Jay Gaulard

We’re in the Middle of a Snowstorm

Yes, the title says it all. Yesterday, we found out that it was going to snow today. These things are always a bit of a surprise.

On the radio this morning, I heard that all the schools were closed. Then, I heard that the snow was supposed to come at noon, starting with light snow and getting heavier towards tonight. Then, I heard that perhaps it would start snowing at 10AM. Well, it started snowing at 8:30AM and hasn’t even given any sign of letting up.

They are talking 6″-12″. There is already about 3″ out there.

Snow Storm

Watching Snow Fall From Screened Porch

I think one of the most peaceful things to do is to go outside and listen to the snow hit the ground. I used to do that when I was a kid. I would lay down in the wheelbarrow, face up, and get snowed on.


Setting Up a Cron Job in Plesk

I have been putting this off for a while. For some time, I have had the need to set up a cron job to run my website sitemap generators. Currently, I do them by hand. Every few days, I log in to each one and run the generator. This gets a little tedious, because I have to do about thirty of them.

I have always known there is a function in the sitemap generators that allows a cron job to kick the generators on. All I had to do was set it up. Now, I am not all that good with that little black screen…SSH. I mean, I use PuTTY for some things, but not all that much. I would rather use a nice GUI to take care of these tasks.

Well, it just so happens that Plesk offers that GUI. By the way, I am talking about Plesk 8.1 here.

Ok, the first thing I did was to login to Plesk. Then, I clicked on, “Domains.” I clicked the domain I was interested in setting up a cron job for. Next, I clicked the “Scheduled Tasks” icon and then the system user. Once I was done clicking all that stuff, I clicked the “Schedule a Task For …” That’s the easy part. Well, the rest is easy too, but at least I was at the place I had to be to set up the job.

Once I was at the task page, there were a few things I had to fill in to set up the job. First, I checked off “enabled.” I think that’s pretty self explanatory.

Basically, I wanted this php script to run every two days at 4AM. It’s pretty simple. For the first field, labeled, “Minute,” I put in a “0.” That will start at zero minutes of the hour. For the “Hour” field, I put in a “4.” This will start the script at the fourth hour of the day. It is based on the 24 hour clock. Ignore the periods after the digits. I put them in there just for grammar’s sake. For the “Day of the Month” field, I put in an “*.” I guess that means any day. I also put in an “*” for the “Month” field. For the “Day of the Week” field, I put in a “*/2.” This means that the script will be initiated every two days. For the last field, “Command,” I put in the path to the cron file in the script. That is something you will need to get from the script itself.

This was the first time I did this. If there is anything I missed, anything I did wrong or anything that might have been done more efficiently, please let me know by way of comment.


Kitchen Cabinets for the Basement

When I mention anything about redoing the kitchen to any man, almost instantly, the response is, “You are going to put the cabinets in the basement, right?” I’m like, “Yeah, I already have a few down there, but I am going to put a few more.” I can hear it in their voices…they want to say, “It doesn’t matter how many old kitchen cabinets you already have in the basement, there is always room for more.” It’s a pretty funny scene.

This go round, I put the old bathroom cabinet and two kitchen cabinets in the basement. I just came back up from hanging the two kitchen ones. These cabinets were in great shape and will help out with storage down there. I am not a big fan of floor cabinets, because the floor is dirt. They would be pretty wobbly. The hanging ones are good for my needs.

Using Old Kitchen Cabinets to Hang in Basement

Now, these might not look to great to the average eye, but any person who is looking at them who has a sense for basements, these look pretty damn good.

Also, I wanted to show you my two girder beams I put up over the summer. The primary function of these is to take out any flex that might be in the floor. They were installed under the parts of the house we intended to install tile, meaning the bathroom and the kitchen. The span from the foundation walls to the primary girder beam is about 15′, so these cut that in half. The girders are made from three 2″x10″s, sandwiched together fastened by screws. Glue and screws would’ve been ideal, but this will do. They are being held up by heavy duty 38,000lb temporary lally columns about every 7′ or 8′. The package didn’t say anything about them being temporary, but it’s common knowledge. They really aren’t temporary though and I would say that each one of them isn’t holding any more than a few hundred pounds. The footings are concrete poured into 8″ sonotubes a few feet deep. The main girder footings are 2’x2’x12″.

Basement Girder Beam

Installed Extra Girder Beam in Basement

They work very well and do a great job of taking any flex out of the floor.


Some New Tools for the Collection

I am all about getting the good stuff these days. I don’t know anyone who can dispute the fact that working with quality tools is better than working with cheap ones. Tool manufacturers do a very good job of making “good” tools feel really nice in your hands. There is a big difference.

Yesterday, I took a trip to Lowe’s to get a few things. I wanted to get a chalk snapper (You know…it looks like a tape measure. You pull the string out of the thing and snap the line of chalk) and two garbage cans. I need the chalk snapper for the floor of the kitchen. I have to make lines to help me screw the subfloor down to the joists. Whenever doing a floor over, this is a good idea. I needed the garbage cans because I have a bit of a mess outside. I already have four full garbage cans outside under the porch and one inside the porch. I have to get the sheetrock off the driveway, so I bought two more. By the way, I filled those two and need about two more. I’m not going to get them though.

So I wandered into Lowe’s. I began searching for the chalk snapper and happened to pass by some face filters. I picked up a nice 3M Dual Cartridge Respirator Assembly and held onto it. I needed this for the sanding of the sheetrock, among other things. My old one leaked. I found this out during the previous day’s sanding. I like these better than the little white ones because they stay on my big head better. Also, I used to wear them when I worked at a bodyshop back in the day. They do a nice job filtering particles.

Face Dust Respirator

As I continued my search for the chalk snapper, I passed by some razor blades for my Stanley razor knife. I remembered that I just dulled out the last one on the sheetrock. I picked up a ten pack and held onto them. Then, I saw some screw bits. I picked up the 25 piece Dewalt bit set. I thought of how nice it would be to toss the two bits that I keep switching back and fourth in my screw gun now. It’s like they are going to heal themselves or something. I held onto them.

Dewalt Screw Bit Tips Pack

Boy, that’s weird, where the heck are those chalk snappers? Oh well, moving on. Geeesh, I wish I didn’t see the screw gun battery replacements. I thought back to the day before…me running back and fourth, between the basement and the kitchen to replace the battery in the cordless screw gun. Remember I just got this screw gun about a year ago? Yeah, that’s the last time I buy anything other than DeWalt, Makita, Bosch or Milwaukee. As I said above, I am into the good stuff, especially when it comes to tools. In this case, since the gun is so new, I picked up a FireStorm Two 18-Volt Extended Run Time Battery pack. Just one thing, remember that these are meant for home use. Contractor use is not covered under the warranty. One DeWalt battery is twice the cost of two of these. Say anything about quality? I held onto them.

Black and Decker Firestorm 18 Volt Battery

This trip was getting expensive. I only came here for a few things and haven’t found either of them yet. I swung around the corner and there they were…the chalk snappers. There were a few of them there, but I got the best one. It’s called the Stanley FatMax Chalk Reel Kit With Blue Chalk.

A funny thing happened on the way to Lowe’s. I called my friend, Craig and told him that I was getting a chalk snapper. He said, “Oh good. Just remember to get a good one.” I told him, “Well, the most expensive one is around $12, so ok.” I thought that was amusing. I picked it up and held onto it.

Stanley Fatmax Chalk Line

Onto the garbage cans. I took a look outside to only learn the garbage cans were inside. I walked back in and found the correct aisle. I went to the cheap section and grabbed two black garbage cans and their lids. Over and out.

I stumbled to the register and paid for all the stuff I just had to have. Can I ever get out of that store without leaving with a bunch of stuff I didn’t know I needed? Does this happen to everyone when they are initially stocking their tool collections? Perhaps it’s just me.


Ice on Trees – Photos

I took some pretty cool photos this morning of all the ice on the trees. I heard that the midwest got hit hard. We didn’t get hit nearly as hard. Things are icy, but it is actually really nice outside. It is warming up fast, so you can hear all the ice falling from the trees out in the woods. It’s a really neat sound and very beautiful.

I was walking around outside this morning with my coffee. Just what I always wanted. About halfway through my little walk, I realized what I was doing…

Ice Covering Trees

Ice Covered Bush

White Pine Covered with Ice


A Little Bit of Ice and Moving Some Furniture

We woke up this morning to a little bit of ice hugging the tree branches. Not too much in the way of bad roads, but a bunch of schools were closed, none the less. The cars were covered with a coating of ice that could’ve made this morning a real pain in the butt, but we didn’t have to go anywhere until around 10:30AM. It was all melting by that point.

Ice Coating Peach Tree Branch

Coating of Ice on Tree Branch

In the late morning, Laura and I had to go move some furniture for a friend. That wasn’t too hard, because the stuff was pretty light. Also, I am quite strong. If you saw me with no shirt, you would know what I am talking about.

I am taking a few days off from the kitchen while the joint compound dries. I feel guilty.


Social Networking / Virtual Community Scripts

I have been thinking of next year’s projects lately. Some thoughts that have crossed my mind have been an employment site, a real estate listing site and a social networking site. I did quite a bit of research tonight on the last one…the social networking thing.

I came across a bunch of them…

– phpFox
– Buddy Zone
– AlstraSoft efriends
– Dzoic’s Handshakes
– PHPizabi
– Elgg
– Boonex Dolphin
– Barnraiser
– Drupal

Believe it or not, I crossed all these off my list for one reason or another. No one had anything bad to say about Drupal, besides the fact that it is a bit hard to learn and that you need to be an expert to get a few things done. Otherwise, at least one person had something to say about all the others. You wouldn’t believe how many fake reviews there are out there about all these pieces of software.

One big turnoff about the whole project idea was how so many people fought with each other over which script was better than the others. It makes me not believe any of them. Fake reviews…fighting forums…dealing with a website that a bunch of people may actually live on…not too attractive. Still, I am interested.

So, I may be looking for a partner for this one. I need someone who has something in the works, someone who is better than me (right). If you know of anyone who is already in on this topic, please let me know.

Oh yeah, the script (whether it be custom made or a package) needs to be php/mysql.


Another Day of Drywalling

I set a goal for myself today…to finish the kitchen. That didn’t happen. It almost did. All I have to do now is to sand the joint compound, reapply and then sand again. Then, I paint…and all done for me. Well, I still have to do some prep work for the floor, but that’s fun.

I have amassed some tips for drywalling. These are from my brother, Jeff and my neighbor, Tim. There are only three…

1. Mark the ceiling and floor where the studs are. This will help when it comes time to screw.
2. Hang the drywall vertically. This will help not have “mounds,” since you will be butting the beveled edges together.
3. Start in the middle of the wall. This helps the cut edges stay in the corners.

See, that helped me in my drywalling endeavor, and I have never even done this stuff before. I am a little proud of myself for kicking ass today.

So, do you remember those before photos? Well, I have some “in the middle photos” for you now.

Fiberglass Insulation Installed in Kitchen Walls

This was today after Paul came over to pick up the cabinets. I had to single-handedly unhook the sink piping and cut apart the wood underneath. That was a real pain. Then, I had to cut the counter top and unscrew them (from being screwed together). Then, I had to unscrew them from the floor. I am not sure why they screwed to the floor. Did these people think the cabinets where going somewhere? Maybe that’s the norm. Anyway, I finally got everything away from the wall so I could work. I finished taking down all the sheetrock and was ready to put it back up.

Joint Compound on Kitchen Drywall

Unpainted Drywall Installed During Kitchen Remodel

For the rest of the afternoon, I hung sheetrock and taped. I really like taping and am glad I got the five gallon bucket of joint compound. I fly through the stuff and it’s nice not to have to worry about running out.

So as I said above, all I have to do is finish up the walls and paint. Then, prep the floor for the tile guy and my job is done. All Laura and I have to do at that point is to wait for the kitchen guys to show up with the cabinets (in a very messy house).


Down to Lowe’s and More Work on the Kitchen

Today, after I brought the cat to the vet, I ran down to Lowe’s for a few things. I had to get some outlets, switches and face plates. I also had to get some joint compound. When I was leaving, it started to snow. For a while, it was coming down pretty good.

I thought I would get a picture of the front of the Lowe’s in Middletown that I always go to…

Lowe's Storefront

The snow got worse on my ride home. I took the opportunity to grab a nice shot on one of the back roads pretty close to the house.

Snow Covered Road

I got a little further with the kitchen walls. Now I have two walls done. Well, they have the first layer of joint compound on them. They still need to be sanded and then another layer. I can’t wait to get them all done and painted.

Two Walls Covered with Drywall

Just a few minutes ago, I brought the floor cabinets out to the front porch for Paul to take in the morning. He wants to use them in his basement for a workshop. I then took the last wall cabinet down. Things are pretty messy upstairs right now. I brought that cabinet downstairs to use for my stuff. Now, I have a nice wall’s worth of cabinets down there, hanging from the ceiling. It’s good to keep things off the floor.

Kitchen Demolition

There is only one more cabinet in the kitchen and that’s the one with the sink in it. It’s a long sonofabitch, so I am not sure of my plan yet. I have to move it out to get to the wall. Maybe tomorrow, I will move it out, do the wall and then move it back.

Just for giggles, I thought I would show you the wallpaper that one of the previous owners decided to put on the walls.

Ugly Wallpaper in Kitchen

Can you say, “crack head?”


The Sheetrock Was Delivered

I got a call pretty early this morning from the lumber place. They told me they were about to leave for my sheetrock delivery. Man, I still had my coffee in my hand.

I got ready and waited for the guy to come. A few minutes later, he was backing into the driveway with my twelve sheets of sheetrock. I helped him take the stuff off the truck and stack it on some leftover lumber from the porch that I laid on the driveway. Tim, next door, was kind enough to give me a hand bringing it inside. Actually, this was the first time Tim has seen the inside of our empire.

New Sheetrock For the Kitchen

I had to keep the doors open so Tim and I could bring the sheetrock inside. For safety reasons, I put the dog in the computer room and the cats in the bedroom. I put Red in the bathroom because I didn’t want her to pee anywhere. After Tim and I were done, I went into the bedroom to get the cats. Of course, Michael was sitting on top of the bed looking at me. You can’t scare that cat. He would walk into a volcano if given the chance. I went to look for Simon and Flipperhumanbodyman, but couldn’t find them. Then, I looked behind my trunk. There they were…

Orange Cat Hiding

Black Cat Hiding

What wimps.