November Has Arrived

Halloween is over. Thanksgiving is coming up. Christmas after that. In two months the year will be over, and I think back over what has happened this year, and how it has changed things. New house. One (newer) car. Three accidents, two damaged vehicles. My back has decided to start getting worse. I was off Friday since I couldn't hardly walk when I woke up. That's been twice in the last month. Today it is a bit better, but still not back to normal. At least the exercises from the PT, from my work comp injury two years ago) helps get that disc slipped back into place. It just takes an unknown amount of days and exercises. Took three weeks last time.

I haven't heard officially, but suspect the Middle Son and the band will be going to State this year for competition. They were to do the Senior Walk last night, but he refused to do it. The Wife had even made up a poster for the walk. He's stubborn like his father.... and more traits that I wish weren't shared.

I talked to the Boss at work last month about trying to find me a different position to work. The current job is getting too much physically for me to accomplish. Especially the way it is wreaking havoc on my back. He was "going to see" what could happen, but of course, like everything else there, it hasn't happened yet. Not sure if it will. So, I am still looking for another job. Not having much luck there either.

I need to start looking for gifts for the family for Christmas. I hate shopping. I think Amazon may get quite a bit of my purchases this year. That is if I am able to find anything for anyone. I've never been much of a people person and figuring out gifts for them. Usually I get the ideas from The Wife, and I just buy them. But, The Wife has a bday coming up as well, and the kids never get her anything, so I have to triple search for things for her, as gifts from the boys and from me. Yee Haw. Fun stuff.

Guess I should spend some of this down-time doing some shopping online. Though, I get distracted by books and playing Warcraft.

PeacE

0-5 and Life is Just the Same

My Redskins suck this season. In fact, I am not sure they can win today against the Dolphins, who are also 0-5. Life has pretty much felt this way all year, too. Especially with the vehicles are getting hit. Still looking for one for the Wife, and hoping we can afford it.

It is October now, the Haunting Month. My kids a re old enough now that I'm sure they won't be trick or treating this year. The Grand-daughter will not be around as I am sure they have things planned down in Tucson. We babysat last night while the Daughter and SIL went to the symphony. It was The Empire Strikes Back. The Doodad has gotten much more talkative now, and is just as cute as can be.

The younger Sons just finished up a week off for Fall Break. The Middle Son has band competitions like crazy the next few short weeks. Their first was yesterday and they placed 4th out of eight. Not off to a great season.

Well, I guess I am off to the reading room before I head up to the pub to meet with the guys for football.

PeacE

Life Is Crazy

Much has happened since I last logged in here and spewed words. The Wife was in an accident (her fault) and totaled the mini-van. I had to give up driving the "back-up" car (Middle Son's to be) and was catching rides with Reverend Mother. Finally got my insurance check on my car. Was able to find another vehicle pretty fast - a 2007 Dodge Charger. Same year as the Magnum was, so the interior is exactly the same, just not the larger cargo area in the back. It is black with some spots of paint weathering. Got it for a low, low price, too. Been running awesome!

Then about a couple weeks ago, the Oldest Son get tagged by a hit and run driver. Thankfully the damage is only cosmetic and his car doesn't need replaced. But the police have not been able to locate the other driver. Unfortunately, we don't carry the extras on the insurance policy, so no repairs being done.

This past Friday I turned 48 this year. Never thought I would live so long. Spent a nice evening out with some friends and had a few too many beers.

The Redskins have their first regular season game today, and I will be heading up to the pub to watch it.Here's to hoping they have a good season.

Welp, that's about all I got.

PeacE

Still Vehicle-less

Still without a vehicle of my own. I contacted the insurance yesterday, as I expected the check last week.... it was "held up in processing" and I now should expect it "in a few days". I needed it last week. Fortunately RM is letting me use her van for getting to work since she is on vacation this week. Though, PT pissed me off when they dropped it off. Trying to treat me like I was 16... "Only drive it from work to home and no where else". Fuck off. I'm about ready to just tell him to get the hell out of my life and die. I know RM... cruel, but I am just getting tired of his shit and demands. I'm almost 48 years old... and I can only drive the car from work to home.... Now I'm angry. Great. Thanks for pissing me off more Tom.

Don't want to write anymore now.

PeacE

Monsoon Season Blows

It is Monsoon season here the desert valley. Due to some stupid reason, this season is June 15th through September 30th. Either way, right now we are in the thick of it. The humidity has been high, and with temps nearing 110 it makes my warehouse pretty miserable. I'm pretty tired of sweating all day.

I don't have much to share today. Still working on moving between houses. My car is considered totaled, and I'm only getting about $3700 out of it. Guess I'll be hitting craigslist once the check gets here. Still haven't had any good job offers. Current job is definitely taking a toll on me physically and mentally, but nothing I can do about it at the moment except quit.... which I can't afford to do. Sigh.

Middle son turns 17 this next week. Doing our birthday dinner tomorrow night at the place he chooses. All I know right now it is going be steak, steak, or probably steak.My guess is Lonestar..... We bought him a Hurdy-Gurdy playable build-it-yourself kit for his present. He likes some band on youtube that uses this instrument, and thought it would be something he could build and play since he has mastered a number of instruments. Hope he likes it.

Been a couple weeks since I saw my Doodad. Never thought I would miss like I find myself doing every now and then.After all, I am not raising her, or even live with her... must just be that Papaw thinking or something. Was hoping to take a trip down there today, but I had to work a few hours, and their plans were busy enough I didn't want to burden them with us coming down. Maybe they can make it up next weekend....

Guess that is about all I got for now...

PeacE

July 4th

I don't like it when a holiday I have off from work is in the middle of the week... or in such a way I don't get a 3-day weekend out of it. This week is one of those. Back to work tomorrow... for one day. Better off than the Wife though. She had to go to work today.

Not much happening. I got in touch with the other guy's insurance. Was able to get an appointment for my car at a dealership actually for yesterday. Got a rental car. I was told I should hear from the insurance by Friday about my car. The rep at the dealership said in his opinion the insurance will just total out my car. I kind of hope not. Final word is tomorrow, and I will probably take the money, versus buying it back from them. Then I'll have to find a new car. Maybe can get one on Craigslist for under $2000....

Will be going over to the other house today to try to get more stuff done. Yee haw.

PeacE

Sunday Morning Chill

Well, it's been over a week since the accident, and nothing has been done. I spent half the week waiting for my insurance rep to contact me. Last Saturday I received an email from her stating she had tried to contact me (I had no call) and gave me her contact info, plus her work hours. Unfortunately, her hours were Tues-Sat. By Tuesday evening I still had not heard from her, so I sent an email asking for a call or text with an update. Thursday I get the call late in the day, and there is nothing they can do. Now, I had a previous incident last August, and my rep contacted the other insurance, but this gal didn't even try. So Friday I spoke to my Buddy Jeff, who is my insurance agent, and an attorney, and he said to just call the other guy's insurance and get things going. It was too late Friday to call, and I was busy Saturday. That leaves today, but I doubt anything will get done. So now it will be tomorrow afternoon.

Work still sucks. More applications out last week with no replies yet. The Boss is realizing more and more that the new gal doesn't know her job. Which is adding more work and stress to me. Plus, new procedures they are trying to increase productivity is causing an increase in orders, which creates more work for me. And more physical lifting so here I am off two days and still hurting from stiff muscles. I really just want to quit.

The house moving is still going on. The Wife doing inventory and getting rid of things is going slowly, so getting stuff from the old place is taking forever. I was able to get a dresser out yesterday I gave to a friend for free. Maybe a fire can be set to the old house and we won't need to worry about the rest of the stuff.....

July 4th is this week. Whoopee. I get the day off, but have to go back Friday. Same with The Wife.

Finished watching "Yellowstone" season one last night. It was interesting enough that I am waiting season two to come out on dvd. I know it just started on television, so it will be several months. First television show I have seen in awhile that I have liked.

That should do it for now....

PeacE

Ugh....

Started off the weekend in a crappy way. About 5 miles from work, on my way home, I got rear-ended. I am fine, and so was the other driver. Most of the damage is cosmetic, except the back hatch is bent and won't open. I am hoping the frame isn't bent, but hard to tell as I am not a car specialist. It was drive-able home and I did not notice any particular noises or leakage before or after. This morning though was an adventure. The back is sore, and the base of my neck. The Wife gave me a nice back rub (physical therapist spouse) that helped quite a bit. Now am waiting for my claims rep to call, but with it being the weekend, it may not happen until Monday.

The water heater in the newer home will not keep the pilot light lit. There hasn't been hot water for a day plus now. I watched some videos on youtube, and see the low cost and easy way to replace thermo-couplers, etc. But found one really good one about cleaning the air filter area under the unit. With the Daughter and Doodad in town, the ladies are going shopping and will pick up the dust wand they video suggested (cheap one from a dollar store). Hope that works.

Work is crappy. The gal I worked with had her last day the previous Friday, so this was the first week without her. My work load has increased, to keep up with the normal work flow of the department because the new girl is crap. The boss asked me how I think it was working out, and I let him know even with 2.5 months of training, she still doesn't know the job. He was not happy with what I had to say, but it had to be said... especially because he asked. Still looking but no lock yet.

Guess that's about all I got for now.

PeacE

Just... Blah

Still not feeling back to normal. Able to keep food down, but still doing a trip to the restroom at least once an hour.... for 5 seconds of work. The Wife mentioned she is starting to have to make multiple trips to the bath now today, and that leads us to think a stomach bug versus something that was eaten. Great. Just need that to go round and round the homestead for weeks.....

Moving is still in progress and will be for the next forever. This inventorying before removing at the new house is a pain, but will prevent future squabbles. At least the phone is changed over and the internet will be in place by Wednesday, which means I will be moving the computers over then.

Not much else happening...

PeacE

Sick....Blah

I've been off work sick the past couple of days. Seems I caught some bug, or bad food, that has me constantly going to the restroom to either sit, or throw up.The Daughter and Doodad have it as well, and we believe it may be the result of some bad food from our dinner Tuesday night. Either way, today I did have a granola bar, and so far is cooperating by staying down. Feeling dehydrated and overly hungry since I couldn't keep anything down yesterday.

That being said, short post today.

PeacE

Yep, Summer Made it Here

After the last post, it sure didn't feel like a regular summer in Phoenix.... but that has changed. been over 100 the last few days. Yeah, it's warm, but I can tolerate it okay until we start getting to 112+. That's when I get pissy. Dry heat or not.

Stayed home from work today as I just didn't feel like going.Still have not had any luck on finding a job closer to home either. Spending some time at the old house to get some searching done from the computer.The Wife FINALLY got the phone into our name at the new place, and I will be calling tomorrow to get internet service set up. I'm sure that can take up to another week... then I can finally move the computers over, and cancel service at the old house.

I did the Goodreads.com reading challenge again this year. Goal for the year is 150 books. Currently I have read 80, which puts me as of today at 53% - 16 books ahead of schedule. Go me.

The Daughter and Doodad came up to help out at the new house for a couple days earlier this week. It was good to see them again. With our weekends taken up with moving and making space, I don't when we will be able to go visit them this summer.

Guess that is about all I have today.

PeacE

Summer is Here?

Usually by June 1st, here in Arizona we have had around 20 days of triple digit temperatures. This year we have only had two. And that was in April I think.Next 100+ day is supposedly tomorrow. I have enjoyed the spring this year, even if the rest of the country is having extreme rainstorms, flooding and tornadoes.

Was off the week before the holiday to try to move the majority of the large items from the house.... but that didn't work so hot. I moved probably 95% of my personal stuff (clothes, items, desk items, etc) and at least the king size bed. The Wife, Youngest Son, and I stay at the new home, and the two older Sons are staying at the older home... at least until we get more of the stuff from the MIL cleared out for room for them.

Work is sucking. My co-worker is on short count until she is gone... probably by mid-June. Since March she has been training someone to replace her. The trainee is a twat. She doesn't seem to catch on complete procedures, missing key details and when pointed out to her, all you get is a small "Oh, I'm sorry" before she goes back to doing whatever wrong she was doing before. Mentioned it to the Boss, but he and my co-worker are ecstatic about the Twat's work. And no, she is not a young hot babe, she's in her 50's and married. Should I add on while I am ticked off, she is supposed to know how to do my job as well.... but has not even begun to learn it as she can't do the other stuff (which I do do and know how to do). Frustrating as Hell... which brings up job searching.

Still not having luck finding a job yet. Sent out several replies to Indeed.com jobs with no answer. Have had a couple offers that requested additional information through their website applications, which I completed, but the declined my application. One because it paid too low, and the other because they wanted some one with a college degree. Been nice to know that before I applied and got my hopes up when they asked for more information.

Someday soon, Life is going to get better. We'll be all moved into the new home, and the old one sold. A new job will come along that is closer to home and pays better. That's all I want for the next short period of time...

PeacE

Getting Older

Today is the oldest Son's 21st birthday, and tonight he has allowed his Dad (Me) to take him out for the first legal alcoholic drink. Looking forward to that this evening. Might even go do some karaoke.

Life is Life. I am on vacation this week. Purpose was to move from our house to the new one, but I don't know how much of that will get done. Renting a small Uhaul for the big stuff a couple days. Luckily we are only moving about a half mile. The two other boys finish school about mid week, and will then be able to help.

Still not happy at my job, and still no job offers have come around. Still searching....

PeacE

Death and Holidays

Today is Mother's Day, and it will be a long one. The Wife has mentioned even earlier this week, with tears, that this is going to be a rough day for her.And with whatnot still going on, I didn't get out to get even a card from the boys for her.... let alone a card for RM. I guess a text message will have to do.

Still working on moving. I'm off in another week, where we will rent a truck for a couple days to get the larger stuff moved between houses. I have no idea when we will be completely moved though. It is taking a longer amount of time to go through things there for the Wife. I'm not allowed to help as I think it should all just go to the trash or Goodwill. We did end up getting the car though, so my middle son is happy. It will be given to him once he has his license.

Still looking for work. Seems there is not much on the market closer to home for me. At least at a pay level I am acceptable with. Have a couple other ideas I am workign on this weekend.

That's all I got for now.

PeacE

Reasonable Update

After that last post... my MIL has passed. The Wife is Executioner of the estate.

That being said, she has 4 older brothers, and thankfully, there has been no contest of anything. The Wife received the house (deeded to her as rights of survivorship, set up back when my FIL was on his way to bad health). And the house is obviously not part of the "estate", and we decided we wanted to move there from our home. It's only about a 1/2 mile from us, mortgage-free, and larger. Plus it is the Wife's family home. A win-win.... though now I have to deal with clearing it out, then moving.

The rest of the estate is basically stuff that I don't care about. The brothers aren't voicing dissension about anything as of this point, and I don't expect them to, until financial things come up. Everything is pretty cut and dry, except money MIL had loaned out, with promise of repayment, now coming due. I'm sure those people may protest that... but not a point this week.

We have been going through the new home, unpacking and re-organizing the multitude of boxes that MIL and FIL had had in the house as storage. They were always collecting clothes/materials to distribute to the community churches that FIL had overseen. Though Dad had passed a few years ago, MIL had not gotten rid of much... so that falls to us, as we make room to move in. Much of it is clothing, which as we sort through it and organize, will be given to local charities such as the women's crisis center, etc. We are trying to stay away from Goodwill and other donation drop-offs as they make a profit, versus the non-profits. Though I am sure there will be a point that there are things we will have no place other than them to leave them at...or go to the dump.

Needless to say, between these events, and regular work, looking for a job, and just life in general, it has stretched me far and thin (though I haven't lost weight-damn!). I have a lower tolerance for my siblings (aside from other incidents that I may have posted about before... not sure). Reverend Mother I am sure prays every day for me (and the other siblings) but even my contact with her and PT has been limited due to us needing to get stuff done. RM knows this... and she'll read this and get reminded.

SO my days are full. And I am getting tired. Of everything. Too young to retire, and not enough monies to do so anyways.... sigh.

PeacE

Welcome... to Death

I know it has been awhile since I posted. Life. Well, that's kinda what has been going on until this last week or so.

My MIL went into the hospital about a week and a half ago. I was at work, got a text from The Wife... that she was at the ER with Mom, and she'd update me when she knew more. My first thoughts were, did MIL fall? Hurt herself some other way? I know she is frail (dealing with osteoporosis) but what caused an ER visit?

Later that night I find out she was admitted, and had pneumonia. Ok. I understand our more elderly are more susceptible to it...

Then things got worse. Multiple strokes. Throwing clots. Reduced vocal ability (due to strokes), reduced mobility. Doctors unable to do any surgery to fix anything because of the multitude of other health issues. Thursday the main Dr said call family in to see her. This is The Wife's family... who just lost their dad about 3-4 years ago.

Calla went out. Three of the four brothers flew in/arrived. I took Friday off just to support The Wife. I spent the day sitting in the waiting room, and main lobby of the hospital. I kne the family needed to decide what they felt was best. Their decision came down to getting Mom back to her house, and hospice care there. Yeah, that means, almost no chance of recovery, let's ease your way out. Saturday, equipment arrived, transport was done, and Mom is back home. For however long.

At this point, I have so many bitches and complaints about what is happening/going on,  that I am so worked up. I getg angry thinking about it, so I won't expand.

I'm also emotionally spent. The past week and a half, I have been trying to be the good husband and being the strong support for The Wife. This is her second round with parents at this stage. I was doing good until tonight. I had swung by Mom's (she's only like 1/2 mile from out place) and sat and held her hand awhile. I lost it. Memories of my Dad dying in the hospital... my FIL passing in Hospice... and just it all in general. I literally walked outside and bawled my head off for awhile.

Been a pretty shitty week so far.... no idea what this week will bring....

No peace this week....