We have freezing rain outside. Winter is here, but summer is on the way and with that comes AirVenture 2005 in Oshkosh, WI. It is going to be great.
Sunday, January 23, 2005
Saturday, January 15, 2005
I ordered the glass for the Hall project on December 3rd. Little did I know it would be January 7th before the last piece would be in. Suddenly, as I placed the order there was a world-wide shortage of glass. It had nothing to do with the order being placed in December...Christmas plays havoc with the construction trades.
Jacob's delivered the order promptly at 9am on Monday. It was a pretty large order for the size of the project. We had a 5'o"X4'0" slider, two 8'0"X5'6" plate windows and a 4'6"X79" sliding door unit. All of it was custom glass set in bronze aluminum frames. Nice stuff with a nice price tag....but it will be well worth the money and time when the project is finished.
Harry and I had a plan. We would install the large plate windows first, followed by the new sliding door unit. We would secure all in place. Set the wedges. Insulate and spray foam and call it a day.
All went well. The large windows were a pain to put together, but wow, they looked great when set. Harry and Roberto finished up the windows while I assembled the sliding door frame. It was a tight fit in our framed opening. Harry and I smiled and knew we were lucky...we would later claim we planned it that way. We knocked off at around 4pm after a good day. $.50 beer night at the Pub was calling.
Tuesday dawned another warm January day. Our goal for Tuesday was to remove the existing 8'0"X6'0" sliding door unit and re-install it in the new framed opening. We would then tear out what was left of the old window wall. Remove the old glass. Disassemble the old mahogany window frames to be cut into trim and sweep up the left over mess. We would then take a piece of the old sill to make the buttom frame for the small sliding window unit. with that finsihed all the glass would be set. We made a good show, but that was to much work for one day. In the middle, I had to run for lumber and supplies. We fell a bit short, but knew we had done a good days work. As we took the old sliding door unit apart we noticed it was the same as the new unit. Not is size, but in quality....they were both made by the same factory in Martinville, VA.
The old unit was made in 1968...the new unit was made in 2004. They were the same in workmanship....very good door units! West Window and Door has not changed there design or quality for over 30yrs. That is one reason they are still in business today.....we could all learn from them. When it is good...don't change it!!
Wednesday the weather was much the same as it has been for three weeks. Cool nights and days which reach the sixties. The forecast was for nasty weather by Friday. We would have to move fast to finish the glass set and have the outside siding and trim done as well flashed to avoid interior moisture. we finished up setting all the glass, windows and doors and set about finishing up any wall framing as well as sparying foam and insulating where needed. Harry began to make a list of materials for the exterior trim and Roberto and I began the clean-up for an early knock off...$4.00 wings at he Pub!! We cleaned well and re-oranized our tools. We tarvel with a mobile woodshop so it can get out of sorts quickly. We were finished by 3pm. Anita drove up as we were leaving. I was glad. I wanted to be there when she was able to stand in the new space with the old wall removed. An additional 200sqft doesn't sound like much until you realize how narrow the room was before. We did have some bad news for her. The house is post and beam. We are enclosing a 6'6" cantilever from the living room above. Two large beams extend through the space to posts on the outside. The old wall had two posts running under the beams, but they were carring no real weight as there were no concrete footing under the posts. we were going to remove the posts and open the entire room up. The beams are 16" deep X 5" wide. they would esily carry the weight above as the roof load is carried by two more posts under the roof walls coming down the structure. When we tore out the wall we were disappointed. The beams were not solid. They broke over the posts at the old wall....with a short six foot beam carrying the cantilever. we could float the beams with LVL's, but the Halls did not wan to spend the extra $4500.00 to clear the space. She was a bit down, but we had told them of this possibility beforehand. Bill showed up and they both stood in the space for the first time. Even with the posts it will be an awesome home theater den!
The weather forecast was awful. The spring like winter we had enjoyd after Christmas was coming to an end. We needed to get the outside of the room covered in wall foam, siding and trim. We also needed to make sure the exterior crack and crevices were filled. Water was going to be an issue....good flashing design was needed. We set our thoughts on thses issues as we formed a materials list. Roberto was busy cleaning old interior trim while Harry and I set our for lumber. Again, Douglar Fir is suddenly in short supply in the Triangle area. I remember while I was in high school every major lumber yard carried great stacks of DougFir. You could always count on West Durham Lumber, which sold out in Novemebr to Talbert's Lumber from Roxboro.....Talbert's is not going to stock finish grade DougFir. After many miles and calls we found what we needed and headed back to the jobsite. The three us us spent the rest of the day ripping ply, fir and mahogany. Cutting finish angles and placing trim and siding was the end of the day.
For once the weather folks were correct for Friday's forecast. Friday morning at 4am the thunderstorms started with a vengence. Thunde, lightning, heavy winds and buckets of rain. I knew we would not make a morning of exterior work. Met harry and Roberto in Creedmoor. At that time Harry's truck clutch started giving him a fit. Here we were, in the pouring rain and falling temps figuring out a broken clutch. We pieced it together and moved on. Harry and Robert went on toward Durham to being laying tile. I headed for a granite yard to find samples for a project next month. It was still raining and the breeze was blowing. I had on my rain shell, but even with that on the driving rain soaked me. I ran the samples by our February client and headed for Durham. It was continuing to rain as I found Harry and Roberto laying out the design for our tile project. It was then I saw that the project had leaked during the night. It will stop as we finsih the exterior trim and flashing. Harry needed some supplies, so I hopped in his truck and made a quick run. It was then I noticed I was not feeling 100%. Returned about noon and wanted some soup. We took lunch at a soup joint in Chapel Hill and went back to work. The rain had stopped, but the temp was dropping! We worked until 3pm. I was tired, not feeling well, frustrated and ready to go home. We left, went by the Pub and I had a shot of whiskey. Came home and went to bed.
The beginning of the week was awesome. The end was wet, cold and frustrating. It happens, but even in that...I love what we do!!
Jacob's delivered the order promptly at 9am on Monday. It was a pretty large order for the size of the project. We had a 5'o"X4'0" slider, two 8'0"X5'6" plate windows and a 4'6"X79" sliding door unit. All of it was custom glass set in bronze aluminum frames. Nice stuff with a nice price tag....but it will be well worth the money and time when the project is finished.
Harry and I had a plan. We would install the large plate windows first, followed by the new sliding door unit. We would secure all in place. Set the wedges. Insulate and spray foam and call it a day.
All went well. The large windows were a pain to put together, but wow, they looked great when set. Harry and Roberto finished up the windows while I assembled the sliding door frame. It was a tight fit in our framed opening. Harry and I smiled and knew we were lucky...we would later claim we planned it that way. We knocked off at around 4pm after a good day. $.50 beer night at the Pub was calling.
Tuesday dawned another warm January day. Our goal for Tuesday was to remove the existing 8'0"X6'0" sliding door unit and re-install it in the new framed opening. We would then tear out what was left of the old window wall. Remove the old glass. Disassemble the old mahogany window frames to be cut into trim and sweep up the left over mess. We would then take a piece of the old sill to make the buttom frame for the small sliding window unit. with that finsihed all the glass would be set. We made a good show, but that was to much work for one day. In the middle, I had to run for lumber and supplies. We fell a bit short, but knew we had done a good days work. As we took the old sliding door unit apart we noticed it was the same as the new unit. Not is size, but in quality....they were both made by the same factory in Martinville, VA.
The old unit was made in 1968...the new unit was made in 2004. They were the same in workmanship....very good door units! West Window and Door has not changed there design or quality for over 30yrs. That is one reason they are still in business today.....we could all learn from them. When it is good...don't change it!!
Wednesday the weather was much the same as it has been for three weeks. Cool nights and days which reach the sixties. The forecast was for nasty weather by Friday. We would have to move fast to finish the glass set and have the outside siding and trim done as well flashed to avoid interior moisture. we finished up setting all the glass, windows and doors and set about finishing up any wall framing as well as sparying foam and insulating where needed. Harry began to make a list of materials for the exterior trim and Roberto and I began the clean-up for an early knock off...$4.00 wings at he Pub!! We cleaned well and re-oranized our tools. We tarvel with a mobile woodshop so it can get out of sorts quickly. We were finished by 3pm. Anita drove up as we were leaving. I was glad. I wanted to be there when she was able to stand in the new space with the old wall removed. An additional 200sqft doesn't sound like much until you realize how narrow the room was before. We did have some bad news for her. The house is post and beam. We are enclosing a 6'6" cantilever from the living room above. Two large beams extend through the space to posts on the outside. The old wall had two posts running under the beams, but they were carring no real weight as there were no concrete footing under the posts. we were going to remove the posts and open the entire room up. The beams are 16" deep X 5" wide. they would esily carry the weight above as the roof load is carried by two more posts under the roof walls coming down the structure. When we tore out the wall we were disappointed. The beams were not solid. They broke over the posts at the old wall....with a short six foot beam carrying the cantilever. we could float the beams with LVL's, but the Halls did not wan to spend the extra $4500.00 to clear the space. She was a bit down, but we had told them of this possibility beforehand. Bill showed up and they both stood in the space for the first time. Even with the posts it will be an awesome home theater den!
The weather forecast was awful. The spring like winter we had enjoyd after Christmas was coming to an end. We needed to get the outside of the room covered in wall foam, siding and trim. We also needed to make sure the exterior crack and crevices were filled. Water was going to be an issue....good flashing design was needed. We set our thoughts on thses issues as we formed a materials list. Roberto was busy cleaning old interior trim while Harry and I set our for lumber. Again, Douglar Fir is suddenly in short supply in the Triangle area. I remember while I was in high school every major lumber yard carried great stacks of DougFir. You could always count on West Durham Lumber, which sold out in Novemebr to Talbert's Lumber from Roxboro.....Talbert's is not going to stock finish grade DougFir. After many miles and calls we found what we needed and headed back to the jobsite. The three us us spent the rest of the day ripping ply, fir and mahogany. Cutting finish angles and placing trim and siding was the end of the day.
For once the weather folks were correct for Friday's forecast. Friday morning at 4am the thunderstorms started with a vengence. Thunde, lightning, heavy winds and buckets of rain. I knew we would not make a morning of exterior work. Met harry and Roberto in Creedmoor. At that time Harry's truck clutch started giving him a fit. Here we were, in the pouring rain and falling temps figuring out a broken clutch. We pieced it together and moved on. Harry and Robert went on toward Durham to being laying tile. I headed for a granite yard to find samples for a project next month. It was still raining and the breeze was blowing. I had on my rain shell, but even with that on the driving rain soaked me. I ran the samples by our February client and headed for Durham. It was continuing to rain as I found Harry and Roberto laying out the design for our tile project. It was then I saw that the project had leaked during the night. It will stop as we finsih the exterior trim and flashing. Harry needed some supplies, so I hopped in his truck and made a quick run. It was then I noticed I was not feeling 100%. Returned about noon and wanted some soup. We took lunch at a soup joint in Chapel Hill and went back to work. The rain had stopped, but the temp was dropping! We worked until 3pm. I was tired, not feeling well, frustrated and ready to go home. We left, went by the Pub and I had a shot of whiskey. Came home and went to bed.
The beginning of the week was awesome. The end was wet, cold and frustrating. It happens, but even in that...I love what we do!!
Josh, Emily, Elijah, Melissa, Steven, Mark, Travis, Julie, Lori & Frank.
Josh, Emily, Elijah, Melissa, Steven, Mark, Travis, Julie, Lori & Frank.
Frank had not changed a bit. No, really..he was the same as the last time I saw him in '94. He was dressed sharp....not in his hood suit. He is thirty now. I was shocked by his smile and the warm bear hug he gave me from his small frame.
Elijah had changed!! Lost some hair, but still in outstanding physical condition. He was in my home last the first few days of '95. A trip to NYC for New Years found him in a depressed state of drug use and way to much alcohol. He knew then this way would lead to an early death. Shelley and I prayed for him and with him and he did ask Jesus to change him. But here he was telling me he REALLY was "born-again" in '96. Married now, he is teaching math at a small christian classical school north of Charlotte. His wife was a NCAA Division 1 soccer star and he was sucked into the sport. They spend their leisure time playing and teaching in summer camps here in NC.
It was good to see him! WOW! The smile on his face was proof Jesus can change people.
Emily was the same cute redhead. She is a bartender at the Carolina AleHouse in Raleigh. Immediately I noticed she was still struggling emotionally and spiritually...in many ways she has not matured past her high school/college age. Fragile...to the point of being frustrating to herself and I am sure those around her. It was sad.....Oh God!... Find her or let her find you!
Josh was bald as an onion! Still short and stocky he spends alot of time in the gym. He flunked out of college and ended up at Breuger's Bagels. He is the assistant manager of two stores. One in Durham close to Duke University,the other, in Chapel Hill on Franklin St. His smile can still brighten a room. Elijah, his older brother says he is still struggling with Jesus. I thought we all did!
Mark's face was plastered with a huge smile....as always. He towered over me being at least 6'6", if not more. He still tells corny jokes and wise cracks, but as usual is harmless. He gave up on college and works for golf courses. Finally grabbing a wait staff spot at the Washington Duke Hotel. A very swanky place in West Campus on the golf course. He is still taking all extra money to buy baseball memorabilia. His collection is so big his father opened a store in Philly. The collection is probably worth millions and he will be the next goofymillionairecollegedropout.
Melissa was there. She is now 26 and no longer a skinny, giggly high school girl. She is in school in Asheville. Working on a masters degree in Nursing. Quiet and demure, I was surprised she was not married.
Travis and Julie were there together. As they were all through high school. Or at least from the first week Julie showed up at school. They married in college and both work at Duke University Medical Center. Julie in genetic research. Travis in administration. They are members of Holy Cross Catholic on Alston Ave. Travis is the only "white" guy, but they love the vicar and the comminity that is Holy Cross. No children yet.....odd, they will make great parents. They live on what is left of the Brown Farm off Mt. Moriah Rd. It will become much to valuable as commercial real estate....being crunched between the growth of Durham and Chapel Hill. I am sure I will ride by there in five years and see expensive town homes.
Lori was there with her husband. Two kids. She loves being a mother and wife. Tim a painting contractor. They are living for Jesus...probably not like their parents would. Not at all like the churches they attended as children. But, on their terms, with THEIR God.
Steven was very tall. He owns a graphic design company in Greensboro. Between tobacco and drug companies his company has grown well and fast. He is married with two kids. Living for Jesus. He was wondering were David stood with Jesus. I didn't know.
I met Jimmy for the first time. In many ways he was the reason we were together after almost ten years. He spent most of the week in the Orange County jail. Doug Fisher was hired as his attorney and had bond reduced. He was heartbroken, confused, regretful, afraid, embarassed, all rolled up in one. He was charged with vehicular manslaughter. He was driving. His blood alcohol level was .008...over the legal limit in NC. On top of all of this. His best friend of more than nine years was dead. His life will never be the same...regardless of the years...UNC Football games will never be fun. College Bowl Season will never be exciting. New Years will always sting.
David was dead. He died in an auto crash. His best friend was driving and fell asleep. Four friends had attended the Continental Tire Bowl in Charlottle. UNC vs BC. UNC won. A great time together. A few beers. Lots of laughs. A late night drive. A flipping car. A dead young man.
Out of the blue David had called his high school chums before Christmas. Many had not heard from him in years. Josh, Melissa, Emily and David had spent the Wednesday night before the game in Durham catching up on old times. They were happy to spend time together after the years and were all looking forward to more nights of this foursome. He contacted Emily first. They had seen each other several times between Thanksgiving and Christmas. They were "dating again" , by Emily's words.(they had dated their senior year of high school and into the freshman year of college) Now, all hope of renewed friendship or love was gone.
I met more young people David's age. They all seemed to know about me as I introduced myself...."YOU were David's youth pastor!" I heard it more than once. I was confused. I was just a youth pastor. The afore mentioned kids were part of the youth group and also students at Cresset Christain Academy. The academy responsibilities were part of...."other responsibilities as needed". I was the chaplain also....all chapels were for me to plan and execute. I handled as many of the high school chapels as I could. I loved these kids!!
David was part of the youth group. From his sophomore year on David was around. He was funny. Pensive. Moody. A typical male in high school. A walking hormone. His father abandoned the family when David was a baby. He loved his mother. He loved friends easily and was heartbroken by them more than once.
His freshman year of college his mother was shot and killed.....by her estranged second husband. The "husband" then shot himself.....All of this in the Hudson/Belk Department Store at Northgate Mall. David was crushed! And by all reports was never the same.....who would be?
Jimmy connects the next few years. David became a part of Jimmy's family. Holidays, special occasions, family trips. David was now part of a family.....Jimmy's parents his.
Girls came and went. Along with a rather large collection of tatoos....or one tatoo. From the left side of his neck. Over his left shoulder. Down to his left hip. His left breat had a large red heart...with his mothers' name....his "first" tatoo. He sold hot tubs and outdoor furniture. He was good at it from what I am told.
But, somehow he communicated to all his friends and "new" family that if he was ever in the hospital....or if he died they were to contact .....ME.
ME. Why me? I was just a youth pastor. Shelley and I opened our home for students to come and hangout. We didn't preach! We talked about God, Jesus, the bible. We asked questions. Some that had no answers. We talked about our hopes, fears, failures, victories, heartaches....the real stuff we faced each day. David saw us struggle with the electric bill, tires for the car, our marriage. He didn't hear about "A" prayer. He heard about Jesus...not the Jesus of the church, or the school, or the student manual....the Jesus of the bible...
Did he ever pray "the prayer". I don't know. I know he heard about Jesus. I know he heard about the simplicity of faith. I know he heard about Grace......
Frank had not changed a bit. No, really..he was the same as the last time I saw him in '94. He was dressed sharp....not in his hood suit. He is thirty now. I was shocked by his smile and the warm bear hug he gave me from his small frame.
Elijah had changed!! Lost some hair, but still in outstanding physical condition. He was in my home last the first few days of '95. A trip to NYC for New Years found him in a depressed state of drug use and way to much alcohol. He knew then this way would lead to an early death. Shelley and I prayed for him and with him and he did ask Jesus to change him. But here he was telling me he REALLY was "born-again" in '96. Married now, he is teaching math at a small christian classical school north of Charlotte. His wife was a NCAA Division 1 soccer star and he was sucked into the sport. They spend their leisure time playing and teaching in summer camps here in NC.
It was good to see him! WOW! The smile on his face was proof Jesus can change people.
Emily was the same cute redhead. She is a bartender at the Carolina AleHouse in Raleigh. Immediately I noticed she was still struggling emotionally and spiritually...in many ways she has not matured past her high school/college age. Fragile...to the point of being frustrating to herself and I am sure those around her. It was sad.....Oh God!... Find her or let her find you!
Josh was bald as an onion! Still short and stocky he spends alot of time in the gym. He flunked out of college and ended up at Breuger's Bagels. He is the assistant manager of two stores. One in Durham close to Duke University,the other, in Chapel Hill on Franklin St. His smile can still brighten a room. Elijah, his older brother says he is still struggling with Jesus. I thought we all did!
Mark's face was plastered with a huge smile....as always. He towered over me being at least 6'6", if not more. He still tells corny jokes and wise cracks, but as usual is harmless. He gave up on college and works for golf courses. Finally grabbing a wait staff spot at the Washington Duke Hotel. A very swanky place in West Campus on the golf course. He is still taking all extra money to buy baseball memorabilia. His collection is so big his father opened a store in Philly. The collection is probably worth millions and he will be the next goofymillionairecollegedropout.
Melissa was there. She is now 26 and no longer a skinny, giggly high school girl. She is in school in Asheville. Working on a masters degree in Nursing. Quiet and demure, I was surprised she was not married.
Travis and Julie were there together. As they were all through high school. Or at least from the first week Julie showed up at school. They married in college and both work at Duke University Medical Center. Julie in genetic research. Travis in administration. They are members of Holy Cross Catholic on Alston Ave. Travis is the only "white" guy, but they love the vicar and the comminity that is Holy Cross. No children yet.....odd, they will make great parents. They live on what is left of the Brown Farm off Mt. Moriah Rd. It will become much to valuable as commercial real estate....being crunched between the growth of Durham and Chapel Hill. I am sure I will ride by there in five years and see expensive town homes.
Lori was there with her husband. Two kids. She loves being a mother and wife. Tim a painting contractor. They are living for Jesus...probably not like their parents would. Not at all like the churches they attended as children. But, on their terms, with THEIR God.
Steven was very tall. He owns a graphic design company in Greensboro. Between tobacco and drug companies his company has grown well and fast. He is married with two kids. Living for Jesus. He was wondering were David stood with Jesus. I didn't know.
I met Jimmy for the first time. In many ways he was the reason we were together after almost ten years. He spent most of the week in the Orange County jail. Doug Fisher was hired as his attorney and had bond reduced. He was heartbroken, confused, regretful, afraid, embarassed, all rolled up in one. He was charged with vehicular manslaughter. He was driving. His blood alcohol level was .008...over the legal limit in NC. On top of all of this. His best friend of more than nine years was dead. His life will never be the same...regardless of the years...UNC Football games will never be fun. College Bowl Season will never be exciting. New Years will always sting.
David was dead. He died in an auto crash. His best friend was driving and fell asleep. Four friends had attended the Continental Tire Bowl in Charlottle. UNC vs BC. UNC won. A great time together. A few beers. Lots of laughs. A late night drive. A flipping car. A dead young man.
Out of the blue David had called his high school chums before Christmas. Many had not heard from him in years. Josh, Melissa, Emily and David had spent the Wednesday night before the game in Durham catching up on old times. They were happy to spend time together after the years and were all looking forward to more nights of this foursome. He contacted Emily first. They had seen each other several times between Thanksgiving and Christmas. They were "dating again" , by Emily's words.(they had dated their senior year of high school and into the freshman year of college) Now, all hope of renewed friendship or love was gone.
I met more young people David's age. They all seemed to know about me as I introduced myself...."YOU were David's youth pastor!" I heard it more than once. I was confused. I was just a youth pastor. The afore mentioned kids were part of the youth group and also students at Cresset Christain Academy. The academy responsibilities were part of...."other responsibilities as needed". I was the chaplain also....all chapels were for me to plan and execute. I handled as many of the high school chapels as I could. I loved these kids!!
David was part of the youth group. From his sophomore year on David was around. He was funny. Pensive. Moody. A typical male in high school. A walking hormone. His father abandoned the family when David was a baby. He loved his mother. He loved friends easily and was heartbroken by them more than once.
His freshman year of college his mother was shot and killed.....by her estranged second husband. The "husband" then shot himself.....All of this in the Hudson/Belk Department Store at Northgate Mall. David was crushed! And by all reports was never the same.....who would be?
Jimmy connects the next few years. David became a part of Jimmy's family. Holidays, special occasions, family trips. David was now part of a family.....Jimmy's parents his.
Girls came and went. Along with a rather large collection of tatoos....or one tatoo. From the left side of his neck. Over his left shoulder. Down to his left hip. His left breat had a large red heart...with his mothers' name....his "first" tatoo. He sold hot tubs and outdoor furniture. He was good at it from what I am told.
But, somehow he communicated to all his friends and "new" family that if he was ever in the hospital....or if he died they were to contact .....ME.
ME. Why me? I was just a youth pastor. Shelley and I opened our home for students to come and hangout. We didn't preach! We talked about God, Jesus, the bible. We asked questions. Some that had no answers. We talked about our hopes, fears, failures, victories, heartaches....the real stuff we faced each day. David saw us struggle with the electric bill, tires for the car, our marriage. He didn't hear about "A" prayer. He heard about Jesus...not the Jesus of the church, or the school, or the student manual....the Jesus of the bible...
Did he ever pray "the prayer". I don't know. I know he heard about Jesus. I know he heard about the simplicity of faith. I know he heard about Grace......