I was really thinking the testosterone shots were going to be my magic elixir, helping me lose weight faster than normal. After all, the first week I got my shot I took off like a freshman college student, swearing to do everything the doctor suggested, starting with lots of water. It seemed to work, after the first seven days I lost 11 pounds, so I was on a high. Wife left that Sunday with Chubs, so I had no distractions to worry about feeding properly, Boy is like a hamster, just give him some water and food pellets and he is fine.
The second week I was off and running on my treadmill, I mean no one wants to wake up, slap on shoes and start exercising, but it's about the only way I can fit in 40 minutes on there, then a shower and eating something before going to work. I did this Monday and Tuesday plus hitting the gym at night at work, thinking by Tuesday I've probably lost another 3-4 pounds, but NO! Freaking scale seemed stuck at 397lbs, no change, up or down. This bothered me, but I thought maybe it's just I need a good poop, I kept up my routine Wednesday and weighed myself again. Fuck! It was still at 397lbs. I sort of self destructed at that point because I want to see results NOW! At least I've been hornier again, we managed to get it on a couple of times which I am happy because that had about disappeared.
So I was off Thursday and I convinced myself that my ankle hurt and I was sore, so I didn't walk and didn't lift weights. Wife and I went out and had a late dinner, then since she is off too, we just stayed up all night, she kept poking me about going to get some Round Rock Donuts, they make them with egg yolks or something, they have a yellow orange color and they are delicious but far away. After I poked her around 4:00am, I finally agreed to go, she thought I was kidding, then I heard Boy fumbling around in the hall outside and asked him if he wanted to go, so we ended up going, they open at 4:30am, we were there about 4:50am, and we were back home by 5:30am. I swallowed 3 donuts before Wife slapped my hands to stop, but I just got disgusted with myself and the shitty fact that this weight loss doesn't track on a line curve. I ended up eating most of the donuts, did not exercise the rest of the weekend, and even at the movies Friday night we had two bowls of popcorn, a pizza, and even some of their cookies, washing it down with three diet Cokes.
Before you all start shaking your head, the Diet Cokes must have helped because I still ended up losing three pounds for the week, I honestly don't know how, but I'll take it. I need to relax and accept this will take time. I am down a total of 14 pounds which is a good start for two weeks, and I am back to walking my laps without getting too winded. I am still feeling weak in the gym, but that will come back. I will try to stay more in control, and accept the scale is not for use every day, I have been told that and I have read it many times.
On a positive note, I think the meds are helping, I still get a tad drowsy in the car if we drive around aimlessly too long, but I am not feeling drowsy at work, and if I get enough hours sleep, I can function most of the day without looking to lay down. Plus, we be getting it on again, three times this past week, and that is a big improvement, thank you modern medicine.
Monday, July 31, 2017
7/31/17 Phones Can Do More Every Day?
Here is one I did not think I was going to sign up for, yet here I am. Our roomie has a hard time remembering to go to the bank when it's time to pay the rent. Last time it was "ooh, it's so hot I just want to come home and cool off. I forgot to stop at Wells Fargo..." or wherever she banks. She has however asked me to download Google Wallet, which is an electronic way of sending each other money via text, many times. It is weird that something that is supposed to be so secure and protected can now so easily be sent as fast as a picture of the food we are eating.
I was hesitant to do it thinking that it would make it easier for my info to get stolen. Boy has assured me that it is a safer way to transfer money, so that gave me the confidence to at least download the program. It was just like doing any other ap on your phone, except it takes a picture of your credit card. I got it confused while I was doing it though and I downloaded Google Pay first. This ap lets your phone act like your credit card, just wave your phone over the paying machine and the information is supposedly transferred. In theory, with this ap, you no longer need to carry your credit cards since the phone has the information.
If I am to believe our roommate, then when the time comes to pay, she will not have any excuses any more. I guess time will tell. So now we have come full circle. If a girl "works" as a Snapchat model, she uses her phone to upload photos of herself online, a guy can then "buy her products" with his phone, and pay her with this ap, via a text. She can then take his money and order food to be delivered to her doorstep through Blue Apron that is better than grocery store food, clothes through Amazon, or movies through Netflix. These phones can do it all.
Just this weekend, without thinking about it, we were driving to Round Rock to get some Round Rock Donuts at 4:15am. We didn't know the exact place where they are located, other than Round Rock, but on the way, we used Google maps and it told us where to go, street by street. On another occasion, we were driving and hungry, but not wanting to eat at the same old places, so Wife said type "restaurants near me" on Google and I started getting all sorts of places to eat, starting by closest as we were driving along. It even let us choose by type, such as Mexican, burgers, etc. Saturday evening Wife said she wanted to wash her car, I said let's do it. It is much better at night than in the heat of the day, specially since we have been above 100 every day for 29 straight days. We must have been out there at midnight, and as I was washing her car, she kept using her flashlight to make sure we didn't miss any spots. It worked pretty good, other than it rained on her on the way back to Crystal City. I have even heard of some people "jokingly" on you tube videos use the vibrate function as a "toy for females", so really what can't a modern phone do these days?
I was hesitant to do it thinking that it would make it easier for my info to get stolen. Boy has assured me that it is a safer way to transfer money, so that gave me the confidence to at least download the program. It was just like doing any other ap on your phone, except it takes a picture of your credit card. I got it confused while I was doing it though and I downloaded Google Pay first. This ap lets your phone act like your credit card, just wave your phone over the paying machine and the information is supposedly transferred. In theory, with this ap, you no longer need to carry your credit cards since the phone has the information.
If I am to believe our roommate, then when the time comes to pay, she will not have any excuses any more. I guess time will tell. So now we have come full circle. If a girl "works" as a Snapchat model, she uses her phone to upload photos of herself online, a guy can then "buy her products" with his phone, and pay her with this ap, via a text. She can then take his money and order food to be delivered to her doorstep through Blue Apron that is better than grocery store food, clothes through Amazon, or movies through Netflix. These phones can do it all.
Just this weekend, without thinking about it, we were driving to Round Rock to get some Round Rock Donuts at 4:15am. We didn't know the exact place where they are located, other than Round Rock, but on the way, we used Google maps and it told us where to go, street by street. On another occasion, we were driving and hungry, but not wanting to eat at the same old places, so Wife said type "restaurants near me" on Google and I started getting all sorts of places to eat, starting by closest as we were driving along. It even let us choose by type, such as Mexican, burgers, etc. Saturday evening Wife said she wanted to wash her car, I said let's do it. It is much better at night than in the heat of the day, specially since we have been above 100 every day for 29 straight days. We must have been out there at midnight, and as I was washing her car, she kept using her flashlight to make sure we didn't miss any spots. It worked pretty good, other than it rained on her on the way back to Crystal City. I have even heard of some people "jokingly" on you tube videos use the vibrate function as a "toy for females", so really what can't a modern phone do these days?
Sunday, July 30, 2017
7/30/17 Afternoon At The Outlet Mall?
We got brave today and instead of hiding from the heat, we danced with it. We've been staying up late, I was up until 7:00 and 8:00am the last two mornings, so it was not surprising that we got up around 4:00pm today. As usual, we all got up hungry so we all showered and headed South. Chubs has been at my mom's the past week. it was just me, Wife, and Boy. Boy suggested eating at Zaxby's and I can't say no to that. We kind of discussed what to do after and I suggested Cabela's since it is next to Zaxby's and it is air conditioned. Wife said no, we were there just a couple weeks ago.
It was her idea to go to the outlet mall, which Boy started whining saying every time we go and eat, we trick him into going somewhere else that he has no interest in. He called his friends who live in San Marcos and we then dropped him off on our way through. The outlet mall was packed as usual, and for a minute it seemed like we were not going to be able to find a parking spot, but I think we got there at the perfect time, as people start leaving and the sun starts going down, around 6:00-6:30pm. It is also a lot easier to deal with the driving in the tight parking lots in our little Kia Soul, which I keep thinking I don't like, but it is so easy to get around in and it has all the comforts you could ask for, even A/C on the leather seats.
We headed first to the Pottery Barn Outlet and it was interesting how proud of their merchandise they are. I could not find anything I would call "discounted". The one thing I saw and did like was a Batman bat profile that hangs on the wall and holds nick-knacks, it is about three feet long, black and made of thin metal. We almost bought one at the mall for Chub's room, but it was $150. This one was a little roughed up and was still $89. I was tempted to get it, but it was just lying there. I would prefer one in a box. We then went to Restoration Hardware which I remember it sold cool weird furniture, but it was full of ordinary stuff that seemed a little overpriced. I'm sorry, but chairs shouldn't be $400-$600, lamps shouldn't be $300, specially at an outlet store. We aren't really at a point to re-do our house, I was just curious.
We then spent the rest of the afternoon, mostly looking at purses, at Michael Kors, Tory Burch, Prada, Burberry, Brahmin and Coach. I was a little sticker shocked with Burberry whose regular sized purses were around $1250, and Prada had bags around $950. Wife is more comfortable with Coach and Brahmin, with their prices around $100-$200. I told her when she gets her next promotion, she should get herself a Burberry bag, just to show that she's the big dog on whatever campus.
We ended the evening in San Marcos by picking up Boy and eating dinner at Fuego's. I had a taco with brisket that kicked ass, along with a barbacoa taco and a taco made from eggs and sausage. All this was washed down with a large Big Red, yum.
It was her idea to go to the outlet mall, which Boy started whining saying every time we go and eat, we trick him into going somewhere else that he has no interest in. He called his friends who live in San Marcos and we then dropped him off on our way through. The outlet mall was packed as usual, and for a minute it seemed like we were not going to be able to find a parking spot, but I think we got there at the perfect time, as people start leaving and the sun starts going down, around 6:00-6:30pm. It is also a lot easier to deal with the driving in the tight parking lots in our little Kia Soul, which I keep thinking I don't like, but it is so easy to get around in and it has all the comforts you could ask for, even A/C on the leather seats.
We headed first to the Pottery Barn Outlet and it was interesting how proud of their merchandise they are. I could not find anything I would call "discounted". The one thing I saw and did like was a Batman bat profile that hangs on the wall and holds nick-knacks, it is about three feet long, black and made of thin metal. We almost bought one at the mall for Chub's room, but it was $150. This one was a little roughed up and was still $89. I was tempted to get it, but it was just lying there. I would prefer one in a box. We then went to Restoration Hardware which I remember it sold cool weird furniture, but it was full of ordinary stuff that seemed a little overpriced. I'm sorry, but chairs shouldn't be $400-$600, lamps shouldn't be $300, specially at an outlet store. We aren't really at a point to re-do our house, I was just curious.
We then spent the rest of the afternoon, mostly looking at purses, at Michael Kors, Tory Burch, Prada, Burberry, Brahmin and Coach. I was a little sticker shocked with Burberry whose regular sized purses were around $1250, and Prada had bags around $950. Wife is more comfortable with Coach and Brahmin, with their prices around $100-$200. I told her when she gets her next promotion, she should get herself a Burberry bag, just to show that she's the big dog on whatever campus.
We ended the evening in San Marcos by picking up Boy and eating dinner at Fuego's. I had a taco with brisket that kicked ass, along with a barbacoa taco and a taco made from eggs and sausage. All this was washed down with a large Big Red, yum.
Saturday, July 29, 2017
7/29/17 Girls Trip? (Movie)
We figured Girls Trip was the black girls version of Rough Night, which we saw a couple weeks ago. In both, four friends who have grown a little estranged get together again and try to act like everything is ok, until the last scene where the main character is broken down and they admit that things are worse than they have seemed.
Girls Trip stars Regina Hall, Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett Smith and Tiffany Haddish. Regina is the main girl who the story circles around. She is a famous book writer and TV personality, who writes about Having everything and being able to enjoy it or some nonsense like that. She has a handsome football player husband and they come out guest starring on shows like Oprah and Ellen and everyone loves them as the perfect couple. The only thing, of course, is that they are not as perfect as they want to let on. Queen Latifah plays her friend who it comes out, they were going to go into business together, but Regina did not want to take the same risks, so she ventured out on her own. She has a so-so business through a website kind of like Perez Hilton where celebrities and famous people are ridiculed or used for profit. She gets pictures of Regina's husband making out with some slutty girl and has to decide whether to make some money out of it or stay loyal to her friend. Jada Pinkett-Smith plays the only one having kids and thus has become more conservative, the other girls decide she needs some sex and as fast as possible. The fourth friend Tiffany is a loose cannon, she's the one ordering four alcohol drinks on a one hour flight, and then attacking the husband of Regina with a bottle of champagne which she snags while running towards him in the hotel lobby and smashing to produce a sharp edge to cut him. She is hilarious, and makes the movie funny.
Regina has been chosen to speak in New Orleans for some festival, and she says she will go if she can include her girls, who they used to call themselves the Flossy Posse, in college. This is supposed to be cool somehow, maybe it's a black girl thing, but I don't remember growing up and anyone being in a "posse", but I did grow up in a small town. Anyways, she feels that this is a good way to get the crew together after not seeing each other for a few years. Like in Rough Night which I said is similar, they start out in a fancy hotel, R.N. had the fancy beach house, shenanigans then happen to take the girls a little off course. They have all sorts of adventures showing off New Orleans, which personally reminded me of the time we went and makes me want to go again. Watching the bands playing randomly in the street, the beads getting thrown in the streets, and the flavor of the town, which I found exotic and interesting when ,we were there, but my mom found ominous and a bit intimidating, she did not enjoy it.
The girls have a big falling out, and they yell and cuss each other out in the last part of the movie, then they make out like best friends do, and they come together to give Regina the true strength she has been lacking, to be her own true self, and not her husband's door mat.
Girls Trip stars Regina Hall, Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett Smith and Tiffany Haddish. Regina is the main girl who the story circles around. She is a famous book writer and TV personality, who writes about Having everything and being able to enjoy it or some nonsense like that. She has a handsome football player husband and they come out guest starring on shows like Oprah and Ellen and everyone loves them as the perfect couple. The only thing, of course, is that they are not as perfect as they want to let on. Queen Latifah plays her friend who it comes out, they were going to go into business together, but Regina did not want to take the same risks, so she ventured out on her own. She has a so-so business through a website kind of like Perez Hilton where celebrities and famous people are ridiculed or used for profit. She gets pictures of Regina's husband making out with some slutty girl and has to decide whether to make some money out of it or stay loyal to her friend. Jada Pinkett-Smith plays the only one having kids and thus has become more conservative, the other girls decide she needs some sex and as fast as possible. The fourth friend Tiffany is a loose cannon, she's the one ordering four alcohol drinks on a one hour flight, and then attacking the husband of Regina with a bottle of champagne which she snags while running towards him in the hotel lobby and smashing to produce a sharp edge to cut him. She is hilarious, and makes the movie funny.
Regina has been chosen to speak in New Orleans for some festival, and she says she will go if she can include her girls, who they used to call themselves the Flossy Posse, in college. This is supposed to be cool somehow, maybe it's a black girl thing, but I don't remember growing up and anyone being in a "posse", but I did grow up in a small town. Anyways, she feels that this is a good way to get the crew together after not seeing each other for a few years. Like in Rough Night which I said is similar, they start out in a fancy hotel, R.N. had the fancy beach house, shenanigans then happen to take the girls a little off course. They have all sorts of adventures showing off New Orleans, which personally reminded me of the time we went and makes me want to go again. Watching the bands playing randomly in the street, the beads getting thrown in the streets, and the flavor of the town, which I found exotic and interesting when ,we were there, but my mom found ominous and a bit intimidating, she did not enjoy it.
The girls have a big falling out, and they yell and cuss each other out in the last part of the movie, then they make out like best friends do, and they come together to give Regina the true strength she has been lacking, to be her own true self, and not her husband's door mat.
Friday, July 28, 2017
7/28/17 What Is The Real Reality?
I live with a perpetual thought of soon, such as soon, we will be able to afford a new boat, or a new car, for myself. The reality is that although together we have been slowly earning more and more every year, we seem to just barely not be able to afford anything but the basics. Add to that my first setback, which was a pretty hefty paycut and now I am left wondering whether we were chasing hollow dreams that are next to impossible for the common man.
I have wanted a new boat ever since we stopped using ours a few years ago due to us outgrowing it. Our Bayliner was fine when Boy and his friends were all little kids. We could fit the boat with 8-10 bodies, provided 5-6 of the bodies were under 60 pounds. Once they all got into high school, it became next to impossible to include everyone we had once. My dad and I would occasionally fish, but then he has become less and less mobile, so he couldn't really get on the boat, risking hurting himself if he lost his grip and fell over or something. Owning this small boat just became more of a hassle than a fun thing.
I went and subscribed to a Boating magazine subscription so I could familiarize myself with what is out on the market. WOW! I didn't realize boating was only for millionaires and lottery winners. There was a beautiful wakeboarding boat on the cover, it is only good for riding around pulling people. It was not designed for overnighting in it. There are no staterooms underneath, or anything other than cushioned seating and a large motor to make it move efficiently. Anyways, this boat was $161,500. There was a comparison test with other similar boats of this type, as these magazines usually do, and the other boats were all in the $75,000-$186,000 range. This is crazy for a daytime only use toy.
I could say the same thing when I am looking at Car and Driver and all the really nice cars are also over $100,000. I would love to drive a Porsche Panamera, which is their first effort at a four door sedan, but they quickly get over that amount. Forget a Lamborgini, which tend to stay above $200,000. Even the more normal cars like Audis and BMWs and Mercedes, when you look at their flagship vehicle, it will be somewhere in the $80-$100k., which is still crazy expensive.
If I wanted to maybe some day re-do our backyard and install a new pool with a grotto cave and slide, and water features, we would be looking at probably $50-$75k. What are we left with, which is the annoying thing? I already knew we couldn't afford planes, but if boats also fall in there and fancy cars, are we supposed to really just watch television on the weekends. We could maybe afford season tickets to SeaWorld or Fiesta Texas, maybe even Schlitterbahn, with their stupid season tickets going for $120 a head, but then we have to deal with all sorts of crowds and overpriced food.
Is there a whole population that just gets to point at a boat and says "that one", I don't care about the price? Are these magazines like Playboy, showing beautiful sexy bodies the common man can't ever have? I am quite frustrated this summer, not only can I not really venture out to get wet, I have no means of getting in the water if I wanted to.
I have wanted a new boat ever since we stopped using ours a few years ago due to us outgrowing it. Our Bayliner was fine when Boy and his friends were all little kids. We could fit the boat with 8-10 bodies, provided 5-6 of the bodies were under 60 pounds. Once they all got into high school, it became next to impossible to include everyone we had once. My dad and I would occasionally fish, but then he has become less and less mobile, so he couldn't really get on the boat, risking hurting himself if he lost his grip and fell over or something. Owning this small boat just became more of a hassle than a fun thing.
I went and subscribed to a Boating magazine subscription so I could familiarize myself with what is out on the market. WOW! I didn't realize boating was only for millionaires and lottery winners. There was a beautiful wakeboarding boat on the cover, it is only good for riding around pulling people. It was not designed for overnighting in it. There are no staterooms underneath, or anything other than cushioned seating and a large motor to make it move efficiently. Anyways, this boat was $161,500. There was a comparison test with other similar boats of this type, as these magazines usually do, and the other boats were all in the $75,000-$186,000 range. This is crazy for a daytime only use toy.
I could say the same thing when I am looking at Car and Driver and all the really nice cars are also over $100,000. I would love to drive a Porsche Panamera, which is their first effort at a four door sedan, but they quickly get over that amount. Forget a Lamborgini, which tend to stay above $200,000. Even the more normal cars like Audis and BMWs and Mercedes, when you look at their flagship vehicle, it will be somewhere in the $80-$100k., which is still crazy expensive.
If I wanted to maybe some day re-do our backyard and install a new pool with a grotto cave and slide, and water features, we would be looking at probably $50-$75k. What are we left with, which is the annoying thing? I already knew we couldn't afford planes, but if boats also fall in there and fancy cars, are we supposed to really just watch television on the weekends. We could maybe afford season tickets to SeaWorld or Fiesta Texas, maybe even Schlitterbahn, with their stupid season tickets going for $120 a head, but then we have to deal with all sorts of crowds and overpriced food.
Is there a whole population that just gets to point at a boat and says "that one", I don't care about the price? Are these magazines like Playboy, showing beautiful sexy bodies the common man can't ever have? I am quite frustrated this summer, not only can I not really venture out to get wet, I have no means of getting in the water if I wanted to.
Thursday, July 27, 2017
7/27/17 Lil Dicky, Rapper For The Rest Of Us?
I was just introduced to this rapper last week by Boy and his friend that stays with us. Both of them came with their phones and a different video loaded up. I have grown to like rap and stuff a little better over time. It helps to understand why and where it comes from. Boy gave me his backstory, which he tells on "Professional Rapper" which he sings with Snoop Dogg. He claims that his angle is to take humor and incorporate it into the music and in the video goes on to explain "like I can tell a story about this morning watching Boy Meets World and jerking off to Topanga Lawrence, like the 14yr old Topanga." Just when you think he has topped himself, he gets even more gross in the next video and on and on.
Pillow Talk is a crazy almost eleven minute story about a conversation after having sex with a ditzy chick. The funny part is he doesn't even involve his brain in the whole act until she asks "where is your brain?" then a cartoon brain shows up and starts adding to the conversation. The funniest line after they are discussing god and the creation of earth, he asks about her opinion on Pangea, and bored she comes back with "let's change the subject", Brain standing between them utters while pointing at her "This bitch don't know bout Pangea." in a deadpan voice. They go on to a couple other big conversations about being vegetarian and taking an Uber, felt like a real conversation.
"Classic Male Pre-Game" is pretty funny showing a standard Friday night in an apartment full of guys, waiting for something to happen, starting to drink a little to feel relaxed, then it turns into too much and the night is lost, waiting for phone calls that never come. The funny is how he manages to make it so real, anyone in that situation can relate to what he says.
"White Dude" is his celebration of being happy to be born a white dude, life is so much easier "I ain't got to worry where the cops at" is pretty funny in a dark way. "...happy that my name ain't stupid, Dave could've been Daquan with a few kids", he goes on and on, taking digs at the females too. "I go on dates, never have to worry bout getting raped..." and even funnier "if he gets pregnant (couple) he can pack a bag and be on his way, but Good Luck, Girl!" His lyrics are too funny.
"Ex Boyfriend" is another story about dating a beautiful girl he is dating. Just as the night approaches when they are going to do it for the first time, they run into an ex-boyfriend of hers. He assumes this is the one guy she has had sex with and self destructs comparing himself to him. I won't ruin the rest, but I almost fell off my chair at work listening to him going on.
Pillow Talk is a crazy almost eleven minute story about a conversation after having sex with a ditzy chick. The funny part is he doesn't even involve his brain in the whole act until she asks "where is your brain?" then a cartoon brain shows up and starts adding to the conversation. The funniest line after they are discussing god and the creation of earth, he asks about her opinion on Pangea, and bored she comes back with "let's change the subject", Brain standing between them utters while pointing at her "This bitch don't know bout Pangea." in a deadpan voice. They go on to a couple other big conversations about being vegetarian and taking an Uber, felt like a real conversation.
"Classic Male Pre-Game" is pretty funny showing a standard Friday night in an apartment full of guys, waiting for something to happen, starting to drink a little to feel relaxed, then it turns into too much and the night is lost, waiting for phone calls that never come. The funny is how he manages to make it so real, anyone in that situation can relate to what he says.
"White Dude" is his celebration of being happy to be born a white dude, life is so much easier "I ain't got to worry where the cops at" is pretty funny in a dark way. "...happy that my name ain't stupid, Dave could've been Daquan with a few kids", he goes on and on, taking digs at the females too. "I go on dates, never have to worry bout getting raped..." and even funnier "if he gets pregnant (couple) he can pack a bag and be on his way, but Good Luck, Girl!" His lyrics are too funny.
"Ex Boyfriend" is another story about dating a beautiful girl he is dating. Just as the night approaches when they are going to do it for the first time, they run into an ex-boyfriend of hers. He assumes this is the one guy she has had sex with and self destructs comparing himself to him. I won't ruin the rest, but I almost fell off my chair at work listening to him going on.
Wednesday, July 26, 2017
7/26/17 Maybe We Do Have The First Female President?
I know the Donald talks and boasts like a man to the public, but he sure seems like a chick when it comes to doing man's work. He hired Jeff Sessions, I would never say he was a good guy himself, but he has been around a long time and if you lean conservative I am sure he is one of your top guys, just on seniority. It wasn't but about five months ago that Jeff and Trump were high fiving and patting each other on the back as Trump celebrated winning something he really shouldn't have. He praised Sessions on how great he was, almost taking him as his vice president before deciding on an even more conservative Pence.
Anyway, Trump brags that he makes great decisions, everything he touches turns to gold, everything is always top notch if it somehow involves him, so choosing Sessions as his Attorney General should be something solid that lasts at least as long as his presidency, yet Sessions had a little white lie he tried to pass through. He stated, under oath, that he never had anything to do with Russia, then a couple months later, news reports leaked that he met twice with a Sergey Kislyak, who apparently hangs around to see who foolishly falls for his trap. Why is this guy in the country, kick his commie ass back where he belongs?
So now the problem for Trump, does he support his guy? I mean he was telling us how great he is less than half a year ago, now because Sessions has recused himself and will have no input into the Russia investigation, which is the least he can do, he can't help control the investigation and Trump is probably scared of what Mueller might find. Trump does not support his guy, he attempts to throw him under the bus. Even worse, he does it on Twitter, that is chick territory. If he has a problem with someone, how about acting presidential and pulling him aside, maybe even asking him to step down. Nope, Trump's way is like that of a spoiled privileged child. He will get his way by throwing as big a tantrum as he needs to.
I still don't see that he has done any good for the regular person, but that is neither here nor there. Even big time conservative Ann Coulter has come to Session's side on this saying "Be a Man!" to Trump. If you want him fired, fire him, if not, shut up. He is going to go through a ton of people before he is done. Somebody needs to take his phone from him, can you imagine Abraham Lincoln or George Washington distracted by gadgets like this guy?
Anyway, Trump brags that he makes great decisions, everything he touches turns to gold, everything is always top notch if it somehow involves him, so choosing Sessions as his Attorney General should be something solid that lasts at least as long as his presidency, yet Sessions had a little white lie he tried to pass through. He stated, under oath, that he never had anything to do with Russia, then a couple months later, news reports leaked that he met twice with a Sergey Kislyak, who apparently hangs around to see who foolishly falls for his trap. Why is this guy in the country, kick his commie ass back where he belongs?
So now the problem for Trump, does he support his guy? I mean he was telling us how great he is less than half a year ago, now because Sessions has recused himself and will have no input into the Russia investigation, which is the least he can do, he can't help control the investigation and Trump is probably scared of what Mueller might find. Trump does not support his guy, he attempts to throw him under the bus. Even worse, he does it on Twitter, that is chick territory. If he has a problem with someone, how about acting presidential and pulling him aside, maybe even asking him to step down. Nope, Trump's way is like that of a spoiled privileged child. He will get his way by throwing as big a tantrum as he needs to.
I still don't see that he has done any good for the regular person, but that is neither here nor there. Even big time conservative Ann Coulter has come to Session's side on this saying "Be a Man!" to Trump. If you want him fired, fire him, if not, shut up. He is going to go through a ton of people before he is done. Somebody needs to take his phone from him, can you imagine Abraham Lincoln or George Washington distracted by gadgets like this guy?
Tuesday, July 25, 2017
7/25/17 Out Of The 400's?
I am not 100% sure yet that the testosterone shot is making a difference, but I managed to lose 11 pounds my first week on it. There is also the thyroid medication I started taking and I had read that a lack of both could be leading to my lethargy. I decided to stop making excuses since I got the shot Monday last week, I proceeded to walk two miles that night and every night after at work. I even managed to jump on our treadmill at home Friday and Sunday and walk another 2 miles each time. I will not lie, it sucked starting over, even walking was making my thighs burn. I felt like I was walking up a hill even though I was just going around our building a half mile at a time (I work in a large building, three laps around the circular hallway makes a half mile).
I say out of the 400's because that is where I was. I got as high as 413 before my skin graft surgery. On my house scale, that transferred to 408. There didn't seem to be much I could do while my leg was healing. I also had a discussion with the physician assistant that is monitoring me at Victory Medical and she said that without the testosterone I wasn't going to see much in the way of improvements. I could kind of see this, I always start lifting weights and seem to plateau at 300 pounds. With the long rest, I am having to start back at square one benching 135 pounds. This sucks and believe me, it was heavy the first day I went in there, but I am already feeling better and the soreness is already mostly gone. Even in my legs, where I felt like I was walking uphill, my thighs are starting to feel better.
So the scale said 397 yesterday morning, and I headed directly over to the clinic for my second shot on my butt. I am supposed to learn to do it myself, but poking myself gives me the heebie jeebies. By the way, I am also eating better. The P.A. got after me for telling her we eat lunch almost every day at Southpark Meadows at a fast food place. I haven't had fast food in a week, and I am trying to eat mostly fish. I didn't want to go crazy with the diet, but Wife decided I was kind of doing Atkins, with salads, which I think is South Beach diet. The P.A. wanted me to consider ordering food to the house from like Blue Apron, or those delivery home services that bring healthy foods, but I don't have time to sit and cook stuff like that. I'd rather boil some eggs, or eat a bowl of cereal.
Ultimately, I would like to get back to the 250-280 range, if I can get there. I had been stuck around 350 for the last couple years, but as they told me. I was carrying mostly estrogen and along with making me a lil bitch, it also promotes storage of fat, so I am curious how far testosterone will take me.
I say out of the 400's because that is where I was. I got as high as 413 before my skin graft surgery. On my house scale, that transferred to 408. There didn't seem to be much I could do while my leg was healing. I also had a discussion with the physician assistant that is monitoring me at Victory Medical and she said that without the testosterone I wasn't going to see much in the way of improvements. I could kind of see this, I always start lifting weights and seem to plateau at 300 pounds. With the long rest, I am having to start back at square one benching 135 pounds. This sucks and believe me, it was heavy the first day I went in there, but I am already feeling better and the soreness is already mostly gone. Even in my legs, where I felt like I was walking uphill, my thighs are starting to feel better.
So the scale said 397 yesterday morning, and I headed directly over to the clinic for my second shot on my butt. I am supposed to learn to do it myself, but poking myself gives me the heebie jeebies. By the way, I am also eating better. The P.A. got after me for telling her we eat lunch almost every day at Southpark Meadows at a fast food place. I haven't had fast food in a week, and I am trying to eat mostly fish. I didn't want to go crazy with the diet, but Wife decided I was kind of doing Atkins, with salads, which I think is South Beach diet. The P.A. wanted me to consider ordering food to the house from like Blue Apron, or those delivery home services that bring healthy foods, but I don't have time to sit and cook stuff like that. I'd rather boil some eggs, or eat a bowl of cereal.
Ultimately, I would like to get back to the 250-280 range, if I can get there. I had been stuck around 350 for the last couple years, but as they told me. I was carrying mostly estrogen and along with making me a lil bitch, it also promotes storage of fat, so I am curious how far testosterone will take me.
Monday, July 24, 2017
7/24/17 Leg Finally Healed Completely?
Although the doctor said we were done on the 11th this month, I still had a small hole to tend to in my gash area. Last night it finally closed up to the point that I took the bandage off to shower and it came off with no visible signs of blood or ooze. It was the first time I left the house with my leg unwrapped since probably last September. It feels so freeing not to have that wrapping on. Every time I have gone to the bathroom I have dreaded taking off the bandages to the point I kept a kitchen trash bag nearby so I could cover and tape my leg for a quick shower when and if I pooped.
I am glad the whole process from start to finish was virtually painless, other than when the injury happened, that felt like someone hit me with a baseball bat, but ever since, even with a 1-inch deep gash and maybe 4-5 inches long, it never "hurt". The nurses told me I must have damaged the nerves in the area to the point that there are none there to tell me it should hurt. The gash was surrounded by a bruise two or three times larger than the cut, so it is probably true. The doctors told me the purple in the area would get better, but it may also stay that way. It is a leg, not really up at eye level, so it doesn't bother me if it stays a little ugly.
What I do want to see come back to normal is the thickness of my leg around the area. It has been wrapped in bandages since around April. I used to get wrapped in the Unna Boot for the first few months and that went from above the toes to right below the knee. Once they decided to do the skin graft, the plastic surgeon was only worried about covering the wound area and he wanted me showering and washing it once a day. It was gross, in that I did go about five months without washing my right leg. At one point, Wife said "No! Your foot is way too gross", I didn't want to get anything wet, but she took a wet rag and scraped my toes and all the skin she could reach to clean them up. But back to the point, since I was only wrapping around the 6-7 inches around where the injury is, I developed a weird look, where my calf looks twice as big as the bottom of my leg. Wife said it looked like a chicken drumstick, all bony at the bottom. I am hoping that a couple of days with my leg free will allow it to come back to normal.
Have I learned anything from this? Yes, if I had jumped on it sooner, I might have avoided it opening up and becoming all the work it became, according to Wife. It did start out as two skinny lines on the surface. My mother in law said God works in mysterious ways, so maybe I had to suffer through all this, to find out that I had low testosterone and a bad thyroid, which I might not have discovered if I hadn't been forced to go to the doctor, so there is that. I also learned that Boy is a decent driver, after the surgery I had to give him control over driving me around as I couldn't move my ankle enough to drive myself. It was good to see he is a fair to decent driver. Oh, and I learned that I will not be running a lawn mower ever again. I have two boys in the house, and when they leave, hopefully in another fifteen-twenty years I will be hiring a professional service. Boy is best suited to cutting the grass as he is always wearing pants and boots, like the lawn mower instructions suggest. I was playing it wild by doing it in shorts and Crocs for way too long.
I am glad the whole process from start to finish was virtually painless, other than when the injury happened, that felt like someone hit me with a baseball bat, but ever since, even with a 1-inch deep gash and maybe 4-5 inches long, it never "hurt". The nurses told me I must have damaged the nerves in the area to the point that there are none there to tell me it should hurt. The gash was surrounded by a bruise two or three times larger than the cut, so it is probably true. The doctors told me the purple in the area would get better, but it may also stay that way. It is a leg, not really up at eye level, so it doesn't bother me if it stays a little ugly.
What I do want to see come back to normal is the thickness of my leg around the area. It has been wrapped in bandages since around April. I used to get wrapped in the Unna Boot for the first few months and that went from above the toes to right below the knee. Once they decided to do the skin graft, the plastic surgeon was only worried about covering the wound area and he wanted me showering and washing it once a day. It was gross, in that I did go about five months without washing my right leg. At one point, Wife said "No! Your foot is way too gross", I didn't want to get anything wet, but she took a wet rag and scraped my toes and all the skin she could reach to clean them up. But back to the point, since I was only wrapping around the 6-7 inches around where the injury is, I developed a weird look, where my calf looks twice as big as the bottom of my leg. Wife said it looked like a chicken drumstick, all bony at the bottom. I am hoping that a couple of days with my leg free will allow it to come back to normal.
Have I learned anything from this? Yes, if I had jumped on it sooner, I might have avoided it opening up and becoming all the work it became, according to Wife. It did start out as two skinny lines on the surface. My mother in law said God works in mysterious ways, so maybe I had to suffer through all this, to find out that I had low testosterone and a bad thyroid, which I might not have discovered if I hadn't been forced to go to the doctor, so there is that. I also learned that Boy is a decent driver, after the surgery I had to give him control over driving me around as I couldn't move my ankle enough to drive myself. It was good to see he is a fair to decent driver. Oh, and I learned that I will not be running a lawn mower ever again. I have two boys in the house, and when they leave, hopefully in another fifteen-twenty years I will be hiring a professional service. Boy is best suited to cutting the grass as he is always wearing pants and boots, like the lawn mower instructions suggest. I was playing it wild by doing it in shorts and Crocs for way too long.
Sunday, July 23, 2017
7/23/17 Emulating Role Models To Manhood?
I had a weird conversation with my younger brother concerning many things earlier tonight (Saturday). I texted him happy birthday because it was late and frankly he is usually a man of few words. I was very surprised he called back within minutes to vent and talk for a bit. I won't go into details but he mentioned it sucked not having role models growing up.
Maybe we didn't have the traditional role models, but I think I found what I needed to grow and even thrive. I talked a little bit with the wife and she said one of my role models was one of the band directors. I was obsessed in high school with being the best and he coached me on my way to going to State. He would suggest exercises for my fingers like playing scales and then doing the same thing in reverse, playing the same scales but only sounding every other note. I took everything suggested as the key to make me better and I believed. Eventually, I reached my goal and I felt pretty good for it. The funny thing about it is he was the same band director but my brother was tormented by him, Wife says the same thing happened to her. He expected my brother to be as driven as me, but he did not have the same interests. Wife said she also felt extra pressure from him because it had worked so well for me. Wife said she was interested enough to be in band, but she never cared for the competitive aspect of it. It is a little weird but the same guy who mentored me to greatness, also scared my brother enough that he preferred quitting the band.
Another role model that I just gravitated towards immediately was my roommate in college. He was definitely the opposite of me, while I was an introvert and had a hard time talking to people, he was a definite extrovert and loved being the center of attention. I may have not gone completely all the way to "life of the party", he did change me enough to be comfortable in my own skin while talking to the fairer sex. My brother would have benefitted with someone like my roommate, but not everyone is interested in becoming more open. Coincidentally, I don't know I could still hang with my roommate now, once we got out of college, I had mastered what he had to teach me, him still trying to be center of attention kind of grew old, at a certain point.
I think first you have to choose who and what you want to be as a grown up. I probably had other people I looked up to and learned a thing or two from, even from our dad who was not around much, as a truck driver and then he had his group of friends who he liked partying with. I didn't think this was a good thing, so maybe as an anti-role model, I have never cared to have friends that take me away from my kids. I've had a couple of guy friends over the years, but I don't really let them take my time from me being available for the boys. After all, I hope my boys see me as their role model and someone to grow up and be like. I can't say why my brother is so different than I or my other brother, but he finally has a plan and a good job lined up. I hope things go well here in a couple of weeks when school starts up again, he will be a brand new teacher and although it is a huge responsibility, he might just have the right mix of intelligence, presence, and insight to become a role model for a few of these young kids coming in the new generation.
Maybe we didn't have the traditional role models, but I think I found what I needed to grow and even thrive. I talked a little bit with the wife and she said one of my role models was one of the band directors. I was obsessed in high school with being the best and he coached me on my way to going to State. He would suggest exercises for my fingers like playing scales and then doing the same thing in reverse, playing the same scales but only sounding every other note. I took everything suggested as the key to make me better and I believed. Eventually, I reached my goal and I felt pretty good for it. The funny thing about it is he was the same band director but my brother was tormented by him, Wife says the same thing happened to her. He expected my brother to be as driven as me, but he did not have the same interests. Wife said she also felt extra pressure from him because it had worked so well for me. Wife said she was interested enough to be in band, but she never cared for the competitive aspect of it. It is a little weird but the same guy who mentored me to greatness, also scared my brother enough that he preferred quitting the band.
Another role model that I just gravitated towards immediately was my roommate in college. He was definitely the opposite of me, while I was an introvert and had a hard time talking to people, he was a definite extrovert and loved being the center of attention. I may have not gone completely all the way to "life of the party", he did change me enough to be comfortable in my own skin while talking to the fairer sex. My brother would have benefitted with someone like my roommate, but not everyone is interested in becoming more open. Coincidentally, I don't know I could still hang with my roommate now, once we got out of college, I had mastered what he had to teach me, him still trying to be center of attention kind of grew old, at a certain point.
I think first you have to choose who and what you want to be as a grown up. I probably had other people I looked up to and learned a thing or two from, even from our dad who was not around much, as a truck driver and then he had his group of friends who he liked partying with. I didn't think this was a good thing, so maybe as an anti-role model, I have never cared to have friends that take me away from my kids. I've had a couple of guy friends over the years, but I don't really let them take my time from me being available for the boys. After all, I hope my boys see me as their role model and someone to grow up and be like. I can't say why my brother is so different than I or my other brother, but he finally has a plan and a good job lined up. I hope things go well here in a couple of weeks when school starts up again, he will be a brand new teacher and although it is a huge responsibility, he might just have the right mix of intelligence, presence, and insight to become a role model for a few of these young kids coming in the new generation.
Saturday, July 22, 2017
7/22/17 Top Golf And A Slice Of Cake?
We just came back a couple hours ago from Top Golf in North Austin. It is a very cool hip place to be at. It is unusual in that it is fun for the whole family, college students, work outings, and there was everything from families to groups of friends hanging out. It is as busy as a beehive inside. Driving up to it is a little exciting when you notice all the lights on the cages and the immense size of the place.
You walk into the middle floor and right away we were encountered with a concierge/host. Since we were attending a party they asked us is we knew where our party was. We said no and they looked it up and walked us over to the group. The back of the building is long and there are at least three floors. It is designed with about 100 "bays" per floor. A group of up to 6 players can play while a couple more people than the six playing can sit around having fun and food and drinks. From the name you can gather that the sport is golf, and it is, kind of. The bays face out to a field about the size of a football field and there are huge circles about the size of a VW bug all over the place. The idea is to get the ball into these circles. From this, supposedly a few different games can be played.
We went out there for Girlie's birthday, and all I can say is I am glad we were not hosting. It can be a little pricey. Each bay rents for different prices during the day, $25 morning until noon, $35 noon to 5:00pm, and $45 5:00pm to close. The party was at 8:00pm and they had two bays for at least two hours. That is $180, not including food and drinks. We showed up about 8:30pm, then Chubs and I went upstairs to buy membership cards, at $5 a person, but these cards can be used every time you go back. At this point, Wife said they were trying to get out of there in less than 30 min, but nobody was actually moving. I wasn't sure what to do, but I did want to hit a ball or two.
I said hi and hugged everyone, it is weird that we have known these people more than 20 years. We haven't stayed close to many other people, but these people persist to keep us hanging in there. I have pics of some of the girls as babies who now have babies of their own. One of the boys was in diapers when we met, now he is literally bigger than me. Girlie was having a blast, with her family there, and all her close girlfriends that I know were there. She got a cute cake decorated with a Starbucks cup, and all sorts of make-up, like lipsticks and eye shadow boxes, it matched her high maintenance personality.
Chubs managed to hit a few more golf balls than me and he seemed to have a good time, even though he didn't want to be bothered before we left the house. He even ended up bringing Girlie's little brother to our house, they are the same age, both are New Orleans voodoo babies, born two weeks apart after we all went to New Orleans.
It seemed a fun and even good place to be competitive, but there were too many people to really play. I'd like to go back, maybe with my brother and his wife or my sister, her hubby would love this, I think. Y'all look it up, www.topgolf.com.
You walk into the middle floor and right away we were encountered with a concierge/host. Since we were attending a party they asked us is we knew where our party was. We said no and they looked it up and walked us over to the group. The back of the building is long and there are at least three floors. It is designed with about 100 "bays" per floor. A group of up to 6 players can play while a couple more people than the six playing can sit around having fun and food and drinks. From the name you can gather that the sport is golf, and it is, kind of. The bays face out to a field about the size of a football field and there are huge circles about the size of a VW bug all over the place. The idea is to get the ball into these circles. From this, supposedly a few different games can be played.
We went out there for Girlie's birthday, and all I can say is I am glad we were not hosting. It can be a little pricey. Each bay rents for different prices during the day, $25 morning until noon, $35 noon to 5:00pm, and $45 5:00pm to close. The party was at 8:00pm and they had two bays for at least two hours. That is $180, not including food and drinks. We showed up about 8:30pm, then Chubs and I went upstairs to buy membership cards, at $5 a person, but these cards can be used every time you go back. At this point, Wife said they were trying to get out of there in less than 30 min, but nobody was actually moving. I wasn't sure what to do, but I did want to hit a ball or two.
I said hi and hugged everyone, it is weird that we have known these people more than 20 years. We haven't stayed close to many other people, but these people persist to keep us hanging in there. I have pics of some of the girls as babies who now have babies of their own. One of the boys was in diapers when we met, now he is literally bigger than me. Girlie was having a blast, with her family there, and all her close girlfriends that I know were there. She got a cute cake decorated with a Starbucks cup, and all sorts of make-up, like lipsticks and eye shadow boxes, it matched her high maintenance personality.
Chubs managed to hit a few more golf balls than me and he seemed to have a good time, even though he didn't want to be bothered before we left the house. He even ended up bringing Girlie's little brother to our house, they are the same age, both are New Orleans voodoo babies, born two weeks apart after we all went to New Orleans.
It seemed a fun and even good place to be competitive, but there were too many people to really play. I'd like to go back, maybe with my brother and his wife or my sister, her hubby would love this, I think. Y'all look it up, www.topgolf.com.
Friday, July 21, 2017
7/21/17 Friends From College (Netflix Series)
I really wanted this to be a good show, specially with so many familiar faces. It has Cobie Smulders, Key from Key and Peele, Fred Savage, Nat Faxon (who I just saw on Married last summer), and a host of other people who showed up for 1-2 episodes. The idea of the show is that these people were friends in school, Harvard, specifically, why not? The show picks up with Key banging away on a lady, only to find out she is not his wife, she is one of the "friends". She married rich and can fly in and out anytime, Key is living in Chicago and has now decided to go to New York which will bring all six friends back in the same town.
Key is a writer and part of the problem is too much time is spent on his character and he is not the most interesting in the bunch. Smulders plays his wife and for a few episodes thay are distracted with the idea of a baby, I don't know why, they are living on one of the other friend's couches and don't even have their own place. Key is trying to make his character eccentric or something, but he keeps dropping into voices which don't make sense. I think he would be better playing it straight, it seemed he was forcing funny where there didn't need to be any.
Another problem is he still wants to bang his friend who is another member of the group, but she is married and has two kids. They get sloppy a lot of times like they are begging to get caught, but they really don't. The lady seems like she would prefer to get caught until it gets real, Key tells her he is going to confess to his wife, and the other lady starts begging not to do it, it will end her marriage and he has no right, blah blah blah.
All the other supporting cast is annoyed by them still hanging onto each other. Savage plays a gay dude, and his partner played by Billy Eichner is always annoyed because the friends always seem to be around. The husband of the lady Key is banging is also constantly on her about why the need to hang with the group of "losers", he is rich with multiple houses, and doesn't generally care for the group.
Smulders ends up hooking up with another member of the group, played by Faxon while she is away on a retreat. She immediately feels guilty and wants to confess to her husband. She does, and the last ten minutes of the show has everything pretty much falling apart, I can't see a reason for a second season, but who knows.
Key is a writer and part of the problem is too much time is spent on his character and he is not the most interesting in the bunch. Smulders plays his wife and for a few episodes thay are distracted with the idea of a baby, I don't know why, they are living on one of the other friend's couches and don't even have their own place. Key is trying to make his character eccentric or something, but he keeps dropping into voices which don't make sense. I think he would be better playing it straight, it seemed he was forcing funny where there didn't need to be any.
Another problem is he still wants to bang his friend who is another member of the group, but she is married and has two kids. They get sloppy a lot of times like they are begging to get caught, but they really don't. The lady seems like she would prefer to get caught until it gets real, Key tells her he is going to confess to his wife, and the other lady starts begging not to do it, it will end her marriage and he has no right, blah blah blah.
All the other supporting cast is annoyed by them still hanging onto each other. Savage plays a gay dude, and his partner played by Billy Eichner is always annoyed because the friends always seem to be around. The husband of the lady Key is banging is also constantly on her about why the need to hang with the group of "losers", he is rich with multiple houses, and doesn't generally care for the group.
Smulders ends up hooking up with another member of the group, played by Faxon while she is away on a retreat. She immediately feels guilty and wants to confess to her husband. She does, and the last ten minutes of the show has everything pretty much falling apart, I can't see a reason for a second season, but who knows.
Thursday, July 20, 2017
7/20/17 My Mighty Mite Army?
Perhaps I am inspired by all the superhero movies, be that as it may, I am going to let you in on yet another secret. Back in college and before Wife, I created life, by myself. It's the whole reason I wanted to study chemistry. I wanted to be like the greats, Dr. Frankenstein, or maybe even Dr. Hammond creator of the Jurassic Parks. Instead of starting with dead material, I thought it would be easier with stuff that is already alive, seems like you are halfway there.
Just like in the movies where the creator pours all of his abilities into his creation, I too, poured all of my "creations" into my capabilities and considering myself halfway there, I proceeded to add a solution capable of sustaining life with its high nutritional value, patent pending, and I developed my own warming oven from an old toaster to keep my creation at a warm 98.6 degrees. It took me longer than I wanted, but in the end, if you reach your goals, does time really matter? I kept them hidden, I was unsure how society would treat a new entity. They were not quite human, not quite plants, but they did like sitting in soft earth and connecting to the ground with a root like appendage.
I actually created five different clans with five different secretions. I have studied these things more than you, trust me on this. They say we have millions upon millions of sperm every time we "produce", but they are mostly jackasses moving the best ones forward in a pocket of protection and motion. When you slow them down, you can see that only about 1% are perfect to create life. I think with all the pollution on the planet, more and more sperm are "making contact" and thus why the planet seems to be getting full of stupid people, they come from the stupid sperm, but I digress.
This 1% is what ended up becoming self sustaining, and even able to understand rudimentary commands. As to what they looked like, think sea monkeys but approaching two inches. In the beginning I kept them in an aquarium, but slowly and gently I released them into the wild. That is the whole reason I needed a boat, they were getting a little out of control, and I figured if I put them out, either the elements would take care of them, or they would be discovered as a new species of animal. Either way, I decided to put my beakers and Erlenmeyer flasks away where it came to creating. What I do now is still "chemistry", but it in no way compares. I miss those little guys every now and then.
Just like in the movies where the creator pours all of his abilities into his creation, I too, poured all of my "creations" into my capabilities and considering myself halfway there, I proceeded to add a solution capable of sustaining life with its high nutritional value, patent pending, and I developed my own warming oven from an old toaster to keep my creation at a warm 98.6 degrees. It took me longer than I wanted, but in the end, if you reach your goals, does time really matter? I kept them hidden, I was unsure how society would treat a new entity. They were not quite human, not quite plants, but they did like sitting in soft earth and connecting to the ground with a root like appendage.
I actually created five different clans with five different secretions. I have studied these things more than you, trust me on this. They say we have millions upon millions of sperm every time we "produce", but they are mostly jackasses moving the best ones forward in a pocket of protection and motion. When you slow them down, you can see that only about 1% are perfect to create life. I think with all the pollution on the planet, more and more sperm are "making contact" and thus why the planet seems to be getting full of stupid people, they come from the stupid sperm, but I digress.
This 1% is what ended up becoming self sustaining, and even able to understand rudimentary commands. As to what they looked like, think sea monkeys but approaching two inches. In the beginning I kept them in an aquarium, but slowly and gently I released them into the wild. That is the whole reason I needed a boat, they were getting a little out of control, and I figured if I put them out, either the elements would take care of them, or they would be discovered as a new species of animal. Either way, I decided to put my beakers and Erlenmeyer flasks away where it came to creating. What I do now is still "chemistry", but it in no way compares. I miss those little guys every now and then.
Wednesday, July 19, 2017
7/19/17 TIme For Confessions?
Those of you who know me, just think you know me. I have let on one of my subtle abilities, and I think it is time I let y'all in on what is happening. Every time you see me falling asleep, I am actually leaving my body and entering various other people and controlling them, for a bit. I have been working on this skill since I heard about it one time when I went out of the country. As things like this always go, it started in Mexico back when I was in college. We joked and made a cover that we were going to some whorehouse for somebody's bachelor party, but we were really studying the mmm let's say grey arts. I can't say good or bad, it's what you do with it, but ever since I was told old family members were into witchcraft, it lit something in me, as I have always felt like I could curse a fool if I put my mind to it.
There were a couple of trainings in Mexico, then of course here in the US, eventually we have to go to New Orleans where more knowledge was gathered. It starts out as basic notes, if you saw them you would just chuckle, but then again, you are a simple one who can only see what is in front of you. Eventually, you can lock in to your inner voice and he or she doesn't always mimic what you say, if you can shut yourself up, usually your better ideas come from this guy.
So yeah, I have been conversing with inner Mando more, we have been practicing mental invader. The less people use their brain, the easier it is to go in and manipulate. In a couple more years, with phones continuing to rot most people's brains, it is going to be so easy to go in and control most everybody.
From the outside you may just hear me murmuring and talking to myself, but internally, I have finally found someone I can look up to, someone who is teaching me to be greater than normal. You think driving a car or a truck is awesome? You should try driving a human, it can seem a little crowded at first, but honestly, humans are so lazy, if they feel someone else will do the work for them, they will let you take over.
I know, most of you just rolled your eyes, if you read all the way down here, but this has a reason. I couldn't take over your body until you "technically" knew about my ability, so, I will let you read it, we'll have some laughs about it and when you find yourself missing hours of where or what have you been up to, well, that's me, in control.
There were a couple of trainings in Mexico, then of course here in the US, eventually we have to go to New Orleans where more knowledge was gathered. It starts out as basic notes, if you saw them you would just chuckle, but then again, you are a simple one who can only see what is in front of you. Eventually, you can lock in to your inner voice and he or she doesn't always mimic what you say, if you can shut yourself up, usually your better ideas come from this guy.
So yeah, I have been conversing with inner Mando more, we have been practicing mental invader. The less people use their brain, the easier it is to go in and manipulate. In a couple more years, with phones continuing to rot most people's brains, it is going to be so easy to go in and control most everybody.
From the outside you may just hear me murmuring and talking to myself, but internally, I have finally found someone I can look up to, someone who is teaching me to be greater than normal. You think driving a car or a truck is awesome? You should try driving a human, it can seem a little crowded at first, but honestly, humans are so lazy, if they feel someone else will do the work for them, they will let you take over.
I know, most of you just rolled your eyes, if you read all the way down here, but this has a reason. I couldn't take over your body until you "technically" knew about my ability, so, I will let you read it, we'll have some laughs about it and when you find yourself missing hours of where or what have you been up to, well, that's me, in control.
Tuesday, July 18, 2017
7/18/17 Overhauling Me, Day One?
Since I am officially done visiting the doctor for my leg gash, I decided to be proactive and start taking care of other things. I went to see the doctor at Victory Medical, which is where I got the blood work done that told me I was more woman than man, based on my testosterone levels. Maybe it's not what was said, but that is what I heard. I finally manned up and decided to hear her out.
As I figured, I have been doing everything wrong. I have very low Testosterone, she said it doesn't matter how much weights I lift, I need testosterone to see improvements past a certain point. I also had very low Vitamin D, which I had started taking over the counter. I stopped because I didn't see the point to doing just that by itself. She got after me, saying I need Vitamin D for the production of testosterone and other stuff. I also have a hypothyroid, so I also got a medication for that.
Underlying everything she said is that I was too fat. Where Testosterone resides in the muscles, estrogen resides in the fat cells and I give too much space for estrogen to make itself at home. I am supposed to start a diet, she did include an anti hunger pill amongst my set of pills. So my plan as of right now will be to cut the morning eating, which is what I do right before I go to bed. I am supposed to take the thyroid medicine with no food present, or it ruins the effect.
Apparently, we can't be eating fast food, who knew? No more Whataburger, Bill Miller, Wendy's, for awhile. She suggested I look into stuff like Blue Apron, who will deliver all the ingredients to cook a nice healthy meal 3-5 times a week. I don't know that I am ready to start ordering pre packaged meals. The boys will not cook by themselves. I might be better off with those quick meals at HEB that pair a piece of salmon with some rice or veggies. I know that is healthier to eat, but I also know I like convenience and speed.
The bottom line is some changes are going to have to be made. Since I had stopped all my exercise activities, I ballooned past 400pounds and I know it's going to suck to get back down. But for the first time, I have a guide and my body is being monitored. They want to see me about once a month to see the progress with the medications and I assume I will need to be showing some weight coming off. She wants me to have Chubs join me in eating healthier to get him to loose some weight and not have some of the issues I have had. This will be an interesting next few months. I already told myself, no more excuses. I walked two miles tonight, and hopefully, I will get back to 4 miles a night in a while.
As I figured, I have been doing everything wrong. I have very low Testosterone, she said it doesn't matter how much weights I lift, I need testosterone to see improvements past a certain point. I also had very low Vitamin D, which I had started taking over the counter. I stopped because I didn't see the point to doing just that by itself. She got after me, saying I need Vitamin D for the production of testosterone and other stuff. I also have a hypothyroid, so I also got a medication for that.
Underlying everything she said is that I was too fat. Where Testosterone resides in the muscles, estrogen resides in the fat cells and I give too much space for estrogen to make itself at home. I am supposed to start a diet, she did include an anti hunger pill amongst my set of pills. So my plan as of right now will be to cut the morning eating, which is what I do right before I go to bed. I am supposed to take the thyroid medicine with no food present, or it ruins the effect.
Apparently, we can't be eating fast food, who knew? No more Whataburger, Bill Miller, Wendy's, for awhile. She suggested I look into stuff like Blue Apron, who will deliver all the ingredients to cook a nice healthy meal 3-5 times a week. I don't know that I am ready to start ordering pre packaged meals. The boys will not cook by themselves. I might be better off with those quick meals at HEB that pair a piece of salmon with some rice or veggies. I know that is healthier to eat, but I also know I like convenience and speed.
The bottom line is some changes are going to have to be made. Since I had stopped all my exercise activities, I ballooned past 400pounds and I know it's going to suck to get back down. But for the first time, I have a guide and my body is being monitored. They want to see me about once a month to see the progress with the medications and I assume I will need to be showing some weight coming off. She wants me to have Chubs join me in eating healthier to get him to loose some weight and not have some of the issues I have had. This will be an interesting next few months. I already told myself, no more excuses. I walked two miles tonight, and hopefully, I will get back to 4 miles a night in a while.
Monday, July 17, 2017
7/17/17 A Little TLC To Our Biggest Expense?
I love going to Home Depot and Lowe's, honestly, that is one place I do enjoy that Wife is three hours away because when she goes with me, I know I have about a half hour before she gets bored. I am always thinking of a new project. Currently, I notice we never use the balcony in front of our house. Although it is a weird place to convene, it could be a nice place in the Fall, to enjoy a cold front coming in. Or maybe to sit out there and enjoy a thunderstorm.
The first thing I needed to do was replace the old lighting switch I tried changing a couple years ago. Apparently, a light can be a one pole or a three pole device. If it only has one on/off switch it is a one pole, if it has a couple areas where it can be turned off/on, it is a three poly. By luck, I bought the wrong one and still tried to install it and then left it there for a couple years. I remembered today while looking at the lights and things at Lowe's and bought the right one this time. Now, however, we can dim the lights if we are ever up there and want it to just be cozy enough. I felt successful after fixing it. All it needs now is a good cleaning with the power washer, and some chairs.
This came after also fixing one of our bedroom fans that wasn't turning off or on anymore this morning. I had replaced the remote a couple years after we moved in the house, when I could not make the original remote work. I guess it had lived out its warranty too, but I bought a new controller, opened the fan, rewired it, and the new remote does the job same as before.
There were also the matter or the two lamps that were in our room that stopped working at almost the same time. I went and got a lamp we weren't using almost immediately to replace the one on my side of the bed, because as I have said before, working 20+ years on nights, I am a little scared of the dark, to sleep. But it also turns out there was nothing wrong with either of our lamps, they just needed the right new bulbs.
Speaking of new bulbs, I am curious as to the savings from the solar cells is going to be. Either way, we have come a long way inside too. The kitchen where I would normally have five big 100 watt bulbs burning up the place, instead have five fluorescent bulbs which give no heat to the surrounding environment. Chubs was worried about the bright new bulb in his lamp by the bed,if it could start a fire. I told him I don't know how, if I can wrap my whole hand around the bulb and not feel much of any sensation. I was surprised that after 10-15 minutes on, the bulb hadn't heated up much. Not only are these bulbs not heating up the inside of the house, the way they work is supposed to also be cheaper than superheating a tungsten wire, which is old technology and barely being produced anymore.
These are little projects, I can't wait to start changing out the floors here soon. The carpet has gotten so ugly, but what should we expect after ten plus years of good living?
The first thing I needed to do was replace the old lighting switch I tried changing a couple years ago. Apparently, a light can be a one pole or a three pole device. If it only has one on/off switch it is a one pole, if it has a couple areas where it can be turned off/on, it is a three poly. By luck, I bought the wrong one and still tried to install it and then left it there for a couple years. I remembered today while looking at the lights and things at Lowe's and bought the right one this time. Now, however, we can dim the lights if we are ever up there and want it to just be cozy enough. I felt successful after fixing it. All it needs now is a good cleaning with the power washer, and some chairs.
This came after also fixing one of our bedroom fans that wasn't turning off or on anymore this morning. I had replaced the remote a couple years after we moved in the house, when I could not make the original remote work. I guess it had lived out its warranty too, but I bought a new controller, opened the fan, rewired it, and the new remote does the job same as before.
There were also the matter or the two lamps that were in our room that stopped working at almost the same time. I went and got a lamp we weren't using almost immediately to replace the one on my side of the bed, because as I have said before, working 20+ years on nights, I am a little scared of the dark, to sleep. But it also turns out there was nothing wrong with either of our lamps, they just needed the right new bulbs.
Speaking of new bulbs, I am curious as to the savings from the solar cells is going to be. Either way, we have come a long way inside too. The kitchen where I would normally have five big 100 watt bulbs burning up the place, instead have five fluorescent bulbs which give no heat to the surrounding environment. Chubs was worried about the bright new bulb in his lamp by the bed,if it could start a fire. I told him I don't know how, if I can wrap my whole hand around the bulb and not feel much of any sensation. I was surprised that after 10-15 minutes on, the bulb hadn't heated up much. Not only are these bulbs not heating up the inside of the house, the way they work is supposed to also be cheaper than superheating a tungsten wire, which is old technology and barely being produced anymore.
These are little projects, I can't wait to start changing out the floors here soon. The carpet has gotten so ugly, but what should we expect after ten plus years of good living?
Sunday, July 16, 2017
7/16/17 Spider-Man: Homecoming (Movie 2017)
We were headed to dinner Last night and almost went to yummy Pappadeaux, but Boy doesn't care for it. I joked that we could just go to Whataburger but Wife was not impressed. Boy came up with a brilliant idea of going to the movies to see Spider-Man and eat there. We talked about going but hadn't agreed on anything earlier in the day. It was about 9:40pm and the movie was starting at 10:05pm. Perfect timing for a movie, specially since we all wanted to see it and there would be eating involved.
The movie is a recreation and not a continuation. I am not sure if this was done to keep Spider-Man young, or Toby Maguire got too expensive, but he was back in high school, being a nerdy geek boy with maybe one friend. Aunt May was kind of hot, played by Marissa Tomei, and there was no sign of Uncle Ben. On one of the first scenes Tony Stark shows up to talk with the new Spider-Man, he blows smoke up his ass about needing him to be ever alert and ready for anything. Spidey is given a cell phone by Stark mostly so Stark can track him, but Spidey really wants to be an Avenger and is too eager to get into some action, even where there is none.
In this one, Peter Parker really is more of a kid. He has very little control of his need to be discreet. He is constantly pushing his want to be in the Spider-Man gear that eventually he gets discovered by his goofy, chubby friend. His friend then makes me nervous the rest of the movie that he is going to spill the beans and let Peter get discovered by the whole school in an effort to show off how cool they are.
The bad guys this time around are lead by Michael Keaton, which was a weird choice, but he did work out pretty good. There is still junk from the big Avengers battle all over New York when the story starts, and Keatons character is a good old New Yorker who had won a contract to clean up the alien stuff and the busted city skyscraper parts. Five minutes in, some quiet government types show up that this is their jurisdiction now and they will be taking over. Keaton is angry, he has leveraged his house and business buying new trucks and what not thinking they were going to have a big payday, now it is all gone. He keeps a few of the loads with alien hardware and they start tinkering with it, creating weapons and gadgets.
Eventually, Spidey sees what they are doing and makes it his mission to take the bad guys out. Unfortunately, the weapons are pretty good and the Keaton character even has a flying birdman costume, as if he is playing homage to his movie that woke his career back up. Another twist is that he is also the dad to the girl Spider-Man has a crush on. There is a big battle as there always is and true to form, after giving the Bird Man a beating he turns around saves him from dying. Tony Stark had lost faith in him earlier in the movie, but his actions in the end convince him that Spider-Man is indeed good enough to be an Avenger.
It was a better movie than I was expecting. I have been sleeping through some movies lately, Transformers, for example. This one did not have any downtime. It was solid entertainment the whole movie through.
The movie is a recreation and not a continuation. I am not sure if this was done to keep Spider-Man young, or Toby Maguire got too expensive, but he was back in high school, being a nerdy geek boy with maybe one friend. Aunt May was kind of hot, played by Marissa Tomei, and there was no sign of Uncle Ben. On one of the first scenes Tony Stark shows up to talk with the new Spider-Man, he blows smoke up his ass about needing him to be ever alert and ready for anything. Spidey is given a cell phone by Stark mostly so Stark can track him, but Spidey really wants to be an Avenger and is too eager to get into some action, even where there is none.
In this one, Peter Parker really is more of a kid. He has very little control of his need to be discreet. He is constantly pushing his want to be in the Spider-Man gear that eventually he gets discovered by his goofy, chubby friend. His friend then makes me nervous the rest of the movie that he is going to spill the beans and let Peter get discovered by the whole school in an effort to show off how cool they are.
The bad guys this time around are lead by Michael Keaton, which was a weird choice, but he did work out pretty good. There is still junk from the big Avengers battle all over New York when the story starts, and Keatons character is a good old New Yorker who had won a contract to clean up the alien stuff and the busted city skyscraper parts. Five minutes in, some quiet government types show up that this is their jurisdiction now and they will be taking over. Keaton is angry, he has leveraged his house and business buying new trucks and what not thinking they were going to have a big payday, now it is all gone. He keeps a few of the loads with alien hardware and they start tinkering with it, creating weapons and gadgets.
Eventually, Spidey sees what they are doing and makes it his mission to take the bad guys out. Unfortunately, the weapons are pretty good and the Keaton character even has a flying birdman costume, as if he is playing homage to his movie that woke his career back up. Another twist is that he is also the dad to the girl Spider-Man has a crush on. There is a big battle as there always is and true to form, after giving the Bird Man a beating he turns around saves him from dying. Tony Stark had lost faith in him earlier in the movie, but his actions in the end convince him that Spider-Man is indeed good enough to be an Avenger.
It was a better movie than I was expecting. I have been sleeping through some movies lately, Transformers, for example. This one did not have any downtime. It was solid entertainment the whole movie through.
Saturday, July 15, 2017
7/15/17 Finally Saw What The Seductress Of Addiction Looks Like?
I was never attracted to the lifestyle taken by many of my peers in high school and even college. Alcohol never did much to call my name. I honestly didn't try drinking to get drunk until my 30's and really because we installed a pool and hot tub and we were starting to "party" with friends. Even so, beer has always been gross, but I will drink liquor if a party breaks out. I still remember playing liquor pong a couple summers ago, same as beer pong, but I would run in take random bottles of liquor and use it like beer. The rowdy crowd we had would play along and good times were generally had by all.
For whatever reason, those good times have about stopped. We haven't had a good party in about two years which is probably as long as it has been since I got drunk. I'll see new drinks, like those "Not Your Father's Root Beer" or some apple cider concoction, buy them and maybe drink one of the beers a weekend, I have a second fridge in the wash room full of probably expired beers, going by the dates on the bottles.
I also tried smoking those fat cigars, like the cool guy were doing in the 80's and 90's, a la Arnold Schwarzeneggar, but dammit, it felt like I was trying to hold a penis in my mouth with my lips while sucking in smoke to keep it lit, and then it would get all soggy. I bought all sorts of different sizes and price points, but they all pretty much suck.
Last night though, I accidentally smelled a new Seductress, and let me tell you, she let me get my nose deep in there where the good lord split her, ooh man. I was at work and had worked with some solvents for a customer. We dilute the solvent by taking a very small amount with a pipette and dilute it with 1% nitric acid. Because they are solvents and highly flammable, we keep anything they come in contact with in metal trash cans. I've dealt with the can before and usually I grab my stuff and just tuck it in, barely lifting the lid an inch. Last night, I was standing, mostly cleaning the area I had been using so I used the foot pedal which opens the can top all the way. The smell was sweet, but chemicall-y, intoxicating, yet delicious. I felt like those men in the Odyssey that jumped in the water after the mermaids and their siren song. It was only a second, but wow. I wanted to leave it open and have the smell fill the room.
At my age, I think I can fight any urges, I certainly am not going to turn into one of those skinny junkies, spending all day long huffing spray paint, but I have to say if this is what it's like, I get it. I could hear the can calling me later that night "Come over here, Big Boy." "I gotta tell you something"
I have to figure out where this trash goes, take it out and hopefully, the witch in there disappears, if for awhile. I did not smell it a second time, but I was thinking about it, the smell was just exotic.
For whatever reason, those good times have about stopped. We haven't had a good party in about two years which is probably as long as it has been since I got drunk. I'll see new drinks, like those "Not Your Father's Root Beer" or some apple cider concoction, buy them and maybe drink one of the beers a weekend, I have a second fridge in the wash room full of probably expired beers, going by the dates on the bottles.
I also tried smoking those fat cigars, like the cool guy were doing in the 80's and 90's, a la Arnold Schwarzeneggar, but dammit, it felt like I was trying to hold a penis in my mouth with my lips while sucking in smoke to keep it lit, and then it would get all soggy. I bought all sorts of different sizes and price points, but they all pretty much suck.
Last night though, I accidentally smelled a new Seductress, and let me tell you, she let me get my nose deep in there where the good lord split her, ooh man. I was at work and had worked with some solvents for a customer. We dilute the solvent by taking a very small amount with a pipette and dilute it with 1% nitric acid. Because they are solvents and highly flammable, we keep anything they come in contact with in metal trash cans. I've dealt with the can before and usually I grab my stuff and just tuck it in, barely lifting the lid an inch. Last night, I was standing, mostly cleaning the area I had been using so I used the foot pedal which opens the can top all the way. The smell was sweet, but chemicall-y, intoxicating, yet delicious. I felt like those men in the Odyssey that jumped in the water after the mermaids and their siren song. It was only a second, but wow. I wanted to leave it open and have the smell fill the room.
At my age, I think I can fight any urges, I certainly am not going to turn into one of those skinny junkies, spending all day long huffing spray paint, but I have to say if this is what it's like, I get it. I could hear the can calling me later that night "Come over here, Big Boy." "I gotta tell you something"
I have to figure out where this trash goes, take it out and hopefully, the witch in there disappears, if for awhile. I did not smell it a second time, but I was thinking about it, the smell was just exotic.
Friday, July 14, 2017
7/14/17 Scolded By A Feminist Or A Pro Tattoo Idiot?
A couple weeks ago Girlie had a friend over and we were sitting in the kitchen discussing nothing in particular when she said she wanted to get a tattoo of something. I groaned and said why? Look at Girlie, she's such a pretty young thing and she goes and fucked up most of her back with a stupid elephant and beads... and the other tattoos on her wrists and ankles aren't doing her any favors, other than making her look like a graffitti'd wall in East Austin.
Her comeback kind of surprised me, considering she doesn't have any on her yet. She went on a jag about "how come we females have to live with men's pre-conceived notion of beauty?" I think the sentence surprised her and she laughed and got up to break the tension in the room. Maybe there is something to that, but I don't really care about all that. To me, it is more important to look presentable, if that is what you got. I am not trying to be a dick, but if you are going from one shitty minimum wage job after another, covering yourself in "art" makes you less desirable for the people in power, you know, the ones that hire and fire people.
I will admit that I am a little sexist in that it doesn't matter what a guy does in regards to his look. Guys coming out of school will get all sorts of shitty jobs, I did carpentry and worked in a warehouse, mostly with ex-felons, eventually you mature and pursue a proper career. Young women do different types of jobs when they have no skills, mostly in front of people, such as a cashier, receptionist, waitress. I am not saying this is the only thing they can do, but if Juan and Sally start at the same day at Wendy's, Juan is not going to be taking your orders and Sally is not going to be in the back moving 50 pound bags of frozen fries or taking out the trash, don't bullshit yourself. The pretty girls get put where customers can see them.
Now, I am not totally narrow minded, a small tattoo of a heart or a flower can be cute on a girl. If it is placed on an ankle, or maybe on the shoulder, but not the big massive projects, those scream to me I enjoy working for minimum wage. I heard a comedian compare women to a Lamborgini, created by God, nearly perfection. A tattoo is then equivalent to putting a bumper sticker on all that beauty. It might as well read "I'm with Stupid", and trust me, he will be there.
To sum it up, everything we do labels us as what we are. I can't get away from being Hispanic, Fat, a Parent, a Son, an Austinite and that is just on the surface. In high school, being in band meant I was a geek, being smart made me a nerd, going to college meant I was trying to be more. Later in life, admitting to liking the strip clubs made me a perv, acting like an octopus at the strip clubs made me a handsy perv, and so on. Why would you think that adding a tattoo is not cause for a new label? People are going to say tattoo= easy, or tattoo= whore. It may not be true, but you can't cover yourself like a coloring book and then be weird when people stare, you are causing the staring by chasing and becoming different.
If you want to be "normal", leave your shit alone. If you want to attract attention, good or bad, and not up to you which kind you get, then start with the skin art and the piercings. When society smiles or frowns at you, don't get mad, say "yeah, that's what I wanted."
Her comeback kind of surprised me, considering she doesn't have any on her yet. She went on a jag about "how come we females have to live with men's pre-conceived notion of beauty?" I think the sentence surprised her and she laughed and got up to break the tension in the room. Maybe there is something to that, but I don't really care about all that. To me, it is more important to look presentable, if that is what you got. I am not trying to be a dick, but if you are going from one shitty minimum wage job after another, covering yourself in "art" makes you less desirable for the people in power, you know, the ones that hire and fire people.
I will admit that I am a little sexist in that it doesn't matter what a guy does in regards to his look. Guys coming out of school will get all sorts of shitty jobs, I did carpentry and worked in a warehouse, mostly with ex-felons, eventually you mature and pursue a proper career. Young women do different types of jobs when they have no skills, mostly in front of people, such as a cashier, receptionist, waitress. I am not saying this is the only thing they can do, but if Juan and Sally start at the same day at Wendy's, Juan is not going to be taking your orders and Sally is not going to be in the back moving 50 pound bags of frozen fries or taking out the trash, don't bullshit yourself. The pretty girls get put where customers can see them.
Now, I am not totally narrow minded, a small tattoo of a heart or a flower can be cute on a girl. If it is placed on an ankle, or maybe on the shoulder, but not the big massive projects, those scream to me I enjoy working for minimum wage. I heard a comedian compare women to a Lamborgini, created by God, nearly perfection. A tattoo is then equivalent to putting a bumper sticker on all that beauty. It might as well read "I'm with Stupid", and trust me, he will be there.
To sum it up, everything we do labels us as what we are. I can't get away from being Hispanic, Fat, a Parent, a Son, an Austinite and that is just on the surface. In high school, being in band meant I was a geek, being smart made me a nerd, going to college meant I was trying to be more. Later in life, admitting to liking the strip clubs made me a perv, acting like an octopus at the strip clubs made me a handsy perv, and so on. Why would you think that adding a tattoo is not cause for a new label? People are going to say tattoo= easy, or tattoo= whore. It may not be true, but you can't cover yourself like a coloring book and then be weird when people stare, you are causing the staring by chasing and becoming different.
If you want to be "normal", leave your shit alone. If you want to attract attention, good or bad, and not up to you which kind you get, then start with the skin art and the piercings. When society smiles or frowns at you, don't get mad, say "yeah, that's what I wanted."
Thursday, July 13, 2017
7/13/17 I Read People Need A Second "Hustle" To Make It Nowadays?
I would've scoffed at that notion a couple years ago, but yet here we are. I was about taking batting swings in the warm-up box thinking I was going to be our family's first Uber driver after the bullshit pay cut I got at work. It was very touch and go there for a moment, I was either going to have to cut some things like cable and air conditioning, the alarm, and thin our insurances to the bone. We did all that, actually. We got rid of getting rental cars in the event of an accident or if our cars were not drivable. We returned a cable box, when we determined we didn't need it, when I figured all these efforts were not going to be enough I bit the bullet and sold my truck. It hurt my ego, but as everyone tells me, nobody cares about that, just me, so it's alright.
As soon as I sold my truck, and even managed to walk away with ~$3500 the sun came back out. I was then able to pay off the last year on our RV with the leftover money. As luck would have it, I also cashed in most of my AMD stock for another ~$4000 and paid off Target and Dillard's and some of my medical bills. and lowered the Best Buy card.
It turns out we already had a second hustle as that article was saying. We have been renting empty rooms in our house ever since we bought a house, back in 1996. Both my brothers have lived with me, currently I have two renters and am making money from something that would sit empty 99% of the time. My family likes to rattle the pans and make a lot of noise about not being able to visit because they don't have private rooms to stay in, but Mr. Attorney would visit once or twice a year before, even if he was passing by every other weekend to go watch baseball or whatever in Dallas. I have never thought of telling him or my sister, "hey, I would visit more often, but you don't have a room for me, so too bad."
Anyways, getting back to the "hustle", I always kind of envisioned people staying with us for extended amounts of time. I even joke with my mom that she could move in in her old age, but the thought makes her nervous. I think we live a pretty awesome life when we aren't all consumed with work. As soon as Wife can come back, I will focus my efforts on getting another boat, that has to be at the top of my wants/needs list. I hate sitting home summer days, and not having anything better to do. Since my leg has been shitty, I can accept this year as a down year, but I can only stay down so long. We will get to the point where I can squirrel away all the rent money once we are done paying my medical bills to give a fat down payment on the perfect boat, even if it isn't a pontoon, Wife!
As soon as I sold my truck, and even managed to walk away with ~$3500 the sun came back out. I was then able to pay off the last year on our RV with the leftover money. As luck would have it, I also cashed in most of my AMD stock for another ~$4000 and paid off Target and Dillard's and some of my medical bills. and lowered the Best Buy card.
It turns out we already had a second hustle as that article was saying. We have been renting empty rooms in our house ever since we bought a house, back in 1996. Both my brothers have lived with me, currently I have two renters and am making money from something that would sit empty 99% of the time. My family likes to rattle the pans and make a lot of noise about not being able to visit because they don't have private rooms to stay in, but Mr. Attorney would visit once or twice a year before, even if he was passing by every other weekend to go watch baseball or whatever in Dallas. I have never thought of telling him or my sister, "hey, I would visit more often, but you don't have a room for me, so too bad."
Anyways, getting back to the "hustle", I always kind of envisioned people staying with us for extended amounts of time. I even joke with my mom that she could move in in her old age, but the thought makes her nervous. I think we live a pretty awesome life when we aren't all consumed with work. As soon as Wife can come back, I will focus my efforts on getting another boat, that has to be at the top of my wants/needs list. I hate sitting home summer days, and not having anything better to do. Since my leg has been shitty, I can accept this year as a down year, but I can only stay down so long. We will get to the point where I can squirrel away all the rent money once we are done paying my medical bills to give a fat down payment on the perfect boat, even if it isn't a pontoon, Wife!
Wednesday, July 12, 2017
7/12/17 What Happened To Slut Shaming?
Wife loves watching lame movies, the lamer the better for her. She is in town this week for a conference, so it has been nice to have her around, now that she has calmed down from wanting house cleaned a certain way. Anyways, she was relaxing while I was getting ready for work and she was watching The Witches Of Eastwick, I think, with Cher, Jack Nicholson, Susan Sarandon, and Michelle Pfeiffer, to name a few.
I was chuckling with Wife in the scene where one of them is shopping in a supermarket and all the ladies slowly gather around one of them and they quietly, but effectively, call her a slut. Try that nowadays, and the girl is coming back with her boyfriend and "some bitches getting knocked out!" It used to be that in all the movies there was a backdrop of decency that people lived up to. What happened to that? Today, if a fight breaks out, some idiot is going to yell "Worldstar!" and twenty phones will be trying to record it to get it on youtube or one of the many online websites. I was always for liberal values, if they wanna "burn their bras", cool, maybe we'll see some boobies flying around. I never liked the FCC controlling what we could and could not listen to. Growing up, nobody had a right to take my Ozzy or whatever heavy metal music I wanted to listen to.
Well, here we are, twenty years later. Adult supervision stopped being supervision and we all just became a world of gawkers and junkies of the absurd. The party is supposed to be stopped by the cops at 9:30-10:00pm. When it rages on all night, no good comes from that, you end up with the neighbor's dog in the Hibachi, at best fondling the big ass of your neighbor, at worst, her husband.
It became a pain in the ass for MTV to carry the burden for us teenagers in the 80's, but then the internet arrived. Suddenly, we didn't care what the FCC said, they had no control over this new media, I don't know why, but it was like the parents left for a really long weekend and I was allowed at myself with my dad's porn stash, only with the internet, it just keeps coming in fresh and full of 18 year olds constantly.
Although it seemed silly in the movie, shaming needs to make a comeback. Carolla always said in his podcasts, we should shame people. Whether on welfare, or running around half naked where it is not appropriate. Maybe it is too late, that is why I stopped fighting the Trump thing. Maybe we do need to get our asses kicked back a couple generations, get us back to when we were a great country. Currently, we are not. We stinky, we've been out partying with some bad hombres, impregnating bad women, creating a generation of stupids.
We need a hero right about now. Someone to call us on our shit.
I was chuckling with Wife in the scene where one of them is shopping in a supermarket and all the ladies slowly gather around one of them and they quietly, but effectively, call her a slut. Try that nowadays, and the girl is coming back with her boyfriend and "some bitches getting knocked out!" It used to be that in all the movies there was a backdrop of decency that people lived up to. What happened to that? Today, if a fight breaks out, some idiot is going to yell "Worldstar!" and twenty phones will be trying to record it to get it on youtube or one of the many online websites. I was always for liberal values, if they wanna "burn their bras", cool, maybe we'll see some boobies flying around. I never liked the FCC controlling what we could and could not listen to. Growing up, nobody had a right to take my Ozzy or whatever heavy metal music I wanted to listen to.
Well, here we are, twenty years later. Adult supervision stopped being supervision and we all just became a world of gawkers and junkies of the absurd. The party is supposed to be stopped by the cops at 9:30-10:00pm. When it rages on all night, no good comes from that, you end up with the neighbor's dog in the Hibachi, at best fondling the big ass of your neighbor, at worst, her husband.
It became a pain in the ass for MTV to carry the burden for us teenagers in the 80's, but then the internet arrived. Suddenly, we didn't care what the FCC said, they had no control over this new media, I don't know why, but it was like the parents left for a really long weekend and I was allowed at myself with my dad's porn stash, only with the internet, it just keeps coming in fresh and full of 18 year olds constantly.
Although it seemed silly in the movie, shaming needs to make a comeback. Carolla always said in his podcasts, we should shame people. Whether on welfare, or running around half naked where it is not appropriate. Maybe it is too late, that is why I stopped fighting the Trump thing. Maybe we do need to get our asses kicked back a couple generations, get us back to when we were a great country. Currently, we are not. We stinky, we've been out partying with some bad hombres, impregnating bad women, creating a generation of stupids.
We need a hero right about now. Someone to call us on our shit.
Tuesday, July 11, 2017
7/11/17 Leg Is Finally Free From Doctor Care?
Like I always say, no good deed goes unpunished. Back in September 9 of 2016, I decided to be a nice guy and cut the grass so Boy wouldn't have to worry about it. It was the first few weeks of Wife working away from home and I was trying to keep it all in line. Today, I went and saw the surgeon who moved about a square inch of skin from my thigh to close to my ankle and he finally said it looks to be about healed, there is no need to come and see me any more. Keep doing whatever you are doing, it is almost healed.
If anything, I have learned that it is terribly expensive to have a doctor caring for you. They play such bullshit games though. I started by going to Victory Medical. They wanted to do a physical since I was going to be a new patient. Fine. They find that I have a thyroid issue and low T so of course they want to re-do the tests before they give me any medications. I re-do the tests. First problem is the charge. The first blood tests were my copay of $25 and a second bill of like $30. Ok, then when I volunteer for the second set of blood tests, I get a bill for $1100. I did not pay this bill. Why should there be such a freaking disparity? Plus, I went in to heal a gash in my leg, me becoming a woman with no testosterone is neither here nor there in order of importance.
I am told to start going to a wound clinic, which I am not even sure how they are going to bill me and for them to not know either is ridiculous. It was a specialist and I was supposed to go twice a week in the beginning, I was thinking the $50 a visit would be maybe paid once a week, but I was wrong. The guy at the counter was real nice about letting me not pay and dealing with it later. A month goes by quickly and soon those copayments were over $350 for the first month, then when it was only once a week it was only $200 a month. I thought, Ok, they are expertly wrapping my leg. It might be worth the $50 a trip. Nope, at some point the hospital decided they wanted a cut, even though I wasn't going to a hospital. They charged me a more realistic bill in the hundreds of dollars per month. Suddenly, I had a bill for $450, $600, $1100, $320, it was a good thing the doctor there gave it about four months before he suggested the surgery.
The surgery was cheaper, there was no charge for the initial visit, the day of the surgery was like a week later, I was charged by everybody that day. The hospital wanted $366, the anesthesiologist wanted another $300, the doctor only charged me one or two copays of $50, but he got at least $14,000 from my insurance. Oh, and I had a little pump on the skin graft for five days which I still owe $411.
I am slowly paying most of the stuff down, thanks to my renters, all their money is currently taking care of that. I even went back to Victory Medical and I think I am now ready to see about this low T, I keep hearing commercials about it and some of the guys at my work are dealing with it. If it solves my tiredness/sleepiness issue, then cool, because that issue sucks. If I can follow it with results like those old men on youtube where they are cut like 20 year olds, but they are in their 60's, even better.
If anything, I have learned that it is terribly expensive to have a doctor caring for you. They play such bullshit games though. I started by going to Victory Medical. They wanted to do a physical since I was going to be a new patient. Fine. They find that I have a thyroid issue and low T so of course they want to re-do the tests before they give me any medications. I re-do the tests. First problem is the charge. The first blood tests were my copay of $25 and a second bill of like $30. Ok, then when I volunteer for the second set of blood tests, I get a bill for $1100. I did not pay this bill. Why should there be such a freaking disparity? Plus, I went in to heal a gash in my leg, me becoming a woman with no testosterone is neither here nor there in order of importance.
I am told to start going to a wound clinic, which I am not even sure how they are going to bill me and for them to not know either is ridiculous. It was a specialist and I was supposed to go twice a week in the beginning, I was thinking the $50 a visit would be maybe paid once a week, but I was wrong. The guy at the counter was real nice about letting me not pay and dealing with it later. A month goes by quickly and soon those copayments were over $350 for the first month, then when it was only once a week it was only $200 a month. I thought, Ok, they are expertly wrapping my leg. It might be worth the $50 a trip. Nope, at some point the hospital decided they wanted a cut, even though I wasn't going to a hospital. They charged me a more realistic bill in the hundreds of dollars per month. Suddenly, I had a bill for $450, $600, $1100, $320, it was a good thing the doctor there gave it about four months before he suggested the surgery.
The surgery was cheaper, there was no charge for the initial visit, the day of the surgery was like a week later, I was charged by everybody that day. The hospital wanted $366, the anesthesiologist wanted another $300, the doctor only charged me one or two copays of $50, but he got at least $14,000 from my insurance. Oh, and I had a little pump on the skin graft for five days which I still owe $411.
I am slowly paying most of the stuff down, thanks to my renters, all their money is currently taking care of that. I even went back to Victory Medical and I think I am now ready to see about this low T, I keep hearing commercials about it and some of the guys at my work are dealing with it. If it solves my tiredness/sleepiness issue, then cool, because that issue sucks. If I can follow it with results like those old men on youtube where they are cut like 20 year olds, but they are in their 60's, even better.
Sunday, July 9, 2017
7/10/17 Relaxing, If For A Little Bit?
We are still in Corpus Chisti right now, as of Sunday afternoon. I finally figured out how to relax. Wife talked to her family at the same time I was jumping in the shower Saturday afternoon. They asked if we wanted to join them for breakfast, then the part I love, "we already sat down to eat, never mind. That is how they roll. They invite but they are already doing whatever.
So I said too bad, and we went to eat. Because we are with my folks, they suggested Cracker Barrel and I went along with it. We were sat down within five minutes and lo and behold, their is Wife's whole family saying they had just sat down. Because it was like 14 of them, they waited 40 minutes or so. We caught up with them without even rushing. After we ate, and that took a good hour, Wife was ready to drive around with her parents, but I wanted nothing more than a nap. I made an executive decision and decided to stay home.
My mom then left with Wife and Chubs and apparently, they all headed out to Port Aransas. Wife kept texting me that there were dolphins, and that they were at a fish weigh-in thing from a fishing competition. I was enjoying the peace and quiet, and really I didn't need to hear from anyone as being alone worked pretty nice for me. mom said this is worrisome because I am not with Wife during the week and I should want to be. My point is I like being with her, but we are on vacation, she has been by my side all week, why can't we unwind for a while? If she wants to visit with her folks who also happen to be in the area, cool. Why am I suddenly Satan incarnate because I prefer to stay behind and lay down in the A/C, instead of running around in the middle of the day.
I totally enjoyed first, writing my blog for the day so I wouldn't be thinking about it at night, second, just laying there with my dad watching a couple episodes of Cops, not talking about anything in particular, it was nice. Wife complains she doesn't see her folks enough, what about me, I see my folks even less, as I am stuck in Austin, unless people come up. Third, with the shades open, it looked as though it might rain any minute, so laying on the sofa was extra relaxing. If my leg weren't hurt, I would have been swimming in the pool during this time, as I miss that activity the most.
It is now past midnight, my in-laws had trouble with the car they are driving, they had it towed back to San Antonio, my mother in law rode with us, and my father in law rode with my brother in law and all his kids to get back to SA. Before we left, I thanked my folks for a very nice time. We didn't do anything in a hurry, everything was relaxed, I had thought we would be leaving by Saturday afternoon, but instead since I was generally relaxed, I decided to stay an extra night. I don't know if we will be able to do it again this summer, but at least this weekend was good. I had thought we were done with RVs in general, but then we have a good time and I start thinking that a new unit might be a good idea. I should just be glad and use the one we already own, specially since I just paid it off, but that is the beauty of always wanting new stuff.
So I said too bad, and we went to eat. Because we are with my folks, they suggested Cracker Barrel and I went along with it. We were sat down within five minutes and lo and behold, their is Wife's whole family saying they had just sat down. Because it was like 14 of them, they waited 40 minutes or so. We caught up with them without even rushing. After we ate, and that took a good hour, Wife was ready to drive around with her parents, but I wanted nothing more than a nap. I made an executive decision and decided to stay home.
My mom then left with Wife and Chubs and apparently, they all headed out to Port Aransas. Wife kept texting me that there were dolphins, and that they were at a fish weigh-in thing from a fishing competition. I was enjoying the peace and quiet, and really I didn't need to hear from anyone as being alone worked pretty nice for me. mom said this is worrisome because I am not with Wife during the week and I should want to be. My point is I like being with her, but we are on vacation, she has been by my side all week, why can't we unwind for a while? If she wants to visit with her folks who also happen to be in the area, cool. Why am I suddenly Satan incarnate because I prefer to stay behind and lay down in the A/C, instead of running around in the middle of the day.
I totally enjoyed first, writing my blog for the day so I wouldn't be thinking about it at night, second, just laying there with my dad watching a couple episodes of Cops, not talking about anything in particular, it was nice. Wife complains she doesn't see her folks enough, what about me, I see my folks even less, as I am stuck in Austin, unless people come up. Third, with the shades open, it looked as though it might rain any minute, so laying on the sofa was extra relaxing. If my leg weren't hurt, I would have been swimming in the pool during this time, as I miss that activity the most.
It is now past midnight, my in-laws had trouble with the car they are driving, they had it towed back to San Antonio, my mother in law rode with us, and my father in law rode with my brother in law and all his kids to get back to SA. Before we left, I thanked my folks for a very nice time. We didn't do anything in a hurry, everything was relaxed, I had thought we would be leaving by Saturday afternoon, but instead since I was generally relaxed, I decided to stay an extra night. I don't know if we will be able to do it again this summer, but at least this weekend was good. I had thought we were done with RVs in general, but then we have a good time and I start thinking that a new unit might be a good idea. I should just be glad and use the one we already own, specially since I just paid it off, but that is the beauty of always wanting new stuff.
Saturday, July 8, 2017
7/9/17 Transformers Forced On Me?
I did not plan on seeing Transformers 4 or 5 or whatever version the 2017 is. First of all, the commercials were very light, and I think the series is rather weak, when the characters don't really die. They "jumped the shark when Optimus Prime died in the second movie but was brought back to life. Megatron the big bad Decepticon keeps getting killed only to find him alive in the next movie, and that just screams a lot of meh.
This one started in the King Arthur era and apparently the Transformers showed up on the planet around that time instead of when we were taught in the first movie, so they are attempting to make this an origin story. According to this movie, the Transformers have been around and hidden and even fighting with the side of right all along. There was a story about Bumblebee helping to fight in World War II, and then Sir Anthony Hopkins gave them a history lesson and showing how the Witwicky line goes back centuries in dealing with Transformers.
I could get behind this line of thought, but then we have to accept another premise, Optimus Prime has left the planet, went back to Cybertron, his home planet looking for answers or something that did not make sense. Some flying angel Transformer acting like a god saying I created you is introduced. She puts Optimus in a trance, and suddenly he is a bad guy. He heads back to Earth and somehow the planet Cybertron is coming and then we have to believe that Cybertron and Earth have some connection. Earth growing claws to connect to Cybertron and at some point Earth's molten lava energy is going to be taken by the other planet.
There is also a staff of highly trained human killers who constantly are taking new Transformers and attacking them. And for some reason Earth is receiving more Transformers than it can handle. The whole movie was just too much. Mark Wahlburg is still the human of interest. He is about the only one fighting for the robots until he runs into a young girl who turns out to be 14 years old. Again, what was the point of introducing this character, she's cute, but at 14, who cares? Mark Wahlburg just has to worry about her and a black kid who is trying to be his assistant, but these characters are just distractions from the story.
Wife got pissy at me because I kept getting drowsy and according to her, falling asleep. The story was rather long and all over the place. The theater in Corpus is not Alamo Drafhouse. They apparently went to reserved seating without explaining it very good. We bought tickets and the idiot in the window said all that is available is front row. We said OK, he didn't say you are seat so and so, we walk into the theater room with 5 minutes left and most of the room is empty. Wife went up and sat in the middle of the room, since the chairs were fat loungers, I figured I wouldn't mind if someone sat next to me. Eventually, a lady and her kid came in and made us move, showing us where the seat location was at, on the tickets. The front seat was way too close to the theater, it made it hard to enjoy the movie.
This one started in the King Arthur era and apparently the Transformers showed up on the planet around that time instead of when we were taught in the first movie, so they are attempting to make this an origin story. According to this movie, the Transformers have been around and hidden and even fighting with the side of right all along. There was a story about Bumblebee helping to fight in World War II, and then Sir Anthony Hopkins gave them a history lesson and showing how the Witwicky line goes back centuries in dealing with Transformers.
I could get behind this line of thought, but then we have to accept another premise, Optimus Prime has left the planet, went back to Cybertron, his home planet looking for answers or something that did not make sense. Some flying angel Transformer acting like a god saying I created you is introduced. She puts Optimus in a trance, and suddenly he is a bad guy. He heads back to Earth and somehow the planet Cybertron is coming and then we have to believe that Cybertron and Earth have some connection. Earth growing claws to connect to Cybertron and at some point Earth's molten lava energy is going to be taken by the other planet.
There is also a staff of highly trained human killers who constantly are taking new Transformers and attacking them. And for some reason Earth is receiving more Transformers than it can handle. The whole movie was just too much. Mark Wahlburg is still the human of interest. He is about the only one fighting for the robots until he runs into a young girl who turns out to be 14 years old. Again, what was the point of introducing this character, she's cute, but at 14, who cares? Mark Wahlburg just has to worry about her and a black kid who is trying to be his assistant, but these characters are just distractions from the story.
Wife got pissy at me because I kept getting drowsy and according to her, falling asleep. The story was rather long and all over the place. The theater in Corpus is not Alamo Drafhouse. They apparently went to reserved seating without explaining it very good. We bought tickets and the idiot in the window said all that is available is front row. We said OK, he didn't say you are seat so and so, we walk into the theater room with 5 minutes left and most of the room is empty. Wife went up and sat in the middle of the room, since the chairs were fat loungers, I figured I wouldn't mind if someone sat next to me. Eventually, a lady and her kid came in and made us move, showing us where the seat location was at, on the tickets. The front seat was way too close to the theater, it made it hard to enjoy the movie.
Friday, July 7, 2017
7/8/17 I Have Seen The Future And It Could Be Mine for $49,500?
We spent the day cruising around Corpus Christi with my folks in their truck. I had seen some lots on Zillow that seemed way to cheap for what they were, and I figured they were some sort of scam. Since we didn't have anything better to do, I headed over there before my dad complained too much. My parents were both sure it would be cheap because it would be full of drunks and vacationers. I was still intent on seeing the lots, hoping it wouldn't be a gated type of community. The area was actually cool and in a rare instance my folks and I agreed that the lots seemed nice for the price. They are not big lots, but they are waterfront and already bulk-headed with cement to protect from erosion. Those that know the area, it is within viewing distance of Indian Point.
We managed to find a lot that had a box with information and in that, we got the pricing on about ten lots, as well as other general information. All the lots are on city water, sewage, utilities, and are for sale between $39,500, and $149, 500. There are about five or six streets, and the priciest lot is almost 2.5 lots, and located at the end where the street turns into a T-head. The cheapest ones were the first lot in and closest to the busy highway. We ended up calling the guy on the paper ad, and he said these were the last lots of their kind in Corpus Christi. you might get waterfront in Rockport, but not as nice as these, and there might be some waterfront approaching Port Aransas but those are going to be a lot more in cost.
Now I am stuck with the notion that I really want one, Wife says no way, not with the fact that we don't know what is happening with the future of my job. I say that we are not going to find waterfront property at such low prices. I also asked the guy on the phone about how soon we had to build and he said there was no rush, the only rules were the house had to have a Mediterranean flavor and the roof had to be red clay tiles, which makes sense to give the houses a sense of unity. I like the look of the roughly 30 houses already built. I also like there is no septic to worry about installing, everything is already there, build whenever it is convenient for us.
I was hoping my folks would be interested enough to either think about buying a lot next to the one I want or going in half and half with us. My mom says they are too old to think about anything like this. Wife agrees with me that she would like to retire to the coast whenever we get old enough. I don't really like the idea of retirement, I want to work until I am buried, but I do want a vacation home with some waterfront with a boat sitting ready and waiting for me. I think I will just have to purchase the lot and force it down Wife's throat. I don't think she will ever say "Ok, let's do it, we have enough cushion in life." If I just buy it, and she sees we can afford it, she will roll her eyes at me, but we will then have the foundation and start to one of our goals for later in life. Or maybe I am an idiot that wants too much.
We managed to find a lot that had a box with information and in that, we got the pricing on about ten lots, as well as other general information. All the lots are on city water, sewage, utilities, and are for sale between $39,500, and $149, 500. There are about five or six streets, and the priciest lot is almost 2.5 lots, and located at the end where the street turns into a T-head. The cheapest ones were the first lot in and closest to the busy highway. We ended up calling the guy on the paper ad, and he said these were the last lots of their kind in Corpus Christi. you might get waterfront in Rockport, but not as nice as these, and there might be some waterfront approaching Port Aransas but those are going to be a lot more in cost.
Now I am stuck with the notion that I really want one, Wife says no way, not with the fact that we don't know what is happening with the future of my job. I say that we are not going to find waterfront property at such low prices. I also asked the guy on the phone about how soon we had to build and he said there was no rush, the only rules were the house had to have a Mediterranean flavor and the roof had to be red clay tiles, which makes sense to give the houses a sense of unity. I like the look of the roughly 30 houses already built. I also like there is no septic to worry about installing, everything is already there, build whenever it is convenient for us.
I was hoping my folks would be interested enough to either think about buying a lot next to the one I want or going in half and half with us. My mom says they are too old to think about anything like this. Wife agrees with me that she would like to retire to the coast whenever we get old enough. I don't really like the idea of retirement, I want to work until I am buried, but I do want a vacation home with some waterfront with a boat sitting ready and waiting for me. I think I will just have to purchase the lot and force it down Wife's throat. I don't think she will ever say "Ok, let's do it, we have enough cushion in life." If I just buy it, and she sees we can afford it, she will roll her eyes at me, but we will then have the foundation and start to one of our goals for later in life. Or maybe I am an idiot that wants too much.
Thursday, July 6, 2017
7/7/17 Not The Man At The Moment?
How the mighty have fallen, seems like just a year ago I was holding court encouraging one and all to buy RVs and join us on the coast. A couple of bad plays in life and I find myself tucked in the kids cubby of my mom's RV, feeling like a child even as my own child lies five feet away in the sofa converted to a bed. This is either the sad reality of the rest of our lives where I get to ride "bitch" to family functions or it is a necessary step to improving ourselves financially and doing it right in a couple of years.
It is kind of funny, in a way, staying with my mom, feeling like a kid. When we arrived in Corpus, my folks had already been here and we told them we could meet them at the big HEB by the RV park. That was fine, we both got there about the same time, walked in with Mom and she lost us about two minutes into the store. I don't know what turn she took, but we got eggs, and then I turned because Wife was being Wife about getting something or other. I like trying new things, she prefers the mantra "I don't eat it at home, why would I eat it here." I was thinking bagels would be yummy with those philly cream cheese flavored thingies in pineapple or strawberry, but I was quickly reminded that I don't normally eat that. My mom disappeared while that played out and then we couldn't figure which direction to go and I didn't want to start putting things in the basket without comparing what she was getting. Wife was pushing me to decide between this and that, meanwhile I am not wanting to decide without knowing if my mom had already gotten some of whatever, so I am all GRrrrrr!!! walking around looking for her, then one of the older HEB ladies asked if I was looking for something, and I said thanks, but not really, I heard Wife tell her "He lost his Mommy, he can't think without her." I gave her a half-ass Heh heh. Mom popped out a couple seconds later that she went to get Styrofoam plates, I forget she is magically slow, we walked half the aisles in the time it took her to go get the plates, she hadn't gone anywhere far, just one row over from where we lost her.
I have no intention of being lame for life, and I do own my own RV, it just hasn't been moved and I am not sure how it would do on the highway, and I would have to ask my father in law for my old truck, but I could have brought my RV up to the coast too. I am thinking for next year, we might do that, although I am also certain we are going to Disney, so I don't want to squawk about the RV too. I had always thought it feels good to be the power person, the alpha, with the toys at my command, but I do like this showing up and everything is already set up, we just got our clothes and pillows off, bought some food, and laid down where they told us to. I guess this is how our friends felt when we would invite them, just throw down anywhere, as long as there is air conditioning, it is all good.
I don't think you can keep a good man down permanently, just give me a credit score of 750 or so and watch me rally. I fully see myself in one of those class A motorhomes, using it to go to Florida, campout on the coast, follow Chubs on football games, anything that requires that larger than life attitude. For this year though, we be mooching!
It is kind of funny, in a way, staying with my mom, feeling like a kid. When we arrived in Corpus, my folks had already been here and we told them we could meet them at the big HEB by the RV park. That was fine, we both got there about the same time, walked in with Mom and she lost us about two minutes into the store. I don't know what turn she took, but we got eggs, and then I turned because Wife was being Wife about getting something or other. I like trying new things, she prefers the mantra "I don't eat it at home, why would I eat it here." I was thinking bagels would be yummy with those philly cream cheese flavored thingies in pineapple or strawberry, but I was quickly reminded that I don't normally eat that. My mom disappeared while that played out and then we couldn't figure which direction to go and I didn't want to start putting things in the basket without comparing what she was getting. Wife was pushing me to decide between this and that, meanwhile I am not wanting to decide without knowing if my mom had already gotten some of whatever, so I am all GRrrrrr!!! walking around looking for her, then one of the older HEB ladies asked if I was looking for something, and I said thanks, but not really, I heard Wife tell her "He lost his Mommy, he can't think without her." I gave her a half-ass Heh heh. Mom popped out a couple seconds later that she went to get Styrofoam plates, I forget she is magically slow, we walked half the aisles in the time it took her to go get the plates, she hadn't gone anywhere far, just one row over from where we lost her.
I have no intention of being lame for life, and I do own my own RV, it just hasn't been moved and I am not sure how it would do on the highway, and I would have to ask my father in law for my old truck, but I could have brought my RV up to the coast too. I am thinking for next year, we might do that, although I am also certain we are going to Disney, so I don't want to squawk about the RV too. I had always thought it feels good to be the power person, the alpha, with the toys at my command, but I do like this showing up and everything is already set up, we just got our clothes and pillows off, bought some food, and laid down where they told us to. I guess this is how our friends felt when we would invite them, just throw down anywhere, as long as there is air conditioning, it is all good.
I don't think you can keep a good man down permanently, just give me a credit score of 750 or so and watch me rally. I fully see myself in one of those class A motorhomes, using it to go to Florida, campout on the coast, follow Chubs on football games, anything that requires that larger than life attitude. For this year though, we be mooching!
Wednesday, July 5, 2017
7/6/17 Interview For A Job Tainted By Reality?
Wife was called for an interview to a position she applied for a couple months ago with TEA. The job is located here in Austin, so it seems like a slam dunk to apply and take the job, except for the changes they made to it. Initially, there were going to be five new positions, and the pay was going to be $85k-$115k. The position also called for traveling 10% of the time. What is not to like, Wife is scared of flying, but with 10% travel, flying seems highly unlikely?
On to the reality of the job. They made changes to it, first, there would only be three people hired for these positions, travel time was changed from 10% to 70%, and the worst part of it, the pay was reduced to mid $50k-$72k. Wife is already making more than the maximum, so the job then must have other interesting tidbits to it. It turns out that there isn't, and in recent years there has been a lot of turnover, so it's not like working there would protect her from layoffs.
If all this wasn't shitty enough, there would also be a loss of the two weeks off in Christmas, Summer, one week in Spring Break, one week in Thanksgiving, couple days for Easter, Memorial, Labor, MLK, and the ten personal days. She has already been told that because she is the newest one, she would be on call Christmas Eve, or New Year's Day. That is some hokey shit. I remember her dealing with some homeless kids when she was in Bastrop. They always seemed to have issues on the holidays, and this job would call her to work with this population.
I told her it was easy enough, start with asking yourself "do you want to come home desperately right now?" If you feel a yearning to be home, then this job could get you here, but there will be consequences, such as all the traveling, and a slight pay cut. Another angle is to let your superintendent know that you are being interviewed, if he really needs you, come up with more money. My opinion is to interview and if offered the job to ask what you feel is a fair salary. They can say no, but they cannot expect to get people with experience and Master's degrees, and knowledge of specific grants and things to show up and work for a pittance.
This is the second time she interviews for a job which had a much higher starting pay, only to be reduced for whatever reason, and here we are, having to decide if we as a family want to sacrifice for the good of a job that ultimately may not be appreciated.
We have sacrificed quite a lot for her chance to work as a Director, I don't think in the small town where she is and where rewards are more based on the good ole boy system that Wife has been appreciated for what she has done. Meanwhile, we get to have a relationship only by phone during the week, and with these job opportunities being as scarce as they are, maybe a small pay cut and huge travel itineraries are the best way to get Wife back home the quickest way possible.
On to the reality of the job. They made changes to it, first, there would only be three people hired for these positions, travel time was changed from 10% to 70%, and the worst part of it, the pay was reduced to mid $50k-$72k. Wife is already making more than the maximum, so the job then must have other interesting tidbits to it. It turns out that there isn't, and in recent years there has been a lot of turnover, so it's not like working there would protect her from layoffs.
If all this wasn't shitty enough, there would also be a loss of the two weeks off in Christmas, Summer, one week in Spring Break, one week in Thanksgiving, couple days for Easter, Memorial, Labor, MLK, and the ten personal days. She has already been told that because she is the newest one, she would be on call Christmas Eve, or New Year's Day. That is some hokey shit. I remember her dealing with some homeless kids when she was in Bastrop. They always seemed to have issues on the holidays, and this job would call her to work with this population.
I told her it was easy enough, start with asking yourself "do you want to come home desperately right now?" If you feel a yearning to be home, then this job could get you here, but there will be consequences, such as all the traveling, and a slight pay cut. Another angle is to let your superintendent know that you are being interviewed, if he really needs you, come up with more money. My opinion is to interview and if offered the job to ask what you feel is a fair salary. They can say no, but they cannot expect to get people with experience and Master's degrees, and knowledge of specific grants and things to show up and work for a pittance.
This is the second time she interviews for a job which had a much higher starting pay, only to be reduced for whatever reason, and here we are, having to decide if we as a family want to sacrifice for the good of a job that ultimately may not be appreciated.
We have sacrificed quite a lot for her chance to work as a Director, I don't think in the small town where she is and where rewards are more based on the good ole boy system that Wife has been appreciated for what she has done. Meanwhile, we get to have a relationship only by phone during the week, and with these job opportunities being as scarce as they are, maybe a small pay cut and huge travel itineraries are the best way to get Wife back home the quickest way possible.
7/5/17 4th Of July On The Cheap?
It has been awhile since we celebrated 4th of July at home. Usually, we have been in Florida this week, but because of funds we decided not to do it this year. It is one of my little regrets and I told Wife I didn't care how, we are going back next year. I love the whole loading up the Excursion, and traveling together, even if we get there stinky and stiff. The trip to Houston on Monday was an approximation and nice, but I want to be gone for the whole week. The parks may be cheesy and overpriced, but I enjoy them too, because we are there as a family, and Boy may not like everything, but I can buy a smile out of him, if anything.
This year, we did not even think about inviting our old friends or even family. We just decided that whoever wanted to show up, could. All I cared about was us four being together. Boy has had a couple days off, not sure why, but with Wife gone most weeks, I like that we have had most meals together this week. Boy had plans to grill with his friends here at the house, he was unsure what we were going to do. When we told him we were staying, he said they were going to grill, I am not going to fight him, I said sure, you can be outside in the heat.
They went and bought some funky red meat from a Mexican place, I've seen and dealt with it before, but it is not my favorite. Because I knew they were going to do this, we went to the store too and bought some chicken breasts, ribs, corn, and sausages. The ribs took too long and we ended up putting them in the stove as they just did not fit in the grill. This made the kitchen warm, even now at 2:00am, it still feels warmer downstairs than up in the bedrooms.
We bought a round coconut cake, and Wife got the stuff to make angel food cake with strawberries, whipped cream, and red filling, and then Boy's bestie made a homemade german chocolate cake, which was delicious, one of the best cakes I have ever eaten, yum.
It was weird, after all the eating, we didn't buy fireworks, so we kind of fizzled. Boy wanted to be in his room to show off the new redo with the new paint job and the new TV. Chubs has been in his room most every minute since getting back from Crystal last week. I talked with my mom briefly, and discussed the possibility of meeting them in Corpus Christi on Friday, then got off the phone.
I was feeling full, and sticky and humid, so to the bathroom, did my business, showered, and came back downstairs. It was still warmer in the living room than upstairs. I ate a huge piece of cake, and fell asleep. Wife woke me at 12:30am, I went upstairs, tried writing, fell asleep, got up, peed, then finally got revved up by something. Now it is 3:05 am and am no longer sleepy, so this has been a lot easier to write. I kind of miss the fireworks, but I don't miss that I would buy most of them when we have popped any in the past. It was nice not to have that extra $300 bill.
This year, we did not even think about inviting our old friends or even family. We just decided that whoever wanted to show up, could. All I cared about was us four being together. Boy has had a couple days off, not sure why, but with Wife gone most weeks, I like that we have had most meals together this week. Boy had plans to grill with his friends here at the house, he was unsure what we were going to do. When we told him we were staying, he said they were going to grill, I am not going to fight him, I said sure, you can be outside in the heat.
They went and bought some funky red meat from a Mexican place, I've seen and dealt with it before, but it is not my favorite. Because I knew they were going to do this, we went to the store too and bought some chicken breasts, ribs, corn, and sausages. The ribs took too long and we ended up putting them in the stove as they just did not fit in the grill. This made the kitchen warm, even now at 2:00am, it still feels warmer downstairs than up in the bedrooms.
We bought a round coconut cake, and Wife got the stuff to make angel food cake with strawberries, whipped cream, and red filling, and then Boy's bestie made a homemade german chocolate cake, which was delicious, one of the best cakes I have ever eaten, yum.
It was weird, after all the eating, we didn't buy fireworks, so we kind of fizzled. Boy wanted to be in his room to show off the new redo with the new paint job and the new TV. Chubs has been in his room most every minute since getting back from Crystal last week. I talked with my mom briefly, and discussed the possibility of meeting them in Corpus Christi on Friday, then got off the phone.
I was feeling full, and sticky and humid, so to the bathroom, did my business, showered, and came back downstairs. It was still warmer in the living room than upstairs. I ate a huge piece of cake, and fell asleep. Wife woke me at 12:30am, I went upstairs, tried writing, fell asleep, got up, peed, then finally got revved up by something. Now it is 3:05 am and am no longer sleepy, so this has been a lot easier to write. I kind of miss the fireworks, but I don't miss that I would buy most of them when we have popped any in the past. It was nice not to have that extra $300 bill.
Tuesday, July 4, 2017
7/4/17 Casual Trip To Katy Mall
We haven't had much of an escape from Austin this year. I wasn't really planning on going anywhere other than Wife suggested going to Houston last night. I wasn't really wanting to go, not because I didn't want to go, but because the idea of getting up early just pisses me off. I sort of ignored Wife when she asked, stayed up until 5:30am and finally told both boys to go to bed sometime before 6:00am. I figured if we still went, Wife could drive and I would catch up with my sleep on the road. We have been kind of distracted with painting and redoing the boy's rooms.
The main reason I like going to that mall is that it has the Bass Pro Shops and I love looking at boats. Their boats ranged from $590 skiffs that you can paddle or run on a trolling motor in a pond to a large offshore 38foot fishing type boat for $155,000. The terms are then 10% down for 240 months and one pays about $989. The price seems high but each of the two 300HP engines cost upwards of $30,000. So we walked around the boats, both boys bored, Wife insisting if I were to buy one it would be a pontoon, so even in my fantasies, I can't have the sexy bass boat that barely seats three and will go over 70mph over the water. Nope, I have to think like a family man even when I am years away from possibly buying a new vessel.
We then start walking outside and it takes Boy this long to figure out this is not the Galleria Mal in downtown Houston. I told him no shit, that would have taken over three hours to get there and less enjoyable, not like we were going to ice skate. The next store we walked into was one of those where you can buy incense and I wanted to because sometimes it's nice to burn something that smells nice. I didn't because I didn't want to carry them the rest of the day. Coach was next and Wife found some cute Mickey Mouse themed purses. They looked very nice but were also $440. They had a sale price of 50% and when we walked in we were given another 50% coupon. I asked a random sales guy walking around if we could double up on the coupons, expecting him to say no, but instead he reassured us that yes, we could. The purse was about $119 and I was thinking it was good at $220, so cool beans for us.
The rest of the time we walked, it is designed in a circle, eventually, it took us all the way around back to Bass Pro Shops. I was hoping to find a magazine store to get Boating, a magazine to order a subscription. I did not find it at the bookstore even though the magazine selection is huge. I did find it at the Bass Pro Shops. I got a couple other magazines and got ready to get back on the road. We discussed dinner and although I was open to eating there or back in Austin, Wife thought it better to eat here. I assumed my normal position which is attempt to stay awake and fall asleep within the first few minutes of being on the road. I awoke in Austin, we ate a good meal in at a so-so Applebee's and called it a night.
The main reason I like going to that mall is that it has the Bass Pro Shops and I love looking at boats. Their boats ranged from $590 skiffs that you can paddle or run on a trolling motor in a pond to a large offshore 38foot fishing type boat for $155,000. The terms are then 10% down for 240 months and one pays about $989. The price seems high but each of the two 300HP engines cost upwards of $30,000. So we walked around the boats, both boys bored, Wife insisting if I were to buy one it would be a pontoon, so even in my fantasies, I can't have the sexy bass boat that barely seats three and will go over 70mph over the water. Nope, I have to think like a family man even when I am years away from possibly buying a new vessel.
We then start walking outside and it takes Boy this long to figure out this is not the Galleria Mal in downtown Houston. I told him no shit, that would have taken over three hours to get there and less enjoyable, not like we were going to ice skate. The next store we walked into was one of those where you can buy incense and I wanted to because sometimes it's nice to burn something that smells nice. I didn't because I didn't want to carry them the rest of the day. Coach was next and Wife found some cute Mickey Mouse themed purses. They looked very nice but were also $440. They had a sale price of 50% and when we walked in we were given another 50% coupon. I asked a random sales guy walking around if we could double up on the coupons, expecting him to say no, but instead he reassured us that yes, we could. The purse was about $119 and I was thinking it was good at $220, so cool beans for us.
The rest of the time we walked, it is designed in a circle, eventually, it took us all the way around back to Bass Pro Shops. I was hoping to find a magazine store to get Boating, a magazine to order a subscription. I did not find it at the bookstore even though the magazine selection is huge. I did find it at the Bass Pro Shops. I got a couple other magazines and got ready to get back on the road. We discussed dinner and although I was open to eating there or back in Austin, Wife thought it better to eat here. I assumed my normal position which is attempt to stay awake and fall asleep within the first few minutes of being on the road. I awoke in Austin, we ate a good meal in at a so-so Applebee's and called it a night.
Sunday, July 2, 2017
7/3/17 Rough Night? (Movie)
We cannot be on a staycation without going to the movies once or twice, specially since it is free to us. We ended up going to the movies Saturday night, amongst the painting of Boy's room, we stopped long enough to enjoy a chick flick trying to be a dude comedy. Rough Night, starring Scarlett Johansson, Jillian Bell, Kate Mckinnon, Ilana Glazer, and Zoe Kravitz has that feel of a bunch of smaller gag scenes put together to create a night or a weekend of crazy fun, like The Hangover.
Scarlett is the straight laced girl of the group in the middle of running an election trying to become a state senator while being engaged and attempting to plan her life around all that activity, including her bachelorette party. Jill is her BFF who is very intense and loyal. She will do anything for her friend and the proof of having done it with pictures. Kate Mckinnon is a lunatic on SNL playing many roles week in and week out, she is faking the Australian accent, but not so much the injuries she gets while being a good sport.
The other two girls are friends of the core group but not besties, they are very close to each other though as we see in flashbacks, they were a couple and because Zoe is going through a divorce, Illana sees a chance to get in there.
The movie is mostly hit and miss in the beginning, until they all end up together in the airport. The shenanigans are going according to plan until they hire a stripper and he arrives all hot and in a hurry. He comes on strongly to the Scarlett character who puts a quick stop to it, but Jill, who is the chubby one in the bunch aggressively attacks him and accidentally kills him. The rest of the movie is based on hiding the evidence.
There is a weird couple next door and their main purpose of showing up in the movie is to give a light "raping" to the Zoe Kravitz character, who is pretty hot and the scene plays out pretty good in the sand, other than no nudity.
The fiancé to Scarlett (Paul W. Downs), I have only seen him in the show with Ilana Glazer, in Broad City, plays it pretty off the wall. He calls to check on the fiancée, he can't get a hold of her and his friend suggests he gets there as quickly as possible, like the engineer woman a couple years ago who put on some diapers and drove across the US in record time. This leads to some of the funnier scenes, such as when he has to round up money for gas after his card is locked up from weird transactions. He has another pretty funny scene when a cop pulls him over for speeding and he has to prove he is not drunk.
The girls admit that they have been floating apart over the years, there is nothing like a murder to bring them back closer than ever before. It was not the best movie, and probably would be best suited as a DVD rental, it certainly was not the worst movie I have seen this year.
Scarlett is the straight laced girl of the group in the middle of running an election trying to become a state senator while being engaged and attempting to plan her life around all that activity, including her bachelorette party. Jill is her BFF who is very intense and loyal. She will do anything for her friend and the proof of having done it with pictures. Kate Mckinnon is a lunatic on SNL playing many roles week in and week out, she is faking the Australian accent, but not so much the injuries she gets while being a good sport.
The other two girls are friends of the core group but not besties, they are very close to each other though as we see in flashbacks, they were a couple and because Zoe is going through a divorce, Illana sees a chance to get in there.
The movie is mostly hit and miss in the beginning, until they all end up together in the airport. The shenanigans are going according to plan until they hire a stripper and he arrives all hot and in a hurry. He comes on strongly to the Scarlett character who puts a quick stop to it, but Jill, who is the chubby one in the bunch aggressively attacks him and accidentally kills him. The rest of the movie is based on hiding the evidence.
There is a weird couple next door and their main purpose of showing up in the movie is to give a light "raping" to the Zoe Kravitz character, who is pretty hot and the scene plays out pretty good in the sand, other than no nudity.
The fiancé to Scarlett (Paul W. Downs), I have only seen him in the show with Ilana Glazer, in Broad City, plays it pretty off the wall. He calls to check on the fiancée, he can't get a hold of her and his friend suggests he gets there as quickly as possible, like the engineer woman a couple years ago who put on some diapers and drove across the US in record time. This leads to some of the funnier scenes, such as when he has to round up money for gas after his card is locked up from weird transactions. He has another pretty funny scene when a cop pulls him over for speeding and he has to prove he is not drunk.
The girls admit that they have been floating apart over the years, there is nothing like a murder to bring them back closer than ever before. It was not the best movie, and probably would be best suited as a DVD rental, it certainly was not the worst movie I have seen this year.
7/2/17 "I Didn't Even Want To Paint My Room, But If He Gets New Paint, So DO I?
We managed to paint Boy's room last night, all in one glorious six hour period. It was quite hard and a major pain in the ass. He must have had 80% of his wall covered in posters and framed art, the boy has a thing for cartoon boobs. As we were painting, I said something like "well, the room really did need a new paint job, your walls look horrible", even soda and food stains here and there. He says "ehh, I wasn't even thinking of painting my room, it looks fine, but if you're going to paint Chub's room, I want new free paint too." Spoken like a boy after my own heart.
His room has looked more and more like the equivalent of a hamster cage. He has his sleeping corner, his side where he exercises (his brain), a mound of unused clothes, which is where we think he poops when he doesn't leave his room for long periods of time. All joking aside, he also has tons of video games, board games, and electronic doodads where he says this is the controller for a flight simulator, this is the controls for a two player game, if I build a box and make it look like an arcade. Everything in his room is a unique piece of this or that, which means we couldn't just start throwing stuff away.
Originally, his room was painted cream and red. The smaller walls were red and the longer ones were cream. This looked fine for awhile, but eventually, all the poking on the walls hanging artwork made holes and then he attempted to fix them with plaster which made things worse. The new color was his choice, but again, he just tells me the color, but doesn't want to go to the Home Depot. He chose like a gun metal grey, which I don't know if it exists by the exact name, but we will find out. Between Wife and I, we chose a color called "calligraphy", seemed perfect and not too dark.
I told Boy with all the clutter in his room, maybe we would do a wall tonight, and then decide on what direction to go. He then decided he wanted a full makeover and the wall where he has his TV is now where he put his bookshelves. His TV is now where the bookshelves were. His desk is to be replaced by a sofa. His dresser was swapped by the bed and the overall effect is less room to call his bedroom a sleeping room and more space to call it an entertainment center.
The other major reason he wanted change is because we got him a new 60" TV. He was a little pissed when we got Chubs the new Nintendo Switch, and quickly said we needed to make things fair and right by buying him a 4K television and the clarity is amazing. I was up with him until 6:00am. I did most of the painting and then bolted the base of the TV holder to the wall. He said he would handle the rest, so he could take his time. He continued until 9:00am, but it is still a mess in his room and the hallway coming out to the steps. But when he does finish, that room will look pretty great.
His room has looked more and more like the equivalent of a hamster cage. He has his sleeping corner, his side where he exercises (his brain), a mound of unused clothes, which is where we think he poops when he doesn't leave his room for long periods of time. All joking aside, he also has tons of video games, board games, and electronic doodads where he says this is the controller for a flight simulator, this is the controls for a two player game, if I build a box and make it look like an arcade. Everything in his room is a unique piece of this or that, which means we couldn't just start throwing stuff away.
Originally, his room was painted cream and red. The smaller walls were red and the longer ones were cream. This looked fine for awhile, but eventually, all the poking on the walls hanging artwork made holes and then he attempted to fix them with plaster which made things worse. The new color was his choice, but again, he just tells me the color, but doesn't want to go to the Home Depot. He chose like a gun metal grey, which I don't know if it exists by the exact name, but we will find out. Between Wife and I, we chose a color called "calligraphy", seemed perfect and not too dark.
I told Boy with all the clutter in his room, maybe we would do a wall tonight, and then decide on what direction to go. He then decided he wanted a full makeover and the wall where he has his TV is now where he put his bookshelves. His TV is now where the bookshelves were. His desk is to be replaced by a sofa. His dresser was swapped by the bed and the overall effect is less room to call his bedroom a sleeping room and more space to call it an entertainment center.
The other major reason he wanted change is because we got him a new 60" TV. He was a little pissed when we got Chubs the new Nintendo Switch, and quickly said we needed to make things fair and right by buying him a 4K television and the clarity is amazing. I was up with him until 6:00am. I did most of the painting and then bolted the base of the TV holder to the wall. He said he would handle the rest, so he could take his time. He continued until 9:00am, but it is still a mess in his room and the hallway coming out to the steps. But when he does finish, that room will look pretty great.
Saturday, July 1, 2017
7/1/17 Two Weeks Of Normalcy?
We are finally in the 4th of July holiday we have been looking forward to since the end of Spring Break. As things go, I kind of expected Wife to show up late and she did not disappoint. She had told me she would be out by 6:00pm and home by around 9:00pm. I only cared because I was grilling some fajitas and wanted to have them done as they got here. At a certain point, I call Chubs since Wife is driving and they are supposed to be here, but Wife has taken a short cut through 1604 to stop at her mom's house for a pee break. This adds about 45 minutes to the trip, plus the time spent actually talking to her folks.
This gave me time to finish painting Chub's room which I started doing Sunday night. Sunday, I was up until 6:00am painting two of the walls. Before I could paint, I needed to move all his furniture and he has furniture all around his room. King size bed, two futons, another small sofa, dresser, night stand, TV console, and big sturdy desk plus all the posters and pictures. The walls had been burned orange and I did not think one coat of paint would be enough to cover the beauty of the Longhorn color, but I used the pricier paint and it got it done, but I needed two cans as it goes on pretty thick. Now his room is the color of the green light at any intersection, so I expect him to open his eyes and GO!
Today is Friday afternoon, we just had a great family breakfast with egg and mini sausage tacos, I am in the midst of writing my blog and we are fixing to run some errands today, fun. Wife has some checks to cash. She will be at some conferences in the next weeks and this will keep her up in Austin for almost three weeks, and the checks are supposed to feed her, but she can starve during the day and give me that money. Chubs came back from Crystal City intent on needing something from Best Buy which he said he would buy with his own cash, who am I to say no to that?
Wife needs to get some books at Barnes And Noble so that is another pit stop. I need a new book to read. Honestly, I have too many heavy thinking books and I just don't feel like breaking into them, but I am trying to read at least one book a month, and I have fallen behind big time.
At least we are no longer in a money crunch, with the selling of my truck, we are breathing fine. We can afford to go out to eat a couple times, if we choose. Speaking of money, I still need to do our bills for this week, Wife just got paid today.
Wife is in a cleaning frenzy. Since I was consumed with Chub's room, I didn't really do much of anything else, but really, I also didn't make much of a mess. I dirtied three underwear and three pair of socks, and three T-shirts. I wear the same pants all week now, since I have been wearing the goofy compression socks that go up all the way to my knees. I thought painting would be more important, as it is a once and done activity.
This gave me time to finish painting Chub's room which I started doing Sunday night. Sunday, I was up until 6:00am painting two of the walls. Before I could paint, I needed to move all his furniture and he has furniture all around his room. King size bed, two futons, another small sofa, dresser, night stand, TV console, and big sturdy desk plus all the posters and pictures. The walls had been burned orange and I did not think one coat of paint would be enough to cover the beauty of the Longhorn color, but I used the pricier paint and it got it done, but I needed two cans as it goes on pretty thick. Now his room is the color of the green light at any intersection, so I expect him to open his eyes and GO!
Today is Friday afternoon, we just had a great family breakfast with egg and mini sausage tacos, I am in the midst of writing my blog and we are fixing to run some errands today, fun. Wife has some checks to cash. She will be at some conferences in the next weeks and this will keep her up in Austin for almost three weeks, and the checks are supposed to feed her, but she can starve during the day and give me that money. Chubs came back from Crystal City intent on needing something from Best Buy which he said he would buy with his own cash, who am I to say no to that?
Wife needs to get some books at Barnes And Noble so that is another pit stop. I need a new book to read. Honestly, I have too many heavy thinking books and I just don't feel like breaking into them, but I am trying to read at least one book a month, and I have fallen behind big time.
At least we are no longer in a money crunch, with the selling of my truck, we are breathing fine. We can afford to go out to eat a couple times, if we choose. Speaking of money, I still need to do our bills for this week, Wife just got paid today.
Wife is in a cleaning frenzy. Since I was consumed with Chub's room, I didn't really do much of anything else, but really, I also didn't make much of a mess. I dirtied three underwear and three pair of socks, and three T-shirts. I wear the same pants all week now, since I have been wearing the goofy compression socks that go up all the way to my knees. I thought painting would be more important, as it is a once and done activity.
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