Glenn's Underground Cabin Update

glenn kangiser · July 11, 2011, 09:05:56 PM

Make that the upchuck wagon, Ben....

Actually the food looked clean but "the proof is in the pudding"....

What a quaint little idiom that is...

Often I notice things with lettuce get to me.... yes, give me one of those leafy green bacteria laden lettuce leaves on my sandwich please... I weighed in a little heavy this morning. gottogo

I spent many years carrying a tin garbage can... I mean lunch bucket to grade school when I was a kid. I never did like taking the time to clean it out so it smelled like the kitchen waste basket much of the time.....

I don't often pack much of a perishable lunch here in the California heat. Yes - I could get an ice chest but then I would be back to my old ways of packing something around that ...once again smells like a garbage can and I don't do wet sandwiches.... :barf

Sassy · July 13, 2011, 05:08:20 PM

Well, I'm baching it again (bachelor) - Left Glenn on Monday around noon, back to the cabin. It was great to get away for a bit & we had a lot of fun.

Been out in the garden today - I do a little bit there everyday, but have been weeding, trimming roses, planting some more squash & pepper plants.

The weather is wonderful for working outside - only 75 degrees at 3pm - usually unheard of the middle of July in our neck of the woods. Not complaining.

Have been eating a few apricots - didn't get a whole lot due to the snows & rains when the trees were blooming. Also get a handful of strawberries everyday. The plums are getting ripe. Looks like there may be something wrong w/the pluot part of the tree (there's 4 different types of plums on the tree). Either bugs are eating the leaves off - more likely there's something systemic in that part as a lot of the plums are ripening but look like they are on their way to being prunes

The roses have done fantastic this year (that's because I've been around to water them regularly

- Glenn tends to think roses are superfluous even though he bought & planted several of them

) I love how they look, so colorful but have all the scars on my arms & legs for punishment from the thorns on them. Oh well...

I should tackle the bottom terrace of fruit trees w/ the weedeater... the grass is as high as some of the trees but brown & dried out.
Gotta go down to the valley tomorrow & turn in the last of the paperwork for my retirement - had to have Glenn's signature notarized.

July 13, 2011, 10:17:15 PM

The tar baby... that's is what I have been calling this project.

Dave, the foreman thinks we may be building on an Indian Burial Ground... not literally, but is seems that everything we touch needs to be fixed and every thing we fix makes room for two more things that need fixing..... from the start to now to the foreseeable future.... but we are slowly progressing. We both agree that it is by far the most problematic job we have EVER worked on. [ouch]

My associate, Gabino, my good Mexican friend and co-worker, came up with a great fix. Architectural details determined the exact locations of our structural members. Not normally the way it is done but the way we had to do it here. That left us no room to make our welds.

Just as we do here at Countryplans, I called him over to help brainstorm this problem. In a few minutes he suggested a knife plate through the center of the column then we could make our welds without removing other peoples work - an option we were supposed to have but they took away from us. Too much would be destroyed. The knife plate allowed welds in the center for strength on both sides, then the column could be slipped over the plate and welded over it after the inspection for the inner weld. I agreed the engineer would go for it so it was submitted, tweaked a bit by the engineer and we are on our way.

Today we had to move on to the Safeway which is getting behind - many problems to solve and much work to do there in a week or so.

The upper management boss I got into it with at the start is now a friend and ally so I need to do all I can to keep the trust we have earned. That is going to make this a hard week. Just wrote another reminder to check more stuff for him. He is the one I threatened to call if sheetrock was not removed from our work area. It was removed immediately. See it in this pix with the knife plates.

When they treat me nice I treat them nice. Hope I can perform now..... a bit of performance anxiety here I am afraid....

After a rough day something nice happened.

I was getting my dinner - TV dinner - burritos, sandwich and other stuff for tomorrow. Thought I had a few more bucks in my pocket. The tab came to 21.95 as I recall. I had 21 in my pocket and said, looks like I have to make a bank run tomorrow. As I was reaching into my pocket full of change a guy in line behind me put a dollar on the counter.... in the city.... a place where few will look you in the eye. They look the other way and walk on by most of the time.

I was a bit worn out, scraggly work clothes and probably looked a lot like a hobo, yet this man put a buck up there on the counter for me. I thanked him and told him I really appreciated it but I had a big credit card too as well as change. He said, "No problem, I've been there." I said, "I really do appreciate it because I have done the same for others." What a nice guy. Totally unexpected in the big city. I guess there are some truly nice people left.

Don't get me wrong. I am not in favor of enabling addicts and substance abusers or the eternally homeless but make more than me, corner dwellers, but I do want to encourage helping people who are truly in need. Thanks man, wherever you are. I didn't need it but please help someone who does.

glenn kangiser · July 13, 2011, 11:06:18 PM

A nice article by our friend Samson of The Humphrey Fellows at UC Davis.

He was unable to attend the trip to Yosemite due to pain from his old prosthesis. A bus crushed his leg in Malawi. David Vidmar, another friend of ours who helps the Fellows get to Yosemite helped Samson get in touch with a new pain free prosthesis.

I can tell you from getting to know Samson a bit that you won't find a nicer fellow anywhere in the world. Maybe equally as nice but he is the top of the list in my book.

A nice Human Interest story from Samson Ngutwa.

http://www.miusa.org/ncde/stories/ngutwa

Sassy · July 15, 2011, 11:52:18 PM

Poor Glenn

He's been working a minimum of 12hr days w/1-4 hrs of paperwork at night or early in the morning most days; when he drives home, he has 8hrs driving added onto a long day. He has to stay on the job again this weekend. Don't know how he's doing it... so many problems w/the job... I can tell it's getting to him.

My son & granddaughters came over this afternoon, brought me a big chocolate birthday cake & cards & a gift card. We went out for pizza. Spike just loves it when the girls are here but he's so powerful he can knock them right over. We had a fun visit. The girls were here last week for a few days, had vacation Bible school this week & will be back to school in a couple weeks.

I did a bunch of cleaning before they came up. Gotta get back in the garden & do more pruning. Got everything weeded pretty well now... that will last a couple days & the weeds will be as healthy as ever

July 16, 2011, 07:38:05 AM

I think I have the answer to what is going on here....

Heat for the Safeway chicken barbecue rotisserie is being ducted directly from hell. That seems to be causing problems with the whole project. When we have a problem with another piece of steel it has to go through six layers of management to get an answer of what to do about it.

I thought about circumventing it by getting a direct number to the architect but after suggesting it to the big GC boss I thought it over and decided that they still need the paper trail to go with the answers.

The problem is that no matter what the answer from the engineer, we need a RFI paper from him telling the Special Inspector what he is inspecting an us directly how he wants it done to accomplish that. When each detail is complied with and inspected then we pass inspection.

Trouble is the engineer sits at his desk and does not realize there is only 5 inches to the floor where he wants 12. We have 3 different SK21 drawings all with the same number - none address the problem though we can prove he has been asked 3 times ... yet the erector gets yelled at for not getting the steel up even though he does not have an answer to his original question.

The problem is that there will be only one 1" anchor into the wall to hold up the canopy where the engineers drawing (from his desk) shows two spaced 12" apart. We cannot make an answer for the engineer that may be wrong and ruin hours worth of work, yet the GC wants it up. We need immediate answers yet they are days away. I am really only the troubleshooter but I get yelled at too as I represent the steel company I am T+M to.

On to another day of trying to work around the problem and accomplish something at another location on the project. I am also just getting into solving problems on this part of the project as I had been on the other building until Wednesday. A good note is that it starts to get better after the first few days and issues begin to get resolved however slow it may be.

A major is we are out of time. They want to deliver groceries and the area underneath us is rapidly starting to look like a store. GC says the erector should have handled this earlier. That is hard for him as each piece he picks up makes new problems it seems along with any he may create for himself. I outa here to continue the struggle and maybe accomplish something. [ouch]

ben2go · July 16, 2011, 01:15:09 PM

Good luck.Sounds like an up hill battle to the finish line.

glenn kangiser · July 17, 2011, 12:27:26 AM

I hope there is a finish line, Ben but it seems they keep moving it forward.

Actually the problem is the finish line is in the same place but we seem to be in slow motion getting on toward it and more obstacles are put in front of us as we get closer. [ouch]

Got to talk to one of my jobsite friends for a bit today.

I have seen him as I come and go throughout the job but finally took the time to talk a while with him after work. His name is Mohammed and he is the weekend security guard. He has always opened and closed the gate for me when he is there and even offered to help me a bit with work this evening if I needed help.

He believes that much of the trouble with the world is political and sees it as a pretty standard thing throughout the world as well as here.

Nearly all of his beliefs and knowledge of world events matches with mine as he is not educated by the US news as much as many. Funny how it is that if you get away from the propaganda, you get to see things as they really are.....

He is a Muslim and invited me to stay in his valley house if I get to work in his area.

ScottA · July 17, 2011, 07:09:09 AM

Glen it sounds like you've got your hands full. That's why I got out of commercial construction, everyone wants to blame everyone else for their mistakes. The biggest problems I ran into where designs that did not work and architects and engineers who refused to believe(admit) that they made a mistake. Every error gets pushed down the chain to the bottom. It's the ole sh*t runs down hill theory. Good luck getting things done.

July 17, 2011, 07:43:55 AM

You pretty much hit the nail on the head Scott. [ouch]

A bit if a difference is that there have been 3 architects on this job though I did not get that info from the GC. It is still passing the blame a lot but they know they can not baffle me with BS most of the time. I jump right in the middle of them when they start trying to pass all of the blame to my client. There is plenty of blame here to go around for all and they admit that though they still try to pass it along when they can. The thing is that my documentation will help my client should they try to continue the blame game when the project ends. Lots of pages of notes and hundreds of photos can help later if need be. I also type up a word document summary for each week so they don't have to stumble through my hand written chicken scratches in my wire bound notebook. I keep that note book so I do not unintentionally lose a scrap of paper from my pocket. I do enough of that too though.

Hard to hold on to my brain even on this job.... fortunately it is encased in this hard armor like substance that seems to be pretty impervious to total escape.

I determine each problem cause from the plans for the most part and just note why the problem happened in my reports for later. There are problems from the start then it all gets worse. Ten years in planning, getting near to completion and yet it should still not be out of error check from the architect. Arrrrrrgh........

The good point is that I am on T&M...... but it is one of those jobs that there is almost not enough money to get you to go to. If I did not feel the obligation to my client along with needing to pay the bills it would be easy to walk away.

Another thought about my friend, Mohammed above. He said I am different than a lot of people. He said a lot of people see you do not speak good English and they just look down and walk off. What do they learn or benefit from that? He noticed I listen and talk to him even though I may have to ask again what he meant (also because of my hearing) ... He mentioned that if I was in Pakistan with him then others would respect me because they respect him. Otherwise alone there a person who would not respect the people would not likely last long. I noticed the same in the back country of Mexico. The group of kids I hung out with protected me from the Sherrif and some trouble makers in town. Not because they were tough, but because I respected them and they respected me. They knew I was their friend.

I told him that was because even though he may not speak perfect English, I felt I could learn a lot from him... about his world .. his family... his views on world events. Bin Laden Died in 2002 ... no doubt. Everyone in the town he was in knows everybody. It is not like the bay area. Benizar Bhutto's husband is the leader of Pakistan. She was his rival for the presidency before she met her untimely death... and of course there was the same story of Bin Laden's death in 2002 she outed publicly. Multiple choice on her untimely demise.

I don't miss a chance to get inside information if I can help it. I need all the help I can get on my CTs.

Off to work again....

glenn kangiser · July 18, 2011, 10:18:08 PM

Dang it..... Seriously burned my wiener. [ouch]

I'm not kidding you.......

Got back to the motel after a twelve hour work day and thought it would be a good idea to go to the little store behind it and get my dinner.

After that it was time to trample the grapes..... all of my undergarments were once again soiled..... so I tossed them in the shower... poured the motel shampoo over them and took my shower.

While at the store I kept looking at the beer..... Remembering the favorite of the College kids in Mexico was Modelo I thought I would give it a try again. A nice 24oz'er. Sucked that down and as I was in a vegetative state I slid my office chair back to the fridge...

A kick with my foot and as I was sliding backward about twenty miles an hour and I thought ...crimoney... wouldn't that be stupid if I tipped over backward and banged my head on the air conditioner.....

Well... I didn't but I retrieved my last Ball Park tube steak and tossed it in the microwave. Mellow enough I didn't notice how long I set it for...... that sucker came out of the microwave blacker than ol' Coalies butt......

Oh well... lucky for me I just bought another pack of them. Now I have to sleep with the smell of that burned pig flesh in my room..... Yeah... I could take it out to the garbage but not dressed the way I am now.......

glenn kangiser · July 18, 2011, 11:39:06 PM

My friend J started the Bush Hog yesterday and went to check the cows... they beat him to the corral to get a few flakes of alfalfa....

Check out my little show -- tried out Smilebox.... click the pix....

glenn kangiser · July 19, 2011, 07:25:21 AM

Boy is that stuff nasty...... [ouch]

I make my coffee the night before because the coffee maker in my motel room is not too good - stops a couple times before the coffee is done and no time to wait for it in the morning.....but I always drink it cold anyway....

I only drink it for the effect though.... not the flavor, so no decaffeinated and hot or cold doesn't matter ... cold goes down faster and safer.....

ben2go · July 19, 2011, 11:43:53 AM

Nice little vid.The smell of coffee makes me puke.I dunno why.The same thing happens when I smell pop corn,it's worse if it has butter.Burnt microwave pop corn is sure to send me to pray to the porcelain gods. $:-\$

July 19, 2011, 01:55:42 PM

Ben2go, I LIKE burnt buttered popcorn! Don't like it microwaved tho. I also like burnt toast!

Maybe I need all that charcoal to clean my system out

Whenever I was pregnant, I couldn't stand the smell of coffee, yet before & after I love smelling freshly made coffee. I do the same as Glenn - we make a whole pot of coffee, but only drink one cup in am, so there's left-over coffee - I usually heat mine up the next days but Glenn will just chug the cold stuff - we both drink it for the effect... I guess our drug of choice

Windpower · July 19, 2011, 08:19:51 PM

Hang in there Glenn

glenn kangiser · July 19, 2011, 11:42:39 PM

Going a bit better today, Windpower. It was nice to have the engineer come up here and give us his limits and allowed procedures so we could actually pick up a piece of steel and put it on the wall without worries as to whether it was allowed or not..... now we know. Edge limits, rebar, tabs - clearances - all important and were preventing our work without knowing what he wanted. CYA.... My policy.....

Yup, Ben... know what you mean..... I hate looking down that hole and yelling for Ralph..... [ouch]

One of the bosses from the steel company came up to measure handrails today and had his family with him...

I offered to take them out to dinner at the Crepevine. He was a bit hesitant but after I told him I didn't have any friends and nobody would talk to me they agreed to come along.

His wife nearly died laughing when I told her of my Hot Pink safety gear and the Outhouse Safety and Disease Prevention Patrol. We had a good meal of various crepes and she had a sandwich. I let them take off soon after the meal - cut the stories, as they had about a 3 1/2 hour drive home.

She said no wonder the steel company is having trouble with this job..... I am here......

Found out the Crepevine is owned by the cousin of Peter who owns the store behind the motel. Nice middle easterner who always has a good word for his customers.

bc_islander · July 22, 2011, 08:26:29 PM

Hi Glenn,

Thank you for sharing your experiences on the
http://www.countryplans.com/underground.html site!

I am in the midst of building an earth sheltered, 900sf, off grid, no code,
passive solar, post and beam with papercrete infill studio and the floor
had been totally bugging me.

I had thought of doing rammed earth or rubberslate (papercrete mixed with
asphalt emulsion) but the CBRI floor is perfect!

Thanks again for being an emissary of sanity.

glenn kangiser · July 22, 2011, 10:09:37 PM

bc_islander... I am considered many things but not sure if sane is one of them... but I really do enjoy being crazy anyway.

Please let me know if you have any questions. Be sure to use some kind of jute landscape netting or burlap sack cloth. The various wire reinforcements I have tried were no where near as satisfactory. The fibermesh is a great addition if you can get it.

The CBRI floor is our favorite.

Please tell us more of your project too if you get time.

bc_islander · July 23, 2011, 11:37:44 AM

Hey thanks for the reply Glenn!

I will post more stuff about my project as it goes
as well as keeping my eye on your doings.

Thanks again for being so generous with your
information and experience.

Cheers,

Sasha

July 23, 2011, 03:56:43 PM

After rereading earlier posts I found another interesting point.

"...I checked several different methods out and the one that made the most sense was the cheapest and has the engineering in the book-- log sizes etc. "The $50 and up underground house" by Mike Oehler. $50 and Up Underground House This will get you safely into the ground..."

After reading that I ordered Mike's book.

Thanks again Glenn!

I have a 50' log beam in my new studio and I am excited to have some engineering specs on logs to base my calculations on.

glenn kangiser · July 23, 2011, 07:29:49 PM

The tables in Mike's book are at the back and were prepared by a registered professional engineer. Refreshing to see an engineer that would prepare a reusable table like that as most engineers want a piece of every pie. They can't help it. It's the American way.

The tables were designed for 2 feet of dirt and a foot of water. Mike suggested reducing the load to 18" of dirt since we may not all have the same species of wood available, and I find that for many purposes even less can be used. An alternative is to put about 6 inches of dirt for fire protection then use compost - mulch and lighter weight materials as better insulators and for a good garden as Bruce did on his cabin in Minnesota.

My pleasure helping, Sasha. It can take years to learn or design this sort of thing as Mike did, but with the help of his book and learning through our experiences of what works and what doesn't we can make more progress faster and have more time to enjoy it.

glenn kangiser · July 23, 2011, 11:28:39 PM

Sassy came up to the Jobsite again this weekend so I would not have to make the 8 hours of driving to go home and back. Hard to do after weeks of 12 or more hour days 6 to 7 days a week.

We went to the Crepevine again today and had a Baby Shrimp Crepe with roasted potatoes, Apple Chicken Sausage for me, salad and 2 Cherry Blintzes -- 1 each for dessert.

MountainDon · July 23, 2011, 11:38:07 PM

Mmmm. A nice crepe would be sooooo good.

glenn kangiser · July 24, 2011, 10:09:48 AM

Sorry I forgot to take a picture of it it our haste to gobble them up, Don, but I will try to remember to today. [ouch]

The Crepevine has been Sassy's favorite eating establishment since I first took her there. It's nice to find a good restaurant that is nearby, doesn't make you sick, is not overpriced for the meals they provide and that you can take friends to when they drop by.

The spices they use on their savory crepe fillings are so good -- they are indescribable.

I have an elevation that was changed on the men by one of the bosses..... that has been bothering me all night - I need to check it and make sure he was correct- woke up at 3:39... made coffee. Finally went back to sleep after 4 then drank the coffee about 7:30. On this job the delight in changing things - having the crew put some together, then take it back down and change it because they were wrong.... or change our stuff to cover other contractors mistakes or requirements. Worst job in the lives of any of us.....

I need to figure out a way to speed up the installation of the gigantic canopy parts around the edge of the parking garage. One piece at a time for accuracy is not so good. The way the architect and engineer designed it makes installation and welding each piece end a real time consuming pain. No thought was given to how much work it took to implement the design. If it was, I would have to say they considered cost to be no object.

Unfortunately the subcontractor does not seem to have taken the full time required to install it into account in their price so they took it cheap but now they are having a hard time providing manpower at their contract price as well as getting it up on time. Hope I can figure out some way to help. That is part of why I am here.

I will try to think about it more while consuming more Crepes.....