Sadness in the family

I have some sad news to report. Jennifer's beloved cat Reagan passed away last night for no apparent reason. I talked to her on my way home last night and she told me that he wasn't feeling well and had been throwing up a few times and was just laying around and not being the frisky cat that he was. He was fine during the day and all of a sudden, he became ill. I told her that he just probably caught something and was a little sick, but would recover like everyone else does that is feeling ill.

When I arrived home from work, she called and he had become worse and wanted to take him to the vet and we found one that stayed open 24 hours. Eddie had taken her car to work and she didn't have one at home, so I drove over to take her to the Mag Plant to get her car. When I arrived, she came out and said that she thought Reagan was gone and under her bed. Unfortunately, she was right.

Reagan was a good cat, a little shy around people at first, but when he finally warmed up to you, he was around you constantly purring and rubbing on you the way cats do. I will truly miss him.

Things I do for lunch

I'm not much of a lunch eater, but last night I thought I'd like some fish for lunch before I left for work today. I asked Deb if we had any frozen fish in the freezer and I thought she said "Only if you catch some." Since she never really jokes around, I took that remark as a truthful NO. But, once I woke up this morning, the urge for some fresh mercury laced fish was still heavily floating around in my mind and I wanted some, NOW. I donned my Carharts, grabbed some ice fishing gear that I luckily saved of my Dad's and off to a secluded back road pond I drove to catch my lunch. Thoughts of a century past, flashed through my mind and I felt like one the first pioneer's arriving to the Eaton Rapids area in the late 1800's, living off the land. Hours passed without a nibble and after a while, I couldn't feel my hands or feet any longer and my beard was frozen solid. I finally realized that I needed to look elsewhere for a meal.

I called a friend of mine, and his wife informed me that he was outside with the 'kids' having lunch and to come on over. Back to the Honda I flew and headed out to his country estate. I found my buddy as he was heading back into his home and told him about my disappointing fishing experience. He told me the 'kids' were actually still eating outside as we spoke and I could still get that frontier experience I was looking for. "Just elbow your way up to the feeding area and help yourself.", he informed me with a slight toothless grin. Well, I took one look at the 'kids', knew instantly that they weren't going to let me eat with them and decided that I would lower my standards and have a Banquet Swedish Meatball frozen meal. But, if you look closely at the box, I'm getting a free game of bowling with every meal I have.

Bon Appetite

Deb's Birthday

Although we celebrated Deb's birthday today, it was actually on 1/16, but I had to work that weekend and Deb was busy helping Jennifer move into her new house. So, it was decided that if I didn't have to work this Sunday, Steph would have a birthday dinner at her home in Lansing. Well, yours truly had the weekend off and told Steph that dinner was a GO. Jennifer and Eddie and already made plans and were meeting up with Eddie's family for his son Eric's 16th birthday and couldn't attend, but a good time was had by all that attended (3), Six if you include the cats.

The birthday dinner was sort of a dual thing. A dinner for Deb and a tub to chaulk for me, which by the way, Steph said after I finished that it looked as if she did it, and criticized my workmanship. But, there were presents to open and one of Steph's great dinners to chow down on, so I let that slide.

The first gift that Deb opened was a bed tray from Steph, which will come in handy on the weekends, when I cook my 'Little Punkin's' breakfast, after I wake up around noon. Then, I believe I bought her a candle for her second gift. The third gift she opened was even more surprising to me, when I discovered that I also bought her a foot massager/heater. Thanks for picking those up for me Steph.

After having some of Steph's 'Black Forest birthday cake, the girls played some game and never bothered to ask me if I wanted to play, so I just kicked back in the recliner and took a nap. Their loss, not mine. Happy Birthday, Punkin's.

Cat Sitting

For the past week we've been watching Jennifer's two cats, Jagger and Reagan while she completes getting her new place suitable for living. Don't get me wrong, they haven't been a problem at all because as soon as they see you, they take off and hide. You walk in the door, they haul ass. You walk into the family room, they haul ass. You walk upstairs, they haul ass. You rarely ever see them. Well, last night when I arrived home, I found them both, petted Jagger once before he fled and then saw Reagan lounging his furry ass on the bed in the 'Big Boy's Room'. I walked in, started to pet him and to my surprise, he just laid there and let me rub him. I told him "Hey, no one is going to hurt you, you can come downstairs and be rubbed like cats like to be rubbed." Deb had taken a nap earlier in the evening to wait up for her man (he left before I arrived) and after I showered, she informed me that she wanted to go to either Meijer or the Paush for a FEW groceries. After spending a couple of 'Benjamins' we left to come home.
After we returned home and cooked up some steaks at 2:00 a.m., Reagan decided that he was going to heed my words and came downstairs to join us. He was rubbed, petted and patted and loved it. Around 3:00 a.m. we decided to go to bed and Reagan walked upstairs, hopped in our bed and walked around us for about 10 minutes before I shut him out. Well, all night long, he sat at the bedroom door meowing about every #$%^&*-ing thirty seconds. I turned up the television, fell asleep to it and I woke up to it. It drove me $%^&*-ing crazy. But, I was happy at least one of them finally felt safe enough in our home to allow Deb and I to rub him and love him up. But, our new found trust isn't lasting long because they head back to their new home today.

It's been funny to see History inner act with them though. He guards 'His' toys, he'll chase them off the back of 'His' chair and gives them some weird cat stare to let them know that they are only visiting, not staying in 'His' house. He must know that they are inside cats longing to get out, because he'll stand by the door in the dining room, turn his head back and give them some look that only cats can understand like, "Hey, I'm heading outside to play, you want to come with me? "NOT!"

Be Careful What You Wish For

In my last post, I mentioned how ecstatic I was about being off this weekend, lounging around, watching 'The Games' on the tube while I munched my favorite snacks and just plain kick my old ass back and enjoy the weekend as a weekend should be enjoyed. I also foolishly said that I could probably handle 'one' day of overtime this weekend. WELL GUESS WHAT? On my way into work on Friday, my cell phone rang and it was another driver telling me that he wouldn't be into work today because his Grandma just passed away. He asked me to tell our boss a couple of things for him. I gave him my condolences, gave the boss the message and was instantly told that I have been scheduled to work Saturday in this guy's place and also possibly Sunday as well. In just a matter of minutes I went from being extremely happy, to being overly pissed off. Not only was I going to give Jennifer and Eddie a hand moving on Saturday, but I had some well deserved kick'n back to do. Jennifer & Eddie had rented a house in town and Saturday was moving day. I told them that I couldn't lift anything heavy, but would be there to lend my 'Supervisory Skills', until I had to leave for work.

Anyway, this morning Deb and I were crashed out big time and I was awakened around 9:00 a.m. to Jennifer standing in our bedroom. She wanted to borrow the Jeep for a little more moving room. I knew I never should have given her a key. Deb got up and I went back to bed, going over to the new place after a couple more hours sleep. I took my camera with me to take a picture of Jennifer and Eddie's new digs. I think with a little outside work, it could be quite cute.

Now the big news. I'm off tomorrow and it's GAME DAY. What to watch first, football or golf? Golf or football? Wait, I have picture in picture, so I can catch it all at the same time. I guess I'll just have to see how the afternoon plays out. All I know is, I'm not doing sheeeeeeeeeeet.

Great picture taking weather

When I was a youngster growing up in the 'Hood' not many years ago, I used to love this time a year. My buddies and I would meet at Ellis Park first thing Saturday and Sunday morning dressed in our hockey attire, don our skates and skate out on the ice rink that was made by opening up a fire hydrant and flooding the lowest part of the park. We played for hours. We didn't have a Zamboni to clear the ice after each period, but we had shovels and cleared it off ourselves so we could continue to play and we'd play until dark. Two empty coffee cans or pieces of wood for the goal posts. The good old days. But, now that I'm older, I can't skate like I used to and the only hockey I want to play now is on the Nintendo, or watching the Wings at the Joe or on the tube. I took a few pics the other day and have come up with what I think are some great wintry shots. During the recent ice storm, I thought a view of our country road, trees laden with ice and the sun shinning down the road would make a nice picture. I could be wrong, but it looked good to me and that's all that matters. If we lived in Australia, I'd tell ya to "Piss Off'. Then I discovered an abandoned bird house that someone attached to a tree in front of our house which looked pretty cool, so I took a picture of that too. The pictures look better full size than little like they are here.

I found out today that I don't have to work this weekend and I'm really happy about that. Although, I could probably handle one day. That would have been a few more 'plates' taken care of. But, you know how much I enjoy working. I think I'll make a list of things I need to do and a list of things I want to do and see which list wins out. Looks like it's going to be a kick back do nothing expect what Debbie tells me I have to do, type weekend.

Is everyone off this weekend but ME?

As I sit here watching 'Da Bears' play Seattle, I realize that I have to leave for work in about 30 minutes. I can't even watch the entire game, but 'Da Bears' are up 14-0 at the start of the second period. Deb said she was going to drive me which will be fine, but she will not be happy when she has to leave our warm house to pick my old ass back up at 11:00 p.m. But, that's really the only time I get to see her. She's off tomorrow for M.L.K. day, and I have therapy tomorrow morning at 8:00 a.m. and have to get up early for that and will be going right back to bed when I get home around 9:00 a.m. What a life I lead.
This is my work attire since I'm both inside and outside of the plant all night long. All the other drivers are off this weekend, but me. Hardly anything is running, but I have to be there to move the parts around. When I arrived at work, I walked into the plant and noticed there wasn't room to put another rack of parts, but they were still pushing them out like a woman pushing out kids on welfare, and barely enough room to drive a forklift around. I don't like working weekends, but have convinced myself that by working Saturday and Sunday, it will pay for eight non-relatives at Jennifer and Eddie's upcoming nuptials, maybe. That's a lot of weekends I'm going to have to work to cover this. There goes my hot tub again this year.

But, the brightest thing of my night will be coming home to my 'Little Punkin's' (if she'd waited up) and maybe getting a hug and a kiss from her. But, since she won't be, I guess it's just me and my boy, History-History Hall, the bravest cat of all. He won't dessert his Dad.

So, my parting words to all of you is, "Fork It".

Short and sweet

Sure is lonely now that I'm on afternoons. I don't see anyone all day and when I come home from work, the house is empty with the exception of someone sleeping upstairs, snoring so loudly that I can hear it down stairs. Deb tried to stay up, but couldn't, or so she says. I told her that she didn't need to be up when I came home, she was up at 5:15 a.m. this morning getting ready for a meeting. Funny there were no early meetings before until Randy, her principle, became divorced. Sheeeeeeet, why get up early for a 'little', when I'm on afternoons and not around during the evening anyway. She can just tell me she had to stay over a little later, for a 'one on one' or wouldn't even have to tell me at all. How would I know?

Discovering the above wouldn't cause me to go running out to Abie's to drown my sorrows. I haven't woke up with a hangover in years and I'm liking it. It's nice waking up in the mornings and still having the same amount of money in your pocket that you left with earlier and wondering why you bought a round of drinks for people you don't even really know. Not that I've ever done that. No, I wouldn't pour ice cold, great tasting, and extremely refreshing Budweiser down my gullet, bottle after bottle. Hell No!

I love afternoons

Afternoons really suck. At 4p.m., I was sitting on my forklift thinking back to only a few short months ago when at that precise moment in time, I'd be in my little cubicle of life, shutting down my computer and going home to the 'Little Woman'. Once home and unwound, I'd either work in the yard, go out play a quick nine or whatever the hell I wanted to do, because the sun was still shinning. Now, I can't do really anything. Actually, I can still golf or kayak a portion of the Grand River, but it's not the same. This is funny, the first time I kayaked the Grand River, I went from Smithville Damn into town. Thought it might take me an hour and a half or so, took me 45 minutes and fifteen minutes of that I was B.S.ing with a guy in a canoe. Debbie dropped me off, had just walked into Mona's and I called her to pick me up. Anyway, I can still do all of the things I like to do, but as soon as I'm finished, I have to go into work. No going home, kicking back and going to bed. I have to go work. But, I'm still sitting on my ass and I haven't one ounce of stress and that's what it's all about, isn't it.

One thing I'm going to miss being on afternoons is sitting on my deck in the evening, watching and photographing the deer and the wild turkeys walk across the field. When we bought the house, I envisioned a great looking deck on the back, with an unrestricted view of the horseshoe pits. I built a small deck off the family room which wasn't that big a job and was good enough for who it was for. But, I wanted two more adjoining decks as well.

I knew exactly what I wanted and could picture it in my mind. It consumed every waking moment. I went out and bought several books on deck construction, looked at friends decks to see their design and construction and made numberous phone calls for lumber prices. Yep, I was going to do it myself. All I had to do was wait until spring and then, Jim, 'The Toolman' Hall was going to be getting into some major construction.

Spring was finally in the air and it was time. One Saturday morning, I sat down at the computer, had a list of what materials I needed in front of me and a price calulator. It was time to add up the damage and see what this baby was going to cost me and how much I'd save by doing it myself. I was pleased. Then reality set in. The first thought that came to my head was, "Do I really want to trust my construction abilities enough to let my family and friends gather on something I built that is roughly six feet above the ground? Hell No!

I started making calls instantly and of course, I waited to late in the year and every carpenter in the Tri County Area was busy. Finally, in late October with some snow flurries in the air my deck was finished by a professional. I finally had my deck, it was safe to stand on. Oh, I also got to sit on it twice before the first snow fall of the year and I had to put my chairs away. But, the one good thing about all of this is, it's safe for more than one person and has turned into a great party deck as well. Now I just have to go out and find some friends to party on it with.

Kickin back watching the playoffs

What could be better on a chilly weekend in January than kicking back with your favorite snacks, drinking a little Red Rose and watching the football playoffs? I can think of a few things, but since that isn't going to be happening, I can think of nothing else I'd rather be doing. For those of you who haven't been over to my home, I have a computer room just off the family room, a nice little spot that now has everything a guy could ask for to make his life complete. Unfortunately, the only drawback was I couldn't see the television in the family room from there and would always have to roll my desk chair out to catch a replay. Not anymore.

For Christmas, Deb bought me a nice 20" flat screen that fits perfectly in there and now I MISS NOTHING. In fact, she also bought me a DVD player so I could watch some movies of my choice. I was thinking though, did she do this because she loved me, or was it because she didn't want me using the new laptop, sitting with her and watching sports? Actually, it really doesn't matter because I enjoy being in my space. Now I just need a little fridge in there and life would be good, but I don't see that happening. Maybe if I tell her she'd never have to see me until bedtime, I may get one sooner than I think. I'll keep you posted with a post if that's the proper word for it.

Anyway, after the game, Punkin's and I went to Meijer and I happened upon a ceramic beer can turkey holder. Just the like a beer can chicken holder, but being ceramic you can pour a varity of things in it to flavor the turkey. You just add what you want (tonight we're using BBQ sauce, honey and chicken broth) I'll let you know how it turned out. Deb just told me that Steph, Tori maybe Casey were on their way over and also, Jennifer and Eddie wanted to come over and try out the bird. Sheeeeeet, there goes the turkey sandwiches for my lunches. Speaking of food, I wanted to thank Joe again for the great time I had at the Nuthouse for the Rose Bowl. Even though U of M wasn't the victor, the steaks grilled to perfection were the real winners that day. Do I want to be invited back or what???? One of the best cooks I know. Well, the tribe is over so guess I'd better get up there and secure a plate. I'll let you know how the bird turned out.

Our dinner was great and the turkey came out tender and moist. Steph and Tori didn't stay because Steph has turned vegetarian and I guess Tori wasn't hungry. And, I didn't need to worry about sandwiches because there was enough left over. I'll have to ask Deb if this was anymore work than actually roasting a turkey, but it didn't look that bad to me. I can't be sure because I was sitting on my ass watchng the game, but I didn't hear her complaining.

Reporting-ly,

J.E.

So many things to do and no time to do them

First off, I kind of given up on my page layout. I've played with it, looked at it and even swore at it, and I can't figure out how to change the page color. I'm going to try and put in a picture or two, but if you don't see one, I couldn't do that either.

Being on afternoons has given me zero time to do what I enjoy doing most, kicking back. After almost seven months off work, I've become, how could I say this, almost lazier than Debbie claims I am. Could I help it if my back was aching like a MoFo for six of the seven months I was off work? In fact, she told me that I never listen to what the doctors say. And, when I finally take my doctor's advice when he said "Jim, I can't emphasize enough when I say I want you to just relax, chill out and don't do anything that may put a strain on your back.", she get's mad. I thought taking the guy's advice was what she wanted me to do? Granted, I didn't do much during that time, but remember I was hurting big time. What she doesn't understand is, whatever I WAS able to do, I did it in severe pain for her sake. Can she even slightly comprehend how much pain I was in when I kayaked down the Grand River? Don't think so.

How can she even possibly fathom how badly I hurt, after hitting a 5 wood 220 yards to within three feet of the pin at Bay Harbor C.C., along the rocky shores of Lake Michigan, when I couldn't get out of going up north on my Annual Four Day Golf and Party Weekend, with my Detroit grade school buddies. Lord knows how hard I tried to get out of going. She hasn't a clue of how much pain I was in when C.R.-P.I., SanFo, Baloo, P-Daddy, Glove's and myself played a game of 3 on 3 touch football in the street like we did when we were kids growing up in Detroit. No clue what so ever. But did I complain? Hell No! I sucked it up like any man would do in front of his friends and I PLAYED THE GAME.

Finally, now that I'm feeling better and ready to jump right back in and start catching up on the things that I had to put off, due to my injury, I DON'T HAVE THE TIME. By the time I get up, have something to eat, check and respond to emails, read the paper and then watch Days of Our Lives, I have to make my lunch and start to get ready to go to work. I honestly don't know where the time goes once I get up around 11:00 a.m. But all and all, Life is good.

Trying to change the page setup

It's 12:45 a.m., and I just had some leftover steak. When I talk leftovers, I mean just that. I ate what was left over on Debbie's plate. No potato. No veggies. Just steak. She said that she'd cook for me, but she gave me the 'Doyleen' look and I knew instantly, that wasn't happening. Lucky for me, there was something left at all. After I finished the last bite, she looked up from the couch and said "You know, that was going to be your lunch for work tomorrow. Guess you'll just have to take a PB&J. Actually, that's better than what they have in the 'Wheel of Death' at work. The Wheel of Death is the vending machine. High priced and everything sucks. I had an egg salad sandwich from there, went back to my desk (when I had one) and puked. Some nasty sheeeeet.

I've been noticing the pages on other bogs covers and I need to do a little something with mine. I actually haven't had the time to try anything, but if my cover looks different than my two previous entries, I've succeeded. Time to kick back until tomorrow.

Working afternoons

Now that I'm on the 'Afternoon' shift, my body is still trying to figure out when to go to bed and when to get up. It's been hard, so to speak, with Debbie still being on 'Christmas Vacation' this week trying to work out a schedule for myself. Once she goes back to teaching 'Jackson's Finest' I should be OK.

When I arrived home last night, she had a huge meal prepared for me and asked "Is is too early for you to eat?" Well, I guess not since it was completely done and on plates. I really wasn't ready to sit down for a nice meal two minutes after I walked in the door, but like the good husband I am, we had dinner together at 11:30 p.m. and then she announced that she was heading up to bed, leaving me wide awake to unwind in the comfort of my living room or family room, which ever I chose to unwind in.

"What do I now?", I thought to myself as I set there alone. It's too dark and cold to go outside and do something. So, I kicked on the t.v. and what do you know, it was still James Bond week. Once I watched Octopussy for the 212th time in my life, I decided to go to bed. I quietly walked into the room, had the remote in my hand to switch channels as she slept and out of the blue she said "You not going to turn on that damn James Bond again are you?" So, I kept it on news channel that she fell asleep to earlier and once she fell back asleep, I turned the channel back to Bond and fell instantly asleep. I did wake up prior to her and quickly turned back on the news, fell back asleep and she wasn't the wiser.

Tonight, once home and unwound, I will work on the layout of the Blog page for a little more content and picture adding. One more thing. I hate afternoons.

My First Blog at age 58

Ok, I've finally been talked into creating my own blog page. I don't know if I'll be posting on a daily basis, but will try and fill your day with my crazy thoughts about life, leisure and the pursuit of my happiness, or in other words, 'What makes Jimmy run'.

News about family/friends will be included. Pictures of ME will be featured doing strange things to keep you coming back to MY PAGE. Pictures of Debbie, History (my cat) and of my friends will be featured. So the term "Careful for what you wish for" has now come true for YOU.

Be scared people, be very scared - B.S. from J.E. is now a reality.