And flying, on Memorial Day weekend to boot. Normally I’d be bitching about this but I think I’m in dire need of a break. I’ve been on duty for the FRB job since 1/13 with no days off except what they take off. I’m taking one personal day and lining it up with the Memorial Day holiday and viola, a four day weekend. Now the problem with this is that everyone else gets a four day weekend and wants to go places too so they will be in my way… No, they will be along my path and I will enjoy people watching 1000’s I will never see again, this is a gift I’ve been given that some don’t get. Enjoy it and make the most of it.

To that end, I’ll try to put together a blogging protocol that can be used in other vacations allowing for blogging to be seamlessly integrated with the trip. Had I thought about this, I should have set up a inbound VPN. Oh well. There will be other times.

I’m good and sleepy today so I’ll keep this on the short side and bid you a fond farewell.

We’ve made it through Tuesday. For someone who’s become mortified of their own mortality, it’s odd that I celebrate the passing of the days like I do. But in my defense, these days are the ones you have to go through in order to finance the days of doing what you want. So what do I want? At this point in time in my life, I want at least 10 acres with a whole bunch of trees on it. Preferably a water feature also. I want to create a trail that switches back and forth around the property so that I may go for a long walk and not have to run into anybody. I want to have nice little house, a big detached garage/shop, RV hookups, and little guest cabins. If I were to win the lottery, I’d buy a couple hundred acres in the middle of the Woods and build a hotel in the middle of it. Maybe not a hotel per se, but cabins around a central point that has a huge fire pit and a covered kitchen facility.

But here’s the thing, I’m getting older, to the point where I’m actually incapable, physically, of doing some of the things that would be required to have this dream of mine about having property. My friend David bought his dream property and built the dream house on it 7 and 1/2 years ago. He’s calling it quits now, moving back to Suburbia. Closer to neighbors, other people, and I guess medical facilities. And unfortunately, that may be what it comes down to. You start having chest pains in the middle of the Woods, and you may as well lay down, look at the sky, and hope that’s where you’re headed.

I think I have to try it, though. I won’t rest peacefully until I figure out if that’s what’s going to calm my soul. Part of me is even thinking about the Caribbean. If I were to liquidate all my assets in the States, surely I could buy an acre or two in some tropical paradise. Although, in the last paragraph, I talked about medical needs as we age, in the Caribbean is just not known for that.

I think I’m supposed to die in the appalachians, I have a feeling I’ve done that before, a lot of times. There’s an affinity I feel going through those mountains. I don’t feel that way with the Rockies. Don’t get me wrong, though. I love the Rockies. They’re just a little young for me.

I’m super thankful for where I’m at now, I just feel that there’s some place else I’m supposed to get to. Sleep well world! We’ll catch you tomorrow!

It was a nice day today, I got started early and was out on the bike by 7am and did 13.5 miles by the time I got home. I asked Sandy if she wanted to go to Brahms for a breakfast sandwich but she didn’t. I decided to go myself and I doubled up on the sausage and that just shot the proportions. I’ll have to keep that in mind.

Got home and got some laundry done and took a great nap around noon. Played some video games and did some cleaning.

Finished up the day with a new teriyaki chicken recipe (listed here) with some rice and broccoli. So my daily intake today was a double sausage egg & cheese biscuit. Half a pound of chicken with a quarter pound of broccoli and 2 cups of rice. Oh and my grape soda with dinner added another 150 calories. And I guess about 50 tic taks adding another 150. Tomorrow is a fasting day, we’ll see how that goes. Oh and sit ups start tomorrow, ugh.

It’s been a good day and I’m looking forward to getting Monday behind us and on with the week.

It was an alright kind of day today, except the damn humidity was just brutal. I got a lot done today, raked the last of the front yard and cleaned up limbs from the back yard. Filled a contractor bag with yard waste including the toothpick branches we cut down. It’s funny how I gauge how much work I got done by how much I’m throwing out.

I did notice something again, it’s about the windows. They were just installed within the last 4 or so years and it looks like one of them has lost the interior seal. I’ve put 2 pictures taken at the same time and in the same room. One is completely foggy due to the humidity outside and the air conditioned inside. The other one is completely clear. I’ll have to call them on that.

We also had an issue with the slate suit jacket and the black suit pants. They were the wrong size and I was extremely disheartened. But we got it figured out. I need the black suit, while I’m going to a wedding next weekend and I’m due at one in Mexico next year, I didn’t have it for the last funeral I went to and I have a feeling I’m going to be going to more and more of those. Heck I think there have been two this year already with Claudia and Kodi & Tyla’s mom passing. And I can wear them to birthdays too, I like cleaning up.

I didn’t make 200 pounds, it’s just not in the cards for me, maxed out at 198.4 on 5/15. I’m heading down with today’s reading at 194.8. I need to start doing sit-ups but I know I’ve bitched about how much I hate them. I’ll start come Monday, maybe, if I have to…

So this evening finds me watching the Stars play the Jets in game 6 of the Western Conference semi-finals. Dallas is leading the series 3 to 2 and if they don’t put it away here, it’s the long trip to Winnipeg and an away game to take the series so were hoping to see them light the lamp tonight. It’s nice that it’s on broadcast TV, good for ABC and it’s rat overlord!

Here are my snaps for the day, tomorrow is a laundry and cleaning and some R&R.

These weeks are flying by even thought the days may drag. This is the last weekend we’re in town until after the wedding so hopefully get some cleaning done so when we travel we’ll come home to a clean house with nothing to do. That is the true joy of coming home after traveling. A clean house, loving pets and nothing that needs done.

My friend Tim came over today. We are brothers but wow do we have different world views. I’ve already given up some friendships over it and I’d hate to do it again but I’ll be damned in I’m going to fall in step with fascists but it’s good to see friends.

Sandy went and got her hair done and the poor thing was not happy with the results. I think it looks fine but what do I know? She’s supposed to go back on Monday but may not have the time. She was trying to tell me about it but I didn’t understand it, sounded like they scheduled her for a procedure they didn’t have time for. I really want to make it better for her but there’s nothing I can do and that’s frustrating. I try to listen but it kind of makes me mad because of the incompetence, and again, nothing I can do.

Leaves on the stream, the serenity prayer, the art of not giving a fuck. These are the mindsets I need to add to my repertoire. We live in a world where it’s really hard to care because there’s not a hell of a lot you can do about anything.

I’m happy that we’re almost to Friday again. This week wasn’t nearly as active as last when it comes to work. I’m not complaining. This is our last weekend in town until the end of May. We’re off to Virginia for the wedding next week. I’m not sure how I feel about it, I haven’t flown in a while and it’ll be over a crazy travel weekend. I’m not looking forward to that aspect but it shouldn’t be bad.

It’ll be good to see Brit and Austin. Bobby will be there too but he’s father of the bride so I imagine he’ll be busy. I won’t know anyone else there. I think that I get to meet Sandy’s sisters. I’m not sure how I feel about that, I’ve heard nothing good of them but I’ve only heard one side of the story. I guess we’re sitting at the same table for the wedding reception. Oh well, I’m glad that my family isn’t like that, too small for drama like that.

I’m tipping the scales at 198.4 today. But the junk food is beginning to wane also. The last of the cake is on the table and we’re almost out of cookies. Down to the last gallon of ice cream too. and I’m under 800 orange tic taks too LOL. I’m looking to lose about 40 to 50 pounds and I’m looking at about 8 to 10 pounds a month so we’re looking at about 6 months. That puts it right in time for the holidays. I get to put some weight on and get it off by spring time. I’ll have to find someplace to show it off:)

My food addiction has taken a disturbing turn, the cake I made the other night is being devoured one long slice at a time, I’m not even using a plate anymore, I cut a slice about 1.5 x 5 inches and spread frosting over one end and devour it over the cake pan. Yeah, it’s kind of primal and I’m washing the whole thing down with milk from the gallon. I think there’s even grunting and moaning, it’s so wrong but tastes so good.

There is a means to an end. I’m going on a diet. I’m not sure if diet is the right word, I’m going to start eating well and I really hate wasting food so I’m eating my way through all the bad food and won’t be replacing it with junk food. No more chips, cookies, or candy. Want a snack? Fruit, bread & peanut butter, jelly, or honey. Cut the sugar and fats and go heavy on the fruits and vegetables. Historically, I’ve disliked eating so much that it was just a matter of survival to eat anything. Now it’s time to start eating for health. I need to drop to at most 170 and I’d be happier with 160. I simply can’t keep carrying this much weight into the future.

I’m very grateful that it’s Wednesday and that the day is at an end. It’s not that it was rough or anything and I’ve been getting better on getting things done but I’m just ready for the weekend. I’m hoping the long weekend coming up with snap me out of what ails me. Peace be unto y’all, until we meet again:)

It’s the middle of May, but outside, it sure feels a lot like late June or early July. My watch is telling me it’s 94, the new meteorological station is telling me it’s 98. Either way, it’s pretty warm outside. But I do have to say that I am impressed that the air conditioner is not only keeping it at 75 inside it’s not running constantly. So I have to say that the blown insulation into the Attic was a good idea and a winner! I also replaced the filter and hosed off the outside condenser unit as a general maintenance item. Hopefully we won’t have to remortgage the house to pay the electric bills this summer.

I’ve been highly unmotivated today, and I’m not quite sure why. I guess it’s just taking a breath between projects. I forgot to mention yesterday that we had the Western Skylight that has leaked the entire time I’ve owned the house, removed. I hate losing the extra light in the kitchen, but I’ve also gotten sick of it leaking every other time it rained. I need it leak free so I can begin the process of remodeling the kitchen.

We are at the point where we are ready to make some remodeling decisions about the house. We have to do the kitchen, the living room, both bathrooms, and the laundry room is kind of thrown in with the kitchen. We already did the electricity, so that shouldn’t be an issue. Although now that I say that, Sandy did blow a fuse in the bathroom by having the heater running and also a hair dryer plugged in and going. I’m pretty sure that would blow a regular circuit, let alone the goofy ones we’ve got here.

I took my bicycle ride this afternoon over to Redbud Park. They are supposed to have the latest and greatest and newest and best exercise equipment being installed at that park. I wanted to see what all the fuss was about but at this point they’ve just demolished the small pads that were there for the exercise stations and our building much larger ones that have a mesh cover over them. I need to figure out what that mesh is as I’d really like some to put over our garden so it doesn’t burn up like an asteroid in Earth’s atmosphere. Today’s pictures are from Redbud Park and the ongoing construction for the new exercise equipment.

I can’t imagine life without these two, my house was just a building until it became a flop house for these shedding machines. My kittens are 7 years old today! While I’ve sang happy birthday to both of them, they’re treating the day just like any other. Snacks, naps, pets, and purrs. Kind of hard to do anything special for them considering they’re pretty spoiled to begin with.

None the less here are some pictures of the birthday duo that I hope bring a smile to your file like they do for me on a daily basis.