Cold hands, warm heart. Is that a medical fact or just a figure of speech? ‘Cause my heart should be way overheated by now. Fortunately, I received a really cool (albeit “warm”) gift from my dad last Christmas that I continue to find “handy” throughout the winter months. USB powered heated gloves! So far, this Mid-Atlantic winter has been relatively mild and dry, but today we had snow and lots of wind. As I write this, it is 16°F (-9°C) outside and dropping! Of course I have heat in my office, but it still gets pretty chilly in here, especially when it’s sub-freezing outside. Yes, today was the day to break out the “indoor” gloves.

This Christmas gift from my dad has been quite useful in the winter -- heated USB-powered gloves!

They have long USB cables that plug into the front of my computer and 2 heat settings. At first I thought it would be awkward, but the cables don't get in my way at all.

Or, you can flip the mitten over your fingers when just web-surfing to warm up your whole hand. : )

Adjustable heat settings. These are really cool
(or should I say really warm?).

I’m not a fan of winter and cold, but these little blessings will help me through!

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It’s been awhile since I’ve posted any progress reports on my new office and recording studio.  A lot has been accomplished, and we are now very, very close.  I’m excited, but still a little overwhelmed with final decisions that still need to be made.  Here are a couple of pics of how things are shaping up.

The Walls and Doors Are Up!

And Now…in Color!!

Acoustic Panels are next, and then the carpet.  Soon…it’s time to move in!

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Here are some pictures of the start of the recording studio project.

The Spa Room — soon to be a professional VO Sound Booth!

Goodbye, Jacuzzi

Dad enjoying the destruction  : )

No turning back now!

The sound booth floor

Framing the sound booth

Looking like a place to record!

Hmmm, where shall I place things?

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So, there is this fabulous space in my house that really isn’t being used.  When we first bought the house, it was my favorite part, but for various reasons, it has been neglected in recent years.  This space would be the “spa room”.  Yes, a full-sized jacuzzi enclosed in a lovely sunroom.  I know what you are thinking — “are you crazy? Why would you not use it?”  Well, because of it being in such an enclosed space, ventilation wasn’t at a prime, and you could really gag on the fumes from the chemicals.  Besides, hot tubs are work and an expense; keeping it heated, keeping the right balance of chemicals.  And, because this was just an enclosed sunroom with no insulation or temperature control, it got really hot in the summer and really cold in the winter.  As for me, when it is 20 degrees outside, I would much rather be curled up in my sweats under a blanket near the fireplace than outside in a hot tub, knowing I’ll have to get out all wet and run into the house before I froze.  Anyway, the fact is simply that this jacuzzi was not being used.  And, since we have a split level home, this was the portion that was underground (at least 2 walls of it).  What better place to build a studio!

I am blessed to have a good friend who is an audio engineer and who has built many recording studios in his lifetime.  I emailed him pictures and dimensions and he drew up some plans.  Fortunately, my dad just retired (well, partially), so I was able to hire some inexpensive labor (cups of tea, glasses of water, some snacks, hugs, kisses and compliments are payment enough for him — what a lucky daughter I am!)

There may not be many true, professional recording studios in the city of Cumberland, but we’re soon to have one more (the best, yet, in my opinion!).

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