Home ownership

They aren't?
I thought that stuff was legal everywhere now days

One of what?

Prescription only. And as I understand it, only one week's supply at a time.

Oh. Ok.

Did initial scrape-away of the surface dirt around the mailbox post to see where we're at. Turns out we have ~9" diameter concrete for a 6" cedar post.

Well, that might explain while it's wobbly.

Not far from the post is a light pole, and nearby is the gas service. So, it's possible that's all the bigger the hole can be. I'm inclined to think that Richmond just did a lazy job when building this generic suburban neighborhood though.

The utility markers are supposed to be next week so I can get going for real. Not looking forward to widening that hole (we have pretty sticky, clay soil), but will chunk away at it as I can.

Talked to the mailman the other day. Asked it it was ok with them to bungee the old post/boxes to the light pole temporarily.

Shane told me someone on his route has had their post set up that way for a couple years, so he thought it would be ok for a little while til I get things reset.

I was recently driving along a rural coastline. I saw at least three mailboxes attached with bungee cords to hand trucks with cinderblocks on the bottom for support.

i have also witnessed similar visions of postal box hyprocrisy back when practically anyone was able to chose convenient solutions for lifes problems without being fined

Once saw a house in the midwest which had a cable and pulley system strung from the porch out to the road. Mailbox traversed back and forth on the cable. Seemed like a pretty good solution to me.

One bay window $3600, the other $2300, with me installing and doing electrical myself. Yikes. Maybe blinds aren't that bad after all, lol. This is a different company than the one below, but quality wise it's comparable to the midgrade below (3% haze).

So, does this mean you know something about this stuff? Please answer in English! One company I'm getting quotes from has 3 different "haze" levels and I'm not sure if the difference is even something I would notice. Classic is 4% haze and $37 sqft. Crystal is 3% and $52. Ultra is 2.2% and $69. Seems like the difference between worst and best of 1.8% probably isn't that huge, if noticable at all.

What is this haze thing? I don't get why more costs less.

Had an unexpected burst of energy yesterday and the sun came out, so set the new mailbox post. Was able to widen and deepen the hole a bit.

At HD, checking out, there's no tag on the post. Cashier asks me what it was: "A 6x6 cedar post".

She does a search, can't find it. Her partner comes over. They ask what the price was, I say I thought the tag said $86.47. I point out that it's at the other end of the aisle we're right in front of, and point. IOW, go look up the price/SKU/whatever.

Second person does a search, gives first a SKU, comes up with something around $50. The picture on the display doesn't look square. I point this out; we agree it's good. Second cashier says I got a screamin' deal.

Well, only because you didn't walk 50 feet to verify the item's price.

Kinda overcast and gray again today, and up late last night. Marked the lines to cut the top and where to mount the crosspiece the mailboxes sit on. Unless the weather improves, I think that's all that will get done today. Just not in the mood.

No way I'd want Arthur Blank making a buck for every foot I walked either!

I'm never declining a screamin' deal at HD.

I hate replacing/resetting mailboxes. I hope nobody runs over mine again.

The film is not perfectly clear, there's a bit of a haze to it. Less is better because you want it to be as clear as possible. That's when it's turned on. When it's off it has a 97% haze rating, which means no one can see in. My problem is knowing if the difference between cheap and best is really even noticable with my eyes and the location. Apparently direct sun exacerbates the problem, but only the kitchen window gets direct sun and it's only late in the afternoon.

Just got the quote from the Canada company that has 3 grades. Not bad: $2380, $3535, or $4690. I can order samples from them for $50 each and then if I make a purchase they deduct that amount from the purchase price, so I guess that's what I'm going to have to do. I can't justify spending that much and then finding out my windows look like they haven't been cleaned in 5 years, lol.

Totally a coincidence if there's a Subaru-shaped dent in your mailbox post, Tom.

Five? Piker!

It got up to partly sunny for a while this afternoon, so I mowed, then lopped the top of the post. Put away the stuff. Got to looking at the old assembly.

It's a couple cedar 2x4s which the mailboxes on each side straddle. The space in the middle between the mailboxes goes over the post, and there's two bolts that run through the 2x4s and post to hold it in place.

I unbolted one, tapped out the bolt enough to see that my 1/2" paddle bit was the right size. Seems ok. I think it's long enough to poke through the post, then finish the hole going the other way. OTOH, I may decide to buy a new drill bit; obtaining a new tool is never a bad thing.

Anyway, went for a walk around the block, thinking about how to hold the entire assembly in place with marking holes, drilling, etc. Original place was to set it in place, clamping it on the post, removing/replacing as necessary.

Then it occurred to me (finally) why not just temporarily screw a couple 2x4s into the post on the other sides, so the assembly can rest on that while working?

But where am I ever going to find scrap wood for the supports?

Oh yeah, I've got a bunch in the garage from the bathroom project. Saving it for somebody in my poker league who uses wood to heat their house; good thing John hasn't come picked it up yet.

Got them on. It's clouding up again, we'll see when I make more progress.

Oops! I think I may owe my son an apology. Or several.

I have been thinking about adding some Tableaux to my place... I have a lot of nooks and windows that could use a little finesse.

[B]Tableaux[/B]

anyone have any experience with them?

It's not really my style, but I get the appeal. I think less is more with these type of things, but don't you have a gate with a similar style? It could look nice.

only if we all agree tableaux can also mean tiny pictures of small tables
and in other matters of finessing french search window nooks and crannies with the most germane of terms
anyone here know how much icing one donut can hold before turning into a bundt cake?

I have a few ineffectual windows that I would think 'detail' would look good... I am not really a moroccan stylistically, but perhaps something 'Arts&Crafts' or 'Art Nouveau'

I have a rather wide 7' entry hall that could use more 'flare'... the 12.5' ceiling is a little uninspired and there are two windows that behind that are not really useful for anything but to let light in.
light is bad for artwork.
yes, that is a Samurai Sword :p

no i do not have specific experience with that particular product, and the video i posted is more of an art installation, but i see no reason why it could not be used in your own house for the right price.
is that answer 1% hazy enough for you?

checking physical samples is absolutely the correct thing to do in this situation
be sure to hold them up against similar light as your trying to block, and also when the sun is not around
i'd be interested to see some pics if you happened to post them

I have a sample of each grade on the way. Will definitely post pics when I get them operating.

Thanks Mark! btw, what about non rectangular shapes? eg. 1/2 circles or pie slices.

for sure adjustable narrow beam track heads would improve the entry gallery lighting situation
but for someone who takes so much pride on what he hangs on the walls that purple blind looks like a woman's golf mini-skirt

when you stand inside your front door looking out, what compass direction are you facing? due west?
and after turning a sick kick-flip 180* that doorless opening at the opposite end leads into...the kitchen?
not knocking your current situation just too lazy to search past posts for corroboration, is your speakerful living room most easily accessed through the opening hard right after entering said domicile unannounced or also suppose the garage behind the bench wall art is easily accessed by a laundry breach with too much starch itchin?

does not the mere thought make you want to panic?
just some dude abiding in his house until he isn't