not a big fan of change (but some happens anyway)

[lauradi7dw]

I like to eat, and do it often. That doesn't make me a foodie in the usual sense, I don't think. I tend to like fairly plain food (fresh & local if possible, but not sauced or oiled or stuff like that). We have been going to the same cheap Chinese place in East Lexington for years, getting steamed veg and simple soup and steamed dumplings and sesame noodles almost once a week. The main waitperson recognized us, always asked about Flo, could usually guess what we'd order. We ate there last Sunday. Today I noticed that a new sign was being put up. We went, All the staff had changed, and there were new dishes (both new plates and new menu items), and the prices were higher for smaller portions. Harrumph.
We decided not to move, something I re-think while waiting for overdue buses, but are doing lots of house improvements. The side porch is in place. The building inspector originally didn't pass it, because the steps have unequal rises (8", 7", 7", 3"). The builder had some theory about it being better that way. I disagree, but they were finished when I noticed,, and I didn't make a big stink about it. A few days after the failed note, the building permit was gone. I suspect the builder just took it down, but I suppose he could have convinced someone to pass it. The next big thing is to get some shingles replaced and the outside of the house re-stained. I'd guess it's been about ten years since the last time. We are making comparative guesses about how much *that* will cost. Arthur's oldest brother has been doing other home repairs for us, in his spare time, including some wallpaper removal and painting and such. We've been moving some furniture around, and I'm working towards emptying out a wardrobe (not really big enough to climb through) so we can give it away in order to move my rowing machine into its space. A lot of this is geared toward making the hypothetical dining room into an actual dining room. After that, I guess we'll have to convince people to eat vegetarian food so we can have dinner parties.

Comments

[calygrey.livejournal.com]

The builder had some theory about it being better that way.

He built it wrong and had to come up with an excuse. Rise of stairs is never allowed to vary; the building code is clear on that...so no surprise it failed. (And 3"? Yikes.)

I like eating food, too. Even vegetarian food - I mean, it's got vegetables in it. And those are yummy.

[lauradi7.livejournal.com]

When I first queried it, he said that he had run it by someone in the inspector's office (not the guy who actually came by). His claim was that it would take up less space in the driveway, or something. I should have jumped up and down and complained but apparently muttering and texting (what I actually did) were inadequate motivators, as we had paid him all but the last couple of hundred dollars (which we won't pay, but that's not enough to get him to do them over, I suspect).
We saw some very weird steps on a home improvement show once. I wonder how often builders are allowed to get away with flights of fancy.
For a regular meal, most people could manage vegetarian. When Flo was little, we hosted several vegetarian seder meals, and Thanksgivings, but the people we invited said no thank you after a while. They're still our friends, so we suspected it was the food.

[nosrednayduj]

Thanksgiving may be the only meal in which I feel I am an obligate carnivore. It isn't the same without the turkey. The other 364 I'm completely open about it, and eat vegetarian probably more than 80% of the time. I tend to eat meat at restaurants because there are more choices that way.

[(Anonymous)]

Pretty typical. And yes, you have to yell back; they are 'very' adept at that sort of BS. Builders get away with flights of fancy when those flights are built to code. There's a lot that can be changed. Rise isn't one of them; it's too dangerous.

A holdback of 1/3 is recommended. They won't come back for the small amounts.

[calygrey.livejournal.com]

whoops...that anonymous comment was mine!

[miraclaire.livejournal.com]

I think most of the dinner parties we host end up with us just serving vegetarian food, between the dietary restrictions of guests and budget constraints (it's a lot easier to host lots of dinner parties if they're cheaper). Nobody seems to mind, or even notice half the time.