Maybe it's me

I love to read. I read all kinds of things. The voyeur in me loves to read what other people have to say about themselves, life and all kinds of things. I read a lot of what is posted on 43things. There, people talk about their lives and issues that are important to them. I can read through a person' entries and have a pretty good idea what kind of person they are.

What amazes me in all the reading I do is that people don't even realize the answers to their own problems are in the behaviors and choices they make. I am amazed at the people who choose to roll in the mud, as it were, and wonder why they are dirty. These days there are a few who read my drivel so I won't give examples as I don't want to offend. But one I cannot resist. This person admits to lying all the time. They claim to lie to everyone about big and small things. In another post, this person is shocked and saddened by the amount of theft that occurs where they work. Maybe I am making a connection where there is none but the way I see things, lying and stealing are leaves on the same branch. Why is one okay and the other not?
Also, the place this person works is not the kind of place that attracts the best people. The whole point of this place is devoted to largely immoral behaviour and yet they are surprised when people that come there are immoral and steal. Duh!

I don't have a view that I am all right and they are wrong. I have made my fair share of mistakes and still do. But when I have problems, I am aware enough to trace the source of the problem back to a decision I made.

I can't sit still

When I was younger we would go to the drive in movies. One night while at the movies my mom yelled at me to hold still. See I have a habit of wiggling when I sit. I bounce my feet and knees. After the movie we went to my aunt’s house and she asked us if we felt the earthquake. Apparently there was an earthquake during the movie but no one felt it because I was so wiggly. That anciness has manifested itself in other ways. On my 19th birthday, I left home for Chile. Two years later I was back home and then off to school. School was about an hour from home and I moved several times back and forth, from home to school. Not even finished with school and I got married, another new adventure. We had our first child and then I graduated from school. I moved to Washington DC right after that and 2000 miles from home we had our 2nd and 3rd children. Bored with DC I moved to Colorado and had two more kids. After several moves and job changes in Colorado I moved to Missouri and actually stayed at the same job for five years. We did move once while there though. A year and a half ago I began my move to South Dakota. We had to live in an apartment for over a year and have just moved into a house. I am getting the wiggles again. Not even in the new house more than a month and I have got to move. It's the job actually. I am bored. I am stifled. I am getting away with not working as hard as I should. It's time to move on, time to be challenged again. It is Time for another adventure. I can't sit still.

One year ago today

I posted my first goals and comments on 43things. I have had busy times and slow times but it’s been quite a year. I have seen lots of people come and go and made some great on-line friends.
I haven’t given or received the most cheers or posted the most comments or been the biggest lady killer(Gump beat me in every aspect) but it’s been one great year.

What will next year bring? Will I finally meet in person someone from 43things? That’s my hope for next year.

See more progress on: Complete 1 year at 43things

The twenties

My grandma recently passed. There were hundreds at the funeral. Nearly all of those attending where either her direct descendants or friends of her descendants. Grandma was never rich, she didn’t ever own her own home, she never traveled extensively or had nice things. She was a nothing in the eyes of the world. Yet, to be at that funeral, to know my grandma and her family you would know that she was rich indeed. She was a widow for 37 years but never alone. Through two moves, several illnesses and fractures there was always family and loved ones there with her. We all made sure grandma never went wanting. In the last months of her life as her 95 year old heart was giving up, we were all there by her side. When the end came, Grandma passed peacefully on with family by her side.

There is a person who lives in Chicago. I know her from the internet. I read her blog and follow her life. I read the other day some of her posts as they related to the postings of a young woman at Yale who is working to become a doctor. The young doctor to-be despaired a bit because her friends have run off to South America and Scotland, leaving life and responsibility behind. Agent99 (the doctor to-be) is sad and wondering if she is doing the right thing to stay and do the hard things while her friends, and even the rest of the twenty-something crowd runs off and does what feels good. Cheryl, the woman in Chicago, advised agent99 that perhaps her friends had it right, that is is wrong to be toiling away working toward that career, house, spouse, SUV and 2.5 kids. Cheryl is in her thirties and has none of those things. She is free. She travels all over. Works when she wants. Does what she wants. Cheryl has lived the life Agent99’s friends are off to living. Cheryl recommends this choice highly.

Sometimes I get jealous of Cheryl. I wish I could have spent my twenties traveling the world instead of toiling away to get and eduction and raise a family. Instead I spent my twenties toiling away for that mini-van, house and, in my case, five children. What a loser am I? I have never been to Israel, ridden a camel, driven route 66, been to Manchu pichu or lived the wild life in Chicago. I, like my grandma am poor.

My grandma has a sister, Hayes. We always called her aunt Hayes, even though she was actually a great aunt. Aunt Hayes always had a lot of money. She married in her thirties and never had time for children. She had a successful career and a lovely house. Hayes’ husband passed before I was born and Hayes always lived alone in her big house. Hayes is very old now and needs a lot of help. Help taking care of the house, help getting around, help with her meals and medicines. Mostly, Hayes needs companionship. Grandmas family would help Hayes as they had time and were able. Hayes always had everything grandma never did and sometimes it made Grandma sad. In the 90’s Hayes finally needed more than the family could give and Hayes got bitter. She hired out all the things she needed done. Now, Hayes is broke. Her house is run down and there is no money to fix it. She spends all her income to hire someone to come over and clean the house and make her meals. These hired helpers never work for her for very long. Usually she fires them after she discovers them stealing from her or they quit because it just does not pay enough. Sadly, Hayes will die poor and alone.

I turned 40 last November. My oldest is 16 my youngest is 8. Life is great. I am in a position now in my career where I don’t worry so much about money. I don’t worry about time away from the family because I really don’t ever have to work more than 40 hours a week. When I turn 50 my youngest will be 18 and for the most part the kids will be grown and off living their own lives. Perhaps then, Sue and I will travel. We will see Manchu Pichu, drive route 66, ride a camel, travel to Israel and then come home and spend time with our kids and our grand children. We will always have them and the time to do so many other things too.

So, were my twenties wasted? I don’t think so. I think too many kids these days have it all wrong. The twenties are not a time to spend but a time to save. I feel secure knowing that as I grow old, I too can become as rich as Grandma was.

Hair cut

Take 3

Here is my new hair cut with before and after.

Time

The clock on my truck was fast. For many months it was about four minutes fast. I got used to it being fast and would adjust my schedule accordingly. It finally bothered me enough that at great peril to my life and those around me, I changed the time back to actual time.

Last night, I was out running a few errands. The nature of the errands required me to be on-time to the various stops. Well I forgot my truck clock was set to real time and went about my errands assuming I was right on time as I was arriving four minutes ahead of schedule. I wasn't, I was late.

And that is why I like clocks always set as close as possible to the right time. Things get messy when clocks are ahead or behind.

The kids

Just wanted to put together a photo mosaic of the kids. All 7 of them.

Gravity

I was just reminded today about my gravity theory. I have a friend who is feeling a little down and I got to thinking why we have to feel down sometimes. Why can't we be happy all the time? Why can't life be good?

Gravity.

Okay, I will try to explain this. When we started to send people into space, we discovered that the longer they were in space the less dense their bones became. If they were in space too long, their bones would get so they would even hold them up. the astronauts have to exercise vigorously every day just to keep the bone loss down to a minimum. Turns out, our bodies need gravity. They need that constant pull down to keep strong.

It must needs be that there is opposition in all things.
That which doesn't kill us makes us stronger.

So, we get sick, we have down days, we face and deal with problems, grief, pain, sadness. Why, because without them, we would grow weak and die. Eventually, we grow weak and die anyway but the fight keeps us alive longer.

So, we get out of bed each day and fight against gravity and the fight gives us life and happiness.

It's been a month

I have a storage unit full of books, videos, furniture and other odds and ends. It’s time I actually finished moving into the house.

I think I will go over today and gets some stuff.
Yeah, that’s what I’ll do.

See more progress on: Finish moving into my house

The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra

I don’t know how I missed this one when it came out in theaters. I also don’t know how I missed it when it came out on DVD. The other night I was home alone and looking for something to watch when I came across this gem half way through. I watched for a moment then went over to surf the net with the show playing in the back-ground. The movie sucked me in and I, with the help of the DVR (digital video recorder), watched the last 45 minutes of the show 3 times. Lucky for me, it was shown again in the middle of the night that night. I have been able to watch the show now several times in less than a week. I love it more each time I watch it. It has also sucked in the rest of the family and we now quote the show regularly at dinner or during conversations. It has changed my life….

THE END

OR IS IT?

ISN’T IT MORE LIKE A KIND OF BEGINNING IN A WAY?

HMM, I WONDER …

OH, WELL.

See more progress on: have more adventures

Things that make me happy

Six things that give me a lot to smile about.

And a few pains in the back-side.

See more progress on: Get my head back in the 43things game

17 years and counting

This Friday was our 17th anniversary. In so many ways I find it hard to believe I have been married for 17 years. The time has just flown by. One look at the pictures and it's obvious that it really has been 17 years and not just yesterday. I look at that picture and wonder who was that kid? I wish I could go back to that day and whisper a few things in his ear. But then I wonder, would I whisper too much? We have the five best kids in the world. I would not want to do anything that would change that. We have lived all over and learned a lot. Would I trade all that for more money, a skinnier me, more sex? NO. This is the hand that life dealt me and I am winning.

In a funk

Word on the street is that I am in a bit of a funk. I had two different people tell me that yesterday. I don't know why I am in a funk. I didn't even know I was in one. The only thing I can think that would cause it, is the move. Seems like it is taking a long time to get settled into the new house. I still have loads to do. But I never guessed that this, or anything else would put me in a funk.

I am hoping that the awareness that I have not been myself lately will be enough to jolt me back into behaving normally and dealing with others in a pleasant manner.

I know I will feel a lot better after this Sunday...but that is a subject for another post.

We got a dog

Last Saturday, a lady we met at Wal-Mart brought by the cutest little puppy. We have named her Sandy. Ever since Teddy died in 2004 we have not had a dog. It's so nice to have a dog again.

Sandy is 3/4 Lab and 1/4 German Shepherd. She is white like a lab but definitely has the personality of a German Shepherd. She does not trust new people at all, and I can't get her near the tub.

Our Golden retriever, Penny loved the tub. She would jump right in anytime.

Damn, Damn, Damn!

I have not done anything on this goal for ages. I have really got to start running again. Okay, walking with a few bursts of slow jogging.

I went out with the boys bike riding a week ago and we were at a mountain bike track. I rode down the hill around the curve and started back up the hill. I thought I was going to die. I am fat, old and weak. I suck! So hard to change and get into shape.

I must keep trying.

See more progress on: Run 3.1 miles without stopping

Did that last post look screwy or what?
I still have to figure this blogging thing out. It's pretty hard to tell the new closet from the old closet. I will take another picture since the closet looks better since Sue arranged it.

All those who read this: Place your votes. Which looks better, the top closet or the bottom?

Closets

Okay, so the closet in the master bedroom was a mess. The organizer that was there was cheap and falling apart. Sue thought it looked cheap. She wanted the single rod across the top with two wood shelves above that. I talked her into a better metal organizer. I put it in but she is not impressed. Now I am trying to find the best configuration.

Incompetence abounds!

I have been dealing with the telephone company and our satellite TV provider this week. Idiots all! I was trying to figure out way they are so incompetent. The only conclusion I come to is that they were educated in public schools.

Stay away from Qwest, DISH and Direct TV. Is there a Japanese company that does this stuff?

Done!
Yep, yesterday we cleaned the apartment and turned in the keys. I thought we would only stay there a few months. We ended up staying a year and two months there. A whole year longer than I thought. Who would have guessed we would be so happy all packed into a small two-bedroom apartment. I am thrilled to be in a house but I still feel sad to say good-bye to the apartment. Lots of good memories there.

Now, on to the house. What will life bring us there?