Friday, October 03, 2003
This old house
Maybe it's shows like This Old House that give people the wrong idea. Or maybe it's preserved historical houses. I don't know but people believe that because my house is over 100 years old it's all neat and historical with architectural details that only need to be uncovered.
No. It is not neat, or quaint, nor does it have any of those quaint neat details. My house has been rental housing for the black working class for the past 100 years. Rental housing, landlords don't invest a lot in rental housing and it shows.
The floors. Might be hardwood. But for the time being are hidden under carpet. What I have seen so far under the carpet and on the other side of the floor is not a happy sight. Under the carpet there are shriveled up tiles of some sort (asbestos maybe?) and some dark gunk on top of dark colored wood. I know it is dark chocolate in color from looking at the underside in the basement. It is sawn rough. Even if it could get sanded smooth I don't think I would want the color. The house doesn't get enough light and it's small, dark colors are bad, last thing I want to do is spend good money on a floor that will make the place look smaller and darker.
Walls. I hate the walls on the upper floors. One runs right into the window frame. All except the bathroom they have textured paint. As I later discovered this was slapped on to hide all the cracks in the plaster underneath. The renovator Sunny (evil evil) said it was to prevent stains on the walls that kids (what kids?) make. My only hope was to skim the walls with joint compund because our friend 'asbestos' could be in the paint. Don't get me started on the lead paint.
The whole structure. My house, just my house is crooked in such an obvious way. Settling.
There is one good thing. Radiators. I love them. Now that it is getting cold, and hoping the boiler doesn't explode, I can enjoy warm things I can put my bottom on, or warm robes draped over. Heaven.
Maybe it's shows like This Old House that give people the wrong idea. Or maybe it's preserved historical houses. I don't know but people believe that because my house is over 100 years old it's all neat and historical with architectural details that only need to be uncovered.
No. It is not neat, or quaint, nor does it have any of those quaint neat details. My house has been rental housing for the black working class for the past 100 years. Rental housing, landlords don't invest a lot in rental housing and it shows.
The floors. Might be hardwood. But for the time being are hidden under carpet. What I have seen so far under the carpet and on the other side of the floor is not a happy sight. Under the carpet there are shriveled up tiles of some sort (asbestos maybe?) and some dark gunk on top of dark colored wood. I know it is dark chocolate in color from looking at the underside in the basement. It is sawn rough. Even if it could get sanded smooth I don't think I would want the color. The house doesn't get enough light and it's small, dark colors are bad, last thing I want to do is spend good money on a floor that will make the place look smaller and darker.
Walls. I hate the walls on the upper floors. One runs right into the window frame. All except the bathroom they have textured paint. As I later discovered this was slapped on to hide all the cracks in the plaster underneath. The renovator Sunny (evil evil) said it was to prevent stains on the walls that kids (what kids?) make. My only hope was to skim the walls with joint compund because our friend 'asbestos' could be in the paint. Don't get me started on the lead paint.
The whole structure. My house, just my house is crooked in such an obvious way. Settling.
There is one good thing. Radiators. I love them. Now that it is getting cold, and hoping the boiler doesn't explode, I can enjoy warm things I can put my bottom on, or warm robes draped over. Heaven.
Wednesday, October 01, 2003
The fan that will kill me
So I got a co-worker to install two fans in my house for the sum of $54. The fan in the first room is wonderful. The fan in my room, which I knew would be trouble, is still troubling. The problem with old houses is that you have old house hardware and quirks. The hardware the light, which was on the verge of killing me in my sleep, hung from what could have been an old gas lamp pipe. Heavens only knows.
The light was hanging loosely from the old fixture. I pulled the string to turn it off and on, the thing would wobble. It had a glass, a heavy glass piece that I took off once the whole piece started looking dodgy. Upon further inspection the lamp was hanging from some screws that had a minimal hold on the drywall in the ceiling.
I knew there would be trouble when the ceiling fan would replace the whole contraption. After 2 or so hours Mr. Grumpy Sunshine got it installed. He wasn't too happy with the wobbling. He said the hardware up in the ceiling was loose.
The one big problem is the only way for me to turn the light on and off is to pull the cord. Which in turn pulls the fan, which pulls whatever loose hardware there is in the ceiling.
I'm now thinking, remote controlled fan. Thats the only way. The only was without doing some heavy recontruction.
Until then, I'm in danger of a 30lb fan hitting my bed in my sleep.
So I got a co-worker to install two fans in my house for the sum of $54. The fan in the first room is wonderful. The fan in my room, which I knew would be trouble, is still troubling. The problem with old houses is that you have old house hardware and quirks. The hardware the light, which was on the verge of killing me in my sleep, hung from what could have been an old gas lamp pipe. Heavens only knows.
The light was hanging loosely from the old fixture. I pulled the string to turn it off and on, the thing would wobble. It had a glass, a heavy glass piece that I took off once the whole piece started looking dodgy. Upon further inspection the lamp was hanging from some screws that had a minimal hold on the drywall in the ceiling.
I knew there would be trouble when the ceiling fan would replace the whole contraption. After 2 or so hours Mr. Grumpy Sunshine got it installed. He wasn't too happy with the wobbling. He said the hardware up in the ceiling was loose.
The one big problem is the only way for me to turn the light on and off is to pull the cord. Which in turn pulls the fan, which pulls whatever loose hardware there is in the ceiling.
I'm now thinking, remote controlled fan. Thats the only way. The only was without doing some heavy recontruction.
Until then, I'm in danger of a 30lb fan hitting my bed in my sleep.
Monday, September 29, 2003
Neighbors
So I'm outside staining my fence. I tried using the pressure sprayer, but I think I ruined it since the stain protectorant is too thick. I had to use the old cup and brush method.
The whole time I'm out there doing 2 panels worth, from 5:30 till after dark, the house across the alley is nothing but screaming. She's screaming at her, someone screaming at the kids, loudness, agruing and being very vocal for about 2 hours straight. I hear threats "What you going to throw at at me?". I hear commands. I hear declarations. I hear cursing. The whole gamut. If there was a murder and the cops were to ask me, what were they fighting about? I would have no clue. About a guy someone was dating? Getting the kids to eat? There was no singular topic.
It's not really worth noting except I was out there for the whole time. Normally I hear the yelling and screaming. But I don't stick around long and I'm back in my own environs with the window shut and the sound of the neighbor's spirited discussion muted.
So I'm outside staining my fence. I tried using the pressure sprayer, but I think I ruined it since the stain protectorant is too thick. I had to use the old cup and brush method.
The whole time I'm out there doing 2 panels worth, from 5:30 till after dark, the house across the alley is nothing but screaming. She's screaming at her, someone screaming at the kids, loudness, agruing and being very vocal for about 2 hours straight. I hear threats "What you going to throw at at me?". I hear commands. I hear declarations. I hear cursing. The whole gamut. If there was a murder and the cops were to ask me, what were they fighting about? I would have no clue. About a guy someone was dating? Getting the kids to eat? There was no singular topic.
It's not really worth noting except I was out there for the whole time. Normally I hear the yelling and screaming. But I don't stick around long and I'm back in my own environs with the window shut and the sound of the neighbor's spirited discussion muted.
Hey the Cops Sometimes Come
Yesterday I notice a man hanging out in front of the overpriced house for sale. He's there for a good 30 minutes. At first I thought he was a workman, doing some finishing touches on the outside. But no. He was a strange one. So after about 1/2 an hour I call 311 and I don't know how long I had to wait to get a person on the other end but by the time I get an operator, he starts moseying up the street.
About 5-10 later the cops drive by, and slow down at the address given. I'm standing in the doorway chatting w/ Brett and wave to the officers, who warily wave back. They turn around and come back to the spot get out and say, "Well I don't think either of you called it in.." Oh, I fess up that I did it and describe the 'weird' behavior.
Well they did show up within a resonable amount of time, they get points for that.
Yesterday I notice a man hanging out in front of the overpriced house for sale. He's there for a good 30 minutes. At first I thought he was a workman, doing some finishing touches on the outside. But no. He was a strange one. So after about 1/2 an hour I call 311 and I don't know how long I had to wait to get a person on the other end but by the time I get an operator, he starts moseying up the street.
About 5-10 later the cops drive by, and slow down at the address given. I'm standing in the doorway chatting w/ Brett and wave to the officers, who warily wave back. They turn around and come back to the spot get out and say, "Well I don't think either of you called it in.." Oh, I fess up that I did it and describe the 'weird' behavior.
Well they did show up within a resonable amount of time, they get points for that.
