Wednesday Medley #2

1.  The Circleville, Ohio, Pumpkin Festival starts today.  All things pumpkin are everywhere. What is your one very favorite pumpkin flavored food or drink?  Do you wish it was available all year or do you only want it in the Fall?     Pumpkin Pie and that's about it, not a huge pumpkin fan.
2.  What product would you seriously stockpile if you found out they weren't going to sell it anymore?     I don't know, I'm not really obsessed with anything in particular. I have lots of things I really like but it's more cravings than anything. Once I satisfy the craving, I'm over it for awhile.
3.  What is the most interesting thing you have seen online this week?     Highlights from the Michigan game
4.  Is it better to be a "big fish in a small pond" or a "small fish in a big pond"?     Big fish in a small pond I guess, but I have no desire to be the big fish.
5.  My Joe has become obsessed with playing chess on the computer.  Do you play chess?  Are you good at it?     I play but I rarely play. I taught my kids to play and it was fun until they got bored with it.
6.  Tell us something random about your week.     My oldest son, girlfriend and 2 kids are staying with us from Thursday until Tuesday. Our nephew is getting married so Cheri's whole family will be together. If our oldest daughter can get up here this weekend, we are hoping to get a picture of our whole family together. I don't think all of us have been together in 8 years.

I'm finding that my life is so boring, that I even have trouble answering these basic questions.

Cell or not to cell

I was going to do the Sunday Stealing but it was about talking on the phone, which I hate and rarely do and pancakes, which I rarely eat so I didn't see a point in that.

I have a cellphone, I love my cellphone, I carry it everywhere. However, I don't use it all the time like a lot of people. I don't play a ton of games, I don't do a ton of social media (on my phone), I don't even really text a lot but yet, I don't go anywhere without it. So what do I do on it? Beats me, let's figure it out.

• I do use it a lot for music, I stream Spotify to my car anytime I'm in it. I also stream it on my breaks when I wear my headphones.
• I do check Snapchat occasionally and I send out one snap a day to the few people I have streaks with.
• If I get a notification from Facebook and it's something I want to see, I'll go check it but I really don't get that many notifications. I rarely get on Facebook just to see what's going on. I get on Facebook when I get home on my laptop.
• I'll occasionally Google some info if I need something.
• I usually text my wife on my breaks at work but not for long. I'll also text my brother and mom but not really that often.
• I do use it for work as well, there are no land lines at work and I do field calls and texts from some vendors, plus I check my work email and calendar. My employees will also occasionally text or call me.
• I do have a game or 2 that I play, but usually only when I'm in the bathroom and since I'm a guy, only when going number 2.
• On Fridays, I check my paystub to make sure my check isn't screwed up since it's paperless.
• Finally, as a phone. I can probably go back a month and I've only talked on the phone a few times (minus work calls). I might call my wife from the store or my mom will call me for a favor, other than that, I don't even use it as a phone.

That's really about it, I'm not sure why I always have to have it on me. Other than at home, because it usually sits on the table next to my chair. I have my laptop and phone connected so I don't even use my phone to text, I use my laptop (no, they are not Apple products, don't even get me started on that.)

Now that I've typed this out, I really do wonder why I have to have my phone.

Sunday Stealing #2

1. Have you ever tried to learn (or re-learn) a foreign language as an adult? Which one? What worked for you?     I took Spanish for a couple of years in high school but I really sucked at it. I can still do the numbers, and a few words but that's about it.

2. Do you donate blood? Do you know your blood type?     A+, I used to donate pretty consistently but with a change in job it makes it harder to get out there. To be honest, I could probably make the time and I don't, maybe I should change that.

3. Have you ever been in a play or musical?     Nope

4. Do you use certain text or ring tones for specific people? Who gets their own? Or do you just use the default on your phone?     I have a certain text ring tone for my wife, kids, mom and my brother. It's the same tone for each of them, those are the only people who text me consistently so I know not to ignore the text for too long. Ring tone is just the default for everyone. I rarely get phone calls.

5. When did you get your first digital camera? Do you still shoot on actual film, or all digital now?     Whenever they started putting cameras on cell phones so yes, I'm all digital now.

6. What do you think someone else would say the most daring thing you’ve done is?     I have no idea, most of anything I did daring was as a kid and most of who actually communicate with me now, didn't know me back then.

7. Do you talk with your hands?     Not a lot, but I do some.

8. Given the choice in a restaurant – would you go with a booth or table (or bar!!!) for seating?     Booth, usually more padding in them.

9. What kind of milk did you drink, growing up? And now?     2% growing up, skim now. I didn't even know there were other kinds when I was a kid. I can drink them all, doesn't make much difference to me.

10. How do you keep track of all your passwords? Do you make your passwords super complicated and change them often, or use the same ones over and over?     I have a few that I use so I keep trying them until one works. At work, I have to change it every 30 days so it's the same only I change the number on the end. I'm up to 15 now.

11. Are you a note taker?     Nope, I have a pretty good memory so I usually rely on that. Not that that always works, but for the most part, it doesn't fail me, yet.

12. Do you remember what your first social media posting (or status update) was on Facebook or Twitter – without looking it up? What was it?     They were probably both along the lines of - checking Twitter/Facebook to see what it's all about.

13. Do you have a “power” song?     Not one song, I have a playlist of power songs that I jam out to in my car occasionally.

14. Do you have an eclectic mug collection, or is your stuff all matchy matchy?     Have no use for any mugs.

15. Do you have a junk drawer in your house/garage/at work/wherever?     I don't think so, that wouldn't be up to the bosses (my wife) standard.

16. Do you ever get the urge to watch a favorite scene from a movie, and watch just that scene?     Nope, I rarely watch a movie twice. I don't like knowing what's going to happen.

17. Have you ever woken up and felt guilty from a dream you had, or, mad at someone else for something they did in the dream?     Guilty, yes. Until I realized it was a dream. No to being mad at someone else's dream, they can't control that, why would I be angry. I have had dreams where someone wronged me and it takes awhile to get over in real life.

18.  How old were you when you took your first commercial flight? To where did you fly?     8th grade, maybe a Freshman. Flew to California from Indiana via Ohio, if that makes sense.

19. Are you good at keeping track of your things – or do you easily misplace them? Do you ever leave anything behind when you travel?     Comes back to the memory thing, I do pretty good and remembering where I put things. I did leave my wallet and checkbook in Virginia once, had to have them mailed back to me.

20. Is there any place you go where time seems to stand still? What is it about that place that makes it that way?     Not that my can think of. Maybe my grandma's house because there isn't much for electronics. She still uses a flip phone but she does text with it.

Wednesday Medley

What? 2 posts in a week? Try not to pass out. I told you I was going to try to do some of these throughout the week just to get some stuff going on here. You can click above to go to the blog where I get them. Here's today's questions.

1.  October 3rd is National Boyfriend Day.  Ladies, who was your first boyfriend?     Well, I'm not a lady but I'll answer with opposites. My first girlfriend was Angie Gordon, met her at church and really liked her (I was probably either pre-teen or early teens). The only reason we broke up was because her family had moved to Kissimmee, FL. I still have her phone number in my memory.
2. Who was your first celebrity crush?     Hmmm! I'd have to say probably Alyssa Milano only back when she was on Who's the Boss. I wouldn't be lying if I said I still have a thing for her and she's a baseball fan so all the more reason to crush on her.
3. What is the strangest thing you’ve ever eaten?     I guess Calamari. The only reason this pops out to me is because my wife was grossed out about it. I'm not picky, nor am I afraid to try anything, I just don't think I've ever gotten anything strange.
4. What famous artist, dead or alive, would you want to paint your portrait?     Bob Ross, I only say that because I don't really know what else to put. Honestly, I had to Google Bob the painter just to get his last name.
5. What Are You Most Likely To Stay Up All Night Talking About?     Honestly, I'm a talker. If you want to stay up all night talking, just ask. I don't care what we talk about. I miss staying up all night with my wife and talk, it was a nightly ritual when we were dating.
6. The new Fall season has begun on TV.  Which show are you most looking forward to seeing?     I guess the new season of the Walking Dead. I haven't really been into the show as much as I was in the beginning so every season I tend to get excited, only to be disappointed about half way through. There's plenty out there that I'll watch. I love really funny sitcoms so I'll be checking out the new ones to see if anything sticks.

So there you go, another post in the books and you learn more about me so I probably lose readers, if I have any.

Sunday Stealing Questions

I've been looking for things to post so I'm going to try to do these a couple of days a week. Try being the key word there.

Even thought it's almost technically Monday, I got it out on Sunday.

1: Favorite style of clothing?     Shorts and t-shirt
2: Do I ever get “good morning” or “good night ” texts?     Nope
3: Have I ever kissed the last person I texted?     My wife, so yes, once or twice
4: When did I last hold hands?     It's been awhile, probably years
5: How long does it take me to get ready in the morning?     I get up at 3:45 and am in the car at 4.
6: Have I shaved my legs in the past three days?     Umm, no. Only shaved one, once
7: Where am I right now?     In my recliner, where I spend most of my evenings
8: Do I have someone of the opposite sex I can tell everything to?     My wife, unless it's about her then no
9: How often do I wear a fake smile?     Rarely, I'm not very good at hiding feelings
10: When was the last time I hugged someone?     Hug my kids every night before bed
11: Is there anyone I trust even though I should not?     I don't trust to many so probably not
12: What is something I disliked about today?     It was kind of a blah day to be honest
13: If I could meet anyone on this earth, who would it be?     I don't really have an answer, always hated these kinds of questions
14: What do I think about most?     Current life situations
15: Do I prefer to be behind the camera or in front of it?     Behind
16: Do I prefer talking on the phone or video chatting  online?     Neither, text me
17: Do I believe in ghosts? How about aliens?     I suppose, haven't put that much thought behind it
18: Do I believe in magic?     Magic is mainly slight of hand so no, but I have no idea how they do it either
19: Do I believe in luck?     Not really
20: What's the weather like right now?     A little chilly, then again, it's closing in on midnight
21: What was the last book I've read?     Just finished the Bill Hodges Trilogy by Stephen King
22: Do I like the smell of gasoline?     Yep
23: What was the worst injury I've ever had?     Torn ligaments in my knee, had to have surgery
24: Do I spend money or save it?     Spend, not on things though, I have nothing to show for it but I don't have any either
25: Can I touch my nose with my tongue?     Yep

Randomness

2 months again without a post. I'm getting really bad at this. For the last few weeks I have said, oh, I need to post something on here, then I get sidetracked with all my other blogs and it never gets done. I had the thought that maybe I would post here on Sundays due to the fact that I have one other blog that I don't usually post on Sundays (it coincides with getting stuff in the mail and there is no mail on Sundays).

Here it is, around 10 pm on Sunday and I just remembered to do this. Although, my typical Sunday, I'm on the laptop most of the day while I'm sitting on my ass. Today, however, I slept in way to late (almost 11am), relaxed for a bit before going outside to power spray the house. The north side of the house gets absolutely no sun so it gets a little moldy. By the time I came in, grabbed some supper, it was after 6 before I picked up my laptop.

We've continued our 4 day weeks at work for awhile but I have been usually able to get my 40 hours in or at least close to it. The lost overtime has sucked, especially with stuff coming up that we need money for. Like my Michigan game tickets and getting Samantha's car ready to drive because she will be eligible to drive on her own in a few weeks. With a few things that happened at work, I think we should get our 5 days in for now.

I have been continuing to keep track of my steps and mileage. I just haven't posted anything here because I'm going from Denver to Seattle and there is a whole lot of nothing in between. There is a stop or 2 in between that I'm going to go by just because I've been there in real life and want to go by it.

I did pass 600 miles for the year, less than a week ago. While I don't have a fitbit anymore, it died, I've been using my phone app (Samsung Galaxy Health App). It's not nearly as accurate but I make do. For one, I tend to leave my phone next to my recliner every time I get up at home so none of those steps get counted.

Along with my 600 miles above, I posted my 600th post on my Last Song of the Day blog a couple of days ago. I went for awile without posting on it because it got to be to much for so little, so now I just post the album cover, the video from YouTube and the lyrics. It goes a lot quicker and since it doesn't get a whole lot of hits anyways, I'm fine with that.

We've been trying to knock out some shows on HULU this past couple of weeks. I was waiting for Castle Rock to end before I signed up so I could watch them all during my free 30 day trial. We finished it and now are watching the Handmaid's Tale. All the fall shows start this week so we'll probably be done with HULU until we cancel it once we finish it.

That's all I got for today, we'll see you again, hopefully soon.

Work, weather and SOA

They announced at work that we were going to 4 days starting next week. There has been rumors of it for a couple of weeks so I knew it was coming. I should still be able to get my 40 for a little while because we've got stuff we can do when the line isn't running but I don't know how long we can milk that.

On the way home today, I sent Cheri this pic with the caption, that doesn't look good.

I was hoping to get to the north/south road I take to get home before it hit so I could get ahead of this but in a matter of minutes after I sent this, the sky got dark and opened up. It was pouring and got very windy. Guess that's what the Tornado watch was for.

We only had 1 show on the DVR so it's probably going to be a Sons of Anarchy weekend. We're already into our second episode tonight. Other than taking Samantha back and forth to work, I'll be plopping in front of the TV.

Baseball

2 days in a row, it's a miracle.

They put up my office at work awhile ago and I noticed on the security cameras that my office blocks one of the cameras. The majority of the camera shows the ceiling so I took the opportunity to leave a message for my boss.

Usually the monitor in his office shows all 10 cameras on the screen so I went into his office and double clicked this camera so it took up the whole monitor and then went back to work and waited for him to come back to his office.

I was at my lab awhile later and I glanced over and he was standing in the doorway of his office just staring at me. I laughed at him. That was before lunch and it was still up there when I left. We'll see how long until he gets tired of seeing it and takes it down.

I came home and watched the MLB All-Star game, or rather, finished watching it since I went to bed about the 7th inning. It was more enjoyable than I remember years past. I really enjoyed the interviews with the players on the field, it showed their personalities. It was pretty much great pitching and hitting, how you say? It was great pitching most of the game all the runs were on 10 home runs. There were a few other hits and some of those before the home runs but most were solo shots. I usually watch the all-star games but usually just background while I'm doing something else.

Just going to finish up stuff on the DVR until bed.

Travel and TV

I'm back, I know, again. We'll see what I divvy out.

Went to Indianapolis this past weekend and spent some time with Skyler at her new place. It was a cute little home and she lives by herself which is good but better than that, she took us down to her local spot and it was full of hipsters which she'll fit right in with. It makes us happy that she is happy where she's at. That's all you want for your kids is to be happy. It's certainly not everything she wants or deserves but it'll be good for her for awhile.

Since there isn't much on TV right now, we've been watching Sons of Anarchy. Skyler, and others, have been telling us we'd like it. We should finish season 1 tonight. We've like it so far so I'm sure we'll stick with it.

I plan on watching the MLB All-Star game tonight, I haven't told Cheri yet, she hates baseball. When I watch the Sox games I can fast forward a lot so it doesn't take nearly as long. If I watch it live, plus it's an exhibition, it'll probably go until midnight. Cheri may not love me anymore after that.

Not much else going on. Still waiting on my office to get finished at work. The skeleton part is up and pretty much finished. Now I've got to pick out counter tops and a sink and have that installed and then it should be good to move my desk in.

This week

I don't want to go back to work tomorrow. I know, who really does but they gave me a whole week off so I really don't want to go back.

A few weeks ago, they decided they were going to shut down for the week because sales were down. Most people were upset, don't get me wrong, none of them wanted to be there, but most couldn't afford getting paid for one day (the 4th). A few people were complaining how they didn't have vacation days and they burned through their personal time already. Most of them used them just to take days off, no real reason to use them.

Then there's me, who never really uses his vacation days. I've used 2 of my 2 weeks so far, one on a court date with the Ex, the other on our annual Father's day weekend camping trip. I regret using both because both times sucked. Either way, that still leaves me with 8 days. For the record, I also have 14 of my 16 personal time left as well. So when they said, hey, you're getting a week off, I was stoked. I put in for 4 vacation days and said, see ya!

I cropped out the sign cuz you all

don't need to know where I work.

The wife and I decided to head on out on Saturday (last weekend) and took the kids with us to Virginia to see her family. We basically hung out with family through Monday.

Sam's b-day was Sunday

On Tuesday, Cheri hung out with her BFF all day while the kids and I headed out for just outside Asheville, NC to hang out with my cousin all day. It was only an 1 1/2 drive from Bristol so we went down that morning and hung out up in the mountains before heading back.

On the 4th, we headed back which was a great decision because there was absolutely nobody on the roads. Other than around the big cities, there wasn't anybody out there. A normal 10 hour drive took us less than 9 and the only reason it took that much time is because I have an insurance thingy in my car portal which dings me if I go over 80 mph. Basically, I set the cruise at 78. If the speed limit was 70 mph, I went 78. If it dropped down to 55 mph, I went 78 mph. Normally, when it is 70 mph, I set my cruise for mid to high 80's.

Thursday we chilled at home, Friday we spent all day building our shed for the back yard, that's a whole another story but it's finally up. Haven't really done anything since but either way, I really enjoyed having a week off and I'm also really not looking forward to going to work tomorrow.

The positive of going back to work is the week before, they put the walls up to my lab/office. I'm hoping they went in and got my cabinets, countertops and sink got installed this week so I can move in. I don't think they did, but I'm crossing my fingers. I've already got my desk, I'm just waiting on the other stuff to get put in.