November rain

The sun sets very early now at this time of year.  The rain has slowed, after a fierce bucketstorm that ensued through most of the day, and here we are Friday night on November 11, 2011 after having dinner that our daughter made.  We're going to take a break to Tim Horton's soon for a treat.

The original plan today was to take off to Houlton, Maine for a brief day trip, but we scotched that when we heard of the very stormy weather forecast in favor of tomorrow instead.  The trick there is I have to get up tomorrow morning around 4 for work at 5am for a few hours, then I'll go home and we'll head out.  Needless to say, Janice will be doing some of the driving.  We've been looking forward to this for a little while now.  These little getaways that we do are a little something to look forward to during the days when there doesn't appear to be a lot.

Our little girl is having a banner year at school so far, with Janice going to parent-teacher interviews and getting nothing but glowing reports and marks for Alexandra's efforts.  We couldn't ask for more than that.  Lex has also changed workplaces once again, moving from my store in Riverview to Janice's just up the street, which makes a whole lot more sense.  That brings her closer to her up-to-this-point dream job of working in the cosmetics department.  I don't know that our child aspires to be a doctor or a lawyer or whatever, and honestly I don't care; what I want is for her to earn an independent living doing what she loves to do.  Happiness does not come with a dollar figure.  There are lots of rich miserable people in this world.  Respect and caring for others and being responsible while making a living are all we ask for.

As for the wife, let me tell you something as Christmas is now on the fast track, and if you live around us:  If you need something sent via the post office, go see her.  She is the #1 person you can trust to have your stuff taken care of and being sent right.  Want proof?  Her post office outlet has far exceeded projections in clientele and earnings, and she continues to progress.  She's a staunch by-the-book manager who believes in doing the job right the first time.  Her workers that she trains herself are loyal and eager to please, as taught by their boss.  Some might even get offended, at first, by her stick-to-the-rules approach, but will appreciate it later.  If she asks you for I.D. even if she personally knows you, there's a reason.  I really do believe there's no one better than her at doing the job she does.

Moreover, I consider my wife to be a voice of reason.  She knows better about almost everything.  If you try to tell her something that has a hint of misrepresentation about it, she might not tell you (most often she will though); but she knows better than to follow the wrong path.  But she is also forgiving and well to do.

On my end?  Things are not bad.  I'm on this training program at the gym that I found in Men's Health magazine that was put together by a bunch of experts that caught my fancy, chiefly because I wanted to change things up at the gym as I feel I'm getting a bit bored.  I was skeptical, but willing to do something to jar me out of my complacency.  So this program gives me a set of four exercises to execute three days a week.  Looking at the exercises on paper, it didn't seem quite like they'd be for me, but I read the whole article and it insisted that it would make me work regardless of how it appears.  After day 1, I enjoyed the program, because it was much shorter than what I'm used to (I wound up being there for a little over an hour, whereas my gym routines tend to push the 2 hour mark), and I really did feel like I was working parts of me that I was neglecting, especially in the core area.  I was aware of this though.  So I'd go through my paces, and find that I'm working this group and that group, but one or two exercises left me wondering what I actually did work.  Well trust me, the next morning, I found out.  When I got up, the backs of my legs and butt and lower back felt like they needed a good dousing from an oil can.  But I believe in the no pain, no gain approach, so I was quite elated.  Every workout on this program offers the same kind of surprise, working mystery muscle groups that I'd only discover the next morning.  I got through week one of this and plan on doing this for some time.

Healthwise, I feel damn good really.  I've gained some weight, even though my belly hasn't really grown all that much, which I was suspicious of.  But upon looking at myself in the gym, I did gain some muscle mass here and there.  Janice likes to point that out.  Most times I don't believe her!  But I guess it's true to some degree.  With this new training program, that might make even more of it.  I got my flu shot last week.  I know there are people who are hard for it and hard against it.  All I can say is, in the last seven years, I've only missed getting my shot twice.  Those two years I missed it, including last year, are the sickest years of the seven.  I learned my lesson and will get my flu shots.  I don't recommend kids get them, though, just maybe the 30 and up crowd.  Otherwise... I take all my supplements and I think that keeps me feeling okay too.  I take a time released Omega 3 capsule, a multivitamin, a time released B12, 2000 IU's of vitamin D, vitamin D3, a prostate complex supplement with pumpkin seed oil, as well as something called Digestive Advantage Lactose Intolerance, which is a natural supplement that allows me to eat all the dairy in the run of a day I want.  Janice takes the same supplements I do, minus the prostate stuff obviously.  We're a healthy happy bunch here.

One thing worthy of note that we recently found out about is that the city may possibly be looking to buy our house, along with the house next door, to use the space to accomodate parking for the nearby Kiwanis Field ballpark.  A lot of cars park on the streets around here and residents are complaining, so this would be a way to rectify that.  If they made an offer, a reasonable one, I think you'd be seeing us relocating pretty quick.  This would be a massive, massive boost for us, on so many levels.  We're not counting on anything, but we're hopeful.

I reconnected with an old friend from my high school years this week.  I've known Patcy since we were 16.  Our life's paths have taken us in vastly different directions that caused us to lose touch a lot over the years, but thanks to her dropping in at Janice's post office and chatting a bit, I discovered she's now on facebook.  So we're chatting.  I'm extremely proud of her accomplishments over the years and happy to be in touch with her again.

Before I go, I want to extend a note of thanks for those who have tuned in to Ragnar.  Thank you for comments, Janice... my #1 fan always!  My super nephew Matt, who offered up his suggestions for a slow cooker rib recipe, though I still need further input because I'm quite green to the rib scene, as far as what to buy and how to prep, but I DO want to try that; Jean Guy Rubberboot (aka my steadfast buddy Tim Churchill) who I wish would just join facebook already!! ; md, aka Michelle Dormer, always offering encouraging words at times I could use them the most; Sue M aka Sue Matthews, who goes way back to high school days along with md, who made another slow cooker ribs suggestion which also I will try; and.... 'anonymous', who described my writing as 'very nice'.  I have brothers who also tune in, Pete gives me some very nice words about my entries.  And Rick chimes in from time to time and lets me know he's reading.  I think my pal Cindy reads sometimes too.  Sara and maybe her beau Jason might be tuning in.  I'm grateful for all of you.  And if you've read my page and I didn't mention you, don't think I don't appreciate you.  It's because you didn't comment or let me know you did!  (YES that's a hint!)   ;)  And Tim, for the love of God, just join facebook already, k??

Now boys and girls, fire up those colortinis and watch those pictures as they fly through the air.

Good night.