Last Day Of Hurricane Season

Up at 3:30 am because I could not sleep. I think that is because I went to bed early lastnight. Got up and read e-mail for awhile, then went back to bed, but did not really sleep. Got out of bed when the alarm went off at 4:30.

Had to fry some scrambled eggs this morning because my pickings are getting low here. Two scrambled eggs, a small can of peas, and my vitamins. Then shower, shave, dress, and out the door.

I was cool and clear this morning. Was at the gym at 5:35. I went in and put my clothes away in the locker. As I was coming out of the lockerroom, Matthew was arriving at the gym. Today was a shoulders, chest, and tri's day. I wore gray shorts and my gray "Navy" sleeveless tee and for some reason my stomach looked very flat! LOL!

As I was packing my stuff to leave the gym for the office I looked up on top of the row of lockers and noticed a couple of padlocks up there. Well, well, one of them was my combination lock! My "Prodigal Son Padlock"!

Today was a very busy morning for us at the office. Short lull around lunchtime. Balls-to-the-wall all afternoon. Fay was a little frazzled. Then she found out from Debbie that the man she is demoing the Impinger oven for tomorrow used to date her daughter and he was very abusive. Fay is probably going to leave before he gets to the office tomorrow.

Barb Sewell at Facilities called with multiple problems at Red Lobster #848 in Sanford, FL. The general manager was very very vague about his problems too. All he wanted to do was rant about the service agencies not fixing his equipment, but the dumb fuck couldn't even tell me how it was broken.

Amber at Garland called me seven (7) times today. Fay and I will get her trained eventually. I know it must be stressful for her, but she only has to master one (1) product line. How about me and Fay, we have 13 factories we deal with!

Fay cut out right at 5 pm to get to "Physical Therapy". Craig was back in the office right after she left. I like hanging out with Craig. I had to get some quoting done, follow up on service issues, etc etc. I did not get out of there until 7 pm! I could not believe it.

Now I am home, doing laundry so I will have towels and gym clothes for tomorrow. I need to verify that my pay has been deposited, and then start getting checks ready for my bills. Hard to believe tomorrow is Thursday already!

Tropical Storm EPSILON ?

His name is Matthew !!

Today was back and bi's at the gym. My slender little friend ran, and then he came upstairs and did crunches on the ab machine. After that he went to do squats on a weight machine and then did some lunges. While he was doing his lunges, he dropped his Bally's membership card, keys, and water bottle on the floor. As I walked past to go to the bicep curl machine, I looked down and just caught his first name - "Matthew" on the back of the card. I am a goof.

Craig was in the office almost all day today. He was on a conference call and webinar with all of the reps in our company, Denis Greismer, the regional Enodis vice-president, and the individual factories. It was very very boring for them all.

Greg Olsen called and asked me if I was coming to the Christmas party at his house. I explained to him that I just did not feel that it was right for me this year... that I had some expenses coming up this month and I did not feel comfortable going out-of-town. Next thing I know, Fay comes up and tells me that I can ride with her to the party because she is going to carpool with Debbie. The truth is, I just don't want to go clear out to Clearwater and then have to drive back at 11 pm.

Today the DHL man brought our paycheck stubs. There were TWO stubs for each of us. FER paid a bonus! My bonus came to $969 before taxes -- an even $750 after taxes. Very cool!

Fay told me to be sure to thank each of the four partners. She said the get together and talk about who is going to get how much of a bonus. I will be sure to thank them, but don't really think I should have to grovel.

Fay and I stayed steadily busy today. It was a gray and wet day all day. It rained in the morning. Fay stayed in at lunch today because of the weather and I stayed in because I was broke.

Fay left early because her car insurance expires today. Craig let her go at 4:15. Crazy. Yet, she balks at me taking ONE DAY off to move.

My car insurance expires on the 17th, but I am just going to write them a check. No need to go into the office. Thank God.

I nosed around my account on the Navy Federal website today and discovered that the $150 check I thought I sent to Bank Of America was actually sent to BrightHouse Networks. Looks like I won't have to pay a cable bill until March! Meanwhile I will get BOA caught back up.

Tomorrow night I need to begin writing checks for rent and other bills. Also need to get some laundry started so I have towels and gym clothes the rest of the week.

Kissimmee, FL

Here is another one of Binary Code's photos. This one is of the fall colors along the Delaware River. I think he must have gotten the colors at their peak.

Today was humid this morning and partly cloudy. Did back and bi's at the gym. I was surprised to see my little friend in there. I discovered that I lost my combination lock. Musta left it in the lockerroom yesterday. I will use one of the spare Master™ locks I have laying around. Around 6 am, the trainer, Jason showed up. He worked out by himself. I will have to make an appointment to train with him some morning. Probably after my move.

I was afraid today would be a madhouse at the office, but it was not that bad. Only five (5) new orders this morning. But one of the orders was for $65k! So we did okay for orders today. There were several service calls to take care of and I had to follow up on last week's calls.

At lunch I had a Lean Cuisine™ shrimp linguine dish and read the newspaper. Then I went out for my walk. It was comfortable out, a light breeze, humid and warm. It was steadily getting cloudier.

In the afternoon it began to rain. It rained pretty hard too.

Around 3:30 Fay comes to me, "I might have forgotten to tell you, but I have a 4:45 doctor's appointment for my physical therapy." So, she was gone by 4:15. Oh well.

I finished up the things I was working on. It was dark and drizzling outside and remembering the near miss I had on Vineland Road when the weather was like this, I just decided to stay put for awhile.

Craig returned to the office around 5:30 and we talked until around 7... and that is when I unplugged my fan and wound the cord up and told Craig I would return in the morning.

Breezed right back home... The only traffic lights I had to stop for were at Conroy and Vineland and the light at Dyer and 192. In the mail was an offer from Bally's to pay off my membership and save 29% plus add a friend or family member for free. I tore that up and threw it away. Also, USAA sent me their 2006 calendar.

Another Week 'Til I Get Paid

Here is a very pretty landscape taken by my Internet friend Binary Code. Binary lives in New England and most of his subject matter is located in that region. Binary Code has his pictures posted on Flickr.

Today I slept in almost til 8 am! Very late for me! Then I got up, ate vitamins, made scrambled eggs for breakfast, read the news, showered, finally headed out to the gym around 11 am. The gym was pretty busy. For some reason it was very hot inside the building. Maybe the AC is not working right... I dunno. Maybe it is like that always but because I get in there early it is cool.

Spent about an hour at the gym, showered, put my wet clothes back on, and headed to the office. At the office I had to work on the 2006 Garland Preferred Dealer Program contracts. The office smelled clean. Fay was in yesterday to clean and she went around behind everything and cleaned all of the cob webs up! It is nice.

I was at the office for an hour and a half. Got a lot done without the phone ringing and constantly interrupting me. I went out back and found a few more boxes to help my move with too.

I brought my frozen chicken breast home from the office freezer too. I made spaghetti sauce and used chicken breast instead of beef in it. It was good, and it was different.

Online I arranged for KUA to discontinue my electric service in Kissimmee on December 12. They had a form you filled out for it.

Now I have to get ready for my routine again. These past few days have been nice. Staying up as late as I like, sleeping in late. But my routine is good for me.

Easy Chicken Pot Pie

As I was clearing out my kitchen cabinets and packing I came across a box of Bisquick that has been unopened for probably three years now. I read with fascination the recipes on the box because this is such a versatile product.

Because I had most of the ingredients needed, I decided to try the Easy Chicken Pot Pie recipe (pictured here). It truly is very easy to make.

Prep time: 11 minutes - Bake time: 30 minutes

• 1-2/3 cups of frozen mixed vegetables, thawed
• 1 cup cut-up cooked chicken
• 1 can (10.5 oz) condensed cream of chicken soup
• 1 cup Original Bisquick
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 egg

HEAT oven to 400° F. Mix vegetables, chicken and soup in ungreased 9-inch pie plate.
STIR remaining ingredients until blended. Pour into pie plate.
BAKE about 30 minutes or until golden brown. 6 servings.
High Altitude: Heat oven to 425° F.

I did not have everything on the list, but I made some cunning substitutions and the recipe still turned out really good. I did not have cream of chicken soup, but cream of mushroom works just as good. I did not have frozen mixed veggies, but a drained can of Veg-All™ works just as well. I used a large can of cooked chicken breast for the meat. I did not have the milk and just used water for the mix and the crust still turned out well.

Thanksgiving Weekend

I slept in a little while yesterday morning. Then I got up and got my turkey roast of out the freezer and popped it into the oven, poked holes in a big sweet potato with a fork and put it into the toaster oven, opened a can of cranberry sauce, and got a saucepan ready to make boxed stuffing.

My Thanksgiving meal turned out okay. It was tasty. I basically lounged around the apartment all day, didn't even go out to take the trash out.

I did try to wire up the AM radio transmitter on the Science Experiments website, but mine did not work for some reason. When I do this one again (I have 4 oscillators left) I will use my breadboard so that I can easily check connections.

Also, took my fan apart and cleaned the blades and cage off. They were covered in dust and grease. I guess after running almost continuously for six months that should be expected.

Finished reading Stagecoach today. More than the stage, the book was really about the history of Wells Fargo & Company. If I had known this I probably would not have bought it. Who wants to read the history of a bank?

More kitchen stuff was packed today. Either I will need more boxes, or I will have to unload boxes at my new apartment and bring them back and refill them. I think I would just prefer to have everything boxed so that I can unload it at my own pace.

I called BrightHouse today to have my cable Internet service switched to my new address. They will disconnect the cable in Kissimmee on Dec. 9, they will initiate service in Orlando on Dec. 10. There is a $9 charge for the transfer which will be added to my first bill.

In the news today, retailers report a very strong shopping day. I was not among the shoppers, Thank God. I could not handle the crowds. In other news, it was reported that Pat Morita, the Japanese man who portrayed Mister Miyagi in The Karate Kid died this morning. He was 73.

A few links I have collected these past few days:

• A "waterless" washing machine uses compressed air, deodorants, and negative ions to clean clothes. Interesting.
• Hidden hacks in everyday objects and systems. Elevators, cross walk signals, etc.
• The new Japanese handjob machine. What will they think of next?

I guess Linda and Roger are visiting Becky and Bill this week. They are supposed to have a barbecue and picnic tomorrow for the whole neighborhood.

Today I wrote a comment in each of the 56 Christmas cards I am sending out. With the cards in the envelopes, it makes an impressive stack! The cards only cost $12, but the postage stamps cost $22!

Weekend ! Yeah !

Up at my usual time, same routine, out the door.... brrrr ! still chilly out ! I think it was 48° F this morning. High of 62° F today. Up the road to the gym. Today was shoulders, chest, and tri's.

It was strangely quiet at the office today. Just a couple of orders. We did $200k in orders in three days this week.

Around 10:30 Fay and I stepped outside to see what the helicopters were hovering over I-4 for. I guess about twenty fire trucks went down 4 and down Conroy too... Nobody knew what was going on. Back inside there was nothing on the TV, but I found a story at WESH TV's website about an apartment fire at Conroy and Vineland Road that was just put out at 10:30.

I took my lunch inside today. I had steaktips dijon and french-cut green beans. Lunch was short-lived as I had to take care of some service calls.

Craig called at 2:20 pm to tell Fay that we could go ahead and go. So we shut everything down and got out of there before the phone rang again. Craig was already on the road to Tallahassee to see his parents for Thanksgiving.

Kissimmee, FL

I think this is a funny picture. If I am not mistaken, this company sold t-shirts with their logo on them - big hit with gay males. Sorta like the Ace Hardware tee I saw in the Hillcreast store in San Diego. The shirt had the Ace logo and the words, "I've got the tools you need."

Up at 4:42 am, breakfast of vitamins, hardboiled egg, and a baked sweet potato. Then into the shower, brush teeth, shave, etc. Pull on shorts and my "Navy" tank top, socks and shoes, and out the door... brrrrr! - it was a little cool this morning. Was at the gym at 5:50 am.

Back and bi's today. Eight minutes of running on the elliptical, then pulled 150 pounds in two sets of fifteen on the seated rower, next bicep curls with twenty-pound dumbells, then I did my crunches, more curls, downstairs for another eight minutes on the elliptical, then finished with 12 minutes of walking on the treadmill.

It was another busy day for orders. In the past two days I have placed 26 orders totalling $194k! It is going to be a short week, but it is still going to be a profitable week!

At lunch I stayed in. I ate my Lean Cuisine™ chicken meal and took my walk around the office park. It really was a nice day to be outside -- sunny, around 65° F, and the air was dry. It almost feels like Thanksgiving, if the air were just a little cooler.

It will be nice to have a four-day holiday weekend. I am going to write comments and greetings in my Christmas cards, read my December issue of Wired, and just hang around my apartment. Maybe pack my canned goods up next.

Kissimmee, FL

Shoulders, chest, and tri's this morning. Jumped right out out of bed before the alarm went off... showered, downed my vitamins, and hit the road. It was humid this morning from all of the rain yesterday and lastnight.

Bill and Chip were at the gym today. Chip was gone for a couple of months, but now he is back. He put on some pounds while he was away too.

Dave was there too. I said, "Hey, how about dem Colts?" Dave likes the Colts and I saw on ESPN playing on the TV above the treadmills that they won this weekend. You don't think I'd waste my time watching that stuff do you?

At the office there were lots of orders to process, but they were all small orders. Time-consuming orders. Nevertheless the total came to over $56k.

At lunch I had to go out. I went to the OUC office on Gardenia Avenue to get my electric and water turned on at The Summit. The man took my drivers license and ran my credit right there. The report came back so stellar that they are not even going to require a deposit! That makes me smile.

Dropped my USPS Change-O-Address card into the mailbox at lunch today too.

Now I have to arrange to have KUA turn the power off here in Kissimmee after I am out.

Carolina had us sign a template that the printers will use for our Christmas cards. I guess last year everyone had to manually sign 350 cards! Yikes!

It got windy and rained really hard this afternoon as the cold front went past. High was like 75° F today. I had to run outside and roll my truck windows up tight. Pine needles blew from the trees in the next office park -- about 100 yards away, into the bed of my truck !!

This evening I had Gorton's Cajun Blackened Fish® paddies and some spinach for dinner. My December edition of Wired magazine came in the mail this evening too.

Another Week (a short one)

Found this image of the Brokeback Mountain poster while browsing images on Flickr. Click on the link above and go see the trailer for it. I think it is going to be very good... Ang Lee directed it and will make sure it is good. Talk is that it will be an academy award winner.

Folded towels up, washed and dried bathroom rug, fried and ate scrambled eggs, put labels and stamps on my Christmas card envelopes this morning. Here is a link to a picture of the stamps I bought for this year's card.

I went out to Target to get bottles of water around noon. I got a CD of Christmas carols for $1, some STP® Fuel System Cleaner, and baby shampoo (keeps the color from washing out of my goatee).

During the past few days I have been saving some links that I found interesting:

• This gay horror movie was playing in Tampa on Friday.

• Is the Web 2.0 going to be air for the next bubble?

• The World's Second Largest Oil Field just peaked. Standby for rising oil prices.

• This site uses Google Maps to make map-sharing easy.

• This avi shows one week of Panama Canal traffic in 11 minutes.

Tomorrow morning it is back to the gym and back to work. Tomorrow is back and bi's day at the gym. Work week will only be three days long, but I bet they are busy days.

I have a Jenni-O® turkey roll in the freezer, frozen brussels sprouts, canned cranberry sauce, box of stuffing, and three small sweet potatoes. That should be sufficient for the annual holiday meal.

Hell Yeah! I got two bucks!

I found this picture while searching Flickr for a picture of 7-Eleven. This is typical of what their register displays when it isn't actually ringing up a sale.

Yesterday was one of those Fridays. It was very busy with trouble calls. Mostly Red Lobster #6300 in Charleston, WV. Garland promised us that the service agency would get the oven fixed. I got into a little bit of trouble for calling the service agency "incompetent", but the damned oven's been down for five weeks now. I am sure this is a sign of true incompetence. Anyway, I left Craig in the office at 5:15 pm. I can see from my e-mail that Michelle at Red Lobster #6300 called Craig at 6:13 to complain that her oven is still not fixed. When will these guys ever listen to me?

Did my load of whites lastnight. Got the darks done this morning. I still have a pile of towels on the floor to fold up. I packed some more kitchen stuff up today... all of the spices are safely packed in boxes now. Tomorrow I need to iron two shirts. Plus, I need to finish the labels for my Christmas cards. I want to scan my social security card, passport, drivers license, etc, and burn those files to a mini-cd for incase of an emergency. I could also put a text file on there with the phone number for each credit card and the account number.

Reading through my book about Wells Fargo Co -- Stagecoach. It is actually written in an interesting way even if it is mainly the story of a bank. The chapters are nice and short too.

This evening I was having trouble with the AC kicking off and the outlet in the kitchen my microwave is plugged into de-energizing. I called KUA to complain and they said that their load management program is not being used today, but they would send someone out to look at it. About 30 minutes later a nice-looking guy named "Chris" showed up. He was about 5'10" and slender in tight faded blue jeans with a shaved head... hubba hubba!! LOL... anyway, he began troubleshooting the meter... and found the meters blinking on and off!

They found my main disconnect loose and sparking and advised me to call Heron Lake Maintenance about it pronto... I did. Also, they pulled the fuse in my load management box and told me that thing would not be bothering me anymore.

Chris asked me how I liked these apartments. I told him they were okay but that I was going to move. He said he noticed all the boxes in the dining room.

Don't believe maintenance will be out to fix my breaker until tomorrow. Even then, I will bet they just swap out the breaker and don't do anything with the contacts.

This work week will be a short week -- only three days, but I bet you it will be a very busy week! Having a nice long weekend will be very nice!

Hair Color

Up at 4:30 am, ate yogurt, cheese, and my vitamins, showered, shaved, brushed teeth, pulled shorts and shirt on... out the door... down the Turnpike... was at the gym at 5:45. My thin little friend was not there when I arrived. He drives a dark blue Jeep Cherokee with Connecticutt license plate MGW 599.

No I am not a stalker!

It was a shoulders, chest, and tri's day. I started with 8 minutes of cardio on the elliptical, then chest press, shoulder press, tricep extension with free weight, crunches, tricep pushdowns, and then went downstairs to do more cardio. I got up on the elliptical, and there he was -- my little friend! I almost did not recognize him. He has dyed his hair brown, but it is a reddish brown. I do not care for it. I liked it better when it was natural with highlights. I think I will tell him, when/if I build up the courage.

It was fairly busy today. I did get a break in the phone calls during the afternoon and I read the news. Craig is flying out to Las Vegas on the Red Eye tonight for a convenience store convention, flying back tomorrow night on the Red Eye. Betsy Hummel is on vacation right now in Las Vegas, so I made sure that Craig has her cellphone number.

During lunch I changed the air freshener in the truck. I looked at my maintenance log and realized that my oil change is not late at all. Last change was 112,500 miles and I am at 115, 200 right now.

Tomorrow Fay is leaving at 2:30 pm. All I can do is take a message when they have questions for her. Oh well. I need to call USAA and have my insurance downgraded to liability. I need to go to the Sand Lake Medical Practice and see if they are taking new patients and then inform Aetna of my primary care provider. So many things to do!

FER Christmas party is going to be at Greg Olsen's house in Clearwater this year on Dec. 3. Fay wants to know if I am going. I dunno. That sure is far away to have to drive home from late at night.

Full Moon Tonite

I turned the AC down lastnight to 70° and it is nice and chilly in the house now. I slept really good lastnight.

Up at 4:30, showered, ate Raisin Bran and some yogurt, out the door, up to Bally Total Fitness to workout. Back and bi's today.

Straight to the office after that. Fay did not get there until 8:25... she had some story about the traffic. She didn't even call! Not such a good week for orders so far. The phones were not too bad all morning.

Arranged to have electric and water service put into my name at The Summit at the Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC) website today. They are supposed to call me within 48 hours.

I went out during lunch and saw the traffic cop pulling speeders over on Conroy. Just past the cop I saw a motorcycle policeman writing a ticket for a FedEx truck that ran into a tree.

In the afternoon the phones became much busier. Craig was in the office for awhile. His car is at Holler Honda getting some service so they gave him a big truck to drive. This truck is a gas hog!

Fay and I took off around 5:30. It is good to be home early enough to eat a small dinner, fold towels, and blog without feeling rushed. Almost done with Descent - maybe I will finish it tonight. Then I can begin Stagecoach.

Kissimmee, FL

The only thing I did not do this weekend that needed doing was change the oil in the truck. Not an emergency, I will get around to it.

I remembered seeing a flashing sign on the Turnpike exit to I-4 saying the ramp would be closed from 10 pm to 6 am this morning. So, I skipped the gym. Got to work right at 8 am and Fay still did not show up for another 10 minutes!!

It was a fairly busy day today. Only five orders all day, but I had the Bonfamille quote to work on and then there were all kinds of phone calls.

At lunch I went to the Post Office to buy holiday stamps for my Christmas cards and a change-of-address kit, then I swung by The Summit to sign my lease. Now I just have to get OUC to put the lights in my name Dec. 9, and tell KUA to take it out of my name Dec. 12.

Stayed at the office until about 6:15 pm putting Delfield items factory-quoted onto my Bonfamille quote. I will probably finish in plenty of time.

Kissimmee, FL

We stayed steadily busy on Friday. Craig was in Tampa and left cash for Fay and me to go out for lunch. We went to Tijuana Flats on Kirkman Road. It was good. The portions were very generous.

Very hectic afternoon as trouble calls and issues were phoned in. It was a Friday so I guess that should have been expected. I stayed until about 6 pm getting literature ready to mail and finishing up. It was a good week for orders -- $340k.

Stayed in Friday night - I was beat. Just continued to read my book, Descent.

Saturday I did some laundry and packed some boxes up with pots and pans. I need more boxes! Went to visit Joseph And The Hair Razors for my haircut. Joe cut a nice goatee into my chin again. Took a nap in the afternoon with the intention of going out, but it just did not happen.

Found some interesting links recently:

• This movie, Brokeback Mountain, should have come out 14 months ago. I think it could have deadened the movement to outlaw gay marriage. I want to go to the theatre to see it when it shows. You should too!

• Where are the interstellar probes? Maps showing where the Pioneer and Voyager probes are now.

• Watch this Flash movie about the new refrigeration technology being sponsored by Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream. Thermo-acoustic refrigeration. Penn State even sells a demo kit for $12!

This morning I made scrambled eggs for breakfast. Then I showered and went to Orlando in shorts and t-shirt. I had to file a big stack of invoices and order acknowledgements. As I was filing I heard voices outside, and then the sound of a car alarm being set. I got to the file room door and saw Craig coming in. He had his son, CJ, with him. They made some copies and I think Craig checked his e-mail. Then they both left.

I finished the filing, and got quote requests ready for the new Disney's Bonfamille Test Kitchen that I am quoting.

After that I locked up and went back out. Drove up to Conroy and Kirkman and topped off my gas tank at Mobil. Then back down Conroy to the SuperTarget at Millenia. I got about $100 in groceries. Drove those home and put them away.

Pretty much just hung around the apartment after that. Took laundry out of the dryer. Laid clothes out for tomorrow morning, laid my vitamins out.

Now I am going to lay down and read more about the Bathysphere and the deep diving in Descent.

Keep an open mind, but don't let your brains fall out.

Three Olive Thursdays

It was VERY FOGGY this morning. Foggy enough to make driving difficult.

Back and bi's at the gym. They are painting the gym now, so the locker room smells like ass, feet, and paint now.

Went directly to the office after the gym. There were only two new orders in the fax from Darden, but I got them ready to go early. When Fay showed up, she had Barbara with her. I already had coffee made for them. I put Barbara to work filing a bunch of orders. She handled it with no problem! She is really nice.

Around 9:15 or so, Martha showed up to get Barbara and they headed back to Hollywood.

Fay was pretty busy today. That happens when you take a day of vacation... hehehe. She reminded me that she still had two weeks of vacation on the books too. I told her I did not care if she took a week at a time as long as Debbie or someone else could step in to do some of her quoting.

I stayed in at lunch today. I ate a Lean Cuisine salisbury steak dinner and read the Orlando Sentinel. We stayed steadily busy all day today. So far we have almost $300k in orders for the week, and I still have a large $150k order for Cleveland Range waiting in my Inbox pending revisions. Another good week. Maybe we will have a green Christmas.

By Myself In The Office

I overslept and then spent too long in the shower this morning, so I foresook the gym and went right to the office. Boy, was today a long day in there by myself! The phones kept me terribly busy.

Nancy and Nick stopped by for about half an hour. They were really no help and just a distraction from the orders, service calls, and quotes I was trying to work.

A lady called and asked, "You habla espanol?" I asked her to hold while I brought Carolina on the phone in Hollywood. Carolina asked me to refer her to a Spanish-speaking dealer. I told her that she could speak to Juan at Fairway and proceeded to give the Spanish numbers out for their phone number.

At lunch I went to Firehouse Subs and got a sandwich. The lunch was a welcome break away from those damned ringing phones. The one thing I do not like about Firehouse is that they yell your name out to the entire dining room when your order is ready.

The afternoon was busily spent working on quotes and handling miscellaneous phone calls. Being busy like that does make the day fly right by.

For some reason the spreadsheet I wrote that automatically fetches my current American Century IRA share values from Yahoo! Finance and updates the total fund value and my total retirement assets has stopped working. Yahoo! probably changed the way the info is formatted and I will have to set the spreadsheet up again.

My truck is at 114,996 miles. It will roll over 115,000 in the morning. I think I am due for an oil change, and since I have the supplies, I may as well do that this weekend if it does not rain.

After I finish this blog I am going to my bed to read some more of The Radioactive Boy Scout and hopefully, get a sound night's sleep.

Kissimmee, FL

Shoulders, chest, and tri's today. Was a little pissed because the women's aerobic class took all of the light dumb bells (ie 15, 20, 25 lbs) and were using them in their little class. It really pissed me because they weren't using them - the weights were just sitting on the floor. But, I figured, they have a right to use them too, and since it is a triceps day, I will use the selector machine and the cable push-downs today.

Fay said the prison ministry was thrilled to get mens' clothes for a change. I guess they mostly get womens's clothes. They need clothes for inmates who are on work release programs. Fay goes with the pastor and a couple to the prison to translate sign language about once a month.

Got a couple of quotes out to Disney first thing this morning. Sure enough a couple more quote requests came in to replace them. Chef Philippe at the Grand Floridian called begging for his quotation and said he had to have it before 11 am. Garland did not have the stainless steel for the bottoms of his ranges quoted to me yet, so I sent it over with a note on it, "This quote does not included the stainless steel bottom panel required by the Disney Food Service Specification." He called back to thank me for the quote and then proceeded to tell me that it was all wrong and that it was not what he wanted. Dear God. I quoted what he asked for. But he started to describe the equipment he has installed and I could not find it in AutoQuotes or in the price list. So I called the factory and they could not help either. Finally he called back with serial numbers and even took pictures of his equipment. Sales at Garland/US Range are dumbfounded, but they are going to see if they can make a custom unit for him.

Had to fix an issue with an Olive Garden in New Jersey not being able to get parts delivered. It's been two weeks since the service agent ordered parts. Turns out the service agency is not set up with Frymaster and Frymaster/Dean was not going to sell to him. So I told this agent to forward his order to another agency to place the parts order. Now the Darden Facilities Team thinks I am a miracle worker. My reward? More miracles to perform. "Only you can fix this one..."

This evening Martha Lozano and Barbara Hacker came up from Hollywood because they are going to an AutoQuotes seminar with Fay, Debbie, and Neil tomorrow. Martha went on over to UCF where her daughter goes to school. Barbara is staying with Fay tonight.

After work Fay, Barbara, and I went over to Millenia to the Mimi's Cafe (operated by Bob Evans, Inc.) and had dinner courtesy of Craig Hodges. First time I had eaten there. I had a chicken pot pie.

Was back home from there in 20 minutes. Started a load of whites and towels as soon as I got back - I need large towels done so I have one for the gym in the morning.

Phoned and talked to Mike Leary for awhile this evening. Mike lives in Orlando and we were on GW together for awhile. He likes to talk about the crazy stuff we did in our Glory Days there.

Tomorrow is going to be a hectic day with the phones, I think. Fay is going to be at the AutoQuotes seminar all day and Craig will only be in and out. I need to get the orders out of the way early and just be ready to answer phones, take messages, answer questions as best I can, and handle trouble calls.

Kissimmee, FL

I was going to go to the office Saturday, but I go so busy cleaning house that I decided not to. Infact, I did not go outside at all Saturday.

Sunday morning I had a pile of 5 shirts to press. I pressed three of them, then I got my shower, pulled on shorts, t-shirt, and sandals, and went to Orlando. At the office it was hot and I soon found myself wishing I had brought my fan. I worked on a revised quote for Disney's Boardwalk, quoted US Range charbroiler and range for Disney's Grand Floridian Hotel, worked on the new Disney Bonfamille's Test Kitchen at Port Orleans, recorded serial numbers from invoices into my Darden Serial Number Tracker, and I went out back and found some boxes suitable for helping me move.

I guess I spent four hours at the office. Then I went out to find some lunch. I went down Conroy Road to Doctor Phillips Boulevard, took Dr Phillips to Sand Lake Road. At the shopping center there in that intersection I went to the Barnes & Noble Bookstore. I found a couple of interesting books there.

I first read about the boy who tried to build a small breeder reactor in his backyard in Reader's Digest back in the 1990's. I found a paperback version of The Radioactive Boy Scout on the shelf and picked it up. I am reading it right now and should finish it in a couple of nights.

The other book that I found interesting is called Descent, the story of undersea explorers in the 1930's. It should be pretty riveting because of the danger.

I still have to read Stagecoach too. It is sitting on the pile of books I have to read. I like to read non-fiction, but I think I read a pretty wide range of subjects.

After the bookstore I went to Panera Bread for lunch. I had the Pick Two Special. I picked the half sandwich and bowl of soup. Their food is pretty good!

Then I came home with my cardboard boxes in the bed of my truck. I have boxes to pack up most of what is still out now. I was going to go out to the Full Moon, but I thought about it and decided that I should stay in and save the money. End of the month I will be needing the cash I bet.

Today was back and bi's at the Bayhill Bally's. It is full daylight when I walk out of there now. I bet in another month it won't be quite so bright though.

Craig said he went down I-4 and saw my truck parked out front of the office. He never came in because he called on Fairway Restaurant Equipment and it took him two hours to get away from Matthew Tang.

The day at work today was very very productive. I was wired from the start after those two cups of coffee! I processed $128k in orders and even got a couple more quotations out. Mercifully, the phones were not overwhelming. At lunch today Fay and I both stayed in. We ate in the Test Kitchen and took turns answering the phones.

I stayed at the office until 6:30 to get my quotes out and finish my correspondence with the Darden Restaurants Kitchen Equipment Manager, then I went over I-4 to the SuperTarget to get some fruit and bottled water. Well, I got a few more things too, like milk, Shredded Wheat&trade cereal, and lunch meat too.

My trip home was much faster than I thought it would take. I was back in Kissimmee in only 15 minutes. Arrived at the apartment at 7:25pm. Brought my fan, gym back, and snack bag inside, then went out and brought my groceries in. Put the wet gym clothes and towels on the washer, laid out the clothes for tomorrow, laid out tomorrow's vitamins, ate a banana and a couple slices of pepperoni for dinner, and sat down here to blog.

Time for me to wrap this up and lay in bed reading more of Radioactive Boy Scout. Tomorrow is shoulders, chest, and tri's at the gym. Plus, I am going to be alone for awhile because Fay and Craig are going to Osprey, FL to visit Sarasota Restaurant Equipment. The roughest part of that is handling the phones by myself, but atleast I know how to answer most of the questions now.

Weekend !!

This was a very stressful week. I am glad it is over. We had $320k in orders, and I still have $250k waiting on my desk for revisions. So sales are definitely picking up.

Got to the gym at 5:50 am. My little buddy did not show up -- it is Friday, I knew he wouldn't. Did my routine and then headed to the office.

Today the phones were not as brutal as in the past few days. I was able to get orders placed, confirmations faxed, all of the routine stuff, and then I began to work on the pile of quote requests on my desk. I knocked out three of them in no time. I still have to go in tomorrow and work on some quotes.

Chef Philippe at the Grand Floridian wants some ranges quoted, and I have to work on Betsy Hummel's request for Test Kitchen Equipment. I really have to work on that one since Denis Greismer, the president of Enodis, called and talked to me about it. He is offering a special deep discount for instructional projects like this. We are quoting a lot of alternates, but I think we can walk away with the lions share of the order.

I need to work on the address label template for my Christmas cards this weekend.

Lastnight I got a letter from 9D EZ Storage. They are increasing my rate from $190 a month to $199 a month starting on December 1. I really need to get my stuff out of there.

During the past few days I have only had a precious few minutes to surf, but I found these interesting things when I did:

• These helpful websites for getting stuff done on the Internet. That is how I made the map of my travels the other day.
• Interesting story about the underground city in the UK that is for sale. Interesting pictures too.
• Find the social security number of your dead relatives! This actually works.

Becky and Bill are settling into their new house. Bill is getting a wide flat-screen television installed tomorrow.

Seems like I am not evening going to get a weekend this week.

Kissimmee, FL

Did not sleep well lastnight. Was having bad dreams about quotes and purchase orders at work. When I woke up I kept thinking about it, so when I fell back asleep, along would come another business dream. I slept until the alarm went off and just kept sleeping until 6:00. Skipped the gym this morning.

We are getting insanely busy in the office. Continuously busy, all day long. I still have that big complicated Disney quote waiting, but I can't get Fay to help me with it. It isn't a question of what we are going to quote now... now I just need help getting AutoQuotes to list it. Eva calls almost everyday looking for it too.

I know we have been busy, but Fay comes in right at 8:00 am or even late, and leaves early (like yesterday) or right at 5:00. If I come in early and stay late, she could do that same to help me get this job out. I am going to tell her tomorrow, "You WILL help me with this quote today, or you will end up doing it yourself."

I heard more of the rumor that I might become responsible for Cleveland start-ups for Darden Restaurants. Honestly, if that happens, I might start looking for another job somewhere else. I won't be able to handle that plus everything else I am responsible for. In addition to the start-ups, I would end up taking care of all of the start-up-related service calls too.

We have not been seeing very much of Craig lately. He is on the road alot. Scaring up some business for us I guess.

Left the office at 5:45 pm... had to get my groceries, so I went to Super Target where I spent $128 on food, laundry supplies, and vitamins. Everything is put away and the check book is balanced again.

I bought the cheapy Christmas cards at Target too. Two boxes of 36. I doubt I will use all of them, but I have no shortage of people to send them to. This weekend I will begin making the labels for the envelopes. The postage will cost a fortune.

All Saints Day 2005

Here is a map of the world with the countries I have visited colored red (click to enlarge). For as much as I have seen, there are still alot of places waiting for me to visit.

Up at 4:30, woofed down vitamins, ate leftover sausage from dinner lastnight, into the shower to clean up, pulled on my clothes, carried a garbage bag of old clothes out to the truck, and then my other stuff out and was on the road at 5:15.

Today was Shoulders, Chest, and Tri's. I always work up a good sweat. They are in the process of painting the gym. So now the lockerroom smells like, ass, feet, and paint.

It was almost completely daylight when I left at 7:10.

Put the clothes into Fay's trunk when she got in. She will take them to her friends that run the prison ministry. She was joking that I must know that it was going to rain because I parked up front by the sidewalk. All day it looked like it wanted to rain.

Today was another steadily busy day today... all day... infact I think Fay was even busier than me. I could tell she was stressing a little. By the end of the day she was tired, and she left a little early.

We have some large, bulk orders coming in now, and after I process those, we will have the biggest week in sales since I've been with FER. It will take me a couple of hours to go through those orders since they were not quoted.

In the evening it began to rain. Slowly at first, but then pretty heavily. I stayed at the office until 6 pm. Then started home.

Almost had an accident as I was getting started. Vineland Road is torn up for construction, and nobody will let you out at the driveway. This van was blocking the intersection, but I pulled up behind it to make my left turn. I was starting out into the westbound lane and almost pulled right infront of a white Jeep! Threw on the brakes quick! Whew! It took almost an hour to get home.

Just over a month to go and that long commute will be a memory.

Once I got home I went to Navy Federal website and did my electronic bill pay for the bills I have. After I pay the electric bill and the phone bill, I will transfer $200 back to my Savings Account, and the rest of the money in Checking will be for groceries for the month.