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.