Closets continued

We designed some built in closets in the Summer and the parts arrived late October.

The weekend before Thanksgiving was given over to sealing the lumber from our custom made, fitted cabinetry. We diluted boiled linseed oil in equal parts with mineral spirits then heavily doused the birch plywood with the solution, letting it stand for 30 minutes, then buffed away the excess.

A few more than a hundred pieces of thick, birch plywood ranging in size from 12cm X 25cm up to 2.5m X 1.4m and requiring a good soaking with the linseed mixture were drenched and — after about 20 minutes to absorb into the wood — wiped down with some towels one of us brought into the household from our single days.

The ones on the right are oiled while the ones to the left would get it the next day:

The idea is that birch will soak up more stain in some random parts of the wood structure than others and the linseed oil serves to even out the absorption of the stain and reduce the blotchiness that this causes. We finished oiling early Sunday afternoon and planned to put off the staining work until Thursday to allow the linseed oil time to poymerise. (Spell checker just tried to change “blotchiness” to “bitchiness,” but I stand by my editorial decision.)

The day after Thanksgiving we started staining the bits that would be seen … doors and the exposed exteriors would eventually get 3 passes (our stain has a polyurethane sealer built in so it really takes 3 times to build up enough to have a sheen as well as achieving a depth of colour). The door on the left (above) has only been sealed with linseed oil while the one on the right has had it’s first application of stain.

Interior faces also got stained for the sake of colour continuity (the birch is very white even with the linseed oil cured into it). Some parts (like the interior of the drawers or the faces of the carcass of the closets that go against a wall) don’t need staining at all.

Between stainings (all the exteriors are getting three coats), we less-than-saturated 0000 steel wool pads with mineral oil and softened the nap that raised with the previous coating, leaving a smooth surface for the next coat. We used a powerful magnet to clean away all the fine bits of steel wool left behind then used a towel to buff the boards clean. After coat #2, there was no more wood to smooth but the scratches from the steel wool would act as a key for the final coat.

The space is amazing and we have freed up the rest of the temporary storage in the other rooms by finishing these.

Cool also to get the old, small tele wired in although we still haven’t used it in the week since completing this.

2020 Commute 105 of 52 (To): Weird Light as the Year Fades

A post-doc who was on her way out to Hungary for Christmas, today, came up with less than favourable travel plans changes and the work we did together today took on a lot less urgency.

I offered her the Christmas meal with us (we have no contacts outside work and she has been preparing to visit elderly relatives…we are the perfect two-household bubble). I don’t think she will take us up on it (guidelines discourage overnight stays and the public transport is completely off and she would be unable to drive for the next 36 hours within minutes of arrival).

Also, the easement on this kind of mixing is limited to Christmas Day (although travel on Eve or Boxing for the purpose of yuletiding is allowed).

This is almost certainly the last commute run of 2020. It has been fun.

2020 Commute 104 of 52 (From): Graffiti Wars Truce

The first commuter run on the canals since the “Paul Cardy Fucks Sheep” incidents showed me a blank palette (below) where these games had been staged up till now. A short distance up (and on the opposite side of the canal), some very stylish tagging has been added (see above).

2020 Commute 103 of 52 (To): Google Maps Directions longer than my shorter, “dead reckoning” efforts

Didn’t check the weather before getting ready to trot into the Uni and found that it was pissing down rain when I walked out the door. “Pissing down” is not quite accurate since, with the wind, the precipitation travelled almost horizontally. I decided that the best bet would be the shortest route and I let Google pick that for me.

A lot of familiar territory on this path which helped since my glasses were useless in the downpour. All the turns suggested by the robotic voice were taken and at the end the distance logged was 3/10 of a mile (1/2 km) shorter than my normal route and more than a mile LONGER than paths I have previously picked using only the angle of the Sun and the few landmarks I knew back then.

Google mapping sucks.

2020 Commute 102 of 52 (To): Advent Horror…”Don’t Open That Door!”

Ran into work overland to cut a mile and a half off the trip although the road crossings make things take nearly as long as the canal run. But, since I needed to get to the lab to meet the Bruker engineer and the UPS guy picking up the crate — sometime between 9 and 4 — I headed out early even while running the shorter distance.

In years to come, I hope I look at the photo above and see more than a rainy, Winter day. For instance, the kids are wearing masks and there’s a Star of David in Christmas lights on the church.

On the other hand, the Bruker engineer here last week to replace a cryocompressor (essentially a really powerful fridge) and his case of — quite literally — refrigerator repairman syndrome are seared in my memories:

Corona Christmas 2020

Our Deb gave us the Coronavirus/AcornBall for Christmas sometime in the dark ages before the turn of the millenium…I’m thinking Buggville (1996-2002) but it could have been The Farm (1994-’95). Regardles (and despite the location in the photo) it is the tree-topper this year because of its resemblance to the guest of honour at so many households this year.

In the first lockdown we were both still working throughout but with nothing to do outside after work we binge-watched a bunch of things. For awhile we were elbow deep in both Brockmire and Bojack Horseman. I’d recommend either to my Americans out there but The Bojack works for anyone in the world. If you only see one episode of either get the Bojack where he eulogizes his mother (it will compell you to see ALL the others) and if you aren’t locked into the full series of Brockmire after the first ten minutes of episode 1 then you must never drink with me.

At the end of every episode of Bojack, something like this happens. Jackie bought the ornament.

2020 Commute 101 of 52 (To): News Crawler – “PCFS”

One year ago today marked my first commute run from the new house. Three more in 2019 then 101 so far this year. But, I’m going to reminisce a bit further back.

In Atlanta around 1986 or so, everywhere you went there was a repeating sharpie tag on bathroom walls (and sidewalks and on abandoned cars and once on a billboard over the Downtown Connector in spray can) that read, “Kurt is a homo.”

What was funny about it was this was Atlanta in 1986 or so and EVERYONE was a homo EXCEPT maybe Kurt. At least in the incestuous circles of the bar and music industry in the Midtown/Emory/Decatur corridor.

Funnier still, it bothered Kurt who while not a homo (and, just who would fuck him, anyway?) was a prick.

Oh, I think Mr Poundsign has been outed.

What I Wanted Was @HendoRelish: Secret Santa 2020 and Recipe for a “Kentucky Grandma”

A “Kentucky Grandma,” unless there is another name for 2 parts Bailey’s + 1 part CHEAP bourbon

I shouldn’t whinge…it’s booze of a sort. And, it was pretty palatable as served above, with a couple ice cubes, 2 shots (100 mL) of the offending Bailey’s, a and a shot of the cheapest bourbon or other straight whiskey in your dominion.

Our principal investigator got a short bottle of tequila, for which she has at least once declared her undying affection, from her Secret Santa. I specifically asked for Henderson’s Relish on the app our organiser was using and wound up with Bailey’s, fer fuck’s sake. I wish I commanded respect, but anything is better than Oxford.

Or, as the soon-to-be-deported First Lady would say in these festive days, “who geeve fock abowt kreesmoose?”

The recipe:

Two shots (100 mL) of Bailey’s Irish Cream, one shot (50 mL) of bourbon … or Canadian whiskey or rye or Bushmill’s anything else without malt. Swirl in some ice (and some milk if it is a school night…if that is an issue). For a warm version, heat a couple of shots of milk and put boiled water in the glass first, then add the milk with the alcohol bits. Better than you might think, and you need to pay close attention to the units (if morning after is an issue). They sneak up on you.

2020 Commute 100 of 52 (To): Full Moon at Sunrise and Mr Poundsign Strikes Again

I had an early engineer visit to tend so I left the house earlier than normal. Cold out with mild winds at my back and a perfectly clear sky left me with the full moon lighting the path at my back and the colourful sunrise unfolding ahead of me. Wonderful.

Less wonderful was the inevitable defacing of the new graffiti mentioned here and here. I guess worse things happen in the world than a thing of beauty only surviving momentarily. Someday, maybe one of those worse things will happen to Mr Poundsign.

UPDATE: new additions to these works added a few days later.