OK, I've been "absent" for a while. But hey! I've been busy!
Hubby and I (and our girls) have been installing a pool. An "in ground 15 by 30 with a 6 foot deep end" pool. It's not that big of a pool, but we've never done it before.
We should have our own show on DIY. ☺
We started from scratch with a fairly level yard. We marked it off, dug it out (mostly with a bobcat, but also lots of shovels), measured, and brought in gravel to level some areas where the walls stand. We used a plate compactor thingy to compact the base. Placed the walls, and re-measured and marked for the hopper to make sure all of our angles were right. We have it exactly like the dig specs say. Yippee! It's time for the liner to go in.
Houston, we have a problem.
The dig specs inside the box with the liner are totally different than our dig specs we used. ☹
The company we bought the pool from has been great! They ordered the new liner to match the dig specs, and it came within a week.
OMGoodness, it's harder than I ever imagined. So many times I have wanted to say "I told you so.", but I haven't. It seems that each thing I imagined as a huge hurdle, has been a huge hurdle. But he always says "Yea, but the hard work is over now." Then we'll do something else back breaking and he'll say "But the hard work is finished now". Then we get more concrete delivered, and he says it again! The bobcat came back for back-fill duty, and he didn't say it. So we must be done with the back breaking stuff. PLEASE?
So, that's what I've been doing. I'm in my 40's, I'm overweight. (I really am, I'm not just saying that), and out of shape. I cannot believe I have been doing this. It's hard work. But it will be so worth it. I can see myself floating on a raft in the not so distant future. and we can say "we did it ourselves".
I have to say though, all three of our daughters have been a huge help in this process. 2 of them have already been in it during the initial fill, where we had to put some water in for the liner. It's bone chilling well water, but they didn't care.
I do know there will be some back breaking work soon. It's not really over, because we still have to install the fence, and landscape it. But I am not moving anyore concrete in wheelbarrows. We're going to pay someone to pour the decking. I'm so over that. I don't have to say I did that too. (Or do I?)
Thanks for checking in. As soon as I can figure out how, I'll post pictures of our progress.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Friday, May 1, 2009
Car shopping sucks
Yep, You read right. Shopping for a car is so NOT fun!! While I use the word "sucks" on a regular basis, it really doesn't sound very nice. But, geez Louise, have I had enough of car dealers.
A couple of weeks ago, we sold the family minivan. I have been driving minivans for longer than I care to admit, and I wanted something different.
So, I started the "experience". Yeah, we'll call it an "experience". It began with suburbans, and ended with the purchase of a Honda Pilot. I'll spare the details, but suffice it to say, they're isn't an SUV out there that I didn't look at and/or drive.
My reason for this post is one particular dealer. I will not mention the name, so no worries there.
I went to a GMC dealer to look at the Acadia. It's really nice. The vehicle is not the issue here.
My sales guy was nice and courteous. While he went out into the expanse of inventory to find the one with the options I wanted, I waited in the showroom. I listened to a phone conversation that I couldn't get away from. A very loud man at the main reception desk of the dealership was speaking to his mortgage broker. He was not pleased with his mortgage broker. He was quite vocal. I learned his name, his mortgage payment amount, his due date, his interest rate, his new interest rate, his wifes name, and his late fee if payment isn't made by the 15th.
And, he curses. A lot! He dropped the F-bomb numerous times, before I finally approached another salesman and asked the question: "what is this guys postion here anyway?".
The answer may shock you. "General Manager".
After picking my jaw up off of the floor, I said "You're kidding me?!!".
He just shrugged and said "Nope. GM".
So I gave him my sales guys name and said "Can you tell ***** I had to leave?".
I went out the door, and there is *****, so I told him I didn't like his GM, and I wasn't so sure I could buy a car here. He apologized, and got me to come back inside to talk price.
Loud mouth was still on the phone, at a different desk, with the mortgage broker on speaker!
I asked ***** if GM had an office with a door. He said "Yep, it's right over there."
So, my question is actually quite obvious.
Why would this dealership keep someone like this in such a position? I wasn't the only customer in there. I'm quite certain I wasn't the only one shocked by this behavior.
It is disgusting to think that this man would care so little for the image he portrays of his employer, is employed, while so many others would love to have his job. (or any job for that matter.)
I guess I am still stuck on "customer service". Maybe I expect too much. Although respect doesn't seem like too much.
A couple of weeks ago, we sold the family minivan. I have been driving minivans for longer than I care to admit, and I wanted something different.
So, I started the "experience". Yeah, we'll call it an "experience". It began with suburbans, and ended with the purchase of a Honda Pilot. I'll spare the details, but suffice it to say, they're isn't an SUV out there that I didn't look at and/or drive.
My reason for this post is one particular dealer. I will not mention the name, so no worries there.
I went to a GMC dealer to look at the Acadia. It's really nice. The vehicle is not the issue here.
My sales guy was nice and courteous. While he went out into the expanse of inventory to find the one with the options I wanted, I waited in the showroom. I listened to a phone conversation that I couldn't get away from. A very loud man at the main reception desk of the dealership was speaking to his mortgage broker. He was not pleased with his mortgage broker. He was quite vocal. I learned his name, his mortgage payment amount, his due date, his interest rate, his new interest rate, his wifes name, and his late fee if payment isn't made by the 15th.
And, he curses. A lot! He dropped the F-bomb numerous times, before I finally approached another salesman and asked the question: "what is this guys postion here anyway?".
The answer may shock you. "General Manager".
After picking my jaw up off of the floor, I said "You're kidding me?!!".
He just shrugged and said "Nope. GM".
So I gave him my sales guys name and said "Can you tell ***** I had to leave?".
I went out the door, and there is *****, so I told him I didn't like his GM, and I wasn't so sure I could buy a car here. He apologized, and got me to come back inside to talk price.
Loud mouth was still on the phone, at a different desk, with the mortgage broker on speaker!
I asked ***** if GM had an office with a door. He said "Yep, it's right over there."
So, my question is actually quite obvious.
Why would this dealership keep someone like this in such a position? I wasn't the only customer in there. I'm quite certain I wasn't the only one shocked by this behavior.
It is disgusting to think that this man would care so little for the image he portrays of his employer, is employed, while so many others would love to have his job. (or any job for that matter.)
I guess I am still stuck on "customer service". Maybe I expect too much. Although respect doesn't seem like too much.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Smokers vs. Ash trays
OK. Let me begin by saying, I am an ex- smoker. I used to use something called an "ashtray". When it needed it, I would empty it into a garbage can.
It wasn't so hard. You put the butts in the ash tray, then when it's not hot, into the garbage. repeat.
Recently we were walking down a picturesque street in a cute little town not too far from Chicago. I was enjoying all of the older buildings, and seeing what unique businesses occupied them. It was like Mayberry. Except every so often, there would be a receptacle for cigarettes. You know, those things shaped like gourds, and you put the cig in the top hole and somewhere along the way it snuffs it out. I assume somebody eventually empties these into garbage cans of some sort. These were n the "smoking areas" more than 15 feet from the business entrances I assume. Around each of them, was a huge and disgusting amount of cigarette butts on the sidewalks, and in the ornate metal grates around them.
WHY????? How hard it is to put the little thing into the hole? Why does it have to hit the ground, and remain there for someone else to deal with?
I also realize, not ALL smokers do this. I am irritated with the "sloppy smokers". Not those of you who take care of your own butts. ☺I have a sister in law who smokes. She is very curtious about disposing of her butts. It's not so hard. Honest.
While I am at it. Why throw them out the car window? There are no little magical beings that come along and zap them non existent. What do you "sloppy smokers" think happens to them? There is no difference (in my opinion) in throwing out a cigarette butt to throwing out your grabage from lunch on the road. They're equally disgusting.
Maybe I'm crabby. I just want people to take responsibility for their own trash, and use the garbage recepticles so thoughtfully placed throughout the civilized world. It's not so hard.
It wasn't so hard. You put the butts in the ash tray, then when it's not hot, into the garbage. repeat.
Recently we were walking down a picturesque street in a cute little town not too far from Chicago. I was enjoying all of the older buildings, and seeing what unique businesses occupied them. It was like Mayberry. Except every so often, there would be a receptacle for cigarettes. You know, those things shaped like gourds, and you put the cig in the top hole and somewhere along the way it snuffs it out. I assume somebody eventually empties these into garbage cans of some sort. These were n the "smoking areas" more than 15 feet from the business entrances I assume. Around each of them, was a huge and disgusting amount of cigarette butts on the sidewalks, and in the ornate metal grates around them.
WHY????? How hard it is to put the little thing into the hole? Why does it have to hit the ground, and remain there for someone else to deal with?
I also realize, not ALL smokers do this. I am irritated with the "sloppy smokers". Not those of you who take care of your own butts. ☺I have a sister in law who smokes. She is very curtious about disposing of her butts. It's not so hard. Honest.
While I am at it. Why throw them out the car window? There are no little magical beings that come along and zap them non existent. What do you "sloppy smokers" think happens to them? There is no difference (in my opinion) in throwing out a cigarette butt to throwing out your grabage from lunch on the road. They're equally disgusting.
Maybe I'm crabby. I just want people to take responsibility for their own trash, and use the garbage recepticles so thoughtfully placed throughout the civilized world. It's not so hard.
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