That's where I'm going. Nearly as far north in Michigan as you can possibly get. Doesn't that sound Exciting? In January!
I remember driving to Niagara Falls, New York in January once. I had a 1974 Ford LTD Sedan with a big block 400 engine. It was quite an adventure.
Bad Poetry?
- MsAmber
- I am complex, yet simple. I am hearty and frail. I am selfish and generous. I let my emotions prevail. I want to make some sense of it. Of Life, and Love, and God. I want to bring back the simple things. I know that makes me odd. But if you'll stay and read awhile maybe you'll start to see. Then maybe I can share with you a little part of me. MsAmber
Friday, December 31, 2010
Friday, December 24, 2010
Christmas Eve.
I am a little depressed as usual for this time of year. I had the whole week off this week, which I really didn't want. This means: no paycheck except for holiday pay. I try to keep working during the holidays so I don't have too much time to get bored or bummed.
I finished at Lawton and took a weeks' vacation to Kentucky to visit Grandmother and Uncle Chuck. I had a great time. Grandmother gave me a big picture of my Mother from when she was in her 20's. I have no idea where to hang it, so I just put it in the cedar chest under my bed. She also loaded me down with clothes - mainly skirts and blouses. She gave me a ruby ring, which she said that my Mother had given her about 30 years ago. It's very pretty, and I keep trying it on and wearing it for 1/2 day before putting it back in the jewelry box. I've never had a great big fancy ring like that before... interesting the effect it has on my psyche, although I've never desired the shiny baubles of uppity women.
I played with the goats and the Great Pyrenees dogs and the chickens, guineas, turkeys, pigs, etc. I helped with the feeding and watering. Uncle Chuck and I took apart the chimney pipes in an old house and cleaned them out and put them back together. We went shopping for guns. We talked about a lot of things, and had lunch at his favorite deli. The last night I was there, we went to a party and got the truck stuck in a mudhole. It really was a great vacation. I'll never forget it. I have tons of ideas for what I would do if I lived there. They've seriously invited me to come to Louisville to be nearer them. I also met my cousins - haven't seen them since I was 14 and they were toddlers. We could become great friends, I feel.
It's stirred in me a desire to be with family. Strange, I know. I've always been so distant and independent. I've been forging my own way for 24 years with no contact with any of my blood-relatives. Then, out of the blue, my Grandmother wants me to visit, so I do and I'm treated warmly. This feeling is so foreign. To be actually WANTED. Do I take the bait?
Ah, pure Amber skepticism.
So, I've posted a few inquiries about jobs in Louisville. I'm not going to push the issue. If it's meant to be, then I will move back. They are pretty grumpy people by nature. I'm tough enough to handle it - that's how I was raised. Just let the insults roll, I'm secure enough. I rise up during conflicts. That's a part of my training. I didn't know just how valuable it was until now. ("Step up, don't shrink, that's a sign of weakness.")
My Mother was tough. This is a subject I've tried to put away, especially since her suicide in 2003. But being with family and discussing it has given me a little bit more understanding. Her words had great effects on me, I was fairly neurotic about some things when I left home. For example: When I was about 6 years old, I overheard her saying that people who slept in the fetal position were insecure, so I asked. What is the fetal position? She described it as having the knees bent. I asked What is insecure? She described it as being weak. So, for 20 years, I refused to bend my knees while sleeping. I was paranoid about being seen sleeping with my knees bent, because it meant that I was weak. If I woke in the middle of the night and my knees were bent, I would chastise myself and straighten out (stiff as a board), and go back to sleep. Funny, right? It wasn't until I was in my late 20's did I realize why I did this and convinced myself that it was ok to bend my knees. Now, I sleep in any position I wish. I was so affected by her words though, that I am constantly questioning my motives for many of my habits.
Some are good. She drilled into me that "Only slovenly women sleep in past 7." After all these years, I'm inclined to agree. Though that doesn't help me to fix my internal clock. Especially when I worked until 2:30 a.m. and I really need to sleep in. I'm hardwired now to rise-and-shine at 6:50. Heaven forbid that I should be perceived as a "Slovenly woman". Ha ha ha.
Ok, that's enough about my neurosis for now. Maybe later we'll discuss things like my spelling fanaticism, not looking in a mirror for more than 30 seconds (sin of vanity), attachment disorder, and being a hopeless Gypsy.
I went to a few RV dealerships. I told them that I wanted to look at 100 rvs before I decide. I walked through dozens already. Some are really cool. When I got back to my own little rv, I decided to move to the rv park across the street and closer to the lake. They have cable tv and WiFi. My slide-in motor quit working. I think my RV got jealous because I'm browsing for a new one. It's possible that I just need a new battery - I hope. So I manually cranked the slide-in in, then moved, and manually cranked it back out again. I found that one of my self-resetting breakers has disintegrated, so I replaced all three. Now I need to get a new battery. Bad timing, considering that I won't have a freakin' paycheck this week.
Good times, good times.
Well, I've gotta go. I think I've rambled enough for now.
You have a great day!
MsAmber
I finished at Lawton and took a weeks' vacation to Kentucky to visit Grandmother and Uncle Chuck. I had a great time. Grandmother gave me a big picture of my Mother from when she was in her 20's. I have no idea where to hang it, so I just put it in the cedar chest under my bed. She also loaded me down with clothes - mainly skirts and blouses. She gave me a ruby ring, which she said that my Mother had given her about 30 years ago. It's very pretty, and I keep trying it on and wearing it for 1/2 day before putting it back in the jewelry box. I've never had a great big fancy ring like that before... interesting the effect it has on my psyche, although I've never desired the shiny baubles of uppity women.
I played with the goats and the Great Pyrenees dogs and the chickens, guineas, turkeys, pigs, etc. I helped with the feeding and watering. Uncle Chuck and I took apart the chimney pipes in an old house and cleaned them out and put them back together. We went shopping for guns. We talked about a lot of things, and had lunch at his favorite deli. The last night I was there, we went to a party and got the truck stuck in a mudhole. It really was a great vacation. I'll never forget it. I have tons of ideas for what I would do if I lived there. They've seriously invited me to come to Louisville to be nearer them. I also met my cousins - haven't seen them since I was 14 and they were toddlers. We could become great friends, I feel.
It's stirred in me a desire to be with family. Strange, I know. I've always been so distant and independent. I've been forging my own way for 24 years with no contact with any of my blood-relatives. Then, out of the blue, my Grandmother wants me to visit, so I do and I'm treated warmly. This feeling is so foreign. To be actually WANTED. Do I take the bait?
Ah, pure Amber skepticism.
So, I've posted a few inquiries about jobs in Louisville. I'm not going to push the issue. If it's meant to be, then I will move back. They are pretty grumpy people by nature. I'm tough enough to handle it - that's how I was raised. Just let the insults roll, I'm secure enough. I rise up during conflicts. That's a part of my training. I didn't know just how valuable it was until now. ("Step up, don't shrink, that's a sign of weakness.")
My Mother was tough. This is a subject I've tried to put away, especially since her suicide in 2003. But being with family and discussing it has given me a little bit more understanding. Her words had great effects on me, I was fairly neurotic about some things when I left home. For example: When I was about 6 years old, I overheard her saying that people who slept in the fetal position were insecure, so I asked. What is the fetal position? She described it as having the knees bent. I asked What is insecure? She described it as being weak. So, for 20 years, I refused to bend my knees while sleeping. I was paranoid about being seen sleeping with my knees bent, because it meant that I was weak. If I woke in the middle of the night and my knees were bent, I would chastise myself and straighten out (stiff as a board), and go back to sleep. Funny, right? It wasn't until I was in my late 20's did I realize why I did this and convinced myself that it was ok to bend my knees. Now, I sleep in any position I wish. I was so affected by her words though, that I am constantly questioning my motives for many of my habits.
Some are good. She drilled into me that "Only slovenly women sleep in past 7." After all these years, I'm inclined to agree. Though that doesn't help me to fix my internal clock. Especially when I worked until 2:30 a.m. and I really need to sleep in. I'm hardwired now to rise-and-shine at 6:50. Heaven forbid that I should be perceived as a "Slovenly woman". Ha ha ha.
Ok, that's enough about my neurosis for now. Maybe later we'll discuss things like my spelling fanaticism, not looking in a mirror for more than 30 seconds (sin of vanity), attachment disorder, and being a hopeless Gypsy.
I went to a few RV dealerships. I told them that I wanted to look at 100 rvs before I decide. I walked through dozens already. Some are really cool. When I got back to my own little rv, I decided to move to the rv park across the street and closer to the lake. They have cable tv and WiFi. My slide-in motor quit working. I think my RV got jealous because I'm browsing for a new one. It's possible that I just need a new battery - I hope. So I manually cranked the slide-in in, then moved, and manually cranked it back out again. I found that one of my self-resetting breakers has disintegrated, so I replaced all three. Now I need to get a new battery. Bad timing, considering that I won't have a freakin' paycheck this week.
Good times, good times.
Well, I've gotta go. I think I've rambled enough for now.
You have a great day!
MsAmber
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Project in Lawton.
I'm nearly finished here. When I originally designed this job (like, back in May?), I requested 12 wall-mount or ceiling mount speakers, and 117 2X2 lay-in speakers. I received 131 2x2 lay-in speakers to do the job. Now I have to get procurement to swap out some of the wrong speakers for the right ones.
I have gone as far as I can, and I'm ready to cut the system over, just waiting to receive the right speakers so I can install them in the hard-lidded areas. There was nobody at the office on Wednesday afternoon around 3 pm. Closed on Thanksgiving. So I had planned on going to the office on Friday to get my new speakers. Guess what? Nobody there on Friday. Good thing I called first. I was at the gas station filling up for the trip and I couldn't raise anyone on the phone. I called Bill Wright on his cellphone and he was in Dallas.
So, it looks like I have an unplanned 3-day weekend. woo hoo.
(I didn't WANT a 3-day weekend. I wanted to finish the job.)
I promised my Grandmother that I would arrange to come and see her in Kentucky as soon as I have some time. Between Lawton and my next project might be my opportunity. It hasn't gotten too cold yet - I don't think. I just need to figure out the logistics of this little venture.
I turned 40 last month. I had three birthday cards from different hospitals or women's clinics urging me to schedule my mammogram. I laughed. I got a phone call from my insurance carrier wishing me a happy birthday and reminding me to schedule my mammogram. I laughed.
So, all of a sudden when you turn 40, everybody cares about your boobs?
Another thing: is there a great big database of women's birthdays that all of a sudden activates at the magical age of 40? Where did all this mail originate?
I called the pet shop to inquire about the availability of a male sugarglider. I've been worried that Freydis was lonely. They told me that they don't order them until you've pre-paid for them. They called me back that they could get a male in about 2 days. Then I started corresponding with a breeder up in Tulsa. I got a phone call from the pet shop - they got the sugarglider in. Wait... I didn't order one! But since the poor little bugger was there and I'm sure: traumatized by the trip, I went ahead and bought him. He's a FAT little thing. And bold. He jumps onto the bed at night, and if my feet are sticking out, he bites me on the toe.
I can tell he's never been out of a cage in his life, and he was fattened up on cat food. He's not liking the sugarglider formula that I feed so he has taken to stealing dogfood nuggets out of Megabyte's bowl. I've named him "Gordo". He's starting to get his bearings and learning how to balance and run around like Freydis. I think he'll be just fine.
I did trade the Van for the '99 Ford F-250 truck. I'm selling the truck to a friend.
I sure miss that van, though. Jerry really likes it.
The weather here in Lawton has been cold. I disconnect the water every evening so it doesn't freeze. Today I need to clean house and I bought a new poster for the wall. I am decoupaging around the edges and framing it. I have my Elmer's School Glue and my hobby knife and dragged the table out from under the bed for my work surface. Getting ready to get all crafty up in here...
I'm such a nerd!
You have a great day.
MsAmber
I have gone as far as I can, and I'm ready to cut the system over, just waiting to receive the right speakers so I can install them in the hard-lidded areas. There was nobody at the office on Wednesday afternoon around 3 pm. Closed on Thanksgiving. So I had planned on going to the office on Friday to get my new speakers. Guess what? Nobody there on Friday. Good thing I called first. I was at the gas station filling up for the trip and I couldn't raise anyone on the phone. I called Bill Wright on his cellphone and he was in Dallas.
So, it looks like I have an unplanned 3-day weekend. woo hoo.
(I didn't WANT a 3-day weekend. I wanted to finish the job.)
I promised my Grandmother that I would arrange to come and see her in Kentucky as soon as I have some time. Between Lawton and my next project might be my opportunity. It hasn't gotten too cold yet - I don't think. I just need to figure out the logistics of this little venture.
I turned 40 last month. I had three birthday cards from different hospitals or women's clinics urging me to schedule my mammogram. I laughed. I got a phone call from my insurance carrier wishing me a happy birthday and reminding me to schedule my mammogram. I laughed.
So, all of a sudden when you turn 40, everybody cares about your boobs?
Another thing: is there a great big database of women's birthdays that all of a sudden activates at the magical age of 40? Where did all this mail originate?
I called the pet shop to inquire about the availability of a male sugarglider. I've been worried that Freydis was lonely. They told me that they don't order them until you've pre-paid for them. They called me back that they could get a male in about 2 days. Then I started corresponding with a breeder up in Tulsa. I got a phone call from the pet shop - they got the sugarglider in. Wait... I didn't order one! But since the poor little bugger was there and I'm sure: traumatized by the trip, I went ahead and bought him. He's a FAT little thing. And bold. He jumps onto the bed at night, and if my feet are sticking out, he bites me on the toe.
I can tell he's never been out of a cage in his life, and he was fattened up on cat food. He's not liking the sugarglider formula that I feed so he has taken to stealing dogfood nuggets out of Megabyte's bowl. I've named him "Gordo". He's starting to get his bearings and learning how to balance and run around like Freydis. I think he'll be just fine.
I did trade the Van for the '99 Ford F-250 truck. I'm selling the truck to a friend.
I sure miss that van, though. Jerry really likes it.
The weather here in Lawton has been cold. I disconnect the water every evening so it doesn't freeze. Today I need to clean house and I bought a new poster for the wall. I am decoupaging around the edges and framing it. I have my Elmer's School Glue and my hobby knife and dragged the table out from under the bed for my work surface. Getting ready to get all crafty up in here...
I'm such a nerd!
You have a great day.
MsAmber
Friday, November 05, 2010
Altus Oklahoma Is Finished!
Yep, I'm packed up again and ready to roll out of here.
Finished the job last night and loaded up all the tools and ladders. Swept the air-handling room (my temporary office), and locked it up for the last time.
Everything is done.
I have a short-term project in Lawton (about three weeks' worth). I'm excited at the prospect of getting the heck out of here. I don't know where my next big project is, and that kinda scares me. Am I going North? South? West? East?
I'm hoping for South and West, but you never know...
I haven't blogged in a while, I've been flip-flopping between working days and working nights. I haven't been able to adhere to any sort of routine, which I really miss.
There was a freeze warning last night, so I disconnected the water. Now I have to get out there in the cold and hook it back up so I can take a shower and refill my coffee pot.
Gotta go, gotta go. (no, literally, I gotta go!)
Ha ha haaaa.
Have a great day.
MsAmber
Finished the job last night and loaded up all the tools and ladders. Swept the air-handling room (my temporary office), and locked it up for the last time.
Everything is done.
I have a short-term project in Lawton (about three weeks' worth). I'm excited at the prospect of getting the heck out of here. I don't know where my next big project is, and that kinda scares me. Am I going North? South? West? East?
I'm hoping for South and West, but you never know...
I haven't blogged in a while, I've been flip-flopping between working days and working nights. I haven't been able to adhere to any sort of routine, which I really miss.
There was a freeze warning last night, so I disconnected the water. Now I have to get out there in the cold and hook it back up so I can take a shower and refill my coffee pot.
Gotta go, gotta go. (no, literally, I gotta go!)
Ha ha haaaa.
Have a great day.
MsAmber
Sunday, September 12, 2010
My attitude seems to be better today.
I woke up and it appears as though I'm calmer today. So far so good.
I'm drinking my coffee and checking emails. I opened the front door and the window beside my desk. I do love Louisiana in the morning. It's still cool outside, but it does get hot here during the day. I think it might stay overcast today. It feels very humid. Soupy.
I never minded the heat and humidity since I get up early, I heat up with the day.
I spent the entire day indoors yesterday. That's what I don't like. Hiding inside with the air conditioning. Makes me feel like I lost a whole day.
I would like to stop smoking and be able to run again. I'm not sure I can run anymore without gasping for air. I'm too young to feel this damned old.
My insurance agent has added the new truck to my policy. Now I'm paying $2k a year for auto insurance. I asked her to add the rv weeks ago, still haven't heard anything and the rv insurance is due for renewal on the 15th. Do I pay it to keep coverage or do I nag at my agent on Monday and do a rush-rush? I still have to come up with $1100 to pay for tags on the truck. Yep, wish there were two of me.
Crazy squirrel (aka: Freydis) is calming down nicely. She comes and retrieves her Apple Jacks cereal straight out of my fingers. She isn't afraid anymore. In fact: she's getting downright bold.
Megabyte is having mouth problems again. I have to get more antibiotics from the vet next week when I get back to Altus.
I'm trying to figure out if I should sell the van, or put it in storage, or trade it to Jerry for the 1999 F-250 with the v-10 engine and 200,000 miles? I'm supposed to take a look at the 1999 Ford when I pass through Ardmore next Thursday: give it a test-drive and think about it. Still, that doesn't put cash in my bank and I still have the problem of two vehicles and one driver. But if it's more salable than the van, it might be a good idea. That van wouldn't blue-book for much, but it's definitely worth $5k. I really don't want to get rid of it. The only thing wrong is the paint is peeling off in places. Otherwise it's solid - only 80,000 miles. I've put a lot of extras on it.
Another thing: it carries a lot more than the truck. It will hold my toolboxes and an entire IPDA installation. Seven-foot racks and ten-foot ladder racks and all the other equipment. The truck will not - it only has a 6 1/2 foot bed.
Makes me want to keep it. At least I know it's reliable.
Well, I really need a shower, so I'm off.
Have a great day.
MsAmber
I'm drinking my coffee and checking emails. I opened the front door and the window beside my desk. I do love Louisiana in the morning. It's still cool outside, but it does get hot here during the day. I think it might stay overcast today. It feels very humid. Soupy.
I never minded the heat and humidity since I get up early, I heat up with the day.
I spent the entire day indoors yesterday. That's what I don't like. Hiding inside with the air conditioning. Makes me feel like I lost a whole day.
I would like to stop smoking and be able to run again. I'm not sure I can run anymore without gasping for air. I'm too young to feel this damned old.
My insurance agent has added the new truck to my policy. Now I'm paying $2k a year for auto insurance. I asked her to add the rv weeks ago, still haven't heard anything and the rv insurance is due for renewal on the 15th. Do I pay it to keep coverage or do I nag at my agent on Monday and do a rush-rush? I still have to come up with $1100 to pay for tags on the truck. Yep, wish there were two of me.
Crazy squirrel (aka: Freydis) is calming down nicely. She comes and retrieves her Apple Jacks cereal straight out of my fingers. She isn't afraid anymore. In fact: she's getting downright bold.
Megabyte is having mouth problems again. I have to get more antibiotics from the vet next week when I get back to Altus.
I'm trying to figure out if I should sell the van, or put it in storage, or trade it to Jerry for the 1999 F-250 with the v-10 engine and 200,000 miles? I'm supposed to take a look at the 1999 Ford when I pass through Ardmore next Thursday: give it a test-drive and think about it. Still, that doesn't put cash in my bank and I still have the problem of two vehicles and one driver. But if it's more salable than the van, it might be a good idea. That van wouldn't blue-book for much, but it's definitely worth $5k. I really don't want to get rid of it. The only thing wrong is the paint is peeling off in places. Otherwise it's solid - only 80,000 miles. I've put a lot of extras on it.
Another thing: it carries a lot more than the truck. It will hold my toolboxes and an entire IPDA installation. Seven-foot racks and ten-foot ladder racks and all the other equipment. The truck will not - it only has a 6 1/2 foot bed.
Makes me want to keep it. At least I know it's reliable.
Well, I really need a shower, so I'm off.
Have a great day.
MsAmber
Saturday, September 11, 2010
I am angry today.
I hitched up last Monday (Labor Day) and drove to Norman, Oklahoma. I loaded up both the van and the truck at the shop on Tuesday morning and drove to Russellville Arkansas. Installed two batteries and a Sensaphone alarm monitoring system at the VA clinic in Russellville on Wednesday, then drove to Conway Arkansas. I installed two batteries and a Sensaphone in Conway on Thursday. Then hitched up and drove straight down here to Natchitoches, Louisiana. I got here at 2:00 am on Friday morning.
I stopped in Shreveport and visited with friends for a couple of hours, but finished the drive that night.
Jeremy is with me on these installs, and he is driving my van.
I don't know...
He doesn't have the level of independence that I expect. He doesn't seem to care enough. He fixed a couple of things on the RV yesterday, but he left the back of my truck open all night with all my tools inside. I got furious when I woke up this morning and saw the back of my truck open. The good news is that nothing was stolen. Amazing considering that we are in a campground in Louisiana. But he doesn't have the means to replace all my tools if something should happen. How can you forget something so important like that? Shoot. I would wake up in the middle of the night and freak out "Did I lock the van?" and go check. I check and double check myself all the time. I'll even get up and see if I locked the RV door.
He tries to argue with me about shit that I KNOW. I discovered that my dc lights weren't working in the rv with the truck turned off, so I figured the battery lead might be disconnected or corroded. He tried telling me that "New ones have a printed circuit board that keeps the battery from running stuff when it's hooked up to the truck and the truck is turned off". I don't think so. I just shut him down by saying it's obvious he doesn't understand dc power circuits like I do, and that I would fix the problem when we stop. At least he took the initiative to look at the problem and fix it yesterday, but that's not the first time that he's bullshitted and pretended that he knows something that he really doesn't. That annoys me to no end.
I got angry when I woke up, and haven't been able to calm down now for two hours. Dammit.
I said "I can't believe you did that!" he answered with a high pitched, sarcastic "Sor-ry". Like I'm overreacting. I haven't opened my mouth since. I have my coffee and cigarettes and laptop outside and I'm staying outside until I can talk myself down. I am soooo pissed! My heart is thumping!
I see my reflection in the monitor and I have a deep furrowed scowl on my face that I can't wipe off... and bad bags under my eyes...
I need to put on my walkman and blast my head with some really loud music to make this anger go away. I need to clean something. I need to be alone right now. I need a cerebro-enema.
I don't know what I need, but I don't think it's here.
MsAmber
I stopped in Shreveport and visited with friends for a couple of hours, but finished the drive that night.
Jeremy is with me on these installs, and he is driving my van.
I don't know...
He doesn't have the level of independence that I expect. He doesn't seem to care enough. He fixed a couple of things on the RV yesterday, but he left the back of my truck open all night with all my tools inside. I got furious when I woke up this morning and saw the back of my truck open. The good news is that nothing was stolen. Amazing considering that we are in a campground in Louisiana. But he doesn't have the means to replace all my tools if something should happen. How can you forget something so important like that? Shoot. I would wake up in the middle of the night and freak out "Did I lock the van?" and go check. I check and double check myself all the time. I'll even get up and see if I locked the RV door.
He tries to argue with me about shit that I KNOW. I discovered that my dc lights weren't working in the rv with the truck turned off, so I figured the battery lead might be disconnected or corroded. He tried telling me that "New ones have a printed circuit board that keeps the battery from running stuff when it's hooked up to the truck and the truck is turned off". I don't think so. I just shut him down by saying it's obvious he doesn't understand dc power circuits like I do, and that I would fix the problem when we stop. At least he took the initiative to look at the problem and fix it yesterday, but that's not the first time that he's bullshitted and pretended that he knows something that he really doesn't. That annoys me to no end.
I got angry when I woke up, and haven't been able to calm down now for two hours. Dammit.
I said "I can't believe you did that!" he answered with a high pitched, sarcastic "Sor-ry". Like I'm overreacting. I haven't opened my mouth since. I have my coffee and cigarettes and laptop outside and I'm staying outside until I can talk myself down. I am soooo pissed! My heart is thumping!
I see my reflection in the monitor and I have a deep furrowed scowl on my face that I can't wipe off... and bad bags under my eyes...
I need to put on my walkman and blast my head with some really loud music to make this anger go away. I need to clean something. I need to be alone right now. I need a cerebro-enema.
I don't know what I need, but I don't think it's here.
MsAmber
Saturday, August 28, 2010
I bought a NEW truck instead.
My credit wouldn't allow me to buy a used truck, but GMAC financing would allow me to buy a brand-new FORD. So I bought a 2010 Ford F-250 Crew Cab.
It's white with blacked out grill and sprayed-in bedliner. It has the trailer package, extendable mirrors, and built-in trailer brake module. Sirius XM radio. Bucket seats with a center console. It was built in Kentucky.
It's a nice truck.
I'm putting wind deflectors over the windows today, and I've already put seat covers and a steering wheel cover on it.
I need a locking camper shell so that I can secure my tools in the back. Eventually I need side steps to help me get in to the derned thing without having to do a triple-lunde.
I'm proud of my new truck, but scared of scratching it and bumping it. I've never had anything this new and nice before. Is it worth it?
Have a great day.
MsAmber
It's white with blacked out grill and sprayed-in bedliner. It has the trailer package, extendable mirrors, and built-in trailer brake module. Sirius XM radio. Bucket seats with a center console. It was built in Kentucky.
It's a nice truck.
I'm putting wind deflectors over the windows today, and I've already put seat covers and a steering wheel cover on it.
I need a locking camper shell so that I can secure my tools in the back. Eventually I need side steps to help me get in to the derned thing without having to do a triple-lunde.
I'm proud of my new truck, but scared of scratching it and bumping it. I've never had anything this new and nice before. Is it worth it?
Have a great day.
MsAmber
Monday, August 23, 2010
So, I'm trying to buy a truck.
There are a few small obstacles... it seems as though finance companies would rather loan me $40,000 for a NEW truck than $31,000 for a used truck.
But the used truck is one I like.
Let me tell you about the used truck.
It's a 2008 GMC Sierra K2500. It has extended cab, tow package, 6 1/2 foot bed, bed liner, gooseneck hideaway hitch, 4X4, 6.6 liter duramax diesel, Allison transmission, and it's metal-flake black cherry (more of a plum-purple in my opinion). It only has 48,330 miles on it and it's beautiful.
That's the truck I want. It's a 3/4 ton, but it's not as tall as the new 3/4 ton trucks. I looked around at new trucks and they are all too tall. I can't even see into the bed of a new 3/4 ton truck without getting up on the bumper.
Anyway, keep your fingers crossed. I'm of the opinion that if too many obstacles are in the way of me getting it, then maybe God doesn't think I should. So I've been going with that.
I would like to have it though...
I'll let you know how that turns out.
Have a great day.
MsAmber
But the used truck is one I like.
Let me tell you about the used truck.
It's a 2008 GMC Sierra K2500. It has extended cab, tow package, 6 1/2 foot bed, bed liner, gooseneck hideaway hitch, 4X4, 6.6 liter duramax diesel, Allison transmission, and it's metal-flake black cherry (more of a plum-purple in my opinion). It only has 48,330 miles on it and it's beautiful.
That's the truck I want. It's a 3/4 ton, but it's not as tall as the new 3/4 ton trucks. I looked around at new trucks and they are all too tall. I can't even see into the bed of a new 3/4 ton truck without getting up on the bumper.
Anyway, keep your fingers crossed. I'm of the opinion that if too many obstacles are in the way of me getting it, then maybe God doesn't think I should. So I've been going with that.
I would like to have it though...
I'll let you know how that turns out.
Have a great day.
MsAmber
Thursday, August 19, 2010
another pleasant morning...
Door is open and I'm drinking my coffee and blogging.
This is what morning is supposed to be.
Hum de hum hum hum.
MsAmber
This is what morning is supposed to be.
Hum de hum hum hum.
MsAmber
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Continuance: The boys decided to quit.
I wish them well.
Today marks officially three months on this project and I am more than 3/4 done with a four-month job. That's a good thing. I do need another tech though if I'm to stay on track.
I am having such an allergy/sinus fit. Sore throat and congestion in my neck. I feel the pressure when I bend over, it feels like my head is going to explode. I woke myself up several times last night snoring. You know that's bad when you snore so loud that you startle yourself. I'll live. Just need to knock this out before it becomes an infection. I've been handling a lot of mold and mildew lately. A bunch of the boxes of cable had gotten wet and when I broke down the boxes, they were full of mold. I knew it would get to me. That's the only thing I'm really allergic to.
Some storms rolled in last night around 9. It was wonderful. The temperature finally broke and it cooled to the mid 70s. It rained off and on all night. This morning it was still overcast with sprinkles. I have the door open and it's nice. So glad to be done with the 100 plus temperatures. That was kicking my ass. One of the only things I don't like about working nights is the unbearable heat of the day when I get up and get out. When it's this hot, I need to get up at 5 am so I can acclimate to the temperature rising. I usually started mowing the lawn at 6 am and I'm ok to work through the day because I heated up WITH the day. You can't just emerge from your air-conditioned house at 11 and start working. You'd have a heatstroke in 45 minutes. Lately though, because of my schedule, I sleep until 11 and it's already so hot outside that it feels like a blast furnace.
I smacked the back of my hand against a piece of sharp concrete last night. It turned purple and swelled a bit. Now it's just a real sore scrape.
Whimper, whine...
I need some alone time. Time to read a book or put on my headphones and jam out. I think my real problem is that I miss mornings. I love my early morning time. The days just don't feel right when you miss the whole morning. I like to sit outside or just open the door and drink my coffee and smoke my cigarette and get my head right. I do my best thinking during that time. In fact: I'm a veritable Einstein at 6:30 am. Solve all the world's ills. Yeah right. LOL.
I should put on a hat and get my butt to work. It's still early, but I like to go in early every day. I took two extra strength headache relief pills that have aspirin, acetaminophen, and caffeine, so my headache just left. I'm ready to roll now.
Gotta go, gotta go.
Have a great day.
MsAmber
I wish them well.
Today marks officially three months on this project and I am more than 3/4 done with a four-month job. That's a good thing. I do need another tech though if I'm to stay on track.
I am having such an allergy/sinus fit. Sore throat and congestion in my neck. I feel the pressure when I bend over, it feels like my head is going to explode. I woke myself up several times last night snoring. You know that's bad when you snore so loud that you startle yourself. I'll live. Just need to knock this out before it becomes an infection. I've been handling a lot of mold and mildew lately. A bunch of the boxes of cable had gotten wet and when I broke down the boxes, they were full of mold. I knew it would get to me. That's the only thing I'm really allergic to.
Some storms rolled in last night around 9. It was wonderful. The temperature finally broke and it cooled to the mid 70s. It rained off and on all night. This morning it was still overcast with sprinkles. I have the door open and it's nice. So glad to be done with the 100 plus temperatures. That was kicking my ass. One of the only things I don't like about working nights is the unbearable heat of the day when I get up and get out. When it's this hot, I need to get up at 5 am so I can acclimate to the temperature rising. I usually started mowing the lawn at 6 am and I'm ok to work through the day because I heated up WITH the day. You can't just emerge from your air-conditioned house at 11 and start working. You'd have a heatstroke in 45 minutes. Lately though, because of my schedule, I sleep until 11 and it's already so hot outside that it feels like a blast furnace.
I smacked the back of my hand against a piece of sharp concrete last night. It turned purple and swelled a bit. Now it's just a real sore scrape.
Whimper, whine...
I need some alone time. Time to read a book or put on my headphones and jam out. I think my real problem is that I miss mornings. I love my early morning time. The days just don't feel right when you miss the whole morning. I like to sit outside or just open the door and drink my coffee and smoke my cigarette and get my head right. I do my best thinking during that time. In fact: I'm a veritable Einstein at 6:30 am. Solve all the world's ills. Yeah right. LOL.
I should put on a hat and get my butt to work. It's still early, but I like to go in early every day. I took two extra strength headache relief pills that have aspirin, acetaminophen, and caffeine, so my headache just left. I'm ready to roll now.
Gotta go, gotta go.
Have a great day.
MsAmber
Monday, August 16, 2010
Drama at work.
Thursday after work, I held a meeting with the guys. I told them that I admired them both and thought well of them, but if they really don't like to work with me and follow the rules, then they need to report back to the office to be re-dispatched. They were late every day last week and left early every day. I lost about 20 hours of productivity between the both of them (2.5 hours X 4 days X 2 guys). "T" responded that the only reason he works so hard is so that he can get off early every day, and he would rather be doing roofs next week than put in his 40 hours here. I told him that was unacceptable. Take your tools and go home and think about it, if you decide you want to fly right and do the job, then come back on Monday. If not, I already have replacement technicians lined up.
Verdict is still out whether or not they're coming back to work.
Frankly, I hope they don't. "T" has proven to me that he can't be straight up and honest. He vents and complains behind my back about stuff that I know nothing of.
I can't fix what I don't know. Nothing worse than trying to guess whether or not somebody is going to flake out on you and quit. He's a pretty good kid, but definitely a weasel. Just hasn't been working at a real job very long. He hates being told what to do. The harder he's pushed, the more he rebels.
Sound familiar? ha ha ha.
I asked "R" to stay out of it, if the boys make a decision they need to decide by themselves. Don't give them an inflated sense of self-worth by telling them they are needed. I need the problem to be solved, not to continue as if I hadn't drawn a line in the sand. He likes to play both sides and I'm worried that he will coerce the boys by telling them that he will play interference with me if they will come back. That's not a solution. "R" told me today that he spoke with them this weekend and he seems to think they will be back.
I'm betting if they come back, that will be the reason why, and not because they decided to fly right. Or possibly because they still have one more week of perdiem left and don't want to sacrifice a paycheck to pay it back.
I'm going to request that they only receive perdiem one week at a time from here on out. "T" is too flaky to trust right now. (If they show up today - that's still an "if".)
Damn the politics.
Well, I gotta shower and go to work.
You have a great day.
MsAmber
Verdict is still out whether or not they're coming back to work.
Frankly, I hope they don't. "T" has proven to me that he can't be straight up and honest. He vents and complains behind my back about stuff that I know nothing of.
I can't fix what I don't know. Nothing worse than trying to guess whether or not somebody is going to flake out on you and quit. He's a pretty good kid, but definitely a weasel. Just hasn't been working at a real job very long. He hates being told what to do. The harder he's pushed, the more he rebels.
Sound familiar? ha ha ha.
I asked "R" to stay out of it, if the boys make a decision they need to decide by themselves. Don't give them an inflated sense of self-worth by telling them they are needed. I need the problem to be solved, not to continue as if I hadn't drawn a line in the sand. He likes to play both sides and I'm worried that he will coerce the boys by telling them that he will play interference with me if they will come back. That's not a solution. "R" told me today that he spoke with them this weekend and he seems to think they will be back.
I'm betting if they come back, that will be the reason why, and not because they decided to fly right. Or possibly because they still have one more week of perdiem left and don't want to sacrifice a paycheck to pay it back.
I'm going to request that they only receive perdiem one week at a time from here on out. "T" is too flaky to trust right now. (If they show up today - that's still an "if".)
Damn the politics.
Well, I gotta shower and go to work.
You have a great day.
MsAmber
Friday, August 13, 2010
The Mosque is two blocks away?
Someone was quick to point out to me that the proposed building site of the Muslim Mosque is actually two blocks away from ground zero in NYC.
Now, That's an entirely different matter. Thanks for that. I'm not opposed to building a mosque. I have no problem with building a mosque. The news reported that it was AT ground zero. That's what I had a problem with. Two blocks away? No big deal. Freedom of religion and all that. Go for it.
And no, anonymous, I do not feel that all Christians should be held accountable for the Crusades, just the ones who are still "Crusading". Just as all Muslims aren't responsible for those who are engaged in "Jihad", just the ones who are still "Jihading".
I still wonder what in the world is wrong with some people...
I went to the lake a couple of weeks ago and was sitting on a rock soaking my feet in the water, having a pleasant afternoon. Some guys came up to the dam and stripped off their shirts and jumped in. They swam over to where I was sitting to climb out of the lake and I saw HUGE tattoo'd swastikas all over one of them.
Oops. Time to go.
My ex-girlfriend Shiloh invited me over to visit a couple of months back. She has a new boyfriend who she wanted me to meet. He was rude, self-centered, arrogant, and a general asshole. He had an "SS" lightning bolts tattoo on his neck. I told her that I will never visit again. She acted like it was no big deal that he has an "SS" tattoo. She tried to defend him to me by saying that she was sure there wasn't a political bone in his body. Well, sweetheart, I'm not mad because you're dating a Democrat. You need to wake up and smell the coffee.
Freakin' American Nazis. What the Hell???!!!
I still don't get it.
Have a great day.
MsAmber
Now, That's an entirely different matter. Thanks for that. I'm not opposed to building a mosque. I have no problem with building a mosque. The news reported that it was AT ground zero. That's what I had a problem with. Two blocks away? No big deal. Freedom of religion and all that. Go for it.
And no, anonymous, I do not feel that all Christians should be held accountable for the Crusades, just the ones who are still "Crusading". Just as all Muslims aren't responsible for those who are engaged in "Jihad", just the ones who are still "Jihading".
I still wonder what in the world is wrong with some people...
I went to the lake a couple of weeks ago and was sitting on a rock soaking my feet in the water, having a pleasant afternoon. Some guys came up to the dam and stripped off their shirts and jumped in. They swam over to where I was sitting to climb out of the lake and I saw HUGE tattoo'd swastikas all over one of them.
Oops. Time to go.
My ex-girlfriend Shiloh invited me over to visit a couple of months back. She has a new boyfriend who she wanted me to meet. He was rude, self-centered, arrogant, and a general asshole. He had an "SS" lightning bolts tattoo on his neck. I told her that I will never visit again. She acted like it was no big deal that he has an "SS" tattoo. She tried to defend him to me by saying that she was sure there wasn't a political bone in his body. Well, sweetheart, I'm not mad because you're dating a Democrat. You need to wake up and smell the coffee.
Freakin' American Nazis. What the Hell???!!!
I still don't get it.
Have a great day.
MsAmber
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
A mosque at ground zero. Really???
It feels like a blast furnace out there.
The hospital seemed warm last night also. We were all wet with sweat last night. It finally cooled off to 91 degrees outside about 10:30 pm. The hospital was at least 75 inside, maybe nearly 80.
I've completed my paperwork for the past two days and I'm just sitting here jamming on some music, drinking my coffee, and playing on the 'puter. It's not really morning, but it feels like it to me. I have three hours before I need to be at work, and I'm still in my pajamas. If my mother could see me now...
I try not to get in to social issues on here, but I am quite disturbed by the news of a Muslim Mosque being built at ground zero NYC. I don't think the Feds can really do anything about it because of the whole "protected status" of a religious group. It's all being handled by the media and the private sector. Why don't they just paint a great big bulls-eye on the damn thing. Do you really think that many of the disillusioned and angry Americans are going to pass up on a chance to blow up a Muslim Mosque that was built as an insult? I'm trying to think up the reasons for wanting to build RIGHT THERE a mosque, and the only thing that comes to mind is that it is an insult. I thought that Muslim Americans were just as outraged about the bombings as we. This idea just flies in the face of decency and propriety.
It's like putting a sign in a widow's yard that says: "I killed your husband and I'm not sorry, ha ha ha." and she can't take it down.
At this point, the site of the twin towers should be considered hallowed ground. I know in NYC that buildings come and buildings go, and property values are outrageously high, and everything is for sale to the highest bidder, etc. But can't we stop this? As outraged Americans, can't we stop this? I would rather spoil the ground than see an enemy prosper off it. Burn it. Curse it. Whatever.
Whatever happened to the plans to make a memorial? Has that been abandoned in the name of the almighty dollar, or did all the procrastinators lose their chance?
There is a lot going on in the news that makes me wonder why, but this one simple issue is the one that seems to be ringing in my head the most. I am seeing into the future and I think that the insulting mosque will be a target for anger, and a catalyst for polarization of loyalties. It will divide us. Particularly when the peaceniks begin to take up the banner of the "victims", (who weren't victims to begin with), and all we'll be left with is two sides in opposition. I see a soon end to the complacency that has made us soft, but I'm not a little afraid of how it will break.
Viva la revolucion.
Unfortunately, I know all too well the ignorant scum that is going to wind up on the side of the Loyalists. The haters, bigots, and American Nazis - all with guns.
I'm going to cease this line of thinking for now, it just irritates me.
Have a great day.
MsAmber
The hospital seemed warm last night also. We were all wet with sweat last night. It finally cooled off to 91 degrees outside about 10:30 pm. The hospital was at least 75 inside, maybe nearly 80.
I've completed my paperwork for the past two days and I'm just sitting here jamming on some music, drinking my coffee, and playing on the 'puter. It's not really morning, but it feels like it to me. I have three hours before I need to be at work, and I'm still in my pajamas. If my mother could see me now...
I try not to get in to social issues on here, but I am quite disturbed by the news of a Muslim Mosque being built at ground zero NYC. I don't think the Feds can really do anything about it because of the whole "protected status" of a religious group. It's all being handled by the media and the private sector. Why don't they just paint a great big bulls-eye on the damn thing. Do you really think that many of the disillusioned and angry Americans are going to pass up on a chance to blow up a Muslim Mosque that was built as an insult? I'm trying to think up the reasons for wanting to build RIGHT THERE a mosque, and the only thing that comes to mind is that it is an insult. I thought that Muslim Americans were just as outraged about the bombings as we. This idea just flies in the face of decency and propriety.
It's like putting a sign in a widow's yard that says: "I killed your husband and I'm not sorry, ha ha ha." and she can't take it down.
At this point, the site of the twin towers should be considered hallowed ground. I know in NYC that buildings come and buildings go, and property values are outrageously high, and everything is for sale to the highest bidder, etc. But can't we stop this? As outraged Americans, can't we stop this? I would rather spoil the ground than see an enemy prosper off it. Burn it. Curse it. Whatever.
Whatever happened to the plans to make a memorial? Has that been abandoned in the name of the almighty dollar, or did all the procrastinators lose their chance?
There is a lot going on in the news that makes me wonder why, but this one simple issue is the one that seems to be ringing in my head the most. I am seeing into the future and I think that the insulting mosque will be a target for anger, and a catalyst for polarization of loyalties. It will divide us. Particularly when the peaceniks begin to take up the banner of the "victims", (who weren't victims to begin with), and all we'll be left with is two sides in opposition. I see a soon end to the complacency that has made us soft, but I'm not a little afraid of how it will break.
Viva la revolucion.
Unfortunately, I know all too well the ignorant scum that is going to wind up on the side of the Loyalists. The haters, bigots, and American Nazis - all with guns.
I'm going to cease this line of thinking for now, it just irritates me.
Have a great day.
MsAmber
Monday, August 09, 2010
I volunteered to help...
Jeremy's parents' house has a bad sinking spot between the bathroom and the dining room. Right in the middle of the house. Let's not understate the problem, there is a BAD sinking spot IN the bathroom and dining room. Like you are lilting and walking downhill. The toilet leans also.
We decided to tackle it.
We have some 2X8 pressure treated boards, several 4X4s and 2 20-ton house jacks.
We ripped up 6 layers of flooring to get to the floor joists.
OMG!
The more we get into it, the more we see needs fixed.
It looks like we need to demolish out the entire bathroom, shower, cabinets, pull up the toilet, and replace/brace all the joists. We did a beam replacement last night. Broke a water line and had to fix it. Made one heck of a mess. The wall is not supported on a beam. The doorway looks like it was in "Beetlejuice". The wall has no footer and the 2X4s are rotted. The floor decking layers have been holding puddles between them for quite a while. As we jacked up a joist, we thought we had a water leak, it was just a puddle draining off. Goodness, what a mess we got ourselves into.
It needed to be tackled sometime, anyway. Just wish we had a full week to get it done without having to stop.
Wow.
This is FUN!
You have a great day. I gotta go to work (at my REAL job).
MsAmber
We decided to tackle it.
We have some 2X8 pressure treated boards, several 4X4s and 2 20-ton house jacks.
We ripped up 6 layers of flooring to get to the floor joists.
OMG!
The more we get into it, the more we see needs fixed.
It looks like we need to demolish out the entire bathroom, shower, cabinets, pull up the toilet, and replace/brace all the joists. We did a beam replacement last night. Broke a water line and had to fix it. Made one heck of a mess. The wall is not supported on a beam. The doorway looks like it was in "Beetlejuice". The wall has no footer and the 2X4s are rotted. The floor decking layers have been holding puddles between them for quite a while. As we jacked up a joist, we thought we had a water leak, it was just a puddle draining off. Goodness, what a mess we got ourselves into.
It needed to be tackled sometime, anyway. Just wish we had a full week to get it done without having to stop.
Wow.
This is FUN!
You have a great day. I gotta go to work (at my REAL job).
MsAmber
Sunday, August 08, 2010
Hunger makes me mean...
Yep, I finally figured it out.
So. Yesterday my friend Jeremy and I went to Lawton. I wanted an extension cable for my dremel and a power-washer. I saw the Sprint store, and since I've been having problems with my phone for a while, I stopped in. The first thing I said was: "I have a problem and I need you to fix it, and I don't want to spend all day!" They diagnosed my problem as a battery issue and it's not under warranty and they don't have any batteries. So I got a little aggravated and proceeded to eat their faces off while they sold me a new phone and extended my contract for another two years. While they activated the new phone and moved all my contacts over, I went outside for a cigarette. Jeremy said "Remind me never to go into a Sprint store with you ever again!" We had a little heated discussion outside, I finally pulled my head out of my ass and realized that he was right, so I went back inside and apologized for being so awful. I did tell them that my experiences with Sprint have never been good, that something always gets screwed up, but that wasn't their fault and I shouldn't have taken it out on them.
They took a long time, and they said it was because they were transferring over all my pictures to the new phone.
Guess what? My pictures are NOT on my new phone.
Everything else went smoothly though, and my new phone works. I was eligible for an upgrade, but there was an $18 upgrade fee, and the phone cost me $108 (normally $300 or so they said.) and there is a $50 rebate that I need to mail in.
Gosh, Sprint aggravates the hell out of me.
Afterwards, we went straight to Arby's and ate lunch. My temper went away and we had a good day of tool-shopping.
Jeremy observed that I'm impossible to get along with when I'm hungry.
That definitely explains the past year. I went through the summer of '09 only eating fish and rice and drinking black coffee. I was hungry and I was mean.
So there you have it. Hunger makes me mean.
We went to Lowe's and looked at power washers, then we went to Home Depot and looked at power washers. I almost settled for a Honda, but then we cruised through the refurb department and there she was: a Ridgid commercial 3000 psi with a Subaru engine and a rebuildable pump, refurbished with a 3-year manufacturers warranty. Marked down from $600 to $427. I bought an extra 50' hose and a gallon of soap.
She's AWESOME!
I power washed my rv in the dark last night. I just couldn't wait to try it.
We went to Sears and I also bought a flex extension for my dremel and a couple of new tips.
Yesterday was fairly expensive. I'm staying away from Lawton for a while.
I don't consider tool purchases to be frivolous. They are an investment, and I can make money with the power washer. I collect tools, and I have a lot of them, if the world went to hell tomorrow, I can still make my way.
I'm such a freak.
You have a great day.
MsAmber
So. Yesterday my friend Jeremy and I went to Lawton. I wanted an extension cable for my dremel and a power-washer. I saw the Sprint store, and since I've been having problems with my phone for a while, I stopped in. The first thing I said was: "I have a problem and I need you to fix it, and I don't want to spend all day!" They diagnosed my problem as a battery issue and it's not under warranty and they don't have any batteries. So I got a little aggravated and proceeded to eat their faces off while they sold me a new phone and extended my contract for another two years. While they activated the new phone and moved all my contacts over, I went outside for a cigarette. Jeremy said "Remind me never to go into a Sprint store with you ever again!" We had a little heated discussion outside, I finally pulled my head out of my ass and realized that he was right, so I went back inside and apologized for being so awful. I did tell them that my experiences with Sprint have never been good, that something always gets screwed up, but that wasn't their fault and I shouldn't have taken it out on them.
They took a long time, and they said it was because they were transferring over all my pictures to the new phone.
Guess what? My pictures are NOT on my new phone.
Everything else went smoothly though, and my new phone works. I was eligible for an upgrade, but there was an $18 upgrade fee, and the phone cost me $108 (normally $300 or so they said.) and there is a $50 rebate that I need to mail in.
Gosh, Sprint aggravates the hell out of me.
Afterwards, we went straight to Arby's and ate lunch. My temper went away and we had a good day of tool-shopping.
Jeremy observed that I'm impossible to get along with when I'm hungry.
That definitely explains the past year. I went through the summer of '09 only eating fish and rice and drinking black coffee. I was hungry and I was mean.
So there you have it. Hunger makes me mean.
We went to Lowe's and looked at power washers, then we went to Home Depot and looked at power washers. I almost settled for a Honda, but then we cruised through the refurb department and there she was: a Ridgid commercial 3000 psi with a Subaru engine and a rebuildable pump, refurbished with a 3-year manufacturers warranty. Marked down from $600 to $427. I bought an extra 50' hose and a gallon of soap.
She's AWESOME!
I power washed my rv in the dark last night. I just couldn't wait to try it.
We went to Sears and I also bought a flex extension for my dremel and a couple of new tips.
Yesterday was fairly expensive. I'm staying away from Lawton for a while.
I don't consider tool purchases to be frivolous. They are an investment, and I can make money with the power washer. I collect tools, and I have a lot of them, if the world went to hell tomorrow, I can still make my way.
I'm such a freak.
You have a great day.
MsAmber
Friday, August 06, 2010
Quality
I like tools. I like creating something. At the end of the day, I like to look at something tangible as the reward for my efforts.
Although I'm responsible and reliable, I prefer to stay "down here" as a worker-bee because it makes me happy. Granted, I'm not a 20-something anymore, and I have to guzzle a gallon of coffee to fake it, and I can't run circles around the boys like I used to... I'm still really good.
I have two young guys on my crew who work like squirrels on crack. I love it. Then I have two older guys (my age...) who hate being on my job. They talk all the time about how they've worked for the past 10 years trying NOT to use their tools. They consider it a slap-in-the-face to be demoted to pulling cable. Their words are poison to my soul.
They are trying to make their case to me by telling me that I'm not a kid anymore either, and someday I'll wake up and my hands will be arthritic and I'll realize that I should have been climbing that ladder to be in management. I should have been wearing that business suit and making the big money. I should have been an engineer, etc.
I've given this a lot of thought. Nope. I won't regret it. I'm not geared that way. I cannot find satisfaction in a paycheck. I find my satisfaction in a job well done. I LIKE creating, building, working with my hands. I shall work until I can't. I don't seem to be able to express this very well, they don't understand me any more than I can understand them.
You may disagree with me, but the paycheck means nothing but "we appreciate you". I deserve a raise, but it's not the amount of money that I make that turns me on. A raise would just show that I'm appreciated. Gosh, I give away more money than I spend on myself. That's terribly unheard-of these days, but I really don't give a damn about money. I can make money standing on my head. It's simply a means to get what you want. If you don't use it now, it will expire and disintegrate. (I know that's not really what happens.) I am happy every day just knowing that I have another project to complete. It's the work that I love.
I do intend to teach telecommunications someday. When I'm too old to keep up, I'll teach it, but don't expect me to stop DOING it.
It is starting to drag me down to listen to them go on and on about their dis-satisfaction with having to work physically. They consider themselves "above" this menial labor. I'm trying not to take it personally, but neither one is better than me. In fact: if I had to give them a report card, they would barely make a "C". I'm sure the reason for their lack of quality is their lack of enthusiasm. They just don't give a shit. I was raised to do everything to the best of my ability. If I'm digging ditches, I'll dig the best ditches you ever saw. If I'm washing dishes, I'll wash the dishes, the wall, the backsplash, clean the oven, and take out the trash. If I'm folding sheets, I'll have a daydream that I'm in the National Sheet Folding Contest and I'm contending for the trophy. I guess that's just the way I am.
Their poisonous words are starting to affect me in that I'm losing heart. I almost have to drag myself to work. I wish they would just go away. Silly, I know. I smile and listen, try to inject my enthusiasm into them. The negativity is causing a little resentment with my young guys also. They are feeling a little resentful that they are uncomplainingly carrying all the weight of the job, but the two older guys are carrying all their self-importance around.
Imagine working with guys who think they are too good to do the job, they lack the quality, they won't go the extra mile, they question every decision ("I'm just saying, if this were MY job I would...") and honestly: their bearing and manners just aren't fit for public. They talk loudly and inappropriately for an indoor environment. I almost want to hide them in the basement sometimes.
These really are small matters. Nothing big enough to request help for. Just minor, temporary aggravations.
I wish I could just do the job. Plug in to my music and get in the groove and make some beautiful artwork out of a perfect installation.
But no, I'm the project manager. I have to balance the personalities with the abilities and get the job done.
But if I were able to really call the shots?
I would never hire anybody over 30. I would train my crews myself and we would get it done. I have so much knowledge to teach, and so much enthusiasm, and my love of quality. I would turn out some magnificent technicians if they could hang with it for just one year. Senior technicians if they could hang for two.
This stuff really isn't hard. Like my old boss used to say: "If it were easy, a girl could do it!".
I still say that to myself from time to time and chuckle.
You have a great day.
MsAmber
Although I'm responsible and reliable, I prefer to stay "down here" as a worker-bee because it makes me happy. Granted, I'm not a 20-something anymore, and I have to guzzle a gallon of coffee to fake it, and I can't run circles around the boys like I used to... I'm still really good.
I have two young guys on my crew who work like squirrels on crack. I love it. Then I have two older guys (my age...) who hate being on my job. They talk all the time about how they've worked for the past 10 years trying NOT to use their tools. They consider it a slap-in-the-face to be demoted to pulling cable. Their words are poison to my soul.
They are trying to make their case to me by telling me that I'm not a kid anymore either, and someday I'll wake up and my hands will be arthritic and I'll realize that I should have been climbing that ladder to be in management. I should have been wearing that business suit and making the big money. I should have been an engineer, etc.
I've given this a lot of thought. Nope. I won't regret it. I'm not geared that way. I cannot find satisfaction in a paycheck. I find my satisfaction in a job well done. I LIKE creating, building, working with my hands. I shall work until I can't. I don't seem to be able to express this very well, they don't understand me any more than I can understand them.
You may disagree with me, but the paycheck means nothing but "we appreciate you". I deserve a raise, but it's not the amount of money that I make that turns me on. A raise would just show that I'm appreciated. Gosh, I give away more money than I spend on myself. That's terribly unheard-of these days, but I really don't give a damn about money. I can make money standing on my head. It's simply a means to get what you want. If you don't use it now, it will expire and disintegrate. (I know that's not really what happens.) I am happy every day just knowing that I have another project to complete. It's the work that I love.
I do intend to teach telecommunications someday. When I'm too old to keep up, I'll teach it, but don't expect me to stop DOING it.
It is starting to drag me down to listen to them go on and on about their dis-satisfaction with having to work physically. They consider themselves "above" this menial labor. I'm trying not to take it personally, but neither one is better than me. In fact: if I had to give them a report card, they would barely make a "C". I'm sure the reason for their lack of quality is their lack of enthusiasm. They just don't give a shit. I was raised to do everything to the best of my ability. If I'm digging ditches, I'll dig the best ditches you ever saw. If I'm washing dishes, I'll wash the dishes, the wall, the backsplash, clean the oven, and take out the trash. If I'm folding sheets, I'll have a daydream that I'm in the National Sheet Folding Contest and I'm contending for the trophy. I guess that's just the way I am.
Their poisonous words are starting to affect me in that I'm losing heart. I almost have to drag myself to work. I wish they would just go away. Silly, I know. I smile and listen, try to inject my enthusiasm into them. The negativity is causing a little resentment with my young guys also. They are feeling a little resentful that they are uncomplainingly carrying all the weight of the job, but the two older guys are carrying all their self-importance around.
Imagine working with guys who think they are too good to do the job, they lack the quality, they won't go the extra mile, they question every decision ("I'm just saying, if this were MY job I would...") and honestly: their bearing and manners just aren't fit for public. They talk loudly and inappropriately for an indoor environment. I almost want to hide them in the basement sometimes.
These really are small matters. Nothing big enough to request help for. Just minor, temporary aggravations.
I wish I could just do the job. Plug in to my music and get in the groove and make some beautiful artwork out of a perfect installation.
But no, I'm the project manager. I have to balance the personalities with the abilities and get the job done.
But if I were able to really call the shots?
I would never hire anybody over 30. I would train my crews myself and we would get it done. I have so much knowledge to teach, and so much enthusiasm, and my love of quality. I would turn out some magnificent technicians if they could hang with it for just one year. Senior technicians if they could hang for two.
This stuff really isn't hard. Like my old boss used to say: "If it were easy, a girl could do it!".
I still say that to myself from time to time and chuckle.
You have a great day.
MsAmber
Monday, August 02, 2010
Don't Forget...
The four day work week drags on and seems to never end. The three days off fly by and I can never get everything done. Perception, I'm sure.
I don't know whether I'm coming or going.
I sometimes have these weird nightmares about bathrooms. In one of them, it's a big house with lots of nooks and crannies that have toilets, but no doors. I get panicked that I can't find a private place to go to the bathroom. In another dream, it's a big long chicken-coop type structure with screened windows down both long walls and a double row of outhouse holes running down the center. It kinda feels like a concentration camp but that's not the distress: I can't find a private place to go to the bathroom. I have bathroom nightmares. Not all the time, but often enough that it makes me think and I laugh about them.
The other night I had the opposite dream. I was sitting in a restaurant having dinner with friends and there was this little booster chair in the booth beside me. It was a little porta-potty. The urge hit me so I just slid it under myself and started straining to poop. I was suddenly snapped to embarrassment when the woman across from me leaned over and said: "Amber, there ARE bathrooms." I was flabbergasted and humiliated. It was like I just forgot myself and started shitting in public. I was mortified that I just started to do that without realizing. I turned red and felt the worst kind of embarrassment ever. I was relieved when I woke up and discovered that it was just a dream. It left me with the impression that I just lost my mind and forgot what NOT to do.
When I went skydiving, I remember overriding my brain. My brain said "NO!" and I deliberately fell out of the airplane anyway. My punishment for such a crime was to dream that I broke that safety mechanism in my brain and I would jump off buildings and fall off cliffs with regularity. My brain got even with me for forcing it to do something that it was hard-wired to stop. I even imagined that I felt the little "pop" of circuits breaking. I've had my doubts since then, if overriding safety protocols is really an okay thing to do. The bathroom dream reminded me of this because the falling dreams made me wonder if someday I might "forget" not to jump off a building. Now I wonder if I'll "forget" not to take a shit in public.
I might laugh about this later, but right now, I'm just a little disturbed.
Change Subject:
When I first came here to Altus, there was a guy Frank, and his live-in pregnant girlfriend Ellen and their little boy Junior, who lived in a decrepit rv right behind me. I befriended Ellen and I've taken her shopping a few times, and we got our nails done together every Friday, and I hire her to help me with stuff around the house. Frank was a real piece of work. Couldn't hold down a job. Prioritized beer over his kid or pregnant wife. I really didn't care for him much.
Friday, Frank fell off a grain elevator and died.
Ellen is 7 months pregnant and though she's a gold-hearted little gal, she's severely under-educated and I'm afraid for her future. She now has to figure out how to bury him and feed Junior and house herself. She told me that his employer may not help pay to bury Frank, and it seems to me that the situation is pretty near hopeless. I don't know what to do. I'm actually scared to get involved and I don't want to step-in and fix everything and take on all the responsibilities. I don't want her to know that I feel Frank's loss wasn't terrible. I don't know how to help. I'm sad for her.
That's what's on my mind right now. I'm out of words.
MsAmber
I don't know whether I'm coming or going.
I sometimes have these weird nightmares about bathrooms. In one of them, it's a big house with lots of nooks and crannies that have toilets, but no doors. I get panicked that I can't find a private place to go to the bathroom. In another dream, it's a big long chicken-coop type structure with screened windows down both long walls and a double row of outhouse holes running down the center. It kinda feels like a concentration camp but that's not the distress: I can't find a private place to go to the bathroom. I have bathroom nightmares. Not all the time, but often enough that it makes me think and I laugh about them.
The other night I had the opposite dream. I was sitting in a restaurant having dinner with friends and there was this little booster chair in the booth beside me. It was a little porta-potty. The urge hit me so I just slid it under myself and started straining to poop. I was suddenly snapped to embarrassment when the woman across from me leaned over and said: "Amber, there ARE bathrooms." I was flabbergasted and humiliated. It was like I just forgot myself and started shitting in public. I was mortified that I just started to do that without realizing. I turned red and felt the worst kind of embarrassment ever. I was relieved when I woke up and discovered that it was just a dream. It left me with the impression that I just lost my mind and forgot what NOT to do.
When I went skydiving, I remember overriding my brain. My brain said "NO!" and I deliberately fell out of the airplane anyway. My punishment for such a crime was to dream that I broke that safety mechanism in my brain and I would jump off buildings and fall off cliffs with regularity. My brain got even with me for forcing it to do something that it was hard-wired to stop. I even imagined that I felt the little "pop" of circuits breaking. I've had my doubts since then, if overriding safety protocols is really an okay thing to do. The bathroom dream reminded me of this because the falling dreams made me wonder if someday I might "forget" not to jump off a building. Now I wonder if I'll "forget" not to take a shit in public.
I might laugh about this later, but right now, I'm just a little disturbed.
Change Subject:
When I first came here to Altus, there was a guy Frank, and his live-in pregnant girlfriend Ellen and their little boy Junior, who lived in a decrepit rv right behind me. I befriended Ellen and I've taken her shopping a few times, and we got our nails done together every Friday, and I hire her to help me with stuff around the house. Frank was a real piece of work. Couldn't hold down a job. Prioritized beer over his kid or pregnant wife. I really didn't care for him much.
Friday, Frank fell off a grain elevator and died.
Ellen is 7 months pregnant and though she's a gold-hearted little gal, she's severely under-educated and I'm afraid for her future. She now has to figure out how to bury him and feed Junior and house herself. She told me that his employer may not help pay to bury Frank, and it seems to me that the situation is pretty near hopeless. I don't know what to do. I'm actually scared to get involved and I don't want to step-in and fix everything and take on all the responsibilities. I don't want her to know that I feel Frank's loss wasn't terrible. I don't know how to help. I'm sad for her.
That's what's on my mind right now. I'm out of words.
MsAmber
Friday, July 30, 2010
Insecurity is very unattractive...
I am dynamic, powerful, enigmatic, confident, and self-assured.
I am competent, imaginative, caring, and a good listener.
I am hard working, honest, loyal, and practical.
I am intelligent, well-read, open-minded, and adventurous.
I walk with purpose: an important destination, with a clear rhythmic heel-toe sound.
These things are Good. I should keep them.
I worry about my weight.(I'm 140)
I worry about not being feminine enough. (yeah, I work with men.)
I shop when I'm upset (Bought $300 worth of tools one night last week at 2:00 a.m., now I own two full socket sets and a dremel and a new set of diagonal cutters. Just lucky I didn't buy a power-washer.)
My "fall-in-love" thingy is broken. I break hearts with startling regularity, but not intentionally. ('nuff said.)
I chain-smoke when I'm not working. If I didn't work, I would probably smoke two packs a day.
I don't drink enough water - ever. The Most Dehydrated Person On The Planet.
I have a temper and can fire off sarcasms far too easily.
I can't forgive and forget. I may intentionally forgive, but the forget part never happens, and I have to keep reminding myself that I forgave that person. I keep revisiting a hurt and re-forgiving the person, trying to move on, but it never sticks. I need an amnesia pill. I'm holding grudges for two decades or longer.
I push people away when they get too close to my vulnerabilities. Over and over, lather, rinse, repeat.
I don't work hard enough to maintain my friendships and family relationships. I haven't even called my father for father's day last month. Thank goodness most of them know me well enough to forgive me. But still, it is just a phone-call and I still can't bring myself to do it. What's my frakkin' problem?
These things are Not Good. I should do something about them.
Is it Rosh Hashonah yet?
Have a great day.
MsAmber
I am competent, imaginative, caring, and a good listener.
I am hard working, honest, loyal, and practical.
I am intelligent, well-read, open-minded, and adventurous.
I walk with purpose: an important destination, with a clear rhythmic heel-toe sound.
These things are Good. I should keep them.
I worry about my weight.(I'm 140)
I worry about not being feminine enough. (yeah, I work with men.)
I shop when I'm upset (Bought $300 worth of tools one night last week at 2:00 a.m., now I own two full socket sets and a dremel and a new set of diagonal cutters. Just lucky I didn't buy a power-washer.)
My "fall-in-love" thingy is broken. I break hearts with startling regularity, but not intentionally. ('nuff said.)
I chain-smoke when I'm not working. If I didn't work, I would probably smoke two packs a day.
I don't drink enough water - ever. The Most Dehydrated Person On The Planet.
I have a temper and can fire off sarcasms far too easily.
I can't forgive and forget. I may intentionally forgive, but the forget part never happens, and I have to keep reminding myself that I forgave that person. I keep revisiting a hurt and re-forgiving the person, trying to move on, but it never sticks. I need an amnesia pill. I'm holding grudges for two decades or longer.
I push people away when they get too close to my vulnerabilities. Over and over, lather, rinse, repeat.
I don't work hard enough to maintain my friendships and family relationships. I haven't even called my father for father's day last month. Thank goodness most of them know me well enough to forgive me. But still, it is just a phone-call and I still can't bring myself to do it. What's my frakkin' problem?
These things are Not Good. I should do something about them.
Is it Rosh Hashonah yet?
Have a great day.
MsAmber
Thursday, July 29, 2010
My constant companion: the Headache
I know it's only been a week, but it seems like forever that I've had this stupid headache. Yesterday, I woke up feeling great. The headache was gone and I was thrilled. This morning it's back. First sip of coffee and it throbbed at me. "Knock, knock - I'm here." It's not an unbearable headache, just a nagging one. A slight tension over my right eye, until I move the wrong way or exert myself just a tad, then it thumps at me until I stop what I'm doing and let it settle down. An ever-present annoyance. It's no wonder I'm a little irritable. I feel like I want one of those little rubber hammers so I can thump it back.
So, I've been having a lot of time for personal reflection. I haven't had any huge epiphanies, just some sad realizations about myself. I'm really not that good of a person. The parallels between my Mother and myself are disappointing. I thought I had broken some chains, changed my destiny, made some better decisions. I find that my temper and impatience is very similar to hers. My famous stubbornness. Independence, and inability to forgive, and constant running, and cynicism, and seriousness. My bearing and posture. My selfishness. My chain-smoking. My solitude. My inability to trust.
God, I'm a real mess. I'm becoming what I despised.
The only REAL differences are that I never dragged children into this mess and I don't have a drug/alcohol habit.
So, from this lesson am I supposed to: Find forgiveness and compassion and understanding for my long-dead mother? Or am I supposed to take inventory of my life and make some changes so that I don't become what I hate?
Do I accept and love myself for who I am or change into the kind of person I want to be?
Forgive, Accept and Love?
Change?
I know better than to choose the path of least resistance, which would indicate that I need to change. But is that REALLY the answer?
Option number three: Distract.
This is the option I usually choose. Learn something new. Get completely involved in something else so that I can distract myself.
This is the reason for my utter absorption in my work sometimes, or the plethora of hobbies that I've undertaken, feigned interest in, then dropped.
Do I need someone to call me up and say: "You're okay."? Are these doubts about myself precipitated by negativity and a slight sensitivity to scrutiny? Maybe. I've been hit with a lot of "advice" lately.
Change subject:
It bothers me that I work for a company that has some people in it who actively hate me. They are ready to cut my throat at any opportunity. And I'm not being paranoid, I assure you. Little victories seem to keep me going, but I'm getting worn down. Part of me wonders why I'm so hated. Is it me? Then I get told (kindly) that I'm perceived as that "bitch". Which is a word I've never appreciated much. There are people who smile at me and pretend that they are on my side, but I know that they are split-tongued and the words they use are designed to plant seeds of discord in my brain; supposed to inflame me and make me actively join the fight to defend myself. I'm going to learn to dismiss all this eventually. But does it damage my self-image? Yes.
I don't think people who tell me the "latest gossip at work" are truly my friends. They are distracting me. I don't want to know. I don't want to know who is hating me, and what they are saying, and how I'm being held over the fire.
I don't need to know that somebody is drunk-dialing somebody else and starting shit about my job. I don't want to know - because it just makes me angry.
I used to say that the biggest problem with working with women is the petty jealousy. As women we need to be building each other up, not tearing each other down. Celebrate and encourage one another's victories. It's hard enough competing with the men without the women holding each other down. Now I realize that it's just as bad with the men. Those twirps are worse than an office full of women. They golf together, hunt and fish together, drunk-dial each other, all so they can further their petty agenda. How often am I the subject of that discussion?
Nope, I'm still not being paranoid. I swear it, I KNOW...
I fantasize that someday I'll snap and I'll just work like a maniac and save a bazillion dollars and buy the whole company and fire the bad guys and watch them denigrate into plumbers or sanitation workers...
Not very imaginative, I know. But still it gives me pleasure.
In reality, I believe the best revenge is to succeed. This is why I persist in the face of so much resistance. But why must I tear down every brick wall? Why can't I just go around it or turn around and go another way? Do I really only make the choices that are the hardest? Is that the right way or am I just hard-wired to always choose the toughest paths?
Okay, I've thrown down. I'll re-read all this tomorrow and think some more.
You have a great day, I'm going to work.
MsAmber
So, I've been having a lot of time for personal reflection. I haven't had any huge epiphanies, just some sad realizations about myself. I'm really not that good of a person. The parallels between my Mother and myself are disappointing. I thought I had broken some chains, changed my destiny, made some better decisions. I find that my temper and impatience is very similar to hers. My famous stubbornness. Independence, and inability to forgive, and constant running, and cynicism, and seriousness. My bearing and posture. My selfishness. My chain-smoking. My solitude. My inability to trust.
God, I'm a real mess. I'm becoming what I despised.
The only REAL differences are that I never dragged children into this mess and I don't have a drug/alcohol habit.
So, from this lesson am I supposed to: Find forgiveness and compassion and understanding for my long-dead mother? Or am I supposed to take inventory of my life and make some changes so that I don't become what I hate?
Do I accept and love myself for who I am or change into the kind of person I want to be?
Forgive, Accept and Love?
Change?
I know better than to choose the path of least resistance, which would indicate that I need to change. But is that REALLY the answer?
Option number three: Distract.
This is the option I usually choose. Learn something new. Get completely involved in something else so that I can distract myself.
This is the reason for my utter absorption in my work sometimes, or the plethora of hobbies that I've undertaken, feigned interest in, then dropped.
Do I need someone to call me up and say: "You're okay."? Are these doubts about myself precipitated by negativity and a slight sensitivity to scrutiny? Maybe. I've been hit with a lot of "advice" lately.
Change subject:
It bothers me that I work for a company that has some people in it who actively hate me. They are ready to cut my throat at any opportunity. And I'm not being paranoid, I assure you. Little victories seem to keep me going, but I'm getting worn down. Part of me wonders why I'm so hated. Is it me? Then I get told (kindly) that I'm perceived as that "bitch". Which is a word I've never appreciated much. There are people who smile at me and pretend that they are on my side, but I know that they are split-tongued and the words they use are designed to plant seeds of discord in my brain; supposed to inflame me and make me actively join the fight to defend myself. I'm going to learn to dismiss all this eventually. But does it damage my self-image? Yes.
I don't think people who tell me the "latest gossip at work" are truly my friends. They are distracting me. I don't want to know. I don't want to know who is hating me, and what they are saying, and how I'm being held over the fire.
I don't need to know that somebody is drunk-dialing somebody else and starting shit about my job. I don't want to know - because it just makes me angry.
I used to say that the biggest problem with working with women is the petty jealousy. As women we need to be building each other up, not tearing each other down. Celebrate and encourage one another's victories. It's hard enough competing with the men without the women holding each other down. Now I realize that it's just as bad with the men. Those twirps are worse than an office full of women. They golf together, hunt and fish together, drunk-dial each other, all so they can further their petty agenda. How often am I the subject of that discussion?
Nope, I'm still not being paranoid. I swear it, I KNOW...
I fantasize that someday I'll snap and I'll just work like a maniac and save a bazillion dollars and buy the whole company and fire the bad guys and watch them denigrate into plumbers or sanitation workers...
Not very imaginative, I know. But still it gives me pleasure.
In reality, I believe the best revenge is to succeed. This is why I persist in the face of so much resistance. But why must I tear down every brick wall? Why can't I just go around it or turn around and go another way? Do I really only make the choices that are the hardest? Is that the right way or am I just hard-wired to always choose the toughest paths?
Okay, I've thrown down. I'll re-read all this tomorrow and think some more.
You have a great day, I'm going to work.
MsAmber
Monday, July 26, 2010
I am grumpy...
There is no particular reason for me to be grumpy. My job is going well, I'm fed and warm, I should be content.
I am never content. Why is that, do you suppose?
I went OCD on the van yesterday. Removed all the trim and pulled the seats out and removed all the carpeting. I hung it on a tree and blasted the dirt out with my hose. I only put the front carpets back in, and most of the trim. I washed the van inside and out, and re-blacked the bumper, tire-shined the tires. Re-packed the toolboxes and put them back in. I am leaving the back carpeting out for a week so that I can keep working on getting it perfectly clean. There was black mold underneath it in the back where the water leaks in. I degreased the engine and got the mouse-nests off the intake manifold. Then I wiped and shined all the black rubber hoses and the breather. The van looks brand-new under the hood and inside. I washed the outside and windexed the glass. Scraped off the little fairy stickers from the back glass.
Nothing is clean enough for me right now. I washed down the ceiling and walls in the RV the other day, hanged new curtains, organized my junk drawers... the only thing I haven't done is shampoo the carpets, but you can bet I'll get to that within the next 48 hours...
I've also just started my period. I know you are thinking: "Ah hah, that's what's wrong with her!"
I really hate that that's the only explanation for my obsessiveness. I've been feeling sick: muscle soreness and a tension headache, constipation and heartburn, sweating when it's cold, cold when it's hot, a lump under my armpit, and I've chewed a sore on my upper lip. I'd almost be willing to bet that I'm grinding my teeth in my sleep again. Somehow in my mind, I believe it will all go away if I take care of everything that's bothering me. I'm tired but I'm restless.
It also just dawned on me that I was admiring a big full moon last night.
The house is clean, I'm drinking my fourth cup of coffee. Two scented candles are lit. My paperwork is done. I'm too antsy to sit here and write any longer. I have a nagging feeling that I need to stock up and hunker down... I wonder where that comes from?
Well, I've got to go shower and get my fanny to work.
You have a great day.
MsAmber
I am never content. Why is that, do you suppose?
I went OCD on the van yesterday. Removed all the trim and pulled the seats out and removed all the carpeting. I hung it on a tree and blasted the dirt out with my hose. I only put the front carpets back in, and most of the trim. I washed the van inside and out, and re-blacked the bumper, tire-shined the tires. Re-packed the toolboxes and put them back in. I am leaving the back carpeting out for a week so that I can keep working on getting it perfectly clean. There was black mold underneath it in the back where the water leaks in. I degreased the engine and got the mouse-nests off the intake manifold. Then I wiped and shined all the black rubber hoses and the breather. The van looks brand-new under the hood and inside. I washed the outside and windexed the glass. Scraped off the little fairy stickers from the back glass.
Nothing is clean enough for me right now. I washed down the ceiling and walls in the RV the other day, hanged new curtains, organized my junk drawers... the only thing I haven't done is shampoo the carpets, but you can bet I'll get to that within the next 48 hours...
I've also just started my period. I know you are thinking: "Ah hah, that's what's wrong with her!"
I really hate that that's the only explanation for my obsessiveness. I've been feeling sick: muscle soreness and a tension headache, constipation and heartburn, sweating when it's cold, cold when it's hot, a lump under my armpit, and I've chewed a sore on my upper lip. I'd almost be willing to bet that I'm grinding my teeth in my sleep again. Somehow in my mind, I believe it will all go away if I take care of everything that's bothering me. I'm tired but I'm restless.
It also just dawned on me that I was admiring a big full moon last night.
The house is clean, I'm drinking my fourth cup of coffee. Two scented candles are lit. My paperwork is done. I'm too antsy to sit here and write any longer. I have a nagging feeling that I need to stock up and hunker down... I wonder where that comes from?
Well, I've got to go shower and get my fanny to work.
You have a great day.
MsAmber
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Too bored...
I got out the dremel last night and polished all my jewelry. I sorted through all the lagniappe and threw away pieces-parts of broken jewelry and mismatched earrings. I was about to throw away an old silver filigree and coral ring that I've never gotten to shine, but since I was bored, I took the dremel to it. I'm glad I didn't toss it. It looks very nice now. Boy, a dremel tool is cool! I obsessed with it for 5 hours last night. I have a pair of earrings that I haven't worn since 1997, but since they shined up, I have them on now.
The flies around here are awful. Little biting flies. I try to get them, but they are elusive little buggers. As soon as I pick up the flyswatter, they disappear. As soon as I'm trying to concentrate on something else, they buzz my face or bite my ankles. Aargh! Freakin' flies!
I think I'm going to give up on the computer tower. It has a browser hijacker that has been evading all attempts at finding and destroying. In fact, by fixing an error, I think I've fixed the hijacker. It's working wonderfully. It opens browser pages and redirects me to advertising pages perfectly! If I ever meet the programmer...
Anyway, the point is, I'm going to force myself to work exclusively off this laptop. Vista and all. I need to set up my Outlook and VPN account for work on this thing. I will slowly and surely get all my personal files transferred over. Just waiting for a rainy day...
I need to hook this thing up to the docking station, though. I can't stand a laptop keyboard. I keep touching the stupid touchpad - I'll just be typing along and find that my cursor has jumped to the middle of the previous sentence. Also, the screen on this laptop is glossy, it reflects too much. I need to either: hook up my monitor, or black-out the room.
Well, I'm going to go sand on my cedar chest for a while. It's nice and breezy outside today. I also need to go pick up my laundry.
You have a great day.
MsAmber
The flies around here are awful. Little biting flies. I try to get them, but they are elusive little buggers. As soon as I pick up the flyswatter, they disappear. As soon as I'm trying to concentrate on something else, they buzz my face or bite my ankles. Aargh! Freakin' flies!
I think I'm going to give up on the computer tower. It has a browser hijacker that has been evading all attempts at finding and destroying. In fact, by fixing an error, I think I've fixed the hijacker. It's working wonderfully. It opens browser pages and redirects me to advertising pages perfectly! If I ever meet the programmer...
Anyway, the point is, I'm going to force myself to work exclusively off this laptop. Vista and all. I need to set up my Outlook and VPN account for work on this thing. I will slowly and surely get all my personal files transferred over. Just waiting for a rainy day...
I need to hook this thing up to the docking station, though. I can't stand a laptop keyboard. I keep touching the stupid touchpad - I'll just be typing along and find that my cursor has jumped to the middle of the previous sentence. Also, the screen on this laptop is glossy, it reflects too much. I need to either: hook up my monitor, or black-out the room.
Well, I'm going to go sand on my cedar chest for a while. It's nice and breezy outside today. I also need to go pick up my laundry.
You have a great day.
MsAmber
Friday, July 23, 2010
Yup, still in Altus.
Okay, this is really a one-horse town.
There is nothing to do except play Bingo on Friday/Saturday nights.
I bought a Keurig coffee maker. My old one takes too damn long to serve me up a cup of coffee in the morning. It was also getting pretty kruddy inside, so I was due for a new coffeepot anyway. I'm drinking my first cup of hazelnut coffee right now.
I bought a Stevens Savage model 620 - 20 gauge shotgun. It's an old pump action that has been well taken care of. It has a poly choke 5-way on the end of the barrel. It's a very pretty little shotgun. I want to buy some shells and take it out this weekend to see how she does. I'm going to break it down and clean it tonight. I looked up the breakdown instructions, already tried it, seems very simple. It had a wooden block in the shell cartridge so that it only holds two shells. I called uncle Chuck about the gun, he has some good information, but was unable to tell me anything about the poly choke. I removed the wooden block, but when you are hunting duck, you are only allowed to have three shells in the gun. I asked why you can't just put three shells in, why do you have to put a wooden dowel in it? I suppose to make sure you never have more than three shells in the gun. That seems a little silly to me.
Anyway, I like it. Maybe I'll show it to Rob and get his take on it. Uncle Chuck suggested sawing off the barrel. Nah. I like it just the way it is. No scratches or dents - it's beautiful for a 50+ year old gun.
I'm getting pretty close to my time of the month, so I'm exceptionally irritable and easily annoyed. I've been feeling sick for three days. Back aches, neck aches, top of shoulders ache. My stomach is sticking straight out like a big fat cow (Moo!). I can't go poop. I'm covered with bug bites and bruises, and big bites WITH bruises, and bruises with bug bites. I have a sore on my top lip (actually it's from chewing on my top lip) from tweeking on caffeine. I'm cold when I should be hot and I break out in a sweat 15 minutes after I'm back in the cold air conditioning.
This is what happens when I work in an air conditioned building in the heat of the summer. I always come down sick - what? Strep? A summer cold?
Yeah, I'm feeling sorry for myself today. This is day three of feeling like crap.
I already wiped everything down with pine-sol, just in case.
Freydis is still crazier than hell. Four ounces of badass. I really need to get some pictures of her at her funniest. You should see how she looks if I wake her up in the middle of the day, she sits back on her tail and has a three-point stance with one arm sticking straight out to the side. She looks like a drunk squirrel reaching for her bottle. I feel guilty keeping her in her cage, so I let her roam too much. I have to hunt for her every morning to make sure she's okay. I've plugged all the important holes - like the center cone of my bass speaker. This morning I found her in the toaster. Now that's ruined. Good thing it was unplugged. I don't mind when I find her in a vase or behind the books on the shelf, but I kinda got spooked to think she would climb into a toaster. Talk about kid-proofing a house... have you ever had to squirrel proof? There are all kinds of little dangers lurking around. I'm glad she's not a rodent. She doesn't have the desire to chew on stuff or I'd worry myself to death.
I just hate to keep her in a cage all the time. So far it's working out okay to let her have a little freedom - I just wish she would return to her cage when I tell her to instead of having to CATCH HER!
There's slapstick if I ever saw it.
You have a great night, I have a gun to clean.
MsAmber
There is nothing to do except play Bingo on Friday/Saturday nights.
I bought a Keurig coffee maker. My old one takes too damn long to serve me up a cup of coffee in the morning. It was also getting pretty kruddy inside, so I was due for a new coffeepot anyway. I'm drinking my first cup of hazelnut coffee right now.
I bought a Stevens Savage model 620 - 20 gauge shotgun. It's an old pump action that has been well taken care of. It has a poly choke 5-way on the end of the barrel. It's a very pretty little shotgun. I want to buy some shells and take it out this weekend to see how she does. I'm going to break it down and clean it tonight. I looked up the breakdown instructions, already tried it, seems very simple. It had a wooden block in the shell cartridge so that it only holds two shells. I called uncle Chuck about the gun, he has some good information, but was unable to tell me anything about the poly choke. I removed the wooden block, but when you are hunting duck, you are only allowed to have three shells in the gun. I asked why you can't just put three shells in, why do you have to put a wooden dowel in it? I suppose to make sure you never have more than three shells in the gun. That seems a little silly to me.
Anyway, I like it. Maybe I'll show it to Rob and get his take on it. Uncle Chuck suggested sawing off the barrel. Nah. I like it just the way it is. No scratches or dents - it's beautiful for a 50+ year old gun.
I'm getting pretty close to my time of the month, so I'm exceptionally irritable and easily annoyed. I've been feeling sick for three days. Back aches, neck aches, top of shoulders ache. My stomach is sticking straight out like a big fat cow (Moo!). I can't go poop. I'm covered with bug bites and bruises, and big bites WITH bruises, and bruises with bug bites. I have a sore on my top lip (actually it's from chewing on my top lip) from tweeking on caffeine. I'm cold when I should be hot and I break out in a sweat 15 minutes after I'm back in the cold air conditioning.
This is what happens when I work in an air conditioned building in the heat of the summer. I always come down sick - what? Strep? A summer cold?
Yeah, I'm feeling sorry for myself today. This is day three of feeling like crap.
I already wiped everything down with pine-sol, just in case.
Freydis is still crazier than hell. Four ounces of badass. I really need to get some pictures of her at her funniest. You should see how she looks if I wake her up in the middle of the day, she sits back on her tail and has a three-point stance with one arm sticking straight out to the side. She looks like a drunk squirrel reaching for her bottle. I feel guilty keeping her in her cage, so I let her roam too much. I have to hunt for her every morning to make sure she's okay. I've plugged all the important holes - like the center cone of my bass speaker. This morning I found her in the toaster. Now that's ruined. Good thing it was unplugged. I don't mind when I find her in a vase or behind the books on the shelf, but I kinda got spooked to think she would climb into a toaster. Talk about kid-proofing a house... have you ever had to squirrel proof? There are all kinds of little dangers lurking around. I'm glad she's not a rodent. She doesn't have the desire to chew on stuff or I'd worry myself to death.
I just hate to keep her in a cage all the time. So far it's working out okay to let her have a little freedom - I just wish she would return to her cage when I tell her to instead of having to CATCH HER!
There's slapstick if I ever saw it.
You have a great night, I have a gun to clean.
MsAmber
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Two in two days... wow.
We had a very productive night. New Guy is going to work out just fine.
Once again, I woke up too early this morning. Maybe I can get in a nap before work; I'm sure I'll need one.
I found the name for my Sugar Glider.
I remembered a story about a Viking princess; daughter of Erik the Red. During the initial exploration and colonization of North America, the Indians kept attacking and killing the early explorers - these were the "Skraelings", (which is where JRR Tolkien got the idea for the name, I think. I'm just too lazy to look it up and get my facts straight.)
Anyway, Leif Erikkson's sister, Freydis, was pregnant at the time. She tried to rally the men to fight, but they ran away. So she turned to face the Indians, bared her breasts, slapped the sword across her chest and screamed at them. The Indians ceased their attack and turned around and left.
This mental image has amused me for a long time. So I think "Freydis" is the perfect name for my Sugar Glider. She sometimes spreads her arms wide and bares her chest at me and screams... it's just too funny. All she needs is a little Viking helmet and a little sword.
High temperature today of 101. Lovely.
Yesterday was officially the first day of Summer.
I need to brush my teeth, put on a hat, and go get my nails filled.
You have a great day.
MsAmber
Once again, I woke up too early this morning. Maybe I can get in a nap before work; I'm sure I'll need one.
I found the name for my Sugar Glider.
I remembered a story about a Viking princess; daughter of Erik the Red. During the initial exploration and colonization of North America, the Indians kept attacking and killing the early explorers - these were the "Skraelings", (which is where JRR Tolkien got the idea for the name, I think. I'm just too lazy to look it up and get my facts straight.)
Anyway, Leif Erikkson's sister, Freydis, was pregnant at the time. She tried to rally the men to fight, but they ran away. So she turned to face the Indians, bared her breasts, slapped the sword across her chest and screamed at them. The Indians ceased their attack and turned around and left.
This mental image has amused me for a long time. So I think "Freydis" is the perfect name for my Sugar Glider. She sometimes spreads her arms wide and bares her chest at me and screams... it's just too funny. All she needs is a little Viking helmet and a little sword.
High temperature today of 101. Lovely.
Yesterday was officially the first day of Summer.
I need to brush my teeth, put on a hat, and go get my nails filled.
You have a great day.
MsAmber
Monday, June 21, 2010
Update ... finally.
I'm still at Altus AFB in Southwestern Oklahoma. It looks like I'll be here until mid-September (or this Wednesday if I win the 97 million dollar lottery).
It's incredibly hot during the day here. Instant melt when I step out the door. I do so hate to be cooped up in the air conditioning, so I open the door and turn off the a/c until I just can't stand it anymore. Which is usually noon.
I bought a Sugar Glider. It's a little marsupial critter. Kinda like a cross between a flying squirrel and a kangaroo mouse. She's funny. I haven't named her yet, but I think it's hilarious that a little 4" critter thinks she's bad enough to attack me. Can you imagine the audacity it takes to be only a few inches tall and want to attack a big human? I need to find the perfect name for her. If she were male: I'd name her Quixote! She spreads her little arms out to her sides to look bigger and chatters at me. She's starting to settle down, I'll be handling her within the week, I'm sure.
We are working from 4:00 pm until 2:30 am, and this schedule is kicking my ass. I'm having a hard time making myself sleep past 7 am, but I know that if I don't; I'll be crashing midway through the night. I have to drink a 5-hour energy shot at 9:00 every night to refresh my energy.
Uncle Chuck called me this morning and asked me to call my Grandmother. He will email me her contact information. That seemed kind of strange to me. I didn't think that she even really cares that I exist. But apparently she wants to hear from me...
That's just odd.
I keep up with my Uncle Chuck, and let him know how I'm doing and where I'm working, etc. I figure if anyone inquires as to my whereabouts, he'll get to answer that I'm fine. Regarding the tad bit of affection that I have for those people who are related to me by blood; they know me not: nor I, them.
Uncle Chuck is the one exception, however. He and I have forged a good friendship and I am proud of that. I actually LIKE him.
I know some of you would argue that "blood is thicker than water", and that concept should inspire in me some sort of unequivocal loyalty, but I've been alone in this world for 25 years to forge my own way. No friendly advice, no safety net, no big brothers/cousins to defend me... the isolation has made me a stronger person, no doubt, but now my independence has become an ingrained habit. Hard not to be skeptical of those who want to cleave to me when I'm finally succeeding. I always remember that I was 15 years old when abandoned to make my own way. Just a few months into the 10th grade...
I'm not a resounding success, by any means, but I'm doing just fine. I COULD have wound up toothless with 5 children living in a trailer in the hills and soaking up welfare, or a strung-out junkie on the streets of some big city. That would be the average expectation.
Why, Yes, I DO have abandonment issues... how did you guess?
Okay, this is creepy. Roy Orbison just came on the radio singing "Crying". Ha ha ha. Time to pull my head out of this little pity party.
Frankly, I have no regrets.
C'est la Vie.
Today should be interesting. My Harris contact is coming in from Italy to see how we're progressing. I have no idea when he'll be here. I should take my shower and be dressed and ready for a phone call at any time.
I think I'm in the market for a motorcycle. Rob sent me some links to some cheap but nice bikes for sale in the area. I could pick up a nice little cruiser for $2500. I'm thinking about it. I'm only apprehensive because I would have to transport it in the back of the van while I'm hitched up to the RV.
The gross weight of one of the smaller 250s is about 350 pounds. Plus 1000 pounds on the hitch with the RV. Think my 3/4 ton can handle it? Maybe. Then again, I wonder if extending the frame on the back of the RV for a bike carrier is plausible.
I definitely need to figure out the logistics of this little venture before I just "up-and-buy" a motorcycle.
Anyway, I need to get moving and get ready for my day.
You have a great one.
MsAmber
It's incredibly hot during the day here. Instant melt when I step out the door. I do so hate to be cooped up in the air conditioning, so I open the door and turn off the a/c until I just can't stand it anymore. Which is usually noon.
I bought a Sugar Glider. It's a little marsupial critter. Kinda like a cross between a flying squirrel and a kangaroo mouse. She's funny. I haven't named her yet, but I think it's hilarious that a little 4" critter thinks she's bad enough to attack me. Can you imagine the audacity it takes to be only a few inches tall and want to attack a big human? I need to find the perfect name for her. If she were male: I'd name her Quixote! She spreads her little arms out to her sides to look bigger and chatters at me. She's starting to settle down, I'll be handling her within the week, I'm sure.
We are working from 4:00 pm until 2:30 am, and this schedule is kicking my ass. I'm having a hard time making myself sleep past 7 am, but I know that if I don't; I'll be crashing midway through the night. I have to drink a 5-hour energy shot at 9:00 every night to refresh my energy.
Uncle Chuck called me this morning and asked me to call my Grandmother. He will email me her contact information. That seemed kind of strange to me. I didn't think that she even really cares that I exist. But apparently she wants to hear from me...
That's just odd.
I keep up with my Uncle Chuck, and let him know how I'm doing and where I'm working, etc. I figure if anyone inquires as to my whereabouts, he'll get to answer that I'm fine. Regarding the tad bit of affection that I have for those people who are related to me by blood; they know me not: nor I, them.
Uncle Chuck is the one exception, however. He and I have forged a good friendship and I am proud of that. I actually LIKE him.
I know some of you would argue that "blood is thicker than water", and that concept should inspire in me some sort of unequivocal loyalty, but I've been alone in this world for 25 years to forge my own way. No friendly advice, no safety net, no big brothers/cousins to defend me... the isolation has made me a stronger person, no doubt, but now my independence has become an ingrained habit. Hard not to be skeptical of those who want to cleave to me when I'm finally succeeding. I always remember that I was 15 years old when abandoned to make my own way. Just a few months into the 10th grade...
I'm not a resounding success, by any means, but I'm doing just fine. I COULD have wound up toothless with 5 children living in a trailer in the hills and soaking up welfare, or a strung-out junkie on the streets of some big city. That would be the average expectation.
Why, Yes, I DO have abandonment issues... how did you guess?
Okay, this is creepy. Roy Orbison just came on the radio singing "Crying". Ha ha ha. Time to pull my head out of this little pity party.
Frankly, I have no regrets.
C'est la Vie.
Today should be interesting. My Harris contact is coming in from Italy to see how we're progressing. I have no idea when he'll be here. I should take my shower and be dressed and ready for a phone call at any time.
I think I'm in the market for a motorcycle. Rob sent me some links to some cheap but nice bikes for sale in the area. I could pick up a nice little cruiser for $2500. I'm thinking about it. I'm only apprehensive because I would have to transport it in the back of the van while I'm hitched up to the RV.
The gross weight of one of the smaller 250s is about 350 pounds. Plus 1000 pounds on the hitch with the RV. Think my 3/4 ton can handle it? Maybe. Then again, I wonder if extending the frame on the back of the RV for a bike carrier is plausible.
I definitely need to figure out the logistics of this little venture before I just "up-and-buy" a motorcycle.
Anyway, I need to get moving and get ready for my day.
You have a great one.
MsAmber
Monday, May 24, 2010
What a weekend!
This weekend, I washed the outside of the RV, did two weeks' worth of laundry, shampooed the carpets, washed down the walls and ceiling, serviced the air conditioner, and waxed the cabinet doors.
Today, I'm bathing the dog!
We start working nights this week. I tried to stay up late so that I would sleep in. That didn't really work out like I had planned. I still woke up at 6:30 this morning. I'll try to take a nap today. We will be working from 4:00 pm to 2:30 am.
So far last week, we built out the CMR and cored the 7 penetrations. Then built the 8 penetrations downwards onto the ladder rack. We've pulled the 3/0 copper halfway - it's very heavy and hard to pull. Today we'll finish that up.
Every firewall penetration has to be logged and labeled. There are tons of them.
But the job is coming along just fine.
I need to call the office and make sure everything we need is added to Mike's truck this morning. I'm also getting my new laptop battery today, yayy!
You have a great day.
MsAmber
Today, I'm bathing the dog!
We start working nights this week. I tried to stay up late so that I would sleep in. That didn't really work out like I had planned. I still woke up at 6:30 this morning. I'll try to take a nap today. We will be working from 4:00 pm to 2:30 am.
So far last week, we built out the CMR and cored the 7 penetrations. Then built the 8 penetrations downwards onto the ladder rack. We've pulled the 3/0 copper halfway - it's very heavy and hard to pull. Today we'll finish that up.
Every firewall penetration has to be logged and labeled. There are tons of them.
But the job is coming along just fine.
I need to call the office and make sure everything we need is added to Mike's truck this morning. I'm also getting my new laptop battery today, yayy!
You have a great day.
MsAmber
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
...and the project begins.
Mike and I did our walk-through yesterday. This job is going to be as perfect as I can possibly make it.
There are requirements for inspections and random testing. I have to keep a log of all wall penetrations. Ten-foot service loops at each end, support every 5 feet, a drop density of three cables per 60 square feet, complete clean-up nightly, split the bundles and terminate from left and right, perfection, perfection, perfection. I love it. If I have a good crew, this should be the acme of installs. I've made my notes of subjects to discuss, and written down today's goals.
I do have a spot of great news:
Yesterday morning, I went and met with my neighbor Ernest(with the dogs), and asked him for a dog-whistle. I mentioned that I wouldn't mind helping him to train them not to bark, as I will be working nights and sleeping days. He seemed fairly receptive to the idea. When I walked Megabyte, they went into hysterical barking, so we just stood there and let them wear themselves out. I went to work at 10. When I arrived back home at 3, I walked near their cage and they barked, so I told them to hush and they did. I was really surprised.
This morning, Ernest knocked on my door, and I told him that the dogs are doing great, I told them to hush and they did, and I was happy about that. He told me that at lunch yesterday he bought a barking-trainer. It's a birdhouse that hangs from the tree and when the dogs bark, it emits an annoying sound. It works great, the boys have stopped their incessant barking. I thanked him and told him it was working wonderfully. I'm so happy! That was so nice of him. The problem is solved and Ernest and I aren't enemies. Isn't that cool?
The only obstacle left to peace-and-quiet is the shrew with the toddler. It turns out that the toddler isn't the noisy one, it's his mother. She has such a grating, loud nature. She hollers at the kid like she doesn't like him. Quit! Stop! No! Don't! --- Just like a shrew. She's pregnant, and smokes cigarettes worse than me. You should hear her coughing and hacking in the morning. Ugh!
Oh well. C'est la vie.
You have a great day.
MsAmber
There are requirements for inspections and random testing. I have to keep a log of all wall penetrations. Ten-foot service loops at each end, support every 5 feet, a drop density of three cables per 60 square feet, complete clean-up nightly, split the bundles and terminate from left and right, perfection, perfection, perfection. I love it. If I have a good crew, this should be the acme of installs. I've made my notes of subjects to discuss, and written down today's goals.
I do have a spot of great news:
Yesterday morning, I went and met with my neighbor Ernest(with the dogs), and asked him for a dog-whistle. I mentioned that I wouldn't mind helping him to train them not to bark, as I will be working nights and sleeping days. He seemed fairly receptive to the idea. When I walked Megabyte, they went into hysterical barking, so we just stood there and let them wear themselves out. I went to work at 10. When I arrived back home at 3, I walked near their cage and they barked, so I told them to hush and they did. I was really surprised.
This morning, Ernest knocked on my door, and I told him that the dogs are doing great, I told them to hush and they did, and I was happy about that. He told me that at lunch yesterday he bought a barking-trainer. It's a birdhouse that hangs from the tree and when the dogs bark, it emits an annoying sound. It works great, the boys have stopped their incessant barking. I thanked him and told him it was working wonderfully. I'm so happy! That was so nice of him. The problem is solved and Ernest and I aren't enemies. Isn't that cool?
The only obstacle left to peace-and-quiet is the shrew with the toddler. It turns out that the toddler isn't the noisy one, it's his mother. She has such a grating, loud nature. She hollers at the kid like she doesn't like him. Quit! Stop! No! Don't! --- Just like a shrew. She's pregnant, and smokes cigarettes worse than me. You should hear her coughing and hacking in the morning. Ugh!
Oh well. C'est la vie.
You have a great day.
MsAmber
Monday, May 17, 2010
Sometimes, everything is hilarious.
So I called around at the three rv parks here in Altus. Only one seemed to have plenty of space, but the lady didn't know. She walked around and called me back. She said she and her husband just bought the place and was still quite new at it.
I got here and took a look at the two spaces she had thought of for me.
I decided on one with a big tree, got permission to cut a branch off, and wiggled my rv into the spot.
My sewer line runs over to my front yard, the water is located at the front right corner, only the electricity is in it's proper place. I got set up, and only then did I realize that the two gigantic barking dogs next to me never shut up and the family right behind me have a screaming toddler. This will be fun! We will be working nights and sleeping during the day.
I shall invest in ear plugs, I'm sure.
Today, Mike and I will go get our badges and do our walk-through. He is the PM, but he's still obligated to another project, so I'll pretty much be running the thing. He stopped by my rv last night and we sat out on the patio and discussed important matters such as: fill ratios, working hours, the location of the nearest Wal-Mart, etc.
I am really very glad to be back on a project. I was getting a little stir-crazy.
It's 6:00 am, I was awakened by the cacophony of hundreds of birds singing in the tree that overhangs my bedroom. Now that it's starting to get daylight, they seem to have simmered down a bit.
I think I will invest in a dog-whistle. It seems the best solution to the barking dogs next door. They spend the day in a 10X10 chain-link kennel, and they are huge black labs. Their owner didn't show up until 9:00 last night. I'll just train the damn things. Wish me luck.
Well, today has begun, you have a wonderful one.
MsAmber
I got here and took a look at the two spaces she had thought of for me.
I decided on one with a big tree, got permission to cut a branch off, and wiggled my rv into the spot.
My sewer line runs over to my front yard, the water is located at the front right corner, only the electricity is in it's proper place. I got set up, and only then did I realize that the two gigantic barking dogs next to me never shut up and the family right behind me have a screaming toddler. This will be fun! We will be working nights and sleeping during the day.
I shall invest in ear plugs, I'm sure.
Today, Mike and I will go get our badges and do our walk-through. He is the PM, but he's still obligated to another project, so I'll pretty much be running the thing. He stopped by my rv last night and we sat out on the patio and discussed important matters such as: fill ratios, working hours, the location of the nearest Wal-Mart, etc.
I am really very glad to be back on a project. I was getting a little stir-crazy.
It's 6:00 am, I was awakened by the cacophony of hundreds of birds singing in the tree that overhangs my bedroom. Now that it's starting to get daylight, they seem to have simmered down a bit.
I think I will invest in a dog-whistle. It seems the best solution to the barking dogs next door. They spend the day in a 10X10 chain-link kennel, and they are huge black labs. Their owner didn't show up until 9:00 last night. I'll just train the damn things. Wish me luck.
Well, today has begun, you have a wonderful one.
MsAmber
Saturday, May 15, 2010
I'm feeling hopeful again.
The boycott of Amber is officially over. It was silly to begin with. They've put me back on a project, I'm headed to Altus AFB down in the Southwest corner of Oklahoma. I know I'm not everybody's cup-of-tea, but goodness, it seems once you get on somebody's shit-list, it takes a while to get back off of it. In this case: it took seven months. Meanwhile, I had to stay stubborn and pretend I didn't care. Grovelling wouldn't have improved the situation, and with these guys: you can't show weakness or they'd have eaten me alive. The pecking order is restored, all is right with the world.
It's a cold, rainy Saturday in Blanchard Oklahoma. It's been rainy and stormy for a couple of days. I'm drinking coffee this morning, playing some Bob Dylan, simmering some cinnamon oil, have the door open and the heater on. I like living alone. No-one to nag about my wasting electricity or annoying me about being in a Bob Dylan mood. Megabyte doesn't seem to mind.
My agenda for today is to get the propane tank filled, re-organize the van, and start securing the floatation in the rv. I have to meet Rusty some time today to pick up a Lucent Partner processor. Monday morning first thing I have to do a quick service call to Frederick USPS. Their phone system took a lightning hit. I have to rig up tomorrow and drive to Altus, run the service call on Monday, then go to the AFB to start the project. I should be on the project for two months, but I'm not the PM this time, just the lead tech. They wanted to keep me freed up so I can leave the project if another comes through.
I finally ordered a new battery for my laptop. It should be in next Friday, I'll pay for it over the phone then send my boss to pick it up and transport it to me. It was actually only $108. If I'd have known that, I would have bought one sooner.
The big knuckle on the pointer-finger of my left hand has hurt for three weeks now. I'm not sure how I bungled it up, but it is really annoying. I told my Dad about it and he gave me a roll-on bottle of a supposed horse liniment: DMSO Dimethyl Sulfoxide. I'm a little wary about it. It's only indicated as a solvent, and the instructions declare that any use other than as a solvent is strictly the responsibility of the end-user. Hmmm. Several people swear by it, I'll give it a try; I'll try anything if it will help this pain. The laughable part of it though: whoever heard of a roll-on solvent?
It's not really a stretch, I've heard of people using WD-40 for arthritis, and it reminds me of the Greek father in the movie "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" who declared Windex as the cure for everything. That still makes me chuckle.
I borrowed a really neat old book. The 1946 edition of "Pauline Bonaparte - A Woman Of Affairs". She was the youngest sister of Napoleon. I'm pretty enthusiastic about reading it. It's a fragile old book. I just love old books.
Well, I should hop in the shower and try to get my task list knocked out before I have to go get that processor. You have a great day.
MsAmber
It's a cold, rainy Saturday in Blanchard Oklahoma. It's been rainy and stormy for a couple of days. I'm drinking coffee this morning, playing some Bob Dylan, simmering some cinnamon oil, have the door open and the heater on. I like living alone. No-one to nag about my wasting electricity or annoying me about being in a Bob Dylan mood. Megabyte doesn't seem to mind.
My agenda for today is to get the propane tank filled, re-organize the van, and start securing the floatation in the rv. I have to meet Rusty some time today to pick up a Lucent Partner processor. Monday morning first thing I have to do a quick service call to Frederick USPS. Their phone system took a lightning hit. I have to rig up tomorrow and drive to Altus, run the service call on Monday, then go to the AFB to start the project. I should be on the project for two months, but I'm not the PM this time, just the lead tech. They wanted to keep me freed up so I can leave the project if another comes through.
I finally ordered a new battery for my laptop. It should be in next Friday, I'll pay for it over the phone then send my boss to pick it up and transport it to me. It was actually only $108. If I'd have known that, I would have bought one sooner.
The big knuckle on the pointer-finger of my left hand has hurt for three weeks now. I'm not sure how I bungled it up, but it is really annoying. I told my Dad about it and he gave me a roll-on bottle of a supposed horse liniment: DMSO Dimethyl Sulfoxide. I'm a little wary about it. It's only indicated as a solvent, and the instructions declare that any use other than as a solvent is strictly the responsibility of the end-user. Hmmm. Several people swear by it, I'll give it a try; I'll try anything if it will help this pain. The laughable part of it though: whoever heard of a roll-on solvent?
It's not really a stretch, I've heard of people using WD-40 for arthritis, and it reminds me of the Greek father in the movie "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" who declared Windex as the cure for everything. That still makes me chuckle.
I borrowed a really neat old book. The 1946 edition of "Pauline Bonaparte - A Woman Of Affairs". She was the youngest sister of Napoleon. I'm pretty enthusiastic about reading it. It's a fragile old book. I just love old books.
Well, I should hop in the shower and try to get my task list knocked out before I have to go get that processor. You have a great day.
MsAmber
Sunday, April 18, 2010
I don't wanna get out and work.
It's Sunday morning. It's still raining. I have a slight (ever so slight) hangover from the four beers I drank yesterday. I was chilled to the bone when I left the mud races. It must have been 45 degrees out there. Soaking wet and buzzed and cold; I had the full-body shivers. It was a hoot though. The van has chunks of mud over the whole driver's side. Apparently everyone slung mud on it as they were leaving. I was worried about getting out of there myself, but I just gunned it and ramped out. Poor van! We went to the Cherokee truck stop afterwards and ate dinner - I had a buffalo burger. Megabyte acted as though even HE was cold and he stayed in the van the whole time. Wimp-dog!
I woke up to the coffee pot beeping this morning and decided not to get out of bed so I went back to sleep. I roused myself up around 8. I have to do laundry this morning and figure out what's wrong with the slide-out motor, get the rv rigged back up and move back to Norman. Set-up again at the other rv park and go to work tomorrow.
Man, weekends just aren't long enough.
It feels like winter here. Cold and still raining this morning.
Can't I just pretend it's not Sunday morning and go back to bed?
I think I'll drink that little energy shooter in my refrigerator, take two ibuprofen, and suck it up.
Lots to do.
Have a great day.
MsAmber
I woke up to the coffee pot beeping this morning and decided not to get out of bed so I went back to sleep. I roused myself up around 8. I have to do laundry this morning and figure out what's wrong with the slide-out motor, get the rv rigged back up and move back to Norman. Set-up again at the other rv park and go to work tomorrow.
Man, weekends just aren't long enough.
It feels like winter here. Cold and still raining this morning.
Can't I just pretend it's not Sunday morning and go back to bed?
I think I'll drink that little energy shooter in my refrigerator, take two ibuprofen, and suck it up.
Lots to do.
Have a great day.
MsAmber
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Sorry, sorry, sorry.... um. No I'm Not.
I've dropped off blogland for a while.
Internet connectivity has been a major part of it.
I've been working on the road, but I left my RV parked in Lafayette for a few months, so I've been staying in motels and in my van a lot. I rarely boot up the computer when I'm on the road. Just to upload timesheets and delete my junk emails. I haven't been to my blog or Myspace or Facebook. No playing around at all.
It's a rainy Saturday morning in Norman Oklahoma. I have my RV back on the road so I'll be blogging more.
Since last I updated: I've been to Tuscaloosa, Al; Jackson, MS; Homestead, FL; New Orleans, LA; Ozark, AR; and other places I just can't think of right now.
This week I've been organizing the shop in Norman, Oklahoma.
I bought four new tires for the RV last week. Pretty tires. I wonder how much spinner rims would cost for the RV? I think that would be downright hilarious, don't you?
I'm headed to the Mud Races in Geary, Oklahoma today. It's raining, so that should be quite fun! Wish I could participate. I haven't decided yet whether I should take the RV up there - it's about 70 miles away. I think I might. Just in case I get muddy and cold, I won't have to worry about driving all the way back down here.
You have a great weekend.
MsAmber
Internet connectivity has been a major part of it.
I've been working on the road, but I left my RV parked in Lafayette for a few months, so I've been staying in motels and in my van a lot. I rarely boot up the computer when I'm on the road. Just to upload timesheets and delete my junk emails. I haven't been to my blog or Myspace or Facebook. No playing around at all.
It's a rainy Saturday morning in Norman Oklahoma. I have my RV back on the road so I'll be blogging more.
Since last I updated: I've been to Tuscaloosa, Al; Jackson, MS; Homestead, FL; New Orleans, LA; Ozark, AR; and other places I just can't think of right now.
This week I've been organizing the shop in Norman, Oklahoma.
I bought four new tires for the RV last week. Pretty tires. I wonder how much spinner rims would cost for the RV? I think that would be downright hilarious, don't you?
I'm headed to the Mud Races in Geary, Oklahoma today. It's raining, so that should be quite fun! Wish I could participate. I haven't decided yet whether I should take the RV up there - it's about 70 miles away. I think I might. Just in case I get muddy and cold, I won't have to worry about driving all the way back down here.
You have a great weekend.
MsAmber
Thursday, January 07, 2010
It's 2010.
The irony of the opening song to CSI Las Vegas being "Who Are You" by Pete Townshend just struck me.
I'm so easily amused sometimes.
This past couple of weeks have made me blue. Maybe it's the weather, maybe it's the season, or maybe it's just that time of the month... who knows.
I came back to Lafayette. I bought wiring and repaired the brakes on the trailer, I bought a new refrigerator vent cover for the roof of the rv and replaced that which was dry-rotted and disintegrated.
Chad and I removed the bathroom wall and door. He refinished the end cap of the wall and trimmed out the damaged area on the ceiling. I have much more room in the bathroom and bedroom now - it was fairly claustrophobic in there before.
It's raining today, the driveway is a mudhole again. I called work and fairly begged them to find me something to do next week. I have $27 left and an automatic draft coming out of my checking account for $79 on the 13th. Better fill that void quickly!
I don't have the motivation to get out of the house, much less fix my hair or paint my face. I managed to get out of bed today, but that's the extent of it.
I took the dogs to the vet last week while I still had money left. The vet was a real bitch - she labeled both my dogs as "aggressive". Not true.
I guess part of what I'm angry about is she diagnosed Spotsky as positive for heartworms. Megabyte is still negative, thankfully. A couple hundred dollars later, all I really came out of it with was bad news and a bottle of antibiotics for Meg's mouth.
I'm not sure of how I'm going to deal with Spotsky's diagnosis, I bought the heartworm medication to keep them from multiplying, but that doesn't kill the adult worms. My research suggests that the cure is about $400 and it involves injecting poison into the dog and keeping him sedate for a few weeks until his immune system dissolves the dead worms. This, I can neither afford, nor do I think it a good idea for a dog who has epileptic seizures. He had two seizures this morning - albeit not bad ones.
I'll just keep the heartworms from multiplying and hopefully it will buy some time until I can comfortably afford the treatment.
My girl Tayla had her baby last weekend. She was in labor for 17 hours, but she and the baby girl are doing just fine. I'm hoping to see her when I blaze through town next week.
It's raining and cold outside right now. I'm torn as to whether I want to go outside and get cold and wet and then take a hot shower, or simply lay down and take a nap... what do you think?
Yep, a nap.
MsAmber
I'm so easily amused sometimes.
This past couple of weeks have made me blue. Maybe it's the weather, maybe it's the season, or maybe it's just that time of the month... who knows.
I came back to Lafayette. I bought wiring and repaired the brakes on the trailer, I bought a new refrigerator vent cover for the roof of the rv and replaced that which was dry-rotted and disintegrated.
Chad and I removed the bathroom wall and door. He refinished the end cap of the wall and trimmed out the damaged area on the ceiling. I have much more room in the bathroom and bedroom now - it was fairly claustrophobic in there before.
It's raining today, the driveway is a mudhole again. I called work and fairly begged them to find me something to do next week. I have $27 left and an automatic draft coming out of my checking account for $79 on the 13th. Better fill that void quickly!
I don't have the motivation to get out of the house, much less fix my hair or paint my face. I managed to get out of bed today, but that's the extent of it.
I took the dogs to the vet last week while I still had money left. The vet was a real bitch - she labeled both my dogs as "aggressive". Not true.
I guess part of what I'm angry about is she diagnosed Spotsky as positive for heartworms. Megabyte is still negative, thankfully. A couple hundred dollars later, all I really came out of it with was bad news and a bottle of antibiotics for Meg's mouth.
I'm not sure of how I'm going to deal with Spotsky's diagnosis, I bought the heartworm medication to keep them from multiplying, but that doesn't kill the adult worms. My research suggests that the cure is about $400 and it involves injecting poison into the dog and keeping him sedate for a few weeks until his immune system dissolves the dead worms. This, I can neither afford, nor do I think it a good idea for a dog who has epileptic seizures. He had two seizures this morning - albeit not bad ones.
I'll just keep the heartworms from multiplying and hopefully it will buy some time until I can comfortably afford the treatment.
My girl Tayla had her baby last weekend. She was in labor for 17 hours, but she and the baby girl are doing just fine. I'm hoping to see her when I blaze through town next week.
It's raining and cold outside right now. I'm torn as to whether I want to go outside and get cold and wet and then take a hot shower, or simply lay down and take a nap... what do you think?
Yep, a nap.
MsAmber
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