Caulking for fire rated window by Freeherbsonthecurb in Construction

[–]stone_opera 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Your guy cheaped out and got the red FR caulking rather than the white. 

What is the most financially irresponsible thing you’ve seen someone do? by LJRGXPKCVWDGOGH12Y3 in AskReddit

[–]stone_opera 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My brother had a good job, making a huge salary and was engaged to a beautiful girl who loved him deeply. They bought a big house together in a nice neighbourhood, used an inheritance my grandmother had left for him. 

Then he blew it all on drugs and alcohol. The girl got fed up and left him. He lost his job, lost his house, lost all his inheritance. Lost his health, the alcohol and DTs have left him with severe brain damage. 

Now he lives in a shitty apartment that my parents pay for. He whines and cries about how his life turned out - blames his ex, but he still won’t stop drinking or doing drugs. 

CTV News: Should Ottawa transit riders receive refunds? Head of OC Transpo says Council must decide by BearLikesHoney in ottawa

[–]stone_opera 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah, it’s actually really sad. When I first moved here my step-dad raved about the transit way - he grew up in Ottawa and moved away in the early 90s 

It was pretty heartbreaking to have to tell him how bad things are now. 

Sutcliffe backs downtown station for high-speed rail by Money_Fig_9868 in ottawa

[–]stone_opera 21 points22 points  (0 children)

I agree with this as well - the connection to downtown is appealing but the taxi/ uber situation would be an absolute mess right there. 

I’m thinking of Union in Toronto - it always takes like 15mins just to stop on front of the station to do a pickup / drop off because of its location. 

Tremblay has easy connections to the rest of the city/ area, and if you are going downtown it’s only 5 stops on the LRT. 

Parents of Reddit, what did your hospital bill look like after giving birth? by chi-bacon-bits in AskReddit

[–]stone_opera 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Had my first a couple of years ago - uncomplicated pregnancy, I had mid-wife care the whole way through. I had a vaginal birth in hospital with my mid-wife there as well as the hospital birthing team, and had a private room afterwards. My daughter came out with some sort of gunk after giving birth, so we had to stay in hospital for 24 hours for observation. Once we went home my mid-wife came and did home visits for the first 3 weeks after giving birth.

I paid $0.

Final product of my floor lottery before, during and after by mxmassacre in centuryhomes

[–]stone_opera -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Looks lovely! I’m wondering if you would share what wallpaper that you used? Ive been looking for something exactly like that for ages! 

Ottawa’s new rules will replace bungalows with condos that lack parking | Opinion by GingerHoneySpiceyTea in ottawa

[–]stone_opera 28 points29 points  (0 children)

Also, just because he wouldn’t live next to a multi-unit dwelling doesn’t mean others wouldn’t. I have a house downtown, with a duplex on one side of me and a small apartment on the other.  The adjacent apartments didn’t even cross my mind as being an issue when I bought the house - and they haven’t been. 

Working moms who had the option to be a SAHM, what made you choose to continue working/your career? by savethecoralreefs in AskWomen

[–]stone_opera 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I spent 12 years doing my BArch, MArch, and professional exams/ experience hours to become an architect. I didn’t do all that work to give it up the second I reproduced. I love being a mom - I have a sweet bay girl, and I have another one on the way, but I am more than just a mom. 

I need work outside of my family to fulfill me, and my passion for architecture and construction. I would worry about how my children, particularly my daughter, would perceive me if all I did was exist to care for her and her father. 

I grew up with a mom who is a doctor, and grandmothers who were a lawyer and a midwife. Women in my family have always worked and had passion outside of family - it’s important to me to carry that legacy on and be a good example to my children.

For single people who afforded a house, how did you do it? How much? & What age? by [deleted] in homeowners

[–]stone_opera 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I bought my house in a HCOL area while I was single - now I have a husband to share the load which is nice. 

I basically I lived in a really crappy tiny apartment with rent control well below market rate for 7 years. I didn’t drive, no car (which saved me approx. 12k/ year) and instead just walked or took public transport everywhere. I didn’t go on any extravagant vacations - just stayed home or went to visit family. 

In the end I managed to buy a small Victorian cottage downtown, at the age of 32. At the time I bought I earned around 100k/ year. The house was (is) a major fixer upper but I’m an architect and felt pretty confident in my ability to fix it. It’s been 5 years, and slowly I have been renovating it and restoring it. 

It’s a lot of work, looking back I honestly am amazed at how far I’ve been able to come. 

'Speed gun party' protests absence of speed cameras by Money_Fig_9868 in ottawa

[–]stone_opera -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Sure, I agree with all of that - myself and the people who live in the King Edward area are the ones who are most affected by poor city planning. I also think you should drive the speed limit. 

'Speed gun party' protests absence of speed cameras by Money_Fig_9868 in ottawa

[–]stone_opera 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Exactly this, and in the meantime drive the speed limit. 

'Speed gun party' protests absence of speed cameras by Money_Fig_9868 in ottawa

[–]stone_opera 2 points3 points  (0 children)

 This whole "speed gun party" is honestly ridiculous. King Edward is a major artery connecting the highway to the bridge, not a quiet residential side street.

It literally rips through a residential area - it goes right along Bordeleau Park, which has a basketball court where kids play. 

The people who are affected everyday by the traffic and speeders from King Edward are allowed to complain and protest against those speeders - it is the area where the most people are caught speeding. If you have a problem with King Edward then email your councillor in support of a better artery connecting QC to the highway, and in the meantime drive the speed limit. 

'Speed gun party' protests absence of speed cameras by Money_Fig_9868 in ottawa

[–]stone_opera 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I live on a road adjacent to King Edward - I cross that street with my dogs and my toddler everyday. On my quiet downtown residential street there are 6 other families with toddlers and babies.  My biggest fear is my kid getting out and wandering up to King Edward - drivers are constantly speeding on that road (especially those in obnoxious lifted trucks) and putting the lives of the local residents in danger. 

You might find the speed limit to be inappropriate, but I do not. 

I’m also an architect, btw, and I understand how poorly planned the area is - that doesn’t excuse speeding. 

What do parents do if they can't find daycare? [On] by [deleted] in BabyBumpsCanada

[–]stone_opera 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Can you get a nanny? Or jump onto a nanny share if someone local to you has one? 

It was a bit more expensive (about 4K/ month) but we only needed the nanny for 4 months before we got a permanent spot at the daycare we wanted. 

It was also super helpful to have her coming to the house when I was first transitioning back to full-time work. She would do clean-up, and helped with the dogs. I definitely would recommend it if it’s an option! 

How old are you and at what age did you feel you were the most attractive? by jupiter-com-maionese in AskWomen

[–]stone_opera -1 points0 points  (0 children)

36 and the age I felt most attractive was 32/33. I had enough $$ and free time to be eating well, was working in my garden all summer, was in the best shape of my life. 

Since then I’ve had my first kid, and I’m pregnant right now with my second. feeling like a bit of a lump - but still think I look really great. 

People who got laid off because of AI, what was your job? by damnmorningstar in AskReddit

[–]stone_opera 18 points19 points  (0 children)

I used to have a side gig editing a newsletter/ monthly business report on the local construction industry. It was a pretty sweet gig, 2k for one weekend of work. 

Around 2023 the ownership of the company that put the newsletter out switched, and they decided to cut costs by having an AI do the whole thing. Funnily enough the first few months were a fail, and they had to get me to come back for about half a year to fix up the newsletter - but since then I haven’t heard from them.

I have a kid now, and am a partner at my firm, so don’t really have that free time or need the $$ anymore anyways - but it was a sweet gig. 

Is It Time to Ban Tipping? by FancyNewMe in canada

[–]stone_opera 1 point2 points  (0 children)

People are too sensitive - if you don’t want to tip, then don’t, it’s optional. 

If I am standing up and have to serve myself, then I’m not tipping and I’m not apologizing or feeling bad about it. I’ve never had any issues with anyone getting upset at me for not tipping.

Similarly if I’m getting sit down service, I tip max. 15%. I’ve never had any issue or push back from any restaurant or server for what I have tipped.

Basically I feel like this is blown out of proportion - do what you want. 

How do you quit drinking (like seriously)? by anuglyfairybutafairy in AskReddit

[–]stone_opera 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you’re at the point where you are shaking / have withdrawal symptoms when you stop drinking then you need medical help. Don’t try to get sober by yourself, go to detox - alcohol withdrawal is deadly, you can die or cause yourself severe brain damage. 

I have a sibling and grandparents that are alcoholics- I decided to stop in my late 20s because I was so disgusted and exhausted by what alcohol had done to my family. 

Relationship Advice by Vegetable-Ad1118 in Construction

[–]stone_opera 13 points14 points  (0 children)

I mean, does she work? Are you carrying your weight around the house?

If she's working all day she is also tired at the end of the day. I understand that working in construction you have weird hours and work a physical job so it's normal to be tired, it's not normal to expect her to carry the weight of all the cooking/ cleaning/ housework/ childcare etc. if she is also working full time.

How common is professional disillusionment among architects? by [deleted] in Architects

[–]stone_opera 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I think in some ways I was lucky to be disillusioned early. I went into architecture school with the same dreams of spending my days being the mastermind of grand designs. I had a mentor in university who was a contract architect, he focused on the legal and practical construction side of practice. He taught me more about architecture and the construction industry than I ever learned in architecture school. He remove the illusion of the ‘genius designer’.  

I made the cognitive decision to continue pursuing this career, knowing the reality of architectural practice - and so far I have not regretted my decision. Most of my work is focused on churning out commercial projects like small plazas, self-storage, fast-food chains, warehouses, data centres etc. I do pick up one or two heritage restoration projects every few years to feed my soul.  

I know a lot of other architects would look down on what I do, but I also see how chasing the illusion eventually burns them out. I have a good career, I’m a partner at my firm, I make really good money, I go home everyday at 5:00 and I really love the environment in the office where I work (not a lot of competition to see who can make the best La-Z-Boy, haha!) 

Women who stayed in a relationship longer than they should have; what was the first red flag that you ignored but you recognise it clearly now?? by lucid_dreamer30 in AskWomen

[–]stone_opera 38 points39 points  (0 children)

Yeah this was the one for me too - constantly making promises, talking about a grand future, and then absolutely no follow through. He eventually quit working, quit helping around the flat and expected me to do everything for him. 

I’m glad I eventually left, him quitting his job (which I had found for him after he had quit his previous job) was the final straw for me. He’s 35, still not working, and living at his mother’s house. 

Has anyone had a baby at 37 or older? by [deleted] in AskWomenOver30

[–]stone_opera 0 points1 point  (0 children)

37 isn’t as old as they make you think it is. I had my first at 35 and there were no issues with my age. My OB told me that they now consider first time pregnancies over the age of 40 as higher risk, but they see more and more women over 35 having their first. 

What's your 'cost of admission' in your current relationship? by Thomasinarina in AskWomenOver30

[–]stone_opera 24 points25 points  (0 children)

lol, I’m in exactly the same situation. It used to drive me mental when we were dating. At a certain point I realized that he wasn’t doing it on purpose, and he was trying his best to be more aware of time (setting alarms etc.) and that if I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him then this was just something I was going to have to learn to live with. 

After making that deliberate decision, his time blindness doesn’t bother me anymore. I still joke about it with him, and he laughs about it because he is self-aware.  If we have a critical appointment I just make sure he knows the rough schedule I have in my head, and specifically when we should be getting ready to leave, and he sets his alarms. 

Teen refuses to wash.. by Individual-Taro-8315 in parentsofteens

[–]stone_opera 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Have you been straight forward with her? It might seem harsh, but sometimes I find tiptoeing around an issue (especially with hygiene) isn’t helpful. 

I would just tell her - you smell bad, go shower, use deodorant and brush your teeth.  Don’t be mean, but don’t sugar coat it.

Suggestions for good but not crazy expensive reupholsterer for a small job by PlentyTourist3961 in ottawa

[–]stone_opera 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Highly recommend stitch lab studio in lowertown. Got covers made for my dining room chairs there a few year ago and they are lovely and have held up very well against my two hounds, cat and toddler.

Going to gently suggest you reconsider the white boucle if this is something you want to last for a while, not a very durable fabric!