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You are here: Home/Observations/ This make my face hurt

This make my face hurt

December 8, 2010 by Bob Borson43 Comments

I am generally a glass half full type person when I write these posts but I have to confess that I am probably more of a glass-half-full-needs-to-be-poured-over-your-stupid-head type person in real life.

Doesn’t that sound terrible? Probably because it is terrible – although for the record, I would never pour a half glass of anything over someone’s head. Depending on the contents (*lava*) I’m sure there would be litigation and jail time involved and while I think I’m funny, I don’t think I’m “handle prison time for an assault” kinda funny.

I was having a conversation with some people recently and they singled me out as a person who is prone to hyperbole and exaggeration. Moi? They even described it as if it were common knowledge – sort of like this:

Nelson: “Did you see the house that is going up on the corner of such-n-such? As Bob would say, it looks like someone broke it’s face with a poo-fist.”

Bob: “What?!?”

Nelson: “That’s right. Poo … fist”

Mary: “That does sound like something you would say.”

Bob: “I’ve never even seen that house!! How would I know that it looks like someone broke its face with a poo-fist?”

Nelson: “I didn’t say you saw it, I’m just saying that’s what you would say if you did see it.”

Mary: “In fact, I’ve actually heard you say that before (looking back at Nelson) … it was pretty funny.”

Bob: “Okay … maybe I have said that phrase before but you’re taking it out of context … when I said it, it was meant to be funny. You make it sound mean.”

Mary: “Yeah, he has a point – but in all fairness to Nelson, you do make up sayings like that all the time. Remember saying “Gorilla’s armpit”?”

Bob: “No. I’ve never said that before.”

Nelson & Mary: ……

Bob: (glaring intently)

Nelson & Mary: ……

Bob: “OKAY!! (looking at floor) … maybe I did say that … “

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I have a reputation for speaking my mind, I think that’s what I owe to people. I don’t try and be mean about it, I think I’m being funny. Surprisingly it doesn’t go very far endearing you to others. While this isn’t the specific house that “Nelson” and “Mary” were talking about, it’s pretty bad – it does look like someone broke this houses face with a poo-fist … or maybe it’s just me, because I am a total jerk. I’d say please enjoy! but if you like this house, I demand that you stop ready this blog.

I’m totally serious.

… really, I mean it.

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Look at how the brick and stone come together at the corner. That’s nasty.

Three courses of brick, then some stone … then 6 courses of brick followed by some more stone – and then a whole mess of brick. It looks like tabs on a bend and fold paper house.

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click to enlarge this beauty

So this is the side elevation – the one facing the major street and therefore visible to all. How about all those different windows huh? Aren’t they (mmrhgggaaaahh) – sorry, I think I just threw up in my mouth – aren’t they great? Let’s see, you have 5 windows here in this picture, 3 of which don’t match any of the others – different material, different sizes, different window mutin pattern. But just don’t worry about that … I mean, c’mon. Who notices stuff like that?! It’s actually a lot worse. Let’s zoom in on the brick work around those 5 windows (again because it bears repeating – 3 of which don’t match any of the others…)

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click to enlarge (at your own risk!!!)

Holy Gorilla’s armpit!! It did get get worse! Starting on the left:

  • The top of the first window is roughly level with the solider course of brick above the window
  • The second window is glass block – which I have become famous for hating – and the top of the window is slightly aboveand into the soldier course of brick. It also has duct tape in the center which I am thinking is because they are having a hard time finding a glass block that will fit there. I could be wrong, we’ll just have to wait this one out.
  • The top of the third window is slightly belowthe solider course. Of course it is … three different windows and three different conditions at the soldier course.
  • The top of the fourth window has a different brick course layout all-together but there is still a little sliver of brick in place (look at the top left corner of the window) WTF! You will also notice that the new trim board (it is unpainted here) doesn’t line up with the existing brown trim board … why would it? pshhhaw – totally awesome in that it couldn’t be worse.
  • And now we are at window number five – yet again, completely different than the others. At least they took the time to center the foundation vent under the window so that it would look – wait a minute – NO THEY DIDN”T!!!!

There are plenty of other things that the person who is renovating this house for resale is doing wrong, I just don’t see the need to continue pointing out anymore of them – it’s like kicking the dead.

This make my face hurt

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LEGAL NOTICE: by the way, the names here have been changed to protect the few people who actually talk to me in real life. Also, do NOT look up poo-fist on the internet **shudder** I may never recover.

**UPDATE**

want to know how they solved that gap in the glass block window? read:
This Really Make my Face Hurt

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Filed Under: ObservationsTagged With: a day in the life, about bob, glass blocks

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The complimentary advice provided on ‘Life of an Architect’ is based on an abbreviated examination of the minimal facts given, not the typical extensive (and sometimes exhaustive) analysis I conduct when working with my clients. Therefore, anything you read on this site is not a substitute for actually working with me. Following my casual advice is at your own peril … if you want my undivided attention, I would recommend hiring me. Cheers.

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