Monday, January 26, 2009

It's just like a Mini-Mall

Finally caught Gran Torino this weekend; thought it was fantastic. Even Cara, who I could tell went along begrudgingly, seemed to like it as well. Now, to throw out my credibility, we also managed to catch 7/8 of Rodney Dangerfield's Back To School, and Varsity Blues in it's (edited) entirety on Saturday and Sunday. Love the former, and enjoy the latter once every 10 years…which is really the last time I saw it. OK, perhaps "tolerate" it is a better word. Yes, it was a cold weekend.
 
Construction weather will be here soon and I’m getting antsy. Last winter (or 2 ago, actually) there was purge #1 at the parents place where I cleaned-house, so to speak. The basement, which was show-place, was reconfigured as temp warehouse, with TV's stacked tight, duplicate computer monitors chucked and originals removed from display and shelved freeing up floor space. Sold off some items, earmarked others for garage sales. Sent several trash cans full to the curb. Then this prior spring the majority of washers and dryers headed out the back door for the Lodge, freeing up space. Now once again, I’m looking at what will move immediately this summer, what should be kept for backup and future buildings (both for storage and for furnishing), and what I can make a quick buck on. Simply put, the place is full again, it never hurts to liquidate uninteresting assets, and I don't have time to be bothered with this when 75F ambient comes-a-calling. Uninteresting assets? Yes, things that I knew had value and were either cheap or free at the time and figured I could turn a profit. Somewhat in this category is the scenario of buying a box of 20 light fixtures (or whatever), then selling 1 or 2 off to cover the entire initial purchase. If you have the space, and you're in no-hurry, it's a decent strategy. If no one bites, you might end up finding a use for 20 fixtures anyway.
 
Now that I think about it, some guys make a living doing this locally on a larger scale- desks, file cabinets, university computer equipment. Takes some real commitment I suppose. And a warehouse.
 
 
 
 

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Lightning Round!

A four day week and I feel like I've been through the wringer. It's been a combo of taking advantage of this week's decent weather, some lack of sleep, and staying busy at work. Having Monday off I really went to town at the lodge. It was so much easier when I could drive up to the damn thing (merely a memory) and start working, but that's just how it is. Things came along all right but being in a generally sour mood right now, I wince when approaching the place and see the spilt paint splashed on the west siding (that had received a nice solid stain this fall). And some angst at how the fascias have turned out. With the proper paint detailing I think they'll look a lot better, but this is the first time I can't stand back after finishing the job and say, "exactly". The trouble? They look uncharacteristically (compared to the rest of the place) too damn thick.
 
To add insult I landed the Blazer in the cornfield yesterday in an impressively deep slab of snow. Not intentionally. The lane was decent until I rounded the second bend. Then it was all over. The melting snow and 35F temps fooled me into thinking I stood a chance of actually attempting a drive-in. An hour with the shovel and snow up over the axles (and up to my waist on one side) has me stuck until a decent freeze this weekend. How to get it out will be a real headscratcher as you can't get any other vehicle close enough without getting them stuck as well (don't ask how I know that). 100' tow strap, anyone? More insult- I got up early to shift my schedule at work to take advantage of the warm temps. That didn't exactly happen after this little fiasco.
 
And, I had to turn down a particularly sweet set of turquoise Frigidaire appliances this week that would have been ideal for the lodge kitchen but it would just be too costly to haul them both back….my trailer of course being snowbound for the season. On the upside, the kitchen cabinets are looking good. Managed to get the drawers assembled and installed last night after putting up the last sheet of lauan paneling. 
 
That's about it. Down week, late nights, early mornings, stupid moves, but things are sure to shape up here this weekend. With fingers crossed for hard ground, suddenly a high of 5F is a good thing. Funny how perspectives can change.
 

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Is it hot in here?

An honest to goodness day off, with some lounging, errands, and maybe a movie too. You know, at an actual theater. A pretty cush (though long) week. Broke new records on the temp front, and it's just too damn cold to do ANYTHING. Cara had the day off Friday and I decided to head in to work for at least half the day. The truck was none too happy with it being -24F on the morning drive. Either was I. Took care of biz and swung by the apt in the afternoon to pick up Cara for some lunch and thrifting Waverly style.

Highpoint of the 3-day weekend so far? The show at the Hydrant last night. It's not that I feel old, it's that I feel sorry for these college chumps that have never heard Michael Jackson's "Beat It", or half the other karaoke staples I've come to expect. Fernando worked one out for us though- Huey Lewis "If this is it"; not too bad. Back to the highpoint, though. After umpteen Lit and Garth Brooks variations, someone had the balls to sing Milsap's Lost in the Fifties Tonight. Before the guy got a chance to get two words out F made it very clear to the patrons that if he heard one boo they would be OUT. That shit don't fly here. And this fellow did a very nice job with it. Second highpoint? Two freshman(?) chumps thought they were singing some song from Toy Story and ended up with James Taylor's You've Got a Friend. Oh yeah, and how can I forget the three of us on the dancefloor to Sisqo? Notice I omitted names. 

More later.

Monday, January 12, 2009

Lawson Torpedo

Quick week, really. Getting back into the swing of things at work took some time but I managed. Had a little bit of time to play with the finances as well, which gives a guy hope that there is a light at the end of the tunnel for doing....other things (he says crypitcally). Oh, don't get me wrong, I'm not quitting my day job anytime soon, but it never hurts to run the scenarios and consider other endeavors.


Weekly Notables:

Scored some terrific finds at both the UNI weekly sale as well as an auction on campus in Sabin Hall which will likely be gutted for renovation this summer. Mostly stuff that will be at home at the drive-in; more about that when I can snap some pics.


Lodge-wise, temps were tolerable last week so things were getting done. Friday, an inch or two of the white stuff fell before I could leave work and more was slated for that night. Managed to get the last sheet of sheetrock needed and haul it out there before meeting up with Cam and Ben at the PL. Pool? Horrible. Ice cold beer? Excellent. From

there, to the Hydrant. The place is growing on me but the waitstaff continues to both baffle and leave one with a sense that they could care less about a tip. And the prices do seem a bit steep for the area. A $5 bill at a place like this should go further than one draw and gratuity. Anyhow, Cam and I practically closed the place out after a few good laughs at the karoake show. Not bad.


Despite feeling whooped late Saturday afternoon, I did mange to get the last sheet of appearance lauan cut and notched to fit, sanded, and with 40F upstairs, shellac'd as well. Hung both pocket doors upstairs while that was drying. Cut-to-size the felt paper backings for the pegboard sections ready to go up. Worked out the crease in the red

canvas wall covering. Cut and hung the final piece of sheetrock on the big east wall. And planed, sanded and routered the wide trimboard that transitions paneling to the door frame upstairs. Didn't feel like falling off a 12' ladder onto the cement below so called it a day around 5.


And again, as if I were 21, Cam, Cara, Ben and I hit up the Hydrant for dinner and drinks (excellent dinner by the way) and took in Fernando's show, this time with a bigger crowd than Friday, but with fewer people willing to make an ass of themselves in public. One of these days I'll put down a little Joel. Ben took off for bigger fish before things got hot and we all ventured out off after a few more pitchers (and some impressive confusion with the waitstaff momentarily losing my card). Good time. Got home around 1.


Sunday…laundry ALL DAY LONG. On the upside, we had the Discovery Channel's HD pres of "This Planet Earth" on to keep us company…on the 13" cable ready set in the kitchen. Needless to say, no lodge action, which is why I was at work this morning at a quarter to 6 to even things out.


Lodge front: Excitement still high. List of ancillary stuff continues to grow though. Not difficult stuff, just time and money consuming things. Like a new set of gates, lumber and stain for fencing, the construction of the entry sign, pumphouse build, the outdoor shelter, and of course everything related to the Drive-In. Plus bigger stuff

for the lodge, like the face-brick, cement slab and approach deck. Criminey. And tough to do any of this stuff with the ground frozen.


Update: Managed to trek in and out this eve before the blizzard put a stop to it. Roads are a mess. Ladder work? 95% complete. Sheesh.

Monday, January 5, 2009

Downhill Slide

Back to the routine after a much-needed break. Back to waking up in the dark. Back to the motions of loading the percolator while eyeing the clock. The frigid drive into work. And the hand numbing parking lot stroll. Chris Carter of KWWL fame, who is not native to the midwest, made an observation this morning that I thought was rather intriguing. He basically said that if you looked at Winter objectively, the breaking water mains and frozen pipes, the heaving roads, the sliding into the ditch on the way to work, frostbite from venturing outside, ice storms bringing down powerlines and everything else that comes with "winter" here, the negatives really did seem to outweigh any positive aspects of putting up a fight each year. Or something to that effect. He made clear he wasn't slamming living in Iowa, just this winter business. Tough to separate the two, though.
 
He might have a point. People have always jabbed me with the "flat roofs don't work in Iowa", line, just to get a rise out of me. I think the truth is more like "unconventional structures will have a tough time surviving anywhere but the arid west-southwest." Forget the roof business for a moment. Flatroofs have drains. It really comes down to maintenance. "The Elements" are the key here. A good coat of paint keeps wood happy. Shovel the snow off the roof and things won't sag. Keep drains open and guess what, water drains! The trouble is with water getting into places it shouldn't. Like around chimneys, in and around siding, in cracks where one part of a structure meets another. Not inherent to flat roofs alone. If you've never put a house together you can't fully appreciate all the thought and attention that go into the littlest details of keeping water out of places. And rain can often get horizontal with a good gust. Water'll find its way in around windows, around door casings, around vents and pipes in roofs. It'll zip in over a casing and down behind siding and rot everything out from the back and you'd never know it. Sidewalks or driveways pitch water into a crevice. Next thing you know it freezes and concrete is heaving.  Roofing cement isn't enough to seal around chimneys, in a proper job the bricklayer will actually embed step flashing in the masonry. Assuming the two trades even communicate anymore. A decent example- Next time you see a brick wall take a look at the bottom course and you should see a weep hole or wick every so many feet. Somehow water will get back there and it has to drain. The same trick is used on layed-up foundation walls deep underground. There's no stopping this water-stuff. The challenge with unconventional (i.e. non-pitched roof) construction is that the simplistic details need to have the same water-preventative measures taken without heaping a load of flashings and trims on top of everything. The last thing you want to look at is a heavy bead of caulk around all your crisp and lean-looking fixed windows. Or obtrusive flashing and counter-flashing where a material projects from a wall, like barge beams in the post and beam style. The pitched roof traditional ends up being popular because water can roll off the roof, gutters can be attached to carry it away, flashings and trim can be added to all inside and outside corners of the house, and wide mouldings look right at home around windows and doors. It's not that a gabled house is "better" as much as it is easier, faster and cheaper to put together to survive this kind of weather. A flatroof can be watertight, but you won't be getting the amish to show up and shingle it in an afternoon; there's engineering and special equipment involved. One need only look to the majority of commercial structures in town to see functional non-pitched roofs. Mechanical systems within themselves, actually.
 
Even the most protected materials, if not well integrated, will hold water and fail. The next time you're at a McDonalds drive-through take a look at the top course of bricks that wraps the building. They're both pleasing to the eye and functional- the water rolls off. The alternative is the drip-cap, common on McMansions because no "special" brick laying is necessary.
 
ANYWAY. This winter is hitting me hard. Got a boatload done at the lodge over Christmas, but I'm fighting a cold, and really rueing these temps. Too cold to: finish drywall, glue formica, paste wall coverings, lay VCT, shellac interior woodwork, have the brick facing installed, etc.. Not that I’m not up to my ears in other stuff, but I'd really like to do these things as they're relatively short-term items and would go a LONG way in putting the final touches on the place.
 
Why the long-winded weather intro? Dunno. But it does serve to remind me that I have challenge enough to pull off some of the things I'd like to build, without the added complication of trying to get them to survive cold, wet and snowy weather. It starts the mind thinking. And people wonder why I'm not gung-ho to build the house on the plot I already own.
 
This week? More insulation and sheetrock on the big east wall. Canvas and pegboard on the west, and if new cedar boards show, completion of the gangway façade.

Saturday, January 3, 2009

How it Stacks Up

A fine, fine break so far, but I can see the end in sight now, and that's always unfortunate. I liked getting lost in the days. Monday? Wednesday? Who cares! Of course the last couple days have been a little more trying. We brought home the new mattress set the other night. First couple nights, slept awfully. Much too firm. The last couple nights? Slept awfully. Fighting off some sort of sore throat/cold combo. Still tending to the daily duties though. Put the finishing touches on the dining room flooring yesterday. Also put the east wall at 75% insulated and 50% sheetrocked and can really go no farther with it till I know the lighting breakouts on that wall. The cedar wall is 80% there but I can do no more till good boards arrive at Menards. Today I'll trim the garage door section I've been working on and get it out of the way. Then bevel and install the balcony fascia so I can move on to sheetrocking the underside this afternoon. Then the canvas install on the west wall. Things are really shaping up out there but I find myself tripping over heaps of everything, including two more Maytags that had to be rescued.

Surely there's been more? Why yes. With Brittni and John in town Cara and I have stopped over occasionally for family events. Must've been the day after new year's we all stopped over for excellent lasagna, card games, and to Cara's chagrin, more of The Honeymooners. WGN was showing the "classic 39", as they're known, in a marathon....which I discovered NYE and kept the set occupied with. At the parents I got out the screwdriver, made a few connections, and Cara and I watched an episode on the '48 Emerson in the living room (next to the giant plasma set). 

More to write when I get a chance. And of course this year's construction update in photo-form, as always. I'll supply a link once that's set up. Now, to the lodge!