Well, at least let’s hope it’s the end of the season! The snow season, that is. And what goes on sale at the end of the snow season? That’s right, Martha! Snow throwers. Here’s what I got:

It’s a Troy-Bilt. It’s a quality brand. Got a friend Rick who’s had one for a while and he says his still runs like new. I got it at Lowe’s. KC and I were going in to look at sliding patio doors – ours need either replacing or reworking this summer – and saw this as we first entered. With the discounts the floor guy gave me on top of the marked down price, I ended up getting it for 25% off what the typical selling price was. I was looking for one, kind of, and this one fell into my lap, so I HAD to get it!!

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Now playing: Prism – Spaceship Superstar
via FoxyTunes

So I’m at WalMart buying lunch and some snacks for tonight (we’re going to a trivia night for JDRF) and I’m walking to the back of WalMart where I can get some popcorn chicken. On the way I see this young one who is probably no older than 3 crawling on the floor, as pretty much every parent has seen their own 2 or 3 year old do. The parent then says, “Get off the floor!”

Excuse me? WHAT did you just say? How the heck can the child “get off the floor”? Does the child normally fly?

That’s right, I’m losing it. This morning at church is my example. When we left from home, I brought along my “cheaters” – glasses I’ve had to wear to read small print (like in the hymnals at church) since my lasik surgery – in order to make a joyful noise. KC and I went in and sat down in the pew and I realized I had left my cheaters in my coat pocket. (Sign number one that I’m losing it – I should have remembered to bring them in with me!) So I got up and headed out to the coat rack where I had hung up my coat. I saw where I had hung up my coat and began searching the pockets – no cheaters! What the….???? Then I noticed a tissue in one of the pockets, and I don’t keep tissues in my coat pockets…. then I noticed that…. you guessed it…. IT’S NOT MY COAT! I mean really, how bad is that?! It was a leather coat, and was patent leather instead of suede, and was dark brown instead of black, but still… it wasn’t my coat! I did then see my coat, grab the cheaters and head back into the service, but MAN! I’m losing it!

One year ago, I had my Lasik surgery. One year ago, I went “under the laser” (as opposed to “under the knife”) and had my corneas reshaped. And I haven’t looked back.

• I LOVE the fact that I don’t have to put on glasses to read the clock in the morning.
• I LOVE the fact that I can see things at night while driving and not worry about dry contacts being blurry and scraping my cornea.
• I LOVE the fact that I don’t have to wear glasses (except for small print in bad light).
• I LOVE the fact that when my eyes get a bit tired I don’t have to pop out contacts and wear glasses – all I have to do is put a drop or two of Systane in my eyes.
• I LOVE the fact that I can walk in from the cold and not worry about glasses fogging up.
• I LOVE the fact that I can watch my drive in golf all the way to where it lands (that is without a slice or hook!!)
• I LOVE the fact that I don’t have to buy saline/daily cleaner/weekly enzyme for contacts.
• I LOVE the fact that I don’t have to buy prescription glasses.

For anyone out there who is considering Lasik surgery, I would recommend it wholeheartedly.

Happy New Year!!

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Listening to: Bad Religion – 21st Century Digital Boy
via FoxyTunes

Got a TON of stuff done today, and it shows. You know how sometimes when you are working on a project and it doesn’t look like much is getting done? Well, it isn’t that way today. I got a lot of the handrail and stair rail up today. Also, with KC’s help I got the lattice up on the street side. Still have some lattice and screen to go, but really got a lot of stuff done today. I need a few hours (or one good day) to finish it off for the winter. There will still be things to do for it this spring, but until then….

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Listening to: Theory Of A Deadman – Bad Girlfriend
via FoxyTunes

Made a lot of progress today! Got the entire walking surface done – All of the steps, all of the upper level and all of the sitting level! Wow! At the very least, it’s usable! We had pizza delivered for dinner tonight and the delivery guy used the deck! Tomorrow – the railing and if there’s time the lattice.

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Listening to: Saving Abel – Addicted
via FoxyTunes

Took a half-day vacation from work and used it to work on the front deck. I got all the upper level floor boards down. I got all the two step stringers run from the upper level to the lower level. I also got the middle step in place. I had to stop because I ran out of deckmount. Also, I purchased two 500 watt halogen lights and did they ever make a difference. I worked until about 7pm, even though it gets dark about 5pm at this time of year.

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Listening to: Seether – Rise Above This
via FoxyTunes

Lots done today. I built up the retaining wall at the back of the new cement slab. I then painted the cement block wall gray to match the house. Then I ran the stringers for the steps that go from the driveway level to the deck’s upper level. Of course, I miscalculated the height of the retaining wall and had to change that on the fly to accommodate the stringers. Then I framed in the sitting level of the deck. All in all it was a very productive day.

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Listening to: Stabbing Westward – Haunting Me
via FoxyTunes

Again, not much was done. There was rain all afternoon, so the progress I made was in the morning… after an early rain. I made the most of the 3 hours without rain, though. Got the primer coat on the wall that was previously covered by dirt and got a number of the floor boards down on the upper level. I’ll have to get the retaining wall back in place before I finish the upper part as I fear I’ll be dropping dirt on my new cement pad and don’t want dirt where the bottom row will be.

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Listening to: Tom Cochrane & Red Rider – Big League
via FoxyTunes

What a rotten day. It rained off and on all day, so not much was done. I put down the deckmount (check the photos to see what deckmount is). I also cleared out an area and put the pavers saved from the old patio bench area there to act as a landing for the steps off the deck. I did remember that I have a canopy; I won it at a trivia night a while back. That helped as I could work in a small area (6′ x 6′) and be protected somewhat from the rain. Tomorrow I should be able to get the upper level deck floor in place; then we’ll have at least a serviceable front door!

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Listening to: Apocalyptica – I’m Not Jesus
via FoxyTunes

There was a lot going on today. I ordered and poured ready-mix concrete and poured my little slab that will be under the “sitting” level of the deck and under the steps. I also framed the upper level of the deck. It will be a few days before I can build the retaining wall at the back edge of the concrete and then do the steps and the “sitting” level. But tomorrow I should be able to put the “floor” of the upper level down and maybe even do the steps stringers to the ground off the upper level. Here’s today’s progress:

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Listening to: Cage The Elephant – Aint No Rest For The Wicked
via FoxyTunes