It Got Broke

Sometimes I get myself involved in stuff I shouldn't. I just can't help myself. I think the beer doesn't help any either. Several weeks ago (like before football season started) a couple buddies and I were talking and playing pool, when the idea came up about getting together a little group and have like a Redskins Club. The three of us are Redskins fans, so for shits and giggles I went along with their idea. The beer told me to. So one was appointed President, myself as VP, and the third as Treasurer. No biggee, but now, weeks later, it is turning into something bigger. Stingers, the bar that sponsors not only our pool team, but our softball team as well (and happens to be my local hangout pretty much) gave us the okay to promote the bar as a Redskins bar. To that end, the past few Sundays have gotten more and more fans up to watch the games, with this week being our biggest so far with about 20 people. I am not saying in the whole bar, but there specifically due to our group. Our Treasurer is working on designing a business card for us (he is in the printing industry), and I have been given the duty of marketing/promotion basically. Yeah, maybe I bit off more than I should have. I was beat yesterday after getting everything together for yesterday, and already I hearing rumors next weeks group is going to be bigger. Ay yi yi.

So what is broke? Oh, my silverware drawer from the kitchen. Our house is an old one. I think the build date is like 1962, or there-abouts. Most of the building is original still, though a previous owner had added on the family room at the back prior to us. Either way, the silverware drawer seems to get the most action in the kitchen, as you can figure, and over the past 12 years, it has had some pretty hard knocks, let alone the lifetime before us. Either way, we have done our best to piece it back together after each incident of falling apart. Last night was no exception, except the wood broke along the groove cut, where the pressboard bottom slides in on the side piece. I know the MIL has some wood glue, so I will be doing that later today, followed up by doing some light carpentry work once it has had time to set good.

Monday is here, and I seem to be feeling it this morning. I am off to have a pity party.

PeacE

Flipping the Coin

I completed my election ballot and put it in the mail this morning. Usually, this job would require me spending a few hours reading through the materials, the pro/con arguments, and other miscellaneous readings online, all in order that I felt I was making an "informed" decision. I didn't want to take the the time this year. For all the propositions AZ had, I read through the basic 'yes means this, no means that' descriptions, read a few of the letters written for, and a few against, then made a choice. One of those 'gut feelings' type of choices, instead of wasting other time reading repeats of the basics. Was it the best way to handle making my selections? Maybe not, but either way I still feel comfortable about the ones I made. It was better than flipping a coin.

Honestly, the best part about sending int he ballot, is that I know in a short time, I won't have to hear/read/see the political rants/opinions that everyone seems to have, or at least expressing to help "convert" the people that can't make up their minds. I am so sick of it all right now.

Sleep left me a bit earlier than usual this morning. I tried to find it again, but wasn't able to in the 45 minutes before I really needed to get up. Now I am feeling a bit tired, like I need a nap. I hope I can shake that feeling before much longer. I would rather not be taking a nap, though, I really don't have much planned, so therefore have the time to take one....

It's Friday people! Get out and have some fun!

PeacE

It's Debatable

Last night was the third debate that will be taking place this election year. I did not watch it. I felt there was no need to, as seemingly everyone was posting things during the debate on Facebook all evening. This morning they continue with pictures and other propaganda, putting down whoever they don't like, and trying to show the facts for whom they will be voting for in just a short few weeks. Frankly, I am tired of it all. I have my mail-in ballot sitting here next to me, and plan on spending some time today reading through the props we have for AZ to vote on. Not my idea of fun, but I don't want to flip a coin to vote yes/no on them.

Other than that, it feels like Monday waited until today to show up. Last night I found out I needed to change some of my plans for this morning, in order to make sure everyone got to school on time. Added to that I get notified that one of the guys on my pool team won't be able to make it tonight (for the third week in a row) so I am in the process of trying to find a sub for him at the last minute (again). I am starting to really dislike being the Captain of the team. Thank goodness the season ends here in a couple months.

Parent/Teacher conference time is coming up. Already we have times scheduled nest week for the two younger boys. I have a feeling that the oldest will not be telling us when the HS ones are, so I will be needing to find out the dates for that. I know I will be going to talk to at least three of his teachers, and I plan on bringing him along so he can hear what we discuss. I am hoping that will help clear up issues in those classes that are happening.

I am off to try to get some things done that need to get done.

PeacE

I Forgot ....

I truly dislike talking on the phone. Even if it is to family and friends. I just can't stand not having that face-to-face type contact, where you can glean so much more from body language, instead of just verbal intonations. I am sure many of us get those phone calls that really annoy us: telemarketers during supper (or just in general), the 'Robo-calls' where when you answer it, there is not one there - when the company is noting what times you answer the phone, so they can sell the list of times you tend to be more available. Let's not forget phone calls that come when you are sleeping, at the time you are supposed to be sleeping. Having kids, a parent dreads those calls. The Wife received a call this morning, that woke up half the house.

Thankfully, it wasn't an emergency, or death int he family, or other major crisis. It was her mom, calling to say she forgot to put the sandwich in my son's lunch pail yesterday, so he did not have one for when I took him to school this morning. True, it was a nice gesture, to let us know before we took him to school but I would have enjoyed the 15 minutes more of sleep before the alarm went off. Everyone hates getting a call like that, when your wake up fully awake thinking the worst thing has happened, and it was something minor but it takes a few minutes to calm yourself back down. UGH!

Stuman texted me yesterday to tell me he had the day off today and that he thought maybe we could get together for a bit. Tuesdays being my busy day, I told him I didn't know, but maybe midday I would have a couple hours. He mentioned that he was low on gas, so didn't want to go far, which to me means he is low on cash until payday, so I have no idea what he is thinking about doing. Even if we were to meet for lunch, that costs money, and I know it's tight enough here that I can't just buy him lunch either. Like him, I don't want to have to drive far either. I told him to call me later this morning and see what idea he was thinking. I don't know if I should look forward to it or not. I should be happy to get some time with my brother, outside of family being around, but we all have our problems, and I'm just tired of hearing about everyone else's. Heh, I guess that is just life though. RM would say that I should be happy someone would want to confide and share with me....(rolls eyes).

So, you can tell how excited I am about today. And it all started with that phone call. Sigh.

PeacE

Something That Sounds Catchy

This past weekend was pretty nice. The Wife and I attended the wedding of a some friends, ate some wonderful food, and enjoyed seeing many people we had seen in awhile. The two younger boys behaved well, though I think it is because they had their noses stuck to the Gameboys they had brought along. Sunday I got out and played softball for the first time in about 4 years. I was worried about my eye/hand coordination being off pretty bad, but I shouldn't have worried. I only played one game of our double-header though, as the ankle  I broke last year started to ache a bit, and I did not want to give any additional stress on it, possibly causing another break. Overall, not a bad weekend.

I have been getting into "The Walking Dead" of late. Season two is out on Netflix, which I started watching, and season three just started on AMC last night. I was hoping to be through all of season 2 in time, but the Wife started getting interested in it, and I can only watch them when she is around, so I still have half a season to finish. I may start season three, and hope to fill in the gaps from season two. It's nice that we have a mutual interest in the show, but can be a bit trying as I am limited to her schedule in order to watch it, and seemingly am always filling her in on info about the people because she recently just started watching.

I decided to skip going to the gym this morning as I am a bit sore from playing softball. It's nice that I am not as sore as I thought I would be (like to the point of hardly walking). Just some back muscles, and the ankle, are all that seem to be achey this morning. I figure an ibuprofen and a nap sound like good plans.

PeacE

It's Starting to Feel Like Fall

The boys have been on 'Fall Break' all this week, and it hasn't been too terrible. Usually there is normal sibling bickering and fighting, but I haven't had to beat any butts. Which is nice. This morning the oldest has band practice, and as we walked outside to leave, I noticed that it was actually cooler outside than inside. It's enough to make one think that the weather here in the Valley has begun to cool down. The radio weather update even said it may be in the mid 80's this weekend. Fall must be arriving.... finally.

The Wife had yesterday off work so she could go with the MIL to take the FIL to his neuro doctor appointment. She goes when she can to help speak with the doc about symptoms, etc that Dad is having, and being in the medical field herself, is able to ask more specific questions about thing than the MIL. Seems FIL doesn't just have Parkinson's. In fact, I learned that there are several different types of Parkinson's, and even some "diseases" that aren't Parkinson's, but display the same effects/symptoms of it. From my understanding, it sounds like Dad has some sort of Parkinson's Plus (and a few other terms) which means it is worse than just plain old Parkinson's. The negative of it, is prognosis gives a lower span of years to love with it. Parkinson's patients will on the average, have a 20+ year span where the disease will steadily progress, but the patient can generally continue regular activities (as their body permits). This Plus version, shortens the life span down to about 10 years, and has advanced onset of symptoms, leaving the patient less able to do anything. In Dad's case, I think it has been about 3 years since he was diagnosed, and there isn't much he is able to do. Communication is pretty much gone (no speech or writing ability). Mobility is pretty much gone, though he can 'shuffle' between rooms with a walker, and someone there to make sure he doesn't fall. Anything further requires a wheelchair. Most days that I sit with him, he pretty much lays on the couch, sleeping, or staring off into the distance. The staring is one of the side effects. It gets pretty depressing, and I try my best to console the Wife, but anyone can see the hardship Parkinson's is putting on her, and moreso on the MIL.

The Wife's best friend's Mom gave a nice gift yesterday. Recently, her husband had passed away. He had some medical issues (I am not sure exactly what) but used some home furniture items that assists people with some mobility issues. The Mom gave the MIL one of those easy chairs that has the lift to assist in getting in/out of the chair. Yesterday, the Wife and I picked it up, took it to the MIL's and set it up. It will much easier now in getting Dad up/down. A big thanks goes out to her for giving it to the In-laws.

A couple of my friends are getting married tomorrow. They have been together for a few years (that's saying it lightly) and are just pretty much legalizing the paperwork process. I am happy to know that we are going to the wedding to celebrate with them. Plus, it's always nice to get together with friends to visit and do some catch up with some we haven't seen for awhile. They are doing a Hawaiian theme, so everything is pretty casual, and they encourage to dress for it. I found a shirt I think that will work fine. And I get to wear shorts instead of some suit & tie!

Still thinking on the changes that will be happening around here on the ol' blog. Joe has come up with a suggestion for the domain name (which doesn't have to match the blog name) and I pretty much agree with it. More than likely it is what I will go with, so that leaves only to figure some catchy, or descriptive, title for the blog. I am still open for suggestions....  With the changes to the blog, it will be time to update the blogroll on the side panel. I was going through them the other day, and realize that there are several now that seem to have gone away. I may remove them, or at a minimum, make it so they are inactive.

So, no major plans today. I may just mellow out and go through and do some clean-up on my ebook library. The son will need to be picked up around noon, then returned to school about 5'ish. I may even go have a beer after that. I don't know. Good part is, it's Friday!

PeacE

Thirsty Thursday

A few years ago, some friends and I called Thursdays 'Thirsty Thursdays' as we always seemed to meet up at the same bar on the same night. Fun times, when I was younger. Last night was my regular pool league night, and I ended up staying longer than I planned on, and thus, today I am feeling a bit hungover. Nothing that some water and a little nap won't fix though.

The Wife is off work today and at the homestead. yee haw.

PeacE