The other day, I was staring at an object covered in dust and dirt. This sad, forlorn item must have been completely forgotten, and it was suffering severe neglect – perhaps for years. Are you talking about this blog? Hahaha. Very funny. But no. Stepping back a second, I may strike some as a slightly […]
The Need for Maintenance Read More »
Last week was a bit of a mess in Texas. Record cold weather combined with good ol’ human incompetence to make for a true disaster. Cold down to 0° F, especially combined with snow and ice, will always pose a problem for Texas. It’s an outlier event, and we’re not really used to it. There’s
Findings from a Frigid Fiasco Read More »
I’m not going to win any handyman-of-the-year awards, but I am reasonably competent about do-it-yourself tasks. I think a lot of DIY folks are keenly interested in how things work. They’re either professional or amateur engineers, and their endless curiosity helps them really understand the world around them. Not me. I’m totally comfortable not understanding
It’s Better to Be Lucky than Good – Episode 1 Read More »
The 21st century has seen some amazing advancements for us humans. Some of the really annoying activities we used to be burdened with (e.g., talking to other people, walking) are no longer necessary in our remarkable modern world. But we’re still positively primitive when it comes to heating our homes. Most home heaters involve some
Furnace: Friend or Foe? Read More »
I know you’ve arrived for your weekly dose of my wit and wisdom, but today I have a special treat for you. I’m sure the loyal ABL reader fancies my writing but is always a bit depressed by the scene. “Are you ever going to get a real logo?” (maybe) “Why are your archives as
ABL on Tour: Adventures in Plumbing Read More »
While my DIY adventures will always be modest compared to the super handyman, I am notching up victories on a more regular basis nowadays. The key hasn’t been expanding my capabilities or my toolkit. I haven’t picked up a trade or started correspondence coursework in engineering. I’ve simply just started taking the time to investigate
The Key to DIY Repairs Read More »
When the joys of home ownership have you down and you need some expert help, the most wonderful words a trusted neighbor can say are, “I have a guy.” While I’m all for do-it-yourself projects and continue to expand my skills, I still have my limits. They include: Anything involving a blowtorch Plumbing projects with
When I was very young, one of my co-workers (who had already tagged me as a finance nerd) asked me for advice on investing his 401K. This guy was contributing ~5% of his meager salary into a wee little account, but he was still really worried about his investment options. He wanted to choose good
The Limits of Diversification Read More »
Fall is in full swing, and I’m really excited for next week since the kids are out of school and we’ll have a lot of family fun. Rather than hand-craft a post of genius for you today, I’ve decided to take it easy and start my vacation early work tirelessly to find some hidden gems
Autumn Affairs Await Read More »
I\’ve had a couple of dolls for the last 15 years. They belonged to my mom. She had them since she was a little girl, and she hoped to give them to my or my brother\’s daughters. The problem is that we have failed to produce a single daughter between us (not us together, but
There Are No Plans for Your Museum Read More »