Been a while…

Ok ok…

So I didn't make the October post I had planned. I've just been busy and for whatever reason, I wasn't very motivated to sit and type it all out… But its now 6:30pm on  a Wednesday evening, there's nothing good on TV and I don't seem interested in playing any video games,. so i figured it was a good chance to let people catch up with Lisa and I just before the holiday.

Topics for tonight's blog entry will be: Comments on events listed in the last post,

The next blog will be about Lisa’s weight loss, The loss of a pet, The resale value of old computers, and warm thoughts and wishes for an ill friend but ill save that for next time and start on…

- Johns Visit -
Early in October Lisa and I had a chance to have little John down for the weekend, while here we visited his fathers grave. it was touching to watch him place his game ball on his dads grave. I'm sure his father is very proud cause i know we all are. after that we planned a day at the fair but our plans got rained out. It was still a great day because I got all the Sullivan kids together for the whole day. We went out to eat and then to the mall!

- My Birthday & Paintball -
Later in October is was my birthday. Last Christmas Lisa bought me a coupon book with discounts on paintball. I used that book to host and outing for a bunch of my friends to join me. The day before my birthday me and 9 of my fiends suited up and hit the fields of cape cod paintball for a great time.  Check out the video…

-Social Outings -
Big thanks to ours friends Mat and Nicole who invited us to there had a great house warming party and to Scot an Stacey had a great bon-fire that blazed late into the night. Its a good thing these two events happen separately… or mats house would have been more then warm… LOL Big thanks also to the Smiths and the Blacklocks who both had fantastic Halloween parties. Oh BTW that's Lisa and me… Little red and the big bad wolf…  Enjoy the pictures and video and thanks for reading!

October is gonna be fun!

So this weekends Lisa and I are enjoying a lazy weekend at home. Not much going on but cleaning straightening the house for guests on Monday.  Next week starts a gambit of events keeping us quite busy every weekend threw October…

Next week Lisa and I volunteered to help a co-worker run a children's fashion show… My job will be to guard the prize table and keep parents out of the changing area… Lisa will be guiding the kids out onto the stage… should be different and hopefully fun!

Oct 2-4 I’ll have Jon down here with me. After visiting his father’s grave on Friday night (Oct 2nd)  Well spend all day Saturday with a group of friends at King Richard Faire! Be sure to check back for photos! 

After that we got all kinds of things happening on the weekends that follow… Housewarming, Paintball, My Birthday, Bon-fires and we cant forget Halloween!  So be sure to check back often this month!

Homemade Apple Pie

So what do you do with two large bags of delicious apples? Well we called my Aunt and got her apple pie recipe and Lisa had her hand at baking fresh apple pies!  I peeled and cut all the apples and she made the dough and mixed the ingredients. We did modify the recipe a bit thou… Instead of butter we used “cant believe” and instead of sugar we used baking splenda. I was surprised but i couldn't even tell the difference!   Yumm!

 Check out the pies! Oh and they tasted so good!

 YUMM!

Yes they tasted as good as they look!

Davis Farmland

Wow what a busy weekend! I woke up early Saturday to play 18 holes of golf with some co-workers, Being out of shape as i am it was interesting but i got threw it and we all had a great time… My score was nothing to brag about but i wasn't in last place! (GRIN)

Saturday afternoon I met up with a couple old friends i lost contact with years ago, We've recently contacted and have been trying to stay in touch… Couple beers at a bachelor party with no entertainment and a few games of pool made for a late night.

Sunday morning the action continued as Lisa and I spent the day with her mom, sister and her whole family apple picking and visiting a petting zoo. The name of the place is Davis’s Farmland. It was a great day and everyone had a great time! The kids even got to ride ponies!

Check out our day in the pictures below. My favorite is of my nephew Tyler on my shoulders reaching for an apple… I love that little dude!

STRETCH!!!!!

 
These Kids Are Adorable!

Check out the rest of the pics below!

Clarks Trading Post

A few weeks back during a conversation with Lisa and her mother we got to talking about previous vacations, I’m not sure how we got there but a one point i mentioned this little road side tourist trap that me and my family had been to many times when i was a kid, Clarks Trading Post.  To my surprise they had never heard of it. I told them about the cute train ride and the trained bear show. It wasn't long before Lisa planned day trip for us to see the bears.  As you can see from the Pictures We had  great day!

Lisa Loved the bears and wanted to take one home! I was surprised myself to see a new act that was added this year… A very talented group of oriental acrobatics.

The Train ride was just as i remembered… Very Cute! Who can forget the WOLFMAN and his search for the Unattainuim!!! 

Another cool attraction they’ve added as a Segway Park offer free Segway rides!!!  Lisa and Sally Had  great time!   Look at them go!!Wheeeeeeee!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last but not least…. Da Bears!!!!

The outing was a great day. The rain held off and the humidity was Bearable!  LOL  get it Bearable!

But wait there is more!

Saturday night i had a small detour from my uncles and spent a few hours at a friends house for more fun with friend, fireworks and a bon fire!

Busy Forth

So much has happened in one weekend!

Once again Lisa and I loaded up our camper to spend a few days at my uncle George’s place in New Hampshire for the forth. Its a great place to spend the holiday, When its not raining that is. I don't think i can remember a time it has ever rained so much. Aside from the rain a good time was had.

My uncle George and I are definitely of different generations. That was obvious as we spent quite a bit of time bantering back and forth on many things including: the old fashioned concept of respect vs. what respect means to a younger generation. Personally I’ve always felt that respect is a earned and not something obligatorily owed just because of who your family happens to be, or how old another person is. I could go on and make a whole blog entry about that but I’ll reframe, this entry is about my holiday weekend and not my view on outdated concepts.

Uncle George and I continued this verbal jousting on the 6 hour car ride to pick up our Nephew John. The topic now was usage of paper maps over newer GPS systems and I have to admit his mapped out route was much more efficient then the path the GPS had us take on the way back, But the extra time gave us guys a chance to hang out and talk some more and that was good.

I've missed little John it was great seeing him again. What made this even better was the fact that i knew my nieces were going to be coming up for a few hours on Saturday. this was a chance to see my bother children all at the same time together. I hadn't had that chance in a long while.

I wasn't heavy with a camcorder this time around so there isn't really enough video to do another video montage like i did last year but I’ll post a few of the pics i did take.

Man I love these Kids!!!

Family, Boat rides, Good food and Fire works That's what celebrating the forth is all about! I hope the rest of the family who wasn’t able to attend had a great time on their holidays!

Playing games in June

Job kept, Spaghetti dinner held, all was good and time rolled on. About a week before the walk ‘Team Looney Tunes’ had a team meeting. its at this time Lisa mentioned the relay committee was expecting all the teams to decorate their own sites based on board games. Trying very hard to find inspiration the five of us sat brain storming and tossing out ideas but nothing seems grand enough. Then an Idea popped in my head and i blurted it out… “Why don't we do connect four? I’ll build a over sized connect four board that people can actually play!”  One by one everyone started to like the idea… and final we all agreed.  

So now I had less then seven days to design, build, and paint a fully functional over sized connect four board. I spent the weekends going threw some materials i had lying around my basement and instantly knew how I was going to build it..  I started work on the game first thing Sunday and continued working on it about two hours a day for the next few days…   By Wednesday the unit was built functional and ready for paint.  By Thursday it was painted and waiting for people to play!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lisa painted the disks and primed the unit. She Rocks!

 

The following Friday we arrived at the relay walk and carried the game board onto the field.. It was great to hear people in awe as they exclaimed “I want to play”   The game board was a great success and everyone loved it… We got so many people stopping by our site to play! A few people even requested that we make sure and bring it next year because it was so fun to play! 

I have a quick video that i shot the Saturday morning of the walk, regrettably many people had already packed up and left but it shows some of the other sites and their attempts and decorating to a game theme.   Enjoy

What happen next

In May our attention turned to running spaghetti dinner to raise funds for this years American Cancer Society ‘Rely for Life’   Last year Lisa and I joined some of my co-workers teams to help their efforts. This year Lisa, Her family and I decided to create our own team.

‘Team Looney Tunes’ was created so that we could give back and hopefully help find a cure for a disease that has taken so many of our loved ones.  The dinner went well. Not everyone we invited was able to show, but many did and a good time was had. Check out the video! 

Rumors of April

Lisa and I were sitting together the other day when she turned to me out of the blue and asked why I had not been updating the blog. She rambled off a list of recent events and pointed out how I neglected to blog them. Its then I realized she was right, not only had I all but ignored the blog site. I had also grown lax in keeping in touch with people again. Sometime I hate when she’s right but I got to love her for the reality check.

My problem is I’m not sure where to start. I guess I can start by mentioning why i haven't updated the blog in a while. Believe it or not its work related. Everyone who knows me is aware I have a pretty cool job. It doesn't pay much but it keeps the mortgage paid and in today economy I’m considering myself lucky to be employed. Anyways back to my reason, while at work I would often find myself having some lulls between completing my duties. In the past I would use this down time to do small things like checking other family blogs, Writing emails or if things were really slow I’d update my own blog.

I know what you’re thinking “shame on me” and your right… I’m not going to make excuses but let it be known my activity was never at the expense of completing my duties. Work always came first and I only allowed myself to slip when I didn’t have anything waiting on me. But all that aside, you don’t have to worry because I won’t be doing anything like that again. I’ve learned if I look hard enough there is always something work related I can find to be doing. I have not used the company computer for anything beside work for nearly three months and there’s a pretty good reason.

In the first week of April I found myself ambushed and pulled into a meeting in the HR dept. I was seated at a table across from one of the company’s corporate ethics officers. He confronted me with evidence of my blatant waste of company time. I guess I can be proud of the fact that while ashamed and regretful of my activities, I was completely honest with the gentleman. He seemed to appreciate that and was quite civil and polite to me. This was a surprise and not what I would have expected from a guy interviewing a person who was so obviously guilty.

When the interview was over I enquired as to the status of my job. The man explained how nothing had been decided yet and it could take up to three weeks before I would be told. The next four weeks, yes… four weeks was virtually hell. I couldn’t eat or sleep for the first two weeks fearing the worst, At this time the worst was simply being unemployed in this economy. During these weeks I learned through various rumors at work nearly two dozen co-workers had also been nervously waiting to hear the outcomes of their own ethics interviews. I was surprised there so many others in the same situation as me. At about the third week my nerves started to settle. My co-workers and I all entered an almost surreal phase were we finally realized the fate of our employment was out of our hands and stressing out wouldn’t change the outcome.

Then something happened that made me realize worse things than losing a job could happen. I spent the next week worried about work and the health of my mother-in-law who had been rushed off to the hospital for unknown abdominal pains. She spent a little more than a week at Beth Israel in Boston. Lisa and I spent a lot of that week bouncing in and out of Boston to keep her company. The following week the doctors sent her home after her symptoms settled. She seems to be doing better now but they never did diagnose what the cause of her pain.

Into the fourth week more rumors started to spread about when verdicts were going to be released. During this week I found myself being a ball of nerves, even more so when I had in advertency learned in advance when my HR meeting was going to be held. Everyone else had been left in the dark and made to wonder until the last minute and then they would receive a random call to come to HR. I had learned about my meeting three hours in advance because my boss had placed a meeting time marked “1pm - HR about Parnell” in her shared outlook calendar and must have forgotten to mark it as private. I could have been mad and upset over listing my need to go to hr on a calendar the whole quality dept had access to. This whole ethics violation thing was meant to be kept private from fellow co-workers. But with the rumors spreading nothing about anyone ethics violations was private. I thought it best to let it go and just be happy that I knew when my fate would be reviled and so I did.

At 1pm I was called to HR and my fate was laid out for me. I had to read a statement that was written by HR, it stated that I acknowledged the investigation was held and it noted a few of my ethical offences. As I continued to read I let out a huge sigh of relief as I got to the part that read “Written warning - Suspended without pay for three days” When I was done with my sigh my bosses expressed a few verbal imperatives as they explained that they know I was a good worker and they felt that after this, they were sure I’d have learned my lesson. It was true I had. I was elated I got to keep my job but not everyone was so lucky.

So in a not so small nut shell there you have it, well at least you have from April to the first week of May… and the reason I haven’t been blogging as much. I think I’ll try and set aside some dedicated weekend time for the blog. I rather enjoyed sitting here typing this out today and there is quite a bit more to come in the next few days.

Just a quick update...

I got a new paintball gun!!! Oh yeah! My plan is to play as much as i can this year! Paintball is one of the only active hobbies i have... The more I play the more active ill be! At least thats my logic behind the need for a new paintball gun....

Also in other grenier news... Lisa is still losing weight at an incredible rate... Having lost another 4 lbs since our last post. At this rate she'll be under 250 by this evening...

Thats it for today.... My biopsy is tomorrow.... Have a great weekend!

Whoa!

I just want to put out a special thank you to my Uncle Joe and his ever eager sidekick Bob!

During Lisa and My last visit to Brockton, Lisa let it slip that we needed a few of our roof tiles fixed... I had known this myself but was hesitant to ask my uncle for help fearing the height, angle and loose shingles on my roof would be enough hazards to cause issues for anyone. How could I ask my uncle to deal with that?

Anyways long story short Lisa ended up mentioning the roof and my uncle generously offered to come over and take a look, only a few days later him and Bob came over to check things out. Once my transformer of a ladder was set up and made fun of by bob. Both bob and joe had turns heading up and checking out my roof. Soon bob got down and Uncle Joe was up on the roof tapping here and tapping there and nailing shingles back in place while walking across my roof with no problems. I got to give him credit he looked quite comfortable up on my roof and the only time he gave us on looker’s a freight was when he slipped for a sec when he stepped on his own tool but he caught his balance like a pro!

All I kept thinking was… Please don’t fall, Please don’t fall, everyone would be upset if he fell off my roof! But thankfully all went well and my loose shingles are all back were they belong my uncle got down safely!

Thank you again so much! The roof looks great!

WOW... Its amazing what a liquid diet can do...

The Incredible Shrinking Woman!!! Just a couple of months ago Lisa was 280lbs. For the last few years she has struggled with this and her weight had fluxuated in a range from 265-280. In the past she's was never quite was able to break her habits enough to get past her typical 265lbs lower limit.

As you all know Lisa had her surgery on March 3rd, In the weeks prior she fought hard to be her lowest of 264 for her surgery day, Over the last week of her being on her the required liquid diet her weight has had quite quick and steady decrease... Lastnight Lisa got on the scale and was trilled to see a new low, Having lost over 9lbs in six days

3/3/09 - 264
3/4/09 - 266 - (Swelling?!?)
3/5/09 - 262
3/6/09 - 260
3/7/09 - 258
3/8/09 - 256
3/9/09 - 255

At this rate it looks like shes been losing about two pounds a day... This quick drop will settle once shes able to started eating real food. (Few weeks) But right now shes only taking in Liquids and protiens. She excited about getting back into the gym once her pain settles next week. and seeing her current weight lose I cant weight to get back into the gyme with her... I realy dont think i'll be able to compete with 9lbs in six days... but watching her lose has motivated me... I've even started taking long walks during my lunch break at work!!! Sssssh! Dont tell Lisa... She doesn't know... LOL oh... I guess she will now! LOL

Awsome Job Hun!

264 and counting down.

264 and counting down., originally uploaded by The Grenier's.

Lisa had her lap band surgery this past tuesday! Shes doing very well and has been home resting since wednesday. She's still in a bit of pain but has been feeling a little better each day

I'm gonna start calling Lisa the incrediible shrinking woman! When she starts feeling better and can move without pain we will start posting updates on her and my weight loss progress...

Its amazing how much I learned while being at her side as she goes threw the whole process, This was a hugh step and she was very brave threw all of it.

The picture about is of Lisa just befor her surgery... Can you see the nerves under that smile?

More to come in the next few weeks!

March of the doctors!

Remeber that old expression about march weather that goes; In like a lion...?
For Lisa and I that expression discribe our doctor visits coming up in march. Be sure to visit the blog often this march for updates and pictures from the following weeks

Feb 22nd-28th - Parnell's 2nd Overnight Blood Study
March 1st-7th - Lisa's Weightloss Surgery
March 8th-14th - Parnell's Surgery (2nd Biopsy)
March 22nd-28th (Estimated) - Parnell Starts new GnRh Medication

Thats it for now...

New Phones

Well as techy as I am it would surprise people to know that I was a bit behind the times when it came to my cell phone... I've had friends pick on me for my outdated cell phone many times but i didnt care... heck all i needed my phone for was making calls right... Well finaly after carring around a brink phone from the early nintys I finaly upgraded to a more modern phone last year. It was a small leap forward from the 90's brick to a smaller sleeker flip phone. I had this phone for over a year and in that time learned how useful having a phone with advanced features was and it wasnt long before i set my sights on a shiny techy phone...

Now you all know me so you know if I get tech it has to do everything imaginable or what is meant to do very well... Last month I took another leap forward in phone tech... I purchased a Samsung Omnia (i910). This phone is so advanced it took me a week to learn everything this phone coold do and I'm sure it can do even more that havnt figured out yet... Between browsing the web, listening to FM radio, Podcasts, MP3 Player, 5 meg Camera, full touch screen, 8 gigs of storage and more applications then i can count this new phone surprises me everyday!

And yes... once in a while I actualy use it as a phone and the call quality is great

The iphone has nothing on this powerhouse of a phone... I think i'm in love! :)

Lisa's big day is coming

Well as many of you bloggers know,I will be having weight loss surgery. It has been a tough journey that I have been going through, but it will all be coming to an end soon. I started this journey in September when I decided that after years of failed attempts at dieting that I need to fix myself and force me to eat smaller sizes. I have been through so many test and seen about 12 doctors to prove to them that I am well aware of what is expected of me and the importance of following the diet and going to the gym and working out. Well after finally completing all that was requied they have finally set my date for my surgery. DRUM ROLL PLEASE>>>>>>>> MARCH 3. That's right in less than 23 days I will have a new beginning to my life. I have chosen to have the lap band (Realize band) placed in to my body. For me having them make my stomach in a small pouch for ever (Gastric) just wasn't for me, so I decided that I would go through with the band instead. My stomach will still be small but it will have a band that has this pillow on the inside that they will fill with saline through a port that is attached to it. This port is under my skin in my abdominal wall. I know it's sounds painful and scary but if I don't do this surgery I feel that I wont be able to loss the weight required by the fertility doctors to help us achieve pregnancy. So I really need all my family and friends to support me and wish and pray for me on that big day in March. Thanks again for all who have helped and support Parnell and I through this stressful, emonitonal, and amazing journey that we have been on. Love you all L

Unique

The word “Unique” has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. While talking with some friends last week I was reminded of a story from when I was a kid. The tale of my youth went something like this: When I was seven years old, I attended the Westside elementary school in Middleboro ma. Back then it wasn’t rare for me and my brother to dress ourselves and walk to school each day. On one such day I was stopped in the halls by a teacher who pointed out my shoes were on the wrong feet. I tried to tell the teacher it was ok because my shoes were comfortable that way. Regardless she sat me down and made me switch my shoes. Then she patted me on the back and went on her way. As soon as she was out of sight I switched them back. A while later I was stopped again by the same teacher, who once again asked me why my shoes were swapped again. I told her I switched because I wanted to. She laughed at me and said “Mr. Grenier you sure are unique” Not knowing what the strange word meant I went home and told my parents the teacher had insulted me. A phone call was made but after the initial outburst of “what did you call my child” was answered nothing more was said or done... At least until the next day because when I got to school the following day Mrs. James my 2nd grade English teacher A.K.A the shoe police. Had a small construction paper sign with a yarn lanyard and the words “Unique = One of a kind, Special” written across the front. I had to wear the sign around my neck everyday for a week. The word and memory have stuck with me ever since. I guess there is nothing like humiliation to teach a child vocabulary.

When I finished telling this story all my friends laughed. I don’t blame them, thinking back now it is a funny story.. But I don’t think Mrs. James even knew how unique I was or would become. Dictionaries define the world unique as “alone(p): radically distinctive and without equal, singular: the single one of its kind” and while I’ve always known myself to be different, as years go by I’m seem to learn more and more about just how different I really am. Let’s take a quick memory trip. Lets see the first time I realized I was different wasn’t until I was a teenager of about 15 and my older brother started making jokes about his fat little brother… Even then not much came of it besides and inferiority complex and a desire to keep to myself.

Although it was obvious to all the kids at school who harassed me daily about my physical differences, It wasn’t revealed to anyone that mattered until I was 17 and only because I walked in front of my mother naked and asked, is this normal? A few doctor visits and tests uncovered that I was born with a genetic birth defect that inflicts an estimated 1 in 10,000 males in varying severity. I’m not going to make this any longer then it needs to be by filling it with medial terms and expressions, All anyone needs to know are the basics, I have no sense of smell, a low metabolism leading to obesity, extremely low hormone levels that cause depression, antisocial behavior and several physical defects that developed at puberty, worst of all is infertility. At 17 I was told I had no chance at having a normal life and a future with of a family of my own. It didn’t help I was already prone to depression so soon after being told all this I attempted to jump in front of a moving train but was tackled and held down till I smarted up. (Took a while… Thanks Tim)

Let’s fast forward a bit past the years of failed relationships and wasted time to happier place in my life. That being about eight years ago when I met the woman who would care enough about me to see past my physical differences and vow to spend her life with me for better or worse. As years passed together our love for each other grew but it was hard to hide that we both felt like something was missing in our lives, we both knew what it was and we talked, together we went to see if the doctors could do anything for me and my infertility. Doctor after doctor refused to help until finally doctors up at Brigham’s and woman’s hospital told us about a research study being conducted at Mass General Hospital that’s whole purpose was to study increasing fertility in people with my exact condition Lisa and I were ecstatic. Finally some hope!

Anther quick fast forward past all the poking and prodding and initial tests and exams, past the scary explanations about my condition and learning enough about how different I really am or how bad my condition could have been that ill be self-conscious for the next 30 years, forward past all the program delays to the present day. I have now been receiving study medication and taking daily injections now for nearly four months. As well as having my blood tested and analyzed weekly. Last week I was given some interesting news about the most recent results and for once it was something that made me smile.

The researchers told me that in my blood work they found something…. Wait for it…. They actually said… In my blood work they found something “unique” that was different from others afflicted with this condition. They continued to explain that what they found could possibly help doctors discover early detection and early treatment methods for others. At first I was worried that being diffent meant i was screwed but they explained it doesnt affect my current treatment or it chances for success. But what they learn could be beneficial to others and even my own child if Lisa and I are successful. I was introduced to another research doctor who was very interested in learning more about me and my family. When I heard all this I had to laugh… It’s about time my being different and unique was a good thing! Imagine that… Something in me could help prevent others from ever having to deal with the problems I’ve had to. Kind of makes me think a bit about my own self worth! Its gonna be a few weeks before I go back to the doctors again but I thought this was so interesting I just had to post it!

Flash Flood - Friday Jan 16th

6:00am – Lisa wakes Parnell expressing her extreme dissatisfaction that we have no running water throughout the house.

6:01am – Parnell bolts downstairs fearing the worst that is there is no water upstairs something dreadful happened downstairs.

6:01:15am – Parnell find basement perfectly fine with no broken pipes. Checks all pipe looking for cold pipes none found…

7:00am – Convinced the water stoppage is external of the home Parnell and Lisa both head to work as normal.

8:00am – Parnell calls the Middleboro water dept from work and asks about water stoppage, Water dept agrees to send people over to check it out.

9:30am – Parnell is back at home with 7 guys from the water dept standing in his basement.

9:35am – While working on the pipe one of the city workers exclaims loudly OPPS, as sounds of water start rushing out of the pipe.

9:35:10am – The same city worker now struggles like a Dutch boy with his finger in a dam calling to the others to turn off the water from the street…

9:45am – Another city workers comes back “We can’t find the shut off… it’s under a snow bank” “Then fruckin dig it up the first man cries…while continuing to struggle holding the flood of water from the pipe”

Simultaneously I’m using my 10 gallon wet dry vac, filling the thing every 20 sec and dumping it I couldn’t keep up

9:55am – Water is still flowing heavily and is now rising above the subfloors…. Street shut off still unfound under a snow bank…

10:15am – The only city worker with a brain puts a pressure cap on the pipe and finally stops the flow of water.

10:20am – City workers call their boss and tell them they screwed up and he needs to come examine the flood they created!

10:25am – Street shut off is finally found and turned off, Pipe is cut and head replaced, I have the broken end as a souvenir

10:30am – The head of the water dept is standing in 2 inches of water in my basement apologizing and telling me they will send a company out to dry things up.

10:35am – Everyone from the water dept leaves, My dad and I spend the next hour using my wet dry vac soak up what water we can….

11:30am – World wide drying company shows up and uses there industrial vacuums to get whatever water was left they set up 3 huge fans and left telling me they would be back with dehumidifiers in 2 hours..

12:00pm – I find a cold pipe in my tool room… sun of a bitch!!!! I use a hair dryer on it and 20 minutes later normal water flow in my house is restored!

12:30pm - water dept stops by again asking if the drying company has arrived and if my water service has been restored... I tell them yes I solved it myself…

4:30pm - World wide drying finally shows up (5 hours later) with 2 huge industrial dehumidifiers and leaves all 3 fans and both humidifies running non-stop in my basement for 4 days….

The basement seems dry now but I have no way of looking under my subfloor to see if its still wet under there… I may have to cut into it tonight and look under just to be sure… Lisa says that so far it doesn’t smell moldy or mildueish but a heavy resurgence of pet smell has returned and were going to have to find a way of solving that… chuck gave me the number of a guy Ill ask about that and other testing,,, basement water never got much higher then 2 inches to there was no real water damage to walls and such… so I guess I consider myself lucky… especially since the water guys showed me the pipe that broke… They said it looks like it was ready to break any time and I was lucky it broke while they were working on it… Made them responsible for any damages and clean up…. The city dept was pretty stand up and gave me there number to call if I need to report any damages… I just realy dont want smell problems in my basement!

Blue In the Face

When you were a kid if you attended a decent school system, they made an effort to expose students to theater arts. Having moved around a lot as a child I was lucky enough to have been in several such schools. I really enjoyed theater arts and think it was a close second to my favorite subject science. I have fond memories of my school field trips to museums, parks and theaters.

As an adult these forms of entertainment aren’t automatically setup with tickets and transportation handled for you. On more then one occasion Lisa and I have seen ads for shows, plays or whatnot on TV and talked about going to see them but it always seems because of money, time, or other reasons we’re never able to go. Several months ago Lisa surprised me with and early Christmas present. She bought us tickets to a show that has been running in Boston for several years, one I’ve expressed and interest in seeing many times. This past Saturday Lisa and I attend “Blue Man Group” at the Charles St Playhouse.

Its amazing how much comedy can be expressed without speaking, A lot of the comedy was in their movement and their eyes, which was very easy to see since we were sitting a mere 5 feet from the stage! The theater provided plastic ponchos to protect the audience from paint splatter but I guess we were lucky because even being so close we didn’t get a drop on us. Several of the skits during the show were just hilarious and had me rolling in my seat. When the show was over we got to take a quick photo in the hall with one of the performers who stayed in character the whole time and like a mime gestured his communication. It was really awesome of Lisa to surprise me with this. The show was great and just reinforces my thoughts that Lisa and I should make an effort to see more. If anyone ever has I chance to go see this show I highly recommend it. This show is a great example of artistic/comedic entertainment.