Bezabor: Big Max Junior, Bryce Canyon, a wedding…
Wednesday, 11/30/05-
I had another dental-related appointment today, this one with the periodontist. Looks like I’m in for some more fun. In last week’s routine dental cleaning, the hygienist noticed I have a problem at the base of one tooth. Though I’m not feeling pain or sensitivity, a follow-up x-ray revealed an underlying pocket of infection and that led to today’s exam by a specialist. My options are to have gum surgery with bone graft in an attempt to save the tooth or to have it extracted and replaced by a dental implant. Ain’t life grand?
In the afternoon I re-routed the washer drain pipe I had installed last week.
Tuesday, 11/29/05-
I’ve had a cold or mild flu for more than a week now and was pretty much able to just continue working along as normal until today. But this morning I felt much worse so I went back to bed and slept a few hours and then spent the rest of the day in my chair watching television and doing some internet research via my laptop. Not a very productive day.
Monday, 11/28/05-
With colder weather approaching we wanted to get on with buying and installing a small shed to house our radial-arm saw so we don’t have to keep it in the basement. The saw is great to have but it takes up a lot of room and makes quite a mess as it covers everything with sawdust. This has been another one of those long-standing ‘someday’ issues, i.e., figuring out how to have our saw and use it without making such a mess throughout the basement. We considered a dust-collection system but realized that there really isn’t enough room for the saw in the basement anyway. So our solution is to put a small shed on the edge of our patio to house the saw. For smaller items, the saw can be left in the shed. For larger items, we will roll it out of the shed onto the patio. We think our use of the saw is infrequent enough that this approach will work.
We found a shed that seems to fit the bill at Home Depot. It’s a resin shed called a Big Max Junior from Rubbermaid. I researched it on the internet, reading all the reviews I could find (most were on Epinions.com) and I read through the assembly manual on the Rubbermaid site until convinced that it would both do the job and we could handle the assembly.
Our first problem was finding one in stock. Our local Home Depot had the full-size model (7 x 7) on display and had a sign with the Big Max Junior price but didn’t have any in stock. Labashi struck out at the next Home Depot she called but then found several in stock at other regional Home Depot stores. We picked the store in Mechanicsburg since it was a little closer than the others.
At the Home Depot, we had another problem--- the Lawn and Garden guy, Ed, couldn’t find any of the four units which were supposed to be in stock. But as we were helping look around for them, we noticed what appeared to be a dis-assembled one on a cart and pointed it out to him to let him know exactly what we were all looking for. He then said he could sell us that one cheap if we didn’t mind taking one that may or may not have all the parts. The story on this one was that it was a new one but had been left out in the rain in its cardboard box and the rain had ruined the box. Someone had put the contents of the box on a cart some time ago and by now it appeared that everything wasn’t there. The bag containing the instructions-manual small parts, for instance, had a hole in it and there didn’t appear to be any screws or bolts with the shed. Ed said we could call Rubbermaid about any missing parts and they would probably give them to us. That seemed pretty “iffy” but on the other hand the $398 shed was being offered to us for $125.
Because I had read the assembly manual, I knew there was a full parts list in it so while Ed went looking for the other units, Labashi and I inventoried everything on the cart. It turned out the only things missing were the screws and bolts… and the parts list specified them exactly--- 24 each #14 x 1 pan-head screws, 2 each ¼ x ½ pan-head bolts plus washers and nuts for these two bolts. So we agreed to buy the shed at a savings (with taxes) of $289.38 on a $398 shed. Good deal!
We were so anxious to get the deal locked in that we went straight to checkout and didn’t even look for the screws and bolts until after checking out and loading the shed in our van. Then we went to the demo model and I took out a screw (and put it back) to be sure I knew what they should look like. We found the bolts, washers, and nuts but for some reason the #14 x 1 screws rack was empty. But we got them a few minutes later at Lowe’s. Total expenditure for the missing parts: nine dollars.
We took the shed home and started assembly at 1530. By 1700 we had it complete and had the saw in it. What a GREAT day this one turned out to be!
Sunday, 11/27/05-
We spent the night at a Comfort Inn near my nephew’s wedding reception. We had breakfast with my brother and family and then decided to head home by lunch time—I didn’t want to pass my cold/flu on to anyone.
That afternoon we visited friends who had invited us for dinner and to see a slide show presented by a friend of theirs who is a photographer for Bryce Canyon National Park. Dinner and dinner conversation was great and the slide show had the best images of Bryce we’ve ever seen. It was fascinating to listen to the story behind each slide, to be able to ask questions, and to see photos of secret places in Bryce and other parks in southern Utah.
Our new friend had started as a volunteer who had been invited to work on developing a web site for Bryce Canyon and after two years as a volunteer had spent this past summer as a paid ranger there and is headed back out for the winter. What an interesting, talented, committed guy.
Saturday, 11/26/05-
Today we attended my nephew’s wedding and I have to say it was one of my favorite weddings ever. In the wedding ceremony the pastor did some interesting things--- he read the marriage license out loud, for instance. He had the bride and groom turn and look into the faces of the congregation. He reminded them that we (the congregation) had gathered because we care about them and want to offer our support, both now and in the future, even in times of trouble (a good reminder for us too!).
The reception was also a good one—well thought out and wonderfully executed. Everywhere were small touches that made it special and told us what creative, caring people they are. What a proud day for all involved.
Friday, 11/25/05 –
I more or less took it easy today, given that it was the day after Thanksgiving. I spent much of the day on the internet, researching solutions to various problems we still have outstanding from our basement adventure. I’ve still not found the right dehumidifier and I’m looking for just the right lawn shed, etc, etc. But no physical labor today—I’m retired, after all.
Wednesday, 11/30/05-
I had another dental-related appointment today, this one with the periodontist. Looks like I’m in for some more fun. In last week’s routine dental cleaning, the hygienist noticed I have a problem at the base of one tooth. Though I’m not feeling pain or sensitivity, a follow-up x-ray revealed an underlying pocket of infection and that led to today’s exam by a specialist. My options are to have gum surgery with bone graft in an attempt to save the tooth or to have it extracted and replaced by a dental implant. Ain’t life grand?
In the afternoon I re-routed the washer drain pipe I had installed last week.
Tuesday, 11/29/05-
I’ve had a cold or mild flu for more than a week now and was pretty much able to just continue working along as normal until today. But this morning I felt much worse so I went back to bed and slept a few hours and then spent the rest of the day in my chair watching television and doing some internet research via my laptop. Not a very productive day.
Monday, 11/28/05-
With colder weather approaching we wanted to get on with buying and installing a small shed to house our radial-arm saw so we don’t have to keep it in the basement. The saw is great to have but it takes up a lot of room and makes quite a mess as it covers everything with sawdust. This has been another one of those long-standing ‘someday’ issues, i.e., figuring out how to have our saw and use it without making such a mess throughout the basement. We considered a dust-collection system but realized that there really isn’t enough room for the saw in the basement anyway. So our solution is to put a small shed on the edge of our patio to house the saw. For smaller items, the saw can be left in the shed. For larger items, we will roll it out of the shed onto the patio. We think our use of the saw is infrequent enough that this approach will work.
We found a shed that seems to fit the bill at Home Depot. It’s a resin shed called a Big Max Junior from Rubbermaid. I researched it on the internet, reading all the reviews I could find (most were on Epinions.com) and I read through the assembly manual on the Rubbermaid site until convinced that it would both do the job and we could handle the assembly.
Our first problem was finding one in stock. Our local Home Depot had the full-size model (7 x 7) on display and had a sign with the Big Max Junior price but didn’t have any in stock. Labashi struck out at the next Home Depot she called but then found several in stock at other regional Home Depot stores. We picked the store in Mechanicsburg since it was a little closer than the others.
At the Home Depot, we had another problem--- the Lawn and Garden guy, Ed, couldn’t find any of the four units which were supposed to be in stock. But as we were helping look around for them, we noticed what appeared to be a dis-assembled one on a cart and pointed it out to him to let him know exactly what we were all looking for. He then said he could sell us that one cheap if we didn’t mind taking one that may or may not have all the parts. The story on this one was that it was a new one but had been left out in the rain in its cardboard box and the rain had ruined the box. Someone had put the contents of the box on a cart some time ago and by now it appeared that everything wasn’t there. The bag containing the instructions-manual small parts, for instance, had a hole in it and there didn’t appear to be any screws or bolts with the shed. Ed said we could call Rubbermaid about any missing parts and they would probably give them to us. That seemed pretty “iffy” but on the other hand the $398 shed was being offered to us for $125.
Because I had read the assembly manual, I knew there was a full parts list in it so while Ed went looking for the other units, Labashi and I inventoried everything on the cart. It turned out the only things missing were the screws and bolts… and the parts list specified them exactly--- 24 each #14 x 1 pan-head screws, 2 each ¼ x ½ pan-head bolts plus washers and nuts for these two bolts. So we agreed to buy the shed at a savings (with taxes) of $289.38 on a $398 shed. Good deal!
We were so anxious to get the deal locked in that we went straight to checkout and didn’t even look for the screws and bolts until after checking out and loading the shed in our van. Then we went to the demo model and I took out a screw (and put it back) to be sure I knew what they should look like. We found the bolts, washers, and nuts but for some reason the #14 x 1 screws rack was empty. But we got them a few minutes later at Lowe’s. Total expenditure for the missing parts: nine dollars.
We took the shed home and started assembly at 1530. By 1700 we had it complete and had the saw in it. What a GREAT day this one turned out to be!
Sunday, 11/27/05-
We spent the night at a Comfort Inn near my nephew’s wedding reception. We had breakfast with my brother and family and then decided to head home by lunch time—I didn’t want to pass my cold/flu on to anyone.
That afternoon we visited friends who had invited us for dinner and to see a slide show presented by a friend of theirs who is a photographer for Bryce Canyon National Park. Dinner and dinner conversation was great and the slide show had the best images of Bryce we’ve ever seen. It was fascinating to listen to the story behind each slide, to be able to ask questions, and to see photos of secret places in Bryce and other parks in southern Utah.
Our new friend had started as a volunteer who had been invited to work on developing a web site for Bryce Canyon and after two years as a volunteer had spent this past summer as a paid ranger there and is headed back out for the winter. What an interesting, talented, committed guy.
Saturday, 11/26/05-
Today we attended my nephew’s wedding and I have to say it was one of my favorite weddings ever. In the wedding ceremony the pastor did some interesting things--- he read the marriage license out loud, for instance. He had the bride and groom turn and look into the faces of the congregation. He reminded them that we (the congregation) had gathered because we care about them and want to offer our support, both now and in the future, even in times of trouble (a good reminder for us too!).
The reception was also a good one—well thought out and wonderfully executed. Everywhere were small touches that made it special and told us what creative, caring people they are. What a proud day for all involved.
Friday, 11/25/05 –
I more or less took it easy today, given that it was the day after Thanksgiving. I spent much of the day on the internet, researching solutions to various problems we still have outstanding from our basement adventure. I’ve still not found the right dehumidifier and I’m looking for just the right lawn shed, etc, etc. But no physical labor today—I’m retired, after all.
posted by Bezabor&Labashi | 22:35
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