I Know What You Did Last Summer 6/16/11

The weather was gorgeous today. So, of course, I had a dentist appointment to mess up the evening. But, I still managed to get more supplies and finish off the last bit on the south wall. So, hopefully that will cure up and I can take off the form and paint and move on to another wall... probably Saturday, since tomorrow sounds like more rain. While waiting for things to set up I did some weeding in the flower bed and slapped some more caulk on the wall. Maybe I can mow the lawn yet, tonight. That would be useful.

I Know What You Did Last Summer 6/15/11

For the second night in a row, I walked out of work in the rain. So, I didn't bother to get any building supplies. I even told my wife that tonight I was just going to do some laundry and some bookwork. And I did those things. But, pretty much after the stores closed, the rain stopped and the sun came out and I didn't have any supplies. But, I did do something else: Last year the city tore up and repaired the facilities in our street and rebuilt the street. This spring they are laying sod between the street and the sidewalk. That crew also got rained out. But, they are not acting like they are going to fix the spot they dug up on our property to connect to our house-- it's just on the other side of the sidewalk. So, I used some of the bits and scraps they left laying in the street to be parked and driven on to cover that area. I felt kinda cheap doing that, but I'll get over it.

I Know What You Did Last Summer 6/14/11

It rained today. I bought some more caulk, but I can't do anything in the rain. I decided early that I would take advantage of the weather and watch a movie I had on hand. If you're curious, it was "Transformers: Rise of the Fallen." I actually grew up with Transformers in the '80s. The cartoon is wayyyy more simplistic than these movies. One way to categorize movies is 1) the actor is the brand, 2) the special effects are the brand, 3) the "basis" is the brand, or 4) this is actually something new. When I say the "basis" is the brand, that would include anything that is "based on" something else such as a comic book or video game (or an amusement park ride at Disney World.) At some point, the brand itself becomes a brand-- such as the Batman movies. The first one was based on the comic, technically, but then they made several more movies based on that movie franchise-- in other words, they resemble each other more than anything else. At this point, the Transformer movies are a brand of their own. Compared to the cartoon, the special effects are brilliant. But, so many movies and even TV shows are doing work of that quality with CGI that the movies are not milestones for special effects. Of course, the movies probably appeal to younger kids in a profitable way that makes my opinion irrelevant. And my opinion is, this is the kind of movie that I expect to see on the Spike channel on a lazy weekend afternoon. It has plenty of mindless action, fights, explosions, and objectified women to burn a few hours without having to pay too much attention. I wanted to see it out of curiosity on what they were doing with the story. I was thinking it would be a bit like "The Empire Strikes Back"-- still a Star Wars movie, but an important part of the overall story to understand. The Pirates of the Caribbean movies did that, too. And the Matrix trilogy. It's not. It seems to be a stand alone movie.

I Know What You Did Last Summer - A PHOTO!

Ok, if you are reading this first, you are reading it backwards, which is funnier than if it had worked the way I actually planned for this to work. This is actually the second section created, but at least the "before" picture appears before the "after" picture. It's not actually the same section of the house, but it illustrates the problem.

Hey!!! I finally got a photo to post. This is the most recent photo-- which probably sounds stupid since this is the first one I've posted. This is the most-finished product to date. Notice the nice straight line along the bottom. (Also notice the extreme foliage I have to work in and around without destroying. No, that is not easy. Yes, I have destroyed some of it.)

I Know What You Did Last Summer 6/13/11

I have some church work to do tonight, so I probably won't get much done. I did grill dinner. I did start breaking up a section of what I accomplished Saturday (6/11/11.) When I pulled my form off the bottom, it stuck to that silicon caulk and broke the bottom edge. So, the silicon ends up being a complete waste (and more expensive than the other caulk) and it wasted part of what I had finished. Whatever...

I also tried to post some pictures in here, but the function button up there to do that opens a new window and that window has a "connection problem" and has no refresh button. Of course, Windows offers to "diagnose the problem" but actually does nothing whatsoever useful-- which is exactly what I expect from them. So, I downloaded Google Chrome to see if they were any better. Here's what they said:

502. That’s an error.

The server encountered a temporary error and could not complete your request.

Please try again in 30 seconds. That’s all we know.

I Know What You Did Last Summer 6/12/11

I didn't do much today because it was rainy. Actually, it rained very little, but I never knew when it would start or stop, so I didn't bother starting anything. I did, however, move the treadmill back to the basement. I had moved it to the main floor during the flood threat. It is no easy task. For reasons that only vaguely make any sense, both the doors into the house have another door adjacent to it. So, moving anything large into the house is mostly stupid-annoying. Beyond that, the back door is at the top of the basement stairs. So, I had to wiggle out the back doors, close one, then come back in and down the stairs. On the other hand, I mostly told you all that so it would sound like I accomplished more than I did. But, it's done, none-the-less.

I Know What You Did Last Summer 6/11/11

Saturday! I worked (as in, at my real job) in the morning again. After that I mowed the lawn. Then I dragged my feet getting started on the south side. Eventually I decided that I was just going to have to work in the bright sun and that's all there is to it. After I started I almost quit. It takes so much longer and so much more mix to complete a section that is so much taller and longer than any other specific section. At first, I thought I was going to run out of mix. But, I didn't. Just that 13.5"x192" section probably took a whole bag, though. Well, really, that is a bag of cement and a bag of mortar, so two bags, or whatever. On the other hand, while those two bags weigh 120lbs together and are obnoxious to handle to the point of actually sticking the crap on the wall, they are only about $5 each, so this is still a pretty cheap application. The mesh seems expensive at $15 each sheet, but the sheet is 27.5"x8ft, so I cut it in half, which makes that whole wall only cost about $20 not including my labor (which is priceless, of course). My begrudging goal of the day was to get that whole section mixed, applied, striped and brushed before the end of the day. It took 7 hours, but I did it. Really, unless I wanted to deal with trying to make a "dry seam" (which is applying new/wet mix next to dried/cured mix) I had no choice but to do it all in one session. I think it will turn out much better than anything I've done on this project so far. In a way, that sucks because I'll probably have to redo the east wall, which I am not looking forward to. But, the whole point is to make the house as good as "possible" so... Technically, I also prepped some of the other rough spots in the south wall, too. Eventually, I ended up having to wait for stuff to cure, such as before striping it and before brushing it. So, I applied that time to some of the other beat-up places that I am not going to completely re-do. I used a "siliconized acrylic" caulk that was 1) paintable and 2) water clean-up. I gooped it into place "generously" then used a paint brush, which I dipped in water, to shape it to the area. It's the same idea, just a different material and smaller scale. I doubted that idea, too, at first because the first caulk I bought was 100% silicon, but I realized later to be not-paintable-- and those cost $7 each. I was able to use those in another area (i.e. some gaps that are now under the stucco)and the right stuff only costs $2-$3 per tube. Really, though, I am sick of prepping. I want to paint and move on.

I Know What You Did Last Summer 6/10/11

Friday night was rainy, so I took guilty pleasure in doing a whole lot of nothin'. I watched a movie. If you're curious, it was "I Am Number Four" which I'll call just call a sci-fi film. I told my wife it was a Sci-fi/Action film, but it doesn't have that much action, and it does have an extensive love story. It may not be fair to call it extensive, because many movies have more extensive stories, it's just that if you are expecting a lot more action, the love story seems extensive. It wasn't a bad film. It was a intriguing. The action that was there was satisfying, and the science fiction was not so fictionalized as to be implausible. Other than that, well, it was pretty derivative. And by that I mean it follows familiar story lines. You could almost say it was predictable, but not a bad as some films. It does leave the opportunity for sequels wide open, and since movie companies just love sequels of successful brands, they could very easily make some really bad sequels out of this. Aren't you glad I wrote this review for you? 'Cause otherwise this entry would have lasted two short sentences.

I Know What You Did Last Summer 6/9/11

I started in with the do-over project. Really, the south side of the house was the first and worst of the project, so I likely would have done that over anyway. All I had time to do today was prep the thing. So, first I measured up my skill saw to know where to mount the guide so that after I cut it, I would have half an inch of old siding left (below the section above it.) Originally, I thought I should cut lower, so that the edge of the saw never has to touch the upper section, but I decided I wanted to cut more away than that. Then, I screwed 2x4's at the line, set my blade depth, and cut off the siding. After removing the old, I mounted the forms as before, then cut and set the mesh for the whole 13.5"x192" project.

I Know What You Did Last Summer 06/08/11

Technically, I didn't do anything. I had a hair appointment after work. Since yesterday I got that part of the house to the best it is going to be before painting, I asked my wife for her opinion. It's not good enough. The transition from the old to the new is too obvious, mostly because it is obviously not entirely flat like siding is... when it's manufactured... by machines. So, the next step is to redo the south side, but this time I will try cutting away the old as close to the overlapping section of siding above as I can. Then, the transition will me masked by the seam that is and will always be there. To avoid damaging that section too, I will have to affix a straight line of lumber to the repair section. That should bear all the weight of the saw and give me a straight enough line to dare getting as close as possible. It also means I will need much more mesh and much more mix material, and more time, of course. That's the plan, anyway. The contingency plan is to get a quote for altogether new siding.

I Know What You Did Last Summer 6/7/11

Today I took the forms off the east wall and primed the repaired section. That makes the whole wall the same color, roughly. So, it is as good as it is going to look until I paint the whole house.

I Know What You Did Last Summer 6/6/11

After work I took off the forms and then used one to finish that side of the house. Well, really not finished, but you know what I mean. That's as much as I could do on any given evening after work, and more than I could have done last night. I also quick-washed the car, so hopefully it will rain.

I Know What You Did Last Summer 6/5/11

6/5/11 – The roller didn’t work because the stucco stuck to it and gummed it up. On the other hand, I am getting much faster and better with the level and the nail. Also, it gives me something to do while I’m waiting for the stucco to cure. I tweaked my techniques a little, too. It is VERY important to push hard when applying the stucco. I may not have clarified that. Use lots of pressure, otherwise it falls off too easily. I am not smart enough to use a drop-cloth or anything to catch it if it does. On the same note, the reinforcement gridding needs to be tight/snug to the wall. If it flexes, so will the stucco when you apply it-- and then it falls off. Or at the very least, it will bulge and mess up the flatness desired. I waited longer before etching in my lines, which helped prevent them from being too deep, but got a bit too difficult towards the end. But, with it more cured, I was able to use an old paint brush to knock off the excess grit which looks much better. I also used a wire brush on last night's stuff to lessen the line between the old and new surfaces. It did not work on anything older than that, so timing is important.

I Know What You Did Last Summer 6/4/11

6/4/11 – Saturday! I had to work this morning, but that is almost irrelevant because I probably would have just slept in anyway. After work, I picked up some more supplies and then mowed the lawn. Then I worked on the stucco project the rest of the day in the bright sunshine and heat. I really need a better method for making the vertical stripes. I spent some time with a system of nails in a board while waiting for a section to cure, but that didn’t work. I ended up dragging a nail along the edge of a level—one line at a time. Way too painstaking. After a long day, in the shower, I got a better idea for a roller I might be able to make. Also, I struggled with getting my mix the right consistency.

Either that is the problem, or I am just not getting the mesh in the right place to hold it correctly.

I Know What You Did Last Summer 6/3/11

6/3/11 – Today was the first real test of the system. I mixed some up and stuck in to the wall. There was a learning curve. Here’s what I learned: First, the smaller the area, the better. But, really the only reason I had the large area in the first place was part of a learning curve about how the stuff comes off the wall, too. The biggest reason for keeping the area small is that the stucco wants to slide and bulge (which is a bit obvious) so the less, the better it behaves. Along the same line, the consistency of the mix is important. Too much water may smooth out nicely, but it doesn’t stay put as well, either. Another lesson was technique. Plop a scoop on the trowel, start low and really press it up and into place, allowing the existing siding to scrape off the remainder. After a decent surface amount is in place, use an up-to-the- right motion (I am right-handed.) The trowel surface is nice for making a flat surface between the old and new bottom edge, but a vertical motion makes the best looking surface. So, I use both. Since the old siding has vertical lines indented in it, I have to mimic that. I used the side of an old plastic ruler. The flatter the finished stucco, the easier that is, but I used the straightness of the ruler and drag the bottom corner of it in and am satisfied with the result. I’ll get better with experience. If it all holds together, this just might work.

I Know What You Did Last Summer 6/2/11

6/2/11 – Mostly stucco project today. The crappy asbestos siding we currently have is brittle and chunks have fallen away around the bottom edge—which looks terrible. So, I’m attempting to repair that with a stucco application before I paint. I have a fair amount of planning to figure out to make it work. Today, I made a section of 2x4 that I plan to use create the bottom edge. I had to rip it in half, then cut out a notch 1/2” x 1” that the stucco reinforcement sits on and also creates a drip edge, if it works. I did all that with a skill saw. I almost can’t believe it worked. I screwed it on, then cut and placed the reinforcement. After I get done applying it and it sets, I have to be able to unscrew it and reuse it. That’s the plan.

I also sprayed my Bayer Season Long Weed control. The bottle was supposed to spray 5000 sq ft. It’s a bottle that attaches directly to a hose. After spraying only a small part of the back yard, I shut off the hose to move and the bottle was already empty. That could be a disaster. At the very least it is a waste of money.

I Know What You Did Last Summer 6/1/11

6/1/11 – Planted the tomatoes, including the cans at the base and the cages… and the trench that will bring runoff water to them each time it rains. I also planted another row of corn and weeded some. I did some stuff for what I’ll call the stucco project.

I Know What You Did Last Summer 5/31/11

5/31/11 – Dentist appointment cut the night short. I cut a section of the siding away to try and make a mold that I could reuse and press into the stucco mix to make it look like the existing siding—which has straight vertical stripes and an orange-peel texture. It didn’t work. It stuck to the siding in an un-removable way.

I Know What You Did Last Summer 5/30/11

5/30/11 – Went to Fargo. We picked up the paint for the house. Had to pay bills at the church when we got back. I also picked up supplies to make my mold.

I Know What You Did Last Summer 5/29/11

5/29/11 I used some of my 2x4s in the basement. The area under the steps no longer has walls, just framing because that is how she wants it. So, I made a walk-in door there, now. Before it was solid from about knee-high and below. I also put a couple studs in the west wall of what used to be my home office. Now it’s the only reasonably dry storage in the basement. It is also our tornado shelter. So, I feel better now that the wall is more normal. The other place I used the studs was on the wall that previously stopped for the water heater. But, now that it is moved, I extended the wall. I also mowed the lawn.

I Know What You Did Last Summer 5/28/11

5/28/11 – Rainy day. We watched some movies and just sat around.

I Know What You Did Last Summer 5/27/11

5/27/11 After work I picked up some stuff for future projects. I got some 2x4s, some mortar cement, and some stucco mesh. It was pouring rain, so all I really did was get that stuff home.

I Know What You Did Last Summer 5/26/11

5/26/11 – Garden stuff before the expected rain (all weekend – Memorial Day weekend, that is. Boooooo.) Planted the weekly row of corn, weeded the whole thing and dug under the fence to 1) draw a definitive line with the grass that it shall not cross and 2) bury the fence to keep it in place and critters out. Today is also “city clean-up” day for us. All this week when the city picks up trash, they will also pick up anything else we leave at the curb with no volume limitations like every other week. This year, the only extra we have is one of those canvas, portable lawn chairs that are everywhere and come with a handy carrying pouch. It’s busted, but someone will probably scavenge it anyway. Other years, though, we have taken full advantage and unloaded a lot of crap, including the demo from renovation projects around the house. Some people rent dumpsters for that or make trips to the landfill. We have not.

I Know What You Did Last Summer 5/25/11

5/25/11 – Had to run some errands after work. Then, history demanded that I watch the Oprah Finale. Later is the American Idol Finale. So, I wasted much of my initiative. I was surprised by my lovely bride. She decided she wanted to scrape the translucent application off one of the windows downstairs. So, I managed to squeeze in something, afterall. Although, after I showed her a much better tool for the job than a fingernail, she took over quite enthusiastically. I tried to squeeze in with another tool, but she really didn’t like having me in her way. Eventually, I went outside and washed the window, and then the inside, but really, I ended up watching her do it.

I Know What You Did Last Summer 5/24/11

5/24/11 – Mowed the lawn, moved the bluebells again. Patsy thinks they will hide the Hostas. Evidently, she doesn’t see them (the Hostas) becoming the 3-foot bushes that made all the dividing necessary. Then I dropped everything to attend Tennis awards. Destiny won “most improved” for the second straight year. She continues to surprise the coaches with her growth. Yay!

I Know What You Did Last Summer 5/23/11

5/23/11 – Moved Mary’s ferns. Our neighbor had ferns growing on the northish side of her garage that she wanted to toss or move. So, I put the bigger few on the north side of our house where they could fit well, and the rest on the north side of our lilacs. They may get swallowed up back there, or they may fight and thrive. Either is fine with me. I just couldn’t throw them all in the compost pile. I weedwhacked the edges to prepare for mowing tomorrow.

I Know What You Did Last Summer 5/22/11

5/22/11 – Sprayed weeds, again. Won’t be the last time, by far. Even if I can get my hands on the Season Long Weed Control I need, I’ll have to spray that on. I still have to control them between now and then, too. Patsy wanted to divide the Hostas and put some above the retaining wall. I decided I wanted to change the grassline back there to make it easier to mow without destroying the Hostas. Then I moved the Bluebells that have been idling in the middle of the raspberries until they could (1) get healthy enough to be moved again and (2) find a better home. So, I put them in the new area, which is “in front of” the hostas.

I Know What You Did Last Summer 5/21/11

5/21/11 – Acquired the new doohickey and got the other computer working correctly. Yay! To celebrate, I wasted a bunch of time on Facebook and YouTube… and Netflix. The boss came home with replacement tiles for the kitchen floor, so I replaced those. In the middle of that project, I realized I needed something that was buried underneath another project in the basement (an expansion of the cement project from before, making that “island” more square-shaped and higher on one end.

I Know What You Did Last Summer 5/20/11

5/20/11 - Hooked up the new WiFi. But, it is so wireless that it cannot be hooked up to the desktop without additional equipment… and I don’t have that right now.

I Know What You Did Last Summer... Begins

Around these parts, the summer sun sets pretty late. The longest day of the year has daylight until 11pm (although technically, the sun has set before then. There’s just something about those long evenings and all that sunshine that brings out the productive in me. It also helps that the warm weather is what makes all the fun projects possible. If you can’t pour cement and dry paint, the options are really limited. I really enjoy home improvement projects. The reason is simple: the finished product. Stepping back and admiring the “after” after living for so long with the “before” is immensely satisfying… especially knowing “I did that.” I can usually remember the big projects, but I’ll do a slew of little unexpected projects, too. So, this is my journal of all of them—and inevitably why some of them did not get done.
5/19/11  That’s the finished date for a project that started in the middle of this spring’s flood. We had water in the basement from the high water table—at least that is where I point the finger. The last time we had that problem was the last time we had that kind of flood, which was 2 years ago. I thought we had that problem fixed with the sump pump and some tiling I put in then. I was wrong. So, this year I installed some strategic cement to raise specific areas down there. That doesn’t prevent the problem, but if it happens again, the water will pool in specific places that drain into the sump-pump holes where it will get eliminated before damaging anything important. So, the biggest part of all of that is that I moved the water heater to a more logical location and it is now a few inches higher than any water barring a much bigger catastrophe. Some day (translation: many thousands of dollars required) we’ll need to lift the house and build a new foundation. We’ll solve more and bigger problems in that process.

Pompous Circumstances

Pompous circumstances is the answer to the question, "Why is the keynote speaker still talking?" Since it is graduation season, many a ceremony shall be playing Pomp and Circumstance. While real lyrics do exist (that I've never heard anyone sing, and even fewer know) I have decided to write my own. May they fill your head the next time you hear the familiar tune... over... and over... and over.




This is the version that my daughter and I have been singing since she was old enough to do so:


My Reindeer flies sideways

Your Reindeer flies up-side-down

My Reindeer flies sideways

Your Reindeer is dead.

(Repeat)




I secretly admire the non-conformists who push against the boundaries of the establishment presenting the diplomas:


Dingle-berried flat cap

Unisexual gown

That's why I am naked

Between my chest and my knees.




Don't forget why they call it commencement:


Today you are grad-u-a-ting

Now it's time to get-a-job

There may be no "real world"

But, now you pay your own bills.




The real lyrics:


Land of hope and glory

Mother of the free,

How shall we extol thee,

Who are born of thee.

Wider still and wider

Shall thy bounds be set,

God who made thee mighty

Make thee mightier yet



God who made thee mighty

Make thee mightier yet