Well, the fence is finished! The main part anyway (the side that the home owners association was complaining about). I definitely learned some good lessons, and fortunately the fence didn't suffer from my inexperience. It turned out very nice!
Now I really need to concentrate on our lawn before the rain starts up. My goal is to have it nice and green before we get any bad freezing so that by next spring it is well on its way. I have to finish ripping out the old sod, mix in some new top soil and compost, and get the seeds out and rooted.
Its a lot of work, but hopefully the payoff will be the nicest lawn in the neighborhood!
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Monday, September 17, 2007
Price of labor...
Our fence is falling down! So, before the east wind picks up and carries what is left of it away, I am replacing it.
Rick's Custom Fencing in Gresham has a package for a basic Ceder fence that would cost almost $2500 for the length we need (80 ft), but luckily they also offer a "materials only" package that would cost us just over $1,000. So, this is pretty much a no brainer.
The cost of labor seems ridiculous to me. $1500 for a days work!?!?
I got the parts Friday, and spent most of the weekend digging the post holes. I hit some very rough patches of gravel under about 8 inches of dirt, so it took me quite some time. I am hoping to have it mostly completed within the next couple weeks. It is a lot of work, but I am somewhat confused why Rick's doesnt just lower the cost of labor... would he not make more in the long run? I know people like me with low funds, but plenty of cahonas to take on a new project, might be a little more willing to fork over their hard earned $$ if it was a bit more reasonable. But no, they have to charge a ridiculous price for labor... and well... its their loss! And it will be even more loss for them when I help the next guy whom wants to use some of the lessons I learned!
But, now that I think about it, there are probably enough people around here with money coming out their ears that the little guy isn't affecting Rick's bottom line much. Doh!
Rick's Custom Fencing in Gresham has a package for a basic Ceder fence that would cost almost $2500 for the length we need (80 ft), but luckily they also offer a "materials only" package that would cost us just over $1,000. So, this is pretty much a no brainer.
The cost of labor seems ridiculous to me. $1500 for a days work!?!?
I got the parts Friday, and spent most of the weekend digging the post holes. I hit some very rough patches of gravel under about 8 inches of dirt, so it took me quite some time. I am hoping to have it mostly completed within the next couple weeks. It is a lot of work, but I am somewhat confused why Rick's doesnt just lower the cost of labor... would he not make more in the long run? I know people like me with low funds, but plenty of cahonas to take on a new project, might be a little more willing to fork over their hard earned $$ if it was a bit more reasonable. But no, they have to charge a ridiculous price for labor... and well... its their loss! And it will be even more loss for them when I help the next guy whom wants to use some of the lessons I learned!
But, now that I think about it, there are probably enough people around here with money coming out their ears that the little guy isn't affecting Rick's bottom line much. Doh!
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Where was I...
Where was I on 9-11-01?
I was in the Marine Corps, in Camp Pendleton California.
We had just arrived at the football field for our morning PT (physical training) session which that morning was going to be a game of flag football.
One of the guys mentioned that he had heard something about a plane crash in New York, and might have mentioned that it was the World Trade Center, although I had no idea what that was. I have never been to New York, and didn't really know much about it other than the Statue of Liberty and what not.
I remember clearly that in my mind at that moment I visualized a small airplane, like a 2 to 4 person plane accidentally crashing into a building, and it not being a very big deal.
I don't remember exactly what happened after that, but at some point, I left the football field, and walked by the lounge (where the only tv with Cable was), and couldent help but notice that there was an unusually large group of people watching the tv. I think that was the first time I saw the video of the first Jet crashing into the tower.
The next thing I clearly remember about that morning is that I went to my truck and turned on the radio. I liked to listen to Howard Stern in the morning whenever possible, and I thought I would go see what he was saying about what was going on. This was before the second plane crash, and I sat there listening while most of the events that morning transpired.
The thing that was the most frightening for me was that I was leaving for home the very next Monday, and was not returning. I was to be on "leave" (vacation) for the next two months, and then was to be honorably discharged.
I remember sitting there thinking how this was war, and I was in the Marine Corps, and I was going to be involved.
For the next four years (I had four years left on my contract as a Reserve) I wondered every day whether I was going to get the call, and was going to be shipped off to Iraq.
As most of you already know, that never happened, and I have very mixed emotions about that. I wont really get into it, but just know, as a Marine, I feel like it is my responsibility to be over there with my "brothers". It is a strange thing to feel those emotions, and also feel good that I am able to live the life I now have, as I surely would not be able to do if I had gotten the "call". When I see the photo of a Marine I served with on that list of those killed in the war, I feel like, well,... I cant really describe it more than just a mix of relief and failure, at the same time.
Anyway, I have gotten a bit off topic now, so I need to conclude.
Some of the memories of that day have faded from my mind now, but others I am sure never will. We are no closer today to the end of this war then we were when it started, and it may get worse before it gets better, but I know someday when I am old, I will look back and remember... I was there, and I.. we made it.
I was in the Marine Corps, in Camp Pendleton California.
We had just arrived at the football field for our morning PT (physical training) session which that morning was going to be a game of flag football.
One of the guys mentioned that he had heard something about a plane crash in New York, and might have mentioned that it was the World Trade Center, although I had no idea what that was. I have never been to New York, and didn't really know much about it other than the Statue of Liberty and what not.
I remember clearly that in my mind at that moment I visualized a small airplane, like a 2 to 4 person plane accidentally crashing into a building, and it not being a very big deal.
I don't remember exactly what happened after that, but at some point, I left the football field, and walked by the lounge (where the only tv with Cable was), and couldent help but notice that there was an unusually large group of people watching the tv. I think that was the first time I saw the video of the first Jet crashing into the tower.
The next thing I clearly remember about that morning is that I went to my truck and turned on the radio. I liked to listen to Howard Stern in the morning whenever possible, and I thought I would go see what he was saying about what was going on. This was before the second plane crash, and I sat there listening while most of the events that morning transpired.
The thing that was the most frightening for me was that I was leaving for home the very next Monday, and was not returning. I was to be on "leave" (vacation) for the next two months, and then was to be honorably discharged.
I remember sitting there thinking how this was war, and I was in the Marine Corps, and I was going to be involved.
For the next four years (I had four years left on my contract as a Reserve) I wondered every day whether I was going to get the call, and was going to be shipped off to Iraq.
As most of you already know, that never happened, and I have very mixed emotions about that. I wont really get into it, but just know, as a Marine, I feel like it is my responsibility to be over there with my "brothers". It is a strange thing to feel those emotions, and also feel good that I am able to live the life I now have, as I surely would not be able to do if I had gotten the "call". When I see the photo of a Marine I served with on that list of those killed in the war, I feel like, well,... I cant really describe it more than just a mix of relief and failure, at the same time.
Anyway, I have gotten a bit off topic now, so I need to conclude.
Some of the memories of that day have faded from my mind now, but others I am sure never will. We are no closer today to the end of this war then we were when it started, and it may get worse before it gets better, but I know someday when I am old, I will look back and remember... I was there, and I.. we made it.
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