In Asia
Yes, today marks the beginning of the Year of the Pig in Asia, and you should celebrate by eating bacon for breakfast (or maybe bacon and sausage in a breakfast burrito!). It’s said to ward off Muslims, who are far more prevalent than vampires. I think that I’m going to start off the year right and have carnitas tacos for lunch right on the heels of the breakfast burrito. How about THAT?
People will be burning hell money, setting off fireworks and doing all of the things that they do to to usher in the Pig. I’ve been in Asia during new years celebrations. In some places, it’s a social deal. In others, people cower in their homes since it’s also the Day of the Dead.
You should be able to eat as much and not gain weight during the Year of the Pig – if the universe was just… yeah, right.
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| greetings from Tibet |
Closer to Home
Today also marks the end of the struggle that I’ve had with the company that contracted to paint the inside of the hovel.
This is how the square footage works out: single family dwelling: 3,866 square feet; garage/work shop: 1,470 square feet; covered deck: 577 square feet, for a total of 5,913 square feet. Roughly 550 square meters. Lots of paint.
The painting contractor walked off the job. So I went against his bond. The inspector from the insurance company came out and found in my favor, a month ago. The painter had until today to finish the job or the insurance company would revoke the bond and pay me. I was first in line. I understand that there are a score of people with claims in line behind me. With the $$,$$$ back in hand, I can finally get the painting finished. The general contractor paid the painter, in full, up front, which is another story all together.
There was one coat of paint sprayed on, not well applied, and there hasn’t been paint on floorboards, door casings, the walls and ceilings weren’t repainted. The paint contractor in question was the largest in the area. (not anymore) The lack of paint has meant that I can’t move all of my stuff from the garage to the house. I could but it would be in the way and I don’t want it to be damaged in the process.
It’s too cold for the paint to stick on the outside of the shack. I must wait for Spring to get that part of this ordeal finished. I think that I have mentioned that I would NEVER build a custom home again. Absolutely never. WAY past time, WAY over budget, and a continual hassle. (are you hearing me, Fredd?) I still have workmen doing this and that inside the house every day to get things right. Yes, there is some light at the end of the tunnel and you’ll say that it is worth the effort then. But this BS has been going on for two years of my life and I don’t have two years to waste.
TV – as of yesterday, the TV went in over the fire place in the great room. It’s not hooked up to anything yet, but there is a TV.
Well, it's not like buying a complete house means that there's ever an end to contractors tromping through the place, either.
Houses are just a pain in general.
-Kle.
Yes they are.
However, being old and foolish, I didn't appreciate the extent to which (over time) this would be a problem. This too shall pass. I guess.
>This too shall pass.
Like a kidney stone, perhaps. But yes, it will pass. I hope it all works out sooner rather than later though.
BS has been going on for two years of my life and I don't have two years to waste.
Kept you out of a few potentially lethal environments?
You should be able to eat as much and not gain weight during the Year of the Pig – if the universe was just… yeah, right. If only, yes. 🙂
TV – as of yesterday, the TV went in over the fire place in the great room. It's not hooked up to anything yet, but there is a TV.
Appearances.
The grandkids might ask where the DVR/game machine is now…
Oh yes. The old "painters walked off the job" scenario.
I know about this, from experience. It's important to NOT pay them until they've done the job.
But hey, you got the cash back. Well done!
Good job – I guess the painter chose the wrong person to stiff this time!
I've looked into it before and decided that a custom home, in fact ANY build is almost always not worth it, especially in an area like this with lots of cheap housing available. Here, even a major remodel is way cheaper than new build.
I've known people who got sectional housing on trailers and they say it is the way to go; almost everything is done at the factory in high quality and it results in a quick, cheap, nice house.
Year of the Pig? I guess Pelosi and the other Pigs of CA are strutting their stuff around DC. A whole year to glory in their sty's.
There are a lot of rough edges that need to be smoothed out.
Really no. I have had the bank MAILING me correspondence to an old address and then bitching at me because I have not been responsive, etc. Sometimes (though not so much now) I'm in places where I can't be responsive and because of mail forwarding delays it creates problems. A construction loan is such by its nature that the payment is different every month so I've had no idea what to pay. And they changed due dates (bank policy change) during that period. I could go on and bore you further but I shall spare you.
Oh, they will.
It's a battlefield environment, LSP.
The terrain wouldn't allow for it. It's the nature of the location.
There is NO other housing available here, so it's either custom or find another spot. I just liked the remote location. Remote is a problem all its own.
Nobody loves a cess pit more than a California Democratic Party leader. Unless it's a pig. And they love a mud and shit wallow equally. In fact, it's difficult to tell the difference between the two.
The painter just up and quit? And you're "first in line" to get paid after whoever takes it all out of his hide.
Geez…sounds like he had this planned….stiff a bunch of people and disappear with the funds.
On a side note, we got the $5k back from the flakey landscape guy. We received the funds via registered, certified mail a day after he was served with our small-claims court papers.
He was the LARGEST painting contractor in the area, and had a good reputation. From what I heard, the owner started drinking more than usual and smoking a better quality of weed, and just said, "F-it", I'm tired of painting. He didn't abscond. He's still around, turning into a degenerate drunk.
Ow….that's sad, and not just for his customers.
It will all be in the past soon, and you can enjoy the house, if not the journey.
Why are you burning your telly? You'll need that to take the edge off when you're having a bacon sandwich. 😉
Oh shoot, I'll be writing Year of the Dog on my checks for weeks 😉
I've looked into places like that. I'd like to live there, but my income won't let me (yet!)
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