Smartie's Bar & Grill #70

It takes a lot of work. I spent my day making shelves to store the wood out of the weather. I like reclaimed stuff because it cost me little and it has character. I have a workbench built from reclaimed and store bought lumber.

 

My neighbor has real money. He hired a contracting firm to do the remodeling.

He did the staircase himself.

It is a work of art.

It has "character"; just as you say.

 

But i did lie. I would much rather have new wood to work with , but the price is right .

 

Here's how it went:

He invited me in to see the finished re-modeling.

I looked at the rooms and said: "yeah, this is nice".

Then I said that the staircase was the best part.

That was when he told me that he did that part from reclaimed pallets.

 

If I had real money I would still be a tight ass. I would buy more land and outbuildings. Then hire out fencing, electric, plumbing, and stuff like that. The detail stuff like wall and floor covering I would do. Also, no roofing...too old.

 

"Character" cannot be bought.

If you try, it is pretend character. You have to either earn it, or luck into it.

 

That is cool. I am thinking about wall covering. I have one of those Cotton States Barns. It is well built but unfinished.

 

Ya, I guess. But some fine stuff was made with new lumber. But I got what I got.

 

Having today off was nice. I put in my leave request months ago for today. I take leave on random days when I know I won't be traveling any time soon. Nice to just have some random days off.

We are preparing for a longer training evolution that's coming up so my work days are much shorter during the week days, and long on the weekends when I'm reporting in.

WHAT DID YOU DO WITH YOUR DAY OFF, AS?

Glad you asked. Spent about an hour or so on here this morning. Played video games on Xbox for about 2 hours. Went with my friend to the noon wing eating contest at an Alexandria wing spot (they do 'weekday happy hours' for wings in the middle of work days), and surprised the fiance at her office with some flowers and her favorite cheese (she loves cheese).

 

Mornin' peeps.

Year end prep has started.

Please deliver coffee, alcohol and sandwiches periodically. Not necessarily in that order, either.

 

Day off? Whats that?


The News Never takes a day off. Just sayin.

 

My wife is looking at house plans for our next home. I told her to pick out a floor plan that she likes and I’ll build it. The only demand I have is NO DAMN STAIRS!

 

Yeah that's not how the song goes....Then there is that Italian Girl face.

 

'sup y'all?

Busy day here. Um, hiding from the boss is work, right?

 

Only if he wants to Dance with you in the Dark.

 

Suggest you pick up a copy of A Bright Shining Lie and read at least the first half before you are deployed again.
A lot can be learned by reviewing the mistakes of very smart war leaders.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Bright_Shining_Lie

 

You aren’t going for the Kardashian look are you?

 

So, only one floor? I built my last two houses and never want to build another. I spent most of my life living in partially finished houses. The only steps were on the decks. They were basically 7 11 pitch. I just measure the run and divide by 11 and the rise is developed by dividing the rise by 7. That way I stay close to a 7 11 run rise and all the steps are the sane height.

 

Also cut the bottom of the stair riser the thickness of your stair tred. All steps the same!

 

Building stairs is the easy part, it’s the carrying everything up and down the whole time you live ther that I’m not doing again. Single level, level entry from here forward. I’m looking at it like this may be the house I retire and die in so easy access is a must.

 

Been thinking about a ramp on my back deck. For bringing in heavy stuff like a new refrigerator. I am getting weaker in my old age. Never was real strong. But I have plenty of ideas and little money .