Not new but absent for a while.................

J

JSFM35X

Active member
I saw a post today about missing members, well I have been MIA for 4 months and here is why...........

Hey guys, my time here has been reduced on everything except cleaning and fixing and paying and replacing. I will explain in more detail and with pictures but in a nut shell Hurricane Sandy devistated my area. Almost 4 Monts later life it not back to normal quite yet although the worst is over.

After being with out power for 12+ days, struggling to get gas for the cars and the generator I lost my DD (2012 Infiniti M37X, contents of the garage (Luckily the buffers were well above the water line but all the chemicals were destroyed-LSP were already in winter storage inside the house and therefore spared!), contents of the first floor of my house (Everything under 36" is in the garbage now), HVAC system, Water Heater, Washer, Dryer, re-wire entire lower lever electrical service, replace outside compressors/condensers for the A/C, all the plants and trees in front of the house dead except for 1 that might be showing signs of life. To say it has been a big, huge, expensive mess would be a tremendous understatement!

I did get a new DD finally. Not too different from before but it is a 2013 M37X Sport. I got the car after a very long wait as cars here were sold out and I was particular on the color and model. Stuck with White Pearl extrerior and dove gray leather interior seats, (black mats and headliner). Little different and I hope the light seats wont haunt me but it's just a lease so I get to give it back in 39 months. No winter prep yet, it had been too cold sub zero most days so an extended wet wash and full day of dedicated car cleaning is out. I have been to wrapped up in the house work anyway. Car has not been washed by me ever. No dealer prep so it still has the tape lines on it as I did not have the dealer swirl it up for me. All I did was seal the seats with Leather Sealant. I picked up some Wolf's locally. SO far so good.

More to follow-I should have everything done by Valentines Day at least that is what I pormised my wife so I better get it done! 4 Long Months!

See you soon!
 
Welcome back. Sorry to hear about the damage. Grew up on the Gulf Coast and understand what a hurricane can do.
 
Thanks Guys,

Yes, most importantly we are all OK. Actually evacuated and went to a Hurricane Party at my Sister in Laws house.

The rest is just stuff and we are clawing our way back. Getting close. Plus I get to but all new detailing stuff! Cant wait.

Jeff

Wors said:
Sorry to hear about your home. Glad you are safe and getting back on your feet.
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Pockets said:
Sorry to hear Jeff keep plugging at it and glad to hear you and your family are okay.
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mjlinane said:
Welcome back. Sorry to hear about the damage. Grew up on the Gulf Coast and understand what a hurricane can do.
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Contractors are hard to get, big shortage of Labor. I have been lucky hiring trades I have known and I am GCing myslef. Not as much fun as it sounds. It is like trying to heard cats! They say they are going to showe but dont or they say 8AM and at 11AM you still trying to contact them. Negotiating a price is un-do-able. If you don't agree to what they propose, they don't come back or call back?? More work out there than perople are to do it. We got a huge estimate on painting. 4 grand for 3 rooms. I asked for a break out labor, material and how many man hours. He said, why, thats the estimate. I gave hoim back his estimate. He said, you can't find ayone too easily? I said, I would do ity myself if I had to. Same type of crap from the tile layer. Hired to the guy to show up Monday. Texted Sunday night to confirm time. Got a see you at 9AM test. Never showed. Did not hear from him for 2 days. He called like nothing was wrong. He took a Small job for hi profit that came availible. I told him that was unprofessional and that he must work every day until my job is done, full days. He told me I am lucvky I got him at all becasue he is swamped. I told him I did not feel too lucky and fired him before he started. Just a major time hog for me. Been doing what I can myself and my kids are really pitching in where they can as well.

I have just about had it and I am at the point where I am ready to take a class at Home Depot on how to lay tile and do it myself! Last guy left epoxy grout all over the tiles and it was a ton of work to get off.

We are 4 Months and some in and I am down to a punch list and one major project, a water heater to install. Just waiting for a licensed plumber to be availible since I needed to file a permit and need him to close it out with the building department. Then all that is left is cosmetic, Audio visual and decorationg. All I handle is the Audio Visual.

Oh what fun.

Bunky said:
I am glad to hear you are Ok but such devastation can take time to fix.
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Thanks, and we are. Once I get the car cleaned up I will most likely permanon it until the weather breaks and I can polish it up and coat it really well. Do you know if Permanon will bond properly to a clean surface in sub 32 degree weather. This wekend will get into the mid 30's and I hope to clean it up. Lucky for me the brake dust on the Infiniti is childs play. If this were a BMW or a MB it would be a miserable weel cleaning session.


Todd Helme said:
Glad you are okay (most important), glad you got a new ride, glad you are back here!
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Good to hear from you Jeff!

That's a lot to deal with so take your time and things will return to normal in order. When events become that overwhelming I make a list of priorities and focus on the top three. If I have some breathing room maybe more but it's easy for this stuff to get out of hand..Best wishes and be safe...
 
Thanks, After reading your post I see you are speaking from experience. That is how I feel. Trying not to take it out on anyone but I have been walking around stressed out for a while. My fuse is short for non sense but it has been working for me. Many (not all..but many) contractors confuse niceness for weakness. That ain't me! The reminders on my iPhone have been a life saver as have the tasks. Otherwise I would need a personal assistant. Guess I have one in Siri!

BobbyG said:
Good to hear from you Jeff!

That's a lot to deal with so take your time and things will return to normal in order. When events become that overwhelming I make a list of priorities and focus on the top three. If I have some breathing room maybe more but it's easy for this stuff to get out of hand..Best wishes and be safe...
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JSFM35X said:
Thanks bro.............hoz FLA treating you? I hope your well.
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FL is ok. CK with me around july............. :lol2:

Still head north a lot when I get a command performance or go to see kids.

I know what you're going through with contractors. Had job scheduled in NYC and it keeps getting put off. Not due to weather, but the fact that there is soooooo much work.

I hope things get better for ya. It's gotta be angering/depressing/annoying/distracting.
 
Thanks Things are on the upswing or else I would not be posting. be abusing the old body working all day at work and all night in the house. Wish I was younger. it was easier to get by on less sleep. Dam that sucks..........

Let me know next time you plan to be in NY. Would love to see you garb a bite, have you watch me polish my car again LOL :)

Ronkh said:
FL is ok. CK with me around july............. :lol2:

Still head north a lot when I get a command performance or go to see kids.

I know what you're going through with contractors. Had job scheduled in NYC and it keeps getting put off. Not due to weather, but the fact that there is soooooo much work.

I hope things get better for ya. It's gotta be angering/depressing/annoying/distracting.
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Thanks for the well wishes. I was really saving this for when i was all cleaned up but.........As much as it really sucks, it has been a great experience for my kids to see. And I have good kids but life today is different. For the 12 days we were without power we were lucky enough to have a generator and fuel to run it. We scaled down our usage on the house to Heat, Hot water and Basic lights. The internet was down everywhere and so was the TV so there was zero conectivity. I have a 17 y/o and a 14 y/o who are totally connected 24x7x265.

We got to spend alot to time in the kitchen just talking. When the kids went to sleep I told my wife this is why people buy houses inthe country and keep the technology out of them. Great family time and we have also been working together on projects fixing things we never have done before. I even have a decent tool box from all this.

We changed oil in the generators every 2-3 days (Ran it 20 hours per day), fueled them 3x per day. Ripped out carpet, sheet rock, and insulation. Moved soaking wet furniture to the curb. Tore cabinets off the wall. Pressurewashed the silt out of the house and garage. Wiped all wet surfaces with bleach 10:1 three times untill it was clean, then Shockwave antibacterial anti mold/mildew. Then when the timer and foundation dried out (I now have a misture meter) we painted an anti fungal coating after shock on all cement and timber. The hard part was not the stuff but the memories some of the things that got ruined carried. I was surprised at how hard it hit me. Usually not to emotional but it was thigs given to me by people no longer with us and it hurt in a way I never felt before nor did I expect. After all I am Superman-LOL.:D

tropicsteve said:
oh man, sorry to hear of your misfortune jeff. keep the faith one day at a time friend. :pray:
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