Roofing Project

JP, JA, and EM picking up shingles early in the morning

EM trying to push the wheel barrow

Monday morning the long awaited re-roofing project began. We had had lots of people lined up either as volunteers or paid labor for Friday and Saturday, but of course it poured rain and snow on those days, so we had to wait until Monday when we would have at least 72 hours of clear weather.

The goal for Monday was to complete tear-off and start felting. Two of us started the tear-off at 7 am with the temperature around 21 degrees, hoping the neighbors wouldn't mind too much (although tear-off doesn't make that much noise compared to pneumatic nailing guns and compressors!). An hour and a half in, I thought I was going to die from exhaustion (cold was no longer an issue!). CK, who was helping me, was a professional roofer, and he probably cleared twice the area I did in the same time. I kept on eye on his technique and by the end was making much better progress for the same energy expended, but still was struggling to keep up. Fortunately at that time, backup in the form of CP, CK, BH, and the E family began to arrive and things began to progress even more quickly. By noon all the old shingles and felt had been cleared off the roof and were sitting on the ground.

With the shingles gone, some other problems with the roof, not related to the tree falling down became apparent. For instance the wood sheathing below the two dormer vents in the back were beginning to rot, as was the area near the chimney. Both of these areas had been improperly flashed when the roof was built forty years ago. After about one minute of discussion, I decided to just tear out the dormers, as I always thought they kind of looked ugly, they were a major source of potential leaks to a roof, and they were providing essentially no ventilation flow, which was their only reason for existing. After tearing out the dormers, we needed to replace the rotted areas and the small ventilation holes in the main decking. We also cut the peak of the roof to install a ridge vent.

At this time I had to go into work to interview someone for a position that had been scheduled weeks before. Fortunately, CP, CK, BH, and the E family continued working while I was gone. Unfortunately, they found that the rolls of felt we had purchased had a major problem, with edges sticking as they were being rolled out and tearing. We thought this was because of cold temperatures, so decided to call it a day at 5 pm, bring the rolls of felt into the house to get them warmed up, and start again the next day.
I had high hopes that we would complete the roof by the end of Tuesday.

Tuesday we started at 8 am. Unfortunately, we found that the felt was still tearing as it was rolled. The rolling went slowly, mostly because it took a while for me to get the hang of what CK needed me to do to make the felt lay tight against the roof. It also became problematic that our roof has so many valleys and ridges, all which require more care and present problems for getting tight fits of the felt. I also found that I had a hard time walking or standing on the already laid felt in a way that wouldn't cause signficant bubbling. I had to leave to go into the lab by 11 am, and from the report I got back from my foreman, CP, progress was slow the entire day and I admit I was deeply discouraged. Less than half the roof had been felted, and only 1/4 of the roof shingled. So much for finishing in two days.

Wednesday we began work at 7:30 am, but I had to leave by 10 am. Felting continued to go slowly but with CK working on it, we had at least completed 2/3rd of it before I left, as well as having shingled close to half the roof. CP, CK, BH, and the E. family continued work throughout the day. By the end of the day, felt had been laid down on all but the peak areas of the roof, and shingles on 3/4 the of the roof.

Because I was staying in late at the lab each day to try to make up for the time I was spending on the roof, by Thursday morning I was dreading another day and hoping that this was finally the day we finished. We began work again at 7:30 am, but I absolutely had to stop at 9 am because I had a talk I had to give that morning. By the time I had left, we had finished shingling all but the ridge areas which we had kept until last so we had a place to put shingles, tools, and such. By the end of the day CP called to say that they had finished. Thank goodness. It rained a little bit Friday night and Saturday night. I haven't had a chance to get up in the attic during a rain storm to make sure there are no leaks, but I feel pretty confident we actually have a stronger and better ventilated roof without any leaks.

Would I do it again this way? Probably not, but give me a few months to recover and maybe I would consider it.

Live Music

We live in a region renowned for its country music and our capital city uses the moniker "Music City". I'm not a music junkie like so many of my friends then and now are. When I was growing up, one of the speakers on our family's stereo was out most of the time, and I'm not sure I really noticed that mono was not as rich as stereo until it got fixed . Even today in our house we don't really have a stereo system, just portable CD players. So it may seem strange that one as ignorant as I would write in praise of live music, but I am becoming a real convert.

While growing up, I went to a total of one live concert. Tears for Fears, which was at the Marriott Center on the BYU campus. I enjoyed the concert, but realized that there were lots of songs that the group did that I did not know, but most of the crowd did. So I realized I was a pretty fair weather fan. The one group I was really passionate about was U2, but they never played Utah in those days.

It wasn't until I was married that I really went to very many live concerts and that was sort of a fluke. AM worked for the parking service at the U, and when she did the parking for concerts, she could sometimes get in free after the start. So I got in for free to see the Moody Blues, Howard Jones, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (my first, and I assumed last country music concert). And by that time, U2 put Salt Lake back on the touring map and brought its Pop Mart tour to Rice-Eccles stadium. (We didn't get in free to that one!) But mostly, I just listened to the radio. The U's NPR station devoted the evenings to jazz and that really got me hooked on jazz. Enough so that when I went to New Orleans for a conference a friend and I walked all the way from our conference hotel to Snug Harbor and paid the cover to listen.

In some ways, moving to Tennessee hasn't changed things much in terms of how often I buy music, but it has greatly increased the opportunities to listen to live music of all varieties. For instance, our local park has live bands every weekend for free in the summer, and from my department I've gotten free tickets to Stevie Wonder and Carrie Underwood. As part of the after-event concerts for the CM 1/2 marathon I've got to listen to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra and Sara Evans, and unfortunately Phil Vasser. And I've gone to the smaller, more intimate live venues for gigs by some of my friends.

But this past couple weeks probably sets a personal record for me in the live music department.

I took Jonathan with me to see the BlueNote 7, a touring group from the Blue Note record label out celebrating the 70th anniversary of this iconic jazz label. The concert was simply fabulous. The venue was a compromise between wanting as large an auditorium as possible for a highly desired show, while still retaining the intimate club-like experience you need for great jazz. We had great seats, just in front of the sound booth in the center of the auditorium. These were seven outstanding musicians (Peter Bernstein, Bill Charlap, Ravi Coltrane, Lewis Nash, Nicholas Payton, Peter Washington, and Steve Wilson) who clearly enjoyed what they were doing, were some of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the best music in the world, and feeding off the performance of each other. The crowd was into it and appreciative, and that is a big part of live music is the opportunity to have that interaction between audience and performer. It just put a big smile on my face the whole time.

Switching genres and venues, SheDaisy sung for our ward's sacrament meeting. I think our new music director, who is a country music artist herself, has been trying to make sure we have musicians perform the rest hymn, rather than simply have the congregation sing, which has been fantastic. We have some great singers in our region and the Osborne sisters are great vocalists.

Sticking with the country theme, (ironic for one who came to Nashville disliking most country music), AM and I went to the Bluebird Cafe. For those of you as ignorant as I was of country music lore, and like me before moving to TN, don't know about the Bluebird Cafe, its a place that country artists go to get found. But even more, its the place for songs to be found. Unlike most rock groups who write and perform their own songs, the older genres of country and gospel have stuck with the tradition of song writing and performance being separate functions. So for instance, Elvis, coming out of the country tradition, didn't write many (perhaps any) of the songs he performed, although many of his songs were probably written particularly for him by songwriters. So the aspiration of a songwriter at Bluebird is not necessarily to be the performer who gets a #1 hit on the chart, but rather writes the song heard by others who choose to perform it, which then becomes a #1 on the chart.

The cafe itself is in a little strip mall and seems sort of out of place for such a famous venue. It probably seats about 50 people or so total, with the table cleared in the middle for the musicians to sit in the round. So it is extremely intimate, which is what makes it such a fantastic venue. There is no cover charge for the early set, which is what we went to, but there is a $7 per person food and drink requirement, so you are paying for the music that way.
Last night the early set was four well-established country songwriters: Jimmy Payne, Don Wayne, Glen Douglas Tubbs, and Bill Carlisle Jr. Don Wayne is in the Songwriters hall of fame and wrote "Saginaw Michigan", "Belles of Southern Belle", and "Country Bumpkin"; Glen Douglas Tubbs wrote "The House of Blues" that the immortal man in black made famous (its in the movie Walk the Line about half way through), as well as "Skip A Rope", and "Two Story House"; Bill Carlisle Jr is the son of Bill carlisle and did mostly blues tunes, and Jimmy Payne wrote "Women, Women, (have you got cheating on your mind...)", "When Mama prayed", "My Eyes can only see as far as you," and "Don't Say Love." I am not a country music fan, but I really enjoyed the show and the performance. I love music that is just the human voice and a lone guitar, and that was what this show was all about.

Update on 2009 goal or why I run

One of our former Ute village friends posted on her blog a small essay on why she ran.

Given my weak performance in training so far this year, I began thinking about this.

Today's run reminded me why I run. Last week's long run consisted of 6 x 1 mile runs @ 10 minute per mile with a 100 m walk between each mile. Although 4 of the six miles were under 10 min, every mile was difficult and by the 4 mile point my legs felt as heavy as lead. During the week, I did two gym work-outs, one for 60 minutes on the cross ramp machine at level 20 and resistance at 5, which about killed me. Then Thursday I ran 3 miles on the treadmill. I simply dread running on the treadmill. Maybe I should call it the dreadmill. Its horribly boring and I don't run at a very consistent pace, so I always feel like I'm either going to fall off the treadmill or that I'm sort of intentionally dogging it to not run up the front. (I also may be the only person who has actually fallen off a treadmill twice. Once back during the year when Mark "Pumped Up" Maguire and Sammy "The Juiced" Sosa were going for the home run record, I was watching the Cubs game when Sammy cleared the fence for his 62nd home run to break what had been until a few days before, Roger Maris' long-time record. (And now as far as I am concerned, still is the record.) I was so caught up in the moment watching that I didn't realize I had slowed down and got shot out the back of the treadmill. The second time was at the U and I think I was messing around with the controls and wasn't paying attention and turned it up too fast without realizing it.) Any how, this week has not been particularly bright in terms of training.

Today's planned work-out was 7 miles, with a short walk at the 3 mile point to stretch. My hope was to hold something close to a ten-minute mile pace if I could. The first mile my ankle was very sore and I felt very tight. I still managed a 9:45 mile. I ran the second mile at 9:57 and still the ankle hadn't opened up, so I was wondering if I should go to the walk early, but decide to just take the third mile gently, I still managed a 9:55 for it and then grabbed a drink of water and walked for about 100 m or so. I had to finish my run by 1 pm in order to pick up Emilie on time, and I had to be under 10 minutes for each mile if to make it, so I decided just to run as far as I could before the time ran out.

Somewhere in the forth mile something changed. I like to run to Bruce Springstein and U2, and today was the Boss. Somewhere in the middle of "Badlands", "Out in the Streets", "Born to Run", "American Skin",and "This Train", I found that the muscles completely loosened up, the arteries unclogged, the lungs expanded, and the legs felt like they were barely touching the ground, as they cruised over the distance. The beat of the music and the rhythm of my body collapsed into a single feeling like I could run forever. For the next thirty five minutes I felt completely zoned into the moment and the universe. That is why I run.

Final time for 7 miles: 1:09:00.

SD's Surprise 40th Birthday Party Hawaiian Style

The surprise birthday party was supposed to be at our house, but with the tree tumbling down on top of our roof and having a hole in our living room, we had to change location. One of our very good friend offered her house to have the surprise party and I was very thankful that I did not have to cancel the party. I went to her house on the day of the party to decorate and set up the table of food. It was suppose to be a surprise party but it ended up being semi surprise because when we got there, some people were still arriving. We tried to play limbo game and hula hoop. The kids enjoyed both games. We all had fun talking, eating and wishing the old man happy birthday. SD will probably need to give his own version of his surprise birthday party.

SD's baby picture

The cake says "Over the Hill Happy 40th birthday " and the candle says "OH NO THE BIG 40"

SD received two gifts from some of our friends. One of the gift is BENGAY creme for pain and aches. The other gift is 2 jars of homemade applesauce with a card saying "Food for your old man teeth."

Pine Tree Tumbling Down!!!

Heavy wind and storm, knocked down our pine tree

A Branch went through the roof, attic and then our living room

While having preschool at my house, the wind knocked down our big pine tree. Luckily the kids and I were in the dining room decorating our Valentine's Day cookies. We are all fine. A tree removal company is coming today to estimate the damage and I also called our homeowner insurance to place a claim.

Update from SD:

So the tree has been completely removed and we have a nice FEMA roof. The tree did no real damage to the structural integrity of the house. While there are four holes in the roof, one rather large that pierces into the living room, the rafters and the rest are completely intact.

As some of you may know, this is the second big tree we have had fall down on us during our time in Tennessee. After the first one fell at our old house, I have always had a hard time sleeping during wind storms because of the fear that this big pine tree would fall. I always thought that if it did, it would crush the house. So I would go stand outside our front door and watch it sway in the wind, with the hope that if it started to fall I could warn everyone to move. So for five years I have debated whether I should cut it down or if I was just being paranoid. Ironically, after spending most of Saturday clearing downed trees in Kentucky, I had decided that it was probably time to cut the tree down. But I didn't think I would need to act so quickly.

Heat Wave in February??

I LOVE when the temperature goes up to the 70's specially in February. The kids enjoy wearing shorts and not wearing heavy coats. I wish it will stay in the 70's until December. I can only wish.....

Bucket List and Reflections on 40 years.

The movie the Bucket List has two old men trying to complete their list of things to do before they kick the bucket.

Given this week's milestone, I thought I would reflect on some of the things I have lived through in the first 40 years and then put out my current draft of the Bucket List.

Somethings I have witnessed or participated in or accomplished (in absolutely no order of importance or chronology) in my first 40 years:
1. Earned a PhD. (University of Utah, 1999).
2. Served a mission.
3. Learned a foreign language (Cambodian).
4. Got married in the Salt Lake temple and stayed married for at least 16 years (so far.)
5. Had 3 delightful (sometimes) children.
6. Received a major NIH grant.
7. Served as president of a non-profit organization.
8. Helped organize a major community cycling event.
9. Sang in the choir for a general conference session in the old Tabernacle.
10. Ran a marathon.
11. Won high school region championship in swimming.
12. Became an assistant professor at major university.
13. Experienced a major earthquake ("World Series" quake 1989.)
14. Attended a major league baseball game (A's, Royals, Cardinals.)
15. Attended an NFL playoff game (Titans vs Ravens 2008).
16. Attended an NBA game (Suns, Jazz, Pacers.)
17. Witnessed the University of Utah NCAA national runner-up season 1998 (we attended most of the home games that year.)
18. Presented my scientific work at major scientific conferences.
19. Witnessed the two BCS wins by the University of Utah football team (we use to go to most of the home games).
20. Experienced the death of my father.
21. Experienced the death of three of my grandparents.
22. Witnessed the RedSox blow the 1986 world series, and then finally win the World Series after 86 years in 2004, and then again in 2007.
23. Bought a house.
24. Completed an olympic distance triathlon.
25. Had two trees blown down on home or property.
26. Represented my high school in the Sterling Scholar competition (Science, 1987).
27. Made some friends who still keep in touch despite my being a curmudgeonly old man.
28. Completed a century ride (ULCER, Salt Lake, Harpeth River).
29. Snorkeled Hanauma Bay.
30. Certified in SCUBA, but only dove in Blue Lake, Nevada.
31. Served in my church as sunday school teacher (2x), sunday school president or counselor (2x), assistant ward clerk, student ward bishopric counselor, executive secretary, elder's quorum president or counselor(3x), primary teacher (2x), nursery leader, cub scout leader. Least favorite service (assistant ward clerk.)
32. Witnessed humpback whales breaching in Hawaii.
33. Witnessed reenactment of 1847 pioneer trek at This is the Place Monument.
34. Lived through tornado passing overhead.
35. Took my family on trips to Hawaii, Disneyworld, and the great Western trek.
36. Got thrown out of raft in a small rapid while river running.
37. Survived being hit by car while on my bike.
38. Saw moose face to face at short distances (City Creek, Dog Lake).
39. Hiked Mt. Timpanagos.
40. Watch sunset at Double Arch. Also hiked to Delicate Arch, Double 0 Arch.
41. Survived the hike to Kolob Arch.
41. Hiked the Zion Narrows and Subway.
42. Other favorite hikes or mountain bike trails: AF canyon: Pittsburgh Lake, Silver Lake, Julie Andrews Meadow, Timp cave, beaver ponds; Salt Lake Canyons: Red Butte, dog lake, Millcreek x-country ski main road, Donut Falls, White Pine, Lake Solitude, Albion Basin, Cecret Lake; Ogden: Adams Canyon. Wyoming: Turtle Rock; Tennessee: Virgin Falls, Burgess Falls, Fiery Gizzard, Fall Creek Falls, Volunteer Trail, Radnor Lake, Montgomery Bell Park, Lock 4 Park.
43. Mountain biked Slickrock trail.
44. Backpacked to Abram Falls in Smoky Mountains.





Bucket List items still to do (in no particular order of importance):
1. Snorkel/scuba dive with sharks in open ocean.
2. Learn to surf. (Then surf Waimea Bay).
3. Bicycle across the United States.
4. Motorcycle across the Unites States.
5. Hike the Grand Canyon's Havasu Falls.
6. Run the Grand Canyon via river.
7. Hike a substantial section of the Appalachian Trail.
8. Write and publish a children's storybook.
9. Write and publish a short story.
10. Ride L'Alpe d'Huez
11. Visit Angkor Wat.
12. Dive coral reefs in the following locations: Kaneohe Bay, St. John's Island, Great Barrier Reef, Catalina Island, Nassau, Biscayne Bay.
13. Publish a scientific article cited over 1000 times.
14. Visit Paris and ride the Champs de Elysee.
15. Run a marathon in under 4 hours.
16. Visit all 50 states. (Airports don't count.) So far: Hawaii, California, Washington, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Colorado, Texas, Kansas, Nebraska, Louisiana, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts,New Hampshire, Vermont. So by my account I am missing: Alaska, Oregon, New Mexico, Montana, South Dakota, North Dakota, Arkansas, Mississippi, West Virginia, Delaware, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Maine.
17. Visit Thailand.
18. Visit Ireland and Wales.
19. Visit Maui.
20. Visit my old hometown of Kaumakani, Kaua'i, swim at Salt Ponds beach, go to Na Pali coast.
21. Learn to snowboard.
22. Slalom water ski again.
23. Run the Ocoee River.
24. Ride a significant portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway.
25. Discover/invent a new therapeutic agent.
26. Publish an article in Dialogue or Sunstone or other major Mormon Studies journal.
27. Go to a RedSox game at Fenway Park.
28. Ride a century (100 miles) in under 5 hours.
29. Swim with dolphins in the wild.
30. Backpack the following the Smoky Mountains: Ramsay Cascades, Clingmans Dome, TwentyMile Loop, Mount Le Comte, Appalachian Trail.