Foam Forms and Footers

There are days where I truly wish I could click my heels and jump to the finish of this rebuilding effort. This is doubly sad given the fact that we are just getting started, having only had a permit in place for a few weeks. Nevertheless, there is action on Chase Manor Version 2.0, so it is time for an update.

Most of the effort at the start has been devoted to demolition and site prep for the foundation repair. The original house had an unfinished daylight basement, with cinder block wing walls (north and south) and 2x6 framing on the back wall (east). The remnants of the wing walls have been completely removed, down to the pad level, and in some cases below pad level down to the first layer of intact block resting on the footers. The only original wall remaining is the west wall, which with some repair will be reusable.

Having decided to finish out the basement for 2.0, we have elected to build a fairly large storm shelter (roughly 10x18), with reinforced concrete on every side. In order to make this work, the basement pad was channeled out in that space in order to lay down new footers to support the safety structure.

Rebar has already been laid out and tapped in to the existing west and north side footers. I'm not sure yet when they will come to pour those, but I imagine it will be soon.

In addition, we have elected to go with insulating concrete form (ICF) technology for all the exterior walls at basement level (as well as the storm shelter). Taking a closer look at this, you basically assemble these Lego-like styrofoam forms and fill them with concrete. In addition to the structural benefits we believe it offers, we also expect to gain some level of energy efficiency as the styrofoam forms remain a part of the structure, providing built in insulation.

Right now, the crews have assembled some of the forms, which wait in a corner for placement. However, much of the block around the perimeter of the pad will need to be replaced before any of this happens. I may have to find a way to go to the site and loiter when they begin assembling the forms, because I'm intrigued by how all that will work, to include the cutting out of the windows.

Tomorrow we have a major design meeting with the builder and the subcontractor for the framing, which should go a long way toward finalizing the overall floor plan for the residence.

It is good to be moving forward, and seeing some action at the property. But spring cannot get here soon enough.

No More Weekly Reader

I haven't thought about Weekly Reader in years. Receiving those venerable, thin periodicals every week in grade school was, if not a highlight, at least a memory that generations of students have shared.

But no more. In the modern era, sadly, the Weekly Reader no longer has a place:

Weekly Reader, a staple in American classrooms for a century, has some hard news for its young readers: it’s shutting down.

Chief rival Scholastic, which bought the school newspaper earlier this year, is folding it into Scholastic News and axing all but five of Weekly Reader’s 60 employees in White Plains, NY, The Post has learned.

Like all papers, Weekly Reader was struggling with changes roiling the print world and was under pressure to develop digital editions. Along with school budget cutbacks, those challenges were compounded by ownership turmoil that left the paper with few resources to invest, sources said.

Weekly Reader and its predecessor My Weekly Reader, which grew out of Current Events magazine in 1902, was read by two-thirds of all kids in grammar school at its peak and hit a high of 13 millions subscribers across its editions for pre-school through 12th grade.

I'm feeling older by the day. But no fear, because soon every student will have their own school-issued iPad, able to access the world. (Eye roll here).

Sometimes, simpler is better. A lesson we simply cannot seem to learn.

Like a Good Neighbor ...

My brother-in-law shared this with me today ... a genuine laugh out loud kind of moment. Of course, you might have to be a Cubs fan to really enjoy it.

Sweet Suite from a Movie About Bugs

Most weekdays, I provide taxi service for my children, getting them wherever they need to go while hoping that the effort doesn't make me too late in getting to the office. During the school year, this is often easier, in part because I'm considerably more "firm" in the enforcement of departure times. I admittedly relax that standard during the summer months.

The morning commute usually runs about 20-25 minutes, and I realized long ago that fighting a battle of what (if anything) plays on the car's CD player simply wasn't worth the effort. Happy kids increases the likelihood of good behavior - or at least behavior that minimizes the distraction to the driver. So we pretty much listen to whatever they want.

Fortunately for me, my kids enjoy a variety of music, and that includes soundtracks and instrumental compositions. Many of them, not surprisingly, have a Disney element. In the player right now is a Pixar's Greatest Hits compilation. On the whole, I enjoy it, in part because a substantial portion of the CD contains music composed by Randy Newman.

If you are aware of Newman's songwriting and singing, you know about his recognizable and distinctive voice. But he has also written numerous scores composed and arranged for orchestra or symphonic band. One such example is the piece below, entitled "A Bug's Life Suite" from, yes, the Pixar movie A Bug's Life. While not my favorite movie in the Pixar family, the piece below would be a delight to play. Having once had the opportunity to play the main theme music from The Magnificent Seven, I find some fun similarities when I listen to the Newman score. A similar flavor is found in the City Slickers soundtrack (which I adore) by Marc Shaiman.

Yes, I'm pining for the good old days where I could sit down with a symphonic array of musicians and lose myself for a few hours. I'll probably never stop pining for it, either. But I'll always make time to listen. Here's "A Bug's Life Suite", composed by Randy Newman.

This is My Story

"You did not choose Me, but I chose you …" (John 15:16a, NASB)

So begins what I consider to be my "life verse," that one special piece of Scripture that anchors me in my faith, that spurs me on as a Christ-follower. John 15:16, indeed, was at the very center of my return to Christ after my own prodigal journey some 20+ years ago.

In this chapter of "A Portrait of Me," I tell this story. Indeed, you could say that I have been building up to this moment on this blog for a couple of years now. I am fortunate enough to be able to present this story in a special audio format.

Over ten years ago, I served as a substitute speaker on occasion for the Wednesday night 2:42 services at Chase Valley Church. While Chase Valley no longer exists as a unique entity, its DNA lives on after a fashion in the Chase Campus of Cove Church. I had the opportunity to teach at least 4 times, each message recorded and stored on CD. It was to my great relief that all of these CDs were found in the rubble of my house after the storm destroyed it back in March.

Finding these CDs impressed upon me that left in a box, they serve no purpose. In time, as the opportunity warrants, I will awaken these messages from their digital dormancy and share them here on this blog. Indeed, we have the technology. The last message I gave shall be the first.

We love to tell stories. Some stories we tell over and over again. Others, we don't share often enough, but clearly should. This is my story, although it is not mine alone ("all creation tells the story, and testifies of His great glory"). Some of you were there when it was told. Others of you were there when it happened. Still others of you played a direct part in the plan to bring me back home. To each of you, my deepest thanks. To my family, I love you all, more than you know.

Run time is about 35 minutes. You have a couple of options: you should be able to play the mp3 file directly using Windows Media Player, or whatever player you have as your default media player. Or you can right-click on the link and select Save Target As and download the file.

So here it is. Thank you for listening.

April 10, 2002 - Chase Valley Church
Jim Chase - "This is My Story"

Other chapters:

A Portrait of Me: The Key
A Portrait of Me: River Walk
A Portrait of Me: Journey's Dawn
A Portrait of Me: I Am Prodigal
A Portrait of Me: This is My Story

Version 2.0 is Underway ... Sort of

Over four months after losing our home in the tornado, the task to build Version 2.0 is finally underway!

The good news: We have a contract with a builder, paperwork is at the bank, and a permit should be in place in a matter of days, if not sooner. Preliminary site preparations, to include residual demolition along the wing walls and some foundation repair is anticipated this week.

The bad news: After almost 6 weeks of hot, dry weather, mother nature picks THIS week to replenish the thirsty soil. So just as we're getting started, the weather throws a rainy wrench into this. Ironic, in a way.

Nevertheless, we are undeterred in our excitement to finally be moving forward on V2.0. There are lots of decisions still to be made, and we're waiting on several subcontractors to provide us needed feedback, but it does feel good to be looking at what's ahead and less so at what's behind.

The rain continues to fall. And that's okay.

At least we've got a sign:

Red, White & Blue

Sometimes, you simply need to let the voice of liberty ring out. May our voices never cease to celebrate life and liberty.


Happy Fourth of July!

So Long, Andy