leatherman's log   September 2007 Week One |   Week Two |   Week Three |   Week Four

Week One: The first of September arrived before I could get my last August update online. Why don't you take a quick look at the pictures below first (of the flowers around my yard), before going back to August Week Five to get caught up on my Reading List, my latest visit to the doctor and more! I don't know what we're going to do for cosmos next year. Those two cute golden finches have invited all their friends over, and I haven't been able to collect hardly any seeds to save for next year. They keep eating them all up. I've gone out and shooed them away to gather some seeds already; but I really need to try to get more or we'll have to plant something different along the driveway next Spring. The Hostas are hanging in there; but the pansies are petering out finally. To have been planted so late, the morning glories are doing well in the backyard. I really like having the mix of colors. Below is a picture of the morning glories that showed up in the front flowerbed. I'm sure I transplanted irises from the front yard of my old house in this bed, so I don't know how purple morning glories showed up from my old back yard. Although we've lost quite a few sunflower plants (we really over-planted them anyway), the ones still standing are doing well. Some of the heads are starting to turn yellow, so I'll be harvesting a bunch of them soon. I'm not certain what we're going to do with the collected seeds yet. If we have enough, I'll like to try my hand at making a batch of them roasted and salted. Or maybe I'll give them to Cliff to feed his birds during this winter.

Week Two: The morning glories are continuing to grow and bloom. Here's a couple of pictures of them. One from the front side and one from the back. How things can change in a week. The squirrels and birds started getting to the sunflowers during the last week. Every day I'd go out to find more of the flower heads (full of seeds) just gone. Like the cosmos out front, I was afraid I wouldn't get any of the seeds, so I cut off 3 or 4 of the biggest ones. I guess the squirrels got worried that I was going to take them all, because by the next morning, there were NO flowers left! Since there weren't any more blooms left on any of the stalks, I went ahead and pulled up the rest. I really thought the sunflowers looked nice though, and will have to plant them again next year. Oh no! It's that time of year again - time to start closing up the pool. We've had enough cool nights now that the water won't be warm enough for anymore swimming. Jim may have gotten in when it was only 60 degrees, to get the floats; but you won't see me jumping in. That's just too chilly for me. Now I'll just have to be content with sitting beside the pool and reading. Just like at the start of the season, as long as it's at least 72 degrees and sunny, it's nice up on the deck. I better enjoy it while I can too. It won't be much longer until we put the cover over the pool. Having had a few chilly nights and morning, we broke out some of our Winter survival gear in the North - blankets! Aries must really feel like this is home, since we caught he nestled in the blanket on top of the coffee table, like he used to do at our old house. I started my project of installing webcams throughout the Waikem Auto Group dealerships. The dealerships have had a few incidents of theft over the years, and we're hoping that these webcams will not only monitor what the cleaning crew is doing at night; but also catch the occasional thief. After an initial meeting with Doug Waikem, I'll be installing about 30 cams all together through their seven building. So far things have been going pretty good. Within just a few days, I had over half of them installed and running properly with the staff trained in how to use the software and review the videos. Can you find the cams in the pictures below? MouseOver the cams to see a Closeup! After getting the bugs worked out of installing the cams, and training the staff, I'll be heading to some of the other buildings next week to finish up this project.

Week Three: Since I've been taking Jim to work so that I can borrow his car to handle my webcam project, I haven't been working every day. Also I've had another couple of sick days, so I've made sure to take it easy and not push myself too hard. On one of my days off, DO came over and we had lunch together and a trip to the park. DO and I love Rally's Big Buford burgers, and since they were on sale again (2 for $3), we stopped there to pick up some lunch to take to the park. After eating, we strolled around the lake with Rosita and Gabby. Rosita just loves the park - because she LOVES chasing the geese. It's so funny watching that little bitty dog tearing across the grass chasing the honking geese into the water. Both doggies walk on leashes pretty well; but the park is an exciting place for them, and DO and I both spent some time untangling leashes from around their heads and legs.   MouseOver for a CloseUp of mIkIE and Gabby Zita has chased all the geese into the water. MouseOver CloseUp Back at Waikems this week, things with my webcam project have been going very well. I've gotten 22 of 28 cams installed, running, and in use every night. I'm having problems with some of the computers for the few remaining cams. Also a few of the cams, although they are running alright for the time being, need some extension cables so I can put them in a better position. Doug finally ordered the cables and I'll be spending a couple more days next week finishing off the last of this project. It's been pretty interesting watching the videos being recorded from the cams. I've watched employees leaving at night, entering in the morning; the cleaning crew doing their thing; and a couple of times, salesmen working past closing to finish up their deals. This picture is from a cam that recorded the sunrise one morning. As I've been training the staff on using the cams (I even set up a Help webpage for them), I've taken videos of myself, to show the employees where they are stored, how to view them, and how to delete them. Below are a few sample movies of the ComputerTutor doing his thing. It shouldn't take me much longer to finish up when the ordered USB extension cables get delivered next week. Then if I can just work out the last 3-4 problems, I'll have this project wrapped up. After working at Waikems one day (and turning in a bill for the work so far ), I stopped by the hospital to have blood taken for my next doctor's appointment (Oct. 4th). I've really got no idea what the results will be this time. As I mentioned last month, I'm not concerned about the "blip" in my viral load, although the doctor is. I do know though, that during this last month (since the last doctor visit), I haven't missed any doses of my meds, I've had four sick days, barfed 4 times (which is more than normal), and had that infection in my finger act up. The herpes infection outbreak wasn't too bad this time; but it really made my whole hand and arm ache for days before and after - it still hurts some now and it's already healed up enough for the scab to be gone. So now it's just a waiting game until I see the doctor and hear what he has to say about my results and what to do. OH! I did find this new emoticon for being sick that I think is really cute.

Week Four: We still haven't totally closed up the pool yet - and thank goodness! We've had a couple of days near 90! I've been sweating up a storm working at Waikems, then coming home, taking a dip in the c-c-cold water before drying off in the sun, reading a book. It's days like these that make the sick days fade right outta my head. With the chilly night, and an above ground pool, the water has gotten quite chilly in the pool; but not quite enough for hypothermia. The solar panel can't help either. With the direction of the sun, and the position of the trees, most of the backyard is in the shade at this time of year. So the solar panel is draining, and we should be rolling it up to store it away soon. Hopefully the weather will stay nice enough to let some grass grow back before Winter sets in. The morning glories are really growing well now. I like where they are placed in the yard too. Sitting at my computer, I can look through the back window and see them all day long. Because these were started from a seed pack (not transplants from the old house), they're blooming in a myriad of colors.         It's been another unique month in my life. Summer seemed to have ended with chilly nights and cold pool water. It's probably for the best though, as I spent so much time working at Waikems each week. That project has gone very well. I've installed 25 and most seem to be working. It's been tricky training the employees on how to handle any problems; but they've all done very good and have been contacting me with their problems. I still have two or three more cams to handle; but they're all problems, so I don't mind putting them off. I did go ahead and submit a bill for all the completed work though, and finally have some cash in my pocket. WooHoo! I wish this could happen more; but these weeks have also pointed out why it can't.  I have to stay poor to be able to get my meds (and it sucks being poor), and I do have enough health problems that I couldn't really even keep a part-time job (and it sucks being sick). It seemed like for every two days I felt good and was working, I was sick for two days and puking. Luckily the few days after I cashed the check, I felt pretty good and enjoyed the fruits of my labors. I finally got around to getting Jim's birthday gift. Yes, I know that was way back in July; but I was poor then, and I not right now. He's been wanting one of the gizmos to hold a bagel so you don't cut yourself with the knife. We couldn't find one of those in several stores; but finally did find a super-duper guillotine bagel slicer! I also gave Jim a few hundred to help cover the house expenses, along with a bonus to cover the gas and cigarette money that he fronted me while I was doing the job at Waikems. Recently, I had found an abandoned bike on a walk up to the local grocery store (for Coke and cigarettes, what else? ). So while we were out shopping, we decided to check around about replacing the bent bicycle rim, so that I could have a bike to ride up to the store. Instead, for just $70 bucks I ended up getting this new 18-speed bike! Um, no. I haven't made it up to the store on the bike yet. Although I didn't forget how to ride a bike, it's been a long time since my last bike, and boy! am I outta shape! (and it sucks being old) For the past few days, I just been biking around the neighborhood, each day adding another block to the length of the trip. I'm up to circling four blocks now! I think I'm about ready for the 1/2 mile trek up to the store. I also spent so money on some edibles. Not only did I treat Jim to Quiznoses (turkey bacon guacamole for me - mmm) for lunch, and Pizza Oven sausage and pepperoni pizza for dinner; but after running over and doing a quick fix to Loretta's computer the next day, we went to my newest favorite place - Old Carolina BBQ. I still like the Frisco Burger at Steak-n-Shake, and the steak sizzler platter at Outback is always special because it's kinda "our restaurant"; but I could eat that  pulled pork sandwich, hush puppies and coleslaw platter every week and not get tired of it. Even though I love their real Southern Sweet tea (I can drink 3 glasses of it!); if I could get them to import some southern Cheerwine to go with this southern BBQ (the Piedmont #5 sauce is excellent), then it really would be my MOST favorite place. I did spend some money on food for the house too, along with getting supplies for another batch of muffins. Recently, I turned the recipe for Amish Friendship bread into Lemon-Cranberry-Coconut-Walnut muffins and everyone just loves them. I've been going through supplies twice as fast later since I've had to make double batches (4 dozen) to keep everybody happy.   Speaking of food, I will probably be having some Mexican food next week. While I borrowed Jim's car and was just a block away working at Waikems, I stopped over and caught up with Tara finally. She says hey to everyone! She's been busy with the auto body shop and the kids throughout the Summer. Although I haven't seen her kids yet (that's why we going to all go out to dinner one night), I did see pictures of them from a trip they took out West to meet up with Daddy Jason (he's still traveling doing hail damage repair ). I can't wait to see them in person. Ella is walking and starting to talk (and so big!) and Austin just started the first grade. As this month ends, the leaves are started to change and you can feel Fall in the air every evening as the sun sets. The cosmos lining the driveway were starting to look a little shabby, and after they took a pounding in a recent rainstorm, I'll be pulling them up as this month closes. The drive is going to look naked after having been hidden behind the flowers for nearly four and a half months. I have some pictures of the cosmos throughout the season to show you next month. Only because it worries me a little bit, in closing, let me remind you that I'll have a report from the doctor in just a few days. If I hadn't been sick so much lately, I don't think I'd be much concerned. I'm really trying not to worry myself into being sick either; but I still wonder what I'm going to find out. Even if it's not good news though, it won't be "terrible" news, because I know I'm not THAT sick. Cross your fingers and hope my meds are still doing their thing and it was just a "blip".

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