Fast, Cheap, or Quality ... Pick Two!

"Quality means doing it right when no one is looking."

- Henry Ford

 

 "Quality is never an accident. It is always the result of intelligent effort."

- John Ruskin

 

I have spent the last couple of months utilizing one week’s worth of vacation and an abundant amount of my after work hours and weekend time building a deck at our house. For a number of reasons it has taken me a lot longer than I originally anticipated.   A.   LOT.   LONGER.

There is an old adage in the design and construction industry stating one can have a project done “Fast, Cheap, or Quality…. Pick Two!” Whether you are web designer, contractor, architectural designer, or a husband, in order to build something one really must know which two of these are the most important parameters. Or in other words, which one are you willing to give up?

Quality + Fast = Expensive
This option means the hired contractor will postpone everything, cancel all other appointments, work 24/7 to get the job done. Quality is still paramount and if something goes amiss then a professional fixes it and makes it right. However, the deadline is critical to this scenario, too, and it comes with a cost. The higher price trumps everything else. That is why it is expensive. In the case of our deck, this would have been a professional deck builder or contractor, not me. We could have paid for a contractor and a crew to build it in a week, easy. But labor is not cheap and the contractor mark up on materials isn’t either. Quality + Fast = Expensive

Quality + Cheap = Slow

This option assures quality is not compromised, either. And since quality is paramount one can’t just go cheap on materials. So, in order for it to be cheap one must have cheap labor or no pressing deadline! One works on it when there is spare time. Paying attention to details is important and that can’t be rushed. In the case of our deck, it is just me and my wife. We are free. My vacation time was paid for and I could give the deck project the attention it deserved for a week. But, I’m not a professional. I’m not practiced in the art of speed. I measure twice, sometimes thrice, cut once. Quality + Cheap = Slow

Fast + Cheap = Inferior

This option means one really doesn’t care about the quality. The priorities are to just get it done so that it doesn’t cost a lot of labor and time. Cutting corners is acceptable. Quality is not important. In the case of our deck, this was not an option. Not at my house! Fast + Cheap = Inferior

As of this post, the project is nearing a 90% completion. The deck boards are all in. We can walk on it. The railing and trellis parts have yet to be finished. Plus, we need to put the second coat of stain on it again. But, it feels almost complete. We should have most of the remaining 10% done in the next few weekends, depending on our schedules, of course. The only thing I’m in a hurry for is that sense of accomplishment. I’m not there yet.

A side note:  With all the hours working on the project, I spent some quality time within my own head. I came to the conclusion that there IS indeed a way one can get all three… Fast, Cheap, AND Quality! One needs to be Amish.

Amish Quality = Experienced craftsmen

Amish Cheap = Tons of free, quality labor
Amish Fast = They can build a barn in a weekend

 

 

Maybe This Year, Then

Maybe this year,

The economy completely recovers.
The $300 I loaned out is returned (after two years).
The go-ahead for that next big project is granted.
Family life stabilizes.
The kids turn into adventurous eaters.
Technology mastery is achieved.
The commute becomes milder.
Leisure time is prevalent.
Gas prices drop while the mpg triples.
The housing market normalizes.
Global warming reverses.

Then, I can,

Paint and draw.
Write and blog.
Discover new music, live music.
Read.
Garden and grow things.
Build and construct.
Travel and explore.
Cook new things.

The point is none of the Maybes are likely to happen. So, why wait on the stuff I really want make. Remember Rule number Six.

In 2009 + Life's Lyrics 18 - Brand New Day

New Year’s Eve has always been a source of trepidation. For some, it feels like a night of mandatory feting. Everyone dressing up in garb they might never wear again (comfortably maybe, but, probably not). It can be an expensive night. People marinate their brains on alcohol in order to forget the previous year. Or celebrate/dread the upcoming one. It can be more of a hyped-up holiday where one must attain a socially respectable level of enjoyment.

However much I enjoy a good party, this NYE brings about much needed reflection. For the majority of the year, 2008 sucked. But with it came a ton of great and encouraging people and events. Suffice it to say, I would have soberly stared at you, blinking unbelievably if you had hinted to me that in 2008 I would teeter-totter between extreme emotions while crying/laughing along at each one:

- Surviving divorce and now a reveling in a new Love;
- Bush anger and Obama hope;
- Leaving what has been my home (living out of suitcase through all of 2008) and now starting a new home from scratch (with a permanent place to put my toothbrush);
- Fearing economic upheaval and being thankful for a job I love;
- Losing my dog of 13 years and thriving with my non-profit work for the zoo;
- Cooking for one vs. cooking for my kids/friends/Girlfriend; and,
- I will not miss the countless remote hours alone in a small condo from hell but will always cherish the memories during the multiple travels with friends/loved ones.

If nothing else, 2008 was not boring. And you know what? I have no real regrets. Well, I might have done a few things better given a chance to revisit some things, but all in all I’ve come through the year looking forward 2009. I’ll be ok.

From Joshua Radin's acoustic little ditty (sounding very Cat Stevens-esque) are these lyrics from the song Brand New Day. I hope when you wake up on Thursday, January 1 on 2009, this is the first song you hear.

Some kind of magic
Happens late at night
When the moon smiles down at me
And bathes me in its light

I fell asleep beneath you
In the tall blades of grass
When I woke the world was new
I never had to ask

It’s a brand new day
The sun is shining
It’s a brand new day
For the first time in such a long long time
I know I’ll be ok

Most kind of stories
Save the best part for last
And most stories have a hero who finds
You make your past your past
Yeah you make your past your past

It’s a brand new day
The sun is shining
It’s a brand new day
For the first time in such a long long time
I know I’ll be ok

This cycle never ends
You gotta fall in order to mend

It’s a brand new day
It’s a brand new day
For the first time in such a long long time
I know I’ll be ok

What I Did on my (Two Day/ADD Induced) Summer Vacation

Most people can completely relax beside a large body of water with just a bottle of sunscreen, a towel, and a book. Some of us master the art of Doing Nothing. Others relax by racking their bodies with muscle pain by trying to water ski, wake board, and getting flung around at 50 mph on a flame colored tube thingy with a driver madly trying to throw you like snarling bull at the rodeo.

I managed all of the above. I’m not so sure I wasn’t a bit ADD while taking it all in. But let me explain ...

I found myself with some friends at a big lake near MudHole. Boats and Personal Water Crafties (Jet Skies). Floatation devices with beer holders. Coolers chocked full with plenty of ice. Delicious picnics at the end of the dock. New and old favorites on the boat stereo. Fabulous BBQ’d dinners. Crazy, hilarious card games. Needed naps in the sun. Needed naps in the shade (because of the naps in the sun). Diving, swimming, and other water sports. Moon light cruising with wine and cheese... Thus, my summer vacation in a whole two days.

But I only mention ADD because I think I had a touch. As a master of the art of Doing Nothing, I was a bit confused with this syndrome. I say this because it took me a little bit to get into the groove which is not like me at all. I left a few loose ends undone before heading out to the lake. So, I started out in a bit of a funk. But it didn’t last long once my feet dipped in the cool water and my hand held a fresh beverage with a lime.

I guess the other ADD part was in how I had a standing and pacing issue on the dock/boat landing. And that is just not like me. I felt relaxed, I really did, but still acted a tad restless. Part of it, ok ... most of it, was due to muscle pain from the skiing and tubing. I had a fear of lying down. Because if I was going to get prone and sprawled out (aka relaxed) at the end of the dock, I wasn’t so sure I was going to be able to get up again without help and that was going to be embarrassing. As it was I audibled enough grunts and groans to prove to everyone I didn’t do this ski/tube thing much.

The weekend (My Summer Vacation) was much needed. I longed for my own lake in Northern Michigan as the sights and sounds were reminiscent of my childhood summers. It was memorable and I do hope to go back again soon.

You’ll Do Nothing, And Like It

I used to master the Zen-like art of doing nothing. I was usually one of the first among my college friends to achieve nothingness on a Saturday when I should have gone to the library or architecture studio. But I wasn’t wasting time. I was doing nothing. It is an important aspect of life.

Sure, we all have in inkling on how to Do Nothing. We all know how to just lay around and waste time. But I’m not talking about wasting time. I’m talking about Zen here.

I know, I know. You are too busy to do nothing. You don’t have time. And when you do Do Nothing, your mind just can’t get around work and family responsibilities and mortgages and groceries and all the daily affairs that go on in life. You can’t relax when your head is racing. I so get that. But you must achieve nothingness soon. It is imperative to your well being. Trust me on this (but not these people ... DoNothingDotOrg ... they just want your money).

Doing Nothing (or DN from here on out) is an art form. Here are some tips:

Start Slowly
You can’t master DN all at once. Sometime it helps to start out slowly. Don’t overwhelm yourself. Find a park at your lunch hour and just go sit in a shady spot or sunny spot of your choice and relax. Don’t bring a book. Don’t listen to music. Just sit comfortably for five to 10 minutes. Or, after you get home from work, sit on the back porch and stare out to the horizon. Let your mind shut out any and all distractions. Turn off your cell phones and the tv. Leave the computer off. DN demands no communication.

You can close your eyes. But don’t fall asleep. That is doing something. It is called a nap. DN is not Napping.

Practice DN as often as possible. Every day is good. Nobody becomes a DN Master over night without weeks, months, and maybe years of practice.

Relax
If you are tense in any way, DN can not be achieved. So, get comfortable. Breathe deeply and regularly. Stretch out. Put your feet up. Hammocks were made for those who DN. Once you feel relaxed, see if you can relax even more.

Enjoy a Beverage (and maybe a snack)
DN is sometimes best when enjoyed by beverage. Wine and beer are probably best. Concentrate on the liquid and the Art of the Sip (to be blogged at another time). Savor the drink. If drinking wine, however, try to ignore any and all attempts to find ways of describing the wine. Then you are wine tasting, WT. WT is not DN. If having a beer, well, you can’t really over think a beer, so just enjoy beer. A cold bottle with a lime always helps.

Advanced DNers might try some light snacks. Cheese and crackers are good with wine. Chips and salsa are good with beer. Eat slowly and leisurely. Don’t concentrate on eating. Just casually play with your food as needed. And, don’t make too much out of the food because then you are Snacking, not DN. Nobody can achieve perfect DN with a grumbly tummy. So, food is OK.

Seek Out Nature
Once you can regularly achieve a Zen-like state in your daily dose of DN, you might start venturing out into a more natural setting. The beach is perfect. The bank of a river is always an excellent choice. Nature and water together are usually solid choices for DN. Any place where you can be completely away from the sounds of those racing between life’s chores are the best places in nature. So, get outta Dodge.

DN with Others
This is a highly tricky level of DN. Inevitably, getting others involved starts things like Talking, Cuddling, Tickling, among other things. You must practice DN with only another practiced DNer. The rules must be worked out ahead of time. To achieve DNness with another, however, is the most rewarding level of DN there is.

Good luck. Let me know how you do and if I can be of assistance in any way.

DN Master Mud

Life's Lyrics 2

The photo came about from lying by the pool looking up at the Tuscan sky. Yes, I said it, Under the Tuscan Sky .... this is what I saw and took a picture of it.

The lyrics come from another recent music addiction, ZOX and a song called Goodnight.

There is something beautiful dying every day
And for the first time in my life I'm not afraid
'Cause there's nothing in this world that doesn't change

Goodnight to the person I have been
To the place that I am in
Goodnight tomorrow, hello to the sun
Are your ready? Here I come *goodnight*

Sometimes I stand between the sidewalk and the sky
And just stare into the clouds as they pass by
You have to leave the ground to learn to fly

A tavola non si invecchia

However one approaches Tuscany (Toscana), one comes to understand the definition of beauty and perfection much better. It is the cradle of the Renaissance and the home to Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Vespucci, Puccini, and countless other geniuses, artists, and inventors. To say Toscana is inspirational is not giving this magnificent part of the world its due credit.

Then there is the food and wine, art, architecture, and a landscape of lined cypress trees cresting rolling hilltops framing well-groomed vineyards. Everything seems to easily translate into a poetic image capable of encapsulating the experience into brush strokes or music.

There is an expression in Italy, “A tavola non si invecchia” which is, “At the table one does not age.” It goes right to the heart of the notion that the Italian meal is meant to be an experience of good feelings enjoyed with others. It is to be a source of pleasure and relaxation.

Tuscan food corresponds to my notion of eating well. We had crostini, fettunta, finocchiona and prosciutto. I had wild boar and a curled pasta called pici. On the coast one day, I had a fish plate called cacciucco, which is sort of a fish-and-seafood stew. I made risotto one evening at the villa and although I’ve made it countless times it seemed to come alive with local ingredients. And, I got creative with bruschetta for Krys.

In Siena one night, we made an early reservation for L’Osteria on Via dei Rossi. It was well worth the walk. The crostini was excellent, pasta e fagioli and the pici amazing. And the wild boar was memorable.

We only drank locally produced, Tuscan wines…. Brunello di Montalcino, Chianti, Chianti Classico, and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. We shared one of the few white wines produced in the area, Vernaccia di San Gimignano. The wine brought us all together as we shared the love of the land and one of its most sublime products.

Dining in Italy is not just about nourishment. It is all about the interaction with restaurateurs and one's dining companions.

Fred and Ginger

Prague is a phenomenal study in architecture as most of the historic core escaped damage in WWII. The city boasts over 1500 designated cultural monuments. And I resisted my geekish tendencies to bring a sketchbook on the trip. I settled for a few pictures en route to the next bar instead. However, I had to stop and gape at the idiosyncratic Dancing Building designed by Prague architect Vlado Milunic and American Frank Gehry.

I heard that the older generation has thrown much criticism at the project calling it another devastating American bomb. The younger generation seems to like it. But, in contrast to the bland communist era, functional projects and the Gothic/Renaissance/Baroque era architecture, this is a bold and innovative work.

It is nicknamed “Fred and Ginger” for the legendary duo of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. It fits.

Detached Vacation

A few weeks ago (geez, a month ago now), I returned from a two week romp in Europe with close friends. For obvious, or maybe not so obvious, reasons it was a much need vacation. It gave me the chance to put my failed marriage behind me and get my head on straight. But, the next few travel posts (mixed in with the current randomness) are about six countries in six days and a week in Italy.

This was the type of vacation few of us ever really take. We all share the idea of a true vacation while sipping over-priced, double-shotted, grande, low-fat mochas while balancing a laptop on our knees and ignoring the cell phones set on vibrate. And, I’m no different than most of you. We all tend to shave a few days off work for a mental recess to hang someplace. Yet, not enough of us are able to completely detach from our regular ways of life. The usual excuses keep us from this minor miracle. “My life simply won’t allow me the luxury” or “Work is too important” or “your excuse here”.

Physically lifting myself up and getting out of Dodge was not difficult this time. It was easy for me to run away. And the quiet moments set my mind spinning around the concepts of simplicity, true value, and what is important.

I've changed. And I'm going to make more time to detach in the future.