Snow is heading in again...

Well, they're calling for snow again -- the third (and last) in a series of storms. The kids were home from school on Thursday and on Friday due to roads in the neighborhoods. The way that they make up school days is cool - they just tack 15 minutes or so onto the end of every day. It's nothing for the kids, and easy for the schools to administer. It was used for Hurricane Isabel last September, and for the ice storm that hit in late Januarys. Virginians don't do snow well - and do ice even worse. Funny because ice is more of a problem here than snow is.

The weather has been really funky lately - but shouldn't be surprising. Southern Virginia is always at the bottom of where (weatherman alert) the cold air and the warm air hit. We never know if it'll be snow or rain until it comes.

Deck building 101

Okay - so 30 wasn't that cold. We were outside from 11 until 4 yesterday. I actually took off my gloves a few times when it reached a balmy 35. It's damn hard to pick up deck screws with leather gloves. We got one set of stairs (4 stairs, 8 feet wide) done, as well as putting up a 16 foot railing. No one will fall off the end anymore! One more set of stairs and a few rails and replacing the original deck boards that are remaining. I think even I can do that with some assistance. I know I can tear them down since I did the first ones!

Then the finishing begins.

There will be a bunch of sanding on the edges. Also, we need to find lights for the corners and the rest. They are so stinking expensive. We'll have to run the electric in PVC to keep the squirrels out. It seems that the electric wires run outside have some sort of chemical that the squirrels think that they need in their diet. Sure wouldn't want to eat those squirrels.

So, I got to crash and burn last night. Stayed downstairs until 9:00 - but mostly slept from 7:30 until 9. Sitting down was all that it took. Hauling around lumber is not something I often do, so it just wipes me out!

The kids both had sleep overs last night. One at our house (2 12-year old boys are easy), and our daughter at a friend's house. She will come back cranky (always does), but it was a chance for her to see a friend for the first time in a month or so. Since pulling the kids out of daycare, they miss some of the other kids. Not writting that $200 weekly check is a good thing, no matter how selfish it makes me.

Anybody for a cold one?

I personally believe that when it is under 30 degrees (F) that no one should work outside. Of course, that doesn't include people who drive snowplows, taxicabs, and the brave men and women in the police, fire, and armed services. I guess I just mean the plain ol' folks like me.

It's currently a bit less than 30 and I'll be outside at 9:00 working on my deck. Of course, I wouldn't be there unless the guy helping me was going to be there. You see, I have been getting a great deal of help with the deck. D is, among other things, a master carpenter. He has an eye for doing what looks good, and making it come to fruition with what appears to be little effort. The deck addition is 500 square feet - huge by our neighborhood standards. While the wood has not been cheap, the labor certainly has. We're close to finishing it other than a couple of sets of stairs and a few handrails. Then, we need to finish up the other items like the posts, adding lights, and so on.

D is an interesting character. He's a tough guy, raised in a tough household with a sometimes abusive father. He's risen above that but is really tough on his youngest son. He absolutely loves his son, but keeps a firm grip on him as well. His son is a character with a smart mouth - something that I think he should lose else he'll get a belt or hand to help him lose it. Guess it is more like the relationship I had with my father than I care to admit. I'm at least trying to rise above that with my son.

Time to bundle up...

Opportunities - update

Well, I interview this week. The position sounds like a great one - with lots of work and lots of opportunity to do my own thing. In fact, "doing my own thing" is a requirement. No running to the boss everytime something needs done. Lots of autonomy and the ability to work on my own is needed. Lots of hours are also required while developing the department.

I heard something about the present company that is bad. Too many big wigs jumping ship for me to feel comfortable. I don't want to go down with a sinking ship as there will be too many others grasping for the few lifeboats in the area - if you know what I mean.

Of course, I am also making a list of who to bring with me (if that is possible) and who I would definately not bring. My immediate co-workers - one, maybe.

So, I get to sit back and wait for the recruiter to make the next move (or I'll call). I do need to write a thank you letter - guess I need the interviewer's title, address and so on. The things you think about when your brain slows down over the weekend.

I think I'll go grocery shopping with S today, and maybe we'll get dinner out - just the two of us. It doesn't take much for me to be happy!

Is it time to move on?

With my job that is. I think that we have people bailing left and right, with the only ones that are staying put are the ones that insane. Guess I'm one of the insane ones for now.

I do have an interview next week. The "opportunity" I spoke of earlier. Not quite sure what to think about it yet. Can't get a job description other than a very general one. It would be a great company from what I hear, but a very challenging job. Some cleaning house first, then setting up many policies and procedures. Now, do I even have a good suit to wear? Might need to visit a suit shop this weekend and see what I can buy off the rack. I hear S & K has some good off the rack stuff. At least I can wear it to church when I'm done.

I really don't want to sound negative about the job possibility. I would love to be in a better company, where people are not treated as a commodity. Guess I'm stuck in the 80's where that was the life I lived. Did I work my tail off for them? Absolutely. Did they pay me well? Absolutely not. Not because they chose not to, but because the companies were young and growing and reinvesting all the capital into themselves. Did it pay off? Absolutely. I'm in a much better position now because of the sacrifices I made then. Having the kids, having my kids in particular would make it impossible to do that over now. To date, we've been lucky with jobs. Guess it's that go-get-em attitude we both have and a bit of luck. Mostly the attitude. Work harder than anyone else and eventually it'll come back to reward you.

TGIAF (almost friday)...

The flu

The flu sucks. Of course, it's likely not the flu. Certainly my idea of the flu from when I was a kid was anything that made you spend more time in the restroom than out.

That was yesterday and last night.

It kicked my butt.

Other than being dog tired, I think I'm over it. What's another sick day at the office. I hate to miss work, although it's more fun now than ever...

The up side to the whole flu thing is that I jump started my weight loss program that is new for this year. I will have one entry that will track progress as I try to drop 25 or more lbs. It'll be private for a while to see if I actually do lose anything. Of course I will lose some, but need to make the time to exercise. I even bought ear warmers and gloves to run with during the winter. Then there's my MiFi XM. If that's not motivation, I don't have it!

I know it's all about lots-o-exercise and stopping alcoholic beverage consumption, not really about what I eat in general. Walking and running with XM in my ears should help.

I had the unfortunate ability today to watch the Dr. Phil show - all about the new weight loss challenge. I didn't get excited about it - but made me realize that I'm not so bad. However it's not about anyone but me.

Maybe it's time to join the new YMCA (okay, it's not open yet - so should be a safe bet).