Month: June 2011

There’s yet more to do!

I’ve been doing a lot of chores. Yesterday I insulated the pipes in the basement. This after having a plumber in to replace a valve that was threatening to inundate the basement.

I’d already dug up and replaced every single sprinkler head in the back yard. Not because they were all broken mind you, the easy way would have been to repair the risers that were broken and leave it be.

Not Mr. overachiever here. OH Nooooo!

The dogs play in the back yard. Believe me two 80 pound Goldens can cause a lot of damage if they’re into a wrestling match.  All the existing sprinkler heads were sitting ducks. So I replaced the old “fixed” heads with nice Pop-ups that are buried flush in the ground. The dogs can roll right over ‘em and not cause a problem.

Then while I’m at the hardware store. I see a bunch of very nice plants. I think wow those would look nice in my yard D’OH! Digging any kind of hole here is hard labor. I’ve seen guys in their front yards using picks and shovels and I’ve heard of folks using fractional sticks of dynamite to plant a sapling.

I’ve been wanting to add more plants in the back yard for a while. Along my North fence line I have blackberries On the East fence I’m going to be planting raspberries, on the west fence will be grapes. And to top it off, I’m putting an apple tree back there too. This will take digging 8 holes… Awww shit!

Wonder if I know anyone with dynamite?

Well, when its done and the plants have grown a bit It will nook nice.

The next project is the front yard.

I’m looking at hot tubs that would fit in a spot next to the deck…

It never ends…..

 

I have got to stop reading the news! It just pisses me off. I’ve developed the habit of reading the paper over my first cup of coffee. I don’t need to be pissed the first thing in the morning even if I am moving slow.

I’m being a lazy bum today, I do need to get my sorry ass in gear and work in the yard but right now I’m just enjoying a coffee and being a bit lazy. I haven’t even bothered to pull on any clothes.

I think this is probably the second or third morning where it’s been warm enough to be comfortable nude. So I’m’ enjoying it. There’s still time for me to do the chores that I need to do.

I’ve been thinking about putting up a screen around part of the deck railing so that when it’s really nice outside I can have coffee out on the deck in the sun and not bother with clothes either.

Thinking about it… The deck would be a nice place to do morning yoga and then have coffee. If you’re going to do a sun salutation you might as well salute the sun in all it’s glory… in all your glory.

Yikes! Another project. I keep doing that to myself… Well at least this project should be on the simpler side. Although lately it seems that the simplest things seem to always snowball into layer on layer of complicated. Is it just my luck or am I somehow cursed?

---

Was at a friends house for dinner yesterday and I think he introduced me to a potentially expensive new hobby. It sounds interesting and would allow me to get a lot better at shooting. For me that’s a twofer. I don’t get to shoot nearly enough and want to build skill and be much more comfortable with my gun.

It means that I’m going to have to get up early next Saturday to make it to the range. I’ll also need to get more ammo sometime during the week.

I know the things above seem un-related.

Allow me to explain. Over the past three years I’ve had a monster of a commute through some of the worst traffic LA has to offer.

Most days I was on the road four hours some days it was six.

The schedule was like this, drive 2 or 3 hours into work, work a 10 hour day, drive 2 or 3 hours home. Eat dinner way too late, crash for the night and repeat. By the time the weekend rolled around I had no energy to do shit.

Now that my company is “laying me off”, I’ve been home for a few weeks.

During that time, I’ve been filling my days with chores, and workouts and writing. Now I’ve got enough energy to start new projects, and try my hand at hobbies that I couldn’t commit time to before.

As I’ve stated elsewhere in the blog I’m planning to take a driving trip up the coast. If I can fit my dive gear in the car I’ll take it with me too. I’ve got at least one buddy up the coast that dives and I’m hoping to coax him into a dive or two.

The point is, now that I have the time I’m trying to use it well. I’ve been wanting to get to the shooting range more often. I want to dive more. I want to get out and take more photos. I’m working on a book and my goal is to complete that by the end of the year.

Those are the personal goals.

At the same time I need to figure out what I’m going to do for work. There is enough money so that with unemployment and  if I’m not crazy in my spending I can go for a while. But ultimately I will need to have a source of income.

I’m far more relaxed and in general much happier than I have been for a while.

The only fly in the ointment is that the company hasn’t yet said “you’re laid off” (there’s a long story there which I’ll blog about sometime). They’ve told me not to bother coming in because there’s little to no work for me. I check my company email once a day or so and they’re still paying me. (I know… it’s a great fucking gig! Too bad it won’t last.)

If another project wants me, I’m obligated to join the new project when and where they want me. If I refuse the position then technically I’m quitting and that means no unemployment benefits.

For the moment I’m in a kind of employment limbo and while having a job is preferred, I’m done with the commute. I just can’t stomach the thought of 2 and 3 hour drives to work every day anymore. There has to be a better way to make a living.

So for the moment I’m in a holding pattern.

I suspect that the company will give me the official word soon. When they do I’ll take my work computer back to them and process out.

At that point it’s new career time. But first….

I’m going to go play!