Advice Please

[Prince Smiles]

Lately my wife has been working a lot of evening shifts and for the past couple months has been carpooling with a male co-worker. At first I didn't mind, I would rather have someone with her in case she has car trouble or something like that, but it seems that they have become a little bit more than friends. You know the scenario, the phone calls that hang up, she starts wearing nice clothes to work, talking about him all the time, etc. I don't know what to think.

If I'm in the library reading when she gets home (usually after midnight) he just drops her off and leaves, but if the lights are off in the library, (they think I'm sleeping) they sit out in the car for like twenty minutes. I asked her once what they were doing, she said "just talking"....whatever.

So last night I decide that I'm going to see what really goes on out there. I leave the library curtains open, but turn out all the lights. About the time she usually gets home, I hide in the library and wait. In a few minutes, his car pulls into my driveway, and I'm hiding behind the antique bookshelf containing my favorite novels. When his headlights shine through the library windows and onto the bookshelf, I see something that I just can't believe..

One of the bookshelf legs has a bad crack in it at the bottom and the wood looks as if it is starting to rot. It’s just that one support, the rest of the shelf looks fine. Do you think I should just replace the leg and try to stop the rot, or buy a new bookshelf?

[BookBeauty]

I would probably buy a new bookshelf, or perhaps get one of those handy e-readers. But, there's something about having a book in your hands that's satisfying... Maybe it's that old, musty smell...

[papayahed]

I'd move.

[Calidore]

I was going to suggest duct tape and a hammer...then I saw the bit about the shelf, and I still think that would work.

[Scheherazade]

I think you should make an appointment with your dental hygienist as soon as possible.

[AuntShecky]

You've got your own private library? Some of us are lucky to have a place--be it ever so humble --to hang our hats. Count your blessings, Sir.

[hawthorns]

You've got to be kidding me...


I think, if this is serious, that you need more than antique furniture advice.

[Gilliatt Gurgle]

...One of the bookshelf legs has a bad crack in it at the bottom and the wood looks as if it is starting to rot. It’s just that one support, the rest of the shelf looks fine. Do you think I should just replace the leg and try to stop the rot, or buy a new bookshelf?

“…starting to rot” Wood typically does not rot when kept in environmentally controlled conditions and if wood is not in direct contact with soil and moisture. The fact that the leg is beginning to rot would indicate that environmental controls are not present and you walk upon an earthen (dirt) floor, perhaps something like a Navajo Hogan, although the Navajo inhabit portions of Arizona and western New Mexico where the climate is extremely dry, thus eliminating moisture; a key ingredient contributing to wood rot.

First you must determine the extent of the rot damage, has it compromised the structural integrity of the leg in question? I would suggest temporarily propping up the shelf, remove the leg and tap the leg with the handle end of a screw driver (preferably a Phillips head). Now listen; do you get a hollow sound or does it resonate with the strength of a thousand Oaks? Or possibly Walnut or Cherry? Given the fact that it is an antique, it is likely constructed of one of the aforementioned hardwoods, rather than some cheap press board stained to look like a fine hardwood.

Presuming that the leg currently maintains structural capability, you are only left with a minor aesthetic blemish. Are the legs fashioned in a manner that would allow you to switch their location? If so you could simply relocate the blemished leg to the back of the shelf against the wall making it less visible.

Let us now take a look at your wedded blitz. It is likely your betrothed is simply fed up with the living conditions at home and seeks refuge in the comfort of a carpeted floor, heat and cooling found in the car. Rather than be concerned with tracking mud into the house, she must contend with tracking it out!
Do yourself a favor and pour a concrete slab in that Hogan, add some carpet and install an AC system. You’ll be back in the little lady’s arms and “legs” in no time.

My brilliant deductive analysis just brought Holmes to mind, no not John…Sherlock! Which in turn leads me to The Hound of the Baskervilles – another dog for your other thread.

[stlukesguild]

Ah!!! the true bibliophile!!! I raise my glass to you!!!:cheers2:

:rofl:

[PoeticPassions]

Buy a new bookshelf. I think when something is broken (especially if it is rotting), trying to fix it usually doesn't work in the long-term. It's like putting a band-aid on a hole of a sinking ship.

[Prince Smiles]

“…starting to rot” Wood typically does not rot when kept in environmentally controlled conditions and if wood is not in direct contact with soil and moisture. The fact that the leg is beginning to rot would indicate that environmental controls are not present and you walk upon an earthen (dirt) floor, perhaps something like a Navajo Hogan, although the Navajo inhabit portions of Arizona and western New Mexico where the climate is extremely dry, thus eliminating moisture; a key ingredient contributing to wood rot.

First you must determine the extent of the rot damage, has it compromised the structural integrity of the leg in question? I would suggest temporarily propping up the shelf, remove the leg and tap the leg with the handle end of a screw driver (preferably a Phillips head). Now listen; do you get a hollow sound or does it resonate with the strength of a thousand Oaks? Or possibly Walnut or Cherry? Given the fact that it is an antique, it is likely constructed of one of the aforementioned hardwoods, rather than some cheap press board stained to look like a fine hardwood.

Presuming that the leg currently maintains structural capability, you are only left with a minor aesthetic blemish. Are the legs fashioned in a manner that would allow you to switch their location? If so you could simply relocate the blemished leg to the back of the shelf against the wall making it less visible.

Let us now take a look at your wedded blitz. It is likely your betrothed is simply fed up with the living conditions at home and seeks refuge in the comfort of a carpeted floor, heat and cooling found in the car. Rather than be concerned with tracking mud into the house, she must contend with tracking it out!
Do yourself a favor and pour a concrete slab in that Hogan, add some carpet and install an AC system. You’ll be back in the little lady’s arms and “legs” in no time.

My brilliant deductive analysis just brought Holmes to mind, no not John…Sherlock! Which in turn leads me to The Hound of the Baskervilles – another dog for your other thread.

Gilliatt,
congratulations, you have caused me spill coffee all over myself.

Thank you for the suggestions and concrete advice regarding my rotten leg.
I appreciate your witty reply, you are certainly a fungi.. oops, fun guy.

Yes, the whole thing didn’t really start off on solid ground. If I can speak frankly, I was basically forced into it. I was happy with things as they were. I didn’t really want change. You know how man are, we love the status quo.

It was all down to her (my wife’s) sister; she took the plunge first and that laid the seed of an idea in her sister’s head.

I did hold counsel with the local vicar, Rev’d Dr. Charles Primerose on a number of occasions and to be honest he was not at all enthusiastic about the whole thing, saying, in theological parlance, it ‘stank to high heaven’.

The sister-in-law’s planning was much more thorough than mine. She ended up getting a concrete flooring laid down in her library extension and I just opted to build my library on the herbaceous border without a flooring, setting in motion the chain of events.

Well, I’m off to change my clothes, I have Arabica soaking into my loins!


I was going to suggest duct tape and a hammer...then I saw the bit about the shelf, and I still think that would work.

LOL! :rofl: That's funny Calidore! And there I was all this time thinking people in the Windy City were void of humour.


Ah!!! the true bibliophile!!! I raise my glass to you!!!:cheers2:

:rofl:

Ich danke Ihnen vielmals, mein freund.

[tylerdf]

this made my day. thank you, sir.

[KCurtis]

I loved this, what a fun read !!!!!!!!! :rofl:
Please write more!

[Calidore]

And there I was all this time thinking people in the Windy City were void of humour.

Why in the world would anyone think that? Chicago is the birthplace of Second City and improv comedy. Plus, look at the people we elect to office.

[Delta40]

Omg! I'm still laughing.....

[Darcy88]

“…starting to rot” Wood typically does not rot when kept in environmentally controlled conditions and if wood is not in direct contact with soil and moisture. The fact that the leg is beginning to rot would indicate that environmental controls are not present and you walk upon an earthen (dirt) floor, perhaps something like a Navajo Hogan, although the Navajo inhabit portions of Arizona and western New Mexico where the climate is extremely dry, thus eliminating moisture; a key ingredient contributing to wood rot.

First you must determine the extent of the rot damage, has it compromised the structural integrity of the leg in question? I would suggest temporarily propping up the shelf, remove the leg and tap the leg with the handle end of a screw driver (preferably a Phillips head). Now listen; do you get a hollow sound or does it resonate with the strength of a thousand Oaks? Or possibly Walnut or Cherry? Given the fact that it is an antique, it is likely constructed of one of the aforementioned hardwoods, rather than some cheap press board stained to look like a fine hardwood.

Presuming that the leg currently maintains structural capability, you are only left with a minor aesthetic blemish. Are the legs fashioned in a manner that would allow you to switch their location? If so you could simply relocate the blemished leg to the back of the shelf against the wall making it less visible.

Let us now take a look at your wedded blitz. It is likely your betrothed is simply fed up with the living conditions at home and seeks refuge in the comfort of a carpeted floor, heat and cooling found in the car. Rather than be concerned with tracking mud into the house, she must contend with tracking it out!
Do yourself a favor and pour a concrete slab in that Hogan, add some carpet and install an AC system. You’ll be back in the little lady’s arms and “legs” in no time.

My brilliant deductive analysis just brought Holmes to mind, no not John…Sherlock! Which in turn leads me to The Hound of the Baskervilles – another dog for your other thread.

GG this is the best post I have ever read on litnet, and I've read some pretty darn good posts here! Hahaha. This actually tops the awesomeness of the thread's opening post. Well done.

[Gilliatt Gurgle]

Gilliatt,
congratulations, you have caused me spill coffee all over myself.

Thank you for the suggestions and concrete advice regarding my rotten leg.
I appreciate your witty reply, you are certainly a fungi.. oops, fun guy.

Yes, the whole thing didn’t really start off on solid ground. If I can speak frankly, I was basically forced into it. I was happy with things as they were. I didn’t really want change. You know how man are, we love the status quo.

It was all down to her (my wife’s) sister; she took the plunge first and that laid the seed of an idea in her sister’s head.

I did hold counsel with the local vicar, Rev’d Dr. Charles Primerose on a number of occasions and to be honest he was not at all enthusiastic about the whole thing, saying, in theological parlance, it ‘stank to high heaven’.

The sister-in-law’s planning was much more thorough than mine. She ended up getting a concrete flooring laid down in her library extension and I just opted to build my library on the herbaceous border without a flooring, setting in motion the chain of events.

Well, I’m off to change my clothes, I have Arabica soaking into my loins!



LOL! :rofl: That's funny Calidore! And there I was all this time thinking people in the Windy City were void of humour.



Ich danke Ihnen vielmals, mein freund.

You should check the roof as well:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flGdFvkjMPU



GG this is the best post I have ever read on litnet, and I've read some pretty darn good posts here! Hahaha. This actually tops the awesomeness of the thread's opening post. Well done.

plaagh..cough..cough...got dang! now look who spewed their coffee.
Thanks, but credit goes to the OP for laying the ground work upon which my udder brilliance took shape.
Seriously, PS had me going for the first few lines. As I was reading, I realized this person is new to the Forums and doesn't realize his thread would be better suited to the "Serious Discussions" category. He strung me along until the last part. Quite funny.

[SilentMute]

This reminds me of those tests we used to get from our teachers in school. Did you guys ever get one of these?

The teachers would tell us to read the directions and do the test. The directions would say, "Sign your name at the bottom of the paper and turn it over to show you are done. Sit quietly until the rest of the class is finished. Don't do the questions."

Then there were twenty questions that commanded you to do different things--bark like a dog, hop on one leg, etc.

I was the only one in my class that bothered to read the directions. My teacher and I laughed as the other students would bark, hop on one leg, say, "I am halfway through this test!"

Actually, I admit that I didn't read the directions first. When I read the first question that ordered me to bark like a dog, my dignity was offended. I read the directions then and was very relieved that I wasn't supposed to do the questions. However, I learned the lesson. I always read directions after that.