It’s green. Mrs. Shoo still has another chair to paint and decorate. I believe the next one will be blue.
Archive for the 'DIY' Category
I use Dreamhost as the host for gotshoo.com and a bunch of other sites. Really cheap hosting with a somewhat reliable reputation. The hosting plan I have gives me 300+ GB in storage. For a long time I considered what the heck to do with all the storage since most of my stuff doesn’t take up more than a few gig. A few months ago I read a tutorial on how to backup your personal files using some Unix utilities (Rsync). So, I created a job that every night it would sync up my photos and music directories with my online storage. Awesome idea, right?!
Maybe it was the account name that gave it away, ’shoobackup.’ I got an email from support stating ‘Hey, it’s cool what your doing but your hosting plan doesn’t allow for it. Delete everything or start paying us $ .20 per GB a month’, which was up to a 100GB. I just deleted my account.
Anyone else use some kind of online storage backup? I checked out Amazon’s S3, they’re about $.15 per GB. Curious to hear what anyone else has to say.
The UPS man today delivered some new parts for my ‘old school’ pc that I am turning into a home server. USB 2.0 interal card for about 8 bucks, a gigabit lan card for about 10, and a new quieter processor for fan for about 18. Everything works like a charm.
Here’s a size comparison of the new fan vs. the old one. Intriguing.. huh? It’s quieter. I am lacking on content and the dogs wouldn’t cooperate with tonight’s photo shoot because there was a new episode of House on. The dogs are both huge fans of House and the Office. The Mrs. and I both agreed that tonight’s episode would have been much better aired before Christmas.
Roommate Steve moved out a few weeks ago, so I’ve been working on the upstairs. We’ve put a full size bed up there but had been unable to get the box springs that go with the mattress up the stairs. It’s a winding staircase. I had convinced myself through trial and error that if I just modified the outset of the ceiling above the door jam that I would be able to squeeze it up.
Before:
After:
Well… I didn’t get the clearance that I’d thought I get, but on the bright side I removed the unsightly sheet rock. The stairwell was already on my honey-do list to repaint. Now, I get to do a little drywall.
Anyone looking for a box spring for a full size mattress? I can make a great deal.
Remember the 3D mock up I did for the stairwell skateboard ramp shelving under the basement stairs? Well, I built the shelves this weekend.
Below is how it turned out. Didn’t take a before picture, but just imagine the space below the stairs with no shelves - you should be able to come up with an idea of how it looked.
These are also ‘green‘ shelves, the plywood is from a water bed frame that GTG’s parents were discarding.
Eventually I’ll close them in with some wood paneling and doors, but that is for yet another DIY weekend.
I stole this from Betsy.
1. Patch a radiator hose - Ductape? I’ve not done this before.
2. Protect your computer - A cinch. Turn it off.
3. Rescue a boater who has capsized - Water skiing count?
4. Frame a wall - I’ve never done this, but I know how to.
5. Retouch digital photos - See here. Done.
6. Back up a trailer - Done.
7. Build a campfire - Done.
8. Fix a dead outlet - See here. Done.
9. Navigate with a map and compass - GPS anyone?
10. Use a torque wrench - I know the concept. Never have had to do it before.
11. Sharpen a knife - Done.
12. Perform CPR - Was certified. Now expired.
13. Fillet a fish - Done.
14. Maneuver a car out of a skid - Skids and accidents.
15. Get a car unstuck - Done.
16. Back up data - Super Done.
17. Paint a room - See here.
18. Mix concrete - Never done before.
19. Clean a bolt-action rifle - Nope.
20. Change oil and filter - Done.
21. Hook up an HDTV - See here.
22. Bleed brakes - Never done before.
23. Paddle a canoe - Yup.
24. Fix a bike flat - See here.
25. Extend your wireless network - Done.
Notice the extra amount of wire. There will be no need for an extension cord. I even busted out the level for this project, and GTG wonders why I get excited about tools.
Close up of the hole I made. I got GTG to stick her hand in there to pull up the wire. Talk about hilarious. She lasted for like 3 seconds.
I took the scroll saw to this hole to make it larger. It’s fun cutting plaster.
I should have put down a drop cloth but the Shop Vac works just as great. And we’re eventually going to get rid of this carpet. This outlet does not have the built-in extension cord.
Note: I finished this project last weekend (all outlets work without shocking anyone). This coming weekend I will be working on the stairwell skate ramp.
What a wonderful Thanksgiving extended weekend. Wow, what a lot of turkey! It’s almost 12 am Sunday night and it’s the first real time that I’ve sat down at my computer and looked at emails. I really should be in bed, but I ate way too much at family dinner tonight with my parents, brother and his gf (Lil g) and my stomach is upset. I just couldn’t help myself after playing a game of Taboo this weekend and coming across the word Bosnia. The thought alone of that country can make anyone starve for days. But again, I should be in bed because the wife and I, still don’t know what to call her in gotshoo land - I guess I could call her by her real name? - honey?), are getting up around 5 am to head over to Fitclub to work off some StoveTop. I am dreading every second to waking up at 5.
In DIY news, I finally ran wire and put two new boxes for outlets and then ran cable and ethernet to the living room this weekend. It was a two day project but ranked pretty high after I rearranged the living room and notified all occupants that entertainment would be on strike in respect to the writer’s union. That and there was no cable or functioning outlets on that side of the room. I’ve got some non-interesting pictures, they’ll probably be posted as filler some time this week.
One final thing, one week after the wedding we were eating a high priced dinner right off the Chicago River. Two weeks after the wedding we were eating chicken nuggets and a salad in the basement. We’re back to being normal again.
This weekend I am planning to build some shelves under the stairs heading to the basement. I could have just busted out an 8 1/2″ x 11 sheet of paper and mocked up a version of the shelves under the stairs, but where would the fun been in that? I instead went the geeky route and downloaded Google’s SketchUp, a 3D CAD program.
I’ve got a little experience with CAD having worked at a truss plant doing house plan designs and truss designs. There are two flavors of SketchUp: free and pro. I used the free version of course which comes with the basic features to build and edit 3D objects. The program has an option to start up with a tutorial, but me being the confident geek I skipped right on by to the program. It took me about 15 minutes to get the gist of the functionality.
The program does take some mastering, but once you get the basic idea everything is a snap.
Finished wiring three outlets in the basement this weekend. Finally, I can unhook the daisy chain of power strips. 
Two orange lights mean I did everything right the first time.
More DIY. I’ve started wiring the basement with new outlets. It arose as more of a necessity after Roommate Steve brought down his computer and I had a power supply go bad in my computer then the computers started to get a charge as they were not properly grounded. It would feel like a joy buzzer if you touched the case.
I’ve got my system plugged into the circuit with the basement lights till I get the outlets finished.
I finally put on the last coat of polycrylic! Boy, it looks good.
Things I’ve learned while refinishing the floor.
- Lot’s of elbow grease required.
- Take your time and do it right. I took a quite bit of time. Taking a vacation in the middle of everything didn’t help.
- Close the door if you don’t want to see the mess.
- DIY is much cheaper in the end. I probably spent $150 in supplies and that includes the scrappers, adhesive remover, sand paper, renting a sander, and finish. Time wise I took much longer than a professional.
- Satisfaction is worth it.
I took the afternoon off today to sand the floor.
Picture doesn’t do the floor justice, but it looks good.
I am using a U-Sander, a four disc non-directional sander. Rented it from True Value. Non-directional means that I don’t have to worry about staying with the grain. Because I had stripped so much off with the adhesive remover, I started out with 60 grit paper then moved up to 80, 100, and finally 120.
The floor is very smooth and slippery. If all goes well tomorrow night, I am going to try to get the first coat of polyurethane down. I am going for a recommended three coats.
Finally making some progress.
Remember when I was working on the floor? Well, while we were in Colorado it didn’t magically finish itself like I had planned. Yes, I should have finished this a long time ago. This weekend GTG and Roommate Steve were both out of town. That left me to 100% of my time being focused on finishing the floor… and eating Double Stuffed Oreos (bad GTG for leaving me with snacks).
The floor is now ready to be sanded. I spent the rest of the weekend pulling carpet staples which are worse than trying to find WMD’s or brushing your teeth and then drinking orange juice. My BFT’s (best friend tools) for the weekend: pliers, hammer, and nail set.
I have (and mean it) to get the floor done this week.
Excuse me for the pun, I’ve been abusing it all weekend. Well, I am doing what I didn’t want to do; resurfacing a wood floor. But as they say ‘It will build character!’ The character building has been stretched out over a few weeks as I find other higher priority items like planting a garden. It’s been two days and I still don’t have fruit!! Thankfully the Country Market is around the corner.
I stopped about 3/4 of the way on the floor because I got a terrible knot in my back. Yes, my body frame is meant for remedial key pushing. But once I get the remaining 1/4 done, I am going to go over floor once again to remove the remaining lacquer and glue.
So far so good.
As for refinishing, I am going to have to read a book or watch a podcast. My best guess would be that I will need to sand down the floor, clean, and then apply a combo stain + lacquer and wait 6 hours for it to dry. Okay, my best guess may of come directly off the can of stain. But it’s a start.
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