Hummingbird Feeders, Multiple Sclerosis and Leg Cramps, and Terracotta Smoker

I went and got another hummingbird feeder today, put it on the back of the house in front of the bay window in the living room. The ruby throated hummers like the new location! It's amazing to watch them, I didn't know how territorial they were. The wife gasps when they fly to the feeder, then she gasps each time they flit around. We had one the flitted so many times, I thought she was going to pass out! I was actually able to see a couple of the hummers sitting in the tree, never saw that before.

Why is it the cramps start about this time everyday? It doesn't matter what I do, little activity, huge amounts of activity, they are going to hit about 9:30 every night. It's starting to really get on my nerves having the yips, and I want it to stop. I've tried bananas, the mother tried to get me to take quinine, must of thought I had malaria. Probably would try anything to see it I could get this to stop, really bothers me.

OK, I have bunches of things I want to try, most of them either cost too much, are out of my ability range, or I figure out they are just stupid! I want a smoker, but I don't want to pay for one. I found plans for one using Terracotta pots and a hot plate, I know, crazy. We got a terracotta pot for cooking chicken as a wedding gift, and we couldn't figure out how to clean it? The looks of this are very cool, but how do you wash it after using it? I think I'm going to find out with this one.

House Painting, Handicapped Accessible, and Playstation 2 Games

Getting ready to paint the entire inside of the house, with the exception of the kids rooms. We have a lot of projects to do, but it's amazing how big an impact painting can have. The boy and the girl are going to get a crash course on the finer points of latex paint application. The wife has a job in all this as well, she is color picker outer supreme! My crew is going to start patching up places scared by Looney Linda, the homes prior resident, as well as sanding old fixes. We are ALL so excited about the project.

Been looking around the casa to see what modifications could be done to make the house more me friendly. Kitchen, living, and dining room on one floor. 3 steps up to the bedrooms and baths, 7 steps down to family room, laundry, and half bath, and then 2 steps down to storage. The lower part, I'm not there much, most of my time is spent on the main floor, near the kitchen. I go upstairs to sleep, and use the bathroom. I think I need a powder room on the main floor, or a chair lift to go up the 3 steps to the bathrooms. The thingy for the steps is probably the way to go.

I bought the boy's playstation 2 from him, he was going to trade it in, so I thought hey, I like games. He has all the sports games, boooo, he has wrestling games, double boooo, and lastly he has race care games, triple boooo! I'm an asteroids, Doom, and other shoot em up games, yay! I'm trying to figure if I'm going to steal it from him, or just screw him out of it, he is my boy!

The Girl Got Published, I've Got Bob Dole Hand, and No Energy To Do Housework

I don't know about any if you have famous authors living in your house, but we do, it's just the way we roll. The girl wrote a book when she was 14 or so, probably the only thing she wrote that the father didn't die in the first few minutes! She finally decided to get it published, it's called, "Her Hair",and we are all excited about it. She's excited because, well, because she she got her book published. I'm excited because when she's famous, she can buy me stuff! She has others, one will be submitted to a competition, I'll let you know.

I'm getting the wife to sew the right pocket of all my pants shut, it is officially useless to me. If I am able to get something in the right pocket, I sure can't get it out. I was wearing a pair of my fat guy shorts today, had my wallet in my right pocket. My wallet is huge, has my badge, and wad of cash I lug around. I couldn't get my right hand into the pocket. My hand isn't swollen and won't fit, I just couldn't find the opening, or manipulate the wallet out. I need to start carrying a pen in my right hand like Bob Dole, problem is I'd drop the pen. I always liked my right hand, I'm going to miss it.

I have tons of projects that need to be done, don't have the energy to even get started. It's time to get started with painting, refinishing floors, all kinds of fun stuff. I won't be doing any of it. That time has past for me, I will be the guy that sits on the chair and keeps saying it needs another coat, even before the first one is on yet. Who will build my cottage doors, put up my wainscoting, my disco ball? I know this is just the start of this part but I already hate it! Just something else to get depressed over.

Toltec Wisdom, Original Back Injury, and Time to Hire a Landscaper

I read a book, cover to cover whilst laid up, something I have not done for a good while. The book was "The four Agreements" by Don Miguel Ruiz. It was suggested to me by my friend who set up the Raindrop therapy, as a type of therapy for my mind. It tells of how to rid your mind and body of the poison we subject ourselves to, and how to stop it to achieve heaven on earth. The 4 agreements are:

1. Be impeccable with your word

2. Don't take anything personally

3. Don't make assumptions

4. Always do your best

The books says that if we can do those things, and break the old agreements we have made while being "domesticated", we can achieve peace. We need to embrace the philosophy of the angel of death, live today, tomorrow we may be gone. I will have to think about this one, an let you know what I come up with.

The back is feeling better, though I'm not ready to dance a jig as yet. I remember the first day I had the back pain, probably not something most people can say. We were down the sisters house for one of her mega 4th of July parties. The boy was little, and he and his mother had just gotten off of one of the many boats they have, or at least she had, the boy fell in! I was up in the yard, but saw it. I took off for the pier, I was still able to move back then, jumped down over the first bulkhead, and when I landed, I felt it. My back hasn't felt good since that day, with flare ups every so often that put me down! Turns out I didn't need to do it anyway, the wife was right there, and being our Wonder woman, never hesitated and jumped right in and snatched him out. Like I've said, she can do anything! Both had some cuts and bruises, but were otherwise fine.

I'm going to float out in the pool today, I don't care how cold the water is! I'm also going to ignore all the things that need to be done out there, I can't even consider doing any of it right now. We are going to hire a guy from the neighborhood that does landscaping to come and clean everything up, and mulch. I have known him since he was 3 years old, he has offered to help before, so we shall see. The wife and kids could do it, but not without a lot of grief. The wife doesn't know a rosebush from a dandelion, so weeding would be a real adventure. The kids aren't aware we have a backyard, and they got their horticulture gene from their mother. Yeah, I think it's time to hire someone I can yell at if they don't do a good job, and still sleep in my own bed!

Friend to Finish Bathroom, Wife Walked on Back, and Daughter Gets Published

Took a road trip with a friend today, even crossed state lines. I know, slow down boy! My friend's a builder, we went up so he could look at a problem with a sidewalk at a place he just finished a huge addition. So I road shotgun, we looked at the crack, then went and got lunch, I miss going to work! The friend is coming tomorrow to finish our hall bathroom, the one that was started July 19th, 2008, so much for the whole thing taking a few days. I hate it when people don't do what they say. My friend is coming tomorrow, to finish, and we bartered the job for a 30 gallon compressor, he tried to pay for the new door, so obviously the job is worth more than the compressor, but I feel like I'm paying him something.

The wife did a modified oil treatment tonight, hoping it will help with my fractured vertebrate. So far so good, let's see if it works. I am fine if I don't move, but that's no way to live, so I will go back to toughin it out, as soon as I get back to a level I can tough through! My father has always had back problems, so I'm glad he passed THAT on.

The daughter got some good news yesterday, she had her first novel published. She must have gotten her writing talent from me, but she didn't have to take it all! The novel is called "Her Hair" and it will be available on places like Amazon in a few days. Most of the things she wrote when she was younger had a definitely Disney style, you know, the father died! They would be cheery stories, and all of a sudden they would talk about the day the father got murder by the band of roving thieves. I didn't sleep with both eyes shut for 10 years! I'm proud of her, not just because I want her to buy me a 700 acre piece of property in Western Maryland, but because I love her and think she can do anything!

In-Laws, Working In the Yard, and MS Stealing My Legs

Went to the in-laws for dinner tonight, they tried to kill me with food! The mother-in-law cooks a mean roast beef and carrots. We ate desert, dessert, we had sweets 3 times. We sat around and talked about the situation the world is in, and how I will fix it when I'm put in charge, or take over, doesn't matter to me, pool, pond, either way. The girl had a realization, she saw that her grandmother is starting to forget. I was very proud of the way she handled it.

Me and the girl had a forced labor camp today putting those damn swimming pool steps together. I officially call for a new body, because like Rodney said, this sucks I tell ya, it sucks! It took forever to do what used to take no time at all, did get the opportunity to show the girl she can do anything, always have, that's why she will be my assistant when I take over. Followed the directions online, bought a floor model, no paper directions, can't pass up a bargain, filled the ballast with pee gravel, and I'm not sure I like them? You wanna talk about being pissed!

I get down on the ground now, or the floor, and I can't quite figure out how to get up? Working outside today I felt like one of those beached whales you see on discovery channel, not able to jump, so I rolled to something I could pull myself up on. Wendy Ward charm school it wasn't! I shouldn't complain, I can still get up, but all that means is I have the knowledge it's getting harder, and it is. With each project it seems I'm finding new obstacles, and I don't like it. Had a nice week with just the girl, but it's time for everyone to be home again!

Multiple Sclerosis, Glasses Fixed, Stained Glass Project, and Bad Mood Thursday

I got my glasses fixed today, I can see things again. They took them right back, worked on them, and in no time I had them back. I asked about getting the scratches in the no glare coating buffed out. The girl asked me if I was still under warranty? I wanted to say, at my age, but I fought it off. I often wonder what men my age and older are thinking when they make cute remarks to young girls? Hopefully not that they want to hear it. She spent 20 minutes on the phone checking to see about warranty, they weren't, but I wonder if she could have buffed them out faster then the phone call took?

I went up today to see about getting stained glass panes to put in an old window frame. I want to put 2 of the windows over the hall bathroom window for privacy. After we put the walk in shower in and took the tub out, there isn't as much room around the window as there used to be. If I cut down the 2 frames, attach them together, then hinge them over the existing window, it should provide a certain modicum of privacy. I have to pick stained glass that lets in some light, but doesn't show back lit shadows at night. I think it will be a colorful solution for a window treatment.

Is it OK for me to get pissy from time to time? I know I'm not the only person in the world that has problems, but mine are more important, they're mine. I have empathy for others, but at the end of the day, others usually make me mad. I see the problems that they have, or the ones they perceive to have, and it gets me stressed. I don't think people do it purposely, my own father does it. He stayed home 3 days in a row, me too! Family always tell me they are afraid of making me mad, I tell them not to worry about it, I'm usually mad anyway!