dog days of summer

It looks like this might be one of the last really nice weekends before the weather starts to turn. I should take advantage of it and enjoy the outside – maybe get some fibreglassing done on D3’s ODST helmet.

Instead, we’ll probably be doing a bunch of yard work like closing out the pool and garden. We should burn down a bit more of the branches and rake up more of the crabapples. Add a bit of driving around getting fabric for Gee’s costume and that should eat up the weekend.

I am hoping to squeeze in a bit of time to get to a few of the comic book store for Heroclix though. Maybe even a bit of time to play one of the new games.

I should get in some good time cleaning up my desk and sorting out if there are any parts to keep from the old computers but those might have to wait until mid-October when I get some days off.

booking renos

We’ve been busy over the last two weeks. We’ve had a bunch of renovators come in and give quotes. We’ve paid a few deposits and booked some work.


So far we have booked for installing central air, new fence and patio, changing the window in the kitchen to a door, and changing our tub surround. The roofers are coming back tonight so hopefully we can finalize that as well.

We are still waiting to hear back about replacing the counter top and flooring in the kitchen and bathroom. Shan’s been busy cleaning and we’ve done a few loads to the storage unit as well as to Value Village.

D3 and I removed the rest of the electrical conduit and the former piping for the old pool heater as requested by the deck people.

new bank - renovations partially on

Since our mortgage was up for renewal anyways, we spoke to a new bank and they were much more helpful in the matter of finding money for renovations. Shan’s been dealing with them for a bit and I went down on Tuesday to sign a bunch of forms to move our mortgage. Shan’s also been getting estimates for a bunch of different renovations.


We still weren’t able to get enough for the big renovations yet but we will be able to do a bunch of other renovations that also needed to get done. This includes replacing the tub surround, the kitchen counter, the flooring in the bathroom through kitchen, replacing the fence, adding a deck, adding air conditioning, and changing the kitchen window to a door.

In addition, since we won’t be putting a second floor above the kitchen/bathroom yet, we’re going to fix the roof on that side. It seems a bit of a waste to fix the roof now only to rip it off in (hopefully) a few years for the renovations but it really needed to be done. With it fixed we can repair some of the water damage at our own pace.

We already had the electrical panel replaced with a new one. The old one kept kicking off when we had any three of (washer, dryer, dehumidifier, oven, microwave, hair dryer, room air conditioner) on at the same time. Since the replacement, we have had no problems. This means we don’t have to keep resetting the clocks on everything all the time.

Books read - May to August 2012

May
The Illustrated Star Wars Universe by Ralph McQuarrie and Kevin J Anderson
Heat Wave by Richard Castle
The Ultimate Book of Gangster Movies by George Anastasia & Glen Macnow
The Absolute beginners guide: Making Metal Clay Jewelry by Cindy Thomas Pankopf
Eat This Not That 2012 by David Zinczenko with Matt Goulding
1000 Steampunk Creations: Neo-Victorian Fashion, Gear & Art by Dr Grymm with Barbe Saint John

June
Tao of Jeet Kune Do by Bruce Lee
Steampunk gear, gadgets, and gizmos: a maker’s guide to creating modern artifacts by Thomas Willeford
Hayes: Millenium Falcon modified YT-1300 modified Corellian freighter: owner’s workshop manual by Ryder Windham

July
Crimson Skies: Pirate’s Gold – Wings of Fortune: Book 1 by Stephen Kenson
Codex: Dark Angels (4th ed) by Jervis Johnson and Andy Hoare
The Art of Steampunk by Art Donovan
Steampunk Emporium by Jemma Hewitt

Aug
The Boy’s Book of Mechanical Models by William B. Stout
The Old West: The Railroaders by Time Life Books
The Puppet Masters by Robert A. Heinlen
The Steampunk Bible by Jeff Vandermeer with SJ Chambers
Zombies!: An Illustrated History of the Undead by Jovanka Vuckovic
Fine Woodworking Best Workbenches by the Editors of Fine Woodworking
CelebraTori by Tori Spelling