As usual, I plan, and then the Universe trumps me. Luckily, I'm flexible and try not to be miffed about it. My expectations for the day was "computer" - assignments were due last night (not yet started, since I was busy on the computer with other areas of the combined project) and the finals are due by the end of the week.
So I got up.
It was early so I think I blogged a bit while 'the kids' got on out of here... which is when the first clue from the Universe alerted me that plans were changing. We've had rain, weird as that is, and it was settling under the snow-pack on the roof - i.e. leaking in around the bathroom ceiling light. This is not a good thing.
We were supposed to get snow and freezing following the rain, so figured the day would include some roof-side explorations. And figured I should run to Towne before the weather got crappy and before I got soaked and exhausted. Two reasons to go to Towne - bank deposit and bread store. The roof wasn't going anywhere in the mean time.
So... reality check. I thought I should cut the breaker off to the bathroom as a safety measure, so headed to my room for my 'breaker list' instead of randomly switch things on and off. On my way to my room, there was dog puddle on the carpet - obviously, the one that sleeps in hadn't been let out earlier and wasn't able to get my attention. I fetched my breaker list and on the way through the kitchen, grabbed some cleanser and hit the dog spot with a towel and proceeded to the breaker box, but the bathroom also controls the small bedrooms - i.e., if I flipped it off, the lizard's electrical 'hot rock' wouldn't be.
Left it on after all, but gingerly unscrewed the globe - nothing like electicity and metal and water to lend an air of caution? Didn't get zapped, knocked back an antibiotic for a tooth infection (and I do hope my Alaska sister doesn't read this, because she'll scold again) I'm regaining control over, got my stuff together and headed to Towne. Felt pretty good, which may be a sign of insanity.
Open to Opportunity. The bread store had 10 / $10, so I bought more than I expected - which is good. They also had 'bags for sale' - huh? Chunks of unused bread bags, neatly pinned through, for $3... Hamburger-size is great for yard cleaning and other yukky things as gloves, and the regular size is great for doubling to freeze loaves - so I got a stack of both. About 400 in each bundle, and should last awhile, I'd think, and no, I don't intend to crochet a bread-bag rug, though it is possible. Wasn't expecting this, either.
While I was in Towne... I'd seen some interesting things at my favorite used store, so thought I'd fetch them home while "I was in Towne." I allotted this expense at the bank, and stopped by to get these intriguing items: the old bottle cutter, which I've never had the opportunity to explore, but the way glasses break around here, figured I'd just hand them a jar or bottle and tell them to make another; and a yogurt maker. I'd had one of these years ago, and thought I'd give it a try one day again.
But... while the Opportunity Window was open, there... in the store... all by itself surrounded by 'junk'... was -- a Hamster Habitat! I'd spent what I'd pulled from the bank, but I knew this item wouldn't be there long - so I crossed the street to my bank's other branch and took out extra funds for this, returned to the store and brought it home. One happy hamster, and I knew Sera and Val would want it. (Okay, so my purpose was to make a hamster happy, as dictated the Universe? Actually a rare find.)
By that time I was getting hungry since I hadn't eaten, but I had a loaf of raisin bread next to me and it did taste good while I was driving. Got home with my bottle-cutter and yogurt maker and two sacks of bread and two bundles of bags and hamster house with one crown missing and treating infection with two assignments due that night after eating some bread while the bathroom light leaked...
I was good though? (Richard, if you're sending energy, don't stop!) Cold rain, but I knew where my raincoat was and donned snow pants to stay a bit drier and went roof-side with my shovel to resolve the problem. With the steady rain, a layer of slush was building under the snow; without a place to run to, it was backing up around vents and such. Since it's all gonna freeze again (unless something weird happens with the weather), figured I should remove all of it. Luckily, my area of the roof was good from the last shoveling. Luckily, it wasn't leaking in close to my computer, which would have caused Panic. Luckily, my little plastic shovel is light, because the snow was water-heavy! I have no use for a 20-pound shovel and prefer the lightest that will get the job done, which it did.
I was up and down with dogs going in and out, and the shortest route is simply swinging myself onto a tree and sliding down to the porch railing - good stretching, and smoother than clambering down the ladder; harder going up, which is why the ladder's propped on the other end of the house.
While I was up there, the plastic that is temporarily waiting for me to cut end-boards was loose on one portion, so I fetched up the stapler and hung over the peak by one leg to refasten it - easier than moving the ladder, which is stuck in the snowbank. While I was in the shed getting the stapler, I realized the snow on that roof was blocking the rain and coming through the screw-holes that I hadn't sealed, so -. Dumped the laundry out of a basket and fetched a garbage can to catch these leaks, which isn't critical and can be addressed another day. Easy fix, really, but will use the shop-vac to help dry the carpet when it thaws again.
On my way around and through the house to fetch the stapler, I realized the snow I'd shoveled was against the side door, about three feet deep. Truthfully, about the only place to clear snow on that portion of the roof, but it'd need to be cleared before I was done, or it'd be leaking in the door - and the dogs would have to leap in and out.
So... I finally got in, pretty soaked and a bit sore. Not sure why the chiropractor said "tennis elbow", in that I've never played tennis! I have found cutting the tops off a pair of socks make excellent elbow supports, and one can pull them down around wrists if a bit chilly. Looks like kind of cool sleeves, too, without adding a full shirt! Tip: worn-out socks filled with dog food and knotted makes a great doggie-treat, but we've used up all of our spares - I'm wearing the tops and the dogs finished off the bottoms.
Bonus: I had made oatmeal cookies the day before, so enjoyed a few with coffee.
Sera came home early not feeling well, Val came home from the bus and built a hamster house, and I took a break before tackling assignments.
The light gradually stopped leaking and I even got the assignments done on time.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Construction thoughts revisited and quirks
I've gained some ideas and some insights and will let them lie fallow until the proper elements come together for something to germinate. Not the usual way to go about these things, but you're visiting in 'Elaine's world'. I'll ask the house and the land what it wants, and even if I don't really get an answer one can hear, if one has any belief in a unified universe or earth-energy -- then it can't hurt.
(For those wishing to skip any construction thoughts, skip to the spacing --------- below.)
One of my favorite examples of 'how to build a root cellar' is intriguing. Dome structures tend to be stronger than box, and one simply (that's the word that leads me into strenuous labor) digs the perimeter down, piling the dirt in the center to form the dome. Framing is supported by this, and whatever materials one chooses to use are applied. Once it has firmed up, the dirt is dug out and loaded on the sides and top. Two points: one, don't forget to space in a door, and two, remember to put in a vent.
I will assume a bit of concrete floor could be poured and sealed from the inside. Sigh, once again, my leveling skills may be questioned - generally I have two measurements: 'obviously not' and 'good enough'.
That, too, came from previous exploration when friend Jim mentioned a roof construction using framed burlap and concrete (or spray foam insulation?). I added a papercreters group to my list, but much of it requires one to be a member - free - to prevent spam. Some of this is much like large-scale paper mache, and that I can understand!
Added bonus of rootcellar - doesn't show up in arial photos for tax purposes, and if one conceals the door behind piles of junk, they'll never know it's there - long as your neighbors aren't nosy. Blame this on my youth when the older kids played "Man from U.N.C.L.E." at Grandma's, designing underground torture chambers and rooms to create one day. I was a susceptible at age six, and thought the big kids knew what they were talking about. Right... have a ten-year-old draw your shelter plans... they'll incorporate a pool with a diving board.
I don't sit idle meantime, but continue gathering potential useful bits. This includes ferrocement found on the 'net. One photo-site is http://paisite.com/sunlife/index.htm and a major site, including ratios, is http://ferrocement.com/Page_1/english.html - available in other languages, too. Has some verrry interesting aquaculture uses given, too? Another site diagrammed a root cellar / storm shelter / fallout shelter at http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/robert_conroy/rootcell.htm.
Stir this in with my previous exploration of papercrete -'net search produces a lot of information, and one example is at http://www.doityourself.com/stry/papercrete - this product is light and other sites 'waterproofed' by adding acrylic paint to the mix and other options are out there. Papercrete group site is http://groups.yahoo.com/group/papercreters/.
---------------- enough of this? Moving on....
This may confound a few people. In 'my world' the rules seem to bend a little bit. I was driving out in the middle of nowhere headed for one of our small, isolated towns when my temperature gauge began gasping, as if in death throes. It wasn't heating, it was cooling! No warning lights came on, but the gauge was wheezing feebly up, then sinking. This hasn't occurred to me before, so I knew something was up. I did have oil with, having purchased a few quarts when I'd finally made my last Wal-mart trip, previous blog (it's GOOD to listen to those inner nudges).
In case things didn't want to start again, and being on a narrow two-lane, I mildly-panicked the car into said small town, which appeared devoid of human life. I couldn't quite understand why oil may be connected to the temp. gauge, but last I checked, the radiator was full - and if it'd sprung a leak, one would have thought overheating would occur? I stopped and checked the oil, and the car was low, so I fed it a quart with apologies for being absent-minded on this.
The gauge went back to normal and has behaved since.
NOW - is this typical mechanics? I shared this with one friend, who quizzed me about checking the radiator - of course I didn't at the time, it was hot and I know better. A day or so later, I checked the radiator and it's perfectly fine. He insisted oil wouldn't affect this gauge, but then -- it is 'my world'?
I have my own weird explanations. If the oil or check engine light had come on, I may have panicked myself right into the ditch. This, to me, is like a heartbeat monitor straight-lining. Since it was a quirky, mystifying 'backwards temperature gauge' that I've never experienced before, I didn't know what was going on and if full-blown, hit-the-ditch panic was called for - so I didn't. Since the car can't actually say, "Hey, Elaine, could you pop some oil down me? I'd appreciate it" in a non-panicking way, this "Wake up, Dummy, and pay attention to me!" worked just fine.
Or... other cars routinely grow cold when the oil is low, I don't know. None of mine have previously, and - I do seem to be getting a little more eccentric. Now when the car radio is on, if it's 'abrasive or angry or belittling to anyone' music, I turn the channel to something more pleasant for my car. :)
Strange but harmless, and if the sci-fi shows where machines seek revenge ever come true, 'my mechanical friends' won't try to run me over. How are you treating your vehicles lately, anyway? Maybe the Universe is listening... (theme music)
(For those wishing to skip any construction thoughts, skip to the spacing --------- below.)
One of my favorite examples of 'how to build a root cellar' is intriguing. Dome structures tend to be stronger than box, and one simply (that's the word that leads me into strenuous labor) digs the perimeter down, piling the dirt in the center to form the dome. Framing is supported by this, and whatever materials one chooses to use are applied. Once it has firmed up, the dirt is dug out and loaded on the sides and top. Two points: one, don't forget to space in a door, and two, remember to put in a vent.
I will assume a bit of concrete floor could be poured and sealed from the inside. Sigh, once again, my leveling skills may be questioned - generally I have two measurements: 'obviously not' and 'good enough'.
That, too, came from previous exploration when friend Jim mentioned a roof construction using framed burlap and concrete (or spray foam insulation?). I added a papercreters group to my list, but much of it requires one to be a member - free - to prevent spam. Some of this is much like large-scale paper mache, and that I can understand!
Added bonus of rootcellar - doesn't show up in arial photos for tax purposes, and if one conceals the door behind piles of junk, they'll never know it's there - long as your neighbors aren't nosy. Blame this on my youth when the older kids played "Man from U.N.C.L.E." at Grandma's, designing underground torture chambers and rooms to create one day. I was a susceptible at age six, and thought the big kids knew what they were talking about. Right... have a ten-year-old draw your shelter plans... they'll incorporate a pool with a diving board.
I don't sit idle meantime, but continue gathering potential useful bits. This includes ferrocement found on the 'net. One photo-site is http://paisite.com/sunlife/index.htm and a major site, including ratios, is http://ferrocement.com/Page_1/english.html - available in other languages, too. Has some verrry interesting aquaculture uses given, too? Another site diagrammed a root cellar / storm shelter / fallout shelter at http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/robert_conroy/rootcell.htm.
Stir this in with my previous exploration of papercrete -'net search produces a lot of information, and one example is at http://www.doityourself.com/stry/papercrete - this product is light and other sites 'waterproofed' by adding acrylic paint to the mix and other options are out there. Papercrete group site is http://groups.yahoo.com/group/papercreters/.
---------------- enough of this? Moving on....
This may confound a few people. In 'my world' the rules seem to bend a little bit. I was driving out in the middle of nowhere headed for one of our small, isolated towns when my temperature gauge began gasping, as if in death throes. It wasn't heating, it was cooling! No warning lights came on, but the gauge was wheezing feebly up, then sinking. This hasn't occurred to me before, so I knew something was up. I did have oil with, having purchased a few quarts when I'd finally made my last Wal-mart trip, previous blog (it's GOOD to listen to those inner nudges).
In case things didn't want to start again, and being on a narrow two-lane, I mildly-panicked the car into said small town, which appeared devoid of human life. I couldn't quite understand why oil may be connected to the temp. gauge, but last I checked, the radiator was full - and if it'd sprung a leak, one would have thought overheating would occur? I stopped and checked the oil, and the car was low, so I fed it a quart with apologies for being absent-minded on this.
The gauge went back to normal and has behaved since.
NOW - is this typical mechanics? I shared this with one friend, who quizzed me about checking the radiator - of course I didn't at the time, it was hot and I know better. A day or so later, I checked the radiator and it's perfectly fine. He insisted oil wouldn't affect this gauge, but then -- it is 'my world'?
I have my own weird explanations. If the oil or check engine light had come on, I may have panicked myself right into the ditch. This, to me, is like a heartbeat monitor straight-lining. Since it was a quirky, mystifying 'backwards temperature gauge' that I've never experienced before, I didn't know what was going on and if full-blown, hit-the-ditch panic was called for - so I didn't. Since the car can't actually say, "Hey, Elaine, could you pop some oil down me? I'd appreciate it" in a non-panicking way, this "Wake up, Dummy, and pay attention to me!" worked just fine.
Or... other cars routinely grow cold when the oil is low, I don't know. None of mine have previously, and - I do seem to be getting a little more eccentric. Now when the car radio is on, if it's 'abrasive or angry or belittling to anyone' music, I turn the channel to something more pleasant for my car. :)
Strange but harmless, and if the sci-fi shows where machines seek revenge ever come true, 'my mechanical friends' won't try to run me over. How are you treating your vehicles lately, anyway? Maybe the Universe is listening... (theme music)
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