My washer has become a sullen teenager, leaving an occasional, unremovable streak of rust on random areas my clothes. I didn’t realize this until recently. Actually, I had assumed the kids had left a funky pen in their pocket and it was washed with our comingled laundry. Thank goodness my spouse figured it out; otherwise, […]
How long do your appliances last? Read More »
Since last October, I have been gradually taking over the formal dining room, turning it into my “work space.” Using the wireless laptop in the dining room seemed innocuous: we don’t entertain much, and the clean horizontal service was beckoning me to put junk on it. After the laptop found a cozy place to park,
Purging Books and Tchotchkes Read More »
Total body count: 137 Although the exterminator sprayed on Saturday, yellowjackets were still finding their way into our bedroom. All were punch-drunk and easy to kill, but we weren’t too keen on sleeping in the bedroom until we were sure they were gone. (Let’s just say I’m squeamish about bugs crawling in my nose at
Yellowjacket followup Read More »
Last week was our week of “summer,” and in a very bad way. It hit 97°F at my house on Friday, which is a record. Saturday was almost as bad at 95°F. My friends in Texas are probably wondering what the big deal is. Here’s the big deal: we don’t have air conditioning. Fifty weeks
Hotter than a master bedroom full of yellow jackets Read More »
Ryobi Trimmer I am finally rid of my Ryobi 720R trimmer. For nine years I’ve owned this pathetic excuse of a lawn maintenance tool. I didn’t think asking for occasional lawn edging and trimming was too much to expect, but it was always hard to get started. When it finally did acquiesce, it’s 2-cycle engine
Ding dong, the trimmer is dead Read More »
Another quarter, another plumbing project: replacing all four bathroom sinks because the overflow drains have rusted out. These weren’t that important until my kids reached the magical age where they easily become mesmerized by rapidly flowing water. I can’t come down on them too hard because I want them to wash their hands.
Four Sinks for 2004 Read More »
Last Saturday I noticed that my upstairs toilet was leaking. As in, at the base, through the floor, possibly into the ceiling of the room below.
Last year at this time, my wife found carpenter ants in the corner of the garage. We got a quote from an exterminator, but the only option they’d consider required a one year contract with monthly “treatments.” Net outlay would be $300 for the initial treatment plus another $450 for one year of followups.
Carpenter ants must die Read More »