What did you do today?

shop deals on amazon
Shop deals on ebay
SpartanEpoxies
House Repair Talk

Help Support House Repair Talk:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
Ron, the reno is looking good! Hope Linda will be happy with the changes. I'm interested in Ruby's plans for things. Do you have a thread on this reno or are you just posting here?

It was 95°F so I got overheated again in the brief time I went outside. I took a shower the night before because I needed one. Felt so much better, but I was drenched with sweat by morning- which is why I usually shower in the morning instead. I'd set up a curbside order at Samsclub but slept through the alarm for it. Worked out because they had rotisserie chickens ready when I got there. Picked up Chinese takeout and headed back home.

Searched a bin in my room for stuff I thought was in there but couldn't find it. Need to figure out where I put my shattaf, T shutoff, and hose for the shattaf. I found 2 of 3 wooden shelves I plan to put up. Not sure where the 3rd one went. I'll have to move the bin to my bed so I can take everything out of it to look again and if I can't find what I'm looking for I'll have to dig through other containers.

Hoping to take Mom to Alexandria tomorrow but she's coming down with stuffy nose and coughing. Heard my brother coughing heavily as well. I'm the only one who still wears a mask in public (partially because of allergies- I start sneezing into the mask-- but also because I have a tendency to touch my nose/mouth too much).

I'm about to go to sleep for the night- or try to.
 
Riding mower is fixed, my dtr and her significant other mowed and weedeated for me.
Screenshot_20240616_105312_Blink.jpgScreenshot_20240616_105246_Blink.jpg


Now if I could get past my adhd and find some motivation to get some things done around the house today.... that would be wonderful.

I have had a hive on my right thigh for 2 weeks. It's gotten much less angry and itchy, but I am also taking zyrtec, pepcid, and singulair and using either benadryl cream or hydrocortisone cream.

I started getting massages again. They are always so great during, and then the next day I feel like I have been beaten with a baseball bat lol.

I am considering writing a list of literally everything that needs done in the house (organization, decluttering amd repairs/improvements) and breaking it down into individual tasks and then picking 2 or 3 small things to do when I am off, instead of pressuring myself to do a bunch, because I end up doing nothing.
I have never had such a hard time with decision making except for the past 2 years. I'm hopeful that that will go away.

Nothing particular planned today, except for making vegetable soup. I thought that sounded good and bought some stew meat the other day. I already have everything else.

Happy Father's Day to all you Dads out there! I hope you are celebrated well today.
 
RON

“If I did it, it would be disgusting and illegal. “

In the world of haute coutiers?

Reminds me of a PBS series with Dame Judi Dench & her husband.

They had ended up in a vehicle together, as a result of some mutual exclusive social anomalies and after not monetarily being able to afford separate sleeping quarters, and his repeated assurances of his lack of interest, he said that “he knew a funny thing about sex.”

And after several days of evading their pursuers, she ask what was so funny about sex?

He replied that, a female attired in little more than high heels & fishnet stockings, is held, in some circles, with reverence, however, a male, in the same attire…………………….
 
shan2themax said:
Riding mower is fixed, my dtr and her significant other mowed and weedeated for me.
Click to expand...
Wow, Shan! Your yard looks so much better! Good job!
shan2themax said:
I have had a hive on my right thigh for 2 weeks. It's gotten much less angry and itchy, but I am also taking zyrtec, pepcid, and singulair and using either benadryl cream or hydrocortisone cream.
Click to expand...
That should knock it out!
shan2themax said:
I am considering writing a list of literally everything that needs done in the house (organization, decluttering amd repairs/improvements) and breaking it down into individual tasks and then picking 2 or 3 small things to do when I am off, instead of pressuring myself to do a bunch, because I end up doing nothing.
Click to expand...
I think that is the secret! Small bites and then just jump in and do it! After it’s done, you’ll look back and wonder how you did it! Getting started is the hard part.
shan2themax said:
I have never had such a hard time with decision making except for the past 2 years. I'm hopeful that that will go away.
Click to expand...
I blame it on Covid.
shan2themax said:
Nothing particular planned today, except for making vegetable soup. I thought that sounded good and bought some stew meat the other day. I already have everything else.
Click to expand...
Yum! I hope you make enough for us!
shan2themax said:
Happy Father's Day to all you Dads out there! I hope you are celebrated well today.
Click to expand...
Thank you!
 
So…I was going to take Fathers Day off but due to circumstances beyond anyone’s control, I needed to do some attic work today.

I discovered many years ago that it is difficult to be on both sides of the ceiling at the same time so I needed my helper, Ruby, to give me a hand but I forgot that she is committed to VBS on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday so if I wanted her assistance, I needed to do the attic work today. I needed to run some 12/2 with ground Romex to replace the old 12/2 w/o ground and to add some new circuits.

I’ve mentioned before that our house is like two houses connected together and while the attics are connected, I’ve never crawled from one to the other because the area where the roofs meet is too small for me.

On our side of the house, I’ve installed lights and a catwalk to make it more bearable working up there but I forgot that I did the same on Linda’s side. I did it when I installed a stove and microwave/hood vent in her kitchen way back when we first moved here. It was one of the first projects I did here.

IMG_8347.jpeg
Linda has her own CB box but her’s is only 100amp. Her side is not very big so it works out okay.

IMG_8348.jpeg

There is not much room above where the wires on the left are going up into the attic so I drilled some holes to the right where there is a little more room up there.

I also found this.

IMG_8350.jpeg
Who would use a nail gun right below a breaker box? Anyway, I need to consult code because I’m sure there are some violations here. I want to make them right. Then some pool time this afternoon!
 
zannej said:
Ron, the reno is looking good! Hope Linda will be happy with the changes. I'm interested in Ruby's plans for things. Do you have a thread on this reno or are you just posting here?

It was 95°F so I got overheated again in the brief time I went outside. I took a shower the night before because I needed one. Felt so much better, but I was drenched with sweat by morning- which is why I usually shower in the morning instead. I'd set up a curbside order at Samsclub but slept through the alarm for it. Worked out because they had rotisserie chickens ready when I got there. Picked up Chinese takeout and headed back home.

Searched a bin in my room for stuff I thought was in there but couldn't find it. Need to figure out where I put my shattaf, T shutoff, and hose for the shattaf. I found 2 of 3 wooden shelves I plan to put up. Not sure where the 3rd one went. I'll have to move the bin to my bed so I can take everything out of it to look again and if I can't find what I'm looking for I'll have to dig through other containers.

Hoping to take Mom to Alexandria tomorrow but she's coming down with stuffy nose and coughing. Heard my brother coughing heavily as well. I'm the only one who still wears a mask in public (partially because of allergies- I start sneezing into the mask-- but also because I have a tendency to touch my nose/mouth too much).

I'm about to go to sleep for the night- or try to.
Click to expand...
Good for you with the mask wearing, Zannej. I thought I was the only mask wearer left... (Especially if I'm not 100%. I'd feel bad if I spread something to someone.)
 
PJB12 said:
Good for you with the mask wearing, Zannej. I thought I was the only mask wearer left... (Especially if I'm not 100%. I'd feel bad if I spread something to someone.)
Click to expand...
I also wear a mask, although not everywhere. However I am a nurse and I wear a mask in every single room. I feel the same way, I would feel terrible if I made someone sick.
 
Shan, the yard looks great! I have the same problem with motivation and feeling overwhelmed and then not getting things done. I need to re-make a list and start checking things off. Always seems when I fix one thing, something else breaks.

Ron, The walkways and lights are a good idea. I need to do the same in my attic. Even if its just to be able to crawl in there. Really should pull all the nasty insulation that mice got into and put in fresh stuff. Still haven't managed to get my fat behind up in the attic yet though. Will need to get a head lamp and go up there when its not so hot outside. Ugh on the nails through the cable. My dad derped and put a screw through the wall several feet above a light switch and he hit the cable . There is a little deco cabinet thing of Mom's that is hanging up there and I want to take it down bc I keep hitting my head on it when I'm feeding the cats but I will have to do it when power is off bc the screw is through the cable.

I want to change out the light switch in the hallway to one with a motion sensor so we don't have to keep it on all the time to see in that hallway and it can just turn on without being switched on.

As an aside, the electrical code for light switches changed last year. The cable to the light fixtures now needs a neutral. It's explained in this video:


I caught up on sleep today, fed kitties, and got food for Mom and am still dead tired. Hoping to get her to Alexandria tomorrow as I wasn't up before 5pm today. More stores should be open Monday anyway.
Belated Happy Father's day to all the dads out there!
 
zannej said:
Shan, the yard looks great! I have the same problem with motivation and feeling overwhelmed and then not getting things done. I need to re-make a list and start checking things off. Always seems when I fix one thing, something else breaks.

Ron, The walkways and lights are a good idea. I need to do the same in my attic. Even if its just to be able to crawl in there. Really should pull all the nasty insulation that mice got into and put in fresh stuff. Still haven't managed to get my fat behind up in the attic yet though. Will need to get a head lamp and go up there when its not so hot outside. Ugh on the nails through the cable. My dad derped and put a screw through the wall several feet above a light switch and he hit the cable . There is a little deco cabinet thing of Mom's that is hanging up there and I want to take it down bc I keep hitting my head on it when I'm feeding the cats but I will have to do it when power is off bc the screw is through the cable.

I want to change out the light switch in the hallway to one with a motion sensor so we don't have to keep it on all the time to see in that hallway and it can just turn on without being switched on.

As an aside, the electrical code for light switches changed last year. The cable to the light fixtures now needs a neutral. It's explained in this video:


I caught up on sleep today, fed kitties, and got food for Mom and am still dead tired. Hoping to get her to Alexandria tomorrow as I wasn't up before 5pm today. More stores should be open Monday anyway.
Belated Happy Father's day to all the dads out there!
Click to expand...

In framers terms, they are referred to as catwalks.

And as apposed to punching holes in your walls and fishing new romex, why not simply use an LEVITON DOSO2 MOTION SENSER, which can easily be installed in place of your existing switch; https://leviton.com/products/dos02-lw
 
zannej said:
As an aside, the electrical code for light switches changed last year. The cable to the light fixtures now needs a neutral. It's explained in this video:
Click to expand...

Thanks for the heads up Z! I fully understand the need for a neutral at the switch but I'm not sure I'm on board with making it code. I've run into the problem of a device (timers in my case) that require neutrals but I found some timers and dimmers that don't need a neutral.

I guess it won't hurt being compliant with NEC2023 even though my county uses ICC 2006.
 
At about 5AM, the walls and 1 window began vibrating, then, a second later, came rolling thunder. It's interesting how the pressure wave, precedes the sound.
 
Snoonyb said:
In framers terms, they are referred to as catwalks.

And as apposed to punching holes in your walls and fishing new romex, why not simply use an LEVITON DOSO2 MOTION SENSER, which can easily be installed in place of your existing switch; https://leviton.com/products/dos02-lw
Click to expand...
I actually got that one for my hallway.
The fishing new wires through will be because I want to add a light above the vanity in my bathroom. So, it will need to have wires run somewhere. I'm already going to replace the 3 toggle switch one (that sometimes zaps me) with a brand new 3 rocker one. Found one in 20A so it will work with the heater part of the vent-a-light. Figured if I use a 2 gang box I can add another switch for the vanity light instead of having to mess with trying to fish cable around a corner and through walls from the GFCI outlet near the sink.

Ron, even if it wasn't code, it's safer to use the neutral anyway. Apparently its how my friend usually wires switches instead of using the neutral as a hot leg.

Phone woke me up this morning. I picked up and said "Hello" and some dude on the other end just laughed, then coughed, and hung up. Guessing it was a prank call. No idea what that was about.

Remembered to call back the Diabetes Supply place and make sure her insulin was ordered. Its supposedly arriving tomorrow, but I very much doubt it would get here that fast. I'd be surprised.

Waiting for Mom to wake up enough that we can go to Alexandria so she can look at clothes for the wedding on Saturday.
 
zannej said:
Shan, the yard looks great! I have the same problem with motivation and feeling overwhelmed and then not getting things done. I need to re-make a list and start checking things off. Always seems when I fix one thing, something else breaks.

Ron, The walkways and lights are a good idea. I need to do the same in my attic. Even if its just to be able to crawl in there. Really should pull all the nasty insulation that mice got into and put in fresh stuff. Still haven't managed to get my fat behind up in the attic yet though. Will need to get a head lamp and go up there when its not so hot outside. Ugh on the nails through the cable. My dad derped and put a screw through the wall several feet above a light switch and he hit the cable . There is a little deco cabinet thing of Mom's that is hanging up there and I want to take it down bc I keep hitting my head on it when I'm feeding the cats but I will have to do it when power is off bc the screw is through the cable.

I want to change out the light switch in the hallway to one with a motion sensor so we don't have to keep it on all the time to see in that hallway and it can just turn on without being switched on.

As an aside, the electrical code for light switches changed last year. The cable to the light fixtures now needs a neutral. It's explained in this video:


I caught up on sleep today, fed kitties, and got food for Mom and am still dead tired. Hoping to get her to Alexandria tomorrow as I wasn't up before 5pm today. More stores should be open Monday anyway.
Belated Happy Father's day to all the dads out there!
Click to expand...

Hi Zannej,
If it makes your job easier, available are motion sensor switches that don't need a neutral. Lutron Maestro is one. Leviton aslo makes some.

I'd imagine Legrand-Pass & Seymour, Hubbell, Arrow Hart and the others have them, too. Pass & Seymour would be my first choice. (Opinion only)

Some off-shore knock offs also don't need a neutral, but I'd be wary of those.

You can also get Wi-Fi Smart Switches & LED Dimmers that don't need a neutral.

As of last I installed some, the LED dimmers that don't require a neutral would clip at 10% brightness. (Dims to 10%, then sudden off). Perhaps that problem's been solved by the time of this writing.

Paul
PS: If your situation qualifies there are a few exceptions to NFPA 70 article 404.2(c) which requires neutrals in every box.
 
Last edited:
PJB12 said:
Hi Zannej,
If it makes your job easier, available are motion sensor switches that don't need a neutral. Lutron Maestro is one. Leviton aslo makes some.

I'd imagine Legrand-Pass & Seymour, Hubbell, Arrow Hart and the others have them, too. Pass & Seymour would be my first choice. (Opinion only)

Some off-shore knock offs also don't need a neutral, but I'd be wary of those.

You can also get Wi-Fi Smart Switches & LED Dimmers that don't need a neutral.

As of last I installed some, the LED dimmers that don't require a neutral would clip at 10% brightness. (Dims to 10%, then sudden off). Perhaps that problem's been solved by the time of this writing.

Paul
PS: If your situation qualifies there are a few exceptions to NFPA 70 article 404.2(c) which requires neutrals in every box.
Click to expand...
Thanks. I have older light fixtures so they shouldn't need neutral. As it is, none of my outlets or switches even have ground wires. I know that the main part of the house was built before 1946 because the 2x4s were still 1.75" thick instead of 1.5". I believe the additions were done in 1947 due to a horizontal beam under the house with a date and the initials FAT written in large letters on it. It happens to be right under my room. Should I be offended? LOL.

I hate dimmers. They make LEDs blink like fluorescent bulbs and I hate that. Only place I ever had a dimmer was in the dining room of our house in California. Never really had a need for them. I like my lights to either be off or super bright.

Took Mom to Alexandria. She wanted food at IHOP first. Went to the mall and I pushed her around in the wheelchair. Found some stuff that she liked so she's happy. Stopped at one of the Walmarts up there and grabbed some stuff but they didn't have everything on my list so I had to go to the local one to get what Mom wanted.

On the way back, Mom was messing around with the center console compartment and knocked her purse down onto the floor in the way of the pedals and between that and the rain and having her purse fall repeatedly (she won't keep it at her feet or on her lap) I supposedly missed the speed reduction warning signs. I was going with the flow of traffic and when I saw it reduced to 50mph (from 65) I slowed down. Cop pulled me over. At first I didn't know he was targeting me. Maybe he wasn't and just weeded me out bc I eventually pulled over. I made sure to get onto the grass so he could stand next to the truck safely and be completely out of the road. He came up and claimed I was going 64 in a 50. I asked where the 50mph started bc I had just slowed down when I saw that sign. He said it was back near some store. He checked my license and came back and acknowledged that I had my seatbelt on and said that instead of the 14mph over which would be over $200, he was going to say I had no seatbelt it would be a lower fine. This is in a town that has no courthouse and no way to argue against a ticket anyway. Only option is to pay it. They once ticketed my brother for rolling through a stop-- at a place where there was no stop sign or red light- only a yellow caution light and he couldn't contest it. He told me it would be under $100 and google says tickets in the state for that are $50 but the website for that town lists the fine as $184. Ugh. And Mom started messing around with the papers while I was driving and I don't know what she did with the ticket. If I was actually speeding and the cop wasn't lying (which the cops in this area are notorious for doing) then I feel like an idiot for missing the speed reduction. On the way to Walmart I tossed Mom's purse in the back seat and paid close attention to every sign. In our town a cop pulled up behind me with blue lights flashing and I was like "if they are pulling me over its absolute BS". Turned out they were going for someone behind me though. Cops were out en force ticketing people so it must be quota time again.

Got the wheelchair unloaded and on the porch and helped Mom into the house, carried her purse in, went back for groceries, etc.

Took some naprosyn and am resting now.
 
Z, you should get Law Enforcement Supporter plates, maybe they have them for Retired Feds that you can have because of your Dad. Or, at the bare minimum get some stickers... If I lived there, it would be a complete stunt to get out of a ticket because I don't support cops there. It's kind of bizarre how people up this far know how bad the cops down there are. I completely avoided the entire State on purpose in the 90's driving cross country... But, regardless, you can get around any accusation you are playing kissy kissy because of your Dad.

MT did a good job on their plates....

https://mppaf.org/mppaf-license-plate

As far as speed traps, they are non existent here... You have to be driving into the Highway median or taking out a fence or seriously hauling Democrat mascot to get attention here.

I'm convinced they get all their cash from late night DUI's, since drinking is the only professional sport here... I don't know for sure though since I'm not allowed to eat or drink after Midnight... Might pop a couple of Gremlins off my back.

In WA though, it's the polar opposite... Near the 18th or so of a month, there will be 5 or more Highway Hogs on each side from North of Seattle to Portland all day as well as from Seattle to Spokane... Just all day long popping people... WA has been a Commie Dictatorship for decades though.

Maybe I'm wrong now though, maybe they defunded all of them and there are no Cops...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Back
Top