My Day In Pictures.
(and words)


Today is the day we're going to install my flat panel TV set. We're gonna wall-mount it, running the cables through the wall, and install in-wall speakers on either side of the TV set.

Here's the "BEFORE" picture, circa 10:00AM:



Around 10:30AM:
Mark has a good way of helping me visualize things, and that involves blue masking tape on the wall to give us quick and easy mockups...This proved indispensable to me, as my vision for mounting the TV was actually a little bit on the high side. Everything is going along swimmingly



We started to tackle the easy stuff first, and that was the cutouts for the in-wall speakers. We got the left one cut out, and then the right one. That's when troubles begin.

It's not that obvious at first, but the right one presents a major problem. Sure there's a fireblock running through where the speaker needs to be, but that's an easy fix, just knock it out...but see that vertical pipe? That's a gas line, which feeds our automatic fireplace starter. We did not anticipate this. Also, there is a stud immediately to the left of the hole just out of sight. There is NO WAY the speaker is going to fit in that bay.

So we sat down and went over our options, which boiled down to one of two things: either a) move the speakers or B) move the pipe. He assures me that either option really isn't that big of a deal. He and I ultimatley agree that the only other location to move the speakers, below the tv set, pretty much sucks, so we decide to go for option b.

Off to Home Depot we go, picking up pipe threaders, nipples, unions, 45 degree chinguses, etcetera.

We get back and after turning off the gas, he will cut the pipe out, adding a series of 45 degree elbows that effectively move the pipe about six inches to the right, giving us plenty of room to mount the speaker.

But first we have some demoing to do. he decides that since we were going to have to run a conduit for the video cables, as well as run a recessed outlet to behind the TV for power, what the hell, it's as easy to patch a small piece of drywall as it is to repair a big one, so out comes a 4x5' section of drywall This project is starting to grow, methinks:





Then after "moving" the gas pipe:

Also note in the following picture the 2" conduit and gangboxes installed for the video cables and to power the TV:


And then with the new drywall in place:




You can also see the spray foam insulation we sprayed down in there into the bay on the right hand side, for a couple reasons. 1 is to make a sort of fireblock for the one that we took out, and two, to secure the gas pipe in the wall so it doesn't rattle with all the vibrations the speakers are going to make. The foam expands wildly so once it's done expanding and curing, then we just need to cut it out to make way for the speaker.

That, my friends is how far we got today in about 8 hours. Now we need to mud and tape the drywall, then mud and feather the seams, and then it will be ready for texture and paint.

At that point, it will be a piece of cake to mount the TV to its mount, run the cables, install the clock outlet (recessed outlet) , pull the video cables, install the in-wall speakers, and it will be done.

Believe it or not, the hard part is over. A day or two to get the drywall finished and restored, and then a couple hours for the actual TV mounting process to get it formally installed, and we'll be done.

This has been a really fun learning experience for me, as I don't know the first thing about home remodeling or construction and so Mark took the time to explain what he was doing and let me ask questions, some of which I felt foolish for having to ask, but it's all good when you're learning I guess. To all you people who are skilled at this sort of stuff, my hat's off to you, it's a very handy skill to have!

More pictures will folow as the project progresses! It's been fun!

Contacts didn't work out

In fact, they didn't even last two days. I either need a new pair or need to give up on them entirely. And I think I might have given myself pinkeye. I had thought since I changed the solution out with moderate frequency and washed my RGP's, I should be good to go. We'll chalk that one up on the list of "seemed like a good idea at the time" ideas.

Back to trying contacts

And this could be a big thing for me.

How can something as simple as a pair of contact lenses make a big difference, you ask? Because I see so much better with them. With eyeglasses, my corrected vision is 20/40 to 20/50, which is just bad enough that they don't recommend I get a driver's license. with my RGP (hard) contact lenses, my corrected visual acuity jumps to 20/30 to 20/40 which is okay to drive.

I tried RGP contacts from July 2007 to July 2008, and eventually gave up on them; I couldn't ever seem to wear them for more than 8 hours in a day despite all the eye-rinses for allergies I tried, and despite impeccable proper care and handling of the lenses. They were also expensive, $100 per lens to replace, compared to $40 for a pair of eyeglasses through zennioptical.com....so i finally just said screw it, and put my RGP's into storage. I've still been maintaining the lenses, every one or two months I would clean the lenses, change out the storage cases with new solution, etcetera, to keep them maintained properly.

So, today I got a wild hair and decided to pull them out of mothballs and give them a try.

I need to go by my original wearing schedule which is something to the effect of:

Day 1: 3-4 hours
Day 2: 4-6 hours
Day 3: 6-8 hours
Day 4: 8-10 hours
Day 5: 10-12 hours
Day 6: 12-14 hours
Day 7 14+ Hours (all day wear)

They sure aren't as uncomfortable as the first time I tried wearing them. The thing with RGP's is that they aren't instantly comfortable like soft lenses are, you need a few days to get used to the feel of the hard plastic rubbing on the inside of your eyelids. But I am finding them only slightly uncomfortable at the moment, and I love how well I can see with them compared to eyeglasses. We will see how things progress, I would love to be able to get my eyesight under control enough to be able to finally get a driver's license. At 25 years old it will be long overdue.

"Back to Reality"

On the final leg of my trip home (Minneapolis/St Paul to Los Angeles International) I was sitting on the Boeing 757-200 jetting my way off into the sunset yesterday evening when I overheard a quick exchange between two passengers making small talk, that I could totally relate with:

Passenger A: "So, are you from Minnesota?"
Passenger B: "No, I live in California. I spent the last week in North Dakota; I was visiting home. Now It's back to reality for me."

I was struck by the way she worded that. She lives in California, but her home is North Dakota.

That sort of explains how I feel...now, family members reading this blog, don't get upset, I mean no disrespect in this, but after graduating from university in the midwest I've been feeling a sort of gravitational pull trying to bring me back "home". Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, doesn't matter which state, really....I am attracted by the slower country lifestyle, the lack of crime, the friendliness of the people, the wholesome lifestyle out there...contrast that to the California rat-race, the hustle and bustle of the people who have no time for even so much as a smile and a nod in passing to acknowledge one another...The crime, the gangs, the state government in shambles...I could go on and on.

I feel like while my reality is that I live in California, my heart is in the midwest somewhere wandering around in a cornfield, confused. Okay that's a terrible metaphor, but after spending 8 days in Sioux City I am starting to think more and more about seriously looking for work out there. I don't know for sure yet, I need to do a lot more soul-searching.

But for now, it's "Back to Reality" for me. My Iowa trip is over with, and now I need to unpack suitcases, wash clothes, sort through a pile of bills, catch up on to-do lists around here, and figure out which direction I want to steer my life. No pressure, though.

It was a great trip for me, refreshing for the soul to see all my old friends again, and even meet some new ones (Mary, Mancy, Julie, Josh, I'm looking in your direction!) I had a great time and didn't want to leave. Oh, how I hated to leave!

Congratulations Chad and Mary Benson!

They did it!

The ceremony was very nice, and the reception was killer! I had a great time, even though I have never sweat so much in my life. By the time the ceremony STARTED, I needed a shower. By the time the ceremony and post-game photos were taken, and the reception started, i all but decided Randall's Tux shop is going to end up burning my outfit because I sweat all the way through my undershirt, shirt, vest, AND coat!@ Holy crap!

The reception was a blast, and afterwords, dan and laura and I went out to Perkins for a couple more hours together one last time before I fly home.

Finally starting to unwind from the day, 2am and I'm happy to say all's well. I'm exhausted though. Tomorrow I fly back home, as much as I hate to leave. I have a lot of packing to do before then, but hopefully I will have time. I kind of wanted to do it all tonight so I can have tomorrow to spend with people, but right now I'm gonna crash.

Congrats to Chad and Mary!

Clay Pigeons

In lieu of a bona-fide bachelor/stagg party, we all decided to go out this morning and shoot clay pigeons. I've never fired a shotgun before so should be fun. But what i'm looking forward to most is being the unofficial outing photographer. Chad has put all his lenses at my disposal, which makes it feel like Christmas for me.

In other news, the bride's sister, brother-in-law and other good friend came into town yesterday; Now there are either 9 or 10 people crashing at this house; all sharing a single restroom! Wow! I got up at 7:30 after going to bed around 3:45am, just so I could hope to find the bathroom free and grab a shower before anyone else. My efforts were a success. Now I'm ready to crash for awile.

Today we also pick up the Tux's and have our rehersal, rehersal dinner, and they also said that we can go in and start decorating the reception hall this evening if we wish. normally they only let you in the day of, but they don't have it booked so gave us the all clear.

my trusty Optoma HD65 video projector will be playing the video slideshow during the reception, so that is one small way for me to help out. Chad and mary are both teachers so i have found myself wanting to help, but being mroe or less unneeded, as they have simply gone down their organized to-do lists and knocked off the items one-by-one. Very organized.

Sioux City, IA

Chad and I went walking around downtown Sioux City, he with his Rebel XT body and Canon EF 70-200mm F/2.8L IS, and I with my XTi body and kit lens.....here's a few of the sights I saw:








It was both relaxing and fun! Having a great time. Wish I had more time to blog, but I'm having too much fun! Enjoy.