Wheels

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to go and repair Fred's riding lawnmower. It decided over the winter that it was not going to give another year without a little attention. It turned out that it had a hole in the the fuel line. It was an easy fix. Having it fixed seemed to make Fred a little happier. It gave him mobility and a way to drive something. For most guy's driving something is important. It seems from the day you get your drivers license it's part of who you are. Even as a child driving tractors are a big thing. And mowing grass is therapeutic for many. The smells, the patterns and most of all you are not allowed to think about other things when you mow grass. It sort of cleanses the mind for a while. I hope Fred can mow grass all summer. Father time can be cruel to body which then can influence the attitude of our inner being. When time is short I can only imagine the importance of the little things in life. Praise God for the promise of a new a glorious body.

Celebrate the weekend .

Happy B day

Happy Birthday to Suleyman. Oh, to be that age again. 28 that's near half of my age. I think I can remember 28 I was invincible. Pain wasn't the first thing you thought of when you rolled out of bed. and I had thick hair. and all one color. Anyway, back to Suleyman. I hope you have a great Birthday and I wish we could all be together to celebrate.

Two weeks from today I intend to arrive in GA. I have a lot to do between now and then. I think the Handyman idea for Georgia might be a good thing. It seems around here everybody has a small thing they need to have done. Repair this, haul this, change this. build this. It's funny. I guess that's why I appreciate the job that pastors do. It's almost the same as what I do. It's just that they do it for the heart and soul of people and I do it for their property's. Just think Pastor Tom & Pastor Dave You work for the biggest handyman service in existence, and it never seems that you lack for work. I guess that could be bad thing.

Y'all have a good day!

Lake front

Again I find myself living on water front property! The front yard is flooded as well as the back. The good news is it won't turn into ice. Maybe all the sticks will float away or into a pile.

Still no work signed on the dotted line. Just the possibility.

I started loading the trailer yesterday. It's hard to decide what tools to take at what point. I know as soon as its gone I will need it somewhere. Then there's the garage sale, that will happen after we return from GA. We just had a huge moving sale two years ago and now we need another, I will be parting with more tool type items. as well as collected junk. You know, another mans treasure. This will be in preparation for next years moving/tag sale. That's everything with a yellow dot. The stuff with green dots go to GA. And stuff with blue dots follow the tag sale at the final garage sale. And if there is something we have a with a green and red dot that means it can go any time to GA. As I look at my monitor it has a green dot. It will go on the final trip unless I can replace it with a laptop prior to moving. My John Deere lamp also has a green dot maybe it can go on the second to last trip. The computer table has a yellow dot it will be tagged for sale next year. If I mention anything you like make me and offer.

Keep your feet dry and have a great day!

Great Day!

What a beautiful day yesterday was. I hope everyone got to enjoy a piece of it.

The Pistons game was interesting last night. Pistons trailing by 3 with 1.5 seconds to go. Colorado in balls the ball from the side line after a time out. Rasheed Wallace steals the inbound pass and hoist it up from 3/4 court and makes it, sending the game into overtime. Pistons win in overtime.

After today I can start watching the 15 day weather forecast for Milledgeville GA. and see what kind of weather we will have while we are there. Diane clean out all the wood from the trailer yesterday and now it is ready to load. This officially marks the start of the move.

Have a blessed day!

Well traveled

Diane and I spent the whole weekend with Andy this past weekend. It was a good time. We traveled to Cleavland, Huron, Sandusky, Milan (Edison's birthplace), Lorain, Norwalk and a few other little towns along the way. Had a picnic in a little park, We even checked out a cemetery with a lot of Cooks laying around. On the way home we stopped and had dinner with Amanda.

Lake Erie still has a little ice piled on the shoreline and the water temp. is 35.

It was supposed to be near 90 in GA yesterday and right now it is 77. That ought to warm the lake up for a little water recreation.

Have a great week!

It's getting bad!

I think my industry is soon to follow the automotive industry. Almost each day now I hear of foreclosures and large corporations filing for Bankruptcy. People are starting to get liens placed on their new homes. I heard of two subdivision failures this week alone. This is definitely a example of the trickle down economic theory in reverse.

It's off to Huron Ohio this afternoon, No clue as what we will do for fun, but it is an adventure just the same. The weather should be great.

Have a great weekend!

Over the edge

This morning I figured out that we should arrive in Georgia in 511 hours. Now how strange is that! You would think I would have more important thing to think about.

I have designed the fourth set of drawings for an addition on the GA home. The home that was just what we wanted when we bought it. I think this plan is the one we like. Now, if we only had the money. At least we are big dreamers. Maybe we can do this when we install a irrigation system, walkway to the lake, updated landscaping and two new heat pumps. and maybe a new driveway while we are at it. Where is that lotto ticket. Send donation to: R Cook at -----

Have a great day!

510 1/2 hours. Somebody help me!

First full Day

Let's celebrate and grease up the lawn mower, today is the first full day of spring! According to the weather forecasters it looks as if the weather is going to turn the corner and start to act like spring right on cue. In a few short weeks we will be singing Christ the Lord is risen today and admiring the tulips.

It also looks that I will have some work in a few weeks. Possibly a kitchen and a bathroom. It will be something to come back from Georgia for.

Can you smell the hyacinth?

Hope springs eternal. Enjoy the day!

Reminded

Good news bad news. The bad news the doctor said; I am going to have to remove your foot. The good news is; the guy in the bed next to you wants to buy your slipper. Yesterday I accompanied Fred & Nell to the doctors office. As you sit in the waiting room you get to people watch.(one of my favorite things). First I noticed the lady who appeared to be about sixty and she looked mad at the world. Then their was the younger attractive lady smartly dressed but looked as if she was tired and had some type of respiratory virus. Then the guy who made Fred look like he was in the picture of health. I have seen dead people with better color, and this man had the oxygen bottle tethered to him, and when he sat down he gasp for breath for about five minutes. What was funny is my reaction to all of this. The mad lady was across the room and I was glad. The guy on oxygen was driving me crazy. He was loud and the gasping for breath and the clicking of the regulator on the oxygen bottle was too much. But then the younger girl I just wanted to get her a pillow and a blanket and make her comfortable. I have a feeling it supports some theory that the beautiful people in the world get things in life easier.

I wonder what they thought of me when they looked over the room.

Have a healthy day!

Ho Hum

It appears to be just another Monday. I woke up tired (to many drugs) and not real excited about anything. I am sure by days end, however something will have perk my interest. I am ready for the warm weather to come back. That would be exciting. Next weekend involves a trip to Huron, Ohio to visit Cookster. Now that excites me. This weekend I spent some time in the Irish Hills. I was painting at a friends home. The lakes are still frozen there but are starting to melt on the edges here and there.

24 days to go for the GA trip. That means I need to finish up the fire wood in the trailer and start loading it up. This trip starts the move. When I think of all the things that need to be sold and or moved I wonder if I have the energy to complete the task. Did I mention it would be nice to be thirty again.

Have a blessed week!

Spring flowers

As I look at the upper right corner of my computer screen I can see that the current temp. in Milledgeville is 72 . That suggest that the hedges are growing the grass is starting to green and most of all the flower are getting ready to display God's creation in a most splendid way. Springtime to me is almost like forgiveness. It's time for rebirth and a new season. It's natures way of cleaning up it's act.

I just thought of one good thing about winter. It makes you thankful for spring.

Have a great day Y'all

It's back!

I look out the window and to my surprise it's white. I wanted light, not white. I should definitely speak clearer when I am praying for something.

I read Amanda's blog about all the things she likes. It is a long list. It made me wonder about how my list would read. Then I wondered about having to put them all in order of value or how you much you liked them. Then if you analyzed the list could you draw conclusion to the type of person you are. My list would probably consist of a lot of things that aided or pleased only me. Does that make me a self centred person? I just can't see me adding to the list, something like, working at the homeless shelter.

Well it was four years ago today that Mom received the final reward. If she were here I sure would have a lot of questions to ask her. I would value the answer, I always did, even if I never asked a question. Mom seemed to have an ability to give insight to your concerns just by reading your face and emotions. I think that is why many sought her counsel.

Hope for Sunshine

So nice

This morning I sit and type with no slippers on. and a long sleeve shirt. and I am hot. Should I go change to a short sleeve shirt? I have a very little fire in the wood stove, and it feels about eighty in here. Now, if we could get daylight back it would be about the perfect morning. I just hate awaking to the darkness.

After my morning of painting yesterday I cam home and did some repairs to the rented home we live in. It's kind of strange repairing a home you have no vested interest in. You're not compensated in any way and the value of your property is not increased. It plays on your mind a little. It's hard to keep motivated.

Have a great hump day?

A little work

Today I get to paint a small basement. It should take about four or five hrs. that will probably be the extent of my physical labor this week. If I could only make a living at this pace.

The temp. in Milledgeville is to be in the 80's today I wish I were there to go on the boat.

We bought a bronze fish statue/fountain at Supples on Saturday. There was no price on the item. I inquired about it and the price kept going down as we talked. I think I could take it to the scrap yard and get more than what I paid for it. It should make a nice addition to the lakefront landscape.

We have a clock on our computer desk that is set by the atomic clock. It is still an hour off. I guess that means the chip inside does not know the difference of the new time change.

I made some changes to my config. file on the computer yesterday and so far this morning blogger has not shutdown on its own. That's a good thing.

Have a nice day!

Lost it again

My computer returns to my desktop at will when I blog. It has happened twice already this morning. This time I lost my blog.

It may be a bit premature, but I took the snow blower out of the garage and into the shed this weekend. One can only hope it will stay there for the rest of the year. I even give thought to getting the patio furniture out. But then I came to my senses.

We celebrated Fred's birthday yesterday. Just Diane and I and the kids and Nell it was a good day. We had fried noodles, one of Fred favorites. and opened gifts. I'm fortunate to have such a great father in law.

Have a good week!

It feels sooo good!

I worked on the South side of a home yesterday. After about an hour the warmth from the sun allowed me to take of my coat and gloves. It was wonderful! You can tell the warmth of the sun is getting greater as the days go by. I would have loved to lay down and take a nap and just soaked it up.
Have a great weekend!

Never saw it

That is the truck that hit me. I am sore and stiff this morning. I guess moving office furniture and hooking up computers is more than this old body can handle.

I went to pick up some material from my siding supplier yesterday. They are quite a large business. They are down to 4 employees one is the owner and the rest are family. Our economy is in big trouble here. All my sub contractors are in need of work. I went past a construction site in Monroe yesterday where their were striking workers. I couldn't tell why but I would bet it was for using non union labor. If you are working now you sure wouldn't be complaining about wages.

Have a great day!

Big Changes

My office desk at work now faces the South and my computer desk does a 180 and it is facing the West and the carpet is a somewhat green . How much change can one person handle? I am just living on the edge.

It would be nice to think that today's snow would be the last of the season. That is probably wishful thinking, but I will wish it anyway. Soon I will be able to put the snow blower to bed. and my mantra will be only one more winter to go through. I wonder if you can make angels in the red clay? I guess I will just be trading snow removal for leaf removal. The good part is you don't need Carharts too do leaf removal.

Think spring! please

Nervous

I am starting to get a little nervous about the move South. It's over a year away and I am starting to lay awake at night thinking about jobs, fiances, moving, etc. I look forward to the change at this stage of my life. but still wonder if it is the best move. What's funny is you can always come back. I enjoyed moving from Labo Rd. to Meadowbrook Ct. I think moving every five years would be a good thing. That way you could analyze what you really need to keep around and what you can get ride of. My biggest concern is bridging the the time between now and when I become 62. What kind of salary can I produce in the South. Do I go out on my own or do I go and work for someone. Then I wonder how marketable is a 55 year old builder/carpenter/designer/electrician/plumber/tile man/painter/and corporate president. I wonder if I could sell cars?. I just pray my nerves don't get the best of me and that God opens the doors along the way. He has so far, so, I guess I will just trust and obey.

Make today your most productive!

Great Service

Diane, Amanda & I went to the memorial service for Earl yesterday evening. What a joy it is to attend Christian memorial services. no great sorrow just joy in knowing Earl has enter into a far better place. I never held a discussion with Earl, But after hearing Pastor Tom last evening I think I would have liked to.

Note to Pastor Tom,
Your congregation is to be commended, Your facility looked great yesterday.

Busy day today! New carpet is being install at the office. an estimate & a lot of desks and computers to move.


Have a blessed week!

Flooding in GA

Floating Boat house

SCD

Stupid computer day! It has taken me ten minutes to get to this page this morning. One shut down. one freeze up. and slower than normal performance. I am not using antiquated equipment either. It's just being STUPID!

On the life calendar this morning the square is blank. So feel free to go for it. It could be your square.

I called the neighbor in GA last night. I was watching the weather and there was a tornado warning for NW Baldwin County, and you don't get anymore NW than our house. I guess we are still neighbors. Our house is still next to theirs.

My office is all turn upside down. We are having new carpet installed. The existing carpet was dirty and had been cleaned so many times it just seemed to get dirty twice as fast.

Have a great weekend, Ill be back on Monday God willing and the creek don't rise.

What remains

After hearing about Pam's dad on Wednesday I give thought to Mom and her passing. For Christan's death is so much easier to handle than for those who have no hope. Fortunately what remains are the memories. They are like lessons on life that you can recall and tap into for knowledge and wisdom. and the great thing is, there always there.

Nine years ago today we arrive home on the red eye from Las Vegas. catch a few hours sleep and then head to work. Around 10 I get a call from Diane saying her parents house is on fire. That sure was a surreal day. It amazed me that and hour of fire and smoke caused weeks and weeks of labor.

It was 76 in Milledgeville yesterday. In my book that prime boating weather. I sure would have liked to been slicing through the water on the boat enjoying Gods creation.