More Christmas Shopping...

I just ordered Bruno's Christmas gifts! As per my usual ways the gifts are more practical than fun, but I'm anticipating their arrival none the less.
The truly practical purchase is in the form a more suitable crate for the delightful boy. He's outgrown the 30" W x 48" L x 32" H crate we bought when he was still a pup. I had hoped by now (at 15 months old) he could casually hang out in and roam the house during work hours, but he's still too full of puppy mischief for us to allow that kind of freedom. So, Merry Christmas, Bruno! A new 37" W x 54" L x 45" H crate is all yours, with love from Santa.

Look how tiny my baby boy was just 12 months ago!

And look at him now! WOW!

The more fun purchase is another MollyMutt dog bed (stuff sack and duvet)! Bruno loves the one we have in the living room and I've been thinking for awhile about buying another for him to use at night in the bedroom. I hope having a bed there will encourage him to sleep outside of the crate during the night. Even with the larger crate on order, and the fact that we never close the crate's door at night, I hate that he spends so much of his time cooped up. Though truth be told, he doesn't seem as bothered by it as I am.Check out the new duvet fabric from MollyMutt. It speaks to the teacher deep inside me. I love it, and YES, I ordered it!

XO

Jodi

Merry Christmas to Me!

There is at least one person in my audience who will not believe that I am typing this entry on a brandy-new laptop computer! My one and only Black Friday purchase is turning out to be a BIG winner. Who would've guessed that advanced technology was so... advanced?

I've relegated the seven-year-old, slow as snail laptop to Bob. He's happy to use it as entertainment during commercial breaks in his television programs. I'm personally thrilled that I can surf the interweb with lightening speed, AND stream videos or music simultaneously.

I know! How remarkable is that? Before we know it they'll be making telephones that will fit in our pockets.

I'm thinking about putting the abacus out with next Friday's garbage.

XO
Jodi

Regarding the New TSA Screening Procedures

I don't really have a problem with the new scatter-back body imaging machines at airports. But then, I don't fly all that frequently and I am somewhat opposed to being blown to bits when I do*. While I'm less than thrilled to have some random TSA employee checking out my overweight, middle-aged naked body, I'm fairly certain the TSA agent is no more pleased with seeing my nakedness than I am every morning. Who wants to look at that?

So, what happens if I opt out of the naked body scanner do-dad? It seems we've learned recently that opting out of the scan could result in a fairly invasive pat-down, but before we all get crazy about this "invasion", we should maybe ask for a little clarification on the pat-down protocol.

What if the potential airline passenger were allowed to select the TSA employee of their choice for the pat-down screening? As an long-ago married woman, if I find myself in line for the naked body scanner and spy a hunky, delightful example of manhood in the TSA agent lineup, I may choose to refuse the scan, just for a momentary thrill.

I think if the choice of potential pat-down agents were made available to all passengers, the need for and cost of those machines could be cut dramatically!

Saving your tax dollars with common sense, and the occasional thrill of a pat-down.

XO

Jodi

* No, I do not believe that either security measure actually makes us safer to fly the friendly skies. Nothing short of the abolition of hatred could accomplish that task.

An Open Letter to Standard Time

Dear Standard Time:

I hate you! I hate the eyeball trauma you cause me on both my morning AND evening commutes as the lazy sun-orb parks its precious self just atop the horizon. And I hate that the sun-orb sees fit to douse my world with mentally-beneficial vitamin D only while I'm forced to be inside a vehicle or office building. And I hate that I have barely 30 minutes of daylight remaining once I arrive home. And my dog hates you, too!

Additionally I hate that you and the calendar always conspire to incite my too-often unconcerned customers into suddenly deciding - based solely on your combined influences, as far as I can tell - that the work they've put off all year long is finally Important And Must Be Completed Immediately.


I hate you Standard Time, because your timing is flat-out shitty. For some folks your arrival announces upcoming holidays and joyous family times, but for me you announce only darkness and hours upon hours of overtime work.

You stress me out, Standard Time! And I hate you.

Yours Truly
Jodi

My Most Convincing Cover Letter Yet!

Dear Potential Boss:

I have finally decided that when I grow up I want to be a Home Maintenance Engineer (HME). I realize the job doesn't pay well - or actually at all - but I am ready to face the challenges this new career could offer.

Photo via wikipedia.org

If you should hire me, Potential Boss, I promise to bring the following qualifications/innovations to the tasks set before me:

I will be finally able to banish the dreaded task of clothes shopping, since the only clothing items I will require as a HME are blue jeans and T-shirts in various lengths and stages of decay. Even new shoes and socks would be optional!

I will decrease your health care costs because I'll have much more time and energy to walk or bike ride with the pup. As an added bonus, the pup will be much more lethargic when you arrive home and therefore won't pester you for attention too much (in theory).

I will be able to keep the house presentable for guests at all times. This increase in productivity will eliminate our current need to scramble around swiping the surfaces of our home with dust cloths and calling it good, all the while hoping our guests won't notice the bazillion cleaning measures we cut from the "to-do" list for lack of time.

I will clip and utilize coupons at a rate far surpassing the meager efforts of The Coupon Goddess. This measure alone will save our household at least the equivalent of my current annual income, making my new HME job a no-brainer, really.

I will cook delicious and nutritious meals which all household members will enjoy enormously. Such meals will surely mean the end to cravings for fast food, pizza and other similarly nutrient-lacking meals (again, saving money... I'm brilliant!). As an added bonus, these meals will be lovingly prepared in large-enough quantities to allow plentiful leftovers you can carry as lunches on your cubical-centric weekday travels.

I will (reluctantly) take over the essential exterior chores made necessary by home ownership. This includes lawn mowing, weed pulling, garden planting, poop scooping, driveway tarring, trim painting, shrub pruning, power washing and snow removal (with the not-yet-purchased snow blower... you're kidding yourself if you think I'm moving that shit in shovel-sized scoops).

I will only be required to drive when shopping. This alone will save loads of money in gasoline purchases. And it's really the best thing we could do for the environment. DUH!

With all the money I've already saved you/us by clipping coupons, not shopping and rarely driving... I will be free to finally paint the basement walls, hang the ceiling tiles and install new flooring! Incidentally, my new HME status would also make me free to paint every interior wall of the main floor, strip and refinish the hardwood floors hiding under the ages-old orange and brown carpeting; and possibly even re-tile the entry way, reinvent the kitchen decor and update the master bathroom.

I am certain that my talents and expertise in these areas already exceed your established requirements for the position of Home Maintenance Engineer. I am eager to discuss this position with you and I can't wait to get started!

Kind Regards,
Jodi - Your only choice for a well-rounded and hardworking Home Maintenance Engineering expert!

Why I Hate Toilet Paper Manufacturers

I have been having a one-sided argument with the toilet paper manufacturing industry for the past few years. First, all but the least-worthy brands stopped selling the traditional "single roll" of paper - the only roll of paper that could be comfortably housed in the recessed toilet paper dispensers that came with my 40+ year old home.

I tried all those fancy (and curiously elusive) toilet roll extender do-dads, but none of them worked. Yes, I was able to load the Double Rolls and even the Mega-Rolls in the recessed receptacles, but the paper would not roll smoothly from it's spool into the waiting hands of the toilet's occupant. Eventually I managed to accept this new state of affairs, but it was not easy for me. And we're still left with the whole "hand-held" toilet paper rolls whenever we visit the master bathroom. (Thankfully we updated the main bathroom last year, so that room is finally capable of accommodating today's giant paper rolls.)

But now - just as I've adjusted to the realities of the Mega-Roll - the manufacturer of my carefully chosen brand of paper has decided that it needs an upgrade, and I am once again having difficulty finding my preferred style/brand in most stores. Seriously, folks? This is toilet paper! How much upgrading can possibly be done?

I live in a home that is dependent on a 40+ year old septic system which is shockingly particular about what it will and will not tolerate. I can't just willy-nilly buy whatever paper has the best price, the cutest packaging, or the most ridiculous advertisements. (As an aside, does anyone else find those cartoon bears with paper-encrusted butts just a bit off-putting?) I need to make serious, educated decisions about my toilet paper buying. And I really need the toilet paper people to stop screwing around with what works.

Dear Toilet Paper Manufacturers: I'm cool with changes in packaging and re-inventing of logos or advertising campaigns (so long as you promise to leave out the cartoon bears), but please stop changing the product because you think it needs "improving". IT'S TOILET PAPER, PEOPLE! I'm a loyal purchaser of your paper. I like it, my husband likes it, and - most importantly - it doesn't choke up my septic system. Leave it alone already, would ya?

Signed,
Tired of Toilet Paper Shopping
Jodi

Hanging on to that which I love...

I'm patio sitting with the pup tonight, testing my (and my laptop's) luck with the minor threat of rain. Why? Because today is September first, and thereby the unofficial start of Autumn.

Fall is one of my two favorite seasons - crisp air and colorful foliage give this time of year clearly high marks. But the onset of fall is always a bittersweet time for me. I look forward to the glories of the season, but dread the aftermath. I think I put my feelings toward this seasonal change pretty succinctly in the Ode to Summer I wrote last September.

I'm just never prepared for the wrap-up of summer... it always comes upon me too suddenly, and I'm never happy to see it coming to a close. The silly thing is that I don't really love summertime all that much. I do love the abundance of sunlight, but I'm not a great fan of the heat or humidity, so I don't regularly spend a ton of time outdoors in the thick of the summer season.

Alas, I am at a crossroads again. Summer is ending and Autumn is coming fast on its heels. My burning bushes have already started turning red, the summer flowers have faded away, and I am busy trying to decide which of the summer-long-neglected yard projects are the most pressing.

April can't get here soon enough!
XO
Jodi

Three Hundred and Sixty Four Days

With just one day to spare before his offical unemployment anniversary, my husband has finally found a new job! Repeat: My husband is once again gainfully employed!


Bob's new company is an Indiana-based organization with locations in the midwest and southeast United States. This single fact - that they're large enough to have more than one location - pleases me greatly. It's been at least a decade since either of us has been employed by a company large enough to actually have a true "corporate structure". I pray he'll have more stability with the new gig than was afforded him in all those smaller businesses which came before. We could really do with some stability around here.


The day-to-day tasks Bob will be performing aren't probably his most favorite -- he'll be doing more engineering than architecture - but I do hope that he will find work environment comfortable. He's a pretty easy going guy, so I'm sure he'll do just fine.


I know the adjustments here at home will be great and strange for the first few weeks. I might actually need to mow the lawn before the mowing season has ended (GASP!), and Bruno is going to be really sore about having to stay in his crate for eight+ hours a day. I anticipate multiple evening walks to help the poor pup stretch his weary bones. He's used to the crate and doesn't have a problem being in it (he sometimes sleeps there with the door wide open), but because of Bob's unemployment it's been rare that Bruno has been cooped up for more than a few hours at a time.


All in all, I'd say great things are happening here in North B-Burg! At the very least, this new development leaves me a little breathing room to make (long overdue) changes in my own employment status.


Onward and Upward, people!
XO
Jodi

Timely Link...

Please read this Op. Ed. written by Michael P. Fleisher published in today's Wall Street Journal (Aug. 9, 2010). The article lays out far more precisely the points I wished to make in my last post. If you're interested in hearing from an actual small business employer about the ramifications of the current economic environment, you'll want to check it out.

XO
Jodi

First Time Ever

For the first time since I was sixteen years old (and that's roughly 23 years, for those keeping track), I have been forced to file a claim of unemployment.

Obviously I am not happy about this first-ever event. I would honestly rather stick hot branding irons in my eyes than go down this road, especially considering that my husband has been unemployed for what will soon become one solid year. But, the circumstances are what they are... my company, like SO many others these days is struggling to stay afloat.

As of today, my first-ever stint of unemployment is temporary. I will be "enjoying" two weeks off without pay so that my company might save enough to continue paying me when this furlough is complete. (Insert here gratitude that my job hasn't been eliminated altogether.)

I am SO sick of this shit economy and the barrage of "it'll get worse before it gets better" news small businesses like mine are receiving from the government. I can't even discuss the crap-ass "it's not so bad" spin from the media. In what world is nearly 10% unemployment "not so bad?"

I firmly believe that the health care bill's passage, combined with the potential passage of the Cap & Trade bill is what's driving our economy at this moment. Employers are faced with a giant question mark regarding their role in insuring their employees, and where their (potential cap and trade induced) taxes might fall in upcoming years. This inability to forecast income/outgo/employee expenses is paralyzing... especially so for small businesses.

There is a direct correlation to companies choosing to put their growth potential on the back burner. They have been given neither the hope nor the desire to expand their operations, because they're unable to forecast what regulations the government might set upon them next.

I don't pretend to have an answer for this mess. I am not an economist or a politician, but I am aware enough of my business and the surrounding environment to know that the current state of affairs isn't moving our economy toward growth.

I pray - fervently - that the voters of my country will decide that what we're experiencing now is not the brand of "hope and change" they wished for in 2008.

Completely Frustrated.
Jodi

Boring Home Decor

When Bob and I first moved here and bought furniture appropriate for our (new! larger!) space, I spent hours, days weeks and months re-arranging the living room. I moved the couch over there and the love seat over here... placed a side table next to this chair and a floor lamp next to that. I shoved the TV cabinet across the room, hoping to avoid the glare from the setting sun, and I made certain the enormous brick fireplace was always the focal point of the room.

Back then, Bob was perpetually frustrated by the changes I made. Eventually we (and the room) settled on a floor plan that worked for everyone. For several years now, the couch goes here, the love seat goes there, and the chair is stuck in that corner. The TV cabinet has been upgraded with a new flat-screen television, but it hasn't moved from that wall; and the CD cabinet, which screams college dorm room, hasn't moved from its spot near the front entry for so long that I now fear if it were moved, the carpet beneath it would be permanently pocked.

I am SO bored with my living room. Every time I walk through it I think it's probably time (after TWELVE years) that we find a way to make the room look more "adult" and less "college student". In truth I would love to move every piece of furniture in that room to the basement so I could start with a clean slate. In reality my husband might divorce me for banishing his television-watching habit to the basement, and we certainly can't afford the new, more formal furniture I want to replace the dorm-room look.

Of course, the minute I allow myself to think about re-decorating the living room, my mind wanders to the most wonderful kitchen of my dreams. And I quickly realize the alas, none of these changes are meant to be, now or in the immediate future.

And then I'm made to wonder... where is my imaginary, independently wealthy boyfriend when I need him? Sigh.

Sweet Dreams!
XO
Jodi

Bruno Update

It's been quite a while since I wrote about my sweet baby boy. He has grown much and worried me more in the past few months. The boy seems to be trying to freak me out! First, in late spring/early summer he changed his eating habits in what felt like the blink of an eye.

Where he had once attacked his twice daily meals, he suddenly began to look 'em over, sniff 'em out and then walk away as if the food in his bowl was in some way foul. This went on for nearly a week before I emailed the vet (who responded that I shouldn't be concerned), and then ultimately took him in for unaffordable X-Rays to make certain he didn't have a blockage. He didn't... of course!

Fast forward to the last couple of weeks in which we noticed Bruno developing spots along his torso where his coat was jumping ship. This didn't seem natural or desirable to us, but life got in the way and we weren't able to get him to the vet to check it out.

Last week Bob dropped the boy at our muchly-trusted groomer (because we had company coming and no time to deal with the grooming otherwise). When I picked Bruno up that afternoon, the office folks at the groomer's reported on what they referred to as "hot spots" (the lost hair Bob and I had already noticed and worried over). They sold me a $10 tub of cream and suggested we apply it twice daily to the spots. The groomer guys and I briefly discussed my fear that the spots could be due to a nutritional imbalance, because Bruno still hasn't regained the robust eating habits of his first months with us.

We never applied the goop from the groomers (preferring to have a DVM's opinion before we did so) but we finally managed to get the dog to the vet this morning. The answers to our numerous questions and worries boiled down to "I dunno".

What we did learn is:
1) Bruno is not infested with mites or other bugs that would cause the loss of hair.
2) The vet isn't the tiniest bit concerned about Bruno's drop in food intake. (And maybe she's right about that... the boy managed to gain 10 lbs. without eating much at all... he's tipping the scales at 118 lbs. today.)
3) We're doing everything right, but maybe some antibiotics will help with the coat problem, which remains undefined.

BTW - the antibiotics are human-type time release capsules, and they are meant to be given twice daily with food, which Bruno does not eat regularly or predictably. It'll be a breeze to administer them, I'm sure. Groan.

None of this makes any sense to me... Bruno is our first Dane, but he's not our first dog. We're not completely canine ignorant! I just don't know what to think about the food intake OR the hair loss. He doesn't seem the least bit unhappy or uncomfortable, but something feels "off" about this whole situation. I wonder if it's maybe time to seek a second veterinary opinion.

I would love to hear opinions from my fellow dog lovers!
XO
Jodi

In Keeping with the Recent "Dream Home" Theme

Now that "My Sister's Dream Home" is complete, I've been struggling with themes about which to blog. I truly enjoyed the (self-imposed) pressure of having a person/entity/public looking for me to publish new stories of The Build each week... but now that it's done, I've realized my real world is quite boring. I'm not sure how Tami feels about the past few weeks, but for me, life after The Build is making me yawn a bit.

As I often do when I find myself bored with the drudgery of undesirable musts, I recently turned to MIBOR for a dose of daydreaming/entertainment. MIBOR is the Metropolitan Indianapolis Board of Realtors website and it has provided me with hours of joyful daydreaming over the years.

The site allows me to search whole towns in which I dream to live! And if I don't feel like seeing every home for sale in a given area, I can be more precise by dictating the listing price (min. and max.), the number of acres (at least FIVE if I'm dreaming large), and the minimum number of bedrooms, bathrooms, and square footage. I can even eliminate potential homes by indicating that my husband prefers a garage (as do I), or a basement (which we have now but mostly don't utilize).

I also love to peruse UBuildIt, which is awesome on so many levels! It displays artist renderings (and sometimes photos) of homes... but it goes one step further by including actual floor plans, and boy do I love looking at floor plans! Maybe it's my marriage to an architect, or maybe it's just my need for spacial reasoning/symmetry, but I think floor plans are wonderful, beautiful, lovely, and most importantly, adjustable.

Floor plans are to me what methadone is to an opiate addict... the thing they MUST have, while remaining completely aware that having it won't put an end to the need for a "fix". Seriously. That is how much I love floor plans. For the record, this is my current most beloved UBuildIt design. If I could build that house on 5 acres in the middle of nowhere (and still convince my family to come visit for Christmas)... my life might be perfect!

Ultimately I know that my dream of the perfect house, acres of land and horses grazing in the North/South/Back 40 will never be fulfilled. Bob and I moved into our current "starter" home almost 12 years ago, and it's clear to me now that the only way he'll leave here permanently is feet first.

Maybe the life insurance will pay off some day. In the meantime, it can't hurt to dream big dreams!

XO

Jodi

My Sister's Dream Home - Dedication Day!

First, please allow me to apologize for my tardiness in getting this post put together. My camera's memory card decided to hold fast to its memories by not allowing me to download them no matter how hard I tried. I hope that the delay in my reporting won't curb your excitement over the days events, or your enthusiasm for all things Habitat for Humanity.

If you have been reading the "My Sister's Dream Home" series all along, you already know that my youngest sister and her three boys were qualified as a Habitat for Humanity partner family more than two years ago. On June 26, 2010, their home was open to the public in a dedication ceremony, and they were presented the keys to their very own home! What follows is my recap of that day's events (with photos furnished by my sister, Jean and my mother, Sandie -- Thanks, ladies!).

The family, friends and neighbors who gathered to enjoy the day's festivities were greeted by a slightly new version of the sponsorship sign that was on site before the official build had even begun.

The crowd was large and full of anticipation.

As we waited for Tami and the boys to arrive, we were asked to move back, back, and back again. "What is this about? Why do they keep moving us?" Many wondered.

We learned pretty quickly what all the fuss and moving was about. What is this we see?

"O-oh the Wells Fargo Wagon is a-comin' down the street, Oh please let it be for me!"

"O-oh, The Wells Fargo Wagon is a-comin' down the street, I wish I wish I knew what it could be!"

As it turns out the wagon delivered Theodore, Arthur, Tami and Jaylen to their new homestead!

That's right... The Wells Fargo Wagon traveled all the way from Texas to Indiana (thanks to the wonderful folks at the Wells Fargo Mortgage office in Greenwood for making this happen) in order to escort Tami and the boys to their home. Talk about excitement! The authentic replica stagecoach even hung around for a couple of hours and gave rides to guests and neighbors.

Once the family was safely transported by stagecoach to their new home, the ceremonies began with words and dedication gifts from Rhett Cecil (Exec. Dir. HFH JC), and Mike Gorman (construction supervisor).

Tami received a family bible, a framed key to her home and a fancy-schmancy tool box filled with all the essentials. She was also welcomed to her new home by none other than Charles Henderson, the Mayor of Greenwood! (Pictured below greeting Tami with a hug and dressed in his casual attire, having come to the site immediately after the city's annual summer festival parade)

After the presentation of gifts, Msgr. Mark Svarczkopf from Tami's church (Our Lady of the Greenwood) prayed over and blessed the home and family with holy water.

And finally Tami was given an opportunity to thank the volunteers, neighbors, friends and family who helped to make her dream home a reality.

I'd like to tell you that I only cried when Tami spoke her heartfelt thanks, but the truth is I was in tears when the stagecoach rolled up. It was a beautiful, emotional, lovely, wonderful, delightful and hot day. I don't have the words to express how grateful I am for every single person who made this dream possible for my sister and nephews.

To the family who graciously donated the lot, to those who volunteered their time to build this home, and to every single person behind the scenes who provided support, encouragement, food, prayers and love. THANK YOU! It is because of your kindness, dedication, hard work and prayers that my sister's dream home is a reality today!

XO

Jodi

Forthcoming

The recap of my sister's home dedication day is forthcoming, I promise. Please be patient with me, as I am having trouble getting the day's photos from camera card to computer. As soon as I can manage that inexplicably difficult task, I will tell you all about what transpired.

You won't want to miss the big surprise... so stay tuned!
XO
Jodi

My Sister's Dream Home - Week Seven

My youngest sister has worked long and hard to qualify as a partner homeowner with Habitat for Humanity. Tami and her three sons have sacrificed, scrimped and saved to earn this opportunity, and they continue to work hard while they look forward to moving day with great anticipation. I have volunteered to help build their home... and to tell you about the HFH process from the perspective of a family member and volunteer. At the risk of infringing on NBC's copyright... These are my stories:

Week Seven - Work Days 14 & 15? (Or there abouts... I'm losing count!):
There really wasn't much work to accomplish this week. Builder Jason and his loyal assistant David spent the morning installing all of the shoe moulding. And a small group of volunteers (including myself) swept out and wiped down cabinetry, cleaned windows, touched up paint, and swept/vacuumed the entire house. The pocket door hardware was installed and a bedroom closet door was trimmed and re-hung. And the new mailbox was installed! It's funny how something as silly as a new mailbox can thrill me. My sister can now receive mail at her new address!

And that was just about the extent of our Friday work. We left with the knowledge that the appliances and various landscaping elements would be delivered later in the day, and would be installed on Saturday. I didn't get to the work site on Saturday morning, but I did receive a text message that the afternoon work was called off... because all the work was done! D.O.N.E. Done! The house is ready for my sister to move into! WOO-HOOO!

I sent my husband to the site yesterday evening since he was on that side of town anyway. He returned home with some photos of the landscaping efforts accomplished on Saturday. I imagine the yard area has or will be seeded (they're planning on hydroseeding) this week.

Coming up next: Dedication day on June 26! I must remember to bring along a box of tissues, because I'm sure they will be in high demand. And I promise that once I've managed to wipe away my joyful tears and gather together my thoughts, I will write all about the events of the day.

XO

Jodi

My Sister's Dream Home - Week Six

My youngest sister has worked long and hard to qualify as a partner homeowner with Habitat for Humanity. Tami and her three sons have sacrificed, scrimped and saved to earn this opportunity, and they continue to work hard while they look forward to moving day with great anticipation. I have volunteered to help build their home... and to tell you about the HFH process from the perspective of a family member and volunteer. At the risk of infringing on NBC's copyright... These are my stories:

I wasn't able to work on the build site last weekend, but I did stop by for a few minutes Saturday morning. As a result, this update will be photo heavy.

The driveway and sidewalks were poured during the week:

The kitchen and bathroom cabinetry was installed:

The last bits of paint were applied:

And the shed was stripped of its old brown shingles (the new shingles are done, but the job was completed after I left):

Tami also reports that the flooring was installed during the week and it is beautiful! I will definitely post flooring pictures in my next update.

Coming up next: Memorial Day weekend - no work! We'll be back at it the first weekend in June. I hear that landscaping is on the agenda, along with a few final touches on the interior. The house is nearly complete and dedication day is scheduled for June 26!

I hope you all have a safe and fun-filled Memorial Day weekend!

XO

Jodi

My Sister's Dream Home - Week Five

My youngest sister has worked long and hard to qualify as a partner homeowner with Habitat for Humanity. Tami and her three sons have sacrificed, scrimped and saved to earn this opportunity, and they continue to work hard while they look forward to moving day with great anticipation. I have volunteered to help build their home... and to tell you about the HFH process from the perspective of a family member and volunteer. At the risk of infringing on NBC's copyright... These are my stories:

Week Five, Work Day 9:

When I arrived on site Friday morning, I immediately noticed that the shutters and the house numbers had been installed last week! (I had a hint from Tami, but it was still a thrill to see them personally.)

My last entry concluded that I was looking forward to working indoors this week, but that didn't happen. Instead Tami and I were set up in the front yard with sawhorse upon sawhorse of interior trim that needed painting. We spent our morning painting trim, moving pieces aside to dry, painting and moving still more, and eventually applying a second coat to all the same pieces. It was a tedious job, and we really could have used the help of a radio, but we had a great time doing the work together regardless.

****************************************************

As an aside:

The best part of our trim painting extravaganza was that we were joined mid-morning by a couple who have just entered into the beginning stages of becoming a partner family with Habitat for Humanity. They were eager to work on whatever tasks they were assigned and they are looking forward to one day earning partner family status for themselves and their five children. It was wonderful to meet this couple just as they begin their relationship with HFH... eager, hopeful, helpful, and as excited for my sister as they are for their own future.

****************************************************

Tami and I were trying to finish applying the second paint coat to the very last pieces of trim when we were asked to break for lunch. I was shocked by the number of folks who came out of the house for lunchtime... I knew folks were inside putting the first coats of primer on the drywall, but I didn't realize how many there were. There was a whole gaggle of folks busy in there!

We all enjoyed the sandwiches, baked beans, macaroni and cheese, and a literal load of sweets provided to us by the church sponsoring the day's grub. I was grateful for the break and especially thankful for the delicious food, since I'd only eaten a small muffin for breakfast. (Stupid move on my part!)

Our afternoon activities brought with them a bit more interior painting, some sweeping, window cleaning and other miscellaneous tasks. With the cleaning out of the way, we were put to work moving the interior doors and cabinetry (which gave me a touch of kitchen envy) from the trailer to the house. Of course this means that final touches aren't too far away!

The last task of the day was to properly clean all the painting equipment. The only problem was that Tami's house didn't yet have running water. Tami headed to her sweet neighbor's house and begged a few buckets of water so we could set about our task. While we worked, a pair of plumbers finished hooking up the city water to Tami's house, so our last couple of buckets were straight from the spigot of her brand new home - WOO!

Week Five, Work Day 10:

I was not on site, and I haven't heard from Tami about what transpired. I did speak to another sister this week who told me that the cabinets were installed and some plants/weeds were removed. Maybe Tami will report on the full progress of the day in the comments. (HINT, Tami?)

Coming up next: I believe the yard will be leveled out this week, and perhaps the flooring will be installed. I imagine if the flooring is installed next weekend will be filled with interior door and trim installation. Sadly I have to work my day job this Friday so I won't get my build "fix". I will likely stop by to check out the progress this Saturday, but you shouldn't expect an incredibly detailed update from me next week.

I do pray that progress continues, and I send great thanks to all who have or will volunteer on this build, or with any of the other Habitat for Humanity programs worldwide. Your work is important and meaningful to so many!

XO

Jodi

My Sister's Dream Home - Week Four

My youngest sister has worked long and hard to qualify as a partner homeowner with Habitat for Humanity. Tami and her three sons have sacrificed, scrimped and saved to earn this opportunity, and they continue to work hard while they look forward to moving day with great anticipation. I have volunteered to help build their home... and to tell you about the HFH process from the perspective of a family member and volunteer. At the risk of infringing on NBC's copyright... These are my stories:

Week Four, Work Day 7:

Imagine my surprise when I called Tami on Friday morning (to check if there was rain on her side of town) and learned that the drywall had been installed sometime during the week! More surprising to me was that the drywall had been installed before the shingles were on the roof. It was with that realization that my morning prayers began in earnest... "please, Lord, don't let it rain today". God is good, and we were blessed with a bright, clear day to complete our work.

I started off the morning as the unofficial pneumatic nail gun operator on a siding crew determined to get the back of the house completed. In the meantime, a crew of painters were employed on the north side, even as the last bits of siding were being installed there. A third crew of brave souls worked on the front of the house, finishing the siding on the gables.

Mid-way through the morning my crew's siding work had slowed a bit while precise cuts were being made for the pieces around the windows. Soon thereafter, extension ladders were leaned against the house so the gable could be sheeted with Tyvek and the siding installed. It was then that I dismissed myself from the siding crew. I'm not so great with ladders.

I wasn't idle for long before construction supervisor, Mike, instructed a painting crew to apply their paint and brushes to the (existing) shed. I then became a part of a 3-woman crew employed in removing the weeds around the shed so the painting crew could reach all sides.

In the meantime... the roofers arrived to install the shingles and make safe the drywall inside!


After a delightful lunch of sloppy joe, potato salad and other yummy treats, we headed back to work. The afternoon crew of volunteers worked on the south side of the house (which was until then siding-free), while another crew put the finishing touches on the back of the house. Most of our painters left with the morning crew, so I turned my attention and a paint brush loose on the front of the shed, adding a second coat to the doors before my carpel tunnel plagued wrists could take no more.

I admit I did a bit of standing about in the afternoon... a small crew of painters took over the work on the shed, and the mass of muscled men had embarked on a friendly game of "who can finish first" with the siding on the back and south sides of the house. I fetched a few refreshments for the guys, visited with my brother and his youngsters (who stopped by for a peek at the progress), and then busied myself cleaning up around the site. Before long the final pieces of siding were installed and we called it a day.

For the record, the crew working on the back of the house finished first. Here you see Bob placing the final piece of the gable siding.

Week Four, Work Day 8:
Finally - a Saturday without rain! I wasn't on site to witness the work, but Tami reports that the day was full of painting... the exteriors (house and shed) are now complete - 100%. What wonderful news!

Cinder block crawl space; floor joists and sub floor; exterior and interior framing; ceiling joists, rafters and roof decking; plumbing, electrical and HVAC; windows and exterior doors; shingles and siding and paint; and drywall... in just four short weeks... and it has all been accomplished by volunteers! Simply amazing.

Coming up next: Priming and painting the interior walls, as well as baseboard, cabinet, counter top and fixture installation. From the looks of the schedule (as well as by word from Mike), the entire build will be completed at least one week earlier than planned!

Looking forward to working indoors this weekend!
XO
Jodi

My Sister's Dream Home - Week Three

My youngest sister has worked long and hard to qualify as a partner homeowner with Habitat for Humanity. Tami and her three sons have sacrificed, scrimped and saved to earn this opportunity, and they continue to work hard while they look forward to moving day with great anticipation. I have volunteered to help build their home... and to tell you about the HFH process from the perspective of a family member and volunteer. At the risk of infringing on NBC's copyright... These are my stories:

Week Three, Work Day 5:
I'd been given a bit of warning from Tami, but I was still amazed when I arrived on Friday morning and found that the house had been fitted with windows sometime during the week! The simple addition of windows made the house look livable and made this build process more real. We're actually building a home! Seeing those windows Friday morning gave me goose bumps... and we hadn't yet begun the day's work.

The first order of business was to ensure that the windows were plumb and true before nailing them in completely. A team of volunteers from a local church was quickly employed with this task. The second order of business was to install the exterior doors, and that work was also quickly accomplished. Even as that work was completed, teams of builders were attaching the gutter boards to the soffits.

After standing about for a bit and wondering where we could be best employed, Tami and I were put to work building out one of the interior walls so that duct work for her dryer could be properly installed. We were unofficially supervised by a pair of HVAC contractors who found our (amateurish) hammering skills quite hilarious. They laughed with us for a minute or two, but they were patient and generous in waiting on us to complete the work, so that they could get on with their own.

With the laundry wall complete, Tami and I headed to the north side of the house where plans for the siding installation were underway. A small crew of folks was busy marking the fiber-cement siding with the "reveal" marks the installers would need as reference, and our intrepid cut-man, Adam, designed his cutting jig in order to make efficient cuts throughout the installation.

The siding plan proved to be a bit of a slow starter, but we soon found a rhythm - with Tami manning (and mastering) the pneumatic nailer... and then the lunchtime bell rang.

We relaxed for a bit as we enjoyed the sandwiches, chips, cookies and fruit provided to us by a neighborhood church. Then we quickly amped up the work again... and soon the siding work was in full swing on the front, back and north side of the house!

The work we're doing is serious - we're building the home in which my sister will live for years to come! But the fun is serious too - frivolity and laughter are never lacking on the site. It amazes me how quickly each new group of volunteers becomes a cohesive and productive team... and somehow each team is able to tease and joke and laugh. I've met so many wonderful people in the past few weeks and they have all been gracious, kind, and keen to keep their sense of humor. I can't remember when I've laughed so often while working so hard!

Week Three, Work Day 6:
Rained out again! This was a real disappointment for Tami... two Saturdays without progress is tough to take, especially since both days were "called for rain" only to have the rain let up soon after the call was made.

Tami posted some beautiful news of the mid-week work... the bricks have been applied to the front facade! I'll post photos in my next update, promise!

Coming up next: The roof shingles are on-site and I understand that the roofers are scheduled to start their work this week. I imagine Friday will be filled with more siding work and perhaps some insulation of the interior walls. Drywall can't be too far off... Whoopee! I pray the weather cooperates with us this week!

Please add your prayers to mine!

XO

Jodi