fifteen past three. time to pick the kids up from school. i set my book aside and stand up from the rocking chair. i don't use the bookmark because i'm on a page number that i can remember with ease. i walk inside and stop in front of the collection of cowboy hats displayed on the wall. i think i'll go with blue today. no - green. i like green better.
i turn around and make my way into the garage. i hit the button to open the panel-style garage door and the room begins to flood with light. there she sits, as beautiful as the day i got her. a beacon of electric red surrounded by the coffee colored walls. i plant a single gentle kiss on the hood before i step inside. no one else knows i do this.
i press the start button and listen to the engine purr. with another touch, she's in reverse and we're headed down the driveway. i turn around and make a right on elk highlands drive. the built-in navigation system guides me to the school. honda pilot. what a beautiful name. it refers not just to the car but the driver too. even saying it out loud gives me a tinge of delight. hon-da pi-lot. the way your tongue touches the roof of your mouth on the second syllable of each word.
when i spot other drivers looking at me i can tell they are jealous. in can see the look of envy on their faces when they notice the panoramic roof and spacious seating for up to eight. if i pass another pilot on the road i'll give them a salute and tip my cowboy hat. i have not seen any others in whitefish yet.
i pull up to a red light and look around. the drive next to me has his phone up to his ear. poor guy probably doesn't have a bluetooth integration system for that. with a few taps on the touch screen i switch to the outlaw country station on sirius radio and turn the volume up two notches. the car behind me honks. he must have noticed my CWBY DAD license plate. i look up and the light is green.
i round the corner to the school and glide to a stop in the carpool lane. i see the kids talking with one of the teachers that chaperones the pick-ups. they recognize the car instantly - and how could they not with its vibrant color and bold 20-inch alloy wheels. the kids open the back door and climb onto the two captains chairs. the teacher asks a question. "oh thanks, it's the new honda pilot" i respond. she looks confused and says something about the kids wonderful report cards.
we pull away and the kids flip down the the tv screen in the back and resume their viewing of true grit. it's the only dvd i keep in the car. suddenly the 8-inch display lights up alerting me of a call from my wife. i touch the button to pick up. it turns out i left the garage door open again and she is pissed. it's alright though. i lift my foot off the gas and let the adaptive cruise control take over. everything's alright.
--
total entries: 70
Jan 31, 2019
Jan 30, 2019
Ghosted (Reprise)
for those not in the know, a media company called discovery inc. acquired Scripps Network, the parent company of hgtv, diynetwork, etc. in 2018. i reached out to them recently on twitter to ask a couple questions. here's our conversation below:
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total entries: 68
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total entries: 68
Jan 29, 2019
Ideas for new HGTV shows
Double Wide Double Renovation
two families go head-to-head to in a competition to renovate their double wide trailers. judges pick the better reno and the winning team gets to move into a luxury apartment they can't afford.
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It Takes A Village
an entire town gets together and puts their time and talents to work to build a colossal mega-mansion for an expectant mother, whose child will live in the home without leaving for ten years. the house is decorated ass to ceiling by some of the brightest minds in interior design.
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My Literal Dream Home
HGTV pairs up wealthy eccentrics with engineers and architects to recreate structures that they dreamt about while sleeping.
--
Tiny House, Large Sons
reality show that shadows a family with two large sons that recently followed the tiny house movement into a 400 sq ft tiny home of their own
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Property Brothers 2
ok so it's the same as the current property brothers but they get the third brother on the show too. could be some good on-screen dynamics between them that we're missing out on.
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Craigslist Chic
follows a different group every episode (like house hunters) but its people moving in as roommates together, and they furnish their whole apartment with items from the free section on craigslist--
American Mowing League
this is a new sport where athletes compete individually or as teams for speed, efficiency, and style in lawn mowing. lots of opportunity here for interesting layouts, stat keeping, rivalries, etc.
--
Fabric Frenzy
similar to that old game show supermarket sweep but it's set in a joann fabrics and also the people at joann don't know the show is happening
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total entries: 66
Jan 28, 2019
Don Cruz
Today I want to talk about Don Cruz.
In January 2005, Don sat down in front of his computer, double-clicked the internet explorer icon on his desktop, and typed http://www.hgtv.com in the address bar. He did this nineteen times. On March 1st, he found out he was the winner of the 2005 HGTV Dream Home in Tyler, Texas.
The Home was a sprawling estate with over 5,000 square feet of living space built to provide casual comfort and Texas hospitality. It included a swimming pool, a guest dock house on the lake, a honeymoon suite connected via breezeway, and other lavish amenities like an in-house elevator.
Along his wife Shelly and his nine-year-old-son Donny, Don packed up his stuff, sold their house in Batavia, Illinois, and moved to Texas to live in their new Dream Home.
But know this: Don was only the second Dream Home winner to actually move into the house. Every other winner with one exception had either taken the cash option or quickly sold the Home. Know that federal taxes on your $2 million worth of winnings is $630,000. Know that that money is due the same year you won. Know that property tax on $1.75 million dollar house is tens of thousands of dollars every year. Know that heating, cooling, and maintenance for 5,500 square feet is not cheap. Know that neither is moving all your belongings 800 miles across the country. Know that paying for all this while living paycheck to paycheck because you're unable to work due to arthritis is near impossible.
The Cruz family came up with a plan to turn the house into a B&B to earn money, but local regulations forbade it. Even more, it turned out they didn't even own the land - they just had a 30-year lease on it. Don took out a mortgage on the house to pay the taxes and help cover his expenses. A portion of this money ended up going towards his wife's brain surgery and father's cancer treatment.
In 2006, Don lists the Dream Home for sale with an asking price of $5.5 million.
In 2007, four months behind on mortgage payments and $430,000 in debt, the Dream Home is scheduled for foreclosure.
In 2008, the Dream Home is sold at auction for $1.3 million.
I'll leave you with a quote that HGTV officials said to the 2003 winner John Groszkiewicz:
“The dream’s not so much the house. The dream is what happens after you sell the house.”
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total entries: 64
Jan 27, 2019
Untitled
"hello"
"how we doing tonight?"
"alright"
"i'm deputy morris with the whitefish city police department, the reason i'm here is we got a complaint about the noise coming from this address"
"really?"
"yes sir"
"ok"
"you got a party going on?"
"just a couple of friends sir"
"alright well we're gonna need to keep it down and hopefully we won't have to come back again tonight"
"ok"
"you got a license so i can document i spoke with you?"
"yeah. you wanna step inside for a second"
"i appreciate it, thank you"
"colder than a son of a whore out there"
"no kidding"
"i think my wallet's in the kitchen, come with me"
"heck of a place you got here"
"sure is"
"you the owner of this house?"
"i am sir"
"is that a Delta Pivotal Touch faucet?"
"sure is"
"Shield Spray technology?"
"afraid not sir"
"that's a shame"
"a damn shame. you want to try it out? go ahead"
the deputy reaches out to tap the faucet with his right hand. his guard let down, i sense my opportunity and lunge for his firearm
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total entries: 62
"how we doing tonight?"
"alright"
"i'm deputy morris with the whitefish city police department, the reason i'm here is we got a complaint about the noise coming from this address"
"really?"
"yes sir"
"ok"
"you got a party going on?"
"just a couple of friends sir"
"alright well we're gonna need to keep it down and hopefully we won't have to come back again tonight"
"ok"
"you got a license so i can document i spoke with you?"
"yeah. you wanna step inside for a second"
"i appreciate it, thank you"
"colder than a son of a whore out there"
"no kidding"
"i think my wallet's in the kitchen, come with me"
"heck of a place you got here"
"sure is"
"you the owner of this house?"
"i am sir"
"is that a Delta Pivotal Touch faucet?"
"sure is"
"Shield Spray technology?"
"afraid not sir"
"that's a shame"
"a damn shame. you want to try it out? go ahead"
the deputy reaches out to tap the faucet with his right hand. his guard let down, i sense my opportunity and lunge for his firearm
--
total entries: 62
Jan 26, 2019
Answers From Delta
i reached out to delta customer service to answer some of my questions about the faucet and shower heads in the master bathroom. i filled out a form on their website and was contacted by email by eric.
i was then transferred to a different customer service rep who addressed my questions.
they didn't seem to be understanding my question about the shower, so i responded back trying to clarify it.
i still don't think they realized i was talking about the exact master bathroom pictured, at 302 elk highlands drive. unfortunately though it sounds like the shower stream will not reach the tub. bummer.
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total entries: 60
i was then transferred to a different customer service rep who addressed my questions.
they didn't seem to be understanding my question about the shower, so i responded back trying to clarify it.
i still don't think they realized i was talking about the exact master bathroom pictured, at 302 elk highlands drive. unfortunately though it sounds like the shower stream will not reach the tub. bummer.
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total entries: 60
Jan 25, 2019
Portfolio Check-in (17 days)
if you're not familiar with the Dream Home portfolio, check out this post first.
it's been a little over two weeks now since the inception of the portfolio - let's take a peek at how it's doing.
it's been a little over two weeks now since the inception of the portfolio - let's take a peek at how it's doing.
| Symbol | Shares | Price | Current Value | % gain/loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LL | 1000 | $11.69 | $11,690.00 | +11.02% |
| W | 146 | $102.19 | $14,919.74 | +6.66 |
| MAS | 440 | $31.62 | $13,912.80 | -0.25% |
| SHW | 46 | $392.83 | $18,070.18 | -1.28% |
| HMC | 500 | $30.01 | $15,005.00 | +5.26 |
| TREX | 215 | $66.70 | $14,340.50 | +1.75% |
| SNBR | 438 | $35.56 | $15,575.28 | +7.04% |
| Total: | $103,513.50 | +3.86% |
for comparison, $SPY has increased +3.51% in the same amount of time, which means the Dream Home portfolio has beat the market so far.
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total entries: 58
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total entries: 58
Jan 24, 2019
The Books pt. II
Bunk Room
jumping back in with the bunk room. only one identifiable book in here and a couple of mystery boys.
only two books in this room, which is a surprise to me because it seems like the room of choice if i were going to curl up with a book somewhere and read.
Red Guest Bedroom
we've got a couple on the shelf above the bed and three more on the night stand. here are the ones i could discern:
Electric Kilns
The Athena Project
The Art of M&A
Upon This Rock
Experience, Strength and Hope: Stories from the First Three Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous
Typhoon
Tribute
Hard Money
The Money Culture*
The Neighbor's Wife
The Hook
Rain Gods
A Place Called Freedom
The Sum of All Fears
Sisters
Secrets
Fear Itself
On Acting
Powers of Mind
The Apocalypse Watch
Hannibal Rising
Rainbow's End
Let It Be Love
The Blue Zone
i put an asterisk next to all the ones i would consider reading
The Athena Project
The Art of M&A
Upon This Rock
Experience, Strength and Hope: Stories from the First Three Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous
Typhoon
Tribute
Hard Money
The Money Culture*
The Neighbor's Wife
The Hook
Rain Gods
A Place Called Freedom
The Sum of All Fears
Sisters
Secrets
Fear Itself
On Acting
Powers of Mind
The Apocalypse Watch
Hannibal Rising
Rainbow's End
Let It Be Love
The Blue Zone
i put an asterisk next to all the ones i would consider reading
Blue Guest Bedroom
unable to make most of these out unfortunately.
so that's it. that's every room. here are my takeaways from this exercise:
- while a few rooms followed a theme (kitchen/pet nook), most just used books that centered around showcasing design or photography
- if you set out to organize a bookshelf by color like the guest bedroom shelf, you're gonna end up with a lot of shitty books
- why does chrissy teigen have a cookbook? who is still buying cookbooks when we have the internet?
- the ones on the deck are gonna get wet
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total entries: 56
Jan 23, 2019
The Books pt. I
as an avid reader, i took notice of the multitude of book scattered around the Dream Home. while most aren't mentioned in the photo captions or video tours, i did my best to identify as many as i could.
Kitchen
in the kitchen we have a selection of cookbooks in the corner as well as another small cache by the mixer. a lot of these are illegible but i was able to identify four:
Pet Nook
below the don quixote cat picture we've got three dog books, and three more on the cabinet:
the last one is too small to say for certain what it is, but my educated guess is Devoted: 38 Extraordinary Tales of Love, Loyalty, and Life With Dogs
Master Bedroom
i was making my way through the master bedroom gallery when i noticed this.
what the fuck hgtv
what's going on here. in the gallery there are three photos with the hourglass, a different plant, and an additional book. then are two photos that have the old set-up with thermostat control. so which is it? i'll leave it at that because this post is supposed to be about books.
we've got either two or three on the bedside table and four on the other. there are also a couple illegible ones on the dresser.
Deck and patio
five more books out here but it's impossible to tell what they are. bummer.
Great Room
American Rustic (again? or was this the same one used in the great room?)
alright that's all for now. will revisit tomorrow and continue.
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total entries: 54
Jan 22, 2019
Room Review: Great Room
today i'm going to review the great room. but first: hgtv, why have a single page that loads in each video when clicked? why not have separate pages so i can link to a specific video? get in touch with whatever agency maintains your website and think about coming up with a solution for that.
so anyway, the great room, which is a fancy name for a living room, is the centerpiece of this enticing home. brian patrick flynn decked out this room with a couch, a glass wall, fireplace, antique chairs, coffee table, end table, two other weird seating things, and a pair of cowboy boots.
the first thing that draws my eye is the giant orange L-shaped couch. much like the beds in the bunk room, this thing is stocked with pillows. pillows aside, i'm a big fan of this. all couches should be L-shaped. they provide superior comfort via 'the corner' and more configurations for sleeping bodies. not only is it long, but it looks DEEP. deep enough that you could comfortably shoebox on one of the sections with a third person on the other.
the other thing i'm enjoying most about this room is the floor to ceiling glass on far wall. love to have my rooms flooded with natural light. the bottom part actually opens up to the deck which is an added bonus.
the last big thing i wanted to touch on was the fireplace. for this, i reached out to an engineer in colorado to get a closer look:
while i have a good feel for this room, i do have a lot questions that could only be answered by an in-person visit to the house. like is the coffee table close enough for me to kick up my feet? is it light enough to pull it forward if it's not? is that gonna fuck up the rug if i do that? is the chandelier heavy enough to kill me if it falls on me? why not? are the antique chairs even comfortable?
i do think that when i'm not outside, this is the room where i'll spend most of my time. it certainly looks 'great' to me.
room rating: 7.1/10
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total entries: 52
so anyway, the great room, which is a fancy name for a living room, is the centerpiece of this enticing home. brian patrick flynn decked out this room with a couch, a glass wall, fireplace, antique chairs, coffee table, end table, two other weird seating things, and a pair of cowboy boots.
the first thing that draws my eye is the giant orange L-shaped couch. much like the beds in the bunk room, this thing is stocked with pillows. pillows aside, i'm a big fan of this. all couches should be L-shaped. they provide superior comfort via 'the corner' and more configurations for sleeping bodies. not only is it long, but it looks DEEP. deep enough that you could comfortably shoebox on one of the sections with a third person on the other.
the other thing i'm enjoying most about this room is the floor to ceiling glass on far wall. love to have my rooms flooded with natural light. the bottom part actually opens up to the deck which is an added bonus.
the last big thing i wanted to touch on was the fireplace. for this, i reached out to an engineer in colorado to get a closer look:
Today we’re taking a look at the fireplace in the great room of the Dream Home. The fireplace is a contemporary style known as a linear fireplace. Linear fireplaces often float several feet off the floor of the home, as opposed to the traditional style which sits at floor level. Like a piece of art hanging on the wall, they accentuate the room as both a centerpiece and a gathering place. This modern design blends nicely with the home’s rectilinear design sensibility.
The great room’s fireplace is nicely centered on a backdrop of oiled steel sheet metal. Every four feet or so you’ll notice a grey-blue splotchy section in the steel; this color gradation occurs naturally during the sheet metal manufacturing process and the oiled finish brings out the dark azure tones. The seams of the sheets are banded with a strip of steel that runs the length of the fireplace wall. It’s a nice touch that matches the natural color variation of the steel. Pair this blue with couches of its complementary color, orange, and you’ve got a warm, stylish hang out for après ski cocktails.
Now let’s take a minute to consider how this wall was made. It’s very likely that the wall of the fireplace is 8 feet long, which would have allowed the metal fabricator to simply use a 4 foot by 8 foot piece of sheet metal. This would have been a major cost savings, as adding secondary operations like trimming metal often drives up labor time. The sheet metal and banding are likely adhered to unfinished fire-resistant drywall with a construction adhesive or a commercial grade glazing tape, like 3M’s VHB tape.
To wrap this up – I’ll throw in a prediction. This is a guess, but I am thinking there may be a hole in the wall behind that moose’s head. People often mount TVs above their fireplaces, and that requires a hole to run power, audio, internet, and appliance cables behind the wall so they aren’t hanging down below your beautiful big screen. If the future homeowner likes watching Netflix by the fire, they may be excited to find TV compatibility built into this fireplace wall. Talk about a real dream home!
Will Brumas is an engineer from Western Colorado. He designs high end metal finish work for luxury homes in the ski resorts of the Rocky Mountains.
thanks will. if there is indeed a hole to run cables behind the moose, his ass is getting replaced with a 70" flatscreen.
The great room’s fireplace is nicely centered on a backdrop of oiled steel sheet metal. Every four feet or so you’ll notice a grey-blue splotchy section in the steel; this color gradation occurs naturally during the sheet metal manufacturing process and the oiled finish brings out the dark azure tones. The seams of the sheets are banded with a strip of steel that runs the length of the fireplace wall. It’s a nice touch that matches the natural color variation of the steel. Pair this blue with couches of its complementary color, orange, and you’ve got a warm, stylish hang out for après ski cocktails.
Now let’s take a minute to consider how this wall was made. It’s very likely that the wall of the fireplace is 8 feet long, which would have allowed the metal fabricator to simply use a 4 foot by 8 foot piece of sheet metal. This would have been a major cost savings, as adding secondary operations like trimming metal often drives up labor time. The sheet metal and banding are likely adhered to unfinished fire-resistant drywall with a construction adhesive or a commercial grade glazing tape, like 3M’s VHB tape.
To wrap this up – I’ll throw in a prediction. This is a guess, but I am thinking there may be a hole in the wall behind that moose’s head. People often mount TVs above their fireplaces, and that requires a hole to run power, audio, internet, and appliance cables behind the wall so they aren’t hanging down below your beautiful big screen. If the future homeowner likes watching Netflix by the fire, they may be excited to find TV compatibility built into this fireplace wall. Talk about a real dream home!
Will Brumas is an engineer from Western Colorado. He designs high end metal finish work for luxury homes in the ski resorts of the Rocky Mountains.
while i have a good feel for this room, i do have a lot questions that could only be answered by an in-person visit to the house. like is the coffee table close enough for me to kick up my feet? is it light enough to pull it forward if it's not? is that gonna fuck up the rug if i do that? is the chandelier heavy enough to kill me if it falls on me? why not? are the antique chairs even comfortable?
i do think that when i'm not outside, this is the room where i'll spend most of my time. it certainly looks 'great' to me.
room rating: 7.1/10
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total entries: 52
Jan 21, 2019
I Have A Dream Home
I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for ambition in the history of our nation.
22 years ago, a great Network, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, created the concept of the Dream Home. This momentous sweepstakes came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Americans who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.
But 22 years later, this American is still not free. 22 years later, the life of this American is still sadly crippled by the manacles of poor design and the chains of not being a homeowner. 22 years later, I live on a lonely island of poverty in a midst of a cast ocean of material prosperity. 22 years later, I am still languished in the corners of the blogosphere and find myself an exile in my own land. And so we've come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.
In a sense I've come to this site to cash a check. Last year, when the architects of the sweepstakes wrote the magnificent words of the terms and conditions, they were signing a promissory note to which I was to fall heir. This note was a promise that I would be guaranteed $250,000 cash from Quicken Loans, an all-new Honda Accord, and a 4-bedroom 3.5-bathroom waterfront retreat in Gig Harbor, Washington. It is obvious today that Scripps has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as I am concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, Scripps has given me a bad check, a check which has come back marked with insufficient funds.
But I refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. I refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity in this Network. And so I've come to cash this check, a check that will give to me $250,000 cash from Quicken Loans, a redesigned 2019 Honda Pilot Elite, and a 4-bedroom, 3.5-bathroom mountain retreat in Whitefish, Montana.
I have also come to this site to remind the Network of the fierce urgency of now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of the Dream Home. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of false promises and to the sunlit path of an 'ambush-style' visit. Now is the time to lift me from the quicksands of tenantship to the solid rock of home ownership. Now is the time to make the Dream Home a reality for me.
It would be fatal for the Network to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of my legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of exquisite interior design and breathtaking views of Whitefish lake. 2019 is not an end, but a beginning. And those who hope that I needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awaking if the Network returns to business as usual. There will be no rest nor tranquility until I am granted my Dream Home. The whirlwind of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of the blogosphere until the bright day of justice emerges.
But there is something I say as a reminder to myself, who stands on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of the Dream Home. In the process of gaining my rightful place, I must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. I must not satisfy my thirst for my dream by drinking from the cup of thievery and fraud. I must conduct my quest on the high plane of dignity and discipline. Again and again, I must visit hgtv.com and diynetwork.com and submit my two entries. The marvelous fervor which has engulfed me must not lead to a distrust of the Network or Brian Patrick Flynn, for they will come to realize that their destiny is inextricably bound to mine. I cannot walk alone.
As I enter, I must make the pledge that I shall always look ahead. I cannot turn back. There are those who are asking "When will you be satisfied?" Never. I can never be satisfied until the Dream Home in Whitefish, Montana is mine. I can never be satisfied as long as that home, nestled in the trees of Big Mountain cannot be filled with my own possessions. I cannot be satisfied as long as my basic mobility is from one rented apartment to a larger one. I cannot be satisfied as long as I cannot shred the slopes of Whitefish Mountain Resort. No, no I am not satisfied and will not be satisfied until the Dream Home is given to me.
I am not unmindful that some of you have aspirations for the Dream Home like myself. Some of you have been battered by the storms of false hope and staggered by the winds of disappointment. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. In 2020, continue to get your two entries in daily. Go back to hgtv.com, and go back to diynetwork.com knowing that your situation can and will be changed. Let us not wallow in the valley of despair.
I say to you, my readers, so even though I face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.
I have a dream that one day, I will rise up and live out the true meaning of rest and relaxation in my rustic mountain retreat.
I have a dream that one day on the mountains of Montana, I will be able to sit down with my guests around an industrial modern table in my stylish dining room.
I have a dream that one day even my dresser, a space sweltering with the heat of disarray, will be transformed into a spacious walk-in closet painted with tones of blue and white.
I have a dream that one day I will be judged not by the content of my character, but by the Western flavor of my chic powder room.
I have a dream that one day in Montana, with its blistering winters, friends will be able to join hands around the handsome stone fireplace of my expansive outdoor patio.
I have a dream that one day every wall shall be painted, every space shall be made inviting, the old places will be made modern, and the dull places will be made elegant, and the glory of the Dream Home shall be delivered, and all shall witness it together.
This is my hope. This is the faith I go back to work with. With this faith, I will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith, I will be able to transform the jangling discords of my current residence into a beautiful symphony of sleek design. With this faith, I will be able to work, to pray, to struggle, knowing that I will one day be granted my Dream Home.
This will be the day, this will be the day when I will be able to sing with new meaning: “My country, ‘tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim’s pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring!”
And if the Network is to be a great network, this must become true. So let my dream be heard by the fine men and women at Scripps. Let my dream be heard by the people at Lumber Liquidators. Let my dream be heard by the folks at Wayfair. Let my dream be heard by the reps at Belgard, Cabinets To Go, and Delta. But not only that: Let my dream by heard by Sherwin Williams. Let my dream be heard by Honda. Let my dream be heard by Rocket Mortgage. Let my dream be heard by every sponsor of the HGTV Dream Home 2019 Sweepstakes.
And when this happens, and when we allow my dream to be heard in every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to actualize that day when I will be able to sit back in my Scandinavian style cedar hot tub and sing the words "Home at last! Home at last! Thank Scripps Almighty, I am home at last!"
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total entries: 50
22 years ago, a great Network, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, created the concept of the Dream Home. This momentous sweepstakes came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Americans who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.
But 22 years later, this American is still not free. 22 years later, the life of this American is still sadly crippled by the manacles of poor design and the chains of not being a homeowner. 22 years later, I live on a lonely island of poverty in a midst of a cast ocean of material prosperity. 22 years later, I am still languished in the corners of the blogosphere and find myself an exile in my own land. And so we've come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.
In a sense I've come to this site to cash a check. Last year, when the architects of the sweepstakes wrote the magnificent words of the terms and conditions, they were signing a promissory note to which I was to fall heir. This note was a promise that I would be guaranteed $250,000 cash from Quicken Loans, an all-new Honda Accord, and a 4-bedroom 3.5-bathroom waterfront retreat in Gig Harbor, Washington. It is obvious today that Scripps has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as I am concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, Scripps has given me a bad check, a check which has come back marked with insufficient funds.
But I refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. I refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity in this Network. And so I've come to cash this check, a check that will give to me $250,000 cash from Quicken Loans, a redesigned 2019 Honda Pilot Elite, and a 4-bedroom, 3.5-bathroom mountain retreat in Whitefish, Montana.
I have also come to this site to remind the Network of the fierce urgency of now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of the Dream Home. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of false promises and to the sunlit path of an 'ambush-style' visit. Now is the time to lift me from the quicksands of tenantship to the solid rock of home ownership. Now is the time to make the Dream Home a reality for me.
It would be fatal for the Network to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of my legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of exquisite interior design and breathtaking views of Whitefish lake. 2019 is not an end, but a beginning. And those who hope that I needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awaking if the Network returns to business as usual. There will be no rest nor tranquility until I am granted my Dream Home. The whirlwind of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of the blogosphere until the bright day of justice emerges.
But there is something I say as a reminder to myself, who stands on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of the Dream Home. In the process of gaining my rightful place, I must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. I must not satisfy my thirst for my dream by drinking from the cup of thievery and fraud. I must conduct my quest on the high plane of dignity and discipline. Again and again, I must visit hgtv.com and diynetwork.com and submit my two entries. The marvelous fervor which has engulfed me must not lead to a distrust of the Network or Brian Patrick Flynn, for they will come to realize that their destiny is inextricably bound to mine. I cannot walk alone.
As I enter, I must make the pledge that I shall always look ahead. I cannot turn back. There are those who are asking "When will you be satisfied?" Never. I can never be satisfied until the Dream Home in Whitefish, Montana is mine. I can never be satisfied as long as that home, nestled in the trees of Big Mountain cannot be filled with my own possessions. I cannot be satisfied as long as my basic mobility is from one rented apartment to a larger one. I cannot be satisfied as long as I cannot shred the slopes of Whitefish Mountain Resort. No, no I am not satisfied and will not be satisfied until the Dream Home is given to me.
I am not unmindful that some of you have aspirations for the Dream Home like myself. Some of you have been battered by the storms of false hope and staggered by the winds of disappointment. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. In 2020, continue to get your two entries in daily. Go back to hgtv.com, and go back to diynetwork.com knowing that your situation can and will be changed. Let us not wallow in the valley of despair.
I say to you, my readers, so even though I face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.
I have a dream that one day, I will rise up and live out the true meaning of rest and relaxation in my rustic mountain retreat.
I have a dream that one day on the mountains of Montana, I will be able to sit down with my guests around an industrial modern table in my stylish dining room.
I have a dream that one day even my dresser, a space sweltering with the heat of disarray, will be transformed into a spacious walk-in closet painted with tones of blue and white.
I have a dream that one day I will be judged not by the content of my character, but by the Western flavor of my chic powder room.
I have a dream that one day in Montana, with its blistering winters, friends will be able to join hands around the handsome stone fireplace of my expansive outdoor patio.
I have a dream that one day every wall shall be painted, every space shall be made inviting, the old places will be made modern, and the dull places will be made elegant, and the glory of the Dream Home shall be delivered, and all shall witness it together.
This is my hope. This is the faith I go back to work with. With this faith, I will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith, I will be able to transform the jangling discords of my current residence into a beautiful symphony of sleek design. With this faith, I will be able to work, to pray, to struggle, knowing that I will one day be granted my Dream Home.
This will be the day, this will be the day when I will be able to sing with new meaning: “My country, ‘tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim’s pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring!”
And if the Network is to be a great network, this must become true. So let my dream be heard by the fine men and women at Scripps. Let my dream be heard by the people at Lumber Liquidators. Let my dream be heard by the folks at Wayfair. Let my dream be heard by the reps at Belgard, Cabinets To Go, and Delta. But not only that: Let my dream by heard by Sherwin Williams. Let my dream be heard by Honda. Let my dream be heard by Rocket Mortgage. Let my dream be heard by every sponsor of the HGTV Dream Home 2019 Sweepstakes.
And when this happens, and when we allow my dream to be heard in every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to actualize that day when I will be able to sit back in my Scandinavian style cedar hot tub and sing the words "Home at last! Home at last! Thank Scripps Almighty, I am home at last!"
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total entries: 50
Jan 20, 2019
A Dream of the Dream Home
last night i had a dream about the Dream Home. a real dream, not like an mlk 'i have a dream' dream.
in this dream i received an email asking "Why do you want to win the dream home? I want to win so I don't have to work on weekends."
i pondered this as i laid in bed. why do i want to win the Dream Home? is it the house? the car? the fame? getting to meet brian patrick flynn?
the answer i think, like everything in life, is that it doesn't matter. come march the house will be mine, and any thoughts or feelings about why that should happen are moot.
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total entries: 48
in this dream i received an email asking "Why do you want to win the dream home? I want to win so I don't have to work on weekends."
i pondered this as i laid in bed. why do i want to win the Dream Home? is it the house? the car? the fame? getting to meet brian patrick flynn?
the answer i think, like everything in life, is that it doesn't matter. come march the house will be mine, and any thoughts or feelings about why that should happen are moot.
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total entries: 48
Jan 19, 2019
More Cowboy Hats
i found another cluster of cowboy hats on the walls adjacent to the great room. a lot more color in this batch compared to the ones in the bunk loft. might put on the black one and be an outlaw. really gonna have to make some personality changes if i'm gonna fit in here. can anyone teach me how to ride a horse? please dm me or leave a comment if so.
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total entries: 46
Jan 18, 2019
Who Is The Dog?
who is the dog?
what is the dog's name?
does he/she come with the house?
is the dream home 'pet friendly'?
do i need to worry about him/her running away?
should the dream home include a fenced in yard?
is the dog a bandit? (via the bandana)
will the dog wear one of the cowboy hats?
should i let dogs on my furniture in the dream home?
has he/she eaten from the dog bowls included with the home?
can he/she fit through the doggie door or is he/she 'too big'?
has brian patrick flynn ever pet him/her?
is this dog a 'retriever'?
does he/she want to play fetch and go swimming in whitefish lake?
is his/her bark 'worse than his/her bite'?
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total entries: 44
Jan 17, 2019
Let Me Tour The Dream Home
every year since 2014, the scripps network has hand-picked a small group of people to embark on a visit to the Dream Home. this elite coterie of DIY mommy bloggers and home decor fanatics get to set foot on the lumber-liquidators-supplied flooring of the cherished Dream Home without having to first win the sweepstakes. they are treated to a one night stay, dinner, and a private tour of the home.
how does one obtain this privilege? i tracked down the 10 of the bloggers in the above photo and contacted each them asking just that. only one of them bothered getting back to me. apparently there is little time for dregs like me when you're one of the elite. here is the response i received:
so what's the catch? they are required to follow-up with a post on their respective blogs about the experience. i read through a few of the posts. they are boring, and patronizing, and filled with photos of the home that are provided by the network. they also all contain links to brian patrick flynn's website.
scripps, why not bestow this gift to someone whose /every/ post is about the Dream Home? someone who proselytizes his devotion to the festive rustic decor and modern mountain flair of the whitefish retreat. every day i sit down at this laptop and craft premium content about the sweepstakes without a single 'sponsored post' disclaimer.
scripps.
let me tour the dream home.
P.S. i couldn't help but notice that last year's group was all women. could be good optics for the network to include some diversity.
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total entries: 42
the Chosen
thank you maryann
so what's the catch? they are required to follow-up with a post on their respective blogs about the experience. i read through a few of the posts. they are boring, and patronizing, and filled with photos of the home that are provided by the network. they also all contain links to brian patrick flynn's website.
scripps, why not bestow this gift to someone whose /every/ post is about the Dream Home? someone who proselytizes his devotion to the festive rustic decor and modern mountain flair of the whitefish retreat. every day i sit down at this laptop and craft premium content about the sweepstakes without a single 'sponsored post' disclaimer.
scripps.
let me tour the dream home.
P.S. i couldn't help but notice that last year's group was all women. could be good optics for the network to include some diversity.
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total entries: 42
Jan 16, 2019
Zeal
i pray twice daily upon the altar of hgtv and diy network. seeking redemption and salvation in a rustic mountain retreat in whitefish montana. i am a slave to its promises of luxury and splendor.
brian patrick flynn, patron saint of interior design, bless our homes with tasteful palettes and modern flair.
the network will hear the cries of the desirous many and respond in turn. a king will be crowned among us.
in scripps we trust.
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total entries: 40
brian patrick flynn, patron saint of interior design, bless our homes with tasteful palettes and modern flair.
the network will hear the cries of the desirous many and respond in turn. a king will be crowned among us.
in scripps we trust.
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total entries: 40
Jan 15, 2019
The Checkboxes
above the submit button on the second page of the entry form is a tower of checkboxes. i've never submitted my entry with any of them checked, but sometimes i toggle the 'check all' box a few times just to feel its power.
do you check the checkboxes?
does checking the boxes give you a better shot at winning?
are you interested in 'incredible deals' on hardwood from lumber liquidators?
are promotional emails 'useful for the consumer' or are they 'spam'?
is there a such thing as 'ethical consumption' under capitalism?
would you like to learn more about the redesigned honda pilot?
do you enjoy being 'nurtured' as a 'potential lead'?
do you believe it's right to 'give back' to the sponsors?
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total entries: 38
do you check the checkboxes?
does checking the boxes give you a better shot at winning?
are you interested in 'incredible deals' on hardwood from lumber liquidators?
are promotional emails 'useful for the consumer' or are they 'spam'?
is there a such thing as 'ethical consumption' under capitalism?
would you like to learn more about the redesigned honda pilot?
do you enjoy being 'nurtured' as a 'potential lead'?
do you believe it's right to 'give back' to the sponsors?
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total entries: 38
Jan 14, 2019
Dream Home Guitar Jingle (Piano Cover)
if you've watched the dream home tour videos enough times as i have, you've probably noticed the little guitar jingle that kicks them off. i sat down at my keyboard and came up with a piano version. i hope you enjoy it.
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total entries: 36
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total entries: 36
Jan 13, 2019
The Ambush
i've been thinking about how i should react to "ambush" where it's revealed to me that i'm the winner. from the sweepstakes rules:
i watched some of the past ambush videos and the winners, unsurprisingly, seem genuinely shocked. so what happens when tiffany brooks and a camera crew show up at my door to tell me something i already know to be true?
well, i've thought about it and i think there is nothing to fret about. does a quarterback, taking a knee to kill the remaining seconds on the clock, not still celebrate when the clock hits zero? is a child, knowing he will receive gifts on christmas morning, not still excited when he finds them under the tree? when the dream home is officially declared to be mine, my elation will match or even surpass that of past winners, for my patience and dedication will have bred a higher level of appreciation and fervor that past recipients have not known.
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total entries: 34
while there remain three other methods of contact, the ambush is their preferred route, which from a promotional standpoint makes sense. the ambush is content. it's another post for scripps network to put on their pages.Sponsor anticipates that the potential Grand Prize Winner will be contacted either by phone, email from the email address homepromos@scrippsnetworks.com, or in writing, or in person via an “ambush style” visit by Sponsor representatives at the Grand Prize Winner’s home or other location between March 15-25, 2019 (subject to change).
i watched some of the past ambush videos and the winners, unsurprisingly, seem genuinely shocked. so what happens when tiffany brooks and a camera crew show up at my door to tell me something i already know to be true?
well, i've thought about it and i think there is nothing to fret about. does a quarterback, taking a knee to kill the remaining seconds on the clock, not still celebrate when the clock hits zero? is a child, knowing he will receive gifts on christmas morning, not still excited when he finds them under the tree? when the dream home is officially declared to be mine, my elation will match or even surpass that of past winners, for my patience and dedication will have bred a higher level of appreciation and fervor that past recipients have not known.
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total entries: 34
Jan 12, 2019
HGTV Dream Home 2019 Sweepstakes Speedrun (BOTH ENTRIES)
speedrunning is defined as a play-through of a video game performed with the intention of completing it as fast as possible, and for some reason there are whole communities dedicated to this activity. for example, this video of someone explaining a super mario bros speedrun has over 6 million views. honestly it think it's a colossal waste of time but who am i to judge. anyway, i thought i'd try my hand at a speedrun of the HGTV Dream Home 2019 sweepstakes entries.
logitech mx518 wired mouse
google chrome v71
this also helps with the second screen too. usually, there is a bunch of stuff on the page below the submit button, so if you overshoot it and scroll to the bottom of the page, you have to scroll back up a little find it it. this way, i can zip to the bottom of the page and still have the submit button in view.
so here it is:
not perfect - but still pretty quick. if you think you can do better, give it a shot and send me your attempt.
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total entries: 32
specs
2015 macbook prologitech mx518 wired mouse
google chrome v71
preparation
i knew the page load was going to be the biggest obstacle for me, so to help minimize that, i created a quick chrome extension that injects some css to hide most of the unnecessary elements. the form is all i care about here, so by preventing the browser from having to render the rest of the page, i can speed up the loading time a bit.this also helps with the second screen too. usually, there is a bunch of stuff on the page below the submit button, so if you overshoot it and scroll to the bottom of the page, you have to scroll back up a little find it it. this way, i can zip to the bottom of the page and still have the submit button in view.
execution
i thought about about how i was going to get my email in the input field and submit the form, and realized there were three ways to do this
- the "three-click" method, which involves clicking the field to focus it, clicking the autosuggest item to fill it, and then clicking the button to submit
- the "two-click" method, which involves clicking the field, pasting my email in with cmd + v, then clicking the submit button
- the "one-click" method, which involves clicking the field, pasting my email, focusing the submit button by hitting the tab key, then submitting it with the enter key
i played around with these for a little and decided that the one-click method was definitely the fastest. i just needed to make sure my right hand was close enough to my laptop edge that i could slide off the mouse and hit enter without a delay.
so here it is:
HGTV Dream Home 2019 Sweepstakes Speedrun (BOTH ENTRIES) pic.twitter.com/QRkaQhIJW9— joseph (@ssorC) January 12, 2019
not perfect - but still pretty quick. if you think you can do better, give it a shot and send me your attempt.
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total entries: 32
Jan 11, 2019
Care & Maintenance of Cedar Wood Hot Tubs
Daily Maintenance
Your cedar hot tub’s water is the focus of all daily maintenance activities. There are three main actions that are essential for keeping your cedar hot tub in great shape. First, you’ll want to check the sanitizer levels by using hot tub test strips, which are very affordable and available at any pool or spa store. This will tell you if you need to add a dose of chlorine or bromine to the water. If your tub package includes a Ozanator and ionizer will will only need to test the copper level. Do not add chemicals!Next, it’s important to know what the pH balance is in your cedar tub’s water on a daily basis. You should keep chemicals on hand to make the water more acidic or more alkaline as needed to maintain the optimal balance.
Finally, all cedar hot tubs that get frequent use accumulate body oils, perspiration, and other unpleasant materials that can stain the cedar tubs water line. Regular maintenance includes checking for and cleaning this recurring line so it does not become a permanent stain. Pastes and sprays are made that will accomplish this task easily and inexpensively.
Monthly Maintenance
Every month or so, it’s a good idea to add a water sparkle agent to keep your hot tub looking bright and clear. This is really just an esthetic issue and is not critical in your cedar tub’s maintenance routine, but most owners find that a pleasing visual appeal adds to the experience. The other monthly maintenance is to check the cedar tub’s interior and exterior carefully for cuts, dings, and cracks. Spotting these problems and repairing them early will prevent a major and costly headache later on.Every 3-6 months, you should fully drain and inspect your cedar hot tub. Give it a good scrub with 3m scotch bright pad while empty and take apart and clean the entire filter system as well.
Finally, check the cedar tub’s interior and exterior carefully for cuts, dings, and cracks. Spotting these problems and repairing them early will prevent a major and costly headache later on.
Non-Toxic Sanitizing
With a soaking tub, as in anything, cleanliness is next to Godliness, and how you choose to deal with sanitization has a far-reaching affect on the overall satisfaction youll receive from your soaking tub. Using harmful chemicals such as chlorine or bromine are contrary to the very purpose of a soaking tub, because they undermine the natural and healthy quality of the experience.
Hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a truly amazing and wonderful sanitizer. For the soaking tub, it should be used in a high-strength 27% solution (not the 3% variety that comes in the brown bottles). When poured into a soaking tub, hydrogen peroxide immediately disassociates into water (H20) and oxygen ions (01). These ions are so unstable that they quickly attach to anything within reach, destroying bacteria on contact. Within several hours the reaction is completed, leaving stable oxygen (O2) and water (H2O). Beautiful!
U.V. Sanitizer
Ozone (O3) is stable oxygen (O2) with an added oxygen ion (O1). An electrical device called an ozone generator, or ozonator, is used to inject microscopic ozone bubbles into tub water to kill bacteria. Ozone sterilizes water in essentially the same way as hydrogen peroxide by releasing unpaired oxygen atoms (O1) into the water. As with hydrogen peroxide, O1 seeks to become stable by attaching to itself to another molecule. While ozone is effective at killing bacteria in water, it is not as effective for sterilizing tub walls because ozone bubbles do not make good contact with surfaces. Therefore, hydrogen peroxide must also be used to sterilize tub surfaces if water is kept for an extended period. Many people who rely strictly on ozone for sanitizing will change their tub water frequently.
Exterior Care
As with any wood, sun and rain will take its toll on the appearance of cedar wood, unless attention is paid to a wood preservation schedule. It is recommended to apply a coat of exterior protective translucent to the wood. When selecting a finish, it needs to one that can “breath”. This is to allow moisture to escape and not cause the finish to blister. Some examples include the Penofin Premium Red Label (Western Red Cedar tint) or Penofin Marine Oil Finish (Transparent Natural).
With time, when the appearance of a wood surface becomes dried and pales, apply another coat. The details will depend on the stain you initially selected, so read the products literature. The discolouring of the
hot tub staves differs from that of wood that stays dry. The pressure from the interior water (moisture) in
the staves, migrates tannin and oils and even resin to the outside that can affect the colouration of oil
based wood preservatives. This can be quite variable from stave to stave or cedar batches, because nature
doesn’t grow wood as though it was a factory produced material. The fading of the finish is highly dependent on the sun exposure. If the tub is in a shaded area, a maintenance coat will need to be applied
much less frequently than a tub that has a strong southerly exposure. Top surfaces, such as stair steps,
shelves, cover of an enclosure, tend fade and deteriorate faster than vertical surfaces because of the effect
of rain or water pooling on such surfaces. You do not want to skip applying the recommended number of
coats on such surfaces; in fact you want to apply an additional coat.
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total entries: 30
Jan 10, 2019
Room Review: Bunk Loft
the bunk loft aka the cowboy room is the first room you enter after making your way up to the second floor. this flexible space includes a bunk bed, a floating workstation, bean bag chair, and even an acoustic guitar and banjo. we'll start with the bunk beds but first let's get a look at those cowboy hats.
the last thing i want to remark on is a comment brian flynn has when talking about these. as the camera tilts up he says, "above we have twin bed, perfect for sleeping on" (emphasis added). in addition to being an unnecessary filler comment, twin beds are certainly not perfect for sleeping on. there are way better bed sizes dude.
room rating: 6.5/10 cowboy hats
EDIT: after looking through the gallery photos for the bunk loft, there is actually an additional pillow on left side of each bed hidden behind the others, bringing the total pillow count up to sixteen. incredible.
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total entries: 28
collection of summery straw cowboy hats
bunk beds
the bottom bunk has a full size mattress, which in addition to sleeping two people can serve as a day bed for hanging out on. the top bunk has a twin size mattress but you get to sleep next to the hats. one thing i that caught my eye was the amount of pillow on on these two beds. there's a lot. like a shit ton of them. nobody wants to spend all that time throwing them off the bed and then making the bed and placing them nicely back on it in the morning, so what happens is these just end up on the floor.
fourteen damn pillows on this thing
the last thing i want to remark on is a comment brian flynn has when talking about these. as the camera tilts up he says, "above we have twin bed, perfect for sleeping on" (emphasis added). in addition to being an unnecessary filler comment, twin beds are certainly not perfect for sleeping on. there are way better bed sizes dude.
floating workstation
the floating workstation was created from a live edge slab of wood (whatever that is) that was cut in half and fastened to the wall. its purpose according to brian was to provide a place to do creative projects or set up laptops, but i'm picturing it covered with half-empty beer bottles after a party. someone remind me to get coasters for up there when i move in because i don't see any.
the seating for this workstation consists of three vintage chairs picked up from flea markets around montana. honestly i'm not feeling them. the chairs gotta go.
the photo is nice though
"sculpture in the form of instruments"
along the other wall is a giant glass window letting in a ton of natural light. on its left side hangs a banjo, and on the right an acoustic guitar. i can't tell what kind of guitar it is but i'm curious if scripps network would spend the money for a decent guitar or if they just got a cheap one for decoration. either way this room is pretty chill. i could see myself doing a lot of reading in the bean bag chair (not pictured), and it's definitely nice to have the extra sleeping space.
room rating: 6.5/10 cowboy hats
EDIT: after looking through the gallery photos for the bunk loft, there is actually an additional pillow on left side of each bed hidden behind the others, bringing the total pillow count up to sixteen. incredible.
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total entries: 28
Jan 9, 2019
Renting the dream house on airbnb
to help cover the cost of property taxes and maintenance on the dream home, i've thought about the possibility of renting it out occasionally on airbnb. i did some digging to find out a ballpark number of how much money i could expect to make.
i started by looking at the prices of other airbnb houses nearby that fit at least 6 guests (the dream home has only four bedrooms but we know it can sleep way more than that). the prices range from $188/night for a 4 bed/4 bath condo, to $1020/night for a 5 bed/3.5 bath ski-in ski-out house. the average nightly price was $536. given the quality of the house, the location on the mountain, and the number of people it can sleep, i think $850/night is a fair listing.
because it's near a ski resort, the winter months are going to be the best time to list it. i can get some snowboarding in and then fuck off to a warmer state for a few months while my dream home rakes in cash. so if we assume i list it for 4 months and 15 days per month end up booked, we get:
$850 * 60 days = $51,000
- 3% airbnb fee = $49,470
- 24% income tax = $37,597
subtract another $250 for cleaners, $100 for supplies, and $500 for utilities, and that leaves me with $36,747. not bad.
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total entries: 26
i started by looking at the prices of other airbnb houses nearby that fit at least 6 guests (the dream home has only four bedrooms but we know it can sleep way more than that). the prices range from $188/night for a 4 bed/4 bath condo, to $1020/night for a 5 bed/3.5 bath ski-in ski-out house. the average nightly price was $536. given the quality of the house, the location on the mountain, and the number of people it can sleep, i think $850/night is a fair listing.
because it's near a ski resort, the winter months are going to be the best time to list it. i can get some snowboarding in and then fuck off to a warmer state for a few months while my dream home rakes in cash. so if we assume i list it for 4 months and 15 days per month end up booked, we get:
$850 * 60 days = $51,000
- 3% airbnb fee = $49,470
- 24% income tax = $37,597
subtract another $250 for cleaners, $100 for supplies, and $500 for utilities, and that leaves me with $36,747. not bad.
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total entries: 26
Jan 8, 2019
The Dream Home Portfolio
can you invest in the hgtv dream home 2019? no you cannot. but you can invest in its sponsors. i asked myself what would that portfolio look like? i went through and picked out all of the publicly traded companies that sponsor the sweepstakes to craft dream home portfolio.
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since its IPO in 2007, the share price has gone from $11, all the way up to $120 in 2012, and back down to $11. i feel it may have bottomed out and i'm confident in this investment. if it's good enough for the dream home, it's good enough for my portfolio
W is down 37% from its 52-week high of $151, and has missed its earnings estimates the past three quarters. the 1-year chart however looks like it's forming a double bottom, and is also about to break through the 20 day moving average, which could mean a reversal.
masco stock has been on a steady decline since the start of 2018 but i'm willing to bet i'd make out with a decent return if i held it long enough.
there have been a lot of ups and downs in the past 10 years, but the stock has pretty much moved sideways. it does have a decent 3.75% dividend though.
trex stock has declined significantly in the past 5 months, which CEO jim cline attributes to 'normal seasonal trends'. if we take his word for it, we could see its share price back up in the 80s (current price $65) come spring.
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Lumber Liquidators (LL)
responsible for the beautiful hardwood found in the dream home, lumber liquidators operates as a multi-channel specialty retailer of hardwood flooring, hardwood flooring enhancements and accessories.since its IPO in 2007, the share price has gone from $11, all the way up to $120 in 2012, and back down to $11. i feel it may have bottomed out and i'm confident in this investment. if it's good enough for the dream home, it's good enough for my portfolio
Wayfair (W)
wayfair is an e-commerce business that offers approximately 10 million products for the homes sector under various brands. furniture, décor, decorative accents, etc. i'm assuming the dream home is furnished with plenty of wayfair products that i can review once i move in.W is down 37% from its 52-week high of $151, and has missed its earnings estimates the past three quarters. the 1-year chart however looks like it's forming a double bottom, and is also about to break through the 20 day moving average, which could mean a reversal.
Masco Corporation (MAS)
while not a direct sponsor of the hgtv dream home, masco is the parent company of delta faucet, one of the sweepstakes's sponsors which makes faucets. i hope the dream home kitchen has the faucet with the splash guard. check this shit out.masco stock has been on a steady decline since the start of 2018 but i'm willing to bet i'd make out with a decent return if i held it long enough.
Sherwin-Williams (SHW)
the sherwin-williams company develops, manufactures, distributes, and sells paints, coatings, and related products to professional, industrial, commercial, and retail customers.
sherwin-williams has the highest share price of the stocks in our porfolio, sitting at just under $400 as of today. aside from the decline in Q4 of 2018, it has been on a steady climb since 2009 (share price $47). i think the recent drop allows me to grab it at a bargain price.
Honda Motor Company (HMC)
honda makes cars. i don't need to explain this one.there have been a lot of ups and downs in the past 10 years, but the stock has pretty much moved sideways. it does have a decent 3.75% dividend though.
Trex (TREX)
trex company, inc. manufactures and distributes wood/plastic composite products, and related accessories primarily for the residential and commercial decking, and railing applications in the united states. have you ever been on one of those fancy decks that doesn't get hot in the sun? maybe it was a trex. i don't know.trex stock has declined significantly in the past 5 months, which CEO jim cline attributes to 'normal seasonal trends'. if we take his word for it, we could see its share price back up in the 80s (current price $65) come spring.
Sleep Number (SNBR)
sleep number corporation provides sleep solutions and services in the united states, which is a fancy way of saying they sell beds. i hear they're comfortable but i've never had one myself. my sleep number is about 8 or 9 cans of pbr.
their stock is pretty volatile but is following a long-term up-trend since 2009. of course past performance of no guarantee of future results but whatever. we'll probably see it drop back into the 20s before heading back to the 40s in a couple years.
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using investopedia's stock market simulator, i spread $100,000 between the 7 companies listed above. here are our starting positions:
i'll check back periodically to see how it fares against s&p 500.
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| Symbol | Shares | Price | Current Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| LL | 1000 | $10.63 | $10,630.00 |
| W | 146 | $94.75 | $13,833.50 |
| MAS | 440 | $31.70 | $13,921.60 |
| SHW | 46 | $394.82 | $18,161.72 |
| HMC | 500 | $28.44 | $14,220.00 |
| TREX | 215 | $67.72 | $14,128.73 |
| SNBR | 438 | $33.42 | $14,637.96 |
| Total: | $99.533.51 |
i'll check back periodically to see how it fares against s&p 500.
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total entries: 24
Jan 7, 2019
Describing the HGTV Dream Home
today i decided to see which words were used the most to describe the HGTV Dream Home on the sweepstakes website. i wrote some simple javascript to extract the photo captions from each of the 25 galleries, which i then ran through a word frequency counter. below are the top ten:
| Most Used Adjectives Describing The Dream Home | |
|---|---|
| white | 113 |
| modern | 113 |
| wood | 96 |
| natural | 71 |
| gray | 71 |
| black | 66 |
| blue | 51 |
| large | 45 |
| metal | 44 |
| rustic | 42 |
so white is tied for number one. not a good look HGTV.
some other interesting things i found:
some other interesting things i found:
- while gray is used 71 times, grey is used only thrice. they should have kept with gray for consistency's sake
- beer is only mentioned one time
- the phrase burly beast is used at some point
- the least mentioned colors are aquamarine and beige
- the word space clocks in at a whopping 138 occurrences
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total entries: 22
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