House

By kilax, September 16, 2016 6:56 am

aka, “the quickest project we’ve ever done”

When we were working on our second floor project, we only planned on demolishing the ceiling of our linen closet, and not the walls. Ugh, the linen closet ceiling was so gross (we imagine they all looked like this under the paint):

The walls in the linen closet didn’t actually have any damage from animal droppings (surprisingly), however, they still smelled BAD – from old cedar shelving. In fact, the smell was transferring to the linens I kept in there.  So, hey, why not demolish all those walls and put in new walls and shelving? (that was when I discovered the walls had sheets of drywall between the studs… that’s odd…)

We painted Kilz on the studs and back of the drywall,

and contractors put the drywall up and primed it a few weeks ago. Then we put a door on it and closed it until we had time to install shelving yesterday!

We used the Rubbermaid wire shelf system from Menards (I wish me mentioning Menards meant this was a sponsored post and they gave me that stuff, but unfortunately, that is not the case – we buy everything). Steven installed a hang track in the top of the closet, and hung standards from it (those aren’t attached to the wall),

put the brackets in,

then cut the shelves to size and put caps on the end,

and voila!

Yep… so this is a post about our linen closet. Boring for you, but exciting for me that our house is coming back together and I can put that stuff where it belongs!!! We might upgrade this system in the future, but it’s perfect for now.

If you made it this far, here is a bonus (unrelated) picture of Data and CK!

House

By kilax, September 15, 2016 10:07 am

Calico Kitty has been visiting a lot. I love seeing her in the yard! Today she came very close to the house!!!

Then Data happened to come down the stairs and they had words!

Then she ran off.

This will probably be the most exciting thing that happens for me today. Ha!

Life, Running + Training

By kilax, September 14, 2016 9:52 am

Skamp 2016 was awesome! We fit in three runs (including one across state borders, and two by the cloud factory),

one bike ride,

a trip to the beach,

lots of yummy food and drinks (once, ha),

a few shopping trips and LOTS of relaxation time. It was such a nice break for me from work and house projects. The whole time I kept thinking how lucky I was that Gina was able to come and stay for three whole days – we were able to catch up and connect on so many things. What a treat and great chance to unplug! I can’t wait until she comes back, with the boys, for the Chicago Marathon!

Running + Training

By kilax, September 11, 2016 10:28 pm

Highlight of the Week: Running long with Gina! Swimming again! Teaching fitness boxing again!

Monday | September 5, 2016: 8 m run 
Loc: ML Loop, Temp: 78°/85°, Time: 1:21:41 Pace: 10:12 avg, Difficulty: medium, Felt: good until the last mile THEN SO THIRSTY AND HOT
Tuesday | September 6, 2016: 4 m run
Loc: Chicago Lakefront Trail, Temp: 82°/88°, Time: 38:29, Pace: 9:37 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: surprisingly good, considering the weather
Wednesday | September 7, 2016: 1,071 yd swim (alt. breaststroke & freestyle) + 10 m ride + 3 m run
Loc: FitNation, Time: 2:36 min/100 yd, Pace: 30:02 avg, Difficulty:easy, Felt: good, happy to swim again!
Indoor Ride Time: 39:45, Pace: 15.1 mpg avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good, annoyed with sensor
Loc: Pine Dunes FP, Temp: 88°/83°, Time: 29:29, Pace: 9:48 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good
Thursday | September 8, 2016: teaching strength class
Strength: dumbbell and cardio/core circuits, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good, but a bit sleepy and out of it
Friday | September 9, 2016: teaching strength class + 609 yd swim (alt., but mostly breaststroke) + 6 m run (incl. 1:00/2:00 x5)
Strength: dumbbell and cardio/core circuits, Difficulty: easy, Felt: tired from teaching the same workout <12 hours prior
Loc: FitNation, Time: 19:36, Pace: 2:58 min/100 yd avg, Difficulty: medium, Felt: weak, hungry, like I had bonked
Loc: hood, Temp: 77°/79°, Time: 59:03, Pace: 9:50, Difficulty: medium, Felt: decent, appreciated the breeze
Saturday | September 10, 2016: teaching fitness boxing + 3 m run
Strength: Step and boxing, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good, energetic
Loc: hood, Temp: 70°, Time: 29:22, Pace: 9:46 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good, minus bathroom emergency
Sunday | September 11, 2016: 13 m run (w/Gina)
Loc: In to WI loop, Temp: 58°/70°, Time: 2:07:48, Pace: 9:50 avg, Difficulty: mostly easy, Felt: good!

Notes:

• I was excited to start swimming laps again this week (the outdoor pool I use closed for open swim on the last Friday in August), and hope it’s something I keep doing. My swims this week were not without incident though! On the first one, I scrapped my knee on the bottom of the pool (it’s shallower than I am used to) and on the second, I felt like I was bonking – I was super low on energy. Next week should be better! (And then there was the lady also using the pool who cornered me in the locker room to talk to me about how awful it is that the pool is so short and hot, then lectured me about healthcare… luckily I saw her again the second time, ha.)
• I had some interesting encounters on my runs this week, too – there was the person Monday who commented on how much I sweat, the person who bought my drink Tuesday, then there was another incident Saturday! A truck coming toward me on the street went to the center of the street to give me space (yay!) but then I noticed the passenger had their window down and was leaning out. Oh great, I was thinking. What is this going to be about? The person leaned out the window, and yelled at me “Have a great day, beautiful!” Ha. That was NOT what I was expecting!
• We had a huge turnout for the first fitness boxing class in two months! It’s always fun when we have a big group – people feed off of each other’s energy.
• Gina is here for Skamp!!! We did her long run today (it’s her last cutback week before peak week for Chicago, then she tapers) on the roads. I took her on a route through Wisconsin, cause I knew she’d get a kick out of running in a new state. I suspected my road routes might only be good for solo runners due to the shoulder widths, and parts of this run definitely confirmed that – it’s too narrow and rocky to be side by side. We’re gonna check out some of the trails while she is here, too. It’s such a treat for me to have her here and get to run together (and hang out all day!)!!!
• My right knee is still feeling a bit odd – like it’s bruised on the kneecap or something. I am definitely keeping an eye on it. I am hoping it’s just something leftover from house construction work!

Link to Training Week 359

House

By kilax, September 10, 2016 8:04 am

Errr…

Make that, it will totally be ready for a guest – by the end of the day.

A few times this week, I’ve said to people, “my house is a disaster, and I have a house guest this weekend!” And everyone responds, “she’s a friend, she won’t care!” Ha. Nah, she won’t care. But I care that the rooms are actually usable!

We have to have our entire dining room/kitchen ceiling painted because of blending issues with the old ceiling paint, and our painter couldn’t come until today. Nothing like leaving things until the last minute! Eek!

Life

By kilax, September 9, 2016 6:25 am

When I went to my hometown on Sunday, I was able to get the first picture of me and my FOUR nephews*!!!

I am beyond thrilled for my snister and her husband. They’re going to be amazing parents, and I can’t wait to meet their little guy in the end of January!!!

*By blood – I have another nephew (Luca!) via friendship (but we’re basically family).

House, Running + Training

By kilax, September 8, 2016 6:23 am

• I was going through our mail and came across the county trail map and thought “I wonder when they’ll finish extending the Millennium Trail toward my house,” then looked at the map, and saw that more of the trail exists by me than I realized, and that it goes through a preserve with a 2.2 mile loop right by my house that I haven’t visited even though I’ve lived here seven months. AHHH!!! Must get there asap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (I went the next day, ha!)

• Last year, Anne told me about a local park district that has indoor lap swim, but neither of us ever checked it out. I’ve missed swimming, so I went there Wednesday am for their open swim. It’s a nice big gym that’s close to my house (!!!!) with a 21 yard pool where you can pay a $6 drop-in fee to swim. I actually didn’t mind the shorter lanes, since I am still working on my freestyle endurance. I’ll be back! (And bonus, it’s close to Starbucks!)
• We were so eager to put holes in our newly painted walls, ha! We put up a new “smart” thermostat on Tuesday, as well as my jewelry holders. Yay! I can’t wait to put up the rest of (or most of) our art, framed prints, and my medal racks.

Steven’s “You really want me to put holes in this freshly painted wall?!” face.

• For all that mention of our house inspection approval being held up because we didn’t have attic insulation, I don’t think I ever posted a picture of it installed! Here you go! So exciting!

• All I had to do was blog about the pond being gone and we got some rain to create a bigger puddle!

Link to Random Thoughts Thursday 107

House

By kilax, September 7, 2016 6:23 am

Well, here’s what’s left of the pond.

Or shall we call it what is really is – a puddle?

As a reminder, here is what it looked like a month ago:

And in May:

So strange.

Really, this gives us an opportunity to let it dry out then do some landscaping. Although after the big project we just finished, I am in the mood for smaller projects for a bit.

The saddest part about all of this is that we have less wildlife in the yard now. The ducks hadn’t been by for practically a month, when they flew in to the yard rapidly on Saturday!

I was so excited! I quickly ran to the garage to get food for them (yeah, I haven’t been putting food out since we were so busy with the house, and that doesn’t help the wildlife situation either). I put it out, only to have them called back to their home with a duck call. That was the first time we ever heard them called back! And that would explain why I had a dream last night that I was buying a duck call at a sports store. Hmm…

Life

By kilax, September 6, 2016 1:20 pm

You guys. I have another buying a drink in a convenience store story. This one has a nice ending, though.

It’s a million degrees here (88°, feels like 97°, dew point 74°) so I stopped at 7-Eleven after my run to buy a sports drink. I got in line at the counter, behind one other person, then got cut in line, by their friend who was all “where’d you go? I was looking all over for you!” and had their own separate stuff to buy.

Sigh. But whatever, right? No big deal.

Except I was drenched in sweat and the store was crowded, and the first person was taking forever to count out their change and I just wanted to get out of there and rehydrate and take a shower…

So when it’s the second person’s turn to pay, I am off in la la land thinking “I hope they’re paying with a credit card!” and “I am going to b*tch to Steven about getting cut in line” when that customer grabs my drink, gives it to the cashier, and tells her “it’s on me” since I was so sweet to let her cut and let them get on their way. Then she said a bunch of nice things to me and to enjoy my run (I was done but the thought was nice).

I was shocked. I was NOT expecting that.  And now I am inspired to do my own random act of kindness today… but not after cutting someone in line, ha.

House

By kilax, September 6, 2016 5:41 am

We live upstairs again! Yay! I’ve fallen in love with our house all over again!

We need to update our master bedroom sheets and bedskirt!

After a month of work – ripping out the second floor ceilings (and some parts of walls), installing new ductwork and lighting, then getting new ceilings and having the walls repainted – it’s all complete. Ahh.

And the best part? It doesn’t smell like animals on the second floor anymore.

We’d like to buy or make a headboard for the guest bedroom.

That’s why we did this entire project – when the FHA 203k contractor took out the existing attic insulation in April, we found that the ceiling was covered in animal droppings. Flying squirrels lived up there while the house was vacant and they WENT TO TOWN. Hardly any surface was untouched. Because of this, it already sort of smelled upstairs, but with the insulation gone, and it heating up in the house (yay, summer!), you noticed the smell even more.

The contractors just wanted to cover all that in Kilz paint, but that’s gross – when the ceiling is soaked through (and not to mention, scratched through), maybe just replace it? Painting it would just seal all that nasty stuff in and keep it in the house!

Eventually we’ll redo our bathroom – replace the drywall and tile shower with a mostly glass one, get a double sink, and new tile.

So we told the contractors not to put insulation in, and our plan was to do all this work in the fall. But, when we had our inspection to pay out the rest of the FHA 203k streamlined work, the inspector didn’t approve that the insulation was never installed. Makes sense – it’s definitely something a house needs.

The problem is that we were at the end of our six-month period to get all the work done when we found out we didn’t pass inspection (our mortgage was sold twice since we got it, and I had a REALLY difficult/frustrating time figuring out which bank would do the inspection/pay the contractors – so this inspection was delayed months that we could have been working, grrrrr). So we had to get an extension then move fast to get it done!

Looking from the master bedroom door, down the hallway toward the bathroom and guest room.

Which is why we spent all of August working on this (truthfully, whenever we did this, it hopefully would have gone at this pace, because I can’t imagine leaving the upstairs of the house such a mess, and living on another floor, for much longer). We had our inspection yesterday, and I’m positive we’ll pass this time.

Most importantly, Data seems happy!

And just so I have it all in one spot, here’s a compiled list of posts about our work, and what the contractors did.

Posts about the work we did:
Click here to see our work list through August 24

• Moving everything out of the second floor
• Ceiling demo
• More demo and surprises
• New wood joists and beams and Kilz painting
• More Kilz painting
• Joist repair
• New ductwork (and more demo and surprises)
• New lights, insulating the ductwork
• Lighting/electrical, taping the ducts, subfloor blocking, installing the catwalk
• Finishing the catwalk
• Prepped the rooms to be painted
• There’s no post, but we spend the week of August 29 installing lights, vents covers, electrical face plates, fans and doors

The work contractors did:

• installed new baffles
• installed new insulation and subfloor over dining room
• installed new ceilings entire second floor, partial dining room, taped, mudded and sanded
• installed attic insulation
• (a different contractor) painted the entire space

We actually do have a few things left to do related to this project – install new linen closet shelves, cover a hole in the basement, etc. But, they’re small things compared to all this!