Monday, October 3, 2011

The money pit of despair

The Brute Squad.

Well, let me just say, after a day of listening to jackhammers tear up my basement yesterday, it's no wonder my head is pounding. Keeping the dog occupied took up the better part of my day and there was one point where, following me into the kitchen, Leo busted through the not so technical blockade of dining room chairs and came face to face with one of the men tearing up my basement. They scared the hell out of each other and it was the only priceless moment of the day. Believe me, everything else had a price tag attached.

Leo finally gets to investigate the source of all of that racket.

Today is a duplicate day. While I thought the loudest part of the work was completed yesterday, I can plainly hear that I was wrong. Really wrong. It's drill work that's making me lose it today and brings to mind an insane visit to the dentist, although I'm quite certain the contractors left the jackhammer behind for a reason last night. They must not be finished. Pass the ibuprofen, please.


What the contractors discovered lurking behind a wall of built in cabinets goes a long way in explaining the array of symptoms like sniffles, scratchy throats, sinusitis, coughs and headaches the inhabitants of this dwelling suffer from. This corner of the basement was the worst part of the mold problem which has now been sprayed with bleach and will later get a boric acid treatment. The cabinets had provided fuel for the mold and were a total loss. The joys of old home ownership are endless, no? I'm trying to think positively about this new blank slate in my basement, but it's hard with all that racket down there rattling my brain.

The office floor

Dirk, Matt, John --whatever his name is--was a no show all weekend. Oh, he surfaced Monday, barely, and told us he had pneumonia. Excuses, excuses. He better show me where they administered Rocephin and azithromycin. I want proof. Just kidding. I was truly hoping to keep a contractor or two out of the house for a bit, but now he has to come back and finish the attic work (there is a hole in the attic where the fan will go, so this is necessary, and so is the insulation he still has to do). There is no escape from the noise, clutter, dust or disorder. I'd go to Mr. Larger Than Life's house to get a reprieve, but the painting contractor is there.

17 comments:

The Bug said...

Boy now MY head's hurting with all that racket! If you didn't have Leo I think I'd just spend the day at the library.

Any idea when it will all be done?

Unknown said...

I feel for you. Hopefully, they don't take their time and get finished up quickly.

Are you on leave from work? I can't imagine going to work after a good nerve jangling.

Unknown said...

I feel for you. Hopefully, they don't take their time and get finished up quickly.

Are you on leave from work? I can't imagine going to work after a good nerve jangling.

Stephanie V said...

Old houses are definitely no fun at times. And when needs to be done - it really needs to be DONE!
Mold seems to grow so easily mostly where we're not looking.

Let's focus on what you can do with that lovely space - something yarny would be my choice. Easier said than done when your brain in thumping to a jackhammer beat, I know.

Silliyak said...

Does your YV have a headphone jack? You could watch Holmes on Homes with extra sound effects! (If you don't get that program of course that will make NO sense to you)

Silliyak said...

That would be "TV" of course :] But I suppose if your YV works use it! How about making up a time capsule to bury underneath all that concrete?

ari_1965 said...

Glad they found the mold. Not good stuff for Leo to be around.

Celia said...

Since Princess Bride is my favorite movie, I love the reference. I'm sorry about the noise. I hope the repair goes well.

Empress Bee (of the high sea) said...

i SO feel your pain honey. we lived through that 10 years ago and never want to do it again. never. ever. but it was worth it in the end and i'm sure yours will be also!

smiles, bee
xoxooxoxox

Rositta said...

Ah Rudee, having renovated many houses in my lifetime I am so glad I will never have to do that again. This one was the last one and we had very similar problems. In fact our basement was dug up 3 times total. Our next home will be a condo and in the not so distant future me thinks. It will be over soon and you and Leo will be happy...ciao

Jen W said...

delurking to tell you that I totally feel your pain. I've had to deal with all of the above except that we did it our selves - yeah me. No, seriously, the work is still going on. it sucks. totally.

Alice said...

painting, as a rule, should be quieter . . . although with your luck . . .

Brenda said...

Is that a jack hammer? I wouldn't have thought it would be needed inside a house. Poor Rudee's head! Ouch...

Unknown said...

Oh man Rudee, in our old house we had all the mold and dampness and had our basement water-proofed, or whatever they called it and I remember the chaos. When we bought our next house we opted for no basement. Of course that does not eliminate all problems. Homeownership is a drag sometimes. Property taxes and upkeep are beginning to drain our fixed resources. LOL. Oh---well.
QMM

NCmountainwoman said...

If Dirk/Matt/John is like most other workmen, you can probably see enough butte revealed by his low-hanging pants to verify the Rocephin.

What a nightmare this whole thing must be for you. Especially the no-show part. It's like that here. So much so that one company advertises, "We show up" as their main slogan.

Good luck!

laurie said...

there are few things more disruptive in life than home repair. your place gets invaded and torn up and everything is in disarray and your sanctuary is gone.

here's to a sniffle-free, mold-free winter, anyway. they'll be done soon, i hope.

Finding Pam said...

We lived in our home while contractors remodeled over half of our home. It was a nightmare. Took them four months.

I hope you and Leo will have your home back to yourselves soon.