3/31/13

3/31 - today, I painted the subfloor framing. I was told by two trusted sources that in lieu of using pressure treated 2x6s, I could just paint the wood to protect it somewhat. It won't be exposed to moisture, so I'm just looking for a bit of protection against bugs. I don't know these things. Sounds good. I used a can of forgotten who-knows-what paint from the garage.

3/30/13

3/30 - not a productive day. Started looking up some building info to find that most tiny cabin builders on the internet seem to stress the need to use pressure treated wood for the subfloor. So essentially, while trying to make progress, I actually might have lost a day of work or at least encountered a setback. I also tried to research how to safely buy Modafinil online. I don't have health insurance now, and Adderall is expensive. It has been a major improvement in my life, to say the least, so I'd like to fucking have something to help with my ADD stuff. Otherwise I will be overwhelmed by miniscule to-do lists, and unable to convince myself to work on any projects. I want to work on projects, so I'm looking for an affordable and safe source of drugs outside of the usual network of money-hungry bullshit perpetration. So I'm learning about stuff like Bitcoins, which allow anonymous funds to be sent to online drug peddlers in India. I'm writing about it here, because fuck everyone, yes - please arrest me for trying to make my life better. In any case, it was a nice sunny day outside, and I retrieved my van from Philly and stopped off to get some pot along the way. I'm writing about it here, because I think I should be able to do whatever I want as long as I'm not hurting other people, and I am officially threatening to kick anyone in the dick who tries to stop me. Further, I would like to underscore how important I am, and point out how much this matters.

3/29/13

3/29 - House: screwed the floor framing together. Cut the joists and screwed it together. Had some drill frustration with uncharged batteries and stripped screw heads and bits. Looking forward to getting the pneumatic framing nailer going. Karl's tools are a nice thing to have access to. We've been going to antique stores in the morning. This was day two of that, and it was a good time with Mom along. We'll be going to every antique store in Chadds Ford, of which there are many. I didn't buy anything, but I have an eye out for antique hand tools for woodworking and other related activities. I'm having a good time. I'm happy in Kennett for now, and happy that this transitional testing of the waters seems to be positive so far, even if I'm not far into it yet.

3/28/13

3/28 - House: buried the buckets of pretty-much-dry cement/rock. Leveled them and laid the beams on top. Cool. Spent awhile trying to cut down a huge fallen tree with a 30" bow saw. Didn't work. Would definitely be dangerous if fell rest of way. Was willing to take that risk. Would like to get more into woodworking. Would like to get more hand tools - big saws, various planes. Would like to make an Adirondack chair and a coffee table from a big slab of wood that I cut out of a big fallen tree. Uncle Steve, Maggie elder and Lillian left today. Got a nice yellow wool hat from a booth at the Antique Mall. Made in VT in what... the 70's? It's unique warm tight fitting hat to possibly take the place of my long-worn and favorite Dr. Pepper hat, which I've found is not as warm as it could be, and isn't large enough to fit over my ears while folded over one time, as you would generally prefer to have such a hat for added warmth. And I got Kristin an expensive ring for fun.

3/27/13

3/27 - Worked on the footers for the house. Took a long time. Got 6 Home Depot buckets and filled them with gravel and cement. Dug six holes. I thought the foundation would be done, but I still have to wait for the concrete to set in the buckets and work out all of the leveling.

3/26/13

3/26 - Finally hung out with Lillian [younger cousin] for awhile and got a chance to talk. You know - books and tv and music. Also, I gave a synopsis of my life history since she hardly knows who I am or what I'm about. I gave an overview and went on a bit. Dinner was prepared by Maggie the elder and Uncle Steve. Mom and Dad had a reunion function in Millersville, so we all talked and told a few stories and caught up. They like T.Rex. I guess I have good instincts. House: chiseled out the channels in the deck blocks for the new 6x4x12 skids. Hauled the skids and ten 2x6x10s in the minivan - with the long boards hanging out the back. Not bad.

3/25/13

3/25 - Huge family gathering. Ate pie all day. Kristin met most of the whole family. I'm not awesome around big crowds - even family. Joined the 3-Speed Society and bought a lot of zines.

3/24/13

3/24/13 Charlie and I made it back to Kennett. Left at 4:17am. (See notebook).

3/14/13

poker night. last day at Fairmount Bicycles.

3/13/13

Told shelly that I'm moving to Kennett after my walk.

3/12/13

Stashed all the building materials down by the building site. (Big pile of found 2x4s and plywood, stored under a tarp while I leave to walk on some amount of the Appalachian Trail.)

3/11/13

taxes. cleaned rooms and packed for the AT. Need a few things, but feel reasonably ready.

3/10/13

Got 4 matching windows! $180. Came to consensus over breakfast at Satellite: Kristin is okay with the idea of living in an 8x12 next to my folks. I can build that. It's on. She seemed to not like that idea so much before, but either I presented it poorly, or she reconsidered after looking at how much a shitty situation in West Chester costs. I'll build us something, we'll see what happens. Hopefully it's great. There is great potential. No rent means more savings and ability to adventure. I'm ready to try something different in life. I'm ready for the change of scenery. I think we'll be happy for awhile with this one: an 8x12 house next to the woods as my parents' new neighbors. || We also ate some shrooms and had a good relaxing evening.

3/9/13

dave visited for a bit.

3/8/13

My mood is up and down. It sucks. I'm getting burnt out. I don't know what I'm getting.

Dumpstering Building Materials II

Hell yeah. Now we're done playing games. I just got out of a dumpster on 23rd Street, and I owe somebody a thank you. Many beautiful half-sheets of plywood and other dimensional lumber are now weighing down my van pretty good. I easily got enough 3/4" T&G plywood and studs to complete a professional by-the-book subfloor. Throw in a fat bag of insulation from yesterday and things are looking pretty prosperous.

Dumpstering Building Materials

The games have begun. I borrowed a 42 gallon contractor bag from work and marched toward a dumpster on Penn Campus. They keep throwing stuff away. I packed the bag overly super-full of batts of fiberglass insulation. I would much rather do that than pay for it.

I carried the bag Santa-style for ten minutes and dropped it in a convenient location. Thus began the great scroungeabout.

I've been eyeballing the local building material waste-stream on my long walks and today I decided it was time to strike. I cranked on the van and made a big loop. First stop was the big bag of insulation. Check.

I took and apprehensive pause outside the dumpster on 23rd Street, but then grew some balls and just hopped in. I lined up stud after stud beside the dumpster and it was looking pretty good. Nice clean straight boards for the most part, but plenty of nails to watch the fuck out for.

It was a fantastic haul. I can't wait to start making various small houses.

Working on 3-D modeling.

I'm getting better at Sketchup. I'm putting together some nice 3-D models of house framing, and now I'm able to make the models in a more efficient way that's easier to edit too. I have a lot to learn, but I'm getting a good grasp on the basics. There's a lot less molasses in my movements. Some of these ideas might be worth putting screws into wood soon.