Gut and re-do

I’m really so thankful our house didn’t burn down.

When we were buying this place back in the early 90’s, it passed inspection, whatever that means.  I think it had to do with certain standards or “codes” to which components of the structure must adhere, like the construction, the plumbing…the electricity.  The data sheet from the realtor indicated the age of the house to be “50+”.  It’s the “plus” that should have had me asking a few more questions.

You know what is said about hindsight.

One of the shortcomings of professional standards is that they evolve, improve (theoretically anyway), many times without telling any of the rest of us.  Translation: now that our house is close to 80+ years, it probably would NOT have passed inspection.  I didn’t know that. 

Reaching the top shelf

credit: http://worldofweirdthings.com/tag/intelligent-design/

Limitations can just be so darn frustrating!  I remember trying to buy clothes when I was a 5-foot-12-inch teenager in a world of where 5’8″ was “tall”.   My stature is one of the reasons I would choose to sit rather than stand in a group of women for a conversation, since standing typically means the discussion will be about six inches below my ears.  It’s a bit isolating….

But then, who do complete strangers turn to when they need something off the top shelf at Walmart, right? 

To put that in perspective, I once read an account of