4/7 Thursday FUN

katholeenie · Apr 7, 2011

I got the kiln loaded last night and left the lid propped open and holes unplugged & turn it on low, to try to slowly warm things up slowly and help them dry out. Went out this morning at 5:30 to close the lid & plug the holes & get the firing started.
 
I'm sad to report that the big bunny's one ear blew off. <img alt="sad.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/sad.gif"> I was concerned about that, because I was really forcing the process. DOnt' know what shape the ear is in. Might be able to glue it back on and paint it to finish it. Still wouldn't be able to sell it, but might - depending on how ugly the seam is - be able to use it for display. 
 
Pffththt.

gatorbob · Apr 7, 2011

Poor bunny! <img alt="sad.gif" class="bbcode_smiley" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/sad.gif">

Runninlaw · Apr 7, 2011

<img alt="sad.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/sad.gif" style="width:15px;height:15px;">
 
That stinks Kath.
 
Nothing too exciting going on for me yet. Regular work day then GOTR. Then I think we are going to get the boys new soccer cleats. Why is it I always wait until AFTER the season starts to do these things?!

wipaddler · Apr 7, 2011

Morning all
I spent to much time putzing around this morning to have time to pack a lunch and I thought by not packing a lunch I'd have time to stop and get a cup of much needed java... then there was some more putzing and no coffee. So now I have no coffee and no lunch, which also means I have no breakfast. 
 
I need a nap

Ailarie · Apr 7, 2011

/mourns the bunnybunny!
 
Not fun: Dealing with insurance claims and trying to find a tree removal company that can come out to take down the one that is leaning and threatening my fence or (depending on how it falls) the corner of the house. Interesting how a tree company quoted me $750 weeks ago to remove this pine and about 7 others. Now, they want $350 for the single pine as it is an emergency need. What a rip off!
 
Fun: (Sorta) Not that I'm trying to scam the insurance company at all, but two roofers have written estimates that claim that a total re-roofing (shingles) is required for repair of the wind/hail damage. So, although I wasn't planning on doing roof work until next spring, I may end up getting a new roof out of this fiasco for essentially my insurance deductible. 
 
By the way - does anyone really understand why - for essentially the same work, why one roofer's quote would be 2-3K more than another one's? That seems to be an awfully high difference. I should be getting another quote today or tomorrow. (I figure 3 is a decent enough number). I'm curious what their quote will be.. high, low, or somewhere in the middle. Any advice from someone that's been through a re-roofing procedure, would be greatly appreciated!

amichel · Apr 7, 2011

I won't have fun during the work day today, but in theory DS's new swingset will be installed today so we should have some fun tonight. It's technically his birthday present, but we had someone available to install it now and we can't really hide it for a month. For some reason it's a little tough to realize he's going to be three. Not so much him growing up, as much as how long it's taking me to get my habits back on track

praecipua · Apr 7, 2011

Morning, everyone! I've been MIA due to my friend's visit and then needing to recover from my vacation. We spent a lot of time on the house by moving furniture, putting up shelves, hanging pictures, etc. I LOVE it. I actually feel like I live in an adult's house rather than a student's house. I took a ton of pictures, but I've been lazy about uploading them. I'll try to do that tonight and post pictures.
 
There are two Nikkis in my life who were expecting and one of them had her baby last night. Baby Lauren is gorgeous (as is her mom. Who looks good after giving birth? Jerk.) So, I'll probably try to start her bib tonight. This weekend is going to be really busy so I won't get it done as quickly as I would like, but it'll get there.
 
What else? Well, I'm in the second week of my research study and it's going well so far. It's interesting to see how much effort it takes to raise my heart rate to the required level, and how hard it is to keep it low enough the longer I exercise. I'm learning a lot about how my body works, which is great.
 
Sorry that I've missed a lot of what's happened in the last week or so. I'll try to catch up.

amichel · Apr 7, 2011

Ailerie - the key for roofing contracts is to make sure that the labor price is fixed, not per hour, and that disposal and clean up is included.

gatorbob · Apr 7, 2011

Ailarie, one contractor might quote a really high number if they really don't want to do the job. For example, if he's already really busy, he might not have the manpower to do the job right now. So he's almost begging you to go with someone else. On the other hand, the guy with the low quote might just be desperate for the work. I wouldn't be too concerned, unless you get some more quotes that are ALL 2-3 k higher. In that case, I'd then start to question why one particular guy is so low...

Auntie Moe · Apr 7, 2011

morning peeps.
 
Ailarie, I don't have an answer for you about the roofing. When we replaced our roof, DxH wanted a particular roofing product and very few contractors installed it...we didn't have a lot of options (it cost us a fortune. Sigh.)
 
Another night out last night, Dewey Drink. HUGE group! Wow! something like 30 librarians showed up! Crazy.
 
I could use a night in tonight, but I've got a date and I don't know what we're doing yet. I'm hoping making supper and watching a movie/TV is on the docket.

Maples · Apr 7, 2011

Ailarie,
 
I agree with Bob. When I moved into my house I wanted a nice wooden privacy fence built. I contacted two different companies to come out take a look and give me a quote. The second company quoted me about $300 less than the first which was about a 20% difference. I was pleasantly surprised and told him that his price was much better than the other quote. His response was something like what Bob said "some people just don't want to work and they jack up the price. I want your business." It was simple as that for me. I chose the second guy. They did a great job and I saved about $300.
 
Best wishes and happy roofing!

Runninlaw · Apr 7, 2011

Ailarie - you might also get a low quote because that company is really hurting for business. We had ours done a couple years ago and unfortunately went with the lowest bidder. They were sloppy, one guy almost fell off the roof, and they did a crappy job. It looked fine, but about 2 weeks after they were done, it was super windy and I was walking with the boys. We got close to our house and could see the shingles just flying off. <img alt="mad.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/mad.gif" style="width:16px;height:16px;"> Then, about 6 months later, we were sitting in our kitchen playing card with the neighbors and it was raining cats and dogs. All of a sudden, water started pouring in through our pocket door. Apparently it was leaking in the garage too. They did a terrible job flashing certain corners, etc. They came back and allegedly fixed it - but I swear it still leaks in the garage and I am always paranoid it is leaking upstairs between the walls. I called them back out a while back and, surprise!, they were out of business. So be careful.
 
Wippy - no good.

wipaddler · Apr 7, 2011

I managed to score an orange and a rice krispy treat. So while I'm still uncafinated I'm feeling a bit better about not having breakfast.

praecipua · Apr 7, 2011

House pictures up on Facebook for anyone interested. Here's one just for giggles:
 
<a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/82013/width/1000/height/800/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="IMG_1027.JPG" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="16632" data-type="61" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/16632/width/667/height/500" style="; width: 667px; height: 500px"></a>
 
 
When it comes to getting work done on my house, I aways ask my friends who they've used. They're honest about good or bad labor and if they really liked someone's work, I'm not as crazy about whether the price is too high or too low.

Runninlaw · Apr 7, 2011

<p

Another earthquake just hit off the coast of Japan. Another tsunami warning in effect.

Ailarie · Apr 7, 2011

Thanks for the suggestions / info, guys. Of the two roofers that have come on site, the first (low bidder) has no file with the better business bureau. I believe that means that no complaints have been lodged against them in the past 3 years. The second (higher bidder) has an A- rating in that same time period. There were 16 or so complaints, but I think all were resolved. Of course, if you do a lot of business, chances are you're going to have some folks whine about things - it's just the nature of working with people. 
The low bidder is a small company. Brothers, I think, that attend a church in town (one I run by often). The other is a bigger organization that covers a lot of the Atlanta metro area. Jeesh these decisions are hard to make. You always hope you're going to make the right one, but unless you know someone who has already used their services, it's a bit of a crapshoot. Makes me feel like I could roll a lucky 7, but I could just as easily roll a pair of snake eyes1

Runninlaw · Apr 7, 2011

Forgot to mention, nice house, prae! And yay for beautiful babies!

amichel · Apr 7, 2011

Prae - love the pics! Great job!
 
((Japan)) I'm not sure if I've ever virtually hugged a whole country before, but I think we all should. Geez.
 
Ailerie - that is true that it means they've had no complaints, but it could also mean they are not registered. If they aren't registered with the BBB, they may not have their own insurance. You will want to make sure your contract specifies that they are insured properly. There is no such thing as a roofer who has never had a complaint

An unresolved complaint is a different category.

phdatc · Apr 7, 2011

Look on AngiesList!
<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by Ailarie <a href="/forum/thread/73356/4-7-thursday-fun#post_1993017"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a> Thanks for the suggestions / info, guys. Of the two roofers that have come on site, the first (low bidder) has no file with the better business bureau. I believe that means that no complaints have been lodged against them in the past 3 years. The second (higher bidder) has an A- rating in that same time period. There were 16 or so complaints, but I think all were resolved. Of course, if you do a lot of business, chances are you're going to have some folks whine about things - it's just the nature of working with people. 
The low bidder is a small company. Brothers, I think, that attend a church in town (one I run by often). The other is a bigger organization that covers a lot of the Atlanta metro area. Jeesh these decisions are hard to make. You always hope you're going to make the right one, but unless you know someone who has already used their services, it's a bit of a crapshoot. Makes me feel like I could roll a lucky 7, but I could just as easily roll a pair of snake eyes1
</div>
</div>

Beaker · Apr 7, 2011

Hey folks!! I have been MIA, crazy week or so since going back to work. Kids were sick, I was sick, loads of other stuff going on. Just insanity in the Beaker household!! Nothing terribly awful though, just time consuming junk!!
 
Fun: Today is Aiden's 3rd birthday <img alt="occasion16.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/occasion16.gif" style="width:41px;height:36px;"> I still can't believe it. He is such a great kid and we are so blessed to have him! Just going to do cupcakes tonight to celebrate and then a family party on Sat! No big swingset like Mr. M is getting (cool gift Amy!!) because the pool kind of prevents us from having space for it. But he is getting a basketball hoop for outside and a set of golf clubs (1 guess who picked those out!).
 
Not fun: While I was out on maternity leave, they moved the smoking area at work from a spot tucked between 2 buildings where people really didn't ever walk or need to walk to right on the walkway from my building to the parking lot. No one in my building smokes but people from the next building come over to smoke. I now have to go in and out of my building through another door unless I want to walk through the cloud and it means I "illegally" walk through a particular area. Oh and I also now get to see how often and how long people take smoke breaks. Wow! one group of guys are on their 4th break since 8am and each lasts about 10mins. So I think a nicely worded letter to the building coordinator will be sent today.
 
Prae I absolutely love the house pics, beautiful!
 
Ailarie my dad recently had his roof done. There was about a $2000 difference in estimates and a lot of it came down to materials used and cleanup costs. I hate trying to make decisions like this, its a boatload of money to shell out ot not feel sure about who you hire. Good luck!

4/7 Thursday FUN

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