Stuck inside!

It has been a "bit" cold here as of late, too cold to play outside at all! So what to do? Hack some blogs so they look better!
I finished this blogs hack just a little while ago, I widened the post area so it looked better! MUCH better than the narrow strip that it had! Nothing say's geek like.......yeah, yeah!
I am half way through the winter break at GRCC, I'm looking forward to getting back to learning! A part of my personality that I had forgotten about has made its way back, I need to stay busy! Always doing something! LOL! GRCC is a good way to do that!
On another note, I woke up at 3:30am and needed to get something to drink, when I looked out the kitchen window there was a small doe munching away at the bird seed that the squirrels has thrown on the ground. I am hoping that she will come back and start to bring friends, last winter I had as many as 7 deer in my yard during the night, I'd like to see that again!
One of these days I need to take a photography class, I would love to be able to get the
"perfect" picture each time! The picture below just does not do what I see with my eye's any justice, too bad! It was AWESOME!
Time to head off for now, I need to find something to do! LOL! Coffee is a good start!
Later all!!

Me!

one of the last pleasant rides

When class ended and I went outside I was pleasantly surprised at how warm it was, I made up my mind that I was going to go for a ride even if it was a short one. I ended up only going 18 miles, but it was NICE! I'd like to ride some more today, but I have a project that needs to be done. I guess I'll see if I get that ride or not?
The bike looks nice with the leaves in the background, it was more fun to have it on the road!
Time to head off to class,
Later all!

Me!

Starter troubles

My brother and I put a starter in his '96 Chevy S-10 today, it was the hardest I'd done to date.
1. Disconnect the battery
2. Disconnect the starter
3. Disconnect the hidden starter mount
4. Remove the inspection panel between the engine and transmission
5. Remove the two brackets mounted to the inspection panel
6. Disconnect the starter wires
7. Remove (FINALLY!) the starter
8. Do it all backwards!

In and out took nearly three hours, and I had the proper tools to do the job! GAK! what a TOTAL royal pain! LOL!
I'm NOT complaining mind you! at least it is not January and -10 degrees! WHOO! COLD!!
Project number 1005 done, project 1006 is in my driveway, my own car this time, it's slated for new brake pads and rotors.
Later all!

Tired Me!

New tires

I managed to get to discount tire in time to have a new set of tires put on, I knew the front tires were getting bad, but had no idea just how bad they really were.
I only replaced two of the tires, the rear were still in really good shape, other than being cupped on the inside. The howling that I have been hearing lately was the tires and not the wheel bearing.
In the process I found out I need to replace the brake pads and rotors in the front, not too expensive and it is good timing since there is no snow on the ground yet. It won't take too long tom do the installation, and I need to check the rear drums and brakes also, the Stratus does after all have nearly 100k on it.
Not to much on the plate for the weekend, my car, a van and a trip to the lake to finish the cleaning process up., i really hated having to put it up this year, i could really use another few weeks of camping to feed my inner child.
time to head off for now, class is about to start.
Later all!

Me!

Leaf storm

I woke up to a temperature of 27 degrees today, and major frost! The result was a leaf storm! This picture does not do it justice! It was awesome! I watched the leaf's drop for some time, there is now a layer of them on my lawn.

It is still stinking cold out, I'll be wearing my warm jacket to church today!
later all!

Me!

The Aspire and the hairball

I'd noticed recently that the Aspire seemed to be a bit loud, so today I took it apart to check the heat pipe cooling fan. As soon as I pulled the fan off a rather large hairball fell right out and I found that the grill was completely blocked from the inside.
I cleaned the thing up and it is far quieter now, it is running far better also, what a different machine! that is a good thing!
Time to head off, more homework to get done!
Later!!!

Me!

Thinking? UH-OH!

Thinking is always a dangerous thing, not this time though, I was thinking about taking a road trip on the motorcycle! there is a covered bridge only 15 miles away and I would like to get some pictures and background for it.

I haven't been to the bridge in eyars now and I'd really like to get some nice pictures of it, I'll have to see how the day goes!
The new/old drive I started usaing in the desktop is performing quite nicely thankyou, the computer is FAR faster than it had been for a long time. I'm not sure exactly what was going out in the drive, but I know this one works much better.

Time for another cup of coffee!
Later all!

Me!

Computer issues resolved!

My desktop computer is near seven years old now, it was the first one I built myself, I guess that's why I still have the old thing! In the last few months it had slowed down quite badly, not a mal-ware issue, the hard drive was starting to give out. Today I broke down and changed the hard drive and reinstalled everything, the desktop is amazingly faster! CRIMANY! it is a nice way to surf now!
I had slip-streamed service pack three onto my installation disk so I would be ready for the "plunge" it only took about three hours or so to completely reinstall my programs, the only program left is E-sword, that is a BIGGIE! it takes about an hour to install all of the modules if you do the full install, but it is worth the effort, the program is awesome!
I'm sure I will find those small but needed programs that have yet to be needed, but that will come soon I'm sure.
Next Monday my fall classes start, I am SO looking forward to getting back to GRCC, I need the input, my brain needs it more! almost there.
Later all!

Me!

Last minute ride and the question?

My brother and I went on a last minute ride today, the main point of the ride was to see the Weber dam, I hadn't been there in so long I could not remember the last time. It certainly was a nice ride there, but once we arrived we found ourselves on the hold side and not the spill side, that's where I wanted to be. After an hour (we made a couple of stops along the way) we arrived at the spill side, a much better picture was waiting!

On the way to the other side of the dam we came upon this AWESOME view, the picture does NOT do it justice! Four feet from the guard rail there was a near vertical 45 to 55 foot drop, SOOoo nice a view!

I HAD to stop and get a picture of this farms fences, the whole fence is comprised of old metal wagon wheels, some people may think this is just junk, I think it is art, so beautiful! the thought that went into its building? the structure flows down the road. I bet there are a thousand wagon wheels here, wonder how long it took to build?

I wonder what this was in its day? a mom and pop store? a place to sell things from the garden? either way it looked like a time capsule to me, I know one thing fro sure, from now on if I am traveling the back roads I will be bringing my camera!
My brother and I also stopped at a roadside park in Lyons, something point? a very cool little park that would be a nice place for a summer picnic!
And here is the question???? Does anyone remember Dick Evans and his on the road segment on TV8? I thought that was the COOLEST five minutes they had, after he passed they did away with that segment totally! I want to see it back in a year! I WANT to do it! what do you think? sound like a good idea to anyone?
I should head off for now, there are still a couple of things to get done yet before I go to bed, and WOO-HOO! a low of 56 tonight!
Later all!

Me!

Papers the test and rain

Yesterday was certainly a day fro work, I had two papers due and a 100 question test all in one class on the same day! GAK! Somehow I managed to do well with it all, I received 100% for both papers and 87% for the test, I walked out of the class smiling! LOL!
Before the test even started I turned off my cell phone, the last time I took a test the stupid thing went off three times! (had it on vibrate) it was a tele-marketer trying to call me! it COMPLETELY ticked me off and that was that for the test! I received a 73% that will NOT happen again! BELIEVE ME!
While I like the idea of taking classes for the summer session, I will admit that the work load can be challenging at the least, in the last two class sessions in one class I have written four papers and taken a 100 question test, and it was NOT the midterm! YEESH! but I'm making my way through it, paper by paper!
I have a Marketing Problems class today, there is a new product paper due (We have to come up with a new product), a presentation on a chapter in the textbook due, with external information (done in a group) and a case review on Starbucks (Done in a group, more like a PAP than a paper, its 15 pages long at the moment) I'm actually ready for it! what do you know! Life is good!
I see it is raining outside already, seems like it is that time of year? There is rain in the forecast on and off for the next 10 days, I don't think I'll be doing too much riding, a mist is OK, but rain is not.
I guess I should head off, the third cup of coffee is calling me already!
Later all!

Me!

A Sunday morning ride

I took the motorcycle out camping this weekend, while I do enjoy that I did find a type of weather I do NOT enjoy riding in! NOT at ALL! LOL!
There was quite the fog Sunday morning, I wanted to go to church so I finaly headed out at 9:15am thinking the fog was burning off, that was not the case, the 8 mile trip took me forever! I had to pull over 5 times and clean my glasses of, they were fogging over something aweful, then I only had the nerve to go 40 to 45 miles an hour thinking something might be in the road waiting for me to hit it! LOL! needless to say it took me a while to get home, I'm thankfull God is ALWAYS watching over us! what a different story it could have been otherwise.

I am still sore from the weekend, I am NOT complaining however, I managed to get three or four weekend of work done in just eight and a half hours, thank God for that! I'm all caught up for now!
So what will the week bring? WELL! I have two papers due Tuesday and a 100 question test also (All in the same class!) summer classes! SO fun! LOL! but! I'm getting the work done!
I should head off for now, I have to leave early for class today, I need to make a stop in G.R. on the way.
Later all!

Me!

A stinking busy nice day!

What a nice day it has been, but its been a busy one! I rode the bike out and picked up oil, an oil filter, sparkplug and the replacement choke cable for the bike. I rode back into town picked up and helped move a freezer to Mom and Dad's, then picked up and delivered a table saw to my brothers house, dropped of chicken to Moms (Forgot to do it the first time!) back to my house did oil changes on both Mom and Dads vehicles, the an oil change on the motorcycle, then replaced the sparkplug and choke cable on it also. A little later in the day my brother a friend and I installed front struts on a car (A couple of hours there) then went to my aunts house to work on her laptop (No luck there, BIOS issue)
Only after all this was done did I realise I hadn't eaten, lucky for me there were a couple of jalapeno bratwursts in the fridge, they tasted especialy good! LOL! Wonder why!?
Time to kick back and relax for a bit, no complaints or bragging here, I was able to get three or four weeks of projects done in eight hours, I can SO handle that!
Later all!

Me!

being tired and the woodpecker

I am a bit worn at the moment an I could really use some time off...too bad for me though! LOL! that won't happen!
I am in the begining stages of a second redetermination with the state, I missed a waiver in the begining which caused me to be denied for extended TRA benefits, I went through one redetermination hearing and was approved, but when it went to the main unit I was denied a second time, that is where I am at today. I will end up having to appear at a hearing to defend myself and get those benefits back, I must admit, I am tired of fighting for everything! wouldn't it be nice if we didn't have to do that?
Between classes, hearings, paperwork, living life, trying to do a few nice things for people and keeping up with things I am wiped out. No giving up though, buckle down and deal with it, the outcome will be worth it!
So, early today I was watching a woodpecker beat the snot out of a walnut tree branch, there must have been one juicy bug in that branch! why else would it have done that? LOL! the bird was larger than the branch itself, it's not like it was making a new home! HA! silly bird!
Well, I guess I should finish this considering I started it HOURS ago! LOL!
Time to head out and see what the afternoon brings!
Three trips to the MichWorks office later and I'm spent, but still have clas......Its ALL good! LOL!

Me!

Silly phone line!

I figured out the other day that my phome was acting up badly, it would only half ring then hang up on people, after an hour or so of troubleshooting I figured out what the problem was! (what'dya know!) one of the DSL filters had gone bad! CRIMANY! at least it is done now! AND its working right!!
I had noticed that my internet wasn't quite as fast as it had been, but never gave a silly filter a thought! you know, come to think of it, that is the second one that has gone bad? I think I lost one last year? not sure when.....
The BEST part of all this you ask? NOT having to call the phone company in for a repair! CHA-CHING! LOL!
I went for a six mile ride today, it ic COLD when your going like 50, so I wore a jacket. That silly motorcycle was acting up something aweful, I went to the gas station to fill it up and put near two gallons of gas in it........it was running out of gas! LOL! it ran much better once the tank was full!
I guess I need another cup of coffee! LOL
Later all!

Me!

Sitting watching rabbits and rain

Yesterday was certainly nicer than it had been in a while, even with the rain! I spent an hour in the morning watching two small rabbits playing in my back yard, they ran back and forth getting a little closer to me each time, so nice. I think they had fun teasing me!
I looked out the back door a little later in the morning and there was a woodchuck (grounhog) setting on my picknic table with its face pointed to the sun, unfortunately there was no sun to be had, the woodchuck was determined to get sunshine though and sat there for nearly half an hour waiting for even a moment of sun, no luck for the woodchuck!
All I have to say is YEESH! I guess I have been a bit busy (Or tired) lately, it wasn't till 7:10 last night that I realised it was Wednesday, prayer meeting night....DOH! I enjoy going to church! and when I can't go I miss it! aww stink! LOL!
Its been THREE days since I've been on my motorcycle an I am going through withdrawls! GAK! EEP! GASP!! I hope to get a couple of miles on it today, no rain in the forecast, hopefully I will se a little sun later on and head off for a bit. I guess I'm a little bit like that woodchuck, watching and waiting for the sun to make its appearance.
Not too much in the works today, I have a couple of hours of homework that I need to work on, I have to pick six stocks and then prepare a paragraph on each of them explaining why it is that I picked them. I have the stock picked (All technologies) but need to do research on them yet. The Introduction to Business class is a bit of a pain! but I do not give up! and I NEVER quit!
Time to get a cup of coffee.....
Later all!

Me!

Better weather!

The weather this weekend was far better than the begining of the week, I didn't MELT! CRIMANY! I took the motorcycle out for a ride one day and brought it back after only four miles, it felt like I was in a sand blast oven! GAK! LOL!
So, my birthday was Friday, I turned 43 (Can you believe that?) YEESH! It was a nice one though, plenty of home made food to be had! AND I was able to catch a nice cool breeze on the motorcycle! SO nice!
I had a couple of interesting things happen this weekend, the first was my Acer One netbook (Named Jr.) stopped working, no post and no video...I thought for sure the mother board had gone out! I made a call to acer and they told me I needed to flash the BIOS (The new BIOS file was posted four days before my Jr. went brain dead) I did what they told me and what do you know! Jr. has been reincarnated! WOO-HOO!! LOL! there's no money to replace bigger items like the netbook right now, so thank God that file fixed the problem! I still may end up doing a system restore, it isn't quite running right, I don't really want to do that though, beyond all the updates there are all those other programs that I have installed since I purchased it, hours and hours of work there!
Then there was the trip home Saturday, I nearly hit a hawk, this thing was STINKING HUGE! the wingspan was around 6 1/2 feet! and YES! I DID duck! LOL! it came within a foot of the front of my motorcycle, it was like someone had thrown a blanked at me it was so big. Had I hit that hawk? well, it would have probably knocked me off the motorcycle, God is always watching over us, no doubt about that!
Its been a while now since I've taken any pictures, I want to get some of the lake at the moment, even had my camera with me (Too bad the batteries were DEAD! DOH!) the lake is higher than it has been in YEARS! in one spot the lake is only 8 inches from the road, its nice to see the lake up once again.
There hasn't been any new visitors in the back yard lately, too bad, I enjoy watching the animals in the yard! I did however have some entertainment this weekend, I watched a black cat get chased around my yard by eight or ten birds! HA! TOO funny! I had NO idea that robbins could make SO much noise! LOL! That poor old cat couldn't catch a break with the birds! they wouldn't even let it come accross the yard to get where it wanted to! the cat finaly gave up and went the way it had came.....poor thing! HA HA!
Well, I guess I should head off for now, I have to print off ten marketing questionaires for class today, at least I wont be presenting! The last class I took I ended up presenting all but one time, it seems everone is affraid to do it? HUH! want to get into business and affraid to present in front of people? not a good thing! When I was a supervisor I was part of a weekly presentation, I had to let managment know what was going on with quality and why we were having problems, its nice to catch a bit of a break!
Later all!

Me!

Last final!

Yesterday was certainly hot! CRIMANY! LOL! Even taking a ride on the motorcycle didn't seem to bring the refreshment I was seeking! I seems that this hot spell will be here for a little while, the house was awful hot by the end of the day, and of course it was only then that I realised I had not yet turned on the attic exhaust fan, DOH! DOH! DOH! It should be a better day today.
SO! like the blog title says, I took my last final yesterday, and I received an A! HA! what do you know! I "think" I will receive and A in the class for the final grade, I won't know for a while yet.
My cousin was in a motorcycle accident over the weekend, that scared me a bit, he has a HUGE Harley and my first thought was that he crashed that, as it turns out he crashed a dirt bike, which messed him up quite a bit. Even the smaller bikes can be a danger! he'll be off work possibly for 10 weeks or more. God was watching over him for sure!
A NEW critter in the yard! Saturday night I was setting outside the back door and this little baby raccoon cam running through the yard, a skinny little thing, it ran like its tail was on fire when it caught a glimpse of me! LOL! TOO funny!
The groundhog in my yard has found a mate, I watched the two of them playing in the lower back yard the other day, they were playing like kids, very fun to watch!
I have enjoyed living here, over the years I have seen so many different kinds of animals, everything you can think 0f! When I bought the house I knew the woods started in my yard, but I sure never thought I'd see so many critters running through the yard!
I have some new neighbors! they have four kids between them, all younger, it will be nice to hear the sound of children playing in the neighborhood once again. Ten years ago there were at least a dozen kids in the neighborhood, I'd wake up on Saturday morning in the winter and look out my kitchen window and they would all be in my back yard sledding down the hill there! that was so nice, I never kicked them out because all they wanted to do was to have some kid fun, I wouldn't deny them that!
Tonight I start one of two new classes, Introduction to business, then Wednesday marketing problems, not even a day in between class sessions! no rest for the weary! LOL I'd better get used to it though, there won't be any rest until July 2010!
The new/used motorcycle has provided me with a new means of relaxing, I had NO idea it would be so stinking fun! OH MAN! I hear a motorcycle rumble by and it takes all I can muster not to hop on mine and run off for a few hours! SO nice! I can kill three hours without blinking an eye! no kidding!
I'll try and post maps of the rides my brother and I take, no really long trips (under 100 miles) but still fun, and I gotta tell you! I would MUCH rather cruise the back roads at 45 than ride the highway at 60! You would not believe all the wonderful things you can see if you just slow down and take a look!
I need to find out yet if it is legal to listen to an Mp3 player while riding? add some bluegrass to a nice ride and it would be a perfect day! LOL!
Time to head off for now! Too many things to get done! LOL!
Later all!

Me!!
OH YEAH! Here is the link for the churches audio site! http://labceministry.blogspot.com/

Finals? GAK!

I have my first finals in eleven years today, this one won't be too difficult, the final is actualy a test on a chapter in the book, no biggie there!
So what to do today if it doesn't rain I am going to take the bike out for a ride, and I am looking forward to that! in a BIG way actualy!
I can add a new critter to the list I have seen in my yard, a lumbering old possum came to visit for a moment last night. I talked to him for a minute or two and he scurried off. smelly little critter anyhow!
I should head of for now, I do need to study a bit for the final,
Later all!

Me!

Riding my brains out!

This weekend was AWESOME! I rode the motorcycle 210 miles and would have ridden more had I not ran out of time! I still need to get the carburetor cleaned up and the choke cable fixed, that thing I cold blooded without the choke! YEESH! LOVE the bike though!!
I am already looking forward to the weekend, not only because because one of my finals and a presentation will be done, but I will also be able to ride the bike once again.
I know why it is so relaxing to ride! all I have to do is open my mouth and ANYTHING in my head gets blown out my ears! HA! It feels good to ride!
Time to head off for now, class is about to start!
Later!

Me!

Riding around

Charles and I rode around on the motorcycles today, 51 miles of FUN! I would have LOVED to rode more, but the rain changed that for us.
I am looking forward to riding this weekend, my brother Charles and I are thinking or a short road trip tomorrow afternoon, we have a tenative destination, just not sure if it will happen or not.
$5.31 that is what it cost to fill the tank on the bike, not bad at all! and that was with preamium fuel.
I found that I can use an open face helmet as long as I wear a shield that covers my eye's, without it the wid sucks the tears right out of my eye's! LOL!
Time for me to head off, I am kinda tired tonight, stupid allergies!
Later all!

Me!

Orioles and butterfly eggs?

A couple of weekends ago I noticed some really brightly colored birds flying around at the lake, I'd not seen them there before, I took a couple of good pictures and found out they are Baltimore Orioles, beautiful birds!

My nieghbors daughter called me over to show mw some TINY eggs she said a butterfly had layed, I've never seen butterfly eggs before so I have NO idea if they are indeed eggs or not, but here's the picture I took of them!
Then there is this wicked looking bug one of the kids brought over while I was at the lake, how cool is this one?

There is always SOMETHING crawling around at the lake, and always someone willing to bring it over to me so I can take a nice picture of it, too much fun there!
Time to head off!
Later all!

Me!

New opportunites!

The chi=urch started a blog this week to post Pastor Tharps Sunday messages, I was surprised how good it sounds! I've already listened to both of the posted messages, but I do lean t'words Pastor Tharp anyhow, he is my Pastor after all!
Both of the messages posted were after Pastors surgery and it is evident that he was feeling better on this Sunday! WHOO-WEEE! Pastor rattled the rafters and made the podium beg for mercy! TOO COOL! I LOVE it!
The best part of the messages being posted 0n line? At the moment I am at College listening to his message while waiting for class to start. I'm hoping that there will be PLENTY more posted SOON! I am looking forward to listening to Pastor Tharps messages on demand! how cool is it that this is available? and it is FREE!!
Not too much going on today, no test or exams!! just a listening day for me! I still have the Power Point on Dave Thomas due in a week, I have the power point done, I just need to work on the paper now! LOL! I am dislexic after all!
I should head off for now, I need to meet with three other students before class.
Later all!!

Me!

The first weekend

The swans are back!

This is the second camping weekend, but the first I’ve stayed. I was going to spend last weekend at the trailer, but everything was musty and needed to be washed before I could use them, and that included all the bedding.
I got to the trailer after 8:00pm and got right to cleaning, walls, ceiling, counters, windows, polish the woodwork, clean the stove, and wipe down the fridge! LOL! it didn’t take that long and the trailer is all ready for camping! I would still like to steam clean the carpet, but I didn’t bring my mini cleaner, so it will need to wait for a bit.
I slept GREAT last night, the only time I woke up was when the rain started coming down hard and I went right back to sleep! if felt AWESOME to sleep that well!
My trailer is 39 years old now, but I’d never get rid of it! I like it far too much to do that! it is like an old friend now! better yet? it looks and smells great for now!
The garden is coming along nicely, nothing has died yet, a GOOD sign! there’s nothing better than FRESH veggies to munch on!
I went to my nieces fifth birthday party today, she sure had some fun at the park! It was nice setting around and relaxing for a while, the sun came out and warmed us up for quite a while, once it disappeared it was cold quick! 
I recently reinstalled Live Writer on my notebook, so I am able to write this at the lake where there is no internet connection and post it later when there is one available.

The weekend is nearly over!

The long weekend has been a nice one, no major problems with people drinking and being loud at all! What a nice way to spend the long weekend!
I dog set two poodles through the holiday weekend, they are nice and quiet, but they are the WORST bed hogs I have ever met! CRIMANY! they nearly pushed me off the bed Saturday night, so I pushed back! LOL! that worked quite nicely and I had my bed back.
On Tuesday I will have yet another business math exam, there is one nearly every class session now. I have been doing ANY extra credit work so I can get the best grade possible, so far it is working well, I am seven points above getting a 4.0 right now.
My Entrepreneurship class seems to be going well, the grade for the class is given at the end, when i asked how my group was doing I was told “very well” I can deal with that!
I had three classes from a while back that I had taken, I had a 3.0 GPA with those, so I need to get the best grade possible to bring up my GPA for the business associates degree. I would LOVE after I am done with the classes to walk into a business and say that I had a 3.8 or better GPA for my degree! All the years of group leader and supervision plus the degree? that will get me a nice job when all is said and done.
The only real issue I’ve had with the classes and working with groups is communication, it can be QUITE difficult to get everyone on the same page at any given time.
I am still looking for a motorcycle, it will be something in the 80’s since I don’t have squat to spend on it, but as long as it is nice and runs well I will be happy. I was hooked by my brothers motorcycle, I took it around the block after adjusting the air/fuel mixture, I should NOT have done that! I want one in a HUGE way now!
Once again it is time to head off, my aunt should be around soon to collect her dogs (WOO-HOO!!) good dogs, but it’s time for them to go HOME!

One to go!

Only one class session to go before the holiday weekend! YES! I'm dog setting for my aunt and uncle, a couple of poodles who'd better enjoy camping! That's where I'll be this extended weekend!
So what are my plans? I don't have any yet! other than kicking back and messing around for a while! I'm bringing more of that venison with me, burgers and taters sounds far too good to me! Time to play! time to play!
I may not head to the lake till Friday night, I'd like to put rear shocks on a van before I head off, they are really bad and needed to be replaced a long time ago, 'tis time now!
Time to head off, class is about ot start,
Later all!

Me!

15 minutes!

Only 15 minnutes to go till my second presentation! GAK! NO fun there! but I am going to get it done anyway, I can't let it beat me!!
The day promissses to be a nice one, I can only hope! 65 maybee? that'd be nice!
Later all!

Me!

The first presentation

I gave my first presentation today, part of a group effort, it wasn't too bad at all? I did get lost at the end of my part of it, but I recovered quick and went on my way!
The day turned out to be a nice one, it was warmer than I had expected it to be, but the sun was shining bright as ever, I can deal with that!
I am hoping in a big way there is no fost from now on, I hve my garden planted and I want all those veggies to eat!
Later for now, more hings to get done tonight!

ME!

Tired and feeling it, it's a groundhog not a wood chuck!

By the way, I was wrong, this is a groundhog not a wood chuck, my bad!

So today is the first day of my early classes, and I am FELLING it! Even with a good strong cup of coffee I am stinkning tired.
I have nearly all of my laundry from the trailer done, all the bedding and a few other things that needed to be washed before I could go camping, everything was musty from setting over the winter and my allergies just could not take a night sleeping on them.
With all the rain we have had this week the garden is probably doing quite well, I am looking forward to eating all those fresh veggies in the next couple of months.
There are still a few projects that I need to complete before Friday, fix the BIOS on a computer, install an idler pully, oil change on my Stratus and get the laundry all folded up and ready to go to the lake.
I need to figure out how to back up some music yet, from cassette to the computer, shoudn't be too difficult to do, just need the correct cables.
At the moment I am setting outside my classroom waiting for the teacher to open the door, I would MUCH rather be setting at a table doing this typing, setting on the floor is killing my back! LOL
Later all!

Me!

First day

So today was the first day of classes, how fun~ I need to get into the college book business! what a SCAM! $125 for a USED book? someone is making a killing! and it s NOT me!
The entrepreneur class sounds like it will be challenging and interesting, much to do, still not totally clear on a few things, so I'll need to ask some questions.
I did find out one thing, I will be bringing my notebook with me tomorrow, the netbook is too small to view Office files on, no problems with it other than that.
So what to do tonight? UM...kick back for a few minutes and relaxe before I head out for the math class.
Later all!

Me!

Camping, computers and Woody!

I haven't managed to get to the campground this weekend yet, something has a hold on me and won't let go and it is kicking my butt!
Two computers came my way today, one needed the sound drivers reinstalled and the other one I sold. That first computer decided it didn't want the sound device and removed it all by itself, go figure?
Woody cam over to the house for a picnic in the grass in the early afternoon, I took four pictures of him before he spotted me, I managed to get one really good picture though.
There are more things to do today, I'm going out later with friends, gonna kick back and have some fun!
Later all!

Me!

Camping and planting the garden

Camping is SO close! ALMOST there! YES! I am looking forward to heading out and enjoying the lake and the first campfire of the season, the lake is the highest it has been in a few years now, I hope it stays high through the summer.
I will be planting the garden this weekend also, it should be all set to go, I've added quite a bit of natural things to hopefully improve how much I get out of the garden this season.
Classes start Monday, applied mathematics and entrepeneurship for a start then Introduction to Business the second half of the summer. I still want to pick up a second class for the second term, I want to stay busy.
So what to do today? I could do some more work on the Church van? or clean the carb's on my brothers motorcycle? Clean the house up quick? plenty of projects to get done today before I leave!
Time for another cup of coffee!
Later!

Me!

Playing around and planting

I'm playing with an older laptop right now (Omnibook xe2, P3, 700Mhz. 256Mb. of ram {OOOH!}) with Win98 installed, I needed an antivirus for it and Clamwin seems to fit the bill.
Most of the freeware antiviruses now do not support Win98 (My favorite included!) So I'm testing this new one to see how well it performes. C.Cleaner, and Spybot Search and Destroy both support Win98 also so they are installed on the Xe2. I'm trying to get this older laptop going again for a friend who has never owned anything but a desktop model, I think she'll like this little notebook.
I am heading out this weekend to camp hopefully, and I will be planting in the garden, the extended outlook for the weather is good so I don't believe there is any fear of frost to damage the plants.
There will be all kinds of goodies in the garden this year, hopefully they will all grow and produce lots of goodies!
Time to head off for now, I need to head out in a bit for a meeting.
Later!

Me!

Another day another .60 cents

It used to be "another day, another dollar" but with taxes it's only .60 cents now! LOL!
I was glad to wake up a bit Early today, the neighbors daughter came over EARLY and asked me to take her to school, she missed her bus...KID'S!
I was able to get an early start on the house today and had it near finished by 9:00am there may be a load of laundry yet to do, not sure on that?
One more week till I start classes at GRCC, it will be interesting? gas and parking money? hopefully it will work out. The classes should be interesting, I'm kinda looking forward to them, although as I said before, I'd RATHER be working!
Time for me to head off for now, still more to do, the garden plants in the back room need to be watered yet.
Later!!!

Me!

The garden, planting and rain

I managed to get to the lake mid morning Saturday, I tilled the garden up once again and planted two cabbage plants. I have quite a few other plants to get into the garden yet, I just need to wait till the frost danger is over (A week or so yet) The soil in the garden looks great with all I added in, I am hoping for a bumper crop of veggie's this season, last season the garden did badly, but I attribute that to the fact that I did nothing but plant the plants, this year should be different.
Just as I finished planting the cabbage it started to rain, just what the cabbage needed, all natural rain and refreshment! GROW cabbage GROW!

One week to go!

There is only one week to go till camping starts! YES!!! I am heading up today to get some cleaning done, I want to be all prepared for that first weekend and the first campfire of the season! SO close!
More work on a couple of vehicles this week, replacing a tensioner pulley on one and getting the rotors turned on another. The tensioner pulley was FAR more of a pain than I had anticipated it would be, four hours to replace that because the unit was all rusted up, the rotors were easy, no problems there.
I have one vehicle to work on yet, nothing major, I need to replace the skid mat that came off over the winter. I bought a large roll of double faced tape before I was let go from work, so I have plenty left to to the mat. There may be a couple of oil changes in my future also, three for sure! LOL!
I have a couple of cabbage plants to put in today at the lake, other that tomato's, peppers, cucumbers and hot peppers I'm not too sure what I want in the garden.....FOOD though! I know that!
I guess I should head off for now, I need to clean the house before I can go and clean the trailer up. Hmm, so much to do at the lake.
Brother Joe Mark finished this weeks revival meetings, he is a great speaker, it felt like each service ended just after it started. I need to get copies of all seven of his messages in the near future.

The Bravada, camping and College

My brother was helping me with my Bravada the other day, it needed a new idler arm installed, the old on was worn out and wearing my tire out a bit. I beat one the Idler Arm joint for some time then my brother came over and beat on it, then we both beat the thing silly and I paid the price! LOL! I now have a battle scar from the Bravada, a half inch long, down to the muscle gash that hurt in a big way when it happened. I probably would have gotten stitches if I had insurance, but without it I am NOT taking on any more debt, thatjust can't happen.
Only a couple of weeks till camping opens up, this year is taken care of already (thanking God for that) so I will be able to set back and relaxe on the weekends while going to colege, (Thanking God once again!) I've been working on my garden space at the lake already, manure, peat, leaves and fireplace ashes all tilled into the ground, it should make for a very nice garden this summer. Last year I put in my first garden ever there and it was great! all kinds of fresh tomato's, cucumbers, habanero's and green peppers at my finger tips, that was nice!
About college, I'm nearly all set with that, I have to drop off a paper to Mich-Works yet to get my book money and I dhould be ready to go....just need to figure out where the money for gas and parking will come from?
The whole Mich-Works thing has been interesting and a bit of a pain too! You'd better be ready to deal with a TON of paperwork and make sure that EVERYTHING is like it should be! I missed ONE thing (A BIG thing!) and had to go to a redetermination meeting to POSSIBLY get my TRA extended benefits back. What a mess! and YA! I am a BIT stressed over the whole deal, not fun at all!
Time to head off for now, things to do like always!
Later!

Me!

Juniors recovery

Poor Junior was REALLY sick yesterday, so much so that I had to do a system restore on him. I have NO idea where I picked up the virus, but I had one for sure, it was the first time I had seen the BSD (Blue Screen of Death)
Junior is feeling better now, I'm blogging with him and he is running FAR better than with the virus.
I went up to the lake today and added 80Lbs of peat, manure and a five gallon bucket of fireplace ashes along with all the leaves I could rake up. The garden should be a good one this year.
Tomato's, hot peppers, green peppers, cuccumbers, cherry tomato's...all kinds of goodies in hte garden this season and I can't wait!
Time to head off for now, I'm kinda tired at the moment, I hope it lasts all night!
Later all!

Me!

My work keys site

https://myworkkeys.act.org/mwk/emCertDetails.do?event=go&realm=17740116&certId=X1W2X9W5Q6RR

For the birds

Not too much going on at the moment, I fixed my bird feeder yesterday, it needed two plexiglass pannels replaced. The birds and the fox squirrels weren't too happy, they had to figure out how to get the food out of it again! LOL! I had about 20 pounds of bird food left, that half filled the feeder, the thing is huge.
There is quite a variety of critters in my yard this spring, cardinals, bluejay's, morning doves, fox, black, red and grey squirrels, something is always moving in the yard.

Test results

I found out my work keys test results today, I received a "Gold" 6 in Applied Mathematics, 5 in Reading for Information and a 5 in Locating Information. I am praying that these scores will get me the interview that I want so badly. I enjoyed working in quality, I'd like to get back into that.
My poor cell phone is taking a nap at the moment, I made a plethera of calls to get the information Ineeded.
At the moment my brain is throbbing, the weather is changing in a big way and that always messes with my sinuses, thank the Lord for Med's!
Time to head off,
Later all!

Me!

Nearly there!

Camping season is so close I can feel it now, only 20 days to go! While there is plenty of cleaning to do before I can camp I have the time to get it done yet. I'm a bit O.C. when it comes to spring cleaning the trailer, the walls, ceiling, counters, woodwork, windows, carpet, bedding, clothes and the shelves need to be taken care of first! LOL! and then there is the yard, all those leaves that built up during the winter are going to be tilled into the garden as mulch, I've done one round of tilling already, I'm sure there is at least one more tilling to be done before the leaves all dissapear.
It will be worth it all though! it is so nice at the lake, a place to set back and relaxe or be silly and play! either way, it is a great time!
The results of my "Work keys" test did not arrive Saturday, I hope they do today! I need to call in the results so they can be forwarded to and employer who I want to interview with, they wont even look at me till they have the results in their hands......things have certainly changed since I started working, it's not like it used to be that is for sure.
I'm not sure what the day will bring for me, guess I'll just need to wait and see? NO fun there!
Later!

Me!

A busy day

The day went well and it was busy, I went to the Church in the morning to hrlp with some cleaning and then to the lake for some more cleaning (More about that in a bit) then back to the house for MORE cleaning! LOL!
I raked up dome leaves at the lake and tilled them into my garden, I'm hoping for a bumper crop of cherry tomatos this season, I like those things, then there is the hot peppers and whatever else I can think of to plant, I LOVE fresh veggies! green beans are my favorite.
I caught my neighbors daughter (She's like 65) at the house and she let me dispose of some leaves in the back woods so my yard is now cleaned up.
I finished the day up with a pizza with LOTS of crushed red peppers on it, T'was good!
Time to head off for now, nothing to do, but cops is on!
Later all!

Me!

The old S-10`

My Brother and I worked on his S-10 yesterday, it needed new rear shocks. The shocks had been on so long that the lower mount rusted to the sleeve, Charles and I ended up using a cutting wheel to cut a groove in the old sleeve then beating it apart with a chissel and 3 pound sledge hammer. Because we were beating the truck apart we used a jackstand to stabilize it, something we would NOT have done years ago...I guess we are getting wiser as we mature? LOL
It is off to chuch today to do some work inside and out of the building. I'm sure there is plenty to be done, it is spring! I'm not sure what exactly needs to be done, I have a project that I need to complete there yet, so I will be busy for sure.
The sun is shiining already and it prommises to be a beautiful day! OH I hope So! it should be near 60 today, I can so deal with that.
I guess I should head off for now, STUFF to do!
Later!

Me!

Not quite what I expected

I worked on that van today, and it was not what I wxpected. The water pump came off, but not without issues, two bolt heads broke off and I have no way of getting them out of the pump housing. This van is ancient and has near 200k on it, so I'm not sure what the owner will do. I kinda feel bad, but there is nothing that I can do at the moment to fix the housing.
The sunshine was a nice addition to the day and it went a long way t'words wworking on the van.
I guess I should head off for now, I still have things to get done tonight.
Later all!

Me!

More testing

I drove over to G.R. today to take the "Work keys" test, there were three parts, 45 minutes long each. I managed to finish the first two before time was up and finished the third early. By the time I was done my brain hurt, SO much information to intake! but I managed to do it.
The reason behind the test? I am trying to get an interview with a company, but before that can even happen I have to get a specific score on the Work keys test, I will know how I did by the weekend, then I need to report the scores to Mich Work's and hope and pray for an interview.
The job I'm attempting to get is parallel in duties to what I was doing before I was let go, I'd like to get back to work, back to some semblance of normality, This position is highly technical and I would enjoy the challenge of learning once again, hopefully the scores will be what I need to support the position.
The day turned out to be a nice one, the sun was shining the whole afternoon, I can handle that in a big way, more sunshine please! MORE!
I have a couple of projects to complete this weekend, three different vehicles with different issues, only one of them is even a medium job, a water pump that has seen its better days. Then there is a tune-up and a pair of shocks that need to be addressed, busy is good! many things to be done, it never ends! LOL! ALWAYS something to do~~~
Time to head off for now, TTYL!

Me!

MORE snow?

We have up to 6" of new snow in the forecast for tonight, I am hoping that it will miss us!! REALLY I am! I've had enough of the white stuff and would like to see the green grass come back........SOON! soon!
WMU is already getting the snow and it is really coming down in a big way, AW MAN!!
Later all,

Me!

Spring then winter? YEESH!

So it is a REALLY nice day outside, the sun is shining and it is decent......BUT! they are forecasting 6" of snow by Monday! NNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! it is Michigan...it might end up being 80 degrees by then! I hope for the latter!
I'll be messing with a van today, wheel bearing, brakes and rotors and probably a idler arm also.
None of those are really hard, just time consuming, probably three or four hours of work, but I get a free meal! HOME MADE too!!
I'll post more later on after I'm done,
Later all!

Me!

I don't get it?

I just don't get it? I woke up at 2:30am and thought I heard something, I stuck my head out the front door and sure enough I could hear someone a BLOCK away yelling at a female, then the female yelling back....HOW IN THE WORLD does someone get to the point when they feel that it is OK to treat someone as less than an animal? Doors slamming? people yelling at each other? things being thrown? I just don't GET IT!!
I have said it before, thank God for my boring and mundane life!
Nothing major going on today, a bit of cleaning, the aquarium needs some fresh water in it, a bit of picking up, vacuume the floor and I should be done.
On the plus side I was not woke up today at 5:45am by a little fella needing to use the phone! MUCH better!
Driving by a Camaro the other day I truely wished I was working, this car was about half way to being a hotrod! OOH! mid 90's body, fiberglass 6" lift hood, the thing was decent! It needed a paint job really bad, but the potential was there! HA! too bad the money wasn't!
I guess I should head off for now, things to do ya know!
Later all!

Me!

Getting closer

The time to start my classses at GRCC is growing closer, I hope to have everything taken care of by Wednesday of this week although I may need to get tested to see if I am A.D.D.
I already know that I am A.D.D. so there is no question there. This may be a help for me with the college? there may be a different way they do things? who knows?
My classes start on May 4th. there is a first and second half of the session, two classes the first half and one for the second for the moment, that I HOPE changes by the time the second half starts, I want to get as many classes as I can done as SOON as I can.
My choice turned out to be business administration, there are a few different positions that I could get into with even the associates degree. I am still seeking work however, I would rather be working than going to school, that is for sure.
I hear that this is going to be the only day this week that is going to be really nice? then back to the winter weather? NO please! I'd rather have the nice WARM air.
Iam at the library at the moment, I needed to get out of the house for a while (YEAH I JUST got back from G.R.) But I needed to get out for a little while and the library has wireless internet, so here I am!
I have four weeks till classes start, in that time I'd LIKE to repair the Stratus, it needs a new wheel bearing in the front end and could use a tune-up, I guess I'll see if the money is there or not? I also need to replae the idler arm on the Bravada, although I have that part already, it just got too cold out to do the work, not in the snow thankyou!
So! now you know! I have a VERY boring and mundane little life! and I LIKE it that way!
See ya later!

Me!

Friday

I decided to get some more yard work done yesterday thinking it would be easy since I had raked the entire lawn last October and took care of what I removed, I was WRONG! LOL! There was quite a bit of dead grass on the lawn, that piled up quickly but was easy to take care of. When I went into the lower yard however it was a different story, there was a large amount of branches, old walnut's and just STUFF on the ground. I use a 4'x6' tarp to drag what I rake up to the curb, nine full loads in the backyard alone. The yard will look good for a little while anyhow, those squirrels make quite the mess when they eat, I hope it is not as bad later this fall? six or seven more loads? NO thanks!
There is some more yard work that needs to be done yet, there are two shrubs that are FAR too overgrown to trim back that need to be removed and then there are a few junk trees that need to disappear, as much as I like trees, these will end up causing problems in the future.
I will need to plant some grass seed in the lower yard this season also, I didn't keep up on it like I should have and now there are large bare spots where the leaves set too long and killed what little grass was there. I'm already weighing my options on how to make the yard look it's best.
I made the call yesterday for my intake appointment, I hope to hear something today about it, going back to college is not my first option, but unfortunately it is the ONLY one at the moment.

Tuesday again

So what to do? I cleaned the house yesterday, did two loads of laundry, changed the sheets on the bed, worked on two vans, raked the front yard, went to Bible study at Church, it was a NICE day!
Today, a couple of piddly things to do and another load of laundry, I had a coat and a few things that needed cleaned up, other than some testing at a college today there's not too much going on.
51 for a high today, C'mon warmer air! I'm waiting for ya!
Later all!

Me!

Baptist

Baptist = Bountiful Appetites Practicing Their Inherent Skills Together! BAHAHA!! I LOVE this! and I'll be practicing TODAY!
OH MAN! the birthdya dinner for Pastor Tharp was NICE! LOT'S of great food! lot's of new faces too! What a wonderful day it has been!
There are like 38 day's now till the lake opens and I can't wait! I want to go camping! I LOVE camping! The place is going to need a thourough cleaning though, it ALWAYS does! I need to clean the carpet or REPLACE it this season. I've had the trailer for 13 years now and never replaced the carpet, so it's about time.

Later all!

Me!

The second day of spring? uh....yeah?

So it is supposed to be the second day of spring, well tell that to the half inch of snow on the ground! GAK! I thought we were done with that stuff?
The snow should melt quickly today, the temperature is already 32, but seeing it was kinda scary! EEP! WINTER! AHHHH!! LOL!
This has been a long winter, not because it was cold, not because it was the second snowiest winter on record and not because there was little or no sunshine in January, it was because I don't have a job and it has been BORING to say the least! I've done a TON of work in and outside of the house, MANY projects accomplished and more to do, but I want to work and not set around on my ever growing bottom!
I have no idea what this spring will hold for me? I'd like to have my former employer call me in and rehire me, but I don't see that happening for a long time. I actualy miss my position, it was stressfull but it was a hoot, always something going on! I can deal with that.
I'll post a picture of the snow a little later, the computer I'm on doesn't have a card reader in it.
Later all!!

Me!

Finishing the kitchen!

Before:
After:

My brother came over today and helped me finish the kitchen, it's a good thing too! he had a MUCH better idea for the step up than I did, and it looks nice!
I have to put in 3/4" quarter round around the room yet, but that can wait a day or two! For now the room looks very good!
The flooring came from a house that had a fire, all I had to do was clean it up and buy $45 in trim. I guess recycling can be a good thing? LOL
Time to head off, I REALLY need a cup of COFFEE!!!
Later all!

Me!

The kitchen

I worked in the kitchen today installing the new/used laminate floor, I managed to get all but four feet of it done. I managed to get two of the doorway transitions installed also, the third will need to be finessed in. There is four more feet to do yet, but I'll need some help with that
What a long day it turned out to be, I am really sore and tired, I will be glad to get to bed today.
Talk to you later all!

Me!

70 degrees?

Say it is true! 70 today for a high? OH PLEASE!
It certainly looks like the begining of a NICE day, the sun peaked over the trees at 8:00am and is looking warm!
I put the first coat of paint on the new drywall today, it is not perfect (Not a straight wall in the house!) but it looks better than two big holes in the wall did! There are things to do today or I would start on the new flooring in the kitchen/dining room, I have to remove the ANCIENT carpet that is there now, that should be a pain, I already know I will need to scrape the floor once it is up, there is some nasty old foam backing on the carpet that has come off.
The fish seem to like the new wallpaper in the dining side of the room, there is like twice the light there was so they get to play in it. The Red Wag Platty's seem to be doing fine, I'd like to get a couple more of those, they're a cool fish.
It is once again time for a cup of coffee! something has to get my brain going!
Later all! I'll post a picture of the wall once I get a second coat on it.

Me!

The flooring

I finished cleaning the flooring today, four hours of nasty work but it paid off, I have a laminate floor that is not perfect, but it looks good and it is MUCH better than what is there now. I'd bet the carpet in the kitchen/dining room is nearly as old as I am! NO kidding!
I used a product called Krud Kutter (Spelled that way) from Lowes, and it worked REALLY well! although I should have bought the bottle, not the half gallon jug! YEESH! WAY too much left in it! I guess it is a get ahead for my next project?
No callback for that second interview yet, I am SO impatient! YEESH! I wanted to start YESTERDAY! HA! God will provide, He ALWAYS has!
I am tired and my body and my brain both hurt tonight, catch you later all!

Me!

What do ya know?

Yesterday I called the contractor that had worked on my house some time ago and asked for a couple of pieces of scrap drywall, I had to repair a couple of spots in the laundry room. He said he had a couple for me and I went up to pick them up. I have NO idea WHY the last owner opened the wall up! but there were two 9"x24" openings in the wall, the lower one had something pushed up against it (before I moved in) and it collapsed the wall up 48" so one big piece and one small piece had to be replced.

While we were talking I told him that I wanted to replace the kitchen floor but didn't have the moola to accomplish this, at that point he showed me some flooring that he took out of the house he was working on (Laminate!) and said I could have it if I wanted it! COOL! the house had a fire but the flooring wasn't burned, it only had soot on it! I went back to my house and measured everything out and there was enough! WOO-HOO!!!! I went back up and snagged it right up!


This picture shows one clean and one dirty, it will take some work to clean the boards, I can't just wipe them off, they kinda look NASTY at the moment! YEESH! I managed to get like 10 or 12 done already, and while they are not brand new perfect they are FAR better than what is on the floor at the moment, God has provided once again! There is NO WAY I could have purchased those at the moment! not even enough money! GOD IS GOOD!!!
I layed down a few boards to see what it will look like, much brighter than the carpet that is in the kitchen/diningroom now!
Time for another cup of coffee and some migraine pills, I've been fighting this one for three days now, I hope to win SOON!
Later all!

Me!

Waiting! GAK!

Waiting, waiting, waiting! LOL! No callback on the first interview yet, I can't WAIT to hear back! I want this job!
If I get this job it will all have started from having surgery! I was off for three week's and needed womething to do, SO I got the internet! DIALUP! OOOHHH!!!!! LOL! (MUCH faster now! 3Mb.)
Anyhow, after playing around I bought a second computer that died and I learned how to fix it myself and here we are now, ten years later! a job from it? that would be just TOO cool!
I would have started a buisness from it, but the cost of parts went WAY up, there's no way to make a living on that alone, it's nice as a way to make a few bucks, but other than that? NOPE!
If I had a way to get used laptops at wholesale I could make some decent money, everybody wants them, just no idea where to get them cheap, E-bay used to be a good place, not any more, shipping is STUPID high, and people are greedy!
I should head of for now, things to do!
Later all!

Me!

The interview

I had my first of two interviews today and it went well! my information was forwarded to the next person who will interview me. I am praying that I get that call tomorrow! I would LOVE to be able to walk into Church Sunday and say "THANK THE LORD! I HAVE A JOB!!!"
I may try to post picture of the bathroom, it is narrow, so I don't think I'll be able to get a good picture of it? we'll see I guess!
Things to do: replace some damaged drywall in the washroom, repair some loose wallpaper in the bathroom, replace a small missing piece of baseboard and I'll be DONE! Some of what I've done has been "At the moment" work, I don't have the money to replace the ceiling in the laundry room, there is paneling there now and I have NO idea how good or bad it is under it. The kitchen carpet wil need to wait till I am working once again, then there's the deck I'd like to build outside the back door and insulate and drywall the back storage room, and buy more gravel to put in the drive so it doesn't have MUDD puddles in it.......there will ALWAYS be something to get done here! I LIKE that! keeps me busy!
It is GOOD to have goals! I MUST have goals! LOL! go figure!
TTYL ALL!

Me!

Inteview time!

I have a job interview tomorrow, my first in 17 years! GAK! I'm not nervouse or anything, if this is the job God has for me I will get it, God has made things clear to me before, He will again.
I've been working on the house for a month now and all along I've had the feeling that I HAD to get it done as quick as I could because when I completed the house something BIG would happen.....we'll see tomorrow! I want this job! It will be the begining of reinventing myself into something different.
I worked in the bathroom today, I painted the wall and the trim, I still have more work to be done, I have to fix some wallpaper and steam clean around the toilet and sink but that wont take too long and the drywall in the laundry room wont be too difficult either........The main work is DONE! after a MONTH of work the big stuff is DONE! YES!
I should head off for now, things to think about.
TTYL!

Me!

The washroom

Before:

After:

I'm working in the laundry room today, I have some drywall repair to do yet but I still painted it since I had things all moved around anyhow. I need to touch-up a couple of spots on the white trim yet, and replace that missing drywall (WHY is it missing anyhow? NOTHING is there!)
Only one room to go! YES! I need to finish the laundry room first, but that shouldn't be too difficult.
It has been a nice day so far! the sun is SHINING! and it is nearly 50! I can SO deal with that at the moment, the sun can be healing and it is working at the moment.

Kitchen/Diningroom picture

Nothing in the kitchen side was changed, while I'd like some new flooring, what I have now will do until I find my next job. What I need and what I want can be two VERY different things! LOL!

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Here is the completed kitchen, $30 for wallpaper and $15 for the two new light fixtures on the wall. Once again I must say God is good! I purchased the wallpaper at less than half price and accidentally found the light fixtures, they were hid at the top of a HUGE display in the corner where you could barely see them, they were the only one's that would work with my wiring setup. One needed a switch in it and the other needed a wall mounted switch.
Needless to say the kitchen/dining room is MUCH brighter than it was! I can make it daylight in there now!
Another trick I thought up? over the kitchen sink there is a fluorescent fixture mounted behind a panel, the back of the panel was dark so it didn't reflect the light well, so I painted the back of the panel white, now it reflects the light and it is brighter! light is GOOD!
I'd still like to paint the ceiling, but I'm not sure about how to do it, there are crevasses in between the panels that a roller cannot reach, SO! how to get it right? still thinking about that!
I should head off for now, coffee's calling and I need to get ready for Church!
Later all!

Me!

The kitchen is done!

YUP! the kitchen is DONE! I finished painting and reinstalling the trim today, one more project down.
I am feeling MUCH better than I did when I woke up, I had a nasty migraine..I took the med's and went back to bed and slept for a few hours the woke up all better.I can deal with that!
The day was dark and dreary, not complaining though! it was like 40 degrees! LOL!
I'm not sure which project will be ext, the washroom or the bathroom! probably the bathroom, I only need to paint half of the bathrooom and paint the trim there. There is a bit of drywall repair, a spot 6" square that was repaired some time ago, but not right. It will look MUCH better in the bathroom! the PINK will be gone! LOL! NO more PINK!!
Time to head off for now!
Later all!

Me!

Nearly done

I worked on the kitchen today, I half emptied the fish tank and moved it to complete the wallpaper. I still need to paint and replace the trim around the ceiling and paint the corner trim.
It feels good to have the kitchen/diningroom nearly done, with the two new $7 fixtures there is at least twice the lightin the room.
I have a early meeting tomorrow and I'll need to get up very early, fun, fun! I am still not sure what school to go to? a trade school where I get the certification, or a college with a associates degree? what to do?
I will find out more about that tomorrow morning hopefully I hope to pick up more paint for the ceiling, washrooom and bathroom tomorrow also, without the tax return that would not happen.
Guess I should head off for now, I am tired already.
Later all!

Me!

Puttering about the house

Not too much on the plate today, I'm waiting for assistance with the aquarium...had to have a 29 gallon tank....
Although I purchased border for the kitchen I like the look of the wallpaper by itself, so no border.
I don't believe there is a straight wall in this house! CRIMANY! there's nothing I can do about it, so I better just get over it! LOL! OC me! It isn't the exterior wall's, it's the interior......MAN! someone was drinking when the put up the interior walls! NO doubt about that! LOL
SO! I am bored for the moment! I picked up in the yard, cleaned the house, washed the windows inside and out, did a load of laundry, fixed two pieces of border that pulled off and did a bit of minor wallpapering...STILL bored! BOY do I miss having 34+ people to keep an eye on! THAT kept me BUSY! AND!!! I LIKED it!!
It will be OK though, there is a computer coming that needs a DVD drive installed, that will take up a couple of minutes! YEESH!
I'll post more later, I'll see what happens today!
Later all!

Me!

Back to the wallpaper, Chronicals of Narnia

I went back to the kitchen and started working on the wallpaper, I have all but five feet done but will have to wait untill I move the fishtank before I can finish this project. The tank is a 29 gallon tank, so I cannot move it by myself, the thing weighs around 200 pounds full, I'll need to half empty it first.
I watched some of the old BBC Narnia movies today, I forgot how much I liked them (The movies and the Chronicals of Narnia)
I still have not found out if I can paint the tile ceiling or not, it could use a good coat of paint....
So why all this work on the house? well number one? I am O.C. over the moon right now because I'm not working, I need to be doing something ALL the time. I'm kinda driving myself nut's right now, but I'll keep going! I am nearly DONE!
Is there something behind all of this work? NO idea! guess I'll see what happens!
Yeah! I'm a NUT! but in a good way....I GUESS!! LOL!
I HOPE that the kitchen can be completed tomorrow, that would SO satisfy my O.C. issues!
About the job situation....I have put in over 30 resumes in the last eight weeks not a single callback, so it looks like I will be going back to college. I would truely rather work, back in my old position, with my seniority, with my pay and the confidence that my peers had for me, but that is NOT possible with the condition of the economy.
Even if the economy were to be perfect starting tomorrow, it would be MONTHS before anything happened. The DRAMA QUEEN COWARDS on wallstreet are the one's who caused this mess we are in, we should fire them ALL and start over! we'd be better off! LOL!
I FEEL GOOD! the house is looking decent!
Later all!

Me!

Switching projects

I spent a couple of days stripping the walls in the Kitchen/Dining area, I needed to take a break from that and switch to another project. I chose to paint the baseboard in my bedroom (I installed the half that was missing) painted the cabinet, door and door frame in the bathroom and the ceiling in the washroom. The washroom ceiling is paneled, I have no idea what is behing the paneling and I don't have the money to do any major repairs so I painted it white, two coats made a BIG difference in how that room looked!
Three more projects done, five to complete:
Washroom walls Paint (Fix some drywall there too)
Kitchen walls Wallpaper
Kitchen ceiling (Tiled, so I need to find out how to paint it right)
Bathroom walls (Strip wallpaper and paint trim)
Bathroom ceiling Paint
If I can complete these five tasks, the entire interior of the house will have been worked on...God is GOOD!!
Later all!

Me!

Wallpaper and trim

Today I am removing more wallpaper from the kithcen/diningroom and working a bit on the trim in my bedroom. I have about five hours into removing the wallpaper (I dislike wallpaper!) and there is another three feet to go before it is all stripped off the wall.
The trim in my bedroom was never finished for some reason and I'm O.C.ing that it is missing, SO I bought 3 8' pieces and it will be done, then I will need to paint the trim...is it EVER done?
I'm not complaining in any way, the house is starting to look nice, I can deal with that!
I guess I should head off for now, I can strip some more wallpaper before I get some help moving the fishtank......
Later all!

Me!

So here's where I'm at now, I put one of the new light fixtures up ($6 each) just to see if I liked them.

Done for real!

The frontroom is done for real this time! LOL! I put up the border and moved the curtains up 6" and NOW I am done!
The open spot in the bookshelf has been replaced with a shelf and it is painted, another spot in the frontroom....
I'd like to do a bunch of other projects in the house, but I'm going to stick to the reasonable things, paint and wallpaper! I "dislike" wallpaper! it is too much of a pain to remove! there MUST be a better way! OH YEAH! PAINT it! LOL!

Spring is nearly here, how can I tell? by my driveway! or MUDHOLE as it is right now! no complaints though! it IS here!
Later all!

What to do?

There are still things that I can do in the house but at the moment no money to do it! LOL! So goes life!
Spring is nearly here now, how do I know? I'm looking at the mud in my yard! YEESH!
There is one project that I want to complete today, the border in the front room! what a difference that will make!
Time for me to head off for now!
Later all!

Four rooms FINISHED! GOD IS GOOD!

I did more painting today, I finished the ceilings in three rooms and painted the last window frame.
So, here are some pictures! what'dya think? not bad for a single guy eh?

The frontroom finished...I THINK? Frontroom done #2
Frontroom done #3

The back entry done.

The spare bedroom done..again I think?

Bedroom done #1

Bedroom done #2

I took a look at my bedroom and it needed something more.....a border......I do NOT like wallpaper, it is a pain to remove! LOL! Anyway, I am glad I put the border up, $21 made a world of difference in how the room looked.
I have more to do in the house yet:
The washroom (paint the trim, wall's and ceiling) $18 have near a gallon of white paint left!
The bathroom (Paint the trim and the half with no wallpaper) $15
The kitchen/dining room (wallpaper and trim) not sure how much yet? I need carpet, doubt that will happen right now though!
Now, I know your thinking I'm nut's! NO job and I'm remodeling the house...yeah, I wonder also! but the truth is that I had MOST of what I needed before I lost my job, so far what I have had to purchase has come to $150, I can afford that! I had spent like $200 in paint and supplies LONG before everything happened, thank God for that! no way I could have managed this other wise.
I've said it before, I'll say it AGAIN! GOD IS GOOD!!!
Later all! I need to stop thinking about what needs to be done yet!

"I CAN!" Man

Tax Monday

Yeah, it is tax Monday! I finished all three today, it took like three hours to complete, but I am DONE! LOL!
I am feeling MUCH better now than I had in the last four day's, the creeping crud got me GOOD! LOL! It is nice to feel better, I cleaned the house first thing today, It's nice to have some energy!
So what to do tomorrow? something needs done! Painting? Grocery shopping? who knows! LOL!
Later all!
"Feeling better!"

"I CAN" Man!

Brain pain!

So I woke up with a NASTY migraine today, but I feel better than I have in a few days! figure that out? LOL!
I'm glad to feel better, I want to go to Church today! can't do that if I'm sick! Sinus pills have taken away the migraine, but there is still some pressure there, I can live with that.
No more painting done, this creeping crud has taken the ambition out of me, I want it back, I'd like to finish my house. Three ceilings and the whole back room need to be completed yet, that would be nice.
I will be glad when the creeping crud clears out for good, I can't even read right now! I was reading in Job, that was interesting! Like I said! I'll be glad when I clear up!
Time to head off for now, coffee's calling me!
Later all!

"I CAN" Man!

The creeping crud

For the first time this season I have the creeping crud, this one is only the 48 hour variety though, so all should be well in the next few hours. I still managed to get the ceiling done in the frontroom though, I would have done more, but I ran out of paint and didn't feel like going out and getting more paint.
No big things to do today, a little cleaning is in order, but that will not take long at all.
I should head off for now, things to do and all.
Later all!

"I CAN" Man!

Just enough!

I painted the front room today, I thought I had enough for three rooms, as it turns out there was only enough for ONE room! JUST enough! God is good eh?
So the house will stink for a while, but the front room is MUCH brighter than berfore, I can handle that!
I've put in enough resume's and applications that I broke down and created a spread sheet with the names of all the companies that I have applied to and the dates I applied, it was getting a little comfusing writing them down on paper (It got to be MESSY!)
So what else to do today? NO idea! I probable will but another gallon of white paint and do the other three rooms this week yet, I MUST finish the house! O.C. me!
I'll post more later if I think about it, not sure what the day will bring?
Later all!

"I CAN" Man!

Fixing the furnace

In the last few weeks the furnace exhaust blower had gotten quite LOUD! it wasn't getting worse, but it was waking me up in the middle of the night.
I called today to find out how much the blower was, $230 here in town and $135 if I order it on-line. I decided to remove and inspect the blower BEFORE I purchased a new one, even $135 is a LOT of money right now. Once I removed the blower I found some buildup in the vanes of the blower, I cleaned all the junk off and reinstalled it, fired it back up and NO MORE noise or vibrations! THANKYOU Lord! It only took me like 30 minutes to complete the entire process and it saved me a lopad of money! It felt GOOD to fix the furnace! no more problems please! But it DID feel GOOD!
Later for now!

"I CAN" Man!!