Villenke
13 September 2007
China
There has been some discussion in the blog-tet about this whole China thing. You would think that it had come out of nowhere, but in actuality this has been going on now for about four months. While I was at the job in Columbus in mentioned that I would still like to go to China and visit Paul. In a magical moment of love she said that it would be OK if I went. So I fired an email off to my friend Karl (strangely, also with a K but not Ann's). He mentioned that he and Paul (the one in China) had been looking into putting together a trip to China.
As we worked out the plans it seemed like the best time would be before the crazy Chinese holidays in early October. So it will be Karl, me, and Paul's sister heading off to Red China. I leave on the 21st and arrive in China around 10pm on the 22nd. Yep, that is a solid 34hrs of travel to get to China. (on the other hand when I fly home I will leave Tokyo and arrive in Detroit and hour BEFORE I left...the date line is a crazy thing.)
So, while in China I will be completely unable to blog (China is scared of our freedom of speech) but I will be sure to have plenty to report when I get back.
Also, I was compliment earlier for not mentioning the losses that UoM has suffered. Sure, I don't want Michigan to beat Ohio State, but when it comes down to it their losses have made the whole Big Ten look bad and that is more important at this point in the session then who is winning and who is losing. ¶ 19:59 0 comments
As we worked out the plans it seemed like the best time would be before the crazy Chinese holidays in early October. So it will be Karl, me, and Paul's sister heading off to Red China. I leave on the 21st and arrive in China around 10pm on the 22nd. Yep, that is a solid 34hrs of travel to get to China. (on the other hand when I fly home I will leave Tokyo and arrive in Detroit and hour BEFORE I left...the date line is a crazy thing.)
So, while in China I will be completely unable to blog (China is scared of our freedom of speech) but I will be sure to have plenty to report when I get back.
Also, I was compliment earlier for not mentioning the losses that UoM has suffered. Sure, I don't want Michigan to beat Ohio State, but when it comes down to it their losses have made the whole Big Ten look bad and that is more important at this point in the session then who is winning and who is losing. ¶ 19:59 0 comments
08 September 2007
Windows
No, this has nothing to do with Microsoft.
Kate and I have decided to replace the windows in our house.
We had one guy come in and give us a quote for doing everything. For 12 windows it would be something like $8500. Naturally, I totally blanched at that number. Our neighbor, who is president of a remodeling company, said that you should not pay anything more than $350 an opening (a total of about $4200).
After doing a bit of research online I found that the Reliabilt windows from Lowe's are some of the best windows out there for a good price. But since I have 4 openings upstairs I decided to have someone who contracts thru Lowe's do those, while I and some of my friends will put in the 8 windows downstairs. I figure this should cost be about $3400 total. So I save $5000 over the one quote I got and about $800 over what I was told I should pay, but I am sure I could never find.
The windows will not be delivered until after I get back from China, but that is well before winter actually sets in.
Kate and I have decided to replace the windows in our house.
We had one guy come in and give us a quote for doing everything. For 12 windows it would be something like $8500. Naturally, I totally blanched at that number. Our neighbor, who is president of a remodeling company, said that you should not pay anything more than $350 an opening (a total of about $4200).
After doing a bit of research online I found that the Reliabilt windows from Lowe's are some of the best windows out there for a good price. But since I have 4 openings upstairs I decided to have someone who contracts thru Lowe's do those, while I and some of my friends will put in the 8 windows downstairs. I figure this should cost be about $3400 total. So I save $5000 over the one quote I got and about $800 over what I was told I should pay, but I am sure I could never find.
The windows will not be delivered until after I get back from China, but that is well before winter actually sets in.
Labels: home improvement
¶ 13:38 3 comments
06 September 2007
If that's what you're into
While the title is FotC there is no FotC content herein. I will mention though, before we get started, that I am pleased to have stirred up the FotC pot among not only the Blog-tet but also among those whom we vacationed with three weeks ago.
Since we last spoke we have taken on some projects around here.
#1 Kate and I briefly considered moving and started looking at houses and such. Then we realized that the housing market would be terrible for us right now, we don't really have the money (equity) to make it work without dipping into our savings a bit more than we would like, and that we are quite comfortable here for now. It was simply exciting to think about moving.
#2 Since we were thinking about moving we put together a list of things we need to do around the house to get it ready to be sold.
#2a Repaired the fence in the backyard that had started to fall apart in a couple of places. Done.
#2b Bring in some plaster guys to look at the damaged portion of our living room ceiling. Done (not the work part though).
#2c Patch the ruined valley on the front of our house. Done.
#2d Tie up some loose ends in the basement remodeling project. In progress.
#2e Replace the windows. In the research phase.
#2f Trim the bushes and trees around the house.
#3 Get Kate's car in for the 60k service. This lead me to replacing the front brakes and spark plugs.
While this has taken up the majority of our time, we have also found time to watch some movies and TV
Obviously, we have also spent a lot of time simply taking care of Charlotte.
Since we last spoke we have taken on some projects around here.
#1 Kate and I briefly considered moving and started looking at houses and such. Then we realized that the housing market would be terrible for us right now, we don't really have the money (equity) to make it work without dipping into our savings a bit more than we would like, and that we are quite comfortable here for now. It was simply exciting to think about moving.
#2 Since we were thinking about moving we put together a list of things we need to do around the house to get it ready to be sold.
#2a Repaired the fence in the backyard that had started to fall apart in a couple of places. Done.
#2b Bring in some plaster guys to look at the damaged portion of our living room ceiling. Done (not the work part though).
#2c Patch the ruined valley on the front of our house. Done.
#2d Tie up some loose ends in the basement remodeling project. In progress.
#2e Replace the windows. In the research phase.
#2f Trim the bushes and trees around the house.
#3 Get Kate's car in for the 60k service. This lead me to replacing the front brakes and spark plugs.
While this has taken up the majority of our time, we have also found time to watch some movies and TV
Obviously, we have also spent a lot of time simply taking care of Charlotte.
Labels: home improvement
¶ 20:46 0 comments
