I have been so consumed with the latest patio revamping project. Friday the 14th I got the last of the bricks cut and installed in 90°+ temperatures. What a relief that was. I showed up for the Friday evening row. For once we had more than enough people. For the first time I bowed out of a row; I was so beat. My rowing peeps had never seen me do that before. I’m known as a “seat slut” in that I’ll normally do anything to be able to row!
Saturday the 15th was the big yard sale for the Rowing Club. Unfortunately there were not the crowds we enjoyed at our last sale. The timing was off in with graduations and all: it was a very busy weekend for people.
I hauled all the stuff that did not sell at the sale to the Alabama Thrift Store. Returning home I went to work to do the final installation on the bricks. I dropped a bag of the Sand Topping mix on the left hand top of the patio and split it open. Using the wide driveway broom I proceeded to sweep the mixture in between the cracks. Something was not right; stones were all mixed into the topping mix. What a pain in the butt to get those stones shifted away so as to not interfere with the mixture flowing into the cracks.
This is a tedious job involving lots of sweeping to work the mixture into the cracks. I opened a second bag of the mix and sure enough it too was full of stones. This time I shoveled the mixture into an old colander and sifted the stones out before dumping it onto the bricks. I only did half the patio as the follow up work is so involved.
Once the topping mixture was swept out to my satisfaction it was time to use the spray nozzle on the hose and wet it all down. This activates the cement and really sets the mixture so it flows between the bricks. It also puddles and makes a mess on the face of the brick which I have laid so to show the makers names and trademarks.
Now for the “fun” part: I have a piece of ¾ inch copper pipe duct taped to the hose of my shop vac. Each brick has to be vacuumed to remove the water/topping mix before it hardens. Otherwise it sets up and ruins the whole job……
The face of the bricks has to be kept wet. It is a miserable job that takes hours. Even with my top shelf gel knee pads, my knees were killing me from hours of kneeling and vacuuming.
Sunday morning I took a chance working in the cool morning. I got about ¼ of the way through when to began to rain. DAMN! The open bag of mix had to be covered, and the mixture already on the bricks swept down as fast as possible. Then I had to vacuum up the puddled up mixture in the rain. I was not a happy camper!
Things cleared up in the afternoon and I was able to get the brick saw cleaned up and put away, as well as starting on general cleaning up of the backyard.
No, this is not the Grand Canyon! It is the water tray under the blade of the brick saw showing by layers the different bricks cut during the course of this latest project!.
Monday morning I finished up working with the topping mix. I called Sakrete to complain about their product. I was told the mixture had not changed that the most likely cause was in switching a line over caused the stones to be in the system. Fortunately I only used 2 ½ bags. The other two bags I returned to Blowes. After working in a factory for 30 years I can understand how those things happen.
Monday night I installed the Smith fire hydrant to it’s base. Normally this has a “break-a-way” clamp connector to the water line. If it would get hit by a vehicle, the clamp would be the weak point and cause the hydrant to break from the pipe with minimal damage.
That said, there is no protruding pipe or flange to fasten the hydrant. Instead, when I poured the cement for the base I fabricated a plug for the hydrant to seat over. This insures it will not get tipped over.
It all turned out well. This hydrant originally saw service in
I’ll keep the silver and black colour scheme as those are the original colors. The only change I plan is to do is to highlight some of the casting and date information. I have to save that chore for when I’m in a REAL anal mood. It is real fussy to cut that all in to look good.
Now to get to my everyday life… AT&T has been more of a pain than usual. First off I have been losing my internet connection at random times. I called the help number a few Sunday’s back. They ran all kinds of tests and came to the conclusion that I’m supposed to be getting the middle DSL service, it think it is called “Ultra”. Instead they have me receiving the super fast extreme service which they claim is jamming my modem.
The representative called the local AT&T here, but being Sunday all was shut down. Apparently something is supposed to be changed at the pole. I was told I’d be contacted to set up an appointment. Naturally nothing ever became of it. I also inquired if I could have an explanation as to why I lose my internet connection at 4:50 a.m. for one minute without fail, every day.
I was told it was from a timer… possibly for street lights on the line interfering. It did not sound right to me. I told him so, and how it even happens while I’m wearing my tin foil hat!!
I have a Mastercard through AT&T that was supposed to be “no yearly fees” forever. I’ve had the card since 1990. It sat for years without me using it. I’d cancel the thing, but that would mess up my credit rating. Last year I got a notice if I did not start using the card, it would be canceled. I now charge a tank of gas a month to it to keep it active. The balance in full gets “autopayed” from my checking account every month so I don’t have to use postage stamps, or run the risk of a late payment.
My new card arrived in the mail and I had to call the 800 number to activate it. I HATE doing this. The automated part is a piece of cake, then I had to speak with a representative. This is the part where they try to reel you in for the kill.
I could barely understand this person.
AT&T: Do you know what your credit score is? We can sign you up to a program…..
Jamie: No I don’t know my credit score, and I don’t care, I don’t want to sign up…
AT&T: Would you like balance transfer checks so you can transfer other credit card balances……
Jamie: No, I don’t want balance transfer checks…
AT&T: Would you…….
Jamie: STOP!!! LET’S SAVE OURSELVES A LOT OF TIME AND TROUBLE. I have no debt period. My bills are paid automatically when they are due. I have not paid an interest or service payment to a charge card in over 20 years. When they took off the interest deduction from the income tax code I never paid any interest to a charge card again. I’m the kind of customer you people hate; you call me a deadbeat because all you make off me is the merchant fee.
I don’t want checks coming to my house every month that can be stolen, ALL I WANT TO DO IS TO ACTIVATE MY CHARGE CARD. PERIOD
I try so hard to keep my temper, but these people work my last good nerve. Supposedly my card was activated…. If there are any extra charges…. trust me there will be Hell to pay!
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