The Date graduates with her associate's degree this afternoon. She's excited, well we all are actually. She'll be pursuing her bachelor's as well but she's examining the options as she really doesn't want to drive clear out west to attend classes three times a week.
Well and we can't afford that if gas continues it's climb towards six dollars per gallon which it will reach this calendar year if things continue down this path.
Regardless today is about celebrating.
This morning I'm going to work and will get about four hours of overtime. That'll make next Friday's paycheck look dramatically better especially after the water bill fiasco of last week.
Today will be a good day:)
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Friday, April 29, 2011
The Wedding
First of all who cares? In America we have a built in allergy to royals. For the most part, nanny staters need not apply, we are freedom loving and require it as we require air to breathe.
Yes an argument can be made that the royals are nothing but figureheads now. They hold little to no sway in governmental matters. They seem to ride around in carriages and wave a lot.
At least they have moved past marrying their own kin, something usually thought of as reserved for the Appalachian mountains and royalty.
So yes we have a basic allergic reaction to anything royal. The thought that a higher born individual is naturally better than a commoner is absurd to us. Here even those who are born to lower surroundings can rise and become a success with hard work, education, and dedication.
Royal wedding? I ignored it.
Yes an argument can be made that the royals are nothing but figureheads now. They hold little to no sway in governmental matters. They seem to ride around in carriages and wave a lot.
At least they have moved past marrying their own kin, something usually thought of as reserved for the Appalachian mountains and royalty.
So yes we have a basic allergic reaction to anything royal. The thought that a higher born individual is naturally better than a commoner is absurd to us. Here even those who are born to lower surroundings can rise and become a success with hard work, education, and dedication.
Royal wedding? I ignored it.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Thing 2
She's got all kinds of music competitions today so I've gotten her up at 6 this morning so she can get ready. She's not grumpy but she's not talking much either.
She'll do great actually. She's been practicing for weeks just for this one day. It's some piece by Wolfhart, or Wolfgang, or Wolfsomething...I think it's German. Regardless it's a difficult piece and she's doing pretty well with it.
The Date is steadily checking off her last classes one by one. Saturday and she's going to graduate with her Associate's degree. It'll be big for us! I'm looking forward to the graduation and her continuing pursuit towards her Bachelor's:)
She'll do great actually. She's been practicing for weeks just for this one day. It's some piece by Wolfhart, or Wolfgang, or Wolfsomething...I think it's German. Regardless it's a difficult piece and she's doing pretty well with it.
The Date is steadily checking off her last classes one by one. Saturday and she's going to graduate with her Associate's degree. It'll be big for us! I'm looking forward to the graduation and her continuing pursuit towards her Bachelor's:)
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
2V2 Terrors
Abostang and I have been ripping up other 2v2 teams the past couple of nights. Over the past two evenings we are 10-4 and every other team has been slightly favored or favored meaning they are higher ranked players and you get more points for the win.
We've just been playing really solid lately and it's racking up the wins. Abostang has been playing platinum level players in 1v1 and it's just translating into being a better player. I've played with him and against him as well and he's good!
We've gone from being ranked in the eighties when we started to being ranked in the top fifteen as of last night. Every win just furthers our record and leaves a path of broken and raging opponents!
The march to first continues!
We've just been playing really solid lately and it's racking up the wins. Abostang has been playing platinum level players in 1v1 and it's just translating into being a better player. I've played with him and against him as well and he's good!
We've gone from being ranked in the eighties when we started to being ranked in the top fifteen as of last night. Every win just furthers our record and leaves a path of broken and raging opponents!
The march to first continues!
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Square Foot Gardening
After recent trips to the grocery store I've decided to look more seriously at gardening at home. After much research into what I thought gardening was like and with experiences as a child I didn't really like the prospects of tilling up the ground, planting long rows of seeds, weeding them every day, watering them for hours on end, and having a huge harvest at once where half the stuff goes bad before you can use it or having to can stuff you'd never eat.
So after much more research I stumbled across a book by Mel Bartholomew called Square Foot Gardening. You basically make a raised garden that's 4x4 and six inches tall and fill it with a mixture of peat, compost, and vermiculite, since it's not very much it won't be expensive to do either. One 4x4 garden with little tending, almost no weeding, and a cup of water per plant per day should yield veggies for a family member. So for my family it would take four 4x4 squares. If you have a ravenous family you can bump it up to a 4x8, 4x12, or a 4x16 I guess. The idea that it's four foot across is to harvest your crops without stepping on the soil and packing it down. It needs to be loose and able to hold and drain water.
There is a planting guide on how many seeds to plant per square foot because you'll be breaking down your garden square with a grid laid over the top. Corn for example is four seeds per square foot and you'll have to add a stabilizer because they'll be quite tall.
You can stagger planting your crops so your harvest isn't all at the same time and your garden will produce daily if you wish. It takes some practice and note taking to figure that and it's more than an amateur such as myself would attempt to start with.
Materials for four gardens will likely run less than fifty dollars, the mixture of soil probably close to the same. Not having to pay high prices for vegetables at the store will be priceless though:)
Make no mistake, as oil prices continue to go up food prices will follow. Inflation is imminent, just like watching a bad storm on the radar as it creeps closer to your home. It's coming and it'll be bad. We owe too much money, spend too much money, and haven't the political will to change it right now as a country.
Trucking companies will go broke with these high prices, less food will make it to market, and demand will exceed supply eventually. Growing your own food is the cure for that and it makes all of those events irrelevant to your dinner table.
The Date says we can easily do this and it'd be a great family project for us. I agree and really I don't see much of an option in the coming few rough years.
So after much more research I stumbled across a book by Mel Bartholomew called Square Foot Gardening. You basically make a raised garden that's 4x4 and six inches tall and fill it with a mixture of peat, compost, and vermiculite, since it's not very much it won't be expensive to do either. One 4x4 garden with little tending, almost no weeding, and a cup of water per plant per day should yield veggies for a family member. So for my family it would take four 4x4 squares. If you have a ravenous family you can bump it up to a 4x8, 4x12, or a 4x16 I guess. The idea that it's four foot across is to harvest your crops without stepping on the soil and packing it down. It needs to be loose and able to hold and drain water.
There is a planting guide on how many seeds to plant per square foot because you'll be breaking down your garden square with a grid laid over the top. Corn for example is four seeds per square foot and you'll have to add a stabilizer because they'll be quite tall.
You can stagger planting your crops so your harvest isn't all at the same time and your garden will produce daily if you wish. It takes some practice and note taking to figure that and it's more than an amateur such as myself would attempt to start with.
Materials for four gardens will likely run less than fifty dollars, the mixture of soil probably close to the same. Not having to pay high prices for vegetables at the store will be priceless though:)
Make no mistake, as oil prices continue to go up food prices will follow. Inflation is imminent, just like watching a bad storm on the radar as it creeps closer to your home. It's coming and it'll be bad. We owe too much money, spend too much money, and haven't the political will to change it right now as a country.
Trucking companies will go broke with these high prices, less food will make it to market, and demand will exceed supply eventually. Growing your own food is the cure for that and it makes all of those events irrelevant to your dinner table.
The Date says we can easily do this and it'd be a great family project for us. I agree and really I don't see much of an option in the coming few rough years.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Nice Eastery Weekend
It was drizzly all weekend long lending some much needed moisture to the bone dry ground. Fixed an incredible stir fry of chop suey on Saturday that fed six people, attempted to make egg rolls but no one sells egg roll wrappers in town. I was left to make my own egg roll dough and they didn't turn out so well. The dough needed to be flatter but all I had was self rising dough which was likely the problem.
They were very poofy.
The filling is very easy to make though and I've got some left over for when I'm able to get real egg roll wrappers.
Sunday was Easter ham day and made another meal that fed six people. Well The Date and The Things did most of the work on that one, I just cooked the ham. We were very sluggish after eating so much as you could imagine.
Closed the evening out with Game of Thrones and some quiet reading time:)
They were very poofy.
The filling is very easy to make though and I've got some left over for when I'm able to get real egg roll wrappers.
Sunday was Easter ham day and made another meal that fed six people. Well The Date and The Things did most of the work on that one, I just cooked the ham. We were very sluggish after eating so much as you could imagine.
Closed the evening out with Game of Thrones and some quiet reading time:)
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Saturday, April 23, 2011
A Clash Of Kings
The HBO series Game of Thrones I've been blogging about has been picked up for production for a second season after the debut episode!
A Clash of Kings follows the houses of Westeros after the events of Game of Thrones naturally. It's a big novel as well. I've not read but maybe a chapter or two as of yet but I'm primed to get going on it. I'm planning on starting it after the HBO series ends this season.
Thing 1 is doing well. She has just started taking her new medicine yesterday. It'll take a week or two to build up to full strength but it should be more effective than the anti-depressant that she was on.
She's had two counseling sessions this past week and is doing well enough to be allowed to drive one time. She got one hour yesterday to get hair dye. She got back with time to spare and did ok. It's baby steps now.
A Clash of Kings follows the houses of Westeros after the events of Game of Thrones naturally. It's a big novel as well. I've not read but maybe a chapter or two as of yet but I'm primed to get going on it. I'm planning on starting it after the HBO series ends this season.
Thing 1 is doing well. She has just started taking her new medicine yesterday. It'll take a week or two to build up to full strength but it should be more effective than the anti-depressant that she was on.
She's had two counseling sessions this past week and is doing well enough to be allowed to drive one time. She got one hour yesterday to get hair dye. She got back with time to spare and did ok. It's baby steps now.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Another Week In The Books
After today I will have logged another full forty hour week. Meaning next week I'll get another 4.62 hours of leave credited to my account. My PTO has dwindled lately and I really need to get it up again where I'm comfortable.
This June will be year nineteen, that means one more year until I log 4.92 hours of leave per week. That also means ten more years until I can collect my pension and quit. I'll be two thirds finished with a job that will have lasted a full thirty years.
I'll be young enough that The Date and I can do something else though. I'll be able to embark on a second career or possibly wake up when I want to which would be nice. It's probably too late for that though as I'll likely always be an early riser.
This week is another brick I guess. The entire wall will be a mosaic of labor running the gamut from good to bad, great to the worst. It'll have been a constant for thirty years and at that point it'll be over with and I'll step aside and let someone else take my place.
That's the plan!
This June will be year nineteen, that means one more year until I log 4.92 hours of leave per week. That also means ten more years until I can collect my pension and quit. I'll be two thirds finished with a job that will have lasted a full thirty years.
I'll be young enough that The Date and I can do something else though. I'll be able to embark on a second career or possibly wake up when I want to which would be nice. It's probably too late for that though as I'll likely always be an early riser.
This week is another brick I guess. The entire wall will be a mosaic of labor running the gamut from good to bad, great to the worst. It'll have been a constant for thirty years and at that point it'll be over with and I'll step aside and let someone else take my place.
That's the plan!
Thursday, April 21, 2011
One More Day Down
Baby step by baby step we're getting better now. A little at a time but it's moving in a good way now. I guess once you come close to the bottom you can only go up.
The Date is days away from graduation now, her final classes dwindling to single digits. She's planning on working instead of taking summer school right now, which is pretty good right now. We'll finally be able to develop a real savings account to guard us against the next time things go bad for a few weeks at a time.
Thankfully we've kept out of going into deep debt though. That's the one thing that's kept us from sinking at all, well and the fact that I have three girls in the house I love...but we do only have one bathroom which sucks. Anyway not going into debt means that it's all for savings now, or a house down payment, or something else and not to a credit card that charges 20% thankfully.
Who knows what opportunities will open up and what will happen to get us from living paycheck to paycheck to getting a little ahead. I know in this economy where gas could easily hit six dollars per gallon this year if there is one more Mid-East revolution in one thousand miles of an oil well, that it's tough. It's tougher than it's ever been to make ends meet but we're going to do it.
The Date is days away from graduation now, her final classes dwindling to single digits. She's planning on working instead of taking summer school right now, which is pretty good right now. We'll finally be able to develop a real savings account to guard us against the next time things go bad for a few weeks at a time.
Thankfully we've kept out of going into deep debt though. That's the one thing that's kept us from sinking at all, well and the fact that I have three girls in the house I love...but we do only have one bathroom which sucks. Anyway not going into debt means that it's all for savings now, or a house down payment, or something else and not to a credit card that charges 20% thankfully.
Who knows what opportunities will open up and what will happen to get us from living paycheck to paycheck to getting a little ahead. I know in this economy where gas could easily hit six dollars per gallon this year if there is one more Mid-East revolution in one thousand miles of an oil well, that it's tough. It's tougher than it's ever been to make ends meet but we're going to do it.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
So Far So Good
With appointments today, tomorrow, and early next week I believe things are going to be ok thus far. Thing 1 will recover and is a long way down that path already. It's looking good, thank you for all of the prayers!
I'm looking forward to a good day, it's going to be a great day actually. I don't know why but it is. We haven't had this rough of a time since the literal two worst weeks of my life in 2009 when I was on strike. I pay attention to the good and not just the bad, I count my blessings. This isn't as bad as those two weeks but a lot of things have gone wrong at the same time. They are over with now and a good streak is beginning and it starts today.
Friday is payday. It's going to be a nice day out today. For now that's enough. It's a start and it's enough. I've heard good comments about the commercial on TV that's playing! I was happy to have Witchy's daughter make her TV debut with the company! That's a memory that will last a long time for her!
I'm looking forward to a good day, it's going to be a great day actually. I don't know why but it is. We haven't had this rough of a time since the literal two worst weeks of my life in 2009 when I was on strike. I pay attention to the good and not just the bad, I count my blessings. This isn't as bad as those two weeks but a lot of things have gone wrong at the same time. They are over with now and a good streak is beginning and it starts today.
Friday is payday. It's going to be a nice day out today. For now that's enough. It's a start and it's enough. I've heard good comments about the commercial on TV that's playing! I was happy to have Witchy's daughter make her TV debut with the company! That's a memory that will last a long time for her!
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Plan B It Is
After talking to an independent insurance company auditor and counselor we found out that what my insurance company has done is normal procedure. Stabilize and treat with outpatient. Thing 1 is home, she came home yesterday morning around ten o'clock.
She went to school, wanted to go actually. The Date is nervous as any mother would but is doing well. I'm proud of her, after the week we've been through it's really a miracle any of us are still here.
Appointments have been made for the outpatient therapy, steps are underway to get her the help that's required. Our support system is amazing! Friends and family have shown their support in a myriad of ways and it's all appreciated and has been helpful!
Thank you to every single one of you!
She went to school, wanted to go actually. The Date is nervous as any mother would but is doing well. I'm proud of her, after the week we've been through it's really a miracle any of us are still here.
Appointments have been made for the outpatient therapy, steps are underway to get her the help that's required. Our support system is amazing! Friends and family have shown their support in a myriad of ways and it's all appreciated and has been helpful!
Thank you to every single one of you!
Monday, April 18, 2011
Round Two
Yeah it starts again today and we'll see how the day goes. Pray for us.
I really don't have a lot to say as there's not a lot to say. We've got a plan B in place and it involves three days of outpatient therapy a week, two for her and one family. It's completely covered if we can't get a better solution hashed out.
Game of Thrones was completely awesome! Epic, intense, and so faithful to the source material that it's like reading the novel!
Darn busy weekend. I'm glad it's over but I dread today.
I really don't have a lot to say as there's not a lot to say. We've got a plan B in place and it involves three days of outpatient therapy a week, two for her and one family. It's completely covered if we can't get a better solution hashed out.
Game of Thrones was completely awesome! Epic, intense, and so faithful to the source material that it's like reading the novel!
Darn busy weekend. I'm glad it's over but I dread today.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Game Of Thrones Tonight!
What could very well be one of the most epic shows ever on TV outside of The Walking Dead and Deadliest Catch will begin this very evening. I blogged about it already and now the countdown is dwindling to nothing.
Game of Thrones debuts tonight. The medieval fantasy of epic size and scope, encompassing one single novel of a planned seven novel series. Books one through four are out now while book five will be out this July.
It has everything a fantasy epic should have, it's gritty, it's got murder, political intrigue, warring families, thousands of years of history, and more. The characters are neither all good or all bad. The best have faults, the worst have moments of heart.
Seasons will last a generation and winter is coming. A giant wall holds back unknown threats along the north, guarded by the Night's Watch. They patrol it, swear their lives as brothers forever to defend the rest of the kingdom against these threats that are thousands of years old.
With four novels out and each up over eight hundred pages with two over a thousand you'll have plenty of reading material in this world. The thing is though, this series is special. There just isn't a series out there with this kind of storytelling, this depth, this attention to every action and plotting. Once this series is over with it's over with. We will likely never see it's equal again.
As Tolkien is special, as Asimov is special, George R. R. Martin is special. If you start this series you'll crave more and lament it's ending. Every good thing has a beginning, middle, and end as does this. It'll be around an estimated six thousand pages when completed as the new book Dance with Dragons is massive. Who knows how big the final two books will be at this point but this journey is one you'll enjoy every step of the way.
Game of Thrones debuts tonight. The medieval fantasy of epic size and scope, encompassing one single novel of a planned seven novel series. Books one through four are out now while book five will be out this July.
It has everything a fantasy epic should have, it's gritty, it's got murder, political intrigue, warring families, thousands of years of history, and more. The characters are neither all good or all bad. The best have faults, the worst have moments of heart.
Seasons will last a generation and winter is coming. A giant wall holds back unknown threats along the north, guarded by the Night's Watch. They patrol it, swear their lives as brothers forever to defend the rest of the kingdom against these threats that are thousands of years old.
With four novels out and each up over eight hundred pages with two over a thousand you'll have plenty of reading material in this world. The thing is though, this series is special. There just isn't a series out there with this kind of storytelling, this depth, this attention to every action and plotting. Once this series is over with it's over with. We will likely never see it's equal again.
As Tolkien is special, as Asimov is special, George R. R. Martin is special. If you start this series you'll crave more and lament it's ending. Every good thing has a beginning, middle, and end as does this. It'll be around an estimated six thousand pages when completed as the new book Dance with Dragons is massive. Who knows how big the final two books will be at this point but this journey is one you'll enjoy every step of the way.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Fighting
It all began yesterday with a phone call. They are going to release Thing 1 from the hospital because insurance is done paying for it. I started making phone calls and found out that my insurance company had denied the request from Thing 1's doctor to keep her until treatment is completed.
I got a serious run around, I talked to person after person at the insurance company and left five voice mails. Three hours of talking got me no where. I decided I'd go up to the hospital and wait for the phone call and we'd have a conversation with the doctor, the insurance company, and myself. I was going to make sure there were no misunderstandings about what was going to happen.
I know insurance is a numbers game. It's very simple at its core, payments come in and payments go out. They make a profit if more payments come in than go out. I've got NOTHING against insurance companies making a profit. They are necessary and when you need them you really need them. I had three kidney stone treatments a couple of years ago called lithotripsy that were nearly 25k apiece and it cost me $150.00 total. That's value and that's what I pay them for.
What I have a problem with is that they have a doctor there who has the power to deny treatment without ever speaking to the patient. Making no evaluation other than what is written down about that patient. The doctor is in California the patient is here.
I was left with one alternative by the end of my fight and that was to file an appeal, the insurance company now has seventy two hours to get a third party doctor, again in California, to go over the medical records and agree or disagree with our doctor's assessment.
Plan B is in place though and thank everything holy that there is a plan B. They will cover outpatient treatment twice a week and medication. While that's good I don't feel it's what is necessary right now.
The fight will continue Monday when I step back into the ring.
I got a serious run around, I talked to person after person at the insurance company and left five voice mails. Three hours of talking got me no where. I decided I'd go up to the hospital and wait for the phone call and we'd have a conversation with the doctor, the insurance company, and myself. I was going to make sure there were no misunderstandings about what was going to happen.
I know insurance is a numbers game. It's very simple at its core, payments come in and payments go out. They make a profit if more payments come in than go out. I've got NOTHING against insurance companies making a profit. They are necessary and when you need them you really need them. I had three kidney stone treatments a couple of years ago called lithotripsy that were nearly 25k apiece and it cost me $150.00 total. That's value and that's what I pay them for.
What I have a problem with is that they have a doctor there who has the power to deny treatment without ever speaking to the patient. Making no evaluation other than what is written down about that patient. The doctor is in California the patient is here.
I was left with one alternative by the end of my fight and that was to file an appeal, the insurance company now has seventy two hours to get a third party doctor, again in California, to go over the medical records and agree or disagree with our doctor's assessment.
Plan B is in place though and thank everything holy that there is a plan B. They will cover outpatient treatment twice a week and medication. While that's good I don't feel it's what is necessary right now.
The fight will continue Monday when I step back into the ring.
Friday, April 15, 2011
Shooting Tonight
We've got the follow up shoot tonight to last weeks' promotional shoot. Today the big BBQ contest starts that my co-worker has entered since it's inaugural year. It's the contest that got him into smoking and the one that inspired him to go to more contests in the area. He'll be going to a huge one in Texas next month and last year he won the Arkansas state championship earning him around five thousand dollars.
He's getting better for sure!
Thing 1 is doing better, she still wants to come home now but that's not going to happen. It'll be a few weeks at minimum from what I gather.
It's going to be a chilly and blustery day here. Nothing else to report right now.
He's getting better for sure!
Thing 1 is doing better, she still wants to come home now but that's not going to happen. It'll be a few weeks at minimum from what I gather.
It's going to be a chilly and blustery day here. Nothing else to report right now.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Distractions
I'll visit the entire story of what happened at a later date. I'd like to do that for my own therapeutic benefit. I'd like things to be well on their healing way first instead of ripping fresh scabs off of new wounds.
So now I'm going to talk about what I've been doing as a distraction. The greatest show on TV started back up, Deadliest Catch. With a touching tribute to Captain Phil at the start of the show where they scatter his ashes and follow that up by firing their weapons into the sky and water followed by fireworks. It was fitting and genuine.
Then it was onto getting out to sea and fishing for kind crab. The Harris brothers brought on one of Captain Phil's friends and part time captain to skipper the Cornelia Marie. It looks like it'll be a good match for them as he wants things done and will get them done to the best of his ability even while stepping on toes as Phil would.
The Northwestern sees the return of Edgar Hansen for his twenty third season of fishing. Last year he was going to hang it up for good. Tired of the grind, tired of Sig's oppression, and tired of everything. He was burned out on his job as I get or you get from time to time.
The Wizard and Time Bandit return as well and were striking out in fishing. They pulled in very little crab and are now going to struggle to make quota this season. They'll have to pack it up and reset their gear on better crabbing grounds.
All in all its the show I love, it has every element in it that makes a good show great. Drama, serious danger, conflicts, resolutions, and heart.
So now I'm going to talk about what I've been doing as a distraction. The greatest show on TV started back up, Deadliest Catch. With a touching tribute to Captain Phil at the start of the show where they scatter his ashes and follow that up by firing their weapons into the sky and water followed by fireworks. It was fitting and genuine.
Then it was onto getting out to sea and fishing for kind crab. The Harris brothers brought on one of Captain Phil's friends and part time captain to skipper the Cornelia Marie. It looks like it'll be a good match for them as he wants things done and will get them done to the best of his ability even while stepping on toes as Phil would.
The Northwestern sees the return of Edgar Hansen for his twenty third season of fishing. Last year he was going to hang it up for good. Tired of the grind, tired of Sig's oppression, and tired of everything. He was burned out on his job as I get or you get from time to time.
The Wizard and Time Bandit return as well and were striking out in fishing. They pulled in very little crab and are now going to struggle to make quota this season. They'll have to pack it up and reset their gear on better crabbing grounds.
All in all its the show I love, it has every element in it that makes a good show great. Drama, serious danger, conflicts, resolutions, and heart.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
A Little Better
Thank you all for the support you've offered my family. Every single one of you. I realize there's been drama in the past but it's all trivial at the most now and means nothing. Nothing. If it were one of your children, God forbid it ever is, I want you all to know that we'd be right there with you as you have been for us.
We'd love you as you have loved us during this trying time. There are a lot of things more important in this life than he said she said blah blah blah. That's the happiness and well being of your loved ones. I don't think The Date or I would have been able to get through the past couple of days if it hadn't been for your support, every single one of you.
Rest assured Thing 1 is safe now and a bit angry as she works through all of the events of the past couple of days. One of the attendants spoke with The Date and said she isn't like a lot of the kids that he has come through there, they aren't happy, have seriously bad issues, they have warning signs for weeks, and she hasn't shown any of that.
She's a mouthy, moody, teen. She doesn't like authority (I've always had a deep seated problem with authority figures myself but to make a living you have to get past that) but she doesn't exhibit any of the signs you read about.
I just want you to know if there's any doubt lingering after everything I've said thus far, we love you all, thank you all, no hard feelings over anything anymore. There's more important things now to think about and work on, go right now and love your children and hug them. The past is over and dead, right now we are living for today, tomorrow, and a bright future.
We'd love you as you have loved us during this trying time. There are a lot of things more important in this life than he said she said blah blah blah. That's the happiness and well being of your loved ones. I don't think The Date or I would have been able to get through the past couple of days if it hadn't been for your support, every single one of you.
Rest assured Thing 1 is safe now and a bit angry as she works through all of the events of the past couple of days. One of the attendants spoke with The Date and said she isn't like a lot of the kids that he has come through there, they aren't happy, have seriously bad issues, they have warning signs for weeks, and she hasn't shown any of that.
She's a mouthy, moody, teen. She doesn't like authority (I've always had a deep seated problem with authority figures myself but to make a living you have to get past that) but she doesn't exhibit any of the signs you read about.
I just want you to know if there's any doubt lingering after everything I've said thus far, we love you all, thank you all, no hard feelings over anything anymore. There's more important things now to think about and work on, go right now and love your children and hug them. The past is over and dead, right now we are living for today, tomorrow, and a bright future.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Prayers Are Requested
I'll write about this more at a later date but for those of you who don't know we had an incident with Thing 1 late Sunday evening. Thankfully by the mercy of God Himself it didn't have a tragic result.
She will now be getting the treatment she needs to continue along a healthy path.
Special thanks goes to everyone who helped that evening as well as Crime Reporter, T, and Witchy. All of your help was invaluable.
She will now be getting the treatment she needs to continue along a healthy path.
Special thanks goes to everyone who helped that evening as well as Crime Reporter, T, and Witchy. All of your help was invaluable.
Monday, April 11, 2011
A Nice Sunday
The day was actually very good. Happiness reigned in the home as I grilled corn and bratwurst.
As the NFL season appears doomed this year I'm trying to really rekindle my interest in baseball. It's tough but I'm trying hard.
We watched the new River Monsters. I like this show a lot. Jeremy Wade has got a very cool job. Fishing at exotic locales, getting paid tons of money to do so, and having a TV show on top of that?!
Quite the life!
As the NFL season appears doomed this year I'm trying to really rekindle my interest in baseball. It's tough but I'm trying hard.
We watched the new River Monsters. I like this show a lot. Jeremy Wade has got a very cool job. Fishing at exotic locales, getting paid tons of money to do so, and having a TV show on top of that?!
Quite the life!
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Productive Saturday
I bought and planted grass seeds (something I NEVER thought I'd EVER do) ordered a window to replace a window upstairs, washed dishes, and folded clothes. The latter two I'm used to as I did that when I was a bachelor as well.
The Date had to work all day long and then went to the Theatre for a special poetry show featuring the work of Emily Dickinson so Thing 2 and I were on our own. Thing 1 was with one of her girlfriends all day. So we made popcorn and watched The Exorcist 3.
I played one fantasy baseball league yesterday and beat the top player going right now 47-43. Kaiseroll13 is so good he likely makes a living at daily fantasy sports. He rakes in like thousands per month. I'd love to hang out with the guy and chat about how he does it as I'm merely an amateur.
I've got the water going now on the lawn. It's supposed to be watered every day now. Sigh...I'm growing a yard.
The Date had to work all day long and then went to the Theatre for a special poetry show featuring the work of Emily Dickinson so Thing 2 and I were on our own. Thing 1 was with one of her girlfriends all day. So we made popcorn and watched The Exorcist 3.
I played one fantasy baseball league yesterday and beat the top player going right now 47-43. Kaiseroll13 is so good he likely makes a living at daily fantasy sports. He rakes in like thousands per month. I'd love to hang out with the guy and chat about how he does it as I'm merely an amateur.
I've got the water going now on the lawn. It's supposed to be watered every day now. Sigh...I'm growing a yard.
Saturday, April 09, 2011
Good Shoot
Despite the short burst of severe weather, hail, and high winds we finished the shoot! Beersnob took lead on this project and I was pleased with his creative vision. He shot with editing in mind which is a good skill to have.
You set the shots and work out how it would be edited together and look like in your head before you start. That's what many young filmmakers need to learn. The shoot took about an hour and a half and took place in two locations. Interrupted of course by a storm.
All in all it was a busy day, a productive day, and Beersnob will be editing this afternoon and get it all up and running! I'm looking forward to seeing his work!
You set the shots and work out how it would be edited together and look like in your head before you start. That's what many young filmmakers need to learn. The shoot took about an hour and a half and took place in two locations. Interrupted of course by a storm.
All in all it was a busy day, a productive day, and Beersnob will be editing this afternoon and get it all up and running! I'm looking forward to seeing his work!
Friday, April 08, 2011
The Home Search
The search for a new house is going slowly however it is proceeding. The longer it takes the better the prices will get, literally. There's a big glut of homes on the market now and it'll be getting much bigger after a big company moves out of town in a few months.
That'll take a sluggish market and make the prices fall even further. I've been looking at the realty sites online and most of the properties have little down arrows indicating a price reduction. Time is literally on our side now! That's a good position to be in!
I'd like a place just outside of town enough so I'm not affected by zoning laws but still has access to the cable system for internet access. It's a tough balancing act. I want to eventually put up a wind generator in the back yard and get as independent as possible in living conditions. Call me super paranoid if you'd like but I see America going through some tougher times for the next few years and it'd be nice to sustain a good standard of living.
It boils down to I'd rather be a little paranoid now than wind up a victim later, I've blogged that before but you just don't know what the future will bring anymore. I want the best for my family and I and my friends, that means learning and doing things that will keep everyone fed and happy during tough times.
On another note, we've got a shoot tonight. Immediately after work Beersnob will meet me and we'll get this knocked out!
That'll take a sluggish market and make the prices fall even further. I've been looking at the realty sites online and most of the properties have little down arrows indicating a price reduction. Time is literally on our side now! That's a good position to be in!
I'd like a place just outside of town enough so I'm not affected by zoning laws but still has access to the cable system for internet access. It's a tough balancing act. I want to eventually put up a wind generator in the back yard and get as independent as possible in living conditions. Call me super paranoid if you'd like but I see America going through some tougher times for the next few years and it'd be nice to sustain a good standard of living.
It boils down to I'd rather be a little paranoid now than wind up a victim later, I've blogged that before but you just don't know what the future will bring anymore. I want the best for my family and I and my friends, that means learning and doing things that will keep everyone fed and happy during tough times.
On another note, we've got a shoot tonight. Immediately after work Beersnob will meet me and we'll get this knocked out!
Thursday, April 07, 2011
Thank You
For all of the birthday wishes yesterday! It was overwhelming on my facebook and in real life!
The Date cooked chicken alfredo last night and me a chocolate pie, they also got me a bottle of Laphroaig and a Rockey Patel Edge! I had a couple of white Russians and played Starcraft all evening! It was a great evening! Friday I've got a shoot starting at 4:30 and lasting at least an hour, possibly more.
What's happening after that is editing and uploading. After that, who knows!
So to my family, Love You and thank you! To my fantastic friends, thank you as well! It means a lot to me!
The Date cooked chicken alfredo last night and me a chocolate pie, they also got me a bottle of Laphroaig and a Rockey Patel Edge! I had a couple of white Russians and played Starcraft all evening! It was a great evening! Friday I've got a shoot starting at 4:30 and lasting at least an hour, possibly more.
What's happening after that is editing and uploading. After that, who knows!
So to my family, Love You and thank you! To my fantastic friends, thank you as well! It means a lot to me!
Wednesday, April 06, 2011
Another Year Older
Usually I never blog about birthdays or anything like that, however today I'm going to. It's inevitable that it'll come around each and every year and that it'll make you feel times of reflection and eventually you'll look to the future.
You'll wonder how many more you'll see, how many more days of walking on this Earth you'll have. When I was twenty I thought thirty was ancient. Now that I'm officially into my forties I've got to wonder what the next decade will bring.
My thirties were a mixed bag of good and bad. Some really great moments and some really bad/sad moments. I'd venture to say that my forties will be similar to that although what the great moments and sad/bad moments will be I can't speak to as I really don't know what will present itself in the future.
If the weather is nice after work I'll likely indulge in a fine cigar at home. I'll get my bag chair, lighter, cutter, and kindle and hopefully enjoy the sunshine and calm day. Just a nice peaceful evening.
You'll wonder how many more you'll see, how many more days of walking on this Earth you'll have. When I was twenty I thought thirty was ancient. Now that I'm officially into my forties I've got to wonder what the next decade will bring.
My thirties were a mixed bag of good and bad. Some really great moments and some really bad/sad moments. I'd venture to say that my forties will be similar to that although what the great moments and sad/bad moments will be I can't speak to as I really don't know what will present itself in the future.
If the weather is nice after work I'll likely indulge in a fine cigar at home. I'll get my bag chair, lighter, cutter, and kindle and hopefully enjoy the sunshine and calm day. Just a nice peaceful evening.
Tuesday, April 05, 2011
SG:U The Demise Of Syfy
Stargate: Universe returned to TV a few weeks ago and now has started it's last half of it's last season. It's a shame because it's a great show and it's really sad that they likely won't be able to send off the show with a resolution. Instead it'll likely have a cliffhanger ending and then nothing.
At least SG:U had two seasons while Firefly had a little over a half a season before getting cancelled. That was also a great show cut down before it's time. I have no idea why Scifi channel would cut that and keep Expedition Truth where they never find anything at all or the new Fact or Faked show.
Obviously I know why, those shows are cheaper to produce but SG:U is stellar in it's execution and storylines. It's SCIFI!!! What more could a channel called Syfy want?!?! Name a show that's left that is an actual scifi show set in space? There aren't any!
The closest thing we've got going on now is The Walking Dead and it'll be fall before the new season starts back up again. So until then it's old Star Trek reruns, a precious few SG:U original airings, and little else to satisfy the scifi enthusiast niche.
If only I were in charge of the Scifi channel, first the logo never would have changed to the more girly and emasculated syfy. There would be original shows on and there would be original dramas, comedies, and reality shows as well as they have a market. I would have optioned The Walking Dead before AMC knew it was even a property to option and I would give the starved masses and fans of Scifi something to watch and start talking about again!
I would explore the Honorverse from author David Weber, I would option the older Keith Laumer Bolo stories for production. I would find the best TEOTWAWKI (the end of the world as we know it) stories out there and produce them instead of the lame CGI creature fests they put on every weekend. Scifi would stand for something again instead of how bad it's fallen and the punchline to a bad joke of a channel. Then on top of all of that I'd have a classic movie feature to air the movies that made scifi into scifi and defined a genre!
At least SG:U had two seasons while Firefly had a little over a half a season before getting cancelled. That was also a great show cut down before it's time. I have no idea why Scifi channel would cut that and keep Expedition Truth where they never find anything at all or the new Fact or Faked show.
Obviously I know why, those shows are cheaper to produce but SG:U is stellar in it's execution and storylines. It's SCIFI!!! What more could a channel called Syfy want?!?! Name a show that's left that is an actual scifi show set in space? There aren't any!
The closest thing we've got going on now is The Walking Dead and it'll be fall before the new season starts back up again. So until then it's old Star Trek reruns, a precious few SG:U original airings, and little else to satisfy the scifi enthusiast niche.
If only I were in charge of the Scifi channel, first the logo never would have changed to the more girly and emasculated syfy. There would be original shows on and there would be original dramas, comedies, and reality shows as well as they have a market. I would have optioned The Walking Dead before AMC knew it was even a property to option and I would give the starved masses and fans of Scifi something to watch and start talking about again!
I would explore the Honorverse from author David Weber, I would option the older Keith Laumer Bolo stories for production. I would find the best TEOTWAWKI (the end of the world as we know it) stories out there and produce them instead of the lame CGI creature fests they put on every weekend. Scifi would stand for something again instead of how bad it's fallen and the punchline to a bad joke of a channel. Then on top of all of that I'd have a classic movie feature to air the movies that made scifi into scifi and defined a genre!
Monday, April 04, 2011
Nearly Finished!
Yesterday was spent doing a sync'd voice over and changing the voice over in the commercial to add an additional phrase. Now for final approval of the proof and I will FTP the spot to a couple of companies for airing.
Then I'm done with this project for a year. They did suggest that they would be doing shows while coordinating with another arena and would require spots for them as well. So we might be picking up quite a bit of business for these types of shows.
That's good as it raises our profile and expands us into areas of customers we previously had no access to. With Beersnob now going out and actually selling our products to customers for the first time we stand a good shot at growing.
Oh and with UCONN's win over Kentucky Saturday evening I took second place at work with my March Madness bracket! Take that Cinderella teams!
Then I'm done with this project for a year. They did suggest that they would be doing shows while coordinating with another arena and would require spots for them as well. So we might be picking up quite a bit of business for these types of shows.
That's good as it raises our profile and expands us into areas of customers we previously had no access to. With Beersnob now going out and actually selling our products to customers for the first time we stand a good shot at growing.
Oh and with UCONN's win over Kentucky Saturday evening I took second place at work with my March Madness bracket! Take that Cinderella teams!
Sunday, April 03, 2011
Minor Tweaks
Yep the client loved the commercial, I have to lower the music level a bit and change the voice over to talk about vendors. We are going to reshoot the opening bit for a bit more clarity and deliver it tonight!
I'll be finished then and this one will be put to bed and start airing soon! I'm glad they liked the vision Beersnob and I collaborated on and provided. It's a confidence booster and another addition to the demo reel.
It's a warm and sunny day so far and it's not even 8:30 yet. Yeah it's a bit windy and that will hinder shooting later on but maybe it'll calm down. We'll see though.
All in all it looks like a great day and a day to enjoy:)
I'll be finished then and this one will be put to bed and start airing soon! I'm glad they liked the vision Beersnob and I collaborated on and provided. It's a confidence booster and another addition to the demo reel.
It's a warm and sunny day so far and it's not even 8:30 yet. Yeah it's a bit windy and that will hinder shooting later on but maybe it'll calm down. We'll see though.
All in all it looks like a great day and a day to enjoy:)
Saturday, April 02, 2011
Fifteen Hour Day
After regular work yesterday Beersnob and I met Witchy and her daughter (who did a very good job and liked the idea of being on TV) at the park to shoot footage for the commercial. We shot for roughly forty five minutes and then we edited two versions to present to the client today.
I'm confident that she'll want changes and that gives me time to make them and re-shoot if we absolutely have to. I don't think we will though. I think she'll just want changes in the editing or the message, more than likely somethings added to it.
We finished editing just after ten last night. That means Beersnob and I worked roughly six hours after work ended to produce two commercials, including shooting time.
Beersnob will arrange a meeting today with the client and we'll get this project put to bed!
In other news I have been approved for a mortgage loan, the idiots approved me for two hundred and forty five thousand. I told them I needed less than half of that but my credit score and low debt skyrocketed my loan amount. Now the burst housing bubble makes sense! I have no doubt that a lot of people took them up on the maximum loan amount and bought the most expensive house possible while I'm happy with a bathroom all to myself so the women can share their bathroom.
Good grief, my jaw hit the floor when they told me what I could get. I told them I couldn't afford a $1,790 a month house payment and that a thousand was really pushing the limit. They said we could look for what we wanted and that was the maximum they would give me. So The Date is now in search of a house while we work on saving up the down payment.
I'm confident that she'll want changes and that gives me time to make them and re-shoot if we absolutely have to. I don't think we will though. I think she'll just want changes in the editing or the message, more than likely somethings added to it.
We finished editing just after ten last night. That means Beersnob and I worked roughly six hours after work ended to produce two commercials, including shooting time.
Beersnob will arrange a meeting today with the client and we'll get this project put to bed!
In other news I have been approved for a mortgage loan, the idiots approved me for two hundred and forty five thousand. I told them I needed less than half of that but my credit score and low debt skyrocketed my loan amount. Now the burst housing bubble makes sense! I have no doubt that a lot of people took them up on the maximum loan amount and bought the most expensive house possible while I'm happy with a bathroom all to myself so the women can share their bathroom.
Good grief, my jaw hit the floor when they told me what I could get. I told them I couldn't afford a $1,790 a month house payment and that a thousand was really pushing the limit. They said we could look for what we wanted and that was the maximum they would give me. So The Date is now in search of a house while we work on saving up the down payment.
Friday, April 01, 2011
Game Of Thrones
I just finished this book last night from George R.R. Martin. I thought I had read it before and stopped about half way through it and lost track of it after that but there were parts of the book I remembered happening like the several of the last chapters and the finale. I knew what happened a lot so it is possible I fihttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifnished the book the first time around and I just don't remember now. Weird but possible.
Regardless this was a darn fine book, epic story. It is such a good story that HBO has made it into a series. One season equals one book. I've been stunned when I watch the trailers on You Tube because it is the exact same as the novel.
I've recognized the characters, heard the same lines, witnessed the same events as in the novel. It's going to be epic!
You can see it for yourself here and then see some of the trailers. It kicks off April 17th I believe and yes I'll be subscribing to HBO to watch it!
There's time for you more avid readers to read this first book, I finished it in just under two weeks and I didn't read it at all last weekend. It weighs in around eight hundred pages, eight fifty eight on my Kindle. I'd highly recommend it for those of you who like high adventure and drama but be warned there is some adult situations, graphically described violence, and Martin has no problems killing off popular main characters to further the story for future events.
Regardless this was a darn fine book, epic story. It is such a good story that HBO has made it into a series. One season equals one book. I've been stunned when I watch the trailers on You Tube because it is the exact same as the novel.
I've recognized the characters, heard the same lines, witnessed the same events as in the novel. It's going to be epic!
You can see it for yourself here and then see some of the trailers. It kicks off April 17th I believe and yes I'll be subscribing to HBO to watch it!
There's time for you more avid readers to read this first book, I finished it in just under two weeks and I didn't read it at all last weekend. It weighs in around eight hundred pages, eight fifty eight on my Kindle. I'd highly recommend it for those of you who like high adventure and drama but be warned there is some adult situations, graphically described violence, and Martin has no problems killing off popular main characters to further the story for future events.
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