underdogma is belief or assertion that one is expected to overcome insurmountable odds.
You are at the home of Matt Harrington.
Continuing the Bathroom Renovation
Our contractor worked for five weeks, which is three weeks longer than estimated. The entire time was spent without shower facilities and nearly two weeks without a toilet.
Over budget and over patience, we suggested that the contractor's job was done. Oddly enough, after paying the final bill, he is asking for more money. I feel that it is unreasonable for me to pay for his forgetfulness, but his forgetfulness will probably also spare me from payment.
What is remaining should be easy for the two of us, but we find ourselves repeating much of the complete work. Here is a partial list of things that the contractor should have done, or should have done right:
- install door knobs properly
- install all of the trim (not just most of it)
- plumb the pedestal sink such that it does not leak
- install a lights to code
- clean surfaces before applying caulk (so that it does not fall off)
OSCON 2010
Here are a few assorted photos from OSCON this year.
At the center of the Expo Hall was an interview booth.
Recent Garden Activity
This picture was actually taken over a week ago and the tomatoes have grown since. I don't know what Branwen will end up doing with this many, but I'm sure she'll think of something.
Ace Attorney Miles Edgeworth
Yuki helped me finish Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth. This took me a long time to finish and I enjoyed enjoyed it quite a bit. Apollo Justice is still my favorite.
Fire on Oswego and Fessenden
Shortly after the power went out Friday night, we noticed a plume of smoke a few blocks away. A convenience store a few blocks west of our house was on fire.
Here was the news report from the event.
I took a few photos while I was there, but didn't linger because the smoke was clinging to the ground.
Mother's Day is the Busiest day for Garden Stores
Did you know that Mother's Day is the busiest day for garden stores? It seems obvious, right? I must have known this on some level, but it didn't occur to me until I actually went out to buy plants.
My garden store of choice is Garden Fever. They have intelligent staff, a great selection, and as it turns, the ability to continue functioning when they are swamped.
My primary reason for visiting was to get stakes for my peonies which were in dire need. Once I was there, I couldn't help buying several other items. There goes my fun money budget for the month.
It's On
Construction on the bathroom starts on or near May 17th.
We are now the proud owners of several hundred pounds of tile. Moving even the individual boxes was a challenge which we our soar arms and backs are sure to remember for days to come.
This step was both exciting and scary. Unless we apply the breaks, we will have a whole new bathroom in less than four weeks from now. What will it look like? Here is the contractor's diagram:
Happy Birthday
This year, I couldn't decide on a birthday cake. The Meianna Bakery in the Fubonn Market serves some of the most colorful cakes I have ever seen. Branwen got me one slice of each.
This photo was after our first round of cake eating. It was delicious.
Starting with 6 o'clock and moving clockwise: Melon, Blueberry, Triple Chocolate, Strawberry, and Mango.
Up in the Attic
I ran some cat5 from the living room to the office this weekend. It was a good opportunity to get acquainted with my attic and to learn a little about the construction of our house. I took a few photos to share with my contractor.
This series is taken from the access hole in the hallway. The photos start at North and rotate clockwise.
Kingdom Chain of Memories
I have decided that completing a game is an accomplishment, but it is far too easy to forget with the busy pace of life. If I forget an achievement, then it is as if the time and effort spent has been lost. I have decided to create a photographic record of the games I beat.
In the spirit of remembering accomplishments, I present you with the Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories endgame screen.
Expect more to follow.
One Week of Trash
Items of trash: 111
We recorded our trash for one week and the results are really interesting. The list was long, I split it into four categories:
- Packaging: Containers and padding. Examples: Wrappers, Floral foam, Lollipop sticks.
- Cleaning: Products used for cleaning and the mess they clean up. Examples: Paper towels, dirt.
- Food: Any waste generated during food production. Examples: Pizza, Egg shells.
- Miscellaneous: Anything else.
Here are the results:
Yuki's Birthday
Yuki turned 3 today. Watch her nom her birthday present.
Patio Brainstorm
Now that the weather is improving, I have started thinking about what I can do to the back patio. The previous owner who flipped the house extended the roof creating a nice covered area. The green outdoor carpet is clean and easy to maintain, but not our taste. I drew up the following diagram to help us visualize the space with different flooring.
Weed or Not?
It was obvious that the previous residents of our house knew a thing or two about gardening. Now it is time for us to learn something. The following seven plants exist on the property. Can you identify what is a weed and what is not?
Specimen #1
This plant has pine-needle like leaves.
