For the past few weeks we have been in contact with the builder and trying to get a hold of the crappy HVAC company that put in our venting system. The problem? The register or vent in the office (South/West facing corner room with two windows) has absolutely no airflow coming out of it and the vent in our master has a tiny trickle.
Well, after several weeks of waiting, scheduling a duct cleaning company to come out, and 30 minutes of arguing with the HVAC company just to get an appointment for them to come out and look at the problem....they finally came out and found the problem. Due in part to cutting holes in the ceiling of the garage and pouring over the pictures I took of the house in the framing stage (i didn't have as many angles as I would have liked). The two problems. The ducting in the garage that leads to the master is restricted to about 1" of flow space in the crappy flex ducting they put to bend around a beam that should not have been done, because they could have gone straight up. Then the kicker. There is ducting from the office to the wall and down the wall of the living room to the garage....and then nothing. Nada, Zip, Zilch. There is a 15 ft gap between the end of the duct feed to the smaller ducting going up the wall. Absolutly nothing there. Might explain some things. They are suppose to come out tomorrow to fix it, so hopefully we will finally have A/C in the two hottest rooms of the house by the time it gets to 90 Deg tomorrow like the forecast says.
No update on the driveway...plans are still in for review with the city.
Monday, July 09, 2007
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Lights in the clouds
I was at my old boss's house for dinner this evening and for about an hour from 8 to 9 pm there was constant lightning in the distance. It lit up the sky about every 10-20 seconds. The weird part was that there was no thunder and no rain where I was. Its still about 85-90 deg outside. I have never seen anything quite like it before. Today has be an absolutely beautiful day. A gorgeous sunrise and sunset followed by a light show. Now, as you have probably already guessed (if you don't know already) I am not in Seattle right now. I am down in Southern Arizona for work. It is over 100 deg during the day and doesn't really cool down much at night. This is my second week straight down here and I am ready to be back in Seattle. Due to the length of the trip, I stayed down for the weekend. I didn't want to stay here in the hot weather all weekend, so I drove through 116 deg temps north and west of Tucson to San Diego, CA for a few days. In addition Rissa flew down from Seattle early for meetings she had on Monday in Cali. So we got to relax in SD for the weekend. It was cool and beautiful and we got to see friends and family. I would like to post pics of the lightning, but I don't have a very good camera for night lightning shots down here with me so you'll just have to imagine it...:)
Thursday, June 07, 2007
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
You know you are a TiVo fanatic when....
So a couple of weeks ago we were still trying to get internet and cable tv access. It was taking a while because of the new address, then a problem with the cable line, and then a problem with the cable modem. We were finally able to get TV service, but the cable modem wasn't working properly. Next question was how to get the HDTiVo up and running? Now, if you don't know much about TiVo, when you set up a new cable service (in this case, two cable cards for HD!) it has to call into TiVo to get the program info. Well, we don't have a land line and the internet wasn't working. So what did I do?... I plugged my cell phone into my laptop, tethered it to the internet service provided by 3G from Cingular, set up internet connection sharing on the laptop to the Ethernet port, connected the port into one of my Gigabit switches, and told the TiVo to search for a connection...and what-do-ya-know! It worked! :)
Just thought I would share. Thank goodness for unlimited data on the cell phone...I think the data usage that month was something like 75 MB...:) I don't even want to know what that would have cost if I was on a pay per use plan.
Just thought I would share. Thank goodness for unlimited data on the cell phone...I think the data usage that month was something like 75 MB...:) I don't even want to know what that would have cost if I was on a pay per use plan.
Friday, May 18, 2007
Now thats just wrong!
So it cost me more to fill up my BMW Z4 roadster then to fill up my Diesel Jeep Liberty ...
Thats just wrong....
BIODIESEL BABY!!!
My Jeep is more earth friendly then my little roadster...hmmm.
They get about the same gas millage though.
:)
Thats just wrong....
BIODIESEL BABY!!!
My Jeep is more earth friendly then my little roadster...hmmm.
They get about the same gas millage though.
:)
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Don't Worry...Be Happy
Summary of last two months:
*Lots of Travel for work.
*Closed on the house. (Almost didn't...see next line)
*Builder poured driveway, we drive up in jeep and slide back down.
*Highest stress ever experienced in our lives for a month.
*Convinced builder that the driveway is WAY, WAY, WAY too steep.
*Still don't know how it got approved by the city.
*Builder in the progress of getting engineering plan (that he should have done in the first place) to the city to modify the grade of the road and the driveway to make it more realistic.
*Fire department comes by and says "Stairs for you!"...builder required to build stairs from the road to the house due to the steepness of the driveway.
*Designed and partially implemented back yard landscaping so the dogs have grass and not mud to run around on (for our sake and theirs).
*Fence to be constructed starting May 22nd.
*Finally in the house with the generous support of our friends (and a few hired pros to pack the truck and haul the big stuff up the driveway)
*The Beagles Love it and are now able to run in and out of the house and not going stir crazy in a 1 bedroom apartment! (and we all know they come first)...
*The view and the house are AWESOME. Now we just have to be able to get up the driveway...I know...technicalities.
*Still no stairs or fixed driveway...soon hopefully.
I will take more pics and upload them as soon as I have internet access. (Stupid Comcast).
:)
More later
*Lots of Travel for work.
*Closed on the house. (Almost didn't...see next line)
*Builder poured driveway, we drive up in jeep and slide back down.
*Highest stress ever experienced in our lives for a month.
*Convinced builder that the driveway is WAY, WAY, WAY too steep.
*Still don't know how it got approved by the city.
*Builder in the progress of getting engineering plan (that he should have done in the first place) to the city to modify the grade of the road and the driveway to make it more realistic.
*Fire department comes by and says "Stairs for you!"...builder required to build stairs from the road to the house due to the steepness of the driveway.
*Designed and partially implemented back yard landscaping so the dogs have grass and not mud to run around on (for our sake and theirs).
*Fence to be constructed starting May 22nd.
*Finally in the house with the generous support of our friends (and a few hired pros to pack the truck and haul the big stuff up the driveway)
*The Beagles Love it and are now able to run in and out of the house and not going stir crazy in a 1 bedroom apartment! (and we all know they come first)...
*The view and the house are AWESOME. Now we just have to be able to get up the driveway...I know...technicalities.
*Still no stairs or fixed driveway...soon hopefully.
I will take more pics and upload them as soon as I have internet access. (Stupid Comcast).
:)
More later
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Brace Yourself...
I know...it seems impossible. But it looks like a real house now! (still no driveway..soon tho.)
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Interior!!
So alot has happened lately. (still no driveway...it has been delayed due to a conflict with the neighbor about dirt level issues). Paint. Slate. Hardwood. Cabinets. Doors. Garage Doors.
Its coming along.
Its coming along.
Monday, February 19, 2007
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Barack Obama officially announces Candidacy for President
Those that have been following things lately would know that this was already in progress, but yesterday Barack Obama [wikipedia.org] officially announced [bbc.co.uk] that he is running for President [slashdot.org]. He is young and new, with not a lot of experience in Washington, but I think that may be a good thing.
In his speech, he said this...
It will be interesting to see how things progress over the next several months as we learn more about his positions on various topics. I am very intrigued by what he has to say.
Another very interesting point is that he is most definitely on the cusp of technology. He has launched his web site: Barack Obama For President.
Further reading thanks to Janece :)...
Obama: Time to reclaim America's promise [cnn.com]
'Call to Renewal' Keynote Address [senate.gov]
In his speech, he said this...
"I recognize that there is a certain presumptuousness in this, a certain audacity to this announcement. I know that I have not spent a long time learning the ways of Washington, but I have been there long enough to know that the ways of Washington have to change."
It will be interesting to see how things progress over the next several months as we learn more about his positions on various topics. I am very intrigued by what he has to say.
Another very interesting point is that he is most definitely on the cusp of technology. He has launched his web site: Barack Obama For President.
Further reading thanks to Janece :)...
Obama: Time to reclaim America's promise [cnn.com]
'Call to Renewal' Keynote Address [senate.gov]
Saturday, February 03, 2007
House Progress!
Insulation has been installed with drywall supose to start next week.
Plus...we got the Jeep up the driveway :)
Plus...we got the Jeep up the driveway :)
Friday, February 02, 2007
House Update
On another note...
We met with the builder yesterday to work out some of the things we have paid for and determine what we own him...etc. Although we didn't get complete answers on numbers yet, we have things a little more organized now. Our updated move in date is March, 15th. I don't think it will happen by then, but I do think it won't me too much later then that...probably closer to April. They have started the rockery on the south side of the house as well as on the sides of the driveway. The driveway is also more graded and he hopes to poor the concrete soon. We also just got signed off on inspection, so the insulation should start in the next few days and the drywall won't be too far behind. So there is finally progress! :)
On a sadder note, I won't be able to play my xbox 360 for a while...I got the Red Lights of Death. Hardware failure. :) Its going in for service as soon as I get the box from them to mail it in.
Not much else to report. I will take more pictures of the house as the driveway and rockery get closer to being finished.
We met with the builder yesterday to work out some of the things we have paid for and determine what we own him...etc. Although we didn't get complete answers on numbers yet, we have things a little more organized now. Our updated move in date is March, 15th. I don't think it will happen by then, but I do think it won't me too much later then that...probably closer to April. They have started the rockery on the south side of the house as well as on the sides of the driveway. The driveway is also more graded and he hopes to poor the concrete soon. We also just got signed off on inspection, so the insulation should start in the next few days and the drywall won't be too far behind. So there is finally progress! :)
On a sadder note, I won't be able to play my xbox 360 for a while...I got the Red Lights of Death. Hardware failure. :) Its going in for service as soon as I get the box from them to mail it in.
Not much else to report. I will take more pictures of the house as the driveway and rockery get closer to being finished.
Not surprised in the least..
Scientists Offered Cash to Dispute Climate Study [slashdot.org]
Also,
How ExxonMobil Funded Global Warming Skeptics [slashdot.org]
And, to compound matters:
Congress Hears From Muzzled Scientists [slashdot.org]
More:
Scientists agree: Humans causing global warming [seattlepi.nwsource.com]
These and many, many other reasons are why I didn't vote for Bush and completely support this movement...I just wish it wasn't in the 11th hour:
Move to impeach Bush gets local push [seattlepi.nwsource.com]
Also,
How ExxonMobil Funded Global Warming Skeptics [slashdot.org]
And, to compound matters:
Congress Hears From Muzzled Scientists [slashdot.org]
More:
Scientists agree: Humans causing global warming [seattlepi.nwsource.com]
These and many, many other reasons are why I didn't vote for Bush and completely support this movement...I just wish it wasn't in the 11th hour:
Move to impeach Bush gets local push [seattlepi.nwsource.com]
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Winter recap
So I thought I would post a few of the better pictures that I have taken so far this winter. Needless to say we have had a bit of snow. It has been absolutely awesome. The dogs have really enjoyed it too.
Here yea go..enjoy.
Here yea go..enjoy.
Crazy day
Yesterday was an interesting day. Work was not all that eventful and we left later then I was hoping. The plan was to go home, get the dogs, stop by the house, take the dogs to the Marymoor dog park to get all their energy out, grab some food, and go swimming with our friends in Issaquah.
In actuality when we got home the builder called and asked if we could come by the house because he had some questions. It was perfect timing because we had just gotten home and we were about to throw the dogs in the car and head to the house anyways. We ended up being at the house for over an hour talking with the builder and going over a few things. All in all it was perfect because we hadn't both been at the house at the same time in a while, so we were both able to go over a few things that were better to be on-site to talk about. Progress is picking up. They are starting to grade the driveway and have partially leveled out the back yard. He has a better idea now of how the driveway will work and he even decided to put in a turn around pad at the top of the driveway next to the stairs against the embankment. This is excellent, because we were talking about asking him if this was possible, but it was HIS idea...so that means it doesn't cost extra! :) He said drywalling should start early next week, so I am thinking either late next week or early the week after... :)
Due to the time we spent there through the sunset, of course it was almost dark by the time we got to the dog park. Needless to say, the dogs didn't get as much energy out as we had hopped. We went from there to Whole Foods to get a few more items off of our list. We went in a different way then we usually do and this is where they day gets even weirder. I ran into a good friend and her husband that I knew from college! Now mind you college, PLNU, was over 1300+ miles away in perpetually sunny San Diego, CA. So I was very shocked to say the least. She was a Physics major, so we both spent a lot of time in the same building (Science Building) since I was a CS major. Plus her husband was the room-mate of another CS major that I graduated with (all 3 of us that year). They are living up here now (after being in many different places around the US) and what is even more funny is that they live about 5 minutes from where our new house is. Weird. Now, I do have to disclose one thing...she grew up on Camano Island, so the chances of seeing her up here are greater then your average Joe, but still. Very awesome. We got their number and hope to connect up soon. YAY! More friends! :)
In actuality when we got home the builder called and asked if we could come by the house because he had some questions. It was perfect timing because we had just gotten home and we were about to throw the dogs in the car and head to the house anyways. We ended up being at the house for over an hour talking with the builder and going over a few things. All in all it was perfect because we hadn't both been at the house at the same time in a while, so we were both able to go over a few things that were better to be on-site to talk about. Progress is picking up. They are starting to grade the driveway and have partially leveled out the back yard. He has a better idea now of how the driveway will work and he even decided to put in a turn around pad at the top of the driveway next to the stairs against the embankment. This is excellent, because we were talking about asking him if this was possible, but it was HIS idea...so that means it doesn't cost extra! :) He said drywalling should start early next week, so I am thinking either late next week or early the week after... :)
Due to the time we spent there through the sunset, of course it was almost dark by the time we got to the dog park. Needless to say, the dogs didn't get as much energy out as we had hopped. We went from there to Whole Foods to get a few more items off of our list. We went in a different way then we usually do and this is where they day gets even weirder. I ran into a good friend and her husband that I knew from college! Now mind you college, PLNU, was over 1300+ miles away in perpetually sunny San Diego, CA. So I was very shocked to say the least. She was a Physics major, so we both spent a lot of time in the same building (Science Building) since I was a CS major. Plus her husband was the room-mate of another CS major that I graduated with (all 3 of us that year). They are living up here now (after being in many different places around the US) and what is even more funny is that they live about 5 minutes from where our new house is. Weird. Now, I do have to disclose one thing...she grew up on Camano Island, so the chances of seeing her up here are greater then your average Joe, but still. Very awesome. We got their number and hope to connect up soon. YAY! More friends! :)
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
The Great Thaw
It seems that we are thawing out up here in Narnia...errr...I mean Issaquah.
Not that I am complaining about the 3rd snow storm in two months with over 10in. in Issaquah that lasted for over a week. :) I love the snow!
Hopefully this means that progress on the house should pick up. We'll see.
Current date from builder: March 1st, I am thinking April or May.
Anyways, back to work.
Not that I am complaining about the 3rd snow storm in two months with over 10in. in Issaquah that lasted for over a week. :) I love the snow!
Hopefully this means that progress on the house should pick up. We'll see.
Current date from builder: March 1st, I am thinking April or May.
Anyways, back to work.
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