Monday, August 27, 2007
Wow, I can still punch through sheet rock!
Our current primary house project is fixing up some plumbing problems. I admit, I should have done something way back when we first noticed the slight seepage...but my hatred for plumbing tasks is only matched by my ability to live in denial.... I guess we got crossed off the House-healing Fairy's list. *sigh*
Part of what is getting me off dead center right now is that there's a good chance the clone's brother, a master plumber, is going to be able to free up some time to help us. With that as a dangling carrot, I have been clearing up access to the trouble areas.
One of those is a perpetually damp spot at the corner of the faucet end of the bathtub. The shower assembly is also old and in need of replacement. This meant removing the soaked wallboard, and also making a way to get to the piping.
In theory, the piping is accessible through the hall closet. In actual practice, that small, almost rudimentary hall was built as one of two paths to the front door. Since it wasn't crucial, we decided it was a good place to 'temporarily' put some boxes of books. About 10 years ago....
Which is why Mike and I spent a fun hour yesterday knocking that part of the bathroom/closet wall in. Since all the hammers are hiding just now, he used a wrench. I just yanked and pulled at first, but eventually gave into the temptation to see if I could still do a decent punch, palm heel strike and hammer fist. Answer -- YES! And my hands don't even hurt today!
Cleaning up the closet was not as much fun. Although I happily did not run across Geraldo Rivera in there, we did find that it had been put to use as Mouse Central Station. I shall spare you the 'ew' details.
Turned out there were still some coats in the closet (also two bridles, a motorcycle helmet of unknown origin, a vibrating foot soaker which I threw away, as well as Stuff, also mostly thrown away). The coats were a little dirty, but not chewed, and washed up just fine.
Even, amazingly enough, a rather nice leather coat I bought on a foolish whim in the early 90s. I didn't want to pay out huge bucks to attempt dry cleaning (plus how embarrassing would THAT be to take into a shop?). So I looked for ideas online, and saw where someone claimed success in machine washing a leather jacket, using shampoo and conditioner.
It's still air-drying, but it didn't lose any color or finish, so I am hopeful. Plus, it smells great! My only trouble now is trying to convince Mike he does not need a semi-retro ladies' style leather/patterned suede jacket, no matter how pretty it is.
Part of what is getting me off dead center right now is that there's a good chance the clone's brother, a master plumber, is going to be able to free up some time to help us. With that as a dangling carrot, I have been clearing up access to the trouble areas.
One of those is a perpetually damp spot at the corner of the faucet end of the bathtub. The shower assembly is also old and in need of replacement. This meant removing the soaked wallboard, and also making a way to get to the piping.
In theory, the piping is accessible through the hall closet. In actual practice, that small, almost rudimentary hall was built as one of two paths to the front door. Since it wasn't crucial, we decided it was a good place to 'temporarily' put some boxes of books. About 10 years ago....
Which is why Mike and I spent a fun hour yesterday knocking that part of the bathroom/closet wall in. Since all the hammers are hiding just now, he used a wrench. I just yanked and pulled at first, but eventually gave into the temptation to see if I could still do a decent punch, palm heel strike and hammer fist. Answer -- YES! And my hands don't even hurt today!
Cleaning up the closet was not as much fun. Although I happily did not run across Geraldo Rivera in there, we did find that it had been put to use as Mouse Central Station. I shall spare you the 'ew' details.
Turned out there were still some coats in the closet (also two bridles, a motorcycle helmet of unknown origin, a vibrating foot soaker which I threw away, as well as Stuff, also mostly thrown away). The coats were a little dirty, but not chewed, and washed up just fine.
Even, amazingly enough, a rather nice leather coat I bought on a foolish whim in the early 90s. I didn't want to pay out huge bucks to attempt dry cleaning (plus how embarrassing would THAT be to take into a shop?). So I looked for ideas online, and saw where someone claimed success in machine washing a leather jacket, using shampoo and conditioner.
It's still air-drying, but it didn't lose any color or finish, so I am hopeful. Plus, it smells great! My only trouble now is trying to convince Mike he does not need a semi-retro ladies' style leather/patterned suede jacket, no matter how pretty it is.
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