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On the rebound
17:32 Oct 29 2006
Times Read: 625

"Its not getting what you want, its wanting what you've got."



Although I still have a nasty cough (and I'm not suprised from all the insulation and attic crawling work I've been doing in the last few days) I'm mostly over the death flu.



The feeling of "today" seems like a blast of nostalgic bliss. Ever since I woke up at the unpresidented hour of 6:30 am, things have just been magical. I woke up happy, I went upstairs to start my morning routine, and it wasn't very cold. The b/f was up already, we went shopping; with the last money I will have until my next check, we got kerosine for the two heaters, and food.



Its almost like we were a couple of squirrels or a momma and poppa bear packing things away for the long winter. It was exciting, fresh, new, and yet comfortably routine all at the same time.



There is an astounding amount of progress being made on the house right now. We are working together on it, with the radio going, singing along, as happy as can be. We have three more strips of insulation to put up on one wall and then the exterior walls will be completely insulated.



We have two more pieces of drywall to nail up to the ceiling, and four more strips of R-19 to lay down and 1/4 of the house will be attic-insulated. We are as happy as can be.



We're still in the same position, working away on the house, still a bit under the weather, winter rapidly approaching, and us with no occupancy permit, and my job about to end, yet things could not be better.



"Its not getting what you want, its wanting what you've got." I guess it really is all true. Because in this moment, I can think of nothing that we are "without" - and we are truly happy.

Death Flu
02:28 Oct 27 2006
Times Read: 631

I'll tell you, I have not been this sick since the 9th grade and I had a 104 fever for two days.



My head is so full of snot, it is literally coming out my eyes! (AKA: OMG! My tear ducts are oozing!)



Every orifice in my head is under extreme pressure, and I feel like I am a giant zit that just needs to be squeezed. I wonder if I took a drill to my head, if it would relieve the pressure and make me feel better?



I called out of work yesterday and today. I didn't get my timesheets in, I'm hoping to get them in early tomorrow morning (Friday) and pray to god I get still paid on the 1st. Of course that means I have work to do tonight, but I'm still too sick to do any of it....



I was trying to tell my b/f that I think I have typhoid fever, but what actually came out was a bizzarre cross between "Thai Food" and "tofu" fever. heh.



Someone please, KIIILLL MEEEEE!

Are you there God? Its me, Pookah!
00:46 Oct 25 2006
Times Read: 660




OK, now get ready for WEIRD.... Do the "pookah-happy" dance with me... and then get ready for a voting question at the end: Poll removed. Please comment instead.





Consider yesterday's journal entry. How we're a bit cold, and I got all worried, and did what I do sometimes when I get worried.... and you will NEVER guess what happened today!



Today, on my lunch break (about at 12 pm sharp) I took a minute away from my work desk and went upstairs to use the facilities. Who did I see on the outside stairs but the local building inspector!





He says: "Oh, THERE you are!"



I say: "Yep, just working here..." (Dressed obviously in the clothes I had slept in, and thinking, "OMG, please don't turn us in for living here without occupancy permit!")



He says: "I just came by to check in with you; what's been going on?"



I say: "Well, the plumb inspector won't come out unless we have a certified MASTER plumber. We called the number for the guy you recommeneded, several times... but I guess he just doesn't want to stick his neck out in this situation. We got two plumbing estimates for over $2000 each, we're trying to get the money together to get it done."



He says: "Why over $2k?"



I say: (while leading him around to show him) "Well, we're going to need our pressure test done, plans submitted, codes have changed so we need two more vent stacks now... here and here. We need an anti-scald device, etc. Technically, both of the new plumbers say they won't sign their name to the job if we do any more work...."



He says: "Oh"



I say: (While pulling my jacket around me tighter to indicate that I am a bit cold.) "You know, I called a while back, I wanted to know if we could insulate and close all these other walls, anything that doesn't have a pipe in it.... Especially the exterior walls - except that one two foot section where the kitchen sink will be. I'm' really worried about the pipes freezing...."



He says: "Well how are you heating this place now?"



I say: "Well, when we close the walls we have baseboard heaters that will go there, there, there and there..." (pointing to five orange electrical wires sticking out of the floor at the base of five walls.) "But right now we're using two kerosine heaters and three space heaters."



He says: "Well, that's no good...."



I say: "Yah, that's why I was calling to ask if we could insulate and close all these other walls that the plumbing inspector won't need open. That way we can get the real electrical moved over and the real heaters installed."



He says: "I don't see why not.... I mean, all I will need is the two final certificates."



I say: "Thank you very much." and then turned to my b/f: "HONEY! You heard him.... GET TO WORK!"





I swear, getting this inspector guy to ever come out is like pulling hen's teeth, you have to call him four times a day for three days to get him out to give you an updated building permit or to inspect. Now today, he just shows up for no good reason just to "check on us" and now we can insulate all of the exterior walls except for the sink area, and all of the roof except for where the vent stacks will be, allo of the interior walls except for where the pipes are, and all of the places where the new heaters will be?!?!



We can finish and move to the new power lines, and install the new fixtures, the new heaters, and the light/vent/heater?!?!





Proof, or bizzare coincidence? You be the judge.



(Poll removed. Please comment.)



Either way, I am dancing the "pookah-happy dance!" Rejoyce! YAY! Oh, and thank you to anyone who sent a prayer up for me...

Oh Damn.
05:36 Oct 24 2006
Times Read: 664

Its flurrying; ever so slightly. If you recall, we are living in an unbuttoned, un-insulated, rather large (30x30) 2 floor wooden box. We are still stuck in the red tape that is preventing us from getting approval to insulate and close up our walls.



We need to keep both ourselves and the plumbing warm enough not to freeze to death. What we have to work with: Three live electrical outlets that are powering every light and appliance we need to live in a two story house, two small space heaters ($20 variety), One medium space heater ($50 variety), One 1-year old Walmart Kerosene heater ($80 variety). By some magic - a guy called us today about an ad that I had replied to days ago. We went out tonight and picked up a second old used kerosene heater for $35.



The Bedroom/Kitchen has an outlet which is powering the medium size space heater, a Queen sized electric blanket, my work laptop and desktop, a printer, speakers, a mini fridge, air purifier, fan, sewing machine, alarm clock, phone, cell phone charger, and lights. If you want to use the microwave for more than 10 seconds, you need to turn off the space heater or else the circuit will blow.



The Living Room/Office/Spare Room has an outlet which is powering both of the boys' computers and laptops and monitors, the TV, cable box, router, modem, another phone, another cell charger, a plug in air freshener, a hot plate, toaster oven, more lights, a small space heater, stereo, and Gilgamesh's light and heat setup for her 75 gallon tank. When it gets cold we set the Kerosene heater in this room to keep the chill out. We plan on putting the second kerosene heater right outside this room and around the corner, right next to the sewage "outgo" pipes to prevent them from freezing.



The upstairs has one outlet which is powering a clothes' washer, full-sized refrigerator, jacuzzi tub, lights for the bathroom and the whole upstairs, any tools that we need to work on the house including drills, lights, shop vac, sawzall, etc, and a small space heater for the bathroom. Our only smoke detector is right above this unattended space heater upstairs.



We have consolidated our space so that the three of us are living in basically two rooms, except for the bathroom and laundry which are currently installed and working where they need to be. We plan on duct taping sheets of plastic around our two rooms downstairs and all the water-pipe areas to cut the spaces we are trying to warm into the smallest sections possible; and to keep what little heat we have IN. The last thing we want is a disaster.





So yes, I am worried about keeping warm while we are waiting for this plumbing situation to get resolved... but as if a gift from god, we were provided with a second kerosene heater today...



***********************************

****IF YOU OBJECT TO TALK OF GOD,*****

*********SKIP THIS PART HERE*********

***********************************



So, as I do every once in a while when I get worried, I still pray; and I open the hobbley beeblay and read a passage at random. Today, when I opened the book at random I saw Chronic-alls and David and said. Ugh. It will be dry poetry or warfare or something.... I tried to skip to another passage but something called me back, so I closed the book and re-opened the book to the same passage. (Not terribly odd, perhaps there is a crease in the spine?)



I happened to turn to 1 Chronic 17 (twice):

Let me summarize in the "pookah-way" what I read there....



David was all settled into a nice cedar house. He was just about feeling like he was king of the world. Then he realized, "Holy SHIT! I totally forgot about my lord! His ARC is still in a TENT! I need to build HIM a house too! How on earth can I sit here in this nice house while he is in a tent?!" So he called in his advisor, and said, "Look, dude! We gotta build a house for the big guy and his props. What do you think?"



Advisor says, "David, man.... You seem to be blessed by the Lord; I mean it seems like you can do no wrong right now. I'm sure that God will be happy with whatever you plan to do." Advisor goes off to bed, but not before partaking of whatever it is that gave people freaky dreams in those days. Flip ahead to REM sleep; Advisor dreams that God says the following:



"Hey, dude! Tell David he really doesn't need to build me a temple. You silly mortals forget, I am GOD! I don't need a house. I am wandering from place to place with you, among you; wandering through the desert, and wandering amongst my other people, a tent is just fine for me. Really."



Then God goes on and says: "In fact, it is *I* who will be building YOU a house. In fact, no. Not just a house, but a HOME where you won't be bothered by all these rogue dirty invaders. No, wait. I can do better than that. I can build you a secure kingdom, I will cut your enemies off before you, and make your name the greatest on the earth!"



*end passage*





So here's how the little pookah interprets this passage:



Dear Pookah,



Umm look, you keep forgetting that I am the almighty provider. I gave David not only a house but a kingdom. I am perfectly capable of working out this 30x30 thing you are trying to call a "house". Have patience and faith. You need to trust me more. Things are moving along in my time, not yours. I promise you will have a house, and I promise you won't freeze to death.



Love,

GOD.

'Nuff Said...
05:08 Oct 09 2006
Times Read: 675

Just got back from fighter practice. Our realm has instituted a $5/mo membership fee, and since I already know that I'd have to pay that for myself, my B/F AND the third person that lives with me, I'm kind of really pissed about it. Alright, $15/mo is really not a lot of money; its more like the straw that broke the camel's back, ya know???



I'm just starting to get really tired of my "cheaper by the dozen" life. I mean.... Usually, I feel that if I go out to eat, its not fair if I don't get something for others who are along /or will be back at the house when I bring it back, etc. I was raised in this "share and share alike" mentality that I just can't seem to break. And that's ok, I guess when I'm paying for me, and sometimes me and my b/f; or somtimes a friend that is with us... But when its EVERY time that I want something I feel like I have to pay for three or more people, it really FRACKING SUCKS!



So that's why I got pissed off when I found out that my realm was going to start charging dues. I'm already paying for food, electric, storage rent, water, internet, website fees, phone, cell, etc. for THREE people.... and then on top of that I'm paying for whatever dagorhir related or other hobby related fees, like DVDs, fabric, kitespar, foam, DAP, etc. AND I'm paying to fix up this house... Paying for materials, paying a contractor, and when there was real work... I was also paying the two boys an allowance. Now I have to pay $5 a month for each of us to play in the swordfighting game? $150 total for the year???! Screw THAT!



Frack this... the shit has to end here! I am way too giving. If people want something, I am just going to have to tell them they need to GET a FRAGGIN job. Like I said. I don't mind paying for some things... especially when I'm getting help with the house, but paying for EVERYTHING when there's barely four hours of house or yard chores to do in a week; This CRAP has to end.

wow...
11:33 Oct 07 2006
Times Read: 680

Not sure how long I've been gone, actually...

Still trying to get occupancy permit on this house. Yes, we're gonna be paying over $2K more for shit that is already installed and working because of a technicality. Curse those plumbers and their fraternity! Damn us for not having an occupancy permit before we started our own plumbing work... Now we're in violation.



Its like a channel 4 commercial.... "The more you know..." Well, we'll just have to take it up the butt, pay $2K extra and get it over with.



Don't worry, I'll be back soon. More writing, more singing, more songs out....



And in bigger, better pookah style too!



Just you wait 'enry 'iggans, just you wait.



I'll be back!