This Journey » Work Weekend recap

Work Weekend recap

I didn’t rest this weekend. Couldn’t. The boys were home and they’re my only possible help for the next several weeks.

Here’s a rundown of what the three of us accomplished.

Sat. morning trip to home depot: replacement chain switch for the light in the ceiling fan, faucet repair kit and a light fixture for over the sink (to replace the bare bulb that has been hanging from wires for five years. FIVE YEARS.
Boys helped me replace the switch in the light fixture.
The three of us finished ripping up the 30-year-old harvest gold indoor/outdoor carpeting off the porch.
Borrowed a belt sander from a friend. Same friend talked me through installing the light fixture.
Walked up to the neighborhood restaurant for lunch.
Pulled nails and swept up powdered carpet padding off the porch.
Got ready for wedding – attended wedding – came home to talk with Sr. BP about renting the fourth bedroom in the fall – went back to the reception and made it in time for dinner! (just me. the boys ate pizza for dinner.)
Sun morning trip to home depot (yes, I actually skipped church this morning.) Vise grip, wet/dry vac, looked at paint stripper for the floor, decided they were still too toxic, three (3) packages of belt sandpaper, $5.00 ventilator dust masks, 40 watt compact florescent lightbulbs.
Turned off water to the house (because the shut-off valves to the tub are stuck and No, thank you, I don’t feel like installing replacement shut-off valves.
Disassembled the tub faucet. Discovered the parts I bought are the wrong ones.
Returned to home depot to talk with the plumbing guy again. Discovered that they don’t have the right replacement part. Looked at replacement faucet sets. Cheapest one was $70. Decided to put the faucet back together and look for parts at a different part store tomorro.w
On the way home, decided to try to replace everything but the ball joint thingy.
Reassembled the faucet with only a two of the three replacement parts. Turned the water back on and everything seems to be working without leaking!
Installed light over the kitchen sink. It’s a pendant light so the job included shortening the wire so the light didn’t dip into the wash water!
Turned the electricity back on and the light worked!
Vaccuumed part of the porch that was empty. Showed DS2 how to use the belt sander.
Got DS1 going with the paint roller.
Cut in around the three windows and the radiator on the last two walls And finished priming those walls. Finished off the first gallon of primer.
DS1 worked the sander for a bit. They finished off about a 4-foot deep section of the porch…well, a good start on it anyway. I want to take it down to the wood, replace the pieces that are a little splintery (rotted) and seal the whole thing with polyurethane. OR, paint the floor white with a 4-inch grey border around the edge. Can’t decide.
Went to the grocery for eggs, milk, bread, potatos and cheese.
Smoked some ribs and cooked some potatos and carrots on the grill and smoker. Had to finish them in the oven because the wind blew out the fire. (go figure)
Watched possibly the stupidest John Cusack ever made, for 45 minutes. (Better Off Dead) ?Couldn’t take it anymore so turned off the DVD and watched the stupidest Liam Neeson movie ever made (The Haunting) At least the special effects were better. But, as DS2 pointed out, Cusack’s movie didn’t have special effects, that we saw anyway.
All that ended around 8:00. I’m going to throw the laundry in the dryer and take a shower because I feel gross. Paint dust and dried sweat. mmmm sexy!