Good Dad?

Odd week.

Odd last few weeks really. I've started working in the paid world again. This shakes things up a bit, yes, but it is a good thing. The extra money is nice, but the self-confidence is better.
I can do most my work from home and when I *do* go to the location, I can be back before the kids get back.

My son has a friend who has asked to get off the bus at our house and play. After some investigating, it all became clear...
My son's friend is having a difficult time. His birth-mother is in prison (in a different state) for prostitution.
His father had remarried, and they had another son, yet now they are divorced. His Step-mom is also his den leader for our cub-scout troop (of which I am a committee member/leader as well). Well, the step-mom no longer lives in the house as dad has a girl-friend, she is in an apartment. And she has possession (or at least join-custody) of the younger sibling.
...I think that brings you up to speed.
So - the reason for my bringing this up>

This young boy (He's 9 or 10, I cannot remember), spent the summer in a different state, with his grand-parents.

And as just mentioned, the dad and the new girl-friend each have jobs, with the girl-friend finishing her work day earlier, she is able to arrive at the house between 5:30 - 6:00 PM.
Why would this be a problem? He gets off the bus at 3:30 PM I know it is not a horrific situation, with poverty stricken gang-bangers around, but I see the situation preventable.

Thursday he asked to spend the night, as the dad was at work until 10PM and the girl-friend was going out with girlfriends. I had to explained it to him that this weekend wasn't possible as our family would not be around = we would be leaving to visit relatives for the weekend. Today (Friday) he all but begged me to take him with us.
His step-mom (or should I say former step-mom?) picked him up. Apparently she had a date and was willing to cancel/modify her plans.

Why do I go on about this? In retrospect, I think we could have taken him with us...

I'm not the clever & cool dad that Heathcliff Huxtable was, but then again, I'm not Al Bundy either.

I guess we just do as we do, according to our gifts. Maybe my job *is* to save the Earth, not in a dashing, romantic way, but rather to save the earth, one child at a time.

Here endith the (moderately narcissistic) pontification...

Too much time on my hands

Howdy -

The title of this blog is a complete bald-faced lie.
In the last few months, there has been multiple surgeries in the family, work trauma's, neighbor issues and I knocked down a power/utility pole.
Fun game.

So, I've decided to start a new venture and go into business on my own. I am making cribbage boards, starting a blues-band and...(dramatic pause)...teaching myself how to write a PhoneApp.

So, lets start with he PhoneApp (This will be a good exercise in documentation for me!)

I've begun by downloaded the utility from WEBAPP-NET.COM =
Based on the recommendation of someone else, I have now Downloaded and installed and am running the Chrome Browser (from Google) as well as HTML-Kit (free version).

The test flight is a success; the screens/menu's slide back and forth~! I looked at the code and I am seriously dumbfounded at how easy this is~!

I followed the directions and there is an error: a line of code showing the path to a css file is displaying on the top. (hopefully that will be fixed next blog)

And, as I realize that I can make these little screens and menu items, it occurs to me that I have no idea how the user would enter data. (At this point I am going to presume this is either buried deep inside or in a completely unrelated tutorial).
I also realize that I need to come up with a way in which the user can store/include more than one character (or charge $2.50 for the app and #0.10 cents per character)
My plan is to actually design how I want the app to look and hope I can stumble across the information needed. (Putting in graphics isn't hard, but I don't know if I'd be making a "text-box" etc... )

The mind races faster than I can type, so adieu for now...

...Here Endith The bog...

Would really love a hot shower...

Wednesday, I had GOLF, and get home to discover that the basement has a minor flood. It took a while to discover the leak was coming from the bottom of the water heater, and even longer to clean it up to a satisfactory point.
Thursday, was spent shopping around looking for a good price on a water heater. Finally, in the afternoon - one was discovered at LOWES for $340.00.
The rest of the afternoon was spent trying to locate someone to install it for under $300.
When the individuals came out Friday morning, it was discovered that, the water heater was the wrong type. What we have is a gas 48" Power Vented water heater. What I purchased was a 58" gas water heater. After discussing at length with the servicemen the proper water heater needed, I began to look.
And look and look.
I was unable to locate a 48" Power Vented hot water heater (in fact, LOWES doesn't even carry them). HOME DEPOT and MENARDS had the taller ones (58"-59"), and MENARDS even had them on sale (and one that was considered an 'open box'). But alas, it was Friday afternoon and were were bound for Wisconsin.
Eventually, a rep from SEARS informed me that retail does not sell 48" Power Vented water heaters. Well, the person that modified this place was a contractor (and from what I am discovering... a cut-rate one too. The only water supply we have is the garden hose and the cold water from the kitchen sink) which is how the 48" came to be installed. So now, we have the decision to make....Get a non-power vented water heater and re-do the duct work, or get a power-vented water heater and re-do the piping. Since there is no time with the schedule at that moment to review and test any decision, off we went ti WIS, with the issue unresolved.
While in WIS, the Memorial weekend was more of a chore-based visit. The major task at had was the dock. A few years back, the ice had shoved the dock under the steps, and now, due to the lack of rain, the end of the dock was in water too shallow for the pontoon to rest at its usual spot. So, the dock was extracted from under the stairs and moved forward about 8'.
Now...to get reach the dock, you need to jump approximately 24" onto the sandy/rocky slope. Not good for the 3 senior citizens up there.
So, a 4-step riser (three pieces; for Left, Right & Middle) were obtained and mounted, followed by the planks to extend the walking surface to the ground.
Next came the railing, and finally leveling them. (Well, they were made closer to level. I wouldn't call them 'plumb').

We arrive home Monday night after 10PM...kids asleep. We got the kids put into bed, the car emptied, and some of the items put away. Then my wife goes to bed and I research water heaters. I see HOME DEPOT is offering a sale on appliances (although hot water heaters are pictured, the sales rep & LOWES told me that water heaters are not considered "appliances" when it comes to the 'free installation'), I am not sure about MENARDS because their advertisement doesn't 'come out' until tomorrow (Tuesday JUNE 1st).
At HOME DEPOT.COM, I price a Power Vented water heater on-line and in referring to my notes from last Thursday = it is the same price. Hmmmm..... I reckon tomorrow might give me a better idea.

So, just before I go to bed, I decide to measure the height from floor-to-ceiling. Should we go with the 58" power-vented model, I want to know if we have enough room.

Naturally when I get down there, I am disagreeably surprised to discover a mild flood.
Again.

(sigh)

It is now 12:15 AM on Tuesday, June 1st. I've used the dirt-devil to vacuum up most of the water out of the carpet. I also have the dehumidifier running and the box fan on. I've checked the MENARDS add, and there is no water heater sale. I've made the measurements I need. My plan is simple, take some Ibuprofen, floss m teeth and hope tomorrow will deliver unto me the answers I need.

Here endith the blog...

AAADD = Know the symptoms!

I was recently diagnosed with A.A.A.D.D. = Age Activated Attention Deficit Disorder.

And I happen to know some other folks that have this as well. Due to the sensitive nature of this disorder, I won’t mention any names. However, in order for you to realize that you have it, here are the clues as to how it manifests itself:

In the morning, I return from bringing my daughter to school, and see that the lawnmower and can of gas are still sitting in the driveway from when I mowed the lawn last night. As I put them away into the shed, I notice that I had also left the door to the shed wide open last night. Putting the lawnmower and gas can away, I see the flag down on the mailbox and I realize that I didn’t get yesterday’s mail. So I head down to the end of the driveway, and see that I need to water my lilies. I grab the mail, bring it up to the house, drop it on the front steps and turn on the hose. I then remember I wanted to wash the car yesterday, and so as I head back to the garage, I notice the mail on the front steps, and decide to go through the mail first before I wash the car.

Walking inside, I put my car keys on the breezeway secretary, drop the mail on the kitchen table, and see several notices for collections. I may as well pay the bills, so I walk over to the wall organizer next to the phone and grab the cheque-book. I return to the kitchen table, sit down and as I open it up, I notice that there is only one cheque left. The extra cheques are in the desk below the phone. So I get up, and as I pass the kitchen island, I find (for the 3rd time) the cup of coffee I'd been drinking .

I grab my coffee along the way and discover that it is cold. I can drink cold coffee, but feel I need a new, fresh cup. Next to the coffee maker is a vase of flowers on the kitchen counter that I was going to water. I turn around, put the cold cup of coffee on the island, and see my notebook computer on the kitchen table, with a blinking message. As I head over to see who is trying to contact me, I discover my reading glasses that I've been searching for all morning next to the computer. I know I need to put them back in their case, and put the case back up on the counter top, so the kids don't get to them.

As I reach for the case for my glasses on the other side of the table, I spot the remote control for the TV; someone had left it on the living room floor last night.

Tonight, when it is time to watch TV, I'll be looking for the remote where it belongs, next to the TV (I won't remember that it's on the living room floor). So I decide to put it back where it belongs, but I suddenly realize I have my glasses in one hand, and their case in the other. I put them in their case, and as I bring them to the kitchen counter, I see the flowers need watering.

As I pour water in the flowers, and remember that the hose is still running outside. Distracted my this thought, I spill some water.

I set the glass I was using to pour water in the vase in the sink, grab the vase, place it on the kitchen table, then get some paper towels to wipe up the spill.

As I wipe up the spill, I hear that the hose outside is still running. I leave the paper towels to soak up the water and as I head towards the door, I see my coffee cup on the edge of the counter.

At that point, the buzzer goes off on the dryer and I head downstairs towards the laundry room.

Once I reach the bottom of the stairs, I stand there wondering what I came down here for.

At the end of the day:

-The car isn't washed,
-The hose is still running,
-The bills aren't paid,
-There is a cold cup of coffee sitting on the kitchen counter,
-The garden didn’t get watered,
-There is still only 1 cheque in my cheque book,
-I can't find the remote,
-There is a pile of paper towels on the kitchen counter near the coffee pot,
-I can't find my glasses,
-And I don't remember what I did with the car keys.

Then, when asked what I did today, I'm completely baffled. I *know* I was busy but can’t think of what I’ve done, nor do I have anything to show for it~!

I realize this is a serious problem, and so I figure it is best to document what seems to be happening and maybe see of there is away to get some help for this. But first I'll check my e-mail. As I answer/reply/delete the emails, I realize I’m squinting, and need my reading glasses. As I get up to retrieve them, I see my coffee cup is still sitting on the kitchen counter…

Well, here we are.
At least I think so...
Spent the weekend cleaning the garage, and cleaning the garage, followed by some vacuuming in the house and then cleaning the garage. Today (Monday) I cleaned the garage some more. Also went to LINDERS to ask about our Apple tree and get some ideas for containing our tomatoes this year. Our Apple tree has been ravaged by rabbits during the winter! (Grrr...). They chewed the hell out of the bark - not too deeply, and not a single section was gnawed all the way around, so he said let it go. We told him it was starting to bud and he said that come the end of June, we will know if the tree will survive or not. If it does, obviously it will blossom and we might get apples out of it. If not, I will address the rabbits in the vicinity with a Spanish accent and say "Allo...you killed my Apple Tree. Prepare to die."
Woodworking was on the brain this weekend as well. I broke out the scroll saw, drill press, chop-saw and table saw. Broke one scroll blade, bent another but I made a go of it and got things going. What things? Well...I volunteered to carve out 30 Push-Ducks.
...here is an image of some...
for a Boy Scout event coming up May 1st. I have not weighted the power tools but what I can tell you is that carrying a Drill Press half a dozen times can be felt (I did have a protein drink when it was all over)
We have a full-sized refrigerator in the garage as well. I shifted it a few times, then as I was going to move it from one side of the garage to the other - I realized that it would be easier of I emptied it. So, I cleaned off my woodworking table (used to be a conference table at Atari) of the Drill Press, Scroll Saw, etc...and emptied the fridge of its contents on the table, and moved the fridge form one part of the garage to the other, realized it wouldn't fit, moved more things out of the way, then got the fridge in place.
Didn't like it there so I moved it back. As I opened it, I noticed it was disgustingly dirty. (Stuff solidified to the freezer, cans of Canada Dr had exploded, etc).
So - that got cleaned out.
I also noticed a 12-pack of Coke dated 2008 & a 12-pack of Dew dated 2007. Yea...they were thrown out~!
After the freezer was scrubbed and the fridge washed out, I washed the trim and wiped down the outside. I put it back close to where it was, adjusted it a bit, loaded it back up and called it good. (Noting the work I have been achieving, my wife commented on how nice it was to be married to someone who is manic. Thanx dear...).

There was more moving and sorting and gutter-cleaning. All in all, a good day's worth of work~! When done, I make myself a protein drink then showered. Toweling off, I still felt vigorous; had that 'energetic spark of life' even as I got dressed. Then, once dressed, I grabbed the brush to comb my hair and the mirror showed the light gray T-shirt matched my mustache.
To say the youthful energy came to a screeching halt wouldn't give it justice. I think what happened is the youthful energy caught a glimpse of the old-man frame it was residing in, and in one Jackie-Chan like reflex...it was gone.

So, I wrap this blog up tonight, a bit achy and listening to my neighbor's band butcher some song I cannot identify, I recalled watching "Dancing With The Stars" as I began this blog. And my I say that the costume director for the show must have recently watched the Star Trek episode: "The Gamesters of Triskelion" and designed a modified version of Shahna's outfit for Edyta.

...here endith the blog...

A musical cycle

I've gone on several rants about the psychotic neighbor behind me. Now, I would like to take the time to let you in on another neighbor.
Larry is a great guy, very social and down to earth. We help each other out from time to time, and I'm not sure what it is, but there seems to be something a bit quirky about him (although, based on his activities, I think the quirkiness is me. He is the one that goes fishing, hunting, owns a truck, etc...)
His band has gone through the evolutionary process twice now...
a- A group of them get together and begin to butcher songs,
b- After a while, I can begin to recognize certain sections,
c- Then I begin to understand what songs they are attempting to play
d- Then they begin to solidify and actually sound like a bar-band.
e- Then something happens...I don't hear anything for a few weeks. During one of our chats, I discover that the bassist and lead had a falling out.
f- Then, the cars appear in his yard again, half I do not recognize, as they begin to butcher songs...

He reached phase 'd' again about 2 weeks ago. I've been gone for the lats 9 days, and wonder of he's going proceed on a different course, of if they have reached 'e'.

I reckon I'll find out soon enough.

...here endith the blog...

Hallmark Holiday?

As I'm resting from hiding Easter-Eggs (the plastic two-piece kind that you stash candy in) I've decided to compensate for the sugar-high by finishing off a bottle of red wine (yellow tail; cab-merlot mix). I reflect on the week...
Taking care of my recovering (from surgery) parents, with my young children has given me a new outlook. I'm sure that some shrink has a name for it but the best I can state ff the cuff is a "Charlie Harper-meets-the reflection of Heinlein, with the cynicism of Beethoven, and a smattering of Pedro Cerrano (from Major League II) thrown in".

...does that make sense...?

ANYway, I have realized that I lost my train of thought (it must of taken a corner and outrun me...) Many a wonderful things have happened this week. Milestones of great personal importance that were unknown to me until recently were passed.

I can sum it up by saying that my kids have become fans of some of the older classic cartons. Recently, they have been laughing to PINK PANTHER and at one point, my son turned to me and said;
"Dad, The Inspector Rocks!"

...here endith the blog.