Progress on the House

[hrj]

Monday

Electrician came, rewired the breaker box, rewired the ceiling fixtures with wiring that is up to code for Concord attics in summer. I also discussed several future, non-urgent projects that I'm starting a list for: add outdoor outlets along the front of the house and maybe some additional along the back. Install outlets (on their own circuit) where the workbench will be in the garage. Double the outlets in the laundry area since I need both the existing ones for the appliances but the irrigation timer is also plugged in there. Add some outlets in the back of the closet that I'm going to convert to a computer center. Install ceiling light/fan fixtures at a minimum in the dining room and master bedroom (possibly also the guest bedroom).

Plumber came and provided an estimate for the necessary and optional work. He'll be back to perform the work Tuesday 7/5.

Tuesday

Painters came. Evidently the company's other jobs that day were all external painting, so when it rained all their crews showed up at my place and they got the whole job done in one day. Score!

The painting being done, I tried to schedule the furniture container and unloaders for this weekend, but not only was the storage company uncertain they could get me on their delivery schedule before a prime moving weekend that quickly but it turns out my (un)loader now has a day job and only does moving jobs on weekends. I've left two phone messages with him but he hasn't gotten back to me yet, so despite my immense satisfaction with his work and my promise to use him for the unload, I may have to go with someone else. The new goal is to get the furniture in next weekend. (I'd rather not take a vacation day, but I will if I have to.)

The fridge and laundry appliances get delivered and installed today. I'm also holding a very informal "drop by and see the house" open-house during my delivery window (10am to 2pm), so if you're in the area and want to drop by, give me a call and get the address.

The phone/internet/cable connection is also scheduled for Monday. (Weekday contracting, connections, and deliveries courtesy of cryptocosm and my dad being able to come over and hang out in the house for me.) After a detailed comparison of Comcast and Astound (which involved a great deal of deciphering of convoluted package deals) I ended up going with Comcast after all. So I need to leave detailed instructions on where the tv and internet connections are to go.

This means I had to make a final decision about the basic configuration of the master bedroom, since it affects where the bedroom tv cable comes out. The optimal location for the preferred configuration is on the wall right next to the door ... but the electrical outlet on that wall is the one controlled by the wall switch. And it would be preferable for that switch to control the main lighting (there isn't currently any built-in lighting) and not an appliance that would have to be reprogrammed if turned off. However see above discussion of plans to install a ceiling light/fan fixture. Since the best design would involve changing the wall switch to control the ceiling fixture, this eliminates the problem of accidental tv turn-offs.

The location for the internet connection is, quite obviously, in the closet that will be the computer center. I need to double-check the coverage of my home wireless network, but given that it was quite able to cover my old place in its entirety, I doubt that being closeted would be a hindrance.

I've been identifying a few other minor conversion jobs. The old alarm base station in the coat closet needs to be removed, but I may just let the new alarm company do that when they install their own. (Scheduling them is still on the to-do list since they need existing phone service.) And I want to convert one end of the (long) hall closet into a vertical space to use as a broom closet. Given that the shelving in that end is already separate boards from the rest of the shelving, this will involve more prying and re-painting than cutting and construction.

Tomorrow is scheduled for starting to move boxes and stuff out of the storage spaces. I figure I can empty the "last in" space this weekend (since it was mostly bulky odds and ends and the few pieces of furniture that didn't fit in the container). ermine_rat has said he might be available to help out. Since the storage facility is closed on the 4th, Monday will have to be for relaxing, shopping, maybe some unpacking (depending on which boxes get moved), and going off for barbecue and fireworks in Martinez. O woe!