Voltron

Feist -- Metal

The 1936 bathroom badly needed an update, and that was essentially the last room in the house we had not remodeled. Claire also wanted to do some built-in storage and work space in the garage, which was probably the biggest reason the job snowballed into something bigger. Well, that and the water damage caused by the contractor's early failings. We also changed the heat and hot water system, put on a new roof, completely re-did the interior courtyard and the front steps to remedy long-standing weather-proofing issues (leaks), and painted most of the interior (some due solely to water damage). Such good advice once again, Antonio!

I love Kirkwood! I went there most every summer or my youth because my uncle had a great cabin there, and we still go during summer and winter on occasion. I don't see any juice in the recipe so I just stirred mine, but it is tasty using your proportions. Thanks, I can't wait to make it for my siblings and cousins!

This NYC borough Manhattan Variation was runner up when I went with the Williamsburg so Marc's Cynar comment sealed the deal as the next up. Little Italy Adapted from a recipe by Audrey Saunders of New York's Pegu Club. 2 ounces Rittenhouse 100-proof rye 1/2 ounce Cynar 3/4 ounce sweet vermouth 1 Luxardo cherry, as garnish Instructions: Stir all the ingredients, except the cherry, over ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Add the garnish.

I had to steel myself to make annual fund phone calls for my daughter's school. I got pledges from everyone I talked to, so it worked! Now for another cocktail to celebrate!

Williamsburg Adapted from a recipe by Clif Travers of Brooklyn's Bar Celona. 3/4 ounce yellow Chartreuse 3/4 ounce dry vermouth 3/4 ounce Punt e Mes 2 1/2 ounces William Larue Weller bourbon 1 orange twist, as garnish Instructions: Stir all the ingredients, except the orange twist, over ice and strain into a chilled coupe. Add the garnish.

Thanks for the responses, Steve, and offer of assistance if needed. I think this will get resolved soon and the work does seem to be done well, if not timely. And today he told me that the plumber sub was supposed to arrive last Monday and didn't show up until Wednesday (I thought it was Thursday) because of other jobs or some BS. I don't doubt that is true, but he knew the deadline and could have made sure the sub showed up in time to finish the work. On "move in day" the contractor gave me an invoice that covered three payments on the schedule. For some reason, he had stopped giving me invoices even though I had asked several times previously why he wasn't submitting them. Oh well, it's his problem now because I am only paying half until the job is truly complete. Antonio, your comment is really the bottom line. I can be angry and bitch about this but there is nothing to be done except sucking it up and getting the thing done. I can't change anything by firing the guy or suing the guy, and I hate being mostly powerless like this. Once it is finished, though, all of this will start to fade and we can just enjoy what is starting to feel like a new house.

15"

Claire has one for her MBP and it has been very solid and stable. Nice stand.

I'll check out Aw C'mon. I like Bonnie Prince Billie and have seen him perform a couple of times. I was trying not to repeat recommendations.

Thanks for looking, Mikey. That all seems right except for the funky connector missing.

Sorry to hear about your co-worker Raffy.

You would like a lot of what http://blog.largeheartedboy.com/ recommends in his new music releases every week. He is big on singer-songwriters and alt music that is not too edgy. Here are some relatively random options to throw into the mix, some of which you no doubt already know. Spanish guitar/vocals: Manitas de plata is my favorite flamenco guitarist and MdP and Friends is a wonderful recording available all over the 'net. Ottmar Leibert is a modern flamenco style. Diego El Cigala has an amazing voice. Lagrimas Negras with Bebo Valdes is awesome and his new one Cigala & Tango is cool too. Country-ish: Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit. He's a former Drive By Trucker. Saw them for a few minutes this weekend and they rocked. Wilco has a good new album. Felice Brothers Vocals/Alt/whatever: Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan. Sunday at Dirt Devil, Hawk and others. Feist. New album tomorrow is much anticipated (by me at least). The Dirty Projectors. St. Vincent Lambchop. OH (Ohio) is a cool album. Can't remember others I liked. Bangles have a new release for the first time in forever, even though the coolest one -- Michael Steele on bass -- is not in the band anymore. Charlotte Gainsborg Cat Power Kaki King. I actually like her instrumental albums better than the more recent ones with vocals, but all are pretty good. The Negro Problem / Stew. Great music from both the band and its leader, Stew, on his own. Fantastic lyrics with humor and wit. Jazzy: Trombone Shorty. His last album Backatown is fun as hell. His new one out last week, For True, is more rocking on one listen, but still plenty fun. Hugh Laurie's New Orleans blues album Let Them Talk. What the hell, he's House! Almost classical: Zoe Keating. Cello + Mac = Cool stuff.

I have a "Bill" halogen desk lamp made by Tobias Grau that uses a funky transformer box that plugs into the wall. It is about 10 years old and for awhile now only works erratically/sporadically. It turns on fine then usually just goes out after a few minutes. The cord seems fine and it is not movement that turns it off. It will not turn back on anytime soon but I have not done experiments to figure out the timing or pattern. Anyway, I wondered whether the transformer could be the cause. Does anyone have a thought on that theory? Assuming it might be the issue, I checked with the place I bought it and of course the lamp us not made that way any longer. The transformer is built in somehow in newer models. They checked with Tobias Grau who quoted $148 for a replacement transformer for my light. I cannot find it on the internets but if you have any leads or sources please let me know. Here are pics: Thanks!

Good choice^ Wilco -- The Whole Love

Trombone Shorty -- For True First listen to the new album.

Congratulations mom and dad and welcome to the world Benjamin! Have fun Chris, this is a great time to enjoy.

I have been extremely patient with this guy, Steve, and have sucked it up when various other deadlines came and went unmet. The original completion date was mid-august but the scope changed -- in part due to their failures that caused extensive water damage -- and I expected slippage. However, the guy insisted they could finish by end of august then insisted that the week after Labor Day would be doable and neither were even remotely possible in reality. At that point I told them that we needed to be in the house by September 30 for this weekend concert. They had three weeks to finish what they said should already be done. They failed miserably. Early this week, when the failure was apparent, I told them we could camp out with unfinished work but we had to have power, water, heat and hot water (now tied together because of new radiant/radiator heat), the kitchen (not part of the work except for water damage issues) and doors on the bathroom. All of that was promised but they didn't have the plumber come until the day before we were to move in, so in less than two days he had to install the bathroom faucet and toilet, install and pipe the entire new boiler and tie it into the hot water and heating system, install all of the thermostats and get the system heated up for 6pm the next day. Not only did he (yes, mostly just one guy) not finish, but as I said nobody discovered that the gas line was capped and inaccessible. We have no heat, hot water, gas for the stove, no bathroom door, and not one single element of the job actually complete. Writing that out makes it even seem worse and my anger is up again, but sheesh, I have lowered expectations repeatedly and given these guys every opportunity to succeed and still we get screwed. Their work seems top notch but this project isn't big enough to justify this much failure.

Woke up in SF for the first time in a long time even though the remodeling was not completely done. Had no hot water or shower or bathroom door but we were trying to make it work for the weekend. Plumber came out to finish the work on the new boiler and finished the installation only to find that the gas company had capped the gas line when it out in a new "smart meter" during construction. Still no hot water. Went to see a couple hours of music at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival and tried to let go of my anger at the contractor and PG&E. Then I went to my buddy's house to take a shower and shave so I could go to my 30th high school reunion. It was more fun than anticipated and I truly enjoyed seeing a bunch of folks.

So far today: Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit -- alt rock/country Hugh Laurie -- New Orleans blues by way of Blighty Otis Clay & Chick Rogers -- gospel/rock Earl Scruggs -- true blue bluegrass

House music at Hardly Strictly. Hugh Laurie is blue sing it up with St. James Infirmary.

At theRooster Stage today, curated by Conor Oberst. Kurt Vile followed by Felice Brothers followed by M Ward followed by Bright Eyes coming up next. Pretty sweet.

Cool, I look forward to meeting you Tom.

Matthew Sweet -- Modern Art

Feel better Haj, but good news.