The Nutster: MAN...all MAN

The Home Despot - someone wonders why church attendance is down in America. What are the people doing on Sunday mornings anyway?

Well, besides going to umpteen youth activities - like soccer, football, baseball, cheer, etc that would never have been scheduled on a Sunday when I grew up. Hey, it wasn't that long ago (.....wait....I guess my parents would have the said the same thing at my age....I guess it was that long ago).

Anyway - they are all worshipping the ruler of the universe...Home Depot.

Home Depot takes away any excuse - a man has for not being a man. They make it appear that any project could be done....even by a woman. Now, ladies, don't get your corsets all in a bunch (yeah, right, like anyone would wear a corset today). The point is that the marketing behind the marketing is that, "if a woman could do it, any REAL MAN can and should do it."

It's subtle - but it's there. My personal opinion? Hey, Helen Reddy, if you want to tile that bathroom, go for it! If you need any help, give me a call but, if I am not here, it is because I am down getting my pedicure. Welcome to the joy of being a man.


Do you see this truck? - it's a small personalized dump truck. Wow, I bet you could really do some manly things with that. You could get a load of stuff, dump it all out, go to the rental yard (another manly place), rent a tractor, spread and dig to your heart's delight, and, at the end of the day, tug on your belt buckle with one hand (because you have a Budweiser in the other), and say, "hey, look at what I did today"

Not me - I have a different goal. Goals are good, right? One of my primary goals in life is to NEVER be involved with something that requires me to rent this truck. There was a time in my life where I did stuff involving trucks like these. There is a reason that time is not now. I changed my reality with no desire to go back.

It is infinitely better - to allow people that enjoy renting these types of trucks do that type of work. Therefore, it is my utmost responsibility to go out and earn enough money so that I can hire those guys to do that. Yes, I am helping them attain their happiness. No, I don't get to rack up those valuable man points but it is just the giver in me to allow another male to accumulate my guy chips. I am a giver.



I must confess, though, that there is one thing - that I can't get out of. It's in the Manbook. This is where all the rules about what it takes to be a man are found. Caution: a lot of the rules of being a man are not created by the official keepers of the book. It's kind of like Websters. There are the official new words and then there are the new words that someone that pronounces things poorly comes up with.

Anyway, the Manbook clearly states - you must fell a tree WITH a hatchet once in awhile...annually if possible.

Ah....- it's only March and I have already got my continuing education done.

OK, I confess - I snuck the hatchet part in. My chainsaw was broken!

Plus, guys - the Manbook doesn't say it has to be a mighty oak. Pick a scrawny, volunteer, poisonous bean tree if you can. You can knock it down with about 10 to 14 whacks! Shhhhh....don't tell the man police or they will try to officially amend that darn book.

HappyUP!!! Day 49

HappyUP!!! - my trip to Home Depot
Why it happened - time to get the garden in...spring has come early
Why it made me happy - I got a late start. I thought the entire world would be at the place that I really have apprehension about going to. Yes, they have what I need. When you hit the gardening department though on a day like this, it was bound to be a zoo. It wasn't......score
HappyUP!!! - first planting
Why it happened - I got off of my fanny
Why it made me happy - I really didn't have much going this weekend. This is going to put me ahead and let me do something on a future weekend....when I would have been planting. Also, new life was brought into my home site. Tomatoes, strawberries, watermellon, peppers, basil....all will be gracing my table later this year. I have a lot of space left, too. Cucumbers and squash are yet to come.
'HappyUP!!! - cocoa bean husk mulch
Why it happened - a buddy told me about this yesterday
Why it made me happy - I laid some down and immediately added the wonderful smell of chocolate into the garden. I hope the ants don't come!!! Nah....this is the husks. No sugar. Anyway, it is a very nice mulch. I didn't mulch last year. The mulching is going to make the garden more aesthetically pleasing this year. It should keep the weeds and dust down a bit. We'll see......anticipation is always a happy up!

JollyJottings

Arnold Palmer special
Sunday Scribblings topic
Cocoa Bean Mulch
Easy trip through Home Depot
The convertible
The first planting
The weed eater fired right up for first time of the year
A new tank of propane

Inspiration

(A special posting for SundayScribblings )


Where does my inspiration come from? It depends on from which perspective the question is asked. If it is about writing and creativity/creative thinking, the answer is everywhere. I just look for it. If I am going to make a trip to Bed, Bath, and Beyond, I guarantee you that before I step in that store, I am not thinking about a bedspread. I am thinking about a man voyaging into the great unknown. This morning, I went to Home Depot to get some plants. It's time to garden. I took my camera. I snapped a picture of Home Depot. I will think of looking at Home Depot from a different angle than anyone else or very few have. I am looking for that ironic twist. My preference is to twist it with a humorist bend.

The newspaper can be another excellent source. Just last weekend, the Sacramento Bee ran an article on builders that are building dual suites for married couples. AHA! I finally found something in print that picks up on a common thought that I have always had. The Bee just didn't go far enough. They also don't have the forum for it. I can guarantee you that I will have an upcoming post around, "who the heck made the rule that says I have to sleep (and I mean SLEEP) with you right next to me if I love you?" The answer is: No One. It is not in the rulebook. Anywhere. My doctor says that sleep is a medicine that we need to take daily to function optimally. Why would I let my daily vital dose of medicine be disrupted just because someone has attached nodding off together as vital to a relationship. In Elizabethan times, the King and Queen had separate quarters. Despite this, there didn't ever seem to be any lack of Princes and Princesses. With snoring, light sleepers vs heavy sleepers, tossers and turners, early risers, late risers, etc, it makes no sense. It is kind of like the toothpaste users. You have the squeezers and the rollers. Don't argue about it. Get separate tubes! My goodness, the things that we attach emotion too that have no business attaching them too.

How about his and her checking accounts? No, not for everyone. For many, it would be the cure to a lot of hassle. Yes, it could mean a lack of trust. Yes, it could mean that you respect each other's use of funds without needing to lord over it. Both camps can be correct. You do what works.

Inspiration? Look at the example I just used. I took a newspaper article about a new trend in homebuilding. I expanded on their idea. This drove me over to the toothpaste. Next stop, finances. If I was going to write and entire article about this, I would go interview people, do research, etc. I just may. It helps to be a bit of a contrarian also. I have been accused of using Nutterlogic. When that comes out, it usually means that I have checkmated (or frustrated the heck out of ) the other person so I just say, "thank you."

Inspiration is everywhere. It is on billboards. It is a trip to make some copies. It is absolutely limitless. Unfortunately, I do believe in the statement that creativity is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration. My problem: I don't like to sweat that much!

HappyUP!!! Day 48

HappyUP!!! An unexpected breakfast guest
Why it happened - the other person came to my breakfast place to kill a few minutes..."join me"
Why it made me happy - it's good to have a nice talk about some common subjects that the two of us have gone through. Commonality is something that is inherent to the human condition

HappyUP!!! A needed talk with an employee
Why it happened - the opportunity arose
Why it made me happy - some errant communication had been disseminated. Some bad assumptions resulted. We found that out, got the air cleared, and now can move forward to more opportunities ahead.

HappyUP!!! An employee review completed
Why it happened - it happens every year
Why it made me happy - I think that we will make some progress with some of the opportunities for improvement. We hadn't had this kind of talk in a long time.

HappyUP!!! Day 47

HappyUP!!! - the billboard (see post below)
Why it happened - well, I didn't put the billboard there...but I did take an extra 5-10 minutes to go back and get the picture.
Why it made me happy - I just gave a HappyUP!!! talk.....20 minutes before. I hadn't even gotten to the freeway yet. There is the message, "Dare to be Happy."

HappyUP!!! - my copy story (see post below)
Why it happened - a little procrastination (should have had the materials ready earlier), a bit of boldness to ask strangers for help, and a very nice girl at a front desk
Why it made me happy - (see post below)

HappyUP!!! - the group at the company I spoke to
Why it happened - I said, "YES," to the invitation
Why it made me happy - the presentation went great. I got 10's from the audience...yet, I knew that I really could have done much better. The purpose of speaking is to transfer emotion. This was done. I have full confidence that all of today's students are going to live up to the HappyUP!!! challenge over the next week.

JollyJottings
-beat the 4 am alarm -a beatiful crescent moon on the drive -Starbucks
-great shave -good calls on the way home -a brief nap -a day off
-truck ran great -a gorgeous day -some great postings
-Mapquest -I found Cisco's Headquarters (by accident....man, it's big!)
-No traffic

"The Nutster.....makin copies..."

Today, I took a vacation day from my day job - so I could go do some HappyUP!!!-ing for one of my corporate clients. I was up late last night creating a new handout for this morning's training. After finishing, I thought, "I could run over to Kinko's now and make copies." But, it was 10 pm. I already was going to get up at 4 a.m. so I could beat the traffic down to my venue.

"Hey, I'll be in town 2 1/2 hrs before my engagement. There has to be a Kinko's or copy shop nearby," was my thinking.

I took the drive down to San Jose. I went past my venue in the business park and went on a search. Like any real man, I wouldn't think of stopping and asking someone.

Well, not until I had seen way too many businesses and NO copy houses! I went into Starbucks. I got my mocha. I did the un-manly thing, "Excuse me, do you know if there is a copy place nearby?"

"You're standing in one," was the reply.

"No, copy....not cofee," said I.

"I'm from Portland, I wouldn't know."

I then saw a local policeman. A rather portly policeman...even for a policeman. "Excuse me officer, could you tell me where the closest place I can make copies is?"

"I really have no idea. Why don't you ask the lady behind the counter?" was the help that I got from the local authorities.

"OK....mam, do you know where I can get copies made?"

Well, she may make a heck of a chai latte but, outside of that, I had reached the no help desk.

The policeman jumped back in, "why don't you ask the hotel next door?"

Seeing that Starbucks wasn't brewing up or grinding out any solutions, I took the advice. I walked next door to the Hilton. It was one of those garden inn type places. It's a step up from a motel but it doesn't do the full lobby thing like a full-on hotel does. I walked up to the check-in desk.

"Mam, can you tell me where the closest place is that I can make copies for a presentation I am giving this morning?"

"It's right down the hall in our business center."

"Excuse me, what did you say?"

"You can make copies down the hall to your right?"

"Thank you very much," I beamed.

And beaming, I was. I could smell a HappyUP!!! coming. I walked down the hallway expecting to find a copier that you needed to stick your room key, a credit card, cash, something into to make it work. There was none of that. I put two pieces of my presentation into the feeder. I looked at the display.....YES!!!! It duplexes!!!
I ran....yes, I ran....out to my car, grabbed my purple paper and hustled right back in there.

I thought, "wait, Nutster, are you stealing?"

Then, I said, "I did give her the extra opportunity to ask me if I was a guest." With that, the copies started flying.

Now, if I was 100% honest, I suppose I would have volunteered that I was not a guest that evening. I would have then explained that I do travel on business more than the average person does in a year and that I often stay at Hilton. I think, at that point, she would have given me the approval. And, I was supplying my own paper so all I was really scamming on this was a little electricity and some toner.

USE HILTON FOR YOUR NEXT VACATION or BUSINESS TRIP

(There......now I feel better. I wasn't stealing. We just did what is known in the industry as a "trade out")

The real point of the story: I never once was panicked or concerned about getting these vital materials copied. I didn't get frazzled when no one helped me. I just kept at it and looked at this as an opportunity that a HappyUP!!! might occur. All I was looking for was to be able to tell a tale of how someone gave me some directions and those directions led me to having to spend $5-7 on some materials. Little did I know, my HappyUP!!! would be a feeling that getting copies was a game......and I won!

....and another story and testimony to the power of HappyUP!!!

HappyUP!!! Marketing Spotted

There I am - in San Jose, California. I just conducted a HappyUP!!! training session this morning. As I am driving out of town, I see this billboard...

I couldn't believe it - I turned around, negotiated a couple of side streets (seems San Jose doesn't much care for U-turns), parked in an industrial lot, and took off on foot just to get this picture.

...and it was worth every inconvenience! - while Volkswagen has a little different cure to the happiness issue than I would prescribe, I will applaud their marketing research department.

They didn't throw this up on the billboard just to be cute - rest assured, they know that the promise of happiness if you buy a topless bug is alluring......alluring enough to justify the price tag of the billboard space.

As for me - I just dig the fact that I was provided a free power point slide for my next presentation.

HappyUP!!! Day 46

HappyUP!!! 1 - finishing my presentation for tomorrow
Why it happened - the presentation is tomorrow! A deadline was set
Why it made me happy - it is always a challenge to me when I am asked to speak. It is a tremendous responsibility to know that you have the podium. I'll be giving my HappyUP!!! presentation....something that I am passionate about and enjoy sharing with outside groups.

HappyUP!!! 2- seeing some really cool office furniture
Why it happened - I visited my buddy, Alex, website. See it here
Why it made me happy - just the title to the post was a crack up, 12 ways to pimp your office. Plus, all of the stuff is different. I like different. It is so.....not bland. It just had a look of fun.

HappyUP!!! 3 - a good conversation with a staff member
Why it happened - I needed information
Why it made me happy - it was just a good, honest exchange about an issue we are having in the workplace between employees. I got to hear the staff person's side of the story. I got to hear how the behavior of another person was impacting this person. It was good information to have to help me deal with a sticky issue
(no, HappyingUP!!! does not make your issues go away....it just may help you deal with them better)


JollyJottings

Spending time with a prospective client
A good conversation with a staff member
Taking a couple of hours of PTO (paid time off)
Finishing up my presentation for tomorrow
An e-mail exchange with an author friend
Seeing some really cool furniture
Finishing up some HappyUP!!! buttons
Fixed my printer
Got some raking done in the garden
Going to Home Church

Is Happiness Important?

Happiness is when what you say, what you think, and what you do are in harmony

-Gahndi

Most men are about as happy as they decide to be

-Abraham Lincoln

....dedicated to life, liberty, and the PURSUIT of happiness

-United States Declaration of Independence

Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has many; not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some

-Charles Dickens

Whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.

-James 1:2-3

Gahndi made it a priority. The founding fathers of the United States were willing to die for it. Abraham Lincoln knew that it takes work. Dickens totally understood HappyUP!!! James? Well, he looked as troubles as a chance to HappyUP!!! That's an overachiever there!

It's a pursuit. It's work. It's discipline. Happiness may be the most important thing in life. My, oh my, happiness is serious business.

How important is it to you?

HappyUP!!! Day 45

HappyUP!!! 1 - a new piece of business coming my way
Why it happened - I work for a great company
Why it makes me happy - new people...new challenges....new opportunities....I get to see how my team performs.

HappyUP!!! 2 - a teaching opportunity
Why it happened - someone appears to have done something they shouldn't
Why it makes me happy - I should be able to make some progress with a person by showing them in the moment a behavior that is holding them back. I will probably find out sometime tomorrow. If taken well, this could be life changing. If taken poorly, the relationship between myself and the person is going to be strained. Sometimes you have to risk the relationship to have the relationship. I actually would prefer not to have this opportunity. I would rather that things just went along smoothly. Change happens, however, and is needed. I am happy that this incident has come up now.

HappyUP!!! 3 - an employee found another source of business
Why it happened - he was tipped off by some contacts he had
Why it makes me happy - I love it when the people that report up to me find opportunities. I like it better than when I find them. This tells them to keep looking for opportunity much better than if I find something and hand it to them.

HappyUP!!! Day 44

HappyUP!!! 1 - an employee found a new business source
Why it happened - she is working hard
Why it made me happy - she is just putting principles to work in a difficult market. This is the kind of thing that will make her win. When my employees win, it makes me happy. I love to see them do well.

HappyUP!!! 2 - my conference call with my managers
Why it happened - it is in the calender. I wanted it upbeat so I set that tone today
Why it made me happy - the group was a bit more playful today. I would like to see them run a little more but that is OK. My belief: happy employees do better work and see more opportunities.

HappyUP!!! 3 - a pleasant call in the afternoon
Why it happened - someone went out of there way to thank me
Why it made me happy - hey, can you ever hear "thank you," too much? I think that "thank you" is sweeter to another's ear than even hearing their own name.

JollyJottings (Wow...this was a great day....lots to choose from)
Employee found new business source
Another employee working on a new account
Another employee delivered an excellent script
A nice e-mail on my personal computer this morning
A pleasant phone call this afternoon
My conference call with my managers
The conference call with my boss was cancelled
A solid interview this morning
A win in arena baseball
Some excellent stir fry
A gorgeous day
Coming home to a plowed yard
My meeting with one of my builders
A great recruiting call and appointment set
A recruiting call with a phone appointment set

When "This" starts to become "That"

So...you get home at about 6 pm - you are a little tired. There are a million things that you can do inside the house.

You have about 1 hour of daylight left - what should you do?

It's only an hour - if you do anything out in the yard, you have to change clothes. You might have to see if a piece of equipment will fire up after sitting idle all winter.

And, after all, you are a little tired - what a perfect time to go inside and kick back and watch some tube.



....or you can create a HappyUP!!! - it was dark last night when I finished that first pass with the RO-TOE-Tiller but I was glad to get the dirt turned. It was a HappyUP then.

Tonight when I got home - I actually got to go take a look at it in daylight and....

It re-HappyUP!!!'d me !!! - it was a two for one HappyUP!!!

Hmmm.....- I wonder if I had gone out and raked instead of writing this blog if I would have gotten a third HU.

Nah.....that's what the weekend is for - what is on the tube tonight anyway?

(Actually, I really have some pressing things to take care of as soon as I finish typing this....otherwise, I would be down and dirty in the dirt).

Moral of the story - sometimes you look for HappyUP!!!s......and sometimes you just go out and make them happen.

HappyUP!!! Day 43

HappyUP!!! 1 - went to t he King's game
Why it happened - I bought tickets a long time ago so I was committed to go
Why it made me happy - OK...it was a really crummy game. I mean the Kings just flat out STUNK today. But, I went with some great company, we got out of the parking lot without a major traffic jam, and had a good time
the rest of the afternoon.

HappyUP!!! 2 - the garden got tilled
Why it happened - I took advantage of the extra hour on the time change at the end of the day
Why it made me happy - the weeds are plowed under. There is something about the look and smell of fresh dirt that has just been turned that makes me happy. I know...it doesn't do much for you but it's MY HappyUP!!! Plus, I am ready to rake and get some of those vegetables into the ground next weekend.

HappyUP!!! 3 - visiting with my brother and dad
Why it happened - I went a little out of my way on the way home to stop and say "Hi."
Why it made me happy - it's family time. Always the best. Nothing more needs to be said.

JollyJottings

-Starbucks
-great night of sleep
-car washed
-lawn mowed
-Kings game with great company
-running into my friends
-a wonderful afternoon
-new template for HappyUP buttons
-visiting with my neighbor
-seeing my brother and dad

HappyUP!!! Day 42...a gorgeous Saturday

HappyUP!!! 1 - Monte Carlo Night
Why it happened - a friend of mine is very social...and I accepted the invite
Why it made me happy - first, I showed up in black slacks and black open collared shirt with a black and white checked jacket....only to see that everyone else was wearing suit and tie. "Geez, buddy, I was unaware we were going the full out dress code." The host immediately went, "Nutster, you look great.....just like Vince Vaughan our of Swingers." I guess I need to rent the movie. Anyway, it was a very nice party.

HappyUP!!! 2 - Driver's License found
Why it happened - I was just heading up the stairs and the angle I was at allowed me to see a spot under the cabinets
Why it made me happy - well, I can drive legally again and not be the outlaw that I have been for the last couple of weeks! Plus, based on where I found this, I felt better that I hadn't been careless somewhere. I also KNOW that it wasn't stolen. It merely fell from where I normally load up my pockets.

HappyUP!!! 3 - King's Tickets for today
Why it happened - I was talking to a friend on the phone about the Kings and thought, "I wonder when my next King's game is."
Why it made me happy - I found out the next tickets are today. Because I had the friend on the phone, I said, "hey, I have King's tickets for tomorrow and no one to go with as we speak!" I asked my friend to go and, voila, ...a great time at today's game (featuring the return of Ron Artest) is assured.

JollyJottings
-Gorgeous Day
-Found a granite remnant
-Client grand opening
-had great conversation
-and another great conversation
-found Driver's License
-discovered I had King's Tix
-Monte Carlo Night
-Great time playing blackjack
-Ran into an old friend/client....twice in one day

HappyUP!!! Day 41....just cleared 40 days...

....which can only mean - that it is time to get out of the ark!

OK- not a very good attempt at making a funny Bible reference but, hey, it's been a great Friday but the brain is weak...

but the HappyUP!!!'s - are strong!

HappyUP!!! 1 - breakfast with a direct report
Why it happened - it's in the bi-weekly calender
Why it makes me happy - I enjoy the company. We get some work done. We do it early so there isn't pressure to rush. Quality time that doesn't even feel like work

HappyUP!!! 2 - Speech Contest
Why it happened - I had to go and support our club's entrant
Why it made me happy - he WON! I mentored this guy year's ago and now he is out there doing it better than I do.

HappyUP!!! 3 - a great night's sleep in my own bed
Why it happened - I was gone a couple of days
Why it made me happy - it was late nights at a client function, early rises, and, despite my cheery outlook, I don't always sleep well in hotels. So, after a couple of nights of less than quality slumber, it was great to get a good one under the belt...well, it was even better to get my pillow under my head

HappyUP!!! Day 40....Thursday..BACK in Town

HappyUP!!! 1 - flight back to town
Why it happened - hey, you have to come back
Why it made me happy - everything from the cab ride from hotel to security to getting on plane to the flight itself to arriving to finding my car to my car starting right back up so I could get back to the office went off without a hitch. OK....in LA, the enforced the new rule about "liquids" and they confiscated my full tube of toothpaste. Big deal. I should have been carrying travel size. This is a part of HappyingUP....I know people that would make a federal case around the stupidity of having one's toothpaste confiscated. Yes, I would have preferred they not take it...but they did....so what! In the meantime, the return was perfect.

HappyUP!!! 2 - found my power chord to my laptop
Why it happened - I emptied my suitcase
Why it made me happy - I thought I left it in the hotel. I had written it off. NOW, I don't have to go through the pain of ordering a new one.

HappyUP!!! 3 - meeting with my managers
Why it happened - it's regularly scheduled every month
Why it made me happy - we get together as a team. Tell each other how we are doing. Divvy up some tasks. Have a meal together.

HappyUP!!! Day 39...Wed, March 7

Still travelling....I'll be posting on Thursday.

Rest assured...I AM Happying it UP!!!.....Big Time.

HappyUP !!! Day 38 Tuesday March 6

OK...I am travelling on this day. Rest assured, I will be keeping track and Happy-ing UP in my journal. I'll "back post" upon my return. Already today, I have these:

-Gave a great speech
-running on time
-got a project done
-got a great.....great e-mail

HappyUP!!! Day 37

HappyUP!!! 1 - found my Moleskine
Why it happened - I had to lose it first
Why it made me happy - do I even have to write this? I am a pretty good super sleuth when it comes to finding things. Why? Because I lose a lot of things. Anyway, during the Bed, Bath, and Beyond debacle, I set my journal/notebook down to help the saleslady....oooops! Big mistake. I knew (hoped) it would be there. One phone call.......ahhhhhhhhhhhh....yes, they had it!

HappyUP!!! 2 - DMV
Why it happened - I lost my license (I told you...I lose stuff) but I just decided to bear it and hit the govt agency
Why it made me happy - I had made an appointment for next Friday. Problem? I wanted to be out of town next Friday. But, you have to have ID to use your credit card. Anyway, I stopped by....half hour tops...and it included the eye test. I had the lasik surgery about 8 yrs ago....the eyesight has been fading a bit. I was hoping to pass the eye test...and I did....just barely! Eye doctor appointment coming at end of month

HappyUP!!! 3 - gave a great report at a business meeting
Why it happened - I didn't prepare as much as I have just been in touch with my industry a bit more lately
Why it made me happy - my client grabbed me after the meeting and said, "nice report." He doesn't do that all of the time. It is nice to get a pat on the back from your client. It makes you want to work harder for them....hmmmm....do I have any vendors I should give a pat to?

HappyUP!!! Day 36 - Picture HappyUP Day

HappyUP!!! 1 - a new bed setup

Why it happened - I figured out the issues...and then acted

Why it made me happy - I was told that, because I have a weird bed, I had to have custome sheets ....or have some seamstress do special stuff. All it took was looking at the situation and about an hour or two of my time. Everything looks great! On to the next project





HappyUP!!! 2 - a room to call my own

Why it happened - I just took my day off and acted

Why it makes me happy - I am no super musician. No, really, I am not. But, I like to make noise. I got rid of that dining table that I never use. That's what I put the dining counter in for. Now, I have my favorite things right out where I can stop and play with them....conveniently. And it all looks smart.

The old house - is really starting to shape up. A new hearth and remote gas fireplace is next!



HappyUP!!! 3 - two cars in the garage

Why it happened - hey, like the others, I got busy

Why it makes me happy - hey, I am no wealthy guy. I just live in a cheap house and drive a couple of decent cars....and neither really should sleep outside like they have. I just took an extra 30 minutes...moved some things around...and, voila....the way it should be. Now, I just need to get my arms around the crap surrounding the vehicles.

What a great day - a really, really great day.....and it is only 5:14. I'm cheating. I may be back with HappyUP!!! Day 36.5 before I go to bed!