Moving?

Last weekend was the beginning of our new garage enclosure project. Our initial thought was to get all of the crap out and begin the project. I (for some reason) decided that since we were going to all of that trouble anyway, we might as well tackle the attic while we were at it. Heck, all the Christmas stuff was already down, right?

Little did I know that there was a mountain of additional crap up there. Stuff from prior moves and an accumulation of memorabilia spanning over 22 years. Needless to say, we didn't get it all done that weekend.

BHE and I took off from work this past Friday to tackle the now enormous task of emptying the garage not only of what was there initially, but also the additional truck load that had been in the attic.

Here are some pics of all the stuff that could easily fill a semi-trailer (if I only had one). These were BEFORE we brought the stuff down from the attic.

Here is one showing BHE's pile outside. It includes additions from the attic that she has stored in nice containers. (Have I ever told you about her tendency to be a little anal-retentive?) She said we had to move it all and separate it first into three different sections. One to keep, one to throw away, and one to send to church for the annual yard sale (some crap she saw on some show on TLC). This pic shows the stuff we are keeping and in the background is my hunting truck that we were using for all of the throw aways (aka trash).

We got a lot done, but we still haven't finished and my shed is now busting, but there is nothing in the attic anymore and I hope I can keep it that way if at all possible.

We hope that the contractor will be starting this week (at least next week).

I have one question though. How and why do we have so much crap that we hang onto? (sorry ... was that two questions?)

What's in a name?

Cool Breeze ... circa 1983

Cool Breeze ... circa 2008

Any answers?

Busy Again?

The above depicts a lost practice (and art) in the field of surveying called "Plane Table Surveying". This was done so long ago, I was not taught how to do it.


I thought I would post this picture today to let you know that things have picked up at work somewhat, and that is why I have been without words the past few days. I guess it's a good thing, but I feel have been slacking on my post. What's up with that?

Hopefully, it is a good sign, and if I am failing to post regularly, you will know that I actually have something to do.


Then again, I may be wasting time on Facebook.

Big Weekend

What are you doing this weekend? Well here is what I have in store.

Tonight we will be eating out with the in laws to celebrate my and granddaddy's birthdays. His is on Sunday and of course mine was this past Monday. Did I already tell how we stretch our big days out to more like a season. We're hitting this little rinky-dink seafood place down the road that has the best crab cakes ever. However, whatever I get will have to be broiled this time. It should be fun and we won't be out late.

Tomorrow is another story ... but let me back up a second.

BHE and I have lived in our house for seven years now. I believe she refers to it as Casa de Envy. What she did not tell you is that we live in a very small space as far as houses go. When we bought the piece of land we are on back in 2000, our original intention was to just hold on to it for several years and maybe build in the future. But I could not take the subdivision life after 6 grueling years and had to make a move before I killed someone. I guess I just need my own space.

Being the analytical person that I am, I had to formulate a plan for development for the property. I mean like for the now and the future. At the time, all of our parents were still living and most remarried, basically doubling the potential for us having to take care of someone in the future. My thought was to build something small ... basically an in law suite that we could live in temporarily (a few years is what we figured) and then we could build our dream house in front. Whoever we ended up with (that doesn't sound nice) would then be able stay close, but still have there own little space. It was a great concept.

I designed the small house to resemble what we like to call a carriage/pool house ... with the living area on one side, with a double garage on the other end. The pool would then be off of the living end and the main house would be in front of the pool facing the drive and field.

Can you see it, or have I totally confused you?

Two years ago, we had plans drawn for the big house. We went through the design process for several months until we got just about exactly what we wanted.

Then we started getting prices ...



... so we opted for the pool instead.

Now, instead of building the house of our dreams (the one we don't need since we already have one and the fact that Snow White will only be around for a short while and the fact that spending all of that money on something to show rather than something to use makes no sense at all) we are enclosing our garage and making it into a big family room complete with gas fireplace and big screen tv with surround sound. It still won't be a big house, but our living space is gonna just about double, and that is a dream come true.

Now I can tell you what I am doing tomorrow:




CLEANING OUT THE GARAGE

Have a productive weekend.

(Oh, and by the way, all of the parents are on there own now ... no, just kidding. We'll have to deal with that when it comes around.)

Test Results

As I mentioned the other day, I had a checkup with the doctor. You know, one of those things you're supposed to do after you turn forty (and then, forever and ever thereafter).

The results weren't great.

My blood pressure is still elevated. Well maybe "elevated" is not the right term since everyone who checked it gave me this look like I was some mutant or something. But you know, the hell of it is, I was on some meds for 8 months before the test and apparently they were doing nothing other than making me feel like shit (which took me several months to figure out).

Today I got the call from the nurse saying that all of my test results were back. She said the urine test was ok (yeah, I had to piss in the cup, and no I didn't end up pissing down the front of my pants thank you very much). My PSA numbers were ok (which is good since my dad had prostate cancer), my sugar was acceptable (it was 101 ... she said 99 would have been better. No shit Sherlock), but my cholesterol is way too high.

Shocking.

Listen to this though.

BHE and I eat pretty darn healthy, even before this whole diet thing.

I go to the gym at least 3 to 4 days a week and have been doing so for years.

I am somewhat overweight, but nowhere near obese.

What can I do? Should I even worry about it?

Signed,

Over the hill and trying to push a rope.

Old Friends

One of my New Year's Resolutions is to keep in touch with old friends more. I should say that I need to contact old friends more just because I haven't been doing it at all. I'm sure we all have the same excuses. You know, like "Life always seems to get in the way" or "The kids lives always seem to come first" or " Work is always on the front burner". All of that crap that happens as you get old.





Today, I set up a Facebook page and already have contacted several old friends from High School that I haven't talked to in years. It's great to here from them.





These are a couple of pics I actually found on someones site. Be kind. Remember they were taken way back when and the quality is poor.


This first one is from High School Graduation. I am on the far right.

This second one is from some basketball game. Here, I am in the middle. Don't ask me why we were wearing shorts. Basketball season is usually pretty cold around here.

I don't know if I have ever seen either one of these pictures, ever. Do you think they look 25 years old? You're darn tootin'!

So far, this particular resolution has been a wise one and I can't wait to see what kind of stuff will be showing up. Beware some (or should I say all) of the pictures from back in the day will probably be of the same quality. It really shows my age.

How many out there still keep up with old friends?

Another Day, Another Year

Today is my birthday.

It's number is one of double digits (or should I just say double fours).

Next year will be a speed limit.

I have an appointment with the doctor today for my 6 month checkup that is 2 months late. I wonder what my cholesterol count is now? How about my blood pressure? I already know I need to lose like 20 pounds.

Work is way off right now ... slow, slow, slowest.

But I am not going to let any of that bother me today. It's my birthday and I am going to try to be happy. That was one of my New Years Resolutions.

I hope everyone has a wonderful day. I know I will.