I was doing some, what I considered small, changes here at the ol' blog site. You know, just taking out some little things on the sidebars, etc. I don't know what I did, but it take forever for the blog to load up now. I think it is trying to access something, but I removed probably only a portion of it, so it causes such a delay. Again, something else I screwed up.
I guess the positive spin to it, is now I will be 're-vamping' the site now. Think I will remove and redesign the layout and stuff. If you have a link on my sidebar, and are removed, but would like to be back, let me know....
PeacE
Sunday, July 31
Friday, July 29
Getting Things Done
It's another Friday in my part of the world. Only 8am, and I feel like so much has been accomplished! I have been to the gym, did my email, replaced a tire, cleaned out a car, showered, and now, at the top of the hour, getting a blog post in for the day. May not sound like much to the average person, but was quite a feat for me.
Tire, you ask? Yeah. My old car, the Saturn, or POS, had been sitting my the RV drive we have since early June when we purchased the newer van. I had not bothered to do anything with it at first. Then my bro ScottyB needed a vehicle, and I was going to clean out all the junk and give to him. When I say junk, I mean JUNK. Since I was the only person driving it, and riding in it, for 99.9% of the time, I accumulated stuff in the back seat. Miscellaneous books I had dragged out, read, and moved on to the next, sports bag, coats from winter, old baseball caps, and the inevitable if you just toss it in the back until later, trash. Early in the week I started on the front seats, and that took much longer than I anticipated. Yesterday, with the help of one of the boys, I emptied out most of the back seat stuff, making 5 grocery bags of trash, and other miscellaneous stuff I could throw away, including a cooler (with pull out handle) and radio that leaked. Why was it still in my back seat considering I hadn't used it in like 2 years? I'm lazy and never cleaned out the car.
Back to the tire part. So ScottyB's situation worked out that he did not need the car, so everything came to a halt, and it still sat there. About a week ago (maybe a few days longer) my BIL asked about the car, as he knew someone that was in dire need of a vehicle that could get them to & from work. Being available, I had to get around to getting it ready. a Few days to get things out of it. Turns out the front driver side tire was flat, and cracked open. BIL came by, took the bad spare, and got a used tire to fix it. We were going to use his AAA to come and change out the tire. I actually started the car for the first time the other day, and it runs still, no probs there. Today, I figured it would be easier on all if I just changed out the tire, so I did, right after my gym workout. Still a little muggy being monsoon season, but the extra physical labor did no hurt for me to do.
Now the car is pretty much ready. I will head to the bank to get the title notarized with the odometer reading, and then it will be ready to be picked up. Once again, we will have one vehicle only sitting on the side of the house, and that is my next project. It is the first van we had, that took a crap on us about 5 1/2 years ago on the way to San Diego. Needless to say, it has mechanical issues, and will be donated to some charity to sell for scrap/parts. There is some stuff still in there, that we just never finished getting out. One of those, don't have the time when you think about it, and otherwise not on the forefront of our minds. It will be gone soon...next couple months I plan.
So, not bad for the start of a Friday! Got busy plans for tomorrow too... stuff around the house, miscellaneous running around. I'm going to need that rest time on Sunday, to watch the race!
PeacE
Tire, you ask? Yeah. My old car, the Saturn, or POS, had been sitting my the RV drive we have since early June when we purchased the newer van. I had not bothered to do anything with it at first. Then my bro ScottyB needed a vehicle, and I was going to clean out all the junk and give to him. When I say junk, I mean JUNK. Since I was the only person driving it, and riding in it, for 99.9% of the time, I accumulated stuff in the back seat. Miscellaneous books I had dragged out, read, and moved on to the next, sports bag, coats from winter, old baseball caps, and the inevitable if you just toss it in the back until later, trash. Early in the week I started on the front seats, and that took much longer than I anticipated. Yesterday, with the help of one of the boys, I emptied out most of the back seat stuff, making 5 grocery bags of trash, and other miscellaneous stuff I could throw away, including a cooler (with pull out handle) and radio that leaked. Why was it still in my back seat considering I hadn't used it in like 2 years? I'm lazy and never cleaned out the car.
Back to the tire part. So ScottyB's situation worked out that he did not need the car, so everything came to a halt, and it still sat there. About a week ago (maybe a few days longer) my BIL asked about the car, as he knew someone that was in dire need of a vehicle that could get them to & from work. Being available, I had to get around to getting it ready. a Few days to get things out of it. Turns out the front driver side tire was flat, and cracked open. BIL came by, took the bad spare, and got a used tire to fix it. We were going to use his AAA to come and change out the tire. I actually started the car for the first time the other day, and it runs still, no probs there. Today, I figured it would be easier on all if I just changed out the tire, so I did, right after my gym workout. Still a little muggy being monsoon season, but the extra physical labor did no hurt for me to do.
Now the car is pretty much ready. I will head to the bank to get the title notarized with the odometer reading, and then it will be ready to be picked up. Once again, we will have one vehicle only sitting on the side of the house, and that is my next project. It is the first van we had, that took a crap on us about 5 1/2 years ago on the way to San Diego. Needless to say, it has mechanical issues, and will be donated to some charity to sell for scrap/parts. There is some stuff still in there, that we just never finished getting out. One of those, don't have the time when you think about it, and otherwise not on the forefront of our minds. It will be gone soon...next couple months I plan.
So, not bad for the start of a Friday! Got busy plans for tomorrow too... stuff around the house, miscellaneous running around. I'm going to need that rest time on Sunday, to watch the race!
PeacE
Thursday, July 28
It Crapped Out On Me!!
Sometimes in life, it just feels like things do that - crap out on you. Break down, fall apart, quit working, etc. For many of us, it always seems at the most inopportune time: on the road, in-between paychecks, while you are not somewhere near to replace/repair. It never fails. One Murphy's Laws, or another close relatives of Murphy anyway.
I know I have bitched/whined/complained about some of mine. Lately, it seems like the van. Lately means the past 2 years (rolls eyes). My oldest son and I took it up to the garage yesterday. Spent an hour and a half for them to say "We think we found the problem, but we are not sure". Oh, nice and affirmative! Seems the rear drums had some 'grooves' in them, that the theory is the brake shoes were grabbing, then slipping, hence causing the sort of thumping noise I heard. We gave them a turn on the lathe, to knock out the grooves, and so far, they are doing better. Great! Only wasted a little over 2 hours there to do that. At least it was covered since I just had them done Friday.
Things are looking up! Then in the afternoon, my computer mouse, quit working. Weird. System reboot seemed to fix the problem. It happened twice more throughout the afternoon, until I was just aggravated by it. I could not figure out why it would 'freeze up' - no new programs, nothing out of the ordinary. Well, at the Wife's computer, the kids had evidently spilled some sticky drink on her mouse at some point, and the buttons would stick occasionally, so I figured it was time to just replace them both.
We took the family out for dinner to Sizzler, and were met up by Reverend Mother and Preacher Tom. Had a nice dinner, then headed to Fry's Electronics. Picked up a couple mice of the cordless variety (wire-less, cordless - what's the diff?) and hooked them up once we got home. This morning, the Wife's wouldn't operate. After a reboot, it worked fine. This late morning, mine wants to get crazy with me, and occasionally just stop, then unfreeze and work normal. Teach me to go with the cheap stuff, but I couldn't see spending $40 for a fricking mouse.
While we were out, I picked a USB wi-fi card for the middle son's laptop. I tried to get that working last night, and it appears almost everything is working, except it is not giving him an IP address, so he can't connect to the internet, though it shows signal strength and access to the home wi-fi network. I have plans to call on that today.
So, some things crapped out, somethings just don't like me, and y'all are probably saying it is operator error. Just laugh at it, and move on.
PeacE
I know I have bitched/whined/complained about some of mine. Lately, it seems like the van. Lately means the past 2 years (rolls eyes). My oldest son and I took it up to the garage yesterday. Spent an hour and a half for them to say "We think we found the problem, but we are not sure". Oh, nice and affirmative! Seems the rear drums had some 'grooves' in them, that the theory is the brake shoes were grabbing, then slipping, hence causing the sort of thumping noise I heard. We gave them a turn on the lathe, to knock out the grooves, and so far, they are doing better. Great! Only wasted a little over 2 hours there to do that. At least it was covered since I just had them done Friday.
Things are looking up! Then in the afternoon, my computer mouse, quit working. Weird. System reboot seemed to fix the problem. It happened twice more throughout the afternoon, until I was just aggravated by it. I could not figure out why it would 'freeze up' - no new programs, nothing out of the ordinary. Well, at the Wife's computer, the kids had evidently spilled some sticky drink on her mouse at some point, and the buttons would stick occasionally, so I figured it was time to just replace them both.
We took the family out for dinner to Sizzler, and were met up by Reverend Mother and Preacher Tom. Had a nice dinner, then headed to Fry's Electronics. Picked up a couple mice of the cordless variety (wire-less, cordless - what's the diff?) and hooked them up once we got home. This morning, the Wife's wouldn't operate. After a reboot, it worked fine. This late morning, mine wants to get crazy with me, and occasionally just stop, then unfreeze and work normal. Teach me to go with the cheap stuff, but I couldn't see spending $40 for a fricking mouse.
While we were out, I picked a USB wi-fi card for the middle son's laptop. I tried to get that working last night, and it appears almost everything is working, except it is not giving him an IP address, so he can't connect to the internet, though it shows signal strength and access to the home wi-fi network. I have plans to call on that today.
So, some things crapped out, somethings just don't like me, and y'all are probably saying it is operator error. Just laugh at it, and move on.
PeacE
Wednesday, July 27
Hmmm, Is That A Bad Noise?
Monday I was able to meet up with an old friend. We hadn't seen each other for about 18 years, though we kept in small amount of contact the past couple years on Facebook. An old friend? Maybe I should rephrase that. She was my first girlfriend. It was nice to meet her husband, too! We had a great couple of hours hanging out.
Though, the title of this post starts Monday evening when I was heading out to meet up with them. See, back on Friday, I had taken my van in as the brakes were making some noise, and turns out, it was metal-to-metal. For those of you that know, it means they were shot. And of course, the luck I have, I had to replace rotors and drums as neither could be lathed down for surface. Sigh. Another pretty penny gone. Come Monday, every time I braked, the last about 4 car lengths before coming to a stop, I would hear a slight 'thump-thump-thump' noise, coming from the rear passenger area. Kinda like when the washer is overloaded on one side and is in the spin cycle? Know what I mean?
Being Monday night, nothing I can do. Happened more when I drove home. Now they said give it about 100 miles of regular driving to "set" the pads, etc as everything was new, but I don't think this is a regular noise. I could understand maybe some squealing sound, but not thumping. Yesterday I overslept, and just didn't feel like going anywhere. Today, as I was headed the 2 miles to the gym, the thumping stopped, and a slight grinding noise started. I think I slipped a brake pad, or it broke, and now it is not good. So, back home I go (after the workout - might as well do it since I was there already) and the thumping noise starts again, with the grinding. So now that I have showered, will take it to the garage and see what is wrong. It better not cost me any money though!
PeacE
Though, the title of this post starts Monday evening when I was heading out to meet up with them. See, back on Friday, I had taken my van in as the brakes were making some noise, and turns out, it was metal-to-metal. For those of you that know, it means they were shot. And of course, the luck I have, I had to replace rotors and drums as neither could be lathed down for surface. Sigh. Another pretty penny gone. Come Monday, every time I braked, the last about 4 car lengths before coming to a stop, I would hear a slight 'thump-thump-thump' noise, coming from the rear passenger area. Kinda like when the washer is overloaded on one side and is in the spin cycle? Know what I mean?
Being Monday night, nothing I can do. Happened more when I drove home. Now they said give it about 100 miles of regular driving to "set" the pads, etc as everything was new, but I don't think this is a regular noise. I could understand maybe some squealing sound, but not thumping. Yesterday I overslept, and just didn't feel like going anywhere. Today, as I was headed the 2 miles to the gym, the thumping stopped, and a slight grinding noise started. I think I slipped a brake pad, or it broke, and now it is not good. So, back home I go (after the workout - might as well do it since I was there already) and the thumping noise starts again, with the grinding. So now that I have showered, will take it to the garage and see what is wrong. It better not cost me any money though!
PeacE
Monday, July 25
Down to the Wire
It's the last week of July. For many of you, I am sure that is just one of the early warning signs that summer is drawing to an end.... that school will be starting over the next month or so. This is true in my house as well. But what it really brings to my attention, is the goal I set for myself for September - 20 pounds more off by then, minimum.
It was early July when I set that goal, and it seemed realistic to me. Three months, 20 pounds. I had lost 17 just the first three months I started trying, and only about a month of that was using the gym. Fair, reachable goal, I thought.
Now it is the last week of July, and I have like 5 weeks to reach my goal, and am needing 19.5 pounds to lose. The past 3 weeks I have only lost a half pound. So I guess I need to do something more. I decided this week to start doing the gym 5 days a week, instead of just 3. the two extra days I will do the elliptical machine, as I am not very good on it yet. The other three days I will do my regular workout routine. Plus the usual, trying to eat better, though, that's another issue in itself.
Today I am off to the DMV, to get a replacement title for my car. Yeah the one I quit driving when I got our older van. My BIL has asked about it for a friend that is in dire need of a vehicle. I am trying to get it cleaned out (I had stopped bothering at the time ScottyB didn't need it) and all that jazz. It's just too damn hot (and muggy today) to get out there and try to do it short of the early evening. And I had alot more junk in there than I thought I did. I am sure it is frustrating my BIL, that it is taking me so long. I am sure the gal he asked for, is hounding him about it, but I shouldn't care. Beggars shouldn't be choosers, and trying to demand it faster is not going to motivate me any faster. Even if I weren't giving it away for free, and I was offered money, I just don't care. I really think it should be sold for parts, and not let anyone drive it.
Sigh. Enough of that. I know Sis reads here, and she'll prolly relay that rant on to her hubby. Oh well.
PeacE
It was early July when I set that goal, and it seemed realistic to me. Three months, 20 pounds. I had lost 17 just the first three months I started trying, and only about a month of that was using the gym. Fair, reachable goal, I thought.
Now it is the last week of July, and I have like 5 weeks to reach my goal, and am needing 19.5 pounds to lose. The past 3 weeks I have only lost a half pound. So I guess I need to do something more. I decided this week to start doing the gym 5 days a week, instead of just 3. the two extra days I will do the elliptical machine, as I am not very good on it yet. The other three days I will do my regular workout routine. Plus the usual, trying to eat better, though, that's another issue in itself.
Today I am off to the DMV, to get a replacement title for my car. Yeah the one I quit driving when I got our older van. My BIL has asked about it for a friend that is in dire need of a vehicle. I am trying to get it cleaned out (I had stopped bothering at the time ScottyB didn't need it) and all that jazz. It's just too damn hot (and muggy today) to get out there and try to do it short of the early evening. And I had alot more junk in there than I thought I did. I am sure it is frustrating my BIL, that it is taking me so long. I am sure the gal he asked for, is hounding him about it, but I shouldn't care. Beggars shouldn't be choosers, and trying to demand it faster is not going to motivate me any faster. Even if I weren't giving it away for free, and I was offered money, I just don't care. I really think it should be sold for parts, and not let anyone drive it.
Sigh. Enough of that. I know Sis reads here, and she'll prolly relay that rant on to her hubby. Oh well.
PeacE
Thursday, July 21
Feeling Worn Out
Whew! Yesterday I spent 8 hours with my three boys, neice, nephew, nephew's girlfriend, and distant family member, at the water park. Needless to say, it felt good considering our temps are so hot right now, and the monsoon weather making it feel so damn muggy. But I am worn out. The two younger sons were passed out on the way home. The oldest and I were pretty beat, though managed to stay awake to our more regular bedtimes. A little bit of red amongst us all, but I was pretty good about us keeping sunblock on throughout the day, so we aren't too burnt. My legs can feel it from all the walking, and swimming that was done.
Today I got to spend half the day with the youngest son on his "Dad & Son" day. I say only half a day, because even though he slept on the way home, napped until dinner, and went to bed early, he still slept in today until noon when I woke him up. I have been trying to make sure he drinks plenty of fluids to help catch up from yesterday as well.
Plans coming up? Nothing really. In fact, my calendar shows the rest of the month free of events, though I am sure the Wife will find something to throw in there.
PeacE
Today I got to spend half the day with the youngest son on his "Dad & Son" day. I say only half a day, because even though he slept on the way home, napped until dinner, and went to bed early, he still slept in today until noon when I woke him up. I have been trying to make sure he drinks plenty of fluids to help catch up from yesterday as well.
Plans coming up? Nothing really. In fact, my calendar shows the rest of the month free of events, though I am sure the Wife will find something to throw in there.
PeacE
Tuesday, July 19
Times Are Changing
Recently, a blogger I love to read, Joe, over at Fat in Indiana, took a hiatus on the blog writing. He had been blogging for about 6 years (if I remember correctly) and just needed a break. Also, in the past year he has made changes to his blog, like the title, layout, etc.
I am thinking it may be time to do that here as well.
WHAT?!? You ask incredulously? No more Boobs to look at? No more posts about how much Beer I had to drink? No more crazy stuff about how those both go soooo good together???
Yeah. It has been almost 5 years (and just over 1000 posts!) since I created this place, and we all know how Life changes people sometimes. I feel I may have changed enough that this place isn't what it used to be. In fact, I know it has lately seemed more of a journal than anything else. Maybe now is the right time for a change not in just the layout, but maybe the Title... and maybe how I write here. I know it is all up to me, but I am curious if anyone would actually feedback what they think as well.
So, if I am going to change the Title, what are some other good possible names... or should I keep the same one?
Note: I have the domain name www.BoobiesandBeer.net until later this year, so this may decide if I renew that or not.
Let me know in comments, or if you prefer, email me: ralphd00d@gmail.com
PeacE
I am thinking it may be time to do that here as well.
WHAT?!? You ask incredulously? No more Boobs to look at? No more posts about how much Beer I had to drink? No more crazy stuff about how those both go soooo good together???
Yeah. It has been almost 5 years (and just over 1000 posts!) since I created this place, and we all know how Life changes people sometimes. I feel I may have changed enough that this place isn't what it used to be. In fact, I know it has lately seemed more of a journal than anything else. Maybe now is the right time for a change not in just the layout, but maybe the Title... and maybe how I write here. I know it is all up to me, but I am curious if anyone would actually feedback what they think as well.
So, if I am going to change the Title, what are some other good possible names... or should I keep the same one?
Note: I have the domain name www.BoobiesandBeer.net until later this year, so this may decide if I renew that or not.
Let me know in comments, or if you prefer, email me: ralphd00d@gmail.com
PeacE
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