Estimated due date: February 24, 2010. We were surprised, but are very excited. Praying that all goes well...
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Heating & A/C Redux
Well, it's been a few weeks now since the new heat and a/c was installed. The install took about 7 hours back on the 19th and pretty much went without a problem. Here's pictures of the new system:
The leftmost picture is the new 95% efficient ICS furnace with the air purifier to the right with the blue light. The middle is the 16 SEER heat pump, and the rightmost is the Infinity Control Thermostat. All of it is computer controlled essentially (all digital design and learns the most efficient way to run based on prior cycles).
The blue light of the air purifier was a problem several days after the install. It basically meant it was not working. The air filter of course still works, but the unit works by electrocuting the bacteria/virii before it hits the filter. Hence, the filter was catching live pathogens and not killing them. Well, I noticed this for about a week and I called 7 Services back. They actually came the same day, did some testing to make sure just the light has stopped working, and then went off to order the replacement part. (Appears to be an unusual defect, the first they had with it for a year.) They called today to say the part was in (about 1 week later), and replaced it the same day. I'm pretty impressed with the company so far, given they have come on the same day twice to fix some relatively minor issues.
Well, the real verdict is the energy savings. Convienently enough, my new billing period started about one day before the install, so let's see how the savings added up:
kWh: 1489
Cost: $163
Last year, the cost was $156 for June 2008. However, that was at 2008 rates, which were $0.02 less per kWh, which is about a 20% increase in rates. If I adjust to 2009 rates, the same thing would have cost $185. So that's a $22 savings. It's also been unseasonably warm over the past month, so, we need to factor that. I'm still looking for some place that keeps good records on monthly averages, so maybe I can do this later. I bet I saved another $20 for that. So the grand total savings from if I hadn't upgraded: $42. That alone, could add up to close to $400/year when it's done. What will be nice is to see the natural gas bill next winter when I won't be paying $150-200 on gas + $120 for electric = $270-320 total utilities. If I'm paying $200 at most in winter instead (based on my estimate for a/c electricity usage in July), then I'm saving $70-120 for three months. Grand total possible : $610 - 760 /year.
So, the system cost over ten years: $10k - 1500 tax credit - 500 VNG rebate - $700*10 years = $1000 out of pocket when it is done. Of course if you adjust for natural gas going up in price, I bet the -$1000 dwindles to some nice positive number that makes the investment worth it. Of course, the system probably also added $5-7k to the house value if we ever move, so that is nice bonus.
The leftmost picture is the new 95% efficient ICS furnace with the air purifier to the right with the blue light. The middle is the 16 SEER heat pump, and the rightmost is the Infinity Control Thermostat. All of it is computer controlled essentially (all digital design and learns the most efficient way to run based on prior cycles).
The blue light of the air purifier was a problem several days after the install. It basically meant it was not working. The air filter of course still works, but the unit works by electrocuting the bacteria/virii before it hits the filter. Hence, the filter was catching live pathogens and not killing them. Well, I noticed this for about a week and I called 7 Services back. They actually came the same day, did some testing to make sure just the light has stopped working, and then went off to order the replacement part. (Appears to be an unusual defect, the first they had with it for a year.) They called today to say the part was in (about 1 week later), and replaced it the same day. I'm pretty impressed with the company so far, given they have come on the same day twice to fix some relatively minor issues.
Well, the real verdict is the energy savings. Convienently enough, my new billing period started about one day before the install, so let's see how the savings added up:
kWh: 1489
Cost: $163
Last year, the cost was $156 for June 2008. However, that was at 2008 rates, which were $0.02 less per kWh, which is about a 20% increase in rates. If I adjust to 2009 rates, the same thing would have cost $185. So that's a $22 savings. It's also been unseasonably warm over the past month, so, we need to factor that. I'm still looking for some place that keeps good records on monthly averages, so maybe I can do this later. I bet I saved another $20 for that. So the grand total savings from if I hadn't upgraded: $42. That alone, could add up to close to $400/year when it's done. What will be nice is to see the natural gas bill next winter when I won't be paying $150-200 on gas + $120 for electric = $270-320 total utilities. If I'm paying $200 at most in winter instead (based on my estimate for a/c electricity usage in July), then I'm saving $70-120 for three months. Grand total possible : $610 - 760 /year.
So, the system cost over ten years: $10k - 1500 tax credit - 500 VNG rebate - $700*10 years = $1000 out of pocket when it is done. Of course if you adjust for natural gas going up in price, I bet the -$1000 dwindles to some nice positive number that makes the investment worth it. Of course, the system probably also added $5-7k to the house value if we ever move, so that is nice bonus.
Monday, June 08, 2009
Next Steps
My residency ends on August 31, and I've been discerning what to do after that. I decided not to throw my hat in the ring for an appointment this year. So, I've been looking for a chaplain job and planning on being a stay-at-home mom while looking/in case that doesn't happen. Apparently, the job market for healthcare chaplains is very competitive, and it doesn't help that I'm pretty tied to my current geographical area.
About a week ago, I came across a listing for a chaplain position at a local hospice. It's "flexipool" and very part-time (not quite sure what that means, but I'm not counting on more than 10 or so hours/week) but that's fine. I applied last Tuesday, received a phone call from HR on Thursday, and just today received a phone call from the actual department, saying they want to interview me. I know there are at least three others being considered, but I'm sort of excited and hoping that it works out. Pray with me! I'll keep you updated!
About a week ago, I came across a listing for a chaplain position at a local hospice. It's "flexipool" and very part-time (not quite sure what that means, but I'm not counting on more than 10 or so hours/week) but that's fine. I applied last Tuesday, received a phone call from HR on Thursday, and just today received a phone call from the actual department, saying they want to interview me. I know there are at least three others being considered, but I'm sort of excited and hoping that it works out. Pray with me! I'll keep you updated!
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
Let's Talk About Sex(uality), Baby
This is a post on a controversial topic, which is always sort of dangerous. However, I'm not shouting my opinion from a platform, but rather "thinking out loud" and inviting others to reflect with me and offer their insight. I invite comments and responses, but ask that you please not post knee-jerk, inflammatory reactions. We're intelligent adults. Let's act like it. Oh yeah, and please read the whole post before commenting. This is a journey...
I consider myself to be in the "moderate-but-leaning conservative" camp both socially and theologically. There are a few things I "lean left" on, such as capital punishment (I'm an enigma; I'm against the death penalty AND against abortion), but on most issues I'm either square in the middle or leaning a little to the right. I have spent a lot of time thinking, praying, reading, and reflecting on the issue of homosexuality. My denomination is embroiled in an increasingly intense debate on the role of practicing homosexuals in the church. Anyway, up until about a week ago, my response to the question, "where do you stand on that issue" would have been fairly confident. I believed (and still do feel) that based on my interpretation, the practice of homosexuality contradicts the witness of the scripture and Christian tradition. As a result, I would have said that that ordaining practicing homosexuals was not compatible with scripture/tradition, etc, etc. Keep in mind that I also believe that even heterosexual sex outside of marriage is incompatible with scripture, and that clergy are to be "celibate in singleness and faithful in marriage".
Anyway, my position on homosexuality has been challenged in the past week and it's left me in a tailspin of sorts. I feel like my world has been knocked on its axis. Last Tuesday, we had six new interns begin the summer CPE program. They'll be here full-time through July and August. There are four women, two men, one African-American, one Filipino-American, two Lutherans, one Methodist, one Presbyterian, one Episcopalian, and a Pentecostal. In addition to the racial and religious diversity, one of the interns is gay. This was confirmed this morning in a seminar, but I had suspected it last week, based on behavioral patterns and his response to a relationship question ("significant other" instead of specifying girlfriend/wife). So, now that my suspicions have been confirmed, I am really wrestling with myself and with views that I've held for a long time.
The crux of the matter is this; my position up until this point has been based on a fairly congitive discernment process and an utter lack of experience with homosexuals beyond a nodding acquaintance. All of a sudden, I encounter this engaging, gifted, and faithful young man who wants to serve Christ and His church and I find myself re-examining my position. I haven't seen Luther (hokey name, I know, but he's Lutheran and I don't want to use his real name) active in ministry yet, so I don't know anything about his gifts and graces, although I should know within a week or two. I'm assuming that Luther will demonstrate gifts for ministry and am wondering, "so what now?" All of a sudden this "issue" is reduced to one person who I genuinely like and admire, and I find myself doing of lot of thinking and, well...agonizing about God's grace, our sin, who God calls to ministry, standards of faithful living, sexuality, etc. One moment I'm worried about a "slippery slope" in terms of moral/ethical standards among the ordained and the next moment I'm reminded that the early Christians established that the character of the one administering the sacraments does not affect the validity of the sacraments. There's a Latin or Greek term for it...I forget.
Those are my thoughts...and where I am right now. I have no doubt that there is more to come. My biggest concern is that as I make this journey, no matter if my "position" changes or not, that I will be faithful to God's Spirit as he speaks to my heart, through others, and most importantly, through His Word.
I consider myself to be in the "moderate-but-leaning conservative" camp both socially and theologically. There are a few things I "lean left" on, such as capital punishment (I'm an enigma; I'm against the death penalty AND against abortion), but on most issues I'm either square in the middle or leaning a little to the right. I have spent a lot of time thinking, praying, reading, and reflecting on the issue of homosexuality. My denomination is embroiled in an increasingly intense debate on the role of practicing homosexuals in the church. Anyway, up until about a week ago, my response to the question, "where do you stand on that issue" would have been fairly confident. I believed (and still do feel) that based on my interpretation, the practice of homosexuality contradicts the witness of the scripture and Christian tradition. As a result, I would have said that that ordaining practicing homosexuals was not compatible with scripture/tradition, etc, etc. Keep in mind that I also believe that even heterosexual sex outside of marriage is incompatible with scripture, and that clergy are to be "celibate in singleness and faithful in marriage".
Anyway, my position on homosexuality has been challenged in the past week and it's left me in a tailspin of sorts. I feel like my world has been knocked on its axis. Last Tuesday, we had six new interns begin the summer CPE program. They'll be here full-time through July and August. There are four women, two men, one African-American, one Filipino-American, two Lutherans, one Methodist, one Presbyterian, one Episcopalian, and a Pentecostal. In addition to the racial and religious diversity, one of the interns is gay. This was confirmed this morning in a seminar, but I had suspected it last week, based on behavioral patterns and his response to a relationship question ("significant other" instead of specifying girlfriend/wife). So, now that my suspicions have been confirmed, I am really wrestling with myself and with views that I've held for a long time.
The crux of the matter is this; my position up until this point has been based on a fairly congitive discernment process and an utter lack of experience with homosexuals beyond a nodding acquaintance. All of a sudden, I encounter this engaging, gifted, and faithful young man who wants to serve Christ and His church and I find myself re-examining my position. I haven't seen Luther (hokey name, I know, but he's Lutheran and I don't want to use his real name) active in ministry yet, so I don't know anything about his gifts and graces, although I should know within a week or two. I'm assuming that Luther will demonstrate gifts for ministry and am wondering, "so what now?" All of a sudden this "issue" is reduced to one person who I genuinely like and admire, and I find myself doing of lot of thinking and, well...agonizing about God's grace, our sin, who God calls to ministry, standards of faithful living, sexuality, etc. One moment I'm worried about a "slippery slope" in terms of moral/ethical standards among the ordained and the next moment I'm reminded that the early Christians established that the character of the one administering the sacraments does not affect the validity of the sacraments. There's a Latin or Greek term for it...I forget.
Those are my thoughts...and where I am right now. I have no doubt that there is more to come. My biggest concern is that as I make this journey, no matter if my "position" changes or not, that I will be faithful to God's Spirit as he speaks to my heart, through others, and most importantly, through His Word.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
To Churches: Do You Really Want New People?
In seminary, I took a class titled "Ethics of Hospitality." It was awesome, and really challenged and changed my view on Christian hospitality...inside and outside the church. Trust me, this stuff goes beyond coffee and donuts and being friendly. A great book on this subject (actually written by my professor) is Making Room by Christine Pohl.
Anyway, today my husband, daughter, and I visited another congregation. Our friends' son was being baptized, and we went to support them and celebrate with them. The actual baptism was lovely, but the rest of the experience left much to be desired. Upon arriving, we followed signs around the outside of the building directing us to the sanctuary. Upon arriving at that entrance, we found that the door was locked. It was 10:45 and the service began at 11. OK...so we went around to another entrance and found it unlocked. We walked through a very long hallway to the sanctuary door. There were no greeters and we hadn't seen any bulletins (when I asked a few minutes later, I found a few on a table in the hallway. Apparently the rest were in the narthex...right near the locked door. And yes, I did tell someone the door was locked.
There was very minimal interaction with the rest of the congregation (which was small---about 60 in attendance). We got a few comments on how pretty our daughter is, but that was it. No introductions or attempt to get to know us. The pastor merely shook our hand and asked us to come again...and that last part was muttered.
It was a traditional service and very subdued. I have nothing against traditional worship, as long as it doesn't feel like a funeral. This did, which is extremely sad since today was Pentecost. There was also very little attention paid to this day in the church calendar, which slightly annoyed me. They did celebrate the 55th anniversary of their church's founding, which apparently occurred the last Sunday in May.
I took my daughter to the nursery when she started fussing. There was an attendant in there with one other child, but she pretty much sat in the chair and made no attempt to actually engage Nora. There was no sign-in sheet or anything along those lines; just drop your kid and leave. I wonder if this church has a hard time finding volunteers for the nursery; many older congregations do, even though they keep saying how much they want young families.
This church sits on the corner of a major intersection in a medium-sized metropolitan area. Visibility is not an issue. They just don't seem to be making much effort towards extending hospitality towards outsiders. If I had been an unchurched seeker, then this experience may have very well turned me off when it came to church.
I've learned a lot over the past year, being a congregant instead of the pastor. The little things really do add up...it's not just a matter of inviting people to church (which is important), but it's also a matter of creating a space and an atmosphere where all are welcomed when they come through the doors. And of truly celebrating the risen Christ with joy, instead of a quasi-funeral service every week.
On the positive side, we visited my mother-in-law's church over Easter, and it was an entirely different experience. We were welcomed and drawn into conversation, the nursery was staffed and Nora was engaged, and the service (traditional in style) was joyful and vibrant. We felt a part of the worshiping community, focused on praising the God we all serve. This was a small, older congregation, but the feeling was entirely different.
OK, I'm stepping off my soapbox. Just thought I'd share that with you.
Anyway, today my husband, daughter, and I visited another congregation. Our friends' son was being baptized, and we went to support them and celebrate with them. The actual baptism was lovely, but the rest of the experience left much to be desired. Upon arriving, we followed signs around the outside of the building directing us to the sanctuary. Upon arriving at that entrance, we found that the door was locked. It was 10:45 and the service began at 11. OK...so we went around to another entrance and found it unlocked. We walked through a very long hallway to the sanctuary door. There were no greeters and we hadn't seen any bulletins (when I asked a few minutes later, I found a few on a table in the hallway. Apparently the rest were in the narthex...right near the locked door. And yes, I did tell someone the door was locked.
There was very minimal interaction with the rest of the congregation (which was small---about 60 in attendance). We got a few comments on how pretty our daughter is, but that was it. No introductions or attempt to get to know us. The pastor merely shook our hand and asked us to come again...and that last part was muttered.
It was a traditional service and very subdued. I have nothing against traditional worship, as long as it doesn't feel like a funeral. This did, which is extremely sad since today was Pentecost. There was also very little attention paid to this day in the church calendar, which slightly annoyed me. They did celebrate the 55th anniversary of their church's founding, which apparently occurred the last Sunday in May.
I took my daughter to the nursery when she started fussing. There was an attendant in there with one other child, but she pretty much sat in the chair and made no attempt to actually engage Nora. There was no sign-in sheet or anything along those lines; just drop your kid and leave. I wonder if this church has a hard time finding volunteers for the nursery; many older congregations do, even though they keep saying how much they want young families.
This church sits on the corner of a major intersection in a medium-sized metropolitan area. Visibility is not an issue. They just don't seem to be making much effort towards extending hospitality towards outsiders. If I had been an unchurched seeker, then this experience may have very well turned me off when it came to church.
I've learned a lot over the past year, being a congregant instead of the pastor. The little things really do add up...it's not just a matter of inviting people to church (which is important), but it's also a matter of creating a space and an atmosphere where all are welcomed when they come through the doors. And of truly celebrating the risen Christ with joy, instead of a quasi-funeral service every week.
On the positive side, we visited my mother-in-law's church over Easter, and it was an entirely different experience. We were welcomed and drawn into conversation, the nursery was staffed and Nora was engaged, and the service (traditional in style) was joyful and vibrant. We felt a part of the worshiping community, focused on praising the God we all serve. This was a small, older congregation, but the feeling was entirely different.
OK, I'm stepping off my soapbox. Just thought I'd share that with you.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Susanna at (almost) 21 months
Susanna will be 21 months old on Friday! She's growing so fast (26 lbs last time she went to the doctor) and learning so much. She's becoming her own person, and it's bittersweet to watch it happen. She's still not walking on her own, but is able to "walk" 50 feet or so if you hold both her hands and walk with her. She has a ride-on toy that she loves to use, and we just won a 3-month family membership to the YMCA and I hope to get her in the water more often.
She is very vocal. She talks constantly, although we don't always recognize what she's saying. Here are some of her words:
-milk
-juice
-cheese
-book
-dog
-Mama
-Dada
-uh-oh
-bye-bye
-more
-shoes
There are at least 20 more, but I can't think them all off the top of my head.
She can totally feed herself now, even with stuff that requires a spoon (like pudding). She loves food and will eat almost anything, although she doesn't seem to really like strawberries. She likes to be held and cuddled, but usually only for a few minutes at a time. She and Simon are the best of friends and she sometimes feeds him her food before we catch her.
Susanna LOVES music and even "dances" sometimes. It's really cute. She's just barely beginning to have an interest in TV, but does seem to like Sesame Street. She likes being around people and is generally very happy. We do not have to worry about her ever suffering silently; we know when she's happy and when she's unhappy and she's getting much better about telling us what she needs/wants.
She loves bathtime and I usually have to take her out of the water before she's ready. She had her first haircut about two weeks ago (I'll post pics later, or check my Facebook page). Her hair is still very very curly and blonde and her eyes are still blue, although they occasionally look more hazel, depending on the day.
We're very blessed that she's been pretty healthy overall. This year, she's had a few colds, a mild case of bronchiolitis, a stomach bug, and four ear infections (one of which was really bad and caused her to run a fever). However, it could have been a lot worse, especially since she's in daycare.
Basically, Susanna is an amazing kid and we feel very blessed to be her parents. Keep praying about the walking; her MRI and bloodwork were clear, so the issue mainly seems to be low muscle tone. She's still receiving physical therapy once a week and we see the neurologist again on June 18.
She is very vocal. She talks constantly, although we don't always recognize what she's saying. Here are some of her words:
-milk
-juice
-cheese
-book
-dog
-Mama
-Dada
-uh-oh
-bye-bye
-more
-shoes
There are at least 20 more, but I can't think them all off the top of my head.
She can totally feed herself now, even with stuff that requires a spoon (like pudding). She loves food and will eat almost anything, although she doesn't seem to really like strawberries. She likes to be held and cuddled, but usually only for a few minutes at a time. She and Simon are the best of friends and she sometimes feeds him her food before we catch her.
Susanna LOVES music and even "dances" sometimes. It's really cute. She's just barely beginning to have an interest in TV, but does seem to like Sesame Street. She likes being around people and is generally very happy. We do not have to worry about her ever suffering silently; we know when she's happy and when she's unhappy and she's getting much better about telling us what she needs/wants.
She loves bathtime and I usually have to take her out of the water before she's ready. She had her first haircut about two weeks ago (I'll post pics later, or check my Facebook page). Her hair is still very very curly and blonde and her eyes are still blue, although they occasionally look more hazel, depending on the day.
We're very blessed that she's been pretty healthy overall. This year, she's had a few colds, a mild case of bronchiolitis, a stomach bug, and four ear infections (one of which was really bad and caused her to run a fever). However, it could have been a lot worse, especially since she's in daycare.
Basically, Susanna is an amazing kid and we feel very blessed to be her parents. Keep praying about the walking; her MRI and bloodwork were clear, so the issue mainly seems to be low muscle tone. She's still receiving physical therapy once a week and we see the neurologist again on June 18.
Friday, May 22, 2009
RevGalBlogPals: Vacation Post
1) What did your family do for vacations when you were a child? Or did you have stay-cations at home?
We almost always went to the beach, specifically the Outer Banks in North Carolina. When we lived in Hawaii (for two years; my dad worked for a government contractor) we visited Kauai, Maui, and the Big Island. Once we went to Florida and spent 10 days on the beach and then two days at Disney World. Every other time was a different location in the Outer Banks. We would rent a beach house and do virtually nothing for a week.
2) Tell us about your favorite vacation ever:
We rented a house on Ocracoke Island, NC. It's very remote-only accessible by ferry. My dad rented a boat and went fishing every morning. I rented a bike and roamed the island. My brother played Nintendo. My mom and I checked out about 50 library books and we read them all. My dad read books when he wasn't fishing. We went to the beach each day. Extremely relaxing. I think I need to make Harry take me back there.
3) What do you do for a one-day or afternoon getaway...is there a place nearby that you escape to on a Saturday afternoon/other day off?
I personally love the beach (can you tell?) and I'm blessed enough to live about 30 minutes from the Atlantic Ocean or Chesapeake Bay. I occasionally make a solo trip to an outlet mall about 30 minutes from my hospital, and as a family we enjoy going to a very nice theme park about an hour from my house.
4) What's your best recommendation for a full-on vacation near you...what would you suggest to someone coming to your area? (Near - may be defined any way you wish!)
I live near a resort area, but I'd actually recommend Chincoteague Island, which is maybe four hours and a bridge/tunnel trip away. It's so relaxing, has a beautiful beach, and is much less congested than the big resort area that's so close to me. Plus, it's where my husband and I honeymooned, so it has sentimental appeal.
5) What's your DREAM VACATION?
I really want to go back to Hawaii. We lived there for two years (on Oahu, the main island) and left when I was 10. I'd like to fly into Honolulu and spent a few days on Oahu at the beginning and end of our vacation, recovering from jet lag and then seeing my old haunts. Then, I'd like to spend maybe two or three weeks island-hopping (Maui, Big Island, Molokai, Lanai, Kauai), with at least several days spent on Kauai, my favorite island. Of course, there are the beaches, but there's so much more to see and experience; rain forests, fern grottoes, the "grand canyon of the Pacific", waterfalls, volcanoes, etc. If I was really dreaming big, I'd include a week in Australia/New Zealand and go to Hawaii afterward. OK, I might as well admit it; if I won the lottery and money wasn't an option, I'd take a year off and travel the world. Since I don't even play the lottery, that's not likely to happen.
We almost always went to the beach, specifically the Outer Banks in North Carolina. When we lived in Hawaii (for two years; my dad worked for a government contractor) we visited Kauai, Maui, and the Big Island. Once we went to Florida and spent 10 days on the beach and then two days at Disney World. Every other time was a different location in the Outer Banks. We would rent a beach house and do virtually nothing for a week.
2) Tell us about your favorite vacation ever:
We rented a house on Ocracoke Island, NC. It's very remote-only accessible by ferry. My dad rented a boat and went fishing every morning. I rented a bike and roamed the island. My brother played Nintendo. My mom and I checked out about 50 library books and we read them all. My dad read books when he wasn't fishing. We went to the beach each day. Extremely relaxing. I think I need to make Harry take me back there.
3) What do you do for a one-day or afternoon getaway...is there a place nearby that you escape to on a Saturday afternoon/other day off?
I personally love the beach (can you tell?) and I'm blessed enough to live about 30 minutes from the Atlantic Ocean or Chesapeake Bay. I occasionally make a solo trip to an outlet mall about 30 minutes from my hospital, and as a family we enjoy going to a very nice theme park about an hour from my house.
4) What's your best recommendation for a full-on vacation near you...what would you suggest to someone coming to your area? (Near - may be defined any way you wish!)
I live near a resort area, but I'd actually recommend Chincoteague Island, which is maybe four hours and a bridge/tunnel trip away. It's so relaxing, has a beautiful beach, and is much less congested than the big resort area that's so close to me. Plus, it's where my husband and I honeymooned, so it has sentimental appeal.
5) What's your DREAM VACATION?
I really want to go back to Hawaii. We lived there for two years (on Oahu, the main island) and left when I was 10. I'd like to fly into Honolulu and spent a few days on Oahu at the beginning and end of our vacation, recovering from jet lag and then seeing my old haunts. Then, I'd like to spend maybe two or three weeks island-hopping (Maui, Big Island, Molokai, Lanai, Kauai), with at least several days spent on Kauai, my favorite island. Of course, there are the beaches, but there's so much more to see and experience; rain forests, fern grottoes, the "grand canyon of the Pacific", waterfalls, volcanoes, etc. If I was really dreaming big, I'd include a week in Australia/New Zealand and go to Hawaii afterward. OK, I might as well admit it; if I won the lottery and money wasn't an option, I'd take a year off and travel the world. Since I don't even play the lottery, that's not likely to happen.
Handy Husband
If you've read James' post, then you know about our new heating/cooling system that was installed on Tuesday. It's one of many updates we've done in the house, but so far cost the most. We're enjoying it, though. I'll enjoy it even more when we get our next electric bill and see that it's actually saving us money.
James decided to take off this entire week, since he has the time and felt like taking a break. He's kept himself busy. On Monday, he cleaned the downstairs for me. On Tuesday and Wednesday, he did some fancy wiring for our surround sound system (he'll have to explain it to you, but there are no more loose wires and four little plugs in the wall). Yesterday, we went to Home Depot, picked out paint and a new faucet for the powder room, and he painted the room (a light beige, which looks much better than the boring white) and installed the faucet. Today, he was planning on moving everything back into the bathroom and also installing new fixtures (a towel ring and toilet paper holder) as well as hanging a painting we bought. Several months ago, we bought new decorative accessories (lotion holder, rug, wastebasket in a palm tree motif and some green hand towels) and have been using them, but they'll look even nicer with the new paint and fixtures.
We have owned this house for a year now, and while we love it, we're beginning to realize just how much of an investment home ownership is. We had an inspection and did go in with our "eyes open", but have had some surprises. The house is 15 years old, and most everything is original. Plus, the owners seemed to like to do things cheaply/badly and from all appearances, didn't do a lot of upkeep. And in our humble opinions, they had horrible decorative taste. Since buying the house, we've probably spent $15,000 on repairs/updates/equipment, most of them absolutely necessary. Here's a list off the top of my head:
-Redid half of shelving in MBR closet (our first week, a bunch of shelving fell out of the wall during the night).
-Painted Susanna's room (not necessary, but it looks nice)
-Replaced hot water heater
-Replaced garbage disposal
-Replaced thermostat
-Bought lawn mower, weedeater, and tiller
-Installed doggie door for Simon
-Replaced heating/cooling system (the biggest expense to date)
-Installed wood blinds (the house came with no window coverings)
-Replaced ice maker in fridge
-Bought carpet cleaner (not essential, but the carpets hadn't been cleaned in ages)
-Painted downstairs bathroom
-Replaced faucet in downstairs bathroom
-Replaced hardware in downstairs bathroom
-Bought new furniture for family room and dining room (I got our dining room set-table with six chairs and a china cabinet- for $500 on Craigslist!)
I'm sure James can think of more that I've forgotten. We still have lots more to do, some of it essential, some optional. On the "wish/need" list:
-Replace roof (it hopefully has five years left)
-Replace siding and trim
-Replace windows (the gas seal has already broken in them)
-Paint master bedroom, family room, master bathroom, and Susanna's bathroom.
-Replace all flooring (We want engineered hardwood downstairs; carpet on the stairs and upstairs, and tile or nice vinyl in the upstairs bathrooms. It's currently a mix of ugly vinyl, plank flooring, and carpet.)
-Replace vanities in all bathrooms.
-Replace hardware/faucets in other two bathrooms
-Renovate kitchen and replace all appliances (we want black appliances, updgraded countertops and cabinets, and a new sink). This project will be even more $$ than the heating/cooling system, so it won't happen for a while...like 5-10 years.
-New deck/terrace/patio in back. It's currently poured concrete and I'd like to upgrade to brick, flagstone, or maybe a slightly raised deck area.
Yeah, so once all that's done, we'll pretty much have the house of our dreams, which means that we'll have to move. That's what always happened with my parents, anyway...
Our next project? Painting and decorating the master bedroom. I got a great deal on some paintings at a gallery in Roanoke, and can't wait to make our bedroom a nice "getaway" for us.
James decided to take off this entire week, since he has the time and felt like taking a break. He's kept himself busy. On Monday, he cleaned the downstairs for me. On Tuesday and Wednesday, he did some fancy wiring for our surround sound system (he'll have to explain it to you, but there are no more loose wires and four little plugs in the wall). Yesterday, we went to Home Depot, picked out paint and a new faucet for the powder room, and he painted the room (a light beige, which looks much better than the boring white) and installed the faucet. Today, he was planning on moving everything back into the bathroom and also installing new fixtures (a towel ring and toilet paper holder) as well as hanging a painting we bought. Several months ago, we bought new decorative accessories (lotion holder, rug, wastebasket in a palm tree motif and some green hand towels) and have been using them, but they'll look even nicer with the new paint and fixtures.
We have owned this house for a year now, and while we love it, we're beginning to realize just how much of an investment home ownership is. We had an inspection and did go in with our "eyes open", but have had some surprises. The house is 15 years old, and most everything is original. Plus, the owners seemed to like to do things cheaply/badly and from all appearances, didn't do a lot of upkeep. And in our humble opinions, they had horrible decorative taste. Since buying the house, we've probably spent $15,000 on repairs/updates/equipment, most of them absolutely necessary. Here's a list off the top of my head:
-Redid half of shelving in MBR closet (our first week, a bunch of shelving fell out of the wall during the night).
-Painted Susanna's room (not necessary, but it looks nice)
-Replaced hot water heater
-Replaced garbage disposal
-Replaced thermostat
-Bought lawn mower, weedeater, and tiller
-Installed doggie door for Simon
-Replaced heating/cooling system (the biggest expense to date)
-Installed wood blinds (the house came with no window coverings)
-Replaced ice maker in fridge
-Bought carpet cleaner (not essential, but the carpets hadn't been cleaned in ages)
-Painted downstairs bathroom
-Replaced faucet in downstairs bathroom
-Replaced hardware in downstairs bathroom
-Bought new furniture for family room and dining room (I got our dining room set-table with six chairs and a china cabinet- for $500 on Craigslist!)
I'm sure James can think of more that I've forgotten. We still have lots more to do, some of it essential, some optional. On the "wish/need" list:
-Replace roof (it hopefully has five years left)
-Replace siding and trim
-Replace windows (the gas seal has already broken in them)
-Paint master bedroom, family room, master bathroom, and Susanna's bathroom.
-Replace all flooring (We want engineered hardwood downstairs; carpet on the stairs and upstairs, and tile or nice vinyl in the upstairs bathrooms. It's currently a mix of ugly vinyl, plank flooring, and carpet.)
-Replace vanities in all bathrooms.
-Replace hardware/faucets in other two bathrooms
-Renovate kitchen and replace all appliances (we want black appliances, updgraded countertops and cabinets, and a new sink). This project will be even more $$ than the heating/cooling system, so it won't happen for a while...like 5-10 years.
-New deck/terrace/patio in back. It's currently poured concrete and I'd like to upgrade to brick, flagstone, or maybe a slightly raised deck area.
Yeah, so once all that's done, we'll pretty much have the house of our dreams, which means that we'll have to move. That's what always happened with my parents, anyway...
Our next project? Painting and decorating the master bedroom. I got a great deal on some paintings at a gallery in Roanoke, and can't wait to make our bedroom a nice "getaway" for us.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
New Heat & AC today
Well, the guys from 7 Services just started the heat and AC replacement. We're getting a new Carrier Infinity System with the air purifier. This should be a drastic upgrade from our alleyway-drug-deal model the prior owners(who should rot in hell for all their cheap choices!) bought original to the house. It's amazing the units lasted as long as they did, and we've had no major trouble over the past year. However, the AC leaks like an old VW Bug, and there is rust all over the place. In addition, the system doesn't work very well at heating or cooling in general. (It's slightly under-sized! Imagine that!)
We're getting the Infinity heat pump 16 SEER model, and a backup furnace for the cold winter nights that is 95% efficient. In addition, the unit is a multi-stage which saves more energy, and the blower is variable speed, saving us some more dough and keeping upstairs/downstairs a more consistent temperature. The thermostat control will almost make your breakfast for you. It control's temp, humidity(big bonus around here!!!), air quality, etc. Of course this all comes at a high price tag, but hopefully we won't have to replace it for another 20 years. In theory, we'll save $1000 this coming year in natural gas and electricity costs, so it will pay for itself in less than 10 years. In addition, there is the $1500 tax credit we'll get to claim that makes it that much more of a deal. (From my estimates, it will pay for itself in 5-7 years!) It comes with a 10 year warranty (w/labor included).
I'll report later tonight on the finished product.
Wednesday, April 08, 2009
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Susanna Goes to the Neurologist
This afternoon, I took Susanna to her neurology appointment at CHKD (Children's Hospital of the Kings Daughters). James had a meeting, so he couldn't go with us. :( I was very impressed with the neurologist, Dr. N. He observed Susanna, examined her, and took a history of my pregnancy, her birth, and her development. His conclusion was that most likely, Susanna doesn't have anything that needs to be "fixed" (such as through surgery) or any major disorder. He basically diagnosed her with a developmental delay in gross motor skills...which we already knew about. He gave me two options: wait a few more months and see if she improves OR go ahead and have some diagnostic tests done to be "on the safe side." I chose option B. We've been waiting nine months already and she's had four months of physical therapy. I want to make sure there's nothing major going on, just for peace of mind.
So...he ordered a whole bunch of bloodwork (looked like every test you can have) and a MRI of her brain. The bloodwork we can do anytime; the MRI is scheduled for April 6. Since she's so young, she'll need to be sedated. We're also going to continue with her physical therapy and working with her at home. She appears to have a strong will, so maybe she's just not ready to walk, yet. I didn't walk until I was 21 months old or something like that, so maybe it's also a genetic thing. Who knows?
Regardless of her lack of mobility, she is an absolutely delightful, intelligent, and happy child. James and I feel very blessed to be her parents.
So...he ordered a whole bunch of bloodwork (looked like every test you can have) and a MRI of her brain. The bloodwork we can do anytime; the MRI is scheduled for April 6. Since she's so young, she'll need to be sedated. We're also going to continue with her physical therapy and working with her at home. She appears to have a strong will, so maybe she's just not ready to walk, yet. I didn't walk until I was 21 months old or something like that, so maybe it's also a genetic thing. Who knows?
Regardless of her lack of mobility, she is an absolutely delightful, intelligent, and happy child. James and I feel very blessed to be her parents.
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
She's huge!
Susanna turned 18 months old on Sunday, and on Tuesday I took her for her 18-month check-up. She got a clean bill of health and weighs 24 lbs (50th percentile) and is 34" tall (95th percentile). Clearly, she is taking after her father in terms of height. That's fine, because I don't want her to hear short jokes for the rest of her life.
I love her pediatrician. She's easy to get along with, knows her stuff, and seems to be on the same wavelength with me. I came prepared to ask for a neurology referral, since Susanna is still not walking, even after three months of PT. However, her pedi beat me to it. As soon as I mentioned that she wasn't walking yet, the pedi said, "has she seen neurology yet? If not, I think it would be a good idea." The office called and set up an appointment right then, and we see the neurologist at CHKD (Children's Hospital of the Kings Daughters in Norfolk) next Thursday!
You may be asking, "why a neurology referral for delayed walking? Why not a developmental pediatrician or an orthopaedist?" Well...Susanna's main issue (according to her physical therapist, who I just love) is low muscle tone. And low muscle tone is a neurological issue. As far as we can tell, her bone structure is just fine. And a developmental pediatrician (while probably a good idea at some point) would probably just do an assessment and refer to neurology anyway. So...to neurology we'll go on March 12.
In other news, I'm sick again. I have a sore throat, a dry, hacking cough, and sinus congestion. Actually, James and I have been sick about 80% of the time since November. I'm blaming a big part of it on Susanna being in daycare and bringing germs home. My spending lots of time in the ER might have something to do with it, too. You know what the funny thing is? Susanna will get a minor case of the sniffles, and two days later James or I (or both of us) will come down with a cold/bronchitis/sinus infection. Or, she'll have a few messy/explosive diapers and a few days later, James/me/both of us will come down with a GI bug that kicks our butts. This is NOT FAIR. However, I am thankful that Susanna has been mostly healthy. With the exception of two ear infections and a minor case of bronchiolitis, she's been healthy this winter. Except, of course, for the sniffles and messy diapers, but I don't count those as being "sick."
I love her pediatrician. She's easy to get along with, knows her stuff, and seems to be on the same wavelength with me. I came prepared to ask for a neurology referral, since Susanna is still not walking, even after three months of PT. However, her pedi beat me to it. As soon as I mentioned that she wasn't walking yet, the pedi said, "has she seen neurology yet? If not, I think it would be a good idea." The office called and set up an appointment right then, and we see the neurologist at CHKD (Children's Hospital of the Kings Daughters in Norfolk) next Thursday!
You may be asking, "why a neurology referral for delayed walking? Why not a developmental pediatrician or an orthopaedist?" Well...Susanna's main issue (according to her physical therapist, who I just love) is low muscle tone. And low muscle tone is a neurological issue. As far as we can tell, her bone structure is just fine. And a developmental pediatrician (while probably a good idea at some point) would probably just do an assessment and refer to neurology anyway. So...to neurology we'll go on March 12.
In other news, I'm sick again. I have a sore throat, a dry, hacking cough, and sinus congestion. Actually, James and I have been sick about 80% of the time since November. I'm blaming a big part of it on Susanna being in daycare and bringing germs home. My spending lots of time in the ER might have something to do with it, too. You know what the funny thing is? Susanna will get a minor case of the sniffles, and two days later James or I (or both of us) will come down with a cold/bronchitis/sinus infection. Or, she'll have a few messy/explosive diapers and a few days later, James/me/both of us will come down with a GI bug that kicks our butts. This is NOT FAIR. However, I am thankful that Susanna has been mostly healthy. With the exception of two ear infections and a minor case of bronchiolitis, she's been healthy this winter. Except, of course, for the sniffles and messy diapers, but I don't count those as being "sick."
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Five "Forks" In the Road
I guess I was supposed to do this on Friday, but I didn't have time then, so here goes. This is something I got from RevGalBlogPals:
For today's Friday Five, share with us five "fork-in-the-road" events, or persons, or choices. And how did life change after these forks in the road?
#1 My decision to attend my undergraduate alma mater. It was during my college years, under the mentoring and influence of several friends and professors, that I sensed and answered the call to ordained ministry. It was
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Welcome to Lent!
Today is Ash Wednesday, which traditionally marks the beginning of the Christian season of Lent (the 40-day period before Easter). If you are so inclined, I encourage you to read Chris Howlett's excellent blog posting on the true meaning of Lent.
Also, Joel 2:12-13 is a great passage that goes along with this day. Be sure and attend an Ash Wednesday service sometime today! Most liturgical (Methodist, Presbyterian, Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran, etc) churches will have one this evening. I'm on call tonight, but hoping that the pager will "behave" so I can go to a nearby service.
In non-sacred news, we got new blinds yesterday. They're wood and match our window sills perfectly. We only bought five (5) this time, and have 11 more to purchase. We currently have blinds in the living room, dining room, and master bedroom. We still need blinds for the kitchen, family room, Susanna's room, office, and guest room. My mom lent/gave us a few honeycomb blinds when we moved in, so our windows haven't been completely bare for the past nine months...but we've have no window coverings at all downstairs.
I think I want to decorate the master bedroom and bath with our tax refund money. We're still looking for a dining set (table that seats at least six and maybe even a china hutch) on craigslist, but will only buy one if it's fairly cheap (under $700) and in good condition.
Now I just need to find an interior decorator. Anyone know of a good one?*
*That's a joke. In case you don't know, my mom was a decorator for years. She may be retired (and therefore not have her samples and suppliers) but she still have a great sense of style, which is what I need the most. I did not inherit her gifts in that area.
Also, Joel 2:12-13 is a great passage that goes along with this day. Be sure and attend an Ash Wednesday service sometime today! Most liturgical (Methodist, Presbyterian, Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran, etc) churches will have one this evening. I'm on call tonight, but hoping that the pager will "behave" so I can go to a nearby service.
In non-sacred news, we got new blinds yesterday. They're wood and match our window sills perfectly. We only bought five (5) this time, and have 11 more to purchase. We currently have blinds in the living room, dining room, and master bedroom. We still need blinds for the kitchen, family room, Susanna's room, office, and guest room. My mom lent/gave us a few honeycomb blinds when we moved in, so our windows haven't been completely bare for the past nine months...but we've have no window coverings at all downstairs.
I think I want to decorate the master bedroom and bath with our tax refund money. We're still looking for a dining set (table that seats at least six and maybe even a china hutch) on craigslist, but will only buy one if it's fairly cheap (under $700) and in good condition.
Now I just need to find an interior decorator. Anyone know of a good one?*
*That's a joke. In case you don't know, my mom was a decorator for years. She may be retired (and therefore not have her samples and suppliers) but she still have a great sense of style, which is what I need the most. I did not inherit her gifts in that area.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Thought-Provoking Reading
I was doing some "blog surfing" yesterday and came across a blog (and a post from that blog) that very much intrigued me. I've included the link below so you can read it if you so desire.
http://locustsandhoney.blogspot.com/2009/01/on-abnormality-of-church.html
I found the post very thought-provoking. It also had a lot of truth in it. Sure, it's a little one-sided and I disagreed with parts of it (or saw it from another perspective), but I found myself agreeing with a lot of it.
I am currently committed to remaining in the United Methodist Church and in the ordination process. The denomination would have to do something really major for me to leave. The UMC is my theological home; where I feel most comfortable. I am also very committed to remaining in the local church in some sort of role. However, I am fully aware of the many major flaws in both my denomination and in the local church (regardless of denomination). There are many times when I get so frustrated and angry with either or both of the above institutions and the people in them. That's why I found myself agreeing with some of what John said. I've been hurt by the church, also. However, I still stick with the UMC/local church because I believe in God's redeeming power working through individuals and groups. No one and nothing is beyond God's redemption, but it takes faithful and receptive individuals for that redemption to occur. Simply put, I feel called to be one of those agents of God's redemption, even if I have to wait until heaven to see the fruits of my labor. Is it painful? Yes. May I change my mind later (and leave the denomination and local church altogether? Possibly, although I hope not. Is it worth the pain and frustration? Yes, and that's why I'll keep working for and praying for redemption and transformation. The day when I say, "it's not worth it" is the day that I'll turn in my credentials and start a house church. However, I sincerely hope that day never arrives.
http://locustsandhoney.blogspot.com/2009/01/on-abnormality-of-church.html
I found the post very thought-provoking. It also had a lot of truth in it. Sure, it's a little one-sided and I disagreed with parts of it (or saw it from another perspective), but I found myself agreeing with a lot of it.
I am currently committed to remaining in the United Methodist Church and in the ordination process. The denomination would have to do something really major for me to leave. The UMC is my theological home; where I feel most comfortable. I am also very committed to remaining in the local church in some sort of role. However, I am fully aware of the many major flaws in both my denomination and in the local church (regardless of denomination). There are many times when I get so frustrated and angry with either or both of the above institutions and the people in them. That's why I found myself agreeing with some of what John said. I've been hurt by the church, also. However, I still stick with the UMC/local church because I believe in God's redeeming power working through individuals and groups. No one and nothing is beyond God's redemption, but it takes faithful and receptive individuals for that redemption to occur. Simply put, I feel called to be one of those agents of God's redemption, even if I have to wait until heaven to see the fruits of my labor. Is it painful? Yes. May I change my mind later (and leave the denomination and local church altogether? Possibly, although I hope not. Is it worth the pain and frustration? Yes, and that's why I'll keep working for and praying for redemption and transformation. The day when I say, "it's not worth it" is the day that I'll turn in my credentials and start a house church. However, I sincerely hope that day never arrives.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Clinging to the Rock in the Midst of a Storm
Above is a picture (that I now know is by an artist named Jean Guichard) that my husband and I have been drooling over for some eight years now. We keep seeing it at Christian bookstores, framed very nicely and fairly expensive (which is why we haven't bought it yet) At the bottom of the picture is a verse from Psalm 27: "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?" Of course, the next verse in that Psalm is, "the Lord is the stronghold of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?"
I give God all the credit for getting me through my parish experience, and for bringing me to this place of healing. In the darkest times, when I felt so very alone and couldn't reach any of my clergy friends (for I had several who really encouraged and strengthened me), I imagined God holding me and keeping me safe in the midst of the storm. The thought of God being the Light who would show me the way, and the Rock on whom I could cling when all else failed, kept me going.
I'm very blessed in that I haven't experienced a crisis of faith as a result of my parish experience. I supposed I should clarify and say that my faith in God has not suffered. My faith in God's children certainly has...and I'm sure I'll talk about that at some point. However, I seem to have been gifted with a strong faith that is not easily tested. I am supremely grateful for that gift, because it has gotten me through many a tough time. Since I am only 32, I imagine that I will experience more difficulties in life, and my faith may be tested in new and different ways. I hope that the images I've mentioned here will continue to sustain me in my faith journey.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Heading for the B.O.M.? Check this out...
If you're a UM Elder or Deacon (or aspiring to be one), then check out this link and tell me what you think about it:
http://adventures-in-revland.blogspot.com/2009/02/unofficial-guide-to-candidates.html
http://adventures-in-revland.blogspot.com/2009/02/unofficial-guide-to-candidates.html
Saturday, February 14, 2009
See Our New Poll!
James and I are expecting to receive a nice chunk of change from Uncle Sam via our tax refund. Of course, a good part of it will go into savings, since that's the smart thing to do (esp. given the economy). However, we want to use some of it towards home improvements. James suggested buying a new appliance (such as a refrigerator or oven) but I'm leaning more towards decorating a room. I'm torn between the master bedroom/bath (an oasis for us) or the dining room (so we don't have to be embarassed when friends come over and we break out the folding chairs).
So, I've added a poll on the sidebar, and I ask you to vote for your choice. I'll take that into account when deciding. For James' sake, I've also included the kitchen (although we can only afford to replace an appliance and maybe get some decorations; we can't afford a total redo). If you want to explain your vote, then you're welcome to use the "comments" section of this post.
You have two weeks to vote!
So, I've added a poll on the sidebar, and I ask you to vote for your choice. I'll take that into account when deciding. For James' sake, I've also included the kitchen (although we can only afford to replace an appliance and maybe get some decorations; we can't afford a total redo). If you want to explain your vote, then you're welcome to use the "comments" section of this post.
You have two weeks to vote!
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Moving on UP!
Susanna has been promoted to the toddler class at daycare! She's still not walking, but the program director agreed with us that the transition would benefit her. So, she's now in a room with kids her own age (about 14-24 months) and almost all of them are walking. She gets to do lots of fun things now, like coloring, fingerpainting, and playing outside. So far, she's adjusted pretty well. The only wrinkle has been that she's not taking long enough naps (they have a two-hour naptime, but she's only been sleeping for an hour or so). Hopefully that will change in the next week or so.
You know what we like about the promotion? Her tuition has gone down $14/week. Yay!!!
You know what we like about the promotion? Her tuition has gone down $14/week. Yay!!!
Saturday, January 31, 2009
The doggie door arrives...
Earlier this week, I brought Simon his doggie door for the house. We went with a PetSafe In-Wall unit that is pretty much the standard in dog doors. The location of the dog door was somewhat a problem. The wall by the back door would be the ideal location, but there is an electrical outlet and the natural gas shutoff value for the fireplace right next to it. Hence, no dice. OK, so the next option was the kitchenette area. Well, I initially ruled it out due to the stud placements and initial checking. (The dog door is supposed to fit between the studs and is about 12" wide. The studs in the kitchenette seem to be about 8" apart.) So, we had finally thought about it and were going to put it in the dining room. Well, after I ordered the unit, I decided and hashed a plan to get it back to where I wanted in the kitchenette.
To get it there under the window, I removed the siding and foam insulation (cheapo builder!). Well, the window is narrow and already had one supporting stud, and I decide to remove the extra one in the way. Then I reinforced the window with two new studs on each side that would allow the extra clearance for the dog door. Then I put plywood on the outside instead of insulation.
After that, the installation was pretty straightforward according to the instructions. Here's a couple pictures of the final result.
One thing to note is there is about a foot between the door, so I'm going to build a platform and ramp for Simon and some of his smaller buddies. I can imagine Charlie, who is a 20lb beagle might not want to make that leap in and out.
To get it there under the window, I removed the siding and foam insulation (cheapo builder!). Well, the window is narrow and already had one supporting stud, and I decide to remove the extra one in the way. Then I reinforced the window with two new studs on each side that would allow the extra clearance for the dog door. Then I put plywood on the outside instead of insulation.
After that, the installation was pretty straightforward according to the instructions. Here's a couple pictures of the final result.
One thing to note is there is about a foot between the door, so I'm going to build a platform and ramp for Simon and some of his smaller buddies. I can imagine Charlie, who is a 20lb beagle might not want to make that leap in and out.
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