Mark this day.

[mapsedge]

Back in May 2008, I replaced the windows in the living room. Remodeling follows the money and time, so they sat unfinished for a while. Before money and opportunity could coincide again, winter arrived, so the front of the house has been unfinished ever since. Last month I was able to spend a weekend and do some work on it, but then the weather turned cold again.

My father had a saying, apropos to today: "The man's an idiot who doesn't have enough sense to come in out of the rain."

This weekend, money and opportunity came together.  I spent four hours on it yesterday.  I started the race to the finish line this morning at about 10:00. I finished the front of the house today - siding, window trim, and shutters - at 4:00.

It started raining at 1:30. I leave you to make your own connections.

I have done ren fest in the cold and the rain. Today was like that. I threw on a stocking cap and kept after it. (Yesterday was chill, but at least it was dry.) The advantage I had today is the 24" awning I worked under, but sometimes the stiff breeze pushed the rain to where I was. When I eventually came inside, the task done and tools put away, I was wet from the knees down and all about the shoulders.

There's something about working - and performing, which is really the same thing, the gravedigger just never carried a Sawz-All although I'm sure he could have found many uses for one - in the rain that drains you. So much of your body's energy is going toward keeping you warm, you end up using your reserves just to accomplish the tasks at hand.

I came inside, changed into dry clothes and fell asleep for an hour.

The front of the house looks good. Even better, it looks - and is - done.
 

Comments

[nottygypsy.livejournal.com]

I know that has to be a good feeling.

[billthetailor.livejournal.com]

Indeed it is. For months, a 6" margin around all the windows - splotchy with foil weatherstripping tape and tar paper - and splintered, uneven siding has been what people see as a first impression when they come to visit. That it's finished is a huge relief.

Of course, I still have to redo the drywall on the interior of the same room, but at least I can do that out of the rain and without scaffolding.

[jehosefatz.livejournal.com]

Woot!

Having done both myself as well, I think I'd rather work on the house in the cold and rain than do a ren fest in the cold and rain.

[billthetailor.livejournal.com]

At least when you're working on a house - mostly by yourself - there's no social contract to uphold. You don't have to be polite or pleasant.

That, and the coffee pot is never far away.

[cronewyse.livejournal.com]

Marked!

wow

[billthetailor.livejournal.com]

Yeah, big relief. Still have the interior to do, but that's nothing. As I told Christine, I can do that out of the rain, without scaffolding. I'm looking forward to not having a pink living room.