The biggest clean-up that I have ever had to do was the day after my 20th birthday. Prior to this, I'd done some work with oil tank installation so was already used to big jobs - but well, not quite a job like this.
It was not caused by a wild party, but by a practical joke! I had been complaining about my life being too boring and predictable and so my friends decided to fix that for me. I went out shopping for the day to spend my birthday money and when I got back to my university room, it was empty. Even the furniture had gone! All that was left was a note telling me to look out of the window. Set up in the tennis court below was a perfect replica of my room, with bed, desk, rug piles of books and even my slippers on the floor. Several people had spent the afternoon moving everything down the stairs and setting it up. Sadly, everyone was less enthusiastic about getting it back up to my room and I ended up doing a lot of the moving myself.
There's no doubt about it - as a lead roofer you have to be fit and strong. During big jobs, I give up drink and even eat healthy meals (fruit and veg) - it makes the job so much easier. When a project's complete, we'll go out and have a few beers, and I admit I let myself go a bit when I'm in between projects. But I tell you what - being in your late 30s, being a lead roofer, and going out the night before work on the beer - those 3 things do not mix at all. I see the younger guys can manage it, and I don't blame them burning the candle at both ends. But you wait when they're my age - they'll either not be working as a lead roofer, or following my clean working lifestyle - it's the only way you can prolong your career!
I lived in New York City while I attended graduate school from the summer of 1976 through late spring, 1980. A truly remarkable change came about mid-way through my years in Manhattan. It was a simple, new law and New York was the first to institute it. Made effective in 1978, this ruling is nicknamed, “The Pooper Scooper Law,” and it mandates that any human walking one or more dogs pick up any feces the animals drop. Rather than rely on our city's council to come with their pressure washers to clean up after us, civic duty was the first call to action against such fouling of the streets and pavements. The impact on sanitation was paramount, especially given the parasites and bacteria that are passed through canine waste, but the more enormous impact was on everyone’s enjoyment of the city. None of us really realized that we had all become accustomed to walking, jogging, or playing with our eyes on the untidy streets under foot. One simple misstep inevitably led to a stinking mess on our loafers, pumps or sandals. Children in playgrounds endured fowled hands, knees and sneakers. In summer’s heat, the stench rose from the pavement to greet our down-turned nostrils, and our eyes beheld swarming black and green flies that buzzed in the stifling air. Bicycle and pram tires were apt to spread the ever-present mess over several squares of sidewalk, and any green grass found in the city was likely to be fowled with material from all manner of apartment-dwelling dogs. What a joy it suddenly became to walk with our faces up-turned, our Adidas or Cole Haan’s free of dog waste. We found ourselves able to step with confidence, and while not every New York City smell is delightful, freedom from this particular smell was a new wonder. I do not remember what organization it was, but some group gave New York City and architectural award for this innovative law because they recognized the improvement it signified for the urban landscape and our ability to look around ourselves and actually see the cityscape. Any city that has not instituted such an ordinance is missing out on a simple way to end one of the greatest hazards of untidy streets.
The house we dwell-in needs renovation - particularly stone restoration on the outside walls - as it is around ten years since we first moved in.
After renovating our walls, the next mission would be to add a guestroom to our house. There is ample of space at the back and towards the west portion of our house to do this. We need to construct one ensuite bathroom to the guestroom too.
As our children are growing up, they want more and more things for the house too - particularly better lighting and wardrobes.
Even though you think your house can never change - it does. Nothing stays the same - us humans are always changing our needs, and so we want to change our interior decor to match those changing needs. Also wear and tear means a house does need some tender loving care applied to it every now and again too.
I love working on DIY projects. I've built up a collection of tools over the years. Bench saws, drills and other tools fill up my garage.
My next project involves this hideous filing tan cabinet in my home that I need to have for reasons related to my job. It really is an eye sore it brings down the overall appearance of my home and disrupts the otherwise relaxed atmosphere by imposing more of a business feel. I have decided for a treat to myself for Spring I will spend a day completely revamping it and turning it into something chic.
I plan on first removing the drawer pulls and removing the drawers from the case. Next I plan to paint the filing cabinet body with black paint specifically made for metal and let it dry. Next, I'll paint the drawers themselves white and let them dry as well. After the paint is completed, I'll use modge podge to adhere black and white swirl wrapping paper to the fronts of the now white drawers. I'll carefully smooth modge podge over it again to give it a smooth coating, pressing out all of the bubbles, and I'll let the drawers sit again and dry. Finally, I'll attach new hot pink glass drawer pulls to the drawers and reassemble the filing cabinet once again. Now people will hopefully think I own a custom-made drawer stack and no one will recognize that it's really my ugly old filing cabinet.
Hot summer days are like a celebrating a victory after surviving a long harsh winter. I relish being able to step outside my door without worrying about bundling up in boots, a scarf, gloves, a hat and coat. It's easy to slip on some sandals with velcro straps, and get outside without much fuss. The warm breeze caresses my skin and the shining sun awakens my eyes. To me, summer means hopping in the car with the windows down breathing in the fresh air and listening to my favorite songs on the radio. In the summer I like to take long walks by the beach or at a local park letting my five senses enjoying the freedom of the season. Summer means treats - lemonade, watermelon and ice cream cones dripping down my fingers. Summer is picnics and pool parties, running 5K races and window shopping in sundresses. During the summer people walk with a bit more bounce in their step and a smile on their face. Summer is my time to unwind, relax and enjoy my life.