So in that classic t.v. show, Fantasy Island, you start the program with Tattoo vigorously ringing a bell and yelling, “The plane! The plane!” In similar fashion, the fullfilment of my renovation fantasy will start to come true with “the plans! the plans!” that my contractor provided to me last week. I also met with the electrical, plumbing, masonry, and other trades folk who are working on this project as well as the interior designer. Continue reading The Plans! The Plans! →

Remember that classic movie “Se7en” with Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman?  You have to see this classic thriller if you haven’t. In the movie, Brad and Morgan are chasing a serial killer who uses the seven deadly sins as the basis for his murders. Of the many gruesome scenes, one came to mind distinctly as I was walking around the hell hole that is my house. Continue reading Of Sins, Deadly Or Otherwise →

One of the more interesting books I read a while back was about advertising. One of the insights I got from that book is a very simple premise for the ads that you see on TV or in print. When a company sells you a product they are not selling you on the features or utility of their product in your every day life. They are speaking to your fantasies about that person that you dream to be and how their product will be part of that fantasy. Continue reading Reality Hits Home →

Growing up as a latch key kid meant that I watched a lot of TV in my wayward childhood. One show that  I liked was Scooby Doo. Until Scrappy Doo came into the picture. Anyway Mystery Inc always seemed to find clues that would solve the case, especially if it involved a rubber mask or a projector of ghostly images. Unfortunately, I did not have a talking dog to help me out when I purchased my fixer upper. Continue reading Of mysteries solved and unsolved →

The humble garage. It’s just a slab of concrete with 4 walls. Always used for storage. Even for a car. In the fall of 2012, I was in my garage and just stared at it. I did that sometimes even for as long as 20 minutes. It was one of those wistful stares that you see in a John Hughes movie. You know the one about unrequited teenage love and existential angst. Yeah that look. Continue reading Tales of Renovation Past, Part 1 →