Ouch! MY KNEE!

I went to the gym tonight. I hurt my knee. I tripped over the smith machine towards the end of my workout. Ooops. At first it did not hurt, but then after five seconds I was in agony. I think I dislocated it, but eventually by walking around got it back into place.

My parents got a puppy today. A dachshund. I hate those dogs. At least this one has a calm demeanor. Humphry attacked at it twice. Humphry is geting over lyme disease, so that may be part of it. Or maybe not. I'm upset with my parents though, in addition to picking out a breed of dog that I hate and that has health problems, they had not finished treating the house for fleas, or shopped around to other breeders. The puppy's littermates, two have minor health problems (one female had a hernia, the other male's testicals has not dropped). I think they should have drove to the other breeders to make a decision out of what was being offered. I'm disapointed in my dad's impusliveness with this process. I just hope the dog is healthy when it is checked out by the vet.

My parents were not home to sign for the computer, while going out and getting their new dog. I told my parents they must be home for the computer delivery tomorow.

Tara has been told by her family she can't move to Takoma Park. I am trying to decide between living with just Dan, or getting my own place in Waldorf. Interesting to see what I decide.

I am off to bed now. Good night.

I guess back to the swing of things

Well, I'm going to be back in the habit of blogging again. I took a short break while I recovered from being kicked out of my parents house, and moving in with my brother. I am investigating permanant housing, either solo in Waldorf, or with Tara and Dan as roommates in Silver Spring or Takoma Park. I'm concerned that I might not be able to afford to have my own place, and considering my commute from Waldorf to DC is costing me about $500 a month in gas, Takoma Park is looking better.

I picked up a new client on Friday. Their son called me to ask if I could unpack from a move from a house to an apartment. The work is in Chevy Chase, a pretty long haul from Waldorf. However, work is work, and I got started on Sunday, with a four hour run of unpacking books, lamps, china and vases. The people were very plesant to work with, unfortunately, their health is failing. The husband has an artifical leg, and the wife is undergoing chemotheropy for cancer. Both are in great spirits however, and are looking forward to getting their life back in order.

I went to the rental property to haul garbage to the dump. My dad was there, he yelled at me the entire time, accusing me of doing things that I had not done, and accusing me of not doing things that he had asked, but I had either done or he had not asked for. He's still quite unreasonable.

I went to the Home Depot in Oxon Hill on Friday, and bought a prehung door. However, I did not inspect the door closely, and it ends up someone had bought it before, and tried to install it, and then returned it. It went back on the shelf, and I bought it. When I got it to Capitol Hill, the frame came apart. I tried to take the door back to the Home Depot in NE DC, and Oxon Hill. Both stores refused to return it, citing policy that they can refuse returns of items that are not saleable. However, what happens when the item is marginally saleable, and then falls apart? I went to the Home Depot on Waldorf today, and bought the same door again, and when I was loading it into my truck, I noticed the frame was coming apart. I took it back into the store, and asked the clerk for store credit. She copped an attitude with me. Yes, it's easier for them to credit it back to my credit card, however, it will take three days to process that way, and I would have to make another $75 charge on my card, again, putting my card close to over the limit. However, to give store credit involves about three extra touches of the computer touch screen and scanning a card. Not rocket science. At least I was able to go to Capitol Heights Home Depot to get a working door, and it was installed today. In the process, I trapped myself in the bathroom, because the anchor that holds the door in place during instalation, would not pop out like it was supposed to. A tennant had to help free me.

I ordered my computer on Saturday from Circuit City. It's a HP Media Center Photosmart Desktop PC, model M7170N. I also ordered a HP 19" LCD monitor for Tim, he reimbursed me. And to top it off, I ordered a HP Color Laser Printer, 2550. I have wanted a color laser printer for a long time, and they have finally hit a price I can afford. I will be getting $170 in rebates in about ten weeks too, which will be a good thing. My old desktop will be shipped to Florida, to be given to a friend that needs a better computer.

My workout routine at the gym is going well. I can handle running on the treadmill better, I can handle weights better, and I have noticed a drop in my weight. All good things, I really want to become a State Trooper now, more than anything.

I guess that's everything. Good night my friends.

Jumping the Duck

Well, a week ago (August 9), I was in a very very bad fight with my father, and ended up kicked out of the house. I am living at my brother's place in Waldorf for the time being. I plan on getting my own place to live in the next couple months, because it has become apparent that my dad and I just don't get along. I won't do any more work at their rental property, I asked my mom to pay me a sum of money that I believe covers the balance that she owes me for the work, and they can hire someone else to finish the work. I will not tollerate a person touching my body out of anger, and I will defend myself every time with adequate force to protect myself, but not inflict other injury.

After the past month I have had, I am due for a change of luck for the better. This past weekend I went to Deep Creek Lake with a friend of mine. We rode jet skis and between waves was a duck, and the jet ski jumped over it. Funny stuff. :-)

I am going to be buying my computer on Thursday, and starting to look for a permanant place to live for the future. I am trying to find out if my Comcast e-mail can be transfered to another person's account, or if I will loose that when my parents kill the internet access here. That will suck big time if I loose that.

Well, time for me to go read my e-mails and then hit the gym. I bid everyone a good night.

Crab Legs, Kings Dominion and Fat People.

First off, Saturday was a wreck. The McDonalds in Morningside screwed my lunch order up. I had ordered a chicken club sandwitch, grilled, with no tomato. I got a crispy club sandwitch, with tomato, but no bacon. I discovered it when I got to Capitol Hill, and just ate the thing. On my way home from work, I went to Giant, to get alaskan snow crab legs and alcohol swabs. The seafood department is open from 9 AM - 8 PM on Saturdays. I got to the store at 7:40 and found that there were people in line, and there was a sign that said "Seafood Department Closed". I went to the front of the store and pointed this out. I was directed to the head cashier who told me "The only seafood department person has been working since 9 AM, we had to relieve him with a cashier, and so we closed the department down early." After working eight hours in a hot basement, I was not happy. I said that's unreasonable, because if you have a cashier working to finish out the people in line, they could easilly keep it open until the closing hours of the department. I walked out of the store, angry, that they did not have full service as promised. I had planned on calling the Giant management to complain today, but work prevented me from getting around to it. Then I went to CVS to try to get the alcohol swabs for my dad. After looking on the shelves where the bottles of rubbing alcohol and bandages were, I found nothing. I went to the front of the store and asked the clerk and she told me "We don't sell them." I walked out of CVS, angry. Then I went to Safeway, to try for a second time to get alcohol swabs. But my first stop was the mens room, because with the 2+ gallons of water I am drinking a day, nature calls often. When I finished washing my hands, there were no paper towels left. I did manage to get the alcohol swabs, but I had to wait in a line ten people deep. After working in the heat, I was not happy.

Sunday was Kings Dominion. Just Tim and I went, and we had a good time. We still have yet to get on Volcano, but we got a good number of rides in on the other coasters. We also hit the water park, twice, to cool down in the heat. I deviated from my diet on Sunday, but I kept with drinking plenty of water, to help loose weight. On the way back, I stopped to get gas in Dahlgren VA, where midgrade was $2.19 a gallon, a full $.30 cheaper than gas is here in Prince George's County. That was a welcome relief for my wallet, where the normal fill up for my truck sets me back over $80.

Today was a trip back to Capitol Hill. I finally got the dry wall mudded for the bathroom. On my way home, the check engine light came on in my truck, which for a vehicle with just 20,600 miles on it seems very very odd. I'm not happy with the squeek when the truck is in reverse and now the check engine light. I'll have one more call to make tomorow before I go to work at the rental property.

Tonight I went to the gym at 10 PM, a late start. I noticed that this is when most of the overweight people were in the gym. I actually did not feel self concious about having a small belly, because mine was the smallest of all the guys in there. It also is a good time to cool down from working all day. I timed that I can do 32 sit-ups in a minute on my first set, and 25 sit-ups on my second set. I'm able to do 20 pushups, elevated, in aproximately a minute. I'm getting closer to meeting the MSP agility standards, which is very important to me. I'm really driven about this whole State Trooper thing. Tonight I was sore, just from walking around Kings Dominion all day yesterday and then working on my feet all day today. I just reminded myself that I want this State Trooper thing, I must go to the gym, no matter how sore or tired I am. It helps that my friends and family are behind me 100%, pushing me to do better, but even in my mind, I want it for myself, completely and totally. After the gym, I went to Wendy's and got a side ceasar salad and a 5 piece chicken nugget as my late dinner. I've been cuting back on my portions, that's plenty of food to keep me going into the night. I notice, except for the soreness, I feel better lately, and I seem to be sleeping more regular hours.

It is time for me to go to bed. Good night to all and to all a good night.

Goodbye Carmel

We had to put the collie to sleep on Friday. It was a difficult thing to do, but the right thing. He stopped eating after he collapsed Wednesday night, stopped drinking on Thursday night. He was yelping and wimpering starting Friday morning. When we took him to the vet, she said it was definitely the right time for him. I feel relieved that we did the right thing, and we were not doing it because he was just inconvienient to have around.

The big thing now is getting a new dog, and my parents are about to have a fight over it. They seem to be leaning heavily towards having a Dashound, I want a Lab. I hate dashounds. I HATE THEM. My parents excuse is "Well, you won't have to live with the dog." But in reality, I will have to live with the dog, because I still live with them, and if their health further deterorates, I will probably have to take care of the dog. I just feel like my parents are not considering how I feel, like every other dog they have ever got. They bought what they wanted, and what they got were dogs I did not even like.

My first full workout at the gym was a success. Today I just go back to run on the treadmill for 30 minutes, then I am off to Capitol Hill to get some work done. Tomorow I go to Kings Dominion with Tim.

And I bid everyone a good day.

Good news on my dad.

My dad was just released from the hospital. He just had heart burn and was put on an acid reducing prescription.

First trip to the gym

I met with my personal trainer, Julie, today. It was interesting what I could and could not do, from the get go. I am definitely flexible enough to do the sit and reach test with minimal difficulty. My situps are nearly at the Maryland State Police standards. I have good form on my pushups, I just have trouble doing more than about ten. Julie has me on a regiment that will help me if I have to do a dummy drag or pull ups, stuff that will be of value for an application with Frederick City Police. The workout plan also includes exercises that will reduce my run time and increase my run distance, upper body strength, and help with weight loss and weight redistribution. I can already tell that I am going to need to meet with her more than the once a month that is included with my membership.

It's interesting to know that the Maryland State Police has changed their agility test since 1998. They have lowered their standards for my age group, but raised them for other age groups, so everyone has to meet exactly the same standards. In 1998, I would have had to do: 29 pushups in a minute, 39 situps in a minute, flex 16.5", and run 1.5 miles in 12:51. Now, I would only have to do 18 pushups in a minute, 27 situps in a minute, flex 1.5" beyond my toes (16.5"), and run 1.5 miles in 15:20. This is great for me, but bad for older men and women who want to try to become a Trooper. However, it seems like a major dumbing down of the standards, leading to Troopers that are less able but younger. Interesting stuff indeed.

The results are not in from my dad's angiogram and other tests, as of yet. We will know something closer to 7 PM.

The collie, had a sezure last night after I blogged. I had let him out while I was blogging. When I was finished, I was ready to let him in. He went up the stairs on his own. I then went down the stairs, leaving the dog out near the front door, while I moved the Camry for my mom. Then as I was about to get in the car, I heard this thud noise, then he started to wimper and whine. He was stiff as a board, and yelping, and drooling profucely. Finally he was able to relax, but even after he woke up, he walked around like he was drunk, and he has been panting and yelping all day today. I feel sorry for the poor dog, but with my dad in the hospital, we are not sure what we should do about him.

I guess everything else is going well. Good night.

National night out was my time to bow out gracefully

Last night was National Night Out, a program to get neighbors to meet each other and the police. I spent the time at Linden Ave, with the members of the LLC and other people that live on the block. However, I made an announcement to the group and neighbors that I am leaving Linden Tree LLC, to fully pursue my career in Law Enforcement, preferably with the Maryland State Police. Everyone there was very supportive. I was relieved that things went well. The search is on for a replacement member, one I can sign my share of the corporation over to.

My dad went into the hospital earlier in the day, he had chest pains around 8 AM, I took him to the emergency room to get him stabilized. Hopefully later today they will give him an angiogram and we can determine what is causing his chest pains this time.

Between my dad's eyesight and heart condition, the delays with the city, and my desire to move forward with my dream of being a police officer, I decided that it was my time to move on from the LLC. It's very hard to say goodbye to something that I have been working on actively since 2002, but the fruits of my labor have yet to blossom, and I'm heading towards a change of life anyways. It's best that I move on. I will still keep an eye on the group, and will track things as they go forward. I wish the best for the other seven remaining households, and my replacement member, whoever they are.

The rental property is supposed to be done by next Tuesday. THANK GOD!!!!

Good night or good morning, depending on your perspective.