It is the end of January and, in one sense, I have not done too much regarding insulating the basement or done much around the house.  For one, the basement is a lot colder now and, for another, I'm poor.  I have been working on paying down my credit card debt and making progress on that front.  I actually hope to have it completely or almost completely paid off after my next paycheck in a couple weeks.  It appears that the gas stove really is helping with my gas and electric bills too!

I think I like the idea of having a Winter break away from work on the house.  That way I can work on relaxing things like reading, gaming, or cooking, or maybe taking up some new hobby.

Very recently I have made serious progress in eliminating caffeine addiction in my life.  I'd say it has been a couple of weeks since I last had Mountain Dew, coffee, or Mellow Yellow.  I still have light cravings and think that I can have just one drink, but then I remember the two most recent times I had just one drink and how it directly and quickly led me down a bad path where I gave in to other habits.  I also remember how the caffeine gave me headaches and ruined my ability to get a good night's sleep.

On a related note, I am working on going to sleep earlier so as to get the sleep I need.  I try to use the extra time in bed to have the time and opportunity to go back to sleep if I need more sleep.  Instead of giving myself 4 hours to sleep or 8 hours to sleep, I am trying to give myself 10 hours to sleep even if I don't sleep that whole time.  Doing so actually makes me quite a bit more productive and happier during the hours that I am awake.

I am trying to use my memory of how I eliminated caffeine in my life to work on eliminating other bad habits.

TAGS: none

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I've been really enjoying the new gas stove or what I like to think of as my gas fireplace.  It just feels so cozy and the air feels like a warm blanket.  The happy exception is the basement which now feels a lot colder.  I now feel better knowing my less efficient furnace is no longer wasting so much heat trying to heat the less than insulated basement.

No big purchases planned for the immediate future.  Right now I need to pay down my credit card.

TAGS: none

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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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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