how to make weese happy

The technician who came to diagnose our heating problems this week has been to our house several times over the years for parts replacements and general service. He is familiar with our system and our old house. He often notices changes we've made and will compliments us on our choices. He seems wise and considerate in his care.

After he had a good look at the problem and fiddled with some parts and made some adjustments, he stood and looked thoughtfully at our 30 year old system.

He placed his hand tenderly on the boiler and told me it might just be time to replace the whole thing now.
I gulped.
He gently showed me all the different issues we were dealing with and how if we were to fix many of these we would most likely have to do all that work again when the unit finally stopped working. And that day was inevitable.

He turned and panned the room and said - "You know, really - its not that hard of a job, maybe 4 or 5 hours. The biggest concern of mine would be ...your basement floor is so clean."

patiently waiting

I just saw the street cleaners on the side road across the street.
That means they will come to my street soon.
I get very excited about the street cleaners.
Think about it... its like the biggest industrial vacuum ever.

Of course I ran right out there to sweep out the end of my driveway.
I mean hey... none of that sand and gravel out there is mine. The way I figure it is I bought those street cleaners with tax money.
It's the least they could do for me.

Off Spring

Do you have children?

They just melt your hearts ...don't they.

Like when they are toddlers and all damp and clean right from the tub and cuddly.
Or when they are concentrating as hard as they can to do something their very best, and they get that determined look on their little faces.
How about when they come flying at you from across the playground and leap into your arms.

And then there is that phone call from the dorm laundry room
"I just bought some new Tshirts, how do I get them all soft and silky and smelling good like when you wash them?"

See... it never ends.

It's in the driveway

I originally planned to make you all read my long and drawn out requirements process and it's eventual conclusion before revealing my final selection.

But I am feeling generous today.


I went with the Civic.

This car handily met my requirements by having the highest MPG (save the hybrid genre... but we'll get to that later), being affordable, easily holding the best resale value, with winning reliability.
As a bonus I also have an Ipod connection in my center console and a handy cup holder.
I did forgo the heated seats and remote start. This was in the best interest of meeting my second most important requirement, affordability.
I am ok with this because I know my svelte wife's seat will be toasty, as she is going to start driving the Cabrio. Heated seats are oh so important when taking the top down a little too early in the season.



Several of you suggested Hybrids.
Thank you.
But no.
The increased cost of a hybrid amortized out over several years still well exceeds any savings seen by using less gas.
Not to mention - you may have missed the subtleties of my first point which implied much highway driving. This means that a hybrid would be running mostly on gas anyway. The other problem I have with them is all those batteries overflowing landfills in 5 years. So as far as an environmentally sound mode of transportation - I am going to hold out until they think of something better.

I also notice that many models suggested well exceeded the price of the Civic. I could have gotten the Nav/Bluetooth system as well as leather for less than some of the cars suggested.

Plus... its cute. At least on my cuteness scale. Which of course the only scale I go by.

My ride into work this morning was sublime.

happy fish

I like fish... like fish in a tank... like fish which are pets.

I like sushi as well - tho I suppose this is somewhat of a conflict of interest... in context of this post.

For the purposes of this entry lets assume that each time I mention 'fish' I am thinking of them in their pre-sushi state.


And so... I like fish.

We have a tank here at the office, and each day I spend some time with them.

I pull a chair up close to the tank and simply watch. They don't seem to mind.

They make me peaceful.
They bring me joy.

Friday

tip-o-day

Are you feeling ill effects from the winter? Do you feel listless, tired, do you poop out at parties? Are you unpoopular? (oops …a Lucy moment).

Maybe you have an unexplained lack of energy or are you getting a little short fused?

You will be surprised how much it helps with winter blues to get your house clean and orderly.

Your home is an integral part of your energy. Your home has energy flowing through it all the time. Feng Shui is the environmental science of this energy – and there are boat loads of info on this.
But on a smaller scale – and without doing a lot of research…
Energy in your home can be good or bad which can help or hinder you in your daily life. A cramped, cluttered home that’s dusty and disorganized will greatly affect the way you feel.

I am more pragmatic than most, and proudly consider myself shallow – but even I can feel the difference in our home when it’s cleaned and set right. I am more at ease, and I feel happier. Sometimes that’s enhanced by the several lite beers I partake after getting everything in order… but I digress.

So if you’re longing for the days of summer and feeling like you need more space and sunlight, take some time this weekend to do a good cleaning. Think of it as a way to pamper and care for yourself. Some folks may go to a spa, which while pleasant is short lived. Caring for yourself by caring for your home environment will have lasting effects.

If your home is particularly disorganized – start small. Take one room, perhaps your bedroom – which should be your sanctuary. Dust and vacuum everything including your window treatments and walls (which can be quickly dusted with one of those swiffer thingys). Wash your linens, hang out spreads and comforters and toss your pillows in the dryer at high heat for freshening.

If you are storing things under your bed, remove them. Keeping clutter hiding under your bed is not good for sleeping energy. Keeping it clear is good for air flow, which keeps your room fresher and also allows easy access for vacuuming and/or mopping.

Attics and basements are other great places to organize and purge unneeded stuff. You may think there is no harm in keeping piles clutter and useless stuff behind closed doors.
But – try this. Clean and organize your basement, throwing out anything you don’t use and making sure the stuff you do use is accessible and arranged by purpose.
Then sit in your living room and see how it makes you feel. You will feel a better flow of energy even in other rooms. Perhaps you won’t perceive it as energy. You may simply feel, at first, satisfied with a job well done.
But I promise it will feel good.
And… a couple of beers won’t hurt either.
Something about a good day of clutter clearing that just makes the cold ones flow better.