Reality Me

Noah’s room is done. Picture later. The polyacrylic cannot be applied until the paint has cured for 7 days. Maybe the polyacrylic is unnecessary. Regardless the room gets assembled tonight! I can always unassemble it for adding the protective top coat.

Today was wonderful! The kids went to the grandparents and opened gifts. Much fun was had by all and the kids had wonderful gifts.

Today was horrible! Tommy’s anger, snide comments, beligerence and defiance were off the charts. I came close to yelling at him but think I’ve maintained.

Room is now properly masked at the ceiling. In a painting project the bulk of your time is spent preping the room with masking and trimming out the edges. I procrastinated putting the masking tape on the border using “the blue paint has to cure” as an excuse but really I was avoiding it because I exaggerated the tedium in my head.

For painting use Ready Mask Painting Tape instead of traditional masking tape. It goes on strong but doesn’t remove paint like masking tape that is left on too long would.

It’s Christmas Eve! I love this time of year. Christmas carols are fantastic. I had a goal of doing luminaria this year. Perhaps next year I can organize the whole neighborhood. I also want to do caroling from house to house one Christmas Eve. I did that as a child and really enjoyed it! I got my shopping slipped in yesterday. I feel great! The house will come together at the last minute. My wife will stress badly tonight. But tomorrow will be beyond magical!

Merry Christmas to all!

Favorite Christmas song this year: Santa Baby by Eartha Kitt (track 22)

The tree is decorated! (yes, I know.. the top has a lighting issue) 

Current state of the room. Needs to have the molding at the top taped so I can finish up there. Needs another coat. Needs a coat of polyeurothene on top of it. This is going to be tight. 

It’s starting to look like a light Tennessee marble. Speaking of which, I’ve ridden horses through one of the quaries used to marbleize some of Washington D.C. I’ll have to go back wih camera and show some pictures.

Received my Microsoft Action Pack yesterday. I’m dying to build a machine and get to playing now! MS CRM server, Mobile Messenging Server and SharePoint server all have me drooling!

Another competitor for Google is Blingo (which probably uses Google’s API). Blingo gives prizes (Ipods etc) along with search results.

Why is http://drinksparks.com/ for over 21 only? Oh! I haven’t read it yet but I bet this is one of those energy beers! Like mixing uppers and downers. Why not just drink water?

Amy made Lucy festive for the holidays. Lucy mutter “oh the indignity!” 

All lights on! 2 half strands out due to bad bulbs but that’s an easy fix. Kids decorating! 

tree at midnight. picture this morning. 

Tree last evening. 

A New Day!

Let’s start the day off with a PayPal donation link:

This Morning

Woke at 7:30. Mild panic quickly repressed. I’m just too relaxed from last night’s accomplishments to get upset today.

Spent some time this morning finishing the lights on the tree so that the kids could decorate. All strands are on and two half strands are out but that’s a matter of finding the bad bulb.

Whew! I have sacrificed on programming duties but another load is off my plate. Now I can focus on getting more off. My shoulders feel lighter.

So far I have not yelled at Tommy despite his blatant attempts to engage in fights.

I need to spend the day painting.

I need to spend the day working on the tree.

I need to spend the day in the office.

I need to spend the day shopping.

I need to spend the day planning.

I need to spend the day budgeting.

I need to spend the day with the kids.

I need to spend the day splitting wood.

I need to spend the day on home repair.

I need to spend the day on computer maintenance.

I will spend the day on the day and at its end I will know how the day was intended to be spent.

Student: I’m freezing my ass off!

Master: Then light a fire under it.