I was born in Bangor, Maine. One of the bigger cities in Maine. I'd lived in the area until I was 8 years old, when my parents, my younger brother and I moved to Berlin, NH, where my parents both grew up. I remember various things about the first 8 years. I don't remember the first apartment, and then trailer park my parents lived in during my first couple years.
I do remember their first house, right in Bangor. It was a small bungalow, with one bedroom on the second floor for my parents, and my small bedroom just off the kitchen and dining room on the first floor. We had a small back yard, and a patio my father and friends built. A nice front porch. Brown paint with white trim.
The street we lived on intersected the street Stephen King's house is on. My parents told me I was too afraid to go to his house on Halloween, this being the very early 80's and Mr. King not being as super famous as he is today. Not sure if he still does this, but back then he would put on a grand Halloween decoration scene at his house.
A couple houses down and across from us my friend Aaron lived with his family. Pretty much the quintessential childhood best friend. My parents have pictures of us together during Halloween and birthday parties.
Next door to us was a blue house where an old widow lived. Mrs. Moore was a very nice lady. With my grandparents all about a 3-4 hour drive away, it was like having a surrogate grandmother right next door. She'd occasionally babysit me. And I was always welcome to visit her. She'd let me play on her exercise bike, would tell me stories about when she was younger and about her husband, and she always had cranberry juice just for me. I still have a quilt she made me.
We moved just prior to when I started Kindergarten. My brother was born in May of that year, and that little bungalow of a house wouldn't do for the bigger family. So my parents moved us to a huge log home in a nearby rural town. New friends were made, new adventures. Good times.
Recently I visited the old house in Bangor. I'd gone to a concert with a friend in Bangor the night before, and stayed at the place she, her husband and kids lived in nearby Winterport, their first house. The next day I decided to check it out.
Thanks to the technology of Google Maps, I was able to get a first hand street view look of the place before I left for my trip. I pull over on my motorcycle, and there it is. Same paint scheme and everything. Even Mrs. Moore's house was the same blue color. Now I felt weird. I'm a big burly guy showing up on a motorcycle taking random pics of a couple different houses with my cell phone. I kept expecting people to poke their heads out the window to give me weird looks. I didn't check out much more of the Bangor area, but thought it was pretty cool to ride around before the long ride back home.
Kindergarten is starting this week for a lot of new students. And I wonder about the little one that used to live here, herself starting kindergarten in Rhode Island. I still miss the kiddo, and wonder if she'll remember this house.
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Saturday, August 4, 2012
certificate
This morning in our Aikido class, my fellow Aikidoka Jeff and I were presented with our certificates for completing 5th Kyu in Aikido, from the headquaters of our small school and the Baltimore Aikido school... in Hawai'i.
Hawai'i... really, that's how they spell it. Neat. It's kinda nice to have the certificate. Even bought a frame for it. It will sit in my basement next to my framed Third Dan in Ninpo Chuan Fa and black belt.
Aikido rankings go from 6th Kyu (beginner) to 1st Kyu, with students wearing a white belt with their gi. After 1st Kyu, we'll test of 1st Dan (1st degree Black Belt), after that, it's black belts and Hakamas, which are black skirt-like pants that the samurai used to wear. My good friend Leane and I refer to them as the "fancy pants".
I'm really enjoying the class right now. Fellow student Jeff is an athletic guy in his 40's with a black belt in Kenpo. With just the two of us, it's kind of like private lessons with Jack Henry, our sensei. We've really been moving along in our studies, although Jeff and I both get tripped up in certain moves and how we try to not resort to old moves we know from the other styles we're trained in.
Lately I've taken some steps on behalf and at the request of Jack Sensei to set up a Facebook page for our group. I've gotten some friends to "like" the page. Also put up a few flyers for the school around the area. Jack is hoping we could get at least a few more people to round out the class. He started teaching Aikido at a health club in North Conway in February this year, there have been a few headaches with the club, such as having to switch rooms and mats around every class, and some overlap of other classes there. That'll be coming to an end, as the program is being moved to Conway at a local Yoga studio next month. Maybe we'll have a few less headaches with that.
Hawai'i... really, that's how they spell it. Neat. It's kinda nice to have the certificate. Even bought a frame for it. It will sit in my basement next to my framed Third Dan in Ninpo Chuan Fa and black belt.
Aikido rankings go from 6th Kyu (beginner) to 1st Kyu, with students wearing a white belt with their gi. After 1st Kyu, we'll test of 1st Dan (1st degree Black Belt), after that, it's black belts and Hakamas, which are black skirt-like pants that the samurai used to wear. My good friend Leane and I refer to them as the "fancy pants".
I'm really enjoying the class right now. Fellow student Jeff is an athletic guy in his 40's with a black belt in Kenpo. With just the two of us, it's kind of like private lessons with Jack Henry, our sensei. We've really been moving along in our studies, although Jeff and I both get tripped up in certain moves and how we try to not resort to old moves we know from the other styles we're trained in.
Lately I've taken some steps on behalf and at the request of Jack Sensei to set up a Facebook page for our group. I've gotten some friends to "like" the page. Also put up a few flyers for the school around the area. Jack is hoping we could get at least a few more people to round out the class. He started teaching Aikido at a health club in North Conway in February this year, there have been a few headaches with the club, such as having to switch rooms and mats around every class, and some overlap of other classes there. That'll be coming to an end, as the program is being moved to Conway at a local Yoga studio next month. Maybe we'll have a few less headaches with that.
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Runs on calories...
Earlier this week I took my mountain bike for a sixteen mile round trip to the next town up north into the local village. It was a hot day, humid too. One of those days where a lot of people just stay by their air conditioners. However, I was feeling pretty good, particularly after an excellent weightlifting workout in my basement, where it's always nice and cool in the summer.
My ride went well, with just a gentle enough breeze to make the heat bearable. Thought I was drinking enough water, but when I got home I felt like I walked into brick wall. I recovered with some good hydration and proper food. Made me pretty tired for my Aikido class later though.
Sadly enough I've only taken my mountain bike out once this year, and only a handful of times last year when I bought it.
This year's different though. Being single again has been kind of a wake up call on getting my weight under control. Really not feeling comfortable in my own skin right now, excess baggage and such. I think getting on the bicycle regularly will help me out like it did oh so many years ago when I went from being a husky teen to the kinda guy that was actually in pretty good shape and thinking of going to college to become a personal trainer.
Going to school for Culinary Arts kinda sent me the other way. My own fault.
Also, some friends of mine opened up a bicycle shop in the next town south of here. They have group rides every wednesday and sunday evenings, so I'll have to check those out when my schedule permits.
Not liking the new bike I bought though. Got talked into the mountain bike I have, when I really should have gotten more of a Road/Commuter bike. Soon I'll have to get rid of the bicycle for something more fitting for the road riding I prefer to do. Also, need a better saddle. I'll be ordering through my friends' shop to help support their new business. They sell Jamis bicycles, a company out of New Jersey.
Think I'll go check out their website...
My ride went well, with just a gentle enough breeze to make the heat bearable. Thought I was drinking enough water, but when I got home I felt like I walked into brick wall. I recovered with some good hydration and proper food. Made me pretty tired for my Aikido class later though.
Sadly enough I've only taken my mountain bike out once this year, and only a handful of times last year when I bought it.
This year's different though. Being single again has been kind of a wake up call on getting my weight under control. Really not feeling comfortable in my own skin right now, excess baggage and such. I think getting on the bicycle regularly will help me out like it did oh so many years ago when I went from being a husky teen to the kinda guy that was actually in pretty good shape and thinking of going to college to become a personal trainer.
Going to school for Culinary Arts kinda sent me the other way. My own fault.
Also, some friends of mine opened up a bicycle shop in the next town south of here. They have group rides every wednesday and sunday evenings, so I'll have to check those out when my schedule permits.
Not liking the new bike I bought though. Got talked into the mountain bike I have, when I really should have gotten more of a Road/Commuter bike. Soon I'll have to get rid of the bicycle for something more fitting for the road riding I prefer to do. Also, need a better saddle. I'll be ordering through my friends' shop to help support their new business. They sell Jamis bicycles, a company out of New Jersey.
Think I'll go check out their website...
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Aikido
Over the past couple months I've had the opportunity to take martial arts classes again. An Aikido program opened up in North Conway , about a 45 minute drive away, at a local health club.
The instructor, Jack Henry, is a second degree black belt Aikido. He and his wife moved up from Baltimore to the N.Conway area to semi-retire. Jack is a former school teacher, and he definitely looks the part. While he and his wife enjoy northern NH, he really started to miss his Aikido classes, so why not start teaching?
The classes are held at 121 Fit. One hour classes every Thursday evening and Saturday morning. I'm one of only a few regular students. The price is $50 a month, which basically just pays for the fees to use the rooms and mats at the club. Basically means Jack is doing this pretty much non-profit, and mainly so he can spread the art he's come to enjoy with others.
Aikido is unique in that there are very few, if any strikes, including kicks/punches. The philosophy by it's founder, Morihei Ueshiba, was to harmonize with one's opponent, to blend with an attacker's energy and take control of their "center". A person's center, or "Hara" is located approx two inches below the naval. A big part of the manipulations focuses on one's center, and being in control of it. The best way I can describe it, is that with it's focus on protecting your opponent, it's an ideal martial art for hippies!
One thing that makes it easy to converse with Jack Sensei, is that he also has a 2nd degree black belt in Kempo, the style that formed the biggest aspect of Ninpo Chuan Fa, the style that I'm a 3rd degree black belt in. Strangely enough, the only other regular student , Jeff, is also a former practitioner of Kempo, with a first degree black belt.
One of the more fun classes have involved a couple of my fellow black belts from the old school joining me for class. Leane was able to go to a few classes, and Tim joined us for one as well. While they both enjoyed it, they both lead busy lives, so have not made it a regular thing. That particular class which had Leane, Time and I was particularly fun, especially for Jack. He was very impressed with all of us, and appreciated how open we were to learning.
Also, just recently, my young friend and author Kyle, who has also learned from John, has started attending classes, car-pooling with me. I could see the doubt in his eyes as I explained how Aikido works. Aikido can look pretty fake and impractical to the outside observer, particularly if they've studied other arts before ( I know I did). After his first class, I could see how excited he was, and he plans on being a regular student. Kinda cool that I have a kindred spirit to car-pool with.
The Aikido 3D program has actually come in handy pretty well! It's helped me to understand the moves I'd been learning from all angles. An excellent purchase that was. It's particularly helping me prepare for June 30th, when I'll take my first test, for 5th Kyu. In contrast, the last martial arts test I took was for my 3rd Degree Black Belt, eleven years ago!
In Aikido schools, there are 5 Kyu levels to obtain before testing for 1st Dan, or 1st degree Black Belt. In most of these schools, all Kyu levels are white belts. I ordered myself a new Gi with white belt. Kinda neat to put on a new uniform, and particularly a white belt!
I'm enjoying my time with the class, and will definitely be sticking with it. I do still miss studying Ninpo Chuan Fa with John, and I will be sending him an email soon to check back if he'd be up for teaching again, even if it was just teaching me private lessons.
After a year of reading multiple books on various martial arts and missing the practice, it's quite satisfying to to be back in groove again, even if studying something new!
Konnichiwa
The instructor, Jack Henry, is a second degree black belt Aikido. He and his wife moved up from Baltimore to the N.Conway area to semi-retire. Jack is a former school teacher, and he definitely looks the part. While he and his wife enjoy northern NH, he really started to miss his Aikido classes, so why not start teaching?
The classes are held at 121 Fit. One hour classes every Thursday evening and Saturday morning. I'm one of only a few regular students. The price is $50 a month, which basically just pays for the fees to use the rooms and mats at the club. Basically means Jack is doing this pretty much non-profit, and mainly so he can spread the art he's come to enjoy with others.
Aikido is unique in that there are very few, if any strikes, including kicks/punches. The philosophy by it's founder, Morihei Ueshiba, was to harmonize with one's opponent, to blend with an attacker's energy and take control of their "center". A person's center, or "Hara" is located approx two inches below the naval. A big part of the manipulations focuses on one's center, and being in control of it. The best way I can describe it, is that with it's focus on protecting your opponent, it's an ideal martial art for hippies!
One thing that makes it easy to converse with Jack Sensei, is that he also has a 2nd degree black belt in Kempo, the style that formed the biggest aspect of Ninpo Chuan Fa, the style that I'm a 3rd degree black belt in. Strangely enough, the only other regular student , Jeff, is also a former practitioner of Kempo, with a first degree black belt.
One of the more fun classes have involved a couple of my fellow black belts from the old school joining me for class. Leane was able to go to a few classes, and Tim joined us for one as well. While they both enjoyed it, they both lead busy lives, so have not made it a regular thing. That particular class which had Leane, Time and I was particularly fun, especially for Jack. He was very impressed with all of us, and appreciated how open we were to learning.
Also, just recently, my young friend and author Kyle, who has also learned from John, has started attending classes, car-pooling with me. I could see the doubt in his eyes as I explained how Aikido works. Aikido can look pretty fake and impractical to the outside observer, particularly if they've studied other arts before ( I know I did). After his first class, I could see how excited he was, and he plans on being a regular student. Kinda cool that I have a kindred spirit to car-pool with.
The Aikido 3D program has actually come in handy pretty well! It's helped me to understand the moves I'd been learning from all angles. An excellent purchase that was. It's particularly helping me prepare for June 30th, when I'll take my first test, for 5th Kyu. In contrast, the last martial arts test I took was for my 3rd Degree Black Belt, eleven years ago!
In Aikido schools, there are 5 Kyu levels to obtain before testing for 1st Dan, or 1st degree Black Belt. In most of these schools, all Kyu levels are white belts. I ordered myself a new Gi with white belt. Kinda neat to put on a new uniform, and particularly a white belt!
I'm enjoying my time with the class, and will definitely be sticking with it. I do still miss studying Ninpo Chuan Fa with John, and I will be sending him an email soon to check back if he'd be up for teaching again, even if it was just teaching me private lessons.
After a year of reading multiple books on various martial arts and missing the practice, it's quite satisfying to to be back in groove again, even if studying something new!
Konnichiwa
Friday, June 8, 2012
moving on...
I've been avoiding this blog for a little while, mainly since I'm really not sure what to write about. My life has been in an odd state since becoming single again.
My ex girlfriend essentially gave full custody of her child to her ex-husband, lying to her family and I about what she was going to do with her daughter. And... there was another guy. So my respect for her is gone. I don't hate her, since hate implies that I want something bad to happen to her. If it wasn't for her family, all of whom I still care for dearly, then I would hate her. It's tough being close friends with one of her sisters, who is also angry with her. I had one friend tell me that her actions don't make her a bad person. My response was simply, "so cheating on her man and giving up primary custody of her child makes her a good person"? No reply after that. I thought I was a with a nice hippy chick, who turned into a shallow whiny child over the past year.
I really didn't want to blog about my breakup, but it would feel odd not to, like holding back. I'll forgive her someday, if she donates a kidney to someone I care about or cures cancer. A few people have a hard time with me being honest about my disdain for my ex. They don't like it, I ask them to take one moment and step into my shoes. I was a damn good boyfriend and also an excellent role model to Alice. I miss her dearly, and I feel now like all the time I spent with the little on was for nothing. However, as far as my ex goes, good riddance.
Ok, I'm done. I had to get that off my chest.
There have been some good things over the past couple months since. I'll get to those. Some good times to blog about.
Sorry about the angry blog folks. Promise there's positive energy I'll send out in the blogosphere soon.
Namaste and all that jive...
My ex girlfriend essentially gave full custody of her child to her ex-husband, lying to her family and I about what she was going to do with her daughter. And... there was another guy. So my respect for her is gone. I don't hate her, since hate implies that I want something bad to happen to her. If it wasn't for her family, all of whom I still care for dearly, then I would hate her. It's tough being close friends with one of her sisters, who is also angry with her. I had one friend tell me that her actions don't make her a bad person. My response was simply, "so cheating on her man and giving up primary custody of her child makes her a good person"? No reply after that. I thought I was a with a nice hippy chick, who turned into a shallow whiny child over the past year.
I really didn't want to blog about my breakup, but it would feel odd not to, like holding back. I'll forgive her someday, if she donates a kidney to someone I care about or cures cancer. A few people have a hard time with me being honest about my disdain for my ex. They don't like it, I ask them to take one moment and step into my shoes. I was a damn good boyfriend and also an excellent role model to Alice. I miss her dearly, and I feel now like all the time I spent with the little on was for nothing. However, as far as my ex goes, good riddance.
Ok, I'm done. I had to get that off my chest.
There have been some good things over the past couple months since. I'll get to those. Some good times to blog about.
Sorry about the angry blog folks. Promise there's positive energy I'll send out in the blogosphere soon.
Namaste and all that jive...
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Another chapter...
I haven't posted in a little while. Mostly due to uncertainty. Things had been in an odd state over the past month in my home, which I shared with my girlfriend and her five year old daughter.
That's now over. Despite my best efforts, my now ex-girlfriend and I became more distant. We broke up last Saturday. Without getting into details and finger pointing, the best I can say is that our relationship ran it's course. She and the kiddo will be moving back in with her parents, all in the midst of mediation and possible court issues with her ex husband on who will have little Alice during the school year, essentially the decision for primary custody. I wish her and her family the best, as I still believe Alice is better off with her mother.
So now a chapter in my life is ending, with a new one beginning. Really, I'm in a transitional stage. On Saturday when we broke up, she left to go back to her parents, and I went north to my part time job for a couple days. It was good to not be in the house. During this time I spent little time reflecting on the past, and a lot of time thinking about what's ahead. It made things easier.
Last night, when I returned home, it kinda hit me: I'm now in this house by myself. When I bought the place, I bought it in mind with making a good home for Marjie and Alice. Very little has been changed in the house so far, due to both of us being busy. Tomorrow I have off, and I'll be faced again with all the stuff in the house that isn't mine, that will need to be packed up. Some stuff will get moved around.
There are things I'm going to miss about the pseudo family life I had. The holidays are more fun with little kids, and summers have their own kinda fun: camping trips, theme parks. Then there are the days that were mostly Alice and I together. We had some fun times. The step-dad role had it's challenges and rewards. I'm really going to miss my time with her. The best part was reading her classic Winnie the Pooh stories as she'd fall asleep in my arms.
...I'm really going to miss that.
Moving on...
Concerning my previous posts about martial arts stuff. Never really set on a day for the old black belts from the former School of the Silent Warrior to meet up (that's mostly on me). I think I'm going to let that go now. If my old instructor wants to teach again, I'll be the first one in line. But it's up in the air if he will teach again, and I don't want to get my hopes up.
The new freedom with my schedule gives me the opportunity to try different martial arts programs each about an hour's drive away. In Lancaster, there's a long running, family run traditional Shotokan Karate school. And now in North Conway, there's an Aikido program being offered. Next week I'm going to observe one of the Aikido classes. Looking forward to it. It think it will be kinda cool to start over in a new art.
There are projects on the house to do now, with no one to consult on decor but me. Going to take out the tiles in the kitchen floor and replace with a nice laminate. Going to either paint the trim or hire somebody else to do it. There's also the issue of whether I'm going to put the pellet stove upstairs in the living room, or keep it in the basement and insulate the walls of the basement. I'm kinda torn on which one would be better, so I'm giving myself until August to make a decision on the matter.
I'm doing pretty well overall on seeing the positive side to my new semi-reluctant freedom. I'm still young, got a nice house, a full time job and part time job that I both love. I've got 10-13 weeks of paid vacation to use, with three of those weeks being used starting next week.
Adventures will be planned, some on the motorcycle (weather permitting). I'm going to make up for not seeing any concerts last year by going to one every month this summer. Already got the first one lined up next month. Others are in planning, and waiting on a few more dates to be added by particular artists I'd like to see.
Some of these adventures will be to visit friends I have not seen in a long time. Looking forward to those. Some of the concerts will be planned around these trips. Some trips will be on a whim, wherever my trusty motorcycle will take me.
Then there's NH motorcycle week. I'm going to spend at least a couple days down in the Laconia area, staying over one or two nights. Then I'm going to enjoy the rest of the week up north, with the annual Ride to the Sky up Mount Washington. Gonna end that week in Vermont, however, in Burlington (hopefully with a couple friends) to see another band in concert.
So in conclusion to this post, I'm now in an odd but good place. Yes, I'm going to mourn what I've lost, particularly after all I put into the past three years. But I know in the long run that this is what's best for me. The rest of this year I'm dedicating to me, with the things I want to do. This is prime time for me. I'm doing the job that I love, I've got a cool house. I'm still young and ruggedly handsome.
I have true friends and family that are all excellent.
And I have a motorcycle...
That's now over. Despite my best efforts, my now ex-girlfriend and I became more distant. We broke up last Saturday. Without getting into details and finger pointing, the best I can say is that our relationship ran it's course. She and the kiddo will be moving back in with her parents, all in the midst of mediation and possible court issues with her ex husband on who will have little Alice during the school year, essentially the decision for primary custody. I wish her and her family the best, as I still believe Alice is better off with her mother.
So now a chapter in my life is ending, with a new one beginning. Really, I'm in a transitional stage. On Saturday when we broke up, she left to go back to her parents, and I went north to my part time job for a couple days. It was good to not be in the house. During this time I spent little time reflecting on the past, and a lot of time thinking about what's ahead. It made things easier.
Last night, when I returned home, it kinda hit me: I'm now in this house by myself. When I bought the place, I bought it in mind with making a good home for Marjie and Alice. Very little has been changed in the house so far, due to both of us being busy. Tomorrow I have off, and I'll be faced again with all the stuff in the house that isn't mine, that will need to be packed up. Some stuff will get moved around.
There are things I'm going to miss about the pseudo family life I had. The holidays are more fun with little kids, and summers have their own kinda fun: camping trips, theme parks. Then there are the days that were mostly Alice and I together. We had some fun times. The step-dad role had it's challenges and rewards. I'm really going to miss my time with her. The best part was reading her classic Winnie the Pooh stories as she'd fall asleep in my arms.
...I'm really going to miss that.
Moving on...
Concerning my previous posts about martial arts stuff. Never really set on a day for the old black belts from the former School of the Silent Warrior to meet up (that's mostly on me). I think I'm going to let that go now. If my old instructor wants to teach again, I'll be the first one in line. But it's up in the air if he will teach again, and I don't want to get my hopes up.
The new freedom with my schedule gives me the opportunity to try different martial arts programs each about an hour's drive away. In Lancaster, there's a long running, family run traditional Shotokan Karate school. And now in North Conway, there's an Aikido program being offered. Next week I'm going to observe one of the Aikido classes. Looking forward to it. It think it will be kinda cool to start over in a new art.
There are projects on the house to do now, with no one to consult on decor but me. Going to take out the tiles in the kitchen floor and replace with a nice laminate. Going to either paint the trim or hire somebody else to do it. There's also the issue of whether I'm going to put the pellet stove upstairs in the living room, or keep it in the basement and insulate the walls of the basement. I'm kinda torn on which one would be better, so I'm giving myself until August to make a decision on the matter.
I'm doing pretty well overall on seeing the positive side to my new semi-reluctant freedom. I'm still young, got a nice house, a full time job and part time job that I both love. I've got 10-13 weeks of paid vacation to use, with three of those weeks being used starting next week.
Adventures will be planned, some on the motorcycle (weather permitting). I'm going to make up for not seeing any concerts last year by going to one every month this summer. Already got the first one lined up next month. Others are in planning, and waiting on a few more dates to be added by particular artists I'd like to see.
Some of these adventures will be to visit friends I have not seen in a long time. Looking forward to those. Some of the concerts will be planned around these trips. Some trips will be on a whim, wherever my trusty motorcycle will take me.
Then there's NH motorcycle week. I'm going to spend at least a couple days down in the Laconia area, staying over one or two nights. Then I'm going to enjoy the rest of the week up north, with the annual Ride to the Sky up Mount Washington. Gonna end that week in Vermont, however, in Burlington (hopefully with a couple friends) to see another band in concert.
So in conclusion to this post, I'm now in an odd but good place. Yes, I'm going to mourn what I've lost, particularly after all I put into the past three years. But I know in the long run that this is what's best for me. The rest of this year I'm dedicating to me, with the things I want to do. This is prime time for me. I'm doing the job that I love, I've got a cool house. I'm still young and ruggedly handsome.
I have true friends and family that are all excellent.
And I have a motorcycle...
Thursday, February 16, 2012
well, that's not happening...
Tim's ambiguous to the idea now, and Leane's got other things lined up, so there will be no basement kung fu with other people for now. Oh well.
Otherwise, business as usual. I'm taking my swee time reading Kyle's book, but I'll probably get to finishing it next week. I was informed that Kyle paid some company to edit his book, which was done piss-poorly. It looks like all they did was run it through a spell check. Quite a few mistakes with words meaning spelled the wrong way. I think I'll offer to edit his next book for free. However, I am enjoying the story of Aran and his adventures.
This winter has been a let down in a couple ways. The pellet stove only heats my basement, and just really add so an already ridiculous heating bill. I talked to a local contractor about either moving it upstairs to my living room or insulating my basement walls so they reflect the heat instead of those concrete walls soaking up most of the heat. I'm supposed to get a quote from them soon on either option.
The other downer is this entire lack of snow. I was really looking forward to doing a lot more snowshoeing and sledding with Marjie and Alice. I get into fun conversations with my parents about how awesome it is that they don't have to deal with snow any more since they live in the Phoenix area. This year we were lucky we had any kind of white christmas.
Ok, I'm done bitching...
Peace and balance... :)
Otherwise, business as usual. I'm taking my swee time reading Kyle's book, but I'll probably get to finishing it next week. I was informed that Kyle paid some company to edit his book, which was done piss-poorly. It looks like all they did was run it through a spell check. Quite a few mistakes with words meaning spelled the wrong way. I think I'll offer to edit his next book for free. However, I am enjoying the story of Aran and his adventures.
This winter has been a let down in a couple ways. The pellet stove only heats my basement, and just really add so an already ridiculous heating bill. I talked to a local contractor about either moving it upstairs to my living room or insulating my basement walls so they reflect the heat instead of those concrete walls soaking up most of the heat. I'm supposed to get a quote from them soon on either option.
The other downer is this entire lack of snow. I was really looking forward to doing a lot more snowshoeing and sledding with Marjie and Alice. I get into fun conversations with my parents about how awesome it is that they don't have to deal with snow any more since they live in the Phoenix area. This year we were lucky we had any kind of white christmas.
Ok, I'm done bitching...
Peace and balance... :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)