Making Progress!

Take 4: Exterior Finish Details 

That new house is moving right along!  Unfortunately, once the framing and roof have been completed the progress might not seem as obvious from the outside.  That being said, there's still much to be done -- outside and in!  Curious as to what's been done since my last update?  Here's a look at the exterior of the house:

Look VERY closely... do you see any changes??  This picture isn't the best for purposes of detail spotlighting, so I'll help you out.  The foundation is now covered by brick.  See it?!  This house will be finished with James Hardie (board and batten) cement siding and accented with natural stone.  Board and Batten shutters with wrought iron S-hooks will be added as a final detail at the end.  Here's a picture of the rear elevation:

And, yes -- that's my builder/husband Jim... :)

The inside is in the process of being insulated right now.  Once the insulation has been inspected, Jim will be free to move forward and into the final phases of construction.  Sheetrock will be next, and the rooms will look like separate spaces, not a bunch of 2-by-4s in a big space! :)

Stay tuned for my next update!

Time for an UP-FIT!

I think our houses are a little bit like our bodies.  Every once in a while our bodies need a new uplift in some way, shape, or form.  Doesn't have to be major -- I'm not suggesting facelifts or breast augmentation, but maybe a new haircut or clothing style.  The same can be said for our homes.  Every so often your space warrants an up-fit.

Next month will mark our 10th year of living in this house.  I can't believe we've been here long enough to double our previous record of home ownership!  Jim built this house, and one would *think* he designed it free of 'faults'.  Maybe fault isn't the appropriate word, but hopefully you are with me on this.  For those of you who might think building your custom dream home will be the solution to all of your needs and wants, think again.  You'll always find something you'd like to change along the way!

As for me and my house, we've made a couple of changes in our ten years here.  One of the changes was significant.  Jim took my existing laundry room, and turned it into a full-fledged mud room.  Where did my laundry room go?  We had some "extra" space in our garage that Jim was able to tie into our existing home as a new laundry room.

The process is not one I'd recommend you challenge as a homeowner.  You definitely need the skills and expertise of a qualified licensed general contractor.  Our remodel involved the removal of walls, and structural changes that combined the existing floor joist system with the new additional living space.  It involved the addition of new plumbing and electrical services, and the removal of the old existing plumbing from my former laundry room.

If you feel like you're ready for a change, and don't know where to begin - you are not alone!  This article in Houzz offers a great place to start.  There are many ways you can make changes to the space you're already in without having to move.  Some are simple, and some are more involved, but these are some ideas to help get you going!  Have fun with it!

PS - I'd like to post before and after pictures -- give me a day or two to find them and upload :)

Governance or Neutrality?

Net Neutrality.  Ever heard of it?  It's not a foreign concept.  The Internet has somehow managed to remain free of it thus far, but there are those who are doing their best to implement it.

At first glance, the word 'neutrality' proves rather innocuous.  Used in the context imposed by the FCC, however, it is far from harmless.  In my opinion, it's another way in which the federal government will become involved in what is currently a system free of government regulation and control.

That which has now become an information highway found it's beginning within the telecommunication networks.  The same fiber optic and bandwidth lines used to carry mass quantities of voice information also carry digital information.  We've already experienced the effects of a government monopoly via the telephony operations.  The government will prove to offer the same results through Net Neutrality if given the freedom to do so; they will tax, monitor, regulate, and seek to control the Internet.  Who needs more government agencies?  As far as I'm concerned our government is far too big already.  With the constant evolution of technology, no ONE institution will ever be able to effectively (read: fairly) monitor and control the Internet.

Have you ever looked at the breakdown of your landline phone bill?  If not, do yourself a favor and take a closer look.  The amount you pay for phone services is maybe 50% of the bill; the other 50%, TAXES and regulatory fees.  Truthfully, I believe liberties are what our forefathers fought to preserve.  The Internet is one of the few places we can still participate on an equal ground.  Don't punish us for our success -- there are many forms of revenue to be had within the system as it IS.

$$$ 4 the Houzz Spent Well

Do you ever question yourself prior to making a large purchase?  Especially when it comes to spending money on your home?  I do!  I often find myself trying to justify my spending, yet also want to spend my money on quality.  How do you balance the two without compromising one or the other?

This article in Houzz offers some great advice in making good spending choices without compromising product quality or risking a budget blowout.  There are ways to purchase well made and long lasting furniture without going into debt.

I like the idea of shopping for secondhand furniture and then repurposing it by reupholstering or adding a new finish to the piece.  There are some great secondhand furniture stores in our area, and the Town of Waxhaw is home to some really cool antique stores.  I've always wanted to buy an old armoire.  Refinishing or painting it would give it a French country look, and add to the Shabby Chic eclectic feel I've started in my master bedroom.  This paint is AMAZING, and makes even the novice painter look like a trained pro!

Have fun with mixing purchasing power and great finds!  Re-purposing isn't the only option, but makes for some fun DIYing!

internet with an "I"

Yes, there's a difference! The internet is comparable to the "R" line of the railway system.  It connects a line of stops from point A to point B. 

 The Internet is the entire railway system: many lines interconnected - reaching an entire city and beyond. 

 The World Wide Web is comparable to Grand Central Station: it's one of the largest "stations" from which you have the option to branch off and travel in all directions.

Get it?  Now, consider how you use the Internet.  I use the Internet to retrieve and share information with others daily.  The World Wide Web is my primary source of information navigation, but my bandwidth source is my primary source of information functionality.  Ever get frustrated with your computer because it's moving too slowly???  More often than not, your speed has little to do with your operating system. I used to scream at my computer when it was 'lagging'.  I even went to the measure of replacing it with a newer version.  When my new computer wasn't moving quickly enough I blamed my Wi-fi!  Off to Best Buy I went, and home I came with the Cadillac of Wi-fi systems: Airport Extreme (my opinion, of course!).  It wasn't until I realized my new Wi-fi hadn't been the issue, nor had my dated computer.  My slow speed was/IS a result of the "tube" or coaxial cable that feeds my router (Wi-fi) with fiberoptic information.  Now what?! you might ask.  Well, my Internet provider, Windstream, offers different options where you can purchase upgrades in speed.  Here we go with the beginnings of Net Neutrality!  I think I'll sit this one out, and pray direct fiberoptic home connections become available soon!

Facebook Yahoo?

I feel that there are pros and cons to utilizing a social network for both sending and receiving messages. Facebook is a very multifaceted social network.  It affords the user the ability to observe, interact, and provide feedback through various platforms.  Sending and receiving messages is one way in which a user can interact.  Messages can be sent live via instant messaging, or in writing, via wall posts and direct messages.

One of the benefits to using Facebook for the purpose of sending messages is the direct connectivity it offers.  Facebook enables me to find people that I am currently interacting with, have interacted with in the past, and people or businesses I might find potential interest in.  Even if the other person/business is not a member of my subscriber base I still have the option of reaching out to them through a written message.  Locating contacts via an open search engine such as Google involves far more research, and can be time consuming.  Receiving messages via Facebook is comparable to receiving an email.  It's very simple to access, and the marketing junk mail frequently associated with email is a non-issue.

The cons to receiving and sending messages via Facebook?  Hmmm... maybe the fact that you have to log into your Facebook site for retrieval.  Facebook sends a notice to the email address of your choosing alerting you to the fact that you've received a new message, but you still need to access your Facebook account to reply.  The same applies to sending a message: you must navigate to your Facebook account in order to send a message.  The negative or downside: major distraction.  I get sidetracked far too easily, and avoid Facebook unless I've got extra time to spare!

Houzz that House Coming Along?!

Take 3: The Roof... the roof is on...

No!  The roof is NOT on fire!!! :)  But, it's ON the house!  Take a look!

A bit more than the roof has been completed since my last update. :) Let's see... the house was still in the early stages of framing when we left off.  Since then, the roof has been framed, dried-in with felt paper and shingles, plumbing boots and ridge vents have been installed, and the windows have been installed.  All of these things are visible from the OUTSIDE, but what's been going on INSIDE?

  

Let's take a look at the INSIDE of the house at this stage:

Might not seem like much has been accomplished, but really, MUCH has been done.  Take a close look at the picture above.  It's the entryway to the house.  If you look directly up, you'll notice a little blue dot.  That blue dot is the beginning of what will house the foyer chandelier.  The black lines behind, are the ductwork for the HVAC (heating and air) system.  The white pipes are plumbing pipes, and white wires -- additional electrical lines, and wiring for the AV (audio/video) system.

Below is a picture of the Master Bathroom.  The Throne Room is directly ahead, tub to the left, and double sinks on the right.  The shower is behind me -- didn't fit in the picture.  

I believe I can conclude my project update for now!  The inspector has been called, and we are now awaiting the Framing Inspection.  Plumbing, Electrical, and HVAC will be inspected by Trade Inspectors, and the Primary Framing Inspection will include the structural framing and roof.  Be on the lookout for Take 4!

tweet? TWEET?

The image above has become a symbol recognized universally.  Powerful?  Productive?  Desirable?

Twitter...

As a channel of Mass Communication I believe Twitter has both: strengths and weaknesses.  October 12, 2012 marked day #1 of my 10 day Mass Comm Twitter Project.  During that timeframe I became much more familiar with Twitter on a personal level.  I've been a 'member' of Twitter for 3 years, but had never truly recognized it's full potential from a Mass Media/Communication perspective.

I feel the greatest asset of Twitter use is speed.  Twitter can be used as a social media outlet, but also offers itself as a competitive communication/marketing vessel.  With today's digital advancements, the drive to both deliver and receive information on demand has reached a high.  Communication demands have forced us with the need to reach the masses with immediacy.  We've surpassed the benefits of conference calls. 

One of the downsides to Twitter from a marketing perspective is the fact that it utilizes a subscriber base.  If people don't know you're out there, they can't market you; if you don't know 'they're' out there, you can't find them.  I also believe Twitter poses a huge distraction in our already over-cluttered information highway.  How many productive and effective media/communication vessels will there be?  How many can any one person effectively follow before hitting the point of information and communication overload?

I'm not sure whether or not Twitter will cross my career path.  Although, I have much interest in marketing, and could see a future need if involved in that type of work.  As of right now, Twitter is yet a form of distraction that I don't have the luxury of focusing on.  Do I think employers might have a reason to utilize Twitter solely as a communication tool?  Absolutely.  It's fast and effective in reaching a massive number of people all at once.   

I now view Twitter from a new perspective.  I see it's more than just a social conglomeration; it's also a tool for communication and a vessel for marketing.  The ability to use Twitter as a, "hey I'm out here" device is pretty cool too.  I gained some followers during our 10 day project, and had a great time searching/following topics and products of interest to me.  I'll continue to use my newly found Twitter skills, and look forward to potentially experiencing it within my future career!