Lol, just got done watching a short video of Samuel Jackson scolding whoever owns guns because you "won't put them down". http://www.takepart.com/video/samuel-l-jackson-blames-you-not-guns You are, apparently, the problem. I wonder where America would be right now if this same sort of rhetoric held true 200 years ago.
I don't go around taunting people with my guns - I don't even let people know I have them for the most part. It's quite amusing to me that a man can stand there saying such when, in reality, he is on the big screen in several movies, seen using guns and threatening people with them. Not real? No, it's not, but it makes him like a true, unadulterated hypocrite. If he REALLY believed that guns are so terribly bad, then he should not have taken roles in movies that basically glorify guns.
It's a nice, cool winter morning and I am headed off to the shower. Love to take a long, hot shower on weekends when I have time to do it - weekdays it's less than 5 minutes and I am out of it to get pre-work rituals done.
Off to the races!
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Life Can Be Pretty Strange
So, a bit ago, I get a phone call.
Didn't recognize the number on the cell phone.
Hello? Hi Ben. It's Josie and she's calling me from a hospital down south.
She goes into this elongated - and somewhat unbelievable - story about how
she ended up in the hospital after her family believed she was trying to commit
suicide again. I listened for 10 minutes before her phone cut out and then I called
her back. She was in the middle of something, she is being detained at the hospital for
72 hours. She said she would call me back tomorrow and finish the story.
Obviously, she is not going to church with me tomorrow.
Before that, I get a phone call from my sister-in-law. I knew what this was going to be about:
Mary. Who started what with who? I wasn't there, I wouldn't know. Yes, actually, I would and
do know. Mary hasn't changed on iota since I used to hang out with her in our teen years.
Which isn't a good thing, in case you were wondering. Susan - my sister-in-law - tells me
a completely different story than what Mary had told me, including Mary's alleged and daily
use of marijuana.
At this point? If you want to smoke your brains out of your head, be my guest. I have absolutely no desire, whatsoever, to smoke dope and that's that. If true, it would certainly explain some things about Mary and her behavior that I observed when over there last week. I smoked pot for 7 years in my youth, I have a bit of experience with it.
I have come to believe that when you hear 2 completely different stories about the same incident from 2 different parties that were there, you probably don't necessarily believe that either party has given you the whole picture and you attempt to mesh the two stories together and find some middle ground and use that as a base reference point. Notwithstanding the fact that both parties are adament that they are right and the other is wrong. Or, more pointedly: that one party is telling the truth and the other is lying.
I'm going to limit my interactions with Mary at this point. Not that I won't visit again, but I am not going to be over there as much as she would like me to be. As for Susan, I started talking about church tomorrow morning. I throw out the lure and see if there are any bites. Yep, I do it on purpose: drag people into church if they are consenting and see what happens. She said she would meet me there at the start of the service. Whether that is actually going to happen or not, who knows. I just know that I fully intend on going to church in the morning regardless of what anyone else is doing.
Oh, and Mary allegedly told Susan that she is thinking about getting back together with her ex - even though she told me differently. Of course, that doesn't really bother me, I am not in love with Mary neither do I consider her a girlfriend nor am I involved with her in any way at this point excepting as old friends. And that is where it's going to stay. The part about her getting back with her ex is what doesn't bother me, the allegation that she lied to me about it - does. But, I had questioned her a couple of times about it anyway - it was odd to continue to see and hear her spending so much time with that guy and have her continue to tell me that she is "just" friends with him.
Whatever. Monkeys don't grow in barrels.
Goodnight.
ben
Didn't recognize the number on the cell phone.
Hello? Hi Ben. It's Josie and she's calling me from a hospital down south.
She goes into this elongated - and somewhat unbelievable - story about how
she ended up in the hospital after her family believed she was trying to commit
suicide again. I listened for 10 minutes before her phone cut out and then I called
her back. She was in the middle of something, she is being detained at the hospital for
72 hours. She said she would call me back tomorrow and finish the story.
Obviously, she is not going to church with me tomorrow.
Before that, I get a phone call from my sister-in-law. I knew what this was going to be about:
Mary. Who started what with who? I wasn't there, I wouldn't know. Yes, actually, I would and
do know. Mary hasn't changed on iota since I used to hang out with her in our teen years.
Which isn't a good thing, in case you were wondering. Susan - my sister-in-law - tells me
a completely different story than what Mary had told me, including Mary's alleged and daily
use of marijuana.
At this point? If you want to smoke your brains out of your head, be my guest. I have absolutely no desire, whatsoever, to smoke dope and that's that. If true, it would certainly explain some things about Mary and her behavior that I observed when over there last week. I smoked pot for 7 years in my youth, I have a bit of experience with it.
I have come to believe that when you hear 2 completely different stories about the same incident from 2 different parties that were there, you probably don't necessarily believe that either party has given you the whole picture and you attempt to mesh the two stories together and find some middle ground and use that as a base reference point. Notwithstanding the fact that both parties are adament that they are right and the other is wrong. Or, more pointedly: that one party is telling the truth and the other is lying.
I'm going to limit my interactions with Mary at this point. Not that I won't visit again, but I am not going to be over there as much as she would like me to be. As for Susan, I started talking about church tomorrow morning. I throw out the lure and see if there are any bites. Yep, I do it on purpose: drag people into church if they are consenting and see what happens. She said she would meet me there at the start of the service. Whether that is actually going to happen or not, who knows. I just know that I fully intend on going to church in the morning regardless of what anyone else is doing.
Oh, and Mary allegedly told Susan that she is thinking about getting back together with her ex - even though she told me differently. Of course, that doesn't really bother me, I am not in love with Mary neither do I consider her a girlfriend nor am I involved with her in any way at this point excepting as old friends. And that is where it's going to stay. The part about her getting back with her ex is what doesn't bother me, the allegation that she lied to me about it - does. But, I had questioned her a couple of times about it anyway - it was odd to continue to see and hear her spending so much time with that guy and have her continue to tell me that she is "just" friends with him.
Whatever. Monkeys don't grow in barrels.
Goodnight.
ben
Saturday 1/7/2012
I was going to go shooting with Mary, but apparently she decided to go twice this week already - with her ex-husband. I'm not really into that kind of thing - the ex being around that is, even if I have no "intentions". I have been asking her about it - she says he's just a friend and that's that.
Yeah and I was just dumped out the back of the watermelon wagon. I am not feeling that motivated to go that far today, anyway, so I just cancelled out on it. After saying I didn't want to go shooting, she then asked about doing something else. That was 2 hours ago, now she is attempting to call me, but I have totally changed my plans for today and have no desire.
Anyway, I am hoping to get up enough motivation to get up on the trailer roof and start on project number 2 today. If not that, then something else. I should have emailed that kid to come over and do some more work, I have plenty for him to do and he is an energetic worker, one of the few I have had over here that actually does something besides expecting to get paid for next-to-nothing.
Tomorrow, Josie is supposed to come over before church and then we will go to church. This is the biggest priority of the weekend - it will supersede anything else. That being because of the state of mind she is in and wanting to end her own life.
Well, that's the end of this line. I have nothing else I want to speak about on an open blog - plenty I would LIKE to speak about but I am not going there. The situation will play itself out - for good or bad - and then I may or may not have some decisions to make - but it is totally subjective to how it all works out. The feeling isn't good and some of what I have been hearing isn't all that good, either. But I don't tend to make drastic decisions based on how I "feel" about something when it's a situation that is this - important. I just tend to ride the wave and see where I end up at. Maybe it IS time for a change, however.
Whatever the case, I am done with this one. Going to go out to the trailer and take stock of what is going to have to be done to get that project finished.
Later.
ben
Yeah and I was just dumped out the back of the watermelon wagon. I am not feeling that motivated to go that far today, anyway, so I just cancelled out on it. After saying I didn't want to go shooting, she then asked about doing something else. That was 2 hours ago, now she is attempting to call me, but I have totally changed my plans for today and have no desire.
Anyway, I am hoping to get up enough motivation to get up on the trailer roof and start on project number 2 today. If not that, then something else. I should have emailed that kid to come over and do some more work, I have plenty for him to do and he is an energetic worker, one of the few I have had over here that actually does something besides expecting to get paid for next-to-nothing.
Tomorrow, Josie is supposed to come over before church and then we will go to church. This is the biggest priority of the weekend - it will supersede anything else. That being because of the state of mind she is in and wanting to end her own life.
Well, that's the end of this line. I have nothing else I want to speak about on an open blog - plenty I would LIKE to speak about but I am not going there. The situation will play itself out - for good or bad - and then I may or may not have some decisions to make - but it is totally subjective to how it all works out. The feeling isn't good and some of what I have been hearing isn't all that good, either. But I don't tend to make drastic decisions based on how I "feel" about something when it's a situation that is this - important. I just tend to ride the wave and see where I end up at. Maybe it IS time for a change, however.
Whatever the case, I am done with this one. Going to go out to the trailer and take stock of what is going to have to be done to get that project finished.
Later.
ben
Friday, January 6, 2012
Friday 1/6/2012
2 nights in a row without hardly getting any sleep equals - sleeping like a log the third night and now? Groggy.
Usually will last well into the morning, too, been here, done this but not the end of the world, either.
I will be glad when Iowa, the vote counts and all the hype is over and done with.
It isn't always the greatest feeling when you are 6 days into the month and nothing has been paid to you by any tenants. The draining effect on my bank account - when paying bills and watching it go down - is almost scary. But, I expect to be paid by one of them today or whenever he reappears and another on the 9th. The third - he always pays when he gets his paycheck but it's always a week or so late as far as the rent is concerned.
Nothing pressing on bills now - I paid almost all of them so I have time, I guess. Just going to not spend money excepting on bills for a while and let the numbers go back up a bit. Well, I do have some things to buy for the trailer, but it can wait. I expect to get all of the necessary information to file tax return by the end of this month. I am also still awaiting word as to whether I will get the safe driver award for 2011 or not. That would be a huge help in getting that trailer done and over with.
Whatever the case, my time is up.
G'day.
ben
Usually will last well into the morning, too, been here, done this but not the end of the world, either.
I will be glad when Iowa, the vote counts and all the hype is over and done with.
It isn't always the greatest feeling when you are 6 days into the month and nothing has been paid to you by any tenants. The draining effect on my bank account - when paying bills and watching it go down - is almost scary. But, I expect to be paid by one of them today or whenever he reappears and another on the 9th. The third - he always pays when he gets his paycheck but it's always a week or so late as far as the rent is concerned.
Nothing pressing on bills now - I paid almost all of them so I have time, I guess. Just going to not spend money excepting on bills for a while and let the numbers go back up a bit. Well, I do have some things to buy for the trailer, but it can wait. I expect to get all of the necessary information to file tax return by the end of this month. I am also still awaiting word as to whether I will get the safe driver award for 2011 or not. That would be a huge help in getting that trailer done and over with.
Whatever the case, my time is up.
G'day.
ben
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Thursday 1/5/2012
Whatever happened to my entry this morning? It disappeared into cyberspace.
It may still be in the Dashboard as a draft, who knows, but I definitely posted it and it gave me the confirmation screen - really weird. I usually do not post drafts - lots of them in there, too. I just start over, it doesn't take that long and it is "fresh", lol.
Mary attempted to call me today several times- but I was on the phone attempting to get a situation with a company's product mitigated. I wrote to her on FB while on the phone - she has already gone out shooting at Sycamore Creek. Oh well, Caleb wants to go and the next time our schedules mesh, we will go and that's that.
More news on the 350 man front. He informed Randy that Randy is "living off the government". I don't speak to Randy at this point, Mark does. No biggies to me, he can talk to whoever, but I choose not to have anything further to do with Randy until/if/when/probably never he apologizes to me.
What I found snorting-your-drink-you-were-swallowing-out-your-nose funny is that this guy does NOTHING. He lives off of his mother! This guy claims in court that he has a medical condition that keeps him from working yet he's out there trying to build the fence! ROFL!!
So tomorrow is Friday already. I have been told that there is Saturday work, I have not heard back whether I will have to show up for that or not. Usually not - they don't like OT. They rather use salaried employees. Nice, aye?
A more interesting note was a visit to our store today. But, I am not going into that. Too much potential for problem in writing such on a public blog. One that I have reason to believe a certain individual from my company found through a means that also won't be discussed here. Not that I care, but the kind of detail that came out today - revelation to say the least. But it will prove interesting, to say the least, what might become of it in the near future.
I got the truck and the forklift stuck in the yard today. Yes, indeed. The new yard is a - nightmare. It has a thick layer of landscaping rock that just causes tires to sink into it. We cannot, basically, use that yard - a lot of square footage - until something is done to alleviate the problem. It took me 2-1/2 hours to get the semi and the forklift unstuck.
I dunno, but working on Saturday isn't necessarily all that wonderful. Holiday on Monday - meaning that I would be working for free because I would have to work all the hours that I didn't work on Monday and then anything after that to get OT.
Whatever. I'm tired. I busted my butt today and I haven't slept well 2 nights in a row. Going to bed early - yes.
G'nite.
ben
It may still be in the Dashboard as a draft, who knows, but I definitely posted it and it gave me the confirmation screen - really weird. I usually do not post drafts - lots of them in there, too. I just start over, it doesn't take that long and it is "fresh", lol.
Mary attempted to call me today several times- but I was on the phone attempting to get a situation with a company's product mitigated. I wrote to her on FB while on the phone - she has already gone out shooting at Sycamore Creek. Oh well, Caleb wants to go and the next time our schedules mesh, we will go and that's that.
More news on the 350 man front. He informed Randy that Randy is "living off the government". I don't speak to Randy at this point, Mark does. No biggies to me, he can talk to whoever, but I choose not to have anything further to do with Randy until/if/when/probably never he apologizes to me.
What I found snorting-your-drink-you-were-swallowing-out-your-nose funny is that this guy does NOTHING. He lives off of his mother! This guy claims in court that he has a medical condition that keeps him from working yet he's out there trying to build the fence! ROFL!!
So tomorrow is Friday already. I have been told that there is Saturday work, I have not heard back whether I will have to show up for that or not. Usually not - they don't like OT. They rather use salaried employees. Nice, aye?
A more interesting note was a visit to our store today. But, I am not going into that. Too much potential for problem in writing such on a public blog. One that I have reason to believe a certain individual from my company found through a means that also won't be discussed here. Not that I care, but the kind of detail that came out today - revelation to say the least. But it will prove interesting, to say the least, what might become of it in the near future.
I got the truck and the forklift stuck in the yard today. Yes, indeed. The new yard is a - nightmare. It has a thick layer of landscaping rock that just causes tires to sink into it. We cannot, basically, use that yard - a lot of square footage - until something is done to alleviate the problem. It took me 2-1/2 hours to get the semi and the forklift unstuck.
I dunno, but working on Saturday isn't necessarily all that wonderful. Holiday on Monday - meaning that I would be working for free because I would have to work all the hours that I didn't work on Monday and then anything after that to get OT.
Whatever. I'm tired. I busted my butt today and I haven't slept well 2 nights in a row. Going to bed early - yes.
G'nite.
ben
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Scaled Back Eating
I gave into eating a lot of junk in the last month and a half - and gained 5 pounds while doing it. Lots of pie and cookies and this, that and the other thing being shoved in my face. Especially that caramel pecan turtle pie - oh my goodness.
I am not giving in now and it has nothing to do with New Year's Resolutions. It's simply going back - a bit more extreme though to make up for what I have indulged in - to what I was doing before Thanksgiving hit and ever since then until New Year's.
I can't believe I let myself go like that. Not anymore. I didn't eat today until 3:30pm. I didn't eat yesterday until late, either and have only eaten twice on both days. It won't stop, either. I can do without food. I get hungry and eat, yes, but if I'm not hungry, I don't sit around and eat the "mindless" junk food. Today was a fluke, though, I was looking for somewhere to stop and eat and there was nothing but garbage food available at whatever places a large truck can find a place to pull into.
I thought, "I'm hungry, time to stop". Something else intervened and said: "Gee, and you want to be a 300 pound man, yes?" Drove right on by those places and quelched the hunger desire with sheer, utter determination. Yes, I am aware that quelched is not a word, but it should be, lol. Funny thing? I wasn't morbidly hungry when I got home and ate a portion of a shrimp platter and was full.
Later, I was offered a sloppy joe sandwich. High calorie? Maybe, but only 1? Notta problem.
It will be this way for a while, too. I will decline whatever sugar or fat filled junk I am offered.
Hmm, time got away from me.
G'nite.
ben
I am not giving in now and it has nothing to do with New Year's Resolutions. It's simply going back - a bit more extreme though to make up for what I have indulged in - to what I was doing before Thanksgiving hit and ever since then until New Year's.
I can't believe I let myself go like that. Not anymore. I didn't eat today until 3:30pm. I didn't eat yesterday until late, either and have only eaten twice on both days. It won't stop, either. I can do without food. I get hungry and eat, yes, but if I'm not hungry, I don't sit around and eat the "mindless" junk food. Today was a fluke, though, I was looking for somewhere to stop and eat and there was nothing but garbage food available at whatever places a large truck can find a place to pull into.
I thought, "I'm hungry, time to stop". Something else intervened and said: "Gee, and you want to be a 300 pound man, yes?" Drove right on by those places and quelched the hunger desire with sheer, utter determination. Yes, I am aware that quelched is not a word, but it should be, lol. Funny thing? I wasn't morbidly hungry when I got home and ate a portion of a shrimp platter and was full.
Later, I was offered a sloppy joe sandwich. High calorie? Maybe, but only 1? Notta problem.
It will be this way for a while, too. I will decline whatever sugar or fat filled junk I am offered.
Hmm, time got away from me.
G'nite.
ben
Wednesday 1/4/2012
The hands free cell phone fiasco rages on.
I am asking other truck drivers if their company was prepared for it - so far all of them have said yes. One of them stated he had to sign a form that states that he agrees not to use a hand held cellphone while driving his truck.
Our operations manager sent out an email advising us that he has ordered some sort of device for the trucks. I have no clue, I am not up on bluetooth devices and what is used to make them work.
Whatever the case, the U.S. responded to Iran's statement, in a fashion that I would expect our nation's military to respond, something like swatting a fly. Iran can send out all the ships it wants, how is that going to deter us? Are they going to fire on one of our battleships?
I'm tired this morning. Did not sleep well last night - makes for a looooong day at work. Gag.
benh
I am asking other truck drivers if their company was prepared for it - so far all of them have said yes. One of them stated he had to sign a form that states that he agrees not to use a hand held cellphone while driving his truck.
Our operations manager sent out an email advising us that he has ordered some sort of device for the trucks. I have no clue, I am not up on bluetooth devices and what is used to make them work.
Whatever the case, the U.S. responded to Iran's statement, in a fashion that I would expect our nation's military to respond, something like swatting a fly. Iran can send out all the ships it wants, how is that going to deter us? Are they going to fire on one of our battleships?
I'm tired this morning. Did not sleep well last night - makes for a looooong day at work. Gag.
benh
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Tuesday 1/3/2012
Well, here's the beginning of the work week - and the start of new CDL driver rules.
I'll be curious to see if there is anything from corporate about this on the main news board or in emails or from anyone, for that matter.
I'm curious to know if Iran intends on starting a war with the U.S after Iran's army chief gave a statement "recommending" one of our Navy's largest ships in it's entire fleet to not pass through the straight of Hermuz again. I had to take a lookit Google and see what this strait looks like. I dunno what the U.S. response is going to be or if we are going to stop sending our ships through there - but I would find that a highly unlikely move.
But who needs another war.
My internet is running so slow, my Verizon broadband router is faster. I am waiting for my new router/modem to come via UPS - tomorrow unfortunately - and find out if that is what the problem is with my internet connection. According to the tech, it is. According to a supervisor, it might be. According to more people, who knows. This is how Qwest runs it's operation.
So, no sense on going on with this, plus it's soon time to leave for work. But it's only a 4-day work week, which is nice.
G'day.
ben
I'll be curious to see if there is anything from corporate about this on the main news board or in emails or from anyone, for that matter.
I'm curious to know if Iran intends on starting a war with the U.S after Iran's army chief gave a statement "recommending" one of our Navy's largest ships in it's entire fleet to not pass through the straight of Hermuz again. I had to take a lookit Google and see what this strait looks like. I dunno what the U.S. response is going to be or if we are going to stop sending our ships through there - but I would find that a highly unlikely move.
But who needs another war.
My internet is running so slow, my Verizon broadband router is faster. I am waiting for my new router/modem to come via UPS - tomorrow unfortunately - and find out if that is what the problem is with my internet connection. According to the tech, it is. According to a supervisor, it might be. According to more people, who knows. This is how Qwest runs it's operation.
So, no sense on going on with this, plus it's soon time to leave for work. But it's only a 4-day work week, which is nice.
G'day.
ben
Monday, January 2, 2012
When Your Life Flashes Before You............
I watched a video of a young man that died of some sort of heart condition. He had cheated death 3 times before that. In this video was a statement about a total life recall.
I've had it twice. It may not be what people might imagine.
A total life recall happens in a flash of a second. For all intents and purposes, it is quite supernatural. You see and hear every single thing you did in your life, every word you spoke, everything. It's so fast yet you know what's happening.
On both occasions that it happened to my I thought I was going to be dead in the next few seconds because of the events that were taking place. For reasons unknown, I am not yet dead. Maybe not totally unknown - God and His will are what I will give that credit to - but it's interesting to look back on one own's life and sit in wonder.
I am only saying that seeing that gave me cause' to sit back and reflect.
I've had it twice. It may not be what people might imagine.
A total life recall happens in a flash of a second. For all intents and purposes, it is quite supernatural. You see and hear every single thing you did in your life, every word you spoke, everything. It's so fast yet you know what's happening.
On both occasions that it happened to my I thought I was going to be dead in the next few seconds because of the events that were taking place. For reasons unknown, I am not yet dead. Maybe not totally unknown - God and His will are what I will give that credit to - but it's interesting to look back on one own's life and sit in wonder.
I am only saying that seeing that gave me cause' to sit back and reflect.
1/2/2012 Monday
Qwest is now Century Link. That's nice, but it certainly doesn't change the level or quality of service you get from them, which is usually at the very low end of the scale. We also like to call it piss poor customer service.
Exactly what I received from Qwest in the last week until, after going through earthly hell with them, I got hold of a supervisor that actually could do something about the situation and help to remedy it.
My issue was slow speed. They sent out a guy last week to check it - he said my modem is bad (I'm making this story shorter without going into a lot of details of back and forth stuff). I called a supervisor who said the modem might be bad or might not be. ??? "You're field tech said the modem was bad". It COULD be bad or it couldn't, he states and tells me he will call me back at 3:30pm that day - the time I told him I would be home.
He never called back, but when I got home, I checked the speed, back up to what it is supposed to be. Great. Then, yesterday, down to 2208 MBPS. Internet dragging badly, I called up repair again. Guy says he wants to send out a field tech. Already been done, I replied. No matter, he's going to send one anyway. Skipping a lot of it, the field tech sort of comes out to my house this morning. He actually parked his truck down the street. He calls me. I am so and so, was out at your house the other day, I already told you what is wrong with your service: your modem is back.
Great, I tell him, tell that to everyone else that insisted on sending you out here today. He gets a bit testy with me, I simply asked to speak to his supervisor - he'll have him call me back. No call for about 2 hours, that guy leaves where he was parked and did not come to my house. That was enough for me to demand a new modem for free. I paid over $100 for the one I have now, I am NOT paying for another one, at least not with THIS company.
Long story short, cause' this story goes on forever, talking to a lot of people including 3 different supervisors and finally a supervisor in Boise, Idaho, earlier: free modem being sent to me, should be here on Wednesday. I simply said that after all I have gone through with this service, I am not going to be buying a new modem, or if I have to, it's going to be a Cox internet compatible modem, not a Century Link compatible modem and I am going to switch services. Yes, I have this lady's phone number, she treated me well and that's all I really wanted in the first place. On top of that, if a technician has to come out here again, the visit is on Century Link, not on my tab.
Changing the subject, I am a bit fuming at my company for this situation with the change in the rules for hand held cellphones and no notice, whatsoever, being given about it. The company isn't prepared for it, either. Drivers do not have blue tooth devices with our phones for hands free, voice prompted use. If the company knew about this new rule and the change that is effective tomorrow, they would have already bought all this stuff for us and more importantly, we would have received the notice of the change LONG ago.
A potential $2,750 fine for using a handheld cellphone is nothing to laugh about. The potential fine against the company is $11,000. What trucking company or company that has it's own fleet of trucks hasn't already dealt with this situation? All I can say? I am not getting stuck with a $2,750 fine. I will NOT be using that cell phone in the truck tomorrow at work, period. Unless they go out today and buy blue tooth junk and all that - even then, I need time to figure out how to use it. It might be simple - I wouldn't know, I have never owned or used such and never had a desire to do so.
Whatever. I don't get it is all. I have to search this stuff out to make sure that I am not doing something that isn't in compliance with D.O.T. rules, which are always being changed or modified.
Whatever again. Just completely annoyed by it. Anyway, today is "holiday" and I decided to do nothing. Sit around on my @$$ all day long like all the drug users around here - excepting I am not doing any drugs of course - and be lazy. Not that there is anything pressing to do, anyway. 4 day work week in-queue - with a useless phone, lol - but I like the idea of a shorter work week if nothing else.
That's it. No travelling today, no working, maybe some puttering outside but that's it.
G'day.
ben
Exactly what I received from Qwest in the last week until, after going through earthly hell with them, I got hold of a supervisor that actually could do something about the situation and help to remedy it.
My issue was slow speed. They sent out a guy last week to check it - he said my modem is bad (I'm making this story shorter without going into a lot of details of back and forth stuff). I called a supervisor who said the modem might be bad or might not be. ??? "You're field tech said the modem was bad". It COULD be bad or it couldn't, he states and tells me he will call me back at 3:30pm that day - the time I told him I would be home.
He never called back, but when I got home, I checked the speed, back up to what it is supposed to be. Great. Then, yesterday, down to 2208 MBPS. Internet dragging badly, I called up repair again. Guy says he wants to send out a field tech. Already been done, I replied. No matter, he's going to send one anyway. Skipping a lot of it, the field tech sort of comes out to my house this morning. He actually parked his truck down the street. He calls me. I am so and so, was out at your house the other day, I already told you what is wrong with your service: your modem is back.
Great, I tell him, tell that to everyone else that insisted on sending you out here today. He gets a bit testy with me, I simply asked to speak to his supervisor - he'll have him call me back. No call for about 2 hours, that guy leaves where he was parked and did not come to my house. That was enough for me to demand a new modem for free. I paid over $100 for the one I have now, I am NOT paying for another one, at least not with THIS company.
Long story short, cause' this story goes on forever, talking to a lot of people including 3 different supervisors and finally a supervisor in Boise, Idaho, earlier: free modem being sent to me, should be here on Wednesday. I simply said that after all I have gone through with this service, I am not going to be buying a new modem, or if I have to, it's going to be a Cox internet compatible modem, not a Century Link compatible modem and I am going to switch services. Yes, I have this lady's phone number, she treated me well and that's all I really wanted in the first place. On top of that, if a technician has to come out here again, the visit is on Century Link, not on my tab.
Changing the subject, I am a bit fuming at my company for this situation with the change in the rules for hand held cellphones and no notice, whatsoever, being given about it. The company isn't prepared for it, either. Drivers do not have blue tooth devices with our phones for hands free, voice prompted use. If the company knew about this new rule and the change that is effective tomorrow, they would have already bought all this stuff for us and more importantly, we would have received the notice of the change LONG ago.
A potential $2,750 fine for using a handheld cellphone is nothing to laugh about. The potential fine against the company is $11,000. What trucking company or company that has it's own fleet of trucks hasn't already dealt with this situation? All I can say? I am not getting stuck with a $2,750 fine. I will NOT be using that cell phone in the truck tomorrow at work, period. Unless they go out today and buy blue tooth junk and all that - even then, I need time to figure out how to use it. It might be simple - I wouldn't know, I have never owned or used such and never had a desire to do so.
Whatever. I don't get it is all. I have to search this stuff out to make sure that I am not doing something that isn't in compliance with D.O.T. rules, which are always being changed or modified.
Whatever again. Just completely annoyed by it. Anyway, today is "holiday" and I decided to do nothing. Sit around on my @$$ all day long like all the drug users around here - excepting I am not doing any drugs of course - and be lazy. Not that there is anything pressing to do, anyway. 4 day work week in-queue - with a useless phone, lol - but I like the idea of a shorter work week if nothing else.
That's it. No travelling today, no working, maybe some puttering outside but that's it.
G'day.
ben
Sunday, January 1, 2012
New Cell Phone Rule For CDL/Truck Drivers
I got through the internet frequently to find whatever new is coming from the Feds in the terms of new regulations. The level of expertise that is required to be a truck driver in having to know so many regulations - the trucking industry is the MOST regulated industry in the United States - is going to the levels that the pay level is going to have to be increased significantly to attract people who have actual brains and can do more than handle a steering wheel.
Why should I have to spend my own personal time looking at all of this stuff and educating my company about things they haven't even heard about and not getting paid extra for it? Why should I have to be dumped with exhaustive numbers of regulations that are predisposed to the opinion of a law enforcement officer? That's right - you could ask 100 commercial enforcement officers the same question about whatever - especially technical questions - and get numerous different answers that have no relevance with other answers that would be received.
I am exposed to more risk than most people realize. I have to concentrate at high levels the entire time I am driving - certainly in city driving which is most of what I do. I CONSTANTLY watch traffic not only in front of me, but beside me on both sides and behind me, plus side streets coming up and attempting to constantly change the level of reaction to the potential threats that are coming. If I run over a car and there is a family in it, even if it is not my fault that I just turned human beings into mince-meat, I would have to live with that in my mind and heart the rest of my life.
There is absolutely no way, in my mind, that with all this regulation coming out that the same Federal agency isn't forcing every single driver in the United States to go through exhaustive training on more than just that stupid test they are giving for a regular driver's license that an ape with half a brain could pass.
The Brainiacs that are coming up with these regulations are completely clueless. I would like to have a video camera installed on my truck dashboard and have all driver's that are breaking laws in front of me be ticketed by virtue of that camera. I want all drivers to have to go through training - including graphic video illustration - on the effects of recklessness enacted in front of a semi-truck. If we are to absorb this kind of stringent, potentially career-ending regulation, then the rest of the motoring public should have to be subjected to the same thing, because honey, it's the drivers of car and pickup trucks that are causing the most accidents with heavy trucks.
I predicted when I started reading about CSA2010 that there will eventually be a huge reduction in the CDL driver pool because of elimination and that it is going to in turn, affect the American economy. Trucks delivery almost everything. If vast amounts of drivers are going to be disqualified either by the Federal Government or by the companies that hire them. you are going to eventually see serious shortages of all kinds of merchandise in every venue. This new ruling? It's a potential $11,000 fine for the company that the driver is driving for if he/she is caught talking on a hand-held set while driving and up to $2,700 for the driver.
This new ruling came out at the end of last month and goes into effect - 2 days from now, I am just finding this out today and NOT by my own company. I was going through the FMCSA site and saw the "final rules" coming out. I just sent out emails to the general manager and to the operations manager. I will not be answering the phone in my truck while driving, period, unless they want to get hands-free, blue-tooth devices installed in the truck or blue tooth headsets with voice command.
I'm not paying for it, either. Let the trucking companies absorb this cost, they have more of a voice to the Feds than individual truckers do, though if truckers would truly unite, it would be a different story. For example, if it were truly possible to coordinate a shutdown of all trucks everywhere in America for a week - that would change the entire situation immediately. Truckers could, actually, shut down the American economy if they really wanted to.
Money talks. That's all I have to say about this. I may not be flying a commercial jetliner, but I am subjected to more regulation than any of them are. It may take more technical knowledge to fly an airplane, yes, but they aren't flying in city-type traffic, either. They aren't being "cut off" by other airplanes numerous times per day, etc. ad-nauseum. Why should I settle for all this increasing regulation and not demand more pay to equalize it? Yes, it IS going to affect the economy and that's that.
Why should I have to spend my own personal time looking at all of this stuff and educating my company about things they haven't even heard about and not getting paid extra for it? Why should I have to be dumped with exhaustive numbers of regulations that are predisposed to the opinion of a law enforcement officer? That's right - you could ask 100 commercial enforcement officers the same question about whatever - especially technical questions - and get numerous different answers that have no relevance with other answers that would be received.
I am exposed to more risk than most people realize. I have to concentrate at high levels the entire time I am driving - certainly in city driving which is most of what I do. I CONSTANTLY watch traffic not only in front of me, but beside me on both sides and behind me, plus side streets coming up and attempting to constantly change the level of reaction to the potential threats that are coming. If I run over a car and there is a family in it, even if it is not my fault that I just turned human beings into mince-meat, I would have to live with that in my mind and heart the rest of my life.
There is absolutely no way, in my mind, that with all this regulation coming out that the same Federal agency isn't forcing every single driver in the United States to go through exhaustive training on more than just that stupid test they are giving for a regular driver's license that an ape with half a brain could pass.
The Brainiacs that are coming up with these regulations are completely clueless. I would like to have a video camera installed on my truck dashboard and have all driver's that are breaking laws in front of me be ticketed by virtue of that camera. I want all drivers to have to go through training - including graphic video illustration - on the effects of recklessness enacted in front of a semi-truck. If we are to absorb this kind of stringent, potentially career-ending regulation, then the rest of the motoring public should have to be subjected to the same thing, because honey, it's the drivers of car and pickup trucks that are causing the most accidents with heavy trucks.
I predicted when I started reading about CSA2010 that there will eventually be a huge reduction in the CDL driver pool because of elimination and that it is going to in turn, affect the American economy. Trucks delivery almost everything. If vast amounts of drivers are going to be disqualified either by the Federal Government or by the companies that hire them. you are going to eventually see serious shortages of all kinds of merchandise in every venue. This new ruling? It's a potential $11,000 fine for the company that the driver is driving for if he/she is caught talking on a hand-held set while driving and up to $2,700 for the driver.
This new ruling came out at the end of last month and goes into effect - 2 days from now, I am just finding this out today and NOT by my own company. I was going through the FMCSA site and saw the "final rules" coming out. I just sent out emails to the general manager and to the operations manager. I will not be answering the phone in my truck while driving, period, unless they want to get hands-free, blue-tooth devices installed in the truck or blue tooth headsets with voice command.
I'm not paying for it, either. Let the trucking companies absorb this cost, they have more of a voice to the Feds than individual truckers do, though if truckers would truly unite, it would be a different story. For example, if it were truly possible to coordinate a shutdown of all trucks everywhere in America for a week - that would change the entire situation immediately. Truckers could, actually, shut down the American economy if they really wanted to.
Money talks. That's all I have to say about this. I may not be flying a commercial jetliner, but I am subjected to more regulation than any of them are. It may take more technical knowledge to fly an airplane, yes, but they aren't flying in city-type traffic, either. They aren't being "cut off" by other airplanes numerous times per day, etc. ad-nauseum. Why should I settle for all this increasing regulation and not demand more pay to equalize it? Yes, it IS going to affect the economy and that's that.
Josie
So, I am cruising along today, cleaning the ponds out and doing this that and the other thing type of minutia. Temps are perfect, weather great, what could happen today?
Josie calls me totally out of the blue. I had thought about her yesterday while with Mary.
Josie is the widow of one of the best friends I have ever had who died 1 year ago, yesterday/New Year's Eve Day, quite suddenly and out of the blue, btw.
She started crying on the phone immediately. Her family has all but abandoned her. She has tried to commit suicide 3 times, she confesses, in the last year. She got aneurysms from the cuts and has had to spend time in the hospital because of it. She is at the end of her rope - the bottom of the barrel - and she called me because she had no-one left to call.
It got intensely emotional quickly. But, I have only 1 answer to life and what it deals us. She was married to Boe for 46 years, I think it was. Yesterday was the 1 year anniversary of his passing. She doesn't know what to do, she doesn't know where or who to turn to. I could do nothing present the Lord to her. I have no other answers. I wouldn't try to give other answers because there is nothing to fill a void like that excepting the love of the Lord.
The pain is, she stated and it was obvious, as intense today as it was 366 days ago when he passed. I asked some pointed questions. I can't not. It's vital to dealing with the issue if you are really going to get to the root of the problem. You can play mushy-mushy and say how it's going to get better - when you know unless something changes, it is not going to get better, it is going to get worse. She will, eventually, find a way to take her own life if this situation isn't radically changed.
I offered to walk with her through this - but through the church.
So, I contacted the pastor through email and awaiting his reply. I am asking him to contact her and hopefully pray with her and give her some of the warmth that comes through someone that has that anointing on their life. He definitely has that. I know he will call her, it's a granted given. That is his heart towards the Lord and for people.
The "stuff" in life is never-ending. I can only explain it through my beliefs. We aren't here to just live our lives and that's that. We are here to love the Lord and love one another. I know, what are you saying when you just posted such and such about your neighbors. Yup, I don't much care for them. But I have also hoped and prayed that some sort of conclusion that is amiable in the end will come. I don't know how, but with God, all things are possible.
I came back in the house shortly after that call, sat down, began to absorb all of that and Caleb came out of his bedroom. I shared with him the phone call and we both shed some tears. I don't care what anyone thinks, it's a tragedy when a person has lost hope in life to the point that they want to end it on their own.
For the sake of the my long-time friend who is now in heaven and because of the love the Lord and the love that the Lord has for all of us - and for the sake of Josie, I am going to exert whatever energies I have and can give to trying to help her walk through this.
Josie calls me totally out of the blue. I had thought about her yesterday while with Mary.
Josie is the widow of one of the best friends I have ever had who died 1 year ago, yesterday/New Year's Eve Day, quite suddenly and out of the blue, btw.
She started crying on the phone immediately. Her family has all but abandoned her. She has tried to commit suicide 3 times, she confesses, in the last year. She got aneurysms from the cuts and has had to spend time in the hospital because of it. She is at the end of her rope - the bottom of the barrel - and she called me because she had no-one left to call.
It got intensely emotional quickly. But, I have only 1 answer to life and what it deals us. She was married to Boe for 46 years, I think it was. Yesterday was the 1 year anniversary of his passing. She doesn't know what to do, she doesn't know where or who to turn to. I could do nothing present the Lord to her. I have no other answers. I wouldn't try to give other answers because there is nothing to fill a void like that excepting the love of the Lord.
The pain is, she stated and it was obvious, as intense today as it was 366 days ago when he passed. I asked some pointed questions. I can't not. It's vital to dealing with the issue if you are really going to get to the root of the problem. You can play mushy-mushy and say how it's going to get better - when you know unless something changes, it is not going to get better, it is going to get worse. She will, eventually, find a way to take her own life if this situation isn't radically changed.
I offered to walk with her through this - but through the church.
So, I contacted the pastor through email and awaiting his reply. I am asking him to contact her and hopefully pray with her and give her some of the warmth that comes through someone that has that anointing on their life. He definitely has that. I know he will call her, it's a granted given. That is his heart towards the Lord and for people.
The "stuff" in life is never-ending. I can only explain it through my beliefs. We aren't here to just live our lives and that's that. We are here to love the Lord and love one another. I know, what are you saying when you just posted such and such about your neighbors. Yup, I don't much care for them. But I have also hoped and prayed that some sort of conclusion that is amiable in the end will come. I don't know how, but with God, all things are possible.
I came back in the house shortly after that call, sat down, began to absorb all of that and Caleb came out of his bedroom. I shared with him the phone call and we both shed some tears. I don't care what anyone thinks, it's a tragedy when a person has lost hope in life to the point that they want to end it on their own.
For the sake of the my long-time friend who is now in heaven and because of the love the Lord and the love that the Lord has for all of us - and for the sake of Josie, I am going to exert whatever energies I have and can give to trying to help her walk through this.
350 Man
Short and sweet: the City of Phoenix had removed 350 man's property across the street from the active list. I decided this time, the third time, to write the City of Phoenix Neighborhood Services department and tell them that if they didn't enforce the same rules that they do with everyone else, namely: no storage is allowed on a residential property unless there is a structure on the property with at least 750 square feet ( I think, somewhere around there) - that I would call the City Council and file a grievance with the City.
Well, as I stated in the last entry, ponds are on the priority list today. The pumps get clogged up because of the time of year it is and leaves falling all over the place, getting into the ponds and the pumps are powerful enough to drag all that stuff on the bottom of the ponds to the pump. I was out front dealing with the smallest pond when I looked up - for no particular reason - and realized that all of that stuff had been removed from the property.
Meanwhile, the people next door - the other side of which I have had years worth of problems with - are collecting vehicles. I am going to look into just how many vehicles a person can have for one residence. I don't know that there is a restriction, but I am going to find out. Between the 5 vehicles on the street and the 3 vehicles in the driveway - we have a total of 8 vehicles, only 2 of which are ever used.
The hoarders behind me? Left a bag of grapefruit on top of my shed and made a cute little statement on it. I don't know if that's a peace offering or perhaps they have injected poison into the fruit itself. Lol, probably not the latter, but who knows.
Randy - is talking to me through Mark. That's the way it is. I will not speak to him until if/when/if ever he apologizes for his total and pure BS. Other neighbors drive by his property, stop in front of it and start shaking their heads. And not nods of approval, either. The situation with my neighbors is hardly made up or even exaggerated even a little. They are slobs and hoarders, period.
Back to 350 man, I received a letter from the Justice Court yesterday, but only saw it today when I got home from Mary's. 350 man's appeal has been dropped because he took no action on it. I was prepared to write up a lengthy rebuttal to whatever he might say, but I didn't actually do it because? Not worth the waste of time going through that if he isn't going to follow through with the appeal. Now he is stuck with the Injunction Against Harassment for the full 365 day's worth and Randy is also considering filing against him.
350 better not bother me - at all - is all I can say about it. He is such a d*** that I would have no reservations, whatsoever, in calling the police, handing them the paperwork and telling them what happened - provided there are witnesses anyway - and having him prosecuted.
Oh, back to the hoarders behind me: they have done absolutely NOTHING to clean up the property that is in violation. Not only have they not cleaned it up, they have brought even MORE junk onto that property. The status on that case is still at "ticket issued". Freaking human pigs. I am also going to inquire with the City about that - well they aren't going to be opened tomorrow, so on Tuesday or this coming week, whenever I remember to do it during their normal business hours.
Even more. Mark just came in and said that Randy asked him to ask me if I wanted to go halves with him to finish the fence near the back of our properties. Yeah, half my @$$. The guy is so cheap he'll find the stuff for free, the stuff he finds won't match the block that is already there and it will look like s***. He won't care what it looks like, either, meaning he won't try to align the new block with the existing block.
In other words, it is a project I am going to have to do, unless he starts doing it without my input or help and then I will hope to be able to cover over his job with enough stucco type stuff to make it look good.
I had no intention of this entry getting so long, especially about this particular subject, but there it is. The ponds are finished - for today anyway. The bathroom is clean and only have light cleanup in my bedroom and yes, I am done for the day.
Well, as I stated in the last entry, ponds are on the priority list today. The pumps get clogged up because of the time of year it is and leaves falling all over the place, getting into the ponds and the pumps are powerful enough to drag all that stuff on the bottom of the ponds to the pump. I was out front dealing with the smallest pond when I looked up - for no particular reason - and realized that all of that stuff had been removed from the property.
Meanwhile, the people next door - the other side of which I have had years worth of problems with - are collecting vehicles. I am going to look into just how many vehicles a person can have for one residence. I don't know that there is a restriction, but I am going to find out. Between the 5 vehicles on the street and the 3 vehicles in the driveway - we have a total of 8 vehicles, only 2 of which are ever used.
The hoarders behind me? Left a bag of grapefruit on top of my shed and made a cute little statement on it. I don't know if that's a peace offering or perhaps they have injected poison into the fruit itself. Lol, probably not the latter, but who knows.
Randy - is talking to me through Mark. That's the way it is. I will not speak to him until if/when/if ever he apologizes for his total and pure BS. Other neighbors drive by his property, stop in front of it and start shaking their heads. And not nods of approval, either. The situation with my neighbors is hardly made up or even exaggerated even a little. They are slobs and hoarders, period.
Back to 350 man, I received a letter from the Justice Court yesterday, but only saw it today when I got home from Mary's. 350 man's appeal has been dropped because he took no action on it. I was prepared to write up a lengthy rebuttal to whatever he might say, but I didn't actually do it because? Not worth the waste of time going through that if he isn't going to follow through with the appeal. Now he is stuck with the Injunction Against Harassment for the full 365 day's worth and Randy is also considering filing against him.
350 better not bother me - at all - is all I can say about it. He is such a d*** that I would have no reservations, whatsoever, in calling the police, handing them the paperwork and telling them what happened - provided there are witnesses anyway - and having him prosecuted.
Oh, back to the hoarders behind me: they have done absolutely NOTHING to clean up the property that is in violation. Not only have they not cleaned it up, they have brought even MORE junk onto that property. The status on that case is still at "ticket issued". Freaking human pigs. I am also going to inquire with the City about that - well they aren't going to be opened tomorrow, so on Tuesday or this coming week, whenever I remember to do it during their normal business hours.
Even more. Mark just came in and said that Randy asked him to ask me if I wanted to go halves with him to finish the fence near the back of our properties. Yeah, half my @$$. The guy is so cheap he'll find the stuff for free, the stuff he finds won't match the block that is already there and it will look like s***. He won't care what it looks like, either, meaning he won't try to align the new block with the existing block.
In other words, it is a project I am going to have to do, unless he starts doing it without my input or help and then I will hope to be able to cover over his job with enough stucco type stuff to make it look good.
I had no intention of this entry getting so long, especially about this particular subject, but there it is. The ponds are finished - for today anyway. The bathroom is clean and only have light cleanup in my bedroom and yes, I am done for the day.
1/1/2012 Sunday Happy New Year!!!!!
Happy New Year, everyone!
I managed to stay up until around 1:15am last night.
An interested night, to say the least. Mary decided that she wanted to drag some firewood over to a party that was going on out in front of a house a few blocks away. She asked if I wanted to come with her. No. She basically had a mini-cow so I relented - but I've been there and done that, most likely everyone would be drunk and acting - drunk.
I was not off, in the slightest little bit, with that assessment, either. My sister-in-law had called - I find out she lives like 5 blocks away from Mary - we all headed to this party. I was having a few beers, yes, but I was determined that I was not going to go overboard with anything. We got there and I was offered shots of fine Vodka and numerous beers. I had a couple, but I then quit. There was a fire pit out front in the driveway and Mary shoved a log into it.
Then some woman - drunk and belligerent - started trouble. It was a no burn day in Maricopa county - they issue those when the pollution gets too high and they don't want people using their fireplaces - the woman started barking at Mary about how much smoke the wood she put on there was making. The rant went on and on and finally Mary dished some pork back to her, which made this woman really mad. Turns out she doesn't even live there. There was a simple solution to this problem, btw, something I learned when I was a kid.
Simply throw more kindling on the fire, get the fire really hot and get the wood burning well and the excessive smoke will dissipate. I wasn't getting into this argument, I wanted nothing to do with it, I didn't even want to go in the first place. Well, I was chatting with perfect strangers but finally had had enough. Let's go, Mary, now, thank you. We left and went to Susan's house - my sister-in-law and spent 45 minutes over there. Then back to Mary's house to blow off some fireworks with the kids, ring in the new year and that was the end of that. I crashed there for the night - no hangover for me but going to bed that late throws my internal clock system off so I'm tired today. I knew I would be. Mary wanted me to come back today and tomorrow - no thanks. I have stuff to do and I haven't seen anyone in the New Year at my house, including my son.
My ponds need some attention - not too much but still. I want to get up on that trailer and finish the other project I started up there now that the AC project is done and that thing is up and running. I don't know that I will do that today, probably tomorrow. Basic house cleaning duties, etc etc etc. Not to mention Coco was starting to get rather annoying over there - she wanted to go home this morning and that was that. She is all kinds of crashed out right now.
So, I am sorta kicking back right now, trying to get the motivation up to get some things done and I am sure I will at least get my bathroom and bedroom cleaned today and the pond pumps unclogged, but if I get nothing done other than that? I'm good with it.
We are officially in the year when the earth is going to end and life is we know it is going to disappear. At least that's what those that believe the Mayan calendar hubba bubba believe. I don't happen to believe that - at all. It is also allegedly the year that another recession or even depression is going to hit. I have no "belief" systems on those kinds of things, if it happens it happens. Nothing I can do about it. Certainly, it seems to me, our society is changing to reflect the financial circus that is going on all around us in terms of the way people are living.
Perhaps, in some sense, it isn't such a bad thing. Such as the news that a lot of people have shut off cable/satellite tv because they can't afford it. Cool, find something else to do like we did in the "old" days where we watched a bit of TV here and there, but certainly our lives didn't revolve around it. Perhaps the roots of where we came from might take hold. I have no faith in the politicians to do anything but spend more money. I don't really like any of the candidates that are likely to win the GOP nomination, I think they are all full of it.
Eventually, some degree of civil unrest will undoubtedly have to occur to change the course of America back to some semblance of what it once was. I have at least some degree of certainty that that is what the Occupy this and that people are up to. I only know that I have armed myself and if some civil chaos starts, my home is my castle and that's all I am going to protect - the castle and the people that live in it. I hope that doesn't happy, really. But, people are getting tired of this economic condition, especially the have-nots.
I am not going to make any New Year's resolutions this year. I have already resolved to do several things in my life which started last year and I am continuing on with. So, I guess I could say I resolve to continue on with what I had resolved to do and started to do some time ago. Church being the biggest one - getting back into the flow of it and getting past internal issues of the heart and mind. The trailer is another one, though not a huge priority, the thing is well underway with it being paid off, new wallpaper, AC fixed and in position to get more done on it. Other things that are my own, personal business that I won't go into on an internet site that is readable by anyone in the world.
So, I have no idea what 2012 is going to bring. But, good, bad or ugly, God is in control and my faith is in Him. There IS no-one else to turn to. That's the end of the story, for me anyway.
So, I am going to enjoy today, the first day of the year. It is a beautiful, gorgeous day outside, at least in Phoenix, AZ, the weather is perfect and though I am a bit tired, I am going to go out for a while and enjoy it. Probably come back in and take an hour's nap and then see what I might do with the rest of the day.
Happy New Year, again.
ben
I managed to stay up until around 1:15am last night.
An interested night, to say the least. Mary decided that she wanted to drag some firewood over to a party that was going on out in front of a house a few blocks away. She asked if I wanted to come with her. No. She basically had a mini-cow so I relented - but I've been there and done that, most likely everyone would be drunk and acting - drunk.
I was not off, in the slightest little bit, with that assessment, either. My sister-in-law had called - I find out she lives like 5 blocks away from Mary - we all headed to this party. I was having a few beers, yes, but I was determined that I was not going to go overboard with anything. We got there and I was offered shots of fine Vodka and numerous beers. I had a couple, but I then quit. There was a fire pit out front in the driveway and Mary shoved a log into it.
Then some woman - drunk and belligerent - started trouble. It was a no burn day in Maricopa county - they issue those when the pollution gets too high and they don't want people using their fireplaces - the woman started barking at Mary about how much smoke the wood she put on there was making. The rant went on and on and finally Mary dished some pork back to her, which made this woman really mad. Turns out she doesn't even live there. There was a simple solution to this problem, btw, something I learned when I was a kid.
Simply throw more kindling on the fire, get the fire really hot and get the wood burning well and the excessive smoke will dissipate. I wasn't getting into this argument, I wanted nothing to do with it, I didn't even want to go in the first place. Well, I was chatting with perfect strangers but finally had had enough. Let's go, Mary, now, thank you. We left and went to Susan's house - my sister-in-law and spent 45 minutes over there. Then back to Mary's house to blow off some fireworks with the kids, ring in the new year and that was the end of that. I crashed there for the night - no hangover for me but going to bed that late throws my internal clock system off so I'm tired today. I knew I would be. Mary wanted me to come back today and tomorrow - no thanks. I have stuff to do and I haven't seen anyone in the New Year at my house, including my son.
My ponds need some attention - not too much but still. I want to get up on that trailer and finish the other project I started up there now that the AC project is done and that thing is up and running. I don't know that I will do that today, probably tomorrow. Basic house cleaning duties, etc etc etc. Not to mention Coco was starting to get rather annoying over there - she wanted to go home this morning and that was that. She is all kinds of crashed out right now.
So, I am sorta kicking back right now, trying to get the motivation up to get some things done and I am sure I will at least get my bathroom and bedroom cleaned today and the pond pumps unclogged, but if I get nothing done other than that? I'm good with it.
We are officially in the year when the earth is going to end and life is we know it is going to disappear. At least that's what those that believe the Mayan calendar hubba bubba believe. I don't happen to believe that - at all. It is also allegedly the year that another recession or even depression is going to hit. I have no "belief" systems on those kinds of things, if it happens it happens. Nothing I can do about it. Certainly, it seems to me, our society is changing to reflect the financial circus that is going on all around us in terms of the way people are living.
Perhaps, in some sense, it isn't such a bad thing. Such as the news that a lot of people have shut off cable/satellite tv because they can't afford it. Cool, find something else to do like we did in the "old" days where we watched a bit of TV here and there, but certainly our lives didn't revolve around it. Perhaps the roots of where we came from might take hold. I have no faith in the politicians to do anything but spend more money. I don't really like any of the candidates that are likely to win the GOP nomination, I think they are all full of it.
Eventually, some degree of civil unrest will undoubtedly have to occur to change the course of America back to some semblance of what it once was. I have at least some degree of certainty that that is what the Occupy this and that people are up to. I only know that I have armed myself and if some civil chaos starts, my home is my castle and that's all I am going to protect - the castle and the people that live in it. I hope that doesn't happy, really. But, people are getting tired of this economic condition, especially the have-nots.
I am not going to make any New Year's resolutions this year. I have already resolved to do several things in my life which started last year and I am continuing on with. So, I guess I could say I resolve to continue on with what I had resolved to do and started to do some time ago. Church being the biggest one - getting back into the flow of it and getting past internal issues of the heart and mind. The trailer is another one, though not a huge priority, the thing is well underway with it being paid off, new wallpaper, AC fixed and in position to get more done on it. Other things that are my own, personal business that I won't go into on an internet site that is readable by anyone in the world.
So, I have no idea what 2012 is going to bring. But, good, bad or ugly, God is in control and my faith is in Him. There IS no-one else to turn to. That's the end of the story, for me anyway.
So, I am going to enjoy today, the first day of the year. It is a beautiful, gorgeous day outside, at least in Phoenix, AZ, the weather is perfect and though I am a bit tired, I am going to go out for a while and enjoy it. Probably come back in and take an hour's nap and then see what I might do with the rest of the day.
Happy New Year, again.
ben
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Saturday 12/331/2011 New Year's Eve Day
I have sat here basically lazing off all morning long. No desire to do anything since I am going to spend the entire day and night over at my friend's house - though that may change, not sure. I kinda like coming home to my bed at night.
Mary wants me to come over at 2:00. We were talking last night and I was talking about my son's and I's intended fishing trip this coming year - probably in June I am guessing will be a good time. She immediately asked if she could go with us. This girl is more of a Tomboy than anything, she always has been. If a guy can do it, she can too.
She has a friend who is totally into fishing and she wants us to go over there and visit with him this afternoon. I was like, gee, there is no rush, doesn't have to happen right away, but that's the way she is. The guy is an apparently walking computer brain when it comes to fishing, tackle, lures etc etc etc. I would like to get a bit better handle on this deep sea fishing scenario before I go over to San Diego again. It would be cool to get to know what kinds of lures work with what fish and also to learn how to properly tie the correct knot on the lure itself. I don't need to go out buying expensive rods and reels, that stuff can be rented since we don't do it that often.
Anyway, I said sure she can come, bring her kids, too. She said one would like to, the other would not. Well, whatever makes them happy, I can't pay any of their way anyway so she is going to have to deal with that on her own. I offered to pay the gas there and back; hotel and food, but not the boat fee and the tackle rental fees - she in turn offered her Suburban to take down there instead of my car. I have a large car, yes, but it doesn't have near as much room as a Suburban!
Ummm, anyway. Time to get ready to leave. Taking my laptop and mobile broadband with me. I think they have wifi over there, but doesn't matter when I can bring it with me, lol.
Later.
ben
Mary wants me to come over at 2:00. We were talking last night and I was talking about my son's and I's intended fishing trip this coming year - probably in June I am guessing will be a good time. She immediately asked if she could go with us. This girl is more of a Tomboy than anything, she always has been. If a guy can do it, she can too.
She has a friend who is totally into fishing and she wants us to go over there and visit with him this afternoon. I was like, gee, there is no rush, doesn't have to happen right away, but that's the way she is. The guy is an apparently walking computer brain when it comes to fishing, tackle, lures etc etc etc. I would like to get a bit better handle on this deep sea fishing scenario before I go over to San Diego again. It would be cool to get to know what kinds of lures work with what fish and also to learn how to properly tie the correct knot on the lure itself. I don't need to go out buying expensive rods and reels, that stuff can be rented since we don't do it that often.
Anyway, I said sure she can come, bring her kids, too. She said one would like to, the other would not. Well, whatever makes them happy, I can't pay any of their way anyway so she is going to have to deal with that on her own. I offered to pay the gas there and back; hotel and food, but not the boat fee and the tackle rental fees - she in turn offered her Suburban to take down there instead of my car. I have a large car, yes, but it doesn't have near as much room as a Suburban!
Ummm, anyway. Time to get ready to leave. Taking my laptop and mobile broadband with me. I think they have wifi over there, but doesn't matter when I can bring it with me, lol.
Later.
ben
Friday, December 30, 2011
Friday 12/30/2011 The 350 Man/Modelo Beer
350 man is starting trouble again. It's in his nature to do so, it's no surprise to me, not to mention he does absolutely nothing all day long, every day: what a miserable existence.
Regardless, this time it is not with me. If he even speaks one word to me, I will be calling the police and having his @$$ hauled off to jail. No, now it's Randy - who is my next door neighbor - and Randy is next door neighbors with 350 man. Randy is attempting to get his property ready to build a house. He had the property surveyed and found out 350 man is building his fence 2 feet into Randy's property.
I didn't hear it, WWW III that is, but Mark was talking with Randy and there apparently was a word war - which definitely does not surprise me - and then there was threats and now Randy also wants to get an Injunction Against Harassment against 350 man. Supposedly, 350 man's mother - who is paying for 350 man's complete, pathetic existence - is going to offer Randy $500 for the property and let it go at that.
If it were me? NO WAY. Not after all the trouble that dude started with me. I would take him to court and force him to tear down that fence that is only half built anyway and move it back to the property lines. Who wants to lose 2 feet times about 100 feet of property? Even if I the situation wasn't bad with him, I STILL would want my property back. So, apparently, Randy is also considering taking him to court to force 350 man to move that fence back 2 feet.
Lol. This is what this neighborhood is all about. I have ignored the whole lot of them ever since the court appearance for the Injunction. I want absolutely nothing to do with any of them. They can't fight with me anymore, so now they are "in-fighting" with themselves. It's a vicious circle that has gone the rounds many times over. 350 man apparently was complaining about my trailers. Yeah, well there is going to be a huge advantage to having those trailers parked where they are coming very soon: all that construction noise that is going to start on Randy's property? Those trailers are going to help tone it down a bit.
Regardless, the City of Phoenix informed me that those trailers are "perfectly acceptable", only that you can't have people living in them.
If it weren't such a time-consuming and possibly expensive proposition, I would go downtown and file for a variance on my property to allow such. In reality, Mark and Lynnette would probably move back into the trailer if they were allowed to. They liked living in that thing.
Anyway, that fact that those trailers irritated 350 man are enough to make we want to just keep them there. His property is pathetic. A new house with NO landscaping and has been sitting like that for 2-1/2 years or more now. Just bare dirt. No shrubbery, no trees, no grass, no landscaping rock, nothing, just plain dirt. THERE is something he could do with his time and exhaust quite a lot of it: go buy some plants and start digging holes. It's a lot of work, but he has nothing to do anyway.
If I were to ask 350 man why his property looks like skid row, he would answer because he has a medical condition and he can't do work like that. No, but he can go around threatening people and getting into violent word wars and running all over the place sticking his nose into other people's business. Somehow, I doubt the sincerity of his claims that he made in court that he has a "condition". Yes, he does have a condition: Complete And Utter Stupidity Syndrome or CAUSS for short. Hmmm, I just made that up but it looks pretty good! Hey, CAUSS! Yeah, you! Over there in the 350 pound flesh dress.
Maybe I shouldn't make fun of him, but he started way too much s*** with me.
Well, there it is, the latest neighborhood fun and I had nothing to do with any of it. I'm sure he can't stand the fact that he cannot talk to me, look at me, make his stupid gestures at me, all the ridiculous things that he does. Oh, the 30-something meth head has said absolutely nothing to me since that court date as well. He walks by, but now he is keeping his stupid mouth shut as well.
So, kinda nice actually. Let them fight amongst themselves all they way.
As for me? I have sat here all morning doing almost nothing. I am about to go outside, however, and see about putting the AC unit back together with the parts I bought. I put that off for weeks now because of the Christmas party and all that I did to get ready for that affair. Now that that is over, I have no more excuses excepting.......I am on vacation!
Meanwhile, all the tenants were out here last night and we were whooping it up - party style - having a grand old time. That's over and they are all gone now, lol. Well, Mark is here. Mark is almost always here. He goes to the store but mostly, he goes outside and putters around doing small projects (which certainly doesn't bother me at all since those projects almost always help me/my property).
Caleb saw Anthony and those other kids walking down our street yesterday. Caleb was cool with all of them but Anthony didn't speak a word to him. The fact that Anthony is anywhere near my house? Not comfortable with that at all.
Whatever. Another individual that I not only don't see and don't miss but have all but completely deleted out of my memory banks. Thankless ingrates, the whole lot of them.
Short break. Went up to the store to get some stuff, including Comet cleanser that is on sale for $1 per large can. Came back and lo and behold, who was standing out in front of my house? Anthony's grandfather. We used to get along pretty well, but now? I had no idea. No, no problems. He was cool and congenial. We talked a few minutes. He is the one that moved in the next street over, which factually corrects that story that the whole family had moved in over there. Not a long conversation, but I am not going to start a war where one is not needed, we parted ways amiably enough.
I called the mortgage company today and asked about refinancing the house since they never answered the email I sent through their system to them. They didn't know and connected me to their bank - MidFirst. They didn't know, either, but would have someone call me back. Yeah, sure. That's what they say every time, notwithstanding the fact that you never get a return phone call. I am going to keep bugging them until they at least give me an answer.
The 20-something was talking to me about what kinds of beers I like last night. He is Mexican and loves all kinds of Mexican beers. I said I have tried Corona, which I like, but the Dos Equis I don't like. He asked if I had tried Modelo. No, I have seen it all over the place but never tried it. That was it. 10 minutes ago, I go into my refrigerator and find a 6-pack of bottled Modelo sitting in there. As I have been saying, all current tenants are very cool people. Some have a few habits I don't much care for but I can live with - we all do something in our lives that undoubtedly annoys someone else. He was telling me last night about his girl pickups - he's a very handsome young man and pretty much gets whatever he wants in that market, lol.
Finally, Lynnette went to Walmart and bought a new coat. I didn't know until last week, I think it was, that she doesn't OWN a coat and has been going out to the bus stop on some days early, in 40 degree weather, without one. I gave them a Walmart gift card for Christmas - that is about the only place they shop for anything so I figured it would help them a bit. She bought a coat and he bought new shoes. I had no idea his shoes were so worn out there were holes in the bottom of them. They don't tell me their problems, I guess they're just happy to have a place to live.
G'day.
ben
Regardless, this time it is not with me. If he even speaks one word to me, I will be calling the police and having his @$$ hauled off to jail. No, now it's Randy - who is my next door neighbor - and Randy is next door neighbors with 350 man. Randy is attempting to get his property ready to build a house. He had the property surveyed and found out 350 man is building his fence 2 feet into Randy's property.
I didn't hear it, WWW III that is, but Mark was talking with Randy and there apparently was a word war - which definitely does not surprise me - and then there was threats and now Randy also wants to get an Injunction Against Harassment against 350 man. Supposedly, 350 man's mother - who is paying for 350 man's complete, pathetic existence - is going to offer Randy $500 for the property and let it go at that.
If it were me? NO WAY. Not after all the trouble that dude started with me. I would take him to court and force him to tear down that fence that is only half built anyway and move it back to the property lines. Who wants to lose 2 feet times about 100 feet of property? Even if I the situation wasn't bad with him, I STILL would want my property back. So, apparently, Randy is also considering taking him to court to force 350 man to move that fence back 2 feet.
Lol. This is what this neighborhood is all about. I have ignored the whole lot of them ever since the court appearance for the Injunction. I want absolutely nothing to do with any of them. They can't fight with me anymore, so now they are "in-fighting" with themselves. It's a vicious circle that has gone the rounds many times over. 350 man apparently was complaining about my trailers. Yeah, well there is going to be a huge advantage to having those trailers parked where they are coming very soon: all that construction noise that is going to start on Randy's property? Those trailers are going to help tone it down a bit.
Regardless, the City of Phoenix informed me that those trailers are "perfectly acceptable", only that you can't have people living in them.
If it weren't such a time-consuming and possibly expensive proposition, I would go downtown and file for a variance on my property to allow such. In reality, Mark and Lynnette would probably move back into the trailer if they were allowed to. They liked living in that thing.
Anyway, that fact that those trailers irritated 350 man are enough to make we want to just keep them there. His property is pathetic. A new house with NO landscaping and has been sitting like that for 2-1/2 years or more now. Just bare dirt. No shrubbery, no trees, no grass, no landscaping rock, nothing, just plain dirt. THERE is something he could do with his time and exhaust quite a lot of it: go buy some plants and start digging holes. It's a lot of work, but he has nothing to do anyway.
If I were to ask 350 man why his property looks like skid row, he would answer because he has a medical condition and he can't do work like that. No, but he can go around threatening people and getting into violent word wars and running all over the place sticking his nose into other people's business. Somehow, I doubt the sincerity of his claims that he made in court that he has a "condition". Yes, he does have a condition: Complete And Utter Stupidity Syndrome or CAUSS for short. Hmmm, I just made that up but it looks pretty good! Hey, CAUSS! Yeah, you! Over there in the 350 pound flesh dress.
Maybe I shouldn't make fun of him, but he started way too much s*** with me.
Well, there it is, the latest neighborhood fun and I had nothing to do with any of it. I'm sure he can't stand the fact that he cannot talk to me, look at me, make his stupid gestures at me, all the ridiculous things that he does. Oh, the 30-something meth head has said absolutely nothing to me since that court date as well. He walks by, but now he is keeping his stupid mouth shut as well.
So, kinda nice actually. Let them fight amongst themselves all they way.
As for me? I have sat here all morning doing almost nothing. I am about to go outside, however, and see about putting the AC unit back together with the parts I bought. I put that off for weeks now because of the Christmas party and all that I did to get ready for that affair. Now that that is over, I have no more excuses excepting.......I am on vacation!
Meanwhile, all the tenants were out here last night and we were whooping it up - party style - having a grand old time. That's over and they are all gone now, lol. Well, Mark is here. Mark is almost always here. He goes to the store but mostly, he goes outside and putters around doing small projects (which certainly doesn't bother me at all since those projects almost always help me/my property).
Caleb saw Anthony and those other kids walking down our street yesterday. Caleb was cool with all of them but Anthony didn't speak a word to him. The fact that Anthony is anywhere near my house? Not comfortable with that at all.
Whatever. Another individual that I not only don't see and don't miss but have all but completely deleted out of my memory banks. Thankless ingrates, the whole lot of them.
Short break. Went up to the store to get some stuff, including Comet cleanser that is on sale for $1 per large can. Came back and lo and behold, who was standing out in front of my house? Anthony's grandfather. We used to get along pretty well, but now? I had no idea. No, no problems. He was cool and congenial. We talked a few minutes. He is the one that moved in the next street over, which factually corrects that story that the whole family had moved in over there. Not a long conversation, but I am not going to start a war where one is not needed, we parted ways amiably enough.
I called the mortgage company today and asked about refinancing the house since they never answered the email I sent through their system to them. They didn't know and connected me to their bank - MidFirst. They didn't know, either, but would have someone call me back. Yeah, sure. That's what they say every time, notwithstanding the fact that you never get a return phone call. I am going to keep bugging them until they at least give me an answer.
The 20-something was talking to me about what kinds of beers I like last night. He is Mexican and loves all kinds of Mexican beers. I said I have tried Corona, which I like, but the Dos Equis I don't like. He asked if I had tried Modelo. No, I have seen it all over the place but never tried it. That was it. 10 minutes ago, I go into my refrigerator and find a 6-pack of bottled Modelo sitting in there. As I have been saying, all current tenants are very cool people. Some have a few habits I don't much care for but I can live with - we all do something in our lives that undoubtedly annoys someone else. He was telling me last night about his girl pickups - he's a very handsome young man and pretty much gets whatever he wants in that market, lol.
Finally, Lynnette went to Walmart and bought a new coat. I didn't know until last week, I think it was, that she doesn't OWN a coat and has been going out to the bus stop on some days early, in 40 degree weather, without one. I gave them a Walmart gift card for Christmas - that is about the only place they shop for anything so I figured it would help them a bit. She bought a coat and he bought new shoes. I had no idea his shoes were so worn out there were holes in the bottom of them. They don't tell me their problems, I guess they're just happy to have a place to live.
G'day.
ben
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Thursday 12/29/2011
I'll give Mary credit: she really DID clean up her house! The first time I went, it was - quite cluttered. She also made quite the delicious, roasted chicken meal last night. The only drawback about going over there, really, is that it is 25 miles from my house, one way. I don't really like driving that much in-town, but I have come to the conclusion that if I am going to start going up to the mountains with some frequency during the summer, I might as well expect the miles to rack up on my car.
My car is a 2004 model and it has all of 62,000 miles on it, tangible proof of my dislike for driving. I got the car with 28,000 on it.
I'm also contemplating using tax return money to put a ball hitch on the car and find a cheap trailer on Craigslist to haul things back and forth to the mountains with it. Well, not just that: stuff for the house either bringing to or getting rid of.
Whatever the case, today is allegedly the last day of work for me this week. They have apparently decided to just shut down our branch on the last day of the week if there is a holiday on the weekend. But, I am apparently forced to use vacation time to make up for it. Oh well. I like the idea of a 4 day weekend so I am not going to complain. I am going to ask if I can use personal hours for it since I have enough of those left to cover it and they don't carry over into the next year.
Well, gotta leave. Plenty to do in the truck routing system and plenty to do around the shop. Inventory coming up 3rd or 4th week of January and we are far from ready for it. In fact, my manager - who is currently vacationing in Chicago - wrote me an email before he left and decided that we are probably going to have to spend a few weekends getting it ready. However, I heard yesterday that they might send someone over to help us get the yard in shape. I don't know, but I never have enough time to get out there and do much of anything. I am too busy pulling orders, loading the truck and taking out the deliveries. That's what happens when you are trying to run a store with only 2 people.
Not that I'm complaining about that, either, but when we get behind, we need help or a lot more hours.
Later.
ben
My car is a 2004 model and it has all of 62,000 miles on it, tangible proof of my dislike for driving. I got the car with 28,000 on it.
I'm also contemplating using tax return money to put a ball hitch on the car and find a cheap trailer on Craigslist to haul things back and forth to the mountains with it. Well, not just that: stuff for the house either bringing to or getting rid of.
Whatever the case, today is allegedly the last day of work for me this week. They have apparently decided to just shut down our branch on the last day of the week if there is a holiday on the weekend. But, I am apparently forced to use vacation time to make up for it. Oh well. I like the idea of a 4 day weekend so I am not going to complain. I am going to ask if I can use personal hours for it since I have enough of those left to cover it and they don't carry over into the next year.
Well, gotta leave. Plenty to do in the truck routing system and plenty to do around the shop. Inventory coming up 3rd or 4th week of January and we are far from ready for it. In fact, my manager - who is currently vacationing in Chicago - wrote me an email before he left and decided that we are probably going to have to spend a few weekends getting it ready. However, I heard yesterday that they might send someone over to help us get the yard in shape. I don't know, but I never have enough time to get out there and do much of anything. I am too busy pulling orders, loading the truck and taking out the deliveries. That's what happens when you are trying to run a store with only 2 people.
Not that I'm complaining about that, either, but when we get behind, we need help or a lot more hours.
Later.
ben
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Wednesday 12/28/2011
This'll be a quick one, it's 20 minutes past my bedtime!
Didn't have time to write this morning, went to work, got off, came home took a nap and went out to my friend's house. She lives 25 miles away, gag. She made a great dinner, though and her kids are a riot so it was fun.
That was my day today and yes, I am a bit tired!
Time to go to bed.
G'nite.
ben
Didn't have time to write this morning, went to work, got off, came home took a nap and went out to my friend's house. She lives 25 miles away, gag. She made a great dinner, though and her kids are a riot so it was fun.
That was my day today and yes, I am a bit tired!
Time to go to bed.
G'nite.
ben
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Tuesday 12/27/2011
I'm in a bit of a mood after calling Quest, well now called Century-Link - whatever name the company goes by, the customer service completely and totally sucks grapefruit sized golf-balls - and this time not listening to them at all.
I'm not going to listen to some "customer service respresentative" in the Philippine Islands attempting to dictate to me how things are going to go. I am quite disgusted with this company and I am ready to move on. I'm going to have to ask Cox internet if I can still use the router/modem that I have with their service. It's a Motorola 3347, it's provided by Quest and I - have doubts it will work with Cox, with is the major drawback to switching and having to buy a new router.
Well whatever. I did not sleep well last night and I was tired all day at work. I got home and took a 75 minute nap and felt better. I found out today that our branch is going to be closed on Friday - all well and good but I am - long interlude, a phone call distracted me from writing this entry. I am going to bed early, I thought, instead, normal time.
It was the friend from the past. Now I have been invited to dinner tomorrow night. Lol. Yes, I am going, but it was with the caveat that I can't stay late, sorry, gotta get up early for work.
Well, you can read into that whatever you wish.
G'nite.
ben
I'm not going to listen to some "customer service respresentative" in the Philippine Islands attempting to dictate to me how things are going to go. I am quite disgusted with this company and I am ready to move on. I'm going to have to ask Cox internet if I can still use the router/modem that I have with their service. It's a Motorola 3347, it's provided by Quest and I - have doubts it will work with Cox, with is the major drawback to switching and having to buy a new router.
Well whatever. I did not sleep well last night and I was tired all day at work. I got home and took a 75 minute nap and felt better. I found out today that our branch is going to be closed on Friday - all well and good but I am - long interlude, a phone call distracted me from writing this entry. I am going to bed early, I thought, instead, normal time.
It was the friend from the past. Now I have been invited to dinner tomorrow night. Lol. Yes, I am going, but it was with the caveat that I can't stay late, sorry, gotta get up early for work.
Well, you can read into that whatever you wish.
G'nite.
ben
Monday, December 26, 2011
Monday 12/26/2011
So, yesterday, my friend from the past calls. She had called earlier in the week and asked if I would come over and show her how to use a new chainsaw she had purchased. I decided to go over, why not - though I knew what was in store: cutting up logs for firewood. I got over there and found out the husband - they are divorced - was there for Christmas to visit with the kids.
I mean , really? I was a bit reluctant at the point to stick around, who knows what might be going through a man's mind of his former wife with another dude showing up. Not that I was there to do anything like that. Well, he was amiable enough so I just let it ride. Sat around for awhile looking at all the old photos she - Mary that is - had, some from days I had totally forgotten about. Kids were playing Black Ops with the dad, though the boy was making all kinds of jokes and hilarity.
Well, the day wasn't getting any younger, so I grabbed the chainsaw and headed out back. Mary is on a very tight budget, she got the wood for free from somewhere and is doing whatever she can to keep her expenses down. In this case, it's having a fire going 24 hours a day in her house to keep it warm enough that she doesn't have to turn on the electric heat.
Well, I got that thing fired up and they came out - Mary forcing the teenager to come out even though he didn't want to have anything to do with it - I cut the logs and they started splitting them using a giant steel wedge with a sledge hammer. Lo and behold, about half way through this, an old friend calls Mary. He and Mary were a couple in our teen years, that guy used to be one of my best friends in that day and era.
Mary talks to him for a few minutes, John that is, and then hands the phone to me, not telling him who it is that he would be talking to. I started out the conversation such as it would be in old times. He had no clue at first. My voice is deeper and raspier than it was back then - don't ask cause' I don't know why, it just is - so he didn't recognize my voice. But, Mary threw in "it's WW", one of my old CB handles and he instantly picked up on it. We talked for about half and hour, but I ended the conversation because we weren't done with the wood and apparently no-one else wanted to use the chainsaw. Small saw, kept over-heating on the denser, heavier wood.
Got done with that and went inside. Had some pie, got into all kinds of conversations with everyone there about nothing in general, just having some fun and then finally left. I was invited back next weekend to watch a movie with them. So, a little Christmas Day fun.
No work today and the end of 6 days off, 4 of which were mostly work, work, work. Not that I mind, but I AM glad that there is another 3 day weekend coming up. We will have Monday off for New Year's celebration. I agreed to go back next weekend, btw, it was fun to spend some time with a family and not with just dogs and tenants all the time, lol.
I am doing much of nothing today. I already went out and hit up the after-Christmas stuff. I wanted a particular plant that always comes out at Christmas in the stores and is sold for $39.99 - a price I refuse to pay for a plant - and yes, they had them marked down to $9.99. I am not really going to add more plants to the property at this point excepting if I see something that I really want at a great price. I have enough plants going and they take enough water in the summertime. The City of Phoenix seems to think that the water supply to it's residents is a yearly money grab, raising the rate 5% 2 years in a row, I believe and I really want OUT of this city unless the new mayor is going to do something about it.
I also got another roast - I couldn't resist. A much smaller one. 2 months down the road, maybe 3 - whenever really - get it out of the freezer and cook it.
Done with spending money on Christmas and presents. Went a bit overboard, unfortunately. If I don't spend anything but normal bills, I will be able to bring it back up. I still have to spend some money on that trailer, but it doesn't have to happen right now. I am content with what I have and anyway, I have 3 tenants owing/paying in a week or so. Well, longer in the case of the "homeless" cause she doesn't get her first paycheck until after the first week of January.
Of course, tax return time is coming. I have 4 more days of truck driving to have made it through this entire year without getting any warnings. If I make it, I get the safe driver award which is a full week's paycheck. Meaning I am going to go out of my way to make sure I don't get caught up in any of the "hotspots" ADOT uses to set up portable scales and doing truck inspections. I am not afraid of the weight, it's the inspections that get me going. I just had a mechanic come and fix everything that truck needs fixing with, so if I do get pulled over, I would at least like to hope that there would be no violations found on the truck.
That's it. For now anyway. Mary just messaged me through Facebook, apparently she really wants me to come back over on Saturday. She also wants me to stay up with her and her kids for the ringing in of the New Year. I'm not sure where this is going, but I am not really looking at this point in time, if you know what I mean. I go back and forth with that. Sometimes I am searching, but then I go back to just not wanting to even get involved with anyone. That has to do with the divorce - the amount of hell I went through just never seems to dissipate in the intensity of just how bad it was. Like it happened yesterday.
Well, offa here. Go outside and enjoy some fresh air, sit next to the ponds and listen to the waterfalls, watch the fish, pet my doggies and - enjoy life, really : )
G'day. Hope you all had a great Christmas.
ben
I mean , really? I was a bit reluctant at the point to stick around, who knows what might be going through a man's mind of his former wife with another dude showing up. Not that I was there to do anything like that. Well, he was amiable enough so I just let it ride. Sat around for awhile looking at all the old photos she - Mary that is - had, some from days I had totally forgotten about. Kids were playing Black Ops with the dad, though the boy was making all kinds of jokes and hilarity.
Well, the day wasn't getting any younger, so I grabbed the chainsaw and headed out back. Mary is on a very tight budget, she got the wood for free from somewhere and is doing whatever she can to keep her expenses down. In this case, it's having a fire going 24 hours a day in her house to keep it warm enough that she doesn't have to turn on the electric heat.
Well, I got that thing fired up and they came out - Mary forcing the teenager to come out even though he didn't want to have anything to do with it - I cut the logs and they started splitting them using a giant steel wedge with a sledge hammer. Lo and behold, about half way through this, an old friend calls Mary. He and Mary were a couple in our teen years, that guy used to be one of my best friends in that day and era.
Mary talks to him for a few minutes, John that is, and then hands the phone to me, not telling him who it is that he would be talking to. I started out the conversation such as it would be in old times. He had no clue at first. My voice is deeper and raspier than it was back then - don't ask cause' I don't know why, it just is - so he didn't recognize my voice. But, Mary threw in "it's WW", one of my old CB handles and he instantly picked up on it. We talked for about half and hour, but I ended the conversation because we weren't done with the wood and apparently no-one else wanted to use the chainsaw. Small saw, kept over-heating on the denser, heavier wood.
Got done with that and went inside. Had some pie, got into all kinds of conversations with everyone there about nothing in general, just having some fun and then finally left. I was invited back next weekend to watch a movie with them. So, a little Christmas Day fun.
No work today and the end of 6 days off, 4 of which were mostly work, work, work. Not that I mind, but I AM glad that there is another 3 day weekend coming up. We will have Monday off for New Year's celebration. I agreed to go back next weekend, btw, it was fun to spend some time with a family and not with just dogs and tenants all the time, lol.
I am doing much of nothing today. I already went out and hit up the after-Christmas stuff. I wanted a particular plant that always comes out at Christmas in the stores and is sold for $39.99 - a price I refuse to pay for a plant - and yes, they had them marked down to $9.99. I am not really going to add more plants to the property at this point excepting if I see something that I really want at a great price. I have enough plants going and they take enough water in the summertime. The City of Phoenix seems to think that the water supply to it's residents is a yearly money grab, raising the rate 5% 2 years in a row, I believe and I really want OUT of this city unless the new mayor is going to do something about it.
I also got another roast - I couldn't resist. A much smaller one. 2 months down the road, maybe 3 - whenever really - get it out of the freezer and cook it.
Done with spending money on Christmas and presents. Went a bit overboard, unfortunately. If I don't spend anything but normal bills, I will be able to bring it back up. I still have to spend some money on that trailer, but it doesn't have to happen right now. I am content with what I have and anyway, I have 3 tenants owing/paying in a week or so. Well, longer in the case of the "homeless" cause she doesn't get her first paycheck until after the first week of January.
Of course, tax return time is coming. I have 4 more days of truck driving to have made it through this entire year without getting any warnings. If I make it, I get the safe driver award which is a full week's paycheck. Meaning I am going to go out of my way to make sure I don't get caught up in any of the "hotspots" ADOT uses to set up portable scales and doing truck inspections. I am not afraid of the weight, it's the inspections that get me going. I just had a mechanic come and fix everything that truck needs fixing with, so if I do get pulled over, I would at least like to hope that there would be no violations found on the truck.
That's it. For now anyway. Mary just messaged me through Facebook, apparently she really wants me to come back over on Saturday. She also wants me to stay up with her and her kids for the ringing in of the New Year. I'm not sure where this is going, but I am not really looking at this point in time, if you know what I mean. I go back and forth with that. Sometimes I am searching, but then I go back to just not wanting to even get involved with anyone. That has to do with the divorce - the amount of hell I went through just never seems to dissipate in the intensity of just how bad it was. Like it happened yesterday.
Well, offa here. Go outside and enjoy some fresh air, sit next to the ponds and listen to the waterfalls, watch the fish, pet my doggies and - enjoy life, really : )
G'day. Hope you all had a great Christmas.
ben
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Merry Christmas! Sunday 12/25/2011
Merry Christmas to everyone, everywhere, friends and strangers alike!
Whatta crazy couple of weeks it's been leading up to yesterday's party.
All of that work - I can now put some of that off for a while and get back
to working on that trailer. I put the money aside in a savings account to get
it moved up north whenever I can get it finished.
It was just nice to see that mother likes the trailer and that it has her stamp of approval.
I have enough food in my refrigerator to last for days. In fact, several more trays of
food appeared in my fridge since I went to bed last night - I am guessing Caleb
must have brought it home from work. Yes, he had to work yesterday but at
least he has Christmas Day off. A new page in his life will be opening up with the
start of school next month. He will be a very busy young man with all that he intends
on doing in going to school, going to the gym and working. I'm proud of my son, he
has a good work ethic though I guess he doesn't much care for the job he is currently
working.
All well and fine, I told him, but make sure you find another job first before you go quitting that
one. I covered car insurance for him last month, but I don't want to have to do that again. I
want him to pay for his own car insurance and that's that. I have enough expenses to have to cover
his as well. He has a free place to live. I may change that as well. If his work continues to give
him the hours he is getting, then I feel it fair at his age to pay at least a small amount of rent. I heard a bit more chatter yesterday with my family and Caleb talking about his trip to Florida. The reason? I had guessed it before they left on that trip: her family attempting to talk her into moving back. That's all well and fine, too, but don't be attempting to pressure my son into moving with her. Let him make his own decision without pressure from either side.
As for me and today? I am content to do nothing. I was talking to an old friend yesterday who lives not far away, she was talking about me coming over there to spend the day with her family. Dunno. I'm pretty
worn out at this point. I would rather just watch some Christmas movies, go hang out at my fish ponds and sit around doing a lot of nothing for a couple of days.
Oh! Bashas' still has Standing Rib Roast on sale! I started to regret not buying another, smaller one and have it freezer wrapped, put in the freezer and save it for some time in the future. You just can't go out and buy Standing Rib Roast at $3.75 every day of the week. In fact, most stores don't carry that cut at all excepting this time of year. I gotta say, the electronic thermometer? I should have bought one a long time ago. You can cook your large roasts to perfection with one of those things. You know the exact, internal temperature of it. You can cook it rare, medium rare, medium -- whatever you like. No guessing games. I cooked my roast to 142 degrees and it came out perfect. Medium rare, I should say. I like my meat rare, actually, but most people don't like meat as rare as I like it so I cooked it so that the edges of the meat were brown to about an inch in and then varying shades of pink and red in the middle.
I'm making myself hungry and I just happen to have 2, very large platters of that meat left : ) With all the fixins' : )
Time to go reheat dinner!
Merry Christmas!
ben
Whatta crazy couple of weeks it's been leading up to yesterday's party.
All of that work - I can now put some of that off for a while and get back
to working on that trailer. I put the money aside in a savings account to get
it moved up north whenever I can get it finished.
It was just nice to see that mother likes the trailer and that it has her stamp of approval.
I have enough food in my refrigerator to last for days. In fact, several more trays of
food appeared in my fridge since I went to bed last night - I am guessing Caleb
must have brought it home from work. Yes, he had to work yesterday but at
least he has Christmas Day off. A new page in his life will be opening up with the
start of school next month. He will be a very busy young man with all that he intends
on doing in going to school, going to the gym and working. I'm proud of my son, he
has a good work ethic though I guess he doesn't much care for the job he is currently
working.
All well and fine, I told him, but make sure you find another job first before you go quitting that
one. I covered car insurance for him last month, but I don't want to have to do that again. I
want him to pay for his own car insurance and that's that. I have enough expenses to have to cover
his as well. He has a free place to live. I may change that as well. If his work continues to give
him the hours he is getting, then I feel it fair at his age to pay at least a small amount of rent. I heard a bit more chatter yesterday with my family and Caleb talking about his trip to Florida. The reason? I had guessed it before they left on that trip: her family attempting to talk her into moving back. That's all well and fine, too, but don't be attempting to pressure my son into moving with her. Let him make his own decision without pressure from either side.
As for me and today? I am content to do nothing. I was talking to an old friend yesterday who lives not far away, she was talking about me coming over there to spend the day with her family. Dunno. I'm pretty
worn out at this point. I would rather just watch some Christmas movies, go hang out at my fish ponds and sit around doing a lot of nothing for a couple of days.
Oh! Bashas' still has Standing Rib Roast on sale! I started to regret not buying another, smaller one and have it freezer wrapped, put in the freezer and save it for some time in the future. You just can't go out and buy Standing Rib Roast at $3.75 every day of the week. In fact, most stores don't carry that cut at all excepting this time of year. I gotta say, the electronic thermometer? I should have bought one a long time ago. You can cook your large roasts to perfection with one of those things. You know the exact, internal temperature of it. You can cook it rare, medium rare, medium -- whatever you like. No guessing games. I cooked my roast to 142 degrees and it came out perfect. Medium rare, I should say. I like my meat rare, actually, but most people don't like meat as rare as I like it so I cooked it so that the edges of the meat were brown to about an inch in and then varying shades of pink and red in the middle.
I'm making myself hungry and I just happen to have 2, very large platters of that meat left : ) With all the fixins' : )
Time to go reheat dinner!
Merry Christmas!
ben
Saturday, December 24, 2011
It Is Over
..........but it was fun. More importantly, I consider it a success. I'm talking about the family Christmas party, at my house, today and I just sat down maybe half an hour ago after cranking in the kitchen most of the day.
I won't go into all of it, at least now, just because I am exhausted. The dogs are not happy with me either - I stuck them out on the east/pond side of the house and made them stay there all day. There were far too many people here to have giant dogs attempting to wander around, getting in everyone's facing and being an annoyance.
In fact, the whole thing started crazy. Just before guests were to arrive, Prince's infection opened right up. Blood/puss everywhere. That was the reason I put them all over there - the blood was all over the kitchen floor, the cement outside, everywhere. Of all times for that thing to open up...........well, I visited them several times today, but I made them stay over there much to Coco's chagrin. I made it up to them, though. Once everyone left, they were given a feast of Prime Rib fat, juices and even some meat. They stood there and ate and ate and ate until it was ALL gone. So much so, they are all crashed out right now, lol.
Prince's companions obviously spent some time licking out the wound and it is very clean and also no more ooze coming out of it, at least for now.
Mom loves my trailer. The one that is going up to her property. I didn't have time to go out there and visit with her when she went into it, so when she came in, she says: I am guessing that the trailer you want to put up on my property is the on in the back, yes? Yes, definitely. She thought the carpet was good enough and didn't really need replacing. I suppose I could get it professionally cleaned and see what happens, but I would rather replace it to be honest.
Who knows, that entire project was put off with this family Christmas party and now, I can put off all the other stuff and get back to work on the trailer.
Anyway, the best thing is that everyone behaved themselves. No political BS/bantering, no mouthiness, just enjoyed each other's company, ate fine food and exchanged Christmas gifts. I scored $75 worth of Home Depot gift cards, yes! Haven't even thought what I am going to do with it yet. My middle brother gave me a bag full of stuff, including $60 cash, lol. I don't mind cash, thank you. Mom gave me the knife set from Germany - very high quality cutlery and very expensive - and several other smaller gifts. I just got her the weather station she wanted.
My oldest brother showed me a 4-wheeler magazing -with his toy featured in it. Wow! Petersen's 4Wheel & Off-Road magazine. His Toyota thing and his mug are on a huge, almost page width and length pic. He then showed me another toy he apparently just got done building. I shook his hand when they were leaving and congratulated him.
This is the second time I have done Christmas and served a Prime Rib roast and a spiral ham. I was amazed at how much meat was consumed, but being a 15 pound roast, the Prime Rib leftovers were quite sufficient to send home with everyone. But the ham? Almost totally consumed. The glaze I made was a simple honey, concentrated orange juice and brown sugar mix. Delicious. My oldest brother's wife - well she wanted that ham bone last time so I offered it to her again. Makes a nice soup, I guess. She said no, whispering that she didn't want to take something my mom would want.
Well, I had already heard from mom. I was going to give the Prime Ribs - rib bones - to the dogs as my Christmas present to them. Not that dogs know what Christmas is, but who cares. She went into this detailed explanation of how I could put those ribs in a slow cooker, put whatever I have at hand in with it - and that was rather detailed as well - cook and have some delicious soup. I listened and said great! She's totally into that stuff - I love soup but I know how much she loves making soups during the winter - our version of it, so a bit later I went up to her and offered her the ribs. I left a lot of meat on them, too. She said no, I could make the soup. I said no, you can have those ribs and make a nice, hot, delicious soup out of it.
It didn't take much pushing. She accepted and happily took them home with her. I just called her - make sure she got home okay. She didn't want to spend the night but dark fall occurred shortly after she left. All's well, thankfully. Linda - my brother's wife - took home the huge ham bone plus a lot of meat.
All in all - definitely worth the effort. I am rejuvenated on my desire to get the trailer done, ready to go. Not that I am starting on it tomorrow - tomorrow is Christmas and I might visit some folks, not sure about that yet, but I don't plan on working on anything. In fact, I may just spend a quiet day enjoying the season. I suppose I could take a hungry family some great food : )
That's it. It ain't all, just that that's it for me for today. I am content, full, happy and tired.
Merry Christmas.
ben
I won't go into all of it, at least now, just because I am exhausted. The dogs are not happy with me either - I stuck them out on the east/pond side of the house and made them stay there all day. There were far too many people here to have giant dogs attempting to wander around, getting in everyone's facing and being an annoyance.
In fact, the whole thing started crazy. Just before guests were to arrive, Prince's infection opened right up. Blood/puss everywhere. That was the reason I put them all over there - the blood was all over the kitchen floor, the cement outside, everywhere. Of all times for that thing to open up...........well, I visited them several times today, but I made them stay over there much to Coco's chagrin. I made it up to them, though. Once everyone left, they were given a feast of Prime Rib fat, juices and even some meat. They stood there and ate and ate and ate until it was ALL gone. So much so, they are all crashed out right now, lol.
Prince's companions obviously spent some time licking out the wound and it is very clean and also no more ooze coming out of it, at least for now.
Mom loves my trailer. The one that is going up to her property. I didn't have time to go out there and visit with her when she went into it, so when she came in, she says: I am guessing that the trailer you want to put up on my property is the on in the back, yes? Yes, definitely. She thought the carpet was good enough and didn't really need replacing. I suppose I could get it professionally cleaned and see what happens, but I would rather replace it to be honest.
Who knows, that entire project was put off with this family Christmas party and now, I can put off all the other stuff and get back to work on the trailer.
Anyway, the best thing is that everyone behaved themselves. No political BS/bantering, no mouthiness, just enjoyed each other's company, ate fine food and exchanged Christmas gifts. I scored $75 worth of Home Depot gift cards, yes! Haven't even thought what I am going to do with it yet. My middle brother gave me a bag full of stuff, including $60 cash, lol. I don't mind cash, thank you. Mom gave me the knife set from Germany - very high quality cutlery and very expensive - and several other smaller gifts. I just got her the weather station she wanted.
My oldest brother showed me a 4-wheeler magazing -with his toy featured in it. Wow! Petersen's 4Wheel & Off-Road magazine. His Toyota thing and his mug are on a huge, almost page width and length pic. He then showed me another toy he apparently just got done building. I shook his hand when they were leaving and congratulated him.
This is the second time I have done Christmas and served a Prime Rib roast and a spiral ham. I was amazed at how much meat was consumed, but being a 15 pound roast, the Prime Rib leftovers were quite sufficient to send home with everyone. But the ham? Almost totally consumed. The glaze I made was a simple honey, concentrated orange juice and brown sugar mix. Delicious. My oldest brother's wife - well she wanted that ham bone last time so I offered it to her again. Makes a nice soup, I guess. She said no, whispering that she didn't want to take something my mom would want.
Well, I had already heard from mom. I was going to give the Prime Ribs - rib bones - to the dogs as my Christmas present to them. Not that dogs know what Christmas is, but who cares. She went into this detailed explanation of how I could put those ribs in a slow cooker, put whatever I have at hand in with it - and that was rather detailed as well - cook and have some delicious soup. I listened and said great! She's totally into that stuff - I love soup but I know how much she loves making soups during the winter - our version of it, so a bit later I went up to her and offered her the ribs. I left a lot of meat on them, too. She said no, I could make the soup. I said no, you can have those ribs and make a nice, hot, delicious soup out of it.
It didn't take much pushing. She accepted and happily took them home with her. I just called her - make sure she got home okay. She didn't want to spend the night but dark fall occurred shortly after she left. All's well, thankfully. Linda - my brother's wife - took home the huge ham bone plus a lot of meat.
All in all - definitely worth the effort. I am rejuvenated on my desire to get the trailer done, ready to go. Not that I am starting on it tomorrow - tomorrow is Christmas and I might visit some folks, not sure about that yet, but I don't plan on working on anything. In fact, I may just spend a quiet day enjoying the season. I suppose I could take a hungry family some great food : )
That's it. It ain't all, just that that's it for me for today. I am content, full, happy and tired.
Merry Christmas.
ben
Friday, December 23, 2011
When They Get Here........
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>that's when I'll be done.
But the house looks quite nice, if I do say so myself. A few more things, things I may just up and do tonight. Or not. Bathroom scrubbed. Looks nice enough, but a fresh paint job wouldn't hurt. No time for that now.
Cooking tomorrow. I have everything I need. There is going to be a lot more people showing up than this thing started out at. It's a good thing I bought a 15 pound roast, that's all I can say about that, plus an 8 pound ham.
I haven't found sites to cover the factor of a much larger roast, though. Hmmm. I have my meat thermometer, if nothing else, that sucker will tell me when it's internally done enough.
I think I have bored people to tears with my blog, not much readership anymore. Thinking about quitting.
ben
But the house looks quite nice, if I do say so myself. A few more things, things I may just up and do tonight. Or not. Bathroom scrubbed. Looks nice enough, but a fresh paint job wouldn't hurt. No time for that now.
Cooking tomorrow. I have everything I need. There is going to be a lot more people showing up than this thing started out at. It's a good thing I bought a 15 pound roast, that's all I can say about that, plus an 8 pound ham.
I haven't found sites to cover the factor of a much larger roast, though. Hmmm. I have my meat thermometer, if nothing else, that sucker will tell me when it's internally done enough.
I think I have bored people to tears with my blog, not much readership anymore. Thinking about quitting.
ben
Prince, the black Great Dane, has an infection just underneath his ear. I hadn't even noticed it before today because of the location of the infection. Prince has Gumbo the Elephant sized ears - they are huge. Okay, not the size of an elephant's ears, but the things are massive. I got to looking at this huge ball that is, undoubtedly, filled with puss and found the intruder. A bite hole. Undoubtedly, Prince and Duke got into it again and just as undoubtedly, Duke got his teeth in there. This isn't the first time this has happened to either of them.
I immediately started the antibiotic treatment and probably am going to take him outsize and squeeze as much of that junk out of there as will come out. Gross, yes, necessary - yes.
The kid showed up again today. I started doubting that he was coming at around 9:00am and got busy with other stuff, namely, shampooing the living room carpet and working on my bathroom. I told him I didn't really have time to work with him today, I just showed him what to do and he got busy. He hauled all the rest of that rock. There is no pile out there now. It has all been spread out in the areas I wanted it done.
I continued on with what I was doing after that. When he was done, having no ride to get home - his brother was somewhere doing whatever - I offered him a ride since I was going that way anyway. His mother approved the ride and I went over there. I didn't know they had a pond - but Elijah offered me to go take a look at it. Yuck. That pond is bright green. It is so green with algae that you can't see ANYTHING in there.
His mom came out and we had quite the lengthy discussion about ponds. She said she didn't have any idea how to get the green out of it after she brought the subject up. Yes, well I have the answer and gave it to her: a UV sterilizer. I also stated that that pond was sorely in need of plants. I have given away a large amount of them in the last couple of days, I didn't know they had a pond, number one and number 2 that they needed plants for it. I could have given all of them to them. Well, just so happens I have another Umbrella plant that needs to be trimmed down quite a lot, plus my Yerba Mensa has several runners I could clip off and give to them.
Off to |Anna's Linens after that, picked up a few - cheap - items to spruce up the house a bit. Then home to unload everything I had acquired from yesterday that I still hadn't unloaded. Then off to Walmart. I could not believe how much traffic was out there. The major surface streets were moving at a snail's pace. I ended up taking back roads to get to Walmart and saving myself at least 15 minutes of driving. After Walmart, Gamestop. After Gamestop, Fry's Food Stores. I have acquired everything I need to acquire for this family Christmas celebration excepting the chair for Caleb's computer desk. I am not going to sweat it - if I find one today, great, if not, then at least I got the desk for him and will work on getting the chair within the week.
I am not done with house yet, but I figure just a couple more hours worth of work and it IS done. The last 2 weeks has been an amazing journey in a house and yard transformation. The family will come and go, but the effort made will still be there. So, I am on the downside to all of this. I need to pull out the Standing Rib Roast and pat it down with spices. It's a 3 hour cook time, allegedly, at 325 degrees. The ham will be in there with it. Spiral sliced ham and I am making a honey glaze to put on it. Home made mashed potatoes; corn; Cobb salad and grilled Jalapeno Poppers are my input to this dinner. Everyone else is bringing the rest.
I also found out today that my middle brother is bringing his son and another guest. There are going to be a lot of people here tomorrow!
So, my break time is over. I am going outside to pick up the last remaining tools/items that we were using to get the yard in shape and put those away. Then come inside and finish my bathroom. Wrap presents, do some pre-cooking chores for tomorrow and it will be ready. It has taken awhile, but the "magic" of Christmas has arrived back on my doorstep.
Hmmm, I did forget something. 3 Christmas cards to put the gift cards I bought into them. Oh well, I will have time to run up to the store for that tomorrow morning. I am home for the day.
ben
I immediately started the antibiotic treatment and probably am going to take him outsize and squeeze as much of that junk out of there as will come out. Gross, yes, necessary - yes.
The kid showed up again today. I started doubting that he was coming at around 9:00am and got busy with other stuff, namely, shampooing the living room carpet and working on my bathroom. I told him I didn't really have time to work with him today, I just showed him what to do and he got busy. He hauled all the rest of that rock. There is no pile out there now. It has all been spread out in the areas I wanted it done.
I continued on with what I was doing after that. When he was done, having no ride to get home - his brother was somewhere doing whatever - I offered him a ride since I was going that way anyway. His mother approved the ride and I went over there. I didn't know they had a pond - but Elijah offered me to go take a look at it. Yuck. That pond is bright green. It is so green with algae that you can't see ANYTHING in there.
His mom came out and we had quite the lengthy discussion about ponds. She said she didn't have any idea how to get the green out of it after she brought the subject up. Yes, well I have the answer and gave it to her: a UV sterilizer. I also stated that that pond was sorely in need of plants. I have given away a large amount of them in the last couple of days, I didn't know they had a pond, number one and number 2 that they needed plants for it. I could have given all of them to them. Well, just so happens I have another Umbrella plant that needs to be trimmed down quite a lot, plus my Yerba Mensa has several runners I could clip off and give to them.
Off to |Anna's Linens after that, picked up a few - cheap - items to spruce up the house a bit. Then home to unload everything I had acquired from yesterday that I still hadn't unloaded. Then off to Walmart. I could not believe how much traffic was out there. The major surface streets were moving at a snail's pace. I ended up taking back roads to get to Walmart and saving myself at least 15 minutes of driving. After Walmart, Gamestop. After Gamestop, Fry's Food Stores. I have acquired everything I need to acquire for this family Christmas celebration excepting the chair for Caleb's computer desk. I am not going to sweat it - if I find one today, great, if not, then at least I got the desk for him and will work on getting the chair within the week.
I am not done with house yet, but I figure just a couple more hours worth of work and it IS done. The last 2 weeks has been an amazing journey in a house and yard transformation. The family will come and go, but the effort made will still be there. So, I am on the downside to all of this. I need to pull out the Standing Rib Roast and pat it down with spices. It's a 3 hour cook time, allegedly, at 325 degrees. The ham will be in there with it. Spiral sliced ham and I am making a honey glaze to put on it. Home made mashed potatoes; corn; Cobb salad and grilled Jalapeno Poppers are my input to this dinner. Everyone else is bringing the rest.
I also found out today that my middle brother is bringing his son and another guest. There are going to be a lot of people here tomorrow!
So, my break time is over. I am going outside to pick up the last remaining tools/items that we were using to get the yard in shape and put those away. Then come inside and finish my bathroom. Wrap presents, do some pre-cooking chores for tomorrow and it will be ready. It has taken awhile, but the "magic" of Christmas has arrived back on my doorstep.
Hmmm, I did forget something. 3 Christmas cards to put the gift cards I bought into them. Oh well, I will have time to run up to the store for that tomorrow morning. I am home for the day.
ben
Friday 12/23/2011 The Final Day
I got so much done yesterday that today? Won't be a breeze, either. I'm close. Still have to finish buying some things and there is still some work left to do. I got started on cleaning the carpet in the living room yesterday but got pulled completely off of that to work with that kid outside to get all of that done out there. Basically, when you're working with kids, you really have to work alongside them in a project that requires as much finagling as that ordeal yesterday was. Otherwise, you will not see the results you wanted and you only have yourself to blame.
Unfortunately, there is still much I want to get done out there and there is 30 minutes left of cleanup I need to get done out there today, but for the gathering tomorrow? More than good enough.
I'm going to have to writer later, things just sort of blew up in my face right now, gotta go into overdriver.
Later.
ben
Unfortunately, there is still much I want to get done out there and there is 30 minutes left of cleanup I need to get done out there today, but for the gathering tomorrow? More than good enough.
I'm going to have to writer later, things just sort of blew up in my face right now, gotta go into overdriver.
Later.
ben
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Thursday 12/22/2011
First day of winter.
I wrote an ad on Craigslist to get some help on the east side of my house - thought maybe someone could use earning a few bucks and I want to get it done.
The funny thing is the people that are "begging" for money on there that say they will do just about "anything" to raise some finances - you reply to THEM and they won't do ANYTHING. I got 2 whole replies on that ad. 1 from a person that doesn't speak English and another from a 14 year old kid.
Well, I opted for the kid. Sometimes they are hard workers - sometimes they aren't. I'm just not a big fan of people who live in the U.S. and don't bother to learn the language of the land which is why I did not opt for that other person. You would think Spanish is the language of the land around these parts. _____________________________________________________________
Scored. Got a worker, not some lazy @$$. Kid worked his butt off for 5-1/2 hours and then he wanted to go home. No problem and wasn't unhappy at all with paying him. He hauled a LOT of rock from one side of the house to the other while I was laying out the plastic and spreading the rock. Still a bit left to do, but he wants to come back tomorrow so I stopped with it. I don't really want to haul the rock anymore today, anyway, lol.
Took a nap.
Left. On the road. Christmas present bonanza. Gotta git -er done. I didn't want to be rushing around tomorrow trying to find stuff, do that today in case there are any problems. Got everything but the chair for Caleb. I did get his computer desk, though. I am not going to buy a new one and if I don't have it before Saturday, he isn't going to have a cow about it, I am waiting for "the deal". One guy wanted $95 for his used one - probably a $300 chair but I decided against it. $50 and no more.
This has been a LONG day. If I didn't have these days off work/vacation, I would be screwed. Well, this place wouldn't be anything like I want it to look, really. The hard work outside is beginning to pay off. It's starting to look really nice out there. I still have stuff to do in here, but Mark has been cranking away for days now. Cleaning the runner for the sliding glass door, scrubbing door framing and windows and all kinds of stuff.
I let one of those pond filters go WAY too long! I spent an hour or more cleaning it out this morning. There was so much fish waste in it, it was amazing. Makes nice plant fertilizer. But it's done and the other one was done yesterday so they are both pumping out high volumes of water. When they start to get clogged up, the water output goes down - and down - lol.
Well, I am off to finish the bathroom. Caleb waited until 3:00 pm to call me and tell me we need to go to the college today to make the payment. Nothing like waiting until the last minute. I was out and about, far from the college. I told him to go into my room, get my checkbook. So he did. But then I remembered that my dad sent him a letter that arrived today, I was hoping it was the check for school. Sure enough. So, I told Caleb to go cash the check if he could, but take my checkbook in case they wouldn't cash it.
So, he goes to the bank and deposits the check. Gag. Meaning, it won't show anything until after midnight. So he calls me up from the college and tells me the card had been declined. Lol. Yes, son, because you deposited the check, you didn't try to cash it. Oh well. I'm getting a lot of phone calls from him at this point. Finally, I get a call and they are now telling him the grant had already gone through, the money is available and the he doesn't have to pay ANYTHING. It's a Pell grant. It is paying for the entire school year plus his books.
But I made him do this alone. Yes, I got the phone calls, but I made him go in there and deal with this himself. He's 18, it's time to learn how to deal with life. This went on for a couple of hours, he called me after it was done. I asked him if it felt good that he was able to, basically, do this himself without either of his parents having to be there? Yes, indeed. So, he has dad's money if he needs it and he is getting a "refund" from the grant. Apparently they give you more money than you need to help pay personal expenses while going to school. Nice of them, I guess, but you know who is paying for all of that.
Later.
ben
I wrote an ad on Craigslist to get some help on the east side of my house - thought maybe someone could use earning a few bucks and I want to get it done.
The funny thing is the people that are "begging" for money on there that say they will do just about "anything" to raise some finances - you reply to THEM and they won't do ANYTHING. I got 2 whole replies on that ad. 1 from a person that doesn't speak English and another from a 14 year old kid.
Well, I opted for the kid. Sometimes they are hard workers - sometimes they aren't. I'm just not a big fan of people who live in the U.S. and don't bother to learn the language of the land which is why I did not opt for that other person. You would think Spanish is the language of the land around these parts. _____________________________________________________________
Scored. Got a worker, not some lazy @$$. Kid worked his butt off for 5-1/2 hours and then he wanted to go home. No problem and wasn't unhappy at all with paying him. He hauled a LOT of rock from one side of the house to the other while I was laying out the plastic and spreading the rock. Still a bit left to do, but he wants to come back tomorrow so I stopped with it. I don't really want to haul the rock anymore today, anyway, lol.
Took a nap.
Left. On the road. Christmas present bonanza. Gotta git -er done. I didn't want to be rushing around tomorrow trying to find stuff, do that today in case there are any problems. Got everything but the chair for Caleb. I did get his computer desk, though. I am not going to buy a new one and if I don't have it before Saturday, he isn't going to have a cow about it, I am waiting for "the deal". One guy wanted $95 for his used one - probably a $300 chair but I decided against it. $50 and no more.
This has been a LONG day. If I didn't have these days off work/vacation, I would be screwed. Well, this place wouldn't be anything like I want it to look, really. The hard work outside is beginning to pay off. It's starting to look really nice out there. I still have stuff to do in here, but Mark has been cranking away for days now. Cleaning the runner for the sliding glass door, scrubbing door framing and windows and all kinds of stuff.
I let one of those pond filters go WAY too long! I spent an hour or more cleaning it out this morning. There was so much fish waste in it, it was amazing. Makes nice plant fertilizer. But it's done and the other one was done yesterday so they are both pumping out high volumes of water. When they start to get clogged up, the water output goes down - and down - lol.
Well, I am off to finish the bathroom. Caleb waited until 3:00 pm to call me and tell me we need to go to the college today to make the payment. Nothing like waiting until the last minute. I was out and about, far from the college. I told him to go into my room, get my checkbook. So he did. But then I remembered that my dad sent him a letter that arrived today, I was hoping it was the check for school. Sure enough. So, I told Caleb to go cash the check if he could, but take my checkbook in case they wouldn't cash it.
So, he goes to the bank and deposits the check. Gag. Meaning, it won't show anything until after midnight. So he calls me up from the college and tells me the card had been declined. Lol. Yes, son, because you deposited the check, you didn't try to cash it. Oh well. I'm getting a lot of phone calls from him at this point. Finally, I get a call and they are now telling him the grant had already gone through, the money is available and the he doesn't have to pay ANYTHING. It's a Pell grant. It is paying for the entire school year plus his books.
But I made him do this alone. Yes, I got the phone calls, but I made him go in there and deal with this himself. He's 18, it's time to learn how to deal with life. This went on for a couple of hours, he called me after it was done. I asked him if it felt good that he was able to, basically, do this himself without either of his parents having to be there? Yes, indeed. So, he has dad's money if he needs it and he is getting a "refund" from the grant. Apparently they give you more money than you need to help pay personal expenses while going to school. Nice of them, I guess, but you know who is paying for all of that.
Later.
ben
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Wednesday 12/21/2011
First day of vacation and acting like it. Got up at 7:38 am. That's 3 hours beyond my normal start up time. I am sitting contemplating finishing the bedroom and bathroom - I didn't do anything on it last night.
Procrastination? Hardly. Just taking a breather, but in about 30 minutes I am going to go full out on it and get it all done today. Hopefully, lol. I have such a large list of things I want to get done, I'm not sure it will all get finished in time - but - I am not going to stress over it. By the time Saturday gets here, it will look good enough.
___________________________
2 solid hours of work got the bedroom 99% done. Tired of that (come back to it later to give the finishing touches), I went into the bathroom. Gonna scrub that entire room including the walls. But I'm going to start alternating between inside and out of the house so I don't get burned out on one thing. I am not really all that interested in doing all of this during what should be vacation time, but the end result will definitely be worth it.
______________________
The All-Day Entry. Took the shower doors off and outside where I thoroughly scrubbed them. Then scrubbed the entire shower stall itself. An hour's worth of work or more just for that. Tired of this stuff, I left. Went to Fresh 'N Easy for my spiral half ham. No, I went to Radio Shack first, but that store was closed down. Having no idea where the other locations are and not having my computer with me, I figured to try Fry's Electronics, but went to Fresh' N' Easy after that and then Walmart after that. Had to get a couple new air pumps for my ponds, the other ones quit working. Got a bunch of other stuff, too, and then headed to Fry's Electronics. They had both nice and junky computer desks there (Caleb's Christmas gift). Also found the weather stations that my mother wants. Didn't really like any of theirs, so I am definitely going to go to another Radio Shack location.
Then I started looking on line for a nice computer chair. I can get the desk at Fry's if it comes down to that, but the chair? No way am I spending $150 or more on a good chair when people are selling off their stuff on Craigslist because of the bad economy.
Found several, but I'm home for the day and will take up this task tomorrow.
Going outside now to start cleaning out the pond filters. They are covered with gunk and goo and I need to thoroughly clean both of them, a task I don't especially care for but it has to be done.
_________________________________________________
First day of winter starts tomorrow. I have gotten more accomplished today than I thought I would.
But I also - well I didn't really want to but I was looking around - come up with more things to do that need to be done regardless of whether family is coming or not.
___________________________________
End of the day. Treated the house to the new Planet of the Apes movie. I order it online, it shows on every receiver in the house. I wasn't really being that generous: I wanted to watch a new release and that one stuck out because I have watched all of the previous movies - a lot of times - and because I just wanted to watch a movie. Well, if I'm going to do it, I do it on the internet and that way everyone that wants to can watch it as well. If I call Direct TV, it was good for the receiver I was calling for in my house. At least,that's the way it was quite a while back - I don't call Direct TV until the issues pop up. I hate dealing with that company.
Lots done today, much to go. Still looking for Caleb's computer chair - I think I found one. It's a $400 chair, used, going for $95. The pic shows it in excellent condition. I am either going over there tomorrow or - I have found some cheaper ones that still look very comfortable. If you're going to sit in a chair for hours playing your internet games or soon: doing school homework, the chair should be, at least IMO, be comfortable. There is a set that states that being uncomfortable doing homework or in school for that matter helps to keep a person alert.
Whatever.
G'nite.
ben
Procrastination? Hardly. Just taking a breather, but in about 30 minutes I am going to go full out on it and get it all done today. Hopefully, lol. I have such a large list of things I want to get done, I'm not sure it will all get finished in time - but - I am not going to stress over it. By the time Saturday gets here, it will look good enough.
___________________________
2 solid hours of work got the bedroom 99% done. Tired of that (come back to it later to give the finishing touches), I went into the bathroom. Gonna scrub that entire room including the walls. But I'm going to start alternating between inside and out of the house so I don't get burned out on one thing. I am not really all that interested in doing all of this during what should be vacation time, but the end result will definitely be worth it.
______________________
The All-Day Entry. Took the shower doors off and outside where I thoroughly scrubbed them. Then scrubbed the entire shower stall itself. An hour's worth of work or more just for that. Tired of this stuff, I left. Went to Fresh 'N Easy for my spiral half ham. No, I went to Radio Shack first, but that store was closed down. Having no idea where the other locations are and not having my computer with me, I figured to try Fry's Electronics, but went to Fresh' N' Easy after that and then Walmart after that. Had to get a couple new air pumps for my ponds, the other ones quit working. Got a bunch of other stuff, too, and then headed to Fry's Electronics. They had both nice and junky computer desks there (Caleb's Christmas gift). Also found the weather stations that my mother wants. Didn't really like any of theirs, so I am definitely going to go to another Radio Shack location.
Then I started looking on line for a nice computer chair. I can get the desk at Fry's if it comes down to that, but the chair? No way am I spending $150 or more on a good chair when people are selling off their stuff on Craigslist because of the bad economy.
Found several, but I'm home for the day and will take up this task tomorrow.
Going outside now to start cleaning out the pond filters. They are covered with gunk and goo and I need to thoroughly clean both of them, a task I don't especially care for but it has to be done.
_________________________________________________
First day of winter starts tomorrow. I have gotten more accomplished today than I thought I would.
But I also - well I didn't really want to but I was looking around - come up with more things to do that need to be done regardless of whether family is coming or not.
___________________________________
End of the day. Treated the house to the new Planet of the Apes movie. I order it online, it shows on every receiver in the house. I wasn't really being that generous: I wanted to watch a new release and that one stuck out because I have watched all of the previous movies - a lot of times - and because I just wanted to watch a movie. Well, if I'm going to do it, I do it on the internet and that way everyone that wants to can watch it as well. If I call Direct TV, it was good for the receiver I was calling for in my house. At least,that's the way it was quite a while back - I don't call Direct TV until the issues pop up. I hate dealing with that company.
Lots done today, much to go. Still looking for Caleb's computer chair - I think I found one. It's a $400 chair, used, going for $95. The pic shows it in excellent condition. I am either going over there tomorrow or - I have found some cheaper ones that still look very comfortable. If you're going to sit in a chair for hours playing your internet games or soon: doing school homework, the chair should be, at least IMO, be comfortable. There is a set that states that being uncomfortable doing homework or in school for that matter helps to keep a person alert.
Whatever.
G'nite.
ben
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Tuesday 12/20/2011
I get off work yesterday and go to find a Christmas tree. I usually have one long before now during the Christmas season, but, things have been piling up.
Well, I went to Home Depot which is where I normally buy one and they were all out. They had a couple of them in the back of the Christmas Tree lot, but they apparently were not for sale. The counter guy calls his manager to see if they are getting anymore: "We are all done for the season".
Wow, okay. Down the street to Lowe's. They didn't have any either, and weren't getting anymore!
Christmas at Ben Kranks?!!! NO WAYYYYYY!
I sat in Lowe's parking lot and started thinking. WHO always sells Christmas trees, even up to the last moment. Whitfill's! That name finally entered my mind. It's mostly a tree farm, actually, and the main location just happens to be 2-1/2 miles away from my house. Which is good, cause' I didn't really want to have a tree strapped to the top of my car for too long of a distance.
Fired up the music and zoomed over there. Not only did they have trees left, they had a LOT of trees left. Including one that was at least 25 feet tall, an elegant and stunning looking tree - with a price tag of $400, lol. The lady working there was all kinds of cheery and definitely had the Christmas spirit. I hated to make it sound like I was being cheap, but I asked what the cheapest trees were. I was hoping to hear $20.
Yes, she says, the Douglas Firs are $19.95. That's my kind of price. I am only going to have the thing maybe until New Year's, spending a lot of money on something that is going to end up in a recycling bin in less than 2 weeks - well it just isn't in the budget. She took me to 3 scraggly looking trees which I summarily rejected. She continued walking around and found one that had no tag on it, but was one of the $19.95 trees, a beautiful specimen, perfect dimensions with an almost perfect "stick" on the top for the angel.
I started to grab it, but she said no, his lot guy would take care of all of that. And sure enough, he got the tree, cut off a small portion of the trunk at the bottom, got some twine, brought it to my car, loaded it and tied it down for me!
I got it home and Mark and Lynnette immediately started working on it. Okay. I just sat there and watched, lol.
I also got nothing done on finished the room and bathroom project yesterday. I got home late and I was too tired out to do anything with it. Putting it off may not be so advisable, but, oh well. I'll get with the program today after work since, after work today, I have 6 straight, full days off. I can stay up late and just sleep in in the morning. The luscious part of taking a lot of vacation days, for me anyway, is the ability to be able to sleep in past 4:30 am. Get up at 6 or even 7 if I want to. Some people think getting up at 6 is early, lol.
Well whatever. Enough to do in the routing system today to keep me busy all day at work. Love it.
G'day.
ben
Well, I went to Home Depot which is where I normally buy one and they were all out. They had a couple of them in the back of the Christmas Tree lot, but they apparently were not for sale. The counter guy calls his manager to see if they are getting anymore: "We are all done for the season".
Wow, okay. Down the street to Lowe's. They didn't have any either, and weren't getting anymore!
Christmas at Ben Kranks?!!! NO WAYYYYYY!
I sat in Lowe's parking lot and started thinking. WHO always sells Christmas trees, even up to the last moment. Whitfill's! That name finally entered my mind. It's mostly a tree farm, actually, and the main location just happens to be 2-1/2 miles away from my house. Which is good, cause' I didn't really want to have a tree strapped to the top of my car for too long of a distance.
Fired up the music and zoomed over there. Not only did they have trees left, they had a LOT of trees left. Including one that was at least 25 feet tall, an elegant and stunning looking tree - with a price tag of $400, lol. The lady working there was all kinds of cheery and definitely had the Christmas spirit. I hated to make it sound like I was being cheap, but I asked what the cheapest trees were. I was hoping to hear $20.
Yes, she says, the Douglas Firs are $19.95. That's my kind of price. I am only going to have the thing maybe until New Year's, spending a lot of money on something that is going to end up in a recycling bin in less than 2 weeks - well it just isn't in the budget. She took me to 3 scraggly looking trees which I summarily rejected. She continued walking around and found one that had no tag on it, but was one of the $19.95 trees, a beautiful specimen, perfect dimensions with an almost perfect "stick" on the top for the angel.
I started to grab it, but she said no, his lot guy would take care of all of that. And sure enough, he got the tree, cut off a small portion of the trunk at the bottom, got some twine, brought it to my car, loaded it and tied it down for me!
I got it home and Mark and Lynnette immediately started working on it. Okay. I just sat there and watched, lol.
I also got nothing done on finished the room and bathroom project yesterday. I got home late and I was too tired out to do anything with it. Putting it off may not be so advisable, but, oh well. I'll get with the program today after work since, after work today, I have 6 straight, full days off. I can stay up late and just sleep in in the morning. The luscious part of taking a lot of vacation days, for me anyway, is the ability to be able to sleep in past 4:30 am. Get up at 6 or even 7 if I want to. Some people think getting up at 6 is early, lol.
Well whatever. Enough to do in the routing system today to keep me busy all day at work. Love it.
G'day.
ben
Monday, December 19, 2011
Monday 12/18/2011
2 days of work - today and tomorrow - and then off for 6 days going back to work on Tuesday. The painting in my bedroom has definitely been much more of a job than I had first considered. I have one wall left to go - where my bed and night table is and it will be done excepting some trim around the doors. That needs a different hue of white - like as bright a white as you can possible get.
I have a couple more things to hang up in my bathroom and that will be done. Well, a good cleaning but that is an ongoing thing anyway.
It was, after is said and done, nice to get that discount on that Omaha package yesterday. This is going to be a very busy week. Last night I was driving myself to get more done and then finally, I just plopped down on my bed and said enough. Enough for one day, anyway. It has been a bit of a plus to get that kind of motivation to get something done that you have been putting off - the painting of my room that is - but at the same time, that's because I have been working outside and there is still plenty to do out there.
I am not going to fret over it. I have a lot of rock to haul over there from the other side of the house - over there being where I am working - but I have no intention of getting all of that done before everyone shows up on Christmas Eve Day. I DO intend on getting the areas around the ponds over there completed. I want that to look nice. It's probably around 3 or 4 hours worth of work to finish those 2 areas, I am guessing. I did pretty much get the front done. I mean, there is more to do out there but it is looking nice right now and if I don't do anything else out there this week besides a bit of cleanup work, I will be happy with it.
Well, anyway, I will crank out the rest of that room today, hopefully, after work, finish the bathroom today or tomorrow and have the rest of the week to laze around out there getting stuff done, yes, but not at a frantic pace (unless, of course, time starts to run out and I haven't got everything done, lol).
As for work today, plenty. I pulled an order on Friday that hopefully was checked by my manager (I asked him to, this particular account has been giving us problems in them calling us and telling us something is missing even though we triple checked the order and then had THEM check the entire order after taking it out there) and only needs to be wrapped up, loaded on the truck and hauled out there. Then back to the yard for 3 more orders going to another contractor.
It is rather interesting that there is this much work going on near Christmas time. Historically, at this job anyway, that isn't the case at all. The week leading up to Christmas is usually pretty much dead. No problem for me, I would far rather stay busy, just an observation.
Later.
ben
I have a couple more things to hang up in my bathroom and that will be done. Well, a good cleaning but that is an ongoing thing anyway.
It was, after is said and done, nice to get that discount on that Omaha package yesterday. This is going to be a very busy week. Last night I was driving myself to get more done and then finally, I just plopped down on my bed and said enough. Enough for one day, anyway. It has been a bit of a plus to get that kind of motivation to get something done that you have been putting off - the painting of my room that is - but at the same time, that's because I have been working outside and there is still plenty to do out there.
I am not going to fret over it. I have a lot of rock to haul over there from the other side of the house - over there being where I am working - but I have no intention of getting all of that done before everyone shows up on Christmas Eve Day. I DO intend on getting the areas around the ponds over there completed. I want that to look nice. It's probably around 3 or 4 hours worth of work to finish those 2 areas, I am guessing. I did pretty much get the front done. I mean, there is more to do out there but it is looking nice right now and if I don't do anything else out there this week besides a bit of cleanup work, I will be happy with it.
Well, anyway, I will crank out the rest of that room today, hopefully, after work, finish the bathroom today or tomorrow and have the rest of the week to laze around out there getting stuff done, yes, but not at a frantic pace (unless, of course, time starts to run out and I haven't got everything done, lol).
As for work today, plenty. I pulled an order on Friday that hopefully was checked by my manager (I asked him to, this particular account has been giving us problems in them calling us and telling us something is missing even though we triple checked the order and then had THEM check the entire order after taking it out there) and only needs to be wrapped up, loaded on the truck and hauled out there. Then back to the yard for 3 more orders going to another contractor.
It is rather interesting that there is this much work going on near Christmas time. Historically, at this job anyway, that isn't the case at all. The week leading up to Christmas is usually pretty much dead. No problem for me, I would far rather stay busy, just an observation.
Later.
ben
Sunday, December 18, 2011
It Ended Amiably - Omaha Steaks
My annual call to Omaha Steaks to order a package for my brother and sister-in-law did not start out well.
I certainly did NOT call them to get into some sort of altercation with them. The light went off in my head: get it ordered or they won't have it in time by Christmas.
So I called. Now, before I got into this, I have an account with them. My name and what I have ordered with them is on file.
So I ask the lady that gets on the phone what kind of deal she can do for me. Instead of asking me if I have an account or if I have ever ordered before - or ANYTHING a salesperson should be asking - she states that there are thousands of deals and that she cannot possibly go into all of them. Wow. "Well, then, please connect me to a supervisor and perhaps they can give me the information I am asking for". She hung up on me.
Anytime a customer service rep hangs up on me is the pre-cursor for trouble for that person and a deal for me. But, honestly, I did NOT start out that way. In the past, I ask them the same question and they go off into the most popular, current deals that they have.
I call back, of course. A different lady answers the phone. I explain that I was just hung up on by a person at her company and that I would like to speak to a supervisor. She laughed at me: YOU want to speak to a supervisor because someone hung up on you?!!! saying it increduously, as if it were normal for incoming sales call centers to hang up on customers that are pretty much determined to make an order and yes, pay for it then and there, on the phone, with a credit card.
Yes, I replied, I do, not saying anything to her about her stupid attitude.
Her manager gets on the phone. I discuss with this person about the hang-up on the first call. Well, he states, I will look into that. Yeah, that doesn't work with me, not the way he said it, but I figured to play this one out and see what happens. It's the inflections and tones that the way people say things that give it away for me.
When we get to the point of making an order, I decided not to. I was dissed not by one, but 2 customer service reps and I decided I needed to call headquarters tomorrow when they are open. He asks why and I tell him. He didn't know because I hadn't told him about the second person. He says he will review the call after we get off the phone. No, I stated, you review the call now and then get back to me, because I have been treated quite rudely for no good reason and I WILL be getting a discount on my order.
He was surprised. He then stated he would have to end the call with me to review that call. Okay, review the call and call me back, here's my number. He says fine, but if he doesn't get back to me............EXCUSE ME? WHY would you start telling me you aren't getting back to me after you just stated you WOULD? I give him my cell phone number and we hang up.
15 minutes later, he calls back. I will say that this is the first time ever that I have sat here and listened to a supervisor telling me the conversation he had with one of his employees. That is pretty much taboo, but I listened to him because - fascinating. The woman tried to finagle out of it. He stated that it is simply intolerable to laugh at a customer who wants to speak to a supervisor regardless of what you think about it. The person I had first talked to that hung up on me had gone home for the evening and that, apparently, is the reason she hung up on me!! ROFL!!
End of the story: Same deal I got last year for $30 less PLUS 18 hamburgers added for free and of course free shipping.
That's not a bad deal, at all! I thanked him quite well and wished him a Merry Christmas and - end of call.
ben
I certainly did NOT call them to get into some sort of altercation with them. The light went off in my head: get it ordered or they won't have it in time by Christmas.
So I called. Now, before I got into this, I have an account with them. My name and what I have ordered with them is on file.
So I ask the lady that gets on the phone what kind of deal she can do for me. Instead of asking me if I have an account or if I have ever ordered before - or ANYTHING a salesperson should be asking - she states that there are thousands of deals and that she cannot possibly go into all of them. Wow. "Well, then, please connect me to a supervisor and perhaps they can give me the information I am asking for". She hung up on me.
Anytime a customer service rep hangs up on me is the pre-cursor for trouble for that person and a deal for me. But, honestly, I did NOT start out that way. In the past, I ask them the same question and they go off into the most popular, current deals that they have.
I call back, of course. A different lady answers the phone. I explain that I was just hung up on by a person at her company and that I would like to speak to a supervisor. She laughed at me: YOU want to speak to a supervisor because someone hung up on you?!!! saying it increduously, as if it were normal for incoming sales call centers to hang up on customers that are pretty much determined to make an order and yes, pay for it then and there, on the phone, with a credit card.
Yes, I replied, I do, not saying anything to her about her stupid attitude.
Her manager gets on the phone. I discuss with this person about the hang-up on the first call. Well, he states, I will look into that. Yeah, that doesn't work with me, not the way he said it, but I figured to play this one out and see what happens. It's the inflections and tones that the way people say things that give it away for me.
When we get to the point of making an order, I decided not to. I was dissed not by one, but 2 customer service reps and I decided I needed to call headquarters tomorrow when they are open. He asks why and I tell him. He didn't know because I hadn't told him about the second person. He says he will review the call after we get off the phone. No, I stated, you review the call now and then get back to me, because I have been treated quite rudely for no good reason and I WILL be getting a discount on my order.
He was surprised. He then stated he would have to end the call with me to review that call. Okay, review the call and call me back, here's my number. He says fine, but if he doesn't get back to me............EXCUSE ME? WHY would you start telling me you aren't getting back to me after you just stated you WOULD? I give him my cell phone number and we hang up.
15 minutes later, he calls back. I will say that this is the first time ever that I have sat here and listened to a supervisor telling me the conversation he had with one of his employees. That is pretty much taboo, but I listened to him because - fascinating. The woman tried to finagle out of it. He stated that it is simply intolerable to laugh at a customer who wants to speak to a supervisor regardless of what you think about it. The person I had first talked to that hung up on me had gone home for the evening and that, apparently, is the reason she hung up on me!! ROFL!!
End of the story: Same deal I got last year for $30 less PLUS 18 hamburgers added for free and of course free shipping.
That's not a bad deal, at all! I thanked him quite well and wished him a Merry Christmas and - end of call.
ben
Sunday 12/18/2011
Got up this morning around 6:00am, had my coffee and then got busy with the painting. I'm about 2/3rd's done with it now. I would have it all done but I have to move furniture from the walls and so I was doing sections at a time so the entire room wasn't thrown into chaos, but alas, it is in total chaos anyway and I am going to spend the rest of today attempting to get it all done or most of it anyway and get it back together again. I am cleaning the carpet and cleaning underneath, behind furniture and everything, it isn't just a paint job, hence it is taking longer.
Anyway, got 2 walls almost done excepting for some of the trim work and then took a shower and headed off to church. A highly amusing Christmas program they put together and then a Christmas Brunch, they called it, afterward. More like a complete Thanksgiving dinner! Sat around talked with some folks for a while, though the next time I want to invade other people's table privacy and see about getting to know more people in the church.
I left there and headed straight for Home Depot: must get 2 more gallons of that paint that is on close-out before it's gone. Then headed to Bashas', the grocery store selling the Standing Rib Roast for $3.67 per pound. Well they didn't have a big enough roast out. Including me, there will be 11 people at this dinner (3 more added this morning, gotta call from my other sister-in-law who found out I am doing Christmas dinner and wants to come). "Do you have any bigger roasts?". The kid (I mean, if this boy were 18 years old I would be surprised) said he would check. They have the Large End rib in a bigger size, but I would have to pay more per pound for it. Better cut of meat, apparently. I decided a few extra bucks for a larger roast would be worth it. He came out with a 15 pounder. Plenty big enough for everyone considering I am also going to get a half ham.
Half ham coming from Fresh and Easy. The rest of everything coming from Fry's. Trying to keep the cost down - going to 3, possibly 4, different stores may sound like a time waster but it's definitely going to save money, so no biggies.
So, here and now. Just sort of sat here for a while attempting to let some of this food I ate at church digest a bit. But, fun-time is over, I need to get back to work on that bedroom and the bathroom.
Later.
ben
Anyway, got 2 walls almost done excepting for some of the trim work and then took a shower and headed off to church. A highly amusing Christmas program they put together and then a Christmas Brunch, they called it, afterward. More like a complete Thanksgiving dinner! Sat around talked with some folks for a while, though the next time I want to invade other people's table privacy and see about getting to know more people in the church.
I left there and headed straight for Home Depot: must get 2 more gallons of that paint that is on close-out before it's gone. Then headed to Bashas', the grocery store selling the Standing Rib Roast for $3.67 per pound. Well they didn't have a big enough roast out. Including me, there will be 11 people at this dinner (3 more added this morning, gotta call from my other sister-in-law who found out I am doing Christmas dinner and wants to come). "Do you have any bigger roasts?". The kid (I mean, if this boy were 18 years old I would be surprised) said he would check. They have the Large End rib in a bigger size, but I would have to pay more per pound for it. Better cut of meat, apparently. I decided a few extra bucks for a larger roast would be worth it. He came out with a 15 pounder. Plenty big enough for everyone considering I am also going to get a half ham.
Half ham coming from Fresh and Easy. The rest of everything coming from Fry's. Trying to keep the cost down - going to 3, possibly 4, different stores may sound like a time waster but it's definitely going to save money, so no biggies.
So, here and now. Just sort of sat here for a while attempting to let some of this food I ate at church digest a bit. But, fun-time is over, I need to get back to work on that bedroom and the bathroom.
Later.
ben
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