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swamprad
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Name: Swamprad
Gender: Male
Interests: Really good books, the Beatles, Italian opera, authentic folk music, astronomy, astrophotography, gardening, radiology, nature, wine, the Caribbean, eBay, and lots more stuff...
Industry: Medical
Message: message meEmail: email me
Member Since:
10/3/2004
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| Last night I got home from work and found my two sons, John and Art, and John's friend, who calls himself my third son, in the pool. I joined them, and we stayed in the water until after 9. So much fun. John grilled filet mignons and veggies for us, did a really good job, too.
I am chronically sleep deprived. It is not a good thing.
Sarah is admitted to college at U of Memphis. She decided she wanted to skip senior year and dive on in, so she did. She is so excited and so am I. Now lets see if she will make the straight A's that her father expects of her. I made straight A's, it's not hard, all you have to do is try, unlike the rest of the kids who are partying all night long and skipping class. She will be living at home her first year, compliments of her tender age, so hopefully that will help her keep her act together.
I have to work tomorrow morning, so much for sleeping late on Saturday. We're all going to Harry Potter early tomorrow afternoon, and I'm excited.
I went DVD crazy at Costco this week. Bought all 6 seasons of Oz, 2 seasons of Carnivale (only 11.99 per season on sale, a huge bargain for HBO series), the Jane Austen set and the Elizabeth Gaskell set. Now all I have to do is find the time to watch them. I feel like I'm sinning if I'm inside while it's still daylight
Maybe I'll actually go to sleep early tonight. Stranger things have happened.
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| Oh life.
I'm having a hard time figuring you out.
At least it's warm outside, a very, very good thing.
I'm counting my blessings, and there is a very long list.
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| Reading-mojo returning? All my life I've read books. Voraciously. Always had at least 2 or 3 going at any time, even during medical school, when I literally studied all the time, I still had a half-hour or so to steal for a novel. Until 3 years ago, and that all just vanished away. O.K., other life changing events occurred at this same time. But I've tried in vain to get it back, and I just can't seem to get into reading again.
Due to a certain Xanga friend's evil influence, I finally gave in and got an Amazon Kindle. I love it! I'm finishing up my 5th book so far, and there's no stopping me. If it takes an electronic toy to get me back focused on reading, so be it, well worth it. I need to read. I can't be myself without it.
4 of the 5 books were the Twilight novels. Loved 'em!
Post call today. Couldn't really sleep late, though. Got up at 8 and prepared the obligatory omelet and iced latte. Watered the orchids as Linda cleaned the house. Thank God for Linda, seriously. Then sat around in a semi-stupor all afternoon and read. Sleeeeeeepy. Had an important business meeting this evening which I happily did not show up for. They'll get along just fine without me, I'm sure.
So blah, blah, blah.
Nothing exciting to talk about. Life goes on. We're having cool weather right now, but lasting sun and warmth are not far away. I want to move the orchids outside! And get in the pool! And sweat profusely!
And onward into the week I plunge...
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| Last night I had an old and very dear friend (K.D.) visit with her girlfriend. John cooked awesome steaks, with steamed asparagus and basmati rice. We had a wonderful time.
The bad news was that after two nights of about 4 hours sleep, I had to get up and be at work this morning at 7 am. Ugh. I survived, though, and came home and fixed omelets for Sarah and I.
The rest of the day was spent on the sofa, reading the 3rd Twilight book. No productivity today, at all. A good thing.
To sleep early tonight, tomorrow is a big work day for me. No ham, potato salad, deviled eggs and butter beans for me this year. Oh well.
Happy Easter to you all!
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| It's Friday already! This week has been extremely productive, I am happy to say.
--Spent the weekend with two dear old friends. We hung out, ate lots of good food, and had fun.
--Old friend Gina picked out fabric for fitted slipcovers for 3 chairs in my den (would have been impossible for me to do it without her).
--Amazingly talented upholstery lady spent almost 12 hours in my den cutting out and fitting the covers onto the chairs
--Amazingly talented upholstery lady is also very cheap. Three essentially new chairs for the price of one really new chair.
--She also made a tablecloth for my new bedside round table.
--Gina also picked out drapes for my bedroom.
--Gina also picked out fabric for a new chair and ottoman for my bedroom, now on order.
--Spike came out and measured for the new hardwood floors downstairs. His quote was quite reasonable.
--Aquarium guy comes today. The 150 gallon saltwater reef tank is about to become a reality.
--My buddy Charles, who has grown orchids in greenhouses his whole life, spent one morning with me, and we explored and discussed all my options for a greenhouse. Should I glass in the back porch, add a wing off the office, or cut two trees and build a greenhouse in the corner of the yard? He helped me realize what the best solution is. I am going to build a free-standing greenhouse where the vegetable garden is now situated. The vegetable garden will be no more. Sad, but you can't have everything. I'll still manage to find room to grow tomatoes and peppers and eggplants, even if I have to use barrels. And I can even grow some in the greenhouse! I've got my greenhouse kit all picked out. I'll have to get a contractor to build a 3 foot tall concrete block wall to put the kit on top of, so that's the next step. Having a greenhouse is going to be the greatest thing for me. One of my biggest dreams come true. The hundreds of orchids made it through the winter in the living room just fine, but that is not a permanent setup, if for no other reason than that I am bursting at the seams.
--Got 3 blue ribbons on orchids I sent via Charles to the orchid show in Huntsville, Ala.
--Am in the midst of repotting about 50 orchids today.
--Weeded the perennial bed I put in last Spring, filled in a few plants, and mulched it. I am so sore I can barely walk, but in a good way, lol.
--Got the pool in good shape.
--Hopefully, not very reliable yard guy will show up tomorrow, and we can get the rest of the beds cleaned out and ready for Spring. I'm not doing it without him, I have no intention of killing myself.
--Productive, no?
So hopefully, within the next few months, the house is going to be pretty close to finished. Except for the new kitchen. I have to push that back a bit. A greenhouse is a higher priority than a kitchen! But maybe next year, the kitchen will finally get redone and the house will be officially finished. What will I do with myself, then?
Better make the most of these next 3 days. Monday will be here before you know it...
UPDATE: As requested, link to the greenhouse kit. I'm going with either the 14'9" x 20' or 24'. 14'9 will allow me to have benches around the sides and a third bench down the middle.
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