So I whined like a cranky three year old when Pete left me behind once again to have all the fun.
He moved all the storage into our new attic above the kitchen, down two flights and up the ladder. This was one task I was happy not to be a part of.
Now our stored belongings will only have new sheet rock/plaster dust all over everything, not that nasty coal dust/bird excrement dust that permeates the house.
Pete worked on electrical wiring during this trip.
Our electrician suggested Pete install a second circuit breaker box in the kitchen.
Pete installed this gray 100 amp service cable from the main breaker box in the basement to the new one in the kitchen. The yellow Romex cable was run through the kitchen for outlets, light switches, and appliances.
Our electrician Tom offered to loan Pete this right angle drill. He used it to burrow through the beams to run the service cable between the circuit breaker boxes. Tom has been incredibly kind and generous to us. The suspicious New Yorker in me is waiting for him to ask us for some huge unreasonable favor, like assistance with disposing of a body, help with laundering funds, or delivering a package across state lines.
We'll see if these holes were worth the savings.
The 44th edition implies that this book is not really so simplified, but Pete was very excited about the diagrams. How often is the national electrical code upgraded? I'd like to read about all of the accidents, shorts, and fires that led up to this 44th edition.
Here's a progress photo. Yes, that window is being replaced, smarty pants.
These nail plates are designed to stop people like me from drilling/hammering screws and nails into the wiring. Are these a code requirement?
Due to the strange spotlight effect on this photo, I thought Pete was at some avant-garde theater production when he sent this to me. Pete built the door jamb for our new bathroom door. I can only assume it was a pretty dramatic learning curve. I am hoping the skills he perfects from installing doors can be applied to windows.
Too bad this diagram cant be applied to all the doors in the house, because there are 10 more to be replaced!
One step closer to an actual bathroom!!
Things left behind
vintage documents
I'm finally done with sorting through the mountain of paperwork left in the house. I'll spread the interesting things over a few more entries.
I really like the font on this sample life insurance policy, from 1918.
Social Security was signed into law in 1935, and I think this was the first card printed. Check out the tetanus inducing staple on the upper left.
The WAR department, when America was direct and honest about its intentions. 1944.
Although I remember bank books, I'd never seen one specifically printed to document paying off a mortgage. It's from 1966, although it looks a lot older. Note the phone number on the front cover. What's up with the hand written entries? I'm guessing this was only for the customer to keep track (more like a check register) and not an official bank document.
Here's a more official bank book, from 1985.
Here's a punch card, another example of antiquated technology. I'm sure there are some nerds that collect these things, I think I may become one of them.
Here is (I think) the former owner of the house, being all macho and self absorbed.
Don't let the sweet old lady act fool you. This itty old bitty will concuss any mugger with a couple of swings of her purse.The back of the photo reads "grandma, born Feb 23, 1895.
poetry corner
The former owner left behind a stack of about 20 love poems. There is an unexpected intermingling of sensuality and God in most of them. I've decided to post one poem in every blog entry until they are all posted or until I get complaints.
You be the judge.
