Thermal Matters…

I left work at nine and drove directly to Auburn to buy some thermal compound for my processor.  I thought I had a full tube of Arctic Silver, but it was empty.  I couldn’t install my processor without it.   I reluctantly came back to the Valley to start the job at my Benefactor’s house.  I really wanted to come home and play, but work beckoned.  Installing my processor would have to wait.  As I  had expected, it was a hot and sweaty job requiring lots of physical exertion.  I earned every bit of the $50 dollars my Benefactor paid me.

“You work hard and very fast,” my Benefactor told me at one point as he stood in the backyard nosily surveying my efforts.

“I can’t wait to get home,” I told him. “I have a new toy to play with. Computer related stuff.”

“I don’t get all these new fangled computers,” he replied. “All you hear about on TV these days is dot com this and dot com that.”

I smiled at his obsolescence and continued to chop down underbrush.  

I then rushed home so excited to get into some computer work – immediately removing the cover off my computer case.  I carefully removed the heatsink. Uninstalled the old processor which will be sold on EBay.  And proceeded to install the new one.  I then applied a razor thin layer of thermal paste and put back on the heatsink.  Everything went flawlessly and I was so relieved when the BIOS on my motherboard recognized the new processor after a quick BIOS update and my computer booted up without a hitch.  FAST!  Is all I can say.  I effectively have 12 GHz of processing power now.  Applications open almost instantly – the only bottleneck being my harddrive and I already have plans on replacing that tonight which I will run by dad when he gets off of work.  I want to order a new extremely fast 600gb velociraptor drive and will get dad to pay for it out of my disability money under the guise that he would have spent that money to buy me a plane ticket to Washington if I went.  I am going to have a blazing fast and updated computer when all is said and done before long.

Wasabi Nights…

Last night was very, very nice.  It is so nice to have a companion to spend time with and do things.  Kim and I went out to eat at the new sushi restaurant downtown.  I am still astounded that our little town has a sushi house.  The new Kia plant is working wonders for our local economy.  As Charlie said the other day, downtown is thriving these days after being dead for decades.  

“You are really adept at those chopsticks,” Kim told me as I dipped a tuna roll in a little ornate square dish of wasabi sauce.

“Rachel was obsessed with all things Asian,” I told her of my ex-wife making conversation as I chewed my food. “We often ate out at Asian restaurants and she cooked lots of Asian themed food.  Rachel kept a set of formal ivory chopsticks at home for when we ate.  She kept saying we were going to get remarried and would order fancy wedding kimonos off of EBay spending a fortune.”

“She sounded like an interesting lady,” Kim replied with an air of jealously.

“Yes, she was. She was an interesting woman,” I told her. “But she was also completely nuts!”

I chuckled as I shook my head and ate another bite of food.

Kim laughed. “Like me?”

“No, you are not nuts,” I replied. “You are just perfect in my book. Rachel makes you look completely sane!”

After our meal, we went and got Sadie and Kim’s Eclipse, and brought Sadie to my house so her and Maggie could play.  Kim ended up spending the night over at my house and you should have seen us all piled in my queen sized bed – dogs and all.  We were the crew!  I got one of the better nights of sleep I have had in ages listening to the dogs snore and sigh softly overnight.  I told Kim she and Sadie should stay over more often.

“I don’t want you to go to work!” she told me pouting this morning as I crawled out of the bed at four AM to shower, shave, and fix some breakfast.  “I want you to stay in bed with me.”

“I would love nothing more than to just throw the covers back over my head and sleep till noon.  Just leave the door unlocked when you leave for work,” I told her as I kissed her on the cheek as her and the dogs went back to sleep.  I headed to work.  It was the first time I didn’t want to go into work in the three weeks since I started working at Wal-Mart.  Pleasanter things were in store at home.

I Need a Better Brew…

Kim looked in my fridge last night to put in a bottle of wine to chill and she noticed my six pack of Schlitz malt liquor I had bought previously in the day.  I reached in, grabbed one, and took a drink – my sunset brew for the day.

“How can you drink that stuff?” she asked. “Only winos and Billy Dee Williams drink malt liquor.”

I burst out laughing at the Billy Dee Williams reference and those old Colt 45 malt liquor commercials.

“Malt liquor is sweeter than beer and less carbonated,” I told her. “I kind of like it.  It’s a throwback to when George and I would drink all the time.  Everything I know about drinking I learned from George.”

“What’s your favorite beer?” Kim asked.

“Heineken by far,” I replied. “I also like Grolsch, but they are so expensive, I can’t afford them or I should say I am too cheap to buy them.  Schlitz is only $2.99 a 6-pack.”

“I am going to start buying you a six pack of Heineken every few days so you won’t drink that junk,” Kim told me. “I don’t want you to be like a wino.”

I laughed. That would be nice I thought – nice not to be like a wino.  Although, I don’t need any nefarious influences as far as my drinking is concerned.  I find myself able to drink two or three beers and be satisfied, though, these days.  Dad would just die if he knew I had a girlfriend who is buying me Heineken.  That would be the horror of all horrors for him. 

Brownie Points…

I thought I would do something special for Kim today.  I am going to swing by the nail salon and get her a gift certificate to get a manicure and a pedicure.  I think she will really be surprised and like that.  She often says she likes to get it done, but it’s expensive.  I am going to give her a treat.  That fifty dollars I worked so hard for today will pay for it I hope.  I have no idea how much it will cost. 

I would also like to get her some flowers, but I don’t know what to get.  I thought roses would be too ostentatious.  The last time I bought flowers was a dozen roses for my ex-wife when we were dating.  I sent them to the restaurant she was working at.  Would it seem too sappy for me to get Kim flowers?  I hope not.  I am going to give it a try and see how she reacts.

George Gets His Magazines…

George wrote today that he received the first issues of his magazines already.  “There’s a lot of shit going on in the world that I didn’t know about,” he wrote of reading Time.  George’s letters have been more upbeat lately with more confirmation that he will most likely be paroled come September or October.  Florene and I are praying for September and it has been a big topic of discussion between us – us both growing excited at every passing day.   We both can’t wait for fall to get here.  It all depends on when George goes in front of the parole board. 

Bad Me, I Put Off Working…

My Benefactor just called last hour.

“Can you come and trim some undergrowth?” he asked. “I will pay you $50 dollars to do it.”

This will probably be the last bit of work available to do on his house and yard for awhile other than mowing his lawn.  We have really got his yard looking nice – no more complaints from the city.

“Can I come after I get off of work at nine tomorrow?” I asked.

“Sure,” he said.

It is already blazing hot and I have my processor coming today and want to be at the house when they deliver it.  I shouldn’t have put off tomorrow what I can do today, but I hope it will be cooler if I start earlier.  It is going to be another tough, sweaty job.

I just looked online and my package is in Lagrange just 16 miles away.  It says “in transit”. I am hoping the FedEx guy will be here any moment now.  I haven’t been so excited about a purchase since I got my iPod for Christmas.  The processor is going to be overkill for what I use my computer for, but it’s a hobby.  An expensive hobby if you like to keep your computer updated.  My next purchase will be two fast video cards in SLI.  That will cost around $400 dollars.  I better get saving.  I have so many purchases I want to make these days.

Hey Beautiful…

Kim was dressed so beautiful today when she arrived at work at eight.  I was out in the parking lot gathering up a scattering of carts when she surprised me.

“What are we doing tonight?” she asked me.

“Anything as long as it’s with you,” I told her.

“Awww, you are so sweet,” she swooned.

“Let’s go to that new Sushi place downtown tonight.  My treat,” I told her.

“Sounds like a plan,” Kim replied. “I better go clock in.”

“I’ll see you tonight!”

She really did look beautiful.  For a heavier woman, she carries herself well.  She had on this black short sleeved top with a v-neck that made her look much slimmer than she really is and some grey slacks that accentuated her sexy butt.  She had on her Invicta lady's watch with the cat on the face which fascinates me.  I’ve always wanted to own an Invicta watch.  Around her neck, was a plain herringbone silver necklace.  She also had on some silver hoop earrings that accentuated her blonde hair. 

Processors Aren’t the Only Thing Being Delivered…

Mom arrived with groceries a moment ago as I was writing this post.  I quit and went out to get my groceries in from the trunk.

“How was work?” mom asked as I gathered up several bags.

“It was steady which was nice,” I replied. “The four hours flew by.”

Mom got me my staples.  She also got me five of those “steam to perfection” pasta bowls.  I have never found a frozen meal that tastes better.  Mom came in to see Maggie which just thrilled Maggie to death.  Most of the time, mom will just sit in the car.

“You’ve lost weight,” I told her. “You can tell it in your butt.”

“Really?” mom said looking excited. “I’ve tried so hard lately.”

Sometimes, a little encouragement is all we need.  And mom is looking better.  I can’t keep from thinking that if we got mom off Zyprexa then the weight would just fall off her.  It is renowned for causing weight gain and diabetes. 

The Car Culture…

Riding my bike to work is just not going to work.  It was a hectic and scary ride down busy highway 29 as cars honked at me and people hollered out their windows for me to get off the “fucking” road.  I realized we live in a car culture with little respect given to bicycle riders.  I felt like the biggest schmuck in the whole world causing traffic problems as I peddled furiously to work this morning.  I also was a sweaty mess by the time I arrived at work and my exertions had overridden my deodorant.  I smelt strongly of underarm odor all morning and was extremely self conscious.  It didn’t help my anxiety any.  It is back to the car culture for me as well tomorrow morning.  I will just have to ride for exercise late in the afternoons when it is cooler.  I can ride down to the park every evening for my sunset brew ritual. 

I ran by Florene’s house after work.  She wrote me a check for the magazines I had ordered George.  I thanked her profusely as they were very expensive.  She was just overjoyed I could do that for him.  George doesn’t read books and magazines seemed like the best recourse as far as giving him something to read on a regular basis.  Mrs. Florene is also cooking me my favorite meal tonight.  I asked her if Kim could come.

“Who’s this Kim you speak of?” she asked me excitedly knowing something interesting was up.

“She’s my new girlfriend,” I told her proudly.

Mrs. Florene just had a fit, fawning over me, and said she would also make her fantastic pineapple upside down cake for dessert in celebration.  I thanked her for her efforts and told her we would be there at seven sharp.  I had gambled and asked Kim at work if she wanted to come thinking Florene wouldn’t mind.  She always cooks for an army anyway. 

I left Mrs. Florene’s house and had a trailer ball installed on my car out on the interstate.  I was surprised at how economical the trailer place was.  I was expecting to spend a lot more money to get that done.  I then drove to the man’s house with the trailer I had found on Craig’s list.  It was perfect for my needs if not older.  I paid him cash and pulled the trailer home.  This will greatly expand my yard care operations in the afternoon.  I will be able to pull my mower to neighborhood’s far flung across our little town.   The trailer even had fittings for my weed eater to be secured as I drove.  It was very nice and I was very excited to get it at a steal.  The man just wanted to dump it for some quick cash.

I have been waffling what to do about work.  It has been so slow lately.  I arrived home and still didn’t have any calls from all those applications I filled out this weekend.  My work history is frankly shitty which is mostly likely the cause.  I have decided just to stick it out with Wal-Mart and concentrate on my yard care business – building it up over many months.  I am just going to be determined and be a hustler and bustler about that.  I also don’t want to start my nine month trial work period.  It is precious really – being able to draw a full wage while still drawing disability.  That is something that should be saved for an emergency. 

Well, I am off to power wash my Benefactor’s vinyl siding.  He rented a power washer this weekend.  He also told me he wants me to power wash his driveway and walks tomorrow as well.  I love this steady work he gives me.  It is much easier anxiety wise for him to call me, than for me to have to get out and knock on doors to drum up work.  I will also have to get busy this week mowing my regular customer’s lawns I mowed two weeks ago.  We’ve got lots of rain and the grass has really grown in that time.  I will write again tonight about my day!

The Titan V8…

I am enamored with my benefactor’s truck.  It is a brand new Nissan Titan V8.  I had to resist mashing the gas pedal heavily on my way to Ponder’s nursery yesterday.  That truck has so much exciting horsepower and torque and makes the feeble inline four in my CR-V seem meek in comparison.

My car will be ten years old soon.  I only have 96,000 miles on the clock, but it is beginning to show it’s age appearance wise.  With the deer damage and with the paint coming off my hubs, I need to get some cosmetic work done.  I talked to dad last night pleading with him to just bite the bullet and get my car fixed.  I also need new brake pads and shoes.

“We’ll get some more estimates in the next few weeks,” he said trying to placate me.

Mom assures me he has several thousand dollars saved up in my account and why he doesn’t use this money to get my car fixed I don’t know.  Maybe it is an emergency fund?  There were hints that he would be giving me my mother’s car soon buying him and her both new Hondas.  He seems to be stalling in that regard.  He says it is nice not having car payments which I can understand.  Dad’s 2005 CR-V has over 140,000 miles on it.  Mom’s 2005 Civic has only 17,000 miles.  The BMW X5 is rarely driven only leaving the garage on special occasions when dad wants to impress someone.

The Rigors of Smalltalk…

I am finding my talks on the phone with Kim very enjoyable, but tiresome at the same time.  I am just not a phone person and have had severe phobias in the past over the years.  I find small talk rigorous and will often write down a list of topics to talk about before I call.  Last night I had a list to talk about all things Asian food wise such as sushi, our dogs, and our supervisors at work and most things related to work.  It gets easier over time, but I would much prefer her to just drive over and let’s talk in person.  I found out she lives very near me in a house her mother owns.  Maybe, I can talk her into coming over tonight while we talk today at work.  I will use my most exuberant charm and witty repartee to persuade her.  I want her to meet Maggie as well.       

The Social Club…

I’ve been noticing a small group of older black men that hang out down at the convenience store late in the evenings after the heat of the day has passed.  They sit upon the retaining wall drinking wine and smoking cigarettes ignoring the no loitering sign.  I want to befriend them, but I am not quite sure how to go about it.  Any ideas?  I thought I could drink my two evening beers near them as I sit on the wall smoking every evening.  Maybe they will see that I am a fellow partaker of the spirited drinks and will ask me to join them in conversation.

I was sorely dismayed tonight to find the city had removed all the benches from the park.  I am hoping they are just replacing them.  This didn’t deter me, though.  I plopped down on the still warm cement, donning my headphones, and drank my two sunset brews.  My brews went to my head tonight as I downed them quickly and I smiled giddily. I smoke like a fiend when I am drinking my brews.  It is so, so pleasurable.  

Rusty Humphries was spewing bile on the radio tonight of what a nuclear danger Iran was.  My thoughts were that an altercation between Pakistan and India nuclear wise was entirely more likely and much more of a threat.  Iran couldn’t even win a war against Iraq and these fear mongers want to stir us up into a frenzy over a nonexistent danger.  Iran is decades away from being a nuclear power from what I’ve read in various credible sources.

Conversations with Kim…

Kim called me when I arrived home.  She said she had been trying to reach me all afternoon.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“I just ate some leftover lasagna I cooked the other night,” I replied.

“You are just a man of many talents,” she said of my cooking.

“I will have to cook dinner for you soon,” I told her. “I love to cook.  I would cook all the time if I had someone to cook for.  It sucks cooking for one sometimes.”

We had a nice 30 minute chat.  She was complaining of work, though.  It reminded me of my ex-wife who constantly did the same.  She was never happy with her jobs as a librarian.  I told her I loved my job and my supervisor was so accommodating.  I still haven’t asked her out – so nervous to do so.  Maybe, I will get up the courage before the weekend and my day off.

Musings on Marriage…

My afternoon job went well.  We got my benefactor’s flower beds looking really nice and neat.  Now all we need is flowers to add color such as pansies.  I told him he needed some hostas and they would be perfect for some edges of his beds.  I am to go tomorrow and buy pallets of flowers to plant.  This is more of the type of work I enjoy – much less physically taxing and anxiety inducing.

“Have you ever been married?” my benefactor asked me this evening as he stood over me drinking a beer.

“Two years once,” I replied. “It certainly was interesting.”

“I was married for twenty miserable years,” he told me. “Twenty years of hell.  My wife nagged me until I was almost crazy.  She left me for another man saying I was only interesting in sports, television, and beer.”

I smiled not letting him see it as I continued to spread mulch.  “We all lead interesting lives,” I mused as I finished my work for the day.

The Park, The Benefactor, The Call…

Sunset found me in the park again.  I had greatly missed this nightly ritual yesterday evening – too tired to get up the energy to walk to the convenience store.  I bought two 16oz beers tonight instead of two 40oz.  I felt this was much more acceptable and in keeping with moderation.  I completely totally over romanticize this little routine – my homed edition of Albert Vanderburg’s homeless sunset brews on the beach.  It is almost like a reward for a hard day’s work I treat myself with.  The ambience of the call of cicadas juxtaposed with the quiet solitude of the park brings me such joy. I can get lost in the moment if I let my mind wander.  I also enjoy the peace inducing 30 minute walk home after my sunset brews.  It is a quiet and fitting end to a busy day.  

The Benefactor…

My benefactor is 72 years old I learned today.  He is retired after working for Uniroyal for years and years which was an incredible job to have when I was a young man.  Union. Great pay. Good retirement.  He is apparently an alcoholic from the amount of beer he seems to drink – or just a very ambitious Pabst Blue Ribbon lover to not label the man.  His house and yard has fallen into disarray over the years.  The city has made some complaints and now he is fixing things up again.  Apparently, I was in the right place, at the right time, when I found him.  I have made good money working for him this past week and a half. 

Tomorrow, he is letting me borrow his truck to drive to a local plant nursery to purchase bales of pine straw and bags of mulch.  I am to spread these all around his shrubbery and flower beds.  We are going to plant flowers next after weeding all his beds.  I look forward to this work much more than digging ditches as I did today.  That was one dirty and sweaty job. I almost had an anxiety attack while I was working and had to sit down in the grass for over 30 minutes to calm down.  He is also talking of getting me to power wash the vinyl siding on his house as another job.  He is going to have to buy or rent a power washer.  This is turning out to be a boon for my little yard care business.  I told him he is going to have the nicest looking yard and house on the block if we keep this up.  I am willing to keep working if he is willing to keep paying me good money. 

The Call to Kim…

Well, I got up the courage to call Kim when I arrived home from the park.  I called the two 16oz beers I drank my liquid courage – making me feel gregarious and social for a change.  We talked a long time about our pasts.  Much was revealed.  We’ve both had our fair share of hard times.  We also talked of the things we liked of which many we shared.  She loves Asian food and so do I.  She has a little house dog and I told her all about my Maggie.  We both agreed they’ve got to meet soon.  Another big topic of discussion was work and the many interesting people and things that transpire down there. She says I have the easiest job at the store only working four hours a day bringing in shopping carts.  It made me smile and laugh.  She’s probably right which suits me just fine.  I couldn’t handle much more stress than I already do with regards to my job.

The next step is to go out for dinner down in Auburn.  I want to go to the Outback for steaks which she had hinted she loved. I’ve just got to get up the courage to ask her.  I am pretty sure she will say yes.  We really hit it off tonight talking on the phone for about 45 minutes. 

I feel like I’ve been dead for years and it is so nice to be living again.  To have a full, interesting, and vibrant life once again like I had when I was hanging out down at the Piggly Wiggly with George and the gang everyday.  Before dad took control of my life.  Why I didn’t do this sooner, I don’t know.  Mainly, I was afraid of my father and what he would do to me and my life if I bucked our quiet status quo.  Now?  Let him do his worst.  I am back in the land of the living for a change and I am here to stay! 

A Softer Mental Illness to Reveal…

“I lived in Germany for years,” Kim told me this morning as she smiled her cute little chubby Drew Barrymore smile. “My ex-husband was in the military.  I was your average housewife taking care of our apartment and the kids.  Living abroad can really give you a different perspective on things.”

“Oh, that must have been fascinating,” I replied with great interest. “I’ve been to London twice.  I love Europe.  My ex-wife and I traveled a lot when we were married.”

I have found myself seeking out Kim on my breaks and slow moments – extremely enjoying our conversations.  She will smile broadly when she will see me walk up greeting her.  Today, she revealed to me she was bi-polar when I told her I was on disability and that’s why I could only work four hours a day.  We talked a little bit about medications.  She is on Lithium which I also take 3 capsules of every morning. 

“I have anxiety issues,” I said not wanting to reveal I was schizophrenic and scare her away just yet. “I think I have generalized anxiety disorder.”

Anxiety seemed like a much “softer” mental disorder to have, and I really don’t think I am schizophrenic these days anyway.  I’ve had so many diagnosis over the years that it is dizzying.  I don’t know what to think really.  I certainly know I am not schizophrenic in the classic sense by any means.  My current official diagnosis by my psychiatrist is schizoaffective – having both symptoms of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.  I think it is a load of rubbish!  I honestly think my overbearing family has just about driven me crazy over the years and that was where most of my problems stemmed from.  Generalized overbearing family disorder!  Dad just about put so much pressure on me over the years it about broke me as a man.

This morning started out fast and furious as I had to get caught up with the overnight barrage of shopping carts.  Once I got caught up, I had nothing to do but to wander the store aimlessly again.  The grocery side of the store keeps me the busiest.  I will occasionally go out and bring carts in during breaks from my wandering – ever mindful of how the carts are piling up.  My supervisor is fully content with my wandering as long as there are plenty of carts at the ready for customers.  I worried at first she would get on to me for doing so or would send me home early, but she seems happy with how I am doing my job – often bragging on me.

During my free time today, I bought some shirts for work that were on sale for $7 dollars each.  I badly need a new wardrobe – my current wardrobe being years and years old.  Even my nicest shirts have some minor holes in them.  It embarrasses me.   I don’t want to look like the hapless bachelor.  I also only have one pair of  pants that fit me so buying pants is next on the agenda.

As I was leaving work, I stopped to see Kim one more time to tell her goodbye for the day.

“Can I call you tonight?” I asked in a moment of great courage. “I would really like to get to know you even better.”

She smiled as she gave me her phone number and told me she would be home after eight. “Be sure to call me!” she said as I turned to leave. Now, if I can just get up the courage to call.  It will be a big step for me and my phone phobias.   I am so intrigued and want to know more about her.  I have found her a fascinating creature so far.  I am frankly quite smitten.

The Representative Payee Dilemma…

By all your advice, I have decided to hold off on changing my representative payee.  I have researched well, though, and could change my payee at any time to any person I chose without having to have dad’s permission.  I wasn’t thinking clearly, though, on how much responsibility would be thrust on Mrs. Florene as one commenter posted.  That worried me.  Social Security also doesn’t recognize power of attorney I learned the other day so that is good to know.  I will let that be my ace in the hole.  I will just concentrate on both my jobs with the goal of getting off disability completely in a few years.  I still have my nine month trial work period where I can draw a full paycheck and still get my disability.  I also learned I can keep my Medicare benefits for up to seven years after getting off disability.  That is comforting to know.  Thanks be to Clinton!

The Benefactor Calls…

When I arrived home, I had a message on my answering machine from my benefactor to call him.  I called him immediately hoping for work after calling Mrs. Florene and calling off the trip to Opelika.

“I need you to clean out my drainage ditch that runs the length of my backyard,” he said. “Water is pooling in my backyard.  It’s brick, but you haven’t been able to see the bricks in years from all the dirt that's accumulated.  It’s just not draining anymore.”

“Sounds like a tough job,” I replied, ever wary of my anxiety attacks.

“I’ll pay you $50 dollars,” he said. “It shouldn’t take but four or five hours to do.”

“It’s a deal,” I replied. “I’ll see you in an hour and get started.”

Well, here goes another big job consisting of shoveling dirt out of a ditch for hours. It is going to be a two Klonopin job.  I hope I can do it.  I would really like the money.  I will write again tonight to let you all know how I fared. 

Church is a No-Go…

I was over at my benefactor’s house at nine trimming shrubbery.  His shrubbery was wild after years of neglect and it was a three hour job.  It took an artistic eye to get it shaped up and looking good.  I was standing back eyeing my efforts with satisfaction after finishing when he stepped outside to talk to me and pay me.

“Do you go to church?” he asked.

“I can’t remember the last time I stepped in God’s house,” I replied.

“Well, I am going to tonight’s service. Do you want to go with me? I would really like for you to go.  It will be good for your soul,” he said.

“Oh, I don’t have any Sunday clothes that fit,” I replied trying to think of anything to get out of this situation.  For some reason, just the mention of church made me extremely uncomfortable.  Church is an extremely social endeavor that makes socially anxious people shy away. 

“You sure?” he asked.

“Yeah, I am sure,” I replied. “I appreciate your asking, though.”

He handed me my $25 dollars and I asked him if there was anything else I could do.  I told him I appreciated the steady work. 

“Do you want your lawn mowed next?” I asked assertively.  It really needed doing.

“Well, I usually do it myself,” he said waffling.

“I’ll do it for $15 dollars,” I said smiling, trying to sway him.

“Then it is a deal,” he said. “$15 dollars is a bargain and it is pretty hot outside.”

“I’ll be back this afternoon with my mower,” I told him and I got in my car and left.

His yard isn’t that big so I don’t think I will spend that much money on gas.  I should’ve asked for $20 dollars, though.  Charlie would get on to me for being so cheap with my efforts.  I’m not a very good business man. 

I came home and took Maggie for a long walk down to the elementary school and back.  She was elated and really strutted her stuff – stopping to sniff every little interesting smell.  She loves these walks more than anything in the world.  Maggie gets so bored being stuck inside all the time on these hot days.  I worry about her and her mental well being.  I know she gets stir crazy at times. 

Well, I am now driving down to the first Auburn interstate exit to buy my sunset brews for tonight’s venture in the park.  I am also stopping by the bookstore to pick up the latest issue of Trains magazine.  I just got online and ordered a year’s subscription feeling frivolous with my money.  I will then come home and toodle over on my mower to mow my benefactor’s lawn and then I am calling it a day and spending time on the internet, cooking mom’s lasagna, and then my sunset brews at nightfall.  So far, It’s been a grand day.  Now, if we can just get some good storms to make it interesting weather wise then I will be a happy clam.  I will write again tonight!