Good morning! I'll be at the helm today - Claude asked me to open the shop as he's somewhat tied up this morning. (So if you're reading this with your morning coffee, it means I woke up on time...)
If you're new here, SMHRB is where we share practical help with one another as we tackle projects to improve our dwellings, and sort out the mundane problems that often plague us even as we try to focus on the politics that shape our lives. Things like leaking roofs, and toilets that flush themselves - all the situations that distract us until we can't ignore them any longer. Here, we all pitch in, and by pooling our skills and efforts, try to keep everyone on track so we can tackle the larger issues without those nagging worries.
So pull up a chair, pour a cup of your favorite morning brew, and follow me over the jump...
A simple question, and poll, today - Where do your DIY skills come from?
By now, all of you know I'm not a master builder like Claude and I don't create beautiful, hand-crafted adobe dwellings like he does - I just drool over them and dream about living in one. What I really am is an old-fashioned Yankee handyman who learned much the old-fashioned way - OTJ (on the job) and from skilled craftsmen, plus I have a background in several building trades and some formal training, and I belonged to 4 or 5 different Trade Unions.
Here you'll also find trained and talented people - in areas like carpentry, electrical, plumbing/HVAC, mechanics and several other skilled trades, as well as designers, decorators, and even an architect or two among our intrepid little band of dedicated DIY'ers. All of us are willing to pitch in and help, any way we can.
When we gather like this, we put aside our politics for a few minutes or hours (Although I won't resist a cheer or two over the Inauguration of our 44th President, Barrack Hussein Obama, and maybe throw in a "WE DID IT!" and "President Obama!" just for good measure - I'm still not tired of hearing that!), and just try to help you stay focused on the job at hand.
Feel free to ask ANY questions about your projects - always a smart thing to do before you dive into any situation - and we'll do our best to guide you and help you do your best with what you have. My one rule? "No question is too dumb to ask" That's what we're here for, please don't be shy.
Ready? The clock's ticking and the ball's in your court - fire away...
I mentioned last week that we had topped 6 feet of snow already this season, well, today it's over 9 feet and counting. And cold - did I mention that it's cold? Really cold. At least the sun's out! (I wrote a poem about the January cold, part of a series by month - anyone interested in reading it?)
(Oh, and this one's just for Claude: "This is God speaking - this week, check the air pressure in your tires!")
(Which reminds me - MA Liberal - did you see my last answer to your last post in the last SMHRB? You should do a lot more to your car than we discussed, IMO...)
(Finally, to boatgeek, who bragged about sitting around in shorts, while we dug a car out of 5 feet of snow and drove on ice-covered interstates in minus zero wind chills - a resounding bbbbbrrrrrrraaaaaapppppp!!!, and.....godwearejealousofyouwhatdidwedotodeservethisandhowdowegetalifelikeyours?!)