AsktheBuilder.com Issue #1225 (I think)

March 19, 2023

Dear ,

You might be a new subscriber. If so, I'd like to toast your arrival!

(a hush descends over the ballroom as a spoon taps against a crystal goblet) 

"I'd like to toast, not melba mind you, FIRST NAME LAST NAME as our most recent addition to our digital Ask the Builder family. It goes without saying she has brilliant DIY skills in addition to her witty personality. Please raise your glasses high and let's hear a big cheer for FIRST NAME LAST NAME!"

(gulping of spirits, robust hoorays, and loud clapping)

Yes, strap yourself in for some fun as it's my job to do my best to entertain and exercise your tiny gray cells.

I only live for the day but I'm one day behind.

Let's get started.

A Weird Week

The past week flew by in a flash. It was weird in many ways.

Last Monday I was overwhelmed with a bad case of borborygmus. It was quite uncomfortable. I finally was able to get back to normal once I got my hands on a pandowdy. Try as I may, I did my best to be abstemious but it was impossible!

PRO TIP: Always have a large pandowdy, maybe two, in your home ready for any emergency!

If you don't have the energy to expand your vocabulary by looking up the words in a real dictionary, I have definitions at the end of the newsletter.

As the week rolled on, I completed a record number of phone and video consult calls. The magic technology that transforms your smartphone camera into a Star Trek transporter is stunning. It allows me to be in the same room with you solving the problem.

Two days ago Stephen used his smartphone to show me a plumbing vent stack that had to be moved. Without this video capability, I would have had to rely on his voice description. It's very possible he may have left out important details such as framing conundrums or other obstacles.

Graeme also did a video call allowing me to solve his wet basement problem. In MINUTES, I was able to see the BEST WAY to design a system for him to get the water away from his home.

I also logged a record number of plumbing riser diagram sales. One of them was for a 12-bathroom cottage south of Seattle. Here's a rendering of the abode.

The most recent order was the strangest one I've ever taken. A man purchased a RUSH ORDER for five small riser diagram plans that must be completed on June 27th.

He paid IN ADVANCE for me to block out the morning three months from now so I can draw and deliver to him the isometrics he needs by 2 PM on June 27th. Don't ask me why I can't draw them next month or even in May because I don't have that answer.

What I discovered from that order is that I have to add a new SKU to my Draw Plumbing Plans category. Right now I have an upgrade option where I can draw your riser diagram in 24 hours.

The customer made it clear I need a SKU where I can draw a riser diagram within six or eight hours. I will make it so! But woe is the person who procrastinates that much. She/he will part with enough cash for me to buy new Cleveland gap and lob wedges and a box of Pro V1s.

Forever Chemicals in Your TP

Art is an architect who's been a subscriber for quite a few years. My son and I got to meet him about eight years ago while we were on a man trip down the East Coast.

Art reached out several days ago with a link to an article that probably doesn't surprise you. It seems each day all of us are bombarded with negative health news.

Go here to read how the forever chemicals ended up in your TP. One wonders if the chemicals are absorbed through the skin? Hmmmmmm... my guess is yes.

Perhaps it's time to rethink one of those bidet toilet seats! Who cares about P&G's stock price, right?

Things I Like

Here's a new section I'm going to try to include in each newsletter from now on. Are you like me? You gravitate to things that bring you pleasure?

For me, I'm really particular about writing tools. Fountain pens, ballpoint pens, and pencils.

My amateur radio Morse code student Wayne introduced me to Lamy fountain pens and Blackwing pencils. The Blackwing one-step sharpener is amazing as well as are the replaceable pencil erasers! I purchased some of these pencils and the sharpener for a very dear friend of mine who also has a thing for traditional wooden pencils. She tells me she really enjoys using her Blackwings.

The Lamy Safari pens are a great affordable way to get back into writing with real ink. Go here and marvel at how inexpensive they are, yet they produce great crisp lines. And above all, they don't leak!

Last week Kathy's favorite ballpoint pen started to malfunction. It was a Zebra F402 I had given her several years ago. She LOVES the pen and was grumpy the point would not stay clicked in position. 

I took it apart and lo and behold all I could find wrong was a bit of gradoo had accumulated in the chrome-plated tip that shields the point of the pen when not in use.

I turned on the kitchen faucet and ran water down the tip as I used a wooden round toothpick to clean it out. After a few seconds of work, I blew out the water, re-assembled the pen and it was as good as new.

Before giving it back to Kathy, I tested it out. I had forgotten how COMFORTABLE the pen was in my hand. Holy tomato! The rubber cushion around the barrel just above the tip really provided me with lots of control.

I announced my victory and Kathy was quite happy. The simple things in life, right?

Happy wife - happy life.

I then decided to purchase two of these for myself, but instead of the black one she has, I was a sucker for the royal blue one. Blue is my favorite color. I love the fine point size 0.7mm. You can get the ink in blue too and of course, that's what I did.

You can also get the pens in black with black ink.

Roy's Mistake - Don't be Roy

Last week I shared several anecdotes about phone consult calls I had completed. Roy reached out to me almost immediately with this dreadful story:

"Thanks for sharing Angel’s story of finishing the dormer with your advice.  What an inspsiration!

I wish I had called you before letting a conman steal my money and not finishing my basement.

The worst thing is the relationship and mental/psychological stress, not the money.  Being taken advantage of when “you should have known better” and “how did you not ask for advice” has taken a huge toll.

The money is a factor, obviously, but it can be replaced.  The others may take years, if ever, to overcome.

Finding out from our local permits department that this happens EVERY DAY to people was of no relief.

It especially hurt me knowing that I am a subscriber of yours and could have asked for guidance, but I fell into his trap and got tunnel-vision."

What can I say? I'll ask this question:

If you consult with an attorney or CPA to get expert advice about some large financial decision, why wouldn't you DO THE SAME when you're about to sign a contract for some home improvement project that will cost four, five, or six figures? 

Why wouldn't you spend less than $50 to talk to a home-improvement EXPERT who doesn't have a dog in the fight? 

Can you answer me WHY YOU WOULD HESITATE to get expert advice? I'd LOVE TO KNOW the answer so I can prevent the pain Roy experienced.

GO HERE to set up a phone call with me. Remember, we can do a video call too.

If anything in this newsletter helps save you time, money, or makes you feel warm and fuzzy, maybe you want to reciprocate and buy me a popover & a cup of coffee? That would be appreciated!

Or, you could buy me a raffle ticket and come join me for a week of ham radio in the Caribbean! If you don't want to do radio, you can just go to the beach. Go here to purchase the raffle ticket.

New Video Initiative

I'm back in the video business. The inspiration came from a webinar I attended in the past few days.

Allow me to share some context. In the past, it would take me a minimum of one hour to record and upload the simplest regular video. Any video that shows how to do something in steps, could take several HOURS of work.

Here's an example of a typical video that takes hours of prep time, recording time, and post-production time.

What would you say if I told you I can now record and upload a HELPFUL INFORMATIVE video in less than THREE MINUTES?

Can you imagine how much more information I can share with you? Can you imagine how many more PROBLEMS of yours I can solve?

Please go here to SEE one of these new SHORT videos. I'm convinced you'll discover something new.

Once there, leave me THREE suggestions of short one-minute videos you'd like me to create for you.

That's enough for a Sunday.

If you need to talk with me you have two choices:

Try 603-867-5309. If you get a funky message then go here to set up the call.

Tim Carter

Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com

APRS Man - www.W3ATB.com

Do It Right, Not Over!

P.S. 

I can fix lots of things but not broken hearts or shattered egos.

Word Definitions:

borborygmus: noun - A rumbling or gurgling noise made by the movement of fluid and gas in the intestines.

pandowdy: noun - A kind of spiced apple pie baked in a deep dish.

abstemious - adjective - Not self-indulgent, especially when eating and drinking.