It's been a couple of weeks since I've updated this blog (and others) and as I've mentioned elsewhere, life has been a something of a whirlwind. The biggest update to give is that this coming Saturday (the 10th of September, 2011) SENH - Habitat for Humanity will be dedicating Farmington Unit B for habitation. It has been more than just a few Saturdays here and there. People have been putting in extra hours on weekdays even working on Labor Day.
And, finally, at last this day is here.
My honor is thrice-fold:
(1) I've been asked to be a part of the dedication ceremony. I will be performing a prayer on the gathering and a blessing on the house.
(2) I've completed, as far as able, my self imposed vow to be a consistent part of the building of Farmington. Unit B is, at this time, very nearly completed with just some finishing to do. Unit A should not take us more than a month more. Now I can possibly get involved in some of the more egotistically rewarding projects. (Actually, the truss raising was!)
(3) I'll not go into the reasons behind this particular situation I had found myself in let us just say that this year I have come out of a fairly intensive social isolation. SENH - Habitat for Humanity has expanded my local social network by several magnitudes. This would normally be of some discomfort to me but unprecedentedly the quality of the people add in such quantity has been beyond my most sincere prayers.
My life is not perfect but with the love of my wife, the strength of our relationship, and the ongoing blessings she and I continue to enjoy I could have wished for no more. However the Lord has decided to overfill my cup and it would be churlish of me to deny my delight in his blessings.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Sunday, August 14, 2011
13-Aug-2011 Farmington Build
Working with Paul again! More doors but on the first floor. Not as many as before but the door leading to the basement required custom trim work. So I got a touch more experience. Also one of the pre-framed pre-trimmed doors needed to be cut-down some to fit due to the floor that was installed. We also built, from scratch, the access cover to the roof crawl space.
In retrospect it may not seem like we got much done on this day but first activity of the day was all about materials management and not building. We had to unload the laminate flooring from a truck then unpack and store it so that it would acclimate to the environment where it would be installed. Then we also had to move all the painted baseboards stock from the basement it was being stored in to a more appropriate location. (Basement is bad but storing it there at the time was an absolutely necessary evil.)
Good lunch was provided for by Jen. She's the single mom who will be living in Unit B where all the push to finish is being focused.
In retrospect it may not seem like we got much done on this day but first activity of the day was all about materials management and not building. We had to unload the laminate flooring from a truck then unpack and store it so that it would acclimate to the environment where it would be installed. Then we also had to move all the painted baseboards stock from the basement it was being stored in to a more appropriate location. (Basement is bad but storing it there at the time was an absolutely necessary evil.)
Good lunch was provided for by Jen. She's the single mom who will be living in Unit B where all the push to finish is being focused.
10-Aug to 12-Aug-2011 Decon: Restore New Location
Was totally unaware this was taking place. Just happened to be driving the misses to work (early) and noticed that there were some familiar vehicles parked at the old Newington Skating Rink/Happy Wheels. I've been aware for some time that Restore had acquired a lease for the building so that they could move from the Dover location. (Just a need for more space.) So after dropping the misses off at work I swung by and found the decon crew at work. Rolled up my sleeves and dove in.
It was a fair amount of work removing only what was needed to re-purpose the existing interior. We only did the removing mind you the re-purposing begins next week. But there was a lot of specialized shelving and accouterments specific to a Roller Skating establishment that simply had to be removed. Of course the sound system made for a good time during all the work.
Additionally, all the unloading of supplies (for industrial strength shelving units) made any visits to the gym completely unnecessary for those days. In fact I find that going to the gym on any day I do work for H4H not only to be redundant but makes managing my blood sugar more difficult. To avoid dramatic lows instead of highs (which is more common with type 2).
Still had a lot of fun and I've totally regained my composure with H4H. Also how others view me has also deepened in respect as well. Appreciation from ones social peers can greatly soothe a slightly battered ego.
It was a fair amount of work removing only what was needed to re-purpose the existing interior. We only did the removing mind you the re-purposing begins next week. But there was a lot of specialized shelving and accouterments specific to a Roller Skating establishment that simply had to be removed. Of course the sound system made for a good time during all the work.
Additionally, all the unloading of supplies (for industrial strength shelving units) made any visits to the gym completely unnecessary for those days. In fact I find that going to the gym on any day I do work for H4H not only to be redundant but makes managing my blood sugar more difficult. To avoid dramatic lows instead of highs (which is more common with type 2).
Still had a lot of fun and I've totally regained my composure with H4H. Also how others view me has also deepened in respect as well. Appreciation from ones social peers can greatly soothe a slightly battered ego.
06-Aug-2011 Farmington Build
I'll lead off with the fact that I wrote Jonathon a goodbye email. Well written, without any spite, and expressing my gratitude for the time spent with SENH. My wife felt it premature to write off my involvement and even though I agreed with her my feelings were in such a tumult that I could not "not" express myself. (I'm not known for being all that silent.)
However as the week progressed my wife's words sunk into me. Also in my prayers I felt a strong sense of disquiet within myself. When I allowed myself to reconsider my position the realization that I was in error, from ego and shame, caused me to reverse my decision. My sense of calm restored I made plans to return. I just didn't warn Jonathon.
The day went well. Paul and I was joined by Air Force SSGT Pat (last name witheld - duh) as we worked on installing baseboard molding all along the second floor. Wheee, yet something else I've never done before. Some valuable experience was gained that day as we worked with the miter saw all day long. And let me tell you, I think I still have another 1900 uses of the saw before I can be considered competent. It looks easy, lord yes, but being sure of your measurements and angles is the key to quality, even passing, work.
But mostly it was just nice to be back and that kind of overshadowed a lot of the social byplay. My appearance was openly welcomed and my worries of having become a pariah totally unfounded. I went where prayer (and my wife) led me and my cup overflowed.
However as the week progressed my wife's words sunk into me. Also in my prayers I felt a strong sense of disquiet within myself. When I allowed myself to reconsider my position the realization that I was in error, from ego and shame, caused me to reverse my decision. My sense of calm restored I made plans to return. I just didn't warn Jonathon.
The day went well. Paul and I was joined by Air Force SSGT Pat (last name witheld - duh) as we worked on installing baseboard molding all along the second floor. Wheee, yet something else I've never done before. Some valuable experience was gained that day as we worked with the miter saw all day long. And let me tell you, I think I still have another 1900 uses of the saw before I can be considered competent. It looks easy, lord yes, but being sure of your measurements and angles is the key to quality, even passing, work.
But mostly it was just nice to be back and that kind of overshadowed a lot of the social byplay. My appearance was openly welcomed and my worries of having become a pariah totally unfounded. I went where prayer (and my wife) led me and my cup overflowed.
30-Jul-2011 Farmington Build
The day started well for me as I got to partner up with Paul, great chap with decades more life and experience than I have, for the purpose of hanging doors!! I've never installed a door in my life so I was extremely excited.
The doors in question are not as difficult as I had feared/hoped. They came assembled inside their own frame with trim work attached. Leveling the doors out was complicated by the squareness and plumbness of the openings left for the doorways but not impossibly so. The first two doors went in easy peasy pumpkin pie. Then Paul and I decided to take a morning break. (Him for a smoke, me for my diabetic snack.)
That's when crapola hit me in the kisser.
During the break, one of the bigger wigs decided it was an ideal time to pull me aside and have a discussion with me. While I've come to respect this man, highly!, his pulling me aside for a disciplinary chat was not very well done. It singled me out in front of my peers - never a good thing. Then the matter itself left me more mortified and annoyed - highly for both.
Essentially: Someone overheard a conversation I had with a young lady of my acquaintance while we were at the Wolfeboro decon job. This person felt that my statement to the young lady inappropriate and made them feel uncomfortable for the young lady.
Her hair was down, not normal, and I complimented her appearance with it down.
The problem for me was that I was quite inhibited to respond appropriately to the situation as presented to me. Firstly, the complaint was completely out of line. "One of" compliments between co-workers during social activity does not constitute any level of hasrassment - subject or third parties alike. Secondly, my respect for Jonathon prevented me from setting him straight as to how I was approached and to my "real" response to having my behavior dictated by ... well I have to say it... a professionalism neophyte.
And I think that is the essential problem here: With proper diversity and sensitivity training people learn what is appropriate and inappropriate behavior. What is out of line behavior or what is, alternately, out of line reaction to appropriate behavior. It is a truth that some people do act badly and some people just react badly to innocuous behavior. Training, for staff and leaders alike, is integral to help avoid harassment or slander.
But the day went downhill from there for me. My calm was so disturbed by this that we screwed up installing the next two doors and finally did one without a hitch just before lunch. At lunch I made some polite excuses, attempting social grace, and left for the day.
I had no intention of returning due to my embarrassment and frustration.
The doors in question are not as difficult as I had feared/hoped. They came assembled inside their own frame with trim work attached. Leveling the doors out was complicated by the squareness and plumbness of the openings left for the doorways but not impossibly so. The first two doors went in easy peasy pumpkin pie. Then Paul and I decided to take a morning break. (Him for a smoke, me for my diabetic snack.)
That's when crapola hit me in the kisser.
During the break, one of the bigger wigs decided it was an ideal time to pull me aside and have a discussion with me. While I've come to respect this man, highly!, his pulling me aside for a disciplinary chat was not very well done. It singled me out in front of my peers - never a good thing. Then the matter itself left me more mortified and annoyed - highly for both.
Essentially: Someone overheard a conversation I had with a young lady of my acquaintance while we were at the Wolfeboro decon job. This person felt that my statement to the young lady inappropriate and made them feel uncomfortable for the young lady.
Her hair was down, not normal, and I complimented her appearance with it down.
The problem for me was that I was quite inhibited to respond appropriately to the situation as presented to me. Firstly, the complaint was completely out of line. "One of" compliments between co-workers during social activity does not constitute any level of hasrassment - subject or third parties alike. Secondly, my respect for Jonathon prevented me from setting him straight as to how I was approached and to my "real" response to having my behavior dictated by ... well I have to say it... a professionalism neophyte.
And I think that is the essential problem here: With proper diversity and sensitivity training people learn what is appropriate and inappropriate behavior. What is out of line behavior or what is, alternately, out of line reaction to appropriate behavior. It is a truth that some people do act badly and some people just react badly to innocuous behavior. Training, for staff and leaders alike, is integral to help avoid harassment or slander.
But the day went downhill from there for me. My calm was so disturbed by this that we screwed up installing the next two doors and finally did one without a hitch just before lunch. At lunch I made some polite excuses, attempting social grace, and left for the day.
I had no intention of returning due to my embarrassment and frustration.
25-Jul to 28-Jul-2011 Deconstruction: Emery Farm and Wolfeboro
Okay, spent 4 days doing deconstruction work that will bring in marketable supplies to the Restore. On the 25th we worked in the morning at the Emery Farm in Dover NH. Sad that we could only be available for the morning but we were able to salvage a kitchen cabinetry set and a half dozen almost new windows. Interestingly enough the windows sold within 24 hours. Wolfeboro however was another beast entirely!
The Wolfeboro decon job is massive and, given my choice of tense, still going on. 4000 square foot abode being taken down from roof to foundation. The property is on a stunning bit of land abutting Lake Winnipesaukee. Gorgeous land but the new owner is totally dissatisfied with the original house so it must go. Deconstructing this property has been difficult but not without rewards and surprises.
One of the biggest rewarding surprises, to me, was that much of the upstairs walls was secretly covered in 1-inch thick cedar planks tongue and grooved together. Old cedar wood - which if anyone reading this is in building you know that old wood is better quality than what is on the market today and cedar is a most excellent material! What made it such a secret was that at some past date someone decided to plywood over the cedar and then wallpaper over the plywood.
Note: I'm posting this about 3 weeks late. Any further updates on this job, by me, is from second hand sources as I've not returned to the job site nor talked with the man in charge of it (Keith).
The Wolfeboro decon job is massive and, given my choice of tense, still going on. 4000 square foot abode being taken down from roof to foundation. The property is on a stunning bit of land abutting Lake Winnipesaukee. Gorgeous land but the new owner is totally dissatisfied with the original house so it must go. Deconstructing this property has been difficult but not without rewards and surprises.
One of the biggest rewarding surprises, to me, was that much of the upstairs walls was secretly covered in 1-inch thick cedar planks tongue and grooved together. Old cedar wood - which if anyone reading this is in building you know that old wood is better quality than what is on the market today and cedar is a most excellent material! What made it such a secret was that at some past date someone decided to plywood over the cedar and then wallpaper over the plywood.
Note: I'm posting this about 3 weeks late. Any further updates on this job, by me, is from second hand sources as I've not returned to the job site nor talked with the man in charge of it (Keith).
Friday, July 22, 2011
23-Jul-2011 CANCELLED
Okay, let me be a bit honest first. I was not going to be attending the Farmington build regardless. However my conscience is soothed by the executive decision to cancel all building for this coming Saturday. Some very hot days are predicted and it is safer to avoid an heat casualties. I totally agree with this decision but that's no surprise.
On site I'm a drink your water nagaholic. The military drilled into me that if I saw a squad mate it was my responsibility to ask, "Did you drink some water?" During Desert Shield/Storm the question was changed to, "Did you drink some water in the past hour?"
So I'm going to spend this Saturday with a Nashua Eve Online get together. I've kept in touch with many New Englanders I met at CCP's Pax East player gathering earlier this year. This will be the second gathering for this particular group and I'm thinking about trying to get the "corp"/"guild" to come out for a H4H day. Maybe get it into the Eve News as well. But I digress.
Starting next week there will be two deconstruction jobs to be done. One is in Wolfsboro (60 minute drive) and the other in Durham (5-10 minute drive). After spending a few hours doing the math I'm going to join the one in Durham. As I've got little planned next week I'll probably go 2 - 4 days. Just have to be careful to not be too late due to my gym needs and the current house hunting/negotiations.
Please, everyone remember to drink plenty of water.
On site I'm a drink your water nagaholic. The military drilled into me that if I saw a squad mate it was my responsibility to ask, "Did you drink some water?" During Desert Shield/Storm the question was changed to, "Did you drink some water in the past hour?"
So I'm going to spend this Saturday with a Nashua Eve Online get together. I've kept in touch with many New Englanders I met at CCP's Pax East player gathering earlier this year. This will be the second gathering for this particular group and I'm thinking about trying to get the "corp"/"guild" to come out for a H4H day. Maybe get it into the Eve News as well. But I digress.
Starting next week there will be two deconstruction jobs to be done. One is in Wolfsboro (60 minute drive) and the other in Durham (5-10 minute drive). After spending a few hours doing the math I'm going to join the one in Durham. As I've got little planned next week I'll probably go 2 - 4 days. Just have to be careful to not be too late due to my gym needs and the current house hunting/negotiations.
Please, everyone remember to drink plenty of water.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
16-Jul-2011 Farmington Build
Two weeks have gone by and there's been two build visits, 03-Jul and 16-Jul. Primary focus has been on Unit B of the location so that we can get Jen & George moved in as soon as possible. There's a fair bit I can say about the build times but for the most part this blog functions, for me, as a diary/task reminder. Without it I would not have as clear a memory of what I've accomplished and what needs to be continued.
So, we completed painting Unit B in entirety (I believe). We thought we had finished it at lunch time 03-Jul but we got punked. A mix up of tinted paints meant that the master bedroom's second coat was different. The cutting went on nice and coated over the differing first coat however the rolled on second coat just did not cover over. Annoyingly enough we also ran out of both tints of that color so on 16-Jul we used a third color, rich enough to cover the other coats, that we had just enough to do the walls. Done, finito, got it out of here! That being accomplished Amanda and I were free to move onto something other than painting - thank goodness.
Rookies for the Win or Lose? Jury Still Out.
This would be the title of this blog if I did descriptive titles. Amanda and I were put on a new project together but at opposite ends of the process. I was tapped to cut sub-flooring that was being laid out and Amanda was stapling the sub-flooring into place. (I might add, this was not the only thing that we did just our primary function as resources and tasks allowed us) For both of us things started out well.
Wood shop is close to 30+ years ago for me but I was good when I applied myself. Circular saw is easy peasy pumpkin pie to me. Jonathon did have a few pointers, from his vast experience, that I incorporated into my own method and events played out well. I don't know about Amanda's experiences but Jonathon made an effort to demonstrate the pneumatic staple gun and Amanda was doing well with that.
It was after lunch that things started to go awry.
Before lunch, our supply of staples were minimal and we did not have much time between completion of painting and lunch time. Lunch time is an important time segment of the day. Not for the break and/or the food but because, often enough, Jonathon leaves to check in with the Rochester build site. (Jonathon is a big wig - not that he'd ever describe that way.)
This is a really important factor as Jonathon has a lot of experience and he is quite adroit at sharing it. He's unafraid to yell stop but he does it in such a way as to not offend you. He corrects you without making you feel idiotic or defective. The other veterans are not as ... .... driven to bring rookies up to proper trim and speed. They focus on the day's goals and make every effort to reach completion. Jonathon, just as skilled and motivated, takes in the big picture realizing that the less experienced volunteers need mentoring.
I've made a bigger point of this than I had originally intended but given my own small fiasco, and shamefaced feelings about that, I'm sure you'll understand.
Once we resumed work, post lunch and post supply run, Amanda was directed to start stapling down the already firmly placed sub-flooring and I was given a cut diagram for the bathroom sub-flooring. My cutting would trim off 1-inch of an 8 foot strip of sub-flooring with a break in the cut to create a lip to fit into the bathroom door. After I cut that strip off the diagram also had me then do a cross cut 12 inches from the top of the board. This would allow for a half circle to be cut from the kerf line for the toilet base. Additionally there was to be a small hole in the 12 inch section for the water intake line to the toilet tank.
Well, I made three errors. First, I incorrectly measured where to stop on the 1 inch strip. So the lip that was created was higher than it should have been, by 1 inch. To correct, I cut 1 inch off the lip but it left the other end of the lip 1 inch short. Bob says we'll just take that cut 1 inch and staple it there.
Second error: Misread the diameter of the toilet base hole. Unfortunately I misread this when working on the 12 inch section. So, I cut a nice perfectly measured 7.5 inch radius half circle. Trouble was 7.5 was the diameter, not the radius.
Third error: While I was cutting the half moon on the 7 foot long section I rookied up (finally) and cut into the piece of sub-flooring underneath. I had spent so much time and effort making sure I didn't do that and there I went finally did it.
These errors compounded themselves. Firstly, if I had not made the second error then the two pieces of sub-flooring would have been laid down together and meshed together along the shared kerf line. When I had to recut the 12 inch segment not only did I not have the matching kerf line anymore but I was unable to present Bob with the factory flat edge to use as well. Totally screwed it up and, from what I hear, sub-flooring is not cheap.
Amanda's error is much smaller but may have a greater level of effort to correct. When the new supply of staples was finally brought in she resumed stapling of course. However either the stapler air pressure was not properly set or Amanda's technique was off (either being very possible) the staples did not go to a proper depth. This is not the crux of the matter mind you - the error was not noticed until Amanda had stapled the entire kitchen floor.
Remedial action for this is to get on your knees, slide a flat edge across the floor to find improperly seated staples, then using a hammer and a punch any deficient staple can be corrected. This check and correct function will have to be down for the hundreds (maybe thousands) of staples placed by Amanda that day.
Amanda and I are just two of a bunch of volunteers who regularly attend but with minimal construction experience. Leadership has noticed us, the group, and they are pleased with our overall competence, reliability, and attitude. Thus they've not only come to trust us but I think depend on us. This weekend expanding our, the rookie regulars, was attempted and like any gamble there was some win and some loss.
For the betterment of H4H and our own personal enlightenment, this gamble produced clear and positive results. Experience must be gained and that can only be done by doing. We've learned our own limits and aptitudes and taken a step further to being skilled contributors. For both the rookies and the leaders - a clear win.
The errors and mistakes that learning requires - the project suffered a little, another delay is added, and is clearly a loss for that day.
What I'd really like is if there was some sort of "basic construction" classes I could take. Nothing in depth and nothing heinously expensive. Just enough to take the newb outer coating off the rookie.
So, we completed painting Unit B in entirety (I believe). We thought we had finished it at lunch time 03-Jul but we got punked. A mix up of tinted paints meant that the master bedroom's second coat was different. The cutting went on nice and coated over the differing first coat however the rolled on second coat just did not cover over. Annoyingly enough we also ran out of both tints of that color so on 16-Jul we used a third color, rich enough to cover the other coats, that we had just enough to do the walls. Done, finito, got it out of here! That being accomplished Amanda and I were free to move onto something other than painting - thank goodness.
Rookies for the Win or Lose? Jury Still Out.
This would be the title of this blog if I did descriptive titles. Amanda and I were put on a new project together but at opposite ends of the process. I was tapped to cut sub-flooring that was being laid out and Amanda was stapling the sub-flooring into place. (I might add, this was not the only thing that we did just our primary function as resources and tasks allowed us) For both of us things started out well.
Wood shop is close to 30+ years ago for me but I was good when I applied myself. Circular saw is easy peasy pumpkin pie to me. Jonathon did have a few pointers, from his vast experience, that I incorporated into my own method and events played out well. I don't know about Amanda's experiences but Jonathon made an effort to demonstrate the pneumatic staple gun and Amanda was doing well with that.
It was after lunch that things started to go awry.
Before lunch, our supply of staples were minimal and we did not have much time between completion of painting and lunch time. Lunch time is an important time segment of the day. Not for the break and/or the food but because, often enough, Jonathon leaves to check in with the Rochester build site. (Jonathon is a big wig - not that he'd ever describe that way.)
This is a really important factor as Jonathon has a lot of experience and he is quite adroit at sharing it. He's unafraid to yell stop but he does it in such a way as to not offend you. He corrects you without making you feel idiotic or defective. The other veterans are not as ... .... driven to bring rookies up to proper trim and speed. They focus on the day's goals and make every effort to reach completion. Jonathon, just as skilled and motivated, takes in the big picture realizing that the less experienced volunteers need mentoring.
I've made a bigger point of this than I had originally intended but given my own small fiasco, and shamefaced feelings about that, I'm sure you'll understand.
Once we resumed work, post lunch and post supply run, Amanda was directed to start stapling down the already firmly placed sub-flooring and I was given a cut diagram for the bathroom sub-flooring. My cutting would trim off 1-inch of an 8 foot strip of sub-flooring with a break in the cut to create a lip to fit into the bathroom door. After I cut that strip off the diagram also had me then do a cross cut 12 inches from the top of the board. This would allow for a half circle to be cut from the kerf line for the toilet base. Additionally there was to be a small hole in the 12 inch section for the water intake line to the toilet tank.
Well, I made three errors. First, I incorrectly measured where to stop on the 1 inch strip. So the lip that was created was higher than it should have been, by 1 inch. To correct, I cut 1 inch off the lip but it left the other end of the lip 1 inch short. Bob says we'll just take that cut 1 inch and staple it there.
Second error: Misread the diameter of the toilet base hole. Unfortunately I misread this when working on the 12 inch section. So, I cut a nice perfectly measured 7.5 inch radius half circle. Trouble was 7.5 was the diameter, not the radius.
Third error: While I was cutting the half moon on the 7 foot long section I rookied up (finally) and cut into the piece of sub-flooring underneath. I had spent so much time and effort making sure I didn't do that and there I went finally did it.
These errors compounded themselves. Firstly, if I had not made the second error then the two pieces of sub-flooring would have been laid down together and meshed together along the shared kerf line. When I had to recut the 12 inch segment not only did I not have the matching kerf line anymore but I was unable to present Bob with the factory flat edge to use as well. Totally screwed it up and, from what I hear, sub-flooring is not cheap.
Amanda's error is much smaller but may have a greater level of effort to correct. When the new supply of staples was finally brought in she resumed stapling of course. However either the stapler air pressure was not properly set or Amanda's technique was off (either being very possible) the staples did not go to a proper depth. This is not the crux of the matter mind you - the error was not noticed until Amanda had stapled the entire kitchen floor.
Remedial action for this is to get on your knees, slide a flat edge across the floor to find improperly seated staples, then using a hammer and a punch any deficient staple can be corrected. This check and correct function will have to be down for the hundreds (maybe thousands) of staples placed by Amanda that day.
Amanda and I are just two of a bunch of volunteers who regularly attend but with minimal construction experience. Leadership has noticed us, the group, and they are pleased with our overall competence, reliability, and attitude. Thus they've not only come to trust us but I think depend on us. This weekend expanding our, the rookie regulars, was attempted and like any gamble there was some win and some loss.
For the betterment of H4H and our own personal enlightenment, this gamble produced clear and positive results. Experience must be gained and that can only be done by doing. We've learned our own limits and aptitudes and taken a step further to being skilled contributors. For both the rookies and the leaders - a clear win.
The errors and mistakes that learning requires - the project suffered a little, another delay is added, and is clearly a loss for that day.
What I'd really like is if there was some sort of "basic construction" classes I could take. Nothing in depth and nothing heinously expensive. Just enough to take the newb outer coating off the rookie.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
25-Jun-2010 Farmington Build
A week late on this one but it has been a very busy, and distracting, week. Between some medical issues and my current fixation on "moving" (either into a new apartment or buy a house) I've had little time to sit down and think about (and write about) affairs.
On this particular day we made some serious headway. With all the sanding done on Unit A we were able to get a lot of painting completed. The entire second floor has had two coats, ceilings and walls, and first floor needs doing. During this process found out that I'm pretty good at "cutting". (This is basically taking a paint brush and making sure that there is a good coating at all the corners - ceilings is tricky!)
Unfortunately,, not all of the sanding has been completed. The first floor kitchen area is filled with unmounted doors. With those in the area we've not been able to get to the walls at all. And trust you me, there's a lot of doors. I think it is the entire inventory for both units.
Jon wants us to focus on Unit B next scheduled date (everyone is taking off 4th July weekend) and I agree. The partner/owner of that unit wants to move in by August so that she can have her children ready for when school starts. Good reason but I also want to finish painting Unit B so that all the doors can be mounted. Gets rid of half of the doors in the kitchen area and then I can get to prepping those walls sooner.
On this particular day we made some serious headway. With all the sanding done on Unit A we were able to get a lot of painting completed. The entire second floor has had two coats, ceilings and walls, and first floor needs doing. During this process found out that I'm pretty good at "cutting". (This is basically taking a paint brush and making sure that there is a good coating at all the corners - ceilings is tricky!)
Unfortunately,
Jon wants us to focus on Unit B next scheduled date (everyone is taking off 4th July weekend) and I agree. The partner/owner of that unit wants to move in by August so that she can have her children ready for when school starts. Good reason but I also want to finish painting Unit B so that all the doors can be mounted. Gets rid of half of the doors in the kitchen area and then I can get to prepping those walls sooner.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
18-Jun-2011 Farmington Build
Started of this day like a shot from a gun! I got there 0830 hrs on the dot, parked my car, and almost literally ran to the build house. I looked at Lou, "Those wall sanded?" "Nope", and then I went straight in and proceeded to sand those walls. Didn't bother with the morning pep talk or introductions, I wanted that job done. Sadly it still took up most of my day.
One of the nice things, for me, with H4H is the low ego environment. Many of you have interacted with me either in a professional setting or in a competitive gaming environment. In any case you'll be familiar with my tendency to lead or, in plainer tongue, my pushiness. Well that pushiness started percolating to the top of my head as I went through my day. I found this one simple truth: The guys in charge are very competent just overwhelmed.
Overwhelmed would imply out of depth or beyond experience or competency which is not the case at all. Overwhelmed by so many things going on at once with people who may or may not be experience or up to speed on current projects. They spend their morning time getting tasks identified, projects initiated, personnel motivated and engaged, as well as any equipment or supply issues. This is just the short list for this blog, the essential point is that there exists more chaos than order at the beginning of every day and it is these people's jobs to change that.
So my pushiness, by any other name, was in fact a small blessing. As I started taking charge of my own activities and influencing those within the same activities I freed up the "bosses" to worry about other things. As they moved onto other areas it left me free to alter processes that effected more than just my own efforts or group. Another benefit of my pushiness is that the gentleman I'd turn to for guidance, "Lou", was now freed up enough to actually put his hand to tools and be productive himself.
I could do a whole lot of Eve Online analogies here but instead I'll just go with one that is most poignant - here with H4H and online gaming. Everyone involved, in either activity, is seeking enjoyment and leadership is rarely enjoyable (barring salary considerations or high ego-defectives). So pitching in to lighten the burden of leaders, usually in small innocuous ways, provides them the opportunity to get some personal level of enjoyment as well.
So this weekend I got to be a bit more "me" in perspective and, in doing so, got to be more impressed with the character of those in charge. One learns to enjoy such rare moments.
One of the nice things, for me, with H4H is the low ego environment. Many of you have interacted with me either in a professional setting or in a competitive gaming environment. In any case you'll be familiar with my tendency to lead or, in plainer tongue, my pushiness. Well that pushiness started percolating to the top of my head as I went through my day. I found this one simple truth: The guys in charge are very competent just overwhelmed.
Overwhelmed would imply out of depth or beyond experience or competency which is not the case at all. Overwhelmed by so many things going on at once with people who may or may not be experience or up to speed on current projects. They spend their morning time getting tasks identified, projects initiated, personnel motivated and engaged, as well as any equipment or supply issues. This is just the short list for this blog, the essential point is that there exists more chaos than order at the beginning of every day and it is these people's jobs to change that.
So my pushiness, by any other name, was in fact a small blessing. As I started taking charge of my own activities and influencing those within the same activities I freed up the "bosses" to worry about other things. As they moved onto other areas it left me free to alter processes that effected more than just my own efforts or group. Another benefit of my pushiness is that the gentleman I'd turn to for guidance, "Lou", was now freed up enough to actually put his hand to tools and be productive himself.
I could do a whole lot of Eve Online analogies here but instead I'll just go with one that is most poignant - here with H4H and online gaming. Everyone involved, in either activity, is seeking enjoyment and leadership is rarely enjoyable (barring salary considerations or high ego-defectives). So pitching in to lighten the burden of leaders, usually in small innocuous ways, provides them the opportunity to get some personal level of enjoyment as well.
So this weekend I got to be a bit more "me" in perspective and, in doing so, got to be more impressed with the character of those in charge. One learns to enjoy such rare moments.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
11-Jun-2011 Farmington Build
Well I've been busy since my last H4H day. Busy enough that when I woke up to join the Kingston build I started my day like a chicken with my head cut off. Did not know where anything was: Not my safety glass, not my "trashable" clothes, not my grungy work bag, nothing. Then I checked my email and saw a notice come in, a late one, that we'd have to brown bag it this particular day. Wheeee!!!!!
Well, never did find my spiffy safety glasses but I did find some disposable clothing and grabbed a submarine sandwich from Bread and Butter (in Summersworth) as I dashed up Rte 16 towards Farmington.
The day was simple, we were picking back up where we had previously left off. Given the holiday that came and passed not much had significantly changed. Also the weather has not been cooperating with most of the outdoor work that continues to need some loving. Inside, well way back we hung up the dry wall. A very generous local dry walling contractor donated manpower and experience to taping and mudding the units. Then the walls were sanded and primed. Oooops, one step missed - Wipe down.
See if you do not wipe down the walls all the dust and grit from sanding is still on the walls. Then painting over that leaves a rough texture that is undesirable if not just unprofessional. To correct this the walls need to be re-sanded and then wiped down before the first coat of paint goes on. This is how I spent 95% of my day. Sanding and wiping. My shoulders are quite tired and still did not get all of the house.
The biggest hindrance was only one proper wall sander. If we had a few more we could've had several people doing it and then it would've been done. Since we only had the one, the other bodies were put to use painting the ceilings. Which hindered my progress as it is faster to paint most of the ceilings that it is to sand a room. I kept having to wait for paint to dry before I could move into an area. In the future I'll have to take a stronger lead in the chain of events so that one groups successful activity does not hinder another group's activity. (Sounds crazy but it happens in corporations every day!)
All in all it was loads of fun and at the end you feel great. The cross chatter is nice as well. While I would say that a the bodies that show up are of a wide sampling of the population (Men, women, Democrats, Republicans, etc., etc..) discussion stays amicable, no matter the topic, from our one unifying common ground:
We volunteer our time and energy to benefit someone else. We believe that given the chance, created by us, disadvantaged individuals will strive to be worthy of opportunities presented to them. No matter our differences, that unifies us and makes most other differences pale before it.
After that, is there really anything worth arguing about?
Well, never did find my spiffy safety glasses but I did find some disposable clothing and grabbed a submarine sandwich from Bread and Butter (in Summersworth) as I dashed up Rte 16 towards Farmington.
The day was simple, we were picking back up where we had previously left off. Given the holiday that came and passed not much had significantly changed. Also the weather has not been cooperating with most of the outdoor work that continues to need some loving. Inside, well way back we hung up the dry wall. A very generous local dry walling contractor donated manpower and experience to taping and mudding the units. Then the walls were sanded and primed. Oooops, one step missed - Wipe down.
See if you do not wipe down the walls all the dust and grit from sanding is still on the walls. Then painting over that leaves a rough texture that is undesirable if not just unprofessional. To correct this the walls need to be re-sanded and then wiped down before the first coat of paint goes on. This is how I spent 95% of my day. Sanding and wiping. My shoulders are quite tired and still did not get all of the house.
The biggest hindrance was only one proper wall sander. If we had a few more we could've had several people doing it and then it would've been done. Since we only had the one, the other bodies were put to use painting the ceilings. Which hindered my progress as it is faster to paint most of the ceilings that it is to sand a room. I kept having to wait for paint to dry before I could move into an area. In the future I'll have to take a stronger lead in the chain of events so that one groups successful activity does not hinder another group's activity. (Sounds crazy but it happens in corporations every day!)
All in all it was loads of fun and at the end you feel great. The cross chatter is nice as well. While I would say that a the bodies that show up are of a wide sampling of the population (Men, women, Democrats, Republicans, etc., etc..) discussion stays amicable, no matter the topic, from our one unifying common ground:
We volunteer our time and energy to benefit someone else. We believe that given the chance, created by us, disadvantaged individuals will strive to be worthy of opportunities presented to them. No matter our differences, that unifies us and makes most other differences pale before it.
After that, is there really anything worth arguing about?
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
25 May 2011 - First Blog and Kingston Decon Day One
Here I go, a blog about what I'm doing with the Southeastern New Hampshire chapter of Habitat for Humanity (SENH H4H from hereon out). A few beginning things:
1 - My nom de plume for this is "Q". Just the letter "Q". It's been a face to face nick name of mine for several decades now. Addtionally there are usually more "Johns" around then you can shake a pecker at.
2 - My first day with SENH H4H was two weeks ago at the Farmington build during my wife's corporate "Day of Caring". I enjoyed putting up sheet rock so much that I returned to the Farmington site. Not the following Saturday but the one after that. (I had already made another commitment).
We spent that Saturday trying to put up a good ceiling coat on the first unit of Farmington. Sadly we only got to do one coat and it became apparent that it would need more than just one. Also I helped the couple who will be living in the second unit shovel gravel around and laying it down. (H4H recipients must put in sweat equity to properly qualify for homes.)
So now we come to this day, it did not start well for me:
Bad night last night, interrupted sleep and shorted sleep. Wanted to wake up at 0630 hrs but I was so damn tired I had Yvonne hit the snooze button three times. Finally I woke up, dashed around to check my blood sugar - eat - dress - get out of the house. Dashed down the highways at 80+ mph to make it to the Kingston site on time. I got there, I thought, and then sat around noticing that no one from the work crew was there. Silly me I missed the time change from 0800 to 0900 hrs. My insecurity on this had me wake up my wife to read my email to confirm location. She was not happy! But finally I encountered someone from the school administration and confirmed the location and the changed start time.
Spent all day helping to salvage materials from the site. I felt like I was a crew man serving aboard an Eve Online starship - Salvage, Salvage, Salvage! Dismounting doors for resale via H4H's ReStore. Removing wood trim from doors, windows, and baseboards. Cutting copper pipe, into chunks, and the removing it from the building. Other minor activities as well but all focused on salvaging materials for ReStore.
To sum up today, FUN! Reconnected with a few people who I've meet on previous H4H days as well as meeting a few new ones. Have not meet anyone that incites my normal misanthropic nature. Truly an enjoyable time when that is avoided. I want to show up tomorrow, I hear that it is hard to get volunteers for this project, but between Yvonne needing to see the doctor (at 0800 hrs) and our need to pack for our week long vacation in Philadelphia (next week) I might not be able to attend.
If you are in New Hampshire and have time to spare, give this activity a try.
1 - My nom de plume for this is "Q". Just the letter "Q". It's been a face to face nick name of mine for several decades now. Addtionally there are usually more "Johns" around then you can shake a pecker at.
2 - My first day with SENH H4H was two weeks ago at the Farmington build during my wife's corporate "Day of Caring". I enjoyed putting up sheet rock so much that I returned to the Farmington site. Not the following Saturday but the one after that. (I had already made another commitment).
We spent that Saturday trying to put up a good ceiling coat on the first unit of Farmington. Sadly we only got to do one coat and it became apparent that it would need more than just one. Also I helped the couple who will be living in the second unit shovel gravel around and laying it down. (H4H recipients must put in sweat equity to properly qualify for homes.)
So now we come to this day, it did not start well for me:
Bad night last night, interrupted sleep and shorted sleep. Wanted to wake up at 0630 hrs but I was so damn tired I had Yvonne hit the snooze button three times. Finally I woke up, dashed around to check my blood sugar - eat - dress - get out of the house. Dashed down the highways at 80+ mph to make it to the Kingston site on time. I got there, I thought, and then sat around noticing that no one from the work crew was there. Silly me I missed the time change from 0800 to 0900 hrs. My insecurity on this had me wake up my wife to read my email to confirm location. She was not happy! But finally I encountered someone from the school administration and confirmed the location and the changed start time.
Spent all day helping to salvage materials from the site. I felt like I was a crew man serving aboard an Eve Online starship - Salvage, Salvage, Salvage! Dismounting doors for resale via H4H's ReStore. Removing wood trim from doors, windows, and baseboards. Cutting copper pipe, into chunks, and the removing it from the building. Other minor activities as well but all focused on salvaging materials for ReStore.
To sum up today, FUN! Reconnected with a few people who I've meet on previous H4H days as well as meeting a few new ones. Have not meet anyone that incites my normal misanthropic nature. Truly an enjoyable time when that is avoided. I want to show up tomorrow, I hear that it is hard to get volunteers for this project, but between Yvonne needing to see the doctor (at 0800 hrs) and our need to pack for our week long vacation in Philadelphia (next week) I might not be able to attend.
If you are in New Hampshire and have time to spare, give this activity a try.
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