Computer and house Bliss

First the computer went down. The repair guy said it was the motherboard. Then other things. Still not fixed.

Was storing a computer for a friend and figured out that I could still use it to connect to the Internet at the very least, albeit without access to everything that is on the computer. Used it.

The DSL went down. Got it fixed. But then the substitute computer didn't connect to the Internet. Technician figures the Ethernet card got fried. (Maybe both problems derived from a lightening-related power surge?)

Still the original computer is unfixed.

Bought another yesterday. At the last minute, remembered to get a wireless router. (Still need to get the other computer back. And to get the stuff off the hard disk.)

Installed new computer. Plugged in the Ethernet cable and didn't even have to go through any guff (for once) to get the computer linked to the Internet via the DSL modem.

Set up the wireless router. Pretty simple process too. Didn't need to do any Verizon related stuff to get it to work either. (The wireless networks in the neighborhood are all security-enabled.)

So now I can use my laptop on my porch and to some extent in my yard (would have to move the router around due to building structure issues) and throughout the house although the speed of the connection varies considerably.

Have to deal with the photo issue. (I have about 1200 photos to get off memory disks and into the computer and eventually Flickr.)

Now I don't have to go to coffee shops in Takoma in order to connect to the Internet via my laptop -- Savory Cafe has wifi, Everyday Gourmet doesn't. Don't know about Mark's Kitchen. The Middle East Kitchen doesn't. Drifting Nomad across from Takoma Metro does but sometimes you need to ask them to reset it. The Takoma Library wifi didn't work the one time I tried to use it. I suppose I could have asked them to reset it but didn't figure people would know how. (The Panera Bread in Silver Spring has wifi but many people use it. It's difficult to get access to an electrical outlet so be prepared). Oh, the Peaches Kitchen Caribbean restaurant on 3rd Street NW also has wifi, but the one time I tried to use it it took more than an hour to connect... Still, it's great that they have it, and I like their food.

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Note that my Manor Park neighborhood was covered in Thursday's Examiner: "Manor Park boasts 'front-porch culture,' block parties." I don't know about any block parties yet.

This week, the kitchen should finally be finished. We've made so many back and forth trips to Ikea that Suzanne doesn't want to go back. At the very least, she won't eat there. That means no Swedish meatballs. One day we had to go to two Ikeas, College Park, and Potomac Mills, to get the shelf cabinet we wanted, in a color that was being discontinued. Later we took 5 of the 6 pieces to be shortened by an inch--this is probably the only Ikea cabinet that is easily modifiable--so we could actually fit the kitchen cabinetry and dishwasher together, without having to take out some of the moulding.. Anyway, Ikea catalogs and the stores make installing a kitchen a lot easier than it is in reality. If you're not super-duper knowledgeable about fastening, levels, etc., you're likely to need help. It's attractive stuff though. I still like the Ligonberry Juice a lot.

Also, hopefully this week the Crane Diana sink that we bought, dating from 1951, should probably be usable. We haven't had a working bathroom sink since we moved in. It flummoxed the first plumber. The second plumber seems to be far better at problem solving and creativity than the first--and he's already fixed stuff that the first plumber screwed up at the cost of another $900 so far. And he was willing to talk to DEA Bath, experts in this type of sink, for tips and troubleshooting. So when the new valve comes--we've spent more money on new parts for the sink than the sink cost [$400]--on Wednesday, things should be set. Note that even though I am a preservationist, I do second guess myself on the sink. Maybe we should have bought a reproduction?

This just leads up to the "second phase" of home improvements. Many phases down the road is taking off the vinyl siding. We have reason to believe that the wood siding underneath is fine. We figure a good salesman and fashion got to the previous owner and she succumbed unnecessarily.
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But I am still going to try (it will be difficult) to blog a bit less than I am known for. I really need to be finishing various projects, including a big one due next Monday (8 days away), and landing new consulting projects, not to mention doing various other things (which get mentioned in the blog towards when or after they are done since I learned if and when there is opposition that it's not a good idea to tip them off) that are community advocacy oriented, and focused towards reenergizing the Citizens Planning Coalition.