86'n It

You know how when you are not sick and those kleenex's commercials showing the tissues' with Aloe and lotion and menthol just sound so disgusting?

And then you get sick, and they sound like heaven wrapped in a cup of hot chocolate, wrapped in a heating pad with a cup of chicken soup on it?

Yeah, that's me right now. I'd give my left arm for a box of greasy lotion-filled, Kool's-smellin' tissues.

But no, I'm reduced to sleeping sitting up with rolled balls of raw, cheap tissues jambed up my nostrils and CVS knock-off vap-o-rub smeared on my chest. Then I have to go to work with my pink bunnie PJ pants on under my dress pants, and I don't even give a crap if you can see the top sticking out of my waistband. If we had direct deposit at this place, I wouldn't even be here.

But our stupid crack house needs my paycheck like I need those tissues.

I think I may have a problem. I went to visit my sister and two nephews in Florida for thankgiving and somehow, we ended up at IKEA redecorating my godson's room.
It does look super cute though!

We got him a new bedspread, curtains and wall pictures.

It was supposed to be his Christmas present, but I feel like it was more of a present for me!

Then we had to play...

PEEK-A-BOO!

I know, I know, we have been seriously slacking lately. Well, the cold weather here brought us out of our funk. We decided we needed to weatherproof and "upgrade our security system."

And by "upgrade our security system" I mean install some windows in OPEN HOLES and upgrade our locks.

Here's an example of an old lock:
Let's take a closer look at that...

Um, yeah, that sort of "lock" couldn't even keep your sister out of your bedroom, let alone a burglar out of your house. So we changed it out, but I'm not showing a picture of our new lock because that just doesn't seem like a wise thing to do on the internets.

Next thing: Window #1:
Install WINDOWS. Wow, what a concept right? Here is the old owner's "window":
It's not so clear in this pic, but that is a piece of 1/4" board that used for tac-boards with a dryer vent in it. A baby could put it's fist right through it.

I'm ashamed to say, this is my "post painting" fix. Yeah, that is a piece of cement board, propped up against the OUTSIDE wall and held in place by a rock. Klassy.

Luckily, I found the old real wood window when I was cleaning the basement. We had the painters clean it up, paint it, and reglaze it!

Ta-da! Nice right?
(and please note that our house is not neon yellow. I had to take these photos before work this AM, so they were dark and I lightened them.)

Window #2:
What does your husband do on weekends? Well, mine makes windows!
Here is a crappy before shot of this window. It is the same tac-board stuff with 2 screws holding it to a rotten frame.

Oh, and see that dirt mount next to the opening? Yeah, that is ashes from the old owner's wood burning stove. Apparently, walking out the door with ashes was just too much of a chore, so she would Open the Window and Throw Them Out! WTH? If that wasn't bad enough on it's own, having the pile right there was making all the water rush down thru the "window" and into the basement. Urgh.

So here is an outside of the new window (unpainted we will paint it the dark brown soon). Notice that I relocated the ash pile.
And here is a shot looking down into the newly excavated window well showing Marc's excellent metal flashing!

Then, "Weather proofing":
Since the old owner took her wood burning stove, we've had the chimney flue just open, which was fine until it got cold and started to suck all of our expensive warm air right out of the house. This solution was recommended to us by friends and fellow renovators. Very high-tech.
Just shove a bunch of insulation up there. Hey, it works like a charm!


Next up, finding a weatherstripping solution that works. We are on strike 2 in that department.

Saturday we went to bar to watch the big game (OSU vs MI) and to see Asheville's Holiday Parade out the bar window.

The parade was... interesting. It was about 2.5 hours long, and well, I have to admit, I'm used to NYC parades, so it was a little disappointing. Until a tourist lady came into the bar and breathlessly exclaimed, "Oh GOSH! There are bellydancers and these guys with dreadlocks and long beards playing drums! It's not like any parade I've ever SEEN!"

Welcome to Asheville lady, you'll see that on the sidewalk everyday. So while it's not the Macy's T-day parade, it does have it's charms.

Here's some highlights:
Crazy car #1.
Crazy car #2.
Gobble!
Miss Cherokee
Cool African dummers
Crazy Car #3.
Marc depressed after the game. Hee hee. Notice our team colors.

This isn't even remotely house-renovation related, but it IS the Cutest Thing Ever. Here's the scoopity-doopity:

Sister #2, Missy, apparently tells sister #1, Heather (I'm numbering you only by birth order, so calm down, sisters) to have her 5 year old son, Deano, "go thru the toy catalog and circle what he wanted".

Heather emails us and says:

Could it be more perfect that he is circling almost everything? Well, duh!

And who is impressed that he can number until 25 too??

Plus, how awesome is Heather for the "guns are not toys"??