"Rest" is so over-rated. Or so I'm told.

I'm afraid that light at the end of the tunnel is another train coming straight at me.  I've been working with bro to handle the structural aspects of a home we're building (actually 'adding on to') for a past client.  

I've already passed plumbing, electrical, mechanical, duct leakage, and framing inspections, and only lack energy, which I should have this week. Time to coast?  Au contraire.

Bro is leaving for vacation in a week, so I will once again have to assume control of the empire.  And between now and then I have several funerals to attend.  My 96-year-old aunt passed away last Friday and the family visitation is today, with the funeral tomorrow.  

And my 96-year old step-mom (my dad re-married in 1999, after my mom passed in 1994) is expected to pass any time now.  I must go pay my respects.

Ironically, we've been asked to build a number of Assisted Living Facilities.  (Note to self: DON'T call them "old folks homes"....very un-PC)  My first reaction was "I'd rather not", but as my aunt, mom, and step-mom lived their last days there, maybe it would be a nice thing to do.  Plus they're paying me, so....

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Despite still not feeling 100% after my brush with death last week (food poisoning) I made it to grandson Parker's 5th birthday party on Saturday.  I wish I could buy a few bottles of whatever vitamins these kids take:

Parker is in the blue shirt (top center), the girl wearing yellow shirt w/ hair bow is his sister Blakely, and the little girl exiting stage left is his cousin, my granddaughter Reese.  The rest are teammates on various soccer/football/baseball teams.

Then later Saturday afternoon I saw the absolute best finish to a sporting event ever.  My Northampton Saints defeated Saracens on the last play of overtime in the Aviva Premiership championship game (the Super Bowl of English rugby), 24-20.  And even that required a video replay to confirm. 

Pay attention American football players:  THIS is how you tackle!

 The game winner!  WOW!

Oh well, so much for fun and games.  Monday awaits.  Have a good one.  :)

S

"Rode hard and put away wet"

Last night K and I babysat two of our wonderful grand-kidlettes while the parents took some "kicker" dance lessons.  My only advice to my daughter and SIL:  They should limit those kids to decaf ONLY.

After a full 15 rounds....er....3 hours, I think an impartial judge would have called it a "draw".  K actually stood her ground....I was behind the curve all night.  Hers liked to play baseball and basketball, so they pitched and batted and shot baskets all evening.  Mine liked to point and grunt and wet herself, and I soon realized I've lost my proficiency in speaking "point and grunt", but the diaper thing I nailed!  Fortunately I learned she liked my iPhone, which saved me.  

The important thing is nobody got hurt.  Yes, I'm fine, thank you for asking.  (Seriously, they're great kids! ;)

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The weatherguesser this morning noted the West is having one of its hottest summers on record, and the East is having one of its wettest summers ever.  I wonder what the summer holds for Texas?

This morning here in Dallas we're within one degree of setting a record low temperature for this date.  Do I dare hope?

S

Happy Valentine's Day

This is my Valentine, the lovely and talented "K"....

Fortunately she doesn't get spiffed up too often, as she, like me, is much too casual for that...

Ahh...better!

We have a pretty good GREAT life together!  Oh sure, we sling some arrows now and then, but we're both pretty bad shots.  She takes great care of me, and I try to do the same for her.

We've been to a few fun places....

With hopefully a lot more to come.

She's a real adventure junkie, too.  I like that!  (We're at the front, naturally.)

And she's not at all demanding.  Even a day at a local art show has her grinning ear-to-ear.

She loves my daughters, and they love "Miss Kelly", too.  So do all the young 'uns.

I love her much, and best of all, she loves me right back.  Sweet!

Happy Valentine's Day, my love.  :)

S

I stay away for a few days and THIS is what I come back to...

Whew!  This has been a busy but productive week.  I've been at work early every day doing a time-sensitive remodel for a customer.  Fortunately all my guys have shown up on time and worked hard, and my customers say they have been awesomely impressed.  Today will actually be relaxed as all I have to do is sit and wait for the various inspectors to visit and give me their blessing.


I did manage to spend a long lunch hour on Wednesday with two of my daughters and three of my grandsons.  I left with a serious twitch and a grotesquely stretched-out shirt due to all the boys pulling on it wanting me to watch/play with them.  But I love 'em.  *blink...twitch...jerk*


I see the world's economies are imploding....AGAIN.  And of course we can trace it all back to the scheming bankers and their sleaze lawyers who have them just barely inside "legal", never mind "ethical".  This time it seems it's in Europe (whose bankers must be about 3 years better than ours at covering their feces).  When will we get smart and just round them all up, confiscate all their ill-gotten wealth, and banish them to some razor-wire-ringed desolate island?  


Hope you're all dodging the Wall Street bullet.  Enjoy your upcoming weekend.  :)


S