(Response to TV Show Viewers: Post 14 - February 23, 2026)
Parenthood
unleashes a cascade of advice on how to get through the early months of
sleeplessness, then suggestions about raising a toddler, and on from there. For
me it was a lot at first, too much guidance to swallow. But then someone made
it clearer for me by saying something like, “Take it in and then just use what
you can.” Renovating a rundown property is similar, with a flood of
recommendations until bystanders feel convinced a rehabber knows what they’re
doing.
So, this collection
of responses to viewers is meant to answer questions but also help people who
may want to document their own rehab on film or share information that can be
passed along to someone trying to be on TV themselves. Far from feeling as if I
have all the answers, I can write about what I experienced for people to use
however they think might fit for them.
Before
getting married and renovating the homes featured in American Rehab
Charleston and Restoring Charleston, I’d been part of a handful of
mission teams. I’ve spent a lot of time working alone on my project houses, so
traveling, serving, and living with others was uplifting each time I had these
opportunities. In addition, unlike when I renovated solo, I had other people to
think things over with and then help carry out plans. I always enjoy the
challenge of figuring out how to manage with whatever tools and materials are
available, and the mission field is filled with these sorts of instances.
One
afternoon in Papua New Guinea, I was part of a group of Americans and local men
trying to install a galvanized tank. It had become another lesson in how things
could be done without modern equipment as pairs took turns with hand shovels to
create the round hole the size of a small car. As the last two diggers spread a
thin layer of gravel over the flat bottom, this assembly of a dozen or so put
our heads together trying to figure out how we could place the metal cylinder
without damaging it. Brainstorming led to my suggesting we slide the unit on
planks straddling the hole, then lifting it in unison before we slowly lowered
it to its spot. It worked and I was pleased to have teammates able and willing
to give my idea a try. And it was safer, easier, and more satisfying than going
it alone.
Another
time, in the mountains of Central America, I was helping an electrical crew wire
up a school building for lights. I didn’t have much to offer until we ran into
a small roadblock, an obstruction preventing our crew from running power to
the new switch box.
Although
many things are foreign abroad, there are some common building fundamentals,
and using those, combined with what I’d picked up in that part of the world, I
helped these tradesmen identify the non-electrical problem before putting forth
a proposed workaround. The cavity was filled with bat guano, and one solution
was to cut a hole and clean out the space, allowing them to carry on. They
liked the idea and it worked. After they finished, I built and installed an
access door over the new hole. It was easy and economical, and practical too
since it could be removed if anyone needed to work on the system in the future.
There were
many other things that made working in these volunteer roles fulfilling, but
these times where I felt I’d been there for a reason, still stand out for me.
Being the
one with a workable solution feels pretty great when it happens. And
thankfulness afterwards is also very nice. As much as I wanted my blog to spark
my next opportunity, work I could do while still being close by for my family,
I was hoping for something that was also gratifying. Respecting uncrossable
lines and having limited access to proper resources, I now realize that I was
hoping for a lot.
I’m far
from being a super confident person. I do feel at ease in my element of jacked
up houses though, as if I’m rungs above capable. Being even more candid about
my aspirations for a chance to help the unknown, unseen TV folks, I was being
unreasonably delusional.
For
example, after Rehab Addict Nicole Curtis commented on my post, I
allowed myself to believe that someone from HGTV or DIY was following this blog.
So, I started to write with their eyes in mind. I would have been stoked to be
able to be a part of something one of these networks was doing. I could review
photos or video and perhaps offer some unorthodox or unrecognized solution to
issues on renovations to be featured on one of their shows.
There had
been times when I’d headed up teams of youth working on old houses, projects
where adults like me had been strongly encouraged to allow the teens complete work
we might be able to knock out quicker or easier. I had been surprised to enjoy
walking them through steps, thrilled at how they stood taller after achievements
they’d woken up thinking were beyond their capabilities. In the world of renovating,
I held certainty I could do that remotely for the home improvement networks
without having to be on site far and away from Diann and the kids.
If television producers were tuning into my blogging, I was going to do what I could to make it clear how uniquely qualified I was to help them.
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