I finally got my cabinets ordered but they won't be installed until February 23rd. The windows should be installed within the next two weeks and I will prepaid for the new front door and storm door. I am so ready for this to be over with. Still haven't found an electrician to move the stove plug. (It's not as easy as it looks).
Since no one is willing to do such a minor job I thought I'd do it. Cut the power, take the old box up and move it to a new location, buy a piece of wire to run from the existing wire to the new location, hook everything back up, turn the power on and wham, the job is done. Of course things aren't that simple. I was originally hoping that I could just unhook the old wire and move it to a new location. Of course I would have to drill a new hole and plug up the old hole and maybe do a little crawling in a cold dirty basement but of course there was no extra wire. Now I have to do a splice. I go to the supply house. What size wire? I haven't a clue. I know it's a six or eight but I don't know how to tell. I do know a six is bigger than an eight but I have no idea why. I have to make a trip back home to get the instruction manual for the stove. It's a sixty amp so it takes the number eight wire.
Something told me to get 4 1/2 feet of wire since I was going to move the plug four feet but I didn't. Of course I was a half inch short. I had to buy some caps but the only ones for size eight wire were the waterproof ones. When I connected one end to the plugs I pulled my splice apart on the other end: that's when I discovered the water proof plugs have a clear gel inside. Makes it impossible to tape the splice together with electrical tape. Make to the store I go to get some clamps to hold the wire together.
I get back home, complete my splice, turn the power back on and .....nothing.
I still need that electrician I can't find. He has until the 22nd of February to not show up.
Tuesday, January 26, 2016
Stress does turn ones hair gray
There was an article posted on the web a few days ago that said that stress does not cause ones hair to turn gray. I've never been one to let things get to me nor have I been one to worry about my hair. Yes, I've been slowly graying but at 69 I'm just happy to have hair. But trying to help Mom save her money has been stressful on me, something I'm not used to.
It's a combination of things. Mom, 90, is in a rest home or retirement home or old folks home or whatever you want to call it; the political correct word is assisted living facility I think. Anyway at $9000.00 per month plus $854.00 a month for medicine it won't take long to burn through her savings. The only choice she has is to go on Medicaid but she has to turn over all her assets except for $2,000.00 and her house, if she signs a waver stating she intends to go back home. The only way I could figure out how to legally hang on to any of her money was to do repair work and improvements to her house, which is allowed. But, things aren't always as easy as they should be.
The stressful part for me is to find someone to do the work when it needs to be done. I have to get the work done in time to file for Medicaid without running out of money. My biggest fear was hiring a bunch of people to do jobs and they all show up at the same time. I can't have a man refinishing floors while the window people are replacing the old metal windows with new ones while a crew is pouring concrete for the new driveway while a big bucket truck and bobcat are running all over the yard while lumberjacks swing from my trees. Needless to say, what do I do with all the stuff in the house that had to be moved out of the rooms to be painted when the people show up to lay carpet in the other rooms.
I have to write checks to pay bills from an account that I do not have the legal authority to write checks on while trying to keep the checkbook balanced without access to the account while another brother has a checkbook to the same account writing checks to pay the normal bills which I have no idea how much the checks he is writing are for al the while trying to make the money, the deadlines, the work, come out together. Gosh, one sometimes forgets things like income tax from the annuity that was cashed out. Did I spend to much? Will I have to scratch the last project scheduled? Will finding out how much the taxes are jeopardize the filing for Medicaid in time to get approved?
Last week when I went to see Mom she said "your hair is turning gray". It's taken years to go from the darkest brown to light brown with a splattering of gray but just a few weeks to go from graying to gray with a splattering of faded brown. I do believe that stress causes ones hair to gray.
It's a combination of things. Mom, 90, is in a rest home or retirement home or old folks home or whatever you want to call it; the political correct word is assisted living facility I think. Anyway at $9000.00 per month plus $854.00 a month for medicine it won't take long to burn through her savings. The only choice she has is to go on Medicaid but she has to turn over all her assets except for $2,000.00 and her house, if she signs a waver stating she intends to go back home. The only way I could figure out how to legally hang on to any of her money was to do repair work and improvements to her house, which is allowed. But, things aren't always as easy as they should be.
The stressful part for me is to find someone to do the work when it needs to be done. I have to get the work done in time to file for Medicaid without running out of money. My biggest fear was hiring a bunch of people to do jobs and they all show up at the same time. I can't have a man refinishing floors while the window people are replacing the old metal windows with new ones while a crew is pouring concrete for the new driveway while a big bucket truck and bobcat are running all over the yard while lumberjacks swing from my trees. Needless to say, what do I do with all the stuff in the house that had to be moved out of the rooms to be painted when the people show up to lay carpet in the other rooms.
I have to write checks to pay bills from an account that I do not have the legal authority to write checks on while trying to keep the checkbook balanced without access to the account while another brother has a checkbook to the same account writing checks to pay the normal bills which I have no idea how much the checks he is writing are for al the while trying to make the money, the deadlines, the work, come out together. Gosh, one sometimes forgets things like income tax from the annuity that was cashed out. Did I spend to much? Will I have to scratch the last project scheduled? Will finding out how much the taxes are jeopardize the filing for Medicaid in time to get approved?
Last week when I went to see Mom she said "your hair is turning gray". It's taken years to go from the darkest brown to light brown with a splattering of gray but just a few weeks to go from graying to gray with a splattering of faded brown. I do believe that stress causes ones hair to gray.
Sunday, January 24, 2016
Massive blizzard paralyzes New York and Washington, 19 dead
I thought snow didn't bother Yankees--at least that is what they are always telling us southerners
Matt Damon says Hollywood must do more to support diversity
He could always quit and make sure a non-white person gets his job.
Thursday, January 21, 2016
Remodling frustrations
I have been unable to write in my blog due to numerous trips to Hickory trying to repair and remodel
my child hood home. Dad died 17 years ago and Mom is legally blind and almost deaf and as the years have gone by she became less and less able to keep her house up. She likes pretty things, clothes and objects of décor and she knows who gave her what piece and how much was paid for it and she never sold or re-gifted or threw any of the stuff out and as a result the house became a dust magnet and harder and harder to clean.
Most people put up one set of curtains per window but Mom has three or four sets per window and she has been unable to take them down and wash them. Her house did not have a range hood which left a thick coat of grease on everything in the kitchen. Except for the kitchen cabinets and the outside of the house nothing has been painted. New wall paper was put over the old, and the carpets were almost rotten because she was unable to properly clean because of her age and eyesight. But there were not any problems that could not be solved.
When I started this task it was done to protect her assets. Her cash has to be turned over because she is in a rest home and she needs to go on Medicaid so can keep only $2000.00. She is allowed to fix up her house however so the biggest problem was the range hood. Simple enough, I thought. I tried hiring several companies to do the job but got no response so I finally went to Lowes.
The range hood wasn't a problem but it seems getting cabinets has been a royal pain. Finally yesterday I paid for the cabinets and the range hood and cabinets will be installed by February 23rd or they are supposed to be.
I needed my fuse box changed to a circuit breaker and after failing to find an electrician to do the hob I hired a friend. I did find an electrician to wire for the range hood but now I need the stove outlet moved and can't get a response.
I had three trees I need removed and it took several weeks to find a man to cut them but he didn't want to do the job until February. I did get him out there on Thursday of last week and he finished up yesterday. (He couldn't work Friday because of the rain and was off the weekend) His estimate was $6000 but the job ended up costing $9500.00.
I wanted a driveway poured but I'm not sure if the man I hired to do the job will actually do the work. Someone willing to work was hard to find. One company said to call him back in February.
He was the only company I could find to talk to. No one else would even answer their phone.
I really would like to get a new driveway, a new front door, and the stove plug moved so I can get mu cabinets and range hood installed.
The floor finisher did a good job but didn't clean up his mess when he left. The first one I hired missed two appointments so I hired someone else. The painters I hired did a lousy job so I fired them and I did most of the painting myself. I can't get the vinyl floors replaced because the house was built before 1986 so I'll have to do that job myself but I will be out of time before I ca do it.
I have enough money left to finish what I have started if I can get people to do the job. That has been the most frustrating part. It would seem in this economy people would be willing to work but it just doesn't seem so.
my child hood home. Dad died 17 years ago and Mom is legally blind and almost deaf and as the years have gone by she became less and less able to keep her house up. She likes pretty things, clothes and objects of décor and she knows who gave her what piece and how much was paid for it and she never sold or re-gifted or threw any of the stuff out and as a result the house became a dust magnet and harder and harder to clean.
Most people put up one set of curtains per window but Mom has three or four sets per window and she has been unable to take them down and wash them. Her house did not have a range hood which left a thick coat of grease on everything in the kitchen. Except for the kitchen cabinets and the outside of the house nothing has been painted. New wall paper was put over the old, and the carpets were almost rotten because she was unable to properly clean because of her age and eyesight. But there were not any problems that could not be solved.
When I started this task it was done to protect her assets. Her cash has to be turned over because she is in a rest home and she needs to go on Medicaid so can keep only $2000.00. She is allowed to fix up her house however so the biggest problem was the range hood. Simple enough, I thought. I tried hiring several companies to do the job but got no response so I finally went to Lowes.
The range hood wasn't a problem but it seems getting cabinets has been a royal pain. Finally yesterday I paid for the cabinets and the range hood and cabinets will be installed by February 23rd or they are supposed to be.
I needed my fuse box changed to a circuit breaker and after failing to find an electrician to do the hob I hired a friend. I did find an electrician to wire for the range hood but now I need the stove outlet moved and can't get a response.
I had three trees I need removed and it took several weeks to find a man to cut them but he didn't want to do the job until February. I did get him out there on Thursday of last week and he finished up yesterday. (He couldn't work Friday because of the rain and was off the weekend) His estimate was $6000 but the job ended up costing $9500.00.
I wanted a driveway poured but I'm not sure if the man I hired to do the job will actually do the work. Someone willing to work was hard to find. One company said to call him back in February.
He was the only company I could find to talk to. No one else would even answer their phone.
I really would like to get a new driveway, a new front door, and the stove plug moved so I can get mu cabinets and range hood installed.
The floor finisher did a good job but didn't clean up his mess when he left. The first one I hired missed two appointments so I hired someone else. The painters I hired did a lousy job so I fired them and I did most of the painting myself. I can't get the vinyl floors replaced because the house was built before 1986 so I'll have to do that job myself but I will be out of time before I ca do it.
I have enough money left to finish what I have started if I can get people to do the job. That has been the most frustrating part. It would seem in this economy people would be willing to work but it just doesn't seem so.
Monday, January 04, 2016
Disappointed but not unexpected.+
A friend (?) was to help me out with a simple wiring job tomorrow in Hickory but instead of telling me he can't (or won't go) he choose rather to just ignore me. I can always hire an electrician but friends are harder to find. I wasn't taking advantage of our friendship as I pay going rates.
Pinto Beans
One Way Baptist is having our 2nd annual Pinto Bean supper February 27th. Take in or carry out. $7.00 If you are local to Randleman, NC and need tickets call me. 336 460 9474
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