The Saga Of The Canopy

I'm in the middle of my long Memorial Day weekend and I must say a bit has been accomplished though most of it was yesterday. Today was not as busy and tomorrow looks to be busier.
I've been pining over getting a canopy top for our patio. Right now it's open with a table chairs and umbrella. So I've been looking all over the area for the right size. I need a 10'X 13' canopy and if you are the least bit famaliar with canopies they come in the 10 x 10 size. Not good for me.
So now I have to decide on how much to spend. First I wanted to spend only a few bucks, like $50. Soon I was up to $199 to $225 and thought nothing of it but I still wasn't finding what I wanted.
I'm now stressing, I've to Home Depot, WalMart, Big Lots, looked online at Sears, JC Penneys even Sports Authority and even Googled Canopies which gave me a plethora of companies selling canopies either too fricking large or 10 X 10.
So after church today we stop at our local Ocean State Job Lot for a couple items for an uncoming fundraiser at out church and figured I would look for a Grill Cover, now that's another story. Well next to the grills were canopies, two them. One 10X10 and the other 10X13, which was the size that I wanted!!! And the cost? $39.99.
So I've come full circle, figuring that the cheaper canopy will work for now, first of all to see if the canopy is really what I want or not before I spend any more money. Next year I can decide whether or not to pursue it any further.

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

I guess a lot of people refer to this weekend as the start of summer. Not me, though I do some summerish things, like mow the lawn, BBQ, even eat outside if it's warm enough. We'll go to some tag sales and plant our flowers, but actually it's a long weekend and it will be nice not to have to face Monday until Tuesday.
Memorial Day is one of those holidays that are meant to not be celebrated but to be observed. To give thanks and remember those brave people that have given up their lives so that we as Americans can live in the freedom we have become accustomed to. Without their sacrifice we wouldn't be here today and yet we still have our soldiers putting their lives on the line for our freedom with hopes they won't become one of those we remember on Memorial Day.
So maybe Memorial is a day off from work for you. Please take a moment to offer a prayer or even a thought of thanks to the brave men and women who have given their lives so that you may enjoy this day off.

DON'T "DIS" NORTH DAKOTA

I was born and raised in North Dakota. I also worked and raised a family there for over 20 years until I moved to Connecticut over seven years ago. When people hear I am from ND I often get the remark that ND must be a very cold place to live and has really nasty weather. In some sense I agree, yes, it can be cold and the weather can be nasty by not all the time 24/7 as some people think.
The weather we have had in CT the past few days reminds me of the Fall without the leaves. Sure we have leaves, that is, shreds of green not the golden brown of Fall. The weather in CT has been very unseasonable all week, high winds, rain and cold with the temps sitting firmly in the 40's whereas it should be in the 70's this time of year.
The one upside of this is that the weather is good for education. No spring fever here from kids or teachers. It's a "let's get the job done" attitude. I mean, no one wants to go outside.
I was checking the temps on the internet last night and saw that the temp here in CT was 46 and then temp in North Dakota was 64. So maybe CT is the ND of the East.

A Taste Of Grill

I think the weather pattern has finally gotten it right. Rain during the week and be nice on the weekend. Right now it's a Tuesday and it's raining and it's supposed to on Wednesday also which means (I hope) a sunny sunny Memorial Day Weekend.

I have my new grill up and running and I must say I am very happy with it. First time I have ever grilled hot dogs and they didn't come out with a black crust on them, though I've become kind of attached to the taste of charcoal. I think this is something I can break myself of this quite fast.

Next up is a nice big steak, then chicken and hopefully porkchops and then maybe I'll get adventurous and maybe try shish ka bobs. This may turn into a whole new experience for me and I hope it does. I've got a whole summer of grilling ahead of me.

Tis Monday

It's Monday and back to work like so many other people in the world. Got me to thinking, what would it be like if we didn't have to work? I mean, earn money so you could live and no wants, everybody provided for everyone else. No greed. A perfect Utopia. Just get up each morning and do what you want, with no need to worry about food or clothing or shelter. I know, dream on big boy. But it's a thought and I'm sure there are many out there that would burst my bubble but that's okay. You have your thoughts and I'll have mine. For now I'm at work for the next 23 work days and then it's vacation time for the next two months. What will I be doing? What I damn well please thank you. Ah Utopia!!

THE LONGEST DAY

Today will be a long day. Tonight is our City-wide Choral Concert of which I am one of the music directors. As much as I like presenting my students in concert I hate the later hours, especially since I live 45 minutes from my home it's not possible to go home after school and put my feet up.
So what am I going to do for three hours before the program starts. Easy............shop. I believe I am one of the few men in the world that like to shop. Don't mind it all. So today I'm looking at a BBQ Grill and possibly a canopy tent for our back deck. I need to get these items soon as it seems the stores like to push the seasons and soon the winter wares will be hitting the shelves.

The concert will go well and it will be quick, my part is only 10 minutes long, total. The thing is it's spread throughout the program. Don't fret the concert is only 30 minutes long. I think I'll survive that one.

Two weeks later I get to do it again with the City-wide BAND Concert. What will I go shopping for then?

TGIF

This isn't an original, I kind of like Poets Day better (Piss on everything,tomorrow's Saturday).
Weather wise the week has been wonderful, not too hot or too cold and plenty of sunshine. So what's gonna happen for the weekend? You got it. Rain. Nuff said.
The allergies are better though still on the Flonase/Muscilex prescription and is helping though I go through sneezing fits followed by a marathan of blowing of the nose. I wonder how much snot is up there in those sinuses?

ALLERGIES

I have allergies, I hate allergies. Seems the older I get the more susceptible I have become to whatever I'm allergic to. This past week has been terrible, sinus headaches, stuffy nose, fits of sneezing and you feel like a Fright Train from North Dakota has you name embossed across it's nose and is not gonna let you forget it.
The thing is I can complain all I want and get little sympathy from my fellow workers as they have it too. So you shutup and do your job. End of subject.
Now my wife is different in that I do get the sympathy and concern but I feel guilty even thoughI feel like crap and she may even feel even worse yet she is there for me. You gotta love her for that and I do. I just have to learn to reciprocate in kind.

The Last Personal Day

Today I used my last Personal Day of the present school year. It's either use them or lose them. I used to never use them years ago. That was when I was young, foolish & stupid. Hey! It's a paid day!
I say it's a day off but it's like a Saturday squeezed in between a couple work days. So will tomorrow feel like a Monday? Probably. Then I have to realize my work week will only have three days in it.
So today was not that stressed. My lovely wife, the Diva and I went for our yearly eye exam. I'm sticking with the contacs and the Diva is getting contacs also. This is a first for her, so she will be given a trial pair to see if she can handle them. I'm sure she can. The thing is you have to want them to make them work for you. That's what I find, if I really want something I'll make it work for me.
I remember when I first got my contacs it took me 30 minutes to get the suckers in my eyes, Now I pop them in in about 30 seconds. Daily practice helps. I don't think I'll be without them again. After wearing glasses for most of my life I now have the freedom to wear many different types of reading glasses and sun glasses instead of the one prescription pair that is your eyesight and lifeline to the world.
Oh yeah besides the eye Dr. visit we got to eat a Mickey D's and later went to Ocean State Job Lot, had my Dunkin Doughnuts Coffee and tonight it's grilled Cheeseburgers for Supper and a relaxing night of TV. I'm not complaining. Life is Sweet!

Beatle Crackers

I like The Beatles and if you hang around me long enough you will find that out. When I was a teenager I was infatuated with them like many teens were at that time, but their music not their lives have influenced me the most. Now whether that is a good thing or bad thing I don't know. I just feel that I never tire of their music, in fact I'm listening to them right now. It doesn't have to be The Beatles themselves performing, it could be another version of another Beatles song by a different artist. Doesn't matter.
I even like groups or singers that pattern the "Beatle" sound with their sound, in fact I've heard critics use the term "Beatlesque". Catches my eye for sure, so I'm sure to give it a listen. But I will always return to the real thing.
I like many different types of music, everything from the Classical to Heavy metal. Two types of music I don't care for are Opera and Rap. They each have their own place in the world of music but not in my world. I will listen to either types just to show I'm not close-minded but I usually will follow it up with a good dose of R&R.
As a teacher I tell my students to not shut out other music from their world. Give it a listen, don't dis it. Give it an honest listen and give it a chance. You don't have to like it but at least I feel you have been exposed to that music. I try to do the same in my own life.
You can walk into my house and you will find anything from Classical to the aforementioned Heavy Metal playing on my stereo system. I don't dwell on any one artist, I like to mix it up as tonight I listened to The Beatles and then Bobby Vinton. Coming up I have a little Mitch Miller followed by some Sousa marches and oh yeah an album of Two Spanish Guitars plus a Polka album coming up in the next couple a days. Mixed in there is bound to be some Beatle songs. I guess this is like eating crackers inbetween courses of a meal. I'm cleaning my pallette. I guess those are my Beatle Crackers. Bon Appetite

WORKIN' FOR THE WEEKEND

Working for the weekend was a song performed many year ago by a group from Canada I believe. The name of the group escapes me right at the moment. I will think of it eventually, probably about 2am.
Anyhow, it seems I am more and more working for the weekend and I don't know why. I love my job, I really do. It is the best job, pay wise and stress wise I have ever had in my whole career as a teacher. And now that I am nearing the end of that career in a few years I find myself looking forward to my weekends.
Weekends don't really give me a lot of rest but the nice thing is you can pretty much do what you want to do when you want to do it with no consequences if it doesn't get done. Weekends are busy though, there is grocery shopping to be done, church and the almighty Tag Sale. Now that's just the running around part, then there is the never ending yard work. I'm still working on finishing the raking, have about 45 minutes left to do and then it'll be onto mowing. But first I have to change the oil and spark plug (That hasn't been done in three years-about time I think) and sharpen my blade and make sure that is put back on correctly. Then I can mow.
You say that that is a pile to do in a weekend? Yes it is and it won't all get done. Yet tomorrow's forecast is rain, so no yard work. The rest will happen though come rain or come shine, but at least I'll have a little personal time in front of the TV and/or computer, that is after I tend to the needs of my dear wife, the diva. Need I say more?