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So my attempts at controlling my inner volcano has had mixed results.. Sometimes I can shrug, look the other way and go on with my life, ignoring the truly petty thing that really wasn't worth getting upset about in the first place, and othertimes.. 

• Asshat at teh Dairy Queen, there is an OBVIOUS line serving the two open windows, yer this guy just slithers up to one, ignoring those of us who are following the rules. He did not get his food before me or the other person he cut infront of, and it was fun when he stood there, and you could see the realization he cut as we scowled at him, and he writhed in embarrassment..

 

• Why do people misunderstand the concept of the turn signal.  It is to notify others of your intention to change lanes or turn right or left.  Other people use this information to decide what lane they should be in, to slow down, and other stuff. It is not common courtesy, it is the farking LAW to signal ONE HUNDRED FEET BEFORE not AT THE FARKING INTERSECTION!!!  When you fail to signal and drift into someones lane, YOU are in the wrong, and have NO RIGHT to flip off the person who honks at your clueless ass..

Shiat like that makes me want to slap a biatch!

Easier done than said:

I am always a little dumbfounded and embarrassed when I do something I should have done a long time ago and it really makes my life easier and was VERY little effort.  Case in point.  I have me one of them alarm clocks what shines a light on teh ceiling, and that light is in the shape of numbers and those numbers tell me what time it is.  Well for the longest time it was pointed in a spot that was right next to the wall.  I had to turn my head in a funny way or roll over to see the time.  It was aggravating.  I lived with it for many moons until one night I just grabbed the things, adjusted it slightly, focused it and then I could see the damn time whilst lying on my back!  WHY DIDN'T I DO THIS EARLIER I immediately thought.
Wiper blades in the car were leaving a streak when I used it, they needed to be replaced, but, daaammnn, it was work to buy the blades, then install..  After several treacherous rides where my vision was limited, I bought a set, and then installed em.. GOLLY GEE its nice to flick the switch and have CLEAN WINDERS!  Little later I was low on washer fluid, ran out..  SIgh, all that effort to purchase and fill the washer fluid (not really), but worth it..

Had some excitement..  First the power went out while I was napping..  Dont usually nap but did 3/12 and when I woke up about 5pm the fan was off, usually have it on when in the bedroom.  Then .noticed that the alarmclock was off too..  Came out and saw that EVERYTHING was off.  Didnt have the power companies #, so I tried googling it via text message on me phone but that didnt work, so I called my brother who lives a mile away and had him check (he had power)
Outage until 9pm they said.  But power came back within a hour, but the internet was out.  Called them and they said 9pm too..  Then noticed there were cop cars outside of the house, four of em, all with the lights off..  Had a couple of our neighbors in the back seats..  Then they blocked one side of the street, then the other, then 5 frigging firetrucks showed up.  Asked a cop and he said something suspicious was found and they were going to make sure it was safe..  Then the power went out again, but was back on within 20 minutes, and then the internet started working..
The cops were done about 1130, dont know what they found then, later found out that the dumbasses who lived there had a domestic (had a man-slap-fight, and when the popo responded they saw suspicious containers and needed to have it checked out..

Today’s Helpful Money-saving Hints: Ziplock bags and the Laser printer

 Ziplocks: love em.  Can get them at the dollar store for about 1 cent a bag.

 ·         I have a problem if I bring a large bag of snacks to work, I am a frigging pig.  I eat said snack in one sitting.  I use the baggies to make me own individual servings of snacks like cheese nibs, potato chips, or whatnot.  They stay fresh fer eva, and lower the cost from close to a buck a serving (from the demonic vending machines) to 25 cents..

·         I portion hamburger into the ziplocks, about 3/4ths of a pound in each bag.  Flattened and sealed it freezes fine.  I pop the bag into microwave for 2 minutes and its thawed, ready for whatev ya want, burgers, hotdish, chilli, ect.  The bonus is you are using less meat in your meals, so your dollars go further, and yer eating healthier.

·         All kinds of leftovers can go into the ziplock, soup, veggies, and the mind boggles.  While not perfect, when you portion the larger portions, it extends the storage of what you pack. 

* One note: I put some hotdish in a baggie, filled it a little full and froze it.  Had the dickens of a time reheating it..  Lesson learned, dont have it more than an inch thick.

Laser Printer: I wasted so much money on the inkjet.  Costs $25-50 for refill inks, so much waste..

·         Bought a black and while laser printer off of craigslist, best 45 bucks EVAR!  My kids (the teen) like to print crap like crazy..  I would grin and bear it when they would print page after page..  Acutely aware the high cost of ink!  When I want to use it, out of ink and off to the store!  When the 'cheap ink' kodak printer (90 bucks for the printer, 10 bucks a black cartridge) that failed on the 2nd cartridge I vowed never again!  6 months and I am still on the same toner cartridge, and I can buy em for like 20 off the intertubes

Work: I am an Information Technology worker, IT for short

·         Been working professionally in IT since 1995, thats 16 years.  I have always been one who liked and could figure out computers..

·         Funny thing is when I got out of the Navy in 1990 I did not think I had any job skills.  I was basically an Electronics Technician (my Navy training) but I had heard that you need technical training to get a job.  I pissed around with minimum wage jobs (parking lot attendant, one who marks the price on merchandise for a large department store, one who make the ticket that has the price)

·         My uncle Roy was a big fan of school, actually paid for me to go to school.  I went to a technical school for a certificate course in personal computers.  I am a little conflicted.  While I gained some knowledge from this school, I think I would be in the same place (or better) if I had not attended..  I got my first 'IT' job while in school, and this turned into that.  I did many different 'contract' jobs, 3 weeks to 18 months for about 5 years until I landed in my current job.

·         I am now a Systems Analyst for a newspaper.  I started as a hardware technician, fixing the PC's, Mac's and Printers.  Then I was software technician, loading the operating systems and software that ran on the PC's the newspaper used.  6 years ago I took a position where I support ad’s (getting em to us, building em, printing em)  I work with vendors whose systems we use.  I work with users in different departments.  Answer the helpdesk phone when I can..  Kinda of a systems valet.. 

·   Recently my employer informed me that I would be working 2nd shift at the start of the new year, from 2-11pm.  Now I am a single parent half of the time, and this is unacceptable.  I did manage to negotiate working every other week 2nd shift, but only as a trial, to see if it works..  

Like this and like this and like that..

(Big) Banks Suck

• Closed by (big) bank account.  They did not make it easy.  Been with TCF(SUCKS) for 17 years.  They embezzled more than their share of fees from me over those many years.  The latest, was have to pay $10 a month unless you have $2500 in the bank, or do 15 debit transactions (why they want you to do something that costs them money IDK) to get the fee waived.
• First, I purposely waited until I was calm so there would not be too much of a scene.  Didnt make a diff.  The bank is open 7 days a week, so I showed up a little after 10 (when their website and posted hours said it opened) on Sunday.  No one was there, drive-thru closed, doors locked.  Waited 10 minutes, then called into online banking, had to fight a phonetree to get a live person who verified the bank should be open.  As I was on the phone someone went in, so the online person called the bank and told me someone called in sick, the bank would be open in 10 minutes, to call back if it wasnt if I wanted to file a complaint.  I told her that I did want to file a complaint, so I did.
• Went inside, told the teller I wanted to close my accounts and they told me to take a seat.  Waiting 10 more minutes I was told to come to a window, gave my ids and waited.  The manager told me I could not close one account as it had pending charges (I had withdrawn $100 two days before) and I would have to wait until Tuesday for the charges to clear.  I asked how in heck could withdrawing cash bounce, it was absurd that were refusing to close my account.
• Came back, was able to close with minimum fuss, but the teller gave me a form for each account and demanded I sign without reading.  I ignored the biatch and read it while she twice more told me to sign, that the rest was just for their own use.  So I got them closed, except then the teller refused to give me proof my account was closed (said my transaction slip was proof) I argued a little with her until demanding to see a manager.  The little twit went over, loud enough for me and other to hear expressed how silly it was for me to want proof.  The manager told her to give me the top portions of the slips I signed, stamped 'ACCOUNT CLOSED'

All in all it took two trips, over an hour (and not using my bank for a couple weeks, stopping recurring autopays, traveling to and from that hive of skum and villiany ) to be free from those basteeds!  Remember that November 5th is leave your big bank day and free yourself from these asshats!

The NE Brew Fest at the old Grain Belt bottling building!  

October 15th, my brother and I went to.. 

Adult Disneyland! =) 

Dont know if you remember this from the 70's but I sure do.
10 cents a bottle of delicious soder pop!
Now its yuppiefied, costs about a buck a bottle,
but still tasted the same..

All you care to drink beers and fake stick on tattoos!

Random Shiat

Little about me..

•  My father was the youngest of six children (all boys) but raised as an only child since his next oldest sibling was 17 when he was born.  Mom was the elder sister of a family with one other girl.  I on the other hand are the eldest of six (boy, girl, girl, girl, boy and girl) and we were all born about 2 years apart.
• I have lived in Minneapolis Minnesota most of my life (NE Mpls, South Mpls, Uptown).  Couple months or so in Washington State, Spent 6 years in the Navy (Navy bootcamp in Illinois, 1 year in Millington TN for training, and 5 in San Diego CA)
• Whilst in the Navy spent over 2 solid years at sea on the USS Enterprise CVN-65.  Visited many countries, including: Hong Kong, Karachi Pakistan, Mombasa Africa, Naples Italy, Perth Australia, Rio de Janeiro Brazil, Singapore, Subic Bay in the Philippines, Tijuana Mexico and Toulon France.  Was an Aviation Anti-Submarine Warfare Technician (supported electronics on helicopters that would detect submarines.) similar to electronics technician.
• Have had many jobs, worked in fast food (Burger King, McDonald's, Pizza, Donut shop) Parking ramp attendant, Retail drone, Assemble and Computer tech.
  

Cookin NE Style

Eggroll

 

I tried something new today.  I loves me some Cabbage Soup (with chiorizo for flavor) and went to the store for supplies.  Seen some eggroll wrapper and decided to make up some of those as well.  Was planning using chicken for the eggrolls but then thought wth, and got two packs of the tasty mexican sausage.

Cabbage So

You have a couple choices when it comes to cooking the eggrolls, baking or frying.  I also like to precook the fillings so that the cooking is quicker.  I decided to fry today








The first couple times I made up the soup I used a whole cabbage, and cut it by hand.  That got old quick.  So when I make up a batch now, I buy a back of the coleslaw, with carrots and boil for an hour or so.  Adding the cooked and crumbled chiorizo with its grease adds fantastic flavor.  I also drop if a few more things, green onions, shredded carrots,whatever is lying around the kitchen

Cleaning up

Getting his and hers haircuts at Fantastic Sams

Greg before

Greg after

One of us, we wont use her initials, decided that we needed haircuts..  So before I knew it, I was at the hair clippery.

Sandi before

 

 

Sandi after

 

We do clean up nice, dontcha think? ;)

Mister Krabs? Its dinnertime.

My grandson JJ was over this past weekend.  He is almost the same age as younger daughter Grace (9 month younger) and they fight constantly, but thats not the point of this story.  We recently expanded out hermit crab collection to include 4 crabs, they live happily in a 45 gallon aquarium.  Mister Krabs is the largest crab, then theres Herman, and Hermania and another whose name keeps on changing.  JJ wanted to see a crab and and Mr K was there.  I picked him up and offered to let JJ hold him, but JJ was scared. 

My older daughter Megan said she would hold him and extended her hand in human-crab friendship.

 

The kids looked at the wonder in Megan's hand and suddenly Megan started saying 'Ow ow owwww' like she was in pain or something..  JJ looked a little scared but then we all started laughing at Megan's joke that Mister Krabs was hurting her.  When Megan kept it up I took a close look and there was a bit of her hand turning white from the pinch of the claw..  Just as I was going to free her from the monsters grasp he let go..  As Meester Krabs went back into his cage Megan said she would like Crab for dinner..

Megan sees 'some' humor in this tale, but not a lot..

Valentines Day past:

When I was in 4th or 5th grade my elementary school did allowed the childrens to pass out VD cards to their friends.  It wasn't like today where it was required that everyone got a card, oh no.  Schools thought nothing of having policies that taught ya how the world was really like.  A sad little boy who got "Charlie Brown'd"  was not something that caused any adult to lose sleep over..  So, in a desperate bid to avoid being 'the one' who did not get any VD cards, I went out and got an extra box and addressed em all to myself..  It was a brilliant plan see..  I would not be cardless, better still, I would have MORE than anyone else..  The school had a big box for everyone to put their cards into and I somehow managed to slip my 'illegal' cards into it without being spotted..  Life was good..  Muahahaha..  The best laid plans eh?

There was also a girl I liked, 'crushed on' I think the kids these days say.  Looking back I think she liked me too, but to a dopey kid in the 70's it was a unrequited love..

When it came time to pass out the cards the teacher picked my sweetie as one if the students to distribute the valentine cards..  The kids grabbed a handful and would walk over to the desk of the student who's name was on the card and hand them the card.  She passed out several and then all hell broke lose!  She handed me one of my fake cards, then another, then another..  'Curses!' I thought, 'I did not mix them in!'  Sweat broke out as she handed me more and more of the obviously fake cards.  I looked at my handwriting on the cards and just KNEW she knew it was me who tried this scam..  I think she said something like 'someone likes you' with a very cute smirk.  I died a thousand deaths that day..

That and this..

My eldest thinks I do not support her, when the frustration is with her mother not informing me of her activities..  The bee (mama) need an ass kickin..
My finances feel like they are in the toilet (heart speaking) but I know (head speaking) that I am on dry land.. Not the mountaintop, but not quicksand..  I am a disaster or jobloss away from problems, but hopefully will be able to get on solid ground soon..

Other than the above, things are goodish..  We got a new crop of pets..  Had a hermit crab for months now.  Herman, Gee's hermit crab, had been hanging on for months..  And we had a fish kill in the big aquarium (petsmart told us to use algae clean to remove the green from the water, kilt most of the fish, which we moved to the 10 gallon tank, leaving the big tank free for crabs) so Gee and I got two friends for Herman, Mr Crabs and xxx.  Emm needed to have a pet too, got a _tiny_ Pearl, crab which promptly died, Phenny replaced her, her?  So now we have 4 hermit crabs livin la vida loco..


Had some contractors out to look at putting addition onto the house.. Have some options..  One option is to almost double the living space in the house..  Add two bedrooms (and 600 sq feets) for 50K..  Another is to add 1 br for 20K.  Will have to wait until summer to see where I stand, to see what I can do..  KnowwhatImean?

My kids are growing so fast,,,  twas truly yesterday when they were infants,,  Not they are young ladies..  13 and 9..

My girls are really my world.  I think that if you distill the purpose for living, it comes down to making sure that your children are cared for.  Work, house, finances, all window dressing.  The end result is that they are cared for.



Well, think I need to sign out now..  Peace out.

AngerManagement

  So while it is not one of my 'new years resolutions' this year, I thought that I would like to work on my 'anger issues'  I dont think I am out of control, just that I expend so much energy at the idiots in the world, that it seems like they are winning when I get all upset that their shiat..

  So while I will not always 'win' I pledge this year to stop, take a moment and breathe, count to ten, and reflect if that a-hole is worth the energy I am about to spend.

  And I have actually won some of the battles this year.  There was a couple guys at the grocery store who was parked 

RIGHT.  WHERE.  I.  WANTED.  TO.  SHOP!!

I walked away, looked for something else on my list, came back later..  That worked.  I did not blow my top.  As London Tipton says 'Yea Me!'

Some in the losses column are:

• The guy at the liquor store who had his purchases rang up and left his farking SHOPPING CART right in my way!  The basteed knew what he was doing.  Something about the way he was moving, edging away from the cart.  Luckily an employee grabbed the cart and took it away.

• People who pull into the right turn lane at a light, then speed through the intersection to continue forward without turning..  These a-holes usually have a left turn within a block just to twist the nipple a little bit more..

• The neighbors across the street who park infront of my house..  Making me park around the corner sometimes..  Public street and all, they can legally park there, but ya think they would leave one space for a brother..

I think its part of me, this angry goblin that stews and vents..  And I think part of it is that I do not want to become someone who gets pushed around by the asshats in the world. 

I read on some blog today that there are benefits to meditating just 3 minutes a day, actual physical changes in the brain.  Thats not too hard, give a couple minutes each day to just chilling and letting yer mind wander?

Cleaning and Planning

Have a couple, ten or so projects I would like to finish, no energy to work on em, so I decided to attack one and see where it goes.  Have spent an hour here, two hours there, slowly working on clearing/cleaning areas so we can have more livable space.  The Basement and Garage are two main projects.  The basement is filled mostly my crap, the garage has a mixture of my stuff, my gf's stuff, and crap that the ex is storing.. 

My daughter Megan would like her own room, and has expressed interest in a basement hideaway.  The immediate goal is to make a downstairs 'living room' where she can hang out and then if I can convince the city for the zoning variance, will put in an egress window so she have use it as a bedroom.  But I think the living room space will be nice for a while

Had session three in the basement tonight, going through, sorting and itemizing the 'stuff' in my life.  Its fun trips down memory lane, sorta like shopping when I find a cool forgotten toy, and kinda tiring when I look at when is left to work on.  Aint all bad, especially when you can look at the progress and see more and more of a clear space!

Also called four contractors to get quotes to get a curbcut for a driveway for my garage (off street parking would be nice) and the look into how much an addition to my place would be.  I am not in the most stable job (lots of cutbacks, employee reductions) but I think that as an IT Professional (stop the giggling) I am employable..  So testing the waters and checking out how much it would be to add on to my little 946sq foot, 2 br house.  The addition options as I see it are:

• I can add a 2nd level 20x11 space in the back (2 rooms with 1br, or 1 bigass room), 
• or a twolevel 12x24 addition on the side (2 bigass rooms for 4brs)

The 1st would cost 22-35K, and still waiting for the quotes for the side addition (guessing 40k).  Of course there are plenty of  things that cam make it more or less, can do some of the work myself (sweat equity)

Some of the house fund will come from the just I am inventorying and plan to sell on craigslist.  Figure get a downpayment, use some tax returns, then see where we are at man..  This plot is really seeming possible!  =)