I’m turning over a new leaf. Today I walked to lunch. I return to daily exercise, getting things done, and a positive attitude. The future is bright. Good things are happening.
Category: Daily Life
Ramblings, often stream of conscious, journaling the events of my life.
-
Last week was a fog
So last week, I worked in the yard Sunday and felt my allergies kicking in…so I thought. Went to work Monday but was so ill that by the end of the day I’d left a couple of hours early. Tuesday I was home asleep except for that trip to the doctor’s office. My doctor confirmed…allergies. I think she was wrong. An attempt at work Wednesday failed half way through the day. Then Thursday I was home caring for sick family members. Friday was a half a day of work before returning home for sick family members. It was a rough week.
In all, we had a confirmed virus, three cases of Flu B, strep throat, and two bad coughs all in the same week.
It’s Tuesday and I’m still drained but finally work is starting to flow and items are falling off my to do list rapidly. Things are looking up!
-
Date night
We are fortunate in that the grandparents are very involved in our children’s lives. They typically take them on Saturday nights to spend time which leaves Cathy and I Saturday nights for quality time and blueberries. Our 22 year old typically spends Saturday playing MMORPGs. Sometimes it is easy to forget he is in the house. So…Awkward? Loudly declaring, "More handjobs!"
Funny! Realizing everyone on his voice chat probably heard it.Context? Cathy complaining that she isn’t strong enough to squeeze the foil cutter enough to open the bottle of wine.
-
From the mouths of babes
Me: "Noah, do you want to go to your aunt’s wedding?"
Noah, 16: "Uh, I don’t think so."
Me: "Ok. You’ll miss out on going to King’s Island."
Noah: "Why King’s Island?"
Me: "They live there."
Noah: "They do?"
Me: "Yes. You’ve been there."
Noah: "Once!"Dad fail! Perhaps I have been a bit remiss in traveling my children. I’m thinking it’s time to plan a vacation.
-
Go away
That music you hear coming out of my nostrils means I’m playing my music into my ears very loudly to not hear you.
-
From the mouths of babes
Evan, 7 years old: “Daddy, why do you have spots all over you?”
Me: “Because your grandmother knew it was time to leave the beach when your uncle and I turned red.” -
Awesome is hard
It takes nearly 48 hours to make a great weekend; it takes 12 seconds to ruin a weekend.
-
Space, Earth and Astronauts
I would love to have this experience!
OVERVIEW from Planetary Collective on Vimeo.
-
Lessons learned from staining
I just gave myself an 8-24 hour delay on the bay window by applying some "touchup" stain. It was a huge risk as it could ruin the uniform look where I applied the touchup. I also have to let it dry really well now before I can begin applying the polyurethane which I could have otherwise begun today. After 2 or 3 coats of poly, I can let the family have access to the window again and there will be much rejoicing.
My biggest lesson today was that despite my cramping hands and exhaustion, my laziness in cleaning up the caulk and my over use of caulk was my biggest mistake. I now understand why the guys in the paint department looked at me like I’d been breathing fumes too long when I asked them for stainable caulk. I really should have bought caulk died the color of the stain I’m using and I should have been far more conservative in my use of caulk (white) and far more prudent in my cleanup of the caulk. Have I mentioned, I have a love/hate relationship with caulk…mostly hate.
And, building the clean room was soooo worth it!
-
Bay Window Progress
The 3rd and final coat of stain is on the bay window. The next step will be to apply the polyurethane.
-
On aging and friends
I think in our single digits we play and play hard and that is good.
In our teen years we fight angst and work through cliques and social situations.
The twenties are great. These are the years of using the knowledge learned in the teens to just have fun. We aren’t trying to game the system or social climb yet. We are comfortable with ourselves and willing to give unconditional time.
The thirties are either aggressive corporate ladder climbing where “who you know matters” so people suddenly gain “value” and therefore you must selectively choose who to spend time with based upon how much you can gain from them OR you have found a comfortably place in your life and are just doing the pattern which like the NYT times article states doesn’t include refilling your pool of friends as it shrinks.
The forties, at least for me, have a huge family first focus. While friends are important, family has to come before all as you realize your children are growing up fast.
I cannot yet comment on the fifties and above without playing off comedic stereotypes. -
So masking tape shrinks
Returning to the bay window for the second coat revealed a couple of things. First, my cleaning room set up is working quite well! Second, over the course of a week, my masking tape shrank and I had to remask several areas. Now, let the staining begin!
Update: Second coat of stain applied.
-
Saturday is for getting high
What shall I do today? I think I’ll lock myself in a small room and breathe noxious fumes…and then when I get out of the bathroom, I’ll stain the bay window.