madbaker | Home Improvements and Teenagers

House fu:
Met the structural engineer on Saturday, who (as it was patiently explained to me by the fuzzy upstairs neighbor, since he has infinitely more experience with this sort of thing - and that is literal, the ratio being some to none) will draw up plans for our structural beam and garage wall bracing. I am assured that the price for the plans is a relative bargain. Glad to hear that, 'cause it certainly doesn't feel like one... and I shudder to think what the actual work will cost.

The engineer is a short, older, balding & wispy-white-haired cantankerous Irish guy. The personality being one of the reasons for the discount, although having the fuzzy upstairs neighbor available to translate means it's not really an issue. I'll be glad to get this underway - it would be nice to have access to the garage through the front. And to park two fewer vehicles on the street.

Also ordered some blinds for our family room. Custom of course, given our non-standard window size. Not cheap, but worth it for the privacy and heat-reflection. It will make it harder for the upstairs neighbors going up and down the back stairs though; they won't get our interior light and we don't have a porch light yet. Nor are we likely to put that in this year, given the other, more necessary house expenses.

I think Galen has hit his teenager phase (he's now 10 months). He's been less cuddle-slut lately, more "I will swipe at you and knock things off the counters". Some of that is undoubtedly his reaction to us being gone more, so I will have to make a determined effort to play with him this afternoon when I get home.