7/21

Contractor just left. He tells me that he doesnt think we need to remove the floor under the cabinets but he may be pressured to by others. He does feel that he will need to remove ALL the flooring on the level to get a good match though. This wont take any longer than just doing part.

Later today the plumber is coming back to install a new faucet, and check the dishwasher. Hopefully we can determine the cause of the leak.

Water damage

Here is the back story

About 2 years ago my kitchen faucet started leaking.

A few times I took it apart and put it back together.

Each time it seemed to work then start leaking again 6-9 months later.

About a week ago I noticed water now under the sink and the faucet was leaking again.

I decided it was time for a plumber.

He came out and told me not only should the faucet be replaced but there was also water under the dishwasher. He also suggested I contact my insurance because this might become a big project.

I spoke with USAA the next morning and they wanted to get a water mitigation team out right away. They found a contractor and had them lined up in a few hours. I was heading out of town and asked if we could wait. they insisted on access right away to avoid additional damage.

While I was gone they came by checked the moisture and decided to rip the whole floor out of the kitchen, wrap the kitchen in plastic tarp and put in blowers and dehumidifiers.

The cats were terrified and wouldnt even leave the basement the whole weekend which created a lot of clean up when we returned.

On Tuesday the water mitigation contractor came back and determined everything was dry. They removed all the equipment.

The next step was to fix what was damaged.

Too much connection

I always try to connect with other people. i want to know what people think and i want to know what they want. but can focusing on other people go to far? i am concerned that ability to understand and connect with people can actually make people uncomfortable. i have ability to learn what's important to you and what you want yourself to be.

everyone has these dreams and goals but we also like to keep them private. when someone else becomes involved in your progress it creates a pressure and greater awareness.

there are also conversations that many people feel they can only have with themselves. we know our motivations, fears and obstacles. other people can be involved but motivation has to come from within.

when another person is involved in your own personal growth they have access to everything. this access and this knowledge makes them a personal embodiment of everything that you hide in your head. this person has to be able to handle this pressure and you have to be able to handle this person being what they are.

it creates a delicate dynamic and everyone has people in their lives who they allow in to some extent but everyone has their walls. i personally use different people for different parts to spread things out. it seems more fair to others, it focuses less on a single person and it creates natural boundaries.

regardless of who you choose though they will play a large role in your growth. i like to pick people who i see as quasi role models. if i want to be social then i work with a person who i think it good socially. whatever the case this network has an inpact; they may not be influential but they matter.

how will the story be told

By watching a group of friends move through it. we have a main character who leads our journey. he doesnt have strong preference for much and he is generally used as a vehicle to move the story. he can be thought of as on a journey. there is also one true focus of the story. this is the most interesting person in the group. we all find ourselves pulled into this persons life. there are also 2 minor character leads who serve as supporting cast.

The story is told in a first person but from different lead characters at different times. each chapter has a theme while continuing a 'serial-based' story throughout. this should feel like HIMYM does when the story has meaning. it doesnt have to be subtle, in the fact the idea is that from each real part of the serial a 'conversation' is created. The exciting part of the format is that each character has a story. only when they do things together is there movement. this can occur in big chunks and then long breaks. it should feel like real life with your friends. the idea is that the world doesnt happen in real time. obviously we have the advantage of 'social-media' now to move the story sometimes but think about how often that really gives you all the details.

When the characters together the story is told 3rd person but it should just feel like i silent extra person was video-taping.

Defining yourself by who you surround yourself with

As a kid I remember my parents, grandparents, other kids' parents and generally every adult basing at least a small part of their opinion of another kid by 'who he surrounds himself with'. It's a strange thing to me that people would say 'i dont know this person too well so im going just tell you what i think of people they say they like'.

Recently i was around a cousin of mine who is now just becoming old enough to really be considered a 'conscious' person. i heard family members talking about how she has 'gotten better' and 'grown up to be better'. No fucking shit!?!? adults seem to love to evaluate kids and then be shocked when they are wrong. who i am at age 10 has nothing to do with who i am at age 14 or 18. who a kid is one day can change at any time!

I remember even feeling like I had to make sure not to ever screw up. i knew i was gonna do some dumb things but i figured that was about all i was allowed. i often find myself doing things that get me into trouble by accident. if i ever had a chance to do anymore i would but i figured i didnt. All i could do was try to be perfect all the time to make up for my mistakes. sounds a lot like being catholic, but it also applies to jews.

I also couldnt have my friends screwing up. i had enough to worry about with my own problems and i couldnt be taking on others'. so i have always tried to pick my friends wisely. i want to be around people that not only do adults like but also the kids. i assumed that other kids were like adults. whats funny is that their not and only today am i finally old enough that the other 'kids' are actually adults.

More than even friends we truely define ourself with who we choose to date at any time.

Becoming who you want to be

Concept - From the time you graduate college until about about age 30 everyone chases a dream of how great they can be. you still have potential until that certain moment when you dont anymore. you can even have second chances and you can have ups and downs. Its not like you're locking yourself in and guaranteeing success. it's just a milestone when who you are changes and what you think about yourself is different.