So, were you an April Fool? I enjoyed Google's Gmail Motion fool - control your email on the same fashion as playing with a Wii. I liked their fool a few years ago (I missed last year's joke) where they introduced email by U.S. mail.
I didn't play any tricks on anyone this year; I rarely do. I worked a bit on my renovations today. It took me a long time to figure out a solution to an early design error. My new bathroom/laundry is located in a former closet, expanded when I added a shed dormer to the back of the house. It is oddly shaped, however, wedged between a tiny landing at the top of the stairs and the two bedrooms. Part of it sits atop the space where the chimney used to pass through the second floor and the room accommodates the vent stack for the first floor toilet. There isn't enough space to move the (new) washer and dryer past the (future) bathtub; there is a bottle neck around the vent stack. I had left enough room in my plans but the plumber shifted the tub placement when he roughed in the plumbing. I could have ignored the issue by moving in the new appliances as soon as I finished the flooring (before building the tub surround) but what would I do when the machines eventually fail? I could have let the (hypothetical) next owner deal with the problem but I never anticipated living in this house as long as I have and I have no plans to move! I decided that trusting machines was unwise. The bathroom still has only studs - no finished walls yet - and I didn't want to complete the place until I had a reasonable method to remove the washer and dryer.
I finally solved the problem. If I moved some wiring, I could remove a short wall next to the laundry area leading into the second bedroom. I can install a flush-to-the-walls door into the space and cover it with the same wall coverings that I use for the bedroom. The door will have a coverplate over the latch, not a doorknob. For all intents and purposes, the door will be invisible. When it is needed, the door can open into the bedroom and the washer and/or dryer can be removed, first through this door, then through the bedroom/landing door, and down the stairs!
I built a very study skeleton for the walls; it took me two days to remove the small section and I needed a saw, a hammer, and finally, a three foot long wrecking bar along with my ladder. I was glad I hadn't used construction adhesive everywhere; I meant to but had run out before I put up this section. I started building the bathroom four years ago. I hope to finish it this summer. Maybe.I had plans to build the tub surround last year, during the April vacation that never happened. Life is what happens when you've made plans.
I have the materials to put up the new door; I bought replacement wiring and a framed door a long time ago. I tried to remove the framing last fall but ran out of energy halfway through cutting the plates (the horizontal pieces of wood at the floor and ceiling level). Actually, I built the framing incorrectly; it is a lot stronger than a typical interior wall. First, I nailed and glued plates to the floor and rafters. Then, I created wall-segments that attached a second set of plates to studs (vertical pieces of wood spaced 18 inches apart). I raised the frames into the space between the plates, wedged the top to plumb it straight, and nailed the whole thing together with long spikes. I used a lot of nails, screws, and construction adhesive to create walls that won't budge if someone runs into them (or pushes a washing machine into one!) I only removed the second plates; I don't think it is possible to remove the outer ones.
If I build the tub surround the same way as the walls, I don't have to worry about it collapsing under the weight of water. I love my new tub. It has ten jets and a heater, just the thing for cold winter nights. I put an electric heating mat under the tile floor, to make a floor that you want to walk on barefoot in the winter. I spent a lot of time planning this renovation; I just want someone else to finish it for me! Yesterday!
Oh, well, back to the salt mines. I went upstairs earlier to find my saber saw to cut materials for the new lit guitar. I got sidetracked. So what else is new?
Only 16 days to send in your tax return. Gah! And that's no April Fool (but I wish it was one).
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