July 22, 2008 AsktheBuilder News

What's in This Issue

EMAIL CALL
ICE
CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS UPDATE
NEW HAMPSHIRE - MAKING A DREAM COME TRUE

Email Call

In this issue of my newsletter I am going to talk about my move to New Hampshire and a few other things that have nothing to do with remodeling or building. This is a very rare occurrence.

I do this at great risk as last week I received a complaint from Joyce who said, "....I signed up for the newsletter to get information about home repair, remodeling, etc. I'm really not interested in learning of your personal vacation plans or your political views....."

Joyce and I emailed back and forth a few times, and I told her that she probably would be best served by unsubscribing. I think she was upset about my comments concerning the carbon-dioxide truck and/or my appearance in front of the Senate and House last week. No worries, as Joyce has made her choice.

The other side of the coin is each week I get increasing numbers of emails from people like you who say the exact opposite. They are tired of newsletters with little or no personality. They love the fact I am willing to open up the doors a bit on my private life as it shows the real me. You and I are very much alike. We both make mistakes, and we have small and large victories each week. I have said it before: nothing makes me happier about working on this newsletter than the feedback you send to me.

What a shame Joyce left. Why? Because once Kathy and I start building our new home in New Hampshire, this newsletter is going to be jammed packed with the trials and tribulations of my own building process. Oh well, life is full of decisions, and Joyce made hers. If you follow Joyce, I'm sorry to see you go.

ICE

I purchased a new 3G iPhone last week. Oh my gosh it's amazing. It has been over a year since I switched from PC computers to a MacBookPro, and my love affair with the Apple platform couldn't be more intense. I have shunned my Treo cell phone treating it as if it's a harlot.

While importing my contacts into the new phone, I set up something I sincerely hope is on your cell phone. The number for Ice. No, not the cold stuff, but the number the police, hospital or EMS should call In Case of Emergency and you can't talk. This contact acronym also comes in handy in case you lose your phone.

In your contact list create a listing titled ICE. Input the number or numbers of who should be called in case you pass out and emergency personnel need to contact a loved one or next of kin. Please don't put this off. Why not do it now as it only takes moments to do?

Congressional Hearings Update

Last week I shared that I was scheduled to testify in front of a Senate Subcommittee that deals with Antitrust issues. The same day I had to testify in front of the House Antitrust Task Force. I was a witness answering questions about the proposed advertising deal between Yahoo! and Google.

I am going to blog about the entire experience, but let me tell you that my opinion of our Federal government has changed. A month ago, I was very cynical about its workings. After last Tuesday, I can say that there is a glimmer of hope. After the House hearing, Congressman Cannon came up to me and told me my testimony made a deep impact on his thinking. He said he very well might call me to get more information.

That made a huge impression on me. Some of our legislators are in Washington with open minds wanting to do the right thing.

All day while I was in the hearings, I felt like I was floating on a cloud. It is hard to believe I was in those rooms and sitting at the witness table shoulder to shoulder with the head counsels from Microsoft, Yahoo! and Google. I can tell you one thing, the folks at Microsoft and ATT are none too happy with what I had to say. You should read my written testimony. A webcast video is available at http://judiciary.senate.gov/hearing.cfm?id=3469. Click on the webcast button. My testimony begins about 34 minutes into the hearing.

New Hampshire - Making a Dream Come True

Thirty-five years ago, I started to dream of owning land in New Hampshire. It all started when I saw a 240-acre tract of land that my then future father-in-law showed me and his family one night after we ate out. This land is in a small village in southwestern Ohio named North Bend. It got its name because this is where the Ohio River's course cuts closest to the North Pole as it journeys from Pittsburgh to the mighty Mississippi River.

The view from this land is stunning. It has a view of the Ohio River that is like none other for hundreds of miles. At one place on the land you can look upstream for about five miles.

Running through this land is a magical creek. I walked that creek countless times in all seasons as I courted Kathy and eventually as her husband. While doing so, I said to myself that I would one day own a large piece of land preferably with a view of water or a creek on it.

Kathy and I got married right out of college, and honeymooned in New England. I had always wanted to go there and so did Kathy. When we arrived in New Hampshire, we were both smitten. The White Mountains, as well as the Lakes Region, took our breath away. There are vistas in these areas that remind me of many places out West. While in New Hampshire, one of the nights before we drifted to sleep we made a pledge that we would live there one day.

But at the end of the honeymoon, we pointed my Ford F-100 pickup truck back west and life got in the way. This happens to many of us. I started my business in Cincinnati, Ohio, and we grew a family there at the same time.

However, we never lost site of the dream. About ten years ago, we took the kids up to New England for a vacation. The love affair with New Hampshire intensified. Kathy and I looked at each other and said, "We have to do it. We have to live here."

Keep in mind that both of us are four-seasons people. We hate the hot, humid summers of Cincinnati and the cold snowless winters. We wanted to live where the dew points are commonly in the upper 50s and snow is on the ground for a good part of winter. Did I mention that Fall is my favorite season?

Three years ago, we were able to finally start looking for land aiming for a final move date of August 2010. You can read all about the land, see some photos and watch a video here.

We intend to break ground for the new house in April, 2009. I have some site work to complete before the snow blows this winter, so I am moving up to New Hampshire now. In fact, as you read this, we should be finishing the drive to the Maria Atwood Inn in Franklin, NH.

This is the bed and breakfast I stay in when I go up there. But this is a sad week as it will be my last time staying in the gorgeous White Mountain room at the top of the steps. On Thursday July 24th, we close and move into the house we will live in while the new one is constructed. Drat it, I just remembered that the only way to get the unbelievable scones Sandi bakes is to stay at the Inn. Hmmmmmmm.................

My plans are to document the new-construction project from start to finish both in columns, photos and video. I will also have a live web camera set up so you can tune in at any time to see the progress. All in all it is going to be very exciting.

I was talking with my kids about this not too long ago trying to share the emotion of setting a goal or making a dream come true. They were not around when the vision happened, but they are witnessing the reality of making a 38-year-old dream come true.

I encourage you to do the same, if you haven't already. Make your dreams come true. In my opinion, we live in the greatest nation in the world. I know some of you will debate me on this, but by gosh the United States of America offers so much to so many. If you want to make something happen here, all that limits you is your diligence and determination.

This week will be hectic for me as I move, but I plan to survive. Please be patient with me during the next month as it is going to be filled with lots of emotions.

Index of past newsletters.