Blog of Chris

I spent almost 5 hours yesterday on my Aunt’s computer attempting to reinstall Windows, failing in that (through no fault of my own), purchasing a new hard disk, and doing a clean install.

Her computer was so bogged down with virii, spyware, and whatever else was ailing it that it could not even run the installer for the new All-in-one printer that had just arrived. It also could not run iTunes, leaving the family’s many iPods unusable.

So, towards the tail end of my repairs, my Aunt asked me if I would be so kind as to install iTunes and get it to sync up some music with the brand new iPod shuffle that was sitting by the computer.

I told her I would get it all set up, but I need some CDs to import. In the stack of CDs that she returned with were two great albums: Bob Marley – Legend and Jimmy Buffett (I think it was a greatest hits type album, but it wasn’t “songs you know by heart”)

It reminded me of a time in 1998 when I had no idea who Jimmy Buffett was, and my friend Brian Spada was hurt, shocked, and dissapointed. I tried to explain to him how my upbringing in Suburban D.C. had not exposed me to such great hits as “cheeseburger in paradise” and “come monday”, except perhaps in the form of MUZAK.

He gawked, and explained how going to the Buffett concert was a summer ritual, perhaps even a rite of passage. I began to appreciate the overtones in his songs, which preach the joy of life in the islands, on the water, cheeseburgers, hammocks, breezes, relaxing, etc. The songs make me want to go sailing, and then come home, steam some crabs and relax… that’s what summer’s all about, right?
As far as Bob goes, I never really listened to much of him until I actually visited Jamaica in 2002. I had accidentally purchased a live album of Bob Marley and the wailers from BMG sometime around 2001, but couldn’t really appreciate it.
I can remember listening to Sublime religiously my Senior year of high school, and one verse in particular that says “If I was Bob Marley I’d say ‘could you be loved?’…” and not knowing what the hell he was talking about.

Buffett and Marley are pretty much summertime staples, that must be played constantly when the weather is nice. This was a reminder that summer is right around the corner, and I am gearing up to enjoy it for the first time in a few years.

-C

Ahh, there is a double meaning here.  If you use the more traditional definition, I am whining about my stupid house.  If you use the slang definition of “down”, then I am down with it, meaning I know a lot about it, I dig it, it’s the sheezy, etc.

I installed shoe moulding in my new bedroom, and installed the doorknobs… the room looks nearly complete, and all it needs is a ceiling fan and a windowsill…

and drapes…

and blinds…

and shelves…

and electrical faceplates, once my electrician comes in and explains to me how he wired the outlets…

But THEN it will be done!

The decking and rail posts are up on both decks.  I am making yet another trip to Philly this Saturday to buy the pimp-daddy code compliant exterior sprial staircase that allow for easy access to the upper deck without having to stand precariously on the top of a ladder (the part that says DO NOT STAND HERE).

It was just me, working alone tonight.  I ventured up to the upper deck around 6:30 and the sky at sunset was just gorgeous.  Even in LP, walking at ground level in the city is claustrophobic, and it’s amazing how much difference 20 vertical feet can make.

On Sunday I will be installing the railings for the decks, and then they will be done!  I’m going with a non-traditional rail system, with balusters made from sections of metal conduit!  It actually makes for a simpler install, and looks cooler, and at only a very slight increase in cost.

Ryan will install the 18 inch tile foor in my kitchen this weekend, and it will be ready for cabinets (which will not arrive for 4 weeks!)

It’s getting done!

-C

Mind the cheezy title.

Here are some shots of my new rooftop deck, currently under construction. As my self-imposed deadline for finishing the house approaches, I have found it necessary to subcontract more of the work. Here, you see my friend Jim, and his employee Justin at work framing the upper deck. Jim runs a company called Design Builders, Inc., and builds decks throughout the Baltimore and Washington Metro areas.

I should be able to walk on it this afternoon, and will get the spiral stair this weekend.

-C

iTunes comes with a few built-in “smart playlists”, which display a listing of songs based on certain criteria. One of these built in playlists is “90’s Music”. I never paid much attention to it before, but tonight, as I sit doing paperwork for the Army project I am building this week, I decided to give it a try.

The 90’s covers the last two years of elementary school, all of middle school, all of high school, and the first two years of college. (There is also the debate about whether the 90’s end at the end of 1999, or at the end of 2000, but that’s another blog in and of itself) The point is, it’s a lot of very different times to spread music throughout, though music didn’t really become a “priority” until sometime in 7th or 8th grade.

That’s when I started hanging out with a crowd who enjoyed wearing beat up flannel shirts, cut up jeans and Chuck Taylor All Stars. We liked such bands as Nirvana (tourettes), Pearl Jam (Jeremy, who spoke), Alice in Chains (something about a rooster), Stone Temple Pilots (only later did I realize what a bunch of heroin addicts name their band), Aerosmith (when I thought Pump was their first album, completely oblivious to their 70’s legend status, or even the 80’s rag doll and walk this way with run-dmc era), Red Hot Chili Peppers (Sir Psycho Sexy, whose lyrics my mom was very upset with when it was played at full volume at a party in 7th grade), the Breeders (and their one hit), Beck (I learned what “Soy un perdedor” meant from a disapproving teacher), Metallica, of course… and… I think we can safely throw the Lemonheads in there, because you are far and away, my most imaginary friend.

I am not going to comment now on high school and college in this post, but I will mention the song that inspired me to write this post and entitle it Jams of the Moment. (My friend Alex used to publish “Jams of the week/month” in his online magazine, or on his AIM away messages, just to let the world know what he was listening to at the time. I wonder if he has ever documented them. This is partly a tribute to him)

The song was “Little Black Backpack” by stroke 9. This song, for some reason, always reminds me very specifically of driving the campus shuttle bus at the University of Maryland, specifically the “Circuit” route late at night. I don’t know if it was 1999 or 2000, but this song was in heavy airplay, and would come on over the little battery powered radio I set on the dashboard and cranked up as loud as it would go before the sound got distorted. This song, and a few others from the 2nd Third Eye Blind album remind me very specifically of driving the bus.

The plan is this… when I hear a song that reminds me of a particular time in my past, I will blog about it. It’s interesting how we can associate a song so specificially to an event or time. These shall be my Jams of the Moment… not the present Moment, but a Moment in my past.
-C

This is a random observation, but I am hoping someone who knows about such things can explain this bizarre coincidence:

I recently approved 2 reader comments on this blog, and couldn’t help but notice the IP addresses associated with each.  They both began with 216, which is coincidentally the 3 digit prefix of many social security numbers for people born in MD.
I do know that one of these comments orginated in Baltimore City, and the other originated in St. Mary’s county.

Weird.

-C

My camera is busted, and the lighting was terrible, but here’s what the new bedroom looks like.

-C

After recovery from the St. Patty’s day evening festivities, I was left with only a half day to work on the house.  Luckily, I had plenty of help, as Ryan had spent the night, Evan was only a phone call away, and Alex volunteered his time.

The name of the game today was painting in the new bedroom.  Evan and I had already primed the whole room a few days prior, and today we gave the ceiling two coats of ultra white, and the walls are now the gray green color called “smoke infusion”.

Ryan hung all three of the new doors, and did a much better job than I could ever have done.

With the paint done, I was free to install a few outlets and switchplates which really makes things look finished.

Evenings this week will be filled with installing trim, priming and painting the walls and ceiling in the hallway, caulking and painting the trim, installing HVAC registers, ceiling fan, recessed light bezels, outlets, and door hardware.  Last but not least is flooring, which will probably go in next weekend if I can manage the preceeding tasks by then.

That will wrap up the 2nd floor, and then I can focus all energy on the kitchen and half bath. The tile has been ordered, the cabinets and countertops will be locked in this week, and I’ll be purchasing lighting online.

-C

by Chris Whong

(to the tune of Raining in Baltimore by Counting Crows)

My truck’s double parked out there on Haubert Street,

Its big tires a starting a flood,

It’s raining in Baltimore, and isn’t this neat,

The basement is filling with mud.

I need a shop vac

I need a shovel

I need a big mop

I need a shop vac

–

Actually, it was just a little water, not mud. (but mud rhymed with flood) I suppose it was karma, because I left the truck parked out front all night instead of finding a parking spot.  The tires dammed up the gutter on the side of the road, and water made its way into my basement.  I vacuumed it up this morning.  I only hope the neighbors didn’t have the same problem.

-C

The drywall is up and finished.  On Tuesday we primed and painted the basement, laid down vinyl base, installed recessed light baffles, and were able to relocate shelves and cabinets for the last time.

Yesterday I installed outlets, swtiches and a smoke detector, and today I will lay down vinyl tile in the washing machine center.

We’ll be priming and painting the kitchen, bath, and bedrooms all weekend, and will start hanging doors and installing trim on Sunday.

Next week I’ll be painting trim and installing the finished floor upstairs.  Add some shelving and a windowsill and the bedroom will be finished!

I can’t blame subcontractors anymore, the timeline now is entirely dictated by my own motivation.

By next weekend I may be building the decks!

-Chris

Well, not really, just that the subcontractor I chose is taking longer than I wanted.  The drywall is all hung, but finishing it is beginning today.  I ran home at lunch to check up on him, and of course he wasn’t there.  No matter, I popped into Hull Street Blues for an awesome corned beef and swiss sandwich and all was well.

I have drill this weekend anyway, so I won’t get anything done on the house.  Painting and trim should commence next monday.

-C