Today is that day. The end of this year. Am I happy it is ending? Eh. Yes and no. There were some pretty crappy things that happened over the last twelve months. Some good things, too.

Either way, as tomorrow comes around, many people will be striving to 'make the change(s)' that they feel they need to do in order to love themselves better. Kudos to them. I think it is a bunch of bullshit. Why do it at one certain time of year, if it is something that they know needs done? Why wait til New Years? Makes no sense.

Me? Am I doing resolutions? Oh hell no. Sis has a thing she has tried to do the past handful of years. We generally all meet at her place for New Years lunch, where the Reverend Mother makes ribs, black-eyed peas, cole slaw, and I am sure I am forgetting something else. The RM calls it all a 'Poor Man's something-or-other' and it supposedly to bring good luck to us. Years ago she used to put a silver dollar in the cole slaw, and whoever got it (usually me) was supposed to have good luck this next year as well. I think it was rigged, as I always go last, and seemingly, I am the only one that really likes cole slaw, so I got the biggest helping of it. I think everyone else was just being kind in taking any at all. Strictly my opinion.

So, good things for next year? Personal goals? Things to strive for? Bad habits to correct? Yeah, I got them all... Am I going to share? Not on your life! Well, I'll concede to the point that, if I do admit some things, you'll have to read about it here, when it happens. If that doesn't bring you back everyday, wondering what changes/things I am doing, nothing will. But hey, that's how I roll.

I will admit I want to go see 'Les Mis' in the theaters.

PeacE

Who Needs a Post Title

It's Friday, but as usual, that doesn't mean much for me. For now, it is just another day that the kids are out of school, at home, and at times, driving me crazy. Short trip, I know. Seems Christmas was small enough that they did not receive enough things to keep them busy. Even the bicycle the middle son got. The two older ones 'went for a bike ride' yesterday afternoon, but were back home and inside within 20 minutes. Why so soon? They got cold. It's only in the 60's here.... I mentioned they should put on jackets and go back out. No, their interest in that endeavor had disappeared.

Sigh. Only a week and two days more of this before school starts back up.

I have been being a good boy myself. I haven't been out to the pub since Christmas. I had gone out that afternoon as a friend was visiting from out of town. I stayed much later than I should have, and got home fairly late. Now I am holding out for Sunday afternoon/evening as they moved my Redskin game til the last one of the day and season.

Christmas otherwise this year has been good. The kids, though they are typical kids and kinda complain, got some clothes, and a few other things. Unfortunately, some are the kind that can only be done once, then it done, and those they have already completed so one less thing to keep them entertained. I received some food stuffs (beef jerky, summer sausages, etc) and some nice PJs. I don't usually wear pajamas (I know, TMI) as I usually sleep in gym shorts, or my birthday suit. But the RM got me some fleece ones, and they are just comfortable! I may have to start investing in a few pairs.

Not too bad a year. Only two presents need to be returned. One, for the youngest, doesn't work properly, and the other, the Wife didn't want (se wanted a steam cleaner, not a fabric steamer - my bad). I hope this next week the stores won't be as busy with returns, and maybe I can get those taken care of, though, the kid's present, the Wife can't find the receipt for it. Maybe I'll make her take it back.

Well, I should get something going this morning, like a cup of coffee and maybe some breakfast.

PeacE

A Very Merry Christmas

A sign that the end of the year is almost up on us, is here again. It's going on 7am here at the Ralphd00d house, and I have been up since 6'ish, waiting a more decent hour to awaken everyone else to get the day started. Last night wasn't too terrible. I had pushed the Wife about getting the wrapping done days prior to the Eve, and thus I was able to be in bet shortly after 11 last night. I was near falling down asleep by then, too.

Due to financial times, I am sure we are not the only household that has had to lower the budget when it came to getting presents for friends and family. I feel bad that we had to cut out external family and friends (such as our brothers/sisters families) just because the money was not there. We explained why, and asked that they not get us gifts as well, and if they felt the need to do it anyway, to put our kids before us. I stopped at RM's last night and already heard Sis had dropped off some presents for us already. Sigh. Some people just don't listen well I guess.

This will be a first Christmas for us (my family) that we are doing things a bit different. In past years, we generally did our presents, then the MIL's house for their family, then RM's, then finally head to Sis' place for the afternoon, where we would end up just kicking it and snacking the rest of the day. This year we opted out of going to Sis' house. By the afternoon, the Wife and I are pretty much worn out, and as we are getting older (though not as old as you Sis!) we just felt it would be easier to just return home after doing the two parents' houses. The Daughter is older, and I thought she would have plans to be with the Boyfriend's family, or other friends, but I guess last night she said she didn't.

Each year, even when money is tight, we try to do one big present for each of the kids. As they are getting older, that "big gift" seems to be getting smaller, and more expensive - such is life, eh? This year the Daughter is getting a sewing machine, the oldest son is getting a Kindle (my old one, so that cost helped stay down), the middle son is getting a bicycle, and the youngest, well the Wife found this digital-drawing, light up thingy that she thought he would love. He's 6, it should be good enough for him. Mixed in all the regular presents I am sure they all will find some candies, some clothes, other misc items they really don't need, a few toys, and most importantly, know we love them.

It's just a few minutes past 7am now, and I sense the Wife will be getting up soon. I heard the alarm radio going off, and her hit snooze. I hope you all have a wonderful day.

PeacE

A 2012 Christmas

For those of you just now reading this, it really isn't Christmas yet. That's still about 17 hours away. Actually more like 24 hours away, if I get to sleep in a little bit before anything happens.

The Wife has just left for work. The boys are still asleep. I'm wide awake. I would think that after the drinking I did yesterday, I would be feeling some effects still, but apparently not. Captain Morgan's wears off pretty good considering.

No shopping to do today. Thank Goodness!! I know there are things that still need to be wrapped, but it is all in the Wife's hands now, as I have no clue who the gifts are to go to, so no since in my trying to wrap them.

Today will be hopefully easy. Maybe just my Kindle and me ... ignore the boys ...

Merry Christmas

PeacE

Kinda Like An Elf

Today, I will be feeling a little like an elf. No, not that I will be smaller in stature and have pointy ears, but in the way that I shall try to get some wrapping done. I admit, it is not one of my better talents - it's not a talent at all for me - and I really would prefer to not wrap at all. Previous years we have used the gift bags and tissue paper to large extents, but I believe we are out of gift bags this year. I am sure we will spend the next couple years accumulating them (the Wife does pack-rat things). Either way, there are a handful of things I could wrap up to help save the Wife a little bit more time. Otherwise, it will be 3 am Christmas morning before I am allowed into the bedroom to go to bed.

Other than that short hour (I hope it's that or less) of wrapping, there isn't much going on for me. I know the Wife and Daughter both have mentioned they are getting out to a couple stores for a few last minute items they need to pick up for gifts. That means I will be with the boys. The Wife had her work Christmas party last night. I don't know how they chose gifts, but somehow the Wife ended up with a cocktail shaker set. She doesn't drink, and I don't drink cocktails, so it ended up being a bit worthless to us. It's the appreciation her employers show by the gift giving though, right? Hmph.

Guess that's all I got today. Have a good weekend!

PeacE

What? Yer Still Here?

So much for the world ending, eight? I saw a Facebook post yesterday from NZ, that said they were still around, so I figured it had to wait until the time zone area the Mayans lived in. Then I noticed it was after 1am, and I needed to get home. One of the boys woke me this morning (because my cell phone was making noise) and I thought 'Damn. It isn't over'. Maybe it means it will end at the END of the day... pshaw! As if!

So I spent a few hours out and about yesterday, trying to finish out the shopping for the Wife. Have I said before how much I hate shopping. Or how much I suck at finding a gift for someone when they don't give me specific items to get? Yeah. All that time I ended up with two items for her. But I guess it was good that I got out and did A LOT of walking. Oh, and worked on being patient with the damn crowds. And traffic. At least it wasn't snowing like I heard it is in the mid-west.

Today is the first day of the break for the boys so I have all three of them at home. It's almost 10am, so I suppose I should go wake the two that still asleep. The middle one has been up since 'fuck it's too early'. In case I don't make it back before, enjoy your upcoming Tuesday.

PeacE

It's Puzzling

I am a reader. I have a larger vocabulary than the normal person - even if I don't use it properly. Facts and trivia about some of the weirdest (and at times, stupidest) things will stick in my memory for years upon years, yet I can't remember a conversation I had the night before. And I like to do crossword puzzles every once in awhile. I am not super-fantastic, solves-in-under-a-minute type of person. It takes me time. Most puzzles I cannot even solve on the first go-round, and have to return to them in two or three different sittings. This year, I will be doing crossword puzzles quite a bit. Though it seems at least every Christmas, I get a crossword puzzle book of some sort as a gift. This year, the MIL purchased a subscription for me. They come once a month, about 5 of them every 30 days. They are not like some of the cheap puzzle books from the dollar store, where if you get to use a 5-letter word, it's a good puzzle. These things aren't as hard as he NY Times puzzle found in most major newspapers. They're from The Crossword Club, and I am finding, somewhat entertaining to complete. Most puzzles have a theme, or at least seem too for those really big word spots. I even started one this morning that has an additional puzzle, that once completed, you take the circled letters and figure out the word(s).

What do crossword puzzles have to do with anything today? Not much. It's just that yesterday, and this morning already, I have sat down and worked on a few. Just that kind of mood, I guess. I remember a particular compliment the Sis has given me over the years.I can't remember how she phrased it exactly, but she complimented my ability with words due to all my reading and doing crossword puzzles. She has even had me read over school papers (for editting).

And yes, sometimes I am good and do my puzzles in pen.

PeacE

I have 15 Minutes For Ya

The son's concert last night wasn't as bad as I thought it may have been. Seems it was just the bands for 4th grade, then the 5th & 6th grades. The first group played like three songs on them recorders - those wooden whistles with the 3-4 holes. At least the bad part was over first. The regular band played about 5 songs, and we were out of there within a half hour. I was worried it was going to be a whole school production, and with each grade singing or doing skits... as they always have to have someone translating to Spanish whenever they do that crap.

I'm getting ready to head over to the MIL's for the regular Tuesday shopping trip she has. I was planning on going out to get the present for the Wife, but I am feeling lazy today, and will probably just come back home.
There is always tomorrow to go to the store and fight crowds.

I found out this past weekend my little sister from Indiana won't be coming out here for a week after Christmas. I was a little bit bummed, as it has been a couple years since I seen her last. I just hope she got a refund on the plane ticket.

Okay, so there ya have it for today. I have no clue what I may come up with tomorrow.

PeacE

A Last Week of Bliss, Sort of

Today starts the last week I have before the kids are out of school for two weeks. It's also pretty much down to one week until Christmas as well, and I know I need to get out for at least 1 more gift for the Wife. Actually, I should get more than one, but I know of only one thing she wants. I really have no desire to get out to the store to get it though. I can just imagine the crowd of moronic, Spanish-speaking imbeciles I will have to put up with just to get this one item. Shudder.

Tonight the middle son has his winter concert. He plays trumpet. The oldest has some theater thingy going on at the same time. The Wife's employer has scheduled their Christmas party for this Friday, though I have no clue where it is being held. I do not know if she is wanting me to attend this year or not. Most past years, I have not gone. I am the Grinch in spirit, what can I say?

The Daughter is headed back to Tucson after being up this weekend. She plans on being up again next weekend for two weeks as she is on school break, too. I need to talk to the Wife and get her to change the Daughter's plans. I don't think I want her here for two weeks, especially when we are paying for an apartment in Tucson. I don't mind her being here a few days for the holiday, but go home, come back again next time.

And so my Christmas spirit starts.

PeacE

The Only Sick I Am, Is Sick In The Head

The later part of last week I felt like crap. I even wrote about it, stating I felt sick, like I had a cold. I was wrong. I am not even sure what it was. I was stuffed up, sinus headaches, watery, itchy eyes, sneezing, and several other symptoms - all which were normal for the common cold. Friday evening I felt a little better, so I  went to meet a couple friends. Within a half hour of getting out of the house, it cleared up. So, I am thinking it must be something in the house that is making my allergies go insane. Or something in the air around the neighborhood, somehow affecting me. This morning is the first I have ha din several, that I haven't woken up feeling the effects, and I am happy about that!

Last night was the first performance of the Christmas Musical that is being put on by the youth and children's groups at the church the Wife attends. The oldest and youngest of my sons are both performing in it. Today will wrap up the second showing. Here are a few pics....

 The youngest (and cutest) of the boys, during one of the songs.

 During that same song, he walks over to this part, where he kneels next to the manger scene.

My oldest (and namesake) here in the purple shirt. Most of the pics I had of him were a bit blurry, as the older kids did more of the choreographed stuff (dancing and other movements).

Overall it wasn't a bad performance. My arm hurt something awful afterwards, as I spent the hour holding up a video camera. The Wife used our camera, and I have yet to see those pics. Today, she going to watch again, knowing what is in store to get some better pics of both the boys. Me? I'll be at the pub watching the Redskins kick ass on the Browns.

PeacE

Not Up to It

I got nothing for you today. Yesterday, I awoke with a bad sinus headache, being all clogged up, and just feeling miserable, so I have a cold.

Today feels very little in the way of feeling better.

I'm going back to bed.

Waking Up To Spiders

I have never really cared about spiders. I mean, some look pretty cool, and do some cool things, as long as they are behind glass, or on a TV documentary. When they are live and in my area....shudder! Here is AZ, we hear warnings about the Black Widow and Brown Recluse so much, I think we just tend to ignore them. I remember years ago, when I had an apartment over in the Sunnyslope area, our back door to the "yard area" had a window inset. This back door was located in the kitchen. I don't recall exactly what I was doing - getting silverware, maybe a cup from the cabinet - but I happened to turn to the window and there was a HUGE spider posing right in the middle! Of course, being the man I am, I dropped whatever I had in hand, screamed and went running to the other room, yelling for the Wife to come and get rid of it - preferably by killing it. She, of course, walks over and examines it. Determined it was a Wolf spider, and thus harmless pretty much to us, I calmed down. After all, he was outside, and there was no way I was letting anyone open that door. Several hours later, or overnight, that spider moved on, and I never saw it again.

My high school years, I recall seeing black Widows quite a bit. One of my chores was cleaning the garage - sweeping it out, etc. I would occasionally find one in a corner area that had some shovels or something we had not used in awhile. I would smash its guts as fast as possible, being as far as possible from it. Find them in our shed, too, when getting the mower out. Don't think I have ever seen a Brown Recluse (and don't want to) except on TV or at the Zoo.

Seems every year we end up getting a few of them Grandaddy Longlegs spiders in the house. Generally we leave them be in the ceiling corners, for a couple months, then swipe out the cobwebs and a little spider skeleton. Knowing they are not dangerous, and that if there are bugs they will help clear them out, I don't mind them. I will admit though, there have been a couple instances where one has dropped on me unexpectedly, or jaunted across my leg, and freaked me out.

This morning, dressed in my usual attire of shorts, I slid my legs in under the desk. Right into a spiderweb. I give myself credit, as I didn't scream. But I did jump back so fast the chair tipped over, and slid clear across the room. Be fore I knew it, broom was in hand. Needless to say, me brushing the web sent that Longlegs a-running.

But it still freaked me out. I think my heart is finally getting back to a regular rhythm now.

PeacE

Jacket Weather

For the first time, in a long time, I wore a jacket this morning. At 6:30am the temperature was in the low 40's, which is pretty cool for AZ. I have a feeling that I will be wearing the jacket more often as we proceed into the 'winter' months, with probably March being when it will warm up enough that I can be comfortable without one.

This morning I also am taking the Wife's van into the shop. That radiator fluid leak has been irritating me, and yesterday's event of it maxing out on the temp gauge basically pissed me off. Mainly that they didn't find it when they had it a few weeks ago, though, I think more and more that they were the cause. The leak has gotten worse since then, but they may have just accidently gotten it started with the other repairs. Maybe bent a hose just enough to crack it, and the leaking started days later. I don't know. I am just upset I have to spend the time without any vehicle, and being stranded at the MIL's house.

I have about 20 minutes to swap out vans with the Wife, so need to get some breakfast.

PeacE

4-Year Plans, Repairs, and What's Next

This morning I got to spend an hour at the HS with the oldest son, as we met with his counselor and planned out a tentative 4-year plan for his classes. Surprisingly, though he has been struggling with homework (read: being lazy and doing it) he opted for continuing the Honors level classes. The Wife and I had discussed it this weekend, and I let it be known today that if he felt he needed to drop to regular level classes in order to keep an acceptable GPA for college, he had that option. Either way, the classes that he picked/planned out are all changeable as the year for them approach. I admit I was surprised he said he wanted to keep the Honors classes after issues already this year. Either way, there wasn't much input needed from myself, as the counselor did most of the talking.

I still need to get the plumber out here. I guess after looking at the pipe issue with the one shower, we discovered that one of the lines from the water heater has a 'very corroded elbow joint'. I put that in quotes, as they are the words of the Wife. So, another issue just got added to the list for the plumber to fix when I get around to calling them. Looks like it may be Wednesday before I get time for them to come though, as tomorrow I feel I will be without a vehicle most of the day. The Wife's van is due at the dealership in the morning, which means she will have my van. Preacher Tom is picking me up, but I will have him drop me off at the MIL's so she can do her usual Tuesday grocery trip, then I will be stuck there until they say the van is ready. As I need to be back at her place when the younger sons are released from school, it is just easier to hang out there for the day, I guess. I am not looking forward to it, but I do have my Kindle to read at least.

Most of this week is free, though there will be some rehearsals for the church play that two of the boys are in, plus the performances over the weekend. We are down to two weeks to try to get some shopping done for Christmas - if we have any money left after the plumber.

That's all I got for today.

PeacE

Time To Call It Quits

I wrote earlier this morning about the issues I am having with things around here. First, the damn toilet. The floor flange is broken now. It is an older home (built in the early 60's) so the piping is like cast iron. The flange is not bolted on (as is the norm for home nowadays) so it will need to be cut off from what I understand. I thought maybe a thin newer one over it, but, no bolts to hold it in place, and the piece that broke off is big enough, I can't just do a partial. Added to that, there is concrete flooring, that someone evidently had replaced this piece before, as it was all filled with plumbers putty and nothing to bolt into to hold anything in place. I went and removed the tank from the toilet to replace the flush valve. I just cannot get the holding nut to turn, without turning everything. I am guessing it is going to need to be cut off. Then, in the other bathroom, the piping to the shower head is leaking when on. Thankfully, the piping is exposed from the back side which is in our storage room, so access to it is available. However, it is metal piping, and I have no clue as to what to do to fix it. All jobs for a plumber. So, now I have to figure out a time that the Wife or I will be home for one to come by. Added to this, the van is going to the dealer again for the radiator leak on Tuesday, and both Monday & Tuesday I have other running that needs to be done.

I'm fucking done. I am frustrated beyond anything I have been before. I'm sore from trying to get shit to work and moving and up/down on the knees, my back hurts. I just feel like everything is going wrong. Makes me feel like just leaving the house and going drinking. But I know I shouldn't.

I just don't know what to do at this point. Or rather, how, and when.

Sigh

PeacE

Where's the Brighter Side?

Some days you feel like you just can't win for anything. Yesterday was one of those days for me. I need to still work on the toilet, as I didn't get around to it. I went to take a shower in the master bath. Lo, and behold, I now have a leak from the shower head piping, at the wall, and it runs down the wall. It all just keeps adding up. I'm frustrated, pissed off, and feeling like I am in over my head. I will be taking a look from the backside of where the piping is, which happens to be a storage room area, so there is a good chance that the wall will be open so I can get to the piping without tearing into drywall. And here's to an easy piping fix, where I won't need to call a plumber. In the mean time, while knowing the seal for the toilet isn't right, discovered the new flapper for the tank isn't seating properly due to "wear" on the valve it sits upon. Which means it needs to be replaced. So, now the tank needs to come off, travel to Lowe's again for the right part (taking it with me) then can re-seat the toilet bowl, hopefully getting the seal right, refit the tank and attach, and be done with the shitter. When I run to Lowe's, hopefully I will have a good idea of what I will need to do about the shower head pipe leak, and be able to get those parts as well.

Already my day sounds full of stuff I don't want to do, but obviously needs to get done. Here's hoping no emergency calls for a plumber are needed. I guess if I think hard and positive enough about it, the brighter side of things would be that with these repairs, there should be no need to worry about these items for at least a few good years....

PeacE

Let's Talk About the Shitter (Again)

So, I am pretty much done with my crapper seat. I went out yesterday morn, got the required materials (and then some). By the time I got home, I just didn't feel like messing with it. I recalled the Wife mentioning something about it running all the time, from the night before, and that the flapper didn't seem to be seated well. Sure enough, the thingy that it rests upon was a bit rough and pitted. So I read up on it, and feel that it is now beyond the simple step of a little sandpaper to smoothen it out. Which means, I will now be adding the removal of the tank, and replacing that wonderful piece of shit that I can't remember its name.... The only possible good news out of this, is, by taking the tank off, it'll be easier to set the toilet base and ring with it off.

Tonight the oldest son has his Winter concert. Joy. I know I should sound more excited, or at least caring. It just ain't happening this morning. I'm thinking another 60 minutes of sleep would do wonders.

PeacE

It's Round Three, and I am Losing

I am beginning to really hate toilet repair. What started out last Sunday as a simple wax ring replacement, has turned into a shitty (not quite literally) nightmare. Sunday was round one, and I made the mistake of placing the ring in the wrong way. Which of course, made it so there was no seal, and water leaked from around the base again. Starting round two, I thought I was better prepared. Got another wax ring, this one the extra thick wax, watched some videos and read some places about how to do things properly. I had the knowledge and the materials. Everything seemed to go right, and within 30 minutes, everything was done. There was some seepage from under still, but according to some of what I read, maybe letting it set overnight would be good. Yesterday morning I flushed her a good 3-4 times, and everything seemed okay. Come evening, one of the boys used it ,and suddenly, there was a flood again. I am almost at my wit's end about this, and ready to throw in the towel to get a plumber. However, I must give it that third try. Getting ready to head to the Lowe's to get yet another ring, and a few extra things: plumbers putty, caulk and some washers. If this idea does not work, it will be time to get professionals in here. I may wait until tomorrow to do the actual work though. Today feels a bit busy.

So, today being the typical Wednesday, the time schedule for the schools are different. I never understood why one day of the week they get out like an hour and a half earlier than usual. But that means I have to readjust my time to get things done. Topping that off, this is our last regular night of our pool league season - of which I am fairly glad. Being captain of the team has been somewhat stressful due to the lack of commitment from one player. Again I am waiting til a decent hour this morning to call him to verify, once again, if he will be there tonight or not. After tonight there are a couple weeks of little tournaments they do, that I won't be going to, and then the awards night, where basically all we are getting is a small amount of team money, and 2 players on the team get a 1st & 2nd little trophy/plaque. I have one of each from previous years, and will not be getting one this year.

I guess I should get my shoes on and head over to Lowe's to at least pick up the stuff I need. I have a small weakness though when I go there. There is a McDonald's right outside it, and I do love me some sweet tea with a couple sausage mcmuffins in the morning....

PeacE

Are We Looking At A Possible SuperBowl?

I have never been a big sports fan. Football, baseball, basketball, hockey... it just doesn't matter. Yeah, I have picked out a team to be my 'favorite' in each sport, but that doesn't mean I enjoy them. Well, most of them. I detest basketball, and I come from a state that it is supposedly so sacred......

What I like about sports, is the camaraderie. No, not the shit you share with some no-name just because you are both wearing the same team's colors, but the actual "hanging out" with the buds, watching and cheering on the team. I got to do that last night with my buddies Jan & Don. And even better as that the Redskins won! If it weren't for them being there to watch the game with, I probably would have cared less, and just waited until this morning to check the scores. I just cannot watch sports by myself.

So, it has been a crappy start to the week. I had to redo the wax ring on the toilet, as I had put it in the wrong way the first time on Sunday. I blame the instructions on the box, as they were wrong. Yeah, how can they be wrong if it is their product? Easy, when the damn thing is made in some other flipping country, and the word choice/phrasing is atrocious. Either way, whereas Sunday it took a couple hours, yesterday afternoon it only took 20 minutes. However, after getting it completed, and doing those first couple test flushes, I still had a small amount of water leaking from under the toilet. I am sure you can imagine, though not really wanting to picture it, of me standing on the toilet, kind of bouncing, to try to get it to "set" into the wax better. Next test flush, less water, but still some seepage. I decided to let it sit overnight without use to see if it is just a matter of the stuff needing to set. I worry about going in to test it this morning, so I think I shall wait until after I go to the MIL's. Which I don't want to fucking do this morning.

Which throws me into another bitch fit. I am just so tired of doing this shit, of having to go to the MIL's to sit with the FIL. Selfish, and a bit rude of me I am sure, but I wish he would just die. I have no personal grievance against him, just this vegetative state he is in is not helping anyone, and is nothing more than a hindrance for everyone... definitely a damn inconvenience for me, since I am the one having to spend all the time there to "give the MIL a break". Fucking bullshit is what it is.

And people wonder why I drink.... This is a contribution to the reasons.

PeacE

Things Just Going to Shit

Saturday wasn't too bad of a day. I got some shopping done. That's quite a bit considering I hate crowds as much as I do. Though, I do admit, there were too many Indians around. By Indians, I mean Native Americans. I swear, there were busloads of them at every store I went to. Either I just shop at the wrong stores, or their government checks came in and they were buying out the places. I actually did even see one bus of them unloading. At least they go back to the reservation. Them damn illegals don't go back to Mexico.

The Wife made her pilgrimage up north and back just fine. Well, except that I noticed her van is leaking radiator fluid again. Looks like we'll have to get it in to the shop. I am thinking of trying to get it to the local shop rather than the dealer, as I wonder if this may be a more routine thing, like a hose, than necessarily a major part. If it turns out worse, we can take it to the dealer. Just the hassle of it all is gives me the wearies.

Saturday also brought me a leaking toilet in our hall bath. Right from the base, so you know it is a wax ring issue. No big deal, right? I got up Sunday morning thinking it might take an hour to fix, but within 15 minutes, I knew it wasn't. One of the nuts attaching it to the floor was corroded, and not enough room to get a hacksaw to it. Went to Lowe's and home Depot, to see about a nut splitter, but both guys in their tool dept had no clue as to what I wanted. One even looked it up on the internet to see what it was. Ended up buying an attachment for the drill, and a metal grinding disk, which worked fine. Got the new ring on, set the toilet, replaced the innards of the tank (which needed done also) and turned the water back on. Flush. Water leaking worse than before. Sigh. I give up. Might be calling the plumber today...unless I get a wild hair up my ass and decide to try it again. Maybe get another ring? I dunno.

So my week is starting out like crap. After all, I bee up since just before 4am.

PeacE