Musings on a Small Life

Thank goodness for the end of the work week! It's been crazy, with a project some of us are working on, due next Tuesday. There's nothing like short notice...and having to pester people in other departments for information now , and compile it all for submission. I went into my boss's office at 2:20PM today, said if there wasn't anything else I needed to do on it before Monday (after scrambling all day and through lunch), there was a bottle of wine at home that had my name on it and I'd like to leave. LOL. We really do have a good boss...What will happen when he retires in a few years is another matter. Maybe we need to start a lottery pool before then.  :-P So tomorrow, on the one sunny day of the weekend, I'll be home waiting for the Rona delivery. I hope they drop everything off sooner than later, I have things to do. Sunday should be okay, in spite of the rain. A friend from out of town is coming up, dropping off her daughter, who lives here temporarily ...

My dad emailed me last night (got the message this AM) and said he's booked his flight east for June. He'll fly into Montreal on June 16th and will drive here on Friday the 17th. This means that for the first time in decades, we'll be together on Father's Day! (Sunday the 19th here in Canada.) I'm so excited! I'm thinking brunch out at a nice downtown restaurant.  :-) The pic was snapped five years ago now (how times flies), on Dad's fall trip. It was his birthday and we had gone out for dinner. It's one my favourites of us together, though--also one of the few of us together. As for the possible-but-improbable bathroom reno: I finally got an estimate from the general contracting company that came in to look at the bathroom 10 days ago. Almost, but not quite, as much as the Rona labour estimate, but it was based on tiling both around the tub and doing the floor. It probably would be about $1000 less if I went with a tub surround and vinyl floo...

I got the quote on labour only for the bathroom yesterday afternoon, from Rona. Just under $5500. Fixtures would run me close to $2000, I'm sure, with what I would have to buy. I'll be taking a pass on having them doing any reno. Because even if the contractor spent a full week, 40 hours, doing the bathroom, that would be over $100 per hour. So not in my budget. LOL. I've not heard back from the other company that came in 8 days ago, maybe I ought to email them and find out what's what, just out of curiosity. I'd also be interested in finding out what a licensed plumber would charge to replace the tub and taps/shower. That could be an option, then have someone else (like Mr. Handyman) do the other work for considerably less per hour. $5500 for labour...Hahahaha. Maybe that's the going rate, but whew, it's way too steep for me! Early Spring buds from last Sunday's walk

I think that sometimes we have too many options about so many things in life. It can make decisions so much more difficult. Or maybe it's just me, dithering back and forth about the trivial, inconsequential things. However, I actually decided to forgo redoing the other two closet doors at this time, as my preference is to get some painting done (upper hallway and entire downstairs) this year. I can't do everything. So Mr. Handyman can do the guest room closet and I'll let the others go for now. I did go back to Rona this morning, though (had a nice walk up, only about 3 kms or so), and ordered another sheet of drywall, some untreated 8-foot 2x4s, metal corner beads and--at long last--a real step ladder. How I've managed to live 11 years in this townhouse with only step stools is beyond me. So I added today's items to the delivery order, for next Saturday. Then I went to Starbucks to fortify myself with a vanilla non-fat latté and espresso brownie (brownie sa...

So...an update! Wednesday night after my shower...Yep, I heard dripping downstairs, from the area that would be where the back of my tub is. I do believe Mr. Handyman's thought that water is getting in via the ruined caulking is correct after all. Thursday night I didn't hear any dripping post-shower, but I also hadn't been getting the back of the tub wet from shaving my legs (sorry if that's TMI). I didn't bother to rush down after my shower last night. There is no evidence of any leaking from the tub drain or other pipes that still are exposed from Wednesday's work. Mr. Handyman is coming Monday after work, so around 4:30-ish, to recaulk the tub for me. If that takes care of the dripping, I'll have him go ahead and redo the drywall in the kitchen, where he cut out for both leaks (see previous post). As for the guest room closet: I've decided to skip the bi-fold door and just go with a sliding door, this one, in fact: Plain and simple, and the si...

The handyman was partially successful in fixing the leaks today. Unfortunately, he couldn't find the source of the bathroom drip, but he did fix the drip from the kitchen sink down into the basement. As you can see, he cut a small hole in the ceiling, right under the tub drain pipe. I filled the tub up twice, about 3/4 full both times, and even let the shower run 10 minutes, but there was nothing. Nada. Not one teeny drip. Grrr. I didn't dream the dripping last week, so I don't know what's going on.   It is possible that the leak is coming from another part of the pipe, because the bathtub pipe actually angles through another stud and heads off to the middle of the ceiling. The area on the other side of the light fixture is where I heard the water dripping, which doesn't mean that's where it's originating, but also doesn't mean that's where it's not coming from. So he left the hole open, covered with a bit of leftover sheeting from last J...

I'm at work today, the handyman had to reschedule until Wednesday. Bathing in the basement is getting old.I don't mind the sponge-bathing as much as I mind freezing my ass, literally. :-P However, general contractors #3 came by yesterday afternoon. I almost called to cancel, but then thought what the heck, why not. Turns out they were quite professional and efficient and inspired confidence. I asked if they installed tub surrounds, as someone I'd had out last week only did tile. The owner gave me a look, said they did whatever the client wanted (words to that effect). So the younger fellow is going to give me a shopping list and do an estimate based on installation of standard fixtures. I did mention that the bathroom fan would have to be replaced as well, and that it currently doesn't vent anywhere, just goes up into the insulation in the attic. They will include that when they do the estimate. I mentioned I'd have to get the okay from the condo board (to h...

I do have the handyman who did my fence work last June coming by on Tuesday to have a go at the leak. He'll try from the kitchen ceiling first. By the way, I filled the tub about a third of the way yesterday for him and let it drain and didn't hear one drip. *Headdesk* That's the same thing as a woman taking her car to a mechanic because of a strange rattle...only the car doesn't make the noise when the mechanic checks it out. However, you clearly can see that the drywall tape on a part of the kitchen ceiling is giving way, which would indicate a problem. I still haven't used the tub, even after yesterday's non-dripping, because I just don't want to take a chance on making things worse. Today I popped up to Rona for a while, had a good gander around to check prices, etc. If the bathroom doesn't have to be taken apart to fix the pipes, I'll let the reno go for the time being and see what I might be able to get on sale. (I fell in love with a g...

...he can't replace my bathtub because he's not a licensed plumber and could run into a lot of trouble (along with Rona) if something went wrong. It's not that he doesn't have the skill do it, it's the legal issue. He also doesn't do vinyl flooring (just tile floor), so I'd have to go through Rona's floor department (or someone else I hired) for that. He could do the tub surround, toilet (which doesn't need replacing), and vanity, though. So if Rona doesn't have a plumber who installs tubs, they'll have to refund my $50 charge for the estimate. And if they do have a plumber they call on, he'd have to come out and give me an estimate on the tub alone, I imagine. However, this guy (I really liked him) does do kitchen cabinetry, and he left me his card in case I decide to replace the cupboards at some point. Which also badly needs to be done. So we'll see what the handyman says when he drops by later...assuming he does make it and ...

Extra litter boxes do come in handy...especially for sponge bathing in the basement. By standing in one, the dripping water from the wash cloth has somewhere go, and doesn't entirely end up all over the floor.  :-P

Wow. Well, guy #1 was just here, not for very long, maybe 15 minutes or so. He came in with the assumption he would be doing the work, so I'm not sure if there was a miscommunication when my cubicle neighbour's husband contacted him or if his ego is just so large he presumed he would be. He was ready to cut a hole in the kitchen ceiling tomorrow, and if that wouldn't work, haul out the tub. Oh, and no going to a big box store for sale items for me, he was going to take me to the plumbing showroom he works for. And he doesn't do tub surrounds, only tile. And hey, did you know that "There's a reason P. recommended [him]?" Yeah, well, P. also recommended another general contractor, but after this guy, I'm not too hopeful the next one will be any better. (They're coming by on Monday afternoon.) BTW, his labour rate is $80 per hour for two guys and he gave me a ballpark estimate on the bathroom (labour only) of $2500, though of course it would...

Not that anyone but me really cares, but I'm 99.99% sure the leak is in the bathtub drain. I filled up the tub a short while ago, ran down while the water was running but couldn't hear any drips. Then ran down after I was done and had pulled the plug and sure enough...drip, drip, drip...much more dripping this evening, and faster. So I don't think this has been doing on for too long, otherwise I suspect I would have heard it. This means that whoever repairs it should be able to cut a hole in the kitchen ceiling and access the pipes from there...I hope. However, even if that's the case, I still want estimates on a complete reno, since it has to be done sooner or later. So we'll see what tomorrow brings. I won't be using the tub again, though, until the problem is fixed. So tomorrow night it's the laundry tub in the basement for me! And no, Mom, I'm not getting pics of that. Eeeewwww. LOL.

I've got three guys coming over the next several days to give estimates on repair and full bathroom reno, plus am waiting to schedule an appointment with Rona's bathroom contractor (for which I pay $50, which is reimbursed if I go with them). Thanks to the woman who sits in the cubicle next to mine (not our department), I got two referrals. Her husband is an electrician and they also own at least one apartment building, plus have done renos on five of their own homes. So she called her hubby today and got the names of two highly recommended companies: one is a small two-person company that contracts out to a bathroom reno place in town and the other is a general contracting company. If the leak is below the faucets, it might be possible to repair it by cutting a hole in the kitchen ceiling and taking a look, before tearing down bathroom walls. So I want opinions on that versus a full bathroom reno. However, the bathroom has to be redone at some point. If I could get the w...

Noticed last night that after showering I could hear a sound like a drip...drip...drip coming from my kitchen ceiling...which is directly under my bathroom. Got an awful sinking feeling in my gut. Tried to duplicate it this morning, first by emptying a pail of water into the drain, then by turning on the faucets, then by turning on the shower. Nothing. Nada. However, I showered just a short time ago and sure enough...drip...drip...drip. Folks, I am in deep, deep, deep plumbing doo-doo. As in tear-apart-walls-and-ceilings, gut-the-bathroom kind of doo-doo. And let me offer a suggestion: Don't own a home (or have pets for that matter) if you don't have any savings.

Okay, I'm not talking fashionable shoes here, I'm talking sneakers (athletic walking shoes), a necessity for me. Due to the size of my feet (small and thick and wide, like the rest of me), I've never had the luxury of a shoe fetish, because it's so hard to find anything that fits, even these days. But today I lucked out and found two pairs in Sears, same brand and style, one white, one black. Like I'd leave a pair in my size and in the brand that fits me best on the shelves? No way.   Derry checks them out, above. I love the "wide" sticker on the bottom of the shoes, as if the label and the box weren't enough to indicate a foot "abnormality."  Is it true that your feet keep spreading as you age? And does your nose really continue to grow or is it that the rest of your face shrivels? Anyway, finding them was a "happy" for me, because I needed to buy new sneakers. So I should be set till the fall...I hope. Of course, now I don...

I'm almost dancing around in sheer joy...Walked part way home today, after work, and snapped these crocus and snowdrop pics. We still have crusty snowbanks, but in sunny and sheltered areas, there are signs of Spring! Then, as I was sipping my (non-green) beer out on the back step, snapping pics of the fur kids, I spied my ground cover starting to peek up. I thought it was just leftover greenery from last year, but nope, it's new growth! Yippee! My back space still has lots of mud and even snow along the perimeter, where I had piled it up to give the boys room to roam in the middle, but even so, new life prevails. I never get tired of this, of Spring, of seeing robins (and I did see another today), of flowers and even of seeing the grass turn green. There's just something about Spring, about that fresh green , that feeds my soul. And totally unrelated: I'm happy to say I managed to stay awake through the work day, no nodding off and snoring for me!