Dont Sweat The Small Stuff *

It took several reminders, but today I re-learned a lesson I have learned over and over again. Some times I forget and get worked up about things that don’t really matter. I need to remember most things just are not that important. Everything will usually work out.

I hate having to re-learn stuff.

* everything is small stuff

Finally, The Bathroom Remodel Comes To A Close.

You may remember this photo from BEFORE, but finally Barb G’s bathroom remodel is complete. As you can see, this is quite a dramatic before and after shot of the project. I am just glad it is over, and that she is happy with the results.

This project required: rough building skills, plumbing, electrical, drywall, carpentry, and a little bit of luck.

Sure the initial weekend, only included the tear out and getting the rough plumbing back in “working” order. Sure it took over a month to complete. One weekend at a time. Considering this was pretty much a complete tear out, and considering this was the only bathroom and we were working on it while they were living with it… I would say it all worked out really well.

Lent

Was it a year already?
Another year and Lent is upon us again.
Those who know me know this only means one thing.
Even though my reasons are more my own: no drinking.
Remaining true to this one respite has been a good test.

Without it, I am not sure where I would stand.
A long time ago, Lent meant nothing to me.
This changed along with my fathers passing and that of a good friend.
Even though I have done this for years it remains important to me.
Ridicules as this may seem, faced with the frustrations of life, this helps.

Everyone sees things differently, but here is my opinion.
Vacation from drinking is not really a bad idea, more people should try it.
Engaging as some peoples excuses are, many people drink to much.
Really, this is ironic as the consequences for drinking are severe.
Yet people continue to push the envelope.
When people try and force people with laws, it makes things worse.
Honestly, I think a change in perception would be the way to go.
Encased within a better policy of tolerance and understanding.
Remove all the crazy low DUI/BAC/regulations.
Entrust the public, and punish only the truly out of control.

Special Box

What is so special about this toolbox? In itself, nothing really.

But launch if from the back of the my truck, courtesy of open tailgate bounce it off the tarmac and leaved it in the snow bank for a ½hour until its noticed missing… then hmmm.

Leave this day-glow yellow box in the bank for a while, have various people stop, poke, prod and other wise peruse over my stuff….
and still recover all the plumbing goodies inside…priceless.

Sometimes you loose your stuff, sometimes it comes back to you. Thanks Karma.

Just In Case Anyone Is Paying Attention

Of course the fire, previously mentioned, is turning out to be a bigger deal than first thought. What seemed to be a simple matter of cleanup has been mired in complications, as usual.

I will be lucky if my “couple of days of cleanup” is a couple of months. I guess I will just have to deal.

Happy Valentines Day

Speaking Of Tanner

Here is proof that the snow and cold rolls of Tanners back like its nothing.

(*click* to enlarge the photo) Here you can see the snow is blowing like you can’t even imagine. Somehow I caught his gust right at the moment where you can see it.

Enough wind and cold to bring most to their knees, Tanner is more interested in the threatening stick that seems to have fallen off the tree.

PS Happy Birthday Tanner, belated.

Wanderlust

The inclement weather does not keep some from wanting to be outside.

Unknown to the kitty and only alluded to by the scene in the reflection, the cold here is physically jarring.

Only the dog is truly unaffected by the challenging low temperatures.

Why I Might Have to Sell Everything and Move to Montana: Part 1

Life is just to bleeping needlessly complicated. I am tired of things being overly regulated, bureaucratically managed, sent to committee, dependent on other factors, subject to permit approval, needing special consideration for compliance, pursuant and subject to all the exclusions in paragraph 13 subsection 12 part b of the policy that you should have read.

Dually processed, recorded and filed accordingly .

And why? For What?

To protect us from ourselves for the most part I am afraid. To make everything “fair” to ensure that no one gets hurt. Frankly I am tired of the fact that every time a turn around I have to inform someone about something because some idiot did it wrong, and now I have to pay the price.

And who is in charge of all the mess? Idiots, for the most part. People who cant tell their ass from a hole in the ground. Frankly I am just sick of it all.

Of Fire and Ice

Nothing like being called by your Tenants in the middle of the night to be told that your neighbors (attached town home) is on fire. Luckily the fine local fire department did a bang up job and quickly stopped the fire from spreading into my place. Smoke damage seems to be the worst of it… although the city shut off the GAS and WATER to the entire building… um its -20 deg below (last night no kidding) you cant just shut the heat off to my building w/o the pipes bursting…. Come on guys….

So due to some quick thinking on my part some pipes drained and an impromptu space heater setup in the basement, broken pipes were not added to the list of things to fix.

Is should be a couple days worth of cleanup… we will see how I goes. Current Status: uninhabitable.

The culprit? All signs point to a faulty, and recently installed I might add, bathroom exhaust fan in the neighbors bath.

Its FREAKING cold

Ok I have complained about the cold before, but its really f’n cold. That's -1 F on the truck's temperature gauge.

Here is what the weather channel had to say:

Scattered Snow Showers

Low

-1° F

Precip: 30%

Snow flurries and some snow showers will affect much of the area. Cold. Wind chills approaching -20F. Low -1F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 30%.

-F’n -20 are you kidding me, that’s cold. Tonight taking the dog to the park was challenging. Tanner does not seem to be bothered by the cold at all which is disconcerting as I had to put on every article of clothing I own.