TheCapeBlog

Peter the electrician was here to disconnect a bad outlet at the bottom of the deck stairs and rewire a good one on the deck itself. A third outdoor outlet, at the flagpole, has power but is wired wrong.

He also installed a GFI outlet in the downstairs bathroom and a new backdoor light. The front light is installed but he’ll need access to the attic to get power to it, and right now the attic is sealed off pending mold removal.

Yesterday we got a spring season’s worth of yard work done by Kelley Brothers Tree Service. In the back yard, they cut up and removed a huge blow-down and chipped a couple of big piles of wood left from the last owner as well as the three half-dead bushes we’d dug up.

They also removed four sorry-looking bushes in front and by the driveway: what a difference!

Ron and I raked and bagged leaves in the top left corner of the yard. Found a small pile of junk. Speaking of which, we have invasive weeds growing everywhere. Might be garlic mustard. Daffodils are taking their time.

I cooked on the Weber for the first time this year and on this spot, last night and today for lunch. A treat to be sure.

This morning Ron and I attended a town meeting-style session with our state legislators. We both liked them very much.

Check arrived for the vermiculite removal company!

Ron did a serious transfer station run today.

Heard from Morabito yesterday, they squared away my account. Mailed them a check. Cost of a new oil tank is outrageous. Might be worth reconsidering.

My legs have been bothering me today, so didn’t do yardwork. Hope to finish raking tomorrow.

I poked myself in the right eye yesterday. Vision seems to be okay.

Ron had an infected thumb and was able to get an appointment and start on antibiotics. It’s better today.

Salesman from Mirabito was here to price out an oil tank and told me I’d need to have a cement pad poured.

Asked the architect for new drawings for the bedroom rehab.

Ron was frantic the other day looking for his keys, demanded that I give him mine to make copies NOW. Turns out the keys were in his fanny pack but I didn’t discover them until he’d left for Aubuchon.

Hope to see the electrician on Tuesday. We have a couple of outdoor lights to be installed. There are other things to do, if he has time and interest.

Sent Edible Arrangements to the grands for Easter. Heard that the fam in Mashpee enjoyed theirs!

We dug up three or was it four dead bushes from the back. A tree removal company representative came by and we booked an appointment to remove the storm blowdowns next week.

I mailed birthday cards and gifts to Devyn and Mac. This’ll be the last year, they are getting to the age that hearing from people they never see must strike them as odd.

Yesterday the gent from GEM came by to check out the mold in the attic.

Ryan and crew were here today to finish up the sunroom overhang, which looks great. Now the door to the sunroom looks like Dogpatch.

I stopped in to Williams College for a Math Dept colloquium but was a day early. Caught the tail end of a Real Analysis class. The professor gave me a warm welcome.

Today I ordered a book from my professor friend Tom that looked like exactly what I need to refresh my old math brain.

I do love math.

Also started watching the Khan Academy online Multivariable Calculus class.

Called Mirabito again about setting up an MVP service contract and replacing our oil tank. They are running specials on both.

Applied for a job at Williams College.

I found an ace bandage for it and was able to rake the bed next to the back stairs. Had to dig out a thorn from my right thumb. Ron has an infected hangnail: ouch!

Ron wanted to pump up the old wheelbarrow wheel. Tried the air compressor but it doesn’t seem to work.

Ron bought and hooked up a propane tank for the grill.

Ryan and Aaron put up the gutter on the back of the garage and replaced the rotted wood on the deck roof. It looks like we no longer live in a shack.

The big news is that Ryan found rotted rafters in the newly infamous second floor bedroom. The person from Texas happened to call while he was here and explained the reason for taking down the ceiling: the sheetrock was so degraded that it couldn’t support the weight of insulation.

In addition, he noticed that the ceiling was “wavy”. This was due to the poor condition of the rafters.

Ryan has some ideas to fix these. He also found another attic access panel.

We’re eligible for a couple of loan programs to finance the attic repair and mold removal.

The roof, windows, vermiculite removal, new water heater tank, freeze-proof spigots and most of the important electrical work are done.

It feels like we are constantly in the middle of some project or other, so it’s helpful to look back and appreciate what’s been accomplished.

After watching the “Age of Easy Money” episode of Frontline last night, I’m freaked out about not having enough ready cash to allow us a soft landing in the event of a recession.

Ron treated to brunch at The Break Room. Was good except for Ron’s “nuclear” Bloody Mary.

Picked up salads and Ron’s meds at Walmart. Ugly surprise, his new prescription was for only a week and the dosage was cut by 1/3. Going to try it out, figuring he’s taken it long enough that it might not be working anyway and he’d just as soon not continue it.

Instead of coming straight home, we drove to the Apple Barn for donuts and muffins.

Pretty morning but cold: thirties.

Two of the crew came by today, in the rain, from Pittsfield, to finish up their work.

They are such good guys that I didn’t have the heart to try to explain that I thought all the floorboards in the attic were to be removed. Emailed the boss.

Still waiting to hear about how we’re to be made whole from Mass Save and Clear-what’s their names in Texas.

Signed off on the tax documents this morning after a run-around with DocuSign.

Got to make coffee, unload the dishwasher and clean up the kitchen this morning. Actually felt good.

We’ve been pushing the sleeper sofa around. Miraculously, neither of us seems to have been hurt.

Updated MRS first thing to reflect the 4/1 registration fee. Happy April Fool’s.

Hit the roof yesterday when they told me that there was a sheetrock ceiling in the guest bedroom.

It didn’t have to be removed and replaced.

Turns out, the tech from Mass Save probably never really examined it. According to his boss’s boss, the techs are trained to flag tile ceilings, whether or not they are backed by sheetrock.

I’m waiting to hear if Clear Result will make this up to us.

The people from Barile are respectful and hard-working, unlike the jerk who was here from Clear Result.

Light dusting of snow this morning.

Good news by the end of the day: will be receiving a check that will cover a chunk of the vermiculite removal. Tax returns are done, we don’t owe the feds or the state. Ron will get a refund. Trump was indicted.

$30,000 in labor costs for the second bedroom/hallway/stairway project.

$8,200 for the driveway.

Received and signed the Mass Save contract for insulation.

Vermiculite removal starts tomorrow.

Got to the medical lab for blood work today, exactly 3 weeks after it was ordered, thus, within the appropriate time. Tech was great, another good person at Williamstown Medical.

Ron has been unloading boxes from the “office”.

I cleaned up the little garden around the dumb flagpole in the back. I mean, who puts a flagpole in their back yard? Anyway, cleared some rusted chicken wire – probably an attempt to keep squirrels and rabbits from eating the bulbs – as well as grass and weeds. Had to disrupt and replant some bulbs.

Finished the tax info, had a phone conversation with one of the partners at the new firm. Just have to copy and ship.