Kalei's Profile

@ckal - I used to use a cleaner my previous landlord gave me for my glass top stove, it was slightly gritty, smelly, blue stuff but it worked great.

When that ran out I switched to a vinegar/hot water mix, or I make kind of a baking soda paste and scrub with that. Once when I made a huge mess with a cream sauce the stove seemed to take on a smell. I recall finding some blog that said to cover the stove top in vinegar/water and sprinkle baking soda on top of that. It worked great!

Also, I'll second microwaving some water to clean the microwave. I use a little bowl and usually do it after I've used lemon juice for something, I'll put the "juiced" lemon remains in some water and put it on high for a couple of minutes. It smells great and any gunk/buildup on the inside of the thing wipes off easily.

I used to live in a small college town of about 30,000 people. I was working at a movie theatre as a manager and my boyfriend (now husband) had my car and cell phone. He neglected to pick me up at the previously arranged time so I started to walk home in the snow. I slipped and broke my ankle and knocked on at least 5 doors before someone would let me use the phone. A well dressed 22 year old girl in tears on the doorstep and people still didn't open the door, one person even answered and shut the door in my face. Like I said, this is a small, safe town, and I was walking through the "nicest" part of town as well.

While I always use caution opening the door, I always open it, even though I now live in a city where the metro area is more like two million.

Duchamp challenged the boundaries of art with his "readymades" and they were all, in some sense, altered. Even if the only change was in the location of the object. Once an object is placed in a gallery setting the expectations on the viewer change, at the time this was nothing short of revolutionary.

Clement Valla is really no different.

I wouldn't paint the brick. If you are worried about the slight discoloration and serious about staying in your house there are lots of brick restoration options (although I have the feeling it would be expensive). I'll second the call for a walkway to the house and a porch of some kind, and I'd paint the trim and things green... I'm a sucker for green and brick.

http://z.about.com/d/architecture/1/0/e/k/victorian-gothic-fredericksburg-va-2268076.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vanessa_travels/3012668239/
http://eddieross.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/10/14/4_cute_house_2_2.jpg

We have "strict" rules about destroying things at my place of business as well, for legal reasons. But we generally turn a blind eye on things like that and let the staff take them home, give them to their friends, whatever. If something is desired by a lot of the staff to a point of argument we will have a contest or something and the winner takes it home. Corporate is aware that many locations are lax on these rules and nothing comes of it... its one of those... we all do it, but no one talks about it, kind of things.

Why throw things away that people want or need? That's so wasteful... :(

Kansas:

Kansas City has "First Friday" every month, a big open house of art studios and galleries... films shown on the sides of buildings, that sort of thing in the art district downtown.

http://www.crossroadscommunityassociation.org/

there is also map and a pretty good list of places in KC here.

then there is the Nelson Atkins in KC.

If you are up to a little trip, drive out to Lucas, Kansas be sure and visit this strange town with its outsider art museum and the ever popular, Garden of Eden.

amt,

I grew up in a house with 3 skylights and we never had problems with them. I recall we lost the largest one during a tornado when I was 10 or so, which is the only one my parents ever had to replace. My parents live in Kansas, so the tornado season is always a risk, only one broken in 30 years or so though, and no leaks or anything.