grasshopper's Profile

Yeah, I'm going to agree it probably takes more time to lay down plastic wrap than doing a wipe with water and vinegar. Plus, that wrap makes the shelves took dirty; the patterns look like stains to me.

Toilets on trains in India open directly onto the ground. This means that the toilet is either an open hole in the floor or a toilet which does not connect to any plumbing, but an open hole in the floor of the train. So, as the train goes down the tracks, all the effluents just flow directly all over the tracks. I'm all in favour of reclaimed wood, but I might give a miss to reclaimed train ties from India.

I traded having a deck/yard/balcony for proximity to transit. I do occasionally wish that I could sit outside, but there is a park a 5 minute walk down the road so I'm not doing too badly. I still have a stoop where I can plant flower pots in lieu of a proper garden. And being a one minute walk to the subway station has really made more of a difference in my life in terms of being mobile and cutting down on time spent on transit.

Further to Splomo's comment, when you get the pipes cut, you can get them threaded as well so that you can use regular elbow/t-joint/flanges for connector. Just make sure to get the right diameter. And DO wash the pipes before assembling. The cutting/threading machine uses a very oily lubricant which will get all over your clothes if you don't.

You can buy earthquake hangers which are more secure, and use museum putty.

Antropologie knobs are ridiculously expensive, but worth it. I redid an armoire and used knobs from Anthropologie. For the same price as a dozen knobs, I could have bought an entirely new dresser from Ikea. However, the knobs make me smile and get all kinds of "ooohhh" reactions from friends.

The offer process is an emotional roller coaster. You feel like you are stepping off a cliff when you sign the offer papers and then having to wait while you hear back is excruciating. Then there's the exhilarating moment of finding out that you have the house, followed by the immediate feeling that you've made a terrible mistake. Of course, the day that you get the keys is the day that you shout "This is mine!" while rolling around like a starfish on the floor.

I thought that I was just an emotional wreck, but found out that all my friends had the same upheavals.

I go to Aberfoyle a few times a year. It is great. The prices are definitely much cheaper than what you would find in Toronto, at least a third less than any store on Queen Street. For the cost of gas and $2 admission, it is also just a nice way to spend an afternoon. Before or after shopping you can drive 5 minutes into Guelph for lunch.

It looks like the before and after photo tags were swapped or something.

Definitely lay down a very big tarp or cloth in the area. The paint drifts in a really really really large radius around the project.

The first time I spray-painted, I ended up with the soles of my feet being bright red, since I didn't cover the deck and walked barefoot through the paint mist as I was spraying. I only realized after I had left red footprints on the kitchen floor.

I learned my lesson the next time and wore shoes, but there is still a silhouette outline of dresser shaped object on the ground outside from that paint job.