More Randomness
Apr. 23rd, 2007 04:34 pmI have a really quirky idea for a fanfic, inspired by my wife’s little theory about Deathly Hallows and Dumbledore. Think Oliver Stone and JFK. More on this later.
Spring Fever
Mar. 25th, 2007 07:13 pmSeems like every year this time, when the weather gets warm, I get that itch in my pants. I dig out the Beach Boys cds, dust off the golf clubs, and mope.
See, it doesn't truly get Sping like here for another couple weeks, but the sun is out now, and it's warming up. It's all a tease, see? Damn New England weather.
Anyway, Sara and I went for a walk today, try and blow the cobwebs out of my mind. Helped a bit, actually. So many things about my life are changing right now, some in good ways, some in bad ways, some in just...ways. Tough to explain, but I'm glad I've got Sara to work it through with me.
I hope the weather stays good, supposed to be sixty+ next weekend, which would be really, really nice. I can't wait to get out on the course again. I haven't played golf in ages, but I have GOT to find a way to exercise that I enjoy, and I enjoy golf. If lugging the clubs around helps me get rid of this freakin tire I've got around my mid-section, then I'm all for it. I've put on so much weight since graduating high school...but then, I'm not in marching band anymore either. I'd love to drop a few pounds before going on the reunion tour in April.
Anyway, I'm just finishing up a review packet for my World HIstory kids, and I'm off to spend more time with my loverly wife. Just thought I'd swing by with a drive by post. Later all.
Continuing Education
Aug. 16th, 2006 01:19 pmWell, I'm continuing to give serious thought to going back to school. I've gotten to the "send away for information" from the school in question stage, and I'm expecting a packet from Plymouth State any day now. I went down home yesterday to visit (Monday and Tuesday are my days off, which sucks a little, cuz Sara has to work) and I got to see the course, hit a bucket of balls at the range, and just generally soak in the atmosphere. I've missed that place this summer.
(Damn Dartmouth for moving our mailbox anyway...but that's another story)
Sara, naturally, and wonderfuly is 120% supportive of anything I do, and constantly reminding me that starting this process does not necessarily mean giving up teaching all together. One of my fears in this change is that it sort of feels like "bailing out" because I've had such a hard time finding a job. Sara has a point. Nothing's stopping me from continuing to look for a teaching job, even if I'm taking night classes. Plenty of teachers do it.
My parents are something of a mixed bag. My father pretty much told me that if this is something I want to do, and I want to work at the golf course when Sara and I move back to Salem, they'll find a place for me, whatever restructioning or other changes need to be made. This is encourageing. My mother seems to think I'd need to work somewhere else for a while. That's discouraging. My father wasn't sure we (Sara and I) could affort to have both of us in school. Maybe. That's a discussion Sara and I have yet to have, in any serious context. Classes are about 1100 per class, and I'd be taking three a year, to finish in three years. So we're talking a total of around 12000 when all is said and done (books, etc)
Anybody know anything about grad student financial aid? Sara doesn't know much, since she's being paid to go to school. Any experiance with that kind of thing? ![[personal profile]](http://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kadath? magnolia_mama?
On other fronts of life, the muse has returned, but in unexpected ways. I was seized with new inspiration for last year's NaNoWriMo novel, and I'm determined to finish it. Maybe I'll publish and it will pay for my MBA. That's not to say I'm neglecting the PS stuff, either, so don't panic.
I think the theater's getting Snakes on a Plane this weekend, so if anyone kind of wants to see the movie but is leery about paying for it, come see me.
Busy Weekend
Oct. 10th, 2005 03:45 pmCame up to see Sara this weekend. It rained most of the weekend, and because it rained today, and there's no school (no possibility of subsituting today), I played hooky from the golf course and stayed up the extra day. I'm going to head home sometime this afternoon. Sara's off at class now. I think she's turned a corner in terms of her classes, and while I won't necessarily be all down hill, it at least won't be the tough sledding that the last week was.
We did a bit of exploring in downtown Hanover Saturday inspite of the rain. Found a nice used book store where we found a couple of books. Notre Dame had the weekend off, so there was no afternoon football that we were interested in. Penn State was on at 7:45, and we got back in time to watch the Nittney Lions knock off the Buckeyes. Whohoo! I love JoePa. Penn State is BACK! Next weekend, should be interesting week. Penn State and Michigan, and Notre Dame against USC. That game in South Bend will be one of the biggest of the year, I think. Let's go Notre Dame!
Sunday we checked out St. Dennis's, the local Catholic parish. It was nice service. Lots of kids, which made Sara coo and awww. Then the Patriots made it far too exciting against the Falcons. I love Adam Vinitieri, but it would be nice once or twice to not need him to kick last second field goals for a change. The defense needs serious help. Got to get some people healthy on the D, or things will be tough sledding.
All the good football this weekend has made me almost forget that the White Sox swept out the Red Sox. *sigh*. I can't complain too much after last year's series, so I guess it's See You In April for the Beantown boys. Football is the main course from now forward.
Sara's shower is next weekend, and here's hoping that everything is all set and going okay.
We did a bit of exploring in downtown Hanover Saturday inspite of the rain. Found a nice used book store where we found a couple of books. Notre Dame had the weekend off, so there was no afternoon football that we were interested in. Penn State was on at 7:45, and we got back in time to watch the Nittney Lions knock off the Buckeyes. Whohoo! I love JoePa. Penn State is BACK! Next weekend, should be interesting week. Penn State and Michigan, and Notre Dame against USC. That game in South Bend will be one of the biggest of the year, I think. Let's go Notre Dame!
Sunday we checked out St. Dennis's, the local Catholic parish. It was nice service. Lots of kids, which made Sara coo and awww. Then the Patriots made it far too exciting against the Falcons. I love Adam Vinitieri, but it would be nice once or twice to not need him to kick last second field goals for a change. The defense needs serious help. Got to get some people healthy on the D, or things will be tough sledding.
All the good football this weekend has made me almost forget that the White Sox swept out the Red Sox. *sigh*. I can't complain too much after last year's series, so I guess it's See You In April for the Beantown boys. Football is the main course from now forward.
Sara's shower is next weekend, and here's hoping that everything is all set and going okay.
Feeling Really Lazy
Sep. 14th, 2005 08:37 pmToo lazy to do cuts, so I'll try and keep this short to save my f-list from long rambles.
I hurt. All over. I worked today at the golf course, and did two irrigations heads, all by myself...alone, and apparently forgotton, because when I got on the radio to ask for someone to turn the water back on, the response was "You're still here!?!" *Grumble*
And then I took the trash to the dump. It's been over two weeks, so there was quite a bit here at the house. Then I went to church. (Dad, being the Chairman of the Trustees, is responsible for making sure someone takes out the trash. Generally that means he does it himself...or I do it.) The shed was full to overflowing. I knew this was going to be the case, and Mum told me I should only take out some and come back on Saturday for the rest.
Being genetically incapable of leaving a job half finished, I did two loads from church and emptied the shed. My back and arms are killing be, between digging holes and heave-hoing bags.
My first sub experiance on Tuesday was uneventful I suppose. Kids were loud, but that's too be expected, I guess. Subbing is not really all that much fun, because you have very little authority to do anything. And the teacher I subbed for didn't leave any discipline program, short of kicking a kid down to the office. Nobody was being *that* bad, fortunetly, but I would have liked to hand out a few mid-grade punishments to take out a few of the noisiest chatters.
I've previously ranted about the kids map skills over in the coffeehouse at PS, but sufficiet to say, the map skills were bad. My sister thinks I have too high of a standard, though. She accused me of quote "eating an atlas" at some point, and knowing far more about geography than any normal person should. Still, I don't think it's too much to expect the average 8th grader to know where Chesapeake Bay is...is it? ~.^
Anyway, I'm off to rest my tired muscles.
I hurt. All over. I worked today at the golf course, and did two irrigations heads, all by myself...alone, and apparently forgotton, because when I got on the radio to ask for someone to turn the water back on, the response was "You're still here!?!" *Grumble*
And then I took the trash to the dump. It's been over two weeks, so there was quite a bit here at the house. Then I went to church. (Dad, being the Chairman of the Trustees, is responsible for making sure someone takes out the trash. Generally that means he does it himself...or I do it.) The shed was full to overflowing. I knew this was going to be the case, and Mum told me I should only take out some and come back on Saturday for the rest.
Being genetically incapable of leaving a job half finished, I did two loads from church and emptied the shed. My back and arms are killing be, between digging holes and heave-hoing bags.
My first sub experiance on Tuesday was uneventful I suppose. Kids were loud, but that's too be expected, I guess. Subbing is not really all that much fun, because you have very little authority to do anything. And the teacher I subbed for didn't leave any discipline program, short of kicking a kid down to the office. Nobody was being *that* bad, fortunetly, but I would have liked to hand out a few mid-grade punishments to take out a few of the noisiest chatters.
I've previously ranted about the kids map skills over in the coffeehouse at PS, but sufficiet to say, the map skills were bad. My sister thinks I have too high of a standard, though. She accused me of quote "eating an atlas" at some point, and knowing far more about geography than any normal person should. Still, I don't think it's too much to expect the average 8th grader to know where Chesapeake Bay is...is it? ~.^
Anyway, I'm off to rest my tired muscles.
Putting life in perspective
Aug. 30th, 2005 01:28 pmMy buddy in New Orleans told me he thinks the flooding didn't hit his area too badly. But since his family's in Texas, and he's in Virginia, he doesn't know for sure. And, as he told me, "of course, I don't know if the tree fell on dad's house, or if the wind pulled off the roof or not." But they're all ok, obviously. Some people aren't.
My boss, Ken, (the one I've been refering to as IdiotBoy all summer, and now feel incredibly bad about), got a phone call this morning at work, telling him that one of his very good friends was killed in Iraq.
It makes everything I think is wrong with my own life seem very petty.
Everybody on my F-list rocks, btw. Just thought I'd let you all know. Life's too short to forget to mention things like that.
My boss, Ken, (the one I've been refering to as IdiotBoy all summer, and now feel incredibly bad about), got a phone call this morning at work, telling him that one of his very good friends was killed in Iraq.
It makes everything I think is wrong with my own life seem very petty.
Everybody on my F-list rocks, btw. Just thought I'd let you all know. Life's too short to forget to mention things like that.
Four Months To Go
Aug. 23rd, 2005 03:22 pmThat's right folks, in exactly four months, Sara and I will become Mr. and Mrs. Campbell. I can't wait! :)
Okay, a moderate amount to talk about.
Sara's Car: Apparently, the mechanic has finally decided what's wrong. The problem is, he's not sure how much it's going to cost us to get the car back, seeing as he's been working on it for a week. He did say, though, that he can't see justfying some of that time, since he didn't know what the hell was wrong. Both fuel pumps are gone, apparently, for those wondering what *was* wrong.
Wedding: Four months to go! That's the good news. The iffy news is we don't have a photographer, still. The worse news is some our bills are going to start coming due soon, which brings us to...
Job: Something I still don't have. I'm applying today for a position teaching community college classes. The ad says they want someone who has a Masters, but it can't hurt to apply. Right? And, it's not like I'd been incapable of teaching a community college class on the Civil War...please, don't make me laugh.
Other intersting notes: I was suprised by the mixed reaction to the latest chapter of DTR over at PS. I mean, I suppose I knew that some people don't like having song lyrics in stories, but doesn't it add something? I mean, don't you read a story and imagine the soundtrack? Maybe they would have prefered to think of their own song, but I thought the one I used was perfect. Well, to each their own, I suppose.
I'm still plinking at that Semi-autobiographical work, Summer in MacPherson's Valley. Sara had a look at it the other day for the first time, and thinks I should drop everything and finish it, because she sees it as publishable, and pictured it on somebody's AP Lit reading list someday. I think she's biased. ;-) Then again, who knows?
Work was a rough day today. We were aerating the greens, and I got stuck using the walkbehind aerator. I must have walked 10 miles today. My feet are killing me. But I did put in a nine hour day.
More required pre-marital counselling tonight for Sara and I. Tonight we're going over the answers to the quiz we took last time. Should be an interesitng evening...
All right. Gotta get this applicaiton in the mail. Later all.
Okay, a moderate amount to talk about.
Sara's Car: Apparently, the mechanic has finally decided what's wrong. The problem is, he's not sure how much it's going to cost us to get the car back, seeing as he's been working on it for a week. He did say, though, that he can't see justfying some of that time, since he didn't know what the hell was wrong. Both fuel pumps are gone, apparently, for those wondering what *was* wrong.
Wedding: Four months to go! That's the good news. The iffy news is we don't have a photographer, still. The worse news is some our bills are going to start coming due soon, which brings us to...
Job: Something I still don't have. I'm applying today for a position teaching community college classes. The ad says they want someone who has a Masters, but it can't hurt to apply. Right? And, it's not like I'd been incapable of teaching a community college class on the Civil War...please, don't make me laugh.
Other intersting notes: I was suprised by the mixed reaction to the latest chapter of DTR over at PS. I mean, I suppose I knew that some people don't like having song lyrics in stories, but doesn't it add something? I mean, don't you read a story and imagine the soundtrack? Maybe they would have prefered to think of their own song, but I thought the one I used was perfect. Well, to each their own, I suppose.
I'm still plinking at that Semi-autobiographical work, Summer in MacPherson's Valley. Sara had a look at it the other day for the first time, and thinks I should drop everything and finish it, because she sees it as publishable, and pictured it on somebody's AP Lit reading list someday. I think she's biased. ;-) Then again, who knows?
Work was a rough day today. We were aerating the greens, and I got stuck using the walkbehind aerator. I must have walked 10 miles today. My feet are killing me. But I did put in a nine hour day.
More required pre-marital counselling tonight for Sara and I. Tonight we're going over the answers to the quiz we took last time. Should be an interesitng evening...
All right. Gotta get this applicaiton in the mail. Later all.
Calmer Now
Aug. 18th, 2005 04:41 pmStill no job, but I've decided I'm doing everything I can to get one, and I just have to trust the good Lord to do the rest. That, and asking my former Middle School pricipal/High school principal/district superintendant to put in a good word for me in a couple places can't hurt either.
Sara's car is still a mystery. This guy has spend 50+ years working on Benzs...he still can't figure out what's wrong. THis is a problem. We're starting to look at backup options.
I've worked at the golf course for 10 years now, and today was the first time I've ever been hit with a golf ball. Ricocheted right of the steel toe of my boot. Thank the Lord for small favors. Tomorrow, I might actually get to mow fairways, something I've always wanted to do. It helps that I'm like the last person from the summer crew to leave. Probably going to quit around Labor day weekend.
I've decided that if I don't get a job, I'm going to put my name in and subsitute teach in every district within driving distance. It's a good resume builder, and it gets me out of the golf course before the weather goes bad.
I'm getting positive responses to Defining the Relationship over at PS. My beta, Arnel, says that the next chapter coming out is possibly my best yet. I can't wait to see the reviews. It should be up tommorow sometime, so go have a peak if you get a chance.
Patriots on TV again tonight. They're looking solid so far, and we've got high hopes for the season. Sox are looking iffy all of a sudden. I'm concened that the pitching will fall apart down the stretch. I don't care if we don't win the Series again, just please stay ahead of those damnyankees.
Anywhoo, I'm feeling better.
Sara's car is still a mystery. This guy has spend 50+ years working on Benzs...he still can't figure out what's wrong. THis is a problem. We're starting to look at backup options.
I've worked at the golf course for 10 years now, and today was the first time I've ever been hit with a golf ball. Ricocheted right of the steel toe of my boot. Thank the Lord for small favors. Tomorrow, I might actually get to mow fairways, something I've always wanted to do. It helps that I'm like the last person from the summer crew to leave. Probably going to quit around Labor day weekend.
I've decided that if I don't get a job, I'm going to put my name in and subsitute teach in every district within driving distance. It's a good resume builder, and it gets me out of the golf course before the weather goes bad.
I'm getting positive responses to Defining the Relationship over at PS. My beta, Arnel, says that the next chapter coming out is possibly my best yet. I can't wait to see the reviews. It should be up tommorow sometime, so go have a peak if you get a chance.
Patriots on TV again tonight. They're looking solid so far, and we've got high hopes for the season. Sox are looking iffy all of a sudden. I'm concened that the pitching will fall apart down the stretch. I don't care if we don't win the Series again, just please stay ahead of those damnyankees.
Anywhoo, I'm feeling better.
Tags:
It's raining.
I am dry now. I was not previously.
Had to work this morning, in the rain. Not terribly fun.
But enough about that.
I'm now the proud owner of a used lazyboy, which, of course, I will have to fight my fiancee for the right to sit in during football season.
Wedding bands are in, and they're gorgous. I've picked out tuxes for my side of the bridal party. We're doing tails and white gloves. Nice and classy.
My Kingmaker game arrived, I'm very excited about it. Now I just have to teach Sara to play.
Oh yeah...still no job.
Okay, I was worried before, and now, I've moved onto minor panic. Give me another 5 days, and I'll be into full blown panic. It's August. I don't have a job. We're broke. Sara's car has been in the shop for days and we still don't know what's wrong with it. We have wedding expenses yet to cover, and as of September 1, Sara's gotta pay utilities, food and rent.
Oh, and I called to confirm that my application arrived at one of the places advertising for a social studies teacher. The position has been filled.
Trying not to scream. Trying not to scream.
Hoping for a window to open, wishing my blessings didn't always come in disguise.
I am dry now. I was not previously.
Had to work this morning, in the rain. Not terribly fun.
But enough about that.
I'm now the proud owner of a used lazyboy, which, of course, I will have to fight my fiancee for the right to sit in during football season.
Wedding bands are in, and they're gorgous. I've picked out tuxes for my side of the bridal party. We're doing tails and white gloves. Nice and classy.
My Kingmaker game arrived, I'm very excited about it. Now I just have to teach Sara to play.
Oh yeah...still no job.
Okay, I was worried before, and now, I've moved onto minor panic. Give me another 5 days, and I'll be into full blown panic. It's August. I don't have a job. We're broke. Sara's car has been in the shop for days and we still don't know what's wrong with it. We have wedding expenses yet to cover, and as of September 1, Sara's gotta pay utilities, food and rent.
Oh, and I called to confirm that my application arrived at one of the places advertising for a social studies teacher. The position has been filled.
Trying not to scream. Trying not to scream.
Hoping for a window to open, wishing my blessings didn't always come in disguise.
Should have Stayed in Bed
Aug. 10th, 2005 05:36 pmIt's been a terrible day.
First of all, one of my cousin's is sick, so we're shorthanded at work.
Second, I had to do bunker edges this morning. That's where you tilt the trimmer sideways to trim the grass growing into the bunker from the edge. By 7am I was covered in sand and grit.
Third of all, we put two new irrigation heads in the ground today, filled in the holes, laid down the sod, nice and neat. Turned on the valves.
They didn't work. They won't turn off. They just keep running and running. Two BRAND NEW HEADS. Arg. It's enough to make me scream.
Went home, took a breif nap. Auto place called. Sara's car is fixed. Drive 40 minutes to pick it up. Pull out of the driveway, it stalls dead in the street. Mechanic is stumped. Drive 40 minutes home, sans car. Shoot me now.
Help.
First of all, one of my cousin's is sick, so we're shorthanded at work.
Second, I had to do bunker edges this morning. That's where you tilt the trimmer sideways to trim the grass growing into the bunker from the edge. By 7am I was covered in sand and grit.
Third of all, we put two new irrigation heads in the ground today, filled in the holes, laid down the sod, nice and neat. Turned on the valves.
They didn't work. They won't turn off. They just keep running and running. Two BRAND NEW HEADS. Arg. It's enough to make me scream.
Went home, took a breif nap. Auto place called. Sara's car is fixed. Drive 40 minutes to pick it up. Pull out of the driveway, it stalls dead in the street. Mechanic is stumped. Drive 40 minutes home, sans car. Shoot me now.
Help.
Vacation over...*sigh*
Aug. 7th, 2005 08:33 pmYep, it's over. I spend this weekend up at the lakehouse too, and had a lovely time. Not much to say except that I did a whole lot of not much.
Our *new* wedding invitations came in. They're right this time! Hal-le-lu-jah! And we've ordered flowers. Still looking for a Photographer we like. This is turning into the thorn in an otherwise, so-far, knock-on-wood, smooth process of wedding planning. I'll keep you all updated as further bulletins warrant.
Back to work tomorrow. Heat is back too, so it's bound to be more fun than a barrel of monkeys.
Sara's car is still at the shop, they haven't got to it yet. I'm going to call and check on it tomorrow.
And that physical description meme is kind of spooky! Two of three people who responded to mine pretty much described me perfectly. And![[livejournal.com profile]](http://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
jedione compared me to Han Solo, which is rather flattering. Sara got a big kick out of it. Thanks to all who played!
That's all for now.
Our *new* wedding invitations came in. They're right this time! Hal-le-lu-jah! And we've ordered flowers. Still looking for a Photographer we like. This is turning into the thorn in an otherwise, so-far, knock-on-wood, smooth process of wedding planning. I'll keep you all updated as further bulletins warrant.
Back to work tomorrow. Heat is back too, so it's bound to be more fun than a barrel of monkeys.
Sara's car is still at the shop, they haven't got to it yet. I'm going to call and check on it tomorrow.
And that physical description meme is kind of spooky! Two of three people who responded to mine pretty much described me perfectly. And
jedione compared me to Han Solo, which is rather flattering. Sara got a big kick out of it. Thanks to all who played!That's all for now.
Friday is finally here. I am offically on vacation as of 1:00 pm this afternoon. I'm going up to my family's lake house this weekend, and then next week, I'll be around town and working on cleaning and packing my room. How is this vacation, you ask? It's vacation, because I don't have to drag my sorry rear end out of bed at 4:30 am. I could sleep till *gasp* 8 o'clock! Or even 9! Scandalous.
Oh, and I found a way to get on IdiotBoy's nerves. For those keeping score at home, IdiotBoy is the new assistant superintendant at the golf course I work at. All I have to do to get on him, is start talking about my wedding. Apparently IdiotBoy is so commitment phobic that even thinking about someone else getting married gives him goosebumps and clammy skin. I was very excited to find out about this.
Anyway, I'll be back around Monday or so.
Oh, and I found a way to get on IdiotBoy's nerves. For those keeping score at home, IdiotBoy is the new assistant superintendant at the golf course I work at. All I have to do to get on him, is start talking about my wedding. Apparently IdiotBoy is so commitment phobic that even thinking about someone else getting married gives him goosebumps and clammy skin. I was very excited to find out about this.
Anyway, I'll be back around Monday or so.
Okay...so my good friend jedione tells me to make sure I'm hydrated. Good advice in this heat. And I appeciated it.
Here's the funny (Probably for you all, not so much for me now, maybe later) part. Today, we're changing the head on #2 approach. It's hot, it's sticky, and the hole is deep, and the ground is rocky. We're sucking down lemonade left right and sideways. All well and good. This is where things got squirlly.
We have a new assistant superintendant, fresh from the Turf Managment program at Penn State. Still wet behind the ears, and niether myself, or my cousins are convinced that this guy knows what he's doing yet. We've seen some things that we're not so sure about yet. All that aside, he's still learning the course, in terms of where everything is, and how everything works.
IdiotBoy comes over to Dana and I and says, "Good looking hole, fellas, the parts are down in the shop, ready to go, and I just finished turning off the valves, and the line is draining. You're all set to go."
So we trot ourselves down to said shop, pick up said assorted pipes, valves, sprinkler head, valve box and reach tube, and go back to our hole. We discover that our head location also has a series of splices for irrigation control wires that are so hopelessly tangled, we cut each line and resplice it because we can't get them untangled from around the old head assembly. We then proceed to try and disconnect the old head.
Remember when IdiotBoy said he'd turned off the valves?
Yeah, you guessed it.
He missed one.
The geyser that resulted could be seen from the clubhouse, our hole turned into a muddy mess, and we were both covered in stanky irrigation pond water. Oh boy.
We were so mad, I can't even begin to describe the languge we were using to describe our new assistant super, as we went running to figure out which valve IdiotBoy hadn't turned off. Turned out it was the one between the 1st Fairway and the 18th green. Then we had to dig out the sump pump and drain our muddy hole, and then put the new head on. We also had to cut new sod for this location because the old head had sunk, and the mowers had carved out a pothole around it. All this while we're slowly drip drying.
Can someone say, I should have stayed in bed this morning?
jedione tells me to make sure I'm hydrated. Good advice in this heat. And I appeciated it.Here's the funny (Probably for you all, not so much for me now, maybe later) part. Today, we're changing the head on #2 approach. It's hot, it's sticky, and the hole is deep, and the ground is rocky. We're sucking down lemonade left right and sideways. All well and good. This is where things got squirlly.
We have a new assistant superintendant, fresh from the Turf Managment program at Penn State. Still wet behind the ears, and niether myself, or my cousins are convinced that this guy knows what he's doing yet. We've seen some things that we're not so sure about yet. All that aside, he's still learning the course, in terms of where everything is, and how everything works.
IdiotBoy comes over to Dana and I and says, "Good looking hole, fellas, the parts are down in the shop, ready to go, and I just finished turning off the valves, and the line is draining. You're all set to go."
So we trot ourselves down to said shop, pick up said assorted pipes, valves, sprinkler head, valve box and reach tube, and go back to our hole. We discover that our head location also has a series of splices for irrigation control wires that are so hopelessly tangled, we cut each line and resplice it because we can't get them untangled from around the old head assembly. We then proceed to try and disconnect the old head.
Remember when IdiotBoy said he'd turned off the valves?
Yeah, you guessed it.
He missed one.
The geyser that resulted could be seen from the clubhouse, our hole turned into a muddy mess, and we were both covered in stanky irrigation pond water. Oh boy.
We were so mad, I can't even begin to describe the languge we were using to describe our new assistant super, as we went running to figure out which valve IdiotBoy hadn't turned off. Turned out it was the one between the 1st Fairway and the 18th green. Then we had to dig out the sump pump and drain our muddy hole, and then put the new head on. We also had to cut new sod for this location because the old head had sunk, and the mowers had carved out a pothole around it. All this while we're slowly drip drying.
Can someone say, I should have stayed in bed this morning?
The Daily Grind
Jul. 25th, 2005 08:44 pmWell, I've been busy enough so as not to update as regularly as I would like.
Job= Not Yet
Wedding=Not enough progress
Fair enough?
Anyway, had a big fight with Ma over wedding stuff. Not good. She caught me on an off day, (tired, headache, stomach acid), and I snapped at her to quit nagging. Turned into a really rousing shouting match before I stormed off. I'd walked all the way to the Junkyard near my house before my sister picked me up off the side of the road. Things better now.
Work has been brutal in the heat we've been having. I've mostly been replacing irrigation heads, but today I got to weedwack for 8 hours, with sand and grit kicking up in my face, and little peices of grass sticking to me in my sweat...I need a teaching job. I love working at the golf course for summers, but this is not the way I want to earn my living. Oh, and I got a raise. A whole .23 cents. Whopdie freaking do. I hate my aunt. You would think that the fact that we own the place might mean something. I think my aunt hates me...and my cousins.
Vacation next week. It's time for one. I need a battery recharge.
Anyway, off to bed, so I can sweat some more tomorrow. Later all.
Job= Not Yet
Wedding=Not enough progress
Fair enough?
Anyway, had a big fight with Ma over wedding stuff. Not good. She caught me on an off day, (tired, headache, stomach acid), and I snapped at her to quit nagging. Turned into a really rousing shouting match before I stormed off. I'd walked all the way to the Junkyard near my house before my sister picked me up off the side of the road. Things better now.
Work has been brutal in the heat we've been having. I've mostly been replacing irrigation heads, but today I got to weedwack for 8 hours, with sand and grit kicking up in my face, and little peices of grass sticking to me in my sweat...I need a teaching job. I love working at the golf course for summers, but this is not the way I want to earn my living. Oh, and I got a raise. A whole .23 cents. Whopdie freaking do. I hate my aunt. You would think that the fact that we own the place might mean something. I think my aunt hates me...and my cousins.
Vacation next week. It's time for one. I need a battery recharge.
Anyway, off to bed, so I can sweat some more tomorrow. Later all.
Bastille Day?
Jul. 14th, 2005 07:21 pmThat's today, right?
Anywhoo. Tommorrow is the big day. My hair is now Weasley Red. Seriously, someone should have marketed a temp color in that name during the run up to this. Make a fortune. Everything is go for fun tommorow night at the local Barnes and Noble.
Work has been painful. Physcially, I mean. The course just turned 10 years old, and most of our irrigation heads have been in the ground that long. Consequently, they're starting to go. This summer's major project is to replace as many of them as we can. I've done two this week.
I didn't really doubt it before, but this week removed any doubt as to why New Hampshire is called the Granite State. I've dug through packed clay and rock for three days. Today I dug a hole as long as me, as wide as golf cart, and as deep as my waist, through riverbottom clay and rock. The areas immediately around the mainline and the head were sandy, which wasn't so bad, but there surface around this head had sunk down so deep, we needed to dig a wide area around the head to raise it back up. I'm going to feel it in the morning, for sure. On the plus side, I had resolved to get more exercise and try to loose a little weight this summer. Mission very much being accomplished. Oh, my aching arms and back.
Reports from the Front:
Job Front: Nothing yet, but I'm considering another back up option, and that is to try and get into radio broadcasting, possibly, since I enjoyed it so much at the College radio station. The market is starting to pick up a little. The volume of new postings is increasing everyday, even if there's nothing in my field yet.
Wedding Front: Some what stalled, althought I'd call it more of a regroup and refuel stop, rather than a bogging down. I was *supposed* to try and book a photog this week, but for a variety of reasons I haven't had the time in the afternoons to do any research. Tomorrow maybe I'll do some looking, and hopefully get that sorted around by the middle of next week. I did put the deposit down on the Honeymoon, so that is some progress, I guess. And the wedding invitation proof should be in by the begining of next week too. So, as I said, we stoped the column to regroup, refuel and plan the assult on the next target, just like the good little Field Marshalls we are.
Anywhoo. Tommorrow is the big day. My hair is now Weasley Red. Seriously, someone should have marketed a temp color in that name during the run up to this. Make a fortune. Everything is go for fun tommorow night at the local Barnes and Noble.
Work has been painful. Physcially, I mean. The course just turned 10 years old, and most of our irrigation heads have been in the ground that long. Consequently, they're starting to go. This summer's major project is to replace as many of them as we can. I've done two this week.
I didn't really doubt it before, but this week removed any doubt as to why New Hampshire is called the Granite State. I've dug through packed clay and rock for three days. Today I dug a hole as long as me, as wide as golf cart, and as deep as my waist, through riverbottom clay and rock. The areas immediately around the mainline and the head were sandy, which wasn't so bad, but there surface around this head had sunk down so deep, we needed to dig a wide area around the head to raise it back up. I'm going to feel it in the morning, for sure. On the plus side, I had resolved to get more exercise and try to loose a little weight this summer. Mission very much being accomplished. Oh, my aching arms and back.
Reports from the Front:
Job Front: Nothing yet, but I'm considering another back up option, and that is to try and get into radio broadcasting, possibly, since I enjoyed it so much at the College radio station. The market is starting to pick up a little. The volume of new postings is increasing everyday, even if there's nothing in my field yet.
Wedding Front: Some what stalled, althought I'd call it more of a regroup and refuel stop, rather than a bogging down. I was *supposed* to try and book a photog this week, but for a variety of reasons I haven't had the time in the afternoons to do any research. Tomorrow maybe I'll do some looking, and hopefully get that sorted around by the middle of next week. I did put the deposit down on the Honeymoon, so that is some progress, I guess. And the wedding invitation proof should be in by the begining of next week too. So, as I said, we stoped the column to regroup, refuel and plan the assult on the next target, just like the good little Field Marshalls we are.
Does it have to have a title?
Jul. 10th, 2005 10:07 amLife is motoring along smoothly, at least on the Wedding Front. Invitation ordering is on the agenda for this afternoon, for anyone keeping score at home.
However, the Job Front is not going as well. The Front is bogged down and is now bearing more of a resemblance to the Battle of the Marne than anything else. While expecting it to be Blitzkrieg might have been overly optimistic, I'm still dissapointed in how things are going. I never heard a word from half the places I tried to apply to online, and I've been rejected everywhere else, and nothing new has popped up in my target area yet. Paitence I know, is a virtue, but I'm starting to get to the point where I'm going to be loosing sleep over this.
I mean, I don't even know what I'd do if I didn't get a job. I suppose I could keep working at the golf course until November closing, but that doesn't pay out quite the way I had in mind. 8.67 an hour is not exactly a living wage for those confronting marrige. Substitute teaching is also a posibilty, but it's a little more hit or miss than I would prefer. I'm really at a loss here. And yes, yes, I'm quite familiar with the concept of closing doors and opening windows, and I do beleive that, but sometimes it's hard not to get worried. I mean, one of the reasons I got the teaching certificate was so that I'd be immediatly employable. So far, not employed. I'm not even sure if I have any marketable skills beyond teaching. Somebody suggested trying my hand at journalism, and its got it's attractions, I suppose, but I'm not sure where, or how to go about getting into that feild.tante_in_hp suggested writing professionally, and while certainly attractive, I need to put some money in the bank before the length of time it would take to churn out something worth publishing professionally. For now, I guess it's just back to cruising websites and making phone calls for openings, and hoping for the best.
Speaking of hoping for the best, I hope everybody's battened down the hatches on the Gulf Coast, especially youkermi3. Hope this isn't a harbinger of another nasty hurricane season.
However, the Job Front is not going as well. The Front is bogged down and is now bearing more of a resemblance to the Battle of the Marne than anything else. While expecting it to be Blitzkrieg might have been overly optimistic, I'm still dissapointed in how things are going. I never heard a word from half the places I tried to apply to online, and I've been rejected everywhere else, and nothing new has popped up in my target area yet. Paitence I know, is a virtue, but I'm starting to get to the point where I'm going to be loosing sleep over this.
I mean, I don't even know what I'd do if I didn't get a job. I suppose I could keep working at the golf course until November closing, but that doesn't pay out quite the way I had in mind. 8.67 an hour is not exactly a living wage for those confronting marrige. Substitute teaching is also a posibilty, but it's a little more hit or miss than I would prefer. I'm really at a loss here. And yes, yes, I'm quite familiar with the concept of closing doors and opening windows, and I do beleive that, but sometimes it's hard not to get worried. I mean, one of the reasons I got the teaching certificate was so that I'd be immediatly employable. So far, not employed. I'm not even sure if I have any marketable skills beyond teaching. Somebody suggested trying my hand at journalism, and its got it's attractions, I suppose, but I'm not sure where, or how to go about getting into that feild.
tante_in_hp suggested writing professionally, and while certainly attractive, I need to put some money in the bank before the length of time it would take to churn out something worth publishing professionally. For now, I guess it's just back to cruising websites and making phone calls for openings, and hoping for the best.Speaking of hoping for the best, I hope everybody's battened down the hatches on the Gulf Coast, especially you
kermi3. Hope this isn't a harbinger of another nasty hurricane season.
Progress At Last
Jul. 6th, 2005 08:03 pmOkay...
Progress on the Wedding Front.
Accomplished to date:
Booked Hall- 12/04
Booked Church - 12/04
Ordered Wedding Gown and Bridesmaides Dressed - 6/05
*NEW* Booked DJ - 7/6/05
*NEW* Ordered Wedding Bands - 7/6/05
Still to come:
Invitations- Tentative order date, 7/8/05
Photographer- Next week?
Limo- Who knows, soon?
Tuxes (me and groomsmen)- Sometime before the end of July.
Flowers - Who knows?
Am I missing anything?
Anyway, the wedding bands are pretty. I'm glad we were able to agree on them quickly. After all, it's only the one peice of jewlery we'll both wear for the rest of our natural lives... When they come in, we'll see about taking a digital picture and making the view available for interested parties.
Work sucks this week, because it's going to do nothing but rain. Stupid tropical storms.
Got my actual teaching license in the mail this week. It came the same day as a rejection letter from one of the jobs I applied to. Go figure. I'm pretty much back to square one as far as the job hunt goes. Anybody know what a history major does besides teach?
Umm...I think that's it for now. Catch y'all later.
Progress on the Wedding Front.
Accomplished to date:
Booked Hall- 12/04
Booked Church - 12/04
Ordered Wedding Gown and Bridesmaides Dressed - 6/05
*NEW* Booked DJ - 7/6/05
*NEW* Ordered Wedding Bands - 7/6/05
Still to come:
Invitations- Tentative order date, 7/8/05
Photographer- Next week?
Limo- Who knows, soon?
Tuxes (me and groomsmen)- Sometime before the end of July.
Flowers - Who knows?
Am I missing anything?
Anyway, the wedding bands are pretty. I'm glad we were able to agree on them quickly. After all, it's only the one peice of jewlery we'll both wear for the rest of our natural lives... When they come in, we'll see about taking a digital picture and making the view available for interested parties.
Work sucks this week, because it's going to do nothing but rain. Stupid tropical storms.
Got my actual teaching license in the mail this week. It came the same day as a rejection letter from one of the jobs I applied to. Go figure. I'm pretty much back to square one as far as the job hunt goes. Anybody know what a history major does besides teach?
Umm...I think that's it for now. Catch y'all later.
Been A While
Jul. 2nd, 2005 09:11 pmIt's been a while since I updated. So much time has passed, but it seems as though not much has gone on.
I got Sara's new car all straightened around, registration, inspection, the whole 9 yards. She's happy to have it, since she hates driving my Cherokee. Her work is going well.
My work is going well. We hosted the New Hampshire Junior Amateur this past week. They are pains in the proverbial rear end. They're stuck up, arrogent little twits, who are never happy. They don't tip the waitstaff at the clubhouse, they complain about the course conditions, they yell at the groundscrew when they get the chance. More money than brains on these kids. Working this tournament is pure hell.
Sara got a wedding dress, apparently. I'm pleased, because it's just one more thing to cross off the list of things to do.
Defining the Relationship is coming well, for those of you reading over at PhoenixSong.net, and I've actually started up something new. Non-fanfic. I've tinkering with something I've tentativly titled "Summer in MacPherson's Valley". It's actually a semi-autobiographical peice, based on events from my work at the golf course and other incidents from life in general. Maybe I'll post some bits and pieces if I polish any up.
Sox are on TV, so I'm out for now.
I got Sara's new car all straightened around, registration, inspection, the whole 9 yards. She's happy to have it, since she hates driving my Cherokee. Her work is going well.
My work is going well. We hosted the New Hampshire Junior Amateur this past week. They are pains in the proverbial rear end. They're stuck up, arrogent little twits, who are never happy. They don't tip the waitstaff at the clubhouse, they complain about the course conditions, they yell at the groundscrew when they get the chance. More money than brains on these kids. Working this tournament is pure hell.
Sara got a wedding dress, apparently. I'm pleased, because it's just one more thing to cross off the list of things to do.
Defining the Relationship is coming well, for those of you reading over at PhoenixSong.net, and I've actually started up something new. Non-fanfic. I've tinkering with something I've tentativly titled "Summer in MacPherson's Valley". It's actually a semi-autobiographical peice, based on events from my work at the golf course and other incidents from life in general. Maybe I'll post some bits and pieces if I polish any up.
Sox are on TV, so I'm out for now.
As sand through the hourglass
Jun. 20th, 2005 03:32 pmThe daily grind of my life. Alarm clock rings, 4:40 am. Drag self out of bed, dress, check email, roll out of driveway by 4:50. Arrive at work 4:51. Open shop, sleep in chair in shop. Roll out of shop on mower (golf cart, etc.) 5:15. Fall asleep on mower at least twice between 7-8am. Breakfast break (pancakes, bacon) 8:15-8:30ish till after top 10 plays on Sportscenter (8:50ish). Work till 1 pm. Home by 1:01. Crash in chair 1:02. Drink copious amounts of juice. Shower by 1:30. Afternoon free to clean room or work on wedding stuff, or run errands. Sara out of work by 4, home by 5. Dinner by 6. Bed by 9 (hopefully) Sleep. Repeat. Ad nauseum.
And just as a side note, has anyone noticed how outrageous the prices are for wedding photographers these days? holy cow.
And if anyone knows any good ways to keep your fiancee from killing her family (...the maid of honor...the best man...ME!), over wedding plans, that would be great too.
And just as a side note, has anyone noticed how outrageous the prices are for wedding photographers these days? holy cow.
And if anyone knows any good ways to keep your fiancee from killing her family (...the maid of honor...the best man...ME!), over wedding plans, that would be great too.
