Thursday, May 28, 2009

I'm in the Mood for a Paradigm Shift II

Wednesday: What an utterly crappy day. The skies never cleared and it rained off and on all day, with reports of flash flooding possible from the local creeks. My optimism for knocking out the evening's small lodge tasks started to dwindle as the day went on. I languished at my desk going out of my way to keep occupied, and once home, managed to change and get out there with the returning trailer following me in.
 
The good news was the garage door we installed and stained on Monday still looked good despite the stain being very fresh, and the rain very wet. I set about my tasks, worst being cleaning up tile mortar in preparation for grout. Changed some fluoro bulbs downstairs, took inventory of our oddball tile for the bathroom wall job, filled voids in the front soffit with plasti-wood, confirmed materials for front fascias, etc. etc. The bulk of the 3.5 hours out there was spent rearranging and cleaning up the downstairs. The elephant in the room made itself heard as I stared at things like the router table, table saw, and stacks of building material too useful to toss out, but completely inappropriate to store inside the lodge long term. The PumpHouse is designed to handle outdoor things like the mower, shovels, rakes. But not sheets of plywood nor appliances in-limbo. This is Cold Storage II territory, and I shudder to think about the cost in building that.
 
Around 8 I headed for the parents to pick up Cara's dress. I ended up checking the garage for an AIR pump belt for the ETC, came up with every size but, so figured might as well install the (pricey) one I bought. Frustration time. By 10PM the car was all buttoned up, but I remembered there was one bolt that captured two bracket eyelets behind the alternator. I spent the next 30 minutes fighting to get both brackets inline, even pulling the alt, starting the bolt through both and trying to wrestle it back into position. Was NOT GOING to WORK. I frankly couldn't remember if both had been attached prior or if the last mechanic had the same problem. I should point out, this is a fixed bracket, yet the alt is designed to revolve around a pivot to take up belt slack. You begin to get the picture. With hands black as the night and a frayed temperament, I cleaned up best I could and went home for some sleep.
 

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

PBRMeASAP!

A lengthy writeup for a lengthy weekend. To recap: a succesful Damfest, an enjoyable Saturday break, and enough labor to cause every joint in my body to ache by Monday night.
 
Having been putting in long hours at the lodge last week, and spending Thursday night arms-deep in the ETC waterpump R&R 'til after dark, I cashed in a little vacation Friday, giving me an extra hour of sleep before bouncing into work with a devil-may-care attitude and a couple hours off in the PM to give a final coat of paint to trim boards, and measure for carpet out at the lodge before heading in, changing, running over to the parents at 4 (after buying the requisite High Life) and getting a jump on the great round-up.

We have the Damfest mat'ls down to the essentials, and while they stay put over the winter, it's always a burden to drag up speakers, the card table, the giant cooler, the filthy grill and then go hunting for all the small stuff like the lights, toolkit, powerstrip, banners, etc. I had everything lined up by 5 when Cam stopped over and we loaded up the goods and headed to the dam. From there it was a whirlwind. Unfortunately, a bamboo reed on one of the tiki torches diced my finger up pretty good mid-evening and from that point on it was tough to shake the pain; a real king-hell papercut. Other than that, excellent turnout, great polaroids and thanks to Ben and Cara for handling the grilling after I opened an artery.
 
Saturday morning went pretty much by the book, hitting up the ReStore in CR mid-day for some decent finds, than onward to Coralville for the one distributor that carries the commercial brand of carpet that possibly has the color I want for the lodge. As always, dealing with carpet sales people is a struggle, especially when they're blowin' smoke. From there we hit up the Old Capitol Mall and drove around taking in the scenery and eating a tasty meal at Boston's. Cara caught some rest on the way home but I was driving and struggling to do so. Once at the apt it was light's out.
 
Sunday was spent at the lodge, then a reprieve mid-afternoon for lunch and unloading of Cara's car and mine, still full from Damfest. Then right back out to the lodge until 10PM or so. I set the cut tiles for the bathroom floor, taped and mudded the 20x16' high east wall with an exterior extension ladder (that was fun), put up the final exterior red beltline board, trimmed steel up on the deck and managed to install, trim and touch up a good portion of the Pump House fascias before it was too dark to see my own hand in front of me. Meanwhile, Cara had been doing a bang-up job cleaning at the apt, scrubbing floors and running errands. Around 10, with temps just right, and a light blue sky to the west, I cracked a beer and sat on the deck; listened to an owl off in the woods and regained my composure. Finally, home to pass out.
 
With a 6AM alarm sounding, we struggled to wake and pull ourselves out of bed. My body was not pleased with all the ladder climbing and contorting from the day before, but we were up and on the road by 7 with the trailer in-tow heading for Menard's. 2 hours later we had what we needed, including impulse buy ornamental trees (hey, when you've got a trailer to haul 'em, and 22% off, might as well). Loped over to the parents and loaded their riding mower, then got to work. Even with the rider, we were both impressed that it took almost 4 hours to mow the yard. While Cara ran the tractor, I finished up on the Pump House mitering, adjusting, fitting and end-painting the last fascia board, then painting all the nail heads. Finally, installing metal flashing along the rear edge, trimming and fitting the pieces to length and getting out the oh-so-messy roofing glue. Roof: Done. Next, the moment of truth…
 
False-walls have been in the garage door openings for a couple years now, in fact I put them up shortly after getting the roof on, to keep the place closed in. This means the steel beams spanning the openings were effectively shored up by the framing. They were even in place when the cement deck was poured. However, Monday, the south-west false-wall was torn out to make way for the actual garage door. What might happen without the shoring in place was anyone's guess. Would stress cracks appear in the EIFS? How might the cement deck respond? Cara kept mowing while I went about pulling off the OSB panels and methodically knocking out studs and pulling out plate sections…until all was free. The place, DID NOT, fall in.
 
After some prep work and installation, the parents showed around 3:30 and we set forth to shuffling around door sections and going for the full install. Ben stopped by, dropping off anRR and TV, and helped lift and clamp the upper panel into position, allowing the lower panel to be slid into place. Then the top panel released, and hinges tightened. It was obvious I was beat, and my bumbling in fetching hardware didn't speed matters any. But we were done and without a lot of sweat, or so we thought.
 
With rain looming and winds getting ridiculous we discovered the plastic to protect the wood door was soaked all the way through. Tarps and piecemeal visqueen were a lost cause in the high winds so we weighed our options, and the parents, Cara and I got out the rollers and stained the door right then and there. I will with-hold conjecture about the door for now, but suffice it to say, it's in, and hopefully held up to the rains of last night.
 
Then to the parents to unload the mower, grab some pizza, load tires, and limp home while the skies spit rain.
 
Now That, is a weekend!

Monday, May 11, 2009

Third Time's a Charm

My legs ache. My arms are heavy. It was one of those good old-fashioned summer-time weekends where you lay there in the morning wondering what kind of train hit you. It all started out innocently enough. If your definition of innocence is intentional ass-hattery. Received a call Wednesday AM. Inspector said the electrical installation looked top notch and he was releasing permission to the PoCo to put the meter in that afternoon. Huzzah! Electricity.

Received a call mid-day from major-jerko at the utilities. They concurred, the install was top notch. But he was not going to hook me up. Sorry. He'd like to see that meter a good 2' higher. I went round-and-round citing exceptions, but eventually gave in, taking it as a personal challenge unto myself to correct the situation before this guy had time to even consider resting on his laurels. Sidebar: this chump has been a grade-A jackass since my dealings started last year. Additional sidebar: You cannot simply move the meter up 24+ inches. There's 50' of heavy cable underground, already cut and installed in the base and plumbed through a maze of conduit and connected at the other end.

Weighed my options that evening and acted on my bill of materials Thursday, calling chumpo to let him know I would be ready for the flowing electrons Friday PM. He was caught off guard and tried to wiggle out…."the crews don't work on Fridays". I found this hard to believe. Later, "they work but must have a call by 1PM for dispatch". OK, then, I said I'd give him a call. I also was not in the mood for additional surprises and told him what would be waiting Friday PM when they got out there. I could see his face twist up over the phone; he figured I'd have to pull 50' of 4/0 triplex and replace it with 52' of 4/0 triplex. I was installing a disconnect. This would cost me some change but would not require total rework of what was in place. Additionally, my underground feed would now be protected. A win-win.

Next thing I know I'm getting a call from an inspector summoned by chimpo. I explain it to him. I get a canned answer back about grounding. I explain why that's not necessary in this situation according to the code. He pauses confusedly, and says I better talk to the other inspector. Sidebar: neither meter nor disconnect are located on a structure, both are paired and over 100' from the main point of service.

Friday: 7:30AM busy working at the lodge getting things ready. New struts in the ground, couplers in place, enclosures properly located. One problem. Can't get a hold of the inspector. Clock is ticking to get CFU out there. He finally calls and I tell him to drop by. He has a different take on grounding and I offer up code-compliant alternatives. He was a nice guy, don't get me wrong, but it all seemed to slide in one ear and out the other without processing. If burying a ground wire will appease, so be it. He gets chimpo-chump of the POCO on the hotline. That's agreeable to them, but they will not be coming out today. Mind you, it's 11:30. I'm still an hour and a half away from even needing to let them know whether or not to come out. The inspector passes my words on that I'll have it all set in the next hour and a half, but chumba-whumba has made up his mind and no crews will be visiting today.

Spent the rest of the day toiling in the sun. Staining, painting and prepping the shear wall for wall covering. Called it quits around 5, totally beat, and headed in to clean up. Then it was box-store trifecta for returns and materials, topping the evening off with a Pan-Normous and a viewing of The Godfather.

Saturday, a break from the mundane, but more taxing than you might think. We went over to the parents to help pull up carpet and pad, and yank all the little staples out of the subfloor in preparation for new carpeting. This included moving all the furniture too ('56 RCA, anyone?). We pulled up the living room, dining room, library, two sets of stairs, hallway, both downstairs bathrooms, the landing and the guest room. Plus snuck in an oil change on Cara's car. By nightfall we were really feeling it. Headed home and collapsed.

Sunday up and at 'em. Gorgeous day to say the least. Cara got started mowing after a bit of mower jerry-rigging. First mow of the season. I started digging the trench and laying the ground cable. After buttoning up that little issue, I headed onto the pumphouse roof with a bucket of glue and a roller and started adhering the rubber roof membrane, fighting to keep air pockets to a minimum. Got the job done in a couple hours but what a mess. Later, trimming and clamping. Then mowing. Then hauling brush. We hobbled to the truck around 5 and limped ourselves back to the apt to cleanup (after a delightful Mc'Ds shake and some forever stamps). Then put in a big Chinese order to surprise my mom for mother's day, eating in a kitchen that included lamps, tables and a piano.

Today, then, we find out whether or not there'll be power. I moved out there to escape this bureaucratic nonsense, and barely got in under the wire.

PostScript: Rolled up at 4:30 to find 2 PoCo trucks and 3 guys....installing 1 meter. We are officially ON THE GRID!

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

You Snooze, You Lose

What a week it was. Let's see if I can recall the goings-ons to help settle my nerves….Concurrently, I'm in (or was in) a rush to button up the electrical service for inspection so we can get the power flowing from the PoCo. Juggling arrangements for the cherry-picker to finish the front fascias before a crafty bird decides to move in. Playing JIT with the pumphouse build. Figuring and ordering the Formica sheet goods for the kitchen, searching for the perfect brick, and knocking out the day-to-day tasks that keep the wheels turning. In the past, April was the big spin-up month after a slow winter, with May reaching new heights of activity, but this past winter wasn't as loathesome as the previous, and having side soffits in made working out there all the more tolerable during the cold months, so I didn't get much of a break this year.
 
Getting the secondary feed in place meant visiting the local electrical supply house for a meter base specific to the local PoCo ($$), then trenching in conduit and 4/0 aluminum. Then locating a suitable 200A weatherproof disconnect (special order, but available, thankfully). Since these parts end up in the pumphouse, that structure has to exist. The framing plans had been done for some time now, but getting the necessary siding, ripping it lengthwise and then cutting the sections to width took a little doing. I put the framing up Friday after ordering the formica and picking up my brick samples, then plumbed in half the service conductors into the disconnect that afternoon. Took note of what was needed and added it to my list of lumber to acquire Saturday morning (needed to construct the roof). I  was in good shape inside the lodge, having fought the heavy cables previously in the week and landing them in their terminals. Plus getting the low-voltage relays connected, the water heater bypass switch operable, etc. Friday night: The PL with Cara, and a drop-in from Ben.
 
Confession time: I took Monday evening off. Between leaving work late, struggling to keep my eyes open, and skies threatening, I finished up some geometry on the ol' PowerBook and took in Two-Lane Blacktop, compliments of Cam.
 
And the geometry paid off. After braving the box stores Saturday morning, I cut up the majority of the roof 2x6's, gave a tour of the place to the visiting grandparents, and finished up the total pumphouse electrical conduit run, after capping the walls with 10' plates. We're now ready for inspection, and ready for a roof. Finished up at 7PM and enjoyed the sundown with Dick Bartley, cold cider, Computing Before Computers, and my pipe. Perfection. Joined Cam at the PL at 9 and won a few rounds of pool before playing teams and losing to a guy that could barely stand up. After our 10 free juke selections had played out, we headed downtown for a cold one at the Cypress before closing up shop around midnight. Not bad at all.
 
Sunday AM, back over to W'loo, then out for more sun (and sweat). By late afternoon the sections were ready for assembly and I had the 18x18x14 roof put together with the minimal number of parts to allow it to be carried over for installation (tentative help today). Headed in to the parents with the tools and helped correct a crooked deck step that had heaved every which way over the years. Then home for shower and a dinner, and Cool Hand Luke.
 
OK, so if I keep running at full steam I should be able to put a lot of this to bed, but it'll take all of this month. It seems that if I have a general interest in a project, I can manage it no problem. Tasks are broken down by days, weeks and months, many contingent upon other seemingly unrelated tasks. All on a sliding scale to accommodate new issues that pop up, or a day or two of slack that can be better utilized. You wouldn't want to install carpeting, then weld the adjacent railing. But carpet has a lead time so it should be ordered early. However, you can't weld the railing without power (which we don't have). If you get the pex crimper for a day you want to make the most of it to attach all the final stops for the sinks and such, but you can't do that upstairs unless the vanity is in. Can't put the vanity in (even though it's built) without tile in place. But you don't want to install the kitchen countertops before the valves downstairs, so you have to strike a compromise of all the events those requirements hinge upon. I could tile the bathroom now, but it makes more sense to spend a weekend on the garage doors so the masonry boundaries are defined.
 
The wrench in the works is that I'm also getting one car ready for eb*y, and another fully roadworthy ASAP (waiting on parts, now). One less car in the driveway means the '59 can come out to play.
 
And lest we forget, Damfest!

Post Script: The roof has been hefted and installed!