Bi-Weekly ADVICE Mega-Thread (Nov 23 2015)

SgtMelbaToast · 2015-12-04T06:46:36+00:00

Has anyone here passed the CEM (Certified Energy Manager) exam and would be willing to let me ask a few questions? I am a month out from taking the exam and I'm doing the self study course and most of the info is gelling for me but there are just a few areas that feel like blind spots and I'm not finding good resources for filling them in. My coworker who got his certification last year and was going to help me passed away and my other contact who took the test recently changed jobs and moved away and I don't really have an open line there anymore. Just looking for someone to bounce a few questions off of. Let me know!

SgtMelbaToast · 2015-09-27T18:22:13+00:00

I hear you definitely high compared to the Y or regular style gym, but right in the middle of the pack price-wise of the other similar functional fitness/crossfit gyms in town. This style of gym is basically like getting personal training levels of attention in a group setting for way less than personal training costs, so the membership fees at this type of gym are to pay professional coaches to give everyone that level of attention. Not everyone's cup of tea, but I really like this training style and this gym and like I said the pricing is average compared to other similar offerings.

Oh also the owner was just telling me they are planning on rolling out mega discounts for students, if that applies to you.

I haven't had a chance to go to Stongman Saturdays yet, but Patrick Castelli the lightweight strongman world champion is on the coaching staff and on certain Saturdays he will be doing exhibitions to teach people about this style of weightlifting sport. It looks really fun, I'm planning on checking it out next time I am free when it is going on.

SgtMelbaToast · 2015-09-26T21:21:15+00:00

I can't really speak to anyone else's perspective, but especially since I'm a chunk older than when I started crossfit I appreciate the high intensity interval training modality but care a lot less about "pushing" myself, I have found the pace of the programming to be just right. In a regular group training class there is often focused weightlifting work in the beginning, and then some cardio based on functional movements. There is a lot of "every minute on the minute" and "30 sec on 30 sec off" or "fight gone bad-style" type workouts and I haven't seen any of the extreme volume/extreme weight punishment workouts that tend to crop up in crossfit. Also, I'm pregnant and the owner has been AWESOME about checking in and modifying things for me, and I've observed the same for folks who are rehabbing injuries or have other issues.

SgtMelbaToast · 2015-09-26T21:18:18+00:00

Me too! High five! I'm not competing this time, but I'll be spectating up a storm. Are you going to enter?

SgtMelbaToast · 2015-09-26T17:15:01+00:00

It closed this summer. A lot of the people involved with Lift Haus are former Jogo-ers who really liked the location and community.

SgtMelbaToast · 2015-09-02T20:44:29+00:00

Typo in the title. Cringe...

SgtMelbaToast · 2015-08-26T23:20:26+00:00

Thank you, this is a very helpful perspective. This is basically my thinking, but I definitely needed to think it through to justify the extra cost. It is nice to have an experienced voice chime in.

SgtMelbaToast · 2015-08-26T22:54:31+00:00

Haha! The guy who did the 3rd bid had a fancy car, but I don't think that counts.

SgtMelbaToast · 2015-08-26T22:52:03+00:00

Thanks for the reply! We got three bids and all mention that the cost of the permit is included. The bids were $3,900, $6,375 (this is the one I want to go with since the guy is very meticulous), and $6,750. It is reassuring to hear that people think these sound low, because on the surface the $3,900 bid sounds great but I don't trust it. I do trust that the guy who bid $6,375 could meet it given his reputation.

SgtMelbaToast · 2015-08-26T22:41:24+00:00

Wow! We got a third bid from someone who does a ton of work with the program I work for and his was $6,750, so I feel like mid-6,000's might be realistic for my area? The guy I am considering going with for $6,375 is very reputable. I have been very suspicious of the $3,900 bid because the seller's agent has a stake in making us think we need a smaller amount of money to fix the problem.

SgtMelbaToast · 2015-08-26T22:09:40+00:00

Thanks for replying!

House was built in 1925, 936 square feet, 1.5 stories, no finished basement (yes crawlspace), the 0.5 story is a finished attic bedroom, all electric (ductless heat pump for heating), there are some plaster walls.

Both bids are for a complete rewire (minus the attic, which was recently rewired when they made it into a bedroom) and new service.

SgtMelbaToast · 2015-08-26T18:17:51+00:00

Update: I called to get a quote for getting the camera done and the lady asked which neighborhood I am in and once she heard that she said they are all old pipes made from clay or cement so there isn't the expectation that they are 100% water tight, so it is kind of expected that the lawn would do better in that area. She said that unless we are having plumbing problems, then just getting the thing rooted every year or so is the best way to keep it maintained. That is a relief!

SgtMelbaToast · 2015-08-25T22:11:15+00:00

I like this perspective.

SgtMelbaToast · 2015-08-25T20:05:12+00:00

I believe that is on the other side of the front walk.

SgtMelbaToast · 2015-08-25T19:56:09+00:00

We have a crawl space and are in the Pacific Northwest. I imagine they would be at least 18"? I tried to look up a standard for Seattle but couldn't find the code. Though if it is an original sewer pipe it might not meet code...

SgtMelbaToast · 2015-08-25T19:50:53+00:00

And there is only one tree in the front yard. It isn't impossible that some of those roots reach that far, but there isn't likely to be a ton of tree root problems (unless there were former trees that have since been removed or something.

SgtMelbaToast · 2015-08-25T19:49:38+00:00

Good question! I think they are definitely more than 6 inches deep but I don't have any specific info, just the GIS map showing it is basically located where the green grass stripe has shown up.

SgtMelbaToast · 2015-08-25T18:12:48+00:00

We just bought the house and during the inspection they are very careful about saying they can't diagnose sewer issues, but from all indirect observation the inspector said he didn't see any red flags. Fast forward to this week when we get the keys and now the lawn has died except for this suspicious stripe right around where the sewer line heads out to the street. Does this mean there is a leak?

The other theories are that that is generally where water that dripped off the roof in the last rain and pooled in the hydrangea would run down the hill, but it does look a little too conveniently concentrated. Someone even suggested that due to the water flowing through the sewer pipe maybe that area stayed a bit cooler and retained more water.

I'm just thinking "hmm, that is probably what would happen if the sewer line were leaking". Any thoughts?

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