Office shots, trying to, Congrats

This is how my office looked for about 2 and a half weeks.  On top of being wedged in the middle of my office furniture, I got to enjoy the enjoyable waft of ammonia and paint fumes for hours on end. 

Yesterday I finally got a chance to get everything back in place.  I really like my new layout.  It gives me more usable space.

Plus now my desk faces the door instead of being jammed against the front wall.  I think it is more professional.  I also have a chair in front of my desk so visitors can sit in front of me like I am a psuedo authority figure.  It’s funny how something like a coat of paint and rearranging what you already have puts a whole new spin on your environment.  I feel better about things. One more pic.

I have ben trying to be more fiscally responsible.  An example occurred yesterday.  My 15 + year old mountain bike that I use to follow Ali round on as she runs had a flat front tire.  I told Ali I would stop and price a tire and a new bike.  My reflex instinct was “Hey the bike is 15 years old, it’s time for a new one.”  I saw some comfortable looking, 3 speed cruiser style bikes for about 100 bucks, pretty cheap.  I looked at the bikes for a good long time, imagining how it would be nice to have something new and unblemished.  However then I looked at the parts and saw I could get a new inner tube and the tool needed to change it for less than 5 bucks.  Hmmm 100 bucks and new bike or 5 bucks and the grunt work to change the tire?  After some internal back and forth discussion, I spent 5 bucks.  The bike is perfectly fine otherwise, why spend 100 bucks if you don’t have to?

Different people have different strengths, some people are good talkers (not me), some people are great leaders (not me), some are naturally funny, entertainers, etc etc…  My biggest strength is I am a problem solver.  Give me a problem, I will fix it.  The bike tire thing was a perfect example.

The problem was this, Ali was doing her run last night after work but my chase vehicle had the flat tire.  So I loaded up the inoperable bike and brought it along anyway and devised the plan to make Ali’s run happen.  I picked up the inner tube and tools in the morning.  Then I dug out an adjustable wrench and vise grips from the tool box at work and took it over to Ali’s work at 5.  I knew Ali had supper duty so I had at least until 5:30 until she would be done.  So using the wrench and visegrips I remove the front wheel and after some futzing around, figure out how to use the tire tools to get the old tire off.  I pull the old tube off, put the new one back on, throw the tire in the back of the Sentra and drive to the gas station to fill the tube.  I fill it, pop the tire back on and drive back to the nursing home, it’s 5:20.  I discover I have to remove the brake pads to get the tire back on so I hurriedly remove them.  The tire goes back on, is locked in and the bike is back on it’s wheels at 5:29.  I am on the road with Ali and the tire completes 7 miles without issue. Problem eradicated.

The funny thing is when I have projects to do or problems to fix, I am use a very ad-lib method to do them.  Many people like to work off of plans or write down or draw up what they will do.  I just sort of make things up as I go.  I pretty much work out of a blueprint in my head that is liquid, always changing.  I built the deck in Nicki’s area that way, I built the ramp for the shed that way, I even laid the tile in the house that way.  However using this method also makes me shy away from really BIG things that require you to plan and write and draw, if I can’t do it out of my head alone I probably won’t do it.

Ali ran 7 miles last night, I’m very proud of her.  I wish I was running with her.  My knees are definitely improving.  Yesterday at the gym I did my most serious leg workout post injury and felt no pain.

Congratulations to my good buddy Rich, his wonderful wife just gave birth to their first child, Brodie early this morning. 

 It feels weird to me that Rich is a father now.  I know Rich as my vball playing,  nickname making, weight lifting partner that always has a way of making me laugh.  So many of my friends and family members have become parents over the past few years.  I am still one of the lone hold outs. I suppose I can experience parenthood by proxy through them.