biggerboat's building boondoggle blog
I started this in H&F but this seems a better place for it. These are my H&F posts. A bit long-winded but hopefully entertaining. I'm sure more hilarity will ensue.
I've been debating about doing this, and I sort of thought it might qualify as health and/or fitness so I'm gonna do it.
A little background. I have a very old house that I started to remodel about 10 years ago, then ran out of money and WIM to finish it. I gutted it completely and moved walls and did a lot of interior work. But I never did anything with the exterior.
It is sort of falling apart now. The roof leaks and a lot of the wood siding is so rotten I can stick my finger through it. It needs to be completely replaced.
I just paid the house off so I can sort of afford to completely re-side and re-roof it..............if I do it myself. Another factor is I just got out of a serious relationship and now I have way too much time on my hands. I'm going a little stir crazy.
Now to the health tie-in. The last few years I just haven't been able to do things like this. I used to be able to work sunrise to sundown. But lately I'd be good for about 2 or 3 hours and my back would just tell me to stop. However, due to this forum, my back is really feeling strong again. I think I'm up for the challenge. The other health aspect is mental. I don't feel good unless I have some sort of challenge like this. It gives me something to look forward to. I'm really needing something like this about now.
So, I think I'll sort of log this activity as well as lifting. I'll have to cut back on lifting/running some. Mostly due to time considerations. I'll be working on the house on Saturday/Sunday so no lifting/running on those days.
I haven't committed to this quite yet, but I think I'm close.
On the house front. I went to the city website to see what permits I'll need. It was so confusing that I called, got an answering machine, and never got a call back. So, I went down to city hall to ask some very basic questions. Apparently the appropriate question answerers are only there MWF but a substitute question answerer was available. So, after waiting 1/2 hour the substitute question answerer informed me that he couldn't really answer my question so he told me to come back when the real question answerer was there.
I suspect this will not be healthy in any way.
I tweaked my back Wednesday doing deadlifts.
The back pain has nothing on the pain the city is inflicting on me, though.
Went back to talk to someone again. I at least got the right day. The girl was really friendly and helpful. However, she seemed to not really know what all I was supposed to do. Which, as you will see, nobody could.
The first thing she did was pull up my address.
Apparently, there were 3 expired permits associated with my house. About 10 (or more) years ago, I did a big remodel. I did it mostly myself. The first permit was for an interior remodel. I had to get electrical, plumbing, framing and probably more permits. I remember having each one signed off on. However, apparently there was a final inspection that I never got. This is just conjecture based on what she said and my hazy memory. The second was for a garage. I hired a contractor to pour the slab and I framed and finished it. Apparently the slab inspection failed but the framing inspection passed. I'm not sure how this happens. I really don't recall any of this. The third one was for a bedroom addition. I never did this. I do not recall even applying for this. But, it is there. More on this later.
So I asked a lot of questions and the girl was very polite when she had to repeatedly excuse herself to ask someone else that knew the answers. From what I gathered I can do most of the work on something they call an express permit. However, if I want add a small porch roof I will need site drawings, impervious cover documents, elevation drawings, detailed framing plans and flood plain people approval. At minimum.
Back to the old permits. The girl indicated that I could fill out a form to remove the permit for the addition since I never did it. She then sent me to someone named Tony on another floor to figure out what to do with the other ones. Tony, it seems, did not have his coffee this morning. Either that or he was just an *******. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. He told me they couldn't do anything about any of them since he had no idea if I even did any work or not. Which is problematic since I can't get any new permits with these on their computer. After much discussion he agreed to go back downstairs and talk to the friendly girl. Tony then came up and informed me that I needed a Life Safety for Expired Permit permit. He informed me that I needed to go back where I started (the line that I waited over an hour in) to start this process.
So, I go back to the window and explain to them what Tony said. They seemed a bit confused on exactly what a Life Safety for Expired Permit permit was. So, they suggested that what I really need to do is re-submit all three permits and get inspections on the work I did over 10 years ago. Even if I didn't do the work. They then put my name in the computer to talk to someone. However, the number of people waiting had swelled considerably and I had already been there 2 1/2 hours so I think I'll tackle this another day.
because of proximity to UT or other?
IANAC. Nor much of a writer. So, lump of salt.
I think it builds tension nicely. Perhaps a bit wordy. Not sure what's gained by describing the mess on the table, then the apartment; maybe one or the other?
Spoiler
I'm going to assume he goes for the bong.
like the way you think, perfectly set up for it
as others imply ample opportunity exists for contraction of sentences,
and to be crystal clear lazy use of apostro-hyperbole is not typically covered by manufacturer factory manual warranties
also would enjoy discussing the intent of your introductory coffee table | paraphenalia | tele/rolodex | kitchen/apartment rat paths through nest mess description paragraphs
no doubt all important information, another approach might explore constructing sentences around commonalities between aspects of the Patrick environment as if it were a narrated long take documentary shot on film.
speaking of which, curious your attitude toward the entity providing me description of what my senses are receiving
what voice should be used to most accurately represent your vision
am i an eyewitness or are these my own internal mind thoughts while trying not to move my lips reading them damn words again
also happy to be patient and wait for an introduction in subesequent chapters if that is your intent
I'm reading a set of the Reacher books atm. I think your chapter is not dissimilar to the descriptive writing style of Lee Child, (which can't be a bad thing!), and here are two partial paragraphs of his that I read last night that made me come back to your excerpt for comparison purposes:
"... It was tall and skeletal with a microwave receptor the shape of a brass drum, and cell antennas the shape of fungo bats. It had a tangle of dead brown weeds at its base, and it was surrounded by a token barbed wire fence. ... The ground underfoot was hard and lumpy, all softball-sized clods and clarts of frozen earth, the wreckage from the last year's harvest. They rolled away either left or right or crushed under his heels as he walked."
"Up ahead was a tangle of low brushes, like a miniature grove. Wild raspberries or wild roses, maybe, a remnant, somehow spared by the ploughs, now bare and dormant but still thick and dense with thorns. ... a large granite rock that jutted up from the ground. The rock was wedge-shaped, as if it had been broken out of a bigger boulder and rolled into a different position far from its source. And the rock was why the ploughs had spared the thicket. Big tractors with vague steering had given it a wide berth, and nature had taken advantage."
I am usually speed-reading posts in the forums. Having reread your post, carefully this time, I have to say that I am hooked by it, and I look forward to reading the completed book in due course. Good job.
as others imply ample opportunity exists for contraction of sentences,
and to be crystal clear lazy use of apostro-hyperbole is not typically covered by manufacturer factory manual warranties
also would enjoy discussing the intent of your introductory coffee table | paraphenalia | tele/rolodex | kitchen/apartment rat paths through nest mess description paragraphs
no doubt all important information, another approach might explore constructing sentences around commonalities between aspects of the Pat
Oh my. I'm not sure I follow all of this. I need to absorb it a little. The feedback is greatly appreciated.
I'm reading a set of the Reacher books atm. I think your chapter is not dissimilar to the descriptive writing style of Lee Child, (which can't be a bad thing!), and here are two partial paragraphs of his that I read last night that made me come back to your excerpt for comparison purposes:
"... It was tall and skeletal with a microwave receptor the shape of a brass drum, and cell antennas the shape of fungo bats. It had a tangle of dead brown weeds at its base, and it was surrounded by a token ba
"... It was tall and skeletal with a microwave receptor the shape of a brass drum, and cell antennas the shape of fungo bats. It had a tangle of dead brown weeds at its base, and it was surrounded by a token barbed wire fence. ... The ground underfoot was hard and lumpy, all softball-sized clods and clarts of frozen earth, the wreckage from the last year's harvest. They rolled away either left or right or crushed under his heels as he walked."
I've read quite a bit of this style. I can't think of a word to describe it other than "flowery." I enjoy it when I read it, but every time I've tried to write like this I go back and read it, and cringe. I just can't do it well.
Ultimately, my particular writing style will not carry this book. I knew that going in. My hope is the story will.
All of the things I write are really me saying to myself "I wonder if I can do that." I wrote a screenplay that, although got some good feedback, never went anywhere. My Loonee Balloonee books get fantastic feedback from children exposed to them but I don't have marketing and self-promotion in me, plus once I'm done with something I would much rather go onto the next project. Schmoodle the Poodle wasn't well received at all, but I had a blast doing it.
I do like the feedback, though. And I will tweak things based on what I'm hearing.
The book is about the role of the father in our lives. Not only our physical father, but God. No, it's not a religious book at all.
I'm not sure I want to explain the significance of the details in the first chapter. It becomes clear as you read the book, though. I hope.
I might toss out some more early chapters but I don't think they will grab you at all. The book, I think, is a methodical read.
Taxes, UGH, what are they good for?
I always do my own through turbo tax. This year it prompted me to enter disaster info. Helene was a qualified disaster.
It didn't ask anything about repair costs. It just wanted the value of the property before and estimated after. AORN everything in my neighborhood is going for land value, a huge decrease compared to what we paid for the place. When I type these numbers in it took my taxable income to ZERO.
I usually have to pay a pretty good amount every year, but this shows I'm getting a refund of basically everything I paid. I only get money withheld from my pension distribution and I'm getting 100% of it back. So, I'm basically paying no taxes this year according to turbo tax.
This kind of doesn't sound right. I mean, I'll take it but it just doesn't seem right. I might have to get some professional advice. I'm seeing stuff that indicates it's correct when I google it, but it's making me nervous.
When I was finishing, TurboTax had a problem that they weren't delivering filing instructions along with the returns' pdf.
Grumbling about this with friends, one of them mentioned freetaxusa.com. Apparently, it's an alternative. Their hook is that they don't charge for federal taxes, only state.
My friend who mentioned it is one of the two smartest people I've ever met, so I imagine it's pretty good. I didn't look into it, as I'd already paid for TT. Maybe next year.
preface the following personal opinion with clarification you should consult with a tax accountant
my irs experience over the years is they are more than willing to correct suspect filings unless on temporary recess playing doge ball
seemingly if you qualify for disaster relief refunding taxes would be the easiest no-exchange conduit to make some of that happen
i would not think twice or feel guilty about filing the no tax option
but
helping others is most effective when not brainwashed to believe humanitarian aid should be directly connected to political catchphrases such as communism or welfare
The gubberment has a program that will pay 75% of the cost of raising your house. We would definitely do this if we got assistance.
I applied today, but I've heard that it takes quite a long time to process, if it processes at all.
preface the following personal opinion with clarification you should consult with a tax accountant
my irs experience over the years is they are more than willing to correct suspect filings unless on temporary recess playing doge ball
seemingly if you qualify for disaster relief refunding taxes would be the easiest no-exchange conduit to make some of that happen
i would not think twice or feel guilty about filing the no tax option
but
helping others is most effective when not brainwashed to believe hu
Yeah, I triple and quadruple checked and I sent it in. GL me.
The story part of the book is now complete. I've gone through and cleaned things up that I noted on my first draft read. I want to talk to a guy my wife's sister knows that was in vietnam for some details on a few things I have in the book but other than that I'm done until I have a final re-read.
Congratulations on reaching a book milestone, and GL on the house raising.
biggerboat could never get the hang of Thursdays....
This reminded me of ne.
Ugh. Don't be that guy.
When I cleared out the house I grew up in, a huge percentage of the time was spent getting rid of "WTF did you keep this for?" stuff.
TBF, my parents' generation was toward the end of the depression, and they didn't have any money, so got in the habit of keeping nearly everything because it could be put to use later. Unfortunately never got out of that habit.
Ugh. Don't be that guy.
When I cleared out the house I grew up in, a huge percentage of the time was spent getting rid of "WTF did you keep this for?" stuff.
TBF, my parents' generation was toward the end of the depression, and they didn't have any money, so got in the habit of keeping nearly everything because it could be put to use later. Unfortunately never got out of that habit.
Yeah, I remember when my dad died there got to a point where I quit opening boxes and just tossed them on the trash pile.
I try to toss stuff out, but it's an internal battle.
I think I'm finally done with my almost final walkthrough of my book. I'll be printing a couple of copies to give to my sister and wife to read to get feedback and hopefully catch stuff I didn't. I'll probably go through it again as well.
I'm actually pretty happy with it, but who knows if it will resonate with anyone else.
It came out to be 291 pages in Word. Not sure how that will translate into book.
Yeah, I remember when my dad died there got to a point where I quit opening boxes and just tossed them on the trash pile.
I try to toss stuff out, but it's an internal battle.
I went thru the same thing when my dad died. He was a product of the depression -- he was literally incapable of throwing something away that might one day have a use.
When I got out of the service I spent 2 1/2 years living out of a pack. I threw everything away that I didn't want to carry, including laundry. It was pure bliss.
I think I'm finally done with my almost final walkthrough of my book. I'll be printing a couple of copies to give to my sister and wife to read to get feedback and hopefully catch stuff I didn't. I'll probably go through it again as well.
I'm actually pretty happy with it, but who knows if it will resonate with anyone else.
It came out to be 291 pages in Word. Not sure how that will translate into book.
A little proper formatting knocked it down to 230 pages. Pretty much done except for minor editing. I'll let it sit while my wife and sister read it and give me feedback.
I'm trying to generate a cover with photoshop AI. LOL. It just can't figure out what I'm trying to tell it. Might be me.
