Something orange!

     Yesterday was a busy day!  One of the best things about the day was finally getting around to potting two trees (a Calamondin Orange and a Persian Lime) and repotting another orange that had a rough winter.  There is something just pleasing about planting things and having them grow that seems to stimulate me somehow.  I know it sounds corny, but eating out of ones own garden is really rewarding!
     I had picked up four nice bags of soil from The Home Depot that were on special and brought them home.  I didn't realize this, but I only needed one as the roots of the plants were fairly significant. The older tree will have to be repotted again in the near future.  I don't know what I was thinking as I had the pot already and should have just planted it in the right pot to begin with, but such is life:-)

      One thing is for sure...the Calamondin tree looks exquisite!  It is in full bloom and I am hoping I can get some fruit from it this year.  The other two will need some time and I will have to look out this winter for all of them as frost is evil!

     Perhaps the most intriguing part of the process was moving the large pot and having a bright orange corn snake pop out from underneath it.  I think I accidentally hurt it moving the pot as it was a little aggressive.  They aren't usually like that.  I did manage to transport him with my arm, as he was biting my fingers, to the small rose bush for a photo op:-)

Back in the Saddle...

      For almost a week, riding my bike has been put on the back burner.  The weather was the main culprit and getting out for a quick run between showers was easier than having to get rained on on the bike.   The other reason is that it was my weekend for my son to stay over and I even managed to swipe him from his mom for the holiday.   We still managed to keep very busy exercising and he is starting to like running...OK...not really, but he does it even if it is just to please his dad:-) 
     Anyway, when the time came today to jump on the bike, I jumped!  I raced home from work, changed, aired up the tires, mounted the camera, and off I went.  Nothing was stopping me.  It's amazing how work on the bike feels so good.  I was grinning most of the way despite the strong head winds on the way out.  I managed a quick 20 miles and jumped into the shorts and ran 3.  Not bad for a start of the week.  OK...not the start, but for me?...I'll say yes!  Then, it was gangbusters to clean and rush down to the school. 
     My son had lost his ID card and can't get on the bus anymore without it.  So I picked him up and headed home.  Now to get into planting the trees into the pots with the new soil:-)

Alien!!!

     Up at 2 and nothing to do? Write about something scary! Yesterday, while the rain was whipping, I decided to pull out an old favorite.  Alien.  With the upcoming movie Prometheus about to take to the theater, what better way to get a quick brush up on the fun, than to show my son what a very good, scary movie is like. I pulled it out and decided my son was ready to watch it.  I did forewarn him, but he’s 10 so nothing scares him.  After the first ten minutes, I remembered why I loved the movie so much.  Scott is amazing at capturing the quiet and translating it to film.  The suspense just kind of sneaks up out of nowhere and bites you where you least expect it.  The way in which the creature is presented fully grown is amazing and iconic.  I think the creature, in total, is on the screen for a whole five minutes?  But, you’re scared for most of the movie?  This says a lot!!!

       Even my young son loved it.  I don’t think he liked jumping every time the cat jumped on someone, but it was funny to watch.  I can’t wait to see Prometheus just to see if Scott can pull off the same type of movie quality that he is known for.  I’m kind of tired of the lack of quality in not only sci-fi movies, but horror movies alike.  And, being a fan of both, I have been waiting eagerly for this picture to be made.  In fact, now that my son is a fully fledged fan and was actually able to sleep with no problems, bring it on!  OK…maybe after a screening session ;-)   And, just in case you won't be able to get over the scary alien picture, look at this one to relieve any fear then close my page...

This just in…

     The zombie apocalypse has begun.  Lock your doors and bar your windows!  Make sure your son is where you left him and not running loose.   There will be safety nets outside most major cities to quell the uprising of dead and take back what the dead have taken from us.  Barricades will be monitored with the most up to date monitoring systems and manned with personnel around the clock so you and your loved ones will be safe.  Oh, and please, please stay away from Vegas!!
    

      It's really too bad the victim wasn't Chuck Norris or none of this would have happened!  Anyway...just making light of an otherwise tragic situation.  Damn, I hate zombies!!!

It's all about the hat.

     One of the best things about being a dad, is when a son reaches a certain age and wants to be like you in everything you do.  The way you dress, the way you walk, the way you eat...everything.  This sometimes makes it difficult as you must watch what you do in order to be a good example, but it has wonderful rewards.

      I was recently given a hat that my grandfather wore and my son noticed it today and picked it right up.  Flourishing it on his head and trying to get the tilt just right.  He knows I love hats and he just thought it would be cool to wear one like his dads for a day at least:-)  

     What a great son he is and it brought back memories of a song that my dad and I used to listen to, when I was young.  My dad is still around, but I hope I get the stetson if it lasts as long as he does.  Right, Dad?  I know I will have fond memories of you and I only want that for my son.  No matter what a person goes through or what your job, money, love situation may be...great memories are the best thing I could ever give my son as they last forever!

Death by Taste?

     Once in a while a guy has to get out of the house with his son and see the town.  Strolling through the park and watching the dog drool on all the strangers he never seems to dislike is a favorite!  But, as so often happens, hunger comes a calling and my son has to eat.  We decided today would be a GrillSmith kind of day.
     We don't get to do this but rarely.  Money is always tight, but one must eat out once in a while to at least experience something new.  In we go...the place is pretty quiet except for a few children laughing in the background.  We are seated in the nearest booth and both of us order a drink.  My son asks if he would rather have salmon or steak...LOL!!  I say yeah right!  He says no really.  Steak on his menu is cheaper than the cheapest thing on mine so we both go cheap.  He orders the steak with fries and I order the burger with au gratin potatoes. 

     We wait for a little while enjoying the conversation and out comes the food.  This has to be one of the juiciest burgers I have tasted.  I actually had to eat it with a fork.  My chatterbox of a son must have liked what he had as well because he didn't say much and ate the whole thing.  This in itself is a miracle.  I on the other hand thought the burger was great tasting, but stuck to the meat and didn't eat the bread.  I also didn't eat the whole thing which again is amazing.  It was just too much food for my now, smaller stomach to take in.  So, the verdict?  Great food and the answer is "yes" you could probably die eating this thing:-)

Dirt, Water, and a Pipe Dream

     A year ago, Katy I decided it would be wise to start growing our own vegetables.  We were looking for healthy alternatives and fresh tomatoes, lettuce, and squash sounded like a great idea.  We went to the store and purchased all the materials and then managed to drive the truck full of soil home without blinding the innocent drivers behind us and hand load it into the two planter boxes.  The idea would be to plant one and use the vegetable stock from the first to toil into the other so that this year it would be a better garden. 

The first year was pretty unsuccessful.  And, one of the reasons for this lack of success was an inferior water system:  The good ole’ soaker hose.  While this would seem like a good idea, it just never lived up to the expectations that I had.  So, this year when it came time to plant again, I started out with another soaker and really realized my mistake.

     The plants were suffering and I would need to water on top of the regular water schedule for them to grow.  And, with both boxes now full of veggies, water was needed.  Enter the underground sprinkler system.  I’ve been needing a good project and this would be cheap and easy on my back.  My son could help dig the trenches and sling pipe and we could get it done in a couple hours after work.

     After work, I picked up all the equipment needed and started to dig.  What do you know; it started to rain…HA!!  So my son and I headed in out of the storm to work another day.  So, today, out came the shovels and cement and into the holes we went.  My son fed pipe and it went together in an hour and faster than expected.  We turned the water on and what do you know…WATER!!  Now our vegetables can get the precious water they need in the heat of the day and we can finally start to enjoy the fruits of our labor.  One other side bonus is that I don’t have to worry about all those hoses when I mow and weed eat.  Now, to keep my son out of the tomatoes long enough so I can enjoy some:-)?
     The best part of this experience was after the work was done.  My son and I went for a nice run together.  He rode his bike while I ran the first two miles.  He, then, parked his bike and ran with me the last mile.  Work and reward.  I love that kid!!