ECF Refugee Thread All welcome though

[haleysdadda]

I dunno if you remember it from the old tootle puffer thread, but the reason I'm even mentioning all this water heater schtuff is because it's been something we've wanted to do for over a year now -- last year got the TP thread almost completely sidetracked with all the whatnot about water heaters, and you know how THOSE mods were with off-topic schtuff! But I had to buy a new laptop last year so I could get rid of my outdated XP Pro box, and there wasn't enough $$ left over.... so it gets done this year! Water heater, ho! And no, it's not pink... it says it's gray.

Andria

That's exactly why the wife & I claim single/0 on our taxes throughout the year! It's like a savings acct & we definately don't have to pay! Because there is no way I'm gonna pay all year & have to lump sum it at the end of the year!

 

[AndriaD]

Andria....240V water heaters are fairly inexpensive if you look around, I had a 50 gallon installed for $450.00 including the water heater. They nail you with the labor cost. Friend of mine is a plumber, so he got it wholesale, hopefully you can find a plumber that won't rip you off. The retail price is more than double wholesale.

Parting it all out would be an excessive headache, considering all the parts that need to be done -- turning off gas, draining ol water heater, removing old water heater... running new line for the 240v and wiring it into the breaker box, installing new water heater. that's precisely why we don't wish to do it ourselves -- the electrical work must be done by someone *licensed* to do electrical work that is up to code, particularly with a high-voltage line like that. No amateurs wanted!

The 40 gal water heater is $348, and we get a $150 rebate from our EMC, bringing the net cost of the heater to $198.

Andria

 

[roxynoodle]

Too bad I'm not close by, Andria. I've put in 3 hot water heaters. I would do it cheap.

 

[AndriaD]

That's exactly why the wife & I claim single/0 on our taxes throughout the year! It's like a savings acct & we definately don't have to pay! Because there is no way I'm gonna pay all year & have to lump sum it at the end of the year!

That's what we do too... he claims 0 on his W-4, and we get back upwards of $1500 from fed, upwards of $500 from state -- so above $2k in total. Because if it was up to us to save... we'd just buy a lot more stuff.

One year, his company didn't withhold enough for the state taxes, and we ended up with about a $450 tax lien from the state that was one of the biggies we had to pay off before we could get a mortgage -- never ever want that sort of shit again!

Andria

 

[AndriaD]

Too bad I'm not close by, Andria. I've put in 3 hot water heaters. I would do it cheap.

Yeah, but the wiring... that's the part that a professional MUST do. If it was just the water heater, my husband could do it! But the WIRING!!!

Andria

 

[roxynoodle]

Yeah, but the wiring... that's the part that a professional MUST do. If it was just the water heater, my husband could do it! But the WIRING!!!

Andria

I've done all the wiring in my house

Buying a house that's now 161 years old, and a fixer upper, on a teacher's salary...well, I'm the jack of all trades.

 

[AndriaD]

I've done all the wiring in my house

Buying a house that's now 161 years old, and a fixer upper, on a teacher's salary...well, I'm the jack of all trades.

Oh, my husband COULD do it, that's not at issue. But I want a professional to do it, with that kind of high voltage, and our homeowners' insurance probably requires that; it must be up to code, and I want to feel safe living here -- that's exactly why I want the gas one gone, because I fucking hate gas appliances, so dangerous. If we live here long enough that we need to replace the furnace, we'll probably convert that to electric too, so that no live gas is in the house at all -- but the option wouild be there for any future homeowners, so it adds value. When we replaced the gas stove with an electric, we found there was already a 240 plug back there.

Andria

ETA: there's another really nice feature about doing it with a contractor -- it all gets done AT ONCE, no dragging it out for weeks and weeks, which I'm sure is what would happen if he was doing it -- I know my husband.

 

[Moueix]

I've done all the wiring in my house

Buying a house that's now 161 years old, and a fixer upper, on a teacher's salary...well, I'm the jack of all trades.

Awesomesauce! I love those old homes! So does the Mrs., but I think that both having watched "The Money Pit", we've never been inclined to enjoy that pleasure. My town is full of old Victorians that many have painstakingly modernized replete with all of the lacy woodwork and amazing porches. I have no idea what that costs to do, but it looks DAMN expensive! Gorgeous to look at though!

 

[The Cromwell]

You could just get one of the new water heaters that run off of 18650 batteries?

 

[inspects]

Parting it all out would be an excessive headache, considering all the parts that need to be done -- turning off gas, draining ol water heater, removing old water heater... running new line for the 240v and wiring it into the breaker box, installing new water heater. that's precisely why we don't wish to do it ourselves -- the electrical work must be done by someone *licensed* to do electrical work that is up to code, particularly with a high-voltage line like that. No amateurs wanted!

The 40 gal water heater is $348, and we get a $150 rebate from our EMC, bringing the net cost of the heater to $198.

Andria

That's a good price. Yep, I understand about codes...I'm kinda in that business....

 

[chopdoc]

That's what we do too... he claims 0 on his W-4, and we get back upwards of $1500 from fed, upwards of $500 from state -- so above $2k in total. Because if it was up to us to save... we'd just buy a lot more stuff.

One year, his company didn't withhold enough for the state taxes, and we ended up with about a $450 tax lien from the state that was one of the biggies we had to pay off before we could get a mortgage -- never ever want that sort of shit again!

Andria

I was worried this year because of being out sick half a year last year and still getting pay plus the workmans comp I received but my tax lady is great. She was able to get me $5K back federal and close to $1K state.

 

[inspects]

I've done all the wiring in my house

Buying a house that's now 161 years old, and a fixer upper, on a teacher's salary...well, I'm the jack of all trades.

That is slick Roxy....!

Wiring your house, not the past teacher salary......

 

[inspects]

I was worried this year because of being out sick half a year last year and still getting pay plus the workmans comp I received but my tax lady is great. She was able to get me $5K back federal and close to $1K state.

It does "Pay" to have a good CPA.....

 

[doc_iguana]

evening, folks!

 

[doc_iguana]

Moueix - did you guys get that job wrapped up?

 

[chopdoc]

Yeah, but the wiring... that's the part that a professional MUST do. If it was just the water heater, my husband could do it! But the WIRING!!!

Andria

I've done all the wiring in my house

Buying a house that's now 161 years old, and a fixer upper, on a teacher's salary...well, I'm the jack of all trades.

Wiring is easy as long as you know the basics. When my dad passed away I used some of his insurance to build a house for my mom. I drew up the plans myself, I drove every nail, ran all the plumbing and did all the wiring. Building inspector was impressed with my work and it passed code with no problems. Just like Roxy, jack of all trades.

House I live in now use to be a milk barn. The main room where they milked the cows I turned into a kitchen/living room. Another room had a toilet and I added a shower to it and the room that was the pump/tank room I had to cut a doorway thru the cinderblock wall and turned it into a bedroom. Was a lot of work but worth it. Had to do all the plumbing and wiring in here too. Now if anyone asked me if I live in a barn I can say fuck yeah I do

 

[chopdoc]

It does "Pay" to have a good CPA.....

I lucked out with her. She is younger, maybe pushing 30, and damn nice to look at too, and very smart. I use to do my own and just file standard deduction every year and heard I could declare mileage so stopped at her place on a whim and she got me back way more than I hoped for. Every year she amazes me.

 

[inspects]

Wiring is easy as long as you know the basics. When my dad passed away I used some of his insurance to build a house for my mom. I drew up the plans myself, I drove every nail, ran all the plumbing and did all the wiring. Building inspector was impressed with my work and it passed code with no problems. Just like Roxy, jack of all trades.

House I live in now use to be a milk barn. The main room where they milked the cows I turned into a kitchen/living room. Another room had a toilet and I added a shower to it and the room that was the pump/tank room I had to cut a doorway thru the cinderblock wall and turned it into a bedroom. Was a lot of work but worth it. Had to do all the plumbing and wiring in here too. Now if anyone asked me if I live in a barn I can say fuck yeah I do

Anybody watch that show Barnwood Builders?....I'd love to have one of those shaqs.....

 

[inspects]

I lucked out with her. She is younger, maybe pushing 30, and damn nice to look at too, and very smart. I use to do my own and just file standard deduction every year and heard I could declare mileage so stopped at her place on a whim and she got me back way more than I hoped for. Every year she amazes me.

Yep indeed doc...a good tax person is worth their weight in GOLD.

 

[chopdoc]

Anybody watch that show Barnwood Builders?....I'd love to have one of those shaqs.....

Never seen it. Gonna have to check Netflix and see if it is on there.

 

[inspects]

Never seen it. Gonna have to check Netflix and see if it is on there.

It's on one of those home improvement channels on Sunday...here in Arizona anyway.

They disassemble old barns or old houses and reconstruct it at a different location. Some truly amazing homes when their done.

http://www.greatamericancountry.com/shows/barnwood-builders

 

[Moueix]

Moueix - did you guys get that job wrapped up?

Just arrived at the Iowa manse a few hours ago. And I think I have payroll (except for tomorrows efforts and driving for the crew going to MN) pretty much wrapped. So hellz yeah. Tomorrow I get to relax till 2, mount up on the Steel horse, and ride single to South Dakota to meet up with Subcontractors doing Mondays job there. Got me a NICE hotel in Sioux Falls (actually knew a girl by that name, spelled different, was into Saran wrap) and I am looking at it like a mini 2 day vacation, con Tuna Tartare.

http://www.foleysrestaurant.com/

Brace yourself for teh pictures. It's AMAZING!
Have a few customers in the area. I'm thinking 2 dinners and two lunches should cover the sales territory.

 

[doc_iguana]

Just arrived at the Iowa manse a few hours ago. And I think I have payroll (except for tomorrows efforts and driving for the crew going to MN) pretty much wrapped. So hellz yeah. Tomorrow I get to relax till 2, mount up on the Steel horse, and ride single to South Dakota to meet up with Subcontractors doing Mondays job there. Got me a NICE hotel in Sioux Falls (actually knew a girl by that name, spelled different, was into Saran wrap) and I am looking at it like a mini 2 day vacation, con Tuna Tartare.

http://www.foleysrestaurant.com/

Brace yourself for teh pictures. It's AMAZING!
Have a few customers in the area. I'm thinking 2 dinners and two lunches should cover the sales territory.

lol! nice - you deserve a bit of a break, brother

 

[Moueix]

lol! nice - you deserve a bit of a break, brother

Thank you, Brudder. This past week was totally a ball buster. Customer was SO happy with the effort. We do a lil dance where I put everything plus the kitchen sink on the bill, and then he gets to look like a hero chopping me down to merely excessive. I love dancing. THAT job was stupendous. It'll be 1/4 of our annual sales, easy, and we have to come back and repeat it in October. A dozen of those a year, and it would be an easy coast to the coast.

 

[roxynoodle]

I hired out two things:

1. Furnace and duct work. I had no heat for 2 years due to my boiler getting flooded and my ex husband bankrupting me. I finally had the money saved, it was getting cold again, and I wanted heat NOW! Had our first snow of the season the day they finished.

2. Replacing the crawlspace under my gigantic 37 x 15 kitchen. The house had to be supported by steel I beams on hydraulic jacks while the old one was dug out, new footers were poured, and it was rebuilt. I didn't want to touch that. That guy did an amazing job. No cracked floors, walls or ceilings. My driveway was gone after the semis and cement trucks, but his son brought 10 dump trucks worth of gravel, and redid it.

 

[roxynoodle]

And yes, old houses can be money pits, especially if you pay for labor. But, it's built out of native oak. Real oak 2 x 6s for studs, 8 x 8 oak beams in the floors and ceilings. Hand carved alternating oak and cherry wainscoting and casements. Oak floors. Doors made from heart pine. Compared to new houses it's built like a tank. To build a house like this would cost you a fortune.

I did the wiring, plumbing, all inside remodeling from ceiling to floor, siding, roof and stone veneer.

 

[roxynoodle]

My friends and family saw a POS, and I saw a blank canvas that would be amazing.

 

[MamaTried]

Curtesy of Urban Dictionary.
Your welcome!

Romano
A temporary form of Schizophrenia only brought on by excessive alcohol consumption. Symptoms are complete memory loss, squinty eyes, irrational thoughts and contradictory thoughts.
Daniel: Dude, is Alex alright? He's squinting pretty bad?
Brad: He's a had a few too many and turned into Romano... keep your distance and don't take anything he says seriously.

See also
Asshole, Cocksucker, Retard, Spamano and Fangirls.

sonofabitch

describes me perfectly

 

[inspects]

And yes, old houses can be money pits, especially if you pay for labor. But, it's built out of native oak. Real oak 2 x 6s for studs, 8 x 8 oak beams in the floors and ceilings. Hand carved alternating oak and cherry wainscoting and casements. Oak floors. Doors made from heart pine. Compared to new houses it's built like a tank. To build a house like this would cost you a fortune.

I did the wiring, plumbing, all inside remodeling from ceiling to floor, siding, roof and stone veneer.

That's what I'm talking about...!!

 

[inspects]

My friends and family saw a POS, and I saw a blank canvas that would be amazing.

That's exactly how it works, vision...!

 

[roxynoodle]

That's what I'm talking about...!!

Call me nuts, but I love doing it. Plumbing not so much, but all the rest. Electric, drywall, carpentry, masonry, everything. I was going to start a design/remodeling company when I retired from teaching. It didn't have to make money as long as it didn't lose any. I'm not up to it though Everything takes me too long now, which would not be acceptable to customers.

 

[inspects]

My friends and family saw a POS, and I saw a blank canvas that would be amazing.

A partner of mine lives outside Dayton. He said you can buy a house like you described for about 30K or less...hard to believe really.

Once you have it stripped to the shell and remodel it, there is nothing better in my opinion. I really love old old houses, built in the 1800's. Post and beam construction.

 

[JuicyLucy]

Call me nuts, but I love doing it. Plumbing not so much, but all the rest. Electric, drywall, carpentry, masonry, everything. I was going to start a design/remodeling company when I retired from teaching. It didn't have to make money as long as it didn't lose any. I'm not up to it though Everything takes me too long now, which would not be acceptable to customers.

Don't like, but I hear you and empathize

 

[Moueix]

My friends and family saw a POS, and I saw a blank canvas that would be amazing.

We bought a property 20 years ago. It was originally a lake front cottage that had been added on and added on, then the previous owner tore it down to one wall (the one with walk in fireplace) and completely rebuilt but avoided a lot of code keeping that wall. Woman was a packrat. I fell in love with the property though. Upon closing, we were entitled to a walk through, Sans her packings, the house was amazing and huge. the INSIDES of the closets are all oak trimmed. 6 panel doors. Two dumpsters to clear the house, two to clear the previous tear out thrown in ravines. Totally different place. I was thrilled. They could have DOUBLED the price had they done that cleaning BEFORE the sale. Sometimes, ya get lucky.

going to be tough to talk the Mrs. into leaving the view and amenities. I hear Florida calling. She keeps citing the "memories", and I DO pick up what she is laying down..

 

[roxynoodle]

Yeah, I had no plans to retire. Just switch things up once I had my pension to live on. I was such a busy person, and I liked being busy.

 

[inspects]

I really like log homes too. There are some incredible log homes in northern Arizona, but Colorado has some of the most gorgeous log homes I've ever seen.

 

[MamaTried]

Yeah, I had no plans to retire. Just switch things up once I had my pension to live on. I was such a busy person, and I liked being busy.

same here. forced retirement due to health problems.

it's fine now, but i wish i could still work

 

[Moueix]

I think I am toast. Gnite, and GFY! I could use a 10 hour interior eyelid inspection. Hope it comes!

 

[inspects]

I think I am toast. Gnite, and GFY! I could use a 10 hour interior eyelid inspection. Hope it comes!

M.....hope you get a good night sleep, so when you GFY it will be easy.....

 

[JuicyLucy]

GFY Mouix

 

[roxynoodle]

same here. forced retirement due to health problems.

it's fine now, but i wish i could still work

I still struggle. It would be easier if I didn't have to have doctors file paperwork on me every 3 months, or see a doctor from the state every year. It makes me depressed again every time because I have to think about being useless, and feeling like a bum So I spend 3 months trying to focus on the positive and accept things, then get knocked off the ladder again.

 

[arth1981]

Bad news @Hank F. Spankman ... I've spent the day with the Petri and then came back to the Goon in the evening and I think the Petri beats it in flavor.

 

[inspects]

I still struggle. It would be easier if I didn't have to have doctors file paperwork on me every 3 months, or see a doctor from the state every year. It makes me depressed again every time because I have to think about being useless, and feeling like a bum So I spend 3 months trying to focus on the positive and accept things, then get knocked off the ladder again.

Can't like that Roxy, but I can hope things get better. Hopefully within our lifetime they will figure out something for pancreatitis.

 

[inspects]

Bad news @Hank F. Spankman ... I've spent the day with the Petri and then came back to the Goon in the evening and I think the Petri beats it in flavor.

^^^^This Indeed^^^^

 

[roxynoodle]

Can't like that Roxy, but I can hope things get better. Hopefully within our lifetime they will figure out something for pancreatitis.

They're requiring I do this until I'm 70 (if I live that long). It seems nuts when my presentation has zero surgical options. Pancreas transplants aren't approved for pancreatitis, and they're iffy no matter what. A transplant might give you a better life for 2 years, then kill you.

 

[inspects]

They're requiring I do this until I'm 70 (if I live that long). It seems nuts when my presentation has zero surgical options. Pancreas transplants aren't approved for pancreatitis, and they're iffy no matter what. A transplant might give you a better life for 2 years, then kill you.

Hear that...I also heard they are developing an artificial-bionic pancreas, they have been testing it for a couple of years, haven't heard anything lately about it though.

 

[roxynoodle]

Hear that...I also heard they are developing an artificial-bionic pancreas, they have been testing it for a couple of years, haven't heard anything lately about it though.

Hmm, the Cleveland Clinic is a decade ahead in the research and they've never mentioned it.

 

[inspects]

Hmm, the Cleveland Clinic is a decade ahead in the research and they've never mentioned it.

http://sites.bu.edu/bionicpancreas/

 

[inspects]

GFY...........

 

[chopdoc]

Good morning and GFY yall

Anyone have a can of air freshener they can spare? Egg rolls and beer last night. Even the dog refuses to be my friend this morning.