 12:46
No kidding Iriesara! It's keeping me busy (see above).
I cannot WAIT to take a road-trip down the coast and finally visit San Diego! If this construction thing gets to me maybe I'll come sooner rather than later, haha.
No kidding Iriesara! It's keeping me busy (see above).
I cannot WAIT to take a road-trip down the coast and finally visit San Diego! If this construction thing gets to me maybe I'll come sooner rather than later, haha.
iriesara - 11/28/06 10:49
Ahh, noooo! not the carpet! Ugh! flashbacks, flashbacks!
okay, breathe...
tee hee! cool bag, though....it really looks so antique, and it's made for something totally modern - that's crazy!
Twisted, glad to see your making some headway in your house project. I know there's a lot you want to accomplish, but you've got to start somewhere, and you sure did! Gosh, no turning back once they start demo, huh?
Can't wait to see you soon!
Sara
Ahh, noooo! not the carpet! Ugh! flashbacks, flashbacks!
okay, breathe...
tee hee! cool bag, though....it really looks so antique, and it's made for something totally modern - that's crazy!
Twisted, glad to see your making some headway in your house project. I know there's a lot you want to accomplish, but you've got to start somewhere, and you sure did! Gosh, no turning back once they start demo, huh?
Can't wait to see you soon!
Sara
11/23/2006 23:25 #36787
The Second Deadly Sin...Category: holiday
... is definitely my favorite. Today at least, haha.
What a week. Good thing Thanksgiving wasn't at my house, since as of yesterday my kitchen looks like this:
Demolition day
The sink (cue foreboding music)
Debris piled up in what will some day be my bedroom. cozy, eh?
Arguably, it's already an [inlink]twisted,424[/inlink]improvement. Still, this alleged kitchen remodel is so daunting, and no one else seems to be stepping up to the plate to make decisions about it (I guess that's the problem with not having anybody else), that I honestly started to think maybe it would never happen. So I did what I always do in that situation and tricked myself into dealing with it by signing a contract with a general contractor to do the work. He decided to start yesterday.
Which is great, except now he's going to start asking me questions about appliances, lighting, cabinets, countertops, backsplashes, flooring, faucets, etc., that I really don't know the answers to. Oh yeah, and the part where water started pouring out of my downstairs ceiling light in the middle of the night because the partially demolished kitchen sink upstairs started leaking wasn't so great either. But he fixed that this morning, and I only had to empty my 13 gallon trash can filled with water three times last night.
Anyway, maybe it's the tryptophan, but I don't feel like going into all that. So you get off easy this time.
p.s. - Have I mentioned lately? You guys rock! Thanks (e:peeps)! Happy Thanksgiving!
What a week. Good thing Thanksgiving wasn't at my house, since as of yesterday my kitchen looks like this:
Demolition day
The sink (cue foreboding music)
Debris piled up in what will some day be my bedroom. cozy, eh?
Arguably, it's already an [inlink]twisted,424[/inlink]improvement. Still, this alleged kitchen remodel is so daunting, and no one else seems to be stepping up to the plate to make decisions about it (I guess that's the problem with not having anybody else), that I honestly started to think maybe it would never happen. So I did what I always do in that situation and tricked myself into dealing with it by signing a contract with a general contractor to do the work. He decided to start yesterday.
Which is great, except now he's going to start asking me questions about appliances, lighting, cabinets, countertops, backsplashes, flooring, faucets, etc., that I really don't know the answers to. Oh yeah, and the part where water started pouring out of my downstairs ceiling light in the middle of the night because the partially demolished kitchen sink upstairs started leaking wasn't so great either. But he fixed that this morning, and I only had to empty my 13 gallon trash can filled with water three times last night.
Anyway, maybe it's the tryptophan, but I don't feel like going into all that. So you get off easy this time.
p.s. - Have I mentioned lately? You guys rock! Thanks (e:peeps)! Happy Thanksgiving!
11/19/2006 14:13 #36786
Lombard StreetOne more media clip from the half-day whirlwind tourist trap tour. This was on Saturday, so there were a lot of tourists around, but unfortunately I still didn't hit any, haha.
Driving in SF is fun. Thanks to (e:Iriesara) for the video.
p.s. - (e:enknot) I keep expecting to see my Dad & Jean show up in the background of one of your videos. They've been in Chicago since last Thursday visiting my brother & sister-in-law. I'll tell them to keep an eye out for you.
Driving in SF is fun. Thanks to (e:Iriesara) for the video.
p.s. - (e:enknot) I keep expecting to see my Dad & Jean show up in the background of one of your videos. They've been in Chicago since last Thursday visiting my brother & sister-in-law. I'll tell them to keep an eye out for you.
AH, she was just glad to see you. It's a good candidate for photoshop fun.
That is really insane....not sure that's one for the family calendar, but, hey, if that's how y'all roll. I would use the word vulgar, actually.
That would be my step-mother Jean, and some guys in Australia dressed in kangaroo suits. I wish you could really see the expression on the middle guy's face while he scratches his giant... oh my. I wonder if Dad got any action shots of them hopping?
I'll have to get the whole story at Christmas. Dad started sending pix yesterday and they're still coming through. He's on batch #22 right now. Maybe I'll do a 24 month calendar this year, haha.
actually, its kinda scaring me.
Who are the people and are those giant nut sacks?