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For some reason, there are cats hanging around and they could care less about the groundhog. They'll get bunnies and birds, but for whatever reason, they don't seem to pay attention to the groundhogs. $500 later, the exterminator caught three racoon, but no groundhogs. I have half a mind to buy one of those stupid big traps like he used. The groundhog runs whenever it sees me, because it knows I'm not happy with it. At this point, I'd consider using poison or something, because nothing else has worked. I tried to pay to have him humanely relocated.... Apparently, no dice.

Everyone can already hear the anti vaxxers, right?

Speaking of, I thought a relative was smarter than to refuse a booster shot. They got the 1st and 2nd doses. Now they're spewing anti vaxxer BS. I don't even know except wow....
So you took it twice but not the third time? This is almost recursive.

I did not sign anything, no.

He didn't give a final quote for the repair he was going to do (he brought a carpenter with him for that, but never gave a more clear number) and instead just pushed the demolition idea.

I also told him that I didn't have the money to pay him right now, because he was supposed to come over for a few hundred dollar repair and that now I was hearing it would be over twice as much to demolish it and have nothing....

I mean I also said it's a shame to get rid of any building like that but that I understood if it was not economical to repair then we'd have to demolish it if it was. He understood I didn't have $3000 to give him and he said sometimes people wait until they get a tax return or something, and he understood if the reasons were financial or weather to delay things. As long as it wasn't hurting anyone, leaving it would be OK for now.

I might have to end up dealing with telling him no at some point just to drive it home, but he also seemed to get that I couldn't do anything with it right now anyhow. I never thought he would cause trouble for me by like reporting the damage on the shed to the building and zoning guy if I turned him down, but I guess you could be right about that if he wanted to be mean. I mean, it isn't my fault this windstorm happened in late December....

The neighbor's repair guy is looking better.... And, he'll patch it up so it won't cause any suspicion/issue until it can be repaired in the spring. The neighbor guy won't say anything to the building/zoning people, because he referred me to repair guy and he gets it.

I appreciate anyone's good insight into this.

Sometimes I hate being looked at like I'm stupid with building things because I'm a girl. It's annoying, but I also sort of am not the most handy person ever. I get it, but I'm not dumb.

Giant windstorm just happened. Old large shed now has issues ("grandfathered in" building that probably couldn't be built today, but it stores things.):
Dimensions: 28 feet by 11 feet.

1.) The roof was put on 6 years ago, but now has a bowling ball sized hole on one of the side roof areas. Otherwise the roof "looks" good, but leaks I don't know why.
2.) Most of it has a concrete pad under it. A groundhog found the part that doesn't and dug in. Mr groundhog wouldn't be so bad if he didn't invite the vermin in.
3.) Some of the wood is dry rotted and whoever made this thing used some low quality wood.

Had a contractor come out, initially for a small, cheap repair. He ended up suggesting demolishing it for $3000 and then later buying something else.
That's problematic for cost, permitting, and practically getting crap back there to the physical location. Also, while he did find some issues like the roof and dry rot, come on....
All told he said it would be like at least $9000-$10000 to remove the whole thing and put up new stuff.... For a large shed.... I live in the Midwest,and that is a significant portion of the house's value for a large shed.... He also tried to tell me that the house's value would improve without the shed, because the problems would be gone....

My neighbor overheard this, told me this guy was snow-jobing me and called a friend of his, who came out in 15 minutes to look at it. This guy suggested temporarily patching the roof and another hole until spring, and then redoing the roof in the spring/summer. He said it would take 3 to 4 hours to do in the winter and he would bill me the cost of materials. He did not give me an exact $cost, but did warn me that wood is very expensive right now and that I would just have to pay what home Depot charged for it, plus labor. He also said rebuilding the damn thing from nothing would be a permit nightmare so replacing was the thing to do. Overall, he said, "it all depends on what you want to spend, but the siding alone would hold that damn thing together even if  all the wood rotted for 4 or 5 years. Repair it, clean it, and paint it." He will get on it a week or two into January, and said there is no way a contractor is going to do anything last 10 days of December, ever.

I gather neighbor's friend is going to be way cheaper than $8000-$9000 (that I don't have). It might be a couple thousand, but the other guy wanted to charge me $3000 to have nothing back there.
I'm thinking this guy can replace the shed roof and hopefully some of the wood in the walls. if it is rotted out and just make it water tight to last. I have no issue paying this guy for decent work that actually lasts and if the wood costs more then it costs more. He said like $40 for a 4 x 8 sheet of treated lumber. He also just recommended pouring some concrete over the dirt floor area to deter the groundhog and also because a concrete shed floor is better than a dirt floor, and it would cost whatever bags of quickcrete was selling for plus labor.

Just in time for Christmas, the large shed I never used has a lovely set of issues. Yay! Anyhow, I don't know. Part of me thinks that people actually like storage (they pay for storage), and I could actually fix it up and use it.


So, thoughts? Should I A.) demolish it and loose 308 sq ft of storage (with electric) and hope I can find something later, B.) temporarily patch it and repair it later?

I just had some questions about buying a car, probably a used/possibly a certified preowned one. I took care of my car forever, but yeah.... Basically my car is dying. It's almost 20 years old, so I'm not exactly surprised. Fixing it costs ... frankly too much to be worth it. Wondering if I could get some constructive opinions/expertise on some of the following please.

I.) Odd family stuff concerning this: For years, my dad talked about nothing but cars. Couldn't get him to shut up about them. Now, he's saying general things only. Oddly, mom is talking to me about interest rates etc, and referring me new cars ... I can't afford a "new" car, and she should know it. Thinking used/certified preowned. I am basically not getting a new car, but rather another car, that's only 3-6 years old. Dad is older, etc. Now claims to be "busy," but he's retired, so that's an odd timing.... He should not be "busy," for this.... He does not have a job anymore, etc. He said he'd help me (not financially but that's ok ish and I knew this) buy a car, because he knows a lot about them. He used to repair/sell them. Not sure what's up with these two.

II.) I am looking for a small SUV. Shopping around for one, etc.

III.) What brands are good?
A.) I've had great experiences with a Mitsubishi, but for whatever reason, the dealerships that sell those around me are closing. I'd have to go 2 hours away to get it serviced.
Sadly that's looking like less of an option.

B.) My dad said he wouldn't hit a dead dog with a Ford.... He won't explain his comment, but I'm guessing they aren't great. He said similar things about GM.... So basically not this.

C.) Kia: I'm being nudged in this direction. About 10 years ago or more, they were ... less than great. Now I'm hearing they are much better.
I guess I wouldn't mind one of their SUVs in theory, like a https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kia_Sorento Sorento, or something. (I know I butchered that hyperlink and I'm sorry).

Are these cars generally better than they were. Would you buy one?

D.) Hyundai. I know nothing about these, only that my mom told me they would not stand behind a warranty for someone, and that I "shouldn't buy one." 

E.) Something else?

F.) What cars would you absolutely AVOID? Just as important as what to buy is what NOT to buy. Thoughts?

IV.) I'm looking at various car dealer websites for things.

A.) I know it's a stereotype, but car dealers have a reputation of ripping people off, especially girls. Now does this appear to be a new digital version of this? Anything I should watch out for?

B.) Same idea with technical matters on cars.
I know to look at certain things like mileage, but I'm sure there are things I am missing. Thoughts?

I know there are probably some car people around here, who wouldn't mind sharing their thoughts on what type of car they would buy today. I would appreciate any constructive thoughts on the matter. I am grateful for your time. Just trying to figure things out. Thank you.

So I'm awful at car stuff, clearly. Anyhow. All four of my tires slowly leak. I put a lot of air in about once every 3 to 4 weeks (10-15 pounds). This has been going on a very long time.
I've had the valve stems replaced. Still.... I can find no obvious damage (nail or whatever), and it wouldn't effect all four tires....

I don't care anymore. If I have to buy new tires I will, but I want to make sure that's the issue. I also do not want to look like a total moron in front of whoever I take this to (shop, etc).
I am a total moron. I just don't want to look like one, and I want to be less of a moron.

Has anyone else had this issue? I'm thinking (and remember I suck at cars) it could logically be the tires (or some part of it), or the wheels (rims?).

Thoughts?

PTW.

No confidence in my thumb being green but interested in this.

It's a shame there isn't some practical way to show growing inside for everyday people. Most people have no idea how to grow anything, much less indoors. That's sad and I wish it wasn't that way. Honestly, I have no idea how to get food except for a grocery store. I don't think most people do.

Um, wow Thank you. I am really appreciative for that, because I never could have thought of that stuff. Reviewing some things with some people and I'm not sure yet. I don't know, but at least this is helping a lot. The compliance officer was really surprised I brought this to her and said I did the right thing doing that.

Wow, the lawyers I've seen at medical facilities around here never provide any answers but you actually get it.

I appreciate everyone looking for that CPT Assistant thing too. Even if nobody finds it It was really nice of you all to look.

I don't know what you mean by an endpoint, or where I would find that so I could give it to you.