New York August NYC Meet-Up 2021

Austintatious said:
Cal, If you have not already, you may want to have a Lawyer take a look at the "contract" before you sign anything. Especially creative aspects such as photography and literary (blogging) are concerned. Which you should most definitely retain for yourself. Just say'n :D
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Austin,

I certainly will protect my photography, but then again Vanessa represents a photographer who is a bit like Jim Marshall who only shoots film and Leicas, is known for many album covers, and is most famous for his affiliation with Bob Marley and Sid Vicious.

So far I’ve kept my photography out of the picture, but at one point it needs to be discussed. Lots of things can get fuzzy…

Some of the forensics indicate that the “Powder Room” off the kitchen actually was part of a rear porch that had a foundation and crawl space built underneath.

Also the full sized 2x4 walls have no insulation and also no vapor barrier. I have to call the building inspector tomorrow because I want to use Rock Wool for insulation, and for the vapor barrier I want to use this product called “Aquabar B” that comes in 36 inch wide rolls that is a rated “Class 2” vapor retarder.

Anyways retirement seems to be hard work. An electrician comes tomorrow, perhaps a plumber, and Jason the carpenter/lead man will stop by. The kitchen and powder room are now fully gutted.

Meanwhile I have to go to NYC sometime to pick up my M6, my M3-DS, and a 90mm SA lens for the camera known as “The Devil Christian.”

Cal
 
An electrician will come by today, maybe a plumber, and also a carpenter. The custom kitchen cabinets will get delivered.

At this point the demo is done, and reconstruction begins.

Meanwhile my life is on hold for a while. The work will go quickly I’m told, but the inspections by the building inspector can create delays, I am told.

Meanwhile it looks like our agent is getting ready to start working us in June when “Maggies” obligations with her current agent run out. I suspect that there might likely be things already lined up.

So pretty much my life is a “Hot-Mess.”

Cal
 
The carefully boxed custom cabinets are parked in our living room. The electricians roughed in new electrical, and I weeded out some Knotweed near the marsh grass.

Last night I saw the Ground Hog.

Tomorrow the electricians will be back, and so will Jason the lead man/carpenter.

Found out from my building inspector that they are very busy, but sometimes they get to do the inspection the same day, sometimes the next, but it is not at a point where one has to wait a week. Good to know.

So things are moving forward.

Also having the electricians bury the electrical feed to the garage. The above ground cable runs near the pergola, and the flower bed is in the perfect location to make the 18-20 inch trench for a pipe EZ-PZ. Then I can plant the Boxwoods.

Things are exciting, but then again I have a boring life.

Cal
 
I feel all wired up. Too many text messages, and e-mails. This overwhelms me, and I don’t like it. For me the world would be a better place without cell phones.

A plumber will be stopping by Monday, and Jack HVAC on Wednesday. It will be really cool to have a two-zone Mitsubishi mini-split for HVAC. The layout of our living room (parlor) and dinning room is such that one air handler can do both rooms. The rooms are small, each about 11x14.

I have an original door in the basement to close off the living room to hallway/foyer, and in between the living room and dining room we have a set of pocket doors to separate those two spaces. Mighty clever way to install central AC on the first floor without any ductwork. The air handlers are such that they install in between the ceiling rafters.

The bathroom plumbing upstairs is currently exposed, so pretty much an opportunity to preview and stage the next big job: the bathroom upstairs. Looking forward to having a slipper like soaking tub.

I guess I like not having intrusions. Perhaps this is why I have doubts and reservations about being a model and flying all over the world. What happened to my retirement? What happened to my simple life? Am I still a lazy-slacker?

But then again my life is a crazy adventure, and I say, “Crazy is good.” I do feel that I would have remorse if I did not explore/pursue this opportunity, and in the past when given a choice I always picked the crazy and reckless path for “fun” and adventure. So I guess in a ways I’m a thrill seeker at heart, and perhaps I have a crazy life because I am a bit crazy.

The scary part is that Snarky Joe always seems to be right. He can read me like a book, and he says I’m the kinda guy who can do very well and be successful in anything I do. Anyways not only is that crazy, but also scary. Already my life seems to have been taken away from me, and I don’t like it.

Also know I was once a performance artist for about a decade. Being on stage and in the spotlight is a terrifying place to be. Mucho stressful and it causes pretty much anxiety to the level of panic. Also being a public figure is not easy either… I don’t want to be famous, and I would not wish that on anyone. Know that “Maggie” is a celeb and she gets recognized all over the world. Pretty much a hassle…

Kinda weird how this kinda stuff happened to me again and again. I wonder why? “All I’m trying to do is mind my own business,” is what I say, but I get invaded again and again.

Anyways another rant…

Cal
 
In 2008 I joined RFF, and I attended the first NYC Meet-Up arranged by Damaso Reyes.

So “I was just minding my own business” when at the second or third monthly Meet-Up Damaso “Snookered” me into being responsible for the NYC Meet-Up as he headed to Barcelona.

So the Pandemic interrupted things for the past three years, but we had close to a dozen Camera Beauty Contests, a road trip to Philly, and lots of fun being camera nerds.

So pretty much this is a good example of how things invade my life. All I’m trying to do is be an average Joe and pretty much be boring, but it seems crazy eventful things happen to me for some unexplained reason all the time.

So I’m off to dig a trench to bury the cables feeding the garage for a 100 amp service.

Cal
 
WOW, I have a weekend off. Pretty much retirement has become a full time job. How crazy is that?

Home Cheapo has a sale on mulch 5 bags for $10.00. One brand is 2 cubic feet instead of 1.5 cubic feet, so I went for the bulk and better deal. Cheap-cheap-cheap…

I’ll be loading up, and its times like this where I wish I had a truck. I need mulch for the long bed of Peonie’s in the back-backyard, and then for the Boxwoods around the patio/pergola. Three more Boxwoods get delivered Saturday.

My electrician Vinny will be installing the underground 100 amp service for my garage. Yes I’m hooking up enough power of a small house in my garage. Seems the old service to the garage was not done right and with the wrong grade cable. Oh-well, moving forward it will be correct and all up to code. I’m spending money now up front on the garage pretty much so I can plant the Boxwoods, but I know that I am also moving into the direction of building out my studio workspace.

Devil Christian says an attic is for storage, and heating and insulating a garage does not mean it is a living space. Pretty much should not cause any tax increase, even though I’m adding about 400 square feet.

Spent the morning using a shop vac to clean up plaster and sheet rock dust and crumbs. Found a carpenter’s chisel that got dropped behind the studs. In the afternoon I dug a 20 inch deep trench. I used Amazon/Jeff Bezo bags I reclaimed off NYC streets that were disgarded by some of his delivery workers. These “Man-Bags” are the perfect size for loading dirt if you don’t have a fork lift. Pretty much wanted to keep my top soil segregated from the clay.

Out of 14 potted Acorns 4 seedlings have broken the surface. I am seeing Japanese Red Maple seedlings in my front lawn again that need to be rescued, and now mucho red and American maple seedlings in the back-backyard “Table”. Pretty much a miniature forest at this point. The marsh grass seems to be filling in and is building up to my first rock embankment. Pretty much the Knotweed is on the retreat, but further culling and weeding out will be required.

Creature Junior has a Soccer game. I likely can squeeze in a ride in the morning. “Maggie” has an online class on revision on both Saturday and Sunday.

Perhaps I’ll strip the paint off two doors that will get recycled in the kitchen on Sunday, perhaps after another bike ride.

We just had dinner at a Greek restaurant, and the food was great.

Cal
 
Nice to have a day off. LOL.

I still worked though on the garden buying and spreading mulch. Can’t help but feel that I’m falling behind on things, but then again things are moving forward in a big way.

The Ground Hog is starting to be a problem. I can’t compost kitchen waste into the beds anymore because he digs things up.

Monday the garage cabling for the 100 amp service should be done. The three other Boxwood shrubs were delivered today, so after the garage electric is done I can fill in the trench and plant the Boxwoods, perhaps on Monday. I have mucho mulch on hand, but with Boxwoods you have to not pile much around the base of the plant because they are prone to root rot and need good drainage.

I have till May 1st to load up on mulch: 5 bags for $10.00. A customer at Home Cheapo told me he already mulched his property last week, and he got the same Home Cheapo deal at Lowes. So the smut is that Lowes can be hit hard about a week earlier, than you have a Home Cheapo extension.

Behind the garage I intend to build a bed 4x16 to move the Peonies and all the bulbs into. Pretty much things are spread all over growing in the lawn and scattered about.

The Tiger Lillies I planted in the front yard are starting to break ground.

Outdoor table and chairs will be delivered Wednesday for the patio/pergola.

So now the big goal to get to is hanging the cabinets, but that means the plumbing and electric and insulation has all been inspected and the new Sheetrock is up. After that pretty much the countertop, the appliances, and the kitchen is done.

Don’t forget that Jack HVAC will install the mini splits next week.

So things seem to be going quickly.

Cal
 
Trying to make today a “rest-day.” Accumulative fatigue of hammering away was felt lifting bags of mulch yesterday. My body needs some rest, but the body is looking like a UFC fighter. Not bad for a 64 year old.

Today’s task will be strip some wooden doors: one is for the basement; the other the powder room, which will be converted into a pocket door.

Have to go to Home Cheapo and buy a pair of saw horses. I want the old wooden kind. Already have a gallon of stripper, but I might need some steel wool to get into the molded crevices.

Looks to be a sunny day…

A gold report I read makes sense. Last week gold breached $2K again, and it is suggested that $3K is the expected new high. After talking with “Tim” a Ciber Security Specialist Consultant I met in Austin, not so keen on Crypto. Tim mentioned that using a couple of transactions that he could calculate in about 3 hours the value of a digital wallet.

Also if you believe in “Regression-to-the-Mean” gold to $3K really makes sense, especially because demand has increased, and sanctions have proven many assets can be confiscated, frozen, or tied up. The idea with gold is to stay rich and to store wealth. Technically gold has gone sideways a very long time to create a “base” to go higher. This basing has been going on for a long time, and Crypto has somewhat undermined gold’s history as a store of wealth.

In the Ukraine it seems to be a race against time. Can the West get enough weapons delivered fast enough, or will the Russians have better logistics? Pretty much it is a race to project power, and this eastern front is a very different war than the urban warfare.

My bet is that the West will be better at CCC (Command-Control-Communications) and will be better to exploit opportunity and vulnerabilities. This processing and sharing of Data will be a key advantage and allow more creative opportunities to exploit vulnerabilities.

The disadvantage and challenge for the Ukrainians are the logistics of moving equipment to the east.

In the game of Chess, the Russians in a ways have mitigated some of their logistical problems.

Then again it comes down to who has not only the best tactics, but also the best weapons. Not so sure the Russian equipment has been maintained so well, then there have been reports of shortages and lack of stockpiles, so the logistical problems that plagued the invasion likely might not be gone.

Speed, agility, and experience are the three best things to bring to a fight. The war has become a race against time, and the agility is really being able to flick the switch into new tactics with a logistical challenge. Have the Russians learned from their mistakes? Will the West provide enough weapons in time?

So if anything the war not only has changed, it has escalated.

Cal
 
I feel like I have been tonging clams in the Great South Bay on Long Island, because I have been using a post hole digger to finish a 30 inch deep trench to bury a plastic root barrier in the back-backyard to create a moat of sorts against them Knotweed.

The 100 amp service in my two car garage is impressive. The new breaker panel is a full sized version, and the lack of a hanging cable surely streamlines a clean look of the pergola and patio.

I also learned that they don’t make paint stripper like they use to. The new stuff hardly works at all, and pretty much I have to use extended time for it to work.

Tomorrow I have to fill in the power line trench. The root barrier trench is already filled. Looks like a chance of rain tomorrow. Let’s see if I can get the work done.

Cal
 
Today I have a race against the afternoon rain. Hurry up fill in the trenches and plant the boxwoods. If I have time I can apply the mulch I stockpiled.

The hills kill me, and I’m thinking of setting up my Ti Basso road bike (rebranded Litespeed Classic) into a 1x9 using an XTR 11-34T rear cassette and a long cage mountain bike rear derailleur. Not a lot of gears, but a wide range.

There is a Wolf Tooth chainring which prevents chain dropping that has patented profiled teeth. Question now is whether I want a 38T or a 40T. I think I will favor the taller 40T for developing and promoting strength. Also I have a ultra heavy set of “training-wheels” that are big flywheels to spin. They likely weigh about twice the weight of my racing wheels.

This road bike currently has a Ti mountain bike straight bar and 8-speed XTR shifter/levers. I think I need a shorter Ti stem for a less laid down aero position.

Cal
 
It felt very satisfying getting my M6, M3-DS, and 90 F8.0 Super Augulon back from Nippon Camera Clinic. Only took about a month.

Seems like these old cameras are part of me, and having them back makes me feel whole again.

The ceiling air handlers from Mitsubishi are suppose to fit in between the rafters and jousts that have 16 inch centers, but in fact do not fit. Some cutting and sistering is required. Jack HIVAC now says we should of checked ourselves for the clearance, or picked a different air handler.

I’m actually cool with the added expense because I really want the minimal footprint. Understand that a wall mount, while not big, occupies some wall space and is distracting, as well as not so Victorian looking.

Some outdoor furniture got delivered: a rectangular table; and seating for six. “Maggie” bought it on overstock and I like the quality.

It was weird being in the city. I did my commuter walk which is 9 1/4 miles round trip, but I realized that I was walking slow, and pretty much I feel a bit worn down. Accumulated fatigue I guess because I have been working hard.

At my doctor’s visit I weighed in at 148 1/2 pounds, dressed and wearing a pair of trail runners.

On my way home, I ran into Louis Mendez at Grand Central. Louis is now 82 years old. He now charges $40.00 a Polaroid, and has his camera rigged to use Instax Wide.

Tomorrow the plumber comes. The electrical needs an inspection which is performed by a third party. I have to demo the plaster ceiling in the dining room.

Tomorrow I’ll likely plant some climbing roses that will climb on the pergola.

Cal
 
Plumber is gutting the old bath plumbing. Also inquired about the future upstairs bath upgrade to utilize forward thinking. Pretty much the drain would have to be cut lower to get additional pitch, but no problem with reconfiguring the entire bathroom.

I have to gut the dining room ceiling pronto. Tomorrow a third party comes by to do the electrical inspection which is a milestone.

On top of this “Maggie” has to clean out the guest room which is a staging area for her shoes, clothes, bags…, for Tuesday when a couch sofa bed is being delivered. Just what I need is another headache and more work.

Maggie kinda operates like the current Russian military. She does not think through things, is really bad with logistics, and things are left till the last minute, meaning she is a procrastinator that is anxious, prone to panic, and self imposes stress.

So the key to being a lazy slacker is letting go, and if the delivery people can’t negociate our narrow stairs to really deliver the couch/bed I’m cool with leaving it on the curb with a for free sign. “Oh-well,” I say because I did not create this mess and I have other priorities. Well maybe I would keep it for my garage studio. Oh-well again…

Like I say this is why men have shorter lifespans than women…

This would join “The Dungeon Lamp” that she ordered that is a bit over-the top Gothe. Maggie did not realize the scale of this floor lamp that is sized for a medieval castle.

So the house is resembling our overstuffed 1-bedroom Luxury apartment in Manhattan. I compressed the packed custom kitchen cabinets in the living room, so I can empty the dining room, so I can demo the dining room ceiling. After that the structural changes can be performed to fit the ceiling mounted air handlers for the Mini-Splits.

Cal
 
Austintatious said:
It may be wise to wait until the remodel is complete before buying any more "new stuff". Just say'n :D
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Austin,

The custom couch/bed is for “free.” Well kinda part of payment for a gig “Maggie” did.

Anyways all this “free” stuff, mostly luxury products, is a way to clutter a small house. I will prohibit any storage of overspill into my garage/studio/workspace.

Also pretty much Maggie is a self described “Hot-Mess.”

I’m waiting for the kitchen to be done before buying the IBIS Edie. You provide good advice. Unlike Maggie, I don’t promote getting overwhelmed, anxious, or panicked.

Spring is so very late this year. It still is cool, and in April it did not rain so much. Very-very odd.

So I own a 1912 house with plaster that in some areas had Sheetrock added over the plaster walls. Underneath is no insulation. In the attic the fiberglass compressed into nothing. In dealing with “woman-factor” I have not even been able to insulate the attic.

Since I am stubborn and plan on living well past 100 to annoy people I intend to use Rock Wool as insulation for its higher “R”-value, its mold resistance, and its ability to not compress over time. I figured out how to add a vapor barrier.

So after the kitchen, I need to man-up and put a stop to “Woman-Factor,” otherwise I might not live so long. LOL.

BTW being around someone who is anxious and who gets panicked frequently is stressful and ends up becoming high maintenance. Then I have a new career starting in June after a pretty short retirement, a new grandson due in September, and the very high maintenance “Creature-Junior” grand daughter.

Anyways, by now you guys should know that I have always been a caretaker. I was just a kid when I took care of my dad who was retired. I looked out and took care of my little brother, and most of all I took care of myself. In a ways I grew up alone. My older siblings (three of them) dumped this responsibility on a 13 year old.

So now you guys know why I am a “Skinny-Bitch” and why in a ways I am “worse than a woman” when I have one of my “Hussy-Fits.”

After my doctor’s visit, I know that I have to relax more and exercise more. My blood pressure at times borders the high range, but I think this is stress and “Woman-Factor” spillover induced. When I’m calm my blood pressure at times is below 100/60. By now you have to know that I am a true Alpha-Male type “A” personality.

I was impressed that I am still under 150 pounds at 5’10” and technically a skinny-bitch with the body of say a muscular and athletic 15 year old. My midsection is bloated a bit from salt. 148 1/2 pounds dressed wearing trail running shoes carrying excess water weight/bloat.

So the IBIS Exie is really about me getting away from Woman-Factor, and being able to relax. Retirement is a lot of work because of woman-factor. I wish Maggie was lower maintenance, she thinks she is Wonder Woman, but she runs herself into the ground, is frequently overwhelmed, overbooked, too busy, and created a life full of stress.

For me that is not retirement, and it is not living. My lazy slacker approach is the only person I need to impress is myself, I don’t need peer or social approval, and I want a simple life with limited Maggie spillover.

Anyways, something has to give…

Cal
 
The electrical inspection didn’t happen today. Oh-well…

I built a 4x16 foot raised bed out of 4x6’s on the back-backyard side of the garage. Pretty much this is where I will plant the berry farm: Raspberries; and Blueberries. The Raspberries I will contain in a container so it does not get invasive and feral. I have two Blueberry trees and one bush.

The height of this raised bed is enough that can be used as seating.

Had to get rid of some plumbing d-Bree. My plumber streamlined the drain and got rid of the horror that existed.

Planted a Lillac sprig by the pergola, and watered the Boxwoods and climbing roses. A lot of stuff is going on in the yards. I have Grape Hy-A-Ciths growing in my lawn wild, and there are Japanese red maples also growing in my lawn that need to be rescued.

This weekend I need to demo the dinning room plaster ceiling. Not fun.

I built out the camera known as “The Devil Christian.” It is a really nice camera and mighty good looking. I have the Linhof square hood for the 90/8.0 Super Augulon along with a white Linhof grip it also kinda looks evil.

I still love my house, and as things are evolving I am loving it more. On the “table” in the back-backyard a lot of ground cover is happening that has blue, yellow, and purple flowers. There is this red clover that we seeded that is kinda oversized in a monster way. I think this feral garden I like the best because it is wild and not so manicured.

In the back you see the marsh, forested hills, and lots of trees, but my back-backyard is full of flowers and bright colors. I can see why the birds seem to have meet-ups in my back-backyard, it is a flashy area that stands out against the woods and marsh, very colorful.

I learned the Milkweed that grows in my dead end is a ryzome, and that not only will come back, but will also spread. I found a Praying Mantis cocoon while doing one of my bike rides, so I took it home so they can invade my yard. Last year I saw many Praying Mantis, but I don’t mind having a ghetto of them.

I have to stop by Home Cheapo and load up on more brown mulch. The sale ends May 1st. Another busy weekend.

Cal
 
Wore my bike helmet to protect my head from falling plaster and cement. Glad I own a Milwaukee Super Sawzall. We removed a plaster ceiling.

Dog work, but I’m glad its done.

Cal
 
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