May 31, 2005
Renovation Frustration
[mood| 
stressed]
Yes folks, we have the new hit Do-It-Yourself series... "Renovation Frustration," or "What They Don't Show You on HGTV!" Were the cameras rolling at our place, one would see hard evidence that my only prior construction experience is in side walling. I've got the demolition part down anyway!
In this week's episode we see the frustrated homeowner holding his pounding head in both hands, as he tears out tufts of hair. Paint peels and we show you how to make the flaking stop. We also update last weeks mirror vs. porcelain sink debacle.
Click here for Step by Step instructions on how to perform this weeks project of cutting access into an attic WITHOUT cutting into live wires in the ceiling.
Stay tuned as the fun continues and we reveal what home renovation is really all about.
Posted by capecodcyclist at 10:46 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
May 27, 2005
Show Me the Sunshine!
[mood| 
dampened]
This morning I did a Google for “Mother Nature.” I am not sure what I was looking for – maybe an email address or some directions for how to request sunshine? One of the results was a site with resources to help parents research the circumcision decision. WTF? I should have just done a sun dance or something. My vacation was supposed to have been this past week, but luckily I had changed it to this coming one. Perhaps the weather will change for the better.
Things on the home front are steamrolling forward. Jesse has been doing most of the paint renovations and things are looking great. Last night we went to the Depot of Home to round up our remaining colors for a weekend of paint and moving. We will be in our new home before we know it!
In the meantime, I hope Mother Nature hears our pleas to bring us out from under this blanket of fog, rain and clouds. April showers are not supposed to come in May. Bring us the sun!
Posted by capecodcyclist at 06:51 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
May 25, 2005
There's No Place Like Home
[mood| overwhelmed]
I have been paying rent for eighteen years of my adult life. Today, I mailed out my first mortgage payment. What a feeling! Yesterday, we had my sister and her husband over to check the new place out. It is great to have something we can call our own and take pride in. The work ahead is a little daunting – the finances even more so. However, to find the means to own on Cape Cod in this real estate climate is a huge feat.
This week, Jesse has been utilizing her break to work her tail off: cleaning, weeding, digging, sledge hammering, spackling, painting, and shopping for appliances. Next week, I am on vacation and the renovation will continue forward at breakneck pace. The hard work and late-night hours will be worth it. We will be settled in before we know it.
I will try to post before and after photos on the photo blog by this weekend.
Posted by capecodcyclist at 06:54 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
May 24, 2005
Massachusetts Fails Children
[mood| 
confused]
Yesterdays Cape Cod Times had a letter to the editor that was quite disturbing. Martha Chaprut wrote of an experience with the court sytem that should have us all demanding new laws on the books. She told of being there for a friend's daughter who had been molested and witnessing the hurdles placed in front of the prosecution in these cases. In Massachusetts the victim is at a disadvantage. Yes, we have innocent until proven guilty – I understand and value this concept. However, previous convictions should be admissable in a molestation case. We look at previous convictions in drunk driving cases, why not in child molestation cases?!?! Why can't the prosecution call witnesses? That seems completely unbelievable and I am wondering if there is more to this. Am I missing something? How can the prosecution make a case if they can't call witnesses? Ms. Chaprut tells of the trial's outcome:
...the finding was not guilty - not unexpected, considering the obstacles. Please tell me if I'm wrong, but wasn't this brave little girl violated twice - once by her attacker and once by the legal system? And we instruct our children, if they're touched inappropriately, to tell someone. Why?
The lead story in today's CCTimes was a child pornography case. We hear more and more of high level sexual offenders living among us and skirting the laws. It is time we get tough on these people and make previous offenses admissable in court and their crimes a scarlet letter on their existence. Once one of these predators commits a crime once, they will repeat. There is no argument that could convince me the laws on the books are working. We have too many examples of the system's failure. It is time for an overhaul.
Posted by capecodcyclist at 06:50 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
May 22, 2005
Let the Project Begin!
[mood| 
melancholy]
Ding-Dong the witch is dead - or gone at least. Yes, she has officially removed herself from our home. In the process, she took everything but the kitchen sink. Everything was gone except the dog hair, dirt and garbage left to rot in the garage. We were expecting the range to remain at least, as it is ALWAYS a permanent fixture of a house, but I guess that is another purchase to add to our growing list. Our theory is that she only left because the water heater bit the dust. Luckily, we had already contracted to have it replaced. The list gets longer...
What should have been the first weekend at the new house, began with my having to work. This wouldn't have been a big deal (we are only open 8-1 Saturdays), but yesterday was inventory day in Falmouth. After wrapping things up in Hyannis, it was off to navigate the rainy-Saturday-Cape Cod traffic, down(?) 28 to Falmouth. Inventory went by quick enough. Aside from the late lunch pizza break not sitting well in my stomach, things went rather smoothly. I was out of there by 5:30 p.m. And off to rid the garage of its garbage and its rotten stench. Jesse, her grandma and my mother scrubbed much of the house clean yesterday. It was a huge and noticeable improvement over Friday night's late night forray. The Nissan's bed is piled to the roof line and expects to be first in line at the dump this morning.
Today, we begin painting and get more cleaning done... the beginning of our next month's work.
Posted by capecodcyclist at 06:33 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
May 20, 2005
"D" Day for D & J and the DB
[mood| 
ecstatic]
Yes, the day has finally arrived. The "D" stands for Done Deal. "D" & "J"... well, you know who they are. "DB" stands for the Dumb Bitch who just who just wouldn't leave (and these just happen to be her initials). It is four months later, and the siege on "M" Street has finally ended. Now, the true work commences and another wait begins. At least we will be in control of progress from this point forward. We haven't been able to celebrate the ownership of a house that was purchased a month ago. We haven't even been able to step foot inside. I am working a long day Saturday, but the rest of the weekend should be spent in our new home, scrubbing and prepping. FINALLY!
This week I turned off my TV (except for the morning news), hoping I would be more productive. Unfortunately, I did not get anywhere near the work done that I had hoped. Perhaps I needed to rest for the chores ahead of us.
Off to work for another fun-filled day.
Posted by capecodcyclist at 06:51 AM | Comments (1)
May 19, 2005
Boycott Arab Oil
[mood| 
calm, cool & collected]
The Arab News (link to cartoon they ran depicting how they feel about us) is yet another prime example of why we need to do ANYTHING possible to ease our dependence on foreign oil. Whether it be wind farms, wildlife refuge drilling or any other controversial methods, we need alternatives. This site represents the views of Saudi Arabia (our hand holding friends) and much of the Arab world. Billions of American dollars flow to these hateful enemies of the United States each year. Our only weapons against these beasts are conservation, renewable/alternative energy and boycotting companies that import most of their product from the middle east.
It is time we stood up for ourselves. Our addiction to inexpensive oil should not blind us from who our enemies are. We are handing them our hard earned money every day. Boycott Arab oil. Support Cape Wind and ride your bicycle today.
Posted by capecodcyclist at 06:38 AM | Comments (1)
May 18, 2005
Clean Sweep
[mood| 
jittery]
Wow, change seems to be the theme this week. After changing from BLOGGER to Movable Type over the weekend, I continued my spring cleaning by changing over to Thunderbird (email) and OpenOffice.org (office suite). My computer has taken on a completely new look and functionality. It feels much more comfortable and user friendly.
I should have done this a long time ago!
Now, I am off for my first bicycle commute in a long time.
Posted by capecodcyclist at 06:29 AM | Comments (1)
May 16, 2005
The Days Fly By
[mood|
anxious anticipation]
I came home from work today and was faced with a big question. What has happened to me? I think I asked myself the same question a few times last week too. My routine has changed so much in the past several months. I used to ride my bicycle to work and then home. At least every other night, I would then “work out.” I would run a few miles or bicycle more every night, and every other I would lift weights. Lately, I come home and I think about doing these things, but the motivation just isn’t there. I still feel great - that is the strange part. A year ago, if I didn’t get a workout in I could feel the stress levels climbing. Today, I am on a fairly even keel with or without the exercise. Physically, I don’t feel at my peak, but it could be worse. It must be the relationship (Jesse and I) maintaining me… because it certainly isn’t the exercise!
There are so many things I would like to be doing with my fitness that have just been put on hold. The longer commutes have put a damper on things. The seemingly endless wait to get into our new home has played a role too. Soon enough, we will be in a normal routine with our own space. We will have the ability to be the authors of our own lives. A new chapter begins. I just hope I can get my ass out of this chair to enjoy it!
Posted by capecodcyclist at 06:22 PM | Comments (1)
May 15, 2005
Pride in Our Work
[mood| 
contemplative]
There is nothing more relaxing than knowing that each person you will encounter today will be performing their job with pride.
Imagine if that statement could be a reality? What has happened to taking pride in one’s job today? When was the last time you encountered a person that seemed to take pride in their work? Did you compliment them? Did you encourage their job well done, or were you so floored by their competence that you just shuffled away with your jaw on the floor? It is shocking when we encounter someone worthy of respect for their abilities today. Sad, isn’t it?
I am completely floored by just how many people have let me down in the past few months - by simply not doing their jobs (or performing them poorly). I will not turn this into another dull, drama-filled rant against the injustices of life. Lets just say these mistakes and poor performances have affected my life, the lives of those I love and my life savings in terrible ways. Must we lower our expectations to today‘s lack of standards? What gives? I guess it is the “dumbing down of America” come to bite us in the ass.
My parents say that it has long been a characteristic of Cape Cod life for contractors to never perform any jobs as scheduled. On Cape Cod people do things when they get “’round to it.” It seems that maybe this underlying philosophy has embedded itself deeper and has now crossed the bridges. The widespread philosophy now seems to be that people will perform as little of their job as they can get away with when they feel like it. Without supervision and prodding, no work will be performed at all.
The let downs I have experienced have not been contractors (yet), but the idea is the same. What we need is a do-it-all army of temps that enjoy their work, take pride in their jobs, arrive on schedule, earn your respect and your hard earned dollars. I would like these people to be on the other end of the phone today, my business contacts, my financial advisor, the store clerks, the job estimators, etc.. Where could we go with this?
I know, there’s no place like home…
Posted by capecodcyclist at 11:57 AM | Comments (2)
It's Good to be Back
After several days of being locked out by BLOGGER, I made the jump to real weblog publishing with Movable Type. I am excited beyond words. I have to give recognition due to MovableStyle for the current look. I am sure there will be changes, but for now this is it. I will get back in the flow soon. For now, I am recovering from the thrill of a new toy.
Stay Tuned
Posted by capecodcyclist at 09:58 AM | Comments (0)
May 11, 2005
Back Into Obscurity
I must admit I was enthusiastic about my recently increased readership thanks to new links from Cape Cod Today. However, I don’t suppose anyone else noticed there have been no “Today’s Cape Cod Blogs of Note” links to Sunday Morning Blog since my interesting dialogue with State Representative Matt Patrick last week? I purposely kept bringing my post of last Saturday back to the top of my page, wondering if it would ever see the “Blogs of Note” feature. Matt Patrick’s recent proclamations have garnered media attention, but for some reason exclusive comments addressing the same issues right here in my blog didn’t have the local flavor that the Cape Cod Today editors were seeking.
I thought Cape Cod Today a very cool outlet for the Cape Cod blogger community. However, I am not sure I like the idea of editors picking and choosing whose blog will get featured headlines, and whose will not. Were there some predetermined rotation I might feel better about it. In the mean time, I will let my blog continue to speak for itself. I have asked Cape Cod Today to remove the links to my blog. I prefer to go back to writing for myself and my close friends than to wondering why my political views have been snubbed.
Posted by capecodcyclist at 08:08 PM
May 10, 2005
Falmouth Bike/Walk-to-Work Day
I am excited that by coincidence I will be working in Falmouth next week... just in time for National Bike Week and Bike/Walk-to-Work Day. Falmouth seems enthusiastic about the idea, and although I will have to drive part way, I fully intend to cycle at least eight miles of my commute. I love my new home town already.
Posted by capecodcyclist at 10:13 PM | Comments (0)
May 08, 2005
Weathering the Storms
[mood|in good spirits]
As amazing as it may sound at this point, the title of wettest place on earth does not belong to a Cape Cod basement. I think many of us were left wondering this week, but a google search reveals that Cherrapunji in India holds the world record for yearly rainfall. At least in India, the rains come at night and the clouds part during daylight hours to allow warm sunshine a chance at drying things. Here on Cape Cod, the last few weekend’s weather has not been so cooperative.
After being relegated to our homes by this year’s harsh winter, it is difficult to swallow this weather. We have not had a dry weekend since the middle of April. Basements throughout Cape Cod are not known for weather resistance due to the high water table in many areas, but last weekend basements that have never seen a leak were affected. My temporary rental (a basement apartment) was overcome by the scent of mildew after the torrential rains last weekend. We were again buffeted by hurricane force winds and driving rain this weekend, as we escaped the drying basement to a weekend getaway in Truro. There is nothing like taking your clean clothes out of your suitcase and catching a blast of the strong scent of mildew in your face! Luckily, we are on track to be in our newly acquired house before the month is out. Then we will be doing battle with painting and washing away all scent and signs of the house’s previous occupants. I think I prefer mildew to the effects of these trespassers in my new home. Actually, these squatters may belong to the same family as mold and mildew, they are proving equally difficult to remove.
Being a Cape Codder has trained us to do battle with the elements… we are hearty folk. Sleeping in rain gear is a bit extreme, but it is only temporary. Keeping our eyes on the final goal maintains our resolve and, thus far, hasn’t allowed deadbeat tenants and infiltrating rainwater to dampen our spirits. We must trudge forward.
Posted by capecodcyclist at 02:27 PM | Comments (0)