Some pics:
Unpacking, and claiming bunks
"home" for the next 5 days and nights
C, M2 and M1, in front of the tent
They'll have so much fun!
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Girl Scout Camp begins!
I dropped C. off for her fourth year of Girl Scout camp. This year it's "SURVIVOR! Team Focus". She's in a tent with two of her best friends (M1 and M2) and two other girls (who weren't there by the time we left).
Some pics:
Unpacking, and claiming bunks
"home" for the next 5 days and nights
C, M2 and M1, in front of the tent
They'll have so much fun!
Some pics:
Unpacking, and claiming bunks
"home" for the next 5 days and nightsC, M2 and M1, in front of the tent
They'll have so much fun!
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Remodel: The finances
As I sit here, at the beginning of a summer that I thought would be full of "extra money" and I'm now worried about making it through the summer, I thought I should actually take stock of where all that money went. (Scroll down for the grand total in red--the list is for my notekeeping)
Besides the basic remodel money, paid to the contractor, here's where money went since January (for the house, of course)
Title Company fees: $200
Plat of Survey: $300
Drywall in grandma's room: $150
Phone jack and wireless adapter for computer (no phoneline in grandma's room) and cordless phone with extra handset: $134
Track lighting and bulbs: $42
Extra smoke detector in grandma's room: $60
Threshold between bathroom and existing room: $7
Additional amt. for double shower: $200
Custom-made shower door: $720
Rug and towels and bathmat for new bath: $30
Medicine cabinet: $58
Hardware for bathroom (towel racks, toilet paper holder for new bath and back of bedroom door, toilet brush, drawer knobs in silver): $64
Materials for shelves in bathroom: $37
Accessories for bathroom (soap dispenser, toothbrush holder, garbage can, clock): $22
Overage for marble tile plus grout sealant: $85
Sheets, pillowcases, throw pillow, comforter, bedskirt, pillow (our room): $150
Accessories for bedroom (candle holders, photo): $66
Closet organizer: $90
Mounting hardware for TV and satellite: $80
Carpet overage (our room): $325
New air purifier: $60
Corner shelf for bedroom: $28
Upgrade to ceiling fan and switch: $43
Doorknobs (6 total) and doorstops: $66
Insulation and weather stripping for both attic doors: $31
Materials to run strings for lights in attics: $4
Comforters and shams for girls' room: $105
Accessories for girls' bedroom (letters): $16
Carpet (girls' room): $460
Materials for T's comforter: $12
New toilet, seat, and installation materials (downstairs): $418
New vanity, medicine cabinet and over-toilet shelf (downstairs): $346
New sink, sidesplash, faucet and plumbing supplies (downstairs): $237
New shower curtain (downstairs): $20
Blinds (kitchen): $25
New baseboard trim (kitchen): $10
New doormat in kitchen (trashed by water): $7
New light fixtures (outside bathroom and kitchen downstairs, top of stairs going up): $33
Curtain rods (our room, girls' room; T's room): $76
Curtains (our room, girls' room, T's room, valances for kitchen): $116
Shades (our room and girls' room and top of stairs) plus mounting hardware and handles: $70
Furniture (dressers for our room, C's lingerie chest, bedside tables, new couch): $942
Storage totes (big for storage areas; small for kids' rooms/closets): $40
Paint (drywall primer; gray paint; pink paint for girls' room; green paint for basement; white paint for stairwell; off-white to re-paint all ceilings) and supplies: $400
Stain, varnish, restor-a-finish: $50
TWO filters for wet-dry vac (changed after getting moldy vermiculite out): $30
Replacement prybar that disappeared when the drywallers were working: $8
For a grand total of just under $6500
That is not counting miscellaneous extra money spent on eating out and/or convenience foods because we had no time or ability to use our kitchen or because food was tossed out due to water damage--an unknown amount, but probably a couple hundred
And we still have to buy:
Paint and supplies to repaint rest of exterior of house: $200(?)
Gutters and downspouts to match new paint: $350(?)
Now the portion of these items that related ONLY to the upstairs remodel comes in at about $4140--without the things we still have to buy. That's amazingly close (when you add those things in) to the theory of expecting a 10% overage.
AND if you would have asked me beforehand, I'd have thought that several things were included in the price of the remodel. Things like doorknobs and bathroom hardware and a medicine cabinet seem to be part of the whole package, but what do I know?
At any rate, I guess I'd say that, if you're going to remodel, make sure you have at least 10% buffer, and you might not want to do any additional projects until you're sure the entire remodel is complete. (just my humble opinion!)
Besides the basic remodel money, paid to the contractor, here's where money went since January (for the house, of course)
Title Company fees: $200
Plat of Survey: $300
Drywall in grandma's room: $150
Phone jack and wireless adapter for computer (no phoneline in grandma's room) and cordless phone with extra handset: $134
Track lighting and bulbs: $42
Extra smoke detector in grandma's room: $60
Threshold between bathroom and existing room: $7
Additional amt. for double shower: $200
Custom-made shower door: $720
Rug and towels and bathmat for new bath: $30
Medicine cabinet: $58
Hardware for bathroom (towel racks, toilet paper holder for new bath and back of bedroom door, toilet brush, drawer knobs in silver): $64
Materials for shelves in bathroom: $37
Accessories for bathroom (soap dispenser, toothbrush holder, garbage can, clock): $22
Overage for marble tile plus grout sealant: $85
Sheets, pillowcases, throw pillow, comforter, bedskirt, pillow (our room): $150
Accessories for bedroom (candle holders, photo): $66
Closet organizer: $90
Mounting hardware for TV and satellite: $80
Carpet overage (our room): $325
New air purifier: $60
Corner shelf for bedroom: $28
Upgrade to ceiling fan and switch: $43
Doorknobs (6 total) and doorstops: $66
Insulation and weather stripping for both attic doors: $31
Materials to run strings for lights in attics: $4
Comforters and shams for girls' room: $105
Accessories for girls' bedroom (letters): $16
Carpet (girls' room): $460
Materials for T's comforter: $12
New toilet, seat, and installation materials (downstairs): $418
New vanity, medicine cabinet and over-toilet shelf (downstairs): $346
New sink, sidesplash, faucet and plumbing supplies (downstairs): $237
New shower curtain (downstairs): $20
Blinds (kitchen): $25
New baseboard trim (kitchen): $10
New doormat in kitchen (trashed by water): $7
New light fixtures (outside bathroom and kitchen downstairs, top of stairs going up): $33
Curtain rods (our room, girls' room; T's room): $76
Curtains (our room, girls' room, T's room, valances for kitchen): $116
Shades (our room and girls' room and top of stairs) plus mounting hardware and handles: $70
Furniture (dressers for our room, C's lingerie chest, bedside tables, new couch): $942
Storage totes (big for storage areas; small for kids' rooms/closets): $40
Paint (drywall primer; gray paint; pink paint for girls' room; green paint for basement; white paint for stairwell; off-white to re-paint all ceilings) and supplies: $400
Stain, varnish, restor-a-finish: $50
TWO filters for wet-dry vac (changed after getting moldy vermiculite out): $30
Replacement prybar that disappeared when the drywallers were working: $8
For a grand total of just under $6500
That is not counting miscellaneous extra money spent on eating out and/or convenience foods because we had no time or ability to use our kitchen or because food was tossed out due to water damage--an unknown amount, but probably a couple hundred
And we still have to buy:
Paint and supplies to repaint rest of exterior of house: $200(?)
Gutters and downspouts to match new paint: $350(?)
Now the portion of these items that related ONLY to the upstairs remodel comes in at about $4140--without the things we still have to buy. That's amazingly close (when you add those things in) to the theory of expecting a 10% overage.
AND if you would have asked me beforehand, I'd have thought that several things were included in the price of the remodel. Things like doorknobs and bathroom hardware and a medicine cabinet seem to be part of the whole package, but what do I know?
At any rate, I guess I'd say that, if you're going to remodel, make sure you have at least 10% buffer, and you might not want to do any additional projects until you're sure the entire remodel is complete. (just my humble opinion!)
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Remodel: New Living Room Windows
Wow... can you believe it? We got our living room windows today! Only 5 months after we were promised them, and not exactly what we were promised (slide-by's instead of casement), but they're in, and they're nice! They allow us to get a breeze in the living room, and they are (supposed to be) more energy efficient!!!
One "before" picture:
Oh, wait--here's a funnier "before" picture, taken in February:
Here's the "after" pics:
And while I was taking pics, I thought I'd do an update on my impatiens, shown here in their infancy. They're growing!
One "before" picture:
Oh, wait--here's a funnier "before" picture, taken in February:
Here's the "after" pics:
And while I was taking pics, I thought I'd do an update on my impatiens, shown here in their infancy. They're growing!
Roast Chicken, Buttered Noodles, Sugar Snap peas
Here's a recipe I found somewhere online, and then adapted.
Beer can in the butt chicken (minus the beer)
We're not beer fans, so I took an empty soda can, and put into it:
chicken broth
white wine
fresh herbs
Then I put the soda can into a whole chicken's uh...large opening...and put that contraption on a disposable pie pan. I rubbed the chicken with a BBQ rub, and then grilled it over indirect heat for an hour.
The chicken was wonderfully moist and tender. We ate lots, and then used the remainder (bones and meat) to make chicken broth for soup the next day.
-----
When we go to Noodles & Company (which is one of M's favorite restaurants) she always gets either mac and cheese or buttered noodles. This last time we went, we had a "buy one, get one free" coupon, and while M. said she wanted buttered noodles, we talked her into getting the mac and cheese (buttered noodles are cheaper, and if you're going to get it free anyway...), but promised to make buttered noodles at home soon.
So these are just egg noodles, cooked and then sauteed in lots of butter and topped with lots of freshly grated parmesan cheese
-----
Sauteed sugar snap peas--delicious because we'd picked them that morning!
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Kitchen cabinets and Restor-A-Finish
Overall, I love my kitchen. Someday when we have extra money (ok, so like in 15 years when the home equity loan for the addition is paid off?), we'll re-do the countertops and put in a tile floor. But we love our cabinets, which are a beautiful cherry:
However, the cabinets that get direct sunlight have started to fade--quite a bit--in the 20+ years since they were installed:
Here you can see the parts covered by the doors/drawers that are NOT sun-faded:
So i was complaining about them on an email list and my dear friend Suzee suggested a product called Restor-A-Finish. She swears by it, saying that it saved her a ton of money refinishing woodwork.
OK, I'm sold!
Our Home Depot only carried it in an oak finish, so it took awhile before I could locate it in cherry. I finally found some last week and was excited to begin.
From what I understand, this stuff is a special stain that can make its way through the varnish to fix faded/watermarked/otherwise damaged wood. Awesome!
Unfortunately, here's what happened when I tried it:
Polka dots! ugh....
As near as I can tell, whatever my cabinets were varnished with is tough as nails! Each of those little dots is an area where the cabinet was bumped or dented, or had a natural pit in the wood--so areas that the Restor-A-Finish was allowed through the varnish.
waaaahhhhh!
We even tried steel wool, hoping it would pit up the varnish enough to let the Restor-A-Finish through all over.
nope...
Any ideas? We're debating whether using super fine sandpaper would be a good or bad idea...
However, the cabinets that get direct sunlight have started to fade--quite a bit--in the 20+ years since they were installed:
Here you can see the parts covered by the doors/drawers that are NOT sun-faded:
So i was complaining about them on an email list and my dear friend Suzee suggested a product called Restor-A-Finish. She swears by it, saying that it saved her a ton of money refinishing woodwork.
OK, I'm sold!
Our Home Depot only carried it in an oak finish, so it took awhile before I could locate it in cherry. I finally found some last week and was excited to begin.
From what I understand, this stuff is a special stain that can make its way through the varnish to fix faded/watermarked/otherwise damaged wood. Awesome!
Unfortunately, here's what happened when I tried it:
Polka dots! ugh....As near as I can tell, whatever my cabinets were varnished with is tough as nails! Each of those little dots is an area where the cabinet was bumped or dented, or had a natural pit in the wood--so areas that the Restor-A-Finish was allowed through the varnish.
waaaahhhhh!
We even tried steel wool, hoping it would pit up the varnish enough to let the Restor-A-Finish through all over.
nope...
Any ideas? We're debating whether using super fine sandpaper would be a good or bad idea...
Friday, June 15, 2007
Remodel: The MEGA Bulletin Board
One of the few remaining items to be finished upstairs was the spot that used to be a closet door:
(the closet attached to what is currently Grandma's room was used to make our bedroom bigger)
The contractor said that they had to special order the paneling, since that particular pattern is not made anymore. I got a lot of mixed messages from him, and the carpenter--things like "they messed up the order" and "his credit card was denied" and "they forgot to order it" and "I paid for it--I'll settle up with him" but at some point, G. said that he didn't think patching the paneling would work well anyway (how could the stain possibly match, and there'd be trim edging), and why didn't we just turn it into a big bulletin board? The contractor agreed, saying he'd pay us for the materials, and G. went to work.
He attached panels of OSB to the studs already there, and then covered the OSB with cork panels (we couldn't find big sheets of cork). Then he stained and varnished some trim and put it around the cork. Voila! One GIANT bulletin board in the office:
My plan is to use it to display all my (semi-inflamatory) political and parenting buttons and bumper stickers. I have seen SO many wonderful bumperstickers that I've wanted to buy, but not had the guts to put on my van, and I NEVER wear pins.
So if you have any cool bumper stickers or pins (left-leaning and/or APing only, please!), feel free to pass them along! (and if you're looking for a gift for me in the future, try Northern Sun)
(the closet attached to what is currently Grandma's room was used to make our bedroom bigger)
The contractor said that they had to special order the paneling, since that particular pattern is not made anymore. I got a lot of mixed messages from him, and the carpenter--things like "they messed up the order" and "his credit card was denied" and "they forgot to order it" and "I paid for it--I'll settle up with him" but at some point, G. said that he didn't think patching the paneling would work well anyway (how could the stain possibly match, and there'd be trim edging), and why didn't we just turn it into a big bulletin board? The contractor agreed, saying he'd pay us for the materials, and G. went to work.
He attached panels of OSB to the studs already there, and then covered the OSB with cork panels (we couldn't find big sheets of cork). Then he stained and varnished some trim and put it around the cork. Voila! One GIANT bulletin board in the office:
My plan is to use it to display all my (semi-inflamatory) political and parenting buttons and bumper stickers. I have seen SO many wonderful bumperstickers that I've wanted to buy, but not had the guts to put on my van, and I NEVER wear pins.
So if you have any cool bumper stickers or pins (left-leaning and/or APing only, please!), feel free to pass them along! (and if you're looking for a gift for me in the future, try Northern Sun)
Last Day of School
The kids finished the school year on Monday (same day G. started summer school, of course).
T's final report card was all E's for academics and all V's for specials (he's consistent!) with a grading scale of:
E: Consistently exceeds grade-level standards
V: Very good, meets grade-level standards at this time
S: Meets some grade-level standards at this time
N: Needs attention
The best part of his report card was the fact that he got almost all 4's and +'s (attitude).
C. got:
Adv. Math A
Science A
Choir A
Orchestra A
Phy Ed A+
Health A
Art B+
Design & Construction A-
Social Studies A
Language (English) B+
Literature A
and all wonderful, positive comments!
I thought it would be fun to put together pics from the first and last day of school this year for each kid.
First T:
Then C:
And just because, here's M:
T's final report card was all E's for academics and all V's for specials (he's consistent!) with a grading scale of:
E: Consistently exceeds grade-level standards
V: Very good, meets grade-level standards at this time
S: Meets some grade-level standards at this time
N: Needs attention
The best part of his report card was the fact that he got almost all 4's and +'s (attitude).
C. got:
Adv. Math A
Science A
Choir A
Orchestra A
Phy Ed A+
Health A
Art B+
Design & Construction A-
Social Studies A
Language (English) B+
Literature A
and all wonderful, positive comments!
I thought it would be fun to put together pics from the first and last day of school this year for each kid.
First T:
Then C:
And just because, here's M:
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Reading: At Knit's End
At Knit's End: Meditations for Women Who Knit Too Much
by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee
I'm very much enjoying this book by the Yarn Harlot as well. She's such a wonderful read!
T's Star Wars Room
When C. and T. were sharing a room (and M. was still in with G & I), I found a great "bed in a bag" Harry Potter set on clearance. This was something that would work for both kids, so I bought two for their bunk beds.
We painted the walls blue to match (the carpet was already blue) and I made curtains and a wall hanging from fabric found at Wal-fart.
But T's over that--and into Star Wars in a BIG way! We re-did the girls' room completely after G and I moved upstairs, but there wasn't really a need (or a budget) to re-do T's room. But as G. was cleaning out his closet, he found a lot of Star Wars toys and posters, and as I was cleaning out the linen closet, I found some Star Wars pillow cases that we'd bought when C. was little.
I went to Wal-fart and found some fabric to make curtains (4 yards x $4/yard) and a fleece panel ($5) and solid black sheet ($3). Here's everything put together:
I sewed the fleece panel onto the twin sheet, and then cut down an old black and white comforter and wrapped the sheet around the edges and sewed it down.
I took some of the leftover curtain fabric and sewed it onto an old solid black toss pillow.
It's so cool how this poster matches the pillow cases:
The only thing is that I don't think I like the blue walls with this stuff, and the blue walls got stained from the leaky roof and we have no more paint to touch up, so..... what color would you paint the walls?
We painted the walls blue to match (the carpet was already blue) and I made curtains and a wall hanging from fabric found at Wal-fart.
But T's over that--and into Star Wars in a BIG way! We re-did the girls' room completely after G and I moved upstairs, but there wasn't really a need (or a budget) to re-do T's room. But as G. was cleaning out his closet, he found a lot of Star Wars toys and posters, and as I was cleaning out the linen closet, I found some Star Wars pillow cases that we'd bought when C. was little.
I went to Wal-fart and found some fabric to make curtains (4 yards x $4/yard) and a fleece panel ($5) and solid black sheet ($3). Here's everything put together:
I sewed the fleece panel onto the twin sheet, and then cut down an old black and white comforter and wrapped the sheet around the edges and sewed it down.
I took some of the leftover curtain fabric and sewed it onto an old solid black toss pillow.
It's so cool how this poster matches the pillow cases:
The only thing is that I don't think I like the blue walls with this stuff, and the blue walls got stained from the leaky roof and we have no more paint to touch up, so..... what color would you paint the walls?
C's Friday Night Gathering
Since she entered 4th grade (when playdates started to die out and homework picked up), I've tried to let C. have a group of friends over about one friday night a month or so. Of course the remodeling screwed up that, so she took a hiatus for several months. Friday she had one final gathering for the school year.
Here's some pics of the girls having ice cream sundaes:
And since T's room was being shared with two sisters, he hadn't had a sleepover for many months, either. He got to have a friend over on Friday, too. Here they are, after writing a song for their guitars:
Here's some pics of the girls having ice cream sundaes:
And since T's room was being shared with two sisters, he hadn't had a sleepover for many months, either. He got to have a friend over on Friday, too. Here they are, after writing a song for their guitars:
Monday, June 11, 2007
Reading: Forever In Blue
I finally have some time to read the fourth "Traveling Pants" book of C's.
Forever In Blue: The Fourth Summer of the Sisterhood
by Ann Brashares
I love YA novels, and I have SO enjoyed this whole series!
Forever In Blue: The Fourth Summer of the Sisterhoodby Ann Brashares
I love YA novels, and I have SO enjoyed this whole series!
Television
I'm really not a big TV fan. The TV shows that I watch regularly are:
ER (since the beginning)
Scrubs
The Office
Grey's Anatomy (I don't really LIKE this one, but I keep watching it)
(see a Thursday pattern?)
The Rachael Ray show
30 Minute Meals
and two shows that are "biggies" this weekend:
The Sopranos
Big Love
Anyone else watch the Soprano's? I logged on last night to the HBO website and once I got through, found a lot of posters who were VERY angry with the ending, and a lot of posters who are SURE that Tony got whacked. I don't know. Though I was pretty disappointed in the final show (except for Phil's death--how awful that I was really wishing he'd get killed all episode?), I think it does let people decide how they think it'll end.
And now I cannot WAIT for the Season Two premiere of Big Love tonight! Dedicated cheapskate that I am, I was going to cancel HBO when our 6 free months ran out in May, but they offered me six more months at $10 off and I couldn't be happier. I am completely in love with Big Love! Any other fans? I'll be in front of the TV tonight at 8:00 watching :)
ER (since the beginning)
Scrubs
The Office
Grey's Anatomy (I don't really LIKE this one, but I keep watching it)
(see a Thursday pattern?)
The Rachael Ray show
30 Minute Meals
and two shows that are "biggies" this weekend:
The Sopranos
Big Love
Anyone else watch the Soprano's? I logged on last night to the HBO website and once I got through, found a lot of posters who were VERY angry with the ending, and a lot of posters who are SURE that Tony got whacked. I don't know. Though I was pretty disappointed in the final show (except for Phil's death--how awful that I was really wishing he'd get killed all episode?), I think it does let people decide how they think it'll end.
And now I cannot WAIT for the Season Two premiere of Big Love tonight! Dedicated cheapskate that I am, I was going to cancel HBO when our 6 free months ran out in May, but they offered me six more months at $10 off and I couldn't be happier. I am completely in love with Big Love! Any other fans? I'll be in front of the TV tonight at 8:00 watching :)
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Groceries 6/6/07
Total: $59.49
Savings: $41.81
Number of Items: 50
Pick N Save
best deals:
Colgate toothpaste $2.79 each, but BOGOF, minus $1 coupon, doubled, so 2 for $0.79
Kemps Caribou Coffee ice cream reg. $3.99, on sale for $2.99 minus $1 coupon, doubled
6 pack of Propel water, reg. $4.39, on sale for $3.25, minus $1 coupon, doubled
Savings: $41.81
Number of Items: 50
Pick N Save
best deals:
Colgate toothpaste $2.79 each, but BOGOF, minus $1 coupon, doubled, so 2 for $0.79
Kemps Caribou Coffee ice cream reg. $3.99, on sale for $2.99 minus $1 coupon, doubled
6 pack of Propel water, reg. $4.39, on sale for $3.25, minus $1 coupon, doubled
Monday, June 04, 2007
Orthodontia--Stage Three
First she got headgear, and then she got brackets put on her top teeth. Today she got the bottom brackets:
Lovely green on top and purple on the bottom.
Lovely green on top and purple on the bottom.
Remodel: Final Inspection
The Building Inspector came this morning to do the final inspection. He found a few small electrical things (wants the new wires better secured to the box downstairs; some of the outlet boxes are set in too deep to the wall), but otherwise we're fine and the sign can come out of the living room window!
This weekend I picked up a wrought iron candle sconce for the bedroom. I think it matches the curtain rods nicely:
And here you can see where it is in relation to the photo (on either side of the middle window):
We still need something BIG to hang on the wall over the bed, and maybe a funky big, black phone (to hide all the electrical cords hanging from the TV), but most of the decorating is done!
This weekend I picked up a wrought iron candle sconce for the bedroom. I think it matches the curtain rods nicely:
And here you can see where it is in relation to the photo (on either side of the middle window):
We still need something BIG to hang on the wall over the bed, and maybe a funky big, black phone (to hide all the electrical cords hanging from the TV), but most of the decorating is done!
Remodel: The *%$#@& Windows
I've posted before about the mess we've run into regarding the salesman who took $7000 from us and has yet to deliver on our picture windows.
Last week Tuesday, I got this email from the salesman:
>Our responsibility with your windows ends with
> payment in full. While we
> typically pay 1/2 down and 1/2 upon completion with
> all builders, we
> are making an exception in your situation by sending
> final balance
> prior to completing the job. We are doing this
> because you should be dealing
> directly with (window company). It's just a scheduling issue
> between you. We have no
> control over when windows show up or about the
> schedule of (window company)'s crew.
>
>(window company)'s outstanding reputation for Sunrooms and four
> season rooms underscores
>(window company)'s ability to provide quality window replacement.
> As always, we expect that (window company)
> will live up to his reputation and your
> expectations by delivering what
> (window company) promises. The only time that Homeowners will need
> to contact us is if
> this doesn't happen.
>
> (window company) should give you the warranties on the windows
> and provide you with a
> Lien Waiver upon completion as is standard practice.
>
> Let me know if I can help further.
So I asked about the remaining payment due and was told:
>The balance was mailed yesterday. I wil verfy the check number with you tomorrow.
Of course I never received the check number.
Today I called the window company and was told that no second check had ever arrived.
Not knowing what best to do next, I looked in the blue pages of the phone book under "District Attorney" and found that they have a consumer fraud division. I called and they are mailing me a form to fill out and file. I have no idea if I need to pay filing fees or if anything will come of this, but it's a start.
And I swear, if I ever see this salesman in person, I will be hard-pressed to not let loose a string of obscenities...
Major advice to all who are considering remodeling: please go on references from people you know--you may think you're saving money, but guess what? it just might cost you even more in the long run (not to mention not getting what you expect).
Last week Tuesday, I got this email from the salesman:
>Our responsibility with your windows ends with
> payment in full. While we
> typically pay 1/2 down and 1/2 upon completion with
> all builders, we
> are making an exception in your situation by sending
>
> prior to completing the job. We are doing this
> because you should be dealing
> directly with (window company)
> between you. We have no
> control over when windows show up or about the
> schedule of (window company)
>
>
> season rooms underscores
>
> As always, we expect that (window company)
>
> expectations by delivering what
> (window company) promises. The only time that Homeowners will need
> to contact us is if
> this doesn't happen.
>
>
> and provide you with a
> Lien Waiver upon completion as is standard practice.
>
> Let me know if I can help further.
So I asked about the remaining payment due and was told:
>The balance was mailed yesterday. I wil verfy the check number with you tomorrow.
Of course I never received the check number.
Today I called the window company and was told that no second check had ever arrived.
Not knowing what best to do next, I looked in the blue pages of the phone book under "District Attorney" and found that they have a consumer fraud division. I called and they are mailing me a form to fill out and file. I have no idea if I need to pay filing fees or if anything will come of this, but it's a start.
And I swear, if I ever see this salesman in person, I will be hard-pressed to not let loose a string of obscenities...
Major advice to all who are considering remodeling: please go on references from people you know--you may think you're saving money, but guess what? it just might cost you even more in the long run (not to mention not getting what you expect).
Saturday, June 02, 2007
Rocket Day!
The grand finale to the sixth grade year at C's school is Rocket Day. The whole class (and a lot of parents) travel to Bong Recreation Area to launch the rockets that they've worked on in Science class. After the launches (and recovery missions), they have a picnic lunch and go swimming.
Since my mom is visiting, G. and I *both* got to go to Rocket Day. Some pictures:
C. and her friend E. (we rode up with E's parents)
E's dad--taking pictures and video of the day
bug spray (not too many mosquitos--LOTS of ticks!)
setting the ignition
E. and her rocket
Since my mom is visiting, G. and I *both* got to go to Rocket Day. Some pictures:
C. and her friend E. (we rode up with E's parents)
E's dad--taking pictures and video of the day
bug spray (not too many mosquitos--LOTS of ticks!)
setting the ignition
E. and her rocket
Friday, June 01, 2007
Project Spectrum... red, black and metallic
New two-month color change on Project Spectrum. I'm hoping that, by the end of July, I get at least ONE thing created in red, black and metallic. OK, I do have one thing done already.
To match our black, white, gray (and lime green accent) bedroom, I FINALLY got a copy of a picture taken at one of my best friend's weddings almost exactly three years ago. It's a pic of me (matron of honor) nursing M. (flower girl) and it's done in black and white. Here's a picture of the picture, now hanging on my wall:
In knitting news, I've been working on the same two projects (small ones) for over two months. Not great knitting time and weekly knitting club (1 1/2 hours a week) isn't enough to really complete anything!
I am also working on T's Star Wars comforter, which will be mostly black and red, so I'll count that! :)
To match our black, white, gray (and lime green accent) bedroom, I FINALLY got a copy of a picture taken at one of my best friend's weddings almost exactly three years ago. It's a pic of me (matron of honor) nursing M. (flower girl) and it's done in black and white. Here's a picture of the picture, now hanging on my wall:
In knitting news, I've been working on the same two projects (small ones) for over two months. Not great knitting time and weekly knitting club (1 1/2 hours a week) isn't enough to really complete anything!
I am also working on T's Star Wars comforter, which will be mostly black and red, so I'll count that! :)
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Reading: Charmed Knits
Charmed Knits: Projects for Fans of Harry Potter
by Alison Hansel
I have to admit that I'm a bit disappointed in this one. I love Alison's Blue Blog, but I wasn't all that wowed by most of the patterns in here. I have always wanted to make a Weasley sweater and I probably will use this new, improved pattern (larger gauge!), but a lot of the other things aren't all that original (like mini Weasley sweater ornaments; socks and mittens in house colors) or are things I'd never make or use (Molly's technicolor housecoat; clock afghan).
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