The Great Little Garage

[bczygan]

Woke up with serious panic attack. Can't breathe.

Rewrote more detailed list of things to dump or scrap. Seems impossible. Especially with scrappers getting less willing to do the job.

Julie must do a lot today.

My list seems impossible. Rewrote it, and it's a mile long. Won't get every little thing done, but almost.
So need an early start today, at first light.

Snowed heavily yesterday. Kid asked to do the walks but had no shovel. Gave him mine and $15. He did a half assed job, like most in this neighborhood.

After today, it's the scrappers finishing dumping stone and wood in the dumpster and grabbing their metal. Then it's just me to finish the list including filling the dumpster and button up the sheds.

Here's a photo of some of the limestone we are getting rid of and Corian counter tops that have to go:

 

[bczygan]

My List:

Here's my ever expanding list:
Aluminum off of trailer for scrappers
Router table into shed
Seat to him (DeAngelo)
Trailer plate back

Into Dumpster:
Big thick OSB 2 - Me to do
Insulation - Me to do
More granite slabs - Me to do
Short 2x4's - Me to do
Black door - Me to do
Wood piles on side - scrappers to do
Hardi-plank siding - Me to do
Misc wood on side - Me to do
Car top carrier (Put cover in van or good carrier)
Bad wood fencing - Me to do

More for scrappers:
Light metal table to scrappers?
Chain link to scrappers
Heavy steel tubing and channel - scrappers?
Rolling heavy top metal table to scrappers?
Radial arm saw base to scrappers?

Ladders put away neatly
Tarps - Put away
Light metal rolling cart - scrap

Good plywood 1/2 sheets on trailer
tripod - get SS bolts and scrap
Bridgeport parts - put on porch
Metal fencing - ?

Plastic panels - dumpster

To Do Plan by Day:
Finish clearing front porch - Monitor and file cabinet? Sunday
Glass skylights - in dumpster Sunday
Motorcycle - Sunday? on trailer - find come-along
Limestone - By Monday Cover under scaffold and use rest under sheds and as paving.
2 counter tops - Scrappers or dumpster by Monday
Lumber - On top of stone Monday
Clear small remaining piles - Julie Sun. and me Mon.-Tuesday
Deck lumber - make deck? - Tuesday
Clear Side sidewalk including siding - on top of stone by Tuesday.
Aluminum and metal - Scrappers By Tuesday.
Close sheds - Me Wed.
Have inspector out Wednesday? Or just photo and bring to court

Roof on low shed?
Workbenches - ? on porch? Give to scrappers?
Bridgeport base - ?
Table saw - on trailer?

Shingles - Cover?

Re-writing the list, while it expanded, calmed my panic a little because I have a clearer picture and a list to check off, item by item. Raised the panic a little as it is so long and I know we won't finish completely.

Beleaguered Bill

 

[Cudajas]

keep at it Bill you will get it done.

Glad to hear you got the dumpster. Just keep at it you will get it all done.

Jason

 

[bczygan]

keep at it Bill you will get it done.

Glad to hear you got the dumpster. Just keep at it you will get it all done.

Jason

Jason,
Thanks for the encouragement. I need it now, more than ever.

Just took a little nap and cleared off the back porch. Gloves are soaked so getting them dried out on the heater.

Then back out to keep pulling things out and filling the dumpster.

If I keep putting one foot in front of the other, eventually I'll get somewhere, right?


Bill

 

[Bronson]

Hang in there, Bill!

 

[bczygan]

Hang in there, Bill!

Bronson,
Thank You.

Scrappers a little overdue. I'll go out and do a bit more and then call them. Really need them to perform to finish. Even taking the aluminum I am giving them as partial payment, is part of the removals I need.

Bill

 

[coma13]

This is really great to watch the progress unfold. How are you doing physically? Do you find yourself getting stronger with the regular work? Much respect.

 

[bczygan]

This is really great to watch the progress unfold. How are you doing physically? Do you find yourself getting stronger with the regular work? Much respect.

Thanks,
I find myself beat to hell and stressed. So physically and emotionally I am a wreck.
Sore...taking Aleve, and yes, muscles are surely improving. But rotator cuff and bad knee aren't helping. And cardiovascular isn't in good shape. Moving a heavy trash can through snow, found myself gasping uncontrollably for air for several minutes.
And Julie is right out there with me, moving 2x4's and other lumber for me to throw in the dumpster.
Can't get motorcycle into neutral so hard to push it out.
Scrappers are failing me. Didn't come today, so putting ad in paper for laborers.

More CL ads giving away stuff.

Bill

 

[Amitygravel]

Good for you Bill.
Keep moving forward.

If the scrappers are a no show just throw the damn stuff in the dumpster and be done with it.








Then they'll show up , so they can pull it back out.
Don't let others stand in your way.

 

[bczygan]

Good for you Bill.
Keep moving forward.

If the scrappers are a no show just throw the damn stuff in the dumpster and be done with it.








Then they'll show up , so they can pull it back out.
Don't let others stand in your way.

Like an open field runner on a football team, keep running for daylight. Keep finding new routes to your goal.

Bill

 

[Bull]

What is the world coming to when scrappers in hard-luck Detroit can't be bothered to do a little work in order to get the metal they supposedly want so badly?

 

[bczygan]

Just put an ad on CL for labor. A guy a couple of streets over is coming at 9, ready to work.

When the scrappers come, I will tell them to take the steel scrap and the 2 washers (Which they will disassemble on site), so they can get some cash to make the younger guy happy. I'll have them call me from the scrap yard with the amount. They got 80+ from the first load I gave them and $40 cash for gas. They worked 5 hours each, total. They should get at least $60 from this load. I am going to tell them that I feel this is just compensation, and if they want to do further work, it will be $10 and $8 respectively. The new guy is getting $10. BTW, I make $10.

This should cover my bases and cut the drama from the scrappers.

You always need backup.

Bill

 

[bczygan]

What is the world coming to when scrappers in hard-luck Detroit can't be bothered to do a little work in order to get the metal they supposedly want so badly?

Well, even the lowest have standards, and too much pride for their own good. The kid, who was in engineering school and dropped out, just wants cash, so he can buy his dope each evening. The older guy, hustler (In both good and bad ways), just missed getting habitual for gun charges. But he isn't hustling me by renegotiating the job after taking it. It's my job on my terms. Obviously, plenty of people in Detroit (I got a second call), need the work. And this guy would take a bus halfway across the city to get it....and 3 more just emailed!

Bill

 

[loveall13]

Scrapping

Bill,
As an unofficial part of my job as a welding instructor at a public high school here in Kentucky, I'm a scrapper. My students and I have hauled everything from Aluminum cans to industrial machines. This is how we pay for our hand tools and supplies for projects. The school only provides consumables and large equipment. We have completed several home/yard/farm clean usually they will provide the dumpster and we will provide the labor to load the dumpster and collect all the scrap. I have never asked for gas money. That is a foreign concept to me.
Jeremy

 

[bczygan]

Gas money was to haul a compressor for me.

The new guy came and did 2 great hours of work for me.

He's on lunch break.

The scrapper came with a new guy and wanted to renegotiate again. I finally settled by giving him $60. Aluminum is mine to scrap. I also gave him free rein to take all the steel scrap for free. He will do that in the morning. Meanwhile, the two of them are laying out my limestone as flat pavers for the next hour and a half. $10/Hour.

That will use up the rest of it. Any extra will be used under the deck. The other guy will help me build that.

Things are moving along.

Bill

 

[xtremek]

Sounds like you're moving forward at a reasonable pace.

 

[bczygan]

These scrappers are trying to run a game on me. When he came today he tried to claim we had no deal because the guy I hired was moving limestone. He basically extorted $60 dollars from me instead of the aluminum. Said he was taking no scrap. I settled, and even hired him and another guy with him for an hour and a half at $10/HR to lay a stone walkway. I overheard him over the fence telling his other partner on the phone to come get his money from me. NO WAY JOSE! Now, he is coming in the morning for the rest of the steel scrap I have. I am going to have him call me from the yard and tell me what he got for it. If his partner comes calling I will tell him I gave the scrap and money to the other guy. Go get it from him.

Meanwhile, I am going to load the aluminum and take it in myself tomorrow.

So right now, we have used up all the limestone.

A guy responded to CL and came and got most of the Tuff Shed siding.

A lady wants the 2 panel doors.

Aaron (My new helper) and me tore open the big pile of 2x6 treated lumber. Treated lumber CAN rot. Most of it did. But we had just enough to create a faux deck by layering them. It is 8x10. Put the 3 BBQ's, a smoker and a fire pit on it. Will add a stack of plastic chairs. Now we can BBQ in the winter!

I'm letting Aaron have the CB1000 for $200. Needs carb work, gas tank de-rusted and coated and .new mirrors and turn signals. Aaron lives a few blocks away and this will have to go on a trailer. The trans won't go into neutral with the bike off and the bike won't start without battery or carb, so will have to winch onto a trailer. Another thing off my list. We'll load and haul it tomorrow, time permitting.

Tomorrow we will also throw all the rotted lumber in the dumpster and the rest of the brick to the front walk. We will also load the ruined roof windows and other debris. This dumpster will be very full, very soon. It's going to be just about exactly right.

Consolidated things in the big shed and put some more tool things in there.

Still a thousand small things to do, but getting there.

Bill

 

[-Brent-]

Why deal with the sketchy guy? There are a million scrappers in your area. The guy isn't going to be honest with you when he turns in the scrap. Post an ad on C-list for a scrapper, you'll have more people than you can count. Tough luck on his part. If he want's to know why you went with someone else, tell him it's a matter of integrity and to beat it.

Beggars can't be choosers. These guys see you as a mark, they're going to continue to mess with you.

 

[bczygan]

Why deal with the sketchy guy? There are a million scrappers in your area. The guy isn't going to be honest with you when he turns in the scrap. Post an ad on C-list for a scrapper, you'll have more people than you can count. Tough luck on his part. If he want's to know why you went with someone else, tell him it's a matter of integrity and to beat it.

Beggars can't be choosers. These guys see you as a mark, they're going to continue to mess with you.

Any other scrappers will just take the scrap for free and this guys partner will still just be banging on my door anyway. At least this way I can point him to his partner for payment. Don't really care the amount. I will just say, you guys were paid $40 cash for transporting the compressor, $80 in scrap and **.00 in scrap and $60 for your 10 man hours of work. Go collect your share from your partner. Goodbye.

 

[bczygan]

On a very plus note....I have a DECK! With a BBQ and smoker!

BBQ this winter! What a concept!

 

[Riley]

Bill, Sounds like great progress!! Congrats!

Do yourself a favor and get rid of the 2 worst BBQ's. I don't expect they have had much use, unless you're getting into competition Q, three is perhaps a couple too many...

Heck give one to your helper...

Keep after it! You'll enjoy the room as well as being able to actually use the stuff you've retained.

 

[bczygan]

Bill, Sounds like great progress!! Congrats!

Do yourself a favor and get rid of the 2 worst BBQ's. I don't expect they have had much use, unless you're getting into competition Q, three is perhaps a couple too many...

Heck give one to your helper...

Keep after it! You'll enjoy the room as well as being able to actually use the stuff you've retained.

Riley,
Just what I was thinking.

Can't believe I sold my motorcycle. Don't think Julie really believes it either. It was a project I just can't deal with. New thinking.

And one of the ladies on the other group donated money for laborers. Couldn't stop her, she just did it. There are some wonderful people in the world, aren't there? But then you know that. You're one of them. And even more than the money donation, like you, it is the support, advice and friendship that is the most wonderful gift.

Bill

Bill

 

[FarmerPete]

I'm glad to see the weather hasn't slowed you down to bad. We're supposed to get a few more inches today. Keep going. It's just stuff. It's good to let it go. Besides, with all of the stuff in your sheds and house, you'll still have 10x the "stuff" that a normal person would have. Let us know how your deadlines goes, and as always, taking pictures helps. I'm sure we all would love to see pictures of a full dumpster.

 

[bczygan]

A few photos.

 

[Chase Rockwell]

Why do you have three bbq's? For two people surely one is enough.

 

[bczygan]

Why do you have three bbq's? For two people surely one is enough.

BBQ quantities:

For a normal couple - 1

For a hoarder couple :
1 for the back yard
1 for each camper
1 spare
1 portable one
1 to give the kids someday
1 you found a good deal on
1 that belonged to mom and dad
1 pulled out of the trash that just needs a complete rebuild but it's a Weber.
1 because it is badged Hummer and that's cool
Plus a fire pit
Plus a smoker
Plus a different kind of smoker

Guess how many of these applied to us???

Bill

 

[bczygan]

FULL DUMPSTER DAY!!!!!!

We filled it to the tippy top! Well, Aaron filled it to the tippy top.
All the junk lumber gone. A few good boards to put away.

All the scrap metal gone.

The scrappers that gave me so much trouble didn't come on time. Another pair stopped, and I gave them all the remaining scrap metal. Probably a hundred or more. They had to work to get it out of the yard. And just as they were finishing loading that and some broken stuff to haul off for me, the other guys rolled up. You should have seen his face fall. Only fair after what he put me through. Told him that if I needed any labor, I'd call. Don't think he should sit by the phone.

Aaron is a wonder! I gave him the big motorcycle (A project) for $200 of future work. I feel a small pang of loss along with a giant flood of relief!

He worked until 2:30 and cleaned up almost the rest of the yard and side sidewalk. What remains is a number of piles in various corners, that can easily be cleaned up tomorrow when he comes back with my trailer. Anything remaining can be put on the trailer and then the sheds buttoned up and the back porch framed and covered.

I will photo tomorrow for everyone.

Bill (With the big backyard!)

 

[bobemmerich]

Great progress, Bill. Glad to hear you have some decent help finally. Keep it up! Get it done, then move in on the house.

 

[bczygan]

Want to see what a full 30CY dumpster looks like?

 

[bczygan]

Great progress, Bill. Glad to hear you have some decent help finally. Keep it up! Get it done, then move in on the house.

Instead of getting cash for the motorcycle, I have a credit of 20 hours of labor from Aaron, that I will use to clear out the basement.

Hiring someone to help you, is something I have never done in my life...ever! This is a very new behavior, for me. But he is doing things I would not do for $10/HR. I am treating him very well. He's a treasure. I've got a couple of extra mountain bikes that were rentals for Mackinaw Island. He and his wife could use them. We have two others plus a half dozen other bicycles. Guess who's getting mountain bikes for Christmas?

Bill

 

[cowboy73]

You're making good progress, Bill! There is light at the end of the tunnel!!!

Tom

 

[bczygan]

You're making good progress, Bill! There is light at the end of the tunnel!!!

Tom

It's a train!

 

[Bronson]

It's a GOOD tired, isn't it?

 

[bczygan]

It's a GOOD tired, isn't it?

With DEEP satisfaction!

Tomorrow is the wrap up....for the yard. I'll have photos for all the people who stayed with me from the start of The Grunge Garage.

Bill

 

[xtremek]

Congrats on making it this far, Bill. Is Newton's first law of motion accurate for you and Julie? What's the story on the city, are they appeased for now?

 

[bczygan]

Congrats on making it this far, Bill. Is Newton's first law of motion accurate for you and Julie? What's the story on the city, are they appeased for now?

Court in the morning.

 

[bczygan]

Here's some photos:

 

[bczygan]

Yes, that is the main area of the back yard, where there were multiple large stacks of lumber, brick and limestone as well as bicycles, lawnmowers, van racks, tools, 48 bins, slate chalkboards and many more things.

 

[bczygan]

I'm just numb right now.

Trying to get some photos together for court in the morning.

Still some things to do out there in the snow and cold.

Bone weary.

And Julie still at work, printing photos of before and after.

Still need to consolidate the dumpster as it has things sticking up above the top.

And so much still remaining to do in the house and sheds.

Bill

 

[Bronson]

Great progress, Bill!
Good luck tomorrow!