Tagged

I have been tagged with telling 8 random things about me. Prepared to be bored.

1. I hate beer but drink it around the guys to fit in.

2. I had really bad second thoughts on our second adoption but thank the Lord above that Brando convinced me because I wouldn't trade Yin or Yuri for the world.

3. I loved my wife in the 6th grade, as much as a 6th grader could love someone other than family, and constantly held a flame in my heart throughout all the years we spent apart until we got together after high school. She is the love of my life and always will be.

4. I constantly wonder what other people think about me and I hate being that way.

5. My dad is my hero and role model.

6. I only have nightmares about tornadoes but love to watch them on video.

7. My favorite movie is Aliens.

9. I cant remember numbers and suck at math.

Thanks Hope for tagging me. Pilot, tag your it.

Near the home stretch when....

This weekend I finally got the electrical line buried/hidden and had to crawl under the house to connect the wires. I got the wires connected and had Brando test them before I crawled out from under the house and all worked fine. I then proceeded to transfer the components to the pond from the temporary outdoor extension cord to the new service. After all was transferred but one I was thinking that I am on the back stretch and on my way to the finish line. I plugged in the pump that runs the filter and nothing happened. I pulled the pump out of the water and plugged it in again to feel a hum and a slight noise but alas, it would not pump water. My friends have also bought this exact same pump and both of there pumps have locked up. It seems that this pump is of the same fate. I contacted the company in which I purchased the pump and they informed me that they would send me a pump in kind for free. Them pump that locked up cost me about $45 and the one they were sending me was $148. I didn't ask questions I just confirmed my address and thanked the costumer service rep and hung up. After talking with my friends they told me that they had to pay the difference between what they payed for the defective pump and the better pump and I might call and check that a pump is coming to my house to make sure. I called back and they had NO RECORD of my earlier call what so ever. Needless to say I was a bit bent out of shape. I told the CS lady what the earlier CS said and why cant they find a record of my call. She was clueless and informed me that she would talk with her managers and give me a call back. Just a few minutes later, she called back with a deal on a pump that was more than I wanted to spend so I suggested a different pump that was in my price range that they could cut me a deal on because of the run around. She agreed and we were all satisfied in the end. I need to make it a habit to get the name of the CS rep that I talk to from now on. Oh yeah...I have another one of these defective pumps running the waterfall and will probably have to go through this again to get this pump replaced. Fun fun

Pond update

I know everyone is getting tired of hearing about the pond but I wanted to update everyone. The pond had nice clear water for about the first two weeks. During the first few months of a new pond, the water is seeking a balance. You need the right combination of critters and plants to get to this balance. Well the plants took over and when I mean plants, I mean algae. The water went from clear to murky to incredible hulk green in a matter of a couple of days. We have place plants in the pond but they are still pretty small and starting to grow. Looked over at Brando and said that if we want to see the fish, we are going to need a filter. She gave me the go ahead to get it. Me loves me Brando. I have spent my budgeted money on the pond and still don't have any fish in it other than the two that I put in there from the aquarium. But being the wonder wife she knew that I would not have said it if we didn't need it. I am hoping that when the plants get big we will not have to run it as much. Any hoo, the first few days we didn't see much of a change. I checked on it closely everyday I got home. Then about day five I started to notice the waterfall looking a bit clearer but still not crystal clear. Then on day seven, when I got home Pilot was standing on the patio and said, "Looks like you water has cleared up." I walked up and to my amazement the water was really clear and you can start to make out rocks at the bottom of the pond. I was floored. I would have never thought that it would have been such a night and day change this fast. This morning when I got up and checked on it, the water was even clearer. I am really happy about the filter and the plants are really going nuts with a growing spurt. Last night I also saw one of the fish I put in there a week ago and he looked like he was quite at home. Hope to get some more fish soon. I hope to post some more pics soon also.

Dog Tired

Today we worked in the yard. Brando had the rock spread on the pond when I got home. We played on the tire swing and danced in the bubble machine that Pilot and Needles got the kids for their B-day and A-day. Then I hooked up the wagon on the lawn mower and loaded up the family and went to visit Kunkle Pilot and Aunt Needles. After getting home I started to mix up some weed killer and Brando and the kids came out and said, "We NEED ICECREAM!" I figured that since they had a gun to my head, might as well. After we got home we sat outside and enjoyed the sound of the waterfall. Tomorrow I think we will pressure wash the green stuff off the North side of the house. Fun Fun Fun.

Holy Cow, Where has the time gone?

This weekend we celebrated Yin's 3rd Birthday and Yuri's 7 th Annual Adoption Day. We invited family and friends to join in the celebration at the local skating rink. We skated, and by we I mean everyone else, and we hokey pokeied until we knew what it was all about. Then we retreated into the game room where everyone watched Yin open her birthday gifts. Yuri made out like a bandit also with a few adoption day gifts in the pile. We then had cake and drinks until we were about to bust. After all that food we managed to get back out on the floor for some Limbo and the Elimination game. The party wrapped up at around 3:30 as we loaded up all the goodies and left over cake and headed home. I think, all in all, everyone seemed like they had a good time. I know I did.

Later that evening we visited with the folks and they stopped by the house to visit and see the pond. Pilot ran home to get the tripod to take the great photos that you see below in the previous post. I wish I knew how to use my crappy camera. It was a very full and fun weekend.

Take a Look

Take a look at what a person with the right tool and a knowledge of how to use it can do. Pilot is great with the camera. Nuff said....

On Rudy Pond

Here are some day light pictures as I promised. We havent got all the landscaping done but we are looking for a Himlock tree and have not found one yet that is the type we like and also most places that have them are closed about time I get off work. Hope you enjoy.

Mr. Sandman....Where the hell are you?

As you can tell by my previous posts, I have an issue with sleeping when I have a project to complete. That is why with most projects, I like to get them done ASAP and with only one really hard day of work. So that I can just relax and sleep when it completed. However, with bigger projects which span multiple days, I find myself among the living dead. Normal my brain is in high gear from bed time till about 2 am then I finally dooze off to sleep until I have to awake at 5 am. It aint much but at least its a few hours. Here lately I have not slept at all. I have been awake from Saturday morning until Monday evening and my but is really draggin. I got home this evening and took about a 2 hour nap. I will probably not sleep tonight. I feel like crap. I am gonna try to get an appointment with the doctor and get put on Lunesta or Ambien so I can cook or drive while I am asleep. Multitasking is a good thing, Right???? Wish me luck while I try to coax the sandman to make a stop at our house tonight.

Progress

All weekend we have been working outside and our arms, backs and neck prove it. If it aint burnt it is aching. First thing on the agenda was installing the floor kit for the kiddos playset from hell. It worked out pretty well and was done with no big todo. Then we started working on the Super Secret Pond. I was told to keep progress reports and pictures along the way so as a good blogger I did. Here is the progression shots. It is truely amazing if I do say so myself how much our crew got done in a short amount of time. We still have some plants to get and set and a little more mulch to spread and a few boulders to place but basically it is done. Here ya go.

April 16th Progress shot

first layer of rock

April 17th Progress shot

second and third layer of rock

April 21st Progress shots

waterfall and circulator done and working

April 22nd Progress shot at night

Tomorrow I will try and get some day pictures.

Ketchup

Today I wanted to ketchup on some projects. The super secret eyes only fish pond is going swimmingly. With tons of effort from Pilot it is going to look really nice. I cant wait to enjoy the fruits of our labor. I have been taking pictures as we go to show you how it is going but the pics are at home and I am at work. I will try and post some in the comming days. We have the pond mostly filled and three layers of rock around the pond. Brando picked out a beautiful rock yesterday for the point and we got it placed just before sundown. I have alot of work to do on the waterfall but it should start falling into place in the next few days. I am just trying to hide all the wires and hoses and try to think ahead so I would have to redo things several times if the first attempt dont work so well. Wish me luck and pass the Tylenol.

Brandos a Genius

Our Easter weekend was highly enjoyable. We spent time with family and friends and the kiddos spent time with there Paw Paw and Nee Nee. After the festivities we ventured home to spend Monday getting the house in order and getting some projects done. I still needed to marry the tube slide from hell to the playset from hell where Brando wanted it. She purchesed a cedar 2X4 for me to use as a support for the slide on the side of the playset. It was a difficult ceremony but we managed to get the unlikely two together and the kids enjoyed the reception.

Here is what it looks like.

Here is a shot from the inside complete with kitchen set and lightsaber.

The next project was super secret so I cant tell you about it but it is an expansion of the old goldfish pond by the patio. Ooops I told you. Anyhow it is back breaking, muscle straining work. We dug the pond for 2 days with only working on it about 6 hours total. I was really impressed on how far we got in such a short amount of time and I could not have done it without the help from my Father-in Law, G and my wonder Bro, Pilot. They were both big help in getting this project off the ground. With the pond dug and the liner installed, I placed the garden hose in the pond and started filling it just as the rain started to fall at 8 oclock Tuesday night. I was happy to get this liner in before the bad weather but we had to work like dogs to do it. Thanks for all the hard work.

Here is what the pond looks like now. It is kind of hard to see but you can tell how much bigger it is going to be compared to the old pond.

Yes we had a wonderful weekend. I would like to thank Ragged and Cynical for having us over and inviting us to the local Japanese Steak House for lunch. From the sound of it, with the amount of the good food that lunch offered, we would not have survived supper. Maybe next time we will make an attempt.

Where To Stick It?

(Brando's Plan probably before I am through)

(My idea when the project started)

Here let me give you some suggestions. Yesterday while I was a work, Brando called a let me know that the turbo tube slide we have been eyeing for a while was in stock at the E,ville Home Depot. She called down to have them hold one for us to find out when she got there that they were sold out. After she just about came uncorked on them they said that they set one asside for us and they would get it loaded in my truck. She arrives home at around 5 oclock and I start assembling the slide. Every once in a while I glance over at the perfect spot to where this slide will attach to the playset from hell with minimal retro fitting of the exsisting playset. We would have to move one support board and remove the fence perlings of the tower and cut and move the bottom skirt board. Attach the slide and all would be done with chillin sliding to my hearts content. We would however loose the trapeze bar and move the swings together. Also you would not be able to have two kids swing and slide at the same time for safety. After we got the slide assembled, Brando throws a big ole monkey wrench in the works as usual. She wants the slide to come off the back of the house instead of the tower. I was fuming. I made the statement that if the slide dont go on the tower then I will take it back to the store. Now with having the slide coming of off the back I will need to make alot more changes than just 4 or 5 boards. Now I will have to cut and move a fence to get rid of a door way, remove , cut and reinstall the boards below the window, install a new 2X4 frame for the slide to attach to the opening and hopefully not have to cut the decorative board at the top of the window to allow a bigger opening to the slide. I must admit that it will be more functional there but to do all this work, I hope it looks ok when I am done. Also I think it would be easier just to tell the kids that if someone is swinging that you cannot use the slide. What a pain in the butt.

Weekend stuff

The weekend I will be out of town and Brando will have to fend off the kids on her own. I hope the weekend is nice for the kids to play but again I am hoping it is rainy so while I am away I wont feel like I am missing out on much needed work around the house. It has been a little cooler around here but still pretty nice. Last weekend was brutally warm compaired to the previous.

This weekend I will be heading up to Danville to get further degrees for Scottish Rite Masonry. They are basically plays that explain the history of Scottish Rite Masonry. The ones we saw a couple of weekends ago were really neat. The area guys that put this on were amazing actors. They had props and costumes for them all including the white wigs and wardrobe. It was really good. I cant wait to see more up North were they have professional lighting, sound and a theatrical stage. We saw Degree 4th and 20th at L'ville and we should be seeing 9th, 14th, 16th, 18th, 29th, 31st and 32nd degrees in Danville. They will be serving biscuits and gravy for breakfast and taking a class photo which will hang in there hall. They have class photos in there hall dating back to when they first invented the camera.

Burn Baby Burn

Today I woke up and realized how burnt I am. My arms are on fire. So red they are almost purple. I carefully got dressed and went to work. I did pretty good staying out of the sun today until about 30 minute before going home. They informed me that I needed to stay over to help fix a problem. I carefully put my nomex coveralls on that ride on your shoulders, grinding the fabric into your skin. I never noticed how uncomfortable they were until today. I was one crispy critter. We got the problem fix rather quickly and I headed home. Brando asked if I wanted to meet them at Mickey Dees and have a sandwich. I had to get a happy meal because of the new TMNT toys, but its all good. We came home and watched the kids play on the playset from hell and play with sidewalk chaulk. When it got too dark we retreated inside and I started watch Trek Trek. Well thats about it for now.

Feel the Burn

As you can tell from Pilots post, we spent the weekend assembling the kids playhouse. It was a pretty interesting weekend. Last Sunday, Pilot and I spent 3 hours getting the frame started. We spent as much time looking and sorting boards as we did building. Here is where we were last Sunday.

Yesterday, we spent about 9 hours on the playset. We got alot done because we had alot of help. Our neighbors jumped in and really helped a bunch as well as Pilot. We all got all sorts of fresh air and sun. My arms and neck are neon. We got alot of the main structure done but still needed to get the roof on. It really started to get together. Here is where we were after 9 hours on day two.




Today we completed the playset with the help of the neighbors. We spent about 6 hours on the Playset from Hell. Pilot set this one out and I dont blame him. I was burnt starting out and got worse today. I guess I am a glutton for punishment, but I wanted to get it done before the rain tomorrow. After we got it together we went to Lowes to get some extras for the playset. Yin and Yuri picked up a steering wheel and a telescope. I am going to work on a bucket a pulley to haul stuff up to the upper deck and in a year or two will work on a zip line to get off the back deck toward the field. Here is the playset completely done. All we have to do is seal it with water sealer but we need a good dry couple of days to get that done. I hope everyone everyone had a relaxing weekend outside.

Last but not least, I wanted to thank everyone for there help in the Playset From Hell. With out the help of friends and family this project would still be on step 10. All in all we spent about 18 hours getting this thing together.

THANKS!!!

Let me tell ya little story bout a man named Rudy

Lass nite was pert near interesting. The new Television, or TV for us edgecated folks, was delivered yesterdee and after we got it all hooked up and what not, we settled our selves down infront of it and enjoyed the Hillbilly shows. It went one way and den da utter. We didnt know what was gonna happen next makin all kinds of strange sounds. At first we thought that the gray blob and the other gray blob was haven one of them there A-fairs but then the brown blob got in the middle and there was one hootenanny of a fight. They did the cowboy roll one way and den da utter. Til a blue blob broke it all up. A little white thingy looked like it was gonna be left out on the side lines fur a bit but it didnt set thar long. It was a virtual Payton Place in the little round box. The edisode got xciting when all da sudden the house begun to spin and all the things got stuck to the walls and then it sounded like one of them thar jet planes taken off. I yelled at Brando, "Grabs ups the chillins and head fur the hills!" and we tore off sump'n fierce. After the coast was clear, I dont know what that means since we dont live by no water, we came creepin back in the back room and all was still and quite. I grabbed up my gun and poked at the little metal box. The only sound it made after that was a loud buzzz. I am not sure why it shut off. Maybe the program was over. I can wait fur next weeks episode. I hope the writters can keep up this pace.

You Know What Idle Hands Are!

Well, I am feeling better today. I have only had to run to the bathroom a couple of times and only for #2 and not an upchuck episode. Brando has been lining up things for me to do when the weather gets better. You know how crap rolls so needless to say my big projects will need a little assistance. So I will be asking for my brother Pilots help. Here is a list of projects he will be helping me on in the near future. Some he knows about and some he dont.

1. Finish the Play set
2. Install the hide a stairs
3. Dig a much bigger goldfish pond
4. Install a stacking kit on the washer and dryer
5. Clean out the garage
6. Alphabetize my tools in my toolbox

I was just joshin about the last one. He has been a really big help with every project and if I call, he is out here in a flash. I couldn't have asked God for any better of a brother and I am not sure what I will do about him. And if you think I am saying this to butter him up for another project then you are only half right. He he he I really think I have been blessed with the best brother in the world and I KNOW that my kids have been blessed with the best KUNCKEL in the world.

THANKS A MILLION PILOT

Blogger SUCKS

Last night I finally was able to type out a blog that I thought was half way coherent. Which obviously took me a long time to do. After reading it and proof reading it to make sure I was getting my idea across, I reluctantly pushed the publish button on the bottom of the screen. Waiting.......waiting.....waiting..... Your blog was published successfully came on the screen. I then click view blog. Of course it only shows the blog I posted last Sunday. So I hit Cntl F5 for the cache to update on my computer and force the refresh on the page..... The only thing that showed up from my post was the Title. I click back, back, back and recover post only to discover to my horror that my well thought out post is gone forever. I wanted to throw a temper tantrum and be a big baby, but instead I decided to throw an even bigger temper tantrum and scream at the top of my lungs, throw the laptop across the room and stomp up and down on it. (Just kidding) I just set there fuming in disbelief, deleted my post of the Title only and shut off the computer and went to bed. Like I said BLOGGER SUCKS.

And whats with this crap of BLOGGER not remembering your log in name and password even after you click the remember me box. SUCKS SUCKS SUCKS!!!!!!!

Brando is Back

Brando got home today safe and sound. I survived the experience none the worse for wear. We invited Cunckel Pilot over for back-up in case I needed help. We all went outside and blew bubbles all over the yard and we charged up the Jeep and the kids drove it all over. After running around outside all morning we drove to O town and ate at Burger King. After our fill of Whoppers, the kids played in the play area for about 10 minutes and then drove to Wal-Mart. We made a pass through and picked up a few things including the strawberries that we use to bribe Yin to take her medicine. We got home and played outside a bit until the battery ran down in the Jeep and then it was time for Yin's nap. Cunckel and I went inside to watch Apacalypto. It was pretty good but Yin woke up about 10 minutes till the end and I had to turn it off. Shortly after that, Cunckel said that he was going to head to his house. Thanks Cunckel for all the help. This morning we woke up and went outside to blow bubbles again. And we tried to teach Yin to drive the Jeep with the aid of brave Yuri. She did pretty good but needs a little drivers ed training. Mom came home bearing gifts. We were all happy to see mom. Hope everyone had a good weekend.

Bach'in it

(Here is a picture of a swingset that is close to the one we got for the kids. I think the book says assembly time is 10 minutes...shouldn't take more than 5)

This weekend my lovely wife is going for a much much needed vacation from our house. She stays at home all the time and raises our wonderful children. I have several things that have pulled me away from the family lately and it is a nice change but I miss everyone terrible. You dont really know how much you will miss your family until you are away. I hope my wonderful wife will be able to put this aside and actually have fun this weekend. Brando has been working like a dog to get all the laundry caught up so she will only have to come home to a Rushmore size mountain of dirty laundry instead of an Everest. So with that, I will be home with the kids for a change. I am not sure what all we are going to do but, I know it will be interesting. I hope the weather cooperates so we can all spend a little time outside. Rain, rain go away... I hope that soon I will be able to start on Yin and Yuri's swing set. We purchased it a couple of weeks ago and there is some assembly required...as in nothing is assembled. I hope to get all the wooden structure up and seal it before putting on the plastic components.