Days of a Novice Repairman

Chatty People Day

2011-01-23T15:46:00.000-06:00

Jacki pretty much summarized the whole day in her blog, so instead of trying to write it differently or better, I'm just going to link to her note.

Read it and be amazed at the people we encountered.

In other news, this is my birthday week. And it's my Golden birthday because I turn 26 on the 26th. So I'm thinking I should buy a lottery ticket or try something crazy that day. But we'll see what happens.

I do have plans for going to Universal Studios next weekend. I'm looking forward to the Marvel and Harry Potter attractions.

The trip to Orlando, coupled with my work golf game on Thursday, and my Magic pre-release event on Sunday means it should be a fun birthday week.

I'll let you know how it all went after next weekend.

Deep fried addtion

2011-01-16T17:31:00.001-06:00

It might be a bit sad that the biggest news of last week for me comes in the form of a brand new deep fryer, but hey sometimes the small things are all your given. LOL

My first meal with my deep fryer came last night in the form of traditional Fish N Chips. Fried fish is probably my favorite form of seafood, and it turned out pretty good. My only complaint was from the fries. They needed about 5-10 more minutes of deep frying for them to be perfect. But they were still tasty which is what I strive to achieve.

Tonight though, I really got down to breaking the bad boy in. I had planned from the start to do some traditional country fried chicken, but from their the menu was a mystery.

As I was talking to my dad this morning, he mentioned sweet potatoes fries, and I was sold on the idea. I mean sweet potatoes are completely different from regular potatoes so it's not even close to the same meal. LOL Along with the sweet potatoes, I had decided to attempt to fry some mushrooms. I've had fried mushrooms before, and they are pretty tasty, so I figured it would be a good vegetable for the evening. But lo and behold while we were at the fruit stand searching for whole tomatoes I saw asparagus....

I know asparagus big whoop, but think about it being deep fried??? Any takers then, lol I generally like asparagus in any form. So I figured deep frying it would only raise it in the taste category, and I wasn't mistaken in the slightest. I think the star of the evening was definitely the asparagus. It was crispy, and still done enough to be really tasty, and I don't think it absorbed just a whole lot of the grease.

I now christen the deep fryer as being broken in and an equal member of my kitchen. LOL

I think sometime in the not so distant future, we are going to attempt some fried deserts. Oreos, Twinkies, Snickers, and ice cream. Maybe donuts. But that's another post!

Dirt cheap... or gravel really

2011-01-07T16:49:00.001-06:00

Last weekend I built a shed. So this weekend I plan on putting the finishing touches on it and then moving crap into it. When I bought the shed I debated with myself about purchasing the additional shed floor kit for an extra 80 bucks. I looked at the display model that Lowe's had built and all the floor kit consisted of was some metal pieces that framed out a floor. It didn't come with the wood to finish the floor, and for 80 bucks that seemed like a rip off. So I decided against buying it and figured if push came to shove I could build my own floor from scratch.

As I pondered how to go about building a floor, a stray though scurried through my brain, " why put a wood floor down at all?" I mean Florida is a pretty wet state. And my yard floods on a pretty regular basis. I figured that even if I had a wood floor an inch or two off the actually ground it still wouldn't take very long for the boards to begin to warp and deteriorate in the the Florida weather.

And then another thought jumped into the forefront of my mind, "why not put gravel in in the bottom of the shed?" And just like that I could picture my shed completed and I knew that that was the route to take.

Now I had bought gravel before at Lowe's, and it wasn't very cost effective. But I figured somewhere around here there would be a place that sold dirt and gravel in bulk. Luckily in this day of instant gratification, my answer was only a few mouse clicks away.

It turns out that maybe 5 miles from my house there is a business that takes in junk concrete, asphalt, and other debris, and turns them into gravel, top soil, sand, and countless other products. I was able to buy a ton of pipe gravel for 25 dollars!!!And surprisingly my truck was able to haul a ton of it home. LOL

So if you live in Florida and need some cheap dirt, gravel, or sand I know just the place.I'm not sure my truck should haul it, since I found out after the fact that it's really only rated to haul about a 1/4 ton.... but the place delivers so although it might end up costing you a little more for delivery, it's still way cheaper then buying it by the bag at your local home improvement store.

A new year, some new goals

2011-01-02T17:48:00.001-06:00

2010 was a lazy year for me. I tried to limit my spending, and in so doing limited my projects and ambitions. It was still a good year, with plenty of new and interesting things to add to my life, but it definitely felt lazy. So for 2011 I'm hoping to ramp up the projects, and get some stuff done.

To start that off, Jacki and I built a shed today. I've been thinking about a shed for a while, and finally I broke down and bought one yesterday from Lowe's. It's 10 ft X 12ft, and it should hold everything that clutters up my porch and closets (crosses fingers). It took us pretty much all day, and a couple of re-dos but we got it down before the sun set, which was my goal. I still have to get some white gravel and go around the outside and fill in the interior of the shed, but all the pieces that came in the box got put together. I'll post some pictures after it's light enough to take them tomorrow.

Aside from the shed, my other projects for 2011 include:

Screening in my patio

Start playing the guitar,banjo,mandolin, and fiddle again

Make it to at least 2 Magic the Gathering events each month

Building up my tools for my home repair shop

and trying to Blog at least once a week, so people up home know what's going on (that's you Aunt Lanny) : )

So welcome 2011 and my hopeful year of productiveness!!

Dog sitting

2010-04-03T18:04:00.003-05:00

I spent this past week watching my friend, Andrew's chihuahua Charlie. I figured since I had two dogs already that another one wouldn't be all the much more work and it's always good to help a friend if you can.

The week passed really quickly actually, and sadly Charlie must leave tomorrow. But I thought I would post a few of the more amusing moments from Charlie's visit.

I'd say the biggest difference between Charlie and my two heathens is that Charlie is a bona-fide lap dog. If he isn't in your lap or right near your person then he starts to get nervous and whimpers for your attention. The first few days he would whine any time I left the door open for my dogs to go in and out and I'd have to actually put him outside so he could go out. But he got over that fairly quickly.

I think the funniest moment was at the dog park when he hiked his leg and peed on me. I think it was because all the other dogs were around and he wanted to make sure they knew that I was his person, but I really am only guessing. For all I know he just peed on me cause he could. LOL

He also developed quite the affection for Zoey while he was here. She and Charlie played quite a bit and I think she'll be sad to see him leave.

It's always funny to meet a new dog and hang out with them. Charlie fit right into the household and we were lucky not to have any incidents between the three dogs or the cat. But I think he just proves that I am quite content with two dogs, three is just too many.

I enjoyed watching the little man, but I think I'll take a sigh of relief when we are back to just me and the girls.

On being a Homeowner 2

2010-03-17T19:56:00.001-05:00

Yesterday on my way home from work I stopped by the local Lowes. Now that I have a permanent space that I can call my own, I have noticed that I have lots of projects I want to accomplish. So yesterday I picked up supplies for building another bookshelf and for building my repair bench. Both of these projects I hope to accomplish before the weekend and so far I am off to a good start.

I got home today and find out from my elderly neighbor that my two heathens had escaped from the yard and terrorized the neighborhood. By terrorize I mean that they barked at everyone going by, and ran away from my nice neighbor who tried to corral them back into the yard. Luckily they stayed close to home and eventually wandered back into the yard. At which point my neighbor came over and plugged up the hole which they had dug to escape.

After placing some cement blocks around the edge of the fence so that they will hopefully not escape again, I set about cooking dinner, feeding the dogs, and then going on a walk. It is nice being close to the Pinellas Trail again. The puppies and I walked around 2 miles tonight, and then after we got home I built a bookshelf.

To be fair this was my second rodeo for bookshelf building, so I wasn't really doing anything too hard. But for a little bit of variety I decided to build this one without any help. It is interesting to me what you can accomplish on your own. Obviously building a bookcase is easier when someone else is around to help hold and level things for you, but I was able to do it without anything but my own two hands and the intrusion of 8 paws. LOL I didn't get it varnished before the daylight left, but I still say it was a good evenings work. Tomorrow I hope to varnish it and cross my fingers build my work bench.

On a different note, it seems that for every project I finish two or three pop up to replace it. The fence has been bumped up to a priority, and I think I have devised a way to ensure that the dogs can't escape from the new fence, but I have to decide if I want to shell out the 3 grand for someone else to install it, or if I just want to buy the parts which will cost me around 1 grand maybe, and then do it myself...

but for today I am content with a bookcase.

On Being a home Buyer

2010-03-12T16:16:00.000-06:00

As some of you may know, I just recently purchased a house. I had been thinking about buying a home ever since I heard about the tax rebate for first time home buyers. Every where I have lived in Florida has had a pretty outrageous monthly rent, and with the addition of the dogs I really wasn't looking forward to find a new apartment. So starting in January I took the plunge and made an offer on a house. It took all of February but everything finally went through and I moved into my new home the first week of March.

So far I've been here for most of a week and the having a home definitely has a lot of perks. Firstly I have lots of room that I can do whatever I want with. My mom came into town to see the house and help me move and it was nice have enough space for her to have a room while she visited.

While she was here, we put in a dog door, built an enclosure for my ac unit, installed a gate, created a vent hole for my dryer, installed my washer and dryer, and put mini blinds up for all the windows. Aside from all the home improvement projects we also moved everything of mine into the new place and got it mostly set up. I still have one room of clutter to organize and assign a home to, but the place is livable.

I'll post pictures of the place soon, but it's been raining today so I didn't get a chance. The rain however brings me to the other side of home buying.

I woke up this morning to a wet spot in my floor and water dripping near my bed. The seller replaced the front part of the roof, but the back part was supposedly okay. Luckily it wasn't a big leak, and I was able to cover it with a tarp at 4 this morning when I got up and noticed the leak, but since I did it at 4 it wasn't the best job and I didn't double check it before I left for work. At some point in the day the wind caught it and blew the tarp up to where it didn't really cover the proper area....

So tomorrow will be patch the roof day. I'm hoping it is only one spot I can seal up with some tar, but if not I may be re-roofing. Luckily the rain is suppose to stop tonight and it's suppose to be sunny all weekend.

Here's hoping.

Maria

2010-02-20T21:27:00.001-06:00

Today is the day I finally broke down and adopted Zoey a sister. I have been talking about Zoey needing a play mate for some time, and I did the online searches of local area shelters and rescues, and then a couple of weeks ago I found a picture of Maria on Petfinder.com.

Maria is a Boston terrier mixed with Aussie. It's an odd combination, but surprisingly Zoey and her look very similar. Maria has the standard brindle coat of a Boston terrier, and the oddly loose hair of an Aussie. Sadly this means she sheds a bit, but I think it will be warm enough to shave her down most of the time.

Her face is semi squashed like the terrier but she doesn't have a completely none existent snout. Her nose while not as long as most shepherds is still much more prominent then the Boston in her. She is actually a very pretty puppy.

She is even more of a ball dog then Zoey, and is definitely OCD when it comes to toys and playing fetch. But if you make all the toys disappear then she calms down and acts like a normal dog for the most part. She is somewhere between one and half year to two, and she weighs around 25 pounds.

So far there haven't been any issues between Zoey and our new addition. They seem to get along very well together and I get to use one of the those cool duel leash things when we go walking. I only need about six more dogs and a sled, then I can race up in the Klondike.

Floridian Dirt

2010-02-14T18:37:00.001-06:00

I built a fence this weekend. In the past this was always a long arduous experience, but this weekend was different.

Typically when you build a fence you start out by setting posts. For the fence I was building this meant digging holes, mixing concrete and letting it all set up over night to provide a firm stable backbone for the pre-fab sections of wood fencing. I have to admit that after living in Florida for over two years this was the first time I've ever dug a hole.

I was literally speechless.

In Arkansas when you dig a hole, you have to compete with rocks, roots, clay, under ground cliff shelves, anything and everything that can be in the ground you'll hit trying to dig a hole. In Florida all I hit was top soil and sand. I literally dug three fit in less then a minute. I actually had to fill up my hole because it was too deep for the post!!! I mean really!

So I am officially adding the fact that you can dig a hole in Florida in under a minute to my lists of things I like about this state.

All in all it was a good weekend. I got the fence finished with the help of Jacki and her brother, Bob. It will hopefully be a deterrent to any thieves or vandals, and the house looks really good enclosed with fence.

As an extra bonus I also got to meet both of my neighbors, and see some coyotes. But that'll be a story for later.

Misgivings and bad vibes

2010-02-09T18:34:00.001-06:00

I usually trust my instincts. I tend to believe that if something doesn't feel right then something isn't right. Sadly I got one of those "bad vibes" today when I was at the house that I'm under contract to buy. I've been to the house a total of three times now, and the first two times I didn't have anything but the usually misgivings about making a commitment and buying a house. But today I had a totally different type of experience.

I pulled up in my truck to do some minor repairs so that we could get through my final inspections and make closing by the end of the month. And right away I sense that something isn't right. I'm already a bit worried because I can tell that the roof hasn't been repaired yet and it's rained all day. This leads me to believe that more then likely I've got some water damage under the shingles. The tricky part is that I can't really tell, because the house doesn't have an accessible crawl space to look at the roof from the inside. I've more or less made my peace with the fact that the roof isn't as good as it could be.

But added to that, today the brand new air condition and heating was stolen from the property. Granted I am not responsible for the unit yet, but it makes me leery about the area if the unit was already stolen and it's only been in there for a week and a half. So at the moment I'm having misgivings about this whole home buying project. But for the time being all I can do is just ride it out.

A new approach

2010-01-10T06:15:00.001-06:00

Yesterday began the fist step in my new years resolution. Probably the only thing I really and truly don't like about Zoey is her inability to keep up with me on my bicycle for long periods of time. She runs beside me, and we can make it about 2 or3 blocks down the road but then she gets bored with it and I feel like I'm dragging her along.

And it's with that in mind that I got a basket installed on my bike. No it's not a tiny wicker basket like Dorthy had in the Wizard of Oz. It's a large steel basket with black wire coating that while still a basket at least is a basket that can hold stuff. It's weight limit is 30 pounds, so as long as Zoey doesn't grow anymore then I'm golden.

Although it was frackin cold yesterday, I had to venture out and test my bike and Zoey, to see if what I'm hoping is even possible. So I bundled up and away we went. Or away we tried to go anyway.

The whole basket install process had turned out to be more of a hassle then I planned for. I originally saw the basket I wanted at a story not far from my house, and although I didn't buy it at the time, I remembered that the store had it so I could go back at a later date. The only bad part was when I went back they were out of the basket that I wanted.

So after a lengthy discussion with a sales person I find out that they can special order the basket that I want. However, after looking at my bike, I was informed that they weren't capable of mounting it to my bike in it's current form. My front U brace had a suspension gadget on it and no where for the basket to attach. With that in mind I agreed to let them modify my bike and install a new U brace. It was a little more expensive then I had planned but not all that bad and in my mind it would be worth it.

AS the week goes by I wait for word on my bicycle, and finally on Friday afternoon I get a call from the technician working on my bike. As it turns out the part that they ordered to install on my bike so that I could have the basket that I originally ordered, wasn't compatible with my bike. But I was told that they could install a complete new front end and then the new U fork would fit and then they could install the basket. In my mind I'm thinking either they are trying to rip me off and think I'll pay for their stupidity, or they are insane, and either way it's going to cost me some mullah.

As it turns out I'm not sure which one it was, but after I complained to the tech, and then the original sales rep I got them to drop the labor charges and got the price down to around what I was told when I dropped the bike off.

Maybe it's just me, but if and when I work with customers on a day to day basis and I mess up an estimate I hope I remember not to try and jack them out of their money just because I wasn't smart enough to point out all the parts/costs in the beginning. That just seems like bad business. I know I have no intention of heading back to that store. But maybe that just rubs me the wrong way and I over-reacted.

At any rate I have a basket, and I have a Zoey and we are hitting the trails.... as soon as it's not so cold. LOL

Running a litte late

2010-01-01T06:49:00.000-06:00

Well the holidays are already over and 2010 has already started but it's the thoughts that count for this thing anyway right? It's time for my yearly recap. All the big events or small events that I can recall and the over all impression they had on 2009.

The year started out with good times and old friends. I got to spend the holidays last year visiting my friends and family in Arkansas. And the year ended much the same. I just returned from the longest road trip of my life to date, where I spent Christmas with my family.

In the spring of 09 I had a great change in my life. Not only did I move out of an apartment and into a house, I also found Zoey. The year wouldn't be the same without that furry little pup. And I know the years to come will be better because of her as well.

After getting Zoey lots of my days were spent out at parks, walking different paths, and exploring a completely different side of Florida. A side that I have come to love. I enjoy all the dog friendly places and attractions that the area offers and it makes me even more glad that I found Zoey.

As the year progressed into summer, my cousins came down to visit me from Arkansas. We ventured to the zoo, the beach, and the Cheesecake Factory. We built sand animals, and watched a storm come in on the beach. My parents made it down for their annual visit in September and as always it was awesome to have them visiting.

I had my giant conspiracy for Jacki. I schemed and I planned for many months in order to pull off her birthday party. It took lots of covert action and not a little bit of luck but all in all it was a success. Her 30th birthday will hopefully be one that she remembers with fondness and not dread.

My work during this year took some interesting changes. We moved into a new bigger repair shop, but we also lost our fearless leader, Rex. And although we have lots of space, new tools and toys, we still are adrift without someone in charge. The job is the same but the workplace and atmosphere are completely different. On the upside I have great bench buddies and got introduced to Golf.

In my personal career choices, I have decided that it's time to start tinkering on the side. In 2010 I hope to acquire enough tools that I can begin doing some repair in my home and start refining my skills.

The year was a good one. There were new friends, places and adventures, as well as old friends and family.

Here's hoping that this year will be just as good in it's own way.

It's been a while

2009-12-13T06:04:00.000-06:00

I haven't felt the urge to express myself in the form of written word in quite a while. It's odd how time passes so quickly and yet the days drag on. I am ready for a change. I have been maintaining the status quo for so long that I've begun to forget what I'm striving for, and doubt who I want to become.

Time wears everything away it transforms tiny cracks into the grand canyon but unlike the world around us, humans can resist. We can't win, because in the end we all grow old and die. But we can stay strong in our beliefs and dreams. Hold true to the self that we once wanted to be. It is not an easy rode I propose to follow. It isn't a road that most people take.

It is a long and often lonely road, but the journey isn't always meant to be pleasant. Only the end result, knowing that when your time comes you have been honest with yourself and those around you.

I am at a cross roads on my journey.

On the one hand I can return to my roots and begun my final stage of home building. Find a permanent location and work to make it the place I want to live forever and after. On the other hand I can resist and hold out for a more elusive option. I can wait and see how the years progress and how time changes those around me. I can work toward a goal that most would not understand.

A part of me yearns for home. The joys of having family close by and friends that I grew up with around to hang out. But that same part of me realizes that after a period of time all those joys pale. Home is a great mythic place to return to for vacation, but I have never tried to live on my own there. I've always lived under someone else's roof conforming to their ideals.

And a part of me wants to remain apart. To continue on my wandering journey content in my isolation. That part of me worries however that the longer I remain away the more likely it is I won't return. That I'll loose all my hard earned knowledge to the dullness of the daily grind. Instead of learning and polishing skills, I will instead loose my way in the corporate world geared more toward quantity then quality.

And so as the holidays approach and I'm once again forced to move in the spring, I must decide if it will be the great migration or a small hop. Home or another short term layover in life?

Moments of self discovery

2009-11-11T05:31:00.002-06:00

Recently I had a breakthrough in understanding myself. I was riding along in Jacki's car with Zoey in my lap, and we were on our way to a new park. We enjoy taking Zoey to new parks so we can roam around and she can explore. It was a pretty day, not to warm but not cold and the sun was shining.

For some reason I just wasn't enjoying the car ride. The trip just didn't seem like something I wanted to be doing. I'm wasn't sure why I was suddenly uncomfortable with the idea of going to the park, but I was. So I took a moment and I delved inside this being I inhabit and I had an epiphany.

I like to be in control. Now some of you may read this and laugh at the notion of me in control. All in all I am a mellow person. I don't try to enforce my wants and desires on anyone, and I think I'm a pretty easy going guy. But I swear in my own odd way I'm not comfortable when I can't control a situation.

For example, normally I do the driving. I've find that when I'm forced to ride passenger, regardless of who it's with, I feel a little antsy in the car. I'm constantly thinking of suggestions and critiques of the person driving and it makes me uncomfortable just to sit there. And 90 percent of the time I'd say the person I'm riding with is a perfectly fine driver. It's just something about me not having control that bothers me. As a passenger I'm a subjugated to the driver's will.

I also figured out that this is why I am reluctant to venture in to large groups of people. I loose control of a situation when large masses of people gather. It's not that I would want control, but its just that there are so many variables and unknowns that I can't ensure myself's safety and mental well being. Trying to watch all the various people and interactions makes me seem paranoid and causes the function to loose most of it's appeal.

And finally being somewhat of a loner allows me to escape from all the ties that society impress on human interactions. By staying quiet and minding my business I retain a modicum of control. I forgo loosing my voice or will to a person with a stronger personality by removing myself from their influence and therefore ensuring I have a say even if it is a small one.

I'm not sure why all this snapped into clarity but it hit me out of the blue and I was amazed.

A break in the heat

2009-10-18T06:20:00.000-05:00

After what seemed like a truly endless summer, the heat has broken. Yesterday I woke up to a definite temperature drop. We went from being into the 90s every day to a more respectable October temperature of in the 70's, but wait it gets better. This morning I can honestly say it is brisk. The air is hovering somewhere in the 50's and it's awesome.

I was actually able to wear Zoey out yesterday. We went to the park, we played in the yard, we went for walks, went back to the park, and by 8 o'clock last night she was sleeping in the floor. Hooray for fall.

There are a few things more important then the change of seasons that I feel I should probably post about. Number one by far is that my best friend Joe and his wife Stephy are pregnant with their first baby. Hooray for them. Sometime in May I think is when they are due. Crossing our fingers for a boy so I was told. LOL

On top of that, I played golf for the first time this week. I've done mini golf before, but never the true golf course with carts and caddy's. It was fun. I wasn't that good at it, but I can see the enjoyment. I also learned that it isn't as expensive as I thought. Always in my head I considered it a very pricey hobby, but it turns out that it's not really. And my partner and I didn't do too badly, Andrew carried us to a almost neck and neck game with a pair of my co-workers that had been playing for a while. So that's not to shabby for a couple of beginners.

And finally Halloween is approaching. I went costume hunting yesterday, and I didn't really find what I was looking for, but I've got a little longer yet. Jacki and I are hosting a party with one of my old co-workers so if you live in Florida and want come just let me know. I'm going to try and dress up as Woody from Toy Story. LOL But we'll see how the costume hunt goes.

Zoey's not so fun Friday

2009-09-26T07:06:00.000-05:00

Friday dawned full of hope and excitement, like all days do for Zoey. She went for her bathroom break at 5 a.m. and then she rolled around on mommy and daddy's bed till 6:30 when Daddy finally fed her breakfast.Then on her shorter then usual walk she was hurried and hustled into doing her doggy business. But then it was into the thing that moves her quickly with her head going through the wind. Tail wag for fast moving wind machine.

Away Daddy and her went. Head in the wind, moving fast, somewhere new. Different smells and sights to see. We're there!! Out Zoey hops into the grass of somewhere new. Sniff in the morning smells. People with food, people with toys, animals, new stuff.

Drag daddy this way for this smell, now this way for another. Yea for smelling. But wait Daddy isn't following. Daddy's ignoring Zoey. Zoey show daddy, she'll climb up stairs. Always things to see upstairs.
Ow!!! Zoey not like it. Ow!!! It hurts. Bad stairs, with there flying stinging things. Jump down to Daddy, roll in cool wet morning grass, it burns Zoey.

That is my interpertation of how Zoey felt Friday when she got stung by two wasps, while we were out at the RC Airfield watching a friend fly his plane. Just goes to show you what can happen in the minute time I wasn't paying attention.

But now she's all better. The wasps got her right near her eye so Jacki took some pictures to show everyone.

A million dollars

2009-09-16T19:08:00.001-05:00

So at work a few weeks ago my co-worker, Andrew, said that he would give me a million dollars if I would go into a completely black room with absolutely nothing for one day every week of my life. I immediately agreed. How hard could it be really to loose one day of a week but never have to work? I mean we spend more then 24 hours at work every week and this way I wouldn't have to work. I could stay up the night before and probably sleep most of my time away. But regardless of my answer, the question sparked a large debate and poll that swept through my work place. And now, I bringing to the web. LOL

So here's the deal. For 1 million dollars would you agree to spend one day of every week for the rest of your life in a Sensory Deprivation chamber. You can take nothing in with you and you get no food, water or bathroom. So it's a 24 hour fast every week of your life.

Weigh in with your thoughts and answers, I'm curious to see how people decide.
Quite a few people at work surprised Andrew and I.

Thanks

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sensory_deprivation
and for those of you who don't know what a sensory deprivation chamber is, click on the link.

A small welcome into a Big world

2009-09-14T06:37:00.002-05:00

It's a bird it's a plane, no it's another branch in the Ellis family tree. I've waited a few days because I wanted to be able and post a picture along with my note, but my brother and his wife had their first baby last Tuesday. Little Piper Selene Ellis was born in Germany and sadly that's all I know. In my head I can picture a snowy tundra with the lone wail of a newborn child heralding forth the coming of spring and the rebirth of mother earth, but I fear that might be a bit over dramatic. So I'll settle for born healthy and whole on a Tuesday of terrific trembling import.

I'm hoping to be an uncle like no other. Providing the new born with plenty of spoiling and worldly insight. I can't be sure how much I'll be around in these younger years of development, but when and if she needs me I'll answer the call to arms. I'll storm the battlements.... you get the picture. So it's with much joy that I hope our newborn Ellis survives her time of enforced love and mandatory dependence. So that one day she can venture into the great unknown and carve her story out of the life she's given.
And with that I'll leave you with a slightly altered version of my favorite song by Freddie Fender.

Here's to you little Piper:

If it brings you happiness then I wish you all the best
It's your happiness that matters most of all
But if it ever breaks your heart
If the teardrops ever start
I can be there before the next teardrop falls

I'll be there anytime you need me by your side
To dry away every teardrop that you cry
And if it ever leaves you blue
just remember I love you
And I'll be there before the next teardrop falls
I'll be there before the next teardrop falls.

The best puppy ever

2009-09-05T19:19:00.001-05:00

So it's now official, if there was ever any doubt, Zoey is the best puppy in the world. Today was her second adventure to the dog beach (I forgot the camera again, my apologies) and not only did she swim like a fish, but she fetched a stick every time I threw it in the water. Just like a golden retriever or something. She also had the most adorable habit of running out of the water and immediately rolling in the sand to dry off, so her fur got caked in wet sand and she looked some re-awakened Egyptian pyramid guardian. It was good times.

And lastly but definitely not least, we had a bike ride. I had tried many times before to take Zoey out with me on the bike. Always she was leery. She'd stop just a little ways into the ride or dart off after something and I'd have to slam the brakes. But today I decided to try again. It had been a few months and I was in the mood for a bike ride, so after we got back from the our romp at the dog park, I leashed Zoey and away we went.

She was awesome. Not only did she stay by the bike and keep pace with me, but she watched for the wheel to turn and made the corners without any wrapping of the leash around the bike. At one point we had slowed down to give her a breather and there was some slack in the leash. And Zoey just grabs it in her mouth and is running along so her feet won't get tangled. It was very cute.

Now she's conked out from her busy day. But just so the record is set straight, Zoey is the best dog ever.

An end to the rush

2009-09-03T07:13:00.001-05:00

Now that summer rush is winding down it is nice to actually have mornings back again. I was able to take Zoey on a real walk this morning. We went to the park again, and then we had our quiet time out in the yard with the frisbee and my book. The fence is still broken, but Zoey enjoyed it none the less.

The end of the rush also came just in time for my new PS3. I finally broke down and bought one of the newer slim models. It supposedly uses 1/3 of the power of the larger older model but still does all the same things. So far I'm happy with it. I haven't been able to get it to sync with the internet yet, nor have I tested out the Blu-ray player, but the games are a definite improvement over the PS2. And the HD output is totally awesome on the big TV.

Other then that everything's going just fine. My parents are coming to town in a couple of weeks, Jacki's b-day is soon, and this weekend is Labor Day. Woot for three day weekends. I think we may head to Busch Gardens. But who knows.

That's it for my update though, no more ten hour days, and maybe more blogging.

Beach dogs and Buying things

2009-08-23T13:46:00.001-05:00

Today was Zoey's second trip to a dog beach. We got up early this morning and made the short drive down to Ft. Desota Park. Jacki and I had been to the park before we got Zoey and we enjoyed it. But we hadn't managed to make it down there since Zoey came around. Compared to the Honeymoon Island dog beach that we took Zoey to the first time, Ft. Desota was way better. The Honeymoon Island beach required you to hike a good ways in order to get to the beach that allowed dogs. Whereas the Ft. Desoto beach was pretty much right next to a parking lot. We could also take Zoey off the leash at the Ft. Desoto beach which was nice. She did pretty well with staying around us and we didn't have any trouble putting the leash back on her when we were ready to go.

We were also able to get her to swim today. Jacki walked out into the water till it was up to about her thigh and then squatted down so Zoey could swim out to her. And I stayed right by the waters edge so Zoey could swim/walk back to me. It was pretty fun. Zoey liked to bark and attack the waves as they broke against the shore and she enjoyed chasing the other dogs that were around as well. The only downfall for her was that she had to get a bath when we got home because of all the salt water in her hair.All in all though I think she enjoyed it.

Now on to something completely different. This week as been a week of bad luck as far as possessions go. First off my book mark that I'd had since like the 6th grade fell out of my book and is no longer usable. I was able to salvage all my flag pins from it, but I'm still out a book mark. Then last night at a party one of my pairs of shorts had a run in with a random screw and was put out of commission because of the large tear that dominated all the smaller holes that had sprung up in regular wear. And this morning I came to find out that my new swim suit I had just bought a month ago shrank on me in the wash.

Granted this stuff isn't end of the world significant but it seems like all these little mishaps lead to purchases of things. That requires me to spend money. As a rule I try to limit my money spending, just because it's not very practical to buy everything little thing I want. So I try to force myself to ignore that little voice of consumerism that resides in all of us. I refuse to admit to the joy that comes from buying something. The shear pleasure of my purchasing power if you will.

For the moment I have enough shorts that one pair wont matter, and I can use a folded piece of paper to mark my place in my books. As far as that goes I really don't swim much, but that only works so far. What about when I see a bookmark or swimsuit in a store and just feel the urge to buy it? How do I squash the little voice of consumerism if I don't even pause to acknowledge it. If I just grab it because my old one is gone then all my past resistance was for nothing.

It's very hard to be frugal all the time, and yet I think one small purchase leads to another small purchase, and then before you know it your stuck like most everyone else fighting your way deeper and deeper in debt going to work everyday to survive only to keep up the same routine of purchasing your way to happiness. It's a viscous cycle that I see people in, and maybe a never ending struggle that I fight against. For temptation knows no bounds and even the most vigilant must close their eyes if only for a moment.

Why go Prefab?

2009-08-10T20:17:00.002-05:00

I'm guilty of buying prefabricated furniture. I admit that the lure of something easily assembled and useful snares me into buying the shiny cutout contraptions that are mass marketed to the public. However I've never had very good luck with said contraptions. In college it wasn't a big deal to purchase something cheaply made because chances were that sometime in the year it would get broken regardless. But now that I'm out of the zone of youthful destruction, I'd prefer if my furniture made it through a couple of years and moves.So when it recently came time to purchase another bookshelf, I looked at the Wal-mart contraptions, and I looked at the slightly higher end furniture that some stores carry, and then I looked at lumber. The lumber won.

I was able to purchase all the supplies and wood that I needed to build a monstrosity of a bookcase for only a little more then the Wal-mart cheapy and about the same price as the slightly higher end store. Not only is my bookcase bigger, but it's stronger too. The shelves won't bulge with the weight of my tomes of knowledge. And hopefully it will survive transporting as well.

I built the shelf with easy mobility in mind.

All the shelves can come out by quickly removing a few screws, and I don't have to worry about loosing pieces or odd plastic thingies. I can just disassemble and transport everything.

Now my only problem is not having enough books...

But that's easily remedied. In the future though I think I'll try building bookcases for sure and maybe other things as well. It only took me a few hours to build and I think I spend longer then that trying to figure out the directions that's included in the prefab boxes.

But at any rate woot for a new bookcase.

An Unforseen Fork in the Path

2009-08-01T16:07:00.001-05:00

Friday marked the end of an era for me, and sadly I didn't know it till it was too late. I moved to Florida after finishing repair school for a number of reasons, but foremost among them was boss at my shop. During my bench test he came across as a very knowledgeable and likable guy. He had years of experience and a vision for what the shop would be. I knew that since he was older and taking the job solely to pass on is knowledge to others that I would get the chance to learn and hone my repair skills. I also knew his time would be short, but I never realized just how short till Friday when he casually resigned.

In only a year I learned more from watching and listening then I had ever planned on. I now know numerous ways to do things that not only make my job easier but also simpler. And through it all I never once saw my boss get upset or loose his cool. He worked to keep the techs happy, keep the boss content, and he'd pause to talk to anyone. He had faults and failings like every person I know, but he also had wisdom gained through a life well lived.

In the last few weeks while the shop moved into our new location. Their was a slight change in the relationship my boss shared with his boss. Before there was always a casual recognition of respect for both parties. But I think with the move and the changes that came with the move, my boss saw what he had envisioned at odds with what was real and with few options or alternatives, he took the route that suited him best. And may his days be happy for it.

But I don't know what the shop will be like now. It's to early to tell if everything will change. If all the work and preparation were for nothing. And more importantly I can't be certain if it will have the same things to offer me. I know that my chances to learn have decreased immensely. I know that the company's modo was never meant for learning. So I've got to wonder if it's still the place for me?

In this turbulent economic time it doesn't seem wise to leave a perfectly good job, but at the same time I never planned to stay in Florida. So the next few months will be the determining factor for me. I'll watch and keep an ear open for anything concerning the future of the shop. I'll do my job the best that I can, but if at the end of the year all I can see is a continuation of work with a lack of learning, then perhaps my Florida vacation has come to an end.

And it's time for my Arkansas life to begin, or who knows maybe a little more wandering before I return home. Time will tell, and I'll know by the end of the path where I'm going. Now I just have to see where this fork takes me.

Shop moving 101

2009-07-26T14:11:00.001-05:00

So my job finally made it into the new building that we were suppose to be housed in by January of this year. Sure it only took us an extra six months, but at least we made it. Sort of...

I assumed that since it took longer to get us moved that a lot of things would be done. All we would do is move all the tools and horns from the old shop over to the new shop and pick up working on instruments again. Sadly the old adage about assuming things came true this time.

We hustled and we bustled to get everything moved into the new building so that we could be established and ready for the affiliate convention to take place. The owner wanted to put on a good face for all the big wigs and I can't really blame him. But I think we probably could of put up a perfectly decent face if we hadn't rushed and moved everything just for show. I mean the building is impressive by itself, and the warehouse is at least running out of the building. But I'm a lowly peon and the powers that be decided otherwise.

Needless to say the last few weeks have been interesting. I got to spend a couple days as a carpenter building benches. Another day I spent as an electrician hanging lights, and I posted about my days as a teacher already. A lot of the time at work has been spent trying to look busy. There's only so much an unqualified person can do as far as setting up a shop. I pitched in where I could but really I was just spinning my wheels a lot.

Luckily we did start repairing instruments this last week. It's kind of a piecemeal thing, since we have no chem line, no buffing room, and no place to spray lacquer but I guess when your down 2500 horns you have to try and do something. I know it will get better once things get finished and we pass all our city inspections, but I've got to wonder if putting on a good face is worth the lack of quality and production we're going to face for the next couple of weeks while everything tries to get sorted.

Other then work, things are well. I dropped Zoey off for her first haircut today, I'm excited to see how she looks. And Jacki and I celebrated our one year anniversary this weekend by going kayaking in the bay. Pretty soon it will start cooling down a little I hope and I can do some biking. But for now I'm just coasting through another summer.

Professor Ellis

2009-07-13T20:43:00.001-05:00

Today at about 10 minutes till six when I was just getting ready to leave from work, I get called away from my daily cleanup by my boss Rex. He asks me point blank if I would mind teaching the woodwind part of the classes we are having for the Affiliates that VIR trains and employs. Originally another co-worker was suppose to handle the class, but at the last minute they decided to shuffle things around and I was next on the list of competent people.

Teaching a class of 15 or 20 people the basics of repairing clarinets and flutes is not something I've ever really seen myself doing. I like fixing instruments, but I don't really consider myself much of a public speaker or teacher. Only having one night to prepare isn't helping my confidence level, but at the same time I'm excited. I think it will be entertaining and while I'll probably get stumped by a question that I can't answer or stammer through some parts of my presentation, I hope that the people in the class learn and enjoy it.

I have no idea what the age of my students will vary between. I've seen gray haired affiliates and people barely out of high school. I've given the suggested outline for my class a good bit of looking through and although I've made a few changes I've stuck with it for the most part. My biggest concern is not having the right supplies and trying to teach something to complex.

When someone says basic repair, I think about lots of things. Replacing a cork is basic, but then again finding where something goes can be tricky. Proper regulation is vital for any woodwind instrument, but how do you explain the particulars of an instrument when it took me a good week to be comfortable with where to bend and what to move? Add to that the fact that I haven't really touched a flute in three months and a clarinet in over a year and I have a feeling that tomorrow will be quite entertaining to someone who actually knows what I'm trying to teach.

Luckily my class is suppose to know nothing, and while that may turn out to be an exaggeration, I'm going to hope they know at least next to nothing. Tomorrow will be something different regardless of how it turns out. But I'll cross my fingers for everything to turn out alright. LOL

On a much more exciting note, my cousins will be here tomorrow for about a week to visit. So yippee for family coming down. Now I just have to make it through my impromptu teaching career. LOL

Fray's Donuts

2009-06-27T21:35:00.001-05:00

I recently posted about how I had found a Dunkin Donuts by the house and had enjoyed having donuts in my life again. Last night though, I happen to see a place called Fray's Donuts. Jacki and I were going to a Rockband party and I decided to stop off for a donut to help me make it through the late night.

Fray's Donuts is like an old style diner. The signs were faded, the floor was off yellow colored, and the donuts were AMAZING!!! Jacki called them "sinkers" because they had a weight to them. I called them heavenly. I only purchased 2 donuts last night for the show, but they were enough to prove to me that Fray's blows Dunkin's out of the water.

Dunkin Donuts is a chain. I usually am not much of a small town enthusiast when it comes to shopping. I mean if you can by it cheaper, then I'm all for it regardless of who you buy it from. But Fray's donuts were the same price as Dunkins and infinitely better. You could actually see the kitchen in the back where they make donuts, and the workers were the old matron-like cooks that you see in cafeterias and home cooking diners around the country.

My only complaint was that I didn't have any milk to go with my donuts last night. A donut as good as Fray's deserves the proper drink to accompany it. But I remedied that tonight by going back to Fray's and buying a dozen donuts to bring home and enjoy. My theory is that they will stay moist and awesome far longer then a Dunkin donut, although I may not be able to prove my theory if I eat them all tomorrow. LOL

Doggie Graduation

2009-06-27T15:10:00.001-05:00

Zoey passed class today. Who hoo

Zoey runs free

2009-06-20T20:34:00.000-05:00

It was an eventful week for in the land of doggidom. Zoey got spayed and was therefore confined to the house for most of the week. No running with the other puppies at the dog park. All she had for playmates were myself and Jacki. But her belly's almost healed and she'll be back to causing trouble at the playground before she knows it.

She did manage to get free a couple of times this week though. The first time happened while I was in the garage preparing to pull the vehicles in for the night. I opened up the door from the kitchen to enter the garage and just happened to notice that a big chunk of our garage ceiling had fallen. Luckily it didn't hit anything of value, but I was yelling for Jacki to come see it and Zoey darted out of the door and into the front yard because I had already opened the garage door.

Our yard is maybe 10 or 15 feet from the street and of course she bee lines straight for the road. Luckily I was able to call her back after she paused to look at us for calling her. It was still scary though to see her standing in the street without a care in the world. Crazy dog!

The second great escape happened at puppy obedience class. We had let our dogs off the leash to play and socialize like we do every week, and Zoey heads straight for the instructor who happens to be leaving the little enclosure to go get something for the class. I didn't expect her to actually go out, she usually shies away from people, but for some reason she darts out the little opening and our instructor had to make a mad grab for her. I got over as fast I could, and picked her up, but she was intent on leaving. I'm pretty sure she wanted out to use the bathroom which I took her to do, but it's still odd for her to dash for the door.

And lastly we were walking her at the park tonight and she was doing her usual sprint for the random squirrels and birds and her leash just snaps. We had her on one of those retractable leashes, which admittedly she had been gnawing on for some time now, but I didn't really expect it to break. Luckily after she finished chasing the birds I was able to entice her over with a dog treat that I always take on our walks. We had to cut short the nightly stroll, and I had to buy a new leash, but at least we made it home with the puppy and didn't have to chase her through the park.

I'm not sure if Zoey will ever been one of those dogs that I can walk without the leash. She's to easily distracted. But that could be because she's still a puppy. She definitely enjoyed her jaunts of freedom, even if they probably started me down the road to gray hairs.

Biking with Zoey

2009-06-13T15:02:00.001-05:00

When I envisioned having a puppy, I thought we'd have grand adventures going around the neighborhood. We'd start out with walks when she was little, then go further everyday as she got bigger. We'd explore the sidewalks, the parks, and just roam around. But my hope and dream was that she would one day get big enough to go on bike rides. I've seen people with their dogs running along as they pedaled away. I always thought that would be me and my dog one day. But sadly I've had to come to terms with Zoey being smaller then I had anticipated. She's grown a lot, but she can't keep up with me on a bicycle. Her legs are just too small. So that led me to the grand idea of her riding with me. That way if she couldn't run, at least I could peddle and she could ride.

So last night Jacki and I made a run to Wal-mart after our return from the dog park. I had searched online to see if they carried those baby strollers that hook to the back of a bicycle and allow you to pull your kid along while you pedal. It seemed like the ideal solution for Zoey and I. She could see out of the screened in front and still be inside the carrier so I wouldn't have to worry about her. I was excited because when we go there they had them in stock and they were only 80 bucks. I figured it was money well spent if it got me back to being able to go on bike rides.

Bike rides are probably the one thing I really miss with having a puppy. I have really come to enjoy a good pedal since I moved to Florida. It's nice to just be able to go wherever without having to drive and Florida has plenty of bicycle friendly trails. But sadly Zoey didn't take well to her stroller.

I got the thing assembled last night and had high hopes for her enjoyment. She was intrigued by it while I put it together and the little tool around the house we took went just fine. But once I got her up and going this morning things went downhill. Zoey rides in cars with no problem, but apparently the motion of the bicycle just didn't sit well with her puppy tummy. I hadn't pedaled but maybe a hundred feet and I hear her start barking and whining and when I pull to check on her, I find out that she's thrown up all over the inside of the enclosure.

It was a grueling walk back to the house trying to walk the puppy and the bike, but we made it. I got the cart cleaned up, and thought maybe the first time was a fluke, so back in Zoey goes and away we go again. But apparently it wasn't a fluke and without a doubt Zoey is not a bicycle fan.

Luckily I was able to return the carriage thing to Wal-mart so I'm not out the money for it, but sadly I still won't be going on any grand biking adventures with my Zoester.

Happiness for only 50 cents

2009-06-12T06:50:00.001-05:00

A couple of weeks ago I got a craving for donuts. I've always been a fan of the round sugary goodness that donuts embody, but I generally don't get a craving for one. So I decided to indulge myself and I went to a Dunkin Donuts for the first time ever, and I walked into a world of round eyed wonder. They had chocolate covered, glazed, strawberry, maple, cake donuts, powdered donuts, filled donuts, and even donut holes. It was amazing. And what was even better was that it breaks down to 50 cents per donut when you buy a dozen. 50 cents!!! That's insane. All the joy and wonder for only half a dollar.

I think it's probably the best use for fifty cents that I've ever heard of. I mean what else can you do with two quarters these days? You can't even wash your cloths for that, or buy a candy bar.

At any rate my dozen donuts didn't make it through the weekend, I think I ate 7 of them on Saturday alone. But I now know that they aren't very expensive, Dunkin Donuts are really tasty, and they are just right up the road. So who hoo for donuts.

On a similar but unrelated note, I heard on the radio that people gain more happiness by spending money on others then by spending on themselves. So I'm going to put it to the test and spread my 50 cents of joy around the shop today. I figure if I can raise the happiness level, maybe it will make everyone's Friday a little better. And who knows maybe I'll start a Friday donut tradition.

Never a dull moment

2009-06-02T20:30:00.001-05:00

I have recently come across a grand tool that I have added to my repair arsenal. In this industry tools aren't often specifically made for what we do, and this new one is no exception. But if you look in the odd nooks and crannies around other businesses occasionally you come across a tool that is transferable.

During my stay at Red Wing everyone was always going on about how many razor blades they went through in a day. I never really had a problem with the quantity of blades I went through, but at the same time you do use a lot in the repair business. You cut cork, you trim cork, you slice your finger, it's a mult- use tool if I've ever seen one. But after about three cuts your blade is beginning to dull, and after five or so instead of cutting your ripping the cork and the results aren't pretty.

I just happen to be in my kitchen one day a few weeks ago, and saw what Jacki calls my "google eyed" thing. It's a knife sharpener that my mom got for me when I moved away from home. I've used it to sharpen cooking knives for quite some time, but it occurred to me that it would probably work for razor blades as well, and so I took it to work to try my theory out.

My job doesn't use real cork, instead we use composition cork for almost everything, and while it's not the best stuff it is way cheaper then real cork. I found that trying to cut it however is a bit tedious. It's a lot more prone to tearing then real cork, and it compress so easily that often when you try to cut it on the instrument you alter the size and defeat the purpose of putting the cork on. I was just about to the end of my first box of razor blades that I bought when I started school, and lo and behold my knife sharpener came to the rescue.

The sharpener is really simple and very safe. I've heard of lots of ways people sharpener their razor blades, but for the most part you seem just as likely to slice your finger as you do to sharpen the blade. But this thing is almost idiot proof. You just pull the blade through the slot till you feel it quit grabbing the stones and it's as sharp as if it were new. I've been using the same blades for about 2 weeks now and I just keep sharpening them.

So for all you razor blade fiends, I recommend looking into the sharpener. It's handy, it works, and it adds a nice rhythm to your day. I just swipe the blade make some cuts, and then swipe again as needed.

just an update

2009-05-23T15:32:00.001-05:00

I've found that since I got the puppy I don't really have time to do much blogging besides the general weekly update, and for that I apologize, but I love my puppy more then blogging and me thinks that's a good thing. LOL

As for the update, this week was good. It was rainy here in the Sunshine state, but we needed the moisture badly so I guess it was a good thing. Zoey had mixed feelings about the rain. Her walks got cut short all week and even though she was cooped up she still did alright inside.

A couple of funny puppy stories from the week. We we're out walking down the street on one of the pauses in the rain on Weds night and as I'm walking down the road a cop car pulls up beside me and another one stops behind it with it's flashes on. I naturally stop and bend down to look into the car window and as the window comes down this chipper blond cop lady starts asking me about Zoey. Where I got her, what kind of dog she is, and then she asks if she can pet her. Before I can say sure, the cops out the of the car and coming toward us. I hold Zoey because she's a bit of a squirmier for new people and the cop pets her and then says to have a nice day. Jacki says the puppy has plus 10 charisma, but whatever it is, I hope the next time I get pulled over Zoey is with me and the cop is a puppy loving person. LOL

The second story happens sometime early Friday morning, I had taken Zoey out to go potty around 5 a.m. (she makes it till 5 now lol) and as I'm just falling back asleep from her outing, i feel a small thump at the bottom of the bed near my feet. I blearily lift and eye up and what do I see but Zoey's little nose over the edge of the covers and she has her head cocked looking at me like "Hey, you forgot me!"
At the time in my half asleep state I thought she was a Houdini dog and figured out how to exit her cage, but luckily I think I just didn't shut it after taking her out.

And then last but not least on the horizen is the visiting of Family in July. I'm excited about my cousins and mom coming down to see the new place, meet the puppy, and just enjoy Florida for a week. By that time Zoey should be done with her obedience classes and spayed so hopefully she'll be a fun loving slightly less energetic doggy for the company. I'm not sure how Spike will take it though, he's become partial to escaping the puppy by going into the guest bedroom. LOL

So happy Memorial Day weekend for everyone and enjoy the weather if you can.

Little Miss Big Dog

2009-05-16T08:21:00.001-05:00

So we've started taking the ever energized Zoey to the dog parks. It's a fun outing to say the least, but she cracks me up because of her affinity for large dogs. She's not real big, and I'm beginning to think she won't grow to be all that large in the end, but from the way she lunges at the giant German Shepherds you'd think she was a big'in. And the partial wolf-hounds we see down her she loves to drive berserk.

This morning we got lucky enough to come across a dog park that was mostly empty, except for one large German Shepherd. (they are a popular breed here what can I say) So after making sure the owner was fine with my little ankle biter being a nuisance I let Zoey off the leash in the park to chase the little giant. I enjoyed it immensly, and I think Zoey did as well.

For the most part the bigger dog just ignored Zoey. So I could throw the tennis ball for the German Shepherd and watch Zoey chase the dog instead of the ball. She's always a big hit when we take her out to the parks. All the other owners want to pet her and they all adore her "sweet puppy face" as Jacki calls it, but she really sticks to playing with the dogs.

Last weekend we didn't have very good luck with the dog parks, but so far this weekend we're doing better. Last night we played in the small dog pen at Freedom Lake park and I discovered that Zoey plays cheap. She'll run into the pack of playing dogs, get their attention, and then run and hide behind people or an obstacle where the other dogs can't get her. I seriously watched her torment a couple Shelties by hiding under a tube while the dogs tried to get her, and then coming out the other side when they had given up just to lure them back to chasing her so she could hide.

So in short if it's a giant dog Zoey takes it head on, but if it's a little dog then she goes for the cheap shots. What can I say my dogs not dumb, she knows that you don't fight in a fair fight. LOL

Good Neighbors

2009-05-03T19:30:00.000-05:00

It was a busy day for me today, but it was a good day. It's funny that being so far from home I tend to think people are different here, if today was any indication then I suppose people are truly much the same anywhere.

I started out today with some household chores. Me and the Zoester were up early and after cooking breakfast we went out and trimmed some shrubs that are in front of the house. Zoey really enjoyed herself chasing all the branches that I threw off the bushes and then chewing on whatever should could get her teeth on. Afterward we gathered up all the branches and bagged them for the Thursday trash run and proceeded to talk tot he family on the phone.

Since I did the shrub trimming I figured I should probably go ahead and mow the lawn while I was at it. So I broke out the practically brand new mower that Jacki and I bought when we moved into the new house and proceeded to wreck havoc on the evil green strands of itchiness. Or at least that was the plan, in reality my shiny new mower didn't work so well. I thought at first it was just cold from setting for two weeks, but after I left it running for about 10 minutes and it still made a weird revving noise, I shut it off and tried to figure out what was wrong with the thing.

Luckily for me, my neighbor that lives behind me heard the mower from his porch and came over to the fence to lend a hand. The guy literal looks like Santa has run away to Florida for the off season. He's got a big belly, a white beard, and he's pretty cool. He's rough around the edges in the way that most hillbillies I know are, but he was nice and he lent a hand just to be neighborly.

It turns out that down here in beach country your air filter gets clogged after two mows. So even though I knew about air filter and mowers I had no idea it could happen so fast after just buying a new one. But he helped me to get it going and finished up my yard.

Maybe he's santa and maybe he's not, but he's definitely someone I don't mind having for a neighbor.

Crazy Tuesdays

2009-04-28T17:50:00.000-05:00

Tuesday is one of those days that most people don't really spend much thought on. It's the day after the work week starts and you haven't quite sunk into that numb mindset but your not really enjoying the days like you would for a weekend. But today just goes to show that even Tuesdays can be a little crazy sometimes.

The day started out with the normal playing. I got up to entertain the Zoester and we spent the morning doing things to wear her down for her time in the crate. She seemed perky and I was even psyched that she made it through the night without needing to go outside. So off I go on my merry way to work.

Yesterday I got assigned the task of picking up an affiliate for my boss on my was to work so instead of heading to the shop I headed to the new facility and picked up Bob. He was a pretty neat old guy with lots of knowledge and stories much like my boss, Rex. I was there a little before 9:30 and still made it to work on time which was awesome.

Then about midway through the day they find out that Bob needs to be back at the new facility by 4 in order to catch his bus back to Tampa. This presents a bit of a problem since we don't leave till 6 and the shop is a good hour round trip. So just as people are starting to try and figure out Bob's ride, I get a call from Jacki.

It turns out that when Jacki made it home for lunch Zoey had been throwing up in her kennel all day. So I call the vet and he advises us to bring her in and leave her for the afternoon and pick her up before 5 when they close. So Jacki takes the lethargic Zoey to the Vet and I find my boss and let him know that I can take Bob back to the bus and then swing by the Vet and everyone is happy.

It's amazing how fast the day feels when all your plans change and things come up. I didn't work eight hours, and I'm not sure how the pay will fall out for carting around someone for the company, but it turned out that I needed to leave early and this provided the means, so either way I'll be happy. Jacki summed it up the best when she said she didn't ever want kids if seeing Zoey sick is even a partial feeling of the twinge that you get when your little one has the sniffles, and yet the Vet said she'd be fine and that what she caught was very common for puppies.

I know I didn't eat much lunch worrying about what she had, if it could be parvo the puppy killer or if she was just having issues with her dog food. But a normal Tuesday it definitely was not.

The new place

2009-04-26T13:06:00.002-05:00

Just thought you guys might like to see the new place now that we're all moved in and everything.

What a week

2009-04-18T16:20:00.001-05:00

All of you have probably seen the pictures of my new little Zoey. She's a cutie I know, but man what a week it's been since we got her. I knew a puppy would be a time consumer but boy did I underestimate it a bit. LOL Zoey is doing really well I think. I've never had an inside dog, but we've only had a handful of messes on the floor and her crate training is going really well. I can settle her down at night after only a few minutes and she sleeps for most of the night. I do have the 4 in the morning bathroom wake-ups but I think as she gets older those will go away.

But for all her greatness, she's still a handful. I think I've glimpsed just a smidgen of what raising a child would be like. Always on the go, never a moment of piece. She's always there wanting to play or cuddle. Needing attention or watching so she doesn't get into mischief. And she's just a puppy, I couldn't imagine a baby person with more intellect and a psyche that could be intentionally making things difficult. I'm still glad I have her, she's my baby girl. But man do I have respect for the people raising kids, and an even firmer resolve not to do so.

Another high point of the week was my new computer showing up. I've just now got everything working on it, even though I got it on Monday. It's taken me all week and three phone calls with Dell support but now I have the internet, hd sound and video, and a fast machine of mechanical wonder. I've still got transfer files from the old machine over, but it's at least usable for the day to day now. Computers have come a long way since I bought my old one, and I'm not ashamed to admit that I needed help from Dell Support to get it going, but man is it a bit frustrating opening up a shiny new toy and having it not work.

So the week was good if busy, and the weekend is awesome with my gal pal Zoey sleeping by here on the couch. And now off to make some tacos for dinner.

2009-04-11T18:23:00.002-05:00

So here's my new companion. I've named her Zoey. So far she's been awesome and although I was looking for an older dog, I fell for the little gal. She's still a shelter dog, so I guess technically it fulfills my requirements. At any rate I'm excited.

She's a sheltie and Australian shepherd mix. I don't think she'll be real big, but she'll be active and big enough. I think they'll be a few sleep less nights and some adjusting but it will be awesome none the less.

So welcome Zoey!!

To get a dog or not to get a dog

2009-04-11T06:46:00.001-05:00

That really is the question for me my friends. I've been weighing the pros and cons all week, while waiting for the weekend to get here. A part of me really wants to own a dog. I love to play with dogs. They are great companions. She would add a sense of security to this big house. I have the yard and the income to support a dog. So it should be a simple decision to pick out one.

But then I get to thinking about all the dogs I've had growing up, and how none of them made it to their natural death. All of them were snuffed of life early for one reason or another. And that's got me thinking that maybe I shouldn't get another dog. I mean I don't know what the future will hold, and although I'm in a perfect set-up for a dog now, I don't know if I will be tomorrow. This coupled with the fact that in Florida you can't dispose of a dog the same way you do in Arkansas makes me hesitant. A dog is a long term commitment, that I've never seen all the way through.

We watched Marley and Me last night. And the antics of that dog cracked me up. He was an awesome dog, but he was also unruly and not well behaved. That's the thing with animals they will be what they are, even if you train them. A dog is not always going to do what you expect or what you want. That doesn't bother me if I'm in the wide open country, but here in the suburbs of Florida I think it could be a problem.

So all my debating and deliberating comes down to a list of pros and cons. Obviously I want a dog which is a big pro, but at the same time I'm hesitant which makes me wonder why? I know for sure that Jacki and I are going to go to the pet shelters and rescue places today and meet some dogs. And from there I'll just take it one dog at a time. But I'll keep you posted on what I decide and I promise pictures if we do get a dog.

Ghost Riders in the I-pod

2009-04-08T06:58:00.001-05:00

I've been meaning to post this odd occurrence for a while now, and I've finally remembered this morning. Everyday I get to work and I set up my bench. I dig out my tools, I get my sheet ready for logging, and I dig out my Mp3 player. Since old faithful died on me not too long ago, I've been using a newer Sony Walkman thing. It works really well. I don't have as much music on it, but I have plenty of space for the music I actually like, and so I just leave my mp3 player set on shuffle.

So after turning it on for the day and getting it plugged into my speakers that sit on my bench, I usually go and find an instrument to fix. But regardless of the day, and what song it ends on the day before, my Walkman always starts the day off with Ghost Riders in the Sky by Johnny Cash. I don't know if it's an odd glitch in my machine, or if all the Sony Walkman's latch onto a song and cycle it at the beginning of the shuffle feature, but I know mine does. It doesn't bother me, I think it's a really good song. But it does make me smile to myself everyday. It's like my call to arms, or my whistle at the factory. I hear Ghost Riders in the Sky and I know the work day has begun.

In other more life altering news, Jacki and I have officially moved into the new place. It's pretty awesome. We got everything moved last weekend and set up for the most part. The yard actually already has a dog run in it. So that's super exciting. I think we are headed to the area pet shelters this weekend to look for a dog. I doubt we get a puppy, they need a lot of attention and we both have to work, but I figure if we find a nice older dog that will be cool too. It will be like an Easter bunny with just a few added parts. LOL

But all in all everything is going well here on the Brandon front.

fing-E.R.

2009-03-27T06:56:00.001-05:00

I write to you today an injured man. I have now officially made my first journey to the E.R. I generally consider myself a lucky person when it comes to injuries and this one was no different, but it did require me to visit my local practitioner of medicinal arts, which was entertaining to say the least.

My Thursday started on a fairly normal note. I got up ate my breakfast, read a book, and went to work. Then at work I grab a tenor saxophone and begin my day of instrument repair. Sadly this saxophone and I didn't see eye to eye. And although I won out in the end, it got a few good knocks in along the way.

One of the most frustrating repairs I've come across is the frozen hinge rod. It slows you down. It requires you to be innovative. It requires you to get a saw. Sadly the saw isn't for the instrument itself, but for the hinge rod. Once you've tried everything in your power to remove the rod the correct way, it comes down to the brute force of a saw. You cut the rod out, you save the threads, and the pieces and then you make another rod to replace the broken fragments that remain of the old one. It's a semi long and boring process.

But yesterday it proved to be a bit more entertaining if a bit more painful to boot. As I was in the process of cutting new threads on my sparkly new rod, I kept having the end break off in the thread die. It was frustrating to say the least, but it was also being a royal pain. So I went to ask my boss if something was wrong with my method, since after three tries I was using quite a bit of rod stock. He checks my set up and doesn't see any problems and volunteers to watch and see what's going wrong. But first I must rescue the thread die by removing the broken end of the rod.

After doing this two times already I was pretty adept at getting the little bugger out, but as luck would have it the third time was the charm, or in this case the ant-charm. After my method of extraction had failed, my boss showed me how to drill out the center of the stuck piece, and then recommended that I use a metal punch to knock out the now "structural weakened" rod piece. So I go get my punch, he goes and gets a hammer and we meet back at the vice.

As I place the die on the anvil part of the vice, and position the punch on in the hole we drilled, I give it a light whack and nothing really happens. My boss tells me to give it a good hit, and so I go back and deliver a pretty good hammer blow. At this point things have moved a bit. So as I go to pick up the punch and re position it, I notice that it's broken. So I show it to my boss and as we're looking for the other end I see blood out of the corner of my eye. And what would you guess, but the other end of the punch is broken off in my finger. At that point my boss sends me to the hospital in the care of one of my co-workers, Dan.

And after an exciting couple of hours in the E.R. where they took X-rays, gave me a tetanus shot, and final removed the "foreign object" as they were calling it. I'm now safe and sound, with only a slightly throbbing shoulder, and a new hole in my ring finger. Luckily the punch went all the way through my finger so they just pulled it out, and I didn't even have to get stitches. My doctor however was an odd one. He used the numbing needle to make sure nothing else was in my finger. After he removed the piece from the x-ray he put the needle through my finger and went back and forth a couple of times to make sure there were no other particles. Luckily by that time my finger was numb, cause otherwise I might have been upset.

But all in all I'm safe and sound. The nurse wrapped my hand up like I'd broken something instead of just my injured finger. I went around most of yesterday feeling like a mummy, but I finished the day at work. And the moral of the story is that piercing your finger is not the new "hip" thing to do. LOL

Kitty Aggression

2009-03-19T06:45:00.001-05:00

As of this morning I officially have a new most disgusting feeling. It use to be the feeling of sticking your hand in a sink full of clogged dishwater and feeling around in the drain to clear the sink. You have to push past and move all types of little slimy unknown things and it just makes me want to gag. But now I have a new one. Thanks to my slightly vindictive house companion, Spike.

Spike's a good cat, we get along pretty well for him being a cat. But he's older, and sometimes he has trouble digesting his food. I'm aware of this and always keep an eye out for his regurgitated food in the floor. It's a bit disturbing hearing him bring it back up, but it doesn't really stain the carpet and so it's a simple clean up and a empathetic pat for the guy. I've learned to just let it be a part of the mysteries of a cat.

Today though, Spike led me astray. I was up in the wee hours of the morning like usual. I had just walked into the living room and managed to turn my computer along with the t.v. so I could watch the weather/news. When as I go to head in the kitchen Spike jumps onto the couch. This is startling at 6:30 in the morning. He jumps on things all the time, but usually I'm more aware. And so after recovering from the shock, I go to continue into the kitchen when he meows at me. Spike's a talked sometimes. Usually he wants out the door, or more food, or if he's really hurting for attention he'll meow then as well. But not this morning, this morning it was a distraction. It was a design to get me to look away from the floor and into his feline eyes of kitty doom.

So as I turn my head to utter a nonsensical good morning, my foot lands in a wet, sticky, slightly lumpy, mass of kitty leftovers. My foot doesn't even make it to the ground completely. All it takes is the tips of my little toes to touch it and I pick up my foot and look at the present I've been left. So my cheerful hello forgotten, I hobble into the kitchen for a paper towel. And start my morning off cleaning up kitty vomit.

Regardless of his intent it's now my new most hated feeling. That substance in between my toes just about ruined my breakfast appetite. But I for one think Spike had it all planned and coordinated, whereas Jacki claims that his last meow before the ill fated step was a warning for me to watch out. I suppose we'll never know the truth from the cat's lips, but I know the way those beady eyes looked, and the way that meow sounded, and I say it was the kitty aggression in some sort of feline revenge.

But don't worry, if it's war he wants, it's war he'll get. Just wait till we get a puppy. Then we'll see who gets the last laugh. mwhaha

The Glitch of a Dear Old Friend

2009-03-14T21:15:00.001-05:00

Thursday night saw the demise of one of my long standing companions. It was sadly really. It'd been with me since I first started UCA. It helped me through those 10 hour drives from MN to AR. I counted on it for amusement during flights, in the car, or just at home. Sure we had some rough times, finding the right compatible equipment and trying to tote it around while on the bicycle. But they were worth it. The reassuring heft of it's fine silver body. The easy to use buttons that adorned it's welcoming face plate. How I'll miss it. The days at work will never be the same. It was my white noise to the ever present annoying-ness that is people. Like a blue blanket to my infantile fears. But after the many good years of use and enjoyment. It has died, and is no more.

I'll miss you dear Creative Zen Sleek. You were my first MP3 player. Prone to the occasional freeze up, your battery lasted well over the guaranteed eight hours. I could easily skip songs while driving down the road. I never once filled you too full of music even if I didn't listen to half of it. And now as you pass into the gray nothingness that all electronics some day meet. I look to the horizon for the coming of your replacement has been for told.

And there I see the smaller, sleeker, Sony that is your replacement. But for all it's newness and glory I fear that it will pale in comparison to your test of time. For your 5 years of use were a bar that I fear no other MP3 player shall ever overcome. Rest in piece my old friend, and know that I'll mourn you every day, while I listen to my soothing melodies on the Sony that has taken your place without truly replacing you.

My own crime fighting Watchmen

2009-03-07T06:40:00.000-06:00

So last night Jacki and I headed out to see the Watchmen. We'd both been looking forward to it for quite a while, and the movie did not disappoint. It stuck to the graphic novel really well, the characters were cast dead on (except for Richard Nixon), and the CGI/fight scenes were well done. It's definitely an R rated movie, that I don't think will appeal to the main stream. But we thought it was awesome, a little long but still awesome.

Sadly though, I got up this morning and have found out that I have become a victim of crime. Sometime in the night a person of ill intent and malicious activity broke into my porch and stole Jacki's empty beer keg!!! It's amazes me a little that someone would still such a thing. It truly had no purpose. I used it as a plant stand on the porch to hold one of my pine trees, and yet someone has stolen it. I don't know what they'll use it for, my money is on a group of kids that wanted it for no reason other then wanting it. But none the less I or more correctly Jacki was a victim of theft.

And where was are masked crusader? Our dark night, or protector of the innocents? Gone! They never existed. It's a sadness that the world doesn't have super heroes, and not very many regular heroes when you think about it. So the burden of protection falls to the populace at large. The men in women of the blue, the Army, the Navy, the establishment, the system. But who takes the time to look for a stolen beer keg? Whose jurisdiction does that fall under?

I say it falls under mine! A search of the crime scene, a trail of clues, suspects; they will lead me to the thief. If the world can't have super heroes at least it can of super-hero enthusiasts. And that's me super enthusiasts number one.

A Tenor or Two

2009-03-03T06:25:00.001-06:00

The annual round up of tenor saxophones has begun at my job. Apparently the company owns around three hundred of the ever elusive instruments, but the vast majority of them are either rented already or so old that you'd have to be inoculated for the bubonic plague before you picked them up. However like all searches if you look long and hard enough eventually you come up with something.

Tenor saxophones are an interesting instrument. While generally a lot like an alto saxophone when it comes to repair they do present a few new twists for saxophone repair. The body is quite a bit larger then your standard alto sax and therefore getting to certain areas is an interesting conundrum for dent work. My shop has a good set of magnetic dent balls, which while speeding up the process don't always work. They do however generally leave scratches on the horn. So it's a fifty fifty toss up on which is better minor dents or scratched lacquer.

Padding is padding for the old tenor saxophone. Granted the pads get bigger, but really that just means you can play with more glue. Gluing pads is one of the most relaxing aspects of repair in my opinion. Getting them level and sealing is a totally different bear.

What I find interesting with the tenor saxophone, as well as just about any saxophone is the variety of designs. I mean all instruments have different makes and models, but I think saxophones are the most varied in overall layouts and construction. You have bell side keys which are on the outside of the bell or the inside. Then you have levers that can lay on connecting arms, or make cradles for the connecting arms, then different springs for different levers. Not to mention the addition of odd regulation arms, weird G# connections, and overall confusing-ness of the octave mechanisms.

Each one while mundane once you've fixed 10 or 12 of them are a new twist on a generic design, which make the saxophone family a very diverse looking instrument class. Now if I could only play the darn things. Life would be grand.

The new house

2009-02-24T19:49:00.005-06:00

A comic streak of luck

2009-02-22T16:19:00.001-06:00

I recently decided that it was time I embarked into the world of graphic novels. I've always been a fan of the super hero genre. I try to see all the new movies, watched all the old cartoons, and just generally enjoyed the idea of super powered individuals. Sadly I never really dove into the comic books as a child. I had a few, and I read those that others had, but I never really spent the time or the money to really get into the hobby. But with the advent of graphic novels, I'm coming around to the idea of comic books.

It's appealing to me having a larger story in once bound volume. I recently started the Civil War novels because they have caught my eye for some time. I like the idea of super heros having to choose sides and form teams that would normally be at odds with one another.

To jump start this new hobby of mine, I decided to get on Amazon.com last weekend and purchase my first graphic novels. I was pretty excited because I had managed to find most of the beginning novels in the Civil War set and so I put my plastic card down and made the purchase. My anticipation grew throughout the week, as I waited for the post office to deliver my new literary munchies, and then on Thursday the first package finally arrived.

I opened my mail like any kid in a candy store, and my excitement was sadly misplaced. I had not ordered the graphic novel at all, but instead purchased an individual comic book that was a piece of the overall story. Feeling not a little bit disheartened I had prepared myself for a similar disappointment when my other packages arrived. Saturday was that fateful day.

But as luck would have it, I had only been duped on the initial delivery. As I opened my other packages they all were graphic novels. So although I was initially rethinking my newest literary hobby, I am pleased with my purchases even if one of them wasn't really what I wanted.

Saturday also resulted in me finding a new place to live. But more on that later.

Grumpy old man on-set

2009-02-13T06:42:00.000-06:00

I've recently noticed that some people are really starting to annoy me. I know I've never really been considered much of a social person. I don't enjoy crowds, large gatherings, or the small niceties of socializing. But I've never really considered myself angry at people. I always just assumed it was my anit-social ways. Now though, with a constant group of people, it seems that maybe I just don't play well with others.

I've always believed that I could get along with anyone, if I had too. I consider school or work a have to situation, and therefore although I might not like the person I can at least be civil. Now though, I don't even enjoy being civil. It's not a general disclaimer of hate towards every person, but rather a specific type of people.

I've noticed that a person that is chatty, but doesn't really say anything, they just chat to fill up the silences, annoys the heck out of me. I don't like to be spoken at. I don't need to have a play by play of what the person's doing every second, especially at work. I mean we're doing the same job, it's not like I don't know the procedures for replacing a pad, or taking out a dent. Yes, they're different methods and tricks of the trade, but when all a person does is say, "Yup it's perfect" and then wait for you to swoon at the craftsmanship I don't consider that sharing knowledge. I consider it showing off.

Add to this annoying new co-worker my already shaky social skills and I'm pretty sure that I'm reaching the bitter old man stage too early in life. Yesterday while sitting at my bench, I was fantasizing about leaving it all behind. Just getting onto my bike and pedaling into the great unknown. All I needed was a quest to complete my adventurers soul.

It's sad that life consists of working, hustling for money just to stay afloat. I know that's not all life is, but it's a main portion these days, especially for the middle class. And as much as my wandering feet would like to rebel, I like everyone else am entrapped by the system. I have my debts to pay and my commitments to keep. But while I head off to my cool job of fixing instruments, know that in my head I've embarked on my quest for fulfillment. Maybe I'm pedaling across Australia, or I'm making my way across America, or maybe I'm just taking it easy in a hammock by the beach. Alone, away from the annoying, the stress, the grind, and the toil, just staring into that true romantic's sunset waiting.

A clumsy Weds.

2009-02-05T06:56:00.002-06:00

So yesterday at work was the semi monthly day that things break. It's not a conscious decision, it just happens. I think everyone has these days where things just randomly don't adhere to the regular course of nature. Yesterday was that day for me.

The morning started off with me working on a flute. Generally I'm not a fan of flutes, but they aren't so bad if you get in the right mind set, and since my job has an excess of 3000 of the stupid things I try to get in the mind set from time to time. But at any rate, the first flute I touched yesterday turned out to be the devil incarnate.

While attempting to remove a simple screw from the inside of the pad cup, I managed to break the head off the screw and this resulted in me having to unsolder the whole piece and re-attach a new one. While this is cool, since I'd never had to do it before, it was a bit of an odd start to the day. After successfully attaching the new spud, I put the flute back together and wallah my screw driver tip breaks off in a different screw... While more frustrating to me, it also presented a problem that wasn't easily fixed.

So after said devil flute, I decided to change instruments for the day. Which is a bonus for my job, the ability to bounce from instrument to instrument. But after flutes I went to trumpets. I like trumpets. Their simple, they don't have too many surprises in a day to day repair world. So I was going along at a pretty good clip, when my boss hands me a customer horn to run.

In the course of removing the small dents and cleaning the horn, I accidentally drop the main tuning slide from my bench. Generally this isn't a big deal. 9 times out of 10 it would just bounce and maybe get a new minor ding, but not yesterday. Nope. The cosmos were against me yesterday, I drop the thing and it cracks. Not a little crack either, but a whole spiderweb's worth of cracks.

And so I get the fun job of replacing the crook. It went well. I didn't really have any troubles after that. Maybe it was the day where the instruments had to get in their kicks. I can't really complain, I didn't impale myself or hurt anyone, but it was a bit odd for things to go wrong on the simplest of tasks.

In other more exciting news, I hooked my computer up to my giant t.v. last night and Jacki and I watched Scanner Darkly on Instant Netflix. It was pretty awesome. The picture was surprisingly good, and I think in the new place we'll try to have a computer hooked up to it for gaming and internet watching.

The short things in life

2009-01-31T11:48:00.003-06:00

It's recently come to my attention that my posture is slowly degrading. I don't consciously slouch, it just happens because everyone around me is shorter. But in hopes of counter acting what Jacki calls my sloping back, I decided to lower my chair at work.

Generally when I work on an instrument, I like to hold it in my lap, or at the very least lean it against my shoulder. I have work bench, it's actually really nice and big, but for some reason unless I'm holding the instrument, it's just hard for me to control where it goes and what I'm trying to do. My work bench was used mainly as a place for my tools to set, and for various pieces of the instrument I was working on hang out till I got around to them.

But with the lowering of my chair, the work bench is now pretty much at eye level. This has led to a number of new instrument placements. It allows me to see things from newer different angles, and surprisingly it does help me to set up straight so that I can reach everything. I'm still working out the details, but I think the lowering of my chair will be turn out to be a good change.

It has however had the odd side effect of making me feel short. I know I'm not the tallest person, but I generally regard myself as of a good height. Now though, since I set as low to the floor as my chair allows, I find myself looking up at people when they walk by, and feeling dwarfed by colleagues that I usually tower over.

I have a new found sympathy for the shorter people in the world. I never understood the short person complex, but now in a small way I get it. If every person always physically rose above me, then I would in some unexplainable way feel inferior. Luckily I can stand up at any time and resume my height advantage, but know that for eight hours of every work day I get more in-tune with the short people of the world; and I empathize with you all.

My b-day

2009-01-26T06:24:00.003-06:00

so I finally broke down and bought my

and Jacki bought me rock band

So far the birthday's looking good. I also bought a quart of ice cream from cold stone with the gift certificate mom got me. so Woot.

Potatoe Chips vs. Entree

2009-01-23T20:51:00.003-06:00

So I recently finished Pandora's Star by Peter Hamilton and the Twilight novels by Stephanie Myer. Both stories were enjoyable but it brought to my attention the very real difference between potato chip reading and entree reading.

A lot of people have read the Twilight novels. They appeal to a larger audience and more universal mindset. While stories aren't all that original, generally lack real gripping plots, and involve characters that are generally one dimensional; they do provide enjoyment. They are the equivalent to a t.v. soap opera or sitcom. People can identify with the characters, the simple plots, and the universal feelings. The author may or may not contribute much academically to the already existing store of written word dealing with ideas such as love or human suffering, but without a doubt they bring back into focus those ideas for the usually apathetic masses. In a society geared toward visual fulfillment it's harder and harder to find a novel that almost everyone has read, or for that matter find people that enjoy reading. Therefore the twilight books are potato chips. Most everyone likes them, their tasty, easily consumed, and although they don't provide long term fulfillment, they at least involve chewing and digesting, as opposed to the intervenes feeding of television.

Pandora's Star on the other hand is a steak. It's meaty. It has a consistency that put's the proverbial meat on your bones. While still enjoyable, it's not something you'd tackle everyday like potato chips. The book-steaks of the world are something that take foresight and consideration before consumption. They require a commitment. The story lines are intricate. Different veins spread and encompass a whole spectrum of topics. While your still given your fair share of fatty entertainment, in the end what you get is a full stomach and long hours of digestion. The ideas and concepts slowly crawl through your mind. Some sticking to your thought patterns forever, much like an artery clogged by the solidness of red meat. It becomes a part of you, something you'll think about and contemplate. Something you'll look back at, before embarking on the next course.

In the end, that's why I enjoy reading. Whether it's a potato chip or a steak, I control the intake. I envision the characters, the scenarios, everything is dictated by my thought process. Unlike television, which provides you with everything except tactile sensations. Books allow you to expand your imagination. Churn your mind through 1000 pages and see if it isn't affected in some way. It's an amazing process. Another form of human digestion. Words being read, chewed into thoughts, and spewed out as ideas. Something I think everyone should do just to know how it feels, and what it does to the life you lead.

So pick up a book, be it in the from of junk food or entree, and read. Devour the words, fill your other stomach. See if there's a hunger you didn't even realize you'd been experiencing. So long ignored that you'd forgotten it's name.

All things shiny and new

2009-01-22T06:25:00.001-06:00

This week has found me confronted with all the exciting changes of the new year. My shop is moving into a larger "better" building. Therefore Jacki and I are moving to somewhere new and closer to both our works. This involves us looking at apartments, homes for rent, and maybe even well constructed cardboard boxes in the alley. In our quest for the best living arrangement we plan to leave no stone unturned.

Last weekend was our first step on the journey to the new apartment. I was surprised at how much I enjoy looking at apartments. I don't generally consider myself much of a consumer. Aside from groceries my spending habits are pretty dull and uneventful, but as with groceries and other necessities, I figure since I have to spend the money to live, I might as well strive to enjoy the burden. This is the first time I've been able to have much say in where I've lived. All my previous moves were hurried life shifts that resulted in grabbing whatever apartment was close. While this has worked for me, and I've been very lucky in the results, I'm excited to have options and choices this move.

Aside from the apartment, I think Jacki is going to attempt and find her a car this weekend. Although it will be her decision, I'll be around to enjoy the looking and decision process. She's been saving for a while in hopes of finding her a vehicle. My fingers are crossed for finding her a good vehicle, but at the very least it will be an interesting experience.

In contrast to these to upcoming necessary purchases, I've also been kicking around the idea of buying a new television. A part of me craves the larger screens, better resolution, shiny power that a large t.v. forces into a room. But the more rational part realizes that I don't use a television much. I'll watch a movie on occasion, and I've got my Monday night of t.v. shows, but for the most part my boob tube remains ignored. Cable doesn't offer anything of interest to me, and if it weren't for video games and my few shows I'd probably forgo televisions entirely. They are most assuredly a killer of human interaction. Regardless of what household I've visited at one point or another the fall back of watching television has been used to entertain and solidify a group.

I guess my point is that I enjoy shopping around, looking at all things shiny and new, but in the end I don't spend money on things unless they are necessary. That's not to say that I won't splurge on entertainment from time to time and I'm sure eventually I'll break down and buy a new television, but for the most part I prefer to look at the shiny new things and just visualize them in my life before impulse buying them. And in the end that visualization is enough to hold off hasty purchases and the useless wasting of my hard earned money.

So say hello to the owner of the shiny new imaginary television. If you ever stop by I promise that it won't become the center of your visit, and instead I'll do my best to provide alternative entertainment. Because in the end, my imaginary t.v. probably won't do as much for you, as it generally does for me. LOL

A New Horn Year

2009-01-09T06:00:00.000-06:00

Now that the holidays are over, and I'm back in the thick of things, I'm glad that i still do what I do and live where I live. It's always good after a break to come back and enter your old routines. It gives stability to a hectic lifestyle that you might not normally embrace.

The new year is going to be a good one for me in terms of work I think. 2009 has barely started and I've already got to tackle a new instrument. Early this week my boss dropped a Bari-Saxophone in my lap. Generally speaking a saxophone is a saxophone regardless of the size, but it's still a new instrument. Some of the mechanisms are different, the relationship between keys work differently, and it's definitely bigger then an alto.

My first exposure when well. I consider myself really good at doing things I know how to fix, and mediocre at figuring out solutions to new problems. I think it's related to the whole education system, and the rote learning that's always been forced upon my early forming mind. But at any rate, when I'm given a new problem, especially dealing with a mechanical aspect I tend to just blank out. It's not that I don't think I could figure it out, but it's that my mind doesn't automatically start the process, like it does with many other things.

I stare at the problem, say "hmm that interesting", I follow along with what I can of the mechanical process, and then I just shrug and thing wow that's neat, but I've go no idea why this piece moves that piece. It's an odd thing to admit too, being a repair person and all, but I'd say that's my biggest draw back right now. Once someone shows me how to fix it, then I'm set and I can generally remember it the next time. If they take the time to explain it, then that's even better and I probably will at least know enough to wing it if necessary.

So when my boss hands me a Bari-saxophone, I get excited because it's something new and I'll hopefully get to learn something. But it comes with the downside of having to say "Hey, I don't know why this piece moves that piece." I realize this is natural given how little I truly know about repair, but it's still a bit frustrating. A part of me always worries that me not knowing something will be the straw that breaks the work camel's back and get's me fired or causes a co-worker to see me as incapable.

Regardless of all that, I get to tackle my second Bari today. So I assume that means my first one was good enough to warrant me getting a second one. It's been a good work week, full of new horns, new projects, and new methods.

Hopefully it's an indicator of how the year will go.

My Yearly Update

2008-12-30T07:25:00.001-06:00

It's that time again regular readers and distant friends. I like to take a minute as the year winds up and just re-hash all the ups and downs of my last 12 months. It's a good way for me to remember everything that happens in this day to day thing I call life. So here it goes:

January of 2008 found me still in Minnesota. I was starting the process of finishing my education in Band Instrument Repair, trying on the trials of a long distance relationship, and attempting to stay warm while fighting my first true turn at winter weather. I was excited about my last semester of school, worried about finding the right job, and glad to be out of the holiday madness and into my routine of daily life.

In Minnesota my winter lasted longer than I was use to, but in the end spring came and I was onto the green and sunny times that were the end of my year in Minnesota. All my new found friends and I were having our last hooray, I brought back hacky-sac for a little while, got boxed in the face by my good friend Aaron, went to some more bars, and took some friendships father along then I had ever thought they'd go. But in the end my Minnesota ended just like everything always does, and so now I have the memories, some knowledge, and a couple good stories.

The spring of 2008 also saw the marriage of my good friends Joe and Stephy. It was a wedding I'd been waiting on for a long time, and it didn't disappoint. Sadly I missed out on a lot of the preparation, but I was able to put in my appearance, make my speech, and enjoy the occasion with my best high school friend.

Sadly my customary summer vacation was shortened and taken this year by the rude intrusion of the real world and my first job as a repair tech. Classes ended in Minnesota and after all my interviews and worrying I settled on the idea of living in Florida. So it was with the help of my awesome mom and dad that I was on the move again across the full length of our United State from the frigid north to the sunny beaches.

My summer was spent adjusting to the new life I now lead in Florida. I worked, I wandered, and I wound up stumbling into a great girl. So along with a good job, some new friends, and the awesome weather, I've wound up with a partner in crime, or at the vary least a partner in reading about crime. LOL Jacki and I met on the Fourth of July and since then I just can't seem to shake her.

So as my summer was ending and I was enjoying my first Florida winter, I was also acquiring my first room mate since Justin my long time college living mate. It was nice to share my apartment again. To have someone to wile away the hours in the day. A person to randomly through a pillow at, or to talk to about absolutely nothing. Someone to help with the cleaning, the cooking, the decisions of what to do for fun.

And just as everything was settling into a slowed down pace, the holidays were here again, and the year is now over. I managed to get Jacki home to meet the family for Thanksgiving, and I've now met her mom who's visiting from the Philippines, her brother who just lives up the road a ways, and recently returned from my own family immersion in Arkansas.

The holidays were good, I saw all my Arkansas friends and family, my brother home from Iraq, his wife who tolerates me as the five year old she never wanted, Joe and Stephy with their newly acquired little charge, Justin and Kerry with their emerging conundrum on where to move, and my cousins going through the same stages of life that I'm attempting. It was a good visit, refreshing with old familiar faces and renewing in the making memories.

It was a good year. The ups and downs, the moving, the meeting, all combined into my 2008. So in an eye blink you've seen my year, it's not a play by play but an overview of where I'm at, and by the end of 2009 who knows where I'll be. So stay tuned regular readers, or casual observers for the great grand thoughts of 2009 seen through the blue eyes of your fellow friend and observer.

The long road home

2008-12-21T08:28:00.000-06:00

So I finally made it to the great and grand Clifty, Arkansas last night. It was a tiring journey, but I can't complain too much. My trip started early Friday morning in the foggy town of Seminole, Florida. The fog was so thick that we literally couldn't see the road signs in front of us. Sadly this resulted in a missed exit and some last minute cursing of the road before we got back on track, but eventually we made it to the airport and I had plenty of time for reaching my flight. So a big thanks to my ride, Dani.

Once I got in the airport and out of the fog, I realized that my e-ticket that I printed off before leaving the apartment didn't have my boarding gate. For a few minutes I thought I just wasn't seeing it on my ticket. You know those times when things stair at you in the face, but you just don't see them. But no, it really wasn't listed on my ticket. So before I could venture through the always fun airport security I had to figure out which gate and terminal I was headed for. I like the Tampa Airport because it separates the security points down so that not every person is trying to go through the same lines at the front of the airport. You actually have to go through a shuttle and reach your area before you pass through security. It's handy and a lot quicker then some airports I've went through. And luckily the fog didn't impede our take off.

I got to Chicago without any trouble and then proceeded to kill my four hours of lay over time. I ate a nice lunch at Johnny Rockets. I found a place semi quiet to talk to my Grandma for about an hour, and then I finished both of my books that I brought for the flights. And just as I finished the Gunslinger Born, I stand up to stretch and as I'm panning the crowd I spot a familiar face. Sitting across the terminal was an old friend's sister. Poor Natasha had been stuck at the Chicago airport since early Saturday morning because she missed her connecting flight by five minutes. Sadly I didn't see her till right before we got on the plane to Arkansas, but luckily she made it on stand by and was able to get home. Her story coupled with my experiences have made me decide to avoid the Chicago airport if at all possible. The airport layout is crappy, the guides and terminals are confusing, and even though I made my flight it was delayed about an hour because of de-icing wings, backed up runways, and all the crazy holiday rush.

But finally after about nine hours of random traveling and waiting I arrived whole and intact for my holiday stay. It's a bit colder her, and my sinus are acting up like usually, but regardless it's good to be home. And now my visiting and holiday plans can begin.

Mistaken Outlook

2008-12-18T06:40:00.000-06:00

I've had this notion or idea in the back of my head for sometime now, and I've been kicking around ideas on how to present it in my infamous blog. So bear with me and I'll give it a try.

People are without a doubt imperfect. Our whole life is a balance between making mistakes and learning to avoid them. Some of the best lessons, like touching a hot stove or getting your heart broke, have to accomplished before you gain the insight and experience that ties you to the rest of the human race. But I've noticed a new aspect of this inherent human condition.

I've always though of work as something I did to the best of my ability in order to receive some sort of gain, generally money but also knowledge or other present day commodities. This mindset suits me well, I always attempt to pull my own weight in any situation, but I've always had part time or short term jobs. There was always a goal or change on the horizon. Just make it though this summer, or just get through this term of school and then I could look forward to a change in lifestyle, my job, or even my place of living.

But now with a stationary job about as permanent as anyone's in this crazy economy, and one that I want to continue to do past a summer's length, I've had time to notice that all the trends and mindsets that I used to get through the crappy jobs of my youth can and do exist in the real work world. Those crappy jobs you start out doing as a kid give you the wrong idea of work. I mean who wants to serve people hamburgers everyday, or mow grass in the heat of the summer. I'm not sure there is a good first job, when your a kid you don't want to have to work. You want time for your friends, time to just kill in aimless hours of youth. But more and more young people start work earlier these days because everyone realizes the value of money as soon as they reach grade school.

Now past the obvious downside of crappy jobs (the jobs themselves) the mindsets and outlooks they generate have a lasting effect. Everyone has a bad day at work. It goes back to the being human thing and making mistakes. Sometimes we miss the groove. So I know when that happens for me, I fall back into the idea that this is only work. It's what I do for 8 hours so that I can have the rest of my time free for other activities. While this is true, it's not what I want my career to become. I honestly enjoy fixing instruments. Sure it's repetitive some days, but I try to look past that and gain some new method or insight every day.

A part of me thinks that this subconscious mindset of apathy is what kept me from pursuing a career filled with real stress. I mean my job has a minimal impact on a child's life. But really if you were to make me teach a class full of eager young minds, or perform a surgery to save a person's life, or even try and diagnosis a person's illness to relieve distress or discomfort, would that not add an exponential amount of stress to the day. I'm not saying I'm a coward and wouldn't do it, but just think these people are human too, and if they have bad days what's the consequence?

Do the class full of kids wind up scarred, does the patient get sicker instead of feeling better? I know these people make mistakes because their human, but I don't know how they manage the pressure. If a mistake could kill a person instead of botch up an instrument, my path to competency would have wiped out half the population of my hometown. My hat comes off to these people and their jobs of life alternating influence, but sometimes you've got to wonder just what mistakes are comparable to the mistakes you know you make.

Is a leaking pad or a missed dent the same as a child left behind or a doctor's missed stitch. Where's the line? How do you quality control something that's irreversible?

Ode to the Spike

2008-12-12T08:02:00.001-06:00

So as a part of my Florida living arrangements I not only have a housemate but also a cat-mate. It's strange to me to have a pet inside the home. I've always grown up with animals outside. While this is a much cleaner hair free living space, it really doesn't breed a sense of connectedness with the animal. Having lived with an inside cat for a couple of months I am amazed at how much I enjoy his sullen company. Spike isn't what I would classify as friendly. He doesn't jump into your lap and beg for attention. He doesn't chase laser pointers, fuzzy balls of twine, or mice. A lot of the time he sleeps in various places around the apartment. At other times he eats and wants to be let outside.

But for all his oddness he does like me. We have our little moments of camaraderie in the mornings. I eat my breakfast with him silently waiting for his share of my leftover cereal milk or yogurt. He'll come into the room and rub against my legs when he feels like being petted. Sometimes he'll swat a ball that has a bell in it. And other times he take at my hand if I have over done the petting bit. Once he's jumped on my pant legs and wrapped his paws around my leg in what can only be called a puma pounce (a hug Jacki called it). Occasionally he makes the oddest noises while he is clearing out the hairballs or meowing for attention. But regardless I enjoy having him around.

I'm amused by his demeanor toward Jacki. Things that I would never attempt she does without a second thought. I see Spike as an animal in himself, she regards him as her pet. Therefore my bounds and hers are no where near the same when it comes to the "fuzzy bastard", but unlike her I get the joy of sleeping through his nighttime meowing. I'm not attuned to his moods, therefore I always assume it's a sullen cat and if he turns out to be happy then it's a plus and if not then I've gotten my one head scratch in for the day.

Spike will never be a puppy, all cuddly with love and full of boundless energy and simple happiness, but he is a companion. When he stands at my feet while I drink my morning OJ or check my phone messages I can envision him as my supernatural familiar. He'd attack evil or do my bidding in a way that a dog couldn't. A dog would follow to the end of the earth, whereas Spike would almost be a flighty sidekick with his own crazy storyline, skipping in and out as he suits, but always valued when he makes an appearance. A fan favorite if you will.

A glancing recollection

2008-12-03T17:43:00.004-06:00

So while I was on my recent trip home to Arkansas, I had a realization. During my travel I noticed that a large amount of the random people that entered into my field of vision looked familiar. That's not to say that I was seeing doubles of people, just that I noticed a striking similarity between the way a person looked and the way I remember a person I use to know look. It was funny really the first time. I was in the restroom of one of the airports, and as I was making may way out I just happen to glance down at the person in front of me and immediately I thought of a a guy named Lance that I use to see in my college band.

I wouldn't call us friends, but we were the nodding acquaintance type. It wasn't Lance in the airport bathroom, my second glance confirmed it, but the two people shared very similar features. I don't know if this random revelation caused me to pay more attention to the other strangers I wandered through the holiday with, but I kept noticing the similarities between the people of my present and the people of my past. It even bled over to my symphony rehearsal last night.

I happen to look over at the bass section and this girl that was subbing for one of our regulars had the exact profile of a girl from high school. I don't consider myself much of a past-living person, but these coincidental looking people lead me to believe that maybe I'm the center of a huge life show, maybe like the Truman Show. All the same individuals keep making an appearance in my life, only slightly altered like their running out of cast members. This would be highly amusing, except that I know my life isn't that interesting to most people. Therefore it leads me to another theory.

Regardless of the distance, the place you live, the country, time, or circumstances, we all come from the same stock of people far enough back. Or at least share similar background development. I don't mean that I have the same ancestors as the person I randomly happen upon, but rather that if you look far enough back, the person that spawned me knew the person that spawned the guy I happened to set by. This may seem like common sense, but I thought it was important how the realization manifested itself in my everyday travels.

Home for Feasting

2008-11-20T05:47:00.000-06:00

I have long had my travel plans confirmed for my visit to the great land of the south for Christmas, but I had planned on skipping out on Thanksgiving for two reasons. First I thought I only got the day of Thanksgiving off, which impedes traveling quite a bit, and makes it hard to enjoy a day off with work looming just over the horizon. And second the plane tickets were pretty steep for a short one or two day jaunt. But as the day of thanks-feasting drew nearer my boss discovered that in fact we get Thursday and Friday off giving us a four day weekend away from the instrument grindstone. And so I began to re-evaluate my idea of skipping Thanksgiving.

I missed it last year because Minnesota was such a ways away, and I didn't have the money for the trip with school and part time work, so I didn't really want to miss it again if I could help it. But again the prices for flights and travel were steep. And actually had gone up since the date was even closer. Then out of the blue I receive a phone call from the distant land of my brother, Germany. He's calling to inform me that he'd like me to show up at Thanksgiving since it's the first time he'll be home in almost two years. He even offered to pay for the tickets if I was strapped for cash.

And so after putting off his advances for monetary assistance, I kept a firm eye on the flight prices in hopes that as the day drew closer they would go down, and as of yesterday morning with a bit of fancy talking to the airline over the phone, I will now be in the home state for the first holiday of the season. The tickets wound up being pretty reasonable, and although it will still be a lightning fast trip it should be fun.

And just to add to the excitement and family fun I'm bringing Jacki along to boot. So although I won't have time to go any where and visit my friends, I will be be at home to enjoy the holiday, see my long lost brother, and expose Jacki to the wonders that are Arkansas. (mwhaha) ; )

The Loaner Fleet

2008-11-14T07:48:00.000-06:00

Not to be confused with something cool going to the moon. The loaner fleet is the stock of instruments at my job that are the outcasts of the musical world. These are the instruments that children leave out in the symbolic and literal rain. The poor things get beat around, used as swords, dropped, drowned, left in fires, you name it and it's probably happened to these beauties.

Some of them are beyond feasible repair. One flute we keep passing around the different stations in the shop so we can watch peoples reactions when they open the case. It's been burned into a rust color and looks like something you'd find in a nuclear fallout zone. Other instruments just need a good cleaning and some attention and their playable for the next kid that needs a loaned horn.

These horns get sent to kids while their real horn comes to the shop for repair. So if I were a kid I'd be thinking hey a horn that's new to play. And then upon opening the case and seeing the not so new horn that was sent, I'd probably be lax in my carefulness with it as well. At any rate this is the patch of instruments I find myself harvesting in recently.

The office sent back orders for the shop to prepare 500 loaners so that they could be sent out in the coming months for the expected repairs. (I guess kids break stuff around now?!?) So as my boss is scrounging around for this many trumpets and that many saxophones, the rest of us are fixing the dregs of our instrument stock piles.

Yesterday I finished four passable saxophones. They weren't pretty. They smelled from their long hibernation. In short they probably gave me a new form of super plague that bred for years inside the dark metallic body of it's host. But none of them compared to the last saxophone I started yesterday.

I did a precursory inspection of intended victim and saw at least three pads with spider webs growing out of them, about a ton of black unidentifiable carbon matter, a rusted hinge rod, and I wont even mention the color and smell that greeted my initial case opening. In short it was a mess. But it was my mess, and I get to turn it into a playable saxophone.

It won't make it pretty. I won't even take out the majority of the dents. That's not what their looking for, but I will make it playable. And at least when the kids opens the case, if they try to play it instead of dismiss it outright, it should play well. Quite a few of yesterday's castoffs were pretty good playing saxophones when I got done with them.

So hooray for helping the underdog's of the instrument world. I feel like I should teach an instrument to box. And then at least it would be comparable to Rocky and I could run up the monumental steps and yell, Adrian!!!! (If I new an Adrian that might help. but that's the feeling of accomplishment I get from fixing these musical misfits.

Greek food and Work changes

2008-11-13T06:01:00.002-06:00

Last night I headed out and about with a couple co-workers and Jacki. We ventured to Athena's Garden, a nice little restaurant in a local shopping mall complex. I had never eaten at a Greek restaurant, but the food was actually pretty good. Jacki wouldn't let me settle for a cheeseburger, even though I argued that I'd never had a Greek cheeseburger, so instead I got a Gyro Platter. Now I pronounce the word just like it looks, so that it rhymes with pyro. But apparently it sounds like the European word for money a Euro. Regardless of the pronunciation it was pretty tasty. It came with little pita shells and made some nice little Greek burrito things. And of course since I happen to spot the Cold Stone Creamery in the same shopping center, my desert was awesome. LOL I even signed up for their birthday club, which gives you free ice cream on your birthday so whoo hoo January.

As for work, everything is gearing up for the big transition. Our shop is going to start doing overhauls, which involve a lot more stringent guidelines for repair. An overhaul is taking a horn and making it look brand new. You strip it of laquer, you remove all traces of dents, you clean it, you buff it to a high shine, then coat it with new lacquer and after that's all done, you put it back together. For a brass instrument your done, but for a woodwind now you have ot replace all the pads, the corks, the srings, everything on the horn. So when your finished it should be better then new, completed even better then the factory can do it. This is all really cool from the outside view point, but from the inside it takes a lot of re-vamping and changing of long held mind sets. Transitioning a shop that had always been a quick fix playing condition business into a respectable top of the line overhaul facility requires a few heads to get bashed in, and some changining of long held ways.

Luckily since I'm new to the whole thing, I don't forsee any troubles changing, but the tension in the shop from all the old hands really sets my teeth on edge. I never realized just how easily I pick up on the overall mood of a large group. I think this is part of the reason I steer clear of large crowds, just because of all the random energy that floats around. But if it gets to bad I'll just retreat to my headphones and block out the crazyiness. LOL Because for a while we are still fixing instrumetns the old way, as we begin laying the foundation for the new.

Phone Numbers

2008-11-07T17:54:00.002-06:00

So I got a new phone last weekend, and I've realized that I lost a vast majority of the phone numbers I had for people. So if anyone wants to call me, send me a message, or let me have your number again I'd be grateful. Otherwise you probably wont hear from me till I get your number again.

My apologies for the stupid phone switching and I'll hear from you when you get to it.

A new addiction

2008-11-06T07:06:00.002-06:00

So it's been a little while since I posted, and I thought I might explain the reasons for my absence. One my day to day is pretty similar with work and relaxing in just about even quantities and although I had a concert last week, saw my girlfriend dress up for Halloween, and have been living life, nothing really popped out as a good post. The second reason is probably the new PlayStation game that I've been playing.

As part of Jacki's move in I have an influx of games. I've never partook of the Final Fantasy gaming world, but she has Final Fantasy X-2, and darned if I'm not intrigued and amused by it. You run around as three sphere hunting hotties searching Spira for spheres that give you the storyline, give you abilities, and other various things. It's pretty neat in my opinion because you can change a characters ability at any time. You just access their dress-spheres and change their clothes and walla my warrior is now a mage or an alchemist. It's pretty nifty.

Sadly the beginning of the game was pretty dull, so I missed out on getting all of the possible dress options, but I got more interested in Chapter 2 of the game and should be able to get all of the options but one. I think after this game, in a month or two when I feel like picking up another serious RPG I might try some other Final Fantasy games. I've seen my good buddy Joe play them many times, but you just don't appriciate them till you indulge yourself. But as my friend Heather from work says, their not for everyone. But for the RPG enjoyers I can definetly see the appeal. I doubt I go crazy with getting a hundred percent on the game, but it will be good for a play though at any rate.

Hobbit eating and Concerts

2008-10-30T05:52:00.002-05:00

I have come to the conclusion that my Florida lifestyle inspires a different habit of eating. Generally in Arkansas and in Minnesota I stuck to the generic three meals a day. Sure I'd snack and have my ice cream or other dessert whenever the urge struck me, but it didn't really seem like a constant inflow of food. Here in the sunshine state I have noticed that I eat a lot. And it's got me thinking that perhaps I missed my calling as a hobbit. They get breakfast, second breakfast, lunch, noonsies, tea, supper, and I'm sure another snack or two before bed. My day full of calories starts much the same.

Since I don't start work till 10 in the morning I find myself eating my customary breakfast right as I get up at 6 and then before I go to work say 8:30 or 9 I get the urge for what is soon becoming second breakfast in my mind. Then after I pedal to work and start fixing some instruments I generally get a bit of a hunger urge around noon. Somedays I just say the heck with it and eat lunch at noon, but most Floridians push their meals back and so I try to hold out to at least 1 or 2 for the midday meal. This results in my noonsie snack of carrots and crackers, followed closely by lunch which is leftoevers or a sandwhich. Then I'm good for the majority of work. With the excpetion of my cookie or tea snack around 4. I find that that last bit of sugery goodness really helps for the final push through the afternoon.

And thus I make it home from work at 6 and find myself in search of supper. After the last meal of the day has been prepared/eaten you'd think I'd be good with calories and carbs, but as a general rule my tummy gives a little rumbly around 9 and I asauge it with some ice cream or a bit of yogurt, maybe a rum and coke. But regardless I think it's safe to say that although I'd be the tallest hobbit in the world, I think I'd fit in with the eating customs. Come to think of it I always that an underground house would be cool too...

In other news, my first concert with the Tampa Bay Symphony is tonight. It should be pretty good. We are playing Beethoveen's Seventh sypmphony and also Testament of Freedom which features a choir. There a couple other pieces but sadly they didn't have trombone parts so I don't remeber them right of the top of my head. But the concert should be good, and it will be nice to get this series over to move onto the next batch of music.

A good Monday

2008-10-21T05:42:00.002-05:00

So as last week was winding to an end everything at my job was going really well. I'd been working on Saxophones most of the week, and I generally enjoy fixing that instrument. The summer rush had wound to an end so people were more relaxed, I got to do some neater/harder repairs and everything was just jiving in that uniquely awesome way that my life can be most of the time. But then the very last horn I picked up on Friday was really just a dark cloud on my whole weekend. With only 30 minutes to go on Friday afternoon I didn't want to grab the horn to begin with, but there was too much time left to spend it cleaning up, and so I figured it was graded a 1 which should only take 20 minutes and it couldn't hurt.

Sadly it wasn't a true 1. By the time the clock made it to 6 I hadn't cleaned up, I was frustrated, and I wasn't looking forward to leaving the instrument over the weekend for me to start on first thing Monday. But I reluctantly sped cleaned my bench, and headed out to the beginning of the weekend. Friday night I was a little worried about it, but I had thought that by Saturday I have firmly walled it off into that part of my mind where I store things that don't need to be worried about because it won't help any.

But then yesterday, I got to work and I picked up the saxophone and within an hour I had it fixed, playing really good, and it just felt like a giant weight was lifted. A weight that I didn't even realize I had dragged through the weekend with me. So hooray for fixing stuff, but even more hurray for being validated in my attempt to not worry about something that will work out.

Partying

2008-10-18T11:34:00.003-05:00

You often here people say that they are going out to a party. It's alluded to in many teenage geared movies. It's always shown as a massive gathering of people all participating in their own form of social entertaining. You see the popular crowds, in the middle of the gathering, the stoners and odd balls occupying their specific social nitch, and then the regular people milling about in mob fashion. Some people gyrate to music, others occupy the wall or outskirts and catch up on gossip and personal lives. It's always a very busy social scene, with so many events going on that a single person can't hope to get a handle on everything taking place. But that's partying in the movies. In my first hand experience, the party never evolves much further then a few groups. One playing some form of game, one doing the gossiping and conversing with members coming and going, and then the one I tend to be a part of, the outsider or newbie.

As a newbie your often easily overlooked. The gossip and conversation is general on past topics that the main group routinely discusses and catches each other up on. That coupled with the influx of whatever a typically outgoing person adds to the conversation safely keeps the conversating group busy. If the usual topics should begin to fall short of stimulating the desired responses, then the members can always fall back on the standby stories that although have been told many times, general work well over and over, and as the last resort, sex. Sex as a conversation point can often keep itself afloat. Everyone can add something, and if not add at least listen with feigned indifference, or sparkling eyes of avid attention.

For the newbie to move on to the gaming crowd, while easier then the conversation group, still presents a few problems. All in all the gamers have a hierarchy where a certain person challenges another and the group progresses through a rotation of turns. Now with the advent of social games such as poker, rock band, or apples t0 apples there is a place for novices to start and partake of the gaming fun. While the gaming group occasionally gets graced by the main party personages it generally isn't a central aspect of the party. It's purpose is to entertain those that generally aren't tolerated in the conversation group for a long interval of time, or those that don't hold with conversation as a means for entertainment. It can also be an escape for people that need a respite from the main party drag.

And then finally the last leg of awkwardness for the newbie is where to station oneself. If you hover at the outskirts of the conversationalists then eventually you'll be noticed and approached by a member to determine if you are a person of interest. Like a lone wolf in the wilderness the pack sends a delegate to access your ability to add to the pack. Generally the primary conversation comes themself, or sends a delegate of the opposite sex. Thereby testing the applicant with not only mental but also physical obstacles. Can they be conventionally witty, funny, and outgoing in the presence of say an attractive person or alpha group leader. Are they a follower, a revolutionary, or are they just a party-goer trying out the trends and clicks of the gathering.

If the newbie opts to skip the hovering and take up a stationary spot, the party generally flows around them. People come and go, they introduce themselves, they move on to the people they know, and finally assume there accustomed place/places. (There are party migrates, but that's a totally different post.) In the end the newbie winds up outside of all the groups, which when finally remarked upon by the social gathering results in an uncomfortable appeal to come into the circle of conversation, have a turn at the game, or a momentary swarming of persons to make sure that the outsider is having "fun", feeling "alright", and all in all enjoying the party.

Now on the chance that the station the newbie has picked turns out to be a regular perch for some party group, he/she is confronted with a choice. Stay and be physically absorbed into the group because of your location, this doesn't result in immediate introduction tot he group's activity, personage, or mindset. It is just the obligatory response to a group of people confronted with physical object in their path. Subdue and take over, confront and scare away, absorb and remold, or as a last resort move to a new location. And since as creatures of habit, our minds are set, the new location is generally never thought of as the group as a whole. Therefore our stationary newbie finds themself generally moving away in an unobtrusive manner. They try out the group, thinking that perhaps it's a cosmic coincidence that this group generally meets where they happened to station themself, and in some instances it is. The newbie is taken in and the partying goes on around them, now a valid party of the social convention. But other times after a uncommented upon departure the newbie is faced with the same dilemma.

Where to go to partake of the party?

Cats, Mattresses, and Move ins

2008-10-13T06:32:00.001-05:00

So last weekend was the final stage of my new roomy's invasion. We headed out Saturday morning to pick up our mighty rental U-haul truck and then it was off to terrorize the roads of elderly Florida with our truck driving skills. Moving 5 people out of a house definitely takes some packing skills, but I'm happy to say that we got it all too the new place in one trip. Even had room enough for a motorcycle at the back of the truck.
Jacki's stuff was mostly here already, but what hadn't made it was all the larger items. So now that all of her belongings are here the apartment looks a lot more lived in. All in all though I think the place works for us, and even though the pet deposit was paid because of the Spike-man, I think I'll have to refrain from acquiring a puppy. There just isn't enough space or time to train him for when I'm not around.

Probably the largest thing we moved was our new bed. I said good bye to my tried and true mattress of at least ten years this weekend and we welcomed into our little place the new pillow-topped giant. The bed is insanely tall compared to my old bed. It reminds me of a hotel room bed, but so far it's been comfortable enough. Plus it's long enough that I can stretch out completely on it. So woot for new beds.

Lastly the cat has finally got brave enough to venture outside some. So far we try to keep him inside during the heat of the day, but he likes to explore in the early mornings and being a cat I guess it's to be expected that he climbs up things. So long as he doesn't start climbing me, lol all is well.

The Many Colored Land

2008-10-09T06:51:00.002-05:00

It's been a while since I gave my opinion on the books I've been reading. I still have been reading them, but none of them just really seemed like they needed a Brandon review. However I just finished the first book in a series that my great girlfriend Jacki recommended. The story takes place in the science fiction future where humans have been able to come up with one time portal. It sends people back to the time before the Ice Age when mammals are proliferating the world but it is very early on and humans have not evolved yet.

The future world is full of humans that have evolved mental functions of higher power such as telekinesis, telepathy, mental healing, etc.. But there are also very strict rules and regimens that people have to live in on a day to day bases. So the time portal becomes a place of refuge and hope for the misfits of the galaxy. It also becomes a place for criminals and other degenerates to be shipped off to Exile.

All in all the story is well written. The first book ended well but still left you looking forward to the next novel. My complaint with the series lies in the time portal itself. It would seem to me that if you were going to have a one way gate to the past that it would continual spit out time travelers a the same time. I don't see how that gate could allow for time to keep flowing between the two worlds. If time moved forward for both worlds a the same time then I could see it, but at the very beginning we are given the premise that the discovering scientist can't change the time in which the machine works. It only goes back to that one time, so I don't know how a day to us could be a day to them. Just one of the many struggles of writing about time travel.

Regardless though it's a good book. I recommend it.

The coolest

2008-10-04T19:17:00.000-05:00

So this is the best thing I saw at Disney. I just got the picture from one of the people that I went with. But it is a giant lego dragon. They have it actually in the water and it had to be like 20 ish feet long. I wanted to find a way to climb out to it and get a picture on top of it, but sadly I had to settle for a picture in front of it.

They also had a lego family complete with a lego dog, and a leg T-rex modeled after the original power rangers. So way to go lego land.

Disney Pics

2008-09-29T06:59:00.002-05:00

I made it!!

2008-09-29T06:58:00.000-05:00

The weekend was a success. In two days and two nights we managed to see every park in Disney and ride all of the really trademark attractions. The first night was an adventure to Downtown Disney which is an after hours shopping district. This place has a giant arcade that you can play all day in for 40 bucks. We didn't have time to go to it, but it's definitely going to be on a return trip sometime. Along with Downtown Disney we went to Pleasure Island. It wasn't so bad the first night. It was crowded but not unreasonable so, and it seemed like a fun place for young adults to hang out. We didn't make it into any clubs because we forgot our free entry things, but we walked around the P.I. district and enjoyed the scenery. Then it was off to bed for our big assault on the Magic Kingdom early Saturday Morning.

This is where going with someone who has been to the park is beneficial in my opinion. It's a completely choreographed outing. They know which rides fill up fast and how to make it to all the places you want to go. So we started off the Magic Kingdom with a bee line to Tomorrow Land and the much sought after Space Mountain. In my opinion it wasn't as cool as some other rides we went on, but with the neat Fast Pass system that Disney had evolved for people that hate lines it's probably the best ride in Magic Kingdom. I did notice that Disney doesn't really focus on the ride so much as the atmosphere. They disguise the long lines with lots of paraphernalia specific to that rides theme and they bombard your senses with all things "magical" to distract you from realizing that the rides are rather short and semi disappointing. We rode only a few rides twice and those were the big hype rides and even on my first outing to Disney World I could tell that the rides are designed for smaller children. Don't get me wrong it was a great outing and awesome place. But don't go hoping for rides that blow your mind away.

At any rate after the Magic Kingdom we headed to Epcot for the food and wine festival. There we sampled lots of cuisine from around the world. We saw a few interesting features from different countries (like my Viking Picture) and most everyone got entirely too much sun. Since it was food and wine and sun it had an adverse effect on Jacki. She ended up having a time out in the hotel where she came to terms with her stomach and the porcelain disposal. But she was up to normal for the late evening return to Epcot where we road my favorite ride Mission Space. After that I got to see Illuminations which is lots of fireworks, music and people. haha To end the night we made another attempt at Pleasure Island and although we took our free entry things we were rebuffed because the place was overcrowded. Since it was the last night, I'm not real surprised that it was busy. But I was amazed at all the people and the anger that was building because the vast majority couldn't get in and were getting drunk. So luckily we fled for the safety of our hotel and were in bed by 1 in the morning so that we could prepare for Animal Kingdom the next morning.

Animal Kingdom had my second favorite ride, Dinosaur. We were transported back in time to rescue a dinosaur from the meteor strike. It was lots of darkness, smoke, fake things with big teeth and a very bumpy jeep ride. But I found it very scary for a small child and pretty neat if you like dinosaurs. LOL Other then that the Safari was the best attraction at Animal Kingdom. You got to see lots of animals and that's the majority of my pictures. Everest was a cool roller coaster, but again it was a bit short.

Then we ended our excursion at Hollywood Studios. This was probably my least favorite park. The rides were alright, but by that time I was worn out and so I think not that impressionable. I recommend spacing out a Disney Vacation into more then just two days. But for a quick visit I had great guides and companions. So woot for making it too Disney and an anonymous thanks for everyone there for not angry mobbing me at some point.

Disney & Symphony

2008-09-24T06:28:00.001-05:00

So this week has been a bit hectic, and the weekend as all the makings of being a lot hectic. Not only did I get to enjoy the season premiere of both Heroes and Big Band Theory, but I also joined a Symphony. I got a call Sunday night from a lady asking if I was interested in playing bass trombone for a local group. I went to rehearsal last night and it wasn't too bad. They are playing Beethoven's 7th symphony along with another piece that involves brass. The rest of the concert is strings and a choral group. All in all it was a pretty good variety of musicians and music, so I think I'll stick with it for the first concert series at least.

As for this weekend, I am finally going to make it to Disney World (or is it land)?! The annual food and wine festival starts this weekend and a co-worker of mine that use to work at Disney has coordinated a small group of us to go to the festival and to see the parks. I'm both excited and a bit daunted. I can't imagine the amounts of people that will be present at this outing, and therefore I'm going to just try and go through it without really seeing all the masses that will be teaming around the place.

We leave Friday after work so that we can get to our hotel and then go to what's know as Pleasure Island. Disney as a section for adults to go clubbing and that is where our first destination lies. Apparently Pleasure Island is being shut down in favor of a more family centered Disney, so this is the last weekend that the clubbing district will be open. Although I don't imagine I'll stay long at the clubs, I'll have seen them at least before they are closed. Then the next day the festival starts and I don't really know what will happen.

Regardless send all your spare people points my direction in hopes that I make it through the crowd without going postal on someone. And I'll do my best to update you on the results of my outing to Disney.

Jacki's B-day

2008-09-18T07:41:00.003-05:00

I'll take a moment in this hectic busy world, to wish my current love and better half a happy birthday. At first glance you might think she's hovering over the peak of adult youth. She could be fresh from college or just starting into the wide world. But upon further inspection you notice that she always seems to have a beer in hand. Her smile tends to let you know that there's things going on inside her head that you just can't understand. And her crazy ideas make her a generally sought after person.

So Happy Birthday my evil vixen. May your 29th year be as good as you make it. The world will try to hold together just a little bit longer so you can reach the dreaded 30 but who knows maybe you'll be frozen forever in this last state of youthful wonder.

Conundrum (cont.)

2008-09-16T06:54:00.001-05:00

Where I was heading with that lengthy post about spare time and the feeling it can leave in it's wake was to say that I have an influx of free time. All during middle school, high school, and college I always had one stand by activity that I could count on for passing a few hours. It was something I strove to do well at. I would practice. Generally it was my trombone, but if I wasn't completely musically drained I would also pick up some other random noise makers and spend my free time playing. But since I have started working every day with band instruments, I haven't really felt like practicing. I still pick up the random noise makers like my guitar, fiddle, banjo, but I don't dig out the brass instruments much.

A part of me thinks it would be cool to find a small jazz combo to join, like I briefly played with in Minnesota. And although I found a community band, I am not ready for sitting through half notes. I did too much of that through all my schooling to jump back into it so soon. But regardless this change in my mindset leaves me with another couple of hours that need filled.

It seems strange to me. But I have realized that my natural tendency to avoid confrontations and to go with the flow generally results in me switching off my personality and just blank facing my surroundings. This defense mechanism is handy for work. It's just simpler to allow the older repair techs have their hay days and do my work around their stubborn mindsets. But there are times when I'm out of work, in my little world that I do try to control and I can feel the blank face sliding into place. It decides to stay at the wall for 15 minutes, or to be indecisive about what to eat or where to go.

That's my conundrum with spare time. It's awesome to have, but I think it can lead to a lack of goals and focus. I still tinker with my side instruments, but my past musical focus is on the back burner for a while, and I feel the need to replace it with something. An activity that is new, something to provide a little drive. Otherwise the day to day is just work, eat, sleep and that's not a life, that's just a living.

A visit from home

2008-09-15T06:03:00.002-05:00

The Spare Time Conundrum

2008-09-09T06:26:00.000-05:00

So I'll start off by saying that life is going great. My work is still enjoyable and paying well. I now have a fun, great, gorgeous girlfriend that enjoys most of my oddities and habits. The Florida weather has so far stayed pleasant and I've dodged the hurricanes. But there is a trend I have noticed about life. It's been around for as long as I can remember, even during my busiest times of college. There was always this mood or mindset that would descend over me at random times. It would seem like no matter how busy I was my day to day life wasn't fulfilled. It's like a hollowness that lingers over all my actions and activities. Why am I doing this? What does it contribute to the world or society around me?

Since I am now no where near as busy as I was during college and repair school, I think I have finally found the source of this feeling. It comes from the idleness of human activity known as free time. Generally people view free time as their time away from work, school, or other responsibilities. It is a great boon to our generations that we actually have set aside time for us to be alone and unfocused. It allows for calmer lives, a more centered outlook, and less stress for the average person. But I think it is also the source of an unconscious unrest that seizes us all.

We develop hobbies, we join groups, or we become obsessed with our work. Some of us volunteer, donate our time, whatever you want to call it. We are masters at "using" our free time. It goes against our inherent nature to be idle. I say this with a silent shudder, because I think of myself as a very content person. My free time is filled with activities that I enjoy. I read, I play random instruments, I enjoy video games, movies, company of people, random outings into a social setting, in short although I'm a bit reclusive in general, I consider myself well rounded when it comes to filling up my free time. And yet, all these things fall short when this hollowness asserts it's self.

I wonder if this sensation is what leads people to a religion. If it is what drives people to believe in a higher power or purpose. Could it be the product of our minds and bodies being unable to cope with this fairly new advent in day to day existence. In a few more generations will we even have to do "work"? I mean there will always be jobs, but for the most part these are just methods of obtaining money, they don't qualify as something that challenges our minds or our bodies. They are slots that we get pegged into and molded to fit so that society can function. It's necessary, and for some people it's enough. But I think for most there is this sense of greatness that is lacking in life.

We displace it. We rationalize it away by saying that things will change in the future. But I think it falls to every person to find a way to deal with the hollow times. Be it a religion, a spontaneous trip, a new place to live, or maybe even an embracing of the smallness that life means. Not ignoring the sensation, but also not striving to change because it exists. Maybe it's like sadness and happiness. In order for our lives to have meaning in any capacity,we must feel the hollowness of what it is that we do. See just how small the pond that our life ripples disturb really is, so that we can truly enjoy the space and time we are given.

Labor Day

2008-08-31T15:46:00.003-05:00

It's been a good three day weekend so far. Just a general update for all those that don't know, but a pretty big hurricane is going through the gulf waters although it isn't suppose to hit my general area of residence, it is throwing off some stormy weather and big waves. So I started out my weekend yesterday with rain and not much chance to enjoy the outside-ness. Jacki and I did go to Wal-mart and buy her bike. It's her early birthday present, which we put to use today.

Getting the bike home in my car was a bit of a challenge. It didn't look so big in the store. Jacki is not to tall, so I figured her bike would most likely fit, but sadly once we bought it and got it outside I had to do some fancy maneuvering to get it in my car. It was a comical event I'm sure, Jacki and I standing in the rain, with a bicycle and all the doors of my little car open. In the end it wound up going through the front passenger door back tire first, and I drove around the front will that pressed into my shoulder. LOL Jacki set in the backseat and laughed pretty much the whole way home.

But regardless we got her a bike, and today we decided to chance the rain and go for our first bike ride. We rode to the beach, which was rather cool with all the waves and wind. I got to see some beached jelly-fish, and people surfing (which looks cool). Jacki was a bit tired after our ride home cause it's been a while since she's biked, but I'm sure I'll have her whipped into shape in not time. LOL

Searching for Healthcare

2008-08-28T07:17:00.003-05:00

So I completed my ninety day trial period at work, and I was offered the full time position and all the benefits and insurance that comes with the job. I have been holding off since May of 2007 in hopes that health insurance through my job would be the financially best option. But sadly that wasn't the case. I'm not at liberty to discuss rates and plans about my work, but it's safe to say that it wasn't the best option. Instead I started searching online and found my own plan through a company called Humana One.

Just this morning I completed my physical evaluation to make sure that I didn't lie about any of my pertinent information. A nice lady came by my apartment, took my height, weight, my pee, and my blood. It was a bit odd to do all this in my own home, but it worked out just fine. The blood letting wasn't even that bad. I had to fast for 12 hours before, so that was a bit of a trial. But now I just wait and see how the tests go, and they let me know if I am accepted or not.

In my search for health care, I realized that I really don't know much about plans, types of coverage, deductibles, or any of the other jargon they throw around. It's always been a question that gets brought up by the intellectual types that I hang out with. Lots of old college people held varying opinions and solutions, and I wish them all luck in reforming the world. For me though, on a practical note. It went much smoother after I learned what all the jargon meant, and how the plans worked. Hooray for the internet and free insurance tutorials. haha

But at any rate, soon Brandon will be able to live the dashingly dangerous life that he's yearned for, and the safety net of modern medicine will no longer be out of his monetary means. mwhaha

The Road to a Roomie

2008-08-24T18:53:00.001-05:00

The transition of Jacki living with me has begun. We brought the first load of her stuff over this weekend, and then we went and picked up a few things that we needed so that her stuff could fit here. Our shopping list consisted of a filing cabinet, a book shelf, and some bathroom organizing stuff. All in all I think that sums up how oddly compatible we seem too be. I mean a bookshelf is never a bad thing in my opinion, filing cabinets are great for organizing stuff, and although the bathroom things weren't for me, she is a girl and so I can see the need for them so it appeals to my utilitarian nature.

I was actually amazed at how much I enjoyed filing stuff. I think if the repair business ever falls through for me I might try getting hired as a low level clerk or something. As long as I can have complete control over what I am filing and the system I devise works, filing gives me a great sense of accomplishment. LOL It was definitely the coolest thing we purchased in my opinion, and the easiest to put together. haha

Jacki made a complete list of stuff that needs to be done and a time line for getting her moved in, which I find oddly funny cause it's something I would have done sooner or later. But so far we are on course for the first part of the move. Sadly although I looked at big T.V.s I let my better judgment talk me out of purchasing a new one. They were on sale which made it doubly hard for me to resist but I did. So yea woot! on saving money, boo for the continual viewing of tiny t.v.

A Theory Destroyed

2008-08-19T07:35:00.001-05:00

Beginning last year with my move to the northern lands of Minnesota, a little inkling of an idea took root in my wee brain, and last night it was completely destroyed. See, I had thought that I was in some minor way a manipulator of weather. Not a full scale weather god, but maybe a long removed distant decedent of some weather deity or supernatural weather wielder. I'll explain.

Before I moved to Minnesota I watched the weather up there and kept an eye on how bad the winter was and what I might expect. I moved there in May and everyone I talked with that summer said that the winters had turned really mild and that I shouldn't have any trouble. But as the year progressed Minnesota actually had a pretty decent winter. Even some of the old timers admitted that the real cold and snow had returned for once, and that's monumental because old timers always reminisce about how it use to be.

So when I moved to Florida I figured I would bring my emerging talent of increasing a places natural weather tendencies with me, and thus a small hurricane or storm would decend upon my area. But last night, my thought to be minimal influence was out done by the typical weather pattern that has saved the Tampa Bay area from a hurricane for going on 6 years now. This isn't to say that we might not get one later in the season, but I think it demolishes my hopes of having some sort of minimal influence on the weather.

I realize this isn't ground breaking news for everyone, but a guys got to hope for a latent super power every now and then, and even though it was most likely coincidence that Minnesota got swamped with a good bit of snow last year, a part of me will keep holding out for my minor hurricane or tropical storm. And then world beware, my powers shall grow. Mwhaha

Drunk Wednesday

2008-08-14T19:11:00.001-05:00

Yesterday was a semi rough day for me as far as work went. I got confronted by a co-worker and although I generally try to shrug off people's opinions about me, this was the first time someone had criticized my work/work ethic and so it bothered me a bit. I won't go into details about it, because it was a co-worker and not a boss and so it really doesn't matter. But long before the day started I had plans for going out and singing karaoke with Jackie and her roommates.

So that's what I'm going to enlighten everyone about. It was my first experience with karaoke. I've wanted to try it for a while now. It seems like my perfect social hobby. I like to sing with the radio or just about any music, and I generally can't keep a tune all that well, so the fact that you are expected to sing to drunken people that also can't sing really adds to the appeal for me.

The group set off to a bar that was within "stumbling distance" as they put it, so that no one had to be the designated driver we could all walk back to their place. This is a very important fact because it allows me to free myself for drinking, a part of me even when we have a dd can't seem to rely on that person for driving, so I hold back from drinking in case I'm needed for driving. But when we are all walking, then I am free and clear.

The bar we went to was called Sneakers and it was a pretty good bar. It had 7 dollar pitchers that went to 5 dollars after 11. I started out with just a beer, but once I saw the pitcher I had to try it. haha Before the night was over Jacki and I had three pitchers along with our initial glass of beer. The fun included playing Fuzball, singing "Diggin Up Bones" by Randy Travis, and stumbling home. I also go to enjoy everyone else in the group sing and it was a fun Wednesday night.

Thursday at work was a bit rough, but that's life, I'm young, and lol the night before was worth it. I am now a fan of karaoke, although I was hesitant before I went up the first time, so the beer definitely contributed to my singing debut.

The Dali Museum

2008-08-10T19:45:00.005-05:00

So Saturday I ventured out for my first true tourist outing in Florida. Jackie took me to the Dali Museum and then to the Pier. It was a pretty good day. We drove to downtown St. Petersburg which reminded quite a bit of Little Rock. The museum was at the end of a college campus so we got to see some pretty suburb type housing and buildings with the tall city buildings for the backdrop.

The museum always houses Dali's art, but they were having a special showing of his work that dealt with women and art. I am a fan of art. I enjoy wandering a random museum or art show. I don't, however, know anything about art. I just like to look at the paintings that I think are cool. And in the Dali Museum I came across three that I would hang in my house given the opportunity. The first was a simple landscape painting that didn't really posses any of Dali's typical surrealism. The second was a work titled "Girl with Curls" or something like that. It was a very catching painting with some surrealism but what got me was the girl. You don't see her face, and really all you get is a back profile, but the overall effect is very good. And lastly I was really impressed with his large scale works. The one in particular that I liked featured a women looking at a sunset through a broken brick wall and in the bottom left of it you see a little re-make of the painting and a random Abe Lincoln head. It's an odd painting, but it's really cool too.

After that it was off to the Pier which sadly was partially dampened by rain. I didn't get any good pictures from the top of this inverted pyramid, but I did get to see some dolphins playing in the distance and had some awesome key lime pie at the little British pub that we ate lunch at. I think we are going to go back to the pier and rent some boats to take out into the bay, which will be cool.

So yay woot for touristy outings.

Bench Upgrade

2008-08-08T06:15:00.002-05:00

So everything is going well at my job. I like the work that I do, the people are all nice in their own personality's way, and it pays enough to keep me fed with adequate shelter, so all in all I can't complain. The only difficulty I had was the lack of a work space. My old bench was plenty large enough for when I started working on flutes, and at one point during my trumpet days I even juggled multiple trumpets on it, but since I have moved into the world of saxophone repair my bench just isn't cutting it. I have to use the bench for all the parts and pieces of the sax, and then hold the instrument in my lap to do all the repair work.

This resulted in a lot of days stooped over my lap and evenings with a crick in my spine. But that was before, and now I have been upgraded. Sadly my old bench buddy left me for the other room of repair techs and her own larger bench, because she was strapped for space working on French Horns as well. But the silver lining to being deserted by my partner in crime, is the removal of our partial divider, and the expansion of Brandon-land.

I started my remodeling Thursday by removing the divider, the bench motor, and all my junk from our previously shared desk. Then after helping to move all Stacy's stuff I was free to redesign and build up my work place from scratch. Yay! Woot! So now I have room for extra instruments, all my tools, and all the sax pieces, plus the actual freakin saxamaphone.

My back was given a respite, I wasn't bumping elbows with the wall and my bench buddy, and now all is well. I'm now seriously contemplating some mini speakers for my MP-3 player so Brandon-land can have it's very own theme music. My only fear is being stoned by my co-workers because of my musical tastes and my unconscious habit of sining along. But regardless my bench is bigger and therefore my minimal influence and control of work has increased by 4 feet. The invasion has begun!!! Mwhaha

Dr. Horrible

2008-08-02T19:43:00.002-05:00

So this is mainly for my good friend Justin and his lovely wife Kerry, but others might enjoy it too. It's a web mini movie that came out during the writers strike. It features the director of Buffy the Vampre Slayer, and the lead actor from Firefly.

It's pretty darn funny. So enjoy!

http://www.drhorrible.com/

Sleeping In!!

2008-07-31T06:43:00.003-05:00

At last ladies and gentlemen, I have come upon the secret for success when it comes to me sleeping in. After 23 years of waking up at the crack of dawn with no hope of that ever allusive extra hour of shut eye, that most people lavish in, I am happy to report that I can successfully and repeatedly push back my waking to 7 a.m. It's not a monumental amount of progress I know, but it's still more then I previously was capable of.

Now it might be that it's just the time zone difference, because my 7 is still Arkansas's 6, but I am doubtful. My body seems to have adjusted to the Florida time zone and surprisingly on rare days I've been able to extended my early morning snooze to 8. So here's the recipe for Brandon sleeping in, just in case any one was wondering.

After many unsuccessful late nights of un-found debauchery and wildness, with the hope of extra sleep remaining elusive, I have stumbled upon the right combination. First put me on overtime at the job I enjoy and don't mind being at, this will let me work all day making money and develop a nice sense of deserved tiredness, then set me on my newly found path for late day mischief, and finally drop me into the arms of the same person and let me cat nap and cuddle till the wee early hours of 4 a.m. And wallah, I'll come home, and crash till 8, waking up ready for work with a crazy tired enjoyable grasp on life, the world, and everything in it.

So look out world of late morning sleepers, I have found the door to your realm of restful bliss and hopefully I remember how to find it again.

The D'Angeline Novels

2008-07-24T20:39:00.003-05:00

I have completed this mostly unknown set of books. I picked it up originally as just something to fill my emptying book shelf, but in the end I really think it's one of the better works of recent fiction. The books are a little slow paced and rely a lot on remembering small details and the author's descriptions, but the stories are completely original and in a league all their own.

Phedre, the main character, begins life as a whore's orphan and is raised as a professional courtesan in the land of Terre d'Ange. She rises from her discarded heritage to become a peer of the realm and a savor of the nation of Elua's favored. The three books wind though her youth and end around her reaching middle age. As a character she is a unique heroine, often overlooked and yet more often then not completely in control.

My favorite character would have to be Jocelin her ever faithful companion and consort. Their love although troubled and hard won truly embodies the precepts of their faith, " Love as thou wilt." Jocelin is a warrior trained from childhood to serve and protect. He breaks all his vows in order to protect and love Phedre.

The society at large is raised knowing that they are part divine. Their god is a misbegotten son of the One God that lived and dealt with mortals. The main parts of Terre d'Ange are split between his follower's people which were angels that defected from the one god to follow Elua and his eternal love.

Although not a story meant to be read to children before bed, the novels should definitely be more widely known and regarded as the truly unique works that they are. Embodying a much used mindset in a totally new and alluring way.

Love as though wilt.

Sunshine driving:101

2008-07-19T22:00:00.002-05:00

So I was giving minimal driving lessons to a friend of mine down here in Florida, and it got me thinking of all the differences between driving here and driving at home. I've got two biggies that I think sum up the Florida driving mentality. One positive difference and one negative, and like all good and bad news I'll hit you with the good news first.

U-turns in Florida are not only legal, but they are expected, encouraged, and the road is made for them. Just about every twenty feet you come across a lane built for the sole purpose of turning into a driveway or my personal preference the U-turn. At first I was dubious of this new found freedom, but after watching all the natives drive and realizing that some lights take forever. I have come into my own as to the art of the U-turn. My little car is ideal because I can get a brief glimpse of the race car driver that yearns to be free, and it's just fun to feel the power when you swing your automobile across lanes of traffic and go the opposite direction. So woot for the U-turn.

And now the bad news, the stoplights of Florida. First off they are not user friendly. they are put up so that you can't see anyone else's light. In AR I was awesome at watching the lights change for the other traffic and timing my take off with the second the green light showed up, but here in Florida they have taken away my joy. I am forced to stare at my Red light and wait without any hope of anticipation. They angle the banks of lights so that no one can see them, and it really throws off my racing starts. It's a long standing hobby of mine to race cars at the stoplights. Even if the other driver isn't aware of the race it's still entertaining.

So there you have my take on Florida driving. It's easier to turn around but way harder to take off.

The Smoothies of Life

2008-07-13T20:08:00.001-05:00

I indulged myself on Friday in my first ever smoothie. The cafe that makes them is right next to work and I always see people with them. So I finally got around to trying it, and it was good. But it also gave me an idea for a comparison to life. So forgive me for my random thoughts.

You take a person's life, all the acts, the relationships, the goods, the bads, and you mix it up, and what to do you get but a smoothie. For some people it's going to be a mixture of dozens of fruits stirred into the exciting and hectic life that they lead. And for other's it will be a more specialized flavor, with one over riding fruit taking the center stage of the smoothie's existence.

For me, it's a small mixture of for the most part mundane fruits. By far the main fruit attraction would have to be peaches. They are juicy, sweet, edible in so many ways, and all in all a very good unifying flavor to have in your smoothie of life. I think they would represent my personality. I tend to mix well with just about any crowd while still retaining my individual flavors and preferences. So I integrate and adopt things I like, put them to my own uses, and in the end am just a peach in a cobbler or canned as opposed to fresh of the tree (or in my case farm).

So after peaches, I'd have to with banana's, their obviously phallic and a very Americanize fruit. So there goes my ethnicity and gender. Plus they go great in ice cream, cereal, and most chocolate creations, which covers my rather large sweet tooth.

I'd have to throw in oranges because of their citrus-ness and the ever popular juice that they make. They'd stand for my sometimes hurtful sense of humor and more often fluid path through life. Like most people's morning orange juice, I can be easily taken for granted and over looked, but I know my day wouldn't be complete without my first thing in the morning shot of OJ.

And lastly, for the slightly odd and intriguing aura that most people don't catch from me, the kiwi. It's green which is odd, it's small and easily overlooked, and although it's flavor is an acquired taste, it's quite satisfying regardless of it's oddities.

So I give you a brief picture of my life as a smoothie.

Book Club

2008-07-12T18:43:00.000-05:00

So Friday was my first book club meeting in the Sunshine state of Florida. I started out not a fan of the novel that the group was reading, but by the end of it I was okay with the book. It wasn't my first choice for reading material but it had it's good points and I could see how the topics would lead to easy discussion. So I was excited and looking forward to the meeting.

I got to the bookstore/coffee shop on Friday with only a little bit of trouble. There was some crazy car full of young males swerving and trying to run this SUV off the road, which while I observed through my rear view mirror was still a bit odd. But after arriving at the store a bit early, I got to browse the books and look around, since I'm still not an expert on Florida living I figured I'd take the chance to wander a bit.

But once I meandered over to the book club table and went through the introductions with all the other members we got down to discussing the book and holding the meeting. I was surprised to hear most everyone's opinion of the novel. By and large no one enjoyed the book. It was odd that the group chose to read it, when no one really cared for it, but I found myself defending the few good points of the book that I found, and in the end was disappointed because the discussion immediately drifted away from the novel and into the other member's personal lives...

Me being by far the youngest member present didn't have much to offer on the present day happenings of married couples, affairs, divorces, the rights and wrongs of taking a loved one back, and all in all complaining about why life was or wasn't good and where the fault lies on why life sucks.

There were some interesting characters at the meeting, one very moral and righteous guy got into a pretty heated debate with a slightly older free spirited lady. And it was an enjoyable meeting. I did come across a fellow comic book movie lover and a computer programmer that made a Firefly reference that I was the only one to catch. So I'll probably go tot he next meeting and read the book. It was good discussion and they provided free coffee shop pastries, lol which is always a plus.

Nutshell of a Weekend

2008-07-06T12:12:00.000-05:00

Friday was the holiday, which in case you didn't know, meant the beach was insanely busy. I went at my usually time, early morning, and people were already crawling over the sands and setting up their territories for the day. It was a bit crazy. I wound up riding my bike up to Largo and finding the Botanical Gardens which was cool and then circling back home by the beach route. It was during this outing that my bike started making some odd sounds and by the time I got home again it was definitely freaking me out. I ended the Fourth of July holiday at a co-workers party. It was a pretty good time. We played rock band, at some food, people got drunk, there were fireworks. In short it was a gathering of young Americans creating minor disturbances in an allowed method. What other holiday allows and actually encourages you to blow things up?

After getting home Saturday morning at 4, I was surprised to find a puddle of water standing in my bathroom floor. Here I was ready to fall straight into bed, and as I go to take that last pee of relief before a few hours of shut eye my feet encounter something cold and wet. Not a good thing to wake up, and definitely not a thing to try to go to sleep with. But after throwing down a towel and bucket, I managed to sleep till about 7.

Saturday saw the purchase of my first big Florida investment. I didn't buy a new bigger t.v. or a better computer. No, I bought a new bike. I went to a local bike store that is on the 20 mile bike trail that runs right behind my apartment and I invested in a hybrid commuter/road bike. It's ten times lighter then my old behemoth, and it is actually sized to fit me, as opposed to my old generic Wal-mart cheapy that I'd been getting by on for the last four or five years. It's pretty cool, and so far I'm really happy with it.

I ended Saturday with a trip to the Rocky horror show that I've mentioned before. It was a very popular show, I was surprised by the turn out actually. I thought the hype was a bit over the top for what it actually involved, but it makes the cast happy and the audience get something totally unique in my opinion. I bailed out before it ended, because I was dragging from my lack of sleep already and the movie wasn't even half over by two Sunday morning. So although I didn't finish the show, I did appreciate what I saw of it, and if I go back I think I'll strive for a seat in the back so that I can see better.

And now with Monday looming over the horizon, I am currently house bound by rain. But if it stops raining I think I'll venture down to the beach for a sunset later (always a good ending to the weekend) and if it doesn't stop raining maybe I'll venture forth to see Hancock. I'm a sucker for super hero movies. Even super hero's I've never heard of. And with that it will be back to the day to day grind... which I don't mind at all.

Bike Riding

2008-07-02T20:08:00.001-05:00

My new mode of transportation comes as a bit of a surprise. I never was really a kid that enjoyed riding my bicycle. I would go along with a group or get on it once in a while, but I was always the guy that walked it up the hills and never really did the cool kid tricks. There was a short year in college that I road my bike around cause I lived in the apartments off campus, but even then it wasn't my preferred method of getting around because I usually was lugging an instrument and it just wasn't convenient to try and ride and carry at the same time.

But now that I've moved to the sunshine state, I have really come to embrace the bicycle. I haven't driven my car in probably two weeks, and I think it might be feeling neglected. But everything is so close and the weather is so agreeable that riding is not only cheaper but enjoyable. I have even begun to work on my cool kid tricks. I am a pro at riding one handed now, and working toward pedaling with no hands. Now this may sound like nothing special to all those that can and have ridden a bicycle with some skill for quite a while, but to me it's a childhood dream come true.

I was always a bit jealous of those that could ride their bike with no hands. It is just such a cool thing. So although I haven't mastered it yet, I'm getting better at it and with luck I'll be a pro at it in no time. So hooray for bike riding to beaches, passing traffic jams on the way to work, and getting honked at by cute girls as they drive by.

Starbuck!

2008-07-01T21:40:00.002-05:00

So I am a bit behind in seeing the third season of BSG, but come on people Starbuck dies?? I don't believe it. She has to be a cylon, I mean I still have one disc for Netflix to ship to me before the season is over, so maybe all will be revealed or something, but surely they can't kill off Starbuck. I won't have it. The show just can't be the same without her, and although I'm sure she dies for some higher purpose or for the story to to go on it just doesn't seem right. I mean she was abused as a child, unloved by her mother, tormented by a deranged cylon, tossed in and out of love, life or death situations, and yet she came out of it all just slightly crazy. I don't thing she deserved to be combusted into some crappy planets atmosphere after coming to terms with death and it's beauty.

Bollix!! Is all I have to say.

Northanger Abby and Rocky

2008-06-27T21:26:00.002-05:00

So I got through my second Jane Austin novel. I try everyone now and then to read something "intellectual" just to see what all the hubbub is about. I rather liked the main character of this novel, and although the story dealt with things that as a general rule aren't of interest to me the characters were very well written and so I think it made up for the lack of my liking the story. I'm sure it holds more appeal to the proper demography, but I still thought it a decent read.

As to Rocky, it is apparently a big fad at my new job. I'm talking about Rocky Horror Picture show, not Rocky the boxer. I was invited to a live showing of the movie tomorrow night. It takes place down by the beach at a private theater and the movie plays while people act out the movie in front of the screen.. I'm a little leery of going to the show, for one I'm not a huge fan of the movie and for another I think the acting while the movie is going might be a bit distracting. But I did get invited and it would probably be a bad way to make friends at the job if I didn't go. So perhaps I'll journey into the great unknown and try the live theater, at the very least some other people my age my be there.

The Immortals

2008-06-22T17:44:00.002-05:00

So I finished this four book series over the weekend. It was aimed at teenagers and at times it was a bit redundant. But overall I enjoyed the storyline and the characters. Diane made an interesting main character, and although I thought she made some rapid changes in the last book it was completely out of the realm of possibilities.

Numair would have to be my favorite character. I mean a tall lanky mage that is comfortable around common folk, humble about his powers, and all around a decent guy. Who wouldn't like him?? Now Diane falling in love with him in the middle of the last book... it might have been a bit much, but what can you expect from a teacher and his pupil. The other three books kind of set up for the suprise relationship, but then again they have quite an age difference so I'm not real sure where the author pulled it from. But since it's her story, I guess if it works for her it will work for me.

In other news, I have some odd red welts all over my left arm. They are smallish, don't pop or seep any type of fluid when I squeeze the heck out of them, and they don't itch... Anyone know what they could be? I'm leaning toward heat rash or some insect bit that I'm reacting to allergically. With all the sun and all the bugs those are my only two guesses. LOL I'll keep you posted on it though, and if it kills me at least you know I was aware of it.

Are you Italian?

2008-06-21T14:56:00.001-05:00

I did a double take at this question. It's been a month since I moved into my Florida apartment and I was in dire need of some serious grocery shopping, and so I headed out today since it was raining anyway and figured I'd go the local Albertson's for my month's grocery pick-up. While at this charming close by supermarket I was immersed into the teeming mass of society that on a day to day basis I get to avoid. All in all it wasn't a bad outing though.

I realized today that I see more cute girls at the grocery store then I ever had at the bars here, and to top it off I think one actually flirted with me. LOL I was a bit of an odd sight I'm sure buying a cart full of real food to be cooked throughout this next month. And by the time I got to the check out lines my cart was laden with plenty of yummy treats. One of the benefits of shopping for only yourself is the ability to buy whatever strikes your fancy.

But as I was checking out the pretty cashier went above and beyond what I deem typical cashier greeting. She commented on most every object that I had, which makes me glad I didn't buy anything I wanted to keep private. And once she got my lasagna noodles she asked if I was making lasagna or if someone else did the cooking. I laughed and told her I was cooking it. Then she asked what I put in it, and proceeded to ask me if I was Italian?!?!

I don't really think I look Italian, I mean I've got a reddish blond beard, and blue eyes... Most Italians are portrayed with olive skin tones, dark hair and eyes... Like said cashier, which admittedly smiled and told me she was Italian so that's why she asked.. I felt a little over whelmed by this chatty girl as I was leaving the store. But all in all it was an interesting excursion. And I guess maybe there's a branch of Italians I don't know about. ; )

Rememberance

2008-06-17T22:45:00.001-05:00

Beep...!Beep...!Beep...!

She looks up hopefully at the slightly off rhythmic noise. These constant background noises are second nature to her. These days she's pretty sure she can identify any changes in Steven's life support before the continually rotating nursing staff. Her poor Steven would be embarrassed by all these girlish attentions, if he was aware of them anyway. But her Steven hadn't been aware of anything for quite a while now. Not since that terrible accident so many years ago.

Chirp...Chirp.Chirp..Chirp

As the days heat leaves the night air, mother nature comes to life around the city. People open their windows to let in some of the fresh air. The night insects continue their broadening chorus of sound and one man sits idly in a rocking chair listening to the new world around him. He's been working for Mr. Peterson for a full week, and he knows it's about time to move on. Mr Peterson is about out of wood to chop, and besides there's always this unknown pull to keep moving anytime the man stops for too long.He's not a dumb man, he knows lots of things, but for some reason he can't remember the simple life things.

For instance, his name or his home address, no all he knows is that everyday something new drifts back to him, like now sitting on Mr. Peterson's porch. He is sure that he's done this many times before. he can almost put himself into the mental landscape these familiar sounds evoke. ALMOST!!!

Coming back from his upstairs study, James Peterson watches the middle aged man on his porch. His still youthful face is agape with the wonder of his surroundings. The un-named man is average height, which these days dwarfs Mr. Peterson's respectable of height of 5'10" by a good three or four inches. And the man's slight build body is deceptive of the strong will and unwavering determination that made him such a good worker.

Coming out on the porch Mr. Peterson sits in the chair next to the man he's been calling Charlie. "I suppose it's time for you to move along." Mr. Peterson has noticed the way the man stares to the west. Always with that strange look of yearning and recognition on his face. "Well be here for breakfast Charlie, and I'll settle up with you before you hit the road."

The next day dawns with a sense of excitement, he knows that his time with The Peterson Family is up. And whats more, Mr. Peterson knew it too. He enjoys his odd weeks of working. He always meets the best kind of people, and his work is always honest hard labor. To him it's almost like his body is rejoicing in it's constants struggle. Although the other workers he's met grumble about the long days or the tedious works, he doesn't mind. For him it's always short term, and with every new job comes a new familiar skill or task for his body to learn, and his mind to once again recognize.

But sometimes the leaving, it's hard. People can't always understand his desire to be on the move. Always, even when he's working his hardest theres that pulse from the North, and he can tell when it's time to move on by the ever present hum that comes into his mind after he's been settled too long. But Mr. Peterson knew and that always makes it easier. He'll miss The Petersons as he's missed most of the others he's worked with, but their lives aren't for him even if he doesn't know what his life is. He knows that these stops are just a brief lull from his wanderlust infested soul.

Spirit Knife

2008-06-15T18:30:00.002-05:00

It's been a while since I posted a book up here, but now that I have internet on a regular basis I can get back into the practice of it. LOL This was another nice read in the White Indian novels. I am surprised at how long the story is sticking with this Renno, but I suppose after so many books you have to have one repetitive character. I'm looking forward to seeing if Renno disobeys the mantious in this next book, still holding out for a rebellious upstart to come in the picture.

I saw the new Hulk movie this weekend. It wasn't bad. I thought the first one was actually better, which is saying something. But my main complaint with the new movie is that they didn't stick to any of the old movie plot. This new one was a lot like the old 80's show, and I liked that aspect. I just didn't really see the point in going back and re-doing the whole intro bit. On a surprise ending though, I definitely give the movie a 10. Can't wait to see what they do next.

An odd night

2008-06-11T18:48:00.001-05:00

So I consider myself a pretty normal person. I work. I play. I eat. and I sleep. And usually I sleep well. I get into bed and before I know it I am crashed out and don't wake up till the morning, early morning, but morning nonetheless. But last night I was awakened at 1 in the morning with the sensation of water being poured on me... Now obviously this is a bit disconcerting. I didn't pee the bed, which would have been very funny, but also a bit juvenile. But I did come to the realization that my right hand was holding my trusty water bottle that I always keep by the bed and it was emptying onto my thigh...

Now I don't know when I picked up the bottle. I remember taking a drink right before I went to sleep, but I don't think I held the bottle all night and it just happened to spill at 1 in the morning. So I believe I was either subconsciously thirsty, or my right hand just randomly grabbed it and somehow got the cap off...

I wasn't drinking the night before, and as far as I know it's a very weird occurence.But at any rate I had to share, because it is definitely the weirdest awaking I've ever had.

Internet

2008-06-10T18:58:00.002-05:00

Hooray, I now am the proud user of my own internet. It's been a while, since my undergrad actually. But I shelled out for it in my new apartment, and so far no complaints. Other then that, I'm getting better at flutes all the time. I had to solder on a couple of broken key parts so far this week, and although it's a bit of a trial it's sort of fun too.

So far the highlight of my week was walking home in the torrential rain on Monday night. I got my new FL drivers license Monday morning, and decided to walk to work cause I had enough time. But then when I left the shop it was thunder storming like no buddies business. I managed to make it home with my back pack mostly dry, lol but the rest of me was soaked through.