I Never Left You Hanging

Today, with some help from Sylvia, I installed a clothes drying rod. Zounds! I exceed myself. 

I used the following tools for this mad mission: 

• Drill
  
• Hammer
• Screwdriver
• Allan wrench
  
• Pliers 
• Level
• Pen
  

Note the extension bar with holes! I can hang action figures and starships from this simply by threading fishing line through the holes. Bonus! 

 

Astride the Clutter

When I lived in my parents' basement, I was fortunate enough to have a study alongside my bedroom. Within this study lived my computer and as many books as I could cram into the narrow space. When I went to university my brother moved into the space; years later, once both of us had moved on, Mom and Dad turned the room into a storage space, as seen here.

Today, Mom and Dad are deep into renovating the basement, including this space, which they have now opened up into a much larger space. It looks much better now! 

Building a BatCan

Yesterday I joined Scott, Pete, Mike and Jeff at the Fitzpatrick residence to build a second bathroom in the Fitzpatrick basement, promptly dubbed the BatCan since the basement has been known as the Batcave for many years. And since Stephen and Audrey and the girls have so graciously hosted us for innumerable nights of Dungeons & Dragons, boardgaming, Oscar parties and other occasions, we figured it was high time to give a little something back.

There's also an element of self-interest, it has to be said; because we game so often in the Fitzpatrick basement, we'll all be getting quite a bit of use out of the BatCan, especially when we gather for Gaming & Guinness X next month.

Unfortunately I possess only limited practical skills, so my contributions were limited to lugging things, holding things and measuring things. I also did a bit of drilling and mudding. But the lion's share of the work was accomplished by the other lads, particularly our project manager and engineer, Scott, and our foreman, Jeff (above), who put in a twelve-hour day despite suffering from tendonitis.

It was nice to spend a day labouring with my hands instead of my head, something I haven't done regularly since a two-month job in a warehouse during the summer of 1993 or 1994.

Scott handled the plumbing and electrical.

Jeff, Mike, Pete and Steve handled the lion's share of measuring and installing the studs and drywall.

Working from about 9 to 9, with breaks for deliciously BBQ'ed lunch and supper, we managed to build the walls, get the drywall partially mudded, finish the plumbing and electricity, install the toilet, install the light, get the sink in place and install the door.

All in all, a pretty good day's work, although for some reason I didn't take any photos near the end of the day; we got much farther than pictured here. Next Saturday we'll finish up. Tune in next week - same Bat-time, same Bat-channel! 

Tub Thumping

Mom and Dad are renovating their bathroom. Sean and I went out to help today, and when we were hauling the old tub to the dump, Dad revealed that Mom had ripped out most of the drywall in a burst of energy while he was running errands - this while she's in between recovering from surgery and waiting for chemo. I'm glad she's on our side.

I thought it would be cool if we dropped off the tub in an unusual way. Sean would sit in the tub in the back of the truck, with the tailgate down. I'd film the action while Dad would drive backwards at high speed and then slam on the brakes, sending the tub, with Sean riding it, sailing smoothly out the back and into the trash heap. It would be like the Olympics!

But Dad vetoed the idea.