It might not feel like it right at this moment, I have made another big improvement to the house which is a now working gas stove to supplement my furnace and help to reduce my monthly heating bill.  Currently, I'm working to get the new set up fine tuned.  For example I need to move some furniture around and get the fan set up in such a way to best move the heat around.  I'll try to keep you posted.

I'm thinking the next big update will be the HVAC humidifier installation.

TAGS: home improvement

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I got the gas hearth today and had some fun unpacking it and going through the directions.  It looks like I still need to buy or order some parts that don't come with the hearth.  I also am trying to figure out how to put the logs together.  Regardless, I am still looking forward to putting it together and getting it up and running.

My hope is to work on it in earnest on Friday.

TAGS: home improvement

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When I was younger (early 20s) I did not want a tv in my place and my grandparents did not like that.  They wanted me to have a tv as a way to stay informed.  When I was a child I used to watch tv all day long.  8 hours a day was not unusual.  In my later teens I watched half of that and by my late 20s I cut my tv down to zero and eventually just got rid of it because all it did was take up space and collect dust.

Since then, I have become addicted to different things like online news, coding my website, gaming (to a lesser extent), caffeine, and a little bit to my smartphone.  I don't code nearly as much as I used to, so that is basically a non-entity as far as addiction goes.  

The ones I want to get rid of in my life are the smartphone and caffeine.  Caffeine is well on its way out of my life, but I mention it here in case it rears its ugly head in my life again.  The smartphone is a bit more difficult as I need to be able to be reached by work in different ways.  To that end I have deleted many apps on my phone leaving the ability to text, email, music, and get calls.  I deleted or disabled news apps, and browsers.  I will try to leave my phone downstairs at night.

We'll see how that works out.

TAGS: none

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1. Basement (big project)
   
   • wall
     
   • floor
     
   • Install door to basement (R)
     
   • Seal AC/Heating in basement
     
   • Fix foundation sections outdoors
     
   • Insulate basement
     
   • Install Dryer (R)
     
   • Install Washer (R)
2. Seal porch (R)
   
3. Tune up deck
   
4. Roommate(?)
   
5. Get Lawnmower (R)
   
6. Get/Build Shed (R)
   
7. Unlisted item (R)
   
8. Remove two piles of branches
   
9. Tune up AC unit
   
10. Remove tree #2
    
11. ✔ (completed: 01/09/26) Gas Hearth installed
    
12. ✔ (completed: 12/19/25) Extend Gas lines (2)
    
13. ✔ (completed: 11/18/25) New water heater
    
14. ✔ (completed: 10/14/25) Remove tree 1
    
15. ✘ (abandoned: 10/13/25) Fix Bathroom fan #2
    
16. ✔ (completed: 10/11/25) Fix bathroom Fans #1
    
17. ✔ (completed: 10/10/25) Finish moving items from previous residence (✔ mats, ✔ clothes, and ✔ books from garage)
    
18. ✔ (completed: 10/03/25) Sewer
    
19. ✔ (completed: 10/01/25) Assemble two shelves
    

I'd say those are all of the really important things.

I'd like to be able to get all, or at least most of it done, within 5 years.

TAGS: home improvement, mini-review