dingbats in the dingbelfry

[OT from cottage renovations]

called the printer to make sure the calendar files had gotten through and were readable.  since my day job, what's left of it, involves working across computer platforms I'm always concerned about what might get lost in the translation, in this case from Windows  Wingdings 2 to Mac. 

the only casualty was the symbols used to represent phases of the Moon.  not a problem, they can find the Mac equivalent and drop them into the document, but in order to make sure the right thing happens they asked me to fax over a sample of what they had looked like on transmission: 

so I sent the above, but couldn't resist the temptation to follow up with a 'phone call just to be able to say "Nathan[iel], I just mooned your fax machine." 

some settling may occur

the new old front door lock has been getting a bit sticky; now and then it would take a bit of jiggling to get right but lately it hasn't been engaging properly at all.  for the past couple of days it wouldn't even latch.  now I'm all in favour of an open door policy and all that, but doors really should be capable of closure so last night I took a closer look. 

the margin of tolerance of the alignment between lock and plate is pretty close, and between the two doors a vertical offset of about an eighth of an inch had developed.  so I took off the plate, used a chisel to extend the mortise down to the desired location and reapplied the plate, checking fit several times before drilling new screw holes. 

the good news is that it works now.  of some concern, however, is just where that vertical offset came from.  it's not like the doors, hinges or frame had gone anywhere. 
what's been happening, I think, is that with the front wall having been rebuilt last year the distribution of stresses within the structure changed and as it has gradually settled into the new pattern the door frame, along with the wall into which it is built, got a bit out of true as it sought out that Grove level, Grove square and Grove plumb about which we have so often spoken in jest. 

at least that's what I'm hoping.  a less benign explanation would be if the warpage were to be a consequence of the S wall having been opened up and not (yet) put back together.  the Excellent Trim Carpenter, whenever he comes back, will handle this I'm sure. 
presuming the cottage is still there, that is. 

ah, old houses.  there's never a dull moment. 

running ahead of schedule

[OT from cottage renovations]

as noted earlier today, in the morning I was able to get the lunar phase dingbats off to the printers.  next step was going to be that they would send back the Mac equivalents they had found.  I didn't hear from them right away and then ran out of time anyway because my boss showed up from New Jersey and there was lots to do. 

to my surprise the printers called and left a voice mail to the effect that the calendar proof sheets have already been run and are awaiting my approval.  this was considerably sooner than I had thought it could have happened.  so tomorrow afternoon will have to be set aside for crossing the river into the Old Dominion to see how things look.  the logistics of the exercise are certain to be a nuisance but I'm hoping the results are worth it.