I’m trying to get the house fixed up and cleaned up; instead, I’m getting fed up with how long it’s taking. Continue reading DAY TWENTY-FOUR: I Wuz Framed!
Tag Archives: diy
DAY TWENTY-THREE: Screenfest
Re-screened six window screens. Started repairing yet another decaying window frame. Tried patching some broken molding along the ceiling in the kitchen, but I don’t think it’s gonna work very well. I know what I need to do a better job of it. Doesn’t sound like much, but it took all day. These “fix-it” chores are time-consuming and frustrating because every task consists of an endless number of tiny, tedious steps.
DAY TWENTY: What th’ Devil?
“Satan is god! Satan is god!” This is what a 9-year old kid in my class was spouting today, mostly to draw attention to himself and draw a rise out of the other kids. At least I hope that’s why he was saying it. Working as I do in the public school system, I have to be tolerant of all religious viewpoints, so beyond trying to quietly shush the little devil-worshipper… well, what can I say? I was trying very hard, but somewhat unsuccessfully, not to laugh. Less than two weeks into the new school year, the Crazy Train – actually, a few years ago a friend christened it The Circus Train to the Twilight Zone – is already at full-throttle.
And I want off this ride! Continue reading DAY TWENTY: What th’ Devil?
DAY EIGHTEEN: Another Monday
Another Monday at work. Whatevahs.
After work I caulked the ceiling edges and the front part of the counters in the kitchen. The fronts of some… most… of the kitchen cabinets are extremely weathered and the finish is flaking or peeling. I tested a quickie refinishing technique on a couple of sections, rubbing oil stain into the weathered wood using steel wool. It doesn’t look “new,” but it looks better than it did. I think I’ll be able to use this method on most of the weathered cabinets, and then brush coat everything with varnish. It will be easier than painting everything, and it will look less neglected than it does now. There’s not much point in putting too much effort or expense into the kitchen cabinets, as I’m sure that, were the house to sell, a new owner would tear everything out and replace all the cabinets and counter tops anyway.
I also managed to debox more toys and move them into storage containers. I’m down to about a dozen or so left to do. There are a few figures I am hesitant to unbox and I’ve been leaving them until last. Over the past few days I’ve been thinking about how much space they take up in their original cartons, how much effort goes in to taking care of them and boxing them properly so the cartons don’t get scuffed or damaged in storage, and how I did not intend to “collect” these items, but rather to use them as photography props, and that is leading me closer to deboxing everything.
Okay, almost everything. I still have a set of the original Monster High “First Wave” figures: Draculaura, Frankie, Clawdeen, and Lagoona – I’m hoping there’s a Ghoulia in there too – that are sealed up in a sturdy packing box and that I have no intention of opening.
The dolls are only part of my “hoard,” however. I am not sure what’s in all the other boxes in the Room of Doom. Books, I know. Some Pinky:st figures. And just… stuff.
A bit at a time, that’s the only way to get through it.
I really hope we can sell this house for enough money to make a move feasible. I hope I can complete enough decluttering and enough painting and repairs to meet the self-imposed “three month plan” or “100 Days” timeline. So far… so slow!
DAY TEN: Lots of Little Stuff… Amounting to Nothing
Today I worked on lots of little stuff around the house. As usual, the net visible result after hours of work is negligible. Continue reading DAY TEN: Lots of Little Stuff… Amounting to Nothing
DAY EIGHT: Screens or Screams?
Today I worked on re-screening the living room window screens – that sounds redundant, doesn’t it? – and of course the process unfolded more slowly and less smoothly than anticipated. I did not have enough screen material to complete the three screens on which I was working. Additionally, I managed to tear the second screen while installing the spline. A trip to the hardware store became necessary, this time to Lowe’s in Waikele, a forty or so minute drive away, because I was fairly certain Lowe’s would have what I needed. And they did. Still, after making the drive, looking for and buying what I needed, and then making a side-trip to Home Depot to check the dimensions on bathroom vent fans (the replacement fan motors carried by Lowe’s and Home Depot will not fit the existing box in the bathroom, of course), my buying trip ended up taking the better part of three hours. Continue reading DAY EIGHT: Screens or Screams?