Between 265 & 485 SQ/FT The "Glendora Garage"

[InsaneEd]

On an entirely different subject: Our homeowners insurance - Mercury - has asked us for photos...
Basically, they either don't want to insure ANY home...... Feels like a lot of wailing and gnashing of teeth ahead just for them to deny us anyway.

I have a good friend who just was asked for lots of photos of his house by Mercury here in Oklahoma. They didn't like his siding and a few other things. His insurance broker said that they were canceling lots of customers in Oklahoma and seemed to want to get out of the state... Maybe they are just wanting to cancel all their accounts? He was switching to something else for homeowners.

Good luck with that. Oh and I have never posted but come by regularly to read up what fun you are having.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

I have a good friend who just was asked for lots of photos of his house by Mercury here in Oklahoma. They didn't like his siding and a few other things. His insurance broker said that they were canceling lots of customers in Oklahoma and seemed to want to get out of the state... Maybe they are just wanting to cancel all their accounts? He was switching to something else for homeowners.

Good luck with that. Oh and I have never posted but come by regularly to read up what fun you are having.

Thanks Ed for following the thread. I haven't done anything of substance lately but I will get back to working around the house and cars once the upcoming "ATMOSPHERIC RIVER" comes through.

I have no doubt the storms flow like rivers atmospherically but the local news gets so breathless and over the top about covering it when it HASN'T HAPPENED YET. Sheesh, give us a break. When it happens, THEN go wet your pants about it. Lol

 

[Swanny1953]

Insurance - "Give us a LOT of money for a VERY long time but don't ever ask us to pay anything or take any chance cause we'll cancel you". Bastards!

Dan, I have a very jaundiced view of insurance companies. In my view, all you get in return for your premium dollars is the right to sue them later for the coverage you thought you were buying!!

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Small Roof Repair (I hope!)

Recent rain revealed a leak where gables come together forming a valley that's relatively flat but sloped so contractor used hot melt roofing on it - see 1st picture.
I THINK that was the right approach instead of a huge "valley tin" but I'm no roofer. Hopefully what I've done will prevent further leakage. A huge rain storm is expected later today so we'll see.

The leak comes down the exterior wall. In the pic there's a dark area immediately around the white beam - that's where they patched the stucco after installing the beam. The darker area past it is the leak.

I bought Henry's spray patch ($29.99/CAN - Damn!) and it immediately malfunctioned! Bought Flex Seal spray instead ("only" $15.99/can). Removed a lump of some kind of mastic that had cracks in it - MABYE the source of the leak?? Shop vac'ed a little bit of water that was under it. Let it dry out in the sun then sprayed 3 coats of this rubber stuff. This stuff goes on really nice and dries to a firm rubber surface. Fingers crossed that the mastic was the issue.



This is the flattish sloped area below that necks down narrow and the lump of cracked mastic was there:

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Here's the mastic I peeled off and the area after I sprayed it 3x. It's a little less shiny once it dries.

 

[PugetDude]

So, will you be making a rowboat out of a screen door next, Dan?

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

So, will you be making a rowboat out of a screen door next, Dan?

You know what? That stuff REALLY does work! Or at least it has for me before.

That's why I went to it from the Henry's spray can that spit and coughed all over the place. In the pic above, all the black spots and the big stain are from it and it still did it after trying to fix it (plus getting it all over my hand).

In 2018 right after we got our RV I cracked the sewage piping a little and it was leaking. I was going to cut it off and re-install with new ABS piping but those commercials were all over the air so I bought some, masked it all off and sprayed it multiple times. Has never leaked a drop 5+ years now.

 

[captain14]

Just watched a short clip on the weather channel about flooding and raining in California. Hope your repair worked out.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

PS: Raining like hell outside right now. I went out to see if any water was coming out where it did earlier in the week and it's not!! Fingers crossed that by morning that wall will still be dry.

Just watched a short clip on the weather channel about flooding and raining in California. Hope your repair worked out.

Thanks!

So far it has. It’s still raining heavily here and the water that was streaming out of that area during (less) rain last week is gone now. That water stained wall is completely dry now. I’ll be extremely pleased if it stays that way.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Didn't realize I'd not posted for a month. Anyway, I F I N A L L Y got around to taking our Christmas lights off the house! Flame away, I deserve it.



Also, I notice the mileage on the new-to-me Diramax 3.0 has been going down from around 21-22 to about 19+.

The Drive Information Center said the air filter life was down to 35% so I went for a new one - no dice at O'Reilly's nor Autozone. The stealershiop clipped me for $60 for an AC Delco. Yikes but at least it's OEM.

Used to be such an easy thing to swap an arifilter but this required a YouTube video. Found it was VERY dirty and that the truck had picked up a hitchhiker somewhere along the line!! Poor little guy. No idea how he got in there but he was alive when he crawled in. Completely desiccated now. I'm surprised and relieved the truck didn't **** him in and cause a major issue - whew, dodged a bullet here.

 

[don long]

Hi Dan
Just checking in. It's been a while. I still have lights on the potting shed that we put up for christmas 3 years ago. LOL

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Hi Dan
Just checking in. It's been a while. I still have lights on the potting shed that we put up for christmas 3 years ago. LOL

Ha ha, well I feel better then. Probably the ONLY thing I will ever do and get done before you, Don!

Hope all is well with you. I've been watching the El Camino come along. It's going to be a gorgeous truck!

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Yesterday's winds were very heavy here. Snapped one of the three cables that hold the shade sails over the pool. It was the one that goes to the anchor pole I put into a back border. Apparently my overkill with the concrete and rebar I put in its foundation was just right!

The sails were blowing up and down pretty violently which caused the cable to work harden and snap! It's plastic coated stainless 3/32" but the coating doesn't seem to protect the metal like I thought it would.

Anyway, a Home Depot run to replace the cable and we're back in business.......til the next big wind I suppose.


^^^ Shot looking east. Anchor pole to the right.^^^

New hardware:




After^^^ Somehow it looks lower than it was but it's not. Hmmm....

 

[don long]

I was afraid that I might loose that old tree out front yesterday but we survived with only a sheet of leafs all over the drive

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

I was afraid that I might loose that old tree out front yesterday but we survived with only a sheet of leafs all over the drive

You lucked out Don....or the tree did. When we were in Pasadena there was a huge windstorm back in 2011. A lot of old trees went down WITH their root ball. Lifted the sidewalk and in one case about 1/3 of the person's front lawn.

If that tree needs trimming now is the time for some careful thinning so it'll still look good. We did our front olive trees for the insurance recently and that might have saved them.

 

[PugetDude]

I was afraid that I might loose that old tree out front yesterday but we survived with only a sheet of leafs all over the drive

Glad it survived. Where would Ann hang my favorite sign?

 

[don long]

I paid $5,000 last year to have it thinned out and that was the second time since we moved here

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

I paid $5,000 last year to have it thinned out and that was the second time since we moved here

YIKES! That was a hard punch to the wallet! Must be a HUGE tree but good that it's already done or you'd likely have lost it for sure. This latest windstorm was brutal and for hours too.

This last wind blew our avocado to about a 45* angle. I had to drive this post and use a bungee to straighten it. I HATe that I had to drive the stake at that angle but Glendora soil is LOADED with big rocks. Took a lot out when I planted this 4 years ago. I'm wondering if the tree hasn't grown big because the roots are struggling against rocks down below?

 

[don long]

Dan
Don't you remember the big tree in my front yard circle? It's over 200 years old they tell me. I had 70 feet taken off the top back in 2016

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Dan
Don't you remember the big tree in my front yard circle? It's over 200 years old they tell me. I had 70 feet taken off the top back in 2016

No I don’t. I should have paid more attention. I was admiring the front of your house - VERY nice traditional look. 70 FEET? How damn tall was it to start? Sheesh.

 

[don long]

It took 6 guys 2 1/2 days to trim it this last time. It is way up there.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Met my daughter, S-I-L & 3 grandkids for breakfast then walked a car & crafts show for St. Patrick's Day in Sierra Madre, CA. It's a very quaint little town. Looks mostly the same as it did in the 1930's and 40's. I know because there's a building at the main intersection that was in the original "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" from 1956 . It's still there, still the same.

Came home and spent an hour cutting back the potted black eyed Susan vines. Never done this before so I'm hoping they come roaring back this Spring.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Doesn't look like anything (natch!) but I spent the morning crawling around on my back under the boat today. The wind last week blew the sacrificial cover all over the place. Thought I was going to have to make a Harbor Freight run for a replacement but was able to reuse this. I've got a bunch of those cheapo clamps they sell and re-positioned, trimmed and gathered the tarp before bungee cording it all back secure. A lot of work that looks like nothing. Now my old bones are sore.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Good morning/afternoon/evening lady and germs!

I've no idea what time it is as my body is on Euro time from our cruise vacation and I'm now in SoCal. 9 hours difference. After a 1-1/2 hr flight from Florence to Paris, a layover & delay then 10 hr flight we arrived @ LAX after 10pm then Customs/baggage claim/shuttle bus to my truck it was 1:15AM when we got home. Yikes. Of course I couldn't fall asleep right away and the finally woke up about 1PM to shower and pickup our pups from my sister.

I like trips but I'm really a home body. I like fixing sprinklers, mowing my lawns, washing/polishing my cars. I guess that's why we're all here.

Hope all is well is the usual cast of characters here and that your projects are going well. - Dan

 

[PugetDude]

Welcome back to reality, Dan.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

"Reality" = mowing the lawn. I never let my grass grow this tall but maybe it was healthy for it.

Doesn't look like much but edging and mowing front and back was a task since my sleep hasn't caught up yet. I usually get up late since retiring. But got up at 6am today and I'm done with front & back and already thinking I need a nap.

Before of backyard this morning:

After:

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

It's neither here nor there as far as garage stuff goes but I guess I'm relating a sign post that has appeared in my life:

My ex wife of 20+ years has been dealing with something called Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia - a pretty rare condition, it is a form of a blood cancer. In addition, scans found she has a rat's nest of small blood vessels in her brain that caused a bleed and aphasia resulted. Now her doctor says she has developed dementia too. She still remembers face and names though who knows how long that will last. She is 65, her mother and grandmother were VERY long-lived. When we were married I just knew she would far outlive me. Tells you we never know. I can tell it weighs very heavy on my daughter (and there is a possible genetic component too) but there is nothing I can do but be there for her. She seems reluctant to tell me specifics - maybe because she thinks it will pain me? I don't know.

Anyway, back to garage and house stuff tomorrow. As if "tomorrow" is promised to any of us!

 

[kaymccampbell]

My condolences.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

My condolences.

Thank you, Kay. Very kind of you.

 

[rharman]

Sorry to hear that news, Dan. Yeah, you long ago divorced but there's still that connection via your daughter. I'm sure that component, at least, weighs heavily on you.

 

[PugetDude]

Dan, you cared enough at one time to marry her, no reason you shouldn't feel bad now about her getting handed a **** sandwich in her golden years.
Condolences to you and your daughter. You've lucky to have such a great partner now, things like this make you appreciate your situation even more.
Scott

 

[bugnut]

Dan, thoughts and prayers for the daughter and ex.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Thanks all you guys for the very kind words. I probably shouldn't have posted that and Brough the forum down but it was weighing on my mind at the moment.

She was a beautiful blonde girl when we met and things between us were very good back in the day. It eventually didn't go as she wanted but there are two beloved children and five fantastic grandchildren that came out of the union so that is definitely the silver lining.

 

[Bob Heine]

Thanks all you guys for the very kind words. I probably shouldn't have posted that and Brough the forum down but it was weighing on my mind at the moment.

She was a beautiful blonde girl when we met and things between us were very good back in the day. It eventually didn't go as she wanted but there are two beloved children and five fantastic grandchildren that came out of the union so that is definitely the silver lining.

Dan, we speak up when one of us is hurting. I also bet a fair number took Psych 101 at some point and believe we're amateur therapists. On the bright side, our fees are pretty low.

I suspect you have some photos or keepsakes from early in your marriage so maybe dig them out and share with the family. Don't forget to let your current spouse know how much you appreciate her supporting role in this tragic episode.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Dan, we speak up when one of us is hurting. ......On the bright side, our fees are pretty low.

I'll post this photo someone posted on another thread because it always makes me laugh but the comments you guys have made ARE good advice. It's why I keep coming here to the "friends I haven't met yet".

Don't forget to let your current spouse know how much you appreciate her supporting role in this tragic episode.

You're right, Bob. She has been concerned for and supportive with my daughter. Their bond is very strong and my daughter has come to regard her as a strong friend.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Fixed sprinkler valve today. Nothing too exciting to take a photo of but on the other hand, our roses are putting on a show this year. I had cut this bush back very short in late February and it's paying me back.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Finally back after 8 days in NorCal helping brother & sister-in-law pack and move. Pulled a 12 ft trailer with my 3.0 Duramax for a day but it wasn't all that heavy. Only about 40 boxes.

I'm still AMAZED that a big bodied truck like my 2021 Silverado can get this kind of mileage. It would have been better but for the towing and on our return trip I was hitting it hard, 80-85 mph as much as possible.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Above is the entire trip but I also recorded the return trip separately doing 80-85 mph. I started this tank doing 65-ish and was getting 29 mpg but it was too slow; couldn't stand it and had to step on it. I was @ 24.9 mpg on the return driving faster.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Brother in law moved to senior place so he gave me his Greenworks 40V electric mower. I’m under no illusion it’s a high grade mower. It’s Costco “lowest common denominator” quality. Tried it yesterday on my St. Augustine back lawn thinking that’s the trial by fire.

It mowed just fine. I set it at the 2nd lowest height. t’s a very small lawn and the mower is not self propelled. It’s very light compared to my gas mower.

Then mowed front lawn on lowest setting and again it did fine. Larger than back lawn but still suburbia size. Mower has a 4aH and a 2aH battery. Each lawn caused it to use 3 of 4 bars of charge. I thought the battery sizes odd to be mismatch but apparently that is standard - go figure.

While out there I sheared rosemary bushes back hard. Trying to make the the same size so a couple got scalped. Tiring as hell.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Above ^^^ the lantana hedge (right) obviously needs to be sheared but I didn't have room in the yard trash can so I couldn't do it. We also have the giant ficus tree privacy hedge in the backyard that needs to be "faced". Now that the city's waste contractor has started to use mechanical can pickup you can't line up a lot of cans like we used to. Just one yard can allowed.