Oct 25 - riding ... not

Mike showed up about the time that I was going to start getting organized to ride so I ended up helping him with some pseudo-kitchen work.  I say pseudo since cutting into a 14" high by 6" wide beam isn't exactly kitchen work.  That's the beam that's sort-of in our way.  We were going to cut a notch out of the bottom and install an L-shaped plate (but you have to lie the L down) to preserve structural strength.

That was interesting.  My original reason for staying was simply to hold a blanket up to catch debris but I ended up helping much more, naturally.

Getting the bolts through the beam was the first order of business but naturally we hit a nail.  Mike only had a spade bit but I had a 1/2" metal bit, so we used that along with my cordless drill to finish off that work.  It took a few tries to get the holes to align to the steel plates on both sides of the beam and then we tightened the bolts.  That too was use of my tools since he didn't have ratchets, only crescent wrenches.  These are large 1/2" x 6" bolts which take more torque.  One of the bolts "bottomed out" on its threads because the beam was narrower at the bottom.  Mike didn't have any more washers but I fashioned a couple.

Next, with the plate installed, Mike used his reciprocating saw to cut the small rectangle out of the beam.  I did the honors with the blanket.  He then installed Vic's temporary box affair which we don't like.  It's huge and draws more attention to the beam, crown notwithstanding.  He left it there for Vic to see.  I then fashioned another over top of the vent pipe which is much more to our liking.  I think that we'll go with my design.  Sorry Vic ...

That done, Mike did some more work installing the corner cabinet and a bunch of shelves.  Once he left, I rolled the three temporary storage carts into the kitchen and Sandy got to work putting things on shelves.  I have to say that using a kitchen is much easier without cabinet doors ... I commented that it's like being at Mariadela's (she has many cabinets with glass doors).  The advantage of glass doors or no doors is that you don't start opening and closing cabinet doors to find things, it's obvious !

I started on plumbing, doing all the gluing etc. for the "hot side" of the under-sink plumbing.  I got that all installed and operational.

Earlier in the day I'd installed one of the new LED eyeball (really gimbal) pot lights in the living room.  We're not so sure about those.  It really has a "spot" vs a "flood" and catches the eye.  I can put a dimmer on those, however, and we don't use them much anyway.  I think that I'll just go ahead and install the other two; there are only three.

This morning I took down the venetian blinds off the kitchen doors (three) and the front entranceway doors (two).  We'll be going naked vis-a-vis blinds & curtains.  We don't use them anyway.  Duane will be painting the doors so I wanted these off beforehand.  I have to clip the security wiring and schedule the wireless installation or purchase the stuff and do it myself.

What else ... still haven't decided on the saw.  I'm torn between a manageable size more expensive saw (DeWalt or Rigid) or the inexpensive HUGE saw from Harbor Freight.  Truth be told, I'll need this saw beyond the trim work for deck work etc. in the not-too-distant future, so I really need something that's of a store-able size.

We had pizza for dinner.  With all the kitchen etc. work, neither of us got out shopping.

Sandy's neck is really bothering her.  She's pulled it, or whatever, again.  I'll bet that was from working in the garden, digging out huge roots.  My right shoulder and left elbow are causing me problems doing this work ... sigh.  I also know that my legs are going to feel like hell when I go riding today, from all the squatting and kneeling doing the under-sink work.  Yikes !  We're getting old !

So ... onward ... as always ...