No sooner do I sit down to share tonight's piece of the Rickner day when Bo hands me a cup. Of what you might ask? Stoops.
A student gave Stoops to Bo his first year of teaching. So, by beta fish standards, I'm sure Stoops had some gray hair under those crimson gills. He finally gave in. Couldn't take it anymore. He had just moved to his new home in the man room. Testosterone heaven.
Bo and I gave him the proper goodbye. Sad to see Stoopsie Rickner pass on.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Sunday, February 27, 2011
The Fence Battle Continues
Here we go again.
The winds of Weatherford have no mercy on our wooden fence posts. Worst part is this happened while Bo and I were at work. See what's on the other side of that fence - street. By some miracle, our neighbor came home and the pups were just sitting out on the sidewalk. Seriously, they hadn't run away! She was kind enough to put them into the neighbor's yard because she was worried her fence would blow down as well.
When we had the last fence fiasco, we hired help. This go round we decided to tackle it ourselves. Well, Bo and my dad. Previously, we had two wooden posts done, but we're converting to metal posts now, which would have been pricier. After yesterday, I'll likely end up hiring someone if this happens again now that Bo got a taste of doing it himself. So, mom and dad came by yesterday and let me tell you. Digging out the snapped posts was a disaster. Just a foot below the dirt level was solid hard bedrock. And the posts were 2 1/2 feet below the surface. It literally took them 5 hours to get those posts out before they could set the new posts. I snapped a quick picture from the porch without their knowledge. If they knew I had been taking pictures while they were slaving I would have gotten an earful.
And the finished product.
The supports were temporary to make sure the wind didn't catch it while the concrete finished setting. Ta-da!
The winds of Weatherford have no mercy on our wooden fence posts. Worst part is this happened while Bo and I were at work. See what's on the other side of that fence - street. By some miracle, our neighbor came home and the pups were just sitting out on the sidewalk. Seriously, they hadn't run away! She was kind enough to put them into the neighbor's yard because she was worried her fence would blow down as well.
When we had the last fence fiasco, we hired help. This go round we decided to tackle it ourselves. Well, Bo and my dad. Previously, we had two wooden posts done, but we're converting to metal posts now, which would have been pricier. After yesterday, I'll likely end up hiring someone if this happens again now that Bo got a taste of doing it himself. So, mom and dad came by yesterday and let me tell you. Digging out the snapped posts was a disaster. Just a foot below the dirt level was solid hard bedrock. And the posts were 2 1/2 feet below the surface. It literally took them 5 hours to get those posts out before they could set the new posts. I snapped a quick picture from the porch without their knowledge. If they knew I had been taking pictures while they were slaving I would have gotten an earful.
And the finished product.
The supports were temporary to make sure the wind didn't catch it while the concrete finished setting. Ta-da!
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Gym-Tan-Laundry
I have nothing to write about today. But since I'm on a streak of daily posting, I thought it unfair to let down my small parade of followers. I like to flatter myself into thinking I have enough readers to create a small parade. Yeah right.
Today was just as most every other day - work, gym, tanning, a little laundry. Omg - as I am writing this I just realized I had a GTL and didn't even know it! Shout out to the Jersey Shore!
I'll end with that. Nothing I could possibly think up to write about is as noteworthy as realizing I just identified with the Jersey Shore guidette lifestyle. Oh my.
Today was just as most every other day - work, gym, tanning, a little laundry. Omg - as I am writing this I just realized I had a GTL and didn't even know it! Shout out to the Jersey Shore!
I'll end with that. Nothing I could possibly think up to write about is as noteworthy as realizing I just identified with the Jersey Shore guidette lifestyle. Oh my.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Backflow what??
Loads of house blogging. Who knew? Blogging began with roots in relationships, now I'm writing about my neighbors?? I suppose that could still be in the relationship category. The enemy relationships.
With that said, show of hands...who's heard of a backflow assembly test?? Ummmm, anyone? We got a letter in the mail from the city telling us ours needed to be tested. Ok sure. Guess who wasn't kidding and sent an OVERDUE letter with threat to cut our water off in 15 days?? The city. That may be a unlikely threat, but I wasn't about to push my luck.
A few months ago there was a water line break in Weatherford that caused the city water to be "contaminated" and undrinkable for a few days. That gave the State reason to snoop their noses in the water records and find out no one had been conducting backflow tests. Hence, panic on my part to get ours done. In case you were wondering what the going rate for a last minute plumber to test your system is, it's $85. ANNUALLY! Next year, I'm shopping around. This bargain shopper didn't get a bargain.
With that said, show of hands...who's heard of a backflow assembly test?? Ummmm, anyone? We got a letter in the mail from the city telling us ours needed to be tested. Ok sure. Guess who wasn't kidding and sent an OVERDUE letter with threat to cut our water off in 15 days?? The city. That may be a unlikely threat, but I wasn't about to push my luck.
A few months ago there was a water line break in Weatherford that caused the city water to be "contaminated" and undrinkable for a few days. That gave the State reason to snoop their noses in the water records and find out no one had been conducting backflow tests. Hence, panic on my part to get ours done. In case you were wondering what the going rate for a last minute plumber to test your system is, it's $85. ANNUALLY! Next year, I'm shopping around. This bargain shopper didn't get a bargain.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Productivity Thwarted
I had high hopes for today. I got up early, not by choice, but at the demand of Stella standing on top of me ready to go outside. I headed to the gym for an early workout, got home, ran out to the curb to straighten the trash bags that had fallen into the street, ran back to my car, grabbed my stuff, shut the door. Oh shit. Keys. Locked in the car.
Luckily, I had left the laundry room door unlocked so I was able to get in the house but what a bummer. So much for using my day off to be productive. I took a nap instead. :)
Luckily, I had left the laundry room door unlocked so I was able to get in the house but what a bummer. So much for using my day off to be productive. I took a nap instead. :)
Sunday, February 20, 2011
I'm Not Your Buddy, Friend...
I've been half meaning to write about the backyard fence, half waiting from some acknowledgement. When the winter storm whipped through our neighborhood, it took down about 30 ft of our backyard fence that's shared with our neighbors.
Short digression - why on earth would anyone construct fences with wood landscape timbers rather than metal poles? Oh yeah, cheap bastards.
Second digression - why on earth would a subdivision select an impossible to hunt down paint stain and adopt it as the official stain of all resident's fences?!
So, the storm and our fence. Two of the timbers snapped at the ground causing the fence to all but fall flat. Definitely not secure for our pint size terrors. Every time I let Shooter and Stella out, they ran to the back of the yard and went for a visit in the neighbor's turf. No way were they going to be able to stay back there once the snow melted and we had to go back to work. We'd seen so our neighbors had to as well, right? We gave it a few days thinking maybe they would come over. Nope. I convince Bo we'll be the better neighbors and acknowledge it first.
We trudge through the snow and they politely say "Oh yeah we were going to come over and see what you wanted to do about it...we'll be happy to split the cost with you...we have no idea how to fix it though...blah blah blah." Well, day goes by and neighbor takes no initiative. Realizing we both had to go back to work come Monday, we call local guy to come fix it. Let me tell you hired help - Redneck Construction - ain't cheap. Fence fixed.
Proud of ourselves for remedying the situation so quickly, we head to work and wait. Wait for our neighbors to come over and thank us with a side offer to fork over some cash. I bet you saw this coming - nothing. Not so much as a slight thank you when you come home and we're out working in our front yard?? Could we be more available? Come on!
I had higher expectations for the folks out in Weatherford. Being out of the city, I assumed people still held on to that southern hospitality. Seems not. My neighbor's are forcing me to make a mental list of these unpleasant situations. So is my grudge worse now than an anonymous letter because I know who the offenders are?
Short digression - why on earth would anyone construct fences with wood landscape timbers rather than metal poles? Oh yeah, cheap bastards.
Second digression - why on earth would a subdivision select an impossible to hunt down paint stain and adopt it as the official stain of all resident's fences?!
So, the storm and our fence. Two of the timbers snapped at the ground causing the fence to all but fall flat. Definitely not secure for our pint size terrors. Every time I let Shooter and Stella out, they ran to the back of the yard and went for a visit in the neighbor's turf. No way were they going to be able to stay back there once the snow melted and we had to go back to work. We'd seen so our neighbors had to as well, right? We gave it a few days thinking maybe they would come over. Nope. I convince Bo we'll be the better neighbors and acknowledge it first.
We trudge through the snow and they politely say "Oh yeah we were going to come over and see what you wanted to do about it...we'll be happy to split the cost with you...we have no idea how to fix it though...blah blah blah." Well, day goes by and neighbor takes no initiative. Realizing we both had to go back to work come Monday, we call local guy to come fix it. Let me tell you hired help - Redneck Construction - ain't cheap. Fence fixed.
Proud of ourselves for remedying the situation so quickly, we head to work and wait. Wait for our neighbors to come over and thank us with a side offer to fork over some cash. I bet you saw this coming - nothing. Not so much as a slight thank you when you come home and we're out working in our front yard?? Could we be more available? Come on!
I had higher expectations for the folks out in Weatherford. Being out of the city, I assumed people still held on to that southern hospitality. Seems not. My neighbor's are forcing me to make a mental list of these unpleasant situations. So is my grudge worse now than an anonymous letter because I know who the offenders are?
Saturday, February 19, 2011
How Much is Enough?
An American businessman was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellow-fin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them. The Mexican replied, “Only a little while.” The American then asked the Mexican why he didn’t stay out longer to catch more fish. The Mexican replied that he had enough to support his family’s immediate needs. The American then asked, “But what do you do with the rest of your time?”
The Mexican fisherman said, “I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siestas with my wife Maria, and stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos. I have a full and busy life, señor.”
The American scoffed. “I am a Harvard MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and, with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat. With the proceeds from the bigger boat, you could buy several boats. Eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman, you could sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing, and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then LA, and eventually NYC, where you would run your expanding enterprise.”
The Mexican fisherman asked, “But señor, how long would this all take?” The American replied, “15-20 years.”
“But what then, señor?”
The American laughed and said, “That’s the best part. When the time is right, you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich – you would make millions.”
“Millions, señor? Then what?”
The American said, “Then you would retire – move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siestas with your wife, and stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play guitar with your amigos.”
The Mexican fisherman said, “I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siestas with my wife Maria, and stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos. I have a full and busy life, señor.”
The American scoffed. “I am a Harvard MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and, with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat. With the proceeds from the bigger boat, you could buy several boats. Eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman, you could sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing, and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then LA, and eventually NYC, where you would run your expanding enterprise.”
The Mexican fisherman asked, “But señor, how long would this all take?” The American replied, “15-20 years.”
“But what then, señor?”
The American laughed and said, “That’s the best part. When the time is right, you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich – you would make millions.”
“Millions, señor? Then what?”
The American said, “Then you would retire – move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siestas with your wife, and stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play guitar with your amigos.”
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
A Few Escapes
What do you do when the black cloud of work just absolutely won't go away? You plan vacations - very far away. Specifically, Vegas, New York and Mexico.
I didn't actually plan it this way, but the sequence couldn't be more perfect. Vegas - Ah, Sin City in March. I need to shake off the ghosts following me around with a bad mood. Some NCAA March Madness gambling, stiff drinks, a buffet or two. Something thoughtless to lighten my mood.
And then there's New York, my love. I've said it before, there's something wonderful about that city. New York unashamedly makes you love life. If you lose your heartbeat, stand on the streets and you'll find it again. Magnolia Bakery, Central Park, Wall Street, maybe Bloomingdale's has my heart?
And finally, relaxation. Riviera Maya. Some friends of our are getting married in Mexico and we'll be there barefoot on the beach with a tan, wearing linen, cocktail in hand.
Sin, love, and relaxation - yes, that'll get me back to sane.
I didn't actually plan it this way, but the sequence couldn't be more perfect. Vegas - Ah, Sin City in March. I need to shake off the ghosts following me around with a bad mood. Some NCAA March Madness gambling, stiff drinks, a buffet or two. Something thoughtless to lighten my mood.
And then there's New York, my love. I've said it before, there's something wonderful about that city. New York unashamedly makes you love life. If you lose your heartbeat, stand on the streets and you'll find it again. Magnolia Bakery, Central Park, Wall Street, maybe Bloomingdale's has my heart?
And finally, relaxation. Riviera Maya. Some friends of our are getting married in Mexico and we'll be there barefoot on the beach with a tan, wearing linen, cocktail in hand.
Sin, love, and relaxation - yes, that'll get me back to sane.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Weekend of Love
I wouldn't recommend trying to kick a hangover with cardio. I slept in this morning until I saw only two puppies staring me in the face instead of four, had some cheerios and drug myself to the gym. Well, if you are looking for a sure-fire way to induce vomiting, try a 15 minute run, 15 minutes of rowing, and 15 minutes of elliptical. You will give up, not that I would know or anything.
However, my morning nausea came from an excellent evening. {Before going any further, I'm going to squash the 'Is she pregnant' concern by saying hell no, I'm just a belligerent drunk.} Bo planned Valentine's Day last night by making his special - reservations! At some point, I believe I've traced it to our 5 year anniversary in Puerto Rico, we developed an expensive palate for steakhouses. Yes, The Strip House spoiled us. Del Frisco's took care of us on our one year wedding anniversary so we chose Ruth's Chris for Valentine's. Cocktails, a bottle of wine, salad, steaks, sides {green beans with garlic, mashed potatoes, and brussel sprouts with bacon}, and dessert later, my belly was fuller than it's been in over a month. Diet suicide. Well worth it though. A couple more beers at Pete's Piano Bar and I was toast. I guess I should say toasted.
Dinner was wonderful and it's always a treat to dress up, have a fancy dinner and flirt with your husband. The unfortunate migraine I woke up with this morning was only a small consequence. Until next year, or another occasion to have yummy steaks...
On a side note, I'm watching the Grammy's...how do we feel about John Mayer's nod to Johnny Depp's Pirate of the Carribean look? The Grammy's this year are just odd.
However, my morning nausea came from an excellent evening. {Before going any further, I'm going to squash the 'Is she pregnant' concern by saying hell no, I'm just a belligerent drunk.} Bo planned Valentine's Day last night by making his special - reservations! At some point, I believe I've traced it to our 5 year anniversary in Puerto Rico, we developed an expensive palate for steakhouses. Yes, The Strip House spoiled us. Del Frisco's took care of us on our one year wedding anniversary so we chose Ruth's Chris for Valentine's. Cocktails, a bottle of wine, salad, steaks, sides {green beans with garlic, mashed potatoes, and brussel sprouts with bacon}, and dessert later, my belly was fuller than it's been in over a month. Diet suicide. Well worth it though. A couple more beers at Pete's Piano Bar and I was toast. I guess I should say toasted.
Dinner was wonderful and it's always a treat to dress up, have a fancy dinner and flirt with your husband. The unfortunate migraine I woke up with this morning was only a small consequence. Until next year, or another occasion to have yummy steaks...
On a side note, I'm watching the Grammy's...how do we feel about John Mayer's nod to Johnny Depp's Pirate of the Carribean look? The Grammy's this year are just odd.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Why Am I Moving?
My motivation is back row on the cardio machines. 105 machines moving. 105 people in front of me I have to catch. All striving for something. I wonder what their motivation is. Why are they moving? A high school reunion, new years resolution, a wedding, polka dot bikini...? What makes them sacrifice time with their children or spouse, a clean house or their career. I was very active about two years ago: pre-marriage, pre-mortgage, pre-puppies, pre-10+ hour work days, among other commitments. Now that I live to fulfill those responsibilities, no one was compensating me to move "Go to gym" up that to-do list. That was until I realized my happiest times weren't because I was living the single life in a city apartment. It was because I was healthy.
So, new agenda at my house. Be forewarned, if you come to my house, you're getting something baked, roasted, grilled, or raw. I'm even converting the Mr.
So, new agenda at my house. Be forewarned, if you come to my house, you're getting something baked, roasted, grilled, or raw. I'm even converting the Mr.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Still stuck.
80 hours now. 80. Long time.
I was so hopeful to get to the office today. Do you see how far gone my mind is that I am wishing to go to work? The work hasn't stopped though. I'm fully functional from home with VPN so productivity is still at work.
Channel 5 indicated we might get a 1 inch "dusting" of snow over the night. They were wrong. Amazes me how inaccurate their predictions are, yet they still have their highly paid jobs. To their credit, we did get snow, so they got something right. I'd say we have 4-5 inches? That's not a sprinkle of powdered sugar, more like a pounding of flour.
So another day of house arrest in our future. Plus the winds were so bad Tuesday, we have 30 feet of fence to be repaired. The beams snapped at the ground. Awesome.
Here's a challange for you. What would you make for lunch or dinner if you were down to leftover raw carrots, string cheese, canned green beans, cheerios and sunflower seeds? I could probably come up with a few more ingerdients if you're inspired.
I was so hopeful to get to the office today. Do you see how far gone my mind is that I am wishing to go to work? The work hasn't stopped though. I'm fully functional from home with VPN so productivity is still at work.
Channel 5 indicated we might get a 1 inch "dusting" of snow over the night. They were wrong. Amazes me how inaccurate their predictions are, yet they still have their highly paid jobs. To their credit, we did get snow, so they got something right. I'd say we have 4-5 inches? That's not a sprinkle of powdered sugar, more like a pounding of flour.
So another day of house arrest in our future. Plus the winds were so bad Tuesday, we have 30 feet of fence to be repaired. The beams snapped at the ground. Awesome.
Here's a challange for you. What would you make for lunch or dinner if you were down to leftover raw carrots, string cheese, canned green beans, cheerios and sunflower seeds? I could probably come up with a few more ingerdients if you're inspired.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
House Arrest
Bo, Shooter, Stella and I have been in the house for 72 consecutive hours. Not by choice. I'm not sure who is more ready to escape - us or the dogs!
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