The house has been sitting on the foundation for sixty-three days. Tomorrow, Mr. Sub-Contractor will begin installing the basement windows and siding. (C) 2023, JJ ShaunThe basement windows. (C) 2023, JJ ShaunBasement materials. This coming week, the workers will close in the downstairs and build the stairs from the upper level to the lower level. … Continue reading Rebuilding the Dream, Pt 150
I’ve been staying in close contact with Mr. Sub-Contractor. He’s probably tiring of my asking, “Are you done yet?” This past week, the electrician was up to hook up electricity. Yay, the house now has lights. But not much more. The next task scheduled for completion next week is the downstairs window and door installation, … Continue reading Rebuilding the Dream, Pt 149
One thousand, forty-four days. That’s how long First Reader and I have been un-homed. Our contractor has not done a bloody thing since they placed the house on July 10. Wait, I take that back. They sealed the gables in the days following the delivery. Now, we wait for contractors to decide whether the drive … Continue reading Rebuilding the Dream, Pt 148
So, after successfully dodging COVID in South Dakota for the last three years, it caught us. I rode home Monday with a screaming headache, a scratchy throat, and a bit of a dry cough. It could have been allergies, since I neglected to pack an extra night’s worth of my asthma med. I kept my … Continue reading A Week of Recovery
(C) 2023, JJ ShaunMotorcycles everywhere! What a week! Monday, we got rained in for most of the day. After a brief excursion to Walmart for the necessities we don’t have room to carry, we barely beat the precipitation back to the cabin. That was OK, though. The ride up was long and tiring, so having … Continue reading Sturgis 2023: Almost Heading Home
(C) 2023, JJ Shaun What a ride! (C) 2023, JJ ShaunGetting ready to leave. We arrived at our cabin around 7:00 PM Sunday evening. The ride was cooler this year than in previous years. Wearing the proper gear is key to a comfortable ride, so the cool temperatures and intermittent clouds were a challenge. I … Continue reading Sturgis Rally 2023, Day One
Every year, our region experiences monsoon season. A confluence of weather changes in the desert southwest, Gulf of Mexico, and Pacific Ocean draws moisture in from the south. This moisture clashes with the build-up of hot air in northern areas, which leads to afternoon thunderstorms. One year, the city recorded about six inches of rain … Continue reading Rebuilding the Dream, Pt 147
Now that Mr. Sub-Contractor has the measurements he needs, he’s spent the week getting bids for the project. We communicated late in the week, and he’s crunching numbers, so we should have more information by tomorrow or Tuesday. Having the house on the foundation and not seeing progress is almost more difficult than it not … Continue reading Rebuilding the Dream, Pt 146
Earlier this week, we met with Mr. Sub-Contractor to discuss stairs, windows, siding, decks, and the basement door. Our original idea was to have a wrap-around deck, but with the cost of materials right now, that won’t happen. We opted for a 10 x 10 platform leading into the dining room on the main level, … Continue reading Rebuilding the Dream, Pt 145
“A smile is a curve that sets everything straight.” ~Phyllis Diller American stand-up comedian, actress, author, musician, and visual artist Phyllis Diller was born on this day in 1917.
Books, games, music, and life — filtered through the mind of a writer, drummer, and philosopher who thinks too deeply about all of it. If it moves something in your chest, I'm interested.
Tavern Tales
Poetry BLOG By Edge of Humanity Magazine
New Writing Engaging with the Sacred
J.J. Shaun 