Saturday, April 06, 2013
Wednesday, April 03, 2013
The Missing Grandkids
Mt son was in a bad marriage some 20 years ago, which ended in divorce. That is never a good situation. There were four kids involved. I don;t want to go into all of that here, but I adopted one, one went into foster care and the two littlest ones were adopted. It was a closed adoption, so no contact was allowed with their biological family, except a minimum amount of contact with their brother, when they requested it. Since I was his adoptive parent, I got to go along and see them, but only me and my wife.
After a while contact stopped, some eight or nine years ago. I missed them, but was in no position to push.
Saturday, V. texted me saying that someone he thought was maybe his brother had friend requested him on Facebook. He wanted to know what the last name was of the adoptive parents was, so I told him, and indeed it was his brother.
Once the two of them had connected, I friended both of them.
Good Lord, how they have changed. They are grown, or close to.
But that's not what I wanted to write about.
I wanted to write about a particular moment of time, about fifteen years ago.
I was an early winter morning, and I was up early, alone. Joshua and Jayce were spending the weekend. They were pretty much inseparable when they were small.
I was sitting in the big chair out in the music room, reading the Sunday newspaper, when they sleepily dragged their little selves out and climbed into the chair with me, one snuggled on either side of me.
The early morning winter sun slanted in the window and warmed us.
It was a moment of such complete contentment, that I took a moment to set it in my mind. With all the uncertainty in the world I knew it was extremely unlikely that the moment and the feeling would last or likely ever return.
I have kept that memory stored away and cherished ever since.
Hold on to those precious moments and never, never take them for granted.
After a while contact stopped, some eight or nine years ago. I missed them, but was in no position to push.
Saturday, V. texted me saying that someone he thought was maybe his brother had friend requested him on Facebook. He wanted to know what the last name was of the adoptive parents was, so I told him, and indeed it was his brother.
Once the two of them had connected, I friended both of them.
Good Lord, how they have changed. They are grown, or close to.
But that's not what I wanted to write about.
I wanted to write about a particular moment of time, about fifteen years ago.
I was an early winter morning, and I was up early, alone. Joshua and Jayce were spending the weekend. They were pretty much inseparable when they were small.
I was sitting in the big chair out in the music room, reading the Sunday newspaper, when they sleepily dragged their little selves out and climbed into the chair with me, one snuggled on either side of me.
The early morning winter sun slanted in the window and warmed us.
It was a moment of such complete contentment, that I took a moment to set it in my mind. With all the uncertainty in the world I knew it was extremely unlikely that the moment and the feeling would last or likely ever return.
I have kept that memory stored away and cherished ever since.
Hold on to those precious moments and never, never take them for granted.
Sunday, March 31, 2013
280Z
I have taken out the seats, the dash, the steering wheel. I have put in new dash light bulbs, ordered a new steering wheel. bought a new center console and put in the stuff from the old one.
I have ordered new carpets, which should be in next week.
I repaired the hot/cold control for the heater. I have owned the car for about five years and it has never worked. It will be nice to be able to turn off the heat this summer.
Next I will fix a broken off bolt in the blower, and start putting it all back together.
I need to have the driver's seat reaposltered.
Then on to the brakes, adjust the valves, fix the clunk in the rear end.
Then Paint.
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Sugarless Balckberry Jam
When we were down at my Cousin Ginger's in Oregon a couple of years ago, Uncle Fred brought over some blackberries he had picked. They ended up in the cooler in my car. I suspect they were Himalaya blackberries, not Wild Mountain Blackberries, otherwise my cousin would not have parted with them so easily.
I have been meaning to do something with them ever since, but as I had never made jam with artificial sweetener, I always put it off. I went as far as looking up sugar-free jam recipes on the internet, but that was as far as it went.
We go through a quite a bit of sugar-free jam, me because I am diabetic, Mrs A because she is usually dieting. When I get a craving for something fruity/sweet I will go out and have a teaspoon of jam, and it satisfies my craving.
Last weekend I finally got around to using some of the berries.
First of all, I always make freezer jam. The reason is that you do not cook the berries, so it really tastes like the fruit, the other is because it is so easy to do.
Now it is even better, There is a product called Mrs Wage's no cook freezer jam pectin. Just add it to the sweetener (Splenda) and stir it into the berries, let it sit for a half an hour, and presto, you have jam. And it tastes mighty good.
We made a batch and it filled five 16oz jam containers. Keeps in the fridge for a couple of weeks, up to a year in the freezer. So far it has been used on toast, pancakes, and ice cream.
That ought to get us through until fresh fruit comes in season.
A trip to the u-pick strawberry farm will be one of our early fruit destinations.
I have been meaning to do something with them ever since, but as I had never made jam with artificial sweetener, I always put it off. I went as far as looking up sugar-free jam recipes on the internet, but that was as far as it went.
We go through a quite a bit of sugar-free jam, me because I am diabetic, Mrs A because she is usually dieting. When I get a craving for something fruity/sweet I will go out and have a teaspoon of jam, and it satisfies my craving.
Last weekend I finally got around to using some of the berries.
First of all, I always make freezer jam. The reason is that you do not cook the berries, so it really tastes like the fruit, the other is because it is so easy to do.
Now it is even better, There is a product called Mrs Wage's no cook freezer jam pectin. Just add it to the sweetener (Splenda) and stir it into the berries, let it sit for a half an hour, and presto, you have jam. And it tastes mighty good.
We made a batch and it filled five 16oz jam containers. Keeps in the fridge for a couple of weeks, up to a year in the freezer. So far it has been used on toast, pancakes, and ice cream.
That ought to get us through until fresh fruit comes in season.
A trip to the u-pick strawberry farm will be one of our early fruit destinations.
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Car Stuff
Part of the retirement plan is to consolidate my car stuff. The reason for this is to have less stuff to move, because when I retire we plan to move out in the country. We currently have five vehicles, and I want to get that down to four, or perhaps three by the time we are ready to move.
Right now the plan is to get the 1977 280Z up to snuff and sell it. Nothing is majorly wrong with it, but a lot of little pain in the butt stuff, such as the fact that it has no dash lights.
Last year the old points type voltage regulator went rogue and blew out all of the marker lights, dash lights etc. I replaced all of the lights that are readily accessible. Unfortunately, to get at some of the dash lights, you have to tear the dash apart, which is a major pain in the butt. Last Sunday I got in there and started on it. You have to take the radio out, and pull the center console out. The cernter console had a bad crack in it, and when I pulled it out I saw it needed to be replaced. I didn't figure the chances were too good of finding one in good shape, but much to my amazement, I found a new-in-box replacement, which I immediately purchased. I will switch over the switches when the new one comes in. While the radio was out, I fixed some of the crappy wiring that had been done over the years, so that putting it back together will be easier when the time comes.
Next is time to fix the heater controls. I have never been able to turn off the heater. That's OK Spring, Fall and Winter, but Summer is coming, and as long as I have it torn apart I might as well fix the heater control. It is operated by a lever and cable system, but the door that shuts off the air seems to be frozen. It doesn't seem like it will be too much trouble to fix. Knock on wood.
Then on to tearing the dash apart so I can replace all the little bulbs that illuminate the gauges and instruments. A lot of work for a bunch of tiny light bulbs.
Then time to figure out what the clunk in the rear end is. Probably a u-joint in one of the axle half shafts, but I won't know for certain until I get it up in the air.
Then comes paint. I have a couple of estimates for the custom paint I want done. Custom green/blue/purple color changing paint job. Both estimates are for around $2500.00.
When I am done, I will sell it. I should be able to get close to $10 grand.
That money will then go into Frankenhealey and the Westie.
One step at a time.
Right now the plan is to get the 1977 280Z up to snuff and sell it. Nothing is majorly wrong with it, but a lot of little pain in the butt stuff, such as the fact that it has no dash lights.
Last year the old points type voltage regulator went rogue and blew out all of the marker lights, dash lights etc. I replaced all of the lights that are readily accessible. Unfortunately, to get at some of the dash lights, you have to tear the dash apart, which is a major pain in the butt. Last Sunday I got in there and started on it. You have to take the radio out, and pull the center console out. The cernter console had a bad crack in it, and when I pulled it out I saw it needed to be replaced. I didn't figure the chances were too good of finding one in good shape, but much to my amazement, I found a new-in-box replacement, which I immediately purchased. I will switch over the switches when the new one comes in. While the radio was out, I fixed some of the crappy wiring that had been done over the years, so that putting it back together will be easier when the time comes.
Next is time to fix the heater controls. I have never been able to turn off the heater. That's OK Spring, Fall and Winter, but Summer is coming, and as long as I have it torn apart I might as well fix the heater control. It is operated by a lever and cable system, but the door that shuts off the air seems to be frozen. It doesn't seem like it will be too much trouble to fix. Knock on wood.
Then on to tearing the dash apart so I can replace all the little bulbs that illuminate the gauges and instruments. A lot of work for a bunch of tiny light bulbs.
Then time to figure out what the clunk in the rear end is. Probably a u-joint in one of the axle half shafts, but I won't know for certain until I get it up in the air.
Then comes paint. I have a couple of estimates for the custom paint I want done. Custom green/blue/purple color changing paint job. Both estimates are for around $2500.00.
When I am done, I will sell it. I should be able to get close to $10 grand.
That money will then go into Frankenhealey and the Westie.
One step at a time.
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Dodging the Bullet
Last fall, the SPEEA (Seattle Professional Engineering Employees Association) contract with Boeing expired, and a new contract was negotiated . The Union is divided into two parts, the Professional contract, and the Technical contract. The two are separate and distinct. In December Boeing made a 'Best and Final Offer" to the union.
The Profs accepted it and the Techs rejected it. I thought it was a fair offer, so I voted for it.
The second part of the vote was to authorize a strike. I voted against that. Much to my consternation, the contract was voted down by a slim majority of the Techs.
Boeing and the Union went back to the bargaining table.
I have been saving money in a "Strike Fund" for about a year just in case. I had more in there than I felt I would need, but I am pretty conservative with my money.
So Mrs A and I have been anxiously awaiting a settlement, not wanting to commit to anything until there was a signed contract.
The Techs were in a sticky situation, since the Profs had accepted the contract, and would not be going out to support the Thechs if we went on strike. That means we had no bargaining strength.
To make a long story short, Boeing made the exact sae offer to the Union, and the Tchs had to swallow their balls and get back to work. The voted in the exact same contract that they had turned down a couple of months ago.
No strike translates into me paying off a chunk of mortgage and a chunk of credit cars and a great feeling of relief.
Retirement just became a little bit closer.
The Profs accepted it and the Techs rejected it. I thought it was a fair offer, so I voted for it.
The second part of the vote was to authorize a strike. I voted against that. Much to my consternation, the contract was voted down by a slim majority of the Techs.
Boeing and the Union went back to the bargaining table.
I have been saving money in a "Strike Fund" for about a year just in case. I had more in there than I felt I would need, but I am pretty conservative with my money.
So Mrs A and I have been anxiously awaiting a settlement, not wanting to commit to anything until there was a signed contract.
The Techs were in a sticky situation, since the Profs had accepted the contract, and would not be going out to support the Thechs if we went on strike. That means we had no bargaining strength.
To make a long story short, Boeing made the exact sae offer to the Union, and the Tchs had to swallow their balls and get back to work. The voted in the exact same contract that they had turned down a couple of months ago.
No strike translates into me paying off a chunk of mortgage and a chunk of credit cars and a great feeling of relief.
Retirement just became a little bit closer.
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Creeping Crud
I've been struggling with a nasty virus for about two weeks. Miserable crud with a wicked cough.
Great grandson Nikko was kind enough to present us with the virus.
I fought the good fight for about a week, not letting it get me down, but a week ago it took me down for the count. Lost the round but not the match.
Cough and cough and cough until out of breath, then cough some more. No sleep, too much coughing.
Went to work every day anyway, just loaded up on ever OTC known to man, none of which did too much Very hard to think, or work up the gumption to do anything, and meanwhile I am right in the middle of a major screw-up. No one else is willing to step forward and take it on, so I have been creeping along, doing it a bit at a time as I get the energy.
I have finally turned the corner and am getting better. I might live, and it could be a good thing.
So now Mrs A has come down with it.
Bummer.
Great grandson Nikko was kind enough to present us with the virus.
I fought the good fight for about a week, not letting it get me down, but a week ago it took me down for the count. Lost the round but not the match.
Cough and cough and cough until out of breath, then cough some more. No sleep, too much coughing.
Went to work every day anyway, just loaded up on ever OTC known to man, none of which did too much Very hard to think, or work up the gumption to do anything, and meanwhile I am right in the middle of a major screw-up. No one else is willing to step forward and take it on, so I have been creeping along, doing it a bit at a time as I get the energy.
I have finally turned the corner and am getting better. I might live, and it could be a good thing.
So now Mrs A has come down with it.
Bummer.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Just One Picture
We had to turn around because the tide was coming in and there is no way out at high tide.
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Gone, gone, gone
Ten years ago on Valentine's day I proposed to the lovely Mrs A. We were at the Lake Quinault Lodge. There is a whole other story that takes place before that, but i will set that aside for now.
I made reservations for Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.
We stayed in the Boathouse, because they allow pets there
As long as you understand that it is the Lake Quinault RAIN Forrest and prepare yourself, it is great. There is no television or phone in the rooms. There is no cell phone service. There are no casinos, there is no night life. Just a rustic lodge out in the woods.
The lodge has an excellent dining room, The Roosevelt Room, named for the President that stayed there and helped create the Olympic National Park.
Beginning right in front of the Lodge and looping up into the forest behind the Lodger are an excellent series of Trails. The full loop is around six miles, with lots of little offshoots Lots of peace and quiet.
We pulled in a little after 5:00 on Friday, and the only opening for dinner was at 5:30 so we hurried to get checked in and back for dinner. We had the Cedar Plank Salmon for Two, but no meal there is complete without the Marionberry Cobbler with Vanilla Ice Cream. So we ignored the idea of restraint and went all the way. I had been anticipating the cobbler for weeks.
Saturday we went on the loop trail, with a couple of side trips, so I figure we hiked between six and seven miles (uphill both ways, of course). It rained, is hailed, it misted, and once we even saw the sun. As you hiked you could just feel the quiet seep into your bones and the tension bleed out. When we were the farthest away from the lodge we came across a warning sign notifying us that cougars has been sighted in the are. I suppose it wasn't the kindest thing to ask Mrs A if by taking the dogs along we were "Trolling for cougars". Well, I thought it was funny.
Sunday we drove out to the Ocean at Klalloch and walked the beach for a couple of hours. I got some nice pictures, which I may get around to posting here. Stopped in Amanda Park for lunch (Cheeseburgers and fries), than back to the Lodger for naps.
Monday we had decided to take a little side trip to Westport rather than go straight home. We had lunch at the Blue Buoy. If you are ever in the area and it is no the menu, get the Dungeness Crab Omelet. All I can say is "Incredible".
One of the reasons, besides lunch for the trip was to stop at the Westport Winery. I can never drive past that place without stopping, and we were down to one bottle of their wine. So I joined there Wine Club (20% discount) and still managed to spend $168.00. Oh well, I can console myself with the fact that for every bottle they sell, they contribute some to a local charitable cause. So....it was all for charity, right?
One last stop at Bay City Sausage. The smell of the place when you walk in is incredible, all that smoked meat. The reason for stopping is to get their Cranberry Smoked Sausage. Last time we were there I decided to try a little, and it was incredible. It barely made it home.so this time I bought five pounds. And ate about a pound of it when we got home.
Got home tired, sore, broke and totally relaxed.
Where to next?
I made reservations for Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.
The lodge has an excellent dining room, The Roosevelt Room, named for the President that stayed there and helped create the Olympic National Park.
Beginning right in front of the Lodge and looping up into the forest behind the Lodger are an excellent series of Trails. The full loop is around six miles, with lots of little offshoots Lots of peace and quiet.
We pulled in a little after 5:00 on Friday, and the only opening for dinner was at 5:30 so we hurried to get checked in and back for dinner. We had the Cedar Plank Salmon for Two, but no meal there is complete without the Marionberry Cobbler with Vanilla Ice Cream. So we ignored the idea of restraint and went all the way. I had been anticipating the cobbler for weeks.
Saturday we went on the loop trail, with a couple of side trips, so I figure we hiked between six and seven miles (uphill both ways, of course). It rained, is hailed, it misted, and once we even saw the sun. As you hiked you could just feel the quiet seep into your bones and the tension bleed out. When we were the farthest away from the lodge we came across a warning sign notifying us that cougars has been sighted in the are. I suppose it wasn't the kindest thing to ask Mrs A if by taking the dogs along we were "Trolling for cougars". Well, I thought it was funny.
Sunday we drove out to the Ocean at Klalloch and walked the beach for a couple of hours. I got some nice pictures, which I may get around to posting here. Stopped in Amanda Park for lunch (Cheeseburgers and fries), than back to the Lodger for naps.
Monday we had decided to take a little side trip to Westport rather than go straight home. We had lunch at the Blue Buoy. If you are ever in the area and it is no the menu, get the Dungeness Crab Omelet. All I can say is "Incredible".
One of the reasons, besides lunch for the trip was to stop at the Westport Winery. I can never drive past that place without stopping, and we were down to one bottle of their wine. So I joined there Wine Club (20% discount) and still managed to spend $168.00. Oh well, I can console myself with the fact that for every bottle they sell, they contribute some to a local charitable cause. So....it was all for charity, right?
One last stop at Bay City Sausage. The smell of the place when you walk in is incredible, all that smoked meat. The reason for stopping is to get their Cranberry Smoked Sausage. Last time we were there I decided to try a little, and it was incredible. It barely made it home.so this time I bought five pounds. And ate about a pound of it when we got home.
Got home tired, sore, broke and totally relaxed.
Where to next?
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Uncle Fred
My Uncle Fred passed away quietly on Sunday. He was 90, going on 18. He was living proof that you had to grow old, but you didn't have to grow up.
He never married, had no kids. But what he did have was a whole bunch of adoring nieces and nephews. There were seven of us Warrens, and five Glahes, who thought the world of him. He was always up for a little wrestling or a piggy-back ride. He didn't have a mean bone in his body. He was an even tempered man, the salt of the earth.
He stayed on the farm with Grandfather and Grandmother, then later with my family after the Grandparents passed on. For most of those years the farm was a dairy farm. The pace of the work was as steady as a metronome. He was a little hard of hearing, so he had one of those old Big Ben Alarm Clocks. You could hear it ticking from clear upstairs. It went off at precisely the same time every day. Rain, shine, blizzard or Christmas. Twice a day milking. he seemed as much a part of the place as the fields and barn. When we finally got out of the dairy business, he took a couple of days off. He remarked that it was the first time he had been off of the place for more than a few hours in forty years.
He was the most honest person I have ever known. I would have trusted him to keep safe anything left in his care. The down side of that innocence and trust is that he believed that everyone else was just as honest as he was, which made him a very bad businessman. I remember my dad having to take some critter back that one our less honest neighbors had sold him and get our money back.
He taught me how to Trout fish in the high country mountain streams. For quite an number of years I was his fishing partner. We fished with spinner and worm, and were of about equal skill, which was considerably above average. We seldom got skunked, even in August then the water was low and warm and the fish inactive.
When I last saw him last April, he asked me to go fish the home waters for him, as he couldn't do it. As we were having a Family "Meeting of the Cousins" in August I assured him I would.
Mrs A had never gone stream fishing, so I took a few minutes before we got down to it and showed her how to do it, just like Uncle Fred had done for me so many years before. Of course she caught the first fish. We brought home a couple of keepers from Deep Creek, and I went to Sand Creek and picked up a couple of Brookies. At Mrs A's suggestion I gave them to my cousin Ginger to take back to Oregon so she could fry them up for Uncle Fred.
When he retired from farming, much to every ones astonishment, he joined the Peace Corps. He was stationed first in Dominica, and then in Morocco, teaching large animal husbandry. He had a bad knee, the result of having been kicked one too many times by a recalcitrant milk cow, and eventually it led him to leave the Peace corps.
He took his cut from the sale of the farm and bought a small place in Oregon near Eugene, where he lived with his sister my Aunt Rose, and some of my cousins.
He seemed indestructible, but finally he came down with diabetes. Never the best a taking care of himself, he neglected his health and it eventually let to the amputation of one of his lower legs. He never really recovered. Last spring they discovered he had inoperable bone cancer.
He slowly slid into poorer condition, and was being given morphine for the pain.
He is now in a place where there is no pain.
We have all been trading Uncle Fred stories for the last couple of days, and it is a real testament to the man that each of us has a special memory of the man.
So long, Uncle Fred, you were and are loved. We'll all be coming to join you sooner or later.
He never married, had no kids. But what he did have was a whole bunch of adoring nieces and nephews. There were seven of us Warrens, and five Glahes, who thought the world of him. He was always up for a little wrestling or a piggy-back ride. He didn't have a mean bone in his body. He was an even tempered man, the salt of the earth.
He stayed on the farm with Grandfather and Grandmother, then later with my family after the Grandparents passed on. For most of those years the farm was a dairy farm. The pace of the work was as steady as a metronome. He was a little hard of hearing, so he had one of those old Big Ben Alarm Clocks. You could hear it ticking from clear upstairs. It went off at precisely the same time every day. Rain, shine, blizzard or Christmas. Twice a day milking. he seemed as much a part of the place as the fields and barn. When we finally got out of the dairy business, he took a couple of days off. He remarked that it was the first time he had been off of the place for more than a few hours in forty years.
He was the most honest person I have ever known. I would have trusted him to keep safe anything left in his care. The down side of that innocence and trust is that he believed that everyone else was just as honest as he was, which made him a very bad businessman. I remember my dad having to take some critter back that one our less honest neighbors had sold him and get our money back.
He taught me how to Trout fish in the high country mountain streams. For quite an number of years I was his fishing partner. We fished with spinner and worm, and were of about equal skill, which was considerably above average. We seldom got skunked, even in August then the water was low and warm and the fish inactive.
When I last saw him last April, he asked me to go fish the home waters for him, as he couldn't do it. As we were having a Family "Meeting of the Cousins" in August I assured him I would.
Mrs A had never gone stream fishing, so I took a few minutes before we got down to it and showed her how to do it, just like Uncle Fred had done for me so many years before. Of course she caught the first fish. We brought home a couple of keepers from Deep Creek, and I went to Sand Creek and picked up a couple of Brookies. At Mrs A's suggestion I gave them to my cousin Ginger to take back to Oregon so she could fry them up for Uncle Fred.
When he retired from farming, much to every ones astonishment, he joined the Peace Corps. He was stationed first in Dominica, and then in Morocco, teaching large animal husbandry. He had a bad knee, the result of having been kicked one too many times by a recalcitrant milk cow, and eventually it led him to leave the Peace corps.
He took his cut from the sale of the farm and bought a small place in Oregon near Eugene, where he lived with his sister my Aunt Rose, and some of my cousins.
He seemed indestructible, but finally he came down with diabetes. Never the best a taking care of himself, he neglected his health and it eventually let to the amputation of one of his lower legs. He never really recovered. Last spring they discovered he had inoperable bone cancer.
He slowly slid into poorer condition, and was being given morphine for the pain.
He is now in a place where there is no pain.
We have all been trading Uncle Fred stories for the last couple of days, and it is a real testament to the man that each of us has a special memory of the man.
So long, Uncle Fred, you were and are loved. We'll all be coming to join you sooner or later.
Thursday, January 03, 2013
Still here
So I guess the world did not come to an end. Or maybe it has and we just weren't aware. At any rate we are at the beginning of another cycle of the Mayan Calendar. Maybe the psychic flux has reversed it's modulation or some such, but I can't tell the difference.
On the emotional scale of the holidays, I tend more toward the Scrooge end of the scale than the Tiny Tim end. Too much emotional stuff, too many expectations, too much hype.
When I went off to work on Wednesday, as I left I told Mrs A "I'm glad the Holidays are over and life can return to normal". Or what passes for normal.
My nephew and his wife brought a brand new person into the world on January. My first grand niece. Welcome to the big blue marble Charlotte Irene. May your days be filled with wonder and love.
R is out there scamming anyone who will listen to her lies, especially family, who have become enablers rather than supporters. Oh well, I have no control over anyone's behavior but my own, and sometimes barely that.
My sweetie bought me a reproduction 1928 Thompson sub machine gun (fully automatic) with the big circular drum. A very well made reproduction. Before you call in the ATF, let me say that it is an airsoft gun, and shoots 6mm plastic pellets. But it is still cathartic to go down in the basement and put it on full auto and squeeze off a few rounds. Political posters of your choice available.
It was really nice seeing family over the Holidays. Unfortunately the Matriarch of the family came down with the flu right before Christmas and was still under the weather on New Years Day. This is a very unusual occurrence. She NEVER gets the flu. Well, almost never. Raising seven kids has given her immunity to just about every disease known to man. Get better Ma.
I already quit smoking. Had to give up drinking beer because it made my stomach hurt, lost the 15 lbs I wanted to lose. It's disgusting, it's like I've become A GROWN-UP!. The shame of it all. I don't make New Year's Resolutions, but the plans for 2013 are all positive. I've already booked at The Lake Quinault Lodge for the tenth anniversary of my proposing to Mrs A. Tenth Wedding Anniversary to follow in April. I want to get the Z up to snuff, repainted and sold this year, money to go towards finishing up Frankenhealey. Continues upgrades to the Westie. I put VW LT Truck mirrors on it over the Holidays. No more Floppy mirror syndrome!
So I hope everyone out there had a good Holiday season. Pull up your jeans, sholder your burdens and get on with it. We're all in the same boat.
On the emotional scale of the holidays, I tend more toward the Scrooge end of the scale than the Tiny Tim end. Too much emotional stuff, too many expectations, too much hype.
When I went off to work on Wednesday, as I left I told Mrs A "I'm glad the Holidays are over and life can return to normal". Or what passes for normal.
My nephew and his wife brought a brand new person into the world on January. My first grand niece. Welcome to the big blue marble Charlotte Irene. May your days be filled with wonder and love.
R is out there scamming anyone who will listen to her lies, especially family, who have become enablers rather than supporters. Oh well, I have no control over anyone's behavior but my own, and sometimes barely that.
My sweetie bought me a reproduction 1928 Thompson sub machine gun (fully automatic) with the big circular drum. A very well made reproduction. Before you call in the ATF, let me say that it is an airsoft gun, and shoots 6mm plastic pellets. But it is still cathartic to go down in the basement and put it on full auto and squeeze off a few rounds. Political posters of your choice available.
It was really nice seeing family over the Holidays. Unfortunately the Matriarch of the family came down with the flu right before Christmas and was still under the weather on New Years Day. This is a very unusual occurrence. She NEVER gets the flu. Well, almost never. Raising seven kids has given her immunity to just about every disease known to man. Get better Ma.
I already quit smoking. Had to give up drinking beer because it made my stomach hurt, lost the 15 lbs I wanted to lose. It's disgusting, it's like I've become A GROWN-UP!. The shame of it all. I don't make New Year's Resolutions, but the plans for 2013 are all positive. I've already booked at The Lake Quinault Lodge for the tenth anniversary of my proposing to Mrs A. Tenth Wedding Anniversary to follow in April. I want to get the Z up to snuff, repainted and sold this year, money to go towards finishing up Frankenhealey. Continues upgrades to the Westie. I put VW LT Truck mirrors on it over the Holidays. No more Floppy mirror syndrome!
So I hope everyone out there had a good Holiday season. Pull up your jeans, sholder your burdens and get on with it. We're all in the same boat.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Shopping
I hate Christmas shopping.
I hate crowds.
I hate the hype and commercialism.
On Saturday I went Christmas shopping with R and 'i'. I am still pissed at R. This is the first time I have seen her in a year and a half. I had set up a day to take her to lunch for her birthday last month but she stood me up and never called.
So I set it up to take her to buy some new shoes and a teddy bear for "i". Of course she was three hours late. By the time she called me from the bus stop, I was so pissed I almost told her where to go. But if I did that I couldn't tell her what I wanted to say, so I went and picked them up at the bus stop, and we went shopping.
After I got done chewing her out, We went to The Landing. We went to Ross to get a pair of shoes. The last time I saw "i" he was not talking. Now he jabbers constantly. I can't understand what he is saying half of the time, but he has his own unique way of putting things.
While R was looking at shoes, "i" and I went to the toys, and he was having a great time looking over the toys. When I tole him we had to go back to the shoe section he told me "No, I'm too happy". He also referred to Mrs A as "Lady Grampa". On the way over to The Landing he kept telling me I was going the wrong way. Must get that from "Lady Grampa".
He was a little hard to handle, hyperactive and not responding well. At one point I was thinking "What the heck have I gotten myself into?"
Since Ross had no stuffed animals, we went down the block to Target. While R and "i" were looking around I snuck over and picked out a teddy bear. Big and soft.
When he saw the Teddy Bear, his face lit up like a Christmas Ornament, and he gave it a big hug and a couple of kisses.
Suddenly all the frustration and anger and impatience went away, and the whole day was worth it.
The smile of a grandchild is the food for the soul of a grandparent.
I hate crowds.
I hate the hype and commercialism.
On Saturday I went Christmas shopping with R and 'i'. I am still pissed at R. This is the first time I have seen her in a year and a half. I had set up a day to take her to lunch for her birthday last month but she stood me up and never called.
So I set it up to take her to buy some new shoes and a teddy bear for "i". Of course she was three hours late. By the time she called me from the bus stop, I was so pissed I almost told her where to go. But if I did that I couldn't tell her what I wanted to say, so I went and picked them up at the bus stop, and we went shopping.
After I got done chewing her out, We went to The Landing. We went to Ross to get a pair of shoes. The last time I saw "i" he was not talking. Now he jabbers constantly. I can't understand what he is saying half of the time, but he has his own unique way of putting things.
While R was looking at shoes, "i" and I went to the toys, and he was having a great time looking over the toys. When I tole him we had to go back to the shoe section he told me "No, I'm too happy". He also referred to Mrs A as "Lady Grampa". On the way over to The Landing he kept telling me I was going the wrong way. Must get that from "Lady Grampa".
He was a little hard to handle, hyperactive and not responding well. At one point I was thinking "What the heck have I gotten myself into?"
Since Ross had no stuffed animals, we went down the block to Target. While R and "i" were looking around I snuck over and picked out a teddy bear. Big and soft.
When he saw the Teddy Bear, his face lit up like a Christmas Ornament, and he gave it a big hug and a couple of kisses.
Suddenly all the frustration and anger and impatience went away, and the whole day was worth it.
The smile of a grandchild is the food for the soul of a grandparent.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Turkey Separation Anxiety
Yesterday Mrs A cleaned up the turkey carcass and put the left over meat in the freezer. No more turkey sandwiches. Sigh. Next weekend I will pull one of the packages out along with a quart of turkey stock and make a batch of turkey and sausage Jambalaya, so the turkey goodness is not quite over with.
When they changed the dressing on my finger last week, I got my first post-op look at the incision site. Looks pretty ugly. There must be a dozen stitches. Tomorrow I get the stitches out, but I will still be in a splint for at least another month.
My right ring finger is my enter key finger, so I have had to adjust my typing. It's not too bad. What is really frustrating is that when I rest my hand on my mouse, the splint makes contact with the right enter button on the mouse. I will be navigating away, and all the sudden the screen starts jumping around doing things I didn't want. It always takes me a minute to realize what is happening.
And of course I can't play guitar, since I use my right hand for forming the cords.
We got our Christmas present for each other yesterday. A Nikon D camera with a zoom lens. I went ahead and assembled it and started in on the instruction manual. Had to charge the battery. The camera did not come with a memory card, so I will need to get one before We can do much of anything with it. I will probably do that this weekend. The goal is to be moderately competent with it before Christmas. It has been a few years since I have had a decent camera, and the new ones have so much automatic function that it will take a while to figure out things like how to set aperture and shutter speed.
On the other hand, one of my co-workers, Melody is playing Christmas music all day. I enjoy most Christmas music as well as anyone else, but I am at the mercy of commercial DJ's. Please for the love of God, do NOT play "Grandma got run over by a Reindeer". It was not cute the first time, it was lame and it does not improve with age. And please have mercy, no "Holly Jolly Christmas"! it was a monument to mediocrity when it came out. No Mitch Miller, no Spike Jones and No damn two front teeth.
Bah Humbug
When they changed the dressing on my finger last week, I got my first post-op look at the incision site. Looks pretty ugly. There must be a dozen stitches. Tomorrow I get the stitches out, but I will still be in a splint for at least another month.
My right ring finger is my enter key finger, so I have had to adjust my typing. It's not too bad. What is really frustrating is that when I rest my hand on my mouse, the splint makes contact with the right enter button on the mouse. I will be navigating away, and all the sudden the screen starts jumping around doing things I didn't want. It always takes me a minute to realize what is happening.
And of course I can't play guitar, since I use my right hand for forming the cords.
We got our Christmas present for each other yesterday. A Nikon D camera with a zoom lens. I went ahead and assembled it and started in on the instruction manual. Had to charge the battery. The camera did not come with a memory card, so I will need to get one before We can do much of anything with it. I will probably do that this weekend. The goal is to be moderately competent with it before Christmas. It has been a few years since I have had a decent camera, and the new ones have so much automatic function that it will take a while to figure out things like how to set aperture and shutter speed.
On the other hand, one of my co-workers, Melody is playing Christmas music all day. I enjoy most Christmas music as well as anyone else, but I am at the mercy of commercial DJ's. Please for the love of God, do NOT play "Grandma got run over by a Reindeer". It was not cute the first time, it was lame and it does not improve with age. And please have mercy, no "Holly Jolly Christmas"! it was a monument to mediocrity when it came out. No Mitch Miller, no Spike Jones and No damn two front teeth.
Bah Humbug
Monday, November 19, 2012
it's just for the drugs
When I went to the Hand Surgeon on Wednesday, he did a two hour surgery to reattach the tendon on the back of the last digit on my right ring finger. It will be in a splint for six to twelve weeks.
The good news is, I can't do the dishes. "Sorry dear, I'd really like to help you, but I can't get my hand wet."
Then on Friday, I went to the Dental clinic and had four teeth pulled and inserts installed.
All this just to get my hands on some drugs.
Seriously though, I hate Percocet. It makes me fuzzy headed if I take one and barely coherent if I take two. I also can't sleep if I take two. I wish there was something I could take that just made the pain go away.
Tomorrow I go in to get the dressing changed, so I will get a look at how the incision looks. The following week I get the stitches out.
The good news is, I can't do the dishes. "Sorry dear, I'd really like to help you, but I can't get my hand wet."
Then on Friday, I went to the Dental clinic and had four teeth pulled and inserts installed.
All this just to get my hands on some drugs.
Seriously though, I hate Percocet. It makes me fuzzy headed if I take one and barely coherent if I take two. I also can't sleep if I take two. I wish there was something I could take that just made the pain go away.
Tomorrow I go in to get the dressing changed, so I will get a look at how the incision looks. The following week I get the stitches out.
Friday, November 09, 2012
Giving you the finger
The news, that is.
Went to the Hand Surgeon today. He looked at my finger and told me to come back next week.
I have an appointment next Wednesday to check it out.
The thinking is that by then, if the tendon is going to reattach itself it should have started by then. If not, then operate and reattach it.
I bet you can guess which one I vote for.
Went to the Hand Surgeon today. He looked at my finger and told me to come back next week.
I have an appointment next Wednesday to check it out.
The thinking is that by then, if the tendon is going to reattach itself it should have started by then. If not, then operate and reattach it.
I bet you can guess which one I vote for.
Wednesday, November 07, 2012
Finger Poppin'
Little did I expect yesterday when I went to work that I would end up in the Hospital Emergency Room.
I have two desks out on the factory floor, and I alternate between the two. I have a laptop, so the idea is that I am supposed to be able to roll my file drawer and take my laptop and be ready to go in about ten minutes. It usually works fine.
But on Tuesday when I went to move, someone had stolen my docking station, keyboard, power brick and mouse.
So I had to scrounge some new equipment, and get it set up. I was underneath the desk, plugging in equipment. When I backed out, I raised up too soon and hit my head on the keyboard tray, knocking it loose and it fell down and landed right on my ring finger, right below the end knuckle. It hurt like hell and bled pretty good.
I started feeling woozy, and started going into shock, so I put my head between my knees. At this point, people decided they needed to call in the fire department. I really wish they had just let me tough it out.
So the fire department medical unit showed up and checked me out. My blood pressure was a little low, but not alarmingly so. I told them I was fine, but they felt I needed to go to Boeing Medical, also known as the Death Clinic.
My boss walked me over. I figured I was going to get a couple of stitches and go back to work. I should have known better.
The Medical Tech was getting ready to clean and suture my finger when he took the end of my finger and pushed down on it to open up the cut to clean it. When he did, he popped the extensor tendon on the back of my finger.
AT that point they sent me to the Emergency Room at Valley General Hospital. They have this brand new fancy multi-million dollar state-of-the-art facility. I was impressed with the facility. Not so much the service. But then a cut finger wouldn't rate real high on the list of emergencies..
Several hours later I was released with a couple of stitches, a dressing and splint and a referral to an Orthopedic Surgeon.
If people had left me alone I would have superglued it, put an bandaid on it and went on my way.
So I am restricted in my work assignment to "Light typing or writing".
What the heck is "Light typing"
I have an appointment with an Orthopedic Surgeon on the 15th.
The things some people will do to get a day away from work.
I have two desks out on the factory floor, and I alternate between the two. I have a laptop, so the idea is that I am supposed to be able to roll my file drawer and take my laptop and be ready to go in about ten minutes. It usually works fine.
But on Tuesday when I went to move, someone had stolen my docking station, keyboard, power brick and mouse.
So I had to scrounge some new equipment, and get it set up. I was underneath the desk, plugging in equipment. When I backed out, I raised up too soon and hit my head on the keyboard tray, knocking it loose and it fell down and landed right on my ring finger, right below the end knuckle. It hurt like hell and bled pretty good.
I started feeling woozy, and started going into shock, so I put my head between my knees. At this point, people decided they needed to call in the fire department. I really wish they had just let me tough it out.
So the fire department medical unit showed up and checked me out. My blood pressure was a little low, but not alarmingly so. I told them I was fine, but they felt I needed to go to Boeing Medical, also known as the Death Clinic.
My boss walked me over. I figured I was going to get a couple of stitches and go back to work. I should have known better.
The Medical Tech was getting ready to clean and suture my finger when he took the end of my finger and pushed down on it to open up the cut to clean it. When he did, he popped the extensor tendon on the back of my finger.
AT that point they sent me to the Emergency Room at Valley General Hospital. They have this brand new fancy multi-million dollar state-of-the-art facility. I was impressed with the facility. Not so much the service. But then a cut finger wouldn't rate real high on the list of emergencies..
Several hours later I was released with a couple of stitches, a dressing and splint and a referral to an Orthopedic Surgeon.
If people had left me alone I would have superglued it, put an bandaid on it and went on my way.
So I am restricted in my work assignment to "Light typing or writing".
What the heck is "Light typing"
I have an appointment with an Orthopedic Surgeon on the 15th.
The things some people will do to get a day away from work.
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Politics
Political punits
In too much abundance
will surely lead you astray
a little reflection
and B.S. detection
will probably show you the way
In too much abundance
will surely lead you astray
a little reflection
and B.S. detection
will probably show you the way
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Bring it on
Lately I have been on a run of bad luck.
Some times stuff just happens.
The washing machine gave out this week. Rather than attempt to fix it myself (which is what I would normally do ) I had Mrs A call a Repair Service. They wanted $529.00 to repair the old machine.
So of course we bought a new one, which was $679.00.
Saturday, we were supposed to go to our grandson's sixth birthday party, but when I woke up from my nap, there was doggy diarrhea and vomited blood in the music room. Monk was hiding and looking mighty ashamed of himself.
So instead of going to a birthday we spent the afternoon and early evening in the veterinary emergency room.they never did figure out what was going on, except that the x-rays didn't show anything unusual. so for $300.00 we learned nothing.
So it goes.
So if you go with the superstition that bad luck comes in threes, I should be in the clear.
Kitchen sink
washing machine
Doggy vomit
done
Some times stuff just happens.
The washing machine gave out this week. Rather than attempt to fix it myself (which is what I would normally do ) I had Mrs A call a Repair Service. They wanted $529.00 to repair the old machine.
So of course we bought a new one, which was $679.00.
Saturday, we were supposed to go to our grandson's sixth birthday party, but when I woke up from my nap, there was doggy diarrhea and vomited blood in the music room. Monk was hiding and looking mighty ashamed of himself.
So instead of going to a birthday we spent the afternoon and early evening in the veterinary emergency room.they never did figure out what was going on, except that the x-rays didn't show anything unusual. so for $300.00 we learned nothing.
So it goes.
So if you go with the superstition that bad luck comes in threes, I should be in the clear.
Kitchen sink
washing machine
Doggy vomit
done
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Plumbing
God. I hate plumbing.
The kitchen sink was dripping, so I needed to get to work on it.
Just a simple job of replacing the washer, right? Right? Right?
Wrong.
I replaced the 00 washer, but instead of it dripping from the faucet, it started dripping underneath the sink. No Fair! I didn't even touch anything under the sink except to turn the water supply to the hot water tap off.
The kitchen sink fixture is a cheap one with plastic handles, and I had a different one with brass handles in the basement that someone gave me, so I decided to swap out the fixtures at the same time. I figured I would need to fix the brass fixture, because nobody would give away a solid brass fixture unless there was something wrong with it.
This was shortly after I started to pass a kidney stone. I had to rebuild the fixture, put it on, try it out, take it back apart and fix something else, put it back on. Every time I did this it irritated the kidney stone and I had to stop. After two weeks of working on it off and on, it still leaks, The compression seal at the bottom of the tap fixture for the cold water tap won't seal properly.
Well, I was going to swap out the sink anyway, so as soon as I get a day off, I am going to swap the old beat-up porcelain sink for a stainless steel sink.
While I'm at it I will go down and buy a good washerless fixture.
Meanwhile, I have tools and materials scattered all over the kitchen, the cleaning supplies usually under the sink are scattered all over the kitchen, and a mixing bowl is under the sink catching the drip. It drips one drip every hour or so, but Mrs A. is getting impatient. For some reason, after working a ten hour day, I don't have the energy to tackle anything that isn't an emergency.
That and the fact that I won't go down and pick out a fixture without taking her along. So far it looks like I might get Sunday off, so I know what I will be doing.
God, I hate plumbing.
The kitchen sink was dripping, so I needed to get to work on it.
Just a simple job of replacing the washer, right? Right? Right?
Wrong.
I replaced the 00 washer, but instead of it dripping from the faucet, it started dripping underneath the sink. No Fair! I didn't even touch anything under the sink except to turn the water supply to the hot water tap off.
The kitchen sink fixture is a cheap one with plastic handles, and I had a different one with brass handles in the basement that someone gave me, so I decided to swap out the fixtures at the same time. I figured I would need to fix the brass fixture, because nobody would give away a solid brass fixture unless there was something wrong with it.
This was shortly after I started to pass a kidney stone. I had to rebuild the fixture, put it on, try it out, take it back apart and fix something else, put it back on. Every time I did this it irritated the kidney stone and I had to stop. After two weeks of working on it off and on, it still leaks, The compression seal at the bottom of the tap fixture for the cold water tap won't seal properly.
Well, I was going to swap out the sink anyway, so as soon as I get a day off, I am going to swap the old beat-up porcelain sink for a stainless steel sink.
While I'm at it I will go down and buy a good washerless fixture.
Meanwhile, I have tools and materials scattered all over the kitchen, the cleaning supplies usually under the sink are scattered all over the kitchen, and a mixing bowl is under the sink catching the drip. It drips one drip every hour or so, but Mrs A. is getting impatient. For some reason, after working a ten hour day, I don't have the energy to tackle anything that isn't an emergency.
That and the fact that I won't go down and pick out a fixture without taking her along. So far it looks like I might get Sunday off, so I know what I will be doing.
God, I hate plumbing.
Thursday, October 04, 2012
Stones
No, not the rolling Stones, although they could be called the moving stones.
Stones as in Kidney stones.
When I was working on the Westie, I got up from laying on my back, walked around doing something (I don't remember what) and it felt like somebody walked up and stuck an ice pick in my right kidney. This was a familiar feeling, as my body manufactures and disposes of kidney stones on a regular regimen. After I got done with the OH SH*T< OH SH*T< OH SHIT, I went back to work on the car. Since the pains did not completely go away, I called the consulting nurse and told her I was pretty sure I was passing a kidney stone, should I bother to come in?
She said it would be good to get a real diagnosis. Although she didn't say it, I got the distinct impression she thought that any one who does self diagnosis has a fool for a doctor.
So I went in and they x-rayed and I have three stones. Two on the left. one on the right. They are small and non-obstructing, so they sent me home with the instruction to take more drugs and come back if nothing changes. I declined a prescription for more Percocet 'cause I just don't like the stuff because it leaves me too foggy headed. (No remarks from the peanut gallery please)
Well, it has been two weeks, and I am still having occasional problems. Most of the time I am fine, but every once in a while someone runs up behind me and ice picks my kidney.
I have been working on the kitchen sink, putting in a new fixture and lines, so I have been laying on my back working at arms length. It has never bothered me when I am working, but after I get up and walk around it will kick in. Especially at night when I go to lay down.
I e-mailed the doc and told him it was maybe a pulled muscle, but he sticks with his original diagnosis.
Guess I'll just stick it out.
Stones as in Kidney stones.
When I was working on the Westie, I got up from laying on my back, walked around doing something (I don't remember what) and it felt like somebody walked up and stuck an ice pick in my right kidney. This was a familiar feeling, as my body manufactures and disposes of kidney stones on a regular regimen. After I got done with the OH SH*T< OH SH*T< OH SHIT, I went back to work on the car. Since the pains did not completely go away, I called the consulting nurse and told her I was pretty sure I was passing a kidney stone, should I bother to come in?
She said it would be good to get a real diagnosis. Although she didn't say it, I got the distinct impression she thought that any one who does self diagnosis has a fool for a doctor.
So I went in and they x-rayed and I have three stones. Two on the left. one on the right. They are small and non-obstructing, so they sent me home with the instruction to take more drugs and come back if nothing changes. I declined a prescription for more Percocet 'cause I just don't like the stuff because it leaves me too foggy headed. (No remarks from the peanut gallery please)
Well, it has been two weeks, and I am still having occasional problems. Most of the time I am fine, but every once in a while someone runs up behind me and ice picks my kidney.
I have been working on the kitchen sink, putting in a new fixture and lines, so I have been laying on my back working at arms length. It has never bothered me when I am working, but after I get up and walk around it will kick in. Especially at night when I go to lay down.
I e-mailed the doc and told him it was maybe a pulled muscle, but he sticks with his original diagnosis.
Guess I'll just stick it out.
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