Molly's alive again!

So after much too long, Molly the VW is once again running. There is a bit of an oil leak and it's a hassle trouble shooting, because in order to get to where it's leaking half the engine has to be taken of and to start up the engine, most of it has to be put back on. A lot of back and forth. However, I started her this afternoon, drove her to the end of the driveway (about 10 feet) and reversed her back over the oil puddle. So, she does actually work. Tomorrow I plan on adjusting the valve clearances, unless I drive her to school....hmmm.....

ok...

Apparently the photo part of it doesn't work. Blah. If anyone can tell me how to blog with photos from my phone, that's be super cool. I'll look around a little but probably not get anywhere with it.

Bummer.

Testing

	Testing to see he i can blog from my phone. The pic is me on my way to school...it was a little chilly on the bike. That should be over soon.

Boy, THAT was dumb !

I'm not going to go into details here. Most people I know I've already told. A few weeks ago I was dumb, knew I was being dumb and was dumb anyway. Suffice it to say that the events surrounding my actions opened my eyes a bit and spurred some inner-thinking, and I was not ecactly happy with what I found. I am planning on makng some changes in my life, hopefully all turn out for the better. We shall see. 

I was thinking this post was going to be a little longer. Hmm....not so much.

Cleaning out the fridge

Although not proud of it, some time has passed between cleaning out the fridge of old leftovers and sauces. However, there are some interesting things to be seen sometimes. One time in a forgotten pot of coffee ( on the counter, not in the fridge) I observed 5 distinctly different colonies of mold growing.

More recently I found a container of some spaghetti sauce in a ricotta cheese tub. Looked gross to see but it had an interesting looking texture was neat the way it had folded itself.

Riding my bike to school along the bike path alongside Gosling Rd, I saw this in front of me

Usually I have a camera with me, and today is no exception. I stop, hop off my bike, and grab my camera hopefully before the li'l critter slithered back into the grass. I got to take about 3 pics, although the other wasn't any good. I was zoomed way in and my aim was off, so only caught a tiny section of his body. Wondered the whole way to school whether or not this was a coral or a king snake. Once in class asked around and hopped on a computer to double check and sure enough, it was the poisonous one...go figure.

Than makes two deadly snakes I've snapped pictures of from only a few feet away.

Frustration!

As many of you know I'm trying to get my VW back on the road. I've been reeealy close for the past few days or so. The engine in up and in place, but not quite seating in.  The situation has given me a new understanding of the female mind. I've never know that an inch could mean so much difference between satisfaction and disappointment. That's how much I lack before I can bolt everything down and see if she cranks up. An inch.

Also, all of a sudden (sort of) I want to see naked people. Lots of em. A big naked get-together just to have have drinks, dinner, watch movies, whatever would be just about right. Who thinks that'd be a good idea and would come over to visit?

Maybe if the van is still immobile, we can all give a go at shoving the engine into place...

Happy dancing!

So after a few irate stompings about the house, I'm about to send a pretty pissed off email over to GEX in complaint about the timeliness of the wervice I've had...or rather, not had to be more precise, and a big brown truck pulls up in front of the drive. A man steps out and proceeds to bring forth a big huge box! Woo! Quickly I put on some pants, and run out the door, but stop myself before I grab the delivery driver with the biggest hug imagined. I did however express my thanks to him and wish him a grand day!

My parts are in! Now I've just got to get everything put back together correctly and hope for the best.

Racoon !

Look what tried to crawl into our open window, and stuck around long enough for me to take a few photos !

creek overpass graffiti

Was out riding home from class the other day and decided to follow a random creek and see where it wandered from. Still don't know, but I did find out it runs underneath to raods that intersect each other. Thought that was a little interesting. Also, while poking about the underpass on the far side of my mini-trek I found the above grafitti. It made me smile a little *grin* Similer to a wall Darbi found last year or so. See a little more of the creek here.

VW Parts and Nerves

I try not to work myself up so much about certain things that depend on others. Say for instance a set of piston, cylinders and heads that have been on order for about 3 weeks which I was told would have shipped this past Tuesday with an approximate 2 day shipping estimate, but still are not sitting on my porch nor do I have a package pick up slip. I feel like a schoolboy who is expecting a box-top prize in the mail! Except this is a lot more important, and also more expensive than box tops.

Hopefully tomorrow....just one more day to wait, and one less day to work on putting my engine together when the parts come in.

Joy.

Christopher

GEX

So I've been waiting 2 and a half weeks for parts for my engine. All contact has been made by myself, not them.  A week after ordering the parts I call to see why I don't have them. They're not shipped. Ah. Okay. So I'm told I can get a tracking number emailed to me when they leave within the week.  One more week passes and I call again with a hint of frustration rising. Yet again, no parts shipped. Apparently one of the parts departments is behind. They apologize and the parts should be shipped by Monday. And no, they can not foot the bill for overnight shipping in recompense for my distress and waiting. Damn. Also informed that ground shipping has a 2 day estimate.

Parts should be here late this week. Gr.

On a more positive note, TRF started this past week. I love it out there. Even when the weather is unbearably hot and muggy, it's awesome. And yes for reasons other than the great mounds of jiggly titties wandering everywhere in corsets and bodices.  I get to see many of my friends that I do not get a chance to see except for these few months when faire is happening.  Also, I don't feel nearly out of place in some of my more out of the ordinary outfits (ie: sarongs, skirts, and other articles which scream colour.) Found out this weekend also that a big tent is way more comfortable and spacious than Molly the van, although Molly the van is better for transporting said tent and other supplies than Oren Hatchback the Mini. Hopefully Molly will be ready for this weekend (damn you GEX.)  

I'm off now to do loaundry and a few other necessaries around the house. Maybe even a little homework. Ta-ta!

Chris

Distractions....

So I've been waiting about a week for the parts to my VW engine to come in, but no luck. So I give a call, and I find out why I've not recieved them. They haven't been shipped. That's right. Not shipped. Apparently the company didn't have any on hand and told me they were being prepared in the machine shop (closed at the time). Told them to email me a tracking number or something when they finally left their hands. Damn. So I'm borrowing Darbi's Mini to deliver pizzas so at least I'm pulling in some income weekly.

I WANT MY VAN TO DRIVE AGAIN !!!

So, I'm here now doing homework....obviously on task. Supposed to be answering questions over communication in the film Joe Somebody with Tim Allen. Even though I've got most of the answers written out, or at least the idea sketched down, I can't quite comcentrate on typing up the answers. For whatever reason I've got boobies on the brain. That and it just rained so I want get outside and dance around a bit. I've got to email it by tomorrow. It'll get done.

I'm about to take off to work soon. I'm going to finish a few more and head out.

Talk at ya'll later. Hope you've enjoyed my li'l ramble of nothingnessssssssssssssssssssssssssss......ssss.

Chris

1 week 2 days til TRF starts again ! ! ! ! Woo ! And I've got a new shadow suit!

I'd like to apologize to everyone who actually keep up with this blog and actually expects something intellectually stimulating or thought provoking. That's not what I 'm here for. If you are my friend and actually know me, you are disappointed by what I post. LoL.

Lately the posts have ahd a little less thought put into them than ub the past, which I still don't think was much. There's no big reason. Just as I said toward the biginning of it all, maybe I'll keep up with this. We'll just see how it goes.  And so it has. Some posts have been more insightful others not. That's about it.

Not sure if I had a point to all this or not. I jsut woke up from a pretty long nap. I was laying outside, barely in a sarong, Started out in the hammock, but the sunlight forced me to move to a cot in the shade on the porch. Awoke to the ringing of a phone and decided I better get up and get ready to go see DAVE MATTHEWS !!!! Woo! We bought the tickets about 3 months ago to see him tonight. For a bit I was thinking it was supposed to be tomorrow then part of me clicked when I saw the date today.

Friggin' sweet.

Yeah!

Progress.....

Both forwards and backwards. Maybe not in that order but at some point progrss has been made in each direction.

Woke up this morning with a stuffy nose, and could barely breathe. I've been battling with nose run-off all day. ALL day. Ugh. Had lunch with a girl in my Design class who is from Armenia and I discovered today was only 17. I would have thought at least 22. Heh. Cool gal though.

After dropping her back off at school for her next class I went and completed the transaction of the sale of my car. Got a ride back home (and to the bank) and reimbursed slightly for the full tank of gas I had put in the car yesterday. Cool, says I. So I am currently restricted to bicycle travel and sharing the car with Darbi when she doesn't have use for it, so mainly I'm stuck with the bike. I've got the week off work, since I don't have a car, so I don't have to worry about that in the evenings. Blah. No income for this week from Greek Tony's. Damn.

Proceeded to place the order for the neccessary engine parts to get my van, Molly back on the road in a mobile condition. Hopefully the parts can be here by Monday or Tuesday. Further, hopefully I can put the engine together and back in the engine compartment of the van by Wednesday or Thursday and head back to work. I'm happy I'm closer to getting the van fixed...just nervous about complications that will arise. I say "will" because it's how it'll probably be.

Ok. Back to homework. Silly assignment of copying a resume and cover letter out of the book and applying the correct formatting and whatnot. Hmph.

Talk at ya'll later!
Toodles!

Crap. Crap. Crap!

So. I thought I had a van to buy with an engine I could use. I posted online and have someone coming tomorrow to buy my car. That money I would have bought the van with. However, I called today to make sure there was still a van to buy - there is not. As of about two days ago. Crap. He wasn't kidding. Scramling to buy parts and strugling to not call and reneg on the deal I had made.  I may however call and see if I can postpone for a day or two, until I can track down parts.

Crap.

The weekend that just passed was good though.

Today=crap.

No baby.

Apparently I missed a memo, or misunderstood something she said. Turns out the the "I'm pregnant" hormone dropped over 75% in the week between her ER visit and her OBGYN visit. We were pretty excited for a while there, but I guess it's all works out the way it does for a reason. This gives us some more time to get our finances and everything under more control and whatnot.

Thaere's not a lot more to say about it just yet. So. I'm going to get back to schoolwork. And food.

CJ

News of the moment

Sorry to keep you guys on edge, those that I didn't contact sooner.

The waiting was for results from the doctor.  A few weeks ago Darbi went to the ER for some pain she was having and, among other things, found out she was positive for a baby (approximately one month)! High risk for miscarriage, however, but we were hoping for the best.  More recent tests are looking not so hopeful. Certain hormones in her blood test aren't showing as high as they should.

More news when we get news...

tasered!

Also, for those that care to see me get tasered.... click here

Hmmm..some more.

Still waiting, and will probably be waiting for a while. Things are still a little unsure. I'm sorry for being vague, but I've my reasons.


In other news, however, I can say that I've nearly got my hands on another engine for my van and that she may be running on the road again pretty soon. Along with the engine come some additional accessories and whatnots, but the important part is the engine! Woo!

Also I am back in school, once again. I started the fall semester Monday. I've two classes M-W-F, one class T-TH and one online - mostly all in the morning and afternoon. I'm still driving pizzas at the moment but my knee is starting to pain me a little so I'm trying to change jobs. It's nothing into a big business or technical field,  but I won't be pushing a clutch and getting out on the same leg every five minutes all evening. My interview with Hollywood Video is today at 4. I may put in at Blockbuster, and Petsmart...maybe a few other places. That seems a lot easier than finding a buying an automatic shift car I can afford - which isn't a lot.

Ok...off to schoolwork. After lunch, though. I'm HUNGRY! My stomach says"Rawr!" and I've little choice but to listen and appease the beast that lies within. Pasta will be his soon. Then, we shall enjoy the brief slumber that my appetite takes.

hmmmm.....

Waiting.....just a little more to go....

Finally, a bike ride!

So I've had a few days off over the past month, and been trying to go on a bike ride. Something has always seemed to come up or distract me. There have been other jobs, helping friends, or housework....I understand certain things take priority over my wants, but I mean damn! you gotta look for you, too.

With that said, I'm going to get by nekkid self up and away from the computer, go put on some shorts sandals, pack a shirt other supplies, and roll on down the street, not to return for who knows how long.

Off to enjoy myself,
Chris

Random photos...

Here are some random photos....I'll let you make up stories and captions if you wish.

Deadlines!!! Oh no!!

Oh no! I've only got til Monday to pick out topics and throw together two assignments that are due for my online digital imaging class!! I've got to get busy....and fast.

This is what I was saying to myself yesterday evening and most of today...and then went to submit the first one that I finished and saw the date it was due. Not til next week. Oooohh. And it was the last one I turned in that was due on the 2nd, which is Monday. Ahhhhhh.

So. Now the impending doom is for my Drawing II class. It's actually probably not that bad once I start.

Just though I'd share my oopsie with everyone.

Talk to ya'll later.

Forgetful Jones....and a bicycle ride

.....anybody else remember that character from Sesame Street??

I had thought of something to throw here earlier today (or late yesterday) and have forgotten what it was. It might have been about the bike ride I took yesterday. Probably was.

So.

I went on a bike ride yesterday. Kind of needed some alone time where I wasn't working on homework or housework and didn't have anything around that felt like it could have been worked on, cleaned up, started, or finished. Just me, and some music and no responsibilities. I think everyone needs some time to themselves where they feel no pressure of anything.

A lot of times, that's when my bike is to me...freedom from the pressure of life. I'm not saying my life is bad, or that I don't want it - only that a periodic time away is nice.

My ride last evening, took me around my li'l neighborhood, down the road through some after work traffic (ugh) and finally out to a road that heads out to who knows where and eventually back again. Google maps says it was 10.6 miles out to where I rode. Sound about right. The road I took ended up not going anywhere really...a couple of housing communities and then the pavement ended, and a little more up the road were a set of gates and fences at an intersection.




I stood around and caught my breath - I had been riding against the wind - and took a few photos of the blahness around and tried to find some interesting perspectives.


After a short rest, I hopped back on my bike and headed home. Much easier now traveling with the wind, but still had to deal with a little traffic, although not as much.

About two and a half hours later I arrive back home, worn out, sweaty, and feeling nasty. And absolutely wonderful at the same time. The best feeling of nasty and hurt I ever feel is on or after a bike ride. I mean it this time when I say I am going to make this a regular thing. It is one part of my growing up that I miss dearly, and can readily reclaim and keep alive. I just have to find the space for it in a growing world of cars and communities.

Good times

I just have to say that I love life sometimes. Rain is nice, and good tippers are great! I was out driving pizzas last night and for tips got 10 dollars from one lady, 7 from another guy, and averaged about 5 or 4 from everyone else. 10 dollars! and the house wasn't even that far away and it wasn't even raining during my trip to her house. And because of something she said I'm sure she meant to give 10.

However, even though I love the rain, delivering pizzas in it....not so good. I dislike driving with my windows up. ugh. Oh well.

Also an update on the transportation issue...The VW is still sitting in the driveway, and the Ford Escort I am now driving is running great. Although she slides a bit more than the microbus did when the roads are slippery...but I'm learning to control that.

And one more thing to whom it applies: Any news on the title? Have you found the original or gotten anywhere on a lost title application?

Wow-ness of life and parents

So I made a call to my mom recently to make sure she got my message about Mother's Day and a happy anniversary (which happened to land on the weekend this year). She had. In the course of conversation I told her I wasn't really working on getting my van running again and was considering selling her (the van) for money to go to school, buy a new car, pay bills, etc., since I had recently gotten laid off from my job and life our monetary situation had hit a downward slope and we were resting at the bottom for a bit.

She asked me how much I was lacking going to school for. Her reaction after I told her: "You're not going to school for 500 dollars?! That's it?." Mouth agape, I said yes, thinking "That's it? 500 is not just 'that's it?' - especially when you're down to half you're income and bills are still full scale." After I confirmed my "meager" shortage, she said she could wire me some money so I could attend and not put off school for another semester, like I had last semester due to similar circumstances. Yay Mom! Tears were shed a little, and yes I was at work, and no, I didn't care who saw. I was happy dammit, and I love my mother.

A couple of hours later, mom called me back, life's took another little turn upslope. Her boyfriend had recently purchased a new truck (with payments for the next forever included...blah), and no longer needed his old car. It would be another six years older before he could give it to one of his own little ones to drive around, and the car is already a decade old. Well, mom and he agreed to donate it to my cause. So next weekend I'm going to travel home and pick up my new car! New-ish, at least, and I'm totally good with that!

Also, Darbi's parent should be coming down home with us, and finally our parents will meet. At least that's the plan. We've been trying to arrange a meeting for them a long time running, and now the time draws nigh.

Life should be back on track pretty soon. I'll be driving to school in my new car, and then after class, off to drive pizzas around at a job I actually love, and pays pretty decent (if I can save my tip money and not spend it right away).

And, it's raining today! YES!

Life is good. I love you, mom.

The gods hate me.

Never fails....everytime there's something that needs fixing on my van that requires ample time out side under the sky to complete, it rains. Not just a little sprinkle today either, but downpour. It may only last a little while (hopefully), but my point is that it ALWAYS does this when I need to do some work on the van. And I don't have enough room to really get my van in the garage.

AAARRRRGGHHH !! ! !! ! !!

Grumbles and gripes...

.....All the way from Arlington, TX


After installing the correct starter, and travelling all the way up towards Dallas for Scarborough Ren Faire, I started running into a few more problems. Started out seeming like a fuel system issue, and ended up believing the engine to be siezed. Either way, Molly doesn't start, more over her engine doesn't even turn by hand. Ugh.

So.....after I finish dusting the house and spraying the yard for fleas (yet another problem we have) I'm going to start dismantling, removing and rebuilding one poor engine for a tired ol' Volkswagen microbus named Molly. Poor thing...and poor me.

I'll be taking pictures throughout, and hopefully get around to relating the story and possible problems I run across. Hopefully all goes well, instead.

Wish me luck !

Always...
Nekkid Monkey Boy

Random snippet from my past:

When I was growing up, my dad's form of discipline was his belt - which he always wore. I was a pretty good kid for two reasons *ONE* I didn't want to disappoint my parents and more importantly *TWO* fear of the belt. I'm sure some of you out there understand that last reason.

Here's an embarrassing story about just how much these fears were seated within my head.

****************

So I was hanging out with my dad while he was talking with a friend of his out by the fence one day. I can't remember what the issue was, but for some reason I started to throw a little hissy fit about something. My dad told me to stop whining or go in the house.

Well, I kept pouting and sniveling and being a little bastard. My dad reached up and took a leaf from our sycamore tree. Not a branch...not a twig...not even a few leaves. Just one, big, soft, floppy leaf. And then proceeded to beat my little tiny butt with it. You wouldn't believe how hard I was crying, and screaming about how it hurt...

After about 4 or 5 swats with the leaf of deadly terror, he stopped, grabbed me by the arm, and told me to stop crying, and look at him. Which of course I did with only minimal sniffling and wiping of snot from my nose. Dad then proceeded to show me what he was beating me with and asked me if it really hurt or not. I thought about saying yes, but I would have felt dumber than I already did.

Looking back I laugh at how silly I was, and how deep the fear of disappointing my parents ran. It would be nice if kids nowadays had that fear and respect.

I miss my dad, Jimmy.
Pete "Blind-dog" Jones (1939 - 1999)

Bueno y mal

So the week is about half over. Life is a little less shit.

I found out on Monday that temporarily I am not needed at work. Although I did not much like the job (or in particular my management), it also means no paycheck for a while. And now that I have plenty of time to investigate my van's malfunction, I think I know what the problem is; however I am currently lacking sufficient funds to buy the right part.

Also means I have time to do yard work...ugh. Necessary evil. And I must get back to it. Hmph.

Seriously!

Sometimes, life just deals you shit. I hate that.

Nothing major....

Just popping in to say hey to everyone....

Darbi has been at her new job for about a month, and things seem to be pretty good there...a few issue with their payroll system, but we think it may have been dealt with...

Molly the van is once again broken down...something to do with the starter or flywheel I think. Could be wiring. Who know's....the starter turns and solenoid works...but somehow isn't catching the flywheel when it's in position. Shims are a slim possibility of a fix...I'm stumped on how to progress with the engine still in the car....

Only about a month to go before I quit my current job to go back to school...I'm pretty excited about it...woo hoo!

I'm going to get back out and poke at the van some more...take care til next time...!

Chris

update

A friend of mine commented about Darbi's job loss and reminded me...I haven't posted that she has recently gotten hired on to another company, with better pay and a better benefit package. Yay!

Also, everyone wish a certain someone luck. Luci put a bid down on a house for her and Bean...hope ya'll get it!

Okay...I'm getting back to sewing...another season of Ren Faire is upon us and all the sewing projects I've said I was going to do for the past six months kind of didn't get done....well here I go!

Talk to all ya'll later

Chris

Molly makeover

Slowly but surely I'm fixing Molly up and adding more little pieces of me to it. This is my latest modification. I made a new base for the backseat from some wood I pilfered from work, added a hole to hear the speaker under the seat, and a couple of access doors for tools and storage. This is also my first venture into the world of painting. I've drawn with several different mediums and dabble in digital creation, but was always curious about painting. I like it. I'm going to try to paint a few other pieces of the van and actually use the canvas I bought more than a few months ago. I'm very pleased with the results...I hope you all think so, too. If not, phooey to you - get your own van to paint. *wink*

Talk at ya'll some other time ! Take care !

All in all I think I matched the colours pretty well...These are the other two that match up to the one from the last post. It feels so good to fiddle around with photos and such. Love it!

Just because....

We went out to a newly discovered park the other day and met our friends WrenchBender and RealYankee as they took one of their many dogs out to socialize and enjoy some outdoors. Of course, I brought my camera, and laying in the grass spied this endearing shot. Took it home and applied a little digital processing and thought it turned out quite nice. Who knows - RealYankee might even like this shot of her. I've got on of WrenchBender as well I've got to spend a little time on.

I think I'll try to post more in the future, but then again, I think I've said that in the past. Look how long it took me to get another up on the net.

Til next time....happy days and happy nights to everyone !