Monthly Archives: March 2010

What Started As A Leak… One Month Later

It has been a month since we started the “forced” remodel thanks to the old pipes finally giving out. The old pipes in the house. Not in me. Those aren’t that old yet.

So far:

  • the water line has been entirely replaced from the well to the house, and all the water lines throughout the house have been replaced;
  • a filtration system has been installed at the well (What it’s filtered so far has been NASTY! I hate to think we’ve been drinking that for the last 8 years.);
  • a new water heater has been installed;
  • a raised concrete footing/pedestal has been poured to set the new water heater and washer and dryer upon, and a portion of the slab floor that was once sloping has been leveled;
  • new electrical lines have been installed (In doing so, I found three lines coming into the service panel that appear to not be connected to anything! What the Hell?);
  • new ceiling joists have been installed in place of the existing joists;
  • new lighting has been installed;
  • gaps have been filled and insulation has been installed!;
  • the existing HVAC duct has been diverted and tapped in to for the new area;
  • a dryer exhaust vent has been installed.

Hopefully I’ll be able to start sheetrocking the first area this weekend, if the weather cooperates. Once that is done I can move the washer and dryer from their existing location to the new pedestal, after which I can start the demolition of the area they were in so the new walk-in shower can be installed…. eventually.

Yea!

And to think we’ve only really touched about 1/3rd of the area that needs to be remodeled.

Until next time...
Erik

Parthenogenesis

Sorry I’ve been heavy on the non-meaty bloggy stuff as of late. I’ve never been much of a blogger for meaty stuff, I guess.

Anyway….

I can’t believe this is from 1985. That fact makes me feel old… er.

They had my attention at “Parthenogenesis“. Seriously. How does one fit that in as a lyric?

I actually liked other songs on Shriekback’s “Oil & Gold” album way more than this, particularly “Faded Flowers“, “This Big Hush“, “Fish Below the Ice“, and “Everything That Rises Must Converge“. Okay, there’s no song on the album I don’t like. “Nemesis” is just the song that seemed to make the rounds in my neck of the woods in Florida.

And why do all videos from the ’80s seem so… bad? I know it was a relatively new genre at the time, but still.

Until next time...
Erik

Nosy Meme

I have no idea where I swiped this from, but here you go: a little dose of cynicism… and some of my personality.

How old do you look?
I don’t know, you tell me. I have a monkey with a firecracker on my shirt. That pretty much says it all.
Erik

Where do you live?
In my own little world, apparently. (See the above picture.)

Are you waiting for something?
The aliens. To come back. Looking for their buddy, Jesus. Whom they ditched here because he was being a jerk while they were visiting Earth. During their drunken Spring Break.

What’s one pet peeve of yours that is not common?
Not leaving a new roll of toilet paper out for the next use when the current roll is really close to being out. I guess I have tissue issues.

Last text message you received, what’d it say?
“K love u”

Can you handle the truth?
The real question is: Can you?

Did you cry today?
My nasolacrimal ducts were working overtime with my sinuses being all jacked up. But I didn’t cry for emotional reasons, if that’s what you mean.

Do you hate the last person you had a conversation with?
No. There are parts of myself I don’t like, but I don’t hate myself.

Do you want kids?
I never had the desire to want kids. But I have three of them via the Husbear.

Have you ever thought about converting your religion?
If I had religion. But into what? Pure energy? That would be a lot more useful.

Last shocking news you heard?
That Apple hasn’t created a product called the iCock. I bet it would have a slick user interface.

What was the last thing you drank?
At the moment: Two fingers of Svedka vodka. With some Diet Cherry 7-Up.

Last person you hugged?
My Husbear.

Whom do you most look like in your family?
Funny story about that. The Husbear and a few others say I look like my father. Funny thing is: I’m adopted.

Did you dream last night?
I dream every night. Most are unpleasant. I should probably blog about them more often.

How many piercings do you have?
Zero. I have been entertaining the idea of getting a new one as of late, but I doubt I will.

If you could have something right now, anything, what would it be?
To not have issues with people touching my belly. And less of a pooch on my belly as well.

Does anyone call you babe?
Not that I’m aware of. But I’ve got you….

Where does most of your family live?
Biological? I have no idea. Adopted? In Florida. Accepted? Here, surrounding me in Arkansas.

Where did you grow up?
Some would say I haven’t. And in some places I still grow on occasion.

Where do you want to go on vacation?
I’d like to go visit Australia and New Zealand. Maybe Canada and England, when it’s warm. Although there are PLENTY of places here in the States I’d still like to go see.

Have you broken a bone?
A Greenstick fracture of the distal ulna in my left arm when I was a pre-teen as a result of falling off a cliff that I was attempting to climb. And since I’ve lost some weight over the last few months, I think I may have broken a rib at some point in my life. I have one that seems to jut out farther than the others.

What did you receive for Valentine’s Day?
Just what I needed from my Husbear: his continuing love.

Have you ever had a panic attack?
Yes. A large crowd is usually involved. I don’t do crowds well.

Can you sleep in jeans?
I used to sleep clothed, pre-Husbear. He retrained me.

What can’t you wait for?
The End Of The World As We Know It.

When’s the last time you told someone you loved them and meant it?
About 40 minutes ago, when I tucked the Husbear into bed.

Have your parents ever smoked pot?
It would be naive of me to say no. They grew up in the sixties after all. But they’ve never talked about it, and I’ve never asked.

Want someone back in your life?
I’m okay without them at the moment, so I would have to say no.

Do you live near your most recent ex?
I’ve not ever had someone I would consider to be an “ex”, so I guess not.

Are you good at giving directions?
I tend not to be overly vocal during sex. Oh, that’s not what you meant?

What do you order at the bar?
A ruffie colada for the cutest guy.

When was the last time you cried really, really hard?
I have no idea. I don’t remember. I built up a wall around that emotion.

Whom was your last text from?
The Husbear.

Ever licked someone’s cheek?
Yes. All four of them. And I think they were all equally hairy.

What is your favorite thing to eat with peanut butter?
Well…. I like to spend hours licking it off of, er, something.

Where were you on July 4th, 2009?
The Husbear and I were in Memphis at Sammy and Matt’s home with friends.

What body part(s) do you wash first in the shower?
My hair/scalp.

Have you ever kissed anyone who’s name started with a D?
Yes. Come to think about it, I think I’m only missing “Q”, “Y”, and “Z”.

Do you prefer warm or cold weather?
Warm. Cold weather can just suck it! I’m done with cold.

What do you currently hear right now?
Captain Janeway telling someone to “Stand down”.

Does someone like you right now?
I’m sure someone out there must. I’m assuming since you’re reading my blathering, you must.

Could you go out in public looking like you do now?
Yes. But the police would probably become involved. Again.

What are your nicknames?
The Husbear calls me “BabyBear”. That’s the only one I have, that I’m aware of. I’m sure a lot of people call me other things under their breath and when I’m not around.

On your sex interests, where do you like them to have piercings?
I’ve personally never been a fan of the piercings. They just don’t do “it” for me. Odd, considering what I do for a living.

If you could go any place in the world right now, where would you go?
Hmm… I don’t know.

Have you ever made someone so mad that they broke something?
Yes.

What is your favorite color?
Name that color:

If you could go back in time, how far back would you go?
I’d go so far back that I’d loop around to the future and come back to now.

Until next time...
Erik

Tales from the Tattoo Chair

I had an interesting tattooing experience Friday. I guess all my tattooing experiences are interesting, but this one stands out.

A new customer came into the studio to get a tattoo. His first. He picked a small tattoo for his wrist.

During the tattoo, I asked the meaning behind his first tattoo. This is not something I usually ask, but for some reason I felt compelled to. I don’t know why. It just happened.

He said he and “his partner” had planned on getting matching tattoos. They had been together six years. But last year his partner was killed in an automobile accident. So the tattoo was intended as a memorial to him.

We had a lengthy, great conversation after that.

I really can’t begin imagine how I’d be if something happened to the Husbear. We’ve talked about it on multiple occasions. We have all the legal paperwork done for different scenarios. But I still can’t imagine what life would be like without him.

Until next time...
Erik

A Heaping Pile of… Crap

I mean besides the Academy Awards.

Today’s plans were to run a new electrical line to the new remodel, and to take down another section of ceiling.

When I pulled the first part of the section of ceiling down, this is what fell upon me:

Enormous piles of crap.

Disgusting.

We have no idea where it came from or how long it’s been there. But since it was dehydrated, we’re assuming it’s been there since before we purchased the house as there have been no openings for anything to get in since we’ve been here.

All of this after having to slither my way under the house to run some new electrical wiring to the area we are remodeling. The Husbear was kind enough to take a few pictures of me whilst I was trying to work:

The Husbear said I look like the House just pooped me out.

So nice of him, wasn’t it? I feel so… disgusting.

It’s hard to be this pretty when you feel this dirty.

We didn’t get as much done today as I was hoping to do. I guess there’s always tomorrow.

Until next time...
Erik