House 2: concrete porch and sidewalk, kitchen floor, UV light install ; stairway re-build ; More Africa research
(posted from home)
(This post covers 22 – 31 July, 2011)
----------------------------------
Sunday, 31 July -
Today I continued online reading about Botswana and South Africa. In the afternoon I rode the GS down to Rudy Park for a walk. I walked the 5K course in the 94-degree heat, thankful for the shade along portions of the route.
That evening we watched the Ethiopia segment on the National Geographic 'Africa' series on Netflix.
----------------------------------
Saturday, 30 July -
Today I continued with my research for the Africa trip, spending much of my time viewing YouTube video clips people made in the areas we'll be traveling. Today my interest was in water crossings, mud, and deep sand in Toyota Hi-Lux pickups like we'll be renting. I also saw several clips on the bush campsites and wilderness campsites in areas we'll be visiting.
After awhile I needed a break so rode the GS down to the Salvation Army store looking for a couple of bland-color tee shirts for the trip (but had no luck). I then hit the Tollgate Starbucks and read the Times, then took the long way home, stopping at the East York gun shop just to see what's in the used-gun inventory these days, then riding down to Long Level and back. It was a specTACular day at Long Level. Sailboats and kayaks, green grass, blue sky, clear water, Rob Evans artwork on display at Shank's Mare.
That evening we watched two 'Good Wife'- Season One episodes.
---------------------------------
Friday, 29 July -
This morning I researched the subject of traveler's diarrhea for our trip. I then rode over to the new Wal-mart and bought over-the-counter drugs for it as well as some emergency dental supplies and two of the N95 masks for the flight. I also picked up two more 16 GB chips for the new camera.
Back home I researched and ordered some traveler's wallets via Amazon.
That evening we watched the rainforest segment on the National Geographic 'Africa' series.
-----------------------------------
Thursday, 28 July -
Today was a recovery day for me. I researched the d-Phenothrin insecticide spray used on South African Airways flights and researched protective masks to buy for our trip. We'll need N95-rated masks but they're available at Lowe's and Home Depot and are quite inexpensive. I'm not at all sure they're necessary but I'd rather have them along and not need them than vice-versa. The World Health Organization approves use of this insecticide for this purpose but of course there are always the details-- it's not abundantly clear that it's completely safe, particularly for asthma sufferers.
I also took a fun-ride down to Starbucks just to get out on the F650GS a bit.
That evening we began a seven-part National Geographic series on Africa. Tonight's episodes were about the savannah and sahara desert in the north of the continent.
----------------------------------
Wednesday, 27 July -
Today Orat and I rebuilt the basement stairway, replacing the old 2x4 tread with new yellow-pine treads and white-pine risers and enclosing the sides with a safety railing. We finished up by about 1300 and it was then I remembered there was yet another job I had for Orat. We drove out to Lowe's and bought a storm door and installed it on the front doorway.
We broke for supper at 1700 and afterwards Orat left on his five-hour drive home and I left for my two-hour drive home.
----------------------------------
Tuesday, 26 July -
Orat and I were on our own today but that didn't seem to slow him down! We first finished fitting the vinyl floor and glued it in place. We then turned our attention to the UV light installation in the basement. By lunch time we had the light mounted and tested and only had one small leak to fix after lunch.
That afternoon we planned out the basement stairs and picked up the materials at Lowe's. That evening Maypo took us to his wood-working shop and we cut the stair treads and risers to length and ripped plywood and 2x6's for the stairway safety railings.
----------------------------------
Monday, 25 July -
This morning we knocked the forms off the front porch and turned our attention to the 17-foot-long-by-3-foot-wide sidewalk. I made a run to Lowe's for more pre-mix while Orat and Maypo began mixing and pouring.
After we finished the sidewalk, we moved the mixer to the carport and poured into the forms Orat and Maypo had made up for a concrete step and a 4x4 replacement cap for the well-house. After supper we again came back to finish the troweling and sweep-finish.
------------------------------------
Sunday, 24 July-
Today we finished building forms and made a run to Lowe's for 20 bags of pre-mix. While Orat and Maypo built sidewalk forms, I worked inside on the vinyl flooring, measuring and laying out to fit the odd shape of the kitchen.
That afternoon we poured the concrete of the porch and began the finishing process. We worked until 1800 or so, then made two visits in the evening to trowel and sweep the surface to make a non-slip finish.
That afternoon Maypo also planned out the UV light installation and we made a trip to Lowe's to buy the plumbing parts for it.
-----------------------------------
Saturday, 23 July -
Today Labashi and I decided to make the long drive to Chambersburg in separate cars since she will have to return a day or two early for an appointment next week. With hyper-productive Orat in town I want to take advantage of all the time we can get from him so it's well worth it to me to work with him as long as he can stand it.
I had to make a few stops along the way so I left earlier than Labashi. I stopped at Home Depot to pick up a Mini-Pure ultraviolet light and at Lowe's to pick up some boards to make stakes for our concrete forms. I also then had to run out to Sam's Flooring in St. Thomas to pick up two more pieces of exterior-grade lauan for the kitchen floor.
That afternoon was a very hot one but Maypo and Orat (and, to a lesser extent, I) worked on the concrete forms for the front porch. Maypo used the tractor scoop to peel back the lawn turf and remove a large high spot in the front yard. He then brought several scoops of river-rocks up from the woods to fill in the porch's block foundation we had built several weeks ago. Then we built forms and set up our concrete mixer and gathered all the tools we'd need in the morning.
-----------------------------------
Friday, 22 July -
I caught up the online blog today and prepared for this weekend's work session with Orat, Maypo, and Labashi. The wheel problem with Mocha Joe turned out to be a stuck caliper and, fortunately, it didn't do any more damage. I still had a $200+ bill for replacement calipers, brakes, and the labor but counted myself lucky.
I drove the van down to West York Wal-mart today for an oil change. Once again, I had a problem there. The garage guy wrote me up for the special Mobil One oil I like but after they drained the crankcase they found they didn't have the oil in stock. I settled for a different weight and, because I had been thinking of trying this one anyway, didn't make a fuss. But I do have to be more careful. All I'd have had to do was check for the oil on the shelves and I could have avoided this. That sounds like going out of my way for something they should routinely do but the oil I like is indeed difficult to find consistently. I should have thought to look.
*********** END OF POST *************
(posted from home)
(This post covers 22 – 31 July, 2011)
----------------------------------
Sunday, 31 July -
Today I continued online reading about Botswana and South Africa. In the afternoon I rode the GS down to Rudy Park for a walk. I walked the 5K course in the 94-degree heat, thankful for the shade along portions of the route.
That evening we watched the Ethiopia segment on the National Geographic 'Africa' series on Netflix.
----------------------------------
Saturday, 30 July -
Today I continued with my research for the Africa trip, spending much of my time viewing YouTube video clips people made in the areas we'll be traveling. Today my interest was in water crossings, mud, and deep sand in Toyota Hi-Lux pickups like we'll be renting. I also saw several clips on the bush campsites and wilderness campsites in areas we'll be visiting.
After awhile I needed a break so rode the GS down to the Salvation Army store looking for a couple of bland-color tee shirts for the trip (but had no luck). I then hit the Tollgate Starbucks and read the Times, then took the long way home, stopping at the East York gun shop just to see what's in the used-gun inventory these days, then riding down to Long Level and back. It was a specTACular day at Long Level. Sailboats and kayaks, green grass, blue sky, clear water, Rob Evans artwork on display at Shank's Mare.
That evening we watched two 'Good Wife'- Season One episodes.
---------------------------------
Friday, 29 July -
This morning I researched the subject of traveler's diarrhea for our trip. I then rode over to the new Wal-mart and bought over-the-counter drugs for it as well as some emergency dental supplies and two of the N95 masks for the flight. I also picked up two more 16 GB chips for the new camera.
Back home I researched and ordered some traveler's wallets via Amazon.
That evening we watched the rainforest segment on the National Geographic 'Africa' series.
-----------------------------------
Thursday, 28 July -
Today was a recovery day for me. I researched the d-Phenothrin insecticide spray used on South African Airways flights and researched protective masks to buy for our trip. We'll need N95-rated masks but they're available at Lowe's and Home Depot and are quite inexpensive. I'm not at all sure they're necessary but I'd rather have them along and not need them than vice-versa. The World Health Organization approves use of this insecticide for this purpose but of course there are always the details-- it's not abundantly clear that it's completely safe, particularly for asthma sufferers.
I also took a fun-ride down to Starbucks just to get out on the F650GS a bit.
That evening we began a seven-part National Geographic series on Africa. Tonight's episodes were about the savannah and sahara desert in the north of the continent.
----------------------------------
Wednesday, 27 July -
Today Orat and I rebuilt the basement stairway, replacing the old 2x4 tread with new yellow-pine treads and white-pine risers and enclosing the sides with a safety railing. We finished up by about 1300 and it was then I remembered there was yet another job I had for Orat. We drove out to Lowe's and bought a storm door and installed it on the front doorway.
We broke for supper at 1700 and afterwards Orat left on his five-hour drive home and I left for my two-hour drive home.
----------------------------------
Tuesday, 26 July -
Orat and I were on our own today but that didn't seem to slow him down! We first finished fitting the vinyl floor and glued it in place. We then turned our attention to the UV light installation in the basement. By lunch time we had the light mounted and tested and only had one small leak to fix after lunch.
That afternoon we planned out the basement stairs and picked up the materials at Lowe's. That evening Maypo took us to his wood-working shop and we cut the stair treads and risers to length and ripped plywood and 2x6's for the stairway safety railings.
----------------------------------
Monday, 25 July -
This morning we knocked the forms off the front porch and turned our attention to the 17-foot-long-by-3-foot-wide sidewalk. I made a run to Lowe's for more pre-mix while Orat and Maypo began mixing and pouring.
After we finished the sidewalk, we moved the mixer to the carport and poured into the forms Orat and Maypo had made up for a concrete step and a 4x4 replacement cap for the well-house. After supper we again came back to finish the troweling and sweep-finish.
------------------------------------
Sunday, 24 July-
Today we finished building forms and made a run to Lowe's for 20 bags of pre-mix. While Orat and Maypo built sidewalk forms, I worked inside on the vinyl flooring, measuring and laying out to fit the odd shape of the kitchen.
That afternoon we poured the concrete of the porch and began the finishing process. We worked until 1800 or so, then made two visits in the evening to trowel and sweep the surface to make a non-slip finish.
That afternoon Maypo also planned out the UV light installation and we made a trip to Lowe's to buy the plumbing parts for it.
-----------------------------------
Saturday, 23 July -
Today Labashi and I decided to make the long drive to Chambersburg in separate cars since she will have to return a day or two early for an appointment next week. With hyper-productive Orat in town I want to take advantage of all the time we can get from him so it's well worth it to me to work with him as long as he can stand it.
I had to make a few stops along the way so I left earlier than Labashi. I stopped at Home Depot to pick up a Mini-Pure ultraviolet light and at Lowe's to pick up some boards to make stakes for our concrete forms. I also then had to run out to Sam's Flooring in St. Thomas to pick up two more pieces of exterior-grade lauan for the kitchen floor.
That afternoon was a very hot one but Maypo and Orat (and, to a lesser extent, I) worked on the concrete forms for the front porch. Maypo used the tractor scoop to peel back the lawn turf and remove a large high spot in the front yard. He then brought several scoops of river-rocks up from the woods to fill in the porch's block foundation we had built several weeks ago. Then we built forms and set up our concrete mixer and gathered all the tools we'd need in the morning.
-----------------------------------
Friday, 22 July -
I caught up the online blog today and prepared for this weekend's work session with Orat, Maypo, and Labashi. The wheel problem with Mocha Joe turned out to be a stuck caliper and, fortunately, it didn't do any more damage. I still had a $200+ bill for replacement calipers, brakes, and the labor but counted myself lucky.
I drove the van down to West York Wal-mart today for an oil change. Once again, I had a problem there. The garage guy wrote me up for the special Mobil One oil I like but after they drained the crankcase they found they didn't have the oil in stock. I settled for a different weight and, because I had been thinking of trying this one anyway, didn't make a fuss. But I do have to be more careful. All I'd have had to do was check for the oil on the shelves and I could have avoided this. That sounds like going out of my way for something they should routinely do but the oil I like is indeed difficult to find consistently. I should have thought to look.
*********** END OF POST *************
posted by Bezabor&Labashi | 23:59
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