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Friday Grab Bag

September 20th, 2013 at 03:32 pm

Tonight is the Tigers game. First pitch at 7:08, 80% chance of rain in Detroit.

The guy who visits my office to sell paper and office supplies was in this week. He is a huge Tigers fan - almost always wearing a Tigers hat, Tigers jacket when it's cool, and I even noticed that his cell phone is housed in a Tigers case. He an his wife spend several weeks each spring in Lakeland Florida, the home of Tigers spring training.

I asked him how much I could figure for four hot dogs and four Cokes at Comerica park. He wasn't sure, because he's never ordered Coke with his hot dog, only beer. But, he thought $40-$50 would cover it.

DW did some checking on the Comerica Park web site. Fans can enter with bottled water and juice boxes, and snacks, sealed in original packaging. We stopped by the grocery store to buy some snacks and water last night. We'll also eat before the game. I'm not saying that we definitely won't buy anything to eat at the game, but if we do, it will be as part of the experience, rather than to satisfy hunger.

I blogged last week about getting furniture from my BIL and SIL. Someone asked in the comment section whether we had a way to conveniently transport the furniture back to our house. We already had the furniture at our house when I posted. DW had to return her parent's golf cart. They have a golf cart so MIL can easily drive around the farm, and we had it so they could drive around the Octagon Barn festival, that I also blogged about. Anyway, DW was returning the golf cart with my dad's trailer, so that's how she was able to bring the furniture back.

I burned the furniture this weekend. I took the remaining metal to the scrap yard. Total weight was 80 pounds. About 15 pounds was scrap unrelated to the furniture, and one of the pieces was a hide-a-bed. The scrap was worth $6.

I think I mentioned our energy audit yesterday. We had an energy audit for our house as part of our decision making for the geothermal.

When we renovated our house, we had it insulted with spray foam on the main walls, and cellulose in the attic. We opted to not have the basement sprayed. That was probably a mistake. According to the energy audit, we could save 20% of our heating costs if we had the walls in the basement insulated.

We've gotten three bids:

One for $1,200 for an inch and a half of foam - but the guy bid based on my measurements, and has not looked at the basement.

One for $750 for an inch of foam, or $950 for an inch and a half.

One for $600 for an inch of foam, or $800 for an inch and a half.

I called, and left a message with the first guy to let him know his bid was high, and invited him to look at the basement. He is also furthest away from our house, so that may be part of the difference.

20% savings in heating costs is $480 per year, based on last year's heating cost. So, even if we don't quite get a 20% reduction in heating costs, we should be able to pay for the cost in the third year. I'm not sure if that 20% savings is based on an inch, or an inch and a half of foam. I'll have to follow up with the auditor.

4 Responses to “Friday Grab Bag”

  1. CB in the City Says:
    1379687753

    I'm sorry your house was insulted by spray foam! Smile Just kidding you; I know it's a typo, but it was a good laugh on this rather dreary morning!

  2. creditcardfree Says:
    1379688647

    Sometimes businesses bid high because they don't want the work. Sounds like a good plan to have the insulation installed.

  3. Bob B. Says:
    1379690143

    CB - nope, no typo. Spray Foam Insulation is what I meant to type. Sprayed on as a liquid, then expands and dries as an insulation. Exactly the same as the Great Stuff you can buy in a can, only sprayed onto your walls. We covered it upstairs with drywall, but won't cover it in the basement. We don't use the basement as living space.

    CCF - you're probably right on the bid.

  4. Joan.of.the.Arch Says:
    1379692766

    Bob, please check your syrup business email.
    I appreciate knowing an old house is being being made energy efficient.

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