The Corner Piece

New Years 2011

This year is shaping up to be packed full-at least at the start. We have a 3 night cruise on the new Disney Dream next weekend with AR&B. That should be a really fun time. There will be other folks I know on board as well. I don't mind being a guinea pig I mean, how bad could it be? I'm sure most of the ship amenities are up and running, after all there have been families on the ship as it has crossed the Atlantic on it's way to Port Canaveral. I plan on taking lots of pics and really touring the ship. It'll  probably be a long while before I have a chance to be back on board.

Later on in March, Wifey and I are booked on The Crown Princess for the second time. I'll have to say our first cruise with Princess was just awesome and I can't wait to get back on board. It goes to Honduras which is a new stop for us but really I'm there for The Sanctuary, the sun, the food, and relaxation. I could care less to get off the ship most of the time.

It'll be interesting to compare the two experiences where they are relatively close together. Wifey and I have been on a few Disney cruises now so I'm interested in seeing the ways they have raised the bar. I'm also interested to see if Princess can capture lightning for a second time. Either way, I'm looking forward to some R&R.

Work is shaping up to be a real bear for the Jan. and Feb. A couple of big jobs with tight deadlines should make for interesting times. I'm also working on lining up other projects which will occupy a great deal of my free time. No complaints here, better than the alternative.

A big time cliche but, The New Year has me focused on my overall health as well. Better eating and exercise is a must. I'll find the time........

 

Christmas 2010

Where did the year go? Last year was just horrible at Christmas and it has been a struggle for me at times this year as well. I've been trying hard to get into the season and there have been some good moments with more to come I'm sure. Just not the same anymore.

We are hosting D&W for dinner today which is always fun. Wifey and I are taking a couple of cruises (WooHoo) over the next few months so that plus a previous I-Pad purchase before my trip to Germany, I think she's waiting for the next one to come out, is gonna pretty much cover Christmas this year.

We've both been working hard so it's nice to get a little time off between all the chaos. I was off yesterday and only have to work two days out of the next nine. I've got a ton to do at work and brought some home, just feeling like I'm constantly behind. It's a good thing that isn't exclusive to me. Wifey is working insane hours with zero recognition for what she does. I feel bad for her.

I'm taking a run down to see my folks in south FLA for a couple of days next week. My sister will be there so it will be a good time to catch up.

I'm off to get coffee, is Dunkin Donuts open on Christmas?

Merry Christmas

 

 

 

Uhhh?Mansion?.......Auf Wiedersehen!

 

What would you live in if you were the fourth richest person in the world?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/interactive/2010/oct/13/mukesh-ambani-antilla-mumbai?intcmp=239

I love where I live and can't understand why people feel the need to build monstrocities like that to live in. GAWD! Do a search sometime for most expensive homes. Do all rich people go to the same tacky designer?

Anyway.....

I'ts been very busy since July - can't wait for some time off......March?........See ya in a couple weeks. I'll have lots of pics by then!

 

Labor Day 2010

Where did the summer go?

I haven't had a whole lot of time to sit and write but wanted to check in. Work is still incredibly hectic. I've been working at least 60 hours a week for over a month now and this pace will keep up through October. It happens pretty much every year at this time because of the end of the fiscal year.

My new job intensifies the whole thing. Before I would be concerned about producing 1 or 2 projects. Now I have soup to nuts responsibility for all projects, about a dozen right now.

I've been getting Sundays off which is great but, today I have a project to do in the shop. A friend at work, who is also in the Navy reserves, in going through the process of being promoted to Chief. There is a long list of tasks that he has to accomplish in a certain time frame. A few weeks back I built him and the other candidates some boxes to hold a book that goes along with the new effort. Now he has to have boxes made that will hold the new uniform hats that they will wear.

A huge amount of work for a day. Especially a day off..........

March vacation seems a long way off. The next short breather will likely be Thanksgiving. 

It'll be here before you know it.....

At Last......

Got promoted at work. It's the next step in my career and I plan on making the most of it. I'll be much less hands on which is a first for me. My father once told me, "eventually you gotta get paid for what you know and not for what you can do". The older I get, the more I understand what he meant.

Eventually I'll get back to projects in my own shop. Realistically, it'll be November before I do any real work out there. In the mean time, I'm excited for the new challenge.

Just Trying To Keep Up

I finally have a day off from work. I've been on for the past 2 weeks straight and after today I'm not sure when I'll get my next break.

It's all good.......I love the OT. It's a feast or famine world out there so you won't hear me complain. Overall some pretty exciting and hope-filled times at my job. Let's hope it continues.

I have a pretty boring day off planned. Groceries, house chores, and probably some cooking in there too. If the weather cooperates I'll get in some pool time. Wifey is off to DAK with little brother this morning. I just couldn't deal with that today.....maybe when the days are cooler.

Wifey and I are booked for our next cruise which is exciting. We return to The Crown Princess in March. All this OT is certainly helping the vacation fund. It's a western Caribbean itinerary that goes to Cozumel, Caymans, and Honduras. I picture a lot of R&R at The Sanctuary........

That's all for now. Later.

Quiet Time

I am taking advantage of a quiet house for a couple of days. Wifey is up in Boston visiting friends and it begins what is a pretty eventful few weeks for us. I have a couple of small projects out in the shop that I am picking away at. I want to get those wrapped up but I have no firm deadlines which is ultimately how I want that whole enterprise to go..... anyway, for the most part, this weekend I'm just chillin'.

Next week, we she gets back, it will be be my 39th birthday(Thursday). For the last 3 years we have taken a long weekend for my birthday out at Vero Beach. This year where we usually stay has been booked solid for months. So as of right now, we have no firm plans. We have been looking at maybe Cocoa Beach or St. Augustine. Don't know. Whatever it is(if anything) will be last minute.

On July 2nd I fly to NH for a week with my family. I have been looking forward to the visit. The last 6 months have been the hardest in my families' history so some time together is important to me.

On the work front, really, more of the same. We are busy which is good. We have finally added some help, also good. Out look is strong with major projects under way. I'm still waiting for growth opportunities to open up, how long I need/will wait is any ones guess.

Sorry, no pics this time.

Catch ya later.

May First

Wow! I know I say it a lot but time flies.

Last weekend I visited my parents in Ft. Lauderdale. My sister and niece were down for the week and it was nice to see everyone. It was the first time I've seen my parents since.......well, anyway it was too long ago. They are heading back to New Hampshire next week and I will be heading up for a visit over the July 4th holiday.

Work has been a bit stressful lately. A lot of work to do, a lot of new things to learn, and generally a lot of things changing. Not a whole lot more to say about it here except that one would hope that all this hard work pays off-eventually. Wifey and I could write the same book just change the names of the main characters.

It's about time to get some project stuff back on track. I'll be elbow deep in the cherry bookcase project here shortly. I am also patiently waiting for another long-planned cabinet project to commence. It looks like my pipe dream about not doing projects out in my little sweat shop over the summer was just that. It is 91 degrees outside as I type.......

A Much Needed Vacation

After a grueling few months,(who am I kidding 2009 sucked) Wifey and I are taking a much needed vacation. On Sunday we depart Port Canaveral on a 7 day cruise aboard Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas. I believe it is the second largest cruise ship in the world. I caught a re-broadcast of Samantha Brown's Freedom special the other night. Freakin' torture! I plan on having way more fun than she had!

This week leading up to vacation has been brutal. I had the usual work stuff going on but worse was no AC at the house. It had been acting up for a while until finally it just wouldn't cool. Of course this happens during the first really warm week we've had this year.

It ends up that the lines under the house connecting the two units were bad. Well, being the brain surgeon that I am, I volunteered to save a little money by running the new lines myself. The thing is the new lines needed to go through the ATTIC because it is near impossible to get them back under the house the same way.......They definitely DO NOT make attics as big as they used to......I probably sweat off 10 pounds an hour doing that job - it was just brutal.  It is a miracle I didn't come crashing through a bedroom ceiling Clark W. Griswold style. Thank God my buddy Max came by to lend a hand, I owe him big time. Anyway, my AC guy has been so busy that it's Fri and I'm just now getting the stuff hooked back up. He'll back on Sat. to finally charge up the system with coolant after an over night pressure test.

It's always something....

Here is a picture of Wifey on The Disney Wonder with The Freedom of the Seas in the background. I knew we just had to get on that ship someday!

See ya when we get back!

Busy Week

It's crazy. I went from really slow at work to absolutely slammed. It may be a sign that people are feeling better about spending money. Who knows. I worked 10 hours today and am working 10 tomorrow. I think it'll be like this for a little while.

I still have my other projects to do as well. A couple of hours a day on those will work for now it's the weekend days I'll miss a little. Doesn't look like any free time for me. I'll take it.

That's gonna have to do it for now.......