Kerner.net

Unexpected Kitchen Remodel

Moldy Floors
Originally uploaded by kerner

We were planning to replace the flooring on the main level of our house with hardwood last week. This is what we discovered during demolition. Not a happy sight. A slow water leak, estimated to have started before we bought the house, has caused substantial damage to the subfloor and allowed for quite a bit of mold to grow. ICK!

Replacing the flooring has grown into replacing the subfloor. Since we're already in this far we decided that if there's ever a time to remodel the entire kitchen now is the time. Right now we're getting bids from contractors on tearing out some walls and moving the kitchen to the area where our dining room is now. The result will be one room that's 13x30'.

We've sketched out some ideas, looked at appliances, it's going to come down to the construction bids whether or not the project is happening. Hopefully we'll know more later this week.

We Choose The Moon

I'm a huge space buff, and really lament the state of manned space exploration these days, but rest assured, this post isn't really a rant about how we've given up our desire to explore. Forty years ago we accomplished the single greatest exploratory and technological achievement in history, by stepping foot on the moon.

I've been fascinated by the We Choose The Moon web site since it launched. AOL and the JFK Library have done an exceptional job using current tools to retell the Apollo 11 mission for the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission. You can listen to the live radio stream and follow the status of the mission in real-time, 40 years later. The site is full of pictures and video from the mission. There's even a timer to let you know when the next stage is starting and when the landing occur. I've installed the AIR version on my desktop.

My favorite feature of the site is the coordinated Twitter feeds. I can't sit with the site open all day and just listen, but I've got a column in Tweetdeck for AP11_CAPCOM, AP11_SPACECRAFT, and AP11_EAGLE. The tweets are synchronized so they flow like a conversation. This is such a great use of Twitter. A lot of the comm messages are short bursts which fit into the Twitter timeline really nicely. 

Here's a sample from yesterday:

• AP11_CAPCOM: Hello Apollo 11. Houston. We have scrubbed the midcourse 1. Over.
• AP11_SPACECRAFT: Roger. Understand you have scrubbed midcourse 1.
• AP11_SPACEFRAF: Hey Charlie. Houston, Apollo 11.
• AP11_CAPCOM: Go ahead, 11. Over.
• AP11_SPACECRAFT: Hey maybe you better call Lou and tell him we might be a little late for dinner.

For those of you who were alive when Apollo 11 landed, where were you?

Smoked Salmon Spread

Smoked Salmon Spread is my favorite smoker appetizer. It's both incredibly easy to make and amazingly delicious. It's something I try to make just about any time I fire up the smoker with guests coming over, and dinner with Yvi and Scott last week was no exception. I'd make it every time I fire up the smoker, but it's not a very healthy snack option.

The key is that there are really only two ingredients: an individual portion of salmon and a brick of cream cheese. You do need get a rub you like on the salmon before smoking it. Last week I used Penzey'z Northwoods Seasoning, salt, pepper, and quite a lot of brown sugar. Take the rubbed salmon piece, toss it on the smoker, let it smoke until well done. Last week it was on about 90 minutes at 225° F. Put the salmon and cream cheese in the bowl of a food processor and mix until well combined. Spread on stuff: crackers, chips, bagels, toast, most everything is better with smoked salmon.

The salmon spread is always a hit. Yesterday Sarah went and got bagels from Panera and I finished the last of it with an asiago bagel. Getting rid of the smoked salmon cream cheese was a mistake that Panera (St Louis Bread Co) made a few years back. Getting to indulge with homemade spread is a tasty treat.

Writer's Block: Writing vs Talking

  37signals has a post today that deals with a topic that I think is really important for those of us who speak regularly as part of our jobs. Especially if we have to write manuscripts of a sermon or a presentation. While they discuss writer's block as typer's block relating to a conversation that generates ideas, I think this really applies to sermon writing as well. I use an adaptation of this technique whenever I hit the wall writing (something I've been struggling with this week in particular).

I usually start writing with an outline and let it sit in my head for a couple of days before I try to get to a manuscript. The process of moving from outline to manuscript sometimes flows really easily, just typing the whole thing right out. I always try to start there and see what I can get on paper. When that doesn't work, or when I leave ginormous holes in a message I move to the talking approach.

I pace a lot when I'm writing/thinking creatively. I also talk out loud, which makes this exercise something that has to be done privately. Although it wouldn't work without actually speaking. Sometimes I'll pace around with a piece of paper and just jot down notes and phrases while I ramble through my outline. Sometimes I'll wander around my desk or a table with the laptop recording the audio of my talking. This week I've been using the Voice Memos app on my iPhone as a recorder and been really happy. It lets me wander anywhere, but not have to write things down. I especially like being able to use a headset, start recording, and drop the phone in my pocket.

Ultimately the recordings have to get transcribed into the manuscript. Usually I'll have run through sections of the sermon several times and can pick the treatments I like best to transcribe. Oftentimes the transcription happens several days after the initial recording session so I've had more time to let ideas process.

I've found that the quality of my writing has gone up dramatically since I started recording my talking to myself. It may make me look a bit crazy, and it certainly limits where I can do this stage of the writing, but I think the tradeoffs are worth it.

What tricks do you have to overcome writer's block?