| Time to get caught up |
[Jul. 13th, 2009|10:21 pm] |
Well let's see what I remember.
1) the fence is still a mess. I have not heard anything about it. It's like they dropped off the face of the earth. I got a call from the insurance company and the bill the contractor sent to them was almost double what I paid so far from the insurance check. No wonder why I haven't heard from them. I'm going to take up the offer from a neighbor and we are going to fix it our selves.
2) Vacation Kitten was home for 3 weeks. We did a road trip out to Disneyland in CA. Three days out and 3 days back. I had taken off 2 weeks in a row, first time in a long time. Boy did I need to get away. So the trip starts using Mapquest for directions because any GPS I tried would only take the southern route on I-10. I had no desire to go along the Mexico border. So we are making good time when the instructions say to take this road. Well I would only call it a path. All stones and dirt and one lane. It took us past a crop dusters field and we exited via a ball field. Of course the road we came to was not the one Mapquest said we should be on. Thankfully the GPS was willing to take the route I wanted. I wanted to take route 40 and 66. It took all day to get out of Texas. We ended the day in Ft Sumner NM.
Next day off we go. I have never seen so much empty. Plenty of room at there. We passed wind farms and open desert. Even Route 66 looked empty this time. After lunch at a diner attached to a casino and a few miles down the road I caught the eites and had to let R drive. We decided to go to the meteor crater. It was not that far off the road. $45 later we got to see a real deep hole in the ground. It does give you a lot to think about when you think how powerful we think we are that a rock from space put a 3/4 mile hole in the earth. We almost got all the way out of AZ when I decided that was far enough and called it another day.
First stop was fuel and the sign said London Bridge. I remember a History Channel piece on Mega Movers on it so I was going to stop there on the way home. Gas in AZ was $2.49 and the first station in CA only about 10 miles later was $3.89. OUCH! Then WTF a customs station. What are you bringing into the state? Money, lots and lots of money. :) Staying on 40 we passed a solar power station. Again the History channel came to mind. They are taking it offline because it would cost too much to clean and refirb the mirrors. Turning south on 15 for about 4 hours got us to Anaheim. There is a pass that is several thousand feet vertical drop. Well I was doing 65 with my foot off the gas down hill. Checked in and walked over to Disney where we did dinner. Back at the hotel we watched the fireworks from the room without the music.
Kitten survived the first day walking but I got a wheel chair for her the rest of the trip at Disney. We kept up our string of rides breaking on us. The day time parade must have Walt spinning in his grave. The winds almost canceled the fireworks the night I was going to record. Main Street Electrical Parade started late. Oh it's no longer on Main Street so that was taken out of the name. We went to ride Screaming and it was broke twice. We did get to ride it. The wheel at CA Adventure broke with us on it. We were there for about an extra 10 to 15 minutes. We got off Indiana Jones for the second time and the lights came on. We went to ride splash mountain and they were emptying the ride.
We did better at Universal as the only thing that broke was the sound system on our bus during the tour. Well that is why friends don't let friends run PCs. I dropped the tour guide with that.
I found out that my ear has not recovered enough to enjoy some rides. I didn't toss my cookies my it felt close.
I got to see my niece and finally meet her son.
Disney is going one upgrade/change a year on CA Adventure. There was talk about going back next year for my birthday.
The trip back was uneventful we stopped at London Bridge and the Wigwam Motel.
A few relaxing days at home and then back to work.
The first week was uneventful. It took me a day or two to get back in the grove. I was even in a good mood. By Thursday there was a video conference with management so they could tell us that we should post our resumes so others can find the skills they want so we can transfer out of GS. We are going to be sold. They won't tell us to whom until Sept. I made a call to a CTO that I know so that he knew that I was looking and wanted to work for him.
We tried to go camping this past weekend. Well it's been over 100 for the last 3 weeks. It was so bad that even the dog was out of it. So we came home a day early.
That brings us up to today. Kitten went back to school. The house is already empty. I've set the A/C on the second floor back up to 90 as no one is there.
At work we lost a valuable resource. I have no idea what happened yet. I'm going to try to find out but we are poorer for them walking him out.
Well I think that covers it. |
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| Fence replacement step 1 |
[Jun. 11th, 2009|09:58 pm] |
The fence guy was out today to measure what I wanted replaced. He is also going to try to fix the gate or replace it. Whichever is easier.
One of my neighbors was getting his roof replaced when the storm started. He got water in his house.
One of my friends at work has several leaks and half his fence down. I gave him my contractors number. |
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| Now that was a storm |
[Jun. 10th, 2009|08:23 pm] |
Tornado watch, straight line winds of 50 mph plus. Lots of rain. The so called fence went down again. One of the poles that go into the ground to hold it up snapped at ground level. Where I could sink a nail I did to hold it up. Using twine to hold the center together. I hope the dog doesn't decide to test the fence.
The weather is for more rain off and on the rest of the week. Here is hoping the direction is not from the north. I called my contractor because the fence was supposed to be replaced from the hail damage. He said he will check in the office tomorrow and let me know some idea of when they will be out to finish up. |
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| Another gun show |
[Jun. 7th, 2009|09:09 pm] |
I went and helped a friend today. Of course of all the weeks I'm oncall I get called after I get there. It didn't need to be NOW but someone put a time on things that I did not say. Also I got bad information so I almost had a problem on my hands. I still managed to get it all working right in time.
I only bought one box of 20 empty shells. I was looking for more and got nothing. However I made quite a bit of money for my friend. So he offered to pay me in primers. For those how know nothing about reloading primers are like hen's teeth. So getting 5 bricks (1000 per brick)for 8 hours of work puts me ahead. Each brick depending on size and use is between $65 and $85 if you can find them. I do believe I'm ahead this time.
I also talked to kitten today. I told her that her friend and future room mate J can come down for A-Fest. Some how I have the feeling I'm going to be paying for this. We agreed to talk more about it when she is home in a couple of weeks. I miss my kitten.
I'm also looking at a house that needs work. A lot of work if I can believe the neighbors. I know it needs an A/C unit as it was stolen. The fence needs fixing and who knows about the pool. I think Ronni is going to call the listing realtor and see if she can go see it. If see does she will take a camera so I can see what she sees. They are listing it cheap, but maybe not cheap enough. |
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| Another quiet weekend |
[May. 31st, 2009|06:23 pm] |
Let's see.... washed out the grill, cleaned and re-oiled the outside table. None of that has been done for the 5 and a half years I've been in Texas. Of course where there was water there was a dog. I even put out a childs pool with water in it for her. Nope she would rather be under the hose. She will get in the pool long enough to wash off a ball and get a drink. Then out again to run around. I guess the high 80's are not enough to get down and wet yet.
I also put down weed killer/fertilizer.
Of course no weekend is complete without a dog's head hanging out the back window. I took her to both dog parks and walked through any store the allows dogs.
Yes you must pay the pet tax.
I want to sell my Lexus RX300. Anyone want one? |
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| Did the bank f-up? |
[May. 26th, 2009|07:25 pm] |
Oh I hope so. For a change in my direction. Did someone put the wrong account number on a rather large check for my car payment?
I'm sure someone will bring it to the banks attention but it looked good.
Heck after vacation I'm going to see if I can find enough money to put that kind of payment on it for real.
Oh goodie, here comes the rain again. I came home from work and they were replacing the gutters. I didn't even know they were coming today or I would have emptied the drive way. |
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| I finally did a gun show |
[May. 23rd, 2009|11:28 pm] |
Damn they can get expensive. Oh if I only had money to burn I would have dropped about 5 grand. I saw stuff I never saw before and would love to own. But of course there is that money thing again. Ammo is through the roof. Talk about profit taking. I think it's doubled in the last year and getting reloading items is tough as well. The best price I could find for large rifle primers was $65 a brick. People are hording ammo because of the Dems in control. After the 2nd amendment was upheld now everyone is worried that they will try to take our ammo. This is nuts.
There is a house in Richland Hills that I saw online I decided to check out. It's big, it's cheap and it needs ass loads of work. It could be a nice house again with a lot of work. I don't know what the state of the pool is but the fence would be the first thing replaced.
I took Taffy to the dog park on the way home from there. I gave her a real good hosing down there. The under fur is thin in a couple of places. |
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| Dog day afternoon |
[May. 17th, 2009|06:41 pm] |
Dallas turned the Cotton Bowl into the Dog Bowl. Yep the place became an off leash dog park. The whole field, end zone to end zone was a dogs dream. There were pools every 20 yards or so, buckets of water between the pools. Dogs of every size was there. Dogs that normally don't find enough room to run were out there running for all they were worth. Is that a truck or a Great Dane coming at me?
Taffy had a blast, in and out of pools and sniffing other dogs. Yes she made people pay the pet tax.
I really think that was enough to call it a good day.
The new roof is on. The next step is the gutters and then the fence.
60 Minutes just had a piece on that was good for AIG. Not like all the other stuff that was focused on the stupid but hey, we are trying to pay you back so hear what we are doing. There are 116,000 of us who did not kill the company working very hard to keep it going in the right direction.
I should know, I'm one of them. |
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| Roof today |
[May. 15th, 2009|07:19 am] |
this will drive the dog nuts while we are at work.
Cars are done. You would never know anything happened to them.
Edit:
I thought about the bird. I found her at the other end of the house and she had been there for a while. She left piles all the way back to the cage. Boy is she going to be glad when this is done. |
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| All the hail damage is almost fixed |
[May. 12th, 2009|10:53 pm] |
The car is back and the roof get's done tomorrow. Wednesday. Whatever.
I'm tired. Of everything. The GM credit card doubled the interest and dropped my credit line to what I owe. I found some 3.99% checks that were still good and moved the balance to a different card. No way I'm paying 30.99% interest.
Anyone want a 2002 Lexus RX300? I don't want this anymore.
I wish I was back up north again. I want to play paintball with the Tempest again.
I hate web speak used all the time in normal conversation. I'm tied of LOL and nam nam used in every conversation and every other sentence.
There are times I just want to chuck everything and go start over somewhere. |
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| They want how much to ship? |
[Apr. 23rd, 2009|10:17 pm] |
I've been craving Tastykakes. Yes that Philadelphia treat that I have not had for years. Well I had a couple last October when I was up there. So anyway I woke up the other morning and I had been dreaming about them. I know, strange. Anyway I went to the website and found that they ship. However what they don't tell you until you are almost ready to pay for it is the shipping charges. If you have pies in the order shipping is $74.!!! Forget that. I don't care if they are a couple of days old I'm sure the post office is cheaper than UPS even for 2 day delivery.
I guess I can wait until Kitten comes home in June to have her bring me some. |
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| F'in Texas dentest |
[Apr. 19th, 2009|10:03 pm] |
This guy has to be the worst. Pity is until I know of I have to pay to replace the crown I don't know if I should change yet.
Okay let's start at the beginning. We were at Central Market sampling the BBQ stuff when something went crunch. Did not pay it much mind. Later at the theater I relented and had a Milk Dud. Well next thing I know my mouth is filled with grit and something felt wrong. I clean out my mouth and find the lower left crown. I clean it off and stick it back in. Now this is the second time in less than 5 years it came out. I thought it had some Milk Dud stuck to it so I brushed when I got home and it still felt strange. I pop'ed it out and found a good chunk of the enamel is missing from the outside.
I'll be calling from work in the morning.
I also pulled out a bush that was being choked by what looked like poison oak. |
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| I've got the house repairs set up |
[Apr. 17th, 2009|07:18 am] |
Had the adjuster and contractors out this week. The roof is a total loss, no surprise. They are also replacing the roof on the shed out back. That I was not counting on. Didn't think it needed it. Also getting a fence out the the deal. They are giving me the whole fence, I only want the left side and front. The rest is shared and the back is not damaged.
Next step, the cars. But we could get more fun weather this weekend so I don't find that something that can't wait a few days. |
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| Gray is home |
[Apr. 9th, 2009|06:34 pm] |
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well his ashes anyway. Until the mantel is ready he is in kitten's room. He spent so much time there anyway. |
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| Hail Damage |
[Apr. 7th, 2009|11:38 pm] |
Last weeks heavy rain and hail caused roof damage. I have to notify the insurance company so they can send the adjuster out. I have a general contractor who is also going to try to include the fence.
My small car got the worst of the metal damage. No glass got broken which is more than I can say for some of the other in the area.
Heck it was softball size stuff and it even knocked out the power for about an hour. |
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| RIP Gray |
[Apr. 3rd, 2009|11:43 pm] |
Today was the end of a cat. For the last 12 years I have known a Russian Blue named Grays Wander. Gray for short. He had been Caitlin's constant friend no matter what. He was one very gentle being. He was put to sleep so he would not suffer the pain of the cancer that had been eating him alive. He died with his head in my hand looking at me. I watched the light go out in his eyes. I'm glad he died with those who loved him around him. I'm sure we added another spirit to the collection in the house.
So long my friend. I'm sure we will cross paths again. Yes I did cry, very hard. Been feeling it all week. This morning I woke up thinking 'last day' and hating it. |
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| So much for a car inspection |
[Jan. 17th, 2009|04:02 pm] |
I took the Laser in today for an inspection. As always it walked through the emissions part. All the lights work, the breaks stop you and the car gets from point A to point B with no issues.
Now I had been feeling something in the steering for a while. That is what lead to the control arm replacement last month. Or was it 2 months ago? Anyway what I felt had never gone away.
So one of the items on the inspection check list was drive belts. When I pulled away from the dealer the power steering was out. I'm on backup power, arm strong steering. Also the breaks feel firmer than I expected. Well they could have been adjusted.
I get to my normal repair shop, open the hood and the belt is broke. I could call them on it but I can get the belt replaced cheaper at my normal place. It had lost a few teeth as well. So that could have been what I had been feeling was the pump get and loose pressure. |
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| The bird almost got bit |
[Jan. 15th, 2009|09:56 pm] |
Mikey bit the dog. Twice. The first time in the butt and got woffed at. The second time on the ear. I thought Taffy was going to eat the bird but barked without closing her mouth on the bird.
The bird did not even ruffle her feathers.
Stupid bird.
Well she is still alive. |
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| Follow the bouncing temps |
[Jan. 14th, 2009|11:06 pm] |
One day next day cold. Well to catch up. The lawyer for the most part said forget it. I would be lucky to break even. That is between the money I would spend on him against what I would get back. Why bother.
Kitten is back at school. A true low point. Good news she will be coming back on break. She plans on changing room mates (again).
The dog is back in doggy class. Every Sunday at 2:30. She does pick up fast. I can get her to wait before bolting out the back door. This is not a dumb (blond) lab.
I finally got around to upgrading my Parallels to Version 4. So just for fun I decided to download and install Windows 7. I want to see how much "better" than Vista it is. I have it installing right now while iTunes is running and I'm online on the other monitor.
Vacation is not going to be as grand as we were first looking to making happen. To many things not going the way I would like. Heck not even the way they were going a month ago.
Someone else is leaving at work. Found a much better job. I wish him luck. So for everyone who leaves the better the chances that everyone else gets to keep their job.
Windows 7 just finished loading and there is a beta fish on the screen.
Anyway my partner in the US is part of a company that might get sold. If that happens I'm alone in what I do in the US. I'm trying to teach my manager my job right now. If/when I loose my partner than he will try to help keep up with the work.
Well I have Win7 downloading AVG so I can play with it later. Maybe over the weekend. I want to see if it is a great add for Macs or not. |
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| Ice Ice Baby |
[Jan. 5th, 2009|06:41 pm] |
Yes it was freezing rain this morning. I had to wait for the ice to melt because I could not get a good scrape going. A little spray on solution and some hot air and I was able to see.
I found the push rod for the 22 rifle yesterday. I pulled apart an area that I had looked in before and there it was. So that saved me a few bucks.
I also got the lawyers phone number. I'll call him tomorrow. |
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