Options

I spent 2 days this week putting ceilings and lights in the basement of the house we have been working on. I did not want to put up sheet rock as it makes it difficult to get at any electric or plumbing lines running between the joists. I am trying something different. I know any builder would tell me I am crazy as these tile are not meant to be installed this way. It looks pretty good for a basement ceiling. Now we'll see if it lasts.

I am over joyed to be finished with it. I hate working over my head. Leaves me with a sore neck by evening. I know some people may think I am a pain in the neck, but this time it was my neck that had the pain.

What does one put on a basement floor. There was carpeting on the it until it flooded last spring. A tile backed up that the drains are connected to. There will be a different drainage system not connected to any field tile put in this year. I did not want to put laminate flooring down there because of the possibility of moisture. I bought a special paint to paint the floor. I bought enough to cover 300 square feet. The directions say you have to put 2 coats of paint on. The room is 143 square feet so I had plenty, right? The directions also said to apply is smoothly with a short nap roller. When I opened the first can of paint and stuck in the stirring stick I had to press it into the paint. This stuff was not a liquid. I got some to sort of pour into a roller pan. When I tried to get paint on the roller, the roller just rolled over the top. It would not sink into the paint and the paint would not adhere to the roller.

I checked the directions, "do not dilute, if you are a professional painter it can be applied with an airless sprayer" Yea, I bet that works well. The sprayer would be permanently plugged. I used a brush to edge the paint out of the bucket and then smear it over the floor. I was about a quarter over the floor when I started to think, I do not have enough paint to cover 143 feet let alone 2 coats.

I was much relieved to get the entire floor painted, because, of course, I bought this color cheap, as it is discontinued.

I had a tenant text me this week that their dryer would not start. The dryer was in the house when we purchased it and I had told the tenant they could use it as long as it worked, but don't call me if it stops working (I did assume it would work longer than 2 weeks but you get what you pay for, right?). I did remember that Zach had told me when they moved in he had to throw a switch on the fuse box by the dryer to get the dryer to start. I texted back not to do anything about the dryer until I had checked to see that they had current. I took this picture by mistake when I was turning on the light on my phone to look at the outlet behind the dryer. No current there. There was a fuse box between the dryer and the new breaker box. A fuse had blown for some reason. I do not keep fuses because we remove all fuse boxes except the ones on the side of a furnace with one fuse in them. I thought there is another option here beside a fuse I made the fuse box into a junction box. No fuses needed if there is a breaker. Now the wires are wire nutted together and the dryer works.

We made an offer on a house last week Monday and it was accepted Tuesday evening. Friday we closed the deal and took possession of the house. The only parking was between the street and the sidewalk. That was not a good option. the city code does not allow that unless you have a permit and 6 inch deep concrete. That was not going to happen. This morning Jerry's men brought gravel. 

They put in a driveway beside the house. Off street parking is important to tenants. The house actually looks better as well with a driveway.

Sharon helped (OK, she did most of it) pick up the branches and sticks in the back yard. We had a pickup full.

One pile of branches had been there long enough there is a good crop of trees started. Those will need to be cut off and the stumps treated to kill them.

The yard falls off dramatically in the back. This is an older house and although I think it has a long life left yet (part of the basement walls have been rebuilt and the house stands straight and true). If we ever tear the house down and rebuild, this lot is a good candidate for a walkout basement.

I have several small things that need to be done before tenants move in. I think the previous owners were thinking they were going to sell to an owner occupant. Maybe, but it was offered to us and another investor couple (yea, I am looking at you, Matt) before it was even put on the market. To be a rental it needs smoke and Carbon Monoxide detectors, fire extinguisher, Window blinds, washer dryer hookup, back exterior door knob and a few more things to be installed.

I got a good start on it today. I need to have it ready this week. The house has a signed lease on it today for a move-in date sometime before March first. From first walk through to look at a house that is for sale to rented in 12 days. That's a new record. 

My week had a lot of choices to be made. There were different options. That is the way of life. You make choices. Choose between different options. What is the best choice and the best way to live. Sharon and I ate at a restaurant tonight. the waitress told us what the specials were. She quoted them from memory and she told us she was telling us from memory. Problem was she was wrong. We chose a meal we would not have chosen if it was not a third off the normal price. Well, she had the wrong week's specials, the meal was regular price. I could have argued with the cashier that we were given a different price when we ordered. the waitress appeared to be in her late 50s or over 60 and I wondered why she was working as a waitress evenings. I chose the option to say nothing and leave her a tip. Why would I make her life difficult, especially if she needs this job. I have never regretted the times I was kind or generous. I deeply regret the times when I was not, which has been way to often, but I am trying not to be that way anymore. 

We all have options. What will you choose? Jesus chose to die for sinners although we did not deserve salvation. Jesus chose to give to those who were in need. I am one of those who needs Jesus' selfless choice. I need to always remember to choose the option of being a servant to others out of thankfulness for what Jesus has done for me.