House in Progress Diary

I, too, get contractors (and landscapers) stopping by... I had hoped it was because my neighbors are well-to-do enough to afford them. Oh well.... Hi! I've been lurking on your site since last summer when my daughter found you while searching for all things Japanese. (Do you still have those pre-war school books? She takes Japanese classes at MIT and Harvard and knows their departments would love to have them.) Anyway, I am the proud?? owner of a small 1913 balloon frame house in Chicago's western suburbs and a hopeless do-it-yourselfer. The nail in the bedroom story cracked me up. I tried to pull one like it, instead of me breaking the hammer, the hammer broke ME when the nail let go. I had the most beautiful black eye. Try explaining how you hit yourself in the head with a hammer... Before you demolish your second floor - buy a Dremel tool!!! Neatly cuts off old nails in seconds with no hard labor involved! Better yet, find one at a garage sale. I've found a router, 10" power miter saw, sears electric paint sprayer, hand tools, and plumbing and electric parts all for a fractin of the cost. The Sears parts store on Gearge St. in Melrose Park also sells reconditioned power tools. You can do anything with the right tools. [and a touch of insanity ] Best of luck, Celia

Ouch!!
Well, I know you have been doing great things inside...I can relate - I am sure our neighbours think we have abandoned our "project house" but
we have been working all winter finishing off a studio space that they can't see!

Oh, God. Here's a canned response: "You won't get my business insulting the condition of my house, even if you're right." Close door gently but firmly. Scream.

I get that from roofers going past my house. My philosophy is "If it's not broke, why fix it?"

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