Now that the walls and ceiling are done in the living room, it's time to start thinking about the floors. I'm still undecided as to whether to put down carpeting or stick with the natural hard wood floors, but I need to make a decision soon as this unfinished room is driving me crazy. The only problem with redoing the hard wood floors is that I just know I'm going to have to rent industrial floor scrubbers, and the work will not be easy. While the floors are in perfect shape, they are very scratched and dull. The previous owners had carpeting in here, so the floors were well protected and can be restored easily. I just don't know if I want to put that much work into it.
I can envision this room with beautifully restored hard wood floors, and it's beautiful. I've never done anything like this before, but with auto scrubbers and battery powered machines, how hard could it really be? I wonder just how long a vacuum battery life is? Will I have to stop and keep recharging the unit, or will it be enough to finish the entire floor on one charge? Once I start, I don't want to have to stop until it's finished, ya know?
Decisions, decisions.
I'll have to do some more research and find out what all is involved in restoring the hard wood floor. I'd like to have it done within the next few weeks, before any type of warmer weather starts making its way here. I don't want to be stuck in this house any longer than I have to be!
On To The Next Step
Steel Buildings
Over this past Summer, my father-in-law, having come into some money after his father died, decided to put up one of those steel buildings to house all his toys. You know the toys men buy as they get older: a muscle car (his is a yellow and black Dodge Charger), a camper big enough to house a family of five comfortably, and is actually decorated better than my house, and a decked out work bench area that any auto mechanic would be jealous of. There are other amenities and things besides, but you get the picture.
The funny thing is, the older you get, the less you tend to work on your own vehicles. The less you do around the house. It's just so much easier to hire someone to do the work for you, so I have to wonder why he went to this extreme, just because he could.
On the other hand, the building is so big that he has allowed us to store some of our bigger assets as well. Mike's ice shanty and boat, for instance. What once stood outside, naked to the elements, is now tucked cozily inside, right between said camper. No more shoveling feet of snow to uncover the ice shanty when it's time to go sturgeon spearing. Yay!
Butts, Winds, And Books
I'm happy to report that my butt is feeling much better today. I only tell you this because I'm sure you're just dying to know things about my butt. My rear and I both thank you for your concern.
Still dealing with the standing water puddles in the garage today. Try as I might, yesterday's winds did nothing to help dry it out since they refused to enter the garage. Today, though, is another story altogether. Hurricane force winds are a blowin', and thankfully are blowing in the right direction to come full force through the open garage door. Hopefully after today, at least for a little while, I can walk through my garage without hip waders to take the dogs out.
God, I never thought I'd be thankful for the strong winds that blow in this state on a semi-daily basis.
On a lighter note, I am reading a pretty funny book called "Is It Just Me, Or Is Everybody Nuts!" by Judi Coltman. It's been a while since a book has made me laugh out loud, but this one does. It's not a story, but instead, one woman's view on life (her life), and the things she observes. There are so many things I can relate to, having raised kids of my own, and the things she says about her marriage and such has me nodding my head in confirmation. It's a great book for when you need to know that you're not alone and need a laugh. I got it for free on Amazon for my Kindle Fire, but I believe the going price for the book is $2.99 now.
It's A Harmless Fetish, Really......
I don't get out much, what with my visual disability and all, but for reasons I can't explain or control, I have a shoe fetish. It's more of an obsession, really. And the funny thing about it is, I only wear just a select few pair despite the numerous pairs that line my closet floor. Keds shoes are my favorite. So many colors and patterns.....yeah. They remind me of summer days. No socks, just a pair of cute Keds to make a summer outfit complete.
Oh, and Dr Martens shoes........drool. So many pretty boots to choose from. Who cares if they don't keep your feet terribly warm. They look fabulous!
For me, buying shoes is like a true religion. I believe strongly in the power of a new pair of shoes to make you feel complete. OK, so maybe comparing shoe buying to religion is a bit extreme, but seriously. I might need professional help to get past this. How much sense does it make to keep buying all these cute shoes if I really have no intention of actually wearing them? Why do I keep buying shoes when the trusty old faithfuls are my favorite?
Someone stop me cause I can't stop myself!
Tushie Cushies and Melting Snow
There are two things I really could do without right about now. My sore butt and all this melting snow. I know. Quite different subjects. But, it's true.
Let us talk about my butt first. I literally have a pain in the butt today. It happens quite regularly during this time of year when wrestling season is in full swing and entire days are spent sitting on hard, unforgiving bleachers for hours on end. It's the type of pain one doesn't notice until she sits. On anything. No matter how soft and cushy the furniture, I wince in pain until my derriere gets accustomed. Just when I think it's all good, I change positions and wince again. I think losing weight has only made the situation worse. There isn't as much junk in the trunk as there used to be, which is nice as far as wearing jeans goes, but no so nice for extended bleacher-sitting. I think it's time to consider buying one of those tushie cushie things to pad my delicate tuckus.
On to the melting snow. If you're an avid reader of my blog, and I know you are, right? You'll know my feelings on Winter. Just in case you're new around here, I'll tell you now. I hate it. I hate it more than life itself. I'd give anything to move somewhere warm, somewhere without snow. Unfortunately, that isn't possible because my husband refuses, and unless I'm willing to leave him, I'm stuck.
Anyway, normal temps here in Wisconsin this time of year are cold. Very cold. And there's usually an ungodly amount of snow by now. This year however, is not typical. The temps have been warmer than normal and snowfall has been kept to a minimum. I should be happy, right? I thought so, too.
Unfortunately, there has been just enough snow to make things miserable. The most miserable part is our garage. It is attached to the house, which is nice, usually, and was added years after the house was built. The idiots that built it however, should be shot, or at the very least pummeled with rocks until they bleed. Sounds extreme, I know, but seriously. Who builds a garage without a drain in the floor, and then slopes the floor towards the house?
It's a constant battle trying to keep the melted snow that drips from the cars away from the door to the house. I sweep the puddles of water away from the door. They come back. I sweep them away again, they come back. The puddles never dry. They just refreeze and melt depending on the temperature, ebbing and flowing with my sweeping.
And poor Rascal. You know which dog I'm talking about, right? He's the black shih-tzu. He absolutely hates getting his feet wet, so it's quite comical to watch him work his way through the garage from the house door to the back door to go potty. He hops, jumps, and slithers around things on his belly just to avoid the puddles that forever sit all winter long in our garage. The sad thing is, after all that work just to get to the door, he still has to face all the slushy, melty snow in the backyard. Let's just say, he's not a happy doggy.
Nomorerack.com
As you can probably tell if you've read my blog at all, it's not just for your reading pleasure. Although, your reading pleasure is the number one reason I write, I also use it to generate a little extra income for my family. Some posts may not appeal to everyone, but my hope is that there is a little something for everyone that visits. I've promoted a lot of different products and services throughout the years, some I'm familiar with, some I am not. I really enjoy it when I can write about something that I know, something that I've had experience with, and that is why I am thrilled to be able to write about nomorerack.com.
Nomorerack is a site that sells brand name products at huge discounts. Each day, they feature eight daily deals plus one "charity" deal to equal nine products each day. The products change daily at noon so there's always something different. I look forward to checking my email each day to see what they have featured. It's almost like Christmas every single day because you just don't know what you're going to get until you get there.
I was a little skeptical when I first heard about nomorerack.com. I did a Google search on nomorerack reviews and found hundreds of positive reviews about the site. I decided to go ahead and trust them, especially since I noticed they are PayPal verified, and we all know paying online is always more secure when going through Paypal. I haven't been disappointed. I bought a beautiful necklace recently.........
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What Will They Think Of Next?
Let me start by saying, I do not advocate smoking or not smoking. It is what it is, and to each his own, I say. I do believe however, that once a smoker, always a smoker on some level. It's like being an alcoholic. You may quit drinking, and remain sober the rest of your life, but deep down inside, that urge to drink never goes completely away. It lays in wait, dormant. It's up to you whether you give in to it or not. Quitting smoking works the same way.
Having said all that, I recently discovered a site that sells a different kind of electronic cigarette. Electronic cigarettes are nothing new lately. Since the US started cracking down on smoking in public, the ecigarette has become the more socially acceptable replacement. This is because it allows the smoker to smoke in public without passing harmful chemicals and foul smells to others around him. The "smoke" emitted from an ecig is not really smoke at all. Instead, it is an odorless, chemical-free water vapor. The beauty of this type of smoking is that it allows the smoker to curb their nicotine cravings and smoking habit without passing second hand smoke to other people. Also, it typically costs about half of what smoking real cigarettes does. It's really a win-win for everyone.
Earlier I mentioned an electronic cigarette that is different than most. This is because the new ecigarette offered by blu allows the user to connect with other blu users through a smart pack. The smart pack in which the ecigarette is recharged in is designed to light up and vibrate if another blu user is within 50 feet. Also, it alerts the user to any nearby blu retailers so buying replacement cartridges or supplies is never difficult. With this new advancement in blu technology, meeting new people is a snap because you already have something in common.....blu electronic cigarettes.
Winter Is Only Good For One Thing
The one joy I get during the Winter months is not having to shave my legs. Yep, during the Winter months, my Pepe le Pew tattoo sports a beard, but so what. With long socks and long pants, I can go a good month before the husband says anything, and that my friends, is my cue to shave the tree stumps growing from my legs. Until then, I am au naturel, and loving it!
On a more.........appropriate topic, I recently started attending Becky's cheerleading practices in an effort to make her feel more comfortable with her epilepsy. She's gotten a little scared by the recent increase in her seizures and just feels better having me there. I had no idea the amount of work involved in their stunting and routines. Those girls work hard, and I really enjoy watching and helping to spot their stunts.
I never could understand why she was so tired after practice. Now, I know why. I'm very proud of her continued effort despite the seizures. She's an awesome girl!
Miller Electric: A Wisconsin Grown Company
Well, what do you know? A world-renowned company selling miller welders got its start right here in Wisconsin with a one-man operation. It's amazing to me to see companies start out small and self-owned and become known the world over for it's quality products and services. You know these companies pride themselves on excellent customer service, otherwise they wouldn't have made it that far. Kind of reminds me of the Bill Gates/Microsoft story. One man out to change the world. It definitely gets you thinking that anything is possible with a little hard work.
Laser Spine Surgery
Isn't technology amazing? What they can do now with lasers just floors me. Many surgeries, including many forms of laser spine surgeries, can now be performed in a minimally invasive procedure that hardly effects the surrounding tissues. This means less pain, less bleeding, and faster healing times.
These minimal invasive procedures can treat a variety of issues that cause severe back pain. Sometimes, small amounts of bone is removed to relieve nerve compression. In other instances, a partial disc removal is necessary to relieve spinal nerve compression. In more severe cases, laser spinal surgery is used to fuse two or more spinal segments to relieve pain caused by motion.
If you suffer from chronic back pain and think you might be a good candidate for this type of procedure, speak with your doctor about the options.
