Cough!

Well I woke this morning to a hard choking feeling in the back of my throat; apparently the smoke from the fires and lack of rain for the last few weeks is building up. I pity the ones that are unable to breath with clear air. I jumped out of bed and showered noticing that my truck was in a need of a scrub down. This weekend was magical, my older brother and family came down to start the summer off. His two children need to be stolen by me; Kyle and I are “swuper fwiends pals”. Jacks was busy sculpting most the weekend and having fun with some Italian chick. This worries me because the last Italian girl he hung out with was a total psycho; they are “Just good friends”. We washed cars and ate and hung out on the beach most the weekend. My walking boot is on my nerves holding the sand; I was informed putting a bag around it might help. NO WAY! Lori wants to go to Space Camp before her and Mom blast off to the coast to be with Pops. Luke and I sat around for hours watching people walk by and chatting with the occasional one that stopped over to say hello. The whole weekend was easy and slow with nothing major wise for plans.

Waiting on the weekend

This week has been beautiful; the warm breezes have been blowing nicely keeping me semi cool. Not that I have been able to work outside much with my ankle but visiting job sites can get warm as well. The new girl is still working out ok but trying to make her own schedule, it’s like it goes in one ear and out the other with her. She’s about to see the wrath of Mark soon if this persists any longer. I’ve talked to Amy off and on this week; we both have been doing an odd job here and there which makes us miss one another. One resolution made, is not to remark about her brother any more, she knows exactly how I feel about him and her petting ways aren’t helping him or her. Speaking of petting I had to spend some time with Lori last night, she was practicing T-Ball and stood in a pile of fire ants and her poor legs and feet were just a bevy of blisters. Mom and I put lotion on them and blowing to keep them cool, actually they didn’t seem to bother her until we made a big deal out of her wounds. She’s out of school now “graduated to the 4th” and mad because there was no ceremony to her new grade. Jacks is blowing along with his million classes and internet fun and work. His tutoring girl passed her class and now is ready for a trip to Mexico for some fun. She invited him to tag along, he is; 12 days of Cabo for him. This weekend is going to be nice; Luke and the clan will be down for the holiday. I really want to see those kids, little Kyle and I have some beach time coming to us.

Weekends….

This weekend couldn’t be anymore perfect, well it could improve with a few additions but I was happy with the results. Friday night I just relaxed, talked with my Mom and Trace and of course Amy. Jacks worked late from the Art Walk and then out to dinner with Trace and the pier. I had intentions of going to work early Saturday just to finish out a few items and look at some job sites. The greenhouse has been calling my name for the last few days. Lori had a swim party most the day, squealing and shrieking her head off as she either dunked or was dunked. Luke and I talked about Memorial Weekend plans and what might be fun. With my ankle on the mend, it might be another slow weekend for me. The “snow birds” from the north are coming in to take residence again on the beach condos, along with the graduating students wanting to celebrate an ending of school. This makes for some summer fun, having all the partying kids in town. Sunday was another busy day at Gs with the uncovering of the pool and then putting a treadmill together for her. I found myself asleep on the sunroom floor until nearly 6 pm, that’s when Jacks nudged me to wake and go home. I wasn’t feeling so well having eaten KFC chicken, for some reason the grease didn’t set well with me so a nice nap was in order to resolve it. I’ve noticed the last few days Moms been a bit slower than normal; she blames it on her anemia, maybe so…

Houston...We have a problem

This weekend, the one I was dreading working all weekend long for family has come and gone but still lingers with me. Thursday and most of Friday we were without any electricity due to a tropical storm. After that blew away our internet still acted wonky but no worries Jacks and I were going to spend the night at Gs and create a master piece of art work out of stone slabs. I had wanted to do this project and watched for months as the stones sat in the back yard, finally as a mother’s day/ grandparents day gift I opted to lay the stones with, Jacks help of course. Saturday morning we both woke up to the smell of bacon and eggs and biscuits, I was starving, we both ate quickly to beat the suns heat. We had our pattern down and worked diligently until mid afternoon -- more food was needed. Then back to laying the stones until dinner time. Just before sunset we had finished doing 80 percent of the work and were pleased with the results. I wanted a shower and rest but we needed to move some smaller stones to the other side of the pool, fine…until. As I was crossing the corner of the pool (which had a cover on it) I had a load of 50 to 60 pounds of rocks in my arms, I miss judged my step, the ball of my right foot made the edge of the pool but not the heel, my ankle gave way and I fell. Trying my best not to drop a rock in the pool or on anyone I held on to them landing on the concrete. I heard Jacks scream “Mark!!” and my G and PG came running to me. I was trying my best to get up on my own steam, I kept saying “let me walk it off” I couldn’t stand on my right foot and already began to swell twice the size. So off we raced to the hospital to get it X-rayed, I kept saying how sorry I was for being so clumsy. G just told me to hold the ice on it until we made it there. Luckily it was a hairline fracture, which meant a walking cast and those stupid crutches for at least 2 to 3 weeks. I wasn’t please with myself and still not, after all the commotion I remembered I left my cell phone at home. Now I couldn’t talk to Amy which angered me more. Finally late Sunday night we were able to speak for a little while and I explained to her my stupid ness and that it was nothing to worry about. (I know my brother Jacks and his drama messages to her). Now I sit and sit and sit and there isn’t any field work, my job is going to go to pot………..

Weather outside is frightful…

…It was anyway, its ok now just a nice blustery day. For two days we were without power and were informed it might be Tuesday before things were back to normal. Somehow we lucked out and everything is a go now.
The new girl in the office is really getting on my nerves; she’s giggly and whiney and wants to talk to me constantly. I think she stepped off on the wrong foot with me, trying to make up her new schedule when I explained her the working hours before she was hired. I don’t like anyone trying to pull anything over on me, I feel I’m very open and honest about my business and how I handle it. Also the fact that Diane is going to be out 2 more weeks is grinding my nerves -- that’s a reason for me to be in the office more. Cari seems to be fine with her, she said occasionally they butt heads but nothing major, all we need in there is another newbie coming in knowing it all. I might be having a touch of a bad mood for various reasons. The only bright spot is my Amy and the fun we had the other day and that I love her and she’s always there for me.

Oh the times…

I guess a blog is something you can use to reflect or give your opinion on religion or political views. Maybe to use it as a dedication of love or hate for someone in your life they has an effect on you. Your favorite cartoon, song, poem can be plastered all over your blog as well. I personally like to use mine as a diary for daily happenings at work and home. Sometimes I hit on one subject over and over, say maybe my distaste for my current siblings girl/boyfriend or tomatoes. A lot is about work and some of my job requests that are asked of me, for example, the one lady that wanted her azaleas all turned in a certain direction – how she knew what direction they were pointing is beyond me. A lot are what I call “Whine” posts about things I can’t get to work properly for me, be it work, friends, Pops, my Ex, the removal of Loris boyfriend. On here, I can let my feelings fly; they are permanent and visible for the whole world to see until I hit the” draft” button. On my Xanga site I look back those two-plus years and see growth in myself, work and others around me – all set to Private. Today, I’m using this as a feelings check, maybe a self assurance of even why I bother to blog. To quote a line on my old Xanga site “I blog therefore I am”.

Quiet times...

The last few days have been fairly tolerable, Sunday at Gs was nice and easy; I was conned into making my whole next weekend a choir. G wants pavers around the pool expanded and some crown molding in the sunroom, this is my Mothers day/Grandparents day gift. That’s one pleasure I can say I enjoy, is working projects for family. Jacks has a whole new attitude that’s sort of surprising and can be kind of humorous at times -- when it’s directed to others. He nailed people at the dinner table Sunday and it kept me in stitches the whole time. Lori called me a Double Dink Head Goob last night, just because I told her I was going to run over Drew tomorrow when I pick her up from school. She and I have ball practice date; last Saturday I watched the smaller kids play. They are about 4 or 5 and a mixed team of boys and girls. This one girl (Audrey) with hands on hips announces to another girl (Ree Ree) that Brady likes her better. Brady stood there in shock looking like he wanted to run or puke “Tell her Brady, you think I’m prettiest and like me more”. Run Brady Run!! Is the best advice I can give him. These kids are 4! All three of those kids come up to my knee and they are having this drama already, boy they grow up fast. Work is flowing right along minus Diane still; we have a new employee trying her best to fit in; that is if she wouldn’t try to reschedule an already perfect schedule. Well, we have to try…..

Saturdays and easy times

Nice day today, I worked a few hours early this morning. I just had to finish a fish pond for one customer. For some reason the pump kept clogging up on me, I’d clean it out and it would jam again after a few filters it now works. I wanted to ride my bike for a while but the rain kept me from doing so. This means doing some homework and watching some TV talking to Jacks some. I guess in my busy schedule and the fact I’ve not felt well -- my parents failed to tell me about a favored uncle dying. My PGs Older brother Ted, the reason I liked him so much is because he always had fun for the boys during reunions. Ted had a huge farm in Tennessee that every summer we would work hauling hay and picking apples for him. He would camp with us and tell us the best ghost stories late late at night. Ted wasn’t feeling well in the last few years having Alzheimer’s and his old age was just getting him down. He loved kids so much all the babies had to come to him so he could hold them and he insisted they love to be held by him. I can remember just last year him grabbing one of his many grand babies and crying because he said he wouldn’t get to see this kid walk and talk. I really wanted him to be able to hold one of mine as well. Last Monday night he had a heart attack and on Wednesday he passed away in his sleep. Friday was his funeral but for the life of me I can’t understand why my parents failed to tell us. Trace came over and said he was sorry for our loss. Strange isn’t it? My PG nor G bothered to mention to us that there was a funeral to attend. Oh well “Here’s to you Uncle Ted, you will be missed.”

It’s Friday!!!

I like Fridays, most of the time -- today is hot and muggy, and I’ve been in the office most the morning handing out checks and sorting mail and reports. It’s all cool, everything is drilling down to where it belongs; OK I’m going to jinx myself for sure. I have a few field visits to make and inspect and then a few meetings and that’s my day. The green house next week will get all my attention. I talked to Amy some last night, she was back to work but taking it easy – in fact she left early to eat dinner with her grandparents. Trace called me today; he is going to California next February for a label promo. Yeah, not sure exactly what that means but he’s talking to me in a high pitched hyper voice. Tonight the gang wants to go down and give him a listen, since he’s getting famous and all.

Work work and worry

The last few days have been hectic in the office, missing Diane and her powerful organization skills and keeping me set on my next meeting. When I first started out my business I was the “Diane”, it was easy to schedule meetings with customers and then go out and meet with them. Now, working with the City and then the public has made a huge increase in business and paper work along with the new greenhouse chores. All that nice stuff going on at work and I have one measly class that I’ve been waiting over 18 months to be offered, I have it, but it’s killing me to do both. So I wake up early have school and then work the field and come in the office and do papers and then home to homework and what ever dramas that may lead there. Oh whoa is me! Actually I’ve kept things pretty much in order, my new “Hard Ass” rules are chiming right along keeping me in check. Lori and her little boy friend are keeping in touch in class; on the play ground or online. On top of all that fun, Amy has had all four of her wisdom teeth removed, by having her mouth frozen --- this means she was awake the whole time. I’m under the impression that the only reason she didn’t want any anesthesia is she didn’t want to depend on anyone else to drive her home. At first, I was worried about that, then sad about and after angry that she would put herself through that turmoil to be self reliant. Hey it’s ok to want to do for you, but to be in danger of getting hurt is something more. It’s Thursday night, that means a cleaning frenzy for me once more and maybe an early bed time.