Wow the month has brought some very cold days. I'm sure there are more to come, no snow yet. It's been too cold for snow! What I feared is an ice storm. It may still be in the works. We had a nice mild weekend. It was rainy drizzly this morning. Chinese New Year is here! It's the year of the Ox! We had a subdued New Years Eve dinner. I spent most of the day in the kitchen though. I made Hoe Sea Soong, otherwise known as oyster, pork lettuce wraps, two steamed fish, shrimp, scallops, several different veggies, and a 5 spice poached chicken. Mom had sent me more dried oysters, and ginko nuts so that was a plus. We went to H Mart and picked up a couple of pounds of chai siu, and miscellaneous veggies, and the seafood. I didn't see any fresh fish I liked, so I had to change things around and just got two flounder. The scallops I picked up were that great unfortunately, the shrimp were alright. Head on nasty looking things. I wanted to make salt and pepper shrimp, but well the shrimp weren't that big, and I'm not that talented cutting the backs of the shells, removing the intestine, and legs without mutilating the small shrimp. So for the next two weeks we are supposed to celebrate CNY, but we won't. Come on, in Georgia? Sure thing. It's not like SF. I was thinking about how the last few years working, every time the phone rang, we would do our spiel, and include Gung Hay Fat Choy. Why? Well half the pharmacy staff was Asian. It was a given we were celebrating. Here, they don't have a clue. If I saw an Asian person at work it was very rare, and most of them were surprised if I said anything.
Last week, I went out to lunch with Neville's mom, just a basic mom gathering, we met at McDonald's and watched the Inauguration, while eating and complaining. Many things were discussed. Stinky had a bad month so far. He didn't concentrate on his grades enough and was kicked off the wrestling team. This made him realize for the first time, it's not just affecting what happens inside the family, but outside too. So he says he's really gonna try hard to get them back up as he really liked wrestling. He was pretty good too. As another incentive we are going to get him an Alienware laptop as a prize. Holy smokes those things are expensive!
We are also on a strict budget now. We've been enjoying the fruits of Goof's labors, and not managing it well enough. So back to saving and being thrifty. It's been hard, but at the same time, it's worth it in the end. Everything is on a strict budget. We have a certain amount to spend on groceries, and household supplies. Personal spending has limits also. We have a small allowance for each of us. It's better this way. We have some major purchases we need to make this year. Like a new stove, dishwasher, car repairs, cart repairs, and possibly a new tub and enclosure for Stinky's bathroom. We still need to repair the barn outside too. I'm scared about that, because we haven't figured out which fuse powers that outlet. I would love to make it bigger, but then that requires a new foundation. Just taking the old walls and roof off to put new ones up is enough I think. Plus we need new doors. So much to get done.
Showing posts with label home maintenance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label home maintenance. Show all posts
Monday, January 26, 2009
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Wow, I'm been quiet
Yea yea, like anyone cares. So anyhow there have been things going on, life hasn't stopped. I guess I'll take the next few posts and recap each month.
October finished off with a quiet bang. Stinky went trick or treating with hubby, Neville and Big Red. The golf cart has been acting up. I think I put too much water in the batteries so the electrolyte balance is off. I need to take it to the local shop and have it checked out. I stayed home, and didn't pass out candy. Only one family stopped by. I had the porch light off, but the rest of the house lights were on. I had to turn off everything and sit in the dark while the boys were out. Since the cart has been low on charge it was rather funny Goof said about the expedition. Stinky found a mask he liked so he was wearing the usual street clothes but had a soft half mask on. Big Red was dressed as a college professor, and Nevile got a Halo costume. Yea, he looked pretty goofy. So they went to a few houses, and stopped at the Halloween display near the lake. On the way back, the cart was running out of charge. In fact the cart didn't want to go up the driveway. Goof and Big Red pushed it up and had Stinky steer it in. Neville didn't get out of the cart, he was too busy eating his stash. He's a very soft spoiled boy.
I have found a new internet addiction. Mob Wars game on facebook. I had started the game a few months prior, but didn't really get into until August. So in between quilting, I would stop and play the game a bit, back to sewing, then mob wars some more. Rather addictive,text based violence. No blood and guts visuals for me thank you. Can't take it.
During this time, Goof finished Stinky's bathroom, the downstairs bathroom, painted the kitchen, removed the wallpaper and painted the family room. It looks so much better. We picked up a dining table, chairs, and hutch for a steal off Craig's list so now the dining room has a dining set, instead of a more casual kitchen table. The table is now upstairs in the guest bedroom to hold my sewing machine and laptop. I still need a new laptop. I had started to take photos of dinners I had made, but nothing consistent. In fact I stopped for a while. Goof's camera has died, so it's just mine available.
October finished off with a quiet bang. Stinky went trick or treating with hubby, Neville and Big Red. The golf cart has been acting up. I think I put too much water in the batteries so the electrolyte balance is off. I need to take it to the local shop and have it checked out. I stayed home, and didn't pass out candy. Only one family stopped by. I had the porch light off, but the rest of the house lights were on. I had to turn off everything and sit in the dark while the boys were out. Since the cart has been low on charge it was rather funny Goof said about the expedition. Stinky found a mask he liked so he was wearing the usual street clothes but had a soft half mask on. Big Red was dressed as a college professor, and Nevile got a Halo costume. Yea, he looked pretty goofy. So they went to a few houses, and stopped at the Halloween display near the lake. On the way back, the cart was running out of charge. In fact the cart didn't want to go up the driveway. Goof and Big Red pushed it up and had Stinky steer it in. Neville didn't get out of the cart, he was too busy eating his stash. He's a very soft spoiled boy.
I have found a new internet addiction. Mob Wars game on facebook. I had started the game a few months prior, but didn't really get into until August. So in between quilting, I would stop and play the game a bit, back to sewing, then mob wars some more. Rather addictive,text based violence. No blood and guts visuals for me thank you. Can't take it.
During this time, Goof finished Stinky's bathroom, the downstairs bathroom, painted the kitchen, removed the wallpaper and painted the family room. It looks so much better. We picked up a dining table, chairs, and hutch for a steal off Craig's list so now the dining room has a dining set, instead of a more casual kitchen table. The table is now upstairs in the guest bedroom to hold my sewing machine and laptop. I still need a new laptop. I had started to take photos of dinners I had made, but nothing consistent. In fact I stopped for a while. Goof's camera has died, so it's just mine available.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Another backfire
Today was a gorgeous sunny day. We went to Home Depot and I was able to find some dahlias and petunias for the front planter boxes. Goof helped me pick out a pair of 18 inch clay pots, and several bags of soil. I had quite a bit of fun digging around in the dirt. I ran over to Pike's Nursery also, as Home Depot did not have lavender plants. I did find them at Pike's but they are little plants. I found gallon plants, but it was the jagged edged leaf plants, and I don't really care for the flower heads. The Provence lavender was the little pots, so it was just fragrant leaves. Hopefully they will bloom in the fall. I stuck two in each pot. Kinda funny looking as I've got these monster pots on the porch and itty bitty green leaves in them. I was also able to get hanging wires from Pikes. I was planning on hanging the Queen of the Night, but I'm not sure how I will do it yet.
So this evening we had just finished dinner, and doing a bit of clean up, Stinky started yelling, if someone needed help. Goof went to look while I was finishing up what I was doing. It was Babymama, her brood and Fred. We had no idea what was going on. They came to the corner of their backyard and were pointing at our house. Goof and I looked over the video feed, and next thing you know, the police show up and are in their backyard. Someone finally figured out when we said 'CameraS' we meant more than one. They called the cops to complain that we were spying at them. The officers saw our feed on my laptop and they just blew them off. The views from the cameras really are not pointed at them, and at our property. In fact the cops were pretty impressed with the system. After the cops left, they had to round up the family and play football in the street to show what a normal family they are. Babymama was so mad at us. She had to head out to Enabler's house to complain, but she wasn't home. Babymama even threw the football around to show what a united family they were. So they spent about an hour outside. I think it's the most exercise they have all gotten in a long time.
Geez, news flash. The police just came back. They accused us of setting off fireworks. We didn't. I had just gotten out of the shower. So we have a cop car in the street still. This is harassment. They are looking for anything to call the police on us. I guess to get an arrest or citation. Something in the police blotter. These people are really sad.
So this evening we had just finished dinner, and doing a bit of clean up, Stinky started yelling, if someone needed help. Goof went to look while I was finishing up what I was doing. It was Babymama, her brood and Fred. We had no idea what was going on. They came to the corner of their backyard and were pointing at our house. Goof and I looked over the video feed, and next thing you know, the police show up and are in their backyard. Someone finally figured out when we said 'CameraS' we meant more than one. They called the cops to complain that we were spying at them. The officers saw our feed on my laptop and they just blew them off. The views from the cameras really are not pointed at them, and at our property. In fact the cops were pretty impressed with the system. After the cops left, they had to round up the family and play football in the street to show what a normal family they are. Babymama was so mad at us. She had to head out to Enabler's house to complain, but she wasn't home. Babymama even threw the football around to show what a united family they were. So they spent about an hour outside. I think it's the most exercise they have all gotten in a long time.
Geez, news flash. The police just came back. They accused us of setting off fireworks. We didn't. I had just gotten out of the shower. So we have a cop car in the street still. This is harassment. They are looking for anything to call the police on us. I guess to get an arrest or citation. Something in the police blotter. These people are really sad.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Don't go in the mists!
Super foggy this morning. Really foggy! This week the news has announced that we are having a freak warm spell. How warm? High 70's this week. I love it. Well I love the afternoon about 1pm to about 5pm. It's warm, but I'm not sweaty, I'm not shivering. It's all good for this baby bear. So what happens when you get a freak warm spell? Well you spend the first 2 hours after you drop your kid off at school vacuuming the living room, until you pull up only carpet fuzz, and no dust. Then you pull out the steam cleaner and have go at. Use up all the Bissel cleaning solution until you have no choice, but to use Simple Green, and not the industrial stuff, because that really needs to be diluted. Bitch out your significant other for using boiling water at the last cleaning session, causing the spout to the inner bladder melt off. Find a vac repair shop that has the inner bladder. Finish rinsing the soap out of the carpet, rinse the container out well, no one wants to see the dirt from your carpet. Head out to the shop, get the guy to switch the bladder for you, head over to the Asian market and get some Gailan. Head back home, and watch your container fall off the counter as you put the clementines away. Wait for the kid to get back from school, head back to the repair shop. Thank the guy profusely as he switches the cracked container free of charge. Head back home, and spend an hour vacuuming the kid's room. (Why the kid can't figure out how to vacuum along the baseboards is another issue.) Make dinner and plan to steam the kid's bedroom. Thank goodness for Dyson. I don't care that Goof thinks it's overrated. It's not. Sucker works, as long as your significant other doesn't use it to suck up drywall or wood dust. Then it's back to the repair shop for maintenance. Oh and the roller brush doesn't get caught up with half your head of 2 + feet of hair. I'm tired of shedding.
Now it's morning and I'm waiting for the temperature to rise slightly. When it gets to 65* I'll start steam cleaning. Oh the hard part of the night? Blocking the entry ways into the living room, so your sweet dumb dogs don't run in and roll around on your clean slightly damp carpet. I don't have 6 baby gates. Maybe that should be an investment I make. Otherwise it was cases of soda, laundry baskets and a ripped up rolling duffel bag.
Now it's morning and I'm waiting for the temperature to rise slightly. When it gets to 65* I'll start steam cleaning. Oh the hard part of the night? Blocking the entry ways into the living room, so your sweet dumb dogs don't run in and roll around on your clean slightly damp carpet. I don't have 6 baby gates. Maybe that should be an investment I make. Otherwise it was cases of soda, laundry baskets and a ripped up rolling duffel bag.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Hmm it was looking very hill billy for a while
I realized last night that in our little cul de sac, there are only two owners. Everyone else is a renter. Most of the renters here do keep their property neat and clean. It's just a little disheartening to know that your happy little house isn't in the best neighborhood. Well it's not a horrible neighborhood. It's not in a ghetto or barrio. I really like my house and the plot of land it's on.
After the great yard sale of '07. There were items sitting out on either driveways. We had rain too, so that's never a good thing. Baby Mama and Kiosk Man had a trailer parked on the side of their house with stuff loaded in it. Also Kiosk Man's truck had junk in the back. After a week of all this, they finally got rid of all the stuff. Thank goodness that was an eye sore. When they first brought the trailer in, it wasn't so bad. The trailer was set back farther, so you really couldn't see it from the street, but noticed it when you got to our driveway. After they got rid of this load, the tiny tykes playhouse set was still in the driveway and the hoses. Today someone came and got rid of that stuff. It looks like they missed something. I'm not sure what it is, but it's yellow and it looks like it's inflatable. Enabler still has some wooden toy train base on her property. She didn't put it in the pile with the trash Sunday night. In fact they left the garbage can out at the curb until this morning. Actually that's not bad for them. I have seen that can out until Thursday.
Goof decided to paint this weekend. I got to choose the color and he did all the work. Lucky me huh? The upstairs hall is done. I chose a buttery yellow. It gives a nice glow. Even with the bedroom doors closed it still looks bright and inviting. He's planning on using some moisture blocking primer in the upstairs bathrooms this next weekend. I've told him what I want to do with the powder room and he's fine with that. I want to put in an over the toilet cupboard, replace the vanity light fixture, change the toilet accessories, remove the wallpaper and border, paint the walls a very light blue, and change the linoleum flooring. It's not going to be too expensive. The most expensive cost will be the cupboard. I actually would like to get the light fixture before I start anything in the powder room. I figure with removing the wallpaper, might as well remove the light fixture, paint then replace with the new one. The cabinet can come later and same with the flooring, A new paper roll and towel bar is nothing in costs compared to other items. I need a cupboard because the sink is a pedestal sink, no under sink storage.
I'm feeling very lazy, there is stuff to be done, but I just don't have the energy to get off my lazy ass and do it. I know I'm gonna get the stuff done soon, but I better get to it. It's one of those once you get started you keep going until it's completely done. Vacuuming the ceilings and baseboards won't take too long, but it involves dragging the Dyson all over the house, and of course you gotta do the carpet.
My plan this afternoon? Dishes, sheets, folding, and then vacuuming. Dinner will be simple, mash potatoes, pork chops, and green beans. Stinky was complaining about the ice tea lately. I finished a bag of the Litchi tea I picked up in Chinatown, and was using the Dragon Pearl - Jasmine tea. He didn't care for the floral taste. The Litchi tea was more fruity and he enjoyed that more. So last night, I made that again. He was overjoyed. Well with the cold weather coming it will be just me and my jasmine tea. I still have two different kinds I haven't opened yet. The Oolong will be good, and the rose buds would flavor the jasmine so nicely. I think I will make a small pitcher of it later. Better get out the mason jars once I open the bag, the flavor will degrade without the glass jars.
After the great yard sale of '07. There were items sitting out on either driveways. We had rain too, so that's never a good thing. Baby Mama and Kiosk Man had a trailer parked on the side of their house with stuff loaded in it. Also Kiosk Man's truck had junk in the back. After a week of all this, they finally got rid of all the stuff. Thank goodness that was an eye sore. When they first brought the trailer in, it wasn't so bad. The trailer was set back farther, so you really couldn't see it from the street, but noticed it when you got to our driveway. After they got rid of this load, the tiny tykes playhouse set was still in the driveway and the hoses. Today someone came and got rid of that stuff. It looks like they missed something. I'm not sure what it is, but it's yellow and it looks like it's inflatable. Enabler still has some wooden toy train base on her property. She didn't put it in the pile with the trash Sunday night. In fact they left the garbage can out at the curb until this morning. Actually that's not bad for them. I have seen that can out until Thursday.
Goof decided to paint this weekend. I got to choose the color and he did all the work. Lucky me huh? The upstairs hall is done. I chose a buttery yellow. It gives a nice glow. Even with the bedroom doors closed it still looks bright and inviting. He's planning on using some moisture blocking primer in the upstairs bathrooms this next weekend. I've told him what I want to do with the powder room and he's fine with that. I want to put in an over the toilet cupboard, replace the vanity light fixture, change the toilet accessories, remove the wallpaper and border, paint the walls a very light blue, and change the linoleum flooring. It's not going to be too expensive. The most expensive cost will be the cupboard. I actually would like to get the light fixture before I start anything in the powder room. I figure with removing the wallpaper, might as well remove the light fixture, paint then replace with the new one. The cabinet can come later and same with the flooring, A new paper roll and towel bar is nothing in costs compared to other items. I need a cupboard because the sink is a pedestal sink, no under sink storage.
I'm feeling very lazy, there is stuff to be done, but I just don't have the energy to get off my lazy ass and do it. I know I'm gonna get the stuff done soon, but I better get to it. It's one of those once you get started you keep going until it's completely done. Vacuuming the ceilings and baseboards won't take too long, but it involves dragging the Dyson all over the house, and of course you gotta do the carpet.
My plan this afternoon? Dishes, sheets, folding, and then vacuuming. Dinner will be simple, mash potatoes, pork chops, and green beans. Stinky was complaining about the ice tea lately. I finished a bag of the Litchi tea I picked up in Chinatown, and was using the Dragon Pearl - Jasmine tea. He didn't care for the floral taste. The Litchi tea was more fruity and he enjoyed that more. So last night, I made that again. He was overjoyed. Well with the cold weather coming it will be just me and my jasmine tea. I still have two different kinds I haven't opened yet. The Oolong will be good, and the rose buds would flavor the jasmine so nicely. I think I will make a small pitcher of it later. Better get out the mason jars once I open the bag, the flavor will degrade without the glass jars.
Thursday, September 6, 2007
I hate grass
Seriously having a lawn sucks. All the maintenance that goes into it. Last night Goof mentions that the side yard needs to be mowed. It's where he parks, and it's shared with Enabler. Yea it does need to be mowed, so this morning, I mow it. Now I'm running on 4 hours of sleep, so you know I'm gonna tell everyone to go to hell later and take a long nap. One of the little 'fuck yous' from Baby Mama and Enabler is the lack of lawn care. Baby Mama mows I think 5 times a year. Honestly! Enabler, what the fuck? She's going for 3 times a year. She had someone from her church mow it on Labor Day, but we figure it's because the other grandparents, and the DCFS worker were coming in Tuesday morning.
Baby Mama, never waters her grass, why even have a hose? I know it's hard when water rationing is going on, and you got 6 large water users in the house. Her trees in the front yard are dead by the way.
Enabler,never waters she owns the damned house! And I guess by pure luck and prayer gets her fey son to do it, and it's pretty crappy of a job. He just dumps all his green waste, and brush by the side of their house. The snakes and rats oughta love that. And I gotta live next to this? They've got ivy growing up their front porch. No way to get to the front door. Gotta use the side carport door. It's mind boggling since it looks like he's got himself a girlfriend that is over all the time. Are you not interested in house maintenance at least for the sake of fucking? This girl must be pretty easy and her family must be just as bad, if she doesn't notice this. Really white hill billy trash.
So back to my main rant. I mowed right down the line. I'm not mowing her grass, as it is, her dogs, and the bugs have killed most of our St Augustine. Which pisses me off immensely. So since I was mowing that. I also mowed the front lawn, and 1/4 of the backyard. Shit you try mowing half an acre by yourself with a gas powered mower? I'm not talking riding mower. Though we do need to invest in one next year. I'd say do it now, but there are too many other things we need to take care of before the new year. I spent an hour and a half total with emptying the bag and all, so I'm done for today. My hands are still numb from all the vibrations and son of a bitch I got a blister on my right thumb. I'll try and finish up tomorrow with the back.
Baby Mama, never waters her grass, why even have a hose? I know it's hard when water rationing is going on, and you got 6 large water users in the house. Her trees in the front yard are dead by the way.
Enabler,never waters she owns the damned house! And I guess by pure luck and prayer gets her fey son to do it, and it's pretty crappy of a job. He just dumps all his green waste, and brush by the side of their house. The snakes and rats oughta love that. And I gotta live next to this? They've got ivy growing up their front porch. No way to get to the front door. Gotta use the side carport door. It's mind boggling since it looks like he's got himself a girlfriend that is over all the time. Are you not interested in house maintenance at least for the sake of fucking? This girl must be pretty easy and her family must be just as bad, if she doesn't notice this. Really white hill billy trash.
So back to my main rant. I mowed right down the line. I'm not mowing her grass, as it is, her dogs, and the bugs have killed most of our St Augustine. Which pisses me off immensely. So since I was mowing that. I also mowed the front lawn, and 1/4 of the backyard. Shit you try mowing half an acre by yourself with a gas powered mower? I'm not talking riding mower. Though we do need to invest in one next year. I'd say do it now, but there are too many other things we need to take care of before the new year. I spent an hour and a half total with emptying the bag and all, so I'm done for today. My hands are still numb from all the vibrations and son of a bitch I got a blister on my right thumb. I'll try and finish up tomorrow with the back.
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