Happiness…
is not a sinus infection while you're watching 2 screaming 7 yr olds. Oye.
Problem is, I love one of them to death, and the other almost as much. Ever get that achy feeling for several days and then the back of your throat starts to hurt? Yeah, now you can feel it 
Aidan's off at a friends for another 20 min, and the screaming "Meow Sistah's" as they call themselves are upstairs playing. They both have camp tomorrow at the gym, so I'm just waiting for her mom to drop off some sleeping clothes and her uniform for tomorrow.
Planned to take the day off and go to the beach with Fae and the kids and most of the other cheerleading families from CAAS. I was looking forward to just hanging out on the beach and taking it easy. Yeah, actually having a vacation. Haven't done one in a while. Unfortunately, Mother Nature had other plans. Torrential downpour at 5:30am convinced them to postpone it.
I gotta say, I was actually pretty relieved because I didn't start feeling crappy until last night, but when I woke up this morning - wooo doggie. That nasty postnasal drip, messing with my throat. Not a good place to be.
So, I spent the day working, trying to fend off a full blown infection until the antibiotics started working. Lots of tea and hot soup. Still feel like crap, but hoping for a good nights sleep, so we'll have to wait and see.
Breather
"Matt, when was the last time you had a vacation?"
Words of wisdom to smack you upside the head right when you need them. I didn't realize that I was wound up so tightly that it was that obvious that my boss would notice. Then again, he's pretty damn sharp, so maybe it wasn't as obvious as I thought.
Refinance
+ Feeling physically like I am an invalid
+ heavier than I want to be or should be
+ no physical outlet for stress
= one grumpy, stressed out 38 feeling like he's 60 yr old man.
I figured it out tonight too. My stress is usually bled off when I work out - riding, martial arts, lifting, running. Thanks to the dumbass in the truck, I really can't do much of that at all right now. I've been going for physical therapy for a few weeks now and it's getting slightly better - not much pain, just other things that hadn't occurred to me.
I'm not breathing properly.
That right there makes me physically sick. Why? I'm glad you asked. When I am stressed out, I tend to hunch over. Part lazy, part feeling like I am protecting myself. Hunched over like that, I don't breathe well - short labored breaths that tend to tighten up the muscles along my neck, shoulders, and spine. So I feel physically worse - which stresses me out. Oh look...It's a vicious CIRCLE! DAM DUM DUMMMMMMMMMM!!!!
Grumpy at the wife, grumpy at the kids, trying to get too many things done at once...Dude, no wonder I feel like crap.
I did the only thing I could think of. I sat in my dark living room, and I just breathed. (Took breaths? I don't know, I was an accounting major.) It really helped, to the point where I was having to forcefully expand my chest muscles to take in more air. Which I think is part of my injury, so I guess that's physical therapy too.
The other thing that made me stop and look around and realize what was going on was that I had the feeling of a complete loss of control and that was stressing me out too 
There's a guy in my complex that I've talked to many times, his name is Steve. He's got a little pug that he walks around and it's kind of funny because this 6'4" guy with this little yipping dog. He was interested in my old car so I gave him a ride and we talked for a bit about it a few months ago.
I just found out that he was out on his motorcycle and he was hit and killed instantly.
Makes you think about things doesn't it? Makes you think about what is important, and what is bullshit. Makes you wonder how lucky you are to have the people in your life, and the experiences you've had.
Am I waxing philosophic because I'm still dealing with crap from my accident? You betcha. It'll be a long time from now before I can stop wondering why, and thinking about what if's. But this is just another reason to take a moment and really be thankful, to wonder how we're so lucky to be able to exist and live, and learn. That's what life is all about - learning from lessons that experience gives us. Every single thing that happens to you, every bad event, good event, mediocre event, insignificant event - they're all happening so that you can grow and change. Do I believe in reincarnation or the singularity of this life? Does it matter? Either way, I want to learn and experience as much as possible.
Sitting in one of those Vicious Circles...(dam dum dummmmmmmmm) doesn't help you live, or grow or change. It's stressful and ugly and painful, but it's easier sometimes. It's easier to go around and around, not doing anything, not learning anything, and just pitying yourself. I did that for four years at ETS and I'll be damned if I'm going to sit in that whirlpool again.
So thanks Matt. Thanks for making the comment that bumped me to seeing clearer.
To all of those who are stressed, or overwhelmed or miserable.
Breathe. It's simple. It's healthy. It helps.
This wonderful Rollercoaster ride we’re on
4th graders knowing what 'Emo' is.
Darfur, should I even go there?
Killing the planet, does anyone actually care?
Which idiot can I vote into office to turn the US into more of a disaster than it already is?
Rolling my car three times, walking away from it with a small bruise.
A little girl's smile.
A hug from my son.
Falling in love with my wife every time I look at her.
Staring at a spiderweb for minutes on end, for no reason.
Having a blackberry.
Having a job that not only DOESN'T suck, but is actively the coolest place I have ever worked.
Moving to Japan - possible? Â (yeah right)
Living in the townhouse.....forever.....and ever.....
Debt. Yep, count it. It's a four letter word.
Writing more - yes, I had an accident, but I'm writing more regardless. Did ya notice? Huh huh??
3100$ to raise for a ride I am not even close to being in shape for. Help me!!!Â
Working for someone you respect, and allowing yourself to think that he might respect me back. (yes Matt, here's your Cameo
Flying
Swimming - need to see about certification for Puerto Rico next year.
Did I mention debt being a four letter word?
Random postings from hell.....
lots of periods after words ......
Be true to yourself, don't get distracted by bullshit, and do the right thing - ALWAYS!!!
State of Things
Haven't heard back from the doctor, but we started the diet anyway. Gillian seems to be feeling a little better, not great, but better. A little more energy, but she's sick again, so that makes it harder. It's amazing what your body does when it's not happy
Heading out to Seattle for a conference for the rest of the week, should be very cool. I'm feeling good about my status in the company, I'm still loving my job after a year so far, the commute still sucks, but I'm used to it by now and Audio books are my friend.
The kids are having their tryouts for next years teams next week, so they are getting ready for that. The gym has a thing called the All Star Challenge that they are involved in. It's mostly just a program to keep the kids in better shape over the summer so they're not having to start over in the fall. For the price, it's totally worth it. So they'll spend most of their time at the pool, and walk to the gym 4 days a week for several hours a day. Plus their teams will be assigned in the end of May, so we'll know which ones they'll be on so we can schedule things.
We're praying that their practices are on the same weekend day. This year sucked having one on Sat, and one on Sun. Plus we're going to tag the hell out of the summer (ever see a kid with a can asking for change to support his group? that's tagging) so the money goes directly into their account and pays for tournaments and training and stuff. Begging? yeah, but we can't do the season without it.
Fae's working with a friend as a personal assistant which is helping with the bills tremendously!! She's also gearing up to be a Brownie troop leader for Gillian's school. It's amazing the things we'll do for our kids. Luckily, the cast is pretty much off her leg, so she's getting around a lot better. That thing was a serious pain in the a**.
Anyway, hope this finds everyone who reads it well and happy.
What’s wrong with shrimp leftovers?
Um, when you eat them a week after they've been cooked?
You do the math. Friday night in the bathroom all night, not fun. I'll be okay, I'll be fine, my stomach's cramping, it'll pass, I'll be fine.
It's 5:30 am already? Enough of this. BOOM.
Can I say I don't like throwing up? No fun. No fun at all.
Kids, if you get sick to your stomach, just go for it, don't hold it in. Doesn't to anyone any good.
Woof, my stomach still hurts, and it's Monday!!!
Plumber’s butt, sore shoulders, and the general state of things under my sink
If you aren't interested in the intricacies of plumbing, stop reading.
Okay, keep reading, because I'm damn proud of the job I did. Too bad it took me so damn long.
It all started with my son.
"Dad?"
"Yeah buddy, what's up?"
"Um, the faucet's leaking"
so I went into the kitchen, and lo and behold, the faucet is leaking indeed. Not a lot, but enough that I couldn't let it sit. Tried messing with the handle by pulling it apart and checking the washers - no dice. Still leaking. Okay, it's time to change the faucet.
Mistake #1 - "I'll just go get a faucet and replace it, no sweat."
Yeah right. I went to Home Depot and picked one out, then went back and got the right kind - there is a difference between a one hole faucet and a three hole faucet. Then went back and got new lines for the faucet because they should be replaced anyway.
Problem #1 - I have an instahot installed - it pours out almost boiling water for Tea and stuff like that. I had it rigged with a thing called a Saddle - it's something that when installed on a copper line will pierce the line and let water flow - all without leaking. I tried to reinstall it on a different part of the pipe, and it didn't work.
Mistake #2 - Trying to hook up a 5/8 pipe. NO ONE USES 5/8 PIPE ANYMORE!!!! Even calling the company didn't help - they don't carry the stuff anymore.
Problem #2 - it's next to impossible to find a male and female connector on the same tee joint.
Solution - call a plumber. He hooked everything up and told me that I was very close, I just needed something that he made out of parts of what he had and not something I would have been able to do.
Saved a bit of my ego
Moving things around under there a day later - WTF?
Problem #3 - the tank from the instahot is now leaking. Can't buy a new tank, had to buy a new set.
250$ later, I hope my wife likes her f*cking tea!! Â I did manage to understand things and get it all installed and am happy to say, that there are no leaks.
things to remember -
- if you have to use copper tubing, and need to put a nut on it to fasten it, you'll need a ferrule or pressure cuff inside the nut. When you connect, put the nut on, then the ferrule, then slide the copper pipe into the thing you're trying to hook to, slide the ferrule down, then tighten up the nut. The pressure of the nut tightening will keep clamp the ferrule down. You might want to stick some Plumbers putty into the nut before you slide it down and fasten it. Keeps it from leaking.
- Tape Dope - it's teflon tape that you wind tight around the male end,tight enough so you can see the threads. Also helps stop leaks.
- Lose a crapload of weight and limber up your shoulders if you're going to be under the kitchen sink. Ours is in a corner which made it especially fun.
- Learn the difference between 1/4, 5/8, 3/8, 1/2 and understand that almost NO ONE will carry anything connected to a 5/8 pipe. I tried finding ferrules and nuts to replace the 5/8 tank line with and went to 5 different places.
Adventures in Plumbing is over now.
