Tuesday, January 25, 2011

All My Problems are over - here comes retirement

Dear Friend, 
I am Todd Williams, I am a staff of Natwest Bank Plc,U.K.   I have a very Urgent Business proposal of (£18,500,000.00 Million Pounds) for you to handle with me from my bank.  And finally I shall provide you with more details of this transaction.  Please reply to my private email  :( XXXXX@yahoo.com.hk ) 
Kind Regards, Todd Williams (Mr.) 
ACCOUNTS OFFICER

Monday, January 24, 2011

Day 7 - Part 2


Day 7 - Tile Problems

Well, most jobs have a hick-up and after waiting 4 days for my tile to cure, I've found mine.   One of my jumbo tiles, the corner piece did not adhear.   It was making a billowy squishy sound and although I waited for twice as long as suggested, the tile was still moving.   So carefully I took a screwdriver and lifted the tile up and was fortunate not to have broken it.  

All the acrylic mortar was still soft.  In fact, it was still very gummy.   The upside is that it was easy clean up.   I have now cleaned the slab and tile and am trying again. 

I only have two guesses as to what went wrong.    First, the mortar that I used under the first tile was old and maybe mortar goes bad.   Since this was the first tile I set, it is possible that the mortar on the top of the bucket may have been too stiff

Secondly, I suppose it is possible that the floor underneath this tile wasn't scarified and that there was a chemical issue.   There was not moisture underneath the tile that wasn't congealed into the mortar and the slab was dry.

In any event,  the new tile is down and I hope for better luck on this piece. 

















Now on to building the cabinet.

Friday, January 21, 2011

Expensive as Shit

This Shit is ridiculous but you have to admire the staff writer who's making $30k a year with their pleasant rationalization.

Here's our roundup of ten traditionally styled options; some are expensive, but think how often they will be used over the course of a lifetime.














Above: Handsome Edwardian Metal Lavatory Roll Holder from Czech & Speake; £240. The Lefroy Brooks Connaught Paper Holder, which is virtually identical, is $352.50 at Home & Stone.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Day 6 - Tile Installed with acrylic mortar



















You can see all the little plastic spacers.
Hopefully tomorrow I'll get the grout in.  These
are huge tiles - 20" x 40".   The normal tile cutter
will not accommodate the length, so I had to take
it to a stone fabricator who had a huge stone table
saw.   Not bad, only $45.

Day 5 - Dry Fit Tile

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Original 1961 - Plumbing Green Tag


Found in my wall this morning.    Makes me wonder if this house will still be here in another 50 years.   Either way, for the sake of the construction industry, I hope people remodel their bathrooms more frequently.  

Day 2 - Remove Drywall, Wiring, Scarifing Floor



Sunday, January 09, 2011

Friday, January 07, 2011

Happy New Year

While attaching the duct to my hood on January 2nd,  I fell through the ceiling and into our bedroom.   Now I get to patch a hole.


Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Grown-ups

We got a new rug (X-mas gift) and then K-twn's folks got us end tables.    Kristen thinks our living room looks like it's for grown ups. 

RIP - Don Van Vliet

A true musical revolutionary.........

Thursday, December 16, 2010

RIP Mr Feller

The first famous person I ever remember seeing.   My grandfather took me to an Amarillo Gold Socks game and he was signing autographs before the first pitch.  I didn't really know who he was but I will always remember it.

Friday, December 10, 2010

Wednesday, December 08, 2010

Top 5 of 2010

here they are so far:

1. Beach House - Teen Dream 
2.  Wolf Parade - Expo 86
3. Band of Horses - Infinite Arms
4.  The National - Tired Violet
5. Deerhunter -  Halcyon Digest


Honorable Mention
Tired Pony - The Place We Ran From
Midlake - The Courage of Others

XX
Broken Bells
Kings of Leon - Come Around Sundown
Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix