To-Do List
June 13, 2005
Click on the rose and you will see more. They are all in the "Family" group.
June 02, 2005
How could I have not discovered Freecycle ages ago! I put something on that I want to get rid of and I have someone reply back in less than half and hour and they are picking it up at 4 pm.
Someone else is looking for a weed whacker, and guess what I have? An extra one!
Pure genius! And easy to boot. I don't have to leave my house.
Granted I have perfect strangers coming to my house to pick stuff up, but if I leave it outside, it's no different than having someone raid my trash. I'm thinking I can get rid of LOTS of stuff this way.
Someone else is looking for a weed whacker, and guess what I have? An extra one!
Pure genius! And easy to boot. I don't have to leave my house.
Granted I have perfect strangers coming to my house to pick stuff up, but if I leave it outside, it's no different than having someone raid my trash. I'm thinking I can get rid of LOTS of stuff this way.
May 24, 2005
We finally got our landscaping installed and it looks better than I imagined. They even replaced some sod between our parkway trees where it looked like the lawn had mange. I was impressed at how efficient they were. They came at 11 am and were gone by 6pm, and they had a 1 hour lunch break.
Watering in the new plants took a long time yesterday, but now I only have to water the sod at least once a day to keep it moist and pretty much watch everything grow.
I can't wait until Steve gets home to see it.
It's going to take me a while to get used to it though. Everytime I look out there I expect to see the empty dirt beds with random weeds, and when I see the beauty, I'm taken aback.
UPDATE: Since I've had you ask, I'll let you know you should get pictures by the weekend, as the digital camera is currently in the Netherlands.
Watering in the new plants took a long time yesterday, but now I only have to water the sod at least once a day to keep it moist and pretty much watch everything grow.
I can't wait until Steve gets home to see it.
It's going to take me a while to get used to it though. Everytime I look out there I expect to see the empty dirt beds with random weeds, and when I see the beauty, I'm taken aback.
UPDATE: Since I've had you ask, I'll let you know you should get pictures by the weekend, as the digital camera is currently in the Netherlands.
May 19, 2005
I have been a busy little psycho this week. I got a home-improvement bug up my ass and it shows no signs of leaving (it is however taking a vacation as I think I wrenched my back slightly).
If I had the digital camera (it's currently vacationing in the Netherlands), I'd show you comparison photos, but for now you'll have to take my word for it.
And Buzz, I'm starting to think I am the ultimate dream wife, I expect no home-repair attempts from my husband, I just jump right in and do them myself.
Here is what I accomplished in five short days.
1. I replaced the filters and flushed our reverse osmosis filtration system. I also replaced the filter faucet on the sink.
2. I sanded and painted the ceiling in the kitchen where we replaced the light fixture.
3. Taped and mudded the ceiling in the dining room, with subsequent sanding and painting. Note: Drywall dust is a bitch to clean up.
4. Painted the front door a lovely shade of green and replaced the painted over kickplate with a lovely new brass one.
5. Replaced a bracket in the freezer so my sliding basket no longer falls on top of the one below it.
I'm thinking in the next few days I'm going to touch up the exterior trim around the front door and under the front window, the paint is bubbling and peeling and not looking so hot.
Not to mention I had to rod the toilet, but that is at least a once a week occurance (damn those low-flow toilets).
If I had the digital camera (it's currently vacationing in the Netherlands), I'd show you comparison photos, but for now you'll have to take my word for it.
And Buzz, I'm starting to think I am the ultimate dream wife, I expect no home-repair attempts from my husband, I just jump right in and do them myself.
Here is what I accomplished in five short days.
1. I replaced the filters and flushed our reverse osmosis filtration system. I also replaced the filter faucet on the sink.
2. I sanded and painted the ceiling in the kitchen where we replaced the light fixture.
3. Taped and mudded the ceiling in the dining room, with subsequent sanding and painting. Note: Drywall dust is a bitch to clean up.
4. Painted the front door a lovely shade of green and replaced the painted over kickplate with a lovely new brass one.
5. Replaced a bracket in the freezer so my sliding basket no longer falls on top of the one below it.
I'm thinking in the next few days I'm going to touch up the exterior trim around the front door and under the front window, the paint is bubbling and peeling and not looking so hot.
Not to mention I had to rod the toilet, but that is at least a once a week occurance (damn those low-flow toilets).
May 13, 2005
Our birch tree in the front yard is, how shall we say, in need of a good pruning.
I've called 5 people for estimates on it. At the end of this week the score was:
1. A estimate for $250.
2. An unreturned phone call.
3. Another unreturned phone call.
4. A guy who is insured and will do it for $90 cash.
5. Yet another unreturned phone call.
UPDATE: Got another $250 estimate. WTF?? We went with the $90 guy that works for ComEd during the week. He did a great job.
Which person did I choose and why?
This is not a photo of our actual tree in front of our actual house, this is one I found as a representation.
I've called 5 people for estimates on it. At the end of this week the score was:
1. A estimate for $250.
2. An unreturned phone call.
3. Another unreturned phone call.
4. A guy who is insured and will do it for $90 cash.
5. Yet another unreturned phone call.
UPDATE: Got another $250 estimate. WTF?? We went with the $90 guy that works for ComEd during the week. He did a great job.
Which person did I choose and why?
This is not a photo of our actual tree in front of our actual house, this is one I found as a representation.
May 10, 2005
I caught a bug. It has made me start to tackle items on my ghetto list and start to correct them.
One such thing, that wasn't mentioned before, is our reverse osmosis filtration system that we inherited with the house. The faucet leaked so we shut it off.
Today Miss Amy got a bug up her ass and found the manual online and ordered the filter parts I need, plus a new dispenser faucet and I will be plumbing away in no time.
Tomorrow, I might actually try to sand and paint the kitchen ceiling.
One such thing, that wasn't mentioned before, is our reverse osmosis filtration system that we inherited with the house. The faucet leaked so we shut it off.
Today Miss Amy got a bug up her ass and found the manual online and ordered the filter parts I need, plus a new dispenser faucet and I will be plumbing away in no time.
Tomorrow, I might actually try to sand and paint the kitchen ceiling.
You know, I checked FlyLady out ages ago and wasn't that committed, but I'm going to take another stab at it.
I have had it with feeling like I'm constantly trying to catch up instead of staying ahead of the game. And I'm throroughly disappointed in the fact that I can't tell you the last time I actually cooked dinner.
I'm going to try my best to take baby steps as FlyLady advises. It's just that it's so tempting to get everything done NOW.
Also, if you use FlyLady, I'd love to hear from you! Let me know what you think and let me know what you were starting with (be honest please).
My house is a crumb or two away from a pig sty, so I need all the help and motivation I can get.
I have had it with feeling like I'm constantly trying to catch up instead of staying ahead of the game. And I'm throroughly disappointed in the fact that I can't tell you the last time I actually cooked dinner.
I'm going to try my best to take baby steps as FlyLady advises. It's just that it's so tempting to get everything done NOW.
Also, if you use FlyLady, I'd love to hear from you! Let me know what you think and let me know what you were starting with (be honest please).
My house is a crumb or two away from a pig sty, so I need all the help and motivation I can get.
May 05, 2005
Once upon a time I had fish, and they were happy. They would swim and spawn, eat the algae, and generally enjoy themselves.
Then the Ich appeared.
The tank was treated with malachite green, turning the seals and water a lovely turquoise color.
The fish continued to die.
Upon waking one morning I discovered my beloved plecostomus floating in the tank like a bobber.
I knew at that moment that a holocost had decended upon my tank.
The fish tank has been empty (water, but no fish) since, but everything still running. Last week I decided to finally clean out the damned thing. It took me about 2 hours just to drain it (it's 55 gallons). Another 1.5 hours to scrub out the algae and scrub all surfaces. Amazingly, it only took about 1/2 hour to set up after that. It is now a thing of beauty, yet devoid of all recognizable life as it needs to sit for a few weeks until the water is habitable for fish. Behold the fruit of my labor:
Then the Ich appeared.
The tank was treated with malachite green, turning the seals and water a lovely turquoise color.
The fish continued to die.
Upon waking one morning I discovered my beloved plecostomus floating in the tank like a bobber.
I knew at that moment that a holocost had decended upon my tank.
The fish tank has been empty (water, but no fish) since, but everything still running. Last week I decided to finally clean out the damned thing. It took me about 2 hours just to drain it (it's 55 gallons). Another 1.5 hours to scrub out the algae and scrub all surfaces. Amazingly, it only took about 1/2 hour to set up after that. It is now a thing of beauty, yet devoid of all recognizable life as it needs to sit for a few weeks until the water is habitable for fish. Behold the fruit of my labor:
May 04, 2005
Taking my cue from Amber, I decided to give you all a peek into what crap I carry around in my purse. I tell you, it even surpised me. I decided I'm going to downsize from my apple green purse to a smaller banana yellow purse.
Why, you ask?
Well....because it's smaller. And banana yellow.
Here's the purses before the purge:
Why, you ask?
Well....because it's smaller. And banana yellow.
Here's the purses before the purge:
• Organizational
April 22, 2005
Remember a while back when I mentioned that my house is slowly going ghetto?
Well, since it is rainy and cold and I'm pretty much stuck in the house, I thought I would give you a little photo essay to complete that thought.
Ghetto goodness after the jump.
Well, since it is rainy and cold and I'm pretty much stuck in the house, I thought I would give you a little photo essay to complete that thought.
Ghetto goodness after the jump.
