Almost Here

"When you see something interesting, take pics!!"
My explanation to the site foreman after the truck was unloaded, yes, at that site right next to that huge array of giant satellite dishes. Dish Network. I would have to guess a main location with that much money in dishes and related equipment sitting there. I couldn't possibly guess what that array of dishes must cost, so I won't. It reminding me of the movie Contact where they are using that dish array in New Mexico - I have passed by there many times in the past and actually stopped the semi on the side of the road to get out and gawk.

I have no idea how the technology works, so I can't comment with any experience or knowledge. I can only say that that is a LOT of dishes to be bringing in satellite. Okay, I do ask why they would need satellite dishes since each user has their own satellite dish? One answer was given today, though I was no quite sure of the accuracy of the answer: at least one dish is "shooting" it over to Mexico. I have no idea, I would rather ask someone that works at the company.

Friday, that is, concerning the title of this entry.
I worked solid through the day and got back well after my allotted hours of time.  I am 4 hours over this week and have only worked 2 days - the other days were vacation time off.  Tomorow? Who knows.  There are 4 things to do, but that could blow up overnight as well.

I was quite surpised today to find that my weight is still at 198 pounds.  After the 4 day vacation, 2 days of it eating more than I should have, I thought for sure I would be over 200 again.  Very encouraging.  I'm having a clue that cutting out the cheeses is what is really helping me out here.  It is getting easier and easier to say no to cheese.

Oh, the other 2 pics? Simply look at the mirrors.  I took the pics to show the vast expanse of room they give you to drive in the center lane - in this case I was stopped at a light and waiting for a left turn signal.  Both sides have the outside tire on each axle on the trailer tandems sitting on the yellow line. 

I'm very tired.  2 nights in a row not sleeping well.  I did nothing with the waterfall today, instead I skimmed the surface of the lower pond and started using the cleaner on the bottom.  You sit there and squeeze this bulb thingy which pumps junk up from the bottom of the pond.  A great deal of algae has accumulated - I had to re-read the instructions on the algae removing liquid.  Every 3 days, retreat. 
Read the instructions, stupid.  Me, that is. 

I also stopped by the guy's house that has the 8X5 foot dimension pond.  So he said, anyway.  We walk out to the back of his house and I don't see a pond laying around anywhere.  He takes me to a corner and there this little, itty bitty thing sits.  3x3-1/2.  I summarily dismissed it, in my mind anyway, nothing like what I envisioned from his description of it.  I asked him about the size - he stated it looked that big to him.  Okay, buddy, whatever.  This guy does house remodels can't tell the difference between 8 feet and 3 feet just by looking? 

However, I thought it about and thought this thing would work perfectly in my front yard.  IF it is small enough.  Yes, small is better in the front yard, I don't have a lot of room to work with.  He wants $35 for this little thing that is used and in the ground.  I am thnking more like $15.  A great water garden feature in my yard it would make: yes. Worth $35? I can buy a brand new one at Lowe's for $40.  That is something that is new, I know it won't be leaking and I won't have to worry about it.  I'm going to email him with my offer - if he doesn't like it, good luck.  People put ponds on Craigslist forever, a day and a half at FAR too high prices and they continue run those ads over and over and over.  I have seen the same guy running the same ad every day for over a month now. 

The weekend almost here, I hope to get the block to build the retaining wall for the waterfall.  It's just that it's going to take at least 2 and probably 3 trips to get that block in my car.  Yet, I must get this thing going and get it done, summer is here - close enough.  They said it hit 100 today.  The saving grace is that it is still getting cool at night.  In a month, it will get "down" to 90 at the lowest at night.  The water must be cooled and a good waterfall will help do that AND aerate the water for the fish.  When the temps get well above 100, I will be thinking about freezing a large container of water every night and dumping it into the pond in the morning to cool it. 

Well, I think I'm done with this one.  I continue to look at Craigslist and will until I find a larger pond at the right price.  No hurry, I am content with the 2 I have now.
Anyway, ava great evening.

ben

Thursday

Yesterday was a very long day at work - at least not normal for my hours any more at 10-1/2 hours, non-stop, all day long, running all over the place making delivery after delivery, loading and unloading the truck fully 3 times. This isn't a pickup truck, it's a semi with a 48' flatbed trailer.

Regardless of the fatigue, I went home and started playing with the boulders to see how I wanted to arrange it. I ran out of steam and gave up on it after getting it halfway up.

I then watched the Suns get their @$$es handed to them on a platter by the LA Lakers and wondered if the next 2 games were going to look like that as well, because if they are, there is no point in watching any more of it.

After that comes the "revelation" that, purportedly, North Korea definitely torpedoed a South Korean Naval ship, which killed some 47 sailors a few months back. Is South Korea afraid of the North? I'm just wondering, because as I wrote last night, I don't know of too many people that would think of an act such as that of anything but war. Not that I am all happy go lucky to see us get involved in another war - but American troops are right there and if another war starts, we're going to be in the middle of it.

And why is it that everyone BUT the federal government thinks we need the Guard at our borders? It makes me wonder what sort of dealings might be going on behind closed doors. Obama seems intent only on socializing America - more inflamed statements from individuals call it Marxism. I won't go that far with it, but - the government wants your money, you don't know how to handle it, just give it to them, they'll take care of it.

Meanwhile, a Commissioner from Arizona writes the mayor of LA telling him that he would be happy to encourage the people that would be involved to renegotiate the contracts on the power plants for the power being sent to them from our generators - a whopping 25% of their power coming from AZ. I was amused at the mayor's response. LA owns part of the plant, therefore it isn't helping the AZ economy. Really? I thought a boycott means that you stop doing all business with the entity that you are - mad - at. If they were SO intent on a pure boycott, they would sell their share of the plants, go ahead and do the contract renegotiation and pull out of Arizona altogether. It is hypocrisy at it's finest. It's also a man with a big mouth that wants attention. In reality: where would they make up that 25%? LA is the second largest city in the U.S., one therefore would conclude that that city needs a LOT of power to survive.

My life does not revolve around the news, but I don't want to hide my head in the sand, either. There is the ever-present threat of Isreal getting into it with Iran - the world is kind of messed up right now. Maybe it always is, but with all this oil being dumped into the Gulf and everything else, it seems to be adding up to something greater. Look at all the earthquakes going on all over the place. Yes, I would point to God and ask, (very respectfully, like on my knees): What's going on here?

He is, after all, still in control. It may not seem like it, but this is His earth. I doubt the Lord to be very happy about all this oil contamination that is threatening to spread all over the place at this point.

Well, the work day is almost here. I went out this morning before leaving for work to look at the ponds. For $35, if that guy's pond is what he says it is, I'm definitely getting it. It will complete the effect I am looking for. I am racking my brains on the waterfall. I was going to dismiss the idea of using a retaining wall, but I am now revisiting it. I'm not sure I have a choice in the matter at this point, meaning having to lug a bunch of them home in my car.

Gotta do it right, and I don't see how to keep all that dirt contained without one, otherwise, the thing will be HUGE just because of the mound of dirt necessary. I'm just concerned about how I am going to make that back side of the retaining wall look good. I don't just want blocks showing. I guess I'll build the waterfall and cross that bridge later on.

Anyway, I'm outta here.

G'day.

ben