Looks like you have a few good spots for a BBQ grill up going right there bigger!

Yeah, when I've done it, it has been restaining a deck so the spaces in between aren't as important since they don't get the wear that the deck it self gets and don't need staining as much.

Nice job! That is one helluva deck!

Thanks everyone!

So, I sent an email to Renee last Friday to make sure she was aware of the permit thing being cleared up (I hope). She told me she would get back to me when my porch permit was processed.

I still am not officially finished with the deck. I need to put up some lattice. So, today I cleaned/powerwashed it.

Took care of some odds and ends.

I splattered a bunch of stain on my new house paint job and when I did it I had rubber gloves on and trying to wipe it up made it even worse. So, I decided I'd just clean it later. Only it won't clean. So, I painted over it. Only the paint wouldn't stick to the stain properly so it took a while to really cover it up. But, I think it will work. Still need to take care of some trim areas. Another day.

Then, after I powersprayed the lattice, it left the driveway in a checkerboard pattern. I'll need to power wash the entire driveway, but another day.

Sooooo................ I have this row of lights in the kitchen that, well, is supposed to light up the kitchen. Only they have never worked. I figured I had a short in there or something and I had no desire to tear up the sheetrock to find it. Impossible to reach from the attic. Since the sheetrock guys are coming to fix the ceiling I decided this was my opportunity to debug the problem.

I took the bulbs out and got my little handy dandy tester. The first socket tested hot. Then the second socket tested hot. Now, since I've never seen light out of these my brain is still thinking that there's a break in the circuit somewhere. After the third one tested hot the proverbial light bulb in my head finally came on. If they have power then they should work. So, I got a bulb from my stash and put it in and it came on. And the next one too, and, well, all of them.

All I can figure is that all of the old bulbs just blew when I originally turned on the power. They are these goofy little specialized bulbs. I don't have a better explanation but I feel really really stupid that I've lived with this for 10 years and never even tried to put a bulb in. ugh.

What type of bulbs are they?

We have little halogen ones like this:
http://www.bltdirect.com/50-watt-hal...FWT4wgod5aoAIQ
And they're officially a bit of a pain.

They were little foo-foo bulbs but I don't think they are halogen. I tossed them.

LOL, I just saw this on TV.

lol bigger - love the anecdote on your lights.

10 years? Ouch.

*laugh* this might just be the best story in the blog... love that you aren't afraid to share something like this...

I don't think it tops cats locked in attic.

Biggerboat you have the patience of a saint.

I cannot describe the anger I'm experiencing now.

So, they attached a .dot file which I had no idea how to open. Notepad wouldn't. Adobe wouldn't. Microsoft Works wouldn't. I finally googled it and learned that you need Word. Fortunately I have it but wtf at them sending a file that most people wouldn't be able to open.

Anyways, here's the wonderful news

I'm just speechless right now. Angry and speechless.

About minute after I read that the phone rang. It was an unsolicited sales call. They got an earful to say the least.

Ok, I was making jokes about bureaucracy but that $355 isn't a nice suprise.

There is an exactly 0% chance I submit a perfect stack of paperwork the next go around. Only slightly the round after that. I figure > $1500 before they approve.

Is there a building consultant or sometype of expert that you might be able to engage with (at a reasonable cost) who might help you with the application? It might increase the cost of the total application but remove the chance of multiple re-applications/heartache/time.

Yeah, I need to step back and think about my options. I'm not thinking clearly at all right now since I really just want to go beat the crap out of someone down there.

I sent an email to Renee. Probably not a good idea but we'll see.

Holy crap, that's a lot of money for a plan review. I think the 68 cents is probably the most tilting part. Like they just had to include a random amount of pocket change to hammer home how absurd the whole process is.

Or possibly even more tilting its taxes.

Got a reply from Renee. Basically, "not my problem".
I sent both Jay and Michael an email. Will keep you posted.

I got a chance tonight to just chill on my deck with a glass of wine. Hasn't happened much lately. The weather was perfect and the mosquitos haven't arrived yet. I was able to just sit back and look at the house and the deck and the work I've done and really appreciate it. I need to do this more often. I sort of obsess about what is wrong or what needs to be done and don't let myself enjoy the good stuff.

Michael's response to my question