MinnieMom Campground

LOL, thanks. I was a Computer Science/Technical Communications double major who graduated knowing I would never take a job writing software but kept CS because I knew it would open doors (and understanding how SW works has been invaluable in my jobs). I was a technical writer for only the first 5 years of my career but have managed to keep at least one toe dipped in the tech writing pond in the 20+ years since.

Not sure if it's related to what Tom ran into but one thing I hit is if I click a button to go to a different page it goes smoothly but if I right-click to open that link in a new tab so I can have multiple pages open at once, then I get a "Double check this link" message like this and have to confirm I want the new page to load:



I'm using Safari on Mac and have never encountered such a message before; maybe it's due to the site domain (my.canva.site vs. .com) and different browsers and personal settings reacting differently to the canva.site domain?

The financial planners at The Money Guy suggest that one of the common elements of building wealth over a lifetime is working in a field related to a person's education. Maybe. Many of my friends and coworkers seemed to wind up in a field somewhat related (sciences/engineering in technical fields as example) but not directly related to degree.

I'm on a new track in the search for investors. AI was actually helpful when I asked directly for the best ways to connect with accredited investors. It suggested investor groups. Further chat prompts got me to specific groups in SC, then to at least one common application sites for different investor groups. So now I've submitted 3 of these to different accredited investor groups, with plans to do at least another 5 applications this week. Here's hoping and for sure fingers crossed.

I will get back to work on website and the typo/fixes found here. It may be later this week, as the chase for investor money is higher priority.

The land clearing subcontractor has rescheduled. The initial estimate of starting the first of October is turning into the end of October to start. On the other hand, the survey company showed back up today to mark off where we need to put up the silt fences for environmental control. So it is moving and moving in the correct order. That's good!

Friday's meeting with the local advisory board we set up went well. One of my questions for that team was their thoughts on us hosting a trunk or treat here on the property this year. They suggested holding off on that and instead participating in the local small town's Treats in the Street. I called yesterday to learn more about this. The city of Hartsville is expecting more than the ~5,000 kids who trick or treated this event last year to show up this year. I found photos and video on facebook from prior years. It looks like a very well managed event, so I signed us up to participate in that instead of hosting our own thing this year.

Let's see, what else...electrical engineer can now finish the overall site plan now that the pool plan is complete. Then that goes over to the power engineer, who puts together the equipment (transformers) to be ordered. Those are the single longest lead time item, so that's important. Lots of similar details, mostly around starting to make sure different elements of the project start at the right time to support the overall target of opening summer of 2024.

Lots and lots of stuff happening, just nothing really visible yet. Soon though - really soon.

I am trying a brand-new thing today. I needed to take a break from looking for investors to do something creative. I used AI to generate concept art, turn it into a video and help draft the copy for the posting. All in, this is maybe 2 hours of work. Well, not really work. It was more a welcome break. Anyway, enjoy! I'd love to hear what you think, both about this attempt and more generally about using AI creatively.

Land clearing started this morning!! I'll work on a short video and add it soon.

Warning, Warning, Warning!!

Risk of PDA and oversharing follows!!!

This year, DH and I celebrate 20 years together. I've been wracking my brain, trying to come up with a (budget friendly) special gift. I thought about and rejected many possibilities. Then I thought about using AI to see if I could create something as useful in my personal life as these tools have shaped for Standing Pines. So I gave songwriting with AI a try.

Friends, it was bad. Like really bad. Like I'm sharing it here just because everyone should see that AI is not ready for writing songs and I am NOT a songwriter!

Twenty years together, through joy and strife
You've been my partner, my friend, my life
From the Pacific shores out west to the Atlantic coast back east
Eight states we've called our home, though the journey wasn't always smooth

You've built me castles in the clouds, dreamed with me of things to come
Always fixed the plumbing when my head was in the clouds
Steady as a rock when I rode emotional tides
My shelter in the storm, the calm within my restless mind

With a baby girl our family grew, our sweet Samantha, Daddy's pride
Her creative spirit and thirst for books keep wonder alive
Though it was hard when your studies stopped, your own dreams set aside
You nurtured our daughter's gifts, gave your best so she could thrive

Mom and Dad so proud on our wedding day
Still cheering us on as time slips away
Cherished memories, But the future shines bright too
Because home is wherever we are, as long as I'm with you

Through twists and turns these twenty years
We've leaned on each other when we faced our fears
My heart is full of gratitude for the man you are
Please know you'll always have my love wherever our journeys lead us far


Yeah, no. While some of the phrases worked, this just didn't cut it. So I turned to another resource we originally discovered and used for Standing Pines. That's right, I went to fivver and requested bids! After evaluating a few options, I went with a very affordable artist who agreed to write and record a custom song for us, based on the style of the song DH chose for our wedding video, .

Last night, in the quiet, when our day was through
I listened to you sleeping and stayed awake by you
And softly, through the evening, there I spoke your name
And told you all the feelings I've had

I sometimes see you sitting by the window in the hall
Or laughing with the children at the little things you saw
And lately I've been wondering if it's all I can do
To hold you and to show you I do

My promise is forever with you

My promise is forever. "I do."


To test if "I do." still resonated with DH, I just happened to be playing our wedding video on my computer the other night when he walked in. He stopped to listen, then smiled at me with suspiciously damp eyes. Yep. The song still resonates, so that style should work well for an anniversary gift.


The artist delivered the first draft of our custom song today. I liked it. I shared it with DH mom for feedback, as two complimentary revisions are included with this artist's package. She said it's great, don't change it. Well. The style and the instrumentals on the piano were right on. Now, if I'm being honest, the music reminds me very much of a song I just can't place, so I'm not certain how much of the musical arrangement is original. Still, it was a good first draft, very sentimental. But some of the phrasing was off and it just missed the key message I wanted for the song. Here's the artist's first draft:

The Special Two

Well you’ve both come so far
And built a life together
Support each other’s hopes and dreams
Right from the start, till now and forever

She loves the beach
While he loves the mountains
When they’re within arms reach
Hand in hand, as one, they stand
And she says-

I am a dreamer
And you are a doer
I imagines castles in the sky
While you find a way to make the plumbing work for them
And Together we’re the special two

You both see each-other as
“the better half
Built so many memories together
But it still just the start and she says

I am a dreamer
And you are a doer
I imagines castles in the sky
While you find a way to make the plumbing work for them
I am a dreamer
And you are a doer
I imagines castles in the sky
While you find a way to make the plumbing work for them
And Together we’re the special two
Together we’re the special two



So, I went back to my trusty tools and tried using AI to help with rephrasing some key words. That was much more productive than trying to use AI to wring a song! Below is are the revised lyrics I've asked the artis to record for a second version of our song. Because this artist was so efficient, now I have plenty of time to pull photos to create a custom video using our new song. Because why not pull out all the stops at this point? The artist just messaged me that he will get right on the revised recording. So now I'm excited to hear that and put the anniversary video together!

Together

Well they have come so far
And built a life together
Supported each other’s hopes and dreams
Right from the start, promised forever

She loves the beach
While he loves the mountains
When they’re within arms reach
Hand in hand, together they stand
And they say

She is the dreamer
And he is the builder
She imagines castles in the clouds
He shapes her fantasies into fact
20 years together
Each saying "I love you"

Reaching, meeting each other
Whenever they disagree
Each seeing the other as the better half
Built so many memories together
Yet two decades are just the start
Of their promised forever

She is the dreamer
And he is the builder
She imagines castles in the clouds
He shapes her dreams into fact
20 years together
Each saying "I love you"
And it's still just the start

She imagines castles in the sky
He shapes her dreams into fact
And together they'll keep loving
As 20 years together is just the start

We are back at home and I'm back at work. Here's the first in the construction video series for Standing Pines!

The earth is moving at Standing Pines! 🏗 Get a first look at land clearing and site prep in this new video showing early construction progress. Watch bulldozers get to work on Phase 1 as we start to transform 80 beautiful acres into South Carolina's newest upscale camping retreat.



While the heavy machinery is busy today, soon this land will be home to 100+ premier campsites, a luxury clubhouse and amenities for guests to make lifelong memories!



Click below to view the exciting Standing Pines construction update! Get a sneak peek at what the future holds when RV sites, glamping tents, cabins, trails and fun for all ages take shape. The countdown is on - come Discover Memories Together at Standing Pines!