Gosh, over a week since I wrote last. Lots of “newslets” but nothing really serious to write about! So, I guess I did not succeed at my hope of writing daily through Lent. Sigh.
So, let’s go over some of those “newslets” (small newsy type items). I’m getting a triple root canal today. One tooth, 3 nerve channels, 2 of which will be “difficult to drill” – so says my endodontist. Oh happy day. 😐
Of course, the Heartland, where I live, is known for its wicked winters, bitter cold, snow, wind, grey skies. It’s why Scott and I are so excited about our move to New Mexico next year. This winter, I just don’t know if it’ll ever end! We’re suffering through bitter, 80 degree days in early March, gentle balmy breezes, sunlit skies. Oh, the misery. 😐
This is the year that Scott and I do major house work. Not the dusting and window-washing. The “install sump pump in basement ($3000), shore up soon to collapse rear retaining wall (was $3000, now looks closer to $6000), shore up sagging soon to collapse HOUSE ($6000), paint exterior of house (eh, never mind the cost – you really don’t want to know)” kind of house work! Oh, and then, once THAT all is done, we can start on the infamous bathroom! Actually, the bathroom is only waiting on the sagging house repair.
Yeah, about the sagging house. Ever since we moved in, some doors in our house just do not close! Someone suggested we just shave down the door… well, in at least one case, that shaving would have to be 1/2 inch! Last September the engineer took a precursory glance and said “Oh, just jack it up here and here… it’s easy.” I kept looking at it and thinking “this just isn’t right. If the sag is HERE where he says, why is their no weight, whatsoever, on this support post that is right here at the same place?” Finally after looking and looking and looking at the basement, Scott and I figured out the sag and had the engineer back. He started humming and hawing and oh-mying. “How old is this house?” “92 years? Really? It should have collapsed during the building phase!”
Yup, looking at the basement we can see major stress points with NO support under them, whatsoever! It turns out that first of all, we need EIGHT new jack supports in the basement, not two, and secondly, when they put in the sump pump they discovered that our concrete basement floor is only 2 inches thick! Had we jacked up the basement where he initially told us to, it wouldn’t have supported the weight! Hence the huge amount of work, and the huge cost accompanying it.
Did I mention I’m getting a bit of dental work done today?
Did I mention that it’s going to be 80 degrees out today (2nd day in a row)?
On The Road II 