Siding and themes...

My roommate, Tim, and I were able to finally buy our siding yesterday! What a great feeling to know that our house will once again look like a normal house soon (at least from the exterior). We got an almond color with a darker sand feel to it--and got a pretty good deal on it. I was already able to start putting j-channel up around the windows yesterday and finished 6 of the 9. If it would only stop raining this weekend, much more progress could be made.

I've noticed a typical theme throughout my blog as I look back at some of my posts. I talk about two main themes.....the lovely Candice (shown on the right--isn't she fantastic?) and my house. An occasional note about my family, my faith, or entertainment makes it up, but hopefully those who check out my blog don't mind my postings. I guess those are the two big events in my life right now--and I like it.

Here's something new for you....I've been reading from the book of Ecclesiastes of late, and I learned that the word means "preacher." The first few chapters speak largely about the foolishness and futility of most all personal strivings in life--everything is like a blowing of the wind. We should concentrate more on consecrating the vigor of our life to God and building His kingdom rather than our own. Solomon, the typically accredited author, says he's tried it all and hasn't found true joy or satisfaction in things of this world. I wish it was easier to merely accept his words and learn from his teaching, rather than often making the same mistakes and laboring in vein for such temporal things. Constantly having the mindset of God first instead of me can only help to begin cultivating a genuine satisfaction for this life.

The beloved Candice, Brock, and Tigers!

Once again I was able to make the trip to visit Candice, and once again it was an amazing weekend! It was so good to spend time in person with her and actually meet a lot of her family members. They're all great and deserve all the praise that Candice gave them before we actually met. I also got to go to Mosaic, the church Candice attends, and got to see a lot of her friends again and hang with Donald and Laura. Funny enough, when we got to Mosaic on Sunday night, we locked the car keys in the truck--so I called AAA and they came to unlock the car. In the meantime, Candice got to be apart of the music and I heard the message. It's always a bad feeling when you realize what you have done the instant you close a door. It's also a bad feeling when you have to leave the one who means so much to you.

Candice and I also had the chance to see my then 4-day old nephew, Brock! He seems like the sweetest little guy and was alert and limber when we were there. My parents and Joel and Lisa were also there, so it was fun to socialize with people you enjoy. Brock is very handsome and looks to be a perfect child.

Finally, the Detroit Tigers are once again in the postseason!!! This is the first time since 1987 they have made the playoffs. I was 6 at the time. And now I'm much older...you do the math. They have a chance to finish with the best record--not only in the American league, but in the major leagues! Three years ago they were the worst team with 113 losses and now they have a chance to be the best. Yea for Jim Leyland-the coach-he's really made a difference this year!

And the Wolverines won again! First undefeated September in many years--since like 1997. Go Blue!

All these new things!

On Tuesday afternoon, Rebekah and Ben (on the left in the picture with Jason and Liz on the right)had their baby boy, Brock Benjamin! He is a perfect baby with 10 fingers and toes and is just beautiful. So I guess that makes me an uncle once over! Candice and I will have the opportunity to see him on Saturday. I have to be honest--I haven't held a baby in many years--especially one that is only 4 days old! So I am slightly aware of this and I'm hoping he won't make too much of a fuss when I hold him. Being the youngest child and the only boy in my family caused me to not hold that many babies--but it's okay. I guess this will be that much more special.

I was working with my friend, Bill, yesterday at the Best Western and the project we were working on finished early. So we decided to head back to my house and pull the wire for my porch area. Amazingly enough, we got it all done in a few hours so that my house is virtually completely rewired. After Bill left, I had the ambition to start putting up some drywall, so there are a few new spots with drywall in my house! It's starting to really come along. I wasn't expecting to get the wiring and drywalling started for another week or so, but God had different plans! It also gets me excited to see things coming along so that I might be able to shorten the long-distance dating timeline with Candice!

Speaking of Candice (doesn't she look great in that picture? i think it's cool that she's wearing my shirt! :) ), that's what really goes thru my mind on an hourly basis. Tomorrow I get to fly down to spend a long weekend with her and I'll have the opportunity to meet her parents and brother, which I am excited about. Candice speaks so highly of all three that it will be a joy to finally meet them. But what I'm really looking forward to is spending the next 4 days with Candice!

Please permit me...

I stopped at the city building yesterday to inquire about my building permit. I had called earlier in the day to see if I could find out any information about the person who notified the city. Apparently, they don't keep track of that type of information, so I was left with the reality of paying for a permit to do siding. Fortunately, I had a nice lady to talk to who walked me thru the steps and got me the permit yesterday (the siding permit is the only one that can be acquired the same day). And it was only $60 because I will ideally be spending less than $1000 to side my house. Every additional $1000 increases the prices. And, the coolest thing about being at the city building was that I was able to inform the lady on where I was getting my siding--because she and her husband have been wanting to side, but it's been too expensive, and she couldn't believe I could do it for that cheap. So, I feel like I was able to do a good deed yesterday even though I went in somewhat frustrated. The house is now fully legal, there is a piece of paper in my window announcing my permit, and the city does not have to come out at all again! Also, thankfully I didn't need to get an electrical, structural, or plumbing permit either (as they could have wanted to do that!).

The picture attached is of the porch area where I just built the closet in the corner and raised the threshold between the living room and porch to open the space even more....I think this house gets bigger every day!

My sister, Rebekah, is having a baby today! I can't wait to hear what the name of the boy is and to see his picture! She is being induced today and was at the hospital at 5:30 this morning! I'm just waiting for a call.

Violator

I received a letter in the mail from the city on Thursday saying that I was in code violation on my house. On the basis of a complaint (either from a neighbor or a city official who drove by) I have no building permit for siding. I know that I've done significant work on my house that has probably warranted a permit (the law says any 1. new construction of building or structure (yes, I've done that), 2. moving a building (no), 3. structural alteration or remodeling (yes)). So, for sure I've constituted a permit, but the fact that someone now just turned me in in somewhat frustrating--especially when it is related to siding. So I have 10 days to get a permit and get approved for siding, and then we'll see what happens. If I fail to get a permit, they could get me for $85 for the first offense, $260 for the second, and $510 for the third. What can you do? I'm guessing the city just wants their money and it wasn't a neighbor who complained--but you can guess I'll go to the city building and find out who filed that complaint since it's public information!

Otherwise, I framed out the closet in the porch area yesterday, so I need to get my friend Bill over to run new wiring (don't tell the city!) and then it's drywall time! And hopefully soon it will be siding time. The rain this past week has put a slow on that whole process.

Only 6 more days till I get to travel to see the most wonderful girlfriend in the world! Yay!! The countdown takes too long. And then I'll get to see my nephew in 7 days! What a great time of year.

Go Michigan--beat them Irish. I read an article online (and it was ESPN, so it has to be true) on Thursday that had some Michigan stats--thought I'd post them (sorry, Candice).
"When you own the most victories incollege football history, the highest winning percentage, the most distinctive helmet and the best fight song, you're not typically burdened with statement games. But sometimes, not even an NCAA-record 31 straight bowl bids, 11 national titles or three Heisman Trophies are enough."

In the Zone

I've been recently in the zone on working on my house. It's a fun state to be in because time doesn't really exist. I come home from work, get some music playing, and start the process. I've been working this week on the new porch floor (it had to be shimmed up and leveled)--and i am one sheet of screwed down plywood from being done. Also, there is only one more new window to install and then the siding process will officially begin. When I'm in the zone I don't want to go to work--just work on the house. The library is closing.

Good Country

It's always enjoyable to see how couples interact when visiting a hotel. Since I work at one, I often get to see them as they are eating breakfast, swimming, or just walking down the hall. This morning I saw a couple in their late 50's getting breakfast. It was neat to see them pray together-outloud-before they ate. And as they were talking and eating, you could just sense the love they had for each other. I know I've been blessed with great role models in this capacity--such as my parents--to know that love doesn't have to ever be lost. That it can be new and refreshing each day. In the beginning, love (or other actions) begins a lot with a choice, but soon becomes more of a lifestyle/reality that becomes stronger over time.

I got to see Jake Owen in concert last night. He's an up-and-coming country music star and he was downtown in a free open-air concert. You'll have to check out his music sometime. He's got the Keith Urban look (except with black hair) and a solid band--there's even a steel guitar player. Here's a couple of his songs I like:
Yee Haw
You Can Thank Dixie
Hard Not to Love You
Something about a Woman

Don't let her leave!

My girl, Candice, was up over the weekend for 5 days! We had such a great time being together (going to such places as Grand Haven, my parent's house, Reed's Lake, my sister and brother-in-law's place, and the Detroit-area). Candice also got to meet a few of my good friends--and she still likes me, so that's exciting! :) It was extremely hard to let her leave last night, but it's a reality we have to live with for a few months till this house gets done (I put up a picture of the cathedral ceiling in the porch we recently finished), and we've already scheduled another time to be together! Two and a half weeks will be over soon enough.