I have a second bathroom!

Ok, I have a second toilet. All good. I have the money to put in my central air. I've decided to go on a craigslist selling frenzy. I've realized holding on to garbage is pointless.

Obama said it was time for change. I want to change my old bullshit into cash so I can get stuff I want.

I have been sponsored for the BLET in August, so I have 3 months to get into good enough shape to survive it. If I make it, I'll be in the best physical condition of my life and I'll have more job opportunities than ever. Which is funny, seeing as how I'm in a career. I guess it feels better to have options.

The Goldwing has left the building

I sold my bike yesterday. I don't need or want it anymore at this point. The money will go to put central air in my house and fund the wedding. I hope there will be a little left over to do a few more things...

:-/

Don't love your job, you better love the money. Otherwise, you need a new job.

Guess how work was today....

What to say?

Last weekend, I got the deal of a lifetime on old gym equipment. My house is coming along nicely, and I started my yard work and really didn't mind. I actually enjoyed doing it. I guess it means more when it's yours.

I need a big truck. My little truck has served its purpose and now I need something newer, bigger, and capable of towing. My scrounging has paid off in the past; let's see what becomes of it.

I'm getting married in about a month, good times.

Signs

About 12 minutes long, but so worth it. It can really make you happy.

Signs
Uploaded by mg02

I like this story....not my own.

According to a news report, a certain private school in Victoria, BC recently was faced with a unique problem.

A number of year 12 girls were beginning to use lipstick and would put it on in the bathroom. That was fine, but after they put on their lipstick they would press their lips to the mirror leaving dozens of little lip prints. Every night, the maintenance man would remove them and the next day the girls would put them back.

Finally the principal decided that something had to be done. She called all the girls to the bathroom and met them there with the maintenance man. She explained that all these lip prints were causing a major problem for the custodian who had to clean the mirrors every night.

To demonstrate how difficult it had been to clean the mirrors, she asked the maintenance man to show the girls how much effort was required. He took out a long handled squeegee, dipped it in the toilet, and cleaned the mirror with it. Since then, there have been no lip prints on the mirror.

There are teachers, and then there are educators.

the new virtues

I think I am going to write a post or two on the new virtues. It seems as though the old ones are played out.

Story

I think I want to try my hand at writing. Nothing may come of it, but I want to try it. The bad part is I feel like such a hack. Nothing in my mind rates as an original idea.

wow

HERE.

I try to avoid too much social commentary on here, but tghis makes me mad as Hell. Why is it when white collar criminals steal billions and destroys countless lives, those crooks get a slap on the wrist and come out as wealthy as ever, but a person that steals a few hundred to survive is ruined?

Here are my thoughts. I don't think any of the Enron executive got any real prison time, despite knowingly bankrupting many pension plans. How many people do you think busted their ass to save for retirement for 30+ years only to have to go back to work way past their prime? How many do you think we have to support as taxpayers?

How can we spend billions in Iraq while cutting education funding?

Urgent Care

I find it ironic that when I go to a doctor's office called "urgent care" there is no sense of urgency what so ever. I sat for 3 hours in what may be the most disease-laden area this side of a leper colony just to get antibiotics and narcotic laced cough syrup.

Sadly, they rarely know what's wrong with me. I have possible bronchitis and/ or acid reflux. The doctor also strongly urged me to get a regular doctor. I guess I need to. I'll be married soon and I need to take care of myself. It doesn't help that I'm 34 and overweight.

So here I am, slightly high off my cough syrup that really hasn't helped my cough, but now I don't mind it so much.

purpose

I've always been happiest with jobs that have a "purpose". If I feel like I'm doing something for the greater good, it has been more rewarding to me.

Now that I own a home, I feel I already have a purpose. Now I want my purpose to be to make money to invest in my home and personal life.

These days, loyalty is not valued. People are expected to chase bigger paychecks. It might be time for me to do what is expected.

snow day

I really don't like snow days. As a teacher, and unplanned day off means a planned day is lost. I barely plan as-is, so when I lose a planning day, I'm kinda put in a bind.

realization

My Bio-Dad gave me some advise in August when I was fretting over taking the teaching job or pursuing my BLET. He said: "I always follow the money". His logic is that if you have the cash right now, you can deal with maybe later. In 11 days, I will get paid again, the "Winter of Discontent 2009" will be done. It has never been as gut wrenching as it has been this year, but that's because there is more than just me this year. If I could be as cheap all year as I am during TWOD, I'd probably do very well year 'round.

One of my resolves is to live as cheaply as possible. Perhaps I can use that to push me through. I think my new goal is to use my skills to make as much money as I can. I also want to acquire new skills to further that goal along.

My next goal is to get into shape. I have started to get what I need to make that happen.

I realized that of my immediate family, I am the only one to graduate college. I also do not have a criminal record. I try to live as quiet a life as possible. I guess I'm the white sheep of the family.

Alpha male

I think every man is like a wolf. Pack animals have a pecking order and it is only logical that everyone wants to be at the top, however you may define that.

At some point in my life, I figured that I would never have any real accomplishments, and since I lived in a predatory environment (ghetto), my "top" was to become the person you'd prefer not mess with.

I grew up with every male figure in my life being honest to God bad asses. My grandfather, my father....even my mom and uncles were people you didn't cross.

I'm not a badass. At best, I'm a sheep in wolves' clothing. Hell, I write a blog.

the winter of discontent...2009

I did it yet again. Every Christmas I overspend and put myself in a hurting until March. I won't get a check for 6 weeks, or the first of February. I'll put myself on track with that check and my tax returns.

I need to do better, it's not just me now...

The next five years.....

I don't really have a five year plan right now. Paul interviewed me for a class assignment and asked me if I felt my "story" was over. I'm not sure. I think I am in a filler chapter or between books. Nothing is really going to happen for awhile.

My biological father said that funny thing about opportunities is that they all come at once. They damn sure did. I just hope they don't leave as quickly.

I'm thinking of the things I want in the next five years. I guess it will become the "before I'm forty" list. I'll reflect on my goals soon and actually make a new five year plan.

I would like before I'm 40:

my student loan paid off.
a son
my house paid off
my master's degree
to get into shape and live a healthy lifestyle
a Harley Roadking

We'll see what happens next. Life is good.

busy

The crazy thing about blogging is that when you have things to write about, you don't have time to blog, but when you have time, there's not much to write about.

I also think that strife fuels creativity, and right now I am happy. Do I have anything I want? No, but I'm really not in turmoil about anything. Things are great. I wish I were making more money, but who doesn't?

Last week, we moved the kids into the house. They seem happy. They've never had their own rooms. We let them pick the colors they painted the rooms. We got a dinner table and have been eating dinner together every weeknight. I think it is the best thing.

Christmas vacation is coming this Friday and I get two weeks to monkey around at the house and get things closer to being right. I think we're going to make it.

My next thing is that I want a tradition. Something people come to from all over once a year to do and enjoy everyone's company. Robyn's Uncle has a pig roast in Syracuse in July, my biological Father has a Brunswick stew cooking in November.

I feel like my life has a purpose and it makes me happy.

remodeling the batroom

Robyn and I agreed to go serious when repairing a room. We started with the second bathroom. We had to replace the floor and the shower to make it functional again, so why B.S.? We got the floor we wanted, the shower we wanted, and the vanity we wanted. We also got a ton of headache we didn't want.

We realized the ceiling had to come down this weekend before we could go much further. The walls had to be I was careful to cover vents and drains before I started.

I should have known just from the sheer amount of leaves and twigs that fell there would be an issue, but I trudged on anyway.

The leaves and remnants of shingle gravel didn't bother me, but the bat's nest I found troubled me a bit, especially the one that dropped on my head. It wasn't until much later that evening, I realized my life plays out like a sitcom.

We went with sheet rock on the ceilings. I think the flat painted ceiling will add a level of class that blown acoustic mess and those dated tiles just can't match.

The next thing to tackle is the draftiness, the weak output of the furnace, and the second bathroom.

Home Sweet Home

I've managed to get a working bathroom, heat, lights, washer, dryer, internet, phone, and satellite TV going. Next up is bathroom #2.

We spent the first few weeks hemorrhaging money into the house to make it livable, and so far so good.

The bad news is that it is right in the path of a proposed highway. I hate the thought of putting so much blood, sweat, tears, and love into a house only to have it demolished. The good news is we will profit from it due to the fair price clause in state law.