Mon

Aside: I like to index, or transcribe historical records into a form that is computer searchable and today I did a couple "freeman" records, which were military records of the government's attempts to help the freed slaves right after the civil war. It was really interesting, but sad - it showed many of the struggles the blacks had during that time like small pox epidemics, false arrests, old "masters" whipping them, getting cheated out of their just wages, starvation, lack of shelter, etc. Esp. sad were parents searching for children who had been sold... On the good side, it also showed how eager most were to get an education and to work and that there were also people eager to help them get started in their new life. Anyway...

Today I decided to do some little things I've been putting off... like the kitchen faucets that have been leaking for probably a year or two (no exaggeration). I googled how, got the screw off, then attempted to pull...then pry...then pound the handle off. All I managed to do was create a hole in the bottom. I then googled how to replace a kitchen faucet and met phrases like "to cut the water line" and "to remove the garbage disposal" and "while you're at it, you might want to replace..." which was a bit disconcerting, to say the least. Then I went on Lowe's site, and they made it sound very easy (of coarse they want to get you to buy stuff from them), but I think I might try it. The best advice I heard, though, was to start early in the day so that you can make many trips to the hardware store....

Next I decided to remove the carpet in my eldest daughter's ex-room and pulled it up - to find that they had laid it over the old carpeting! So I did get the top carpet removed, but I essentially have to start all over again - and this time it's glued down, and the rubber clings to the floor when I try to pull it up. Should be fun.

The one thing I was successful at was (drum roll) .... replacing the light bulb in the microwave. Actually it was harder than I thought. The screws on one side had some weird head that I couldn't remove, but fortunately the ones that were removable were on the right side, so I took them out, pried out the side, bent it up, and after feeling all over, finally found where the light was. It turned out the bulb had actually fallen out, so I just had to clean it off then screw it back in, which was a good thing, because my "replacement bulb" was way too big. At least we now have light, and I don't have to carefully peer in looking at the contrast between bowl and contents to tell if it's boiling up, only to have to once again clean up the boiled over mess! That's what I've been doing for the last month or so... (I like ....'s, if you can't tell....) And the microwave is actually put back together again!

So... Today's "Home Repair Score" is HmrMom 1, House 2. Sigh.