Finishing up August

Today brings about the end of our calendar month of August. What memories has it brought us? Birthdays - the Reverend Mother and my middle son both celebrated turning another year older. The RM & PT celebrated an anniversary, as did my in-laws. School started for the boys, and our evenings disappeared as that brought out events (concerts, football games, etc) that they would partake in. The end of the 'summer time' in which vacations are usually done. The middle (and hopefully end) of the monsoon season in Arizona. The Arizona Primary, though I will not wax on the politic.

September starts tomorrow and seemingly not much will have changed. There will still be the events the kids have (concerts, games, etc). There will be birthdays (mine and the Daughter's in particular). It'll still be over 100 in Arizona, though, supposedly the humidity will be returning to a more "dry heat" level. School is still in session. Oh, we get to throw in a holiday, as Labor Day is this coming Monday. An excuse for those last minute barbecues and family gatherings. We will be attending one. Sis has moved and this will be a first trip to her new place for us. Also, PT's brother and wife are coming out to visit for a week. They will be there as well, before heading up north for a 3-day getaway with PT & RM.

It's amazing how at 4am this can all sound so exciting, eh? Yeah, it is another one of those mornings that the early bird couldn't help but wake me up. Though, honestly, I don't even hear any birds out yet. It's still pretty dark outside. I'm off to finish this cup of coffee, and maybe splurge by having another.

PeacE

Coming In Next To Last

I am a little behind in getting things done today. I slept in. Yes, I did get up and run the oldest son off to school early, but then I crawled back into bed to sleep some more. I was out late last night with some friends. Actually, I met up with friends yesterday early evening, and ended up staying out later than I meant to do. There was a friend of a friend, that deals with horses. Race horses to be particular. About 2-3 weeks ago, he had one running, which many of us friends went to the Off Track Betting and placed bets on. She came in 1st, and for my $2 across the board, I won $29.60. Nice little bit of change. She was strongly favored on yesterday's run, but we were all confident she would do well. A couple of my buddies and I put in $20 each then placed the pot 'across the board'. The race started. Our horse stumbled just a bit, then took off, leading the pack. She had done this the last race, so were started cheering. As they came around the last turn, and into the straightaway, it was over. She dropped back quickly, and ended placing 8th of nine. Shrug. It was just $20, and I think if we had won, after the split I would have only won maybe $60 (if I calculated the odds right). I know there were people there putting $300 down on that horse....that's nuts!

So this week has been pretty slow, though I feel like I have been ran ragged on some days. Tomorrow night there is the son's first home game in which the band will perform. Saturday is my buddy Smitty's memorial service. It feels like it has been forever since he passed, but only a few weeks. Having the service will help some people with closure I am sure. The Wife and I will be going, as will several friends that I have spoken with recently.

Guess I am out of here to watch a movie or something....

PeacE

Ups & Downs

I am feeling blah this morning. Mostly because I didn't sleep good last night. Monday's return to the gym brought on the inevitable sore muscles, and they were bad enough to wake me through the night each time I turned, or shifted my arms just right. Today, not as sore, but still feeling it. Tomorrow I will be back in the gym, as today just don't think I am up to it.

This morning the oldest son does not have Zero Hour. It is sort of nice not having to get up at 5:30 in the morning, though, this morning, I was still up. The past couple of Wednesday, and including today, I have not been overly happy, even with the possibility of sleeping in a little more. The son has had school meetings - one before school for learning the equipment for theater (sound, lights, etc.) which is separate from his actual theater class, and then afternoon meeting for Masques & Dagger, the thespian/acting group. I don't mind him being active in school, but it is starting to piss me off all the extra driving I have to do now. My one day "off", I not only still have to drive him to school (meeting is before his bus would pick him up) but now I also have to pick him up (meeting ends after bus leaves school). So, an extra trip is added on.... in this damn 107'ish heat.... with no AC in my van. It's a pain in the ass. I told him today he should find out an actual schedule, as I am not doing this every Wednesday for the whole school year.

And I think that concludes the bitching for today....

PeacE

Returning to a Routine

The boys are entering the third week since school started back up, and things around my household are returning to normal routine. Note: I say normal in regards to my household. Both the oldest son and I are getting more adjusted to the 'Zero Hour' starts most days of the week, where he needs to be at school by 6:30. In fact, today I made myself get back to the gym. I had not gone all summer (since about mid-June) so two months plus of not going.... Needless to say, I was a bit worried, in regards to my weight. I have always liked the saying 'An Optimist is never pleasantly surprised' and today proved it. I weighed in five pounds lower than when I was last there. I am now at the lowest weight I have been in years. Even my workout went really well, though I do see a little I need to get back to where I was before (distance walking/jogging). Overall, I am sitting here with a smile on my face (an unusual sight, believe me - more like the Joker's grin), and have that feeling of the 'Workout Glow' going on!! And it's a Monday!!

Preacher Tom and I are off to the movies here in an hour or so. We were finally able to find a showtime that coincided with our schedules, to go see "Expendables II". We both have been looking forward to it, as both our Wives have no real interest in seeing that type of action movie.

The oldest has his first marching band event this Friday for the school's first home football game. I should try to find out how much a family pass is sporting events. It is way expensive to just take the family and go, paying regular entry fees. When the Daughter was last in HS, the family pass was available and probably saved us a goo $100-$200 over the course of several football games. I think we were able to use it for a few of the concerts/plays that went on as well. Note to self to see what I can find out.

I think that about covers things for me today. I already am feeling the muscles starting to stiffen up a little, though, it's a good hurt.

PeacE

At A Loss

Don't have much to say today. AC unit was replaced yesterday, and it is nice to have it cool in the house again.

PeacE

It's Those "H" Words

Two Words I am hating this morning... Hangover and Humidity. Though, I do admit, both are being worked on this morning. Not that I can change the humidity, but the AC guys are here already and working on getting the old unit off, in order to get the new one on. So, hopefully, within the next 3-4 hours, cool air will be in the house again. The hangover I am working on by drinking some iced tea, and eating the lasagna left over from last night. Breakfast of champions, right?

Friday, me and a couple buddies are getting tattoos done. Yeah, where did that come from? We had been talking about it for awhile. Just a simple Redskins emblem on the arm.... prior to the season starting. Did I mention my buddies are in their 50's, and this will be the first one for both of them. We found a place last night that will do them for a good price, and scheduled them for Friday, unless one of my buddies back out.

Liking my Kindle Fire, though I admit, the battery life is a puzzle. Had the wi-fi shut off, and only reading on it for a few hours, the battery showed down half. I know now it is a bit of a power guzzler, so it is on the charger, to give it a second run today. I hope it is not something I have to recharge every night.

Got nothing else for now. Just sitting here listening to all the walking around on the roof, waiting for everything to get done.... and sweating. Another rainstorm last night isn't helping the outside humidity.

PeacE

Almost There

Two weeks has felt almost like forever. It has been that long that the AC has been down. Finally, someone will be here tomorrow to replace the unit and maybe life can get back to what it was before. In the meantime, it rained last night, and I feel like I am wringing out everything inside the house. Everything just feels damp and moist, least of all myself. Today's mantra is: just one more day....

I upgraded yesterday. I have had a Kindle Keyboard for nearly two years now, and thoroughly have loved having it. I think it is one of the greater things of technology, to have an e-reader of some sort.Through a series of events I was able to upgrade it to a Kindle Fire. So far, it has been even better, though, I already see some good and bad things about the upgrade. I guess that is just part of life though. The Wife and I had talked about getting a basic Kindle for the oldest son for Christmas, but now may just pass my old one down to him. He knows I upgraded, so I think he expects me to do this anyways, but I am not 100% sure yet.

One more day.... Oh, I am so tired of this. I am off to take a shower to wash some of this sweaty feeling off of me.

PeacE