Oh The Joy

Today, I had a flat in the car. The front right tire went down. Luckily, I only got out of the driveway. I put on the full-size spare [gotta love those] and went to work. Now, we have to get a new spare tire.

This is just as I am staying off the motorcycle this week because its rear tire is so close to gone that I feel uncomfortable riding it. I’m getting a new one on Friday.

There goes the emergency savings…

Can You Believe It?

I actually made it to the gym last night. Laura and I went and worked out. Now – I hope my shoulder gets better with regular workouts. I’m still hurting and somewhat weak in the shoulder joint after our motorcycle wreck last Summer. This is the same shoulder that I had surgery on several years ago.

After the accident, I went to physical therapy to get it stretched out and strengthened, but it’s been a long road. Then came the batting cage incident. I was practicing batting left-handed when one swing made my right shoulder pop out of joint briefly. It went right back in, but I pulled something and it’s been hurting for three weeks at least.

So, maybe some regular strength training on my shoulder will help things heal up quickly.

I’m A Slacker

I haven’t been to the gym in weeks. I can tell. My body is feeling restless and uncomfortable – and easily fatigued. It’s been a long time since I’ve actually maintained a good workout schedule, so I think it’s time I started again. I have to try – I’m getting older by the minute.

Maybe I should post my success/failures here online so that I can be held accountable…

I don’t know – I have to think about that.

The Waldorf=Astoria

2012-01-08 23:29:37

Sometime in July, one of Laura’s long-time friends from England will be coming to visit New York City for some reason I can’t remember right now. So – that means a long weekend trip for us. So – I thought I’d cash in some points and stay at the historic Waldorf=Astoria hotel [I don’t know why there’s an “=” instead of a “-“, but that’s the way they print it]. I’ve always wanted to stay there and now I’ll get my chance – for free.

I’d better use up my points before they cancel my status – then, I won’t be “diamond” anymore… just lowly “gold”, “silver”, or even [gasp] … “blue”.

The Great Outdoors

It’s days like today that make me very glad I moved to Virginia. I can actually sit out on the back porch [which is where I am typing this from] and not die of heat stroke like I would have in Houston where it is in the 90s right now. Today here in Reston, it’s 72 and partly cloudy [or mostly sunny depending on how you look at it].

So – as I sit out here and type and watch Laura work in the yard, I’m really enjoying myself. I am so thankful for these kinds of days.

… and of course I get to take some pictures of flowers while I’m out there…

Spring Cleaning

2012-01-08 23:29:34

It has begun. What started out as an idea in our minds is now coming into reality. First victim: my office… sorry, OUR office. [it will take a bit to get use to that] Since we moved Laura down here, we haven’t really cleaned it up. So, today, we are doing that. We’ve hung more pictures and moved ones I had into other places that work better with the arrangement.

There’s been a lot of dust kicked up, so we’ve been sneezing a little, but that’s okay: Laura’s pretty handy with that dust cloth. I’ve even gotten my computers in a more neat-looking configuration. Not to mention all the new clear desk space I have again.

There was so much clutter in here – now that it’s gone, the place looks bigger. Of course, now we have to find a place to store the “clutter” that was here. I suspect we’ll be working on more than just my office during our Spring Cleaning phaze…

Kaboodle!

We have just discovered Kaboodle [thanks to my friend Pete]. Kaboodle is a centralized way to have one wish list encompas many online vendors. For example, many of you know that I have an Amazon wish list. But did you know I had one at B&H Photo Video as well? I bet you didn’t [not that you could afford what’s there anyway, but you get the point]. Not only would I need a new wish list for each site, some sites would be cheaper, but because they may not offer wish lists, I would have to find a way to add that item in Amazon.

Enter Kaboodle. Kaboodle is a nice way to have one place for all of your wish lists. It does other things too, but I haven’t used them. Both Laura and I have set up Kaboodle wish lists. Go check them out! [you don’t have to buy anything… this time!]

Jeff’s Wish List
Laura’s Wish List

[These links will also permanently be on the top left hand side of my web site in case you care…]

Can’t See The Forest… At All

On my way into work this morning, I was very thankful that Laura loaned me the use of her car. It began to rain about a half mile into my 46 mile commute. I’ve been working at a location in the mountains near West Virginia and when it rains in Reston, it really rains up there – and it’s colder.

So, at the base of the foothils, I began to notice not just rain, but fog. By the time I turned off the main road onto the street where I’m working [which climbs steeply up a mountain slope] the fog got so thick that I couldn’t see 30 feet in front of me. Had I been riding my motorcycle, I would not only be soaked, but blind as well – there are no wipers on my helmet.

Thank you, Laura!