CF: Slow News & Information Dissemination

Jeremy · 05-10-2007, 08:34 AM

CF: Slow News & Information Dissemination

I wanted to take a minute to let everybody know why I've posted very little information the past two weeks and probably for the next couple weeks as well...

I've devoted the past 16 months to CycloneFanatic and to providing non-stop information for die-hard Cyclone fans. Over that time, I've neglected to reserve time for things I've been wanting to do around the house & yard (i.e. landscaping, remodeling, etc). Well, the time has come where I've decided that I need to put those things first for a while when ISU news is sparse anyways and when I didn't expect anything major to happen.

We've been remodeling our upstairs, painting the exterior of the house and working on redoing some of the landscaping in our yard. It obviously takes a lot of time and energy to run CycloneFanatic and I've been using those resources at home instead of on the site. I'll be back though, better than ever. I just need to get some things done and know that most of you will understand.

On a side note, the site has actually continued to see an increase in traffic over the spring when I though things would die down for a while. The numbers keep going through the roof so please make sure to welcome all our newest visitors with open arms. I removed restrictions a while ago so all visitors can read posts now, they just need to register to make posts.

You've all been great and we have a lot of surprises in the works as we move forward into a new era of ISU Athletics. Stay tuned...

Thanks for everything!
Jeremy Lind
CycloneFanatic.com
"Project: State"

isugcs · 05-10-2007, 08:37 AM

I don't blame you for taking some time off with the nice weather and all. Also letting visitors read posts is a great idea, just me two cents.

psycln11 · 05-10-2007, 08:51 AM

Oh come on, Jeremy!!!

I've been delaying my home projects since I moved into my home in 1999.

If I let it get run down enough, maybe the snobby neighbors to the east will move!! Then I can actually work on improving the landscaping.

Seriously though, you've done a great job and we can live with less Jeremy as long as it's only a short amount of time. Get those projects done!!

CyinCo · 05-10-2007, 08:54 AM

Just let the weeds take over and nature run its course.

ISUFan22 · 05-10-2007, 08:56 AM

I'm with ya man. A little trip to KC, job search (Mrs. ISUFan22) arranging the basement, helping my sister move and putting together our home gym is keeping the Mrs. and I quite busy.

However, we don't have a yard yet. Just a bunch of dirt at this point.

Cyclonesrule91 · 05-10-2007, 09:12 AM

Originally Posted by ISUFan22

However, we don't have a yard yet. Just a bunch of dirt at this point.

Hopefully you got a builder who didn't scrape all the black dirt on your lot to sell it to someone else leaving you with nothing more then clay which doesn't grow grass worth a CRAP. That is the biggest gripe I have with the house we built last year. We got sod back to 10' behind the house and they seeded the rest. Otherwise, if you are getting sod, hopefully you are sodding the whole yard.

Great job Jeremy, enjoy doing the honeydoo lists and projects.

ISUFan22 · 05-10-2007, 09:18 AM

Originally Posted by Cyclonesrule91

Hopefully you got a builder who didn't scrape all the black dirt on your lot to sell it to someone else leaving you with nothing more then clay which doesn't grow grass worth a CRAP. That is the biggest gripe I have with the house we built last year. We got sod back to 10' behind the house and they seeded the rest. Otherwise, if you are getting sod, hopefully you are sodding the whole yard.

They had to take out some that had a bunch of rock in it. Not much, just some in the front by the driveway. Otherwise nothing was removed.

We're seeding the entire yard, it's almost 25,000 square foot and there's no way I'm going to pay for that much sod! Instead, we're putting money into something useful - an irrigation system.

I take it the area you seeded isn't doing well?

cycloneworld · 05-10-2007, 09:18 AM

As a new home owner, I quickly realized that things that sound very easy (I'm going to paint the bathroom or I'm just going to do a little landscaping outside) are quite the opposite. And things that seem like you can do pretty cheaply turn expensive very easily.

cycloneworld · 05-10-2007, 09:21 AM

Originally Posted by ISUFan22

We're seeding the entire yard, it's almost 25,000 square foot and there's no way I'm going to pay for that much sod! Instead, we're putting money into something useful - an irrigation system.

I hope you don't have a lot of shaded areas in your yard. I reseeded an area where the previous owner had a dog cage and I can't get grass to grow 100% at all. I get these nice patchy areas that look nice next to bare areas. And I think that "shade" mix grass seed is a scam.

C.John · 05-10-2007, 09:40 AM

Originally Posted by cycloneworld

As a new home owner, I quickly realized that things that sound very easy (I'm going to paint the bathroom or I'm just going to do a little landscaping outside) are quite the opposite.

Like my "I'm going to remove this wallpaper in the second bathroom" plan. The plaster under the wallpaper was cracked and starting to crumble, mostly on the lower third of the wall. So I decided to remove the lower plaster and the lath and replace it with a flat panel wainscoting that I'll mill myself. Well, if I going to do that, then the floor would look really nice with white and blue mosaic tile. Out came the old floor and vanity, in goes the backer board, tile and a new pedestal sink with matching toilet. Hmm, the tiles in the shower really looks dated now, I better re tile it. That is were I am now, needing to tear out the old shower surround and replace it with a dark blue glass tile. A quick wall paper removal and repaint has lasted over an year now while I work on it off and on. Let's just say that my wife is no longer amused by my easy and cheap bath remodel.

Cyclonesrule91 · 05-10-2007, 09:41 AM

Originally Posted by ISUFan22

I take it the area you seeded isn't doing well?

Where we built was a field 3-4 yrs ago and I would bet had 8-12" of good black soil that would have given you a plush yard in two months. When Regency bought the field to develop, the first thing they did was scrape ALL the black dirt so they could resell it to commercial accounts in Des Moines. As a result, if you get a good shot of rain, it mostly runs off into the sewers instead of soaking in like you would have in black dirt. So if it is dry at all, you have to water the crap out of your sod if you want it to last until roots take off(which takes a lot longer in clay soils as well) and seeds just don't germinate in clay very well because you don't have the organic matter in clay to support grass. Frustrating as Hell.

Other then that, we are very happy with our house but can't wait till we get mature tree's again like we had in our previous houses.

ISUFan22 · 05-10-2007, 10:42 AM

Originally Posted by cycloneworld

I hope you don't have a lot of shaded areas in your yard. I reseeded an area where the previous owner had a dog cage and I can't get grass to grow 100% at all. I get these nice patchy areas that look nice next to bare areas. And I think that "shade" mix grass seed is a scam.

Only under our deck do we have a bunch of shade. House runs east-west at a slight angle, so the front and east side gets great sun in the morning and vice versa in the afternoon. Couldn't have planned it better, being our sunroom is on the west side.

Originally Posted by Cyclonesrule91

When Regency bought the field to develop

Ahhh, Regency.....

Cyclonesrule91 · 05-10-2007, 11:09 AM

Originally Posted by ISUFan22

Ahhh, Regency.....

Ya, so I'm learning. Actually we are very happy with everything except the clay yard and the garages being fit to park Yugo's in.

ColoradoClone · 05-10-2007, 11:27 AM

So, since this is kind of turning into a thread about good and bad things happening with new home builders in des moines, does anyone mind if I ask what the builders reputations are? Who should I look seriously at, and who should be avoided? I've heard good things about Tyler Homes, and Millard Homes look like they're pretty nice.

Also, has anyone purchased their own lot and have any experience on what a custom home would cost vs. a spec home? I've read a little bit on Kaufman Construction doing custom homes. I'm also curious if Millard would build one of their spec homes in another neighborhood on a lot I own. For example, if I bought a lot in Glen Oaks, what should I expect to pay to pay in addition to the lot costs to build a 3000 sqft home on it?

Cydar · 05-10-2007, 11:35 AM

Originally Posted by ISUFan22

I'm with ya man. A little trip to KC, job search (Mrs. ISUFan22) arranging the basement, helping my sister move and putting together our home gym is keeping the Mrs. and I quite busy.

However, we don't have a yard yet. Just a bunch of dirt at this point.

It wouldn't be the home gym from the avatar for isugcs, would it?