I have a ladder similar to that, and it's easy enough that even my father-in-law only needed to call me once to explain again how to make it shorter or longer.
The infrared thermometer gun is also great for helping you prove that the A/C is in fact working correctly. Not that I have to do that regularly or anything.
I was able to demonstrate that in fact we have weirdly specific cold zones in the winter - not that this resulted in any home improvement, but my wife is an empiricist so will accept data from a measurement device, a civilized way to resolve an argument.
Now here's a sentence I've never said before: Grover Cleveland is my Chester A. Arthur. He grew up just up the hill from where I did so when we were in high school we ironically learned all these Grover Cleveland facts we would yell out like an inside joke. In a really hilarious case of "leaning into the bit" as an adult, my buddy started a restaurant "Grover C's" (sadly the restaurant closed due to the pandemic)
My wife has gotten used to my habit of spouting off 15 minute answers in response to short questions and refers to them as part of my "lecture series." I do not think she means it as a compliment.
Also, generally: spend as little time on your roof (yes, even if it's flat) as possible, lest you end up needing a new one (or at least a visit from a professional) sooner rather than later. It's simply not built for that. No, not even the flat ones.
We got a roof deck on our Philly townhouse and it is an amazing extra space. Got a projector for movies, a water table and kiddie pool, some tomatoes. It is the perfect amount of yardwork required and gives us somewhere outside to be that's not Philly city streets.
That sounds fantastic, there is no roof deck like a Philly townhouse roof deck! Years (sigh, decades) ago, friends had a house near Eastern State Pen, and we were down there almost every weekend.
HOWEVER: Most small residential roof decks are not adequately lifted away from the TPO/EPDM/Mod-Bit system that makes up the actual roof, and so traffic on the deck puts pressure and over time pokes holes -- the deck needs to either be suspended over the roof by timbers/girders that terminate into the parapet/onto the firewall, or a paver system needs to be installed over a slipsheet and pedestals. If you have this, awesome. If you don't, or you're not sure, it's worth getting someone to look at it every spring.
I lived on the top floor of an old house in Atlanta for 2 years. It had a huge patio and the bottom of the roof was about waist high. We spend so many nights up there watching airplanes. Somehow nobody ever fell off.
there's nothing like 4pm rolling around and finding that cup of coffee you made at 9am sitting on the mantle or wherever else you had to hastily abandon it, and still taking a sip of it because hey: it's still coffee
Little curdled creamer on top just taunting you. Oh what’s that, the baby needs to be changed and the dog got into the kibble? No problem, I’ll just die of this caffeine headache
Look, I don't promote things but the Yeti rambler with hot shot lid keeps things hot (and cocktails cold) for hours and it shockingly reasonably priced.
I worked at Lakeview cemetery in Cleveland, where the Garfield memorial is and I have dusted Garfield's casket and that of his family.
If you ever find yourself with an afternoon to kill in Cleveland and you've already done the rock hall and the science center, Lakeview cemetery is great, and the balcony of the Garfield memorial has the best views of the city. There's a chapel that's all Tiffany glass inside, too. A hidden Cleveland gem
My grandpa had many many bits he remained committed to until he died.
A memorable one: pretending a dog was trying to jump into his lap if he farted across a table from you. Loudly, in a restaurant: “Down, Fido, down boy!”
Another was rolling down the window when driving past a farm, breathing deep the manure smell, and exclaiming “ah, fresh cut clover.” My dad was… older than he’d care to admit before he realized that’s not what clover smells like.
It is quiet on the roof though.
Can get a lot of thinking done up here.
If I just see a river from that roof, I might achieve dadlightenment
He WOULD have survived because in 1881 the only thing worse at doing their job than doctors were bullets (trails off in War Dad rant)
believe it or not, Scott, I have ladder opinions.
Please share.
This is the finest ladder I've ever owned. https://gorillamade.com/product/glmpxa-22/
tall enough in step ladder mode to get to all of my gutters and tall enough to get to the peak of my roof in extension mode.
collapses small enough to fit in my shed and only ways 40ish pounds.
I have a ladder similar to that, and it's easy enough that even my father-in-law only needed to call me once to explain again how to make it shorter or longer.
The infrared thermometer gun is also great for helping you prove that the A/C is in fact working correctly. Not that I have to do that regularly or anything.
I was able to demonstrate that in fact we have weirdly specific cold zones in the winter - not that this resulted in any home improvement, but my wife is an empiricist so will accept data from a measurement device, a civilized way to resolve an argument.
Classic photo. "Olaf and the Possum" is right up there with "Holly and the Horse".
Now here's a sentence I've never said before: Grover Cleveland is my Chester A. Arthur. He grew up just up the hill from where I did so when we were in high school we ironically learned all these Grover Cleveland facts we would yell out like an inside joke. In a really hilarious case of "leaning into the bit" as an adult, my buddy started a restaurant "Grover C's" (sadly the restaurant closed due to the pandemic)
My wife has gotten used to my habit of spouting off 15 minute answers in response to short questions and refers to them as part of my "lecture series." I do not think she means it as a compliment.
Also, generally: spend as little time on your roof (yes, even if it's flat) as possible, lest you end up needing a new one (or at least a visit from a professional) sooner rather than later. It's simply not built for that. No, not even the flat ones.
smh more propaganda from Big Roof
Lemon has spent so much time telling me "30 second answer, not 10 minute answer, please"
We got a roof deck on our Philly townhouse and it is an amazing extra space. Got a projector for movies, a water table and kiddie pool, some tomatoes. It is the perfect amount of yardwork required and gives us somewhere outside to be that's not Philly city streets.
That sounds fantastic, there is no roof deck like a Philly townhouse roof deck! Years (sigh, decades) ago, friends had a house near Eastern State Pen, and we were down there almost every weekend.
Hoping for the best for you on this.
HOWEVER: Most small residential roof decks are not adequately lifted away from the TPO/EPDM/Mod-Bit system that makes up the actual roof, and so traffic on the deck puts pressure and over time pokes holes -- the deck needs to either be suspended over the roof by timbers/girders that terminate into the parapet/onto the firewall, or a paver system needs to be installed over a slipsheet and pedestals. If you have this, awesome. If you don't, or you're not sure, it's worth getting someone to look at it every spring.
In related news, Dan Carlin dropped a new ep on Friday night.
Two things:
1) "A History of Basketball in 15 Sneakers" is great. I got it for DC#2 for Christmas, and he loved it.
2) LOU WHITTAKER BELONGS IN THE HALL OF FAME, DAMNIT.
So help me if Chase Utley gets in, it will be an even greater travesty for Lou. You have my bat.
I lived on the top floor of an old house in Atlanta for 2 years. It had a huge patio and the bottom of the roof was about waist high. We spend so many nights up there watching airplanes. Somehow nobody ever fell off.
Dear Dad*,
Thank you for reminding me to charge my power bank ahead of my upcoming weeklong trip.
Love,
2PGJ
(*I'm ~2 weeks older than you, but I think it's appropriate here)
[tips dad cap] [it's a hat that should've been thrown out years ago]
I would like to finish one (1) cup of coffee on the weekend before 3 pm
there's nothing like 4pm rolling around and finding that cup of coffee you made at 9am sitting on the mantle or wherever else you had to hastily abandon it, and still taking a sip of it because hey: it's still coffee
Little curdled creamer on top just taunting you. Oh what’s that, the baby needs to be changed and the dog got into the kibble? No problem, I’ll just die of this caffeine headache
Look, I don't promote things but the Yeti rambler with hot shot lid keeps things hot (and cocktails cold) for hours and it shockingly reasonably priced.
My interest poisoned brain saw “Dads want a kitchen tool that only does one thing” and autocompleted it to “and it’s f*cking disgusting”
Internet poisoned. Really need to finish this coffee. Maybe I’ll go up on the roof.
THAT'S ONE HELL OF A LADDER
I worked at Lakeview cemetery in Cleveland, where the Garfield memorial is and I have dusted Garfield's casket and that of his family.
If you ever find yourself with an afternoon to kill in Cleveland and you've already done the rock hall and the science center, Lakeview cemetery is great, and the balcony of the Garfield memorial has the best views of the city. There's a chapel that's all Tiffany glass inside, too. A hidden Cleveland gem
My grandpa had many many bits he remained committed to until he died.
A memorable one: pretending a dog was trying to jump into his lap if he farted across a table from you. Loudly, in a restaurant: “Down, Fido, down boy!”
Another was rolling down the window when driving past a farm, breathing deep the manure smell, and exclaiming “ah, fresh cut clover.” My dad was… older than he’d care to admit before he realized that’s not what clover smells like.
those are great bits.