Bain

. . . met the treadmill from Hell, and suffered a frightful demise. Click to Enlarge 38.03 KB

I let them know that it's been glazed, 'cause it invariably chips and I don't want to hear about it a year down the road.

That veneer's installed the same way they do it around here. The masons bring the mortar directly adjacent to the windows and doors, and not one piece of backer rod is used during the entire project. The mortar invariably contracts, and . . . well, I don't need to explain it. I'll bet that's at least contributing to this water penetration issue.

My understanding is there are some who actually enjoy a bite here or there during a good probing.

Oh my! Hahahahahaha . . .

That's the important part, and you may well be the only person involved who will understand and/or care about their financial constraints. I was in a house for about 1/2 an hour last week, after which I called the buyer--a repeat customer--and asked if he had an extra 50K socked away somewhere. He wanted to know why I was asking, and I told him if he DIDN'T have that spare 50K, he shouldn't buy the house. This apparently made it back to the realtor, whom I understand had what we call in Kentucky, a rather intense hissy fit. And on the subject of gasoline and accelerants, I once finished describing what was up with a horrible house in front of a buyer and her realtor. The house was a hundred-year-old rat that wasn't built to last a 100 years. The realtor asked what the best method to take care of all the flubs would be, and I calmly explained that I would toss in two or three grenades, let the dust settle, and start all over again. Unsurprisingly, these words of wisdom weren't terribly well received, either.

Ha, ha. Beautiful!!

^^^ ahahaha . . . The same is true here. Just last week, a young woman called and said her husband told her, "If we use (Realtor's name deleted)'s recommendation for a HI, we both deserve to be kicked square in the ass."

This summer, I had a listing agent convince buyers and their realtor that I was a deal killer, and the buyers opted to hire someone else. The buyers had walked away from one house I looked at for them, and I thought we'd developed a good rapport, but they wanted the house and told me to have a nice life. In the grand scheme, not really that big of a deal, but like Witzke, even if I HAD wanted to file a complaint, the only venue that was available was the local real estate board. And that's pretty much like Batman complaining about Catwoman to the Joker.

I know, and thanks. It's just . . . I realize it's what we signed up for, but there are days when I grow oh-so-tired of the bloody bickering.

I busted a house recently on which the roofer used dimensional shingles as ridge caps. The buyer is getting pushback from the builder, who says dimensional shingles are fine for the ridge. So . . . I've spent the last 1/2 hour looking at Certainteed and O/C installation instructions, but none of them expressly prohibit dimensional shingles on ridges. The instructions simply explain how to fasten the cap shingles and have accompanying diagrams. If anyone has some sort of definitive literature that states dimensional shingles MUST NOT be used for ridge caps, I would LOVE to have it for ammunition. (And please don't tell me how to handle t'ings with the buyer 'cause I understand all about that.)

I, too, am sorry about your Mom, Bill. Best always.

They must not do it too often, or the ceiling texture would be chipped.

All the best, Brandon. I will miss you. Among all else, know that your patience and generosity toward others was absolutely noted and appreciated.

Our friend, Mike Bryan, is in Virginia and he, too, would do a splendid job. www.mgbinspect.com

The dolls render it just eerie enough for one's imagination to rev until you see and hear a ghost-child plinking out some simplistic melody over and over and over again.

^^^ ahaha . . .

. . . but I'll bet some peeps were moving in a hurry. Download Attachment: DSC04928a.jpg 439.6 KB

What model Olight- I didn't see any with more than 700 lumen output. My Fenix is 760 I have the OLight M30. It's the 700 lumen light and it uses two 18650s.

We all had a weird experience as 7-year-olds and mothers with sheer negligees. . . I love you . . .

I alternate between the M20 and the M30, and haven't had a problem with battery life. Each begins to grow dim by the end of the day--which at first made me think the things were broken--but I carry several spare batteries so no worries. Pila chargers, by the way, are the road to take with 18650s. Two Ultrafire chargers failed so I did some research and learned about Pilas. I'm talking Porsche v. Volkswagen. http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/sho ... ger-Review

But that's just how it's gonna be for a long time to come. We were all used to UltraStingers, but then the Fenix comes around, and is better in every way imaginable, so we all get one. Technology improves--blindingly fast--and suddenly the Fenix seems like little more than a toy. A camera you can buy in a couple of years will make this new Pentax seem neanderthal by comparison. I picked up an iPhone 4s on Friday. To have that much firepower in such a small package seems impossible. But in three or four years? It'll be just like the Fenix.

I'm sick and tired of subsidizing those who choose to waste $500,000,000 of our money on a stiff like Solyndra. Meh, but we're not supposed to talk politics here . . .

I bet the whole affair yanks right out if needed. Does it Bain? (just lift the far end and rotate it out from under the counter flashing.) No clue, Mike, but probably. When I removed the lid and eased through the hatch to subject myself to rat shit, spider webs and other funk, my interest in the pretty copper box waned dramatically. : ) I bet! Last week I broke a couple of crawlspace records: In my whole 19 year career, I've only seen two snakes in a crawlspace - tons of skins, but only those two snakes. And, of course, I've seen my share of black widows. But on a vacant property I ran across two widows inside the house (first number one), and a average sized black snake in the crawlspace. (not a first, but the widows and the snake all in one property was.) Yet, I think I'd take that combo over a rat or cat droppings loaded crawlspace. A crawlspace that has become a cat box is the worst, I think - pretty damn disgusting. I've seen snakes a few times. Anyone who isn't creeped out by those shiny little eyes and that darting tongue is a better man than I am. I carry an old golf club to knock down spider webs. Once--and I freely admit it more from fright than bravery--I smashed a snake's brains out with the club in a crawlspace, while shouting, "Die, mutha f*cka!" Thankfully, no one was inside the house to hear me, or they probably would have called the cops.

I bet the whole affair yanks right out if needed. Does it Bain? (just lift the far end and rotate it out from under the counter flashing.) No clue, Mike, but probably. When I removed the lid and eased through the hatch to subject myself to rat shit, spider webs and other funk, my interest in the pretty copper box waned dramatically. : )