Category: Uncategorized

I’m not much of a car guy, but I do know how to change tires! So today I finally got to put my impact wrench, torque wrench, 3 ton jack, and wheel chocks to the test. Feeling mighty manly getting the winter tires put on the van by myself. Glad it was only zero outside today, and not much wind. Did not lose a single lug nut! Had to figure out how to get a few wedged lug nuts out of the 19mm socket, but that was easy enough with a blunt thin object and a sudden sharp whack! The lone rear tire I swapped out in late October due to a flat/burst tire was still in place, and tightened down to the appropriate torque. So I am hopeful these will last the season. Checked the air pressure too. Only one needed air. Might have to watch that one to see if it has a problem as it was real low compared to the other three. Something to keep in mind. I have an air compressor, so not exactly a hardship to pump up myself once a week, or two weeks depending. I surprised myself, even with fetching the tires at the farm it only took me about an hour to do the swap over. Mind you I went slow, was outside, and doing all four myself for the first time. Like I said, I know how to change ‘A’ tire. Ha. Never done all four at once before. New skill unlocked! 10XP awarded for Dad Duties.

I’m back at it now. Have some paid work to send out for a client. I also heard back that I have three reports coming in the winter, which is good to know. Happy about that!

I realized recently, after our latest vacation in fact, that I truly prefer eating with a smaller spoon, than a larger one. You’d think that as I got older I’d like a hefty spoon with which to consume my hefty man sized meals. But you’d be wrong. Turns out, years of conditioning is hard to break. Conditioning? You say. Why yes. As a child, right up until my mid to late teens I had a small soft palate. Thin but deep. Not enough room for teeth, and all that fun stuff. So I wore a contraption, namely a “bridge”, that with the help of a key would every two to three days widen my upper jaw/palete millimeter by millimeter over the course of two plus years. It was very unpleasant. And all before, and during that, if I ate with a larger sized spoon, as I was want to do as a child straining to grow up & be independent, I would more often than not wind up biting said spoon, hurting my teeth & jaw. Do that enough and eventually you smarten up and choose the small spoons to eat with, and now that has stuck with me. I absolutely prefer a smaller spoon. Metal, plastic, biodegradable mock wood, you name it. I’ll take the tea spoon over the table spoon any day of the year. A peculiar quirk of mine, no doubt. But atleast I can trace it back to why I prefer it. Some things are still a mystery to me. But on this particular item, I have a very clear picture/understanding of why I do what I do with regard to spoon choice for meals that require one.

I forgot to check but I think I am inside of ten days of reaching two (2) straight years of writing something every single day. I think I will try to save my book review for the day of my two year writing streak. I’m always interested in seeing what my yearly word count is. Won’t be anywhere near as high as in years previous where I was actively writing short stories of 1,500 words or more. Some of these posts have been but a mere couple sentences only. Rookie numbers! Got to pump those up. Way up.

In some ways I think the writing challenge has helped me out a bit by showing me what a jumbled communicator I am. And how often I make massive leaps along a train of thought, circle back sometimes to fill in the gaps, or jump about wildly again because I’ve said what I needed to say, no more, no less. Then off to another point or tangent, and on and on we go! So I have at least identified that about myself. That, and a constant need to rush. I have been trying to ease up on the sense of urgency. Not everything can by a five alarm fire, good way to burn out, and/or hurt yourself. Gotta be able to chill just a touch in regards to paid work. All that stress and urgency will give you an ulcer or a heart attack/stroke. Take the time required to do it right, not to do it on somebody else’s arbitrary deadline. But I digress.

Happy Tuesday. Tomorrow my eldest turns nine. Where did the time go. Seriously! Ciao Bella.

Party over the weekend went off without a hitch. Cost me enough, but then I didn’t have to host, cook, clean, nor do much but pay and stand back while the kids had fun, and ate their snacks. I’d call that a win if ever I saw one. The new Trolls movie was good, great music, if a bit short on plot/story. Better than the second one, but no contest for the first. Kids all enjoyed it, clapping along, and singing to themselves. Not sure if anyone over the age of nine would care to go see it, but our group enjoyed themselves.

I’m waiting on feedback for a few projects, so I’m going to eat some breakfast and wait for further instructions on the last few items I have before the new year.

In alternate news I have both birthday presents, and Christmas gifts to wrap before the holiday break. I’m going to need more tape! I just know the kids have gotten in to it and used 95% of it “crafting” new clothes for their dollies. I definitely need to go have a look. Best not to guess!

Have a solid Monday! All the best. Ciao Bella.

The energy level of a room full of nine year olds, plus some additional kindergarten littles is a spectacle to behold. You may not like it, nor care for it, but the amount of bombast & noise could power a small townhouse complex for a few days at a time. Running, pushing, shoving, games of tag, chasing, squealing, burps & farts, the list of activities is as endless as it is unplanned. Add in some sodas and theater candy and these kids will launch themselves directly into the sun with their energy output. I’m glad they are all happy. Better out than in. Also, glad it’s not at my house. I’d fear for my Christmas tree, and I’d worry about the structural stability of our floors with all that jumping, leaping, and running about. Madness. Absolute mayhem. Chaos incarnate. Other descriptors that are evocative!

Welcome to Saturday morning people. Almost 8:00am after a long & busy week back from our vacation. I’m almost sleeping more like normal now that we are neck deep in our regular schedule, and I am in my own bed. The vacation was a resounding success. Had a bump or two but was ultimately very effective in the use of our time. Could we have used atleast one sunny day for the eight we spent near Orlando/Kissimmee? Sure, one would have been appreciated, but we got none. It was still warmer than home, by a sizable margin, and we were able to swim & sit in the hot tub during the rain, so not a total loss. Our condo was big enough to not feel cramped which was a relief. Our two Tampa hotel stays the started & ended our trip were much smaller and would have been a challenge to occupy the whole fourteen days. Eleven total days spent between three theme parks was… alot. Tired feet and sore hips by the end of most days.

Now we turn towards Christmas once we get past this ninth birthday party, and tonights Santa Claus Parade. We will have to see if the kids can manage both a raucous mid day activity, and a late afternoon, in to the evening one. Especially one where they will have to stand the whole time. Could wind up being too much for them. We’ll see.

Already had a few kids drop out of the party with fevers & coughs, so i have to imagine one, some, or all will have something unpleasant by Christmas break. I could do without that! Ciao Bella!

Yesterday, I ran into a guy I knew from high school. Not terribly fit, but he practiced martial arts quite a lot. Well long story short, he didn’t much care for the exercise, and the belt testing, nor the grading. He just liked kicking kids. Happiest guy I know. Huh.

How’s that for kick starting your weekend!

Happy Friday. Lots going on around here today. Party prep, cake baking, loot bag filling, and working on some new paid projects. Which reminds me, I need to proof my latest report and get that out the door, sharpish.

Yes you heard it here first folks, I’m starting the long slog known as Christmas shopping for children with vastly different interests. Looks like I am going to put some miles under my heels today, walking aisles, and traveling between stores. Do I make a day out of it? I don’t think I have quite that much to do, so likely no. I’ll go in for 2-3 hours (potentially) and then call it a day. I have some paid work due in this week, so I’d rather be at home ready to roll once that stuff comes in.

My goal is to have all the children covered off today, leaving me just an LCBO run later on in December for the adults left on my list. I’m not keen on running around too much. Pre-pandemic I would have traveled to Square One, had a meal out, maybe take in an early movie to fi ish off the day, but no chance I’ll do that now. Plus back then I had two kids not in school, fewer nieces & nephews, and didn’t have to worry about school drop off or pick up times.

Here’s hoping we manage to keep Covid at bay so we can enjoy Christmas on the given day, and not have to push the holidays by 7-10 days due to someone getting infected. Bad enough with flus and other cold bugs about, but the old SARS2 isn’t a welcome addition to the roster of things to have to worry about. Not welcome, but it’s there. Boo-Urns! Hiss!

I gotta get these kids ready, and steel myself for shopping in toy store at Christmas time. Wish us all luck!