Sunday, July 31, 2016

Last Day of July

Another month about to end.  I wanted to list all the home project repairs I've completed around the house, either myself or by paying someone else to do for me.  I don't think I have a comprehensive list but I can tell you that I've spent upwards of $2000 this month alone.


In no particular order, I got the basement shower re-caulked.  Got out chimney swept. Our appliances tuned up.  I've also ordered new screen doors which is turning into its own saga.


  I've also engaged a concrete repair company to fix a small leak in our wizard of oz doors.  I'm also seeking out estimates to paint said doors and the iron gate in our drive way.



I also got my iPhone and iPad screens repaired although I had to leave the iPad at the shop and the microphone on the iPhone doesn't seem to be working which will mean another trip to the store.



Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Summer Nights and general malaise

While Summer only officially began a few weeks ago, in some ways this is the mid-point of summer.  The sun will start setting just a little bit earlier each night.

Back in the day I use to play volleyball on Tuesdays and Thursdays in Lincoln Park and we would play until the sun went down, then head to the bar.  It was usually very late nights but I still managed to get home just before midnight and get enough sleep to make it through my mindbogglingly boring job as a paralegal the next day.

When I switched from volleyball to running I would be doing speed workouts on Tuesday evenings. At the start of summer the sun would still be out while we were just finishing up.  But about this time next week or two, it would start getting a little darker as we finished our workouts.  Again after an hour or two of running, we'd go to the bar.

Those were fun times but I don't think I really ever appreciated them for what they were.  At volleyball I was trying to hook-up and at speed work I was trying to BQ.  I should have really just appreciated the fact that I was enjoying all the city had to offer.

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In other news Nightingale and I are in a funk and we don't know why.  Probably because we are disconnected from family through distance and friends through social status.  Essentially, we are parents of almost two year olds and it makes it hard to get together with friends unless they come over to our place or

There is also some uncertainty in our lives right now.  We still haven't answered the question, is this our permanent home or do we move to the suburbs or to an entirely other state?  The limitations of this house are starting to wear on us and we aren't able to take advantage of all the city has to offer.  However, the former could change with some renovations and the later should change once the kids are a little older.

This was an odd year too because of my short term unemployment status, then starting a new job and having to travel for a family wedding.  Hopefully the rest of the year and next year is more status quo.

Thursday, July 21, 2016

Hot Children in the City

While we had a relatively mild winter, there were still days that were too cold to let the kids outside to play.  Now that's summer we are having a small heat wave, which also makes it too hot for the kids
to play outside.  It's not so bad when they are at daycare during the week because they have activities to keep them busy.

But on the weekends its just us.  We like to have them outside because it burns some of their energy and they sleep better.


Speaking of sleep, ever since we got the new mattress in January one of both of them has been sleeping with us.  It's not because of the new mattress, that just marks when I recall it starting.  It seems something broke after that last trip to Gross Pointe because they have been sleeping with us every since.

Well we did get one night of uninterrupted sleep this week but we knew it wasn't going to become a pattern.

I mentioned that I had joined the gym next door.  I have about a week left on my trial membership.  So far all I've really done is use the facilities to swim, shower and run twice on the indoor track and once outside. It's a nice facility but the problem with gyms is if you go too cheap you get riff raft.  If you go too expensive, you get entitled frat boys who forget there are other people who use the same facilities.

Sunday, July 17, 2016

Adventures in Dog Sitting

Since both our cats passed away, we have been pet-less.  While we wish our cats were still with us, we do realize the utility of not having pet-related expenses while taking on the costs that human kids bring.  Still, we do intend to have pets in our house again someday.  Nightingale wants a dog and I want cats, one black one while, so we will likely get them at more or less the same time so they grow up thinking it is perfectly normal to live together.

But I'm soo cute!


To that end, as a test of the situation and to help a friend out, we agreed to dog watch Reiley K. for a good friend of mine.  We have Reiley for two weeks and it has already proven to be very educational.  She is still technically a puppy and as such hasn't been trained not to use the bathroom in the house or not try to take the kid's stuffed animals or pacifiers. 

Still, she's a good dog and we enjoy her company.  I am also glad that there is a end-date to that company because we are not ready for a dog right now. 

Monday, July 4, 2016

Happy Independance Day to everyone

The 4th of July has fallen on a Monday this year which makes for a nice 3-day weekend.  The days off from work go quicker than the week days at work.  That's another universal constant. We had a relatively relaxing weekend because we didn't try to get too much done besides spend time with the children and enjoy the nice weather.


Today is also the 7th anniversary of the day I met my wife. A lot of things had to move into place for that to happen.




Of course people are concerned about Brexit and all that  it means there and the parallels in the November presidential election this November.  Strange Times.

Update:  I think Ed hit the nail on the head once again.

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