B the Builder

I like to think of myself as a moderately handy man. I‘ve fixed the few mechanical and structural issues that popped up at Bandmeltun (as I have dubbed our country estate here in New England. Or Mandbentun, I think they both sound pretty good…) Fortunately, our relatively new condo has only needed minor repairs. I managed to unclog our plunger tub style drain without losing the plunger. I adjusted our hot water heater temperature without a call to the plumber. I even managed to disassemble and hotpatch the water control assembly in the men’s bathroom toilet when it started making a lot of noise. I’ve had epic failures too, like the ’07 molding mitre cut battle and the great potato peeling garbage disposal explosions. Home ownership has been a work in progress.
M and I knew my limitations early on and we decided that buying fixer-upper was in no one’s long term best interests. Good thing, too - we barely survived the first room painting adventure.
Recently though, I have been feeling less Norm Abrams and more Ming Tsai. My creative forays tend towards finding a place to get primal cuts of heirloom beef rather than choosing a table saw over a radial arm saw. Bandmeltun is geared more towards comfortable living than manufacturing, and we don’t have a space for ongoing projects. When the weather is warmer, our neighbor turns his back porch into a workshop, while M and I prefer our deck to be more BBQ pit / alfresco dining area. I really don’t know what he’s doing to his condo – M and I almost bought that place and we didn’t see anything really wrong with it.
I grew up in houses that had lots of room for improvement and participated in more than a few projects. Some of them were even enjoyable and satisfying. This Old House is one of my favorite shows – I’m always filing their advice away in the bin – but aside from putting in a 3 floor fireman’s pole or turning the guest room into a 150 sq/ft shower-steam room, I don’t know when I’ll be able to use their wisdom. We know we’re going to buy a bigger house someday. Deep in my mind I know we’re going to want to expand the kitchen or have a media room. But I also know that I don’t want that to be my first project. I don’t like the idea of ‘practicing’ on an investment. The TOH guys are a little frustrating because it looks a little too easy. Sure they’re highly paid professionals, but they format their advice in a way that’s digestible for the average homeowner. I have some peers who have taken on major projects. Some people like to stay up into the wee hours and get the project done as fast as possible so as to not impact their lives too much. Others take an artisanal approach and leave portions of their homes covered in tarps and sawdust for months while they handcraft everything. I think my style will fall somewhere in between. We just have to get M her own grout trowel and pink hammer first…

Things you don’t do when you’re 23 and sharing a 3 bedroom in Allston…

When M and I decided to get our condo, I laid down the law: No furniture purchases for at least 3 months. This wasn’t because I really liked the stuff we already had, but a precautionary measure. I had heard too many tales of new homeowners running off to (insert furniture megastore here), buying 6 rooms worth of furniture on the 60 days no interest plan, and then paying a second mortgage on that ‘Cochrane 10 piece dining set in light espresso finish’ for 10 years. I didn’t want to be that guy, so for 3 months we sat on the furniture the F’s left behind for us. M has been feathering the nest here and there since that 90 day window closed. I can’t say it’s been unpleasant. I haven’t completely sold out and started wearing pleated dockers with tube socks and New Balances. My Friday work conversations don’t go like this:
“I told my wife I wouldn't drink tonight. Besides, I got a big day tomorrow. You guys have a great time.
A big day? Doing what?
Well, um, actually a pretty nice little Saturday, we're going to go to Home Depot. Yeah, buy some wallpaper, maybe get some flooring, stuff like that. Maybe Bed, Bath, & Beyond, I don't know, I don't know if we'll have enough time.”
This weekend we even managed to hang out with real hipsters and pretend to be urban. We visited the new ICA near the world trade center in South Boston, loaded with conceptual art loaded with metaphors about angst and dystopian ennui. M and I were sorely out of place. As we were walking out, I saw all these groups of guys walking around with… golf clubs??! There’s no golf course near the seaport?? I had somehow missed out on a wicked sweet golf expo. Unfortunately I already have just about everything I need golf-wise, so I couldn’t argue for a detour. We did end up at a mall (in a much fancier suburb, which I enjoy driving through and pretending we live there), where M had found a few new items for the digs. We got a few new lamps which have completed the recycling of the old furniture in the bedroom. Now if those GD craigslisters would just come and take our old stuff away…..

Great Expectations

This is not going to be about Pip and Ms. Havisham, but it is about the power of expecations, high or low.
#1 with a bullet - The Patriots. It took me a week to come to terms with it, but that was a most unexpected result. The Giants just wanted it more and had a much younger, athletic defense. I know Genius Bill likes his linebackers experienced, but there's something to be said for freak athletic ability compensating for the occasional mental blunder. Down the stretch the old Patriots vets didn't make the plays and the younger Giants D made a pro-bowl line look bad. Real bad. Coulda woulda shoulda.
#2. Taxes. M and I did our taxes this weekend. Another unexpected result. We managed to get through them relatively painlessly. In our first year of joint filing, we survived the exam with no injuries and a little more jingle in our pockets. I always expect the tax software to reveal some grave error from 1998, so I speed through the questions, hoping if I finish fast enough I can sneak out unscathed. M just plain doesn't like doing them. She did volunteer to do them for the both of us, and I anticipated a somewhat grinding day. I think we got through them to everyone's satisfaction. I'm on deck for next year though. Giddyup.
#3 Craigslist. Does not meet expectations. We're not trying to get 95% back on the overpriced custom made couch I got 5 years ago and my dog soiled. I'm just trying to get rid of some stuff and avoid the loonies who show for the 'free goods' ads. My faith in the online shoppers is not high at the moment. If I was available in the middle of the week to sell you my crappy wall lamp for $3, maybe I should get a job so I wouldn't have to sell you my lamp for $3. C'mon people...
#4 Cream of Chicken soup - exceeds expectations. M and I rehashed this recipe from something we brought my parents on Thanksgiving. All you really need is a bird carcass, some wild rice, celery, carrots, chicken stock and heavy cream. And a big ol' cleaver. There aren't too many opportunities you get to use the kitchen-axe, so sieze them. Too bad I had to hit the road again, because M got to reap the rewards all week long.
#5 Juno - exceeded expectations. I didn't know where they were going to go with the 'teen pregnancy is funny' thing, but it was well done. Highly recommended.
#6 Grape Nuts cereal - far exeeeds expectations. I am on the fast track to old man town. I'm not waving my cane at kids on my lawn yet, but I can see it happening. I still love a bowl of fruity pebbles, but this stuff is strangely awesome.

So that's 6 things that have either impressed or disppointed me. Check them out (or not). I'll have a better post at some point later on. It's been a hellacious couple of weeks at work and I haven't had a great deal of time to mine the gold out there.