Installing an ethernet outlet
Posted by Wayne
If you read the previous post about the “forearm forklifts”, you’re already aware that I had the good fortune of being given an awesome big screen TV. My father in law wanted to get one of those flat panel screens to hang on his wall instead of having his giant big-screen, so he generously gave it to us.
This rekindled my interest in my barely used XBOX 360. I previously had it hooked up to an okay sized TV, but it wasn’t great. I would really only play the XBOX on rare occasions just because our basement TV room was kind of dreary. The big screen (and awesome surround sound speaker system that came with it) pretty much changed all of this. Now it’s my favorite room in the house.
Forearm Forklifts, Thumbs Up!
Posted by Wayne
I think everyone should have a set of these around the house. They make lifting really heavy stuff a breeze.
They’re called “forearm forklifts”. You can see them by clicking here. I think I saw these on TV commercial and thought it was pretty dumb. Then the guys who delivered our new kitchen appliances were using them. Then my Dad got some for Christmas from someone and I’ve been using them quite a bit. I suspect you can buy them at Home Depot or any hardware store.
Most recently I used them to pick up a big screen TV which my father in law gave us. He told me to gather up about 4 guys to come and pick up the thing because that’s what it took him to get it into the house. I took these straps over to his house with my brother and we were easily able to pick it up ourselves, put it on a trailer, and then carry it about 75 yards all the way around my house to take it in through our basement. It was a piece of cake.
I have no doubt that it would take 4-5 guys to pick up the thing otherwise, and it would still be a total pain in the butt. The forearm forklifts make it easy, and I’m a believer. You should get a pair if you ever move heavy items.
Carefree Weekends
Posted by Wayne
I haven’t blogged for a while, and it isn’t because I’m not planning on blogging anymore. It’s been a combination of being really busy at work and not actually making any home-related improvements worth mentioning in this blog. I’m still getting about 150 visits per day from all over the world from people who are searching Google for a variety of home improvement topics which I love to see.
My weekends have been carefree and boring for quite a while now. I’ve been getting ideas in my head on which projects that I’d like to start on next. One day it is finishing the garage. The next day it is refinishing our basement. It might take a little while for me to build up the nerve to start any big projects. I think what we want to do in our basement is going to take me the better part of a year to do myself, so I’ll have plenty to write about. It will be my first chance to do a home project where I’m truly starting with a blank slate and there are no limits, so I’m kind of looking forward to it.
Finished Kitchen
Posted by Wayne
Kitchen Before
Kitchen After
Quite an improvement, huh?
Replaced garden window, replaced countertops, painted cabinets, new appliances, new sliding glass door, installed wood floor, new pantry door, new ceiling lights, installed undercabinet lighting, tiled backsplash, replaced outlets
Total cost: $8000. Total time: about 120 hours (that’s my estimate and I’m sticking to it). Most of the work was done in random 3 hour shifts over about 5 months.