edlib Posted October 12, 2005 Share Posted October 12, 2005 Yeah, I took about 5 years off from education after High-School, and started college at age 22... and I paid almost my entire way by myself. So I took it pretty seriously at the time, but looking back those were the best years of my life so far. I had a blast! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tierce Posted October 12, 2005 Share Posted October 12, 2005 I wish I had taken time off before college...atleast to get my finacial situation under wraps, but now I have progressed way too far to even think of taking a year off, considering I will be in here for the rest of my life (damn college bureaucracy) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edlib Posted October 13, 2005 Share Posted October 13, 2005 I'm glad I did. I wasn't ready for college at 18, financially or maturity-wise. I really needed a good healthy shot-in-the-arm dose of reality to wake me up to the fact that the working world kinda sucks if you don't have an education. Plus it gave me time to build up my music chops to the point where I could get into music school, and then really take advantage of it once I was there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lukeskywalker1 Posted October 13, 2005 Share Posted October 13, 2005 I know I am not ready for college, financially. It really sucks... *Sigh* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nute Gunray Posted October 13, 2005 Share Posted October 13, 2005 I wish I had done college better. I don't like being a sixth year senior and being to the point where I'm thinking "****, I'm running out of classes to take." I wish I'd come straight to Penn State and been far more social. It sucks to move into a college town and not ever live on campus. Meeting people is very tough. I'm sure going to miss the football tickets being $22 a game and not requiring an enormous donation to the university to be eligible to buy tickets that run hundreds of dollars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keyan Farlander Posted October 13, 2005 Share Posted October 13, 2005 I actually wish I had been less social. Even though I only spoke about 10 words outside of class in all four years of college, I feel that was probably 6 or 7 words too many Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Jones Posted October 13, 2005 Share Posted October 13, 2005 ... seeing the ways that my life has changed this year I see that every day, I have it every single day confusing my mind. Although things are "pretty well" concerning the cirumstances. Although these again have changed a "bit" since the last post. Most important is, my little one is well, me and "my girl", we are still in love, but -- still not together anymore.. the reasons are somewhat complicated and a bit too private for a place like this. I don't know how far her love really goes, however there are "these things" so I can't do a thing about it. Mine is still coming from the deepest of my heart.. But after all I cannot deny that damage is already done, there are many things that have happened and I heard of many others, it's a tough time for me to go through, and I think the inevitable is coming although I don't want this, but I guess a 'man' needs tasks, huh? :~ Anyway we went on vacation 2 months ago, it was cool, a great time. Then I managed her move to her flat, then mine, now I got on my own again, and have no money anymore :/ But who cares, I also went to some long, exhausting and cool parteys with a good friend of mine recently, he's also one of those folks who can just walk in whereever he goes, so who needs money?? Plus I am looking forward to some strange birthday trip. (err.. NOT as in LSD btw.. ;D) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edlib Posted October 15, 2005 Share Posted October 15, 2005 I wish the rain would stop. It's been raining for over a week now, and I'm getting lots of water in my basement. Makes me mad. *Shakes fist at Mother Nature* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ikhnaton Posted October 15, 2005 Share Posted October 15, 2005 stupid anti-fist-shaking laws! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keyan Farlander Posted October 16, 2005 Share Posted October 16, 2005 I like the rain. (Obviously I do not have flooding problems in my basement.) Of course, I don't like driving in it. But there's nothing like sleeping in on a Saturday morning with a nice rain going on outside. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cmdr. Cracken Posted October 16, 2005 Share Posted October 16, 2005 Rain is awsome. people look at me wierd when I say grey clouds and rain is a nice day, they think i'm wierd/morbid/goth/crazy. 2/4 are correct. The only time I HATE rain is when it's an unstoppable downpour of water. Kind alike driging into a waterfall, except I'm walking. That sucks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rogue15 Posted October 16, 2005 Share Posted October 16, 2005 I've about had it w/the rain as well. went hunting today. it was fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edlib Posted October 16, 2005 Share Posted October 16, 2005 If my cellar stayed dry, it probably wouldn't bother me nearly as much, (just as I don't mind the snow, as long as I'm not the one who has to go out and shovel it.) I would most likely take Keyan's position. Getting the basement waterproofed will be the next big home improvement task I have to tackle, probably next summer. If it's even possible.... and if it is I'm sure it's going to be beaucoup expensive. After I get it waterproofed, then it will have to be refinished and re-decorated inside. But there's no point doing that now while rainwater can still get in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ikhnaton Posted October 16, 2005 Share Posted October 16, 2005 Waterproofing doesn't do much good unless you have good grading around the house. If the water drains toward your wall, it will eventually find a way to get in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edlib Posted October 16, 2005 Share Posted October 16, 2005 Yeah, I'm not sure what I'm going to be able to do. I'm within spitting distance of the bay, with water pretty much surrounding my house on 3 sides, which means the ground-water table in my area is pretty high to begin with. A couple of solid inches of rain in a short period of time means wet floors for me. Someone recommended a "French Drain" system with a better sump-pump that goes on the inside. Perhaps a combination of all of the above. The problem is that half the cellar is finished. I keep my piano, all my guitars and amps, and all my bookcases down there. I also have a couple of computers and AV equipment there, too. So far the water hasn't gotten all the way over to that stuff, but the rugs always get plenty wet, and it gets pretty musty, mildew-y, and moldy down there after this happens, even with the dehumidifier and every floor fan I can get my hands on going full clip. I end up going through a lot of Lysol and bleach trying to keep the mold at bay before it starts to make me sick. Perhaps I'll get a consultation with one of the local companies to see what the best, (if any,) solution is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ikhnaton Posted October 17, 2005 Share Posted October 17, 2005 aye, i've heard some decent things about french drains with sumps. I would definitely look into that if i was you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edlib Posted October 17, 2005 Share Posted October 17, 2005 Yeah, it seems the way to go. Now I just have to find out: "How much?" and perhaps: "How much of this stuff am I going to have to clear out while you put this in?" It's a tiny cellar (along with the rest of the house,) so hopefully not too much. Although it will probably have to wait until next summer anyway. Maybe I'll look into getting a better sump pump in the meantime though. The one there now doesn't seem to turn on until the water is already coming up onto the floor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ikhnaton Posted October 18, 2005 Share Posted October 18, 2005 that sounds like a problem. I used to work for a home inspection company and water penetration was always such a huge deal. I hope it doesn't cost you too much money and headaches to fix. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edlib Posted October 18, 2005 Share Posted October 18, 2005 I was playing with the sump pump yesterday. I took the cover off and I found out a that the float needs to be almost vertical before the pump turns on. However: almost vertical on this float is practically at floor level, which is why it usually doesn't turn on until water is already on the floor. That's bad. Perhaps I can get over to Lowe's and see if I can get a newer, better one that will turn on quicker and pump more water faster. It's also not really set that deep into the ground. By the time groundwater can get into the sump hole, it's probably already right up against the slab. Thirdly, it pumps out into the driveway, right up against the foundation on that side. Probably not such a big help. I should attach a hose or something to the outside of the house to drain away the water into the back yard. Most of the water seems to get in from under the bulkhead door. It seeps in through the concrete stairs there. If I could get a drain or sump at the foot of those stairs that would eliminate quite a bit of the water. The rest seems to come up through cracks in the cement floor, or through seams between cinder-blocks in the foundation. I'm managed to patch a few of these (that were obvious enough for me to find) with caulking inside and outside over the years, but a few of them are impossible to get to (behind the oil tank or the washer and dryer.) I spent all day yesterday cleaning up down there (wet-vaccing and mopping, then spraying everything with Lysol and Febreze. Went trough a couple of each.) I had to take the whole day off from work. I might take today off too. I'll have to check in and see if anything is going on. Yeah, this has to end. Had I known that the water in the cellar was this bad, I probably never would have bought the house. Or if I did, I would have set up the house much differently, not putting anything valuable down there. The seller told me that there was occasionally a little water by the bulkhead door after a really heavy rain. It was over a year living here that I ever saw water on the floor, however. It seems to get worse with each big storm. This last time is the worst I've ever seen it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rogue15 Posted October 19, 2005 Share Posted October 19, 2005 went hunting yesterday....and i shot a squirrel off a limb. my friend helped me clean it, since it was my first kill. now it's soaking in saltwater in the fridge. pizza hut cut my hours next week, so yay. i have saturday and tuesday off from both jobs. so that=awesome. my dad got the transfer at home depot up here. so hopefully, my parents can sell the house and move up before the 31st, which is when he's supposed to start. i got a new keychain. XD it's anakin and obiwan w/sabers locked. also got a clone trooper air freshner in my car. i can't wait for November 1, 2005! i keep thinking tomorrow is thursday. watched that movie 'the jacket' tonight after work. pretty cool movie. keira knightly is hot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edlib Posted October 19, 2005 Share Posted October 19, 2005 Well, it seems that I was correct in my assessment that the sump pump is not set deeply enough. Even the smallest pump I looked at yesterday required at least 25" depth, minimum. My sump is less than 15". Which could be the cause of all the problems. I have decided at this point to call in professionals. Have someone dig out the depth needed, then install a new, better pump, with an output hose that leads away from the house. Hopefully I can get it done sometime this week, as we are supposed to get some more heavy rain over the weekend into next week. If I cant get it done before then, then I guess I'll just go down at some point after the rain begins and manually set the pump in the "On" position and let it run constantly until I'm sure the ground has dried out. I might just succeed in burning out the pump this way, but if it means I don't have to spend a couple of days cleaning up again, and since I'm already planning on replacing it, it will be worth it to me. I don't think I'm alone in my wet basement problems, however... the pump section of the store was nearly empty, and what was there was picked over thoroughly. It was really a mess,.. the only section of the store that I saw that was in that condition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cmdr. Cracken Posted October 19, 2005 Share Posted October 19, 2005 Ed, you trials reminds me what to look for if i ever buy a house. On the same token, I will never buy a house. Apartments are more feasable, and can be vacated quickly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ikhnaton Posted October 19, 2005 Share Posted October 19, 2005 apartments are also a pain in the ass as far as neighbors, repairs, space, silly rules, access (if you live upstairs), parking, privacy and price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Jones Posted October 19, 2005 Share Posted October 19, 2005 I know enough people owning a house with stupid neighbours or some new kind of almost-a-highway-thing next to their house after they had it for like ten years. It all depends on the money, as usual. Not enough money means suckey house/flat/whatever. Enough money means in any case you can pay the workers not to build the road or to simply shoot your silly neighbour. Or you'll have a penthouse or a roof garden or something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edlib Posted October 20, 2005 Share Posted October 20, 2005 Well, I'll tell you folks; owning a house is a lot like being in a romantic relationship for a guy: It's expensive, it's totally free-time consuming, it's exhausting, there's always some new surprise to deal with every time you turn around,.. and yet, despite all that, most people still prefer it to the alternatives. I've always lived in apartments growing up. I always hated it. You still have to deal with neighbors when you own a house, but usually not as bad. Normally most of the negative interaction with the neighbors has to do with somebody nearby who is concerned with property values making sure that the outside of the house and yard meet their particularly high standards. But that's rare, and usually easily dealt with (or, more often, ignored.) The last apartment I lived in was funky beyond description, and my neighbors were of the mind that the best way make good use of a weekend (and often, a week-night as well...) was to sit outside on the stoop with a couple of cases of extremely cheap beer all night, shouting obscenities at each other, just loudly enough to be heard over the blasting boom-boxes, each tuned a different hip-hop station. So, I complain a bit about home-ownership, but despite all the issues I have to deal with, I don't think I'd willingly go back to apartment living. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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