Breathing Easier With The Dus-T

I've been writing this blog a long time -Today - My first product evaluation. As you know I've been consumed by my house renovation and have not done much else for about 15 weeks now. I am a moderately skilled do-it-yourself-er but there is one thing I know. The proper tools make for the best quality job.

I never fall for those As-Seen-On-TV ads or gimmicks. I found the Dus-T(click here) on the History channel show Invention USA. The hosts really put this product through its paces including setting it on fire and dousing it with pepper spray. If you saw my last posting, you may have noticed the mask I've used for years. Not bad for some light painting, sanding, and sawing but I've been renovating a house for months now. The consumer mask I've been using was just not cutting it. I had one huge ceiling left to sand. I had to give the Dus-T a try.

The shirt fit like a glove and with the dust mask tucked in the collar, it looked no different than a regular t-shirt. I wear contacts but for sanding a ceiling, I need to switch to glasses. The first thing I noticed with the Dus-T was my glasses didn't fog up hardly at all. With the regular mask I've used for decades, exhaling goes straight up causing major fogging problems. Making constant adjustments brings dust in from around the edges. No such problems with the Dus-T. A complete ring of protection slides up from the collar and if you want to really lock it in, use the ear loops.

The only time I moved it was to roll it down to get some water. Sanding overhead is exhausting so I decided to rest my arms a bit by chipping some tile off the kitchen floor. I didn't bother to take the mask off which was a good idea since these tiles had years of water damaged and had a pretty strong moldy smell as they popped up. Looking straight up or at the floor made no difference. The Dus-T stays in place.

The fit is snug and you will know you are wearing a mask but in a few moments you won't even know its there. With the old mask, dust would sneak around the edges as I moved or talked and go straight down my lungs. Breathing hard just sucked the mask to my face. With the Dus-T I was going flat out, non stop. By the end I was panting like a dog yet still breathing easy.

Due to my poor skills with the joint compound, I had an excessive amount sanding. Some at pretty close range to where I breath. At the end of a very long day, I had not a drop of dust where I was masked. Not as lucky with the goggles. Dust got in the tiny vent holes on the side and into my eyes.

Dus-T in action

Was this shirt worth the $40.00 price tag? For just this weekend - Absolutely. With the old mask it took me three days of start/stop sanding for the first coat and that was with a sander on a pole and goggles so fogged I could not tell what I was even sanding.

With the Dus-T I was right up on the ceiling with the hand sander and only stopped when my arms were about to fall off. Still only took half a day.

If I did this work for a living, I would have one for every day of the week. I think of all the times in my life I've choked up something from a project I was working on or the years I created my own personal dust storm running my farm tractor mowing or spraying pesticides. The Dus-T is as cool looking as it is effective. The old bandanna tied around the back of the head was never really either.

Now for the best part. This is an American invented, American produced, and an American sold product. I am proud to support anyone who can get a product to market in this country these days. I still have some dusty work in my own house and just told my sister I would hang a ceiling for her for some painting. I know I'll be breathing easy with the Dust-T in my tool box.

House Renovation - The First 100 Days

100 days have passed on the calendar since I closed on my new house. Actual work has only occurred on the weekends and two full weeks of vacation time.  Except for some painting, I have done most of the interior work by myself.

Sanding ceilings

When I bought the place, I knew this project would be close to overwhelming and fairly expensive. I have a good amount of experience with home repairs but most of it was 20 years ago and nearly all my tools have been in storage for the last 12 years. I was counting on the theory of once you learn to ride a bicycle, you never forget. It does not seem to apply to spreading joint compound but I do sort of remember that I never really learned that particular skill.

So did I run into any surprises? Well the water damage behind the kitchen cabinets made them utterly useless and the drywall behind them had to come out as well. I thought I could work with the kitchen for a while but it reeked of mold and had to be the first thing to go. The AC blew up a couple of weeks after I closed. Not really a surprise. It was not looking to good at the inspection.

Just a little roof leak

I then discovered that the popcorn ceilings were spot patched and painted all throughout the house. I thought about re-spraying the whole ceiling but that could have lead to the popcorn falling. If you ever want to remove the popcorn on your own ceilings, good luck to you. It is an extremely dirty job and on a 12 foot cathedral ceiling, just a bit dangerous. Get the popcorn a tiny bit wet and it literally falls off with a quick pass of the scraper. Run into the patched and painted areas and you will wish you had never started removing it. About 1/4 of the living room was patched in some way. The roof apparently was leaking and repaired for years. The 30 sheets of plywood used during the new roof installation were a pretty good indicator of how long this roof had been neglected. If I had not salvaged this house, it would have likely melted and caved in during the next summers rains.

Goodbye moldy kitchen

I took a huge leap of faith (in my own skill level) and decided to remove the soffits above the upper cabinets in the kitchen so that I could put in taller ones. They were built to last and connected to a lot of structural lumber that needed to remain undisturbed. A delicate balance between swinging an eight pound sledge and gingerly using the pry bar to not bring down the roof or split the ceiling. Came out perfect.

So am I on schedule? Even with all the extra work I am exactly where I wanted to be. This is literally a top down renovation. The roof is done. The fallen ceiling in the master bedroom is hung. The popcorn ceiling in the entire house are scraped, sanded, primed, and painted. The walls patched, and painted. The trim sanded and partially painted. The master bedroom still needs a final sanding and painting. If this was an HGTV episode I would be on day two of a five day build. I suspect they have more of a crew than the one I have.

Dad supervising

Drywall jack - Best tool ever

How are things on the expense account front. I expect to drop about $50K on this renovation. So far I've spent $15,000.00 on the roof. I got a quote to do the bedroom ceiling of $1,500.00 so I did it myself for $100.00 in drywall an $170.00 for a drywall jack. Another $500.00 or so in paint, patch, and parts at Home Depot. The new AC goes in next week. Another $3000.00. There will be a lot of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches between now and the end of this project.

Ceiling and walls painted. Just the trim left to do

Coming up next - Tile floors, a new kitchen, and all the appliances. 

Biking on the Hollywood Broadwalk

Not only does Hollywood Beach have a "Broadwalk", it has a fairly broad bike path right along the beach. Like much of Hollywood, it's an anything goes activity. If it peddles on one wheel, two, three, or four, you will find it cruising up and down the beach. There are several places along the beach to rent a four wheel surrey, three wheeled low rider, or regular two wheeler. I've seen folding bikes, two seaters, big wheels, racing bikes, bikes with training wheels, baskets for small dog hood ornaments, parrots on the handle bars, and everything in between. I used to live close enough to ride my bike every weekend on the broadwalk but now I need to toss the bike in the car and haul it to the beach. Still one of my favorite Hollywood beach activities.

Organic Brewery - Hollywood Beach

 

I've been brewing my own beer for quite a while. I don't take it very seriously and the results show that sometimes.  I prefer a nice strong stout to a pilsner or ale and I generally have better luck with the darker beers. I know the difference between an ok beer and a not so ok beer but sometimes I just want a professionally crafted micro brew to dance across my taste buds. 

I've passed by the Organic Brewery on Hollywood Beach for a while now on my weekend walks. I generally hit the beach early but today, I brought my camera and got a much later start to catch some better winter light. 

 My home setup consists of a two gallon plastic container and a few plastic bottles. The mad science lab at the Organic Brewery has multiple stainless steel reactors, miles of pipe, and computer control. The price seemed a little high and I do have eight bottles of fresh brew in the fridge at home but the bartender convinced me to stay and have a stout. While I was there, I ordered lunch too. 

First came the ice cold stout in a frozen mug just the way it should be. Oh yes - This is what fine beer making is supposed to taste like. Next a plate of the best German sausages and authentic, fresh baked soft pretzel I've had in a very long time. A little side of dipping mustard just to make it perfect. My German grandfather would have been in heaven if he was not already there. My visit was at noon but I hear it's getting pretty popular in the evening. I'll be back again with friends next time to check it out.

The Organic Brewery is right on Hollywood Beach Broadwalk. You can see the ocean from the outdoor patio. Great place to take a break, sip a quality beer and, watch the waves.

Jousting Returns to Camelot Days - Hollywood

Stormy Knights Jousting

I have been a huge Renaissance festival fan since first taking my daughter to the local fair well over a decade ago. Her favorite act that day - The jousting. My favorite part of that day - The look of amazement on her little face as two horses came thundering at each other and lances crashed against opposing knights.

Jousting had taken a long hiatus from the Camelot Days fair in Hollywood and so had I in my quest to attend bigger shows in Florida and Georgia. Last year I was in a nostalgic mood and returned to the show that started it all for me. My bad luck to attend on a stormy afternoon turned out to be not so bad after all. I had a chance to take shelter and talk with Larry Rabin, a long time performer better known as the Hopeless Romantic. Until that day a year ago I was just a guy shooting pictures but suddenly I was interacting with the cast. Larry mentioned he was working on a new project. Little did I know he was planning to bring Jousting back to Hollywood with Stormy Knights Jousting.

Larry Rabin - back stage

Hard to believe this year has come full circle already. I have made dozens of friends since then. Writing this blog has been a key to introducing me to all sorts of events and entertainment I had no idea about a year ago. I've gotten to know several of the performers to the point they recognize me before I recognize them. Larry even invited me back stage during the second Joust so I could get better pictures. 

Attending the festivals is a great way to catch up with old friends like Kevin Siegelbaum. Kevin recently became an ordained minister and will perform your ceremony as "The Pirate Pastor". The festival is also a great way to make new friends such as Carolina VonFoxy. I've seen Carolina around the fair grounds for many years but never thought to walk up to her and say hi. Like all the performers at all the Ren Fests I've attended, she was very gracious and we had a wonderful conversation. I'm sure my daughter remembers her as she had me buy her a fox tail of her very own after seeing Carolina's collection.

Old Friend - Kevin Siegelbaum

New Friend - Carolina VonFoxy

  











Besides the jousting there is plenty of other fair favorites like dancing, music, comedy, and magic. Most of the performers know me by now so I don't get pulled up on stage any more although I was almost included in a dance number. Best I just stick to photography although dancing on stage would be the quickest way to launch my comedy career.

I'm sure you are wondering what the rest of this fair was all about so Click Here for the photos I took today. There is still one more day to enjoy Camelot Days then fairs in Deerfield and Miami if your are local or all across the country if you are not. 

Helicopter Ride at the Stuart Air Show

After spending the entire day at the Stuart Air Show, I wanted something a little extra. Jumping out the back of a C-130 at 2,000 feet? No that's not it. Hitch a ride on one of the AreoShell Aerobatic Team stunt planes? Had lunch and dinner so that was out. It was getting late, the last plane had flown and the show was closing down then I noticed the helicopter rides. Oh yeah - that's what I needed to do to make this day over the top.

I walked up right as they were taking the last tickets. There was one seat for the next flight so I plunked down my $35.00 and headed for the front of the line.

The helicopter was a four seater (including the pilot) and smaller up close than it looked from across the field.  I was heading out with an Army wife and her very young daughter both just in from Germany. I drove to the show. They came by military transport plane. Lucky for me and my camera, they decided to take the two back seats. I sat up front with and nearly on top of the pilot. 

The last helicopter I rode in was a monster. Sort of a corporate type, six seater. When it took off, you knew it, you heard it, you felt it in your teeth. After I squeezed into the tiny cockpit, buckled up, and checked my camera settings we were off as gently and smooth as a hot air balloon. I'm not even sure where the engine was. I asked what this particular helicopter was used for. Training, movies, rides, and whatever they could schedule to make a buck. Seemed like the best office in the world and the pilot mentioned a commercial license was a mere $17,000.00. That's actually cheaper than my daughter's college education. If not the full license, I would definitely consider lessons or areal photography.

Stuart Air Show

 I may be needing to change the name of my blog to "The Very North End of South Florida  - Guy" soon. That's right. Back in Stuart. I should have been painting my new house but decided to visit the Stuart Air Show instead. Excellent choice as it turns out.

I'm more familiar with the Fort Lauderdale Air and Sea show. I've never bought a ticket to it as I've had friends in the near vicinity and can usually find a viewing area relatively close.

I saw the Stuart show from a boat once but this time I thought I would get a little closer to the action. I didn't have time to get a discount ticket as I just heard about it on the radio on the way up so I paid $20.00 at the door. Once through the gate, I was pointed to a parking space right on the tarmac about 50 yards from the entrance. Good thing as I went back and forth to the car for my lawn chair and a fresh battery.

The show ground was huge and loaded with planes from military aviation history, stunt planes, and helicopters to a C-130. All accessible and plenty of personal on hand to ask questions and sometimes tell stories.

Some of the vintage planes looked like they just rolled off the showroom floor. After touring the C-130, the Electra passenger plane seemed like a miniature reproduction. Hard to imagine this plane was the luxury travel of the near past.

The shows started around 11:00 with a WWII weapons demonstration which escalated into an elaborately choreographed fire fight. The entertainment continued with no let up till the end of the air show around 5:30. A real bargain for the price of admission.




My favorite show of the day was the School Time Jet Bus. While the planes were loud, none of them shot a fifty foot flame out the back. When the announcer told the crowd this bus was going to race a stunt plane already in the air and traveling over 100 MPH it seemed like a pretty easy bet who was going to win. Wrong!! The bus travels at 300 MPH and left the plane in it's own smoke trail. Oops - did I give it away. Apparently I was the only one surprised. This is something you need to see to believe. From what I could tell, most of the crowd comes back year after year for this show. I know I will be joining them.

Starting a New Blog

Living in two cities is really putting a crimp in my social activities. I don't blog about a fraction of what I normally do but missing events like the Homestead Air Show, Camelot Days, and Florida Cajun Fest makes for a boring blog. Not hanging out with friends makes for a boring life.

One thing I've enjoyed most about blogging is the friends I've made either in person or electronically. This year has been a whirlwind of meeting new people. One who I've not met in person (and likely won't any time soon) is my biggest blog fan RedNomadOz.  A well known Australian blogger.

While I was kicking around some new ideas, I whipped together a new blog.

 Hollywood FL Photos

 

I've lived and/or worked in Hollywood since 1978 and have a nice little collection of photos. I also have quite a few Flickr friends with huge collections of amazing Hollywood photos. My intention was to showcase my work and maybe have a friend or two contribute a photo now and then. That was a week and a half ago.

I already have two contributors, two more thinking about it, and 430 hits. It didn't hurt that RedNomadOz pointed me to City Daily Photo who picked up my brand new blog with only 5 photos.

If you are new to this blog, all the large text is a link so click away and enjoy some of those events I'm going to miss. Be sure to head over to my new blog as well. If you have an amazing Hollywood photo, send it to HlwdFLPhotos@gmail.com along with a catchy title, photo credit, and maybe a little paragraph and I'll post it for you. An hour after your photo posts, it will be seen around the world.

I am hoping for a photo a day so I'll need a few more contributors.

Butterfly World - Coconut Creek

One of the best places I have found to take my camera is
 Butterfly World
 in Coconut Creek. It's also one of the most expensive at $25.00 for an adult admission so I don't visit very often. They usually have a coupon on the website (above) so start with that when planning your trip.


The first time I visited Butterfly World, my daughter was young. I'm not sure if it was her white shirt or shampoo but several butterflies landed on her. People started taking pictures of the butterfly whisperer. I would like to show you mine but I did not have a camera with me that day. Not even a cell phone camera. That was the very last time I left the house without an image recording device of some sort.

Butterflies do not have a very long lifespan. To make sure there will be some for you to see, Butterfly World has a hatching program. You can even see some emerge from their cocoons and dry their wings if you time your visit just right.

Butterflies are constantly on the move and notice if you get close so the best shots are lucky close up or a bit easier with a long lens.











One of the things that go best with Butterflies and coincidentally photography, are flowers. Hundreds of butterflies can get pretty hungry and flowers sit still a whole lot better for the camera.

If you want to fill your photo album, walls, or website with color, you pretty much can just walk around a while with your finger on the shutter button, it's that easy. I'm more of a casual shooter who will stop and take a few shots of an interesting specimen for my collection. I've seen a some who will spend an hour with a tripod and expensive lighting to get the perfect shot of just one flower.

For me the challenge is the birds. Capturing a humming bird in flight is pretty much like capturing a bullet. Even in the small humming bird exhibit, it's hard to frame a shot. I have some very nice blurry wing and out of frame tail feather photos. I had to stand very still and wait for one to land on a branch to get a shot one I could post. Humming birds take a rest for about two seconds then back to the flowers.

The Lorikeet, a native of Australia, is my favorite and Butterfly World has an enclosure in which you can interact with them. Actually they interact with you. You will find them on your head, nibbling your ear, or standing on your camera. Be sure to bring a friend, buy them some bird food, and stand back with the video setting on. There is a good chance you will have a YouTube video in the making.
The admission price may seem a little high and much more than my typical Free adventures but as I flip through my pictures and the memories of my visits, I would say well worth it.

For more of my photos from Butterfly World. visit my Flickr site. If you have photos online to share, fell free to post them in my comments section.

My New House is a Piece of Work

Have you been missing my posts? Yes - me too. I bought a fixer upper house (3/2 w/ garage 1,500 Sq ft) a month ago and it has consumed my every hour and dollar. I'm taking this weekend off. Not because I want to but because I would have to drive through Hurricane Sandy to get to it.  Ok - we are not getting a full blast but high winds, a high profile vehicle, and a highway do not make good partners. And yes, my new house is 75 miles up the road.  In two and a half years I retire and I should have the place done about a year after that the way I'm going so far.

Since I have not been out and about lately, I'm going to bore you with my progress so far.

Lets start of with the fact that I got an unbelievably fantastic price. Good thing as it needs a new roof, flooring, kitchen, appliances, AC, drywall repairs including and entire bedroom ceiling, some electrical, and plumbing. Did I miss something? I'm sure. I've already been to Home Depot 10 times for the little stuff.

My sister called it a POS but I like to think of it as a blank slate. Enormous potential with nothing to hold back my creativity but cash. Lack of cash actually.

I've been doing demolition since the day I closed. The house is in gated golf club community. The same one my parents live in coincidentally. The previous owners were not the favorite of the neighbors, the home owners association, and likely the police. I have been very well received so far. I'm sure the trash people have a slightly different view as I've already put out 15 loaded contractor bags for pickup. Right now I'm looking at ripping out the remains of the kitchen cabinets and a 13' X 17' bedroom ceiling. Well half. The other half fell due to the roof leak.

I'm sure to some of you.... most of you... Ok all of you - this seems like an overwhelming project. I thought so too the first two times I did this but this is not my first time to the rodeo. The greatest part is I get to lock the door and leave as the dust settles. The last two times I was sleeping in it.

I have made huge progress so far. All the carpet tack strips are up, plumbing done and the water turned back on, garage door replaced, deposit on the roof, drywall in the garage fixed, walls patched, paint cans everywhere. I can get half the house painted at least.

This will be a huge effort but when I'm done, if all goes well, I'll have my retirement dream house at half the cost of the surrounding properties. Check back in about six months and see if I'm still as enthusiastic.