took the 17.58 train from randolph friday evening to MCI. train was delayed in gary for some reason, adding 30 minutes to the trip.
friday night i spent mostly doing some work in the basement. went to bed around midnight but didn't sleep well & was awake by 7am to greet the first foundation contractor of the day (he was early). the 2nd contractor arrived around 9am, though he wasn't able to give me an estimate on the work as it wasn't their specialty. the first contractor gave me an estimate similar to what i had received before for the same work & also one for replacing the foundation wall entirely (which is ideally what i want done).
i may contact a couple more contractors to get some other estimates on replacing the foundation wall, but may settle for tie-backs to hold it in place for time being.
saturday spent in the basement removing the damp/mouldy/mildewed drywall, and some of the drop ceiling. will need a big dumpster to dispose of all this. the electrical wiring is a nightmare. it will be replaced soon though. received several estimates on the electrical rewiring last week & am looking to get that project started once the foundation is shored up.
took the last train back to chicago saturday night, was filthy from all the basement demo work & needed a hot shower (no running water in the house until spring).
14 February 2010
08 February 2010
6-Feb
took the 17.32 train friday evening from randolph street to michigan city. train filled up just before departing (got there about 20 minutes before departure). there are a lot of fat people who live in indiana ... sorry, but i don't know how people let themselves go. not just a little pudgy, but big/fat/round. so sad. luckily, most of the people exited at the east chicago stop & the train proceeded on.
friday night i spent tearing up the carpeting in the bedrooms, it came up relatively easily & is now all torn up & bagged, ready for disposal. i don't have trash service yet, so i have resorted to filling up my rolling duffle with trash & disposing of at home for now.
saturday morning was busy with two electrical contractors to give me estimates for the total rewire of the house. first estimate had by sunday night & still waiting for the other, though wont be able to start the rewiring until late spring/summer (as budget permits). one more foundation contractor coming by this coming saturday (13-feb) to give another estimate for the project before i decide who to go with.
started to remove the drywall in the basement, need to have complete access to foundation walls for repair & its too damp & the drywall has mold/mildew forming on bottom. a dumpster will be needed this spring to remove most of the rubbish.
returned to chicago on afternoon train, had 2 parties to attend saturday night with friends.
Hardware list: prybar, safety goggles, bolt cutter
friday night i spent tearing up the carpeting in the bedrooms, it came up relatively easily & is now all torn up & bagged, ready for disposal. i don't have trash service yet, so i have resorted to filling up my rolling duffle with trash & disposing of at home for now.
saturday morning was busy with two electrical contractors to give me estimates for the total rewire of the house. first estimate had by sunday night & still waiting for the other, though wont be able to start the rewiring until late spring/summer (as budget permits). one more foundation contractor coming by this coming saturday (13-feb) to give another estimate for the project before i decide who to go with.
started to remove the drywall in the basement, need to have complete access to foundation walls for repair & its too damp & the drywall has mold/mildew forming on bottom. a dumpster will be needed this spring to remove most of the rubbish.
returned to chicago on afternoon train, had 2 parties to attend saturday night with friends.
Hardware list: prybar, safety goggles, bolt cutter
30-31 Jan 2010
This past weekend was a short trip. I arrived at 12.30 on the train with my rolling duffle full of burglar bars, electrical boxes & another portable radio (which, like
the first, also doesn't pick up Chicago stations good enough for me). The vet met me around 1.30pm & we drove over to the Olive Garden to have a bite to eat with a
friend of his who lives in Crown Point (who happened to be visiting the outlet maul in MCI). I haven't been to an Olive Garden restaurant in close to 20 years ... the
menu really didn't appeal to me at all & the clientele was just as unappealing ... not to mention, who knew this place would be sooo busy in the middle of the
afternoon? I guess everyone there just goes & eats out during the day/nights on weekends. I will have to find some local eats to frequent, I've never been a big
fan of the national chains. Not that there was a choice for either of us in this matter, the vet's friend was already at the OG & we were just stopping by to meet
him before continuing on.
After having a bite at the OG, we drove across the street to the Lowe's, then the Menard's next door to that. I was hoping to get vinyl gutters for the house, but
didn't get on this trip (need a ladder too & the vet's RAV4 back door window doesn't open, so couldn't get a ladder in the back (and probably not the gutters either).
Will have to wait a little longer for the new eaves troughs (will probably not be able to install until March anyway).
Continued with installing burglar bars on windows, since the home isn't occupied full-time right now, I figured the bars would be a good deterrent (until I get an
alarm installed at least). Also continued removing the old carpeting from bedrooms, cutting into 3x3 foot pieces to more easily dispose of.
The furnace seems to work fine, though it cycles on/off a bit too frequently (should stay on for longer I would think before turning off). Hopefully it will run fine
through Spring and I can have it serviced in the off season.
the first, also doesn't pick up Chicago stations good enough for me). The vet met me around 1.30pm & we drove over to the Olive Garden to have a bite to eat with a
friend of his who lives in Crown Point (who happened to be visiting the outlet maul in MCI). I haven't been to an Olive Garden restaurant in close to 20 years ... the
menu really didn't appeal to me at all & the clientele was just as unappealing ... not to mention, who knew this place would be sooo busy in the middle of the
afternoon? I guess everyone there just goes & eats out during the day/nights on weekends. I will have to find some local eats to frequent, I've never been a big
fan of the national chains. Not that there was a choice for either of us in this matter, the vet's friend was already at the OG & we were just stopping by to meet
him before continuing on.
After having a bite at the OG, we drove across the street to the Lowe's, then the Menard's next door to that. I was hoping to get vinyl gutters for the house, but
didn't get on this trip (need a ladder too & the vet's RAV4 back door window doesn't open, so couldn't get a ladder in the back (and probably not the gutters either).
Will have to wait a little longer for the new eaves troughs (will probably not be able to install until March anyway).
Continued with installing burglar bars on windows, since the home isn't occupied full-time right now, I figured the bars would be a good deterrent (until I get an
alarm installed at least). Also continued removing the old carpeting from bedrooms, cutting into 3x3 foot pieces to more easily dispose of.
The furnace seems to work fine, though it cycles on/off a bit too frequently (should stay on for longer I would think before turning off). Hopefully it will run fine
through Spring and I can have it serviced in the off season.
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