In you recent letter you reminded me that I am not only a customer but an owner. Apparently I should have long since taken a more active roll; consider this a Memo from Management.
First let me tell you what you did correctly:
Updating our power lines to improve service is a good thing.
Sending customers/owners a letter alerting them to this action and the power outage that it will cause is also a good thing.
Now, to the other:
Mid July, really? Is this really the best time to shut down power for 3 hours? really?
What about November? A month when it probably won't be 90 degrees by 11am AND THE KIDS WILL BE AT SCHOOL!
When they are home and the power shuts down the FlyingMonkeys flock to me like chiggers to underpants. Because I am an owner of the power company they want answers. This sweaty discourse breaks down as they ask me "what did you do back before there was electricity?"
Obviously the pressures of being Management were getting to me because my response was less than motherly and ended with me telling them to call their Grandmother if they really wanted to know. Of course they couldn't do this because our non-cordless, circa 1980's phone is on a shelf so high that the only person in our house that can reach it was sitting in his nice air conditioned office far far away....a ladder was just too much trouble.
You warned me that the power would be out...so turn about is fair play.
If you EVER intentionally cut power in the middle of summer when the kids are home, this Owner will be delivering all 3 of her little Share Holders, un-medicated, to your office for the duration. When you crack, and you will, anyone in your office that has retained the ability to walk will be able to find me in the parking lot enjoying the quiet hummm of my car's AC.
That is all.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Monday, July 7, 2008
Bangers and splash...
We spent most of last week at the lake, AKA my Parent's house. It was our first visit since the completion of the new boat house. Might not sound like a big deal to you but....
Several years ago, and by several I really mean like 6 or 7, my parents were going to build a new boat house. Step one in this process was going to be the demolition of the old one. Some people might spend the weekend sweating and cursing while trying to pry the boards apart and then lug them to the shore...My Dad...not so much. He has always been a man of expediency so the removal of the old boat house was no different. It was down in less than an hour thanks to Dad's trusty flame thrower. The only thing that survived the fire was a portion of the walkway and the part that we used to lay out on...and that was only because it would not "catch".
Now they have a new one. It is outstanding. 2 slips for the boats, both with electric lifts. This is particularly exciting to me because it means that I won't have to wear a helmet to keep from being brained, again, by a manual one...(thanks Mom). It also has a large locking closet that is now home to all of the floats and a full sized fridge. My favorite part is the large "sitting" area, 1/2 covered and 1/2 open. The covered portion has ceiling fans and was the best place on earth to be this weekend.
By Friday afternoon we had a full house. Kids were skiing, tubing, and swimming until their little feet were wrinkled little prunes. Late in the afternoon the dinner bell rang...BBQ to die for. If you had any room left there was homemade ice cream, pound cake, 3 different kinds of brownies and lemon pie.......
To end the night we sat on the pier and watched the neighbors fireworks display. Well...that may be a little misleading....no one went to bed after that and the fireworks are nothing like what you might find at Crazy Bills. This neighbor hires "AGuy" and puts on a professional show every year, it is amazing.
No wonder my Brother says this is his favorite holiday.
Hope you all had a good one too!
Several years ago, and by several I really mean like 6 or 7, my parents were going to build a new boat house. Step one in this process was going to be the demolition of the old one. Some people might spend the weekend sweating and cursing while trying to pry the boards apart and then lug them to the shore...My Dad...not so much. He has always been a man of expediency so the removal of the old boat house was no different. It was down in less than an hour thanks to Dad's trusty flame thrower. The only thing that survived the fire was a portion of the walkway and the part that we used to lay out on...and that was only because it would not "catch".
Now they have a new one. It is outstanding. 2 slips for the boats, both with electric lifts. This is particularly exciting to me because it means that I won't have to wear a helmet to keep from being brained, again, by a manual one...(thanks Mom). It also has a large locking closet that is now home to all of the floats and a full sized fridge. My favorite part is the large "sitting" area, 1/2 covered and 1/2 open. The covered portion has ceiling fans and was the best place on earth to be this weekend.
By Friday afternoon we had a full house. Kids were skiing, tubing, and swimming until their little feet were wrinkled little prunes. Late in the afternoon the dinner bell rang...BBQ to die for. If you had any room left there was homemade ice cream, pound cake, 3 different kinds of brownies and lemon pie.......
To end the night we sat on the pier and watched the neighbors fireworks display. Well...that may be a little misleading....no one went to bed after that and the fireworks are nothing like what you might find at Crazy Bills. This neighbor hires "AGuy" and puts on a professional show every year, it is amazing.
No wonder my Brother says this is his favorite holiday.
Hope you all had a good one too!
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Farmers in South Alabama:
You. Are. Welcome.
Yes, this rain that has popped up every day, breaking the drought, was a gift from me. It is the result of what might be described as an economic rain dance.
Thinking I was sooooooo smart I went and bought a family season pass to the public pool. The FlyingMonkeys needed a diversion and with our cousin coming to spend some time with us I thought it the perfect solution.
Our cousin got here last Sunday and I will be taking him to his Dad today. 10 days and we got to visit the pool ONCE. ONE TIME. NOT TWICE, ONCE.
The flash flood advisory occurred a few days ago, shortly after I returned home, with all 4 children, from buying pool toys. Can you say denial?
I did have enough sense to know that while the kids might find something fun to do with Noodles in the house I would probably not share their enthusiasm...so I also bought them a puzzle.
So in this last 10 days we have been pretty cooped up. My attempts at entertainment feel on deaf ears..."Hey kids who wants to learn how to fold a fitted sheet!" does not get them to come running.
*********
Sorry about the blogging lapse...you would think with 4 kids I would have had something funny to say...not so much. Seriously. Today we leave for the lake for the week. On the way I have promised Magnuts that he could spend some birthday money at the fireworks stand...blogging gold or a trip to ER?
Yes, this rain that has popped up every day, breaking the drought, was a gift from me. It is the result of what might be described as an economic rain dance.
Thinking I was sooooooo smart I went and bought a family season pass to the public pool. The FlyingMonkeys needed a diversion and with our cousin coming to spend some time with us I thought it the perfect solution.
Our cousin got here last Sunday and I will be taking him to his Dad today. 10 days and we got to visit the pool ONCE. ONE TIME. NOT TWICE, ONCE.
The flash flood advisory occurred a few days ago, shortly after I returned home, with all 4 children, from buying pool toys. Can you say denial?
I did have enough sense to know that while the kids might find something fun to do with Noodles in the house I would probably not share their enthusiasm...so I also bought them a puzzle.
So in this last 10 days we have been pretty cooped up. My attempts at entertainment feel on deaf ears..."Hey kids who wants to learn how to fold a fitted sheet!" does not get them to come running.
*********
Sorry about the blogging lapse...you would think with 4 kids I would have had something funny to say...not so much. Seriously. Today we leave for the lake for the week. On the way I have promised Magnuts that he could spend some birthday money at the fireworks stand...blogging gold or a trip to ER?
Friday, June 20, 2008
Cake and poker...
Tomorrow is Magnuts' 9th birthday...
He had two choices this year for his party. I told him that I would rent the pool or the skating rink, he could invite 20 of his closest friends and we would totally do it up...party favors, themed cake and decor..etc... The drawback of this party is the gift. If he chose this expensive party then the present from us would not be the PSP he seems to have his eye on. However, he also had the option of the smaller family party. This party would be just us and two of our cousins, it would still involve his favorite b'day breakfast, dinner and cake + he could get the bigger gift he wanted.
Let the wavering begin.
We did not get anything locked in until yesterday morning. Like all important conversations this one occurred in my bed. Magnuts snuggled up with me and the negotiations began:
Magnuts-I want the smaller party but I want the biggest cake.
Me-Ok, I can get on board with the bigger cake.
Magnuts-I want to get my present on my birthday but I don't want my birthday dinner and cake until Sunday when my cousins will be here.
Me-Ok...are you sure you want to wait on the cake....
Magnuts-Yeah, remember I am going to my friend's birthday party Saturday so I will get to have cake that day anyway...this way I get cake all weekend.
Well...at least he thought it through.
Yesterday we went to order his cake. He choose the biggest one they have, the 1/2 sheet...it was the decoration choice that kind of threw me...and the older lady taking our order. Around the words "Happy Birthday Magnuts" there will be little dice, cards, poker chips and a roulette wheel...it should go well with all of the little mini vodkas I am bringing...
He had two choices this year for his party. I told him that I would rent the pool or the skating rink, he could invite 20 of his closest friends and we would totally do it up...party favors, themed cake and decor..etc... The drawback of this party is the gift. If he chose this expensive party then the present from us would not be the PSP he seems to have his eye on. However, he also had the option of the smaller family party. This party would be just us and two of our cousins, it would still involve his favorite b'day breakfast, dinner and cake + he could get the bigger gift he wanted.
Let the wavering begin.
We did not get anything locked in until yesterday morning. Like all important conversations this one occurred in my bed. Magnuts snuggled up with me and the negotiations began:
Magnuts-I want the smaller party but I want the biggest cake.
Me-Ok, I can get on board with the bigger cake.
Magnuts-I want to get my present on my birthday but I don't want my birthday dinner and cake until Sunday when my cousins will be here.
Me-Ok...are you sure you want to wait on the cake....
Magnuts-Yeah, remember I am going to my friend's birthday party Saturday so I will get to have cake that day anyway...this way I get cake all weekend.
Well...at least he thought it through.
Yesterday we went to order his cake. He choose the biggest one they have, the 1/2 sheet...it was the decoration choice that kind of threw me...and the older lady taking our order. Around the words "Happy Birthday Magnuts" there will be little dice, cards, poker chips and a roulette wheel...it should go well with all of the little mini vodkas I am bringing...
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Busy and Disjointed...
My Grandmother died last week. She was 89 and passed peacefully in her sleep with my Father at her side.
My Dad called me after I got home from taking Miss-D to school. He asked me to call the cemetery and start making arrangements and then as we were getting off the phone, in an off-handed way, he told me that my Aunt and Grandfather's ashes would be delivered to my house.
That's not something you hear every day...
I began making arrangements, I told the FlyingMonkeys what had happened...and I continued with the business of being a Mom.
We had baseball end of season parties Wed. and Thur. nights. Miss-D still had class every day. On Friday I met my Mom and picked up my Grandmother's ashes. By the time I picked up Miss-D and got home the package containing my Aunt and Grandfather had been left on my porch.
We rushed to the cemetery to deliver the ashes and fill out the paper work. This nice man offered to keep the kids busy while I took care of the business at hand. Let me just tell you that standing next to a coffin while swiping your debit card is an odd thing...only the lady asking me if I would like cash back could have made it stranger.
After meeting Rob for dinner I was able to leave the FlyingMonkeys with him so that I could finish up my Father's Day shopping.
The service was the next day at 9am. I must say that I was anxious. I had been trusted to handle the internment of my Father's Mother, Father and Sister and I didn't want to screw it up. I ordered their grave stones...I must have looked at that form 100 times...checking and re-checking...trying to make sure everything was right.
The service went off without a hitch...thank you God.
So...I have been busy and distracted. I appreciate the concerned e-mails...I am fine and hope to get back to regular blogging soon.
My Dad called me after I got home from taking Miss-D to school. He asked me to call the cemetery and start making arrangements and then as we were getting off the phone, in an off-handed way, he told me that my Aunt and Grandfather's ashes would be delivered to my house.
That's not something you hear every day...
I began making arrangements, I told the FlyingMonkeys what had happened...and I continued with the business of being a Mom.
We had baseball end of season parties Wed. and Thur. nights. Miss-D still had class every day. On Friday I met my Mom and picked up my Grandmother's ashes. By the time I picked up Miss-D and got home the package containing my Aunt and Grandfather had been left on my porch.
We rushed to the cemetery to deliver the ashes and fill out the paper work. This nice man offered to keep the kids busy while I took care of the business at hand. Let me just tell you that standing next to a coffin while swiping your debit card is an odd thing...only the lady asking me if I would like cash back could have made it stranger.
After meeting Rob for dinner I was able to leave the FlyingMonkeys with him so that I could finish up my Father's Day shopping.
The service was the next day at 9am. I must say that I was anxious. I had been trusted to handle the internment of my Father's Mother, Father and Sister and I didn't want to screw it up. I ordered their grave stones...I must have looked at that form 100 times...checking and re-checking...trying to make sure everything was right.
The service went off without a hitch...thank you God.
So...I have been busy and distracted. I appreciate the concerned e-mails...I am fine and hope to get back to regular blogging soon.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Well...
I have had a lot going on since I last posted. I will try to get a post done about it all today so that I can put it up tomorrow....
Monday, June 9, 2008
This and that...
The boys had their last games Friday night and Rob and I celebrated our 14th anniversary Saturday...so a busy weekend.
Miss-D is back at school this week for a math thing. The school has decided to offer an honors math program and this year will be offering Pre-Algebra to "targeted" 7th graders and Algebra I to targeted 8th graders. She is a targeted 8th grader and because they didn't offer Pre-Algebra last year they will be letting this first group of 8th graders take a crash course this week. Math from 8-3, Monday - Friday...she is thrilled...not.
When I crept back to her room to wake her at 6ish this morning I noticed that Magnuts was curled up at the foot of her bed. I then noticed that someone had drawn with sidewalk chalk all over the tile floor in the bathroom....
Looked like someone couldn't sleep...so when he dragged his groggy butt into the breakfast this morning I told him that I had seen the mess...and waited...
He wobbled, blinked his eyes and said nothing. I continued..."I saw the mess you left on the bathroom floor...remember the one you made last night while everyone was trying to sleep..."
His eye lids drooped and he said..."I don't recall."
"I don't recall".....who says that? Lawyers, politicians, crooks....wait isn't that redundant?
Miss-D is back at school this week for a math thing. The school has decided to offer an honors math program and this year will be offering Pre-Algebra to "targeted" 7th graders and Algebra I to targeted 8th graders. She is a targeted 8th grader and because they didn't offer Pre-Algebra last year they will be letting this first group of 8th graders take a crash course this week. Math from 8-3, Monday - Friday...she is thrilled...not.
When I crept back to her room to wake her at 6ish this morning I noticed that Magnuts was curled up at the foot of her bed. I then noticed that someone had drawn with sidewalk chalk all over the tile floor in the bathroom....
Looked like someone couldn't sleep...so when he dragged his groggy butt into the breakfast this morning I told him that I had seen the mess...and waited...
He wobbled, blinked his eyes and said nothing. I continued..."I saw the mess you left on the bathroom floor...remember the one you made last night while everyone was trying to sleep..."
His eye lids drooped and he said..."I don't recall."
"I don't recall".....who says that? Lawyers, politicians, crooks....wait isn't that redundant?
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Living with genious...
So Rob did something really cool at work this week. Actually he does stuff like this all the time but this time it was something I could actually understand well enough to describe.
His company spent a fortune on some specialized asset tracking software. Software that would allow them to keep up with the location of each and every crate. A problem arose, the software would only allow them to see 100 crates at a time. The developing company said that there was nothing that could be done about it that it could not be fixed.
In a matter of hours Rob managed to apply his algorithm to their source code and corrected the issue...or I think that is what he told me.
Rob's boss sent out a memo formally announcing that the problem no longer existed, that Rob had fixed it. He sent this memo to the developer of the faulty software and ccd every big boss in their own company.
The coup-de-grace was his offer to sell the software company the "fix" Rob developed....
His company spent a fortune on some specialized asset tracking software. Software that would allow them to keep up with the location of each and every crate. A problem arose, the software would only allow them to see 100 crates at a time. The developing company said that there was nothing that could be done about it that it could not be fixed.
In a matter of hours Rob managed to apply his algorithm to their source code and corrected the issue...or I think that is what he told me.
Rob's boss sent out a memo formally announcing that the problem no longer existed, that Rob had fixed it. He sent this memo to the developer of the faulty software and ccd every big boss in their own company.
The coup-de-grace was his offer to sell the software company the "fix" Rob developed....
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
37
Happy birthday to me...I got to sleep late and the only chore that I foresee is the cleaning of Magnut's uniform. Both boys have games tonight, and for once they have them in the same place! I will be taking my camera with the brand new memory card Rob gave me to see how close I can come to filling it up...1350 pics....maybe out of all those I will have 5 worth keeping.
Hope y'all all have a good one...gotta finish my coffee and go play the drums...
Hope y'all all have a good one...gotta finish my coffee and go play the drums...
Monday, June 2, 2008
We will "air rock" you...
I got a great early birthday present from my parents...the drum kit for Rock Band!!!!
How about the drums are a little harder than I thought they would be.
With the guitar there are five fret buttons that you have to be able to play with the four fingers on your left hand while strumming with your right. I figured that the drums would be much more manageable...it requires that you hold two drum sticks and be able to press the bass pedal with your foot. I assumed I would be coming out ahead...I have the two hands for the drum sticks, and two feet...one for the pedal and one to spare.
Do you remember that little trick where you pat your belly with one hand while trying to rub circles on your head with the other? It's like that but with feet and sticks.
I can do it but it is going to take practice, and maybe booze.
In many of the songs there are parts that allow for a little "freestyle play". They allow you to play anything you like and the faster and more complex it is the more bonus points they award you.
Have you ever seen one of those little psycho Monkey dolls with the clanging symbols? That would be Magnuts during freestyle play.
We are just a catchy name and a microphone away from planning our world tour...and the microphones will be one sale this week....
How about the drums are a little harder than I thought they would be.
With the guitar there are five fret buttons that you have to be able to play with the four fingers on your left hand while strumming with your right. I figured that the drums would be much more manageable...it requires that you hold two drum sticks and be able to press the bass pedal with your foot. I assumed I would be coming out ahead...I have the two hands for the drum sticks, and two feet...one for the pedal and one to spare.
Do you remember that little trick where you pat your belly with one hand while trying to rub circles on your head with the other? It's like that but with feet and sticks.
I can do it but it is going to take practice, and maybe booze.
In many of the songs there are parts that allow for a little "freestyle play". They allow you to play anything you like and the faster and more complex it is the more bonus points they award you.
Have you ever seen one of those little psycho Monkey dolls with the clanging symbols? That would be Magnuts during freestyle play.
We are just a catchy name and a microphone away from planning our world tour...and the microphones will be one sale this week....
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