What did you do today? - 2023/2024 version

[ls99]

Shut off my generator.
A few days ago big storm, knocked out power for large area. No electric for two and a half days. 12KW gen set worked fine, keeping furnace, lights, fridge and water heater working. Though bit of waste to use generator power to heat water in electric water heater. In a pinch, a man has got to do what must be done.
Utility power restored about an hour ago.

 

[1242Vintage]

Gym workout this morning. And if it doesn’t rain or snow, will get a workout on my bike in.

Fortunately power hasn’t gone down in our area. But a few miles up the road electricity has been offline for a week.

 

[Gumby]

It is sunny and in the low 50s, so I pruned my roses. Only minor blood loss was involved. My first vegetable seedlings are up in the indoor starting tray and I reseeded the few that were not. I'm looking forward to gardening season.

 

[Walt34]

We moved all of the stuff into storage ourselves over time, with the two strong sons-in-law helping with the heavy stuff. They each have a newborn at home so we didn’t want to ask them to help. DH is a true LBYMer and wanted to do it ourselves, but I insisted we hire someone. It was well worth it. If we had been trying to do all that moving by ourselves we would have been hurting (if not injured) and certainly bickering before we finished.

We learned that lesson 20 years ago with what we found out would be our last DIY move. Anything we could lift ourselves and would fit in the pickup truck was moved to temporary storage about a mile from the new house, and the movers only moved the heavy stuff, they were packed in an hour. But I was 52 then. No way could we do that now, so if/when we move again we're just going to write a big check and someone else will do all the packing/moving.

It's a beautiful day today, clear, sunny, 62°F and I went outside for a half hour to work on the tilled area to clear rocks and debris, and to level it some more. I'll do some more of that later on when I log off here, and maybe run the tiller to extend the tilled area. This is why I wanted to buy the tiller instead of renting one, so I could do that when it's convenient for me.

 

[MC Rider]

.......... No way could we do that now, so if/when we move again we're just going to write a big check and someone else will do all the packing/moving........

Cost us just over $5000 last November to move 150 miles with movers moving everything that would not fit into our 2 cars. They said about 8,000 pounds of stuff. We did almost all the packing. Not cheap.



Cold and wet out today. Worked on my wall patches a little, ran laundry, cleaned pellet stove. Thinking about changing out some electric outlets, and reading wiring diagrams for double gang boxes, since we have several with 2 outlets in 1 box.

 

[1242Vintage]

All this talk of moving has me worried!!!

Next week wife and I are moving daughter from Cleveland to Boston. An adventure for sure. We are self moving this time.

Two years ago daughter moved from Baltimore to Cleveland. We used a moving company … who all got Covid and shut down the company. All daughters belongings disappeared and after a couple months we gave up ever seeing them again.

 

[street]

Took a couple of walks and spent some time with the kids who stopped by on their way back home. First baby GD was at our home so that was pretty cool.

Sent off another email to the landowner that I have been in communications with about purchasing some land. A new offer is on the table and will try to keep the door open and establish a relationship going forward.

 

[COcheesehead]

We live near a wine region so we went to a club pick up party. Tasted some new wines, connected with a bunch of folks we know in the valley, then headed over to our favorite winery where we met another big group of folks we know. Bought and ate some Girl Scout cookies. Fun connecting after a winter hibernation.

 

[pjigar]

Weekend works:


Timed big tree branches from our 1200 ft tree-lined "driveway" so the dump/concrete trucks can come through. Preparing for concrete install starting this week.


Changed brake pads and rotors on DW's car. Built a shooting bench. Both videos coming shortly!

 

[Walt34]

Went for my walk around the neighborhood since I skipped it yesterday for no good reason.

Fired up the lawn mower for the first time this season and mowed that one little patch on the east side of the house that is always the first to start growing. The house siding is white so it gets that strong reflected light that seems to kick start it in the spring. It took about five minutes to do. I think this is the earliest I've ever mowed grass here.

DW went to a potluck lunch with a group of ladies who have all been good friends since about 8th grade. She always enjoys those gatherings.

 

[MichaelB]

I spent the last week and a half helping DD and the grandkids, and flew back home last night. Best time ever with the grandkids.

The whole trip back I felt like it was a work trip. Not sure why, could be flying solo, the late flight, or just the fact the trip was not for pleasure, but the whole time I could not shake the feeling I was back at work. No problem with that today, though, and I most definitely feel retired and enjoying it once again.

 

[MC Rider]

Received notice we were approved for Medi-Cal. Took the new card to the pharmacy and refilled my 2 scrips, zero copay. Sweet.

Now I am thinking that SoCal Edison has subsidies for energy efficiency maybe including solar and battery backup. This needs more research. HVAC subsidy you said? Hmm, maybe being low income is not so bad.

Assets don't seem to count for Medi-Cal. Just income. Anyway, great to get it sorted, I have been going round with Covered CA and the evil Paycom Cobra for months now. I want my money back from Paycom, they did not do shite but take $2000+, and the old insurance never got continued as it should have.



I do not feel bad about getting some benefits after all the taxes I have paid for years. Plus if billionaires can get huge subsidies, why can't us normal people get a few grand?

 

[W2R]

HA!!!! We *FINALLY* got a roofer to give us an estimate in replacing our roofs. They have all been so busy that we couldn't even get an estimate for the past six months, probably due to delayed Hurricane Ida work.

We wanted to get our roofs replaced by the same company at the same time, figuring that since our houses are next door to each other they'd give us a break on the price.... and they did! $11,725 total to put new roofs on both my house and 3-car detached garage. TBH, what with inflation I was expecting it to be 2-3 times as much.



We are ages 68 and 74, so I think this is the last humungous home maintenance expense we'll have. We both got new HVAC units 7 years ago, so I don't know what else there could be. I know, I know, "famous last words"... But anyway, things are lookin' good.

 

[street]

HA!!!! We *FINALLY* got a roofer to give us an estimate in replacing our roofs. They have all been so busy that we couldn't even get an estimate for the past six months, probably due to delayed Hurricane Ida work.

We wanted to get our roofs replaced by the same company at the same time, figuring that since our houses are next door to each other they'd give us a break on the price.... and they did! $11,725 total to put new roofs on both my house and 3-car detached garage. TBH, what with inflation I was expecting it to be 2-3 times as much.



We are ages 68 and 74, so I think this is the last humungous home maintenance expense we'll have. We both got new HVAC units 7 years ago, so I don't know what else there could be. I know, I know, "famous last words"... But anyway, things are lookin' good.

Wow! that is a great price!! Do you know how many square your roof is? Does include tearing off old and installing the new singles?

 

[MC Rider]

Wow! that is a great price!! Do you know how many square your roof is? Does include tearing off old and installing the new singles?

That does sound good. We replaced iirc, 24 squares on the old place 2 years ago. Over $17k, but there were 2 layers of comps shingles and 1 of wood to tear off. Plus they had to do radiant barrier OSB / plywood over the whole thing costing a few extra grand. They did not apparently have plywood in 1956 when it was built.

 

[braumeister]

Definitely a great price for that job. Congrats!

 

[Irishgirlyc58]

[mention]W2R [/mention] I would have gotten whiplash signing that contract.
That is a fantastic price.

 

[W2R]

Wow! that is a great price!! Do you know how many square your roof is? Does include tearing off old and installing the new singles?

I don't know how many squares. My house is single story 1533 sf and the garage is a 2-car garage with two storage rooms on one end (so about the size of a 3-car garage, with a high roof). This does include tearing off old and installing new shingles! Just standard ones, not fancy. It doesn't include replacing new decking if required since they don't yet know what its condition is.

From what we had been hearing about prices around here, I was expecting maybe $23K to $33K total for me. So we are both "over the moon" about the price. $11,725 for me and around $8,600 for Frank since he has no garage. Even if there were some other costs (like the decking) I'd still feel like it was a deal.

Thanks, y'all!! Yes we about got whiplash trying to get the contract in place. Frank is contacting the guys right now. We don't know much about them, but they are licensed and insured. They are Canadians and have been doing roofing here for about a decade so hopefully not fly-by-night.

 

[street]

I don't know how many squares. My house is single story 1533 sf and the garage is a 2-car garage with two storage rooms on one end (so about the size of a 3-car garage, with a high roof). This does include tearing off old and installing new shingles! Just standard ones, not fancy. It doesn't include replacing new decking if required since they don't yet know what its condition is.

From what we had been hearing about prices around here, I was expecting maybe $23K to $33K total for me. So we are both "over the moon" about the price. Even if there were some other costs (like the decking) I'd still feel like it was a deal.

Thanks, y'all!! Yes we about got whiplash trying to get the contract in place. Frank is contacting the guys right now. We don't know much about them, but they are licensed and insured. They are Canadians and have been doing roofing here for about a decade so hopefully not fly-by-night.

That is great you both got a really good deal!! I would say that sf home you detailed would be in the range of ~18 square roof or there abouts. That price wouldn't cover my home of 21 square and that doesn't include my attached garage.

You did really well and good for YOU!!

One question I would ask them is how many nails they install for each shingle. You want 4 nails per shingle not three.

 

[W2R]

Thanks, everybody! I am so happy and hope we have a written contract in place ASAP. I also hope these guys do decent work. Thanks, street, for the hint about 4 nails not three.

We almost always deal only with people we know, but we got desperate after trying to get an estimate for the past six months. So, this was one of those door-knob hanger things and we really don't know them at all. (eek! Wish me luck!). Their website does have photos of their work and it looks OK from the photos.

Mainly I need a roof ASAP to keep the water out because the leaks are getting so bad, that every time it rains the inside of my house looks like one of those Saturday morning cartoons (with all the buckets etc).

 

[Ronstar]

If you’ve had leaks for a while, you may need some new roof underlayment in the leak areas. (If the plywood is water damaged) Your roofer may have addressed that in his quote. Around here they quote a price, but underlayment is extra

Oops now I see you mentioned this

 

[W2R]

If you’ve had leaks for a while, you may need some new roof underlayment in the leak areas. (If the plywood is water damaged) Your roofer may have addressed that in his quote. Around here they quote a price, but underlayment is extra

That's what I'm thinking. The estimate mentioned wood deck replacement at $2.50/sf only if required, and also wood deck board replacement at $6.50/lf only if required. So I'm figuring that's what those figures are supposed to cover and I expect those charges may turn out to be pretty hefty. Still, I'll be really happy to pay more, if at least something will finally be done about the leaks.

 

[REWahoo]

Stepped out into the garage this morning and found that several cans of spray paint had fallen off the top shelf. Looked atop the refrigerator and saw what caused it - one of the neighbor's chickens had been our overnight guest.

They sent out a "be on the lookout" notice for her a couple of days ago. I let them know she was visiting and they came to get her - they were very appreciative. We've been getting some free eggs from them on occasion, looks like now it might be more frequent.

 

[braumeister]

several cans of spray paint had fallen off the top shelf. Looked atop the refrigerator and saw what caused it - one of the neighbor's chickens had been our overnight guest.

Makes perfect sense to me. She knew that with Easter coming up soon, people would be looking for those colored eggs, and she thought she would oblige.

 

[Gumby]

Today, I made my very last car payment (probably ever). In December 2017, I bought a new Subaru Forester. I was prepared to pay cash, but they had 63 month 0% financing, so I took it. The car still has only 30k miles on it, so it may last us for the rest of our car driving days.