Happy Halloween!

This weekend the story came out in the Sentinel about a 15-year-old boy who stole a Lynx bus from the fairgrounds and drove it along the bus 39 route picking up passengers, collecting fares, and operating the bus like normal! "I drove that bus better than most Lynx drivers can! I know how to start it, stop it, raise it, lower it... why just look at it, there ain't a scratch on it!" Looks like we have a future transportation specialist here!

I laughed at that story, but I see that national news organizations are carrying the story now!

This morning I packed the drafting pen plotter, microwave oven, bread machine, and old computer chair into the bed of my truck and took them to work. At lunch I donated them to the Salvation Army. I got a receipt and I will be claiming that against my 2006 taxable income.

I still have the sandblast cabinet to get rid of. I tried taking it to pawn shops but they were not interested. They said that people don't come into pawn shops looking for that kind of thing. Damn. Was hoping to get atleast $10 out of it. Now I might have to donate that too.

Any way, I am opening up some space in the garage for the drill press and table saw. I am going to have a nice little garage shop space.

Made frozen daiquiries lastnight. The house still stinks of burned electric insulation. I think the blender is going to die soon. Even though it is over 10-years old, I haven't really used it that much.

It really gets dark early now that Daylight Savings Time is in effect.

Monday

I was greeted by a sign on the door at the office, "Vince, Good AM. No Internet all weekend. Call BellSouth at 8". Sure enough, we didn't have Internet service. I had to move the clocks in my office and in the Test Kitchen back an hour and adjust the clock on the fax machine back an hour.

Then I called BellSouth FastAccess DSL Technical Service. "Well, Sir I need you to go unplug all of the cables for your modem..." I wasn't going to have any of that, "Uh, no, I don't want to go through all of that again, all of our equipment in the office is new, you need to send a technician out here now!" She informed me that there would be an $80 charge if it proved to be our equipment. Just as I finished the call, Fay comes running down the hall, "I have Internet!! I have Internet!!" But it did not last, we had Internet for three minutes.

The BellSouth technician arrived around 11 am. He worked for two hours. Our connection seemed to be stable when he left. Nevertheless, I think we are moving to cable as soon as it becomes available.

Busy day today. Stayed steadily busy all day long. More and more problems rolling in. Quote requests are coming in steadily too.

I noticed this morning on my lease renewal notice, that aside from rent going up $40, but the garage rent is going up $40 too! Damn. $80 increase in rent.

At lunch I dropped off some old pillows, some tab panel curtains, and some old socks in the Goodwill Box, then ran home to make a Healthy Choice frozen meal and walk Buddy.

We got our payroll stubs in the middle of the day, but I just left them in the envelopes. On my way home I was stuck in traffic and decided to open them and read them. There was a $1000 bonus check! I phoned Craig to thank him and he said that they decided to have Christmas early. Almost all of that has to go to savings account.

Right now I am grilling chicken breast on my micro gas grill. Then I am going to shower, put shorts and sleeveless shirt on and get to the gym.

Spring Forward, Fall Back

On Friday night a cold front came through... it began with acorns falling from the trees and raindrops coming down. There was a big van parked under my bedroom window, which was open. Buddy heard the sounds in the bedroom and barked into the room with a sorta frightened bark! It has been nice and cool again this weekend.

Yesterday, after I got the laundry done, I went to Lowe's to get materials to build my workbench. Unfortunately their panel saw was broken. But I kept looking around and I found glued-up boards that were already cut to net shape. They were more expensive, but the surfaces were nice and smooth too. I got a 24"x72" board for the top and a 12"x72" board for the shelf.

For the legs and braces I found some 1x3's that were only $1.18 apiece. There were pretty rough, but they would serve my purposes. I picked up some screws too. Altogether I spent around $70. It probably would have been less if I could have used a sheet of plywood or chip board.

I started by chopping two of the 1x3's into 36-inch-long legs. I also cut four 21-inch-long braces. Then I drilled pilot holes into the top, the shelf, and the back panel for the shelf. After that I began by attaching the 1x3's to the bottom of the top panel. All of the screw heads are below the surface to keep my work from being scratched. Next the legs were attached. Most of the assembly was done with the bench upside down on my folding table. After the legs I put the cross braces on. I had to clamp the legs and braces into position while driving the screws in.

Next the shelf was screwed onto the cross bar after test-fitting the pieces. With the shelf and cross bar assembly made up, I laid it into position, resting on the cross braces, and then drove screws through the cross braces into the cross bar. The last part to go onto the bench was the shelf back. It was secured to the left and right back legs and to the back of the shelf.

I had to shave material off of one of the legs with the circular saw to make the table sit level without rocking. Then it was done. I slid it into the corner and put some of my stuff on it.

I still want to get a pint of polyurethane and coat the top really good. That will protect it from stains, grease, and dirt getting ground in.

Now I need to get rid of more stuff I am just storing. On my good-bye list: Mutoh drafting pen plotter, Sunbeam bread machine, sand blasting cabinet, spare computer chair. I want to set the drill press and table saw up along the right side of my garage.

The people who live next to my garage said they heard my powertools running some of the time, but that it did not bother them. I had talked to John about it before. I told him that I will only be making noise like that on weekends.

After finishing the project and walking the dog, I came into write all of this down, but the Internet service was on the fritz. I had to call BrightHouse and endure the endless troubleshooting recording before I could talk with "Jay" the real-person down there. They sent a mindless coolie highly-trained technician today and he replaced the modem.

This morning I dusted the house, moved all of my clocks one hour back, cleaned kitchen and bathroom floors, and made a cherry pie. I still need to run the vacuum cleaner. My friend Rick might come over this evening. I just want to relax this afternoon and continue reading Big Coal.

It's hard to believe the weekend is almost over!

Friday!!

I know I said I was going to the gym last night, but I did not make it. I got to playing around with the Google SketchUp program (free download!) after being pointed to it by a Make! magazine article about the weekend workbench project.

After watching three of the tutorials on the program website, I was able to design and create my own 3-D model workbench. My bench is going to be 72-inches long because the 96-inch bench described in the article won't fit in the front of my garage. So I will waste a little more material. Nevertheless, my picture doesn't look too bad for a first try, ehhh?

Google hosts a site for sharing models called the 3-D Warehouse and I have sent a copy of my bench here for download by anyone with SketchUp.

Orlando, FL

On Tuesday I took a break from the gym - I was a little sore! I got back in there last night. I ran and I did back, bi's and abs. My abs hurt. Everything is a little sore, I feel a little tired, but I am getting better!!

Lastnight I made chicken drumsticks on the grill. I bit the ball of cartilage off of the ends and put that into Buddy's bowl to eat.

The cool temperatures continue here. I put my window fan in last night and opened the sliding door in the living room fist-wide to make a path for the air from my bedroom into the living room. The house was nice and cool this morning. Hopefully my electric bill will be a little lower next month!

On the way home I learned on the radio (105.1 FM) that Journey and Def Leppard are having a double-header at the TD Waterhouse Center on November 5. They had a call-in contest, "If you can sing the next line from this song, you could be our next concert tickets winner!" The line was from Don't Stop Believin' but when I called the phone number all I got was "All circuits are busy now, please try your call again later."

I am going to try to get into the gym again this evening. Shoulders, chest, tri's and abs tonight.

When I get paid I have to get groceries. I need to buy things that let me do the low-carb diet thing again. I need to buy flea and tick medicine for Buddy, two more tires for the truck, and I need to start buying parts to do the brakes on the truck.

On Flickr I saw a picture of a some guy's home made workbench. I think I might build one for my garage too. Just need a 4x8 sheet of plywood, several 8-foot 2x4's, screws, and carriage bolts. I need to get rid of some of the stuff I am storing in there and set up my tablesaw and drill. I can do this entire project with my power handtools.

Yesterday I found something else interesting and useful - Yahoo! Bookmarks. You can upload the bookmarks from your browser and then access them wherever you are if you have an Internet connection. Since I have different bookmarks at work and at home, I uploaded both sets to the page. Also, you can easily share bookmarks by e-mail or instant messenger. One thing that I did not like about getting a new computer or re-formatting your hard disk was that you would loose your bookmarks -- not any more!

Orlando, FL

I made it to the gym again last night (yay! me!!). I ran 10 minutes, then I did shoulders, chest, tri's and abs. I don't really feel sore today, just a little tired.

It did cool down last night. I turned the AC off and opened the balcony door. The dog kept getting up because he heard things outside on the street. Then I would have to tell him, "Go lay down!" He'd run right back to his crate.

Today's picture is a shot of the space shuttle climbing to orbit taken from the international space station. I found this while surfing and thought it was cool.

It was sunny today, but I do not believe the temps got out of the 70's. Nice autumn weather for a change. I am at the office by myself right now -- Craig is at the Sysco Food Show and Fay had a doctor appointment.

After I get Buddy walked and I make some dinner, I will try to get back to the gym to do back, bi's and abs tonight. If the pain is going away already, that's a good sign, right?

Monday

This was a good weekend. I stripped the bed and washed the sheets and dust ruffle, cleaned, relaxed, and read. I called Sis on Saturday to wish her a happy thirty-seventh birthday. I went to BJ's and got a couple more cases of flavored bottled water, milk, cheese, and a couple other things.

On Sunday I ran my emergency generator for awhile and then I connected my hose to the hose bib and ran it into the garage to see how far it would reach. It reached all the way outside to where the truck was parked.

So I degreased the engine, rinsed it off, and sprayed silicone on everything under the hood, wiped down. It looks shiny and new again! Buddy just hung out at the back of the garage while I did this.

It was mostly overcast today. Temps are supposed to drop down real cool tonight. I like cooler weather.

I read today with interest an article about the imminent retirement of CV66 John F Kennedy and how the Navy is sending George Washington (CVN-73) to Yokosuka, Japan in 2008 to relieve Kitty Hawk. I bet the detailer is having a time keeping sailors on GW now!

At lunch today I counted out the quarters in the truck's ashtray. There was $10.50 in there! You know I am waiting for payday when I count ashtray coins!

The Great Pumpkin

I was sore all day today. My abs hurt worst of all.

We took our website photos this morning. It was a struggle to get the lighting just right. I am satisfied with the picture we took.

A good week for our office -- $389k in sales!

After lunch I took the tie off and left it at home. I brought Buddy back to the office with me. He got to spend the afternoon in the office and then after work I took him to the West Orange Dog Park to play and exercise. Of course he got dirty!

First thing was to start laundry and get his bath when we got home. He smells nice now. Next I cleaned the floors, read my mail, and checked my voicemail. There was a message from Dad in there wishing me a "Happy Birthday". Well, it was only three weeks late. He told me, "Don't bother calling me back until the weekend or you'll mess up my minutes!" Oh geez.

I wanted to get to the discount warehouse this evening to buy bottled water, but it has gotten too late and I am just too pooped out anyway. I am going to sip some canned apple juice now and get the water in the morning.

Found these seasonal photos on Flickr. Makes you wonder what happened to Peter Peter the Pumpkin Eater! LOL!

Orlando, FL

Last night I was at the gym from 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm... the parking lot was starting to thin out when I left at 9. I ran for 10 minutes, then I did shoulders, chest, and triceps. Tonight I will try to get there around 8:30 pm and see how it is for equipment availability. I won't even loose any sleep if the dog lets me sleep in til 6 am!

One thing I noticed... I waited to make the left turn onto Conroy Road from Kirkman these past few nights and it takes three (3) light cycles to get your left turn, while the light up at LB McLeod lets everyone making the left through. I am going to try going south on Hiawassee Road, then making a left onto Conroy up there. I think that will be faster.

I was a little sore again today. That is expected.

Tomorrow I have to shave and wear a shirt and tie to work because Debbie is taking our portraits for the updated FER website. I pressed a white shirt this evening. I will wear green slacks and my green tie that has motorcycles and VW's on it.

The picture today is a thumbnail of this blog as it appeared yesterday. I used this online program called Websnapr to automatically create it. No software to download or install, you just append the target url to the websnap url and it creates the thumbnail in your browser! If I ever link to other websites from here in the future, I might use it to make a little picture of where you are about to go!

I discovered a few new toys on Flickr recently too. I will play around with them this weekend and maybe I will post some of my creative works here too.

Orlando, FL

Well, there goes the money I managed to put aside into savings... the rental office finally noticed Buddy and they want me to fork over $300 in pet deposits, like, right now. I'll never get a house down payment saved up.

Stayed busy all day at the office. Denis Greismer, some big wig at Enodis, came today to meet with Craig and Ruth's Chris Steakhouse people. Denis left his Blackberry device in our restroom. After we figured out how to turn it off (it kept ringing) we had to UPS the danged thing to him.

Going to go to the gym again this evening. I hope I don't end up too sore from it tomorrow.

On Friday I have to wear a tie to work. Debbie is taking digital pictures of each one of us so that FER can update its website. Oh brother.

Orlando, FL

Advil tablets were mixed with my vitamins this morning. Because of that I really did not start to feel the soreness from the gym until after lunch.

Yes, I went to the gym lastnight. From 7 pm to 8 pm. It was very crowded. When I left at 8 pm there were still cars pulling in! I wonder how late you have to go to avoid the crowd? Anyway, I will be in there again tomorrow night, but I will get there around 8 pm. It is open until 11 pm.

This past week I have noticed that Buddy likes to eat acorns. While walking in the parking lot he will lick them up. CRUNCH. CRUNCH. CRUNCH. Spit everything out. Ignore the cap and lick the nut back up. Do they taste good to dogs?

It's been pretty busy in the office so far this week. Only Tuesday and we are approaching $300k! Fay is not so sure she's glad to be back! LOL!

Monday

It was another day by myself in the office - Fay was still on vacation, but Craig was back and he spent two hours in the office in the morning. Debbie came in for a couple of hours after lunch. The only busy time was right after lunch when the phone kept ringing.

There was a surprise delivery of bakery racks this afternoon. I am expecting a six-burner range tomorrow.

At lunch I went to Subway and got a foot-long BMT on Parmesan/Oregano bread. I brought it home. I walked the dog first, then I ate my sandwich.

The weather was cooler today. It was in the mid-80's, but overcast today. I am glad the weather is cooler and drier.

Weekend

Bear Bust is one stop on a nationwide gay circuit party. The theme of this stop is overweight and hairy men - 'bears'. Full Moon Saloon hosts the annual Bear Bust party. It appeared to be very successful - the bar was packed full of bears and their admirers.

One particular large specimen was squeezing his way through the crowd - he must have been 12 feet around. He wore a black tee shirt stretched over his huge belly. On the tee in big white letters was the message, "I BEAT ANOREXIA"! I should say so!

Of course you never see a gay bulimic -- no gag reflex!

I was out until 1 am. Came home. Walked Buddy around the building and then went to bed. I slept until 7 am. Buddy needed to go out.

So we walked down to Walmart and back up. I usually walk him behind the office condo across the street because we throw his poop bag into their dumpster. Well, this morning I got a surprise! The stray cat that lives there was up on the lawn and Buddy saw it! He pulled me across the dew-wet grass after that cat! Into the bushes!

The cat escaped - barely.

It was cool in the morning so I turned the AC off and left my bedroom door to the balcony open. Buddy went out there to watch the squirrels and other things. He layed down on the floor and napped in the sun!

Friday The Thirteenth

Don't feed Bush's baked beans to Buddy ever again!

After about an hour and a half he jumped up on to my lap and I noticed all these bumps and knots on his head and big bumps under his eyes! He got down and I saw bumps all over his back and legs! He broke out in hives!

We went to CVS and got Benedryl capsules for him. He wouldn't eat the pill itself so I had to put them into his liver treats. He took three of them. This morning he looked like nothing even happened!

I guess the dog on the Bush's commercials only knows the recipe, but never eats the beans.

Today I was by myself in the office. Nick came in to get the combi oven on to a truck for delivery and then he was gone. Debbie came in after lunch for a couple of hours. Overall it was not a bad day. I am sure we will be fine without Fay on Monday too.

Orlando, FL

Read something interesting today... yesterday was 10-11-06, but if you turn the date upside down you get 9-11-01... and it just happens that a plane flew into a building in New York City yesterday too.... hmmmm....coincidence?

We had our phones back at work today. I remarked to Fay that I liked it better without the phones. She agreed. What does she care? She is off Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.

When I got home today I saw John Lein and I asked him if it would bother them if I ran my saw and my drill on the weekends. He said they are both so busy now that they will not notice. Cool. I want to get a maple-top workbench, a compound mitre saw, a shop vac, a large fan, and a thicknesser/planer to complete my shop. Maybe I will set my saw and drill up and practice on some inexpensive MDF or plywood.

Only one more day, then I get a festive weekend! Yay!

Orlando, FL

This must have been the most peaceful day we've had at FER. When I came in there were orders on the fax machine, but when I tried to fax them to the factory the fax machine made a repetitive clicking sound - like a rattle. The phones had that sound as the dialtone.

The BellSouth DSL technician came in and found nothing wrong with our equipment, but he went to the front building and switched our Internet service to a different port. He said that if that did not fix the problem, then the issue is in the 900-foot-long copper line between the front building and our office. Must have worked because our service was uninterrupted for the rest of the day.

The Verizon man came after lunch. He also found nothing wrong with our equipment at all. Evidently somebody at the switching office downtown mistook our circuit for another circuit and placed it into feedback test. When they realized that a mistake was made they never went back and put our circuit back to normal. By 3 pm we had phone and fax back to normal.

Craig called shortly after that. He is now in Chicago. It was 48° F and raining. He had MAFSI and NAFEM there. He should be back late Friday evening.

I will be in the office by myself on Friday -- Fay is taking Friday and Monday off.

This evening I am having kabob leftovers rolled up in foil and cooked on the grill. The hickory chips are starting to burn and smoke so this should taste good!

Orlando, FL

Today was Marrissia's 27th birthday. I am sure Becky and Bill or Kevin have found some good way to embarass her at the dinner table while they are at sea on their cruise.

Lunch today was at Chik-Fil-A with a free sandwich coupon presented by a door-to-door Chik-Fil-A coupon passer.

It was sunny today with a high in the 80's. It was nice.

Stayed continuously busy almost all day today.

This evening, after I walked the dog, I went to Winn-Dixie to get some stew beef, cherry tomatoes, pineapple chunks and I combined that with green peppers and onions to make shishkabobs (see the picture) that I cooked on the grill this evening.

Now the dog is looking at me longingly... he wants some too.

Orlando, FL

It was cooler today. I think the high was 85 F and it was sunny. A nice autumn day in Florida.

While I was driving home at lunch today I saw an airplane skywriting. I am not sure what he was writing because the wind was smearing the letters just after he finished them.

On the way back to the office I saw a bald eagle perched on a streetlight.

Craig flew to Las Vegas this afternoon for the North American Convenience Store (NACS) Convention. He comes back Wednesday and then flies to Chicago for MAFSI and NAFEM.

Not much else to report.

More Weekend

Buddy got his trip to the dog park on Sunday morning. He ran and played for about two hours. He really loves to go and play with the other dogs. I just wish he would play gentler with the smaller dogs. Of course, I wish owners of smaller dogs would just take them to the small dog enclosure.

When we got home I threw Buddy's harness and leash into the laundry and got him into the bath tub. He hates to get a bath, but he really needed it. After his bath he slept.

I read news on the Internet for awhile. Then I went in and layed on my bed to read Big Coal while a History Channel documentary played on the TV. I was about to close the book and take a nap myself, when the phone rang. I jumped up, the dog jumped up. It was Becky.

They got to the Comfort Inn Suites in Cocoa Beach at 2:30. They wanted to go out to dinner. I had to take Buddy out for a walk before heading over there.

I went down Kirkman Road to I-Drive, made a right, up to Universal Drive, made a right, onto the onramp to I-4, down a mile to the Florida Turnpike, down the pike 5 miles to the 528 east toward Cocoa Beach.

Advice: Do not use SR 520 if you have to be anywhere by a certain time. It's only two lanes and runs through towns.

I got there around 5:20. There were up on the sixth floor and you could see a long way from their rooms. Marrissia, Kevin, Becky and Bill drove down in Becky's Lincoln during the day.

We went to the Olive Garden in Merritt Island for dinner. Conversation was about the cruise they were taking today, pets, possibly taking a future cruise with the whole family, etc... We had a good time. I know the bill for that meal must have been over $100!

Back at the hotel we talked in the parking lot for awhile. It was cooling down and there was a nice breeze. No bugs, no humidity, very nice.

I made it back to Orlando on just 1/8 tank of gas. I had so many worries... "Will I have enough gas? Will the nail in the front tire stay in the tire? What does the 'Check Engine' light mean?"

Now it's time to start another week at the office. I am going to take some money out of savings because I want to go out next weekend -- it's the annual Bear Bust at the Full Moon Saloon.

Weekend

It was not a bad week for FER - 41 orders for MerryChef ovens came in on Thursday for the Gill Group's Hyatt Place project. I heard we might get orders for 20 more locations! Overall, FER-Orlando, brought in $639k for the week. We never heard from the Hollywood office about their order total.

Took the truck to the car wash to get some of the bugs cleaned off of it lastnight. Talked to Mom while in there. They are driving down here Sunday morning. They will be here sometime Sunday afternoon or Sunday evening. I think they are going to have a good trip.

This morning I slept in til 7:30, then I took the dog out for a walk. When we came back, I put him into the crate and I went to Winn-Dixie to get some groceries. I took some coupons with me.

At the checkout the girl rang me up and one of the coupons would not scan so she had to call the customer service manager.

I asked her, "Is that one still good? They all say 'No Expiration Date' on them."

She goes, "Oh yeah, it be guut, but it didn't have a bar code to scan."

I laughed, "Yeah, that's because I clipped that coupon in 1987."

She got all wide-eyed and her jaw dropped open like she just saw a space alien, "For real?"

"Uh, yeah, for real, and people weren't doing very much scanning back then."

Took the groceries into the house, pulled the truck into the garage and put some wax on the hood, roof and tailgate.

Now the groceries are put away. I have cleaned the kitchen and bath floors. Just waiting for them to dry, then I will run the vacuum cleaner and cook some steaks out on the gas grill with a foil packet of onions, mushrooms, and sliced up peppers.

Maybe Buddy will get a trip to the dog park and then a bath this evening.

InSinkErator Meeting

I know I haven't written these past couple of days. You haven't missed anything. Lots and lots of work. We got the test kitchen ready for Mike Everson and David Coble from InSinkErator to come and give rep training.

Lastnight I boiled a dozen eggs, shelled them, and devilled them and put them on my fancy devilled egg plate (from Crate & Barrel). My eggs were a hit. There were only two left at the end of the day. Nancy Baranet is impressed with my meager cooking skills.

Around 11:30 I was sent to Publix to pick up the ring sandwich that Fay had ordered. It was a nice-sized sandwich. Fay and Debbie got the table set up and it was a lot of nice food.

While the training went on, I had to stay in the front and answer the phones and handle orders and quotes. Over $600k in MerryChef orders came in today. Looks like another good week for us!

It's a good thing tomorrow is Friday again already. I need a weekend.

Happy Birthday, Vince !!

On Sunday I went to the office for a couple of hours to match the last-minute orders up with their quotes and get them ready for faxing. There were thirteen orders. I took Buddy with me.

Right after the office I went to BJ's Wholesale Warehouse with my trial membership they mailed me. The deal is you can have 90 days for free, but once you get your card activated they offer you a year membership for $30 ($45 regular) and you can quit for a full refund in the first 60 days. So I got the $30 membership.

I bought five cases of bottled water, a three-pack of Dow Bathroom Cleaner, a six-pack of red/orange/yellow bell peppers, some barbeque, and some coconut shrimp. Definitely get paper towels, toilet paper, bottled water, and cleaning supplies there. Some of the stuff in there just isn't really a bargain.

You haven't had a birthday until you've heard Nancy Baranet screaming, "Happy Birthday Vince!! Happy Birthday Vince!!" Through the phone to you. Uggghhhh. I think I can thank Fay for putting the word out that it was my birthday. Each factory, each rep, had to wish me a joyous birthday.

Atleast I got free lunch out of it.

We went to the Ruby Tuesdays on Kirkman Road. Debbie met us there. Craig paid for the meal. It was nice. After lunch Fay and I drove over to the apartment so I could get Buddy out and walk him real quick.

Dawn called my cellphone this morning for my birthday. She was running around doing Mom-stuff.

I don't understand it... maybe he got sick or something... but when I got home in the evening, I found that Buddy had puked in one corner of his crate and pooped in the opposite corner. I was mad. He knew what he did was bad. I yelled at him and I put him out side while I cleaned his mess up, put his bedding in the laundry, and changed my clothes.

When I let him back in he was scared, but like I said, I did not hit him, and we went for our walk. He was very hungry this evening.

Ugghh... thirty-eight? Damn. I am surprised I've lived this long. A few that started out with me didn't make it this far!